JP2002118899A - Acoustic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To direct acoustic effects having a sense of presence by simple constitution. SOLUTION: The acoustic device is constituted of main loudspeakers 13, 14 for outputting sounds corresponding to inputted sound signals L, R of left and right channels, a left sub-loudspeaker 15 arranged on the outside of the right main loudspeaker 14 and capable of outputting sound corresponding to a reverse phase signal obtained by inverting the phase of the sound signal L of the left channel and a right sub-loudspeaker 12 arranged on the outside of the left main loudspeaker 13 and capable of outputting sound corresponding to a reverse phase signal obtained by inverting the phase of the sound signal R of the right channel. The left and right sub-loudspeakers 12, 15 are attached so as to be turned to the outside at a prescribed angle θ formed with the left and right main loudspeakers 13, 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an audio device capable of realizing a sound with a sense of presence, for example, in a music hall.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, acoustic devices used in ordinary households,
For example, even in a small acoustic device or the like in which a device main body and a speaker are integrally formed, a sound effect with a sense of presence that is obtained in a movie theater or a music hall is desired.

[0003] In a small-sized acoustic device, a sound diffusion system for diffusing the sound of a speaker is known in order to obtain a sound effect full of a sense of reality. For this reason, various voice diffusion systems have been conventionally proposed. As an example of the sound diffusion method, a surround method is well known. The surround system can be realized by an IC (Integrated Circuit) including a delay circuit for delaying an input audio signal. However, such surround I
Since C is relatively expensive, an acoustic device employing the surround system inevitably increases the product price.

[0004] Therefore, there is known a conventional audio device having a simple voice diffusion circuit using a matrix circuit which can be realized at a relatively low cost. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the above-described simplified voice spreading circuit. In FIG. 5, first, a left-channel audio signal L input from a preceding block (not shown) is input to a preamplifier 101. Preamplifier 101
Is output to the adder circuit 105, and a part thereof is phase-inverted (inverter) 1
The audio signal (−ΔL) which is also input to the inverter 03 and the phase of which is inverted by the inverter 103 is input to the adding circuit 106.

Similarly, the audio signal R of the right channel from the preceding block (not shown) is input to the addition circuit 106 via the preamplifier 102 and the preamplifier 1
02 is output from the inverter 10
4 and the audio signal (−ΔR) whose phase is inverted by the inverter 104 is input to the addition circuit 105.

[0006] The adder circuit 105 is connected to an audio signal L from the preamplifier 101 and an audio signal (−) from the inverter 104.
ΔR) is added. Then, the addition signal (L-ΔR)
Is input to the power amplifier 107, and the power amplifier 10
After being amplified at 7, it is input to the left speaker 109. As a result, a sound corresponding to the addition signal (L-ΔR) is output from the left speaker 109.

Similarly, the addition circuit 106 is connected to the preamplifier 1
02 and the audio signal (−ΔL) from the inverter 103 are added. Then, the sum signal (R
−ΔL) is input to the power amplifier 108, amplified by the power amplifier 108, and then input to the right speaker 110. As a result, a sound corresponding to the addition signal (R-ΔL) is output from the right speaker 110.

FIG. 6 shows a sound field created by an acoustic device having the above-described simplified sound diffusion circuit. In FIG. 6, the listener U is located in front of the audio device, and when viewed from the listener U, the left speaker 109
Is located on the left side of the audio device, and the right speaker 110 is located on the right side. Here, focusing on the left audio corresponding to the audio signal of the left channel output from the left speaker 109 and the right speaker 110, the left audio corresponding to the audio signal L is output from the left speaker 109. The left voice U gets from left speaker 109 is vector A
Can be expressed as On the other hand, since the right speaker 110 outputs a left sound corresponding to the sound signal (−ΔL), the left sound obtained by the listener U from the right speaker 110 can be represented as a vector B. The right speaker 1
The audio signal (−ΔL) of the left channel among the audio signals input to 10 has an opposite phase to the actual audio signal L of the left channel, so that the direction of the vector B is opposite to that of the vector A. It has become.

At this time, the left voice heard by the listener U is represented by a composite vector C of the vector A and the vector B. The listener U feels that the left voice is heard from the direction of the composite vector C. That is, the left speaker 109
Is felt as if it were located on an extension of the vector C.

Similarly, the right voice heard by the listener U is a vector synthesis of the right voice output from the left speaker 109 and the right voice output from the right speaker 110 (not shown). The right voice heard by the person U feels as if the right speaker 110 is at the speaker position indicated by the dotted line.

Therefore, according to the acoustic device having such a conventional simplified sound diffusion circuit, the listener U is positioned so that the left and right speakers 109 and 110 are located outside the actual positions. A sound that is felt and spreads is obtained.

[0012]

However, in the above-described acoustic device, the left and right speakers 109, 110
However, since a signal obtained by adding audio signals of different channels is input to the speakers 109 and 110, there is a disadvantage that distortion components easily occur in the speakers 109 and 110. Also, since the input power of each speaker 109 and 110 increases,
In order to withstand the increased input power, it is necessary to use a speaker which is larger than usual, and there is a disadvantage that the speaker cost is considerably increased.

[0013] Further, in the above-described acoustic device, although it is possible to give a listener a sense of sound expansion,
It cannot give the reverberation that can be obtained in a music hall or the like. That is, it was not possible to give the listener a sense of thickness of the sound.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has a first main speaker for outputting an audible sound corresponding to a first input signal; A second main speaker that outputs an audible sound corresponding to the input signal of the first input signal; and a first sub that is disposed near the second main speaker and that outputs an audible sound corresponding to a reverse phase signal of the first input signal. A speaker and a second sub-speaker which is arranged near the first main speaker and outputs an audible sound corresponding to a negative-phase signal of the second input signal are provided.

[0015] According to the above configuration, the sound to be perceived by the listener includes a sound obtained by vector-synthesizing the sound output from the first main speaker and the sound output from the first sub-speaker; Since the sound output from the second main speaker and the sound output from the second sub-speaker are vector-synthesized, the sound can be expanded.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external configuration of an acoustic device according to the present embodiment, and FIG.
Is a top view thereof, and FIG. 2 (b) is a front view thereof. The acoustic device 2 shown in FIGS.
Reference numeral 0 indicates that the device body and the speaker are integrally formed as shown in the figure. A sound source such as a cassette tape, an MD (mini-disc),
A cassette storage unit 22 for storing a recording medium such as a CD (compact disk), an MD storage unit 23, and a CD storage unit 24 are provided. Although not shown, a tuner for receiving a broadcast wave or the like is provided, and a broadcast wave or the like received by the tuner can also be used as a sound source. Further, the apparatus main body is also provided with, for example, a display unit 21 for performing a required display and an operation unit 25 provided with various keys used for user operations. Although not shown in this figure, various operations on the audio device 20 can be performed by a remote commander.

The acoustic device 20 of the present embodiment is provided with four speakers: a right sub speaker 12, a left main speaker 13, a right main speaker 14, and a left sub speaker 15. In this case, as the arrangement of the speakers 12 to 15, the left main speaker 13 is disposed on the left side of the device main body, and the right main speaker 14 is disposed on the right side of the device main body. The right sub-speaker 12 is arranged outside (left side) of the left main speaker 13, and the left sub-speaker 1
5 is disposed outside (right side) the right main speaker 14.

The speakers 12 to 15 are mounted such that the left and right main speakers 13 and 14 have their sound emitting surfaces substantially facing the front.
The right sub-speaker 12 is mounted so that its sound emission surface faces the left direction, and the left sub-speaker 1
5 is mounted so that its sound emitting surface faces rightward. The mounting angles of the left and right sub speakers 12, 15 will be described later.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the acoustic device 20 according to the present embodiment as described above. In FIG. 2, a left-channel audio signal L and a right-channel audio signal R input from a preceding block (not shown) are input to amplifiers 1 and 2, respectively. The amplifiers 1 and 2 are preamplifiers for amplifying the input audio signals L and R, and the audio signals L and R amplified by the amplifiers 1 and 2 are input to the controller 3.

The controller 3 can change the signal levels of the input audio signals L and R based on the control of the system microcomputer 4. For example, when the volume control key of the remote commander 27 is operated by a user or the like, control is performed based on the control signal SC transmitted from the system microcomputer 4 so that the signal levels of the audio signals L and R become the required levels. To be. Although the details will be described later, the audio signals L,
It is also possible to control only the signal level of a specific frequency band component of R.

The audio signal L output from the controller 3
Is input to the amplifier 8 and the high-pass filter 6
Is input to the amplifier 10 via the. The audio signal R from the controller 3 is input to the amplifier 9 and
The signal is input to the amplifier 7 via the high-pass filter 5. High-pass filter (hereinafter referred to as “HPF”) 5, 6
Is a filter that passes only signals having a frequency equal to or higher than a predetermined cutoff frequency and attenuates signals having a frequency equal to or lower than the cutoff frequency. In the present embodiment, the description will be made assuming that the HPFs 5 and 6 are provided.
The PFs 5 and 6 need not always be provided.

The amplifiers 8 and 9 receive the input audio signals L,
R is a power amplifier for amplifying R to a predetermined level.
Is input to the left main speaker 13 via the jack J1-1 of the headphone jack unit 11. The right channel audio signal R amplified by the amplifier 9 is input to the right main speaker 14 via the jack J1-2 of the headphone jack unit 11.

The amplifiers 7 and 10 are inverted power amplifiers that invert the phases of the audio signals R and L input through the HPFs 5 and 6 and amplify the signal levels to a predetermined level. The right channel audio signal (−ΔR) is input to the right sub speaker 12. The left-channel audio signal (−ΔL) inverted and amplified by the amplifier 10 is input to the left sub-speaker 15. The on / off of the amplifiers 7 and 10 can be controlled by the system microcomputer 4. Therefore, the amplifiers 7 and 10 have control terminals M to which a controller signal MC from the system microcomputer 4 is input.
1, M2 are provided.

The headphone jack 11 is a portion into which a headphone plug provided on a headphone (not shown) is inserted. When a headphone plug is not inserted into the headphone jack section 11, each jack J1
The outputs of the amplifiers 8 and 9 are input to the left and right main speakers 13 and 14 via -1 and J1-2. As a result, sounds corresponding to the input audio signals L and R are output from the left and right main speakers 13 and 14. On the other hand, when a headphone plug is inserted into the headphone jack section 11, the respective jacks J1-1 and J1-2 provide:
The audio signal L input to each of the main speakers 13 and 14,
R is shut off. Thereby, the left and right main speakers 1
The sound output from 3, 3 is cut off.

However, in such a configuration, when the headphone plug is inserted into the headphone jack section 11, the sound output of the left and right main speakers 13 and 14 can be cut off, but the left and right sub speakers 12 and 15 can be cut off. Audio output cannot be shut off. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a switch S1 is provided in the headphone jack section 11, and whether or not a headphone plug is inserted is detected by the switch S1. The detection result of the switch S1 is transmitted to the system microcomputer 4 as a detection signal HP-SP. System microcomputer 4
Transmits a control signal MC for stopping the operation to the amplifiers 7 and 10 when the headphone plug is inserted into the headphone jack section 11. Thus, when the headphone plug is inserted into the headphone jack section 11, the sound output of the left and right sub speakers 12, 15 can be cut off.

The system microcomputer 4 controls the entire acoustic device of the present embodiment in addition to the various controls described above. The main operation of the audio device according to the present embodiment can also be performed by the remote commander 27. For this reason, the acoustic device 20 includes
A light receiving unit 26 that receives an infrared signal from a remote commander 27 is provided.

FIG. 3 shows a sound field created by the acoustic device according to the present embodiment as described above.
Note that, also in FIG. 3, the listener U is located in front of the audio device. Therefore, from the viewpoint of the listener U,
A right sub-speaker 12 and a left main speaker 13 are arranged on the left side of the audio device 20, and the right main speaker 1 is
4 and the left sub-speaker 15 are arranged.

Here, focusing on the left audio output from the left main speaker 13 and the left sub-speaker 15, the left main speaker 13 outputs the left audio corresponding to the audio signal L of the left channel. The left sound obtained by the person U from the direct sound of the left main speaker 13 is represented as a vector A. Since the left sub-speaker 15 outputs a left-side audio corresponding to the left-channel audio signal (−ΔL), the left-side audio obtained by the listener U from the direct sound of the left sub-speaker 15 is represented as a vector B. Will be.

In this case, the left sub-speaker 15 and the left main speaker 13 are directed outward (rightward) by the mounting angle θ.
The direct sound from the left sub-speaker 15 obtained by the listener U is
Sound is smaller than the direct sound from For this reason, the length of the vector B is shorter than the vector A. Further, the audio signal (−ΔL) is input to the left sub-speaker 15 and the phase of the audio signal L input to the left main speaker 13 is opposite. Will be shown.

Therefore, the left voice heard by the listener U is represented by the composite vector C of the vector A and the vector B, and the listener U feels that the left voice is heard from the direction of the composite vector C. That is, the listener U feels as if the left speaker is on the extension of the vector C. That is, the user feels as if there is the left speaker 16 indicated by the dotted line. Therefore, in the acoustic device 20 of the present embodiment, it is possible to give the listener U a sense of hearing that sounds can be heard from a position outside the positions where the left and right main speakers 13 and 14 are actually arranged. . That is, it is possible to give the listener U a sound with a sense of expansion.

Further, in the acoustic device 20 of the present embodiment,
The sound output surface of the left sub speaker 15 is the left main speaker 13
Is mounted so as to face outward (to the right) by an angle θ from the sound emission surface of the listener U, so that the listener U can hear the reflected sound reflected by the wall W or the like. In this case, since the path T2 of the reflected sound is longer in the path T1 of the direct sound from the left sub-speaker 15 and the path T2 of the reflected sound, the reflected sound is heard by the listener U with a delay. A reverberation such as that obtained in a music hall can also be provided. That is, it is possible to give the listener U a sense of thickness of the sound.

Although the detailed description is omitted, the operation for the left voice as described above is performed by the right main speaker 14.
And the right audio output from the right sub-speaker 12. Therefore, the listener U can also obtain a feeling of sound expansion and a feeling of thickness of the right sound.

Therefore, according to the acoustic device 20 of the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the listener U with a sound effect full of a sense of reality as obtained in a music hall or the like.

In the acoustic device 20 of the present embodiment,
Amplifiers 8 and 9 for amplifying the audio signals L and R, and amplifiers 7 and 10 for inverting and amplifying the audio signals L and R are provided. Input is made to the speakers 12 to 15. Therefore, unlike a conventional audio device, it is not necessary to amplify and input an addition signal obtained by adding audio signals of different channels to one speaker. Thereby, the problem that a distortion component occurs in the speaker can be solved.

Since the input power of the left and right main speakers 13 and 14 does not increase, it is not necessary to increase the size of the main speakers 13 and 14 as in the conventional case. As a result, the cost of the main speaker can be significantly reduced, and the cost of the speaker can be reduced even when the cost associated with the addition of the left and right sub-speakers is taken into account.

Here, the mounting angle θ of the left and right sub-speakers 12 and 15 shown in FIG. 3 will be described. The mounting angle θ of the left and right sub-speakers 12 and 15 is closely related to the sound spreading feeling given to the listener U. By increasing the mounting angle θ, the sound spreading feeling given to the listener U is increased. Will increase. However, as the mounting angle θ increases, the direct sound from the sub-speakers 12 and 15 decreases. Therefore, if the mounting angle θ is too large, the sound output level of the sub-loudspeakers 12 and 15 must be increased. Conversely, if the mounting angle θ is too small, the reflected sound to the listener U will be small, and the sense of thickness of the sound will not be felt. Therefore, the mounting angle θ is, for example, 15 ° to 60 °.
It is preferable to set within the range of °.

The acoustic device of the present embodiment has an HFP
The reason why the numbers 5 and 6 are provided is as follows. As shown in FIG. 2, when the HPFs 5 and 6 are provided on the input lines of the left and right sub speakers 12 and 15, the HPFs 5 and 6 are provided to the sub speakers 12 and 15.
Since only the audio signal of the high-frequency component passing through is input, the input power of the sub-speakers 12 and 15 can be reduced. Thereby, the left and right sub speakers 1
2 and 15 can be reduced in size, and the left and right sub-speakers can be configured with inexpensive speakers. Note that the sound range in which the listener U obtains a sense of expansion is a high-frequency component. Therefore, if at least the high-frequency component of the audio signal is input to the sub-speakers 12 and 15, the sense of sound expansion is not impaired.

The provision of the HPFs 5 and 6 is also suitable for outputting music or the like containing, for example, vocal songs. For example, in music that includes a vocal song or the like, it is desirable that the vocal singing voice be given a spacious feeling only to the music being played in the background, without giving a spacious feeling. Therefore, when the HPFs 5 and 6 are provided, the vocal audio signal components are removed by the HPFs 5 and 6, and the vocal audio is not output from the sub-speakers 12 and 15, so that the music played in the back is performed. Only to give a feeling of expansion. From such a viewpoint, the cutoff frequency of the HPFs 5 and 6 is preferably set to, for example, about 4 KHz.

In the acoustic device 20 of the present embodiment,
As described above, the controller 3 can change the signal levels of the input audio signals L and R. So, for example, when outputting realistic sound,
In the controller 3, it is also possible to enhance the sound quality by, for example, enhancing the signal levels of the input audio signals L and R in a predetermined frequency band. For example, when the acoustic system of the present example as described above is off, the frequency characteristic of the controller 3 is changed as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. On the other hand, when the audio system of this example is turned on, as shown in FIG. 5B, the signal levels of the low-frequency portion and the high-frequency portion of the input audio signals L and R are emphasized. Such frequency characteristics are provided. In this way, when the sound system is on, the high frequency components of the audio signals L and R are more emphasized,
It is possible to give the listener U a sound with a wider sense. Further, if the low-frequency component is also emphasized, a sense of volume can be given to the listener U, and a more powerful sound can be given. Note that the frequency characteristics of the controller 3 shown in FIG. 5 are merely examples, and it is of course possible to emphasize only high-frequency components or only low-frequency components of an input audio signal. .

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the right sub speaker 12 and the left sub speaker 15 are disposed outside the left main speaker 13 and the right main speaker 14, respectively. However, this is merely an example, and the right sub speaker 12 and the left sub speaker 15 may be arranged inside the left main speaker 13 and the right main speaker 14, for example. However, if the left main speaker 13 and the left sub-speaker 15 and the right main speaker 14 and the right sub-speaker 12 are arranged as far apart as possible, a sense of sound expansion can be obtained. It is desirable to dispose them near the main speakers 14 and 13 facing each other.

Further, in the present embodiment, a case is shown in which the sound emitting surfaces of the left and right sub-speakers 12 and 15 are mounted so as to extend in the horizontal direction by an angle θ and face outward.
For example, the sound emitting surfaces of the left and right sub-speakers 12 and 15 may be attached by extending in the vertical direction (the tilt angle direction), or may be attached by extending in the horizontal and vertical directions.

In this embodiment, the amplifiers 7 and 10 are provided on the input lines of the left and right sub-speakers 12 and 15 for inverting and amplifying the phases of the input and output audio signals. In place of the simple amplifiers 7 and 10, a phase shift amplifier that shifts the phase of an input audio signal by 180 ° can be used, or only a signal of a specific frequency component can be shifted instead of the HPF and the amplifier. A phase shift amplifier or the like may be used. Furthermore, for example, by operating a predetermined operation key of the remote commander 27, the amplification degree of each of the amplifiers 7 to 10 can be changed as a function that can adjust the feeling of the spread of the voice according to the taste of the listener U, for example. Such a configuration is also conceivable.

[0043]

As described above, according to the acoustic device of the present invention, the sound that the listener will hear is output from the first main speaker and the first sub speaker. And the sound output from the second main speaker and the sound output from the second sub-speaker are vector-synthesized, so that the listener can listen to music in a music hall or the like. Thus, it is possible to give a sound with a sense of expansion as obtained by the above. Also, since the first and second sub-speakers are mounted at a predetermined angle with respect to the first and second main speakers, respectively, the listener has a feeling of thickness that can be obtained in a music hall or the like. You can also give a certain sound.

In the present invention, independent amplifiers are provided for the input lines of the speakers, and the signals amplified by these amplifiers are input to the respective speakers. Therefore, unlike the related art, it is not necessary to amplify and input an addition signal obtained by adding audio signals of different channels to one speaker, and the problem that a distortion component occurs in the speaker can be solved. Also, since the input power of the first and second main speakers does not increase, there is no need to increase the size of these main speakers. As a result, the cost of the main speaker can be significantly reduced, and as a result, the speaker cost can be reduced.

If a high-pass filter is inserted into each of the input lines of the first and second sub speakers, the first
Since unnecessary low-frequency component signals input to the second and third sub-speakers can be removed, the input power of the first and second sub-speakers can be reduced. Thereby, the first
In addition, the second sub-speaker can be reduced in size, and can be configured with an inexpensive speaker. Furthermore, if the first and second input signal levels are varied by the control means, a more realistic sound,
Powerful voice can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view and a front view for explaining a schematic configuration of an audio device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of an audio device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a sound field created by the acoustic device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a frequency characteristic of an audio signal in a controller.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a conventional acoustic device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a sound field created by a conventional acoustic device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 2 preamplifier, 3 controller, 4 system microcomputer, 56 high pass filter, 7 to 10 power amplifier, 11 headphone jack, 12 right sub speaker, 13 left main speaker, 14 right main speaker, 15 left sub speaker, 16 left speaker , 20
Sound device, U listener

Claims (6)

[Claims] A first main speaker for outputting an audible sound corresponding to a first input signal; a second main speaker for outputting an audible sound corresponding to a second input signal; Placed near the speaker,
Output an audible sound corresponding to a negative phase signal of the input signal
And a second sub-speaker disposed near the first main speaker and the second main speaker.
Output an audible sound corresponding to a reverse phase signal of the input signal of
An acoustic device comprising: a sub-speaker; 2. In a case where the first main speaker is arranged on the left side of the audio device and the second main speaker is arranged on the right side of the audio device, the first sub speaker is The audio device according to claim 1, wherein the second sub speaker is disposed on the right side of the second main speaker, and the second sub speaker is disposed on the left side of the first main speaker. 3. The audio device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sub-speakers are attached to the first and second main speakers at a predetermined angle, respectively. 4. The acoustic device according to claim 1, wherein a high-pass filter is inserted into each of the input lines of the first and second sub speakers. 5. The amplifier according to claim 1, wherein an amplifier is provided for each of the input lines of the first and second main speakers and the first and second sub speakers. Sound equipment. 6. The acoustic device according to claim 1, further comprising control means for varying said first and second input signal levels to required levels.