EP4199532A1 - Subwoofer - Google Patents

Subwoofer Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP4199532A1
EP4199532A1 EP21020638.9A EP21020638A EP4199532A1 EP 4199532 A1 EP4199532 A1 EP 4199532A1 EP 21020638 A EP21020638 A EP 21020638A EP 4199532 A1 EP4199532 A1 EP 4199532A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tube
subwoofer
shaped element
driver
opening
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP21020638.9A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Peter Rutschi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to EP21020638.9A priority Critical patent/EP4199532A1/de
Priority to PCT/IB2022/062370 priority patent/WO2023111979A1/en
Publication of EP4199532A1 publication Critical patent/EP4199532A1/de
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04RLOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R1/00Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R1/02Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein
    • H04R1/021Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein incorporating only one transducer
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04RLOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R1/00Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R1/20Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics
    • H04R1/22Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics for obtaining desired frequency characteristic only 
    • H04R1/28Transducer mountings or enclosures modified by provision of mechanical or acoustic impedances, e.g. resonator, damping means
    • H04R1/2807Enclosures comprising vibrating or resonating arrangements
    • H04R1/2815Enclosures comprising vibrating or resonating arrangements of the bass reflex type
    • H04R1/2819Enclosures comprising vibrating or resonating arrangements of the bass reflex type for loudspeaker transducers
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04RLOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R1/00Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R1/20Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics
    • H04R1/22Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics for obtaining desired frequency characteristic only 
    • H04R1/28Transducer mountings or enclosures modified by provision of mechanical or acoustic impedances, e.g. resonator, damping means
    • H04R1/2807Enclosures comprising vibrating or resonating arrangements
    • H04R1/283Enclosures comprising vibrating or resonating arrangements using a passive diaphragm
    • H04R1/2834Enclosures comprising vibrating or resonating arrangements using a passive diaphragm for loudspeaker transducers
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04RLOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R1/00Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R1/20Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics
    • H04R1/22Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics for obtaining desired frequency characteristic only 
    • H04R1/28Transducer mountings or enclosures modified by provision of mechanical or acoustic impedances, e.g. resonator, damping means
    • H04R1/2869Reduction of undesired resonances, i.e. standing waves within enclosure, or of undesired vibrations, i.e. of the enclosure itself
    • H04R1/2876Reduction of undesired resonances, i.e. standing waves within enclosure, or of undesired vibrations, i.e. of the enclosure itself by means of damping material, e.g. as cladding

Definitions

  • the invention pertains the field of sound, in particular music, reproduction. It relates, in particular, to a subwoofer in accordance with the independent patent claim.
  • dedicated low-frequency loudspeakers can be used to reproduce low frequencies, in particular bass and sub-bass.
  • Frequency ranges for such dedicated speakers may have an upper limit of at least approximately 200Hz for consumer products, of at least approximately 100Hz for high-fidelity or professional stage and/or live equipment, and at least approximately 80Hz for movie theaters.
  • a lower limit of the frequency range is usually below 20Hz and may reach down to 10Hz or even 5Hz.
  • Such dedicated low-frequency loudspeakers are often referred to as subwoofers. While both the expressions loudspeaker and subwoofer are often used to refer to a so-called (speaker) driver or driver unit only, in what follows the terms shall denote a combination of a driver or driver unit with a loudspeaker enclosure (frequently referred to in brief as an "enclosure") or (loudspeaker) cabinet, which combination may constitute at least a part of what is sometimes called a loudspeaker system.
  • the driver unit may comprise a so-called diaphragm which may be excited, in particular brought to oscillate, by electric, in particular electrostatic and/or electromagnetic means, thus creating acoustic waves.
  • acoustic wavelengths for frequencies between 10Hz and 100 Hz range from around 34m to 3.4 m.
  • a diaphragm should be as large as possible to be able to efficiently induce acoustic oscillations and/or waves in the surrounding air.
  • Common subwoofer diaphragm sizes, in particular diameters, thus start at approximately 25cm (10"), and reach up to 46cm (18") or more.
  • a subwoofer in accordance with an aspect of the invention as hereinafter claimed may comprise the features of claim 1 below.
  • a subwoofer in accordance with an aspect of the invention may comprise:
  • the subwoofer may, in particular, have an upper cutoff frequency or an upper corner frequency between 80 and 200Hz, wherein the cutoff frequency may be defined as the frequency at which a frequency dependent response has fallen to 50% or -3dB of a maximum value of said response.
  • the subwoofer may comprise a (speaker) driver or driver unit, which may in turn comprise a diaphragm, in particular made of paper, plastic or composite material, in particular fiber-reinforced composite material.
  • the diaphragm may, in particular, at least approximately have the shape of a cone.
  • a first end of the diaphragm may be attached to a chassis (which may also be referred to as frame or basket), in particular a first side of a chassis, by a flexible material, in particular a flexible cone surround, allowing the diaphragm to move forward and backward along a first direction, which may correspond to a first longitudinal axis of the cone, about which first longitudinal axis the cone may be at least approximately rotationally symmetric.
  • a voice coil may be attached to the diaphragm at a second end, in particular an end of the cone having a smaller diameter.
  • the voice coil may be placed and/or situated in a magnetic field of a (permanent) magnet, which may also be attached to the chassis at a distance from the first side of the diaphragm, in particular at a second side of the chassis opposite and at a distance from the first side.
  • a (permanent) magnet which may also be attached to the chassis at a distance from the first side of the diaphragm, in particular at a second side of the chassis opposite and at a distance from the first side.
  • An AC current through the voice coil which may be provided by an amplifier, may then cause the diaphragm to oscillate about an equilibrium or resting position.
  • the enclosure may comprise, in particular consist of, an at least essentially tube-shaped, or tubular, element having a first, at least essentially circular, opening provided at a first end or front end of said tube-shaped element.
  • the tube-shaped element may be round, i.e. may have an at least essentially circular cross section, which may at least essentially remain constant over a length of the tube-shaped element, as may an inner and/or outer diameter of the tube-shaped element.
  • the tube-shaped element may in particular be a pipe.
  • the tube-shaped or tubular element may define a second longitudinal axis about which second longitudinal axis the tube-shaped element may be at least approximately rotationally symmetric. A plane defined by the first opening may be perpendicular to the second longitudinal axis.
  • the tube-shaped element may at least essentially be straight.
  • a length I of the tube-shaped element, in particular along the second longitudinal axis, may at least approximately equal an outer diameter D and/or a square root A of an outer cross section A of the tube-shaped element, in particular in a direction perpendicular to the second longitudinal axis.
  • the length I of the tube-shaped element may be larger than the outer diameter D and/or the square root A of the outer cross section A of the tube-shaped element, in particular with I > 2 D and/or l > 2 A .
  • An interior of the enclosure in particular the tube-shaped element, may essentially be empty and/or free of material other than air, with the possible exception of a portion of the driver extending into the former, and/or electric circuitry, in particular cables, for electrically connecting the voice coil to terminals provided on an outside of the enclosure.
  • the interior of the enclosure may at least partially be filled with a damping material for absorbing acoustic waves emitted from a back side of the driver.
  • the damping material may in particular comprise a (plastic) foam, e.g. polyurethane foam, and/or fiber material, e.g. glass fiber. While damping material may, in particular, be provided in relatively "short" subwoofers, in particular with l ⁇ D and/or l ⁇ A , relatively "long" subwoofers, in particular with l > 2D and/or l > 2 A
  • the driver may be placed in and/or attached to and/or over an opening provided in the enclosure, and may in particular cover and/or airtightly seal said opening, in particular the first opening of the tube-shaped element as described above.
  • the first direction, the first longitudinal axis and second longitudinal axis may extend in parallel, in particular with the first and second longitudinal axes coinciding.
  • An inner diameter d of the tube-shaped element may at least approximately equal a diaphragm size, in particular a (maximum) diameter of the diaphragm.
  • the tube-shaped element may at least partially be closed at a second end or back end of said tube-shaped element opposite and/or at a distance from the first end along the second longitudinal axis.
  • a back wall in particular a solid and/or rigid back wall may be provided to close the tube-shape element at the second end.
  • the back wall may be provided as an integral part of the tube-shaped element.
  • a passive driver may be provided
  • the tube-shaped element may have a second opening provided at a second end or back end of said tube-shaped element opposite and/or at a distance along the second longitudinal axis.
  • a cross section of the second opening may at least approximately equal a cross section of the first opening.
  • the cross section of the second opening may be smaller, in particular significantly smaller, than a cross section of the first opening.
  • the second opening may then, in particular, be formed in a back wall of the tube-shaped element, and/or may form a and/or serve as a bass reflex opening.
  • a passive driver in particular free of any voice coil, may be placed in and/or attached to and/or over the second opening, and may in particular cover and/or airtightly seal said second opening.
  • the passive driver may comprise a second diaphragm, in particular made of paper, plastic or composite material, in particular fiber-reinforced composite material.
  • the second diaphragm may, in particular, at least approximately have the shape of a cone.
  • a first end of the second diaphragm may be attached to a second chassis, in particular a first side of a second chassis, by a flexible material, in particular a flexible cone surround, allowing the second diaphragm to move forward and backward along a third direction, which may correspond to a second longitudinal axis of the cone, about which second longitudinal axis the cone may be at least approximately rotationally symmetric.
  • the first direction, the first longitudinal axis and second longitudinal axis may extend in parallel, in particular with the first and second longitudinal axes coinciding.
  • the tube-shaped element may have the form of a cylinder jacket, cylinder shell or cylinder surface, which cylinder jacket, cylinder shell or cylinder surface may in particular be open on a first side and a second side located opposite from one another.
  • the first and second openings may thus be provided as an integral part of the tube-shaped element.
  • the back wall may be formed integrally with the tube-shaped element as described above, it may alternatively be provided as a separate back wall element which may be attached, in particular releasably attached, at, in or over the second side of the cylinder jacket, cylinder shell or cylinder surface.
  • the second opening may then, in particular, be formed in said separate back wall element.
  • the separate back wall element may easily be removed and/or replaced by an owner and/or user of the subwoofer.
  • a set of different back wall elements, in particular with and without second opening, with second openings having different dimensions, in particular diameters, and/or with different stiffness, material etc. may be provided with the subwoofer to allow for changing and/or adapting sonic properties, in particular a bass reflex characteristic, of the subwoofer.
  • One or more bushings may be provided in the tube-shaped element and/or the separate back wall element to allow for electric connection, in particular cables, to be provided between the voice coil and electric terminals provided on an outside of the subwoofer, to which an amplifier may be connected.
  • the tube-shaped element may be made from and/or consist of concrete.
  • the separate back wall element may, where present, also be for be made from and/or consist of concrete.
  • Concrete provides excellent stiffness and rigidity and may relatively easily be formed into a large variety of desired shapes, in particular by casting, and without the need to provide any reinforcing elements and/or structures inside the tube-shaped element.
  • tube-shaped elements of various dimensions are readily available from stock, a length of which may be easily reduced to desired values. While a density of concrete is relatively high when compared to other common construction materials for loudspeaker enclosures, the easy and uncomplicated availability of different shapes and dimensions allows to closely match driver and enclosure dimensions, while keeping enclosure material requirements close to a physical minimum. In particular, for a given diaphragm size, a subwoofer with superior sonic and/or acoustic quality may be provided at very reasonable size and weight.
  • FIG. 1 shows an exploded view drawing of an exemplary subwoofer in accordance with the invention as hereinafter claimed.
  • a concrete tube 1 having a length I, constant outer diameter D and constant inner diameter d constitutes an enclosure consisting of a single, tube-shaped element.
  • a driver 2 with a voice coil 22 is inserted into a first opening 11 provided at a first end of the concrete tube (to the left side of the figure) at a position as indicated by dashed lines.
  • a separately formed back wall 31 is inserted into the tube 1 at a second end 12 of the concrete tube at a distance, in particular corresponding to length I, from the first end, to form a closed enclosure together with the tube 1.
  • Driver and back wall 31 may be firmly attached to the tube 1, e.g. by screws, which may in particular extend into a wall of the tube 1 and/or parallel to a longitudinal direction of the tube.
  • Fig. 2 shows an exploded view drawing of another exemplary subwoofer in accordance with the invention as hereinafter claimed.
  • the back wall 31' comprises a second opening which connects an interior volume 10 of the subwoofer with an outside through an optional bass reflex tube 311.
  • Some or all other aspects may at least essentially correspond to what is described above in relation to Fig. 1 .
  • Fig. 3 shows an exploded view drawing of another exemplary subwoofer in accordance with the invention as hereinafter claimed.
  • a passive driver 33 without a voice coil is inserted into the tube 1 at the second end 12 of the tube in the assembled state of the subwoofer.
  • the present disclosure also includes embodiments with any combination of features which are mentioned or shown above and/or below, in various embodiments or variants. It also includes individual features as shown in the Figures, even if they are shown there in connection with other features and/or are not mentioned above or below.
  • the disclosure comprises embodiments which exclusively comprise the features described in the claims or the exemplary embodiments, as well as those which comprise additional other features.
  • the steps of any method disclosed above or claimed below may preferably be carried out according the order in which they are presented, but may also be carried out in a different order.
  • a ⁇ b may imply that
  • ) ⁇ 0.05, wherein a and b may represent arbitrary quantities, parameters and/or variables as described and/or defined anywhere in this document, or as otherwise known to a person skilled in the art. Further, a statement that a is at least approximately equal or at least approximately identical to b may imply that a ⁇ b, and not exclude that a b.
  • a statement a » b may imply that a > 5b, preferably a > 10b; and statement a « b may imply that 5a ⁇ b, preferably 10a ⁇ b.
  • a statement that a is significantly larger than b may imply that a » b.
  • a statement that a is significantly smaller than b may imply that a « b.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Audible-Bandwidth Dynamoelectric Transducers Other Than Pickups (AREA)
EP21020638.9A 2021-12-14 2021-12-14 Subwoofer Pending EP4199532A1 (de)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21020638.9A EP4199532A1 (de) 2021-12-14 2021-12-14 Subwoofer
PCT/IB2022/062370 WO2023111979A1 (en) 2021-12-14 2022-12-16 Subwoofer

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21020638.9A EP4199532A1 (de) 2021-12-14 2021-12-14 Subwoofer

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4199532A1 true EP4199532A1 (de) 2023-06-21

Family

ID=79021620

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP21020638.9A Pending EP4199532A1 (de) 2021-12-14 2021-12-14 Subwoofer

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4199532A1 (de)
WO (1) WO2023111979A1 (de)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1591042A (en) * 1978-05-03 1981-06-10 Bibby P J Loudspeaker cabinet
GB2187061A (en) * 1986-02-26 1987-08-26 Steven John Cowley Loudspeaker
DE4227696A1 (de) * 1992-08-21 1994-02-24 Reinhard Chemnitz Lautsprechergehäuse
US20060147075A1 (en) * 2004-12-31 2006-07-06 Gingko Audio Loudspeaker comprising coaxially-disposed drivers

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1591042A (en) * 1978-05-03 1981-06-10 Bibby P J Loudspeaker cabinet
GB2187061A (en) * 1986-02-26 1987-08-26 Steven John Cowley Loudspeaker
DE4227696A1 (de) * 1992-08-21 1994-02-24 Reinhard Chemnitz Lautsprechergehäuse
US20060147075A1 (en) * 2004-12-31 2006-07-06 Gingko Audio Loudspeaker comprising coaxially-disposed drivers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2023111979A1 (en) 2023-06-22

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5696357A (en) Bass-reflex loudspeaker
CN109792575B (zh) 用于车辆的扬声器系统
JP2007001422A (ja) 車載用スピーカ装置及びこれを有する車両
JP2007013730A (ja) スピーカシステムおよびスピーカエンクロージャー
JP6649488B2 (ja) アコースティックフィルタを有する騒音遮蔽イヤセット
US20110176701A1 (en) Autoaugmented Speaker Port
US7158648B2 (en) Loudspeaker system with extended bass response
EP1410682B1 (de) Lautsprecher und system mit niedrigem profil
JP4599368B2 (ja) スピーカシステム
US9154863B2 (en) Speaker enclosure and method for eliminating standing waves therein
US20190058954A1 (en) Layered speaker assembly
CN112995862B (zh) 在填充有多孔颗粒的微型扬声器盒中使用的微型扬声器
EP4199532A1 (de) Subwoofer
CZ297652B6 (cs) Reproduktorová sestava
US20070206828A1 (en) Distributed acoustic cabinet
US7325649B1 (en) Loudspeaker with progressively damped acoustical chamber
JP2021016111A (ja) スピーカーキャビネット並びにスピーカーシステム
JP6400157B1 (ja) 密閉型イヤホン
US10284945B2 (en) Air motion transformer passive radiator for loudspeaker
US7515724B2 (en) Loudspeaker driver
US10531181B2 (en) Complementary driver alignment
US20020021820A1 (en) Loudspeaker
US8452040B2 (en) Speaker-transducer with integral bass-reflex and maximum efficiency cooling
CN211656364U (zh) 一种增强低音效果的音箱
JP2660306B2 (ja) 多重チャンバ型ラウドスピーカ・システム

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20231220

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR