JPS61244636A - Acoustic system for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sound system for an automobile, and more particularly to:
The present invention relates to a sound system that facilitates the replacement of major components in order to modify the quality and complexity of the electrical signal source corresponding to the sound emitted by the loudspeaker.

A typical car has a cavity behind the instrument panel in which a simple radio or even a more complex sound system can be installed, with a correspondingly designed opening that can be adjusted by controls or other manual controls. are formed in the instrument panel to accommodate the relevant elements. After the initial sound system selected by the car dealer has been installed, many car owners, sooner or later after purchasing their car, upgrade the originally installed sound system or add accessories. I am choosing the path to And this is accomplished in one of two ways. The dealer or radio store assisting Dizzy removes the original device and installs the replacement device. Alternatively, the vehicle owner goes to an aftermarket radio dealer to replace the original device. In either case, the removed device is usually treated as scrap, and there is little chance of purchasing a replacement device. Thus, the car owner suffers unnecessary financial losses as the device has no inherent value. Additionally, new car dealerships are somewhat arbitrary in selecting audio equipment, which may or may not meet the final purchaser's wishes. If the purchaser originally desired a different sound system, whether higher-end or lower-end, the dealer would have to replace the equipment and the purchaser would only be charged the difference in the cost of the equipment. cannot be billed.

The removed device is usually sent back to the car manufacturer,
They are thrown away as scrap or sold for far less than their original value. ``The cost of the initial equipment and the costs associated with its disposal are often borne by the manufacturer and can amount to several million dollars annually. When upgrading a car's sound system after buying and selling, the instrument panel does not have enough space to install the various electrical signal generating components later, so the various electrical signal generating components are placed under the instrument panel, under the seats, or in the trunk. must be installed inside. Placing components in this manner requires wiring within and around the vehicle, adding unnecessary labor costs.

If the wiring is not electrically shielded, it can become inductively or capacitively coupled to the car's own source of spurious electrical signals, which can lead to poor sound quality.

Moreover, the dispersion of such components around the vehicle requires unnecessary attention to operate the sound system, reducing the concentration that can be devoted to driving the vehicle.

As the current compact car market continues to grow at an accelerating pace, the amount of space available for instrument panels is becoming increasingly limited. This trend, combined with the growing demand for complex and sophisticated sound systems, brings the above-mentioned problems into even greater relief.

The structural features of the automotive sound generation system described herein are directed to the use of a standardized chassis into which components selected from several component groups can be mounted. The above-mentioned selection of components allows the user to customize or modify the quality and complexity of the car's sound system from the outset or at a later stage, and to install the selected components inside or outside the car. Moreover, any modifications can be made directly by the car dealer, authorized service organization or the user himself by adding, removing or replacing elements within the chassis.All wiring connecting the components Since the sound system is housed within a 7-hole system, the labor cost for installing 1F wiring around the car can be reduced, and the wiring is electrically shielded from sources of pseudo-electrical signals.The first sound system was removed. All components can be retained by the dealer for subsequent retail or wholesale sale, reducing the costs currently spent by manufacturers in scrapping replaced sound systems, and allowing users to add on to any desired additions. All you have to do is purchase replacement components.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an automotive sound system with replaceable components mounted within a standardized system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automotive acoustic system that accepts the user's selection from a variety of components and is modifiable to suit a certain quality and complexity. . ”.

Yet another objective of the present invention is standardization 1. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automotive acoustic system with a front plate of various shapes to suit the width of the components that can be mounted in a chassis.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an automotive sound system that can be modified to suit the user's current and future needs.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a system which can be adapted to another form only at the cost of additional or replacement components.
The present invention provides a sound system housed within one chassis.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a form of automotive sound system as an initial device that does not require return to the manufacturer even if a consumer rejects a dealer-installed sound system.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide a single automotive sound system that can be tailored to the selected quality and electrical signal generating elements by replacing the components and that can be mounted in place on the vehicle's vehicle panel. The goal is to provide the following.

The objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.1. I will explain.

FIG. 1 shows a chassis 10 for housing various electrical signal generating components associated with an automotive sound system.
It is shown. The size, shape and mounting of the chassis are standardized, the mounting means being for mounting the chassis behind the instrument panel of a motor vehicle in cooperation with holes associated with the instrument panel. The front plate 12 can be removably attached to the front of the chassis and serves as a decorative cover for the seven palms and helps to match the overall decorative aesthetic of the instrument panel. The front panel is provided with a plurality of windows, such as windows 14, 16, 18, 20, for receiving protruding control functions and display devices of components housed within the chassis. It is preferable that the front plate be attached to the instrument panel by means of fixing the chassis, or that it can be attached independently to the chassis.

Such independent mounting allows the front panel to be manufactured from inexpensive plastic and eliminates the need to make the front panel stiff and strong enough to physically support the chassis. Furthermore, by employing a snap fit for attaching the front plate, removal of the front plate after removal of operating knobs such as knobs 22, 24, 26, 28 fixed to elements protruding from components within the chassis is possible. Easily achieved.

The arrangement of components within the chassis can take any of several possible arrangements. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an amplifier 30, which is one of the electrical signal generating components, is housed along the left side of the chassis. With this arrangement, various corresponding control functions are conveniently gathered on the left side of the front panel for the user.

Furthermore, the remainder of the cavity 32 within the chassis is filled with the amplifier 30.
It is left open to receive one or more electrical signal generating components that generate electrical signals to be amplified.

Many car owners listen to FM broadcasts as well as AM broadcasts. Accordingly, a radio frequency tuner 34 that can be tuned to both AM and FM broadcasts is shown in FIG. The tuner is equipped with a display device 36 visible through a window 20 provided in the front panel. Additionally, the tuner has multiple pushbuttons 3 for radio station selection, local and remote station sensitivity selectors, and other function selectors.
8 can be provided. These pushbuttons or selectors project through a window 40 provided in the front panel 1.2.

The tuner 34 is self-contained in the sense that all elements necessary for its functioning are formed and contained within a protective sheath 42 surrounding the display device 36, from which the push button 38 projects. This construction allows it to withstand normal or rough handling without significant damage to internal components. Electrothreads 44 extend from the canopy 42 to provide electrical interconnection between the tuner and amplifier 3o. Additionally, the shroud 42 includes means for securing the tuner in position within the chassis 1o, such as bolts 39 which pass through the holes 41 and thread into the top of the chassis.

Eight-track cassette tape players have become very popular in recent years, and many people are considering purchasing a sound system that incorporates such a tape player, or modifying their current sound system to achieve this possible output. There is strong demand for The cavity 32 inside the chassis 1° is the tuner 34.
It is sized to accommodate both a tape player 460 and another electrical signal generating component.

The tape player is provided with a recess 48 for removably inserting the tape. Furthermore, reference number 50.
Various control functions are provided, such as tape eject, fast forward, 7 rewind, track selection and on/off indicators, shown respectively at 52, 54 and 56. These functions can be achieved by properly installing knobs, levers, and lenses.
It is utilized through a window 18 provided in the front panel 12.

Tape player 46 is positioned within cavity 32 and stacked with tuner 34 . The tape player can be secured either directly to the tuner, to the chassis independently of the tuner, or to the tuner and tape player not only to the chassis, but also to each other. The latter method is illustrated, with the bolt 3 being inserted into the hole 41 provided in the tape player.
' and the corresponding hole 41 provided in the tuner, and is screwed into the upper part of the chassis. The choice of fixation means is primarily driven by manufacturing considerations and ease of use in the field. An electrical thread 68 extends from the tape player 46 for electrically coupling the tape player directly to the amplifier 30 or to a junction box within the chassis.

A cover plate 58 is attached to the bottom of the sea palm 10 by a plate tapped screw, such as a screw 60, which threads into a hole 62 in a lower flange 64 of the chassis. The cover plate slider 66 may be mechanically interlocked with the chassis or may use a screw, such as screw 60. The cover plate functions to provide access to the cavity 32 for adding, subtracting, or replacing components within the chassis, and also serves to protect the housed components. Further, in addition to the method for fixing the tape player 46 described above, the tape player 46 may be directly fixed to the cover plate.

FIG. 2 shows yet another front plate 70. FIG. This front plate is similar to that shown in FIG. 1, except that the tape player window is omitted. Accordingly, front plate 70 may be attached to chassis 10 if the user desires not to incorporate tape player 46. The blank area of the window A may be decorated with letters or designs to make it less obvious that components that could be built in are not built in.

The front plate 70 is employed when a user purchases a car equipped with a sound system in which only the amplifier 30 and tuner 34 are installed inside the chassis 10.

Either from the beginning or later, the user can expand the sound system by adding a tape player 46 as explained in FIG. At this time, the front plate 70 is replaced with the front plate 12. It is clear that users can avoid the financial waste of purchasing a new sound system with a higher output power by discarding a usable sound system in this case. Instead, the user can simply purchase the tape player 46 at a relatively modest price and install it himself or have it installed by an automobile dealership or independent organization.

Not only is there considerable cost savings on the part of the user, but the problems of handling the initial equipment and the costs of returning it to the manufacturer are completely eliminated.

FIG. 3 incorporates a tape player 46, a tuner 34, and an amplifier, only the corresponding knobs 22 and 24 being shown, and various knobs such as a clock display device 74 and elements 76, 78. , shows a front plate 72 that can be used in a sound system that can incorporate push buttons, levers, and indicators 80, 82, etc. for various functions. In addition to these components it is possible to incorporate components such as a sound equalizer, indicated by the reference numeral 83. This possibility will be of particular importance when equalizers are used to adjust the sound emanating from round speakers in a reproduction chamber inside a car.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of chassis 10, illustrating features not apparent in FIG. Cover 7'L/-)
58 includes a rear wall 84 extending from edge 66 and matching a recess 86 in the rear side 88 of the chassis, recess 86 being formed to provide better passage into the interior of the hash. Additionally, a thin plate tap screw 90 passes through the back wall 84 and threads into the hole 92 to secure the back wall 84 to the back of the chassis. An electrothread 94 is shown extending from amplifier 30 for electrically coupling to a chassis-mounted junction box or other components within the chassis.

A female coupler 96 can be used to receive and electrically interconnect leads from the antenna to send signals to the tuner. The only external electrothread used in the present audio system is threader 98. This thread is used to connect the sound system to the car battery, which is a power source.

Means such as brackets 100 on the sides 102.1 (14) of the chassis and brackets 106 on the back side 88 of the chassis are suitable for mounting the chassis to a splitter panel support structure or other fixed structure. Since it is used to fix the chassis in place, the front plate 12 need not be used as part of the chassis mounting mechanism.

From what has been described above about the electrical connections between the components of the present audio system, it should be clear that there are no connecting lines external to the chassis. This has several advantages. First, because the electrothread is sealed from spurious radiation, the introduction of signals that degrade sound quality through inductive or capacitive coupling is avoided. Second, installation and removal of the sound system is considerably simplified since only connections to the power source and antenna leads are required. Thirdly, there is no possibility of damage to the connecting wires when handling the chassis.

FIG. 5 shows six separate self-contained components: chassis 112, front plate 114, amplifier 116, and tuner 1.
18, an equalizer 120, and a tape player 122. FIG. Each of these components is independently replaceable, and all of the electrical components are electrically interconnectable by corresponding electrothreads within the chassis. Furthermore, if any component is defective, it can be independently replaced with the same one. Amplifier 116 can be replaced with a higher or lower quality one, or one with a different output capability.

Tuner 118, equalizer 120, tape player 1
Any of the 22 can be removed or replaced with one of different quality or complexity. Additionally, the chassis 112 can be replaced if it is damaged or defective. When replacing, removing, or adding an amplifier, tuner, equalizer, or tape player, the front panel 1 is designed to fit the protruding elements and indicators that accompany new signal generation components.
14 may need to be replaced.

Although the principle of the present invention has been clarified by one example above,
For those having knowledge of the technical field to which this invention pertains,
Obviously, many modifications may be made in structure, arrangement, elements, materials, and components without departing from the principles thereof, to suit the particular circumstances and operating conditions under which the invention is practiced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partial isometric view showing the installation of components within the chassis. FIG. 2 shows a replacement front plate that is compatible with components installed in a standardized chassis. FIG. 3 shows yet another front plate. FIG. 4 is a partial isometric view showing the installation of components within the chassis. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the installation of a number of different selected components within a standardized chassis. 10... palm, 12... front plate, 14
．． 16.18.20...window, 22.24.26.28
...Knob, 30...Amplifier, 32...Cavity, 34...Tuner, 36...Display device, 38...Push button, 39.39'...
・Bolt, 40;・・Window, 41.41'・
... hole, 42 ... cover, 44 ... electrothreading, 46 ... tape player, 48 ... recess, 5
0.52.54.56... Control function, 58... Cover plate, 60... Screw, 62... Hole,
64... Lower flange of chassis, 66... Rear edge, 68... Electric thread, 70.72... Front plate, 74... Clock display device, 76.78
... Horn, push button, lever, 80.82 ... Indicator, 83 ... Equalizer, 84 ... Back wall of cover plate, 86 ... Recess, 88 ... Back of chassis,
90... Thin plate tap screw, 92... Hole, 94...
・Electrothreading, 96...Female coupler, 98...
・Electrical threading, 100, 106-... Bracket, 112... Chassis, 114... Front plate, 116... Amplifier, 118... Tuner, 12
0... Equalizer, 122... Tape player. (5 other people)

Claims (16)

[Claims] (1) (a) A chassis standardized in shape and sized in accordance with the conditions and parameters associated with the instrument panel of a motor vehicle, standard for installation without modification in all motor vehicles having equivalent clearances in the instrument panel; (b) a plurality of separate separable electrical signal generating components secured within said chassis; (c) the addition of electrical signal generating components within said chassis;
(d) means for electrically interconnecting electrical signal generating components within the chassis; and (e) means compatible with components installed within the chassis and installed in the instrument panel. by the addition, deletion or replacement of elements after manufacture, characterized in that the combination consists of a replaceable front plate for said chassis, which can be selected from a group of front plates of the same dimensions to match the clearances of the A sound system for automobile instrument panels that allows the quality and complexity of electrical signal generation to be selected from the beginning or later. (2) a removable shield that provides a means for adding, removing, or replacing components into the interior of the chassis;
2. An acoustic system according to claim 1, further comprising means for removably fixing the electrical signal generating component. (3) The acoustic system according to claim 2, wherein the electrical signal generating component includes an RF tuner. (4) The audio system of claim 3, wherein the electrical signal generating component includes a tape player. (5) The audio system according to claim 4, wherein the electrical signal generating component includes an amplifier. (6) The audio system according to claim 5, wherein the electrical signal generating component includes an equalizer. (7) The audio system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical signal generating components include an RF tuner, a tape player, and an amplifier. (8) The audio system according to claim 7, wherein the means for adding, deleting, and replacing components comprises means for stacking a tape player and an RF tuner at predetermined positions inside the chassis. (9) The audio system according to claim 8, wherein the amplifier is arranged beside the stacked tape players and RF tuner. (10) The acoustic system according to claim 1, wherein the front panel is provided with a window that matches the position and size of the adjustment element protruding from the electric signal generating component to the outside of the chassis. (11) The acoustic system according to claim 10, wherein the mounting means is independent from the front plate. 12. The acoustic system of claim 1, wherein the interconnection means comprises an electrothread coupled to each electrical signal generating component. (13) (a) modifying the configuration of separate electrical signal generating components mounted within the chassis; and (b) such steps adding, removing, and replacing one or more electrical signal generating components; (c) electrically interconnecting electrical signal generating components mounted on the chassis within the chassis; and (d) connecting the chassis to an instrument panel independent of the chassis face plate. and (e) replacing the front plate with a front plate that conforms to the conditions of the modified configuration of the electrical signal generating component. A method for modifying the quality and complexity of the electrical signals produced by a sound reproduction system initially or in the field. (14) The method according to claim 13, which includes the step of removing the seat from the instrument panel of the automobile. (15) The method according to claim 13, which includes the step of attaching the chassis to an instrument panel of an automobile. 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of removing the original seat from the instrument panel and reattaching the modified seat to the instrument panel.