EP1859648A1

EP1859648A1 - Loudspeaker enclosure with a closed and an open position

Info

Publication number: EP1859648A1
Application number: EP06710979A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Anthony Smith
Original assignee: NXP BV
Current assignee: Knowles Electronics Asia Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2005-03-08
Filing date: 2006-02-28
Publication date: 2007-11-28
Also published as: CN101142845B; JP2008533789A; WO2006095277A1; CN101142845A

Abstract

A loudspeaker enclosure (1, 1', 1', 1'' 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) comprising speaker carrying parts (2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33) moveable towards each other and each comprising at least one speaker (5, 6, 7, 21 ', 22', 23', 1c', 1d') with an active sound-emanating area (8, 9, 10, 2'', 11', 30', 31 ', 32', 33'), wherein in the closed position of the loudspeaker enclosure (1, 1 ', 1', 1'' 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) the active sound-emanating area (8, 9, 10, 2'', 11', 30', 31 ', 32', 33') of the at least one speaker (5, 6, 7, 21 ', 22', 23', 1c', 1d') of at least one of the speaker carrying parts (2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23) is covered and turned towards the rear side of another one of the speaker carrying parts (2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33).

Description

Loudspeaker enclosure with a closed and an open position

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a loudspeaker enclosure with a closed and an open position, which loudspeaker enclosure comprises speaker carrying parts moveable towards each other and each comprising at least one speaker with an active sound-emanating area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A loudspeaker enclosure with an open and a closed position is known from document DE 39 15 204 Al. According to this document the loudspeaker enclosure comprises a rectangular loudspeaker housing with a front panel with a bass loudspeaker. The front panel and the perpendicular side panels have an opening containing an individual loudspeaker which is supported to pivot about an axis parallel to and immediately adjacent to the front edge of the loudspeaker housing between a closed storing position, in which the loudspeaker is arranged flush with the outer surface of the loudspeaker housing, and an open working position, in which the loudspeaker projects perpendicularly. With the known loudspeaker enclosure, unfortunately, it has emerged that the loudspeaker is not very well suitable for small loudspeaker enclosures as are used for instance for portable devices such as portable audio players or mobile phones, since the folding mechanism of the known loudspeaker enclosure limits the number of speakers very much and thus the effective sound-emanating area of the whole loudspeaker enclosure. Since the active sound-emanating sides of the speakers arranged in the front panel are turned outwards in a folding position, it is a further drawback of the known embodiment that the active sound-emanating areas of at least part of the speakers are not protected very well in the closed position of the loudspeaker enclosure.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a loudspeaker enclosure of the type mentioned in the first paragraph, which obviates the drawbacks described hereinbefore. To achieve the object described above, characteristic features according to the invention are provided with a device according to the invention, so that a device according to the invention can be characterized as follows:

A loudspeaker enclosure with a closed and an open position, which loudspeaker enclosure comprises speaker carrying parts moveable towards each other and each comprising at least one speaker with an active sound-emanating area, wherein in the closed position of the loudspeaker enclosure the active sound-emanating area of the at least one speaker of at least one of the speaker carrying parts is covered and turned towards the rear side of another one of the speaker carrying parts, which rear side lies diametrically opposed to the active sound-emanating area of the at least one speaker of said other speaker carrying part.

The provision of the characteristic features according to the invention creates the advantage that the loudspeaker enclosure can easily be stored and transported, while the active sound-emanating areas of the speakers are protected very well. Furthermore, the loudspeaker enclosure can in principle comprise any number of speakers. Thus the effective sound-emanating area is maximized. On the other hand, the advantage is achieved that due to its construction the loudspeaker enclosure is very convenient to transport.

Moreover, the acoustic efficiency, meaning the ratio between displaced volume to the volume of the speaker or its housing respectively, is higher for smaller speakers than for bigger ones. Hence the use of more small speakers instead of one big speaker results in an improvement of efficiency. A further advantage is the flexibility of design, because smaller speakers may be arranged with more freedom than one big one. Yet another advantage is reduced weight as well as reduced vibrations of the housing since the weight of small speakers as well as the vibrating mass of small speakers is lower than that of one big speaker. Finally, an arrangement of more speakers allows to create so-called "sound beams", meaning that sound is directed into a definite direction, whereas besides said beam there is no or substantially no sound. It is also possible to emulate a stereo effect or to make a spatial sound respectively. AU this is accomplished by phase shift of the signals of the speakers which is naturally not possible when there is only one big speaker. It should be noted, that for the aforesaid advantages always an arrangement of more small speakers has been compared to one big speaker having the same sound pressure.

If the sound-emanating directions of the speakers are substantially the same in the closed and/or open position of the loudspeaker enclosure, the advantages are achieved that the speakers are protected very well in the closed position, whereas in the open position the effective sound-emanating area in one direction is increased and thus the sound reproduction in this direction is improved very much.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the loudspeaker enclosure folds in a zigzag fashion. This achieves the advantages that on the one hand a very good protection of the speakers in the closed position is achieved, whereas on the other hand a spatial positioning of the speakers in the open position is improved, since the speakers can be arranged in a great number of positions such as in a line or in a ring etc.

According to another embodiment of the invention the speaker carrying parts are interconnected with each other in a manner that they conduct a scissor movement when they are moved from the open position into the closed position of the loudspeaker enclosure. This offers the advantage that the loudspeaker enclosure can be opened and closed very easily. A further advantage of this embodiment is that the number of moveable parts is reduced so that the risk of damaging the loudspeaker enclosure when opening or closing the loudspeaker enclosure is minimized. However, it has proved to be particularly advantageous if the loudspeaker enclosure is provided to be opened and closed by shifting the speaker carrying parts towards each other. This offers the advantage that the loudspeaker enclosure is secured against an unwanted opening by folding during transportation.

It is further advantageous if the loudspeaker enclosure folds around at least two axes which are orthogonal to each other. This offers the advantage that the speakers are arranged in the form of a matrix in the open position by which the effective sound-emanating area of the loudspeaker enclosure can be optimized very easily according to given requirements for sound reproduction.

The sound reproduction of a mobile electronic device is improved if a docking station for a portable electronic device is used comprising at least one loudspeaker enclosure according to the invention.

These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from and will be elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter, by way of non- limiting example, with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a loudspeaker enclosure according to the invention in a closed position. - A -

Fig. 2 shows the loudspeaker enclosure of Fig. 1 in an open position. Fig. 2a shows a variant of the loudspeaker enclosure of Fig. 1 in an open position.

Fig. 2b shows an alternative variant to the loudspeaker enclosure of Fig. 1 in an open position.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a loudspeaker enclosure according to the invention in a closed position.

Fig. 4 shows the loudspeaker enclosure of Fig. 3 in an open position. Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of a loudspeaker enclosure according to the invention.

Fig. 6 shows a docking station comprising a loudspeaker enclosure according to the invention.

Fig. 7a shows a top view of a further embodiment of a loudspeaker enclosure according to the invention in an open position. Fig. 7b shows a front view of the embodiment of Fig. 7a in the direction dl .

Fig. 7c shows a top view of the loudspeaker enclosure of Fig. 7a after a first folding step.

Fig. 7d shows a front view of the loudspeaker enclosure illustrated in Fig. 7c in the direction dl. Fig. 7e shows a top view of the loudspeaker enclosure of Fig. 7a after a second folding step.

Fig 7f shows a front view of the loudspeaker enclosure illustrated in Fig. 7e in the direction dl.

Fig. 7g shows a top view of the loudspeaker enclosure of Fig. 7a in a closed position.

Fig. 7h shows a front view of the loudspeaker enclosure illustrated in Fig. 7g in the direction dl.

The figures are schematically drawn and not true to scale, and the identical reference numerals in different figures refer to corresponding elements. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that alternative but equivalent embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the true inventive concept and that the scope of the invention will be limited by the claims only. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 shows a zigzag folding loudspeaker enclosure 1 according to the invention in a closed position. The loudspeaker enclosure 1 comprises speaker carrying parts 2, 3, 4 comprising speakers 5, 6, 7 which speaker carrying parts 2, 3, 4 are moveable towards each other. The speakers 5, 6, 7 are common loudspeakers as they are known to those skilled in the art. Further the speakers 5, 6, 7 are all identical according to a preferred embodiment.

The speaker carrying parts 2, 3, 4 are interconnected with each other in a manner that the loudspeaker enclosure 1 is folding from an open position, shown in Fig. 2, by conducting a rotational movement. Each of the speakers 5, 6, 7 comprises an active sound-emanating area 8, 9,

10. The sound-emanating directions of the speakers 5, 6, 7 are substantially the same in closed position, in which the loudspeaker enclosure 1 is folded.

In the closed position of the loudspeaker enclosure 1 the active sound- emanating areas 9 and 10 of the speakers 6 and 7 are covered and turned towards the rear side of the speaker carrying parts 3 or 2 respectively. In the following description the rear side of a speaker carrying part 2, 3, 4 is understood to mean the surface of this part 2, 3, 4, which surface lies diametrically opposed to the active sound-emanating area 8, 9, 10 of this part 2, 3, 4.

Thus the sound-emanating area 9, 10 of an antecedent speaker carrying part 3, 4 is covered and turned towards the rear side of the following speaker carrying part 2, 3.

Two adjacent speaker carrying parts 2, 3, 4 are interconnected by means of an intermediate part 11, 12. The intermediate parts 11, 12 each cover the sound-emanating area 9, 10 of one of the speakers 6 or 7 respectively in a folded position of the loudspeaker enclosure 1. The intermediate parts 11, 12 and the speaker carrying parts 2, 3, 4 are each essentially in the form of a cuboid. The intermediate parts 11, 12 are connected to the respective speaker carrying parts by means of hinges 13, 14, 15, 16. The hinges 13, 14, 15, 16 connecting an intermediate part 11, 12 to two speaker carrying parts 2, 3, 4 are arranged on diametrically opposed edges of the respective intermediate part 11, 12. The sound-emanating directions of the speakers 5, 6, 7 are substantially equi- directional to each other in the closed position of the loudspeaker enclosure 1. In the open position of the loudspeaker enclosure 1 the sound-emanating directions of the speakers 5, 6, 7 do not necessarily need to be equi-directional. So the speakers 5, 6, 7 could be arranged in the form of a ring or an arch depending on how far the loudspeaker enclosure 1 is unfolded. According to Fig. 2 the speaker carrying parts 2, 3, 4 and the intermediate parts 11, 12 form a pivoted plate assembly. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the loudspeaker enclosure 1 can be brought into an open position, in which the active sound- emanating areas 8, 9, 10 essentially lie in a common plane. The loudspeaker enclosure Ia shown in Fig. 2a differs from the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 just in that the intermediate part 11 of the loudspeaker enclosure Ia comprises a speaker 11 ' as well. The active sound-emanating area 11 " of the speaker 11 ' is orientated in the same direction as the active sound-emanating areas 8, 9 of the adjacent speaker carrying parts 2, 3. Fig. 2b shows a further alternative embodiment of the invention according to which the loudspeaker enclosure Ib comprises only two speaker carrying parts 2, 2'. The speaker carrying parts 2 and 2' are interconnected by means of the hinge 16. By folding the speaker carrying part 2 or the speaker carrying part 2' around the hinge 16 the loudspeaker enclosure is brought from the open position into the closed position. Since just two speaker carrying parts 2, 2' are provided, the speakers 5, 2" of the two speaker carrying parts 2, 2' are arranged in a manner that their active sound- emanating areas 8, 2'" are turned towards opposite directions in the open position of the loudspeaker enclosure Ib. The measurements mentioned in the last sentence ensure that the active sound-emanating area 2'" of the speaker 2" is turned towards the rear side of the speaker carrying part 2 and is thus protected in the closed position of the loudspeaker enclosure Ib.

Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of a loudspeaker enclosure 1' according to the invention. The loudspeaker enclosure 1 ' shown in Fig. 3 also comprises speaker carrying parts 17, 18, 19. The speaker carrying parts 17, 18, 19 are interconnected in a manner that they are shiftable towards each other by means of a translatory movement. Thus the loudspeaker enclosure 1 ' is opening and closing by shifting the speaker carrying parts 17, 18, 19 towards each other.

According to a preferred embodiment each speaker carrying part 17, 18, 19 comprises a guidance for the following part 17, 18, 19. The guidance is not shown in Fig. 3 and can be realized by means of guiding rails on the rear side of a speaker carrying part 17, 18, 19. In a preferred embodiment of the invention a cover part 20 is arranged in front of the speaker carrying part 17. This offers the advantage that the active sound-emanating areas 8, 9, 10 of all the speakers 5, 6, 7 are protected in the folded position of the loudspeaker enclosure 1'. Furthermore the speaker carrying parts 17, 18, 19 are essentially of the same size, wherein the speaker carrying parts 17, 18, 19 form a stack in the folded position.

Further the sound-emanating directions of the speakers 5, 6, 7 are substantially equi-directional to each other in the closed and in the open position of the loudspeaker enclosure 1'.

According to Fig. 4 the loudspeaker enclosure 1 ' can be brought from the closed position into an open position by shifting the speaker carrying parts 17, 18, 19 and the cover part 20 in a lateral direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. 3. In other words the loudspeaker enclosure 1 ' is brought into its opened or closed position by moving the speaker carrying parts 17, 18, 19 and the cover part 20 like drawers. Thus the loudspeaker enclosure I' is telescopic.

Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of the invention, according to which a loudspeaker enclosure 1" comprises a main speaker carrying part 21 and two lateral speaker carrying parts 22, 23 laterally extruding from the main speaker carrying part 21. The lateral speaker carrying parts 22, 23 and the main speaker carrying part 21 each comprise a plurality of speakers 21 ' , 22 ' , 23 ' . The main part 21 is connected to a stator 24 to achieve a standalone loudspeaker enclosure 1". The lateral speaker carrying parts 22, 23 are each interconnected with the main speaker carrying part 21 by means of an articulated joint 25, 26.

The lateral parts 22, 23 each conduct a scissor movement when they are moved from an open position, in which the active sound-emanating areas of their speakers 22', 23' are uncovered, towards the main body 21 into a closed position. According to an embodiment of the invention the lateral parts 22, 23 are folded away into the main speaker carrying part 21.

Fig. 6 shows a docking station 27 for a portable electronic device 28. The portable electronic device 28 can for instance be a portable music player or mobile phone etc. The docking station 27 comprises two loudspeaker enclosures Ic, Id according to the invention. The loudspeaker enclosures Ic, Id shown in Fig. 6 are of the same type as the loudspeaker enclosure 1" shown in Fig. 5. The loudspeaker enclosure Ic is shown in a folded position whereas the other loudspeaker enclosure Id is shown in a semi-open position. The docking station 27 comprises a collet 29 for the mobile device 28. The collet 29 comprises means, as they are known to those skilled in the art, for supplying an audio signal provided at an audio output of the mobile device 28 to the speakers Ic', Id' of the loudspeaker enclosures Ic, Id. Figs. 7a-7h show a further embodiment of the invention according to which the speaker carrying parts 30, 31, 32, 33 are folding around axes al, a2 or a2, a3 respectively which are orthogonal to each other and to the axis L of the loudspeakers. According to this embodiment of the invention the loudspeaker enclosure 1'" is folding like a map. The active sound-emanating areas of the speaker carrying parts 30, 31, 32, 33 are indicated with 30', 31', 32', 33 ' in the Figs. 7a - 7h

Figs. 7b- 7f show different steps of bringing the speaker enclosure from the open position as illustrated in Figs. 7a and 7b into a closed position as shown in Figs. 7g and 7h. In a first step the speaker carrying part 30 is folded around the axis al, so that the speaker carrying part 30 comes to lie with its active sound-emanating area 30' on the surface of the adjacent speaker carrying part 31 as shown in Fig 7c and 7d.

In a second step the speaker carrying parts 30 and 31 are folded around the axis a2, wherein the speaker carrying parts 30 and 31 come to lie on the rear side of the speaker carrying part 32 as shown in Figs. 7e and 7f .

In a final step the package of the speaker carrying parts 30, 31 and 32 are folded around the axis a3, so that the speaker carrying parts 30, 31 and 32 come to lie on the speaker carrying part 33 as shown in Figs. 7g and 7h. The axes al, a2, a3 constitute physical axes that are realized by means of hinges. In the case where the loudspeaker enclosure shown in Figs. 7a - 7h comprise just three speaker carrying parts 30, 31, 32, 33 the loudspeaker enclosure is folding just around two of the axes al, a2 or a3 respectively.

It should be mentioned that the invention could in principle be realized with any number of speaker carrying parts 2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33 larger than one, building any number of adjacent stacks. It is just of importance that in a folded position of the loudspeaker enclosure 1, 1', 1", 1'", Ia, Ib, Ic, Id the active sound-emanating area 8, 9, 10, 2"', 11", 30', 31', 32', 33' of a speaker carrying part 2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33 is covered and turned towards the rear side of another speaker carrying part2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33. Also the speaker carrying parts 2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33 could comprise any number of speakers 5, 6, 7, 21', 22', 23', Ic', Id'.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be capable of designing many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed in parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claims. The words "comprising" and "comprises", and the like, do not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in any claim or the specification as a whole. The singular reference of an element does not exclude the plural reference of such elements and vice-versa. In a device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

1. A loudspeaker enclosure (1, 1', 1", 1'" Ia, Ib, Ic, Id) with a closed and an open position, which loudspeaker enclosure (1, 1', 1", 1'" Ia, Ib, Ic, Id) comprises speaker carrying parts (2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33) moveable towards each other and each comprising at least one speaker (5, 6, 7, 21 ', 22', 23', Ic', Id') with an active sound-emanating area (8, 9, 10, 2'", 11", 30', 31', 32', 33'), wherein in the closed position of the loudspeaker enclosure (1, 1', 1", 1'" Ia, Ib, Ic, Id) the active sound-emanating area (8, 9, 10, 2"', 11", 30', 31', 32', 33') of the at least one speaker (5, 6, 7, 21', 22', 23', Ic', Id') of at least one of the speaker carrying parts (2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23) is covered and turned towards the rear side of another one of the speaker carrying parts (2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33), which rear side lies diametrically opposed to the active sound-emanating area (8, 9, 10, 2"', 11", 30', 31', 32', 33') of the at least one speaker (5, 6, 7, 21', 22', 23', Ic', Id') of said other speaker carrying part (2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33).

2. A loudspeaker enclosure (1, 1', 1", 1'" Ia, Ib, Ic, Id) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sound-emanating directions of the speakers (6, 7, 22', 23') are substantially equi- directional to each other in the closed and/or open position of the loudspeaker enclosure (1, 1', 1", Ia, Ib).

3. A loudspeaker enclosure (1, Ia, Ib) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loudspeaker enclosure (1, Ia, Ib) folds in a zigzag fashion.

4. A loudspeaker enclosure (1", Ic, Id) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the speaker carrying parts (21, 22, 23) are interconnected with each other in a manner, that they conduct a scissor movement when they are moved from the open position into the closed position of the loudspeaker enclosure (1", Ic, Id).

5. A loudspeaker enclosure (1 ') as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loudspeaker enclosure (1 ') is provided to be opened and closed by shifting the speaker carrying parts (17, 18, 19) towards each other.

6. A loudspeaker enclosure (1'") as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loudspeaker enclosure (1'") is folding around at least two axes (al, a2, a3) which are orthogonal to each other.

7. A docking station (27) for a portable electronic device (28) comprising at least one loudspeaker enclosure (Ic, Id) as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 6.