JP2008533789A - Loudspeaker housing with closed and open states - Google Patents

Abstract

  At least one loudspeaker (5, 6, 7) movable towards each other and having active sound radiation areas (8, 9, 10, 2 "', 11", 30', 31 ', 32', 33 ') , 21 ′, 22 ′, 23 ′, 1 c ′, 1 d ′) each having a speaker holding part (2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33) ) Loudspeaker housings (1, 1 ′, 1 ″, 1 ″ ′, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) with loudspeaker housings (1, 1 ′, 1 ″, 1 ″ ′, 1a, 1b) , 1c, 1d), at least one speaker (5, 6, 7, 21 ′) of at least one speaker holding portion (2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23). , 22 ', 23', 1c ', 1d') active sound radiation region (8, 9, 10, 2 "', 1 1 ″, 30 ′, 31 ′, 32 ′, 33 ′) and the other speaker holding portion (2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33).

Description

  The present invention relates to a loudspeaker housing having a closed state and an open state, the loudspeaker housings being movable toward each other, each of which has at least one speaker having an active sound radiation area, and a speaker holding portion. Prepare.

  A loudspeaker housing having an open and a closed state is known from DE 3915204. According to this document, the loudspeaker housing comprises a rectangular loudspeaker housing having a front panel with a bass loudspeaker. The front panel and the vertical horizontal panel have an opening that includes an individual loudspeaker, the individual loudspeaker being centered about an axis that is parallel and directly adjacent to the front end of the loudspeaker housing, and the loudspeaker is a loudspeaker housing. Is supported so as to rotate between a closed storage state arranged so as to be flush with the outer surface of the speaker and an open operation state in which the loudspeaker projects vertically.

  With known loudspeaker housings, unfortunately, very suitable for small loudspeaker housings where the loudspeakers are used, for example, for portable devices such as portable audio players or mobile phones It is clear that the known loudspeaker housing folding mechanism greatly limits the number of speakers and thus the effective sound radiation area of the entire loudspeaker housing. Since the active sound radiation side of the speaker arranged on the front panel is directed outward when folded, at least a part of the active sound radiation area of the speaker is not well protected when the loudspeaker housing is closed. Is a further disadvantage of the known embodiment.

  The object of the present invention is to provide a loudspeaker housing of the kind described in the first paragraph which eliminates the drawbacks mentioned above.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the characteristic function according to the present invention is provided together with the apparatus according to the present invention. Therefore, the apparatus according to the present invention is characterized as follows.

  A loudspeaker housing having a closed state and an open state, wherein the loudspeaker housing is a plurality of speaker holding portions that are movable with respect to each other, each of which has at least one speaker having an active sound radiation area. When the loudspeaker casing is closed, the active sound radiation area of at least one speaker in the at least one speaker holding unit is covered and faces the back of the other speaker holding unit. The back surface is located on the opposite side of the active sound radiation area of at least one speaker of the other speaker holding portion.

  Providing the characteristic functions according to the invention provides the advantage that the loudspeaker housing can be easily stored and carried, while the active sound radiation area of the loudspeaker is very well protected. Furthermore, the loudspeaker housing can in principle comprise any number of speakers. Thus, the effective sound emission area is maximized. On the other hand, the construction achieves the advantage that the loudspeaker housing is very convenient to carry.

  Moreover, the acoustic efficiency, which means the ratio of the displaced volume to the respective volume of the speaker or its housing, is higher for small speakers than for large speakers. Thus, using many small speakers instead of one large speaker results in improved efficiency. A further advantage is the design flexibility, because smaller speakers can be placed with a higher degree of freedom than one large speaker. Yet another advantage is the reduced weight and reduced vibration of the housing, because the weight of the small speaker and the vibrating mass of the small speaker are smaller than one large speaker. Finally, more loudspeaker arrangements make it possible to generate a so-called “sound beam” which means that the sound is directed in a clear direction, whereas on the other hand, there is no sound other than the beam. There is little or no. It is also possible to emulate a stereo effect or create a spatial sound. All of this is achieved by a phase shift of the speaker signal, which is not naturally possible when there is only one large speaker. It should be noted that for the aforementioned advantages, we always compare the placement of more small speakers with one large speaker having the same sound pressure.

  If the sound emission direction of the speaker is approximately the same in the closed and / or open state of the loudspeaker housing, the advantage is achieved that the speaker is very well protected in the closed state, whereas in the open state , The effective sound radiation area in one direction is increased, so that sound reproduction in this direction is greatly improved.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the loudspeaker housing is folded in a zigzag manner. This achieves the advantage that, on the one hand, very good speaker protection is achieved in the closed state, whereas on the other hand the spatial positioning of the speaker in the open state is improved, This is because the speaker can be arranged in many postures such as a linear shape or a ring shape.

  According to another embodiment of the present invention, the speaker holding portions are connected to each other in such a manner that the scissors are moved when the loudspeaker housing is moved from the open state to the closed state. This presents the advantage that the loudspeaker housing can be opened and closed very easily. A further advantage of this embodiment is that the number of movable parts is reduced, thus minimizing the risk of damaging the loudspeaker housing when opening and closing the loudspeaker housing.

  However, it has been found to be particularly advantageous if the loudspeaker housing is provided to be opened and closed by shifting the speaker holding parts towards each other. This presents the advantage that the loudspeaker housing is protected from undesired opening due to folding during transport.

  It is further advantageous if the loudspeaker housing is folded around at least two axes perpendicular to each other. This has the advantage that the loudspeakers are arranged in the form of a matrix in the open state, so that the effective sound radiation area of the loudspeaker housing can be optimized very easily according to the given requirements of sound reproduction. Present.

  When a docking station for a portable electronic device comprising at least one loudspeaker housing according to the present invention is used, the sound reproduction of the portable electronic device is improved.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

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

  The invention will now be described in more detail by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a zigzag folding loudspeaker housing 1 according to the invention in a closed state. The loudspeaker housing 1 includes speaker holding portions 2, 3, and 4 including speakers 5, 6, and 7, and the speaker holding portions 2, 3, and 4 are movable toward each other. The speakers 5, 6 and 7 are general loudspeakers as known to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, the speakers 5, 6 and 7 are all the same according to the preferred embodiment.

  The speaker holding portions 2, 3, and 4 are connected to each other in such a manner that the loudspeaker housing 1 is folded from the open state by rotating and moving as shown in FIG.

  Each of the speakers 5, 6, 7 includes an active sound emission region 8, 9, 10. The sound emission directions of the speakers 5, 6 and 7 are substantially the same in the closed state where the loudspeaker housing 1 is folded.

  In the closed state of the loudspeaker housing 1, the active sound radiation areas 9 and 10 of the speakers 6 and 7 are covered and folded back toward the back surface of the speaker holding unit 3 or 2, respectively. In the following description, the rear surfaces of the speaker holding portions 2, 3, 4 are located on the opposite sides of the active sound radiation areas 8, 9, 10 of the holding portions 2, 3, 4. Is understood to mean the surface.

  Therefore, the sound radiation areas 9 and 10 of the preceding speaker holding units 3 and 4 are covered and folded toward the back of the subsequent speaker holding units 2 and 3.

  Two adjacent speaker holding portions 2, 3, 4 are connected by intermediate portions 11, 12. In the folded state of the loudspeaker casing 1, the intermediate portions 11 and 12 cover one of the sound emission areas 9 and 10 of the speakers 6 and 7, respectively.

  Each of the intermediate portions 11 and 12 and the speaker holding portions 2, 3, and 4 basically has a cubic shape. Intermediate portions 11 and 12 are coupled to respective speaker holding portions by hinges 13, 14, 15 and 16. Hinges 13, 14, 15, 16 that couple the intermediate parts 11, 12 to the two speaker holding parts 2, 3, 4 are arranged at opposite ends of the respective intermediate parts 11, 12.

  The sound emission directions of the speakers 5, 6 and 7 are substantially the same in the closed state of the loudspeaker housing 1. In the open state of the loudspeaker housing 1, the sound emission directions of the speakers 5, 6, and 7 are not necessarily the same direction. Therefore, the speakers 5, 6 and 7 can be arranged in a ring or arch shape depending on how far the loudspeaker casing 1 is folded.

  According to FIG. 2, the speaker holding parts 2, 3, 4 and the intermediate parts 11, 12 form a rotary plate assembly. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the loudspeaker housing 1 can be changed to an open state, in which the active sound emission areas 8, 9, 10 are basically located in a common plane.

  The loudspeaker housing 1a shown in FIG. 2a differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 only in that the middle portion 11 of the loudspeaker housing 1a also includes a speaker 11 '. The active sound radiation area 11 ″ of the speaker 11 ′ is oriented in the same direction as the active sound radiation areas 8, 9 of the adjacent speaker holding parts 2, 3.

  FIG. 2b shows a further alternative embodiment of the invention, according to which the loudspeaker housing 1b comprises only two speaker holders 2, 2 '. The speaker holding portions 2 and 2 ′ are connected by a hinge 16. By folding the speaker holding unit 2 or the speaker holding unit 2 ′ around the hinge 16, the loudspeaker housing changes from the open state to the closed state.

  Since only the two speaker holding portions 2 and 2 ′ are provided, the speakers 5 and 2 ″ of the speaker holding portions 2 and 2 ′ have their active sound radiation areas 8 and 2 ″ ′ opened by the loudspeaker casing 1b. In the state, they are arranged to face in the opposite direction. The dimensions stated in the previous sentence indicate that the active sound radiation area 2 "'of the speaker 2" is directed towards the back of the speaker holding part 2 and is thus protected in the closed state of the loudspeaker housing 1b. Guarantee.

  FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a loudspeaker housing 1 'according to the present invention. The loudspeaker housing 1 ′ shown in FIG. 3 also includes speaker holding portions 17, 18, and 19. The speaker holding parts 17, 18, and 19 are connected in such a manner that they can be shifted with respect to each other by linear movement. Therefore, the loudspeaker casing 1 'is opened and closed by shifting the speaker holding portions 17, 18, and 19 toward each other.

  According to a preferred embodiment, each speaker holding part 17, 18, 19 comprises a guiding part for the subsequent holding parts 17, 18, 19. The guide portion is not shown in FIG. 3 and can be realized by a guide rail on the back surface of the speaker holding portions 17, 18, 19. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cover part 20 is disposed in front of the speaker holding part 17. This presents the advantage that the active sound emission areas 8, 9, 10 of all the speakers 5, 6, 7 are protected in the folded state of the loudspeaker housing 1 '. Furthermore, the speaker holding parts 17, 18, and 19 are basically the same size, and here, the speaker holding parts 17, 18, and 19 form a stack in the folded state.

  Furthermore, the sound emission directions of the speakers 5, 6 and 7 are substantially the same in the closed and open states of the loudspeaker casing 1 '.

  According to FIG. 4, the loudspeaker housing 1 ′ is changed from the closed state to the open state by shifting the speaker holding parts 17, 18, 19 and the cover part 20 in the lateral direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3. be able to. In other words, the loudspeaker housing 1 ′ changes to its open or closed state by moving the speaker holding portions 17, 18, 19 and the cover portion 20 like a drawer. Therefore, the loudspeaker casing 1 'is extendable.

  FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the invention, according to which the loudspeaker housing 1 ″ has a main speaker holding part 21 and two side surfaces protruding laterally from the main speaker holding part 21. Speaker holding portions 22 and 23. Side speaker holding portions 22 and 23 and main speaker holding portion 21 include a plurality of speakers 21 ', 22' and 23 ', respectively. To achieve a stand-alone loudspeaker housing 1 ". The side speaker holding portions 22 and 23 are connected to the main speaker holding portion 21 by joint joints 25 and 26, respectively.

  The side portions 22 and 23 perform the operation of scissors when moving from the open state where the active sound radiation areas of the respective speakers 22 ′ and 23 ′ are not covered toward the main body 21 to the closed state. Do. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the side portions 22 and 23 are folded into the main speaker holding portion 21.

  FIG. 6 shows a docking station 27 for the portable electronic device 28. The portable electronic device 28 can be, for example, a portable music player or a mobile phone. The docking station 27 includes two loudspeaker housings 1c and 1d according to the present invention. The loudspeaker housings 1c and 1d shown in Fig. 6 are of the same type as the loudspeaker housing 1 "shown in Fig. 5. The loudspeaker housing 1c is shown in a folded state, while the other The loudspeaker housing 1d is shown in a half-opened state, and the docking station 27 comprises a collet 29 for the portable device 28. The collet 29 receives the audio signal supplied at the audio output of the portable device 28, Means known to those skilled in the art for providing to the loudspeakers 1c ′, 1d ′ of the loudspeaker housings 1c, 1d are provided.

  FIGS. 7a to 7h show a further embodiment of the invention, according to which the speaker holders 30, 31, 32, 33 are folded around the axes a1, a2 or a2, a3, respectively. These axes are orthogonal to each other and to the axis L of the loudspeaker. According to this embodiment of the present invention, the loudspeaker housing 1 "'is folded like a map. The active sound radiation areas of the speaker holders 30, 31, 32, 33 are 30 in Figs. 7a-7h. ', 31', 32 ', 33'.

  FIGS. 7b-7f illustrate different steps of changing the speaker housing from the open state shown in FIGS. 7a and 7b to the closed state shown in FIGS. 7g and 7h.

  In the first step, the speaker holding part 30 is folded around the axis a1, so that the speaker holding part 30 has its active sound radiation area 30 ′ adjacent to it as shown in FIGS. 7c and 7d. It comes to be located on the surface of the speaker holding part 31.

  In the second step, the speaker holding portions 30 and 31 are folded around the axis a2, where the speaker holding portions 30 and 31 are rear surfaces of the speaker holding portion 32 as shown in FIGS. 7e and 7f. It will be located on the top.

  In the last step, the package of the speaker holding parts 30, 31 and 32 is folded around the axis a3, so that the speaker holding parts 30, 31 and 32 are held by the speaker as shown in FIGS. 7g and 7h. It comes to be located on the part 33. The axes a1, a2 and a3 constitute a physical axis realized by a hinge.

  When the loudspeaker casing shown in FIGS. 7a to 7h includes only three speaker holding portions 30, 31, 32, and 33, the loudspeaker casing has two of the axes a1, a2, or a3. Only fold around each one.

  In principle, the present invention can be realized by any number of speaker holding units 2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 19, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33, which are two or more. Note that the adjacent stacks are formed. In the folded state of the loudspeaker casings 1, 1 ', 1 ", 1"', 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, the speaker holding portions 2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30 , 31, 32, 33 are covered with the active sound radiation areas 8, 9, 10, 2 ″ ′, 11 ″, 30 ′, 31 ′, 32 ′, 33 ′ and other speaker holding portions 2, 3, 4 17, 17, 19, 21, 22, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33 is exactly important. Further, the speaker holding portions 2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, and 33 are an arbitrary number of speakers 5, 6, 7, 21 ′, 22 ′, and 23. ', 1c', 1d 'can be provided.

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

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a loudspeaker housing according to the invention in a closed state. FIG. 2 shows the loudspeaker housing of FIG. 1 in the open state. FIG. 2a shows a variation of the loudspeaker housing of FIG. 1 in the open state. FIG. 2b shows an alternative variant of the loudspeaker housing of FIG. 1 in the open state. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a loudspeaker housing according to the present invention in a closed state. FIG. 4 shows the loudspeaker housing of FIG. 3 in the open state. FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of a loudspeaker housing according to the present invention. FIG. 6 shows a docking station comprising a loudspeaker housing according to the present invention. FIG. 7a shows a plan view of a further embodiment of a loudspeaker housing according to the invention in the open state. FIG. 7b shows a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 7a in the direction d1. FIG. 7c shows a plan view of the loudspeaker housing of FIG. 7a after the first folding step. FIG. 7d shows a front view of the loudspeaker housing shown in FIG. 7c in the direction d1. FIG. 7e shows a top view of the loudspeaker housing of FIG. 7a after the second folding step. FIG. 7f shows a front view of the loudspeaker housing shown in FIG. 7e in the direction d1. FIG. 7g shows a plan view of the loudspeaker housing of FIG. 7a in the closed state. FIG. 7h shows a front view of the loudspeaker housing shown in FIG. 7g in the direction d1.

  The drawings are drawn schematically, not to scale, and the same reference numbers in different figures denote corresponding elements. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that alternative but equivalent embodiments of the present invention are possible without departing from the true inventive concept, and the scope of the invention is limited only by the claims. It will be clear.

Claims (7)

A loudspeaker housing having a closed and an open state,
A plurality of speaker holding units movable relative to each other, each of which includes at least one speaker having an active sound radiation area;
In the closed state of the loudspeaker housing, the active sound radiation area of the at least one speaker in the at least one speaker holding unit is covered and faces the back surface of the other one speaker holding unit. And the back surface is located on the opposite side of the active sound radiation area of the at least one speaker of the other speaker holding portion,
A loudspeaker housing characterized by that.   The loudspeaker casing according to claim 1, wherein sound emission directions of the speakers are substantially the same as each other in the closed and / or open state of the loudspeaker casing.   The loudspeaker housing according to claim 1, wherein the loudspeaker housing is folded in a zigzag manner.   The said speaker holding | maintenance part is mutually connected in the aspect which performs an operation | movement of scissors when moving from the said open state of the said loudspeaker housing | casing to the said closed state. Loudspeaker housing.   The loudspeaker casing according to claim 1, wherein the loudspeaker casing is provided so as to be opened and closed by shifting the speaker holding portion.   The loudspeaker housing according to claim 1, wherein the loudspeaker housing is folded around at least two axes orthogonal to each other.   A docking station for a portable electronic device, comprising at least one loudspeaker housing according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images