EP4113506B1 - Speaker system comprising a box and a speaker mounted rotatably - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an acoustic enclosure comprising a box extending in one direction, and at least one loudspeaker mounted on the box, the loudspeaker comprising a frame, and a membrane adapted to emit sound waves, the membrane being movable relative to the chassis along an acoustic axis of the speaker, the box defining a first axis perpendicular to the direction, and a second axis perpendicular to the direction and to the first axis, the acoustic enclosure being intended to be used in at least one first configuration, in which the first axis is substantially vertical, and a second configuration, in which a second axis is substantially vertical.

Such an acoustic enclosure has for example an elongated shape in the direction and is advantageously used for the sound reinforcement of a television screen, for example a large flat screen. Such an acoustic speaker is commonly called a “soundbar”. It generally comprises a main speaker, located for example equidistant from the ends of the box, and secondary speakers, located for example in the ends.

The first configuration corresponds to a use in which the acoustic enclosure is typically placed on a horizontal surface, for example a piece of furniture, a tablet or the floor, in front of or under the screen, the second axis being substantially directed towards a user located in front the television screen. The acoustic axis of the main speaker is then generally directed substantially towards the user, possibly slightly upwards.

It is known to use such an acoustic enclosure in the second configuration, in which it is typically fixed on a vertical surface, for example a partition, below or above the screen, the first axis being substantially directed towards the user. To move from the first configuration to the second configuration, the acoustic enclosure is pivoted 90° around the direction, so that the face of the box which was directed towards the user in the first configuration is directed upwards for reasons related to the layout of the secondary speakers. Then, we turn the acoustic enclosure 180° around the second axis (then vertical), so that the face of the box which was directed upwards in the first configuration is directed towards the user in the second configuration, and not towards the partition.

The problem is then that the acoustic axis of the speaker is no longer directed towards the user, but towards the ceiling or the sky. To remedy this problem, it is known to use a second main speaker, mounted on the box in a manner that its acoustic axis is in the right direction. However, this makes the soundbar heavier and more expensive, somewhat unnecessarily, because only one of the two main speakers is really useful in each configuration.

One solution would be for the main speaker to have an acoustic axis making an angle of 45° with a horizontal plane in the first configuration. The acoustic axis would also make an angle of 45° with the horizontal in the second configuration. However, an angle of 45° does not provide good acoustic rendering and is therefore not desirable. The document US 2019/191248 describes an acoustic enclosure of this type. The document US 2012/263325 also describes an acoustic enclosure in which the speakers are fixed relative to the box.

Another solution would be to mount the main rotary speaker relative to the box, around an axis parallel to the direction, and to move it from a first position, occupied in the first configuration, to a second position, occupied in the second configuration. The transition from the first position to the second position would be a rotation of approximately 90° of the main speaker relative to the box, which would put the acoustic axis back towards the user. The document US 2020/221217 describes an acoustic enclosure of this type.

However, this solution has several drawbacks. First of all, the pivot connections between the main speaker and the box are visible and unsightly, and impossible to conceal in the case of a globular shaped speaker received in a flared housing formed by the box.

Furthermore, if the loudspeaker has a distinctive mark on its surface, such as a logo, presenting a certain correct orientation for the user in the first configuration of the loudspeaker and the first position of the loudspeaker, this orientation is reversed and incorrect in the second configuration and second position. In other words, for the user, the logo is correctly oriented in the first configuration, and is upside down in the second configuration.

Finally, pivot connections make it difficult, if not impossible, to add passive membranes (adapted to emit sound waves without being excited by a coil) on either side of the main speaker in the direction in question. In fact, these membranes would be crossed by the pivot connections.

An aim of the invention is to overcome all or part of the above drawbacks, and in particular to propose an acoustic enclosure such that a logo placed on the main speaker is not inverted in the second configuration, and presenting a quality comparable acoustics and a competitive cost.

To this end, the subject of the invention is an acoustic enclosure according to claim 1.

According to particular embodiments, the acoustic enclosure comprises one or more of the characteristics corresponding to claims 2 to 10, taken in isolation or in all technically possible combinations.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique, en perspective, d'une enceinte acoustique selon l'invention dans la première configuration, le haut-parleur étant dans la première position par rapport au caisson ;
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique, en section selon un plan perpendiculaire à la direction, de l'enceinte acoustique représentée sur la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue schématique, en perspective, de l'enceinte acoustique représentée sur les figures 1 et 2, mais dans la deuxième configuration, le haut-parleur étant dans la deuxième position par rapport au caisson ; et
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique, en section selon le plan perpendiculaire à la direction, de l'enceinte acoustique représentée sur la figure 3

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• there figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an acoustic enclosure according to the invention in the first configuration, the loudspeaker being in the first position relative to the box;
• there figure 2 is a schematic view, in section along a plane perpendicular to the direction, of the acoustic enclosure shown on the figure 1 ;
• there Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the acoustic enclosure shown on the figures 1 And 2 , but in the second configuration, the loudspeaker being in the second position relative to the box; And
• there Figure 4 is a schematic view, in section along the plane perpendicular to the direction, of the acoustic enclosure shown on the Figure 3

With reference to figures 1 to 4 , we describe an acoustic enclosure 10 according to the invention.

The acoustic enclosure 10 is for example a sound bar, advantageously adapted to provide sound, possibly with other acoustic elements (not shown), to a television screen (not shown).

The acoustic enclosure 10 comprises a box 12 extending in a direction L, and a loudspeaker 14 mounted on the box 12. Advantageously, the acoustic enclosure 10 also comprises loudspeakers 16, 18 mounted in ends 20 , 22 of the box 12 opposite in the direction L.

The acoustic enclosure 10 is intended to be used in a first configuration ( figures 1 And 2 ), in which a first axis V1 defined by the box 12 and perpendicular to the direction L is substantially vertical, and in a second configuration ( figures 3 And 4 ), in which a second axis V2 defined by the box 12 and perpendicular to the first axis V1 in the direction L is substantially vertical.

In the first configuration ( figure 1 ), the acoustic enclosure 10 is intended to rest on a horizontal surface, for example on a piece of furniture or the floor (not shown). The second axis V2 is intended to be directed towards a user (not shown).

In the second configuration ( Figure 3 ), the acoustic enclosure 10 is intended to be fixed on a vertical surface, for example a partition (not shown). The first axis V1 is intended to be directed towards the user.

In each of the ends 20, 22, the speakers 16, 18 are for example one, two or three in number.

According to a variant not shown, there are no speakers in the ends 20, 22.

The box 12 advantageously has an oblong shape in the direction L, for example parallelepiped.

The direction L is a longitudinal direction in the example shown.

Alternatively (not shown), the direction L is not longitudinal. The box 12 is then more extended in at least one other direction perpendicular to the direction L.

According to variants not shown, the box 12 has other shapes, for example spherical, elliptical, or cylindrical, or with the ends 20, 22 rounded or not.

The box 12 is for example wider along the second axis V2 than along the first axis V1.

According to a variant not shown, it is the opposite.

In the example, the box 12 comprises a front face 24 perpendicular to the second axis V2 and oriented towards the user (not shown) in the first configuration, a rear face 26, an upper face 28 perpendicular to the first axis V1, and a lower face 30. The box also has two extreme faces in the direction L, for example perpendicular to the latter.

The box 12 defines for example a housing 36 in which the loudspeaker 14 is partially located, and a support 37 advantageously located at the bottom of the housing 36 and on which the loudspeaker is mounted.

The housing 36 is for example located equidistant from the ends 20, 22 in the direction L. The housing 36 extends advantageously on the upper face 28 and on the front face 24. In other words, the housing 36 opens onto the upper face 28 and on the front face 24.

The housing 36 has for example a flared shape around the first axis V1, and opening onto the front face 24 along the second axis V2. The housing 36 advantageously has a shape resulting from the deformation of an elastic surface (the upper face 28) under the effect of a heavy ball (the speaker 14).

The lower face 30 is advantageously adapted to rest on the horizontal surface in the first configuration, or to be fixed on the vertical surface in the second configuration.

The loudspeaker 14 is for example located equidistant from the ends 20, 22 in direction L.

The speaker 14 comprises a chassis 38 ( figure 2 And 4 ), and a membrane 40 adapted to emit sound waves, the membrane being movable relative to the frame 38 along an acoustic axis X.

The loudspeaker 14 is movable relative to the box 12 in rotation around an axis of rotation D between a first position ( figure 1 And 2 ), intended to be occupied when the acoustic enclosure 10 is in the first configuration, and a second position ( figures 3 And 4 ), intended to be occupied when the acoustic enclosure is in the second configuration.

The loudspeaker 14 advantageously comprises a fixing part 42 secured to the chassis 38 and mounted, for example using ball bearings 44, on the support 37 so as to form a notched pivot connection.

The loudspeaker 14 advantageously comprises an external envelope 46, for example of globular shape, secured to the fixing part 42 and enveloping the chassis 38 and the membrane 40.

Advantageously, the loudspeaker 14 comprises two passive membranes 48, 50 mounted on the external envelope 46, and for example opposed to one another in direction L.

The loudspeaker 14 passes for example from the first position to the second position by rotating around the axis of rotation D by an angle between 160° and 200°, for example approximately 180°.

In the first position, the acoustic axis X defines with the second axis V2 a first angle α1 less than 30° in absolute value, preferably less than 15° in absolute value.

In the second position, the acoustic axis X defines with the first axis V1 a second angle α2 less than 30° in absolute value, preferably less than 15° in absolute value.

By “absolute value”, we mean that we do not take into account any possible orientation of the angle.

The axis of rotation D defines with the first axis V1 a third angle β1 between 40° and 50° in absolute value, and with the second axis V2 a fourth angle β2 between 40° and 50° in absolute value. The axis of rotation D is advantageously located in a plane P defined by the first axis V1 and the second axis V2.

The third angle β1 and the fourth angle β2 are advantageously between 43° and 47° in absolute value. For example, the third angle β1 is substantially equal to 45° in absolute value.

The outer envelope 46 comprises an external surface 52 advantageously bearing a distinctive sign 54, for example a logo.

The distinctive sign 54 has a certain orientation with respect to the second axis V2 when the acoustic enclosure 10 is in the first configuration and the loudspeaker 14 in the first position, and has the same orientation with respect to the first axis V1 when the acoustic enclosure 10 is in the second configuration and the loudspeaker in the second position.

The operation of the acoustic enclosure 10 will now be described.

The first configuration ( figures 1 And 2 ) corresponds to a use in which the acoustic enclosure 10 is typically placed on the horizontal surface (not shown). The second axis V2 is horizontal and directed towards the user. Speaker 14 is in the first position. Thus, the acoustic axis X forms the first angle α1 with the second axis V2 and is directed substantially towards the user, possibly slightly upwards. The distinctive sign 54 is correctly oriented.

To move from the first configuration to the second configuration ( figures 3 And 4 ), we pivot for example the acoustic enclosure 10 at 90° in absolute value around the direction L so that the front face 24 is directed upwards, then we rotate the acoustic enclosure 180° around the second axis V2 ( then vertical), so that the upper face 28 is directed towards the user and not towards the partition. The first axis V1 is horizontal and directed towards the user.

If the speaker 14 were left in the first position, in which the acoustic axis X forms the first angle α1 with the second axis V2, the acoustic axis X would not be directed towards the user, but clearly upwards. . Furthermore, at this stage, the distinctive sign 54, seen by the user, is upside down.

Also, the speaker 14 is moved relative to the box 12 from the first position to the second position. In the second position, the acoustic axis X forms the second angle α2 with the first axis V1 and again directed towards the user, possibly a little upwards. In the example shown, the passage from the first position to the second position is a rotation of 180° around the axis of rotation D which forms an angle of 45° in absolute value with the horizontal This resets the loudspeaker 14 in the same relative orientation relative to the user as that initially occupied.

In addition, as the rotation is approximately 180°, it perfectly reverses the orientation of the distinctive sign seen by the user. The orientation of the distinctive sign 54 is therefore correct again once the speaker 14 is in the second position.

The example described is in some way a preferred example, in which the reversal of the orientation of the distinctive sign 54 by moving from the first position to the second position is "perfect", due to the fact that the axis of rotation D is in the plane P, that the axis of rotation D forms an angle of 45° in absolute value with these axes, and that the rotation is 180°.

However, we understand that an inversion is nevertheless possible even if these three conditions are not strictly respected. Indeed, we understand that it is possible to obtain an interesting inversion, even when the axis of rotation D is not quite in the plane P, does not quite form an angle of 45° in absolute value with the first axis V1 and the second axis V2, or that the rotation is not exactly 180°. Thus, the invention cannot be reduced to the fact that these three “special” conditions exist.

Thanks to the characteristics described above, in particular the passage from the first position to the second position, the distinctive sign 54 placed on the speaker 14 is not inverted in the second configuration and the acoustic axis X remains correctly directed. Thus, the acoustic enclosure 10 maintains comparable acoustic quality and a competitive cost.

Furthermore, we understand that the invention makes it possible to mount the loudspeaker 14 "from the rear" on the box 12, at the bottom of the housing 36. This makes it possible to easily hide the pivot connection connecting the loudspeaker 14 to the box 12. .

This also makes it possible, for example, to provide one or two passive membranes 48, 50 located on either side of the loudspeaker 14 in the direction L. Such an arrangement would be impossible in the presence of a pivot connection whose axis would itself be in the direction L. In the invention, the axis of rotation D is located in, or is close to, the plane P, that is to say it is rather perpendicular to the direction L. pivot connection is therefore distant from the passive membrane(s).

Claims (10)

1. An acoustic loudspeaker (10) comprising a cabinet (12) extending along a direction (L), and at least one speaker (14) mounted on the cabinet (12), the speaker (14) comprising a frame (38), and a membrane (40) adapted to emit sound waves, the membrane (40) being movable relative to the chassis (38) along an acoustic axis (X) of the speaker (14), the cabinet (12) defining a first axis (V1) perpendicular to the direction (L), and a second axis (V2) perpendicular to the direction (L) and to the first axis (V1), the acoustic loudspeaker (10) being intended to be used at least in a first configuration, wherein the first axis (V1) is substantially vertical, and a second configuration, wherein the second axis (V2) is substantially vertical, the speaker (14) being movable with respect to the cabinet (12) in rotation around an axis of rotation (D) between a first position, intended to be occupied when the acoustic loudspeaker (10) is in the first configuration and wherein the acoustic axis (X) defines with the second axis (V2) a first angle (α1) less than 30° in absolute value, and a second position, intended to be occupied when the acoustic loudspeaker (10) is in the second configuration and wherein the axis acoustic (X) defines with the first axis (V1) a second angle (α2) less than 30° in absolute value, the axis of rotation (D) defining with the first axis (V1) a third angle (β1) comprised between 40° and 50° in absolute value, and with the second axis (V2) a fourth angle (β2) comprised between 40° and 50° in absolute value.
2. The acoustic loudspeaker (10) according to Claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation (D) lies in a plane (P) defined by the first axis (V1) and the second axis (V2).
3. The acoustic loudspeaker (10) according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the third angle (β1) and the fourth angle (β2) are between 43° and 47° in absolute value.
4. The acoustic loudspeaker (10) according to Claim 3, wherein the third angle (β1) is equal to 45° in absolute value.
5. The acoustic loudspeaker (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the first angle (α1) and the second angle (α2) are less than 15° in absolute value.
6. The acoustic loudspeaker (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the speaker (14) passes from the first position to the second position by a rotation of an angle comprised between 160° and 200° around the axis of rotation (D).
7. The acoustic loudspeaker (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the cabinet (12) has an oblong shape in the direction (L), the cabinet (12) having two ends (20, 22) opposite to each other in the direction (L), the acoustic loudspeaker (10) having speakers (16, 18) mounted at said two ends (20, 22).
8. The acoustic loudspeaker (10) according to claim 7, wherein the speaker (14) is located equidistant from the two ends (20, 22).
9. The acoustic loudspeaker (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the speaker (14) comprises an outer surface (52) and a distinctive sign (54) on the outer surface (52), the distinctive sign (54) having a specific orientation relative to the second axis (V2) when the acoustic loudspeaker (10) is in the first configuration and the speaker (14) is in the first position, and having the same orientation relative to the first axis (V1) when the acoustic loudspeaker (10) is in the second configuration and the speaker (14) is in the second position.
10. The acoustic loudspeaker (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the speaker (14) comprises at least one passive diaphragm (48, 50) located on one side of the frame (38) in the direction (L).

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