FR3014627A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADDING AT LEAST ONE SPEAKER - Google Patents

Abstract

Audio amplifier electronic device, comprising an amplifier module (3), a first speaker (10) and a second speaker (20), the amplifier module comprising a first "plus" type door (15) and a second door (16) type "less" able to be connected to the terminals (13, 14) of the first speaker, a third door (25) type "plus" and a fourth door (26) type "less" able to to be connected to the terminals (23, 24) of the second speaker, the electronic device further comprising an additional speaker (50), a first terminal (53) of the additional speaker being connected to the "plus" type door associated with one of the first and second loudspeakers and a second terminal (54) of the additional loudspeaker being connected to the "minus" type port associated with the other loudspeaker.

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic sound amplifier audio device. It is known in the audio audio field, and particularly in the field of audio for a motor vehicle, to employ four loudspeakers for reproducing a sound, originating from a source such as a CD player or a radio receiver. The four loudspeakers are typically arranged, relatively to the position of a listener, substantially symmetrically, two at the front, respectively left and right and two at the rear, left and right, respectively. at least two different signals, one for the left side and one for the right side, in the case of a stereo, or four different signals, in the case of a quadraphone.Even in the case of a stereo, the signals before and rear on the same side, left or right, are advantageously differentiated at the level of the amplifier, for example to be able to adjust a different volume between the front and the rear. all-in-one amplifiers, for example integrated into an integrated circuit, comprising four independent channels, an amplifier module for independently amplifying four audible signals to four loudspeakers. The problem to be solved by the invention is the addition of additional loudspeakers. One possible solution for adding a speaker is to connect an additional speaker in parallel with one of the existing speakers. Such a solution has the drawback that the two loudspeakers having identical impedances and being connected in parallel, have a resulting impedance equal to half the impedance of a loudspeaker, as seen by the amplifier module. The amplifier module is not necessarily able to withstand such a reduction in impedance, which is accompanied by a proportional increase in currents. To overcome this disadvantage it would be possible to double the impedance of the speakers, but this is not desirable, this impedance being standardized, equal to 4 ohms for example in the automotive field. Another possible solution is to add at least one additional amplifier module to manage the additional speakers. Such a solution is economically disadvantageous in that it requires an additional expensive component.

Therefore, a solution is proposed for adding two or four speakers to the four initial speakers, without modifying the impedance standard of the initial speakers and without adding an expensive component. For this, the invention relates to an audio amplifier electronic device, able to amplify a first sound signal and a second sound signal, said electronic device comprising an amplifier module, a first speaker and a second speaker, the amplifier module comprising a first "plus" type door adapted to be connected to a first terminal of the first speaker, a second "minus" type door adapted to be connected to a second terminal of the first speaker, a third door type "more" Which can be connected to a first terminal of the second loudspeaker and a fourth door of the "minus" type able to be connected to a second terminal of the second loudspeaker, so that the first loudspeaker reproduces the first sound signal and that the second speaker reproduces the second sound signal, the electronic device further comprising a loudspeaker 1, a first terminal of the additional loudspeaker being connected to the "plus" type door associated with one of the first and second loudspeakers and a second terminal of the additional loudspeaker being connected to the door of the type "Minus" associated with the other speaker. According to another characteristic, the amplifier module is still able to operate in a high efficiency mode, where a "plus" type door associated with one of the first and second loudspeakers is connected to the "minus" type door. Associated with the other speaker to serialize the first speaker and the second speaker, and wherein the first terminal of the additional speaker is connected to a non-connected door and the second terminal of the additional speaker is connected to the other unrelated door. According to another characteristic, the second gate and the third gate are connected, and the first terminal of the additional loudspeaker is connected to the first gate and the second terminal of the additional loudspeaker is connected to the fourth gate. According to another characteristic, the device further comprises another additional loudspeaker connected in parallel with the additional loudspeaker. According to another characteristic, the amplifier module comprises a printed circuit TDA756x. The invention further relates to a system comprising a first such device for a first left or right side, the first speaker being a front speaker of the first side and the second speaker being a rear speaker of the same first side, and a second such device for a second side, different from the first side, the first speaker being a front speaker of the second side and the second speaker being a rear speaker of the second side. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one such device or such a system.

The invention also relates to a method of adding an additional loudspeaker to an electronic audio amplifier device capable of amplifying a first sound signal and a second sound signal, said electronic device comprising an amplifier module, a first speaker and a second speaker, the amplifier module comprising a first "plus" type door adapted to be connected to a first terminal of the first speaker, a second "minus" type door adapted to be connected to a second terminal of the first speaker, a third "plus" type door adapted to be connected to a first terminal of the second speaker and a fourth "minus" type door adapted to be connected to a second terminal of the second speaker, such so that the first speaker reproduces the first sound signal and the second speaker reproduces the second sound signal, a first terminal of an additional speaker being connected to the "plus" type door associated with one of the first and second loudspeakers and a second additional speaker terminal being connected to the "minus" type door associated with the other speaker.

According to another characteristic, the amplifier module is still able to operate in a high efficiency mode, where a "plus" type door associated with one of the first and second loudspeakers is connected to the "minus" type door. Associated with the other speaker to serialize the first speaker and the second speaker, and wherein the first terminal of the additional speaker is connected to a non-connected door and the second terminal of the additional speaker is connected to the other unrelated door. According to another characteristic, the second gate and the third gate are connected, and the first terminal of the additional loudspeaker is connected to the first gate and the second terminal of the additional loudspeaker is connected to the fourth gate.

Other features, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the detailed description given below as an indication in relation to drawings in which: FIG. 1 shows a sound system according to the prior art comprising four loudspeakers; FIG. 2 illustrates the block diagram of an amplifier module; FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a device according to the invention in standard mode; FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a device according to the invention in high efficiency mode; - Figure 5 schematically illustrates an addition of a second additional speaker.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a sound system, such as for example a set dedicated to the sound system of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, comprises a source 1, an amplifier module 2 and loudspeakers 10, 20, 30. , 40. Source 1 is a sound generator and may be for example a radio receiver, a cassette player, a CD player, an MP3 digital player, a microphone or any other means of producing or reproducing sound, as well as any combination of several of these means. The source 1 is able to produce at least one sound signal 11, 21, 31, 41. Said at least one sound signal 11, 21, 31, 41 is amplified by an amplifier module 2, to produce at least one amplified sound signal 12 , 22, 32, 42. Each such amplified signal 12, 22, 32, 42 is distributed to a loudspeaker 10, 20, 30, 40 responsible for reproducing said amplified sound signal 12, 22, 32, 42. According to the prior art, as illustrated in Figure 1, such a sound system typically comprises a source 1 capable of producing four sound signals 11, 21, 31, 41, which are individually and independently amplified by an amplifier module 2 respectively in four amplified signals 12, 22, 32, 42 which are transmitted to four loudspeakers 10, 20, 30, 40. Also, there are dedicated components comprising four independent amplifier channels, for example integrated into a single integrated circuit. Figure 2 illustrates the logic diagram of such a dedicated component. On each of the four inputs, located on the left, can be respectively input a sound signal 11, 21, 31, 41. This sound signal is amplified individually, respectively by an amplification means 19, 29, 39, 49, to be transmitted. respectively to a loudspeaker 10, 20, 30, 40. The output stage comprises four pairs of gates 15, 16, 25, 26, 35, 36, 45, 46 each provided for respectively connecting the two terminals 13, 14 , 23, 24 of each of the loudspeakers 10, 20, 30, 40.

According to the invention a pair of loudspeakers is added an additional loudspeaker 50. Also following the description, is given in relation to a detail 6, visible in Figures 1 and 2, enlarged in Figures 3 - 5, comprising half 3 of an amplifier module 2 with its output stage for two loudspeakers and two loudspeakers 10, 20.

Subsequently named and in the device claims a subset suitable for driving and comprising two speakers 10, 20, to which according to the invention it can be added a first additional speaker 50 and if necessary a second high additional speaker 70. A system comprising at least two such devices is called a system, to which it can then be added up to four additional speakers.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, and in known manner, an audio amplifier electronic device is able to amplify a first sound signal 11 and a second sound signal 21. For this, said electronic device comprises an amplifier module 3. Such an amplifier module 3 is typically associated with a first speaker 10 and a second speaker 20.

An amplifier module 2, 3 comprises an amplifier channel per loudspeaker, ie four channels for a complete amplifier module 2 and two channels for a "half" amplifier module 3. Each channel receives one of the input signals 11, 21, 31 , 41, amplifies it and provides it, in amplified form 12, 22, 32, 42 output on a pair of doors 15, 16, 25, 26. Thus the first channel, which processes the input sound signal 11 provides a corresponding amplified sound signal 12. This signal is transmitted to the first speaker 10 on the two doors 15, 16. The first door 15 is a "plus" type door and the second door 16 is a "minus" type door. Although a loudspeaker is a generally unpolarized dipole, this distinction between a "plus" type door and a "minus" type door is related to the type of airline pilot 17, 18, 27, 28. Gate 15, of the "plus" type, is associated with a "plus" type driver 17, for which the current is outgoing. The gate 16, of the "minus" type, is associated with a driver 18 of the "minus" type, for which the current is incoming. Similarly, the second channel which processes the input sound signal 21 provides a corresponding amplified sound signal 22. This signal is transmitted to the second speaker 20 on the two doors 25, 26. The first door 25 is a "plus" type door associated with a pilot "plus" type 27 and the second door 26 is a door type "Minus" associated with a driver 28 type "less". With such an arrangement and such a configuration, which is called standard, it is possible to control two loudspeakers 10, 20 so that the first loudspeaker 10 reproduces the first sound signal 11, 12 and the second loudspeaker 20 reproduces the second sound signal 21, 22. With such a device it is possible according to the invention to add an additional loudspeaker 50. According to one characteristic, this additional loudspeaker 50 is advantageously connected between a "plus" type door associated with one of the two loudspeakers among the first loudspeaker 10 and the second loudspeaker 20 and the "minus" type door associated with the other loudspeaker 10, 20.

Thus, if a first terminal of the additional loudspeaker 50 and 54 is noted a second terminal of the additional loudspeaker 50, one is connected to a "plus" type door and the other is connected to a "minus" type door of a different speaker 10, 20.

Thus it is possible to have, as shown in Figure 3, the terminal 53 connected to the door 15, and the terminal 54 connected to the door 26. In a dual manner, the additional speaker 50 not being polarized, it is still possible to have the terminal 53 connected to the door 26, and the terminal 54 connected to the door 15. In standard mode, it is also possible to connect the additional speaker 50 between the door 25 of type "plus" and the door 16 type "less". Thus, it is possible to have the terminal 53 connected to the door 16 and the terminal 54 connected to the door 25. In a dual manner, since the additional speaker 50 is not polarized, it is still possible to have the terminal 53 connected to the door 25, and the terminal 54 connected to the door 16. This embodiment allows the additional speaker 50 to receive a sound signal, not independent of the sound signals 12, 22 for the first and second speakers 10, 20, but consistent with these signals. This embodiment does not modify the impedance as seen by the doors 15, 16, 25, 26 and thus makes it possible to use, for the first and second loudspeakers 10, 20 as well as for the additional loudspeaker. 50, speakers having a standard impedance, typically 4 Ohms in the automotive field. In addition to the standard mode, the device is still able to operate in a high efficiency mode. For this, the amplifier module 2, 3 is configured in a high efficiency mode. This known mode makes it possible to double the voltage between the two doors 25 connected to a loudspeaker, with the same power supply voltage of the amplifier module 2, 3 and thus to double the effective power of amplification. To achieve this characteristic, as shown in FIG. 4, a "plus" type door associated with one of the first loudspeaker 10 and the second loudspeaker 20 is connected to the "minus" type door. associated with the other speaker 10, 20. This allows to connect in series the first speaker 10 and the second speaker 20. A speaker is then controlled by the remaining line driver. Thus, in the illustrated configuration where the door 16 type "less" associated with the first speaker 10 is connected with the door 25, type "plus" associated with the second speaker 20, the first speaker 10 is controlled by the driver 17 associated with the door 15 and the second speaker 20 is controlled by the driver 28 associated with the door 24.

The other 14, now common door of the two loudspeakers 10, 20 is connected to a pilot 5 operating as a buffer, able to withstand positive or negative currents. The two loudspeakers 10, 20 are then advantageously controlled in bridge-linked load or BTL (Bridge Tied Load) mode, which doubles the voltage and the power. With such a configuration of the amplifier module 2.3 in high efficiency mode, the additional speaker 50 is connected between the two doors not connected to each other. Thus in the illustrated configuration, where the doors 16 and 25 are connected, the additional loudspeaker 50 is connected between the free doors 15 and 26. Thus the first terminal 53 of the additional loudspeaker 50 is connected to the door 15, respectively to the gate 26, and the second terminal 54 of the additional loudspeaker 50 is connected to the door 26, respectively to the door 15. Alternatively, in the configuration where the doors 15 and 26 are connected, the additional loudspeaker 50 would be connected between the free doors 16 and 25. As previously for the standard mode, this embodiment allows the additional speaker 50 to receive a sound signal, not independent of the sound signals 12, 22 for the first and second loudspeakers. speakers 10, 20, but consistent with these signals. This embodiment does not modify the impedance as seen by the doors 15, 16, 25, 26 and thus makes it possible to use, for the first and second loudspeakers 10, 20 as well as for the additional loudspeaker 50 , speakers with standard impedance. Moreover, this embodiment makes it possible to benefit from the advantages (doubling the power) of the so-called BTL mode by keeping them for the first and second loudspeakers 10, 20 and extending them to the additional loudspeaker 50. It can be noted that the connection configuration (s) used in high efficiency mode are superimposed with the connection configurations usable in standard mode. This is advantageous in that, certain amplifier modules 2, 3 can automatically switch from high efficiency mode to standard mode, for example in case of excessive current, the connection configuration remains compatible. According to one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 5, applicable to both the standard mode and the high efficiency mode, it is still possible to add another additional loudspeaker 70, by connecting it in parallel with the additional loudspeaker. 50, on the same doors.

This other additional speaker 70 then receives exactly the same sound signal as the additional speaker 50 and shares the available power with the latter. This, however, allows switching from a two-speaker configuration to a four-speaker configuration for a device. On a complete system, this makes it possible to switch from a four-speaker configuration to an eight-speaker configuration, without modifying the amplifier module 2,3. Such an addition of another additional speaker 70 however has the disadvantage of modifying the impedance as seen by the amplifier module 2, 3, in that it appears divided by two.

At least two answers can be given to this disadvantage. According to a first response, applicable to the majority of amplifier modules existing on the market, the amplifier module 2, 3 tolerates such a halving of the impedance and it is possible to use standard impedance loudspeakers for two additional speakers 50, 70.

Failing or if it is not desired to modify the impedance as seen by the amplifier module 2, 3, it is possible to use for the two additional speakers 50, 70, dual impedance speakers . Thus the equivalent impedance of the assembly formed by the two additional speakers 50, 70 connected in parallel, has a standard value.

It should be noted in the latter case that the impedance modification for a loudspeaker, which remains detrimental for the reasons mentioned in the introduction, is here advantageously limited to the only additional loudspeakers 50, 70. This is a overall advantage of the invention, in that the existing is not modified.

According to one embodiment, the amplifier module 2,3 comprises a printed circuit TDA756x, where x represents a digit. A printed circuit board such as the TDA7560 is a four-channel independent amplifier circuit capable of operating in standard mode or in high efficiency mode. Advantageously, all the embodiments of the invention, as previously described, still make it possible to keep the diagnostic functionalities existing in an assembly according to the prior art in the same state or to keep slight modifications as possible. An amplifier module 2, 3 is able to perform various short-circuit diagnostics for the speakers connected to it. It is possible to distinguish diagnoses made at power on and diagnostics performed in operation.

At power-up, the amplifier module 2, 3 carries out a short-circuit test to the ground, a short-circuit test to the supply voltage, and a short-circuit test of the load, here a high loudspeaker. The short-circuit tests at ground or at the supply voltage are carried out by internal comparators on each door.

No door being added by the invention, these diagnostic tests are applied identically and work for all the doors of all the speakers, initial or additional. Load short-circuit tests are performed for each pair of door associated with a loudspeaker, applying a current source to one of the pair of doors and a current sink to the other of the doors, advantageously according to a voltage different from the supply voltage of the amplifier module 2, 3 (typically the battery voltage), for example a voltage of 5V. A difference between the incoming current and the outgoing current, or a difference in voltage being indicative of a fault and its type.

In order to take into account the additional loudspeaker (s) 50, 70, it is necessary to be able to carry out an additional similar test between the two doors connected to the additional loudspeaker 50, 70. An amplifier module generally allows a programming of such an additional test. . A TDA756x circuit board allows it. Regularly, during operation, the amplifier module 2, 3 performs a short-circuit test to the ground, a short-circuit test to the supply voltage, and a short-circuit test of the load. The short-circuit tests at ground or at the supply voltage are carried out by internal comparators on each door. No door being added by the invention, these diagnostic tests are applied identically and work for all the doors of all the speakers, initial or additional. The short-circuit tests of the initial loudspeakers remain identical. A possible short-circuit between the terminals of an additional loudspeaker 50, 70 triggers an internal protection against currents. An offset detection, performed individually on each door can also detect such a short circuit. Thus it appears that all diagnoses usually made can functionally be maintained or reproduced in the various embodiments of the invention. In one embodiment with two additional loudspeakers 50, 70 added for the same device, these two speakers connected in parallel, are seen as a single speaker in terms of diagnosis and are not differentiated.

In a complete system, with four initial loudspeakers, a first device is dedicated to the loudspeakers of a first side of the left or right and a second device is dedicated to the loudspeakers of a second side, different from the first side . The first speaker 10 is, for example the front speaker and the second speaker 20 is then the rear speaker. The (or) additional speaker (s) 50, 70 is (are) then advantageously arranged (s) on the same side. This is advantageous in that the sound signal received by the additional loudspeaker 50, 70, conjugate signals 12, 22 respectively received by the first and second speakers 10, 20 is a signal corresponding to this side. The additional loudspeaker 50, 70 may be arranged, for example, in the middle of the side, between the first loudspeaker 10 and the second loudspeaker 20.

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. Audio amplifier electronic device, adapted to amplify a first sound signal (11) and a second sound signal (21), said electronic device comprising an amplifier module (3), a first speaker (10) and a second speaker ( 20), the amplifier module (2, 3) comprising a first "plus" type door (15) adapted to be connected to a first terminal (13) of the first speaker (10), a second door (16) of type "less" able to be connected to a second terminal (14) of the first speaker (10), a third door (25) of the "plus" type adapted to be connected to a first terminal (23) of the second speaker; speaker (20) and a fourth "minus" type gate (26) adapted to be connected to a second terminal (24) of the second speaker (20), so that the first speaker (10) reproduce the first sound signal (11, 12) and that the second speaker (20) reproduces the second sound signal ore (21, 22), characterized in that the electronic device further comprises an additional loudspeaker (50), a first terminal (53) of the additional loudspeaker (50) being connected to the associated "plus" type door to one of the first and second loudspeakers (10, 20) and a second terminal (54) of the additional loudspeaker (50) being connected to the "minus" type port associated with the other loudspeaker (50). speaker (10, 20). 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the amplifier module (2, 3) is still able to operate in a high efficiency mode, where a "plus" type door associated with one of the first and second loudspeakers (10, 20) is connected to the "minus" type door associated with the other speaker (10, 20) for serializing the first speaker (10) and the second speaker (20), and wherein the first terminal (53) of the additional speaker (50) is connected to a non-connected door and the second terminal (54) of the additional speaker (50) is connected to the other non-connected door. 3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the second door (16) and the third door (25) are connected, and wherein the first terminal (53) of the additional speaker (50) is connected to the first door (15). and the second terminal (54) of the additional speaker (50) is connected to the fourth door (26). 4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising another additional loudspeaker (70) connected in parallel with the additional loudspeaker (50). 5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the amplifier module (2, 3) comprises a TDA756x printed circuit. A system comprising a first device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 for a first left or right side, wherein the first speaker (10) is a front speaker of the first side and the second speaker (20) is a rear loudspeaker of the same first side, and a second device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 for a second side, different from the first side, wherein the first speaker (30) is a high front speaker on the second side and the second speaker (40) is a rear speaker on the second side. 7. Motor vehicle comprising at least one device or system according to any one of the preceding claims. 8. A method of adding an additional loudspeaker (50) to an audio amplifier electronic device capable of amplifying a first sound signal (11) and a second sound signal (21), said electronic device comprising an amplifier module (2). , 3), a first speaker (10) and a second speaker (20), the amplifier module (2, 3) comprising a first "plus" type door (15) adapted to be connected to a first terminal (13) of the first speaker (10), a second door (16) of "minus" type adapted to be connected to a second terminal (14) of the first speaker (10), a third door (25) of type "plus" adapted to be connected to a first terminal (23) of the second speaker (20) and a fourth door (26) of "minus" type adapted to be connected to a second terminal (24) of the second speaker; speaker (20), so that the first speaker (10) reproduces the first sound signal (11, 12) and the second loudspeaker (20) reproduces the second sound signal (21, 22), characterized in that a first terminal (53) of the additional loudspeaker (50) is connected to the "plus" type door associated with the one of the first and second loudspeakers (10, 20) and a second terminal (54) of the additional loudspeaker (50) is connected to the "minus" type port associated with the other loudspeaker (10). , 20). 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the amplifier module (2, 3) is still able to operate in a high efficiency mode, where a "plus" type door associated with one of the first and the second speaker (10, 20) is connected to the "minus" type port associated with the other speaker (10, 20) to serialize the first speaker (10) and the second speaker (20), and wherein the first terminal (53) of the additional speaker (50) is connected to a non-connected door and the second terminal (54) of the additional speaker (50) is connected to the other non-connected door. The method of claim 9, wherein the second gate (16) and the third gate (25) are connected, and wherein the first terminal (53) of the additional loudspeaker (50) is connected to the first gate (15). ) and the second terminal (54) of the additional loudspeaker (50) is connected to the fourth gate (26).