Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
  • H04R29/00—Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements
  • H04R29/001—Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements for loudspeakers
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
  • H04R7/00—Diaphragms for electromechanical transducers; Cones
  • H04R7/02—Diaphragms for electromechanical transducers; Cones characterised by the construction
  • H04R7/04—Plane diaphragms
  • H04R7/045—Plane diaphragms using the distributed mode principle, i.e. whereby the acoustic radiation is emanated from uniformly distributed free bending wave vibration induced in a stiff panel and not from pistonic motion

Definitions

• the present invention relates to acoustic devices of the distributed resonant mode variety, and more particularly but not exclusively to distributed resonant mode loudspeakers (hereinafter referred to as 'DM loudspeakers').
• Such loudspeakers comprising an acoustic radiator capable of supporting bending waves and a transducer mounted on the acoustic radiator to excite bending waves in the acoustic radiator to produce an acoustic output are described, for example, in WO97/09842 (incorporated herein by reference) .
• the bulk properties of the acoustic radiator may be chosen to distribute the resonant bending wave modes substantially evenly in frequency.
• the bulk properties or parameters, e.g. size, thickness, shape, material etc., of the acoustic radiator may be chosen to smooth peaks in the frequency response caused by "bunching" or clustering of the modes.
• the resultant distribution of resonant bending wave modes may thus be such that there are substantially minimal clusterings and disparities of spacing.
• the document identifies particularly useful aspect ratios for the side dimensions, e.g. 1.134:1.
• the transducer location may be chosen to couple substantially evenly to the resonant bending wave modes and, in particular, to lower frequency resonant bending wave modes. To this end, the transducer may be at a location where the number of vibrationally active resonance anti-nodes is relatively high and conversely the number of resonance nodes is relatively low. In the case of a rectangle, specific locations found suitable are at 3/7,4/9 or 5/13 of the distance along the axes.
• US 5,615,275 describes a loudspeaker including a planar diaphragm that mounted in a frame and that is coupled at its rear surface to a speaker voice coil such that the voice coil acts like a piston, pressing on the rear surface of the diaphragm and causing sufficient vibration of the diaphragm to efficiently produce sound.
• Masses are resiliently mounted on the diaphragm so as to improve its frequency response characteristic, the number, size and precise positioning of the weights for any particular diaphragm being determined empirically. The weights act to neutralize or counter uncontrolled movement of the diaphragm at certain frequencies .
• the present invention is specific to distributed resonant mode devices and has as an objective an improvement in the uniformity of distribution of resonant modes of such devices.
• an increase in the uniformity of distribution of the resonant modes that underpin the operation of this genre of device will result in an improvement of the frequency response of the device itself. This may be particularly appropriate when, due to styling considerations or the need to fit a panel in an existing space, the preferred panel dimensions discussed above are not possible.
• the invention consists a method of improving the modal resonance frequency distribution of a panel for a distributed resonant mode bending wave acoustic device, the method comprising the steps of:
• Varying the local impedance at one or more locations on the panel corresponding to an anti-node at a particular modal resonance frequency results in a shift in frequency of that particular resonant mode.
• the present inventors have used this effect to reposition in the frequency spectrum one or more resonance frequency (s) that have been identified using analysis as being non-uniformly spaced relative to adjacent modal resonance frequencies. In this way, the uniformity of distribution of modal resonance frequencies of the device as a whole is improved.
• Such variation of local impedance may also give rise to additional resonant modes which, appropriately positioned in the frequency spectrum, can also contribute to the overall uniformity of distribution of modal resonance frequencies .
• the local mechanical impedance, Z m can be generally expressed in the form:
• the location is identified such that it exhibits nodal behaviour at a second resonance frequency neighbouring said modal resonance frequency in addition to exhibiting anti-nodal behaviour at said modal resonance frequency.
• the method may also comprise identifying a plurality of modal resonance frequencies that are non-uniformly spaced relative to respective adjacent modal resonance frequencies, identifying a plurality of locations on said panel that exhibit anti-nodal behaviour at respective modal resonance frequencies, and changing the local impedance to bending wave vibration at one or more of said plurality of locations .
• the method may further comprise the step of iteratively changing said local impedance so as to improve the modal resonance frequency distribution of said panel, alternatively it may comprise the steps of changing said local impedance by various amounts, measuring the respective uniformity of modal resonance frequency distribution and interpolating therefrom preferred values of local impedance change.
• the step of measuring may comprise calculating the least squares central difference of mode frequencies .
• the step of interpolating may comprise identifying values of local impedance change corresponding to a modal resonance frequency distribution better than that of a corresponding rectangular panel having isotropic material properties and optimal aspect ratio.
• it may comprise the steps of changing said local impedance by various amounts, measuring the respective changes in modal resonance frequency distribution and interpolating therefrom the optimal value of local impedance change .
• this may comprise changing the mass of the panel at said location, in particular attaching a discrete mass to the panel, advantageously by means of a member having compliance and/or by means of a member having damping.
• the discrete mass may be attached to the panel by means of a resilient foam member.
• the step of changing the local impedance may also comprise varying the stiffness or damping of the panel at said location.
• Figure 1A is a schematic diagram of a distributed resonant mode loudspeaker
• Figure IB illustrates the distribution of modal resonance frequencies of the panel of 1A
• Figure 1C is an idealised plot showing the nodal lines for the (4,0) mode
• Figure ID is an idealised plot showing the nodal lines for the (1,3) mode ;
• Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the distribution of modal resonance frequencies of the panel of 1A after successive applications of the method of the present invention;
• Figure 4 shows values of cost function (L) for four discrete values of mass (m) when added to the FEA model of ' figure 1;
• Figure 5 illustrates the distribution of modal resonance frequencies of a panel optimised in accordance with figure 4.
• Figures 6A-D are 'drive maps' for the panel of figure 1A;
• Figures 7A and 7B show respectively a diagrammatic sectional view through a panel improved according to another embodiment of the invention and the resulting distribution of modal resonance frequencies;
• Figures 8A and 8B are sectional views of alternative arrangements to that of figure 7A; and Figure 9 is a diagrammatic representation of a further mode of implementation of the present invention.
• Figure 1A is a schematic diagram of a distributed resonant mode loudspeaker 1 of the kind known e.g. from the aforementioned WO97/09842 and comprising a panel 2 mounted in a frame 4 by means of a suspension 3 , the panel carrying an exciter 5.
• a distributed resonant mode loudspeaker 1 of the kind known e.g. from the aforementioned WO97/09842 and comprising a panel 2 mounted in a frame 4 by means of a suspension 3 , the panel carrying an exciter 5.
• the bunching of modes at this frequency can be reduced by lowering the frequency of the (4,0) mode at 401Hz (indicated by line 8) , preferably without lowering the (1,3) mode at 405Hz indicated by line 9. Subsequently, a location on the panel is identified that exhibits anti-nodal behaviour at the modal resonance frequency of interest - 401 Hz in the present example.
• Figure 1C is an idealised plot, again obtained by Finite Element Analysis, showing the nodal lines 20 for the (4,0) mode at 401 Hz.
• regions of anti- nodal behaviour lie mid-way between the modal lines as shown by dashed lines 22 and it is at such locations that local impedance should be changed in accordance with the present invention.
• the above identification step could also be carried out by other means, for example by subjecting a trial panel to laser analysis as is well known, e.g. from W099/56497.
• the effect of such impedance changes on adjacent modes in the frequency spectrum - is minimised by selecting the location for impedance variation such that it exhibits nodal behaviour at a second resonant frequency neighbouring the resonant modal frequency in addition to exhibiting anti-nodal behaviour at the resonant modal frequency.
• Figure ID shows nodal lines for the neighbouring (1,3) mode, and from comparison with figure 1C it will be evident that there is a point (indicated by cross A) located at about % A on X and % on Y (i.e. at 72 x 108 mm from a corner) that will couple to the (4,0) mode but not to the (1,3) mode .
• the local impedance to bending wave vibration in said location A is changed.
• the impedance to bending wave vibration at said location is advantageously changed by changing the mass of the panel at the location, in particular increasing the mass of the panel by the attachment of a discrete mass to the surface of the panel as indicated at 6 in figure 1A.
• the actual amount of mass to be added can be determined by iteratively changing the local impedance so as to improve the modal resonance frequency distribution of the panel: in the present example, a mass of 4.3 g was tried, representing an arbitrary 10% of the total 43g mass of the panel .
• the resulting distribution of the first 24 modes are shown in the FEA simulation of figure 2. Examination of the results suggested that the mass was over compensating, as evidenced by the mode dropping further than necessary to 5 even up the frequency distribution. Consequently, the analysis was repeated using half the mass (2.15g), the first 24 modes of this new arrangement being shown in figure 3, from which it will be seen that this final arrangement usefully separates the (4,0) and (3,1) modes at
• Uniformity of modal frequency distribution can also be expressed numerically by means of so-called 'cost functions', a variety of which are described in W099/56497
• uniformity is measured by the value, L, of the least squares central difference of modal resonance frequencies, i.e.
• Figure 4 shows values 23 of cost function (L) for various discrete amounts of mass (m in grams) when added to
• values of mass between about 0.8g and 1.9g will give a value of L lower than the 44.4 obtained for a 10 corresponding unmodified rectangular panel of the kind shown in figure 1A, having identical area and material, isotropic material properties and the 'ideal' aspect ratio of 1.134:1 mentioned above.
• the present invention is not restricted to single 15 modes and also foresees the identification of a plurality of modal resonance frequencies that are non-uniformly spaced relative to respective adjacent modal resonance frequencies. From further consideration of figure IB and the list of modes in table 1, it will be seen that non- 20 uniform spacing of resonant modes also occurs as indicated by reference signs B-G on figure IB. It will also be evident that this can be remedied by reducing the frequencies of the mode (0,2) at 131Hz, (0,3) at 361Hz, (4,0) at 401Hz, (4,2) at 645Hz, (2,4) at 874Hz and (5,2) at 25 917Hz.
• Finite element analysis to identify locations on the panel that exhibit anti-nodal behaviour at these modal resonance frequencies results in the 'drive map' of figure 6A in which successively greater values of mean vibration amplitude are indicated by successively lighter shading. Areas of the panel having the greatest vibration amplitude, i.e. anti-nodal behaviour, when simultaneously excited at the six resonance frequencies listed above are indicated at 26. It is at one or more of this plurality of locations that the local impedance to bending wave vibration needs to be changed - for example increased - in accordance with the fourth step of the present invention.
• FIG. 6C is a drive map for such other frequencies in which successively lower degrees of anti- nodal behaviour are indicated by successively darker shading . It will be evident from figure 6C that the majority of the area of the panel meets the criterion of no anti-nodal behaviour. However, application of a 'smoothness' criterion similar to described above highlights the areas results in the figure 6D, with successively lighter shading corresponding to successively greater uniformity of response across all modes other than the six of interest.
• Figure 7A is a diagrammatic sectional view through a panel according to an alternative embodiment of the invention in which local impedance is increased by application of both mass and stiffness in the form of a member having compliance (resilient foam pad, 42) which attaches the discrete 1.29 g mass 44 to the panel 40.
• compliance resilient foam pad, 42
• the non-uniformly spaced modal resonance frequency at 401Hz and the corresponding location on the panel exhibiting anti-nodal behaviour at that modal resonance frequency also remain the same. Mass and pad are placed at that panel location in accordance with the present invention.
• a good first step approximation to the optimum may be achieved by using the mass value of the first embodiment and optimising the pad stiffness using the iterative or 'cost function' -based optimisation processes described above with regard to mass.
• spring stiffnesses between 10 N/mm and 100 N/mm were analysed to find the optimum value, which comes out at 26.3 N/mm.
• FIG 8A An example of how local impedance can be changed by varying the stiffness of the panel at said location is shown schematically in figure 8A.
• panel-mounted compliant member (foam pad 42) is grounded on the frame of the loudspeaker (as shown at 4 in figure 1) , for example by means of a ' strut 46 spanning the rear of the frame.
• grounding may be by way of an extension 48 mounted on a baffle box (not shown) again extending behind the rear of a frame .
• FIG. 9 A diagrammatic representation of yet another embodiment is given in figure 9, which shows a panel 56 having a damper 54 in addition to mass 50 and spring 52.
• damping will, in practice, be inherent in any resilient foam pad per the previous embodiment and can be varied by the choice of foam used.
• Optimisation of the damping value is advantageously achieved using the methods outlined above and on the basis of the mass and stiffness values determined for previous embodiments.
• damping can be used to balance the energy distribution of the redistributed modes obtained by the methods of the previous embodiments.
• the previous embodiments all specify the step of increasing local impedance at chosen location (s).
• this is the easiest to implement (by simple attachment of mass etc.) given the starting point of a simple panel.
• situations may arise where an improvement in uniformity of frequency distribution is best achieved by a reduction in local impedance, e.g. by locally removing and/or replacing the material of the panel .
• the invention is not restricted to vibrational movement perpendicular to the plane of the member: attachments which couple into rotational degrees of freedom of the member may be used as an alternative or in addition. Examples of such attachments include torsional springs and attachments with a large moment of inertia.
• acoustic devices other than loudspeakers, e.g. microphones, fall within the scope of the present invention. However, apart from the replacement of any exciter by a pick-up, the differences from the loudspeaker embodiments outlined above will generally be minimal.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Otolaryngology (AREA)
• Diaphragms For Electromechanical Transducers (AREA)
• Measurement Of Mechanical Vibrations Or Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
• Apparatuses For Generation Of Mechanical Vibrations (AREA)
• Audible-Bandwidth Dynamoelectric Transducers Other Than Pickups (AREA)

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• 2001
  • 2001-08-17 GB GB0120130A patent/GB0120130D0/en not_active Ceased
• 2002
  • 2002-08-15 EP EP02755181A patent/EP1425937B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-08-15 WO PCT/GB2002/003778 patent/WO2003026344A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2002-08-15 CN CNB028138651A patent/CN100397952C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-08-15 JP JP2003529805A patent/JP4061267B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-08-15 AU AU2002321477A patent/AU2002321477A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-08-16 TW TW91118536A patent/TW577238B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation

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