JPH07154893A - Speaker system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To freely control acoustic characteristics and to control the sound field of the speaker of an optional surface by performing a prescribed signal processing to sound signals, generating the plural sound signals, fetching them by sounding elements arranged on an optional shape surface and reproducing sound. CONSTITUTION:This speaker system 1 is provided with a signal source 2, plural band filter circuits 3a-3m, a matrix circuit 4, a delay time control circuit 5, plural delay circuits 6a-6n, a gain control circuit 7, variable gain amplifier circuits 8a-8n and the sounding elements 9a-9n. Then, (the sound signals of one channel or plural channels) generated by the signal source 2 are filtered, turned to the sound signals of plural bands and distributed to the sounding elements 9a-9n. Then, a delay amount and a gain are controlled for the respective sounding elements 9a-9n, they are supplied to the sounding elements 9a-9n and output is performed. The sounding elements 9a-9n are chip elements and arranged in a matrix on a plane 10 and the output is performed through the variable gain amplifier circuits 8a-8n.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a speaker system in which a large number of ultra-small and thin sound generating elements are arranged and driven.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention makes it possible to freely design the overall shape by arranging a large number of ultra-small and thin sound producing elements and driving them, and further to change the configuration shape. It is possible to control the acoustic characteristics, the number of channels used, etc. without any need.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a multi-channel stereo reproduction method and a directivity control method are known as methods of using a large number of speakers by considering them as elements of respective speaker systems.

In the multi-channel stereo reproduction method, a large number of speakers are sectioned for each channel and arranged in a plane, and when acoustic signals are output from a signal source, these acoustic signals are processed for each channel. After that, it is supplied to each speaker divided for each channel to generate multi-channel acoustic sound (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 3-252315).

In the directivity control method, a plurality of generally used loudspeakers are arranged in a straight line, signal processing is performed on an acoustic signal output from a signal source, and the acoustic signal is supplied to each speaker. And control the directivity of the acoustic sound output from each speaker (eg, Yoshikawa et al., "Directivity control of speaker array by digital signal processing", Acoustical Society of Japan, Spring Research Conference 1989 (I) 1-1-2).

[0006]

However, the above-mentioned conventional speaker systems have the following problems.

That is, in the speaker system based on the multi-channel stereo reproduction method, the reproduced sound field can be controlled only by controlling the electric parameters without changing the arrangement of the speakers, but the number of signal processing devices is limited. When the upper speaker is driven by being divided into a plurality of groups, there is a problem that it is not possible to control the directivity with high accuracy. Further, there is a problem that the reproduction frequency band of the entire system is limited due to the frequency characteristic of each speaker. Furthermore, as individual speakers,
Since a commonly used small cone speaker is used, it is difficult to make the thickness in the depth direction extremely thin.

Further, in the speaker system based on the directivity control method, although the speaker array direction can be controlled with high precision, it is difficult to control the directivity in a direction other than the array direction. There is a problem that directivity control cannot be performed in the direction orthogonal to the direction. Also, similar to the problem of the speaker system by the multi-channel stereo reproduction method,
Due to the frequency characteristics of each speaker, the playback frequency band of the entire system is limited,
Since a generally used small cone speaker is used as each speaker, it is difficult to make the thickness in the depth direction extremely thin.

Further, in any of these speaker systems using the multi-channel stereo reproduction method and the speaker system using the directivity control method, since any of the methods presupposes that the speaker is installed on a flat surface such as a wall.
When a speaker is attached to the surface of a polyhedron or a curved surface, it is difficult to control the sound field.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention allows the acoustic characteristics such as directivity and frequency characteristics of the entire system to be freely controlled, and the speaker is attached not only to a straight line or a flat surface but also to a curved surface. Even if it is, it aims at providing the speaker system which can control a sound field.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a speaker system according to the present invention comprises:
A signal processing unit that takes in an input acoustic signal and performs a predetermined signal processing to generate a plurality of acoustic signals, and a plurality of signal processing units arranged on a surface formed in an arbitrary shape and output from the signal processing unit It is characterized in that it is provided with a microminiature sound generating element that individually takes in a plurality of acoustic signals to generate acoustic sounds.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the speaker system according to the first aspect, the signal processing section performs predetermined signal processing for acoustic signals such as a band frequency characteristic, a delay time and a gain for each sounding element. Among them, at least one or more characteristics are controlled.

[0013]

In the above structure, according to the first aspect, the acoustic signal input by the signal processing unit is taken in, predetermined signal processing is performed to generate a plurality of acoustic signals, and the acoustic signals are formed into arbitrary shapes. The plurality of acoustic signals output from the signal processing unit are individually taken in by the microminiature sounding elements arranged on the upper surface to reproduce the acoustic sound.

In the present invention, the acoustic signal input by the signal processing unit is taken in, and at least one of the band frequency characteristic, the delay time and the gain is controlled for each sounding element. A plurality of acoustic signals are generated, and a plurality of acoustic signals output from the signal processing unit are individually captured by a plurality of microminiature sounding elements arranged on a surface formed in an arbitrary shape. Acoustic sound is played.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a first speaker system according to the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows an Example.

The speaker system 1 shown in this figure includes a signal source 2, a plurality of bandpass filter circuits 3a to 3m, a matrix circuit 4, a delay time control circuit 5, a plurality of delay circuits 6a to 6n, and a gain control circuit. 7, a plurality of variable gain amplifier circuits 8a to 8n, and a plurality of sounding elements 9a to 9n, and a plurality of signals generated by the signal source 2 (acoustic signals of one channel or a plurality of channels) are filtered. Band acoustic signals, and these are produced by the respective sounding elements 9a to 9a.
After allocating to n, the delay amount and the gain are controlled for each sounding element 9a to 9n and supplied to each sounding element 9a to 9n, and an acoustic sound is output from each of these sounding elements 9a to 9n.

The signal source 2 is a portion for generating an acoustic signal of one channel or a plurality of channels which is a source of the acoustic sound output from each of the sound producing elements 9a to 9n, and the generated acoustic signal is to each of the band pass filter circuits 3a to 3m. Supply to.

The band-pass filter circuits 3a to 3m have different band-frequency characteristics which are preset based on acoustic characteristics such as directivity and frequency characteristics of the entire system, and are output from the signal source 2. Each of the acoustic signals is captured and filtered to generate a plurality of acoustic signals having different band frequency characteristics, and these are supplied to the matrix circuit 4.

The matrix circuit 4 outputs the sound signals output from the band-pass filter circuits 3a to 3m to the sounding elements 9a to 9n on the basis of the contents set by the acoustic characteristics such as the directivity and frequency characteristics of the entire system. And each of the band pass filter circuits 3a to 3m based on the contents manually or automatically set by the user.
The respective acoustic signals output from the respective sound signals are distributed to the signal lines of the respective sounding elements 9a to 9n, and the corresponding delay circuits 6a to 6n.
Supply to each.

The delay time control circuit 5 is a portion for designating the delay time of each of the delay circuits 6a to 6n based on the acoustic characteristics such as the directivity and frequency characteristics of the entire system, and is set manually or automatically by the user. Based on the contents described, the delay time designating signals for the respective delay circuits 6a to 6n are generated and supplied to the respective delay circuits 6a to 6n.

Each of the delay circuits 6a to 6n takes in each acoustic signal output from the matrix circuit 4 and each of the acoustic signals based on each delay time designation signal output from the delay time control circuit 5. This is a part for delaying by a designated time, and supplies each delay-processed acoustic signal to each variable gain amplifier circuit 8a to 8n.

The gain control circuit 7 is a part for designating the gain of each of the variable gain amplification circuits 8a to 8n on the basis of acoustic characteristics such as directivity and frequency characteristics of the entire system, and is manually or automatically set by the user. A gain designation signal for each variable gain amplifier circuit 8a to 8n is generated based on the contents described and supplied to each variable gain amplifier circuit 8a to 8n.

The variable gain amplifier circuits 8a to 8n take in the audio signals output from the delay circuits 6a to 6n, respectively, and the audio signals are output based on the gain designating signals output from the gain control circuit 7. It is a part that amplifies a signal with a designated gain, and supplies each amplified acoustic signal to each sounding element 9a-9n.

Each of the sounding elements 9a to 9n is an ultra-small or ultra-thin sounding element, for example, a chip-shaped element, and has a preset array pattern, for example, a matrix on a flat surface 10 such as a wall surface as shown in FIG. The acoustic signals output from the variable gain amplifier circuits 8a to 8n are arranged in a rectangular shape, and the acoustic signals are converted into acoustic sounds and output.

In this case, the distribution contents of the acoustic signals of the respective frequency bands by the matrix circuit 4, the delay times of the delay circuits 6a to 6n by the delay time control circuit 5, and the variable gain amplification circuits 8a to 8n by the gain control circuit 7. By manually or automatically adjusting the gain of each of the sounding elements 9a to 9n and grouping them in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction,
While controlling the horizontal or vertical directivity,
Reproduces acoustic sound with different frequency characteristics and different channels depending on the row or column. Obviously, the above characteristics can be controlled more finely if the sounding elements 9a to 9n are not grouped.

As described above, in this embodiment, the acoustic signals of one channel or a plurality of channels generated by the signal source 2 are filtered into the acoustic signals of a plurality of bands, and these are output to the sounding elements 9a to 9n. After the allocation, the delay amount and the gain are controlled for each of the sounding elements 9a to 9n to be supplied to the sounding elements 9a to 9n, and the acoustic sounds are output from the sounding elements 9a to 9n.
Acoustic characteristics such as directivity and frequency characteristics of the entire system can be freely controlled, and the sound field is controlled not only by a straight line or a flat surface but also by mounting the sounding elements 9a to 9n on a curved surface. be able to.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the plurality of sound producing elements 9a to 9n are arranged on the flat surface 10 such as the wall surface, but it is considered that the ultra thin type television receiver will be popular in the future. The speaker system according to the present invention may be applied to a set (so-called wall-mounted TV).

In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, a plate-shaped mounting plate 13 is provided around the screen 12 of the television receiver 11, and a plurality of sounding elements 9a-9n are provided on the mounting plate 13.
Are arranged in a matrix form, and the above-described processing is performed on the audio signal of the television receiver 11, that is, filtering is performed to obtain acoustic signals of a plurality of bands, and these are generated by each sounding element 9.
After allocating to a to 9n, each sounding element 9a to 9n
The sound generation elements 9a to 9n are controlled by controlling the delay amount and the gain for each.
To produce acoustic sounds from each of the sounding elements 9a to 9n, or to group the sounding elements 9a to 9n so that the sound signal of the television receiver 11 is output to each sounding element 9a to 9n of each group. The acoustic characteristics such as the directivity and the frequency characteristics of the entire system can be freely controlled by supplying each of them to the.

Even in this case, since the sound producing elements 9a to 9n used in the speaker system according to the present invention are thin and lightweight, they are extremely thin as compared with the case where the conventional speaker is arranged on the flat plate. It can be made lightweight and practically causes no problems. Moreover, if necessary, the mounting angles of the respective sounding elements 9a to 9n mounted on the mounting plate 13 are directed in a direction different from that of the screen 12 of the television receiver 11, or the mounting plate 13 is formed into an arbitrary shape such as a curved surface. It is possible to localize the sound image to the center of the screen of the television receiver 11 or an arbitrary part in the screen 12 by this.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the flat surface 10 such as the wall surface or the mounting plate 1 for the television receiver 11 is used.
3, a plurality of sounding elements 9a to 9n are arranged, but the speaker system according to the present invention may be applied to another flat plate, for example, a chest 14 used as furniture as shown in FIG. .

In this case, a plurality of sounding elements 9a to 9n are arranged in a matrix on the frame plate of the chest 14, that is, the side plate 15 and the front lower plate 16, and the above-described processing, that is, filtering is performed on the input audio signal. To produce sound signals of a plurality of bands, and allocate these to the sounding elements 9a to 9n, then control the delay amount and the gain for each sounding element 9a to 9n and supply them to the sounding elements 9a to 9n. Outputting an acoustic sound from each of these sounding elements 9a to 9n, or grouping each sounding element 9a to 9n, and supplying an input audio signal to each sounding element 9a to 9n of each group. Thus, the directivity of the entire system,
Acoustic characteristics such as frequency characteristics can be freely controlled.

By doing so, a plurality of sound producing elements 9a to 9n are arranged on a space-saving surface such as a surface of a furniture having a complicated shape or a furniture having only a curved surface to improve the space utilization efficiency. While improving, acoustic characteristics such as directivity and frequency characteristics of the entire system can be freely controlled.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the above-mentioned processing is performed on the input audio signal, that is, the audio signal of a plurality of bands is filtered to allocate the audio signals to the sounding elements 9a to 9n. , Each sound element 9a
Each sounding element 9a by controlling the delay amount and the gain every 9n
To 9n, or grouping the sounding elements 9a to 9n into groups, and the input audio signal is supplied to each sounding element 9 in each group.
a to 9n respectively, the arrangement of the respective sounding elements 9a to 9n and the respective sounding elements 9a to 9n.
By performing signal processing in consideration of the shape of the surface to which n is attached, the shape of the room in which these sounding elements 9a to 9n are attached, and the like, any sound space in a large hall or live sound can be obtained. You may make it reproduce the sound which has a frequency characteristic.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to freely control the acoustic characteristics such as the directivity and frequency characteristics of the entire system, and not only a straight line or a plane but also a curved one. The sound field can be controlled even if a speaker is attached to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a speaker system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an arrangement example of each sounding element shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a second embodiment of the speaker system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the speaker system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 speaker system 2 signal source 3a-3m bandpass filter circuit 4 matrix circuit 5 delay time control circuit 6a-6n delay circuit 7 gain control circuit 8a-8n variable gain amplification circuit 9a-9n sounding element

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A signal processing unit for taking in an input acoustic signal and performing a predetermined signal processing to generate a plurality of acoustic signals; and a plurality of the signal processing units arranged on a surface formed in an arbitrary shape. A speaker system comprising: a microminiature sound generating element that individually takes in a plurality of acoustic signals output from a speaker section to generate an acoustic sound. 2. The signal processing unit performs, as a predetermined signal processing, a band frequency characteristic for each sounding element for an acoustic signal,
The speaker system according to claim 1, wherein at least one characteristic of delay time and gain is controlled.