KR20080081371A - Speaker surround structure for maximizing cone diameter - Google Patents

Abstract

In a compact speaker, to enable the deployment of a diaphragm (14) of larger diameter than is used conventionally for the corresponding basket (10) size, the outer basket- attachment portion of the surround-suspension (12) is made in a special configuration shaped as an axial skirt (16a), i.e. generally tubular in the case of a round speaker basket, instead of the planar shape of the basket-attachment portion of conventionally speakers. The speaker basket (10) of the present invention is made with a corresponding axial peripheral flange of which the inner wall made to serve as a landing (20) for adhesive attachment to the outer wall of the axial surround suspension flange. This special configuration retains the required resilience and capability of full excursion while enabling enlargement of the effective vibrating piston area substantially by deployment of a larger cone. The basket may be of the type that is stamped from metal, e. g. as in popular conventional speakers, or in other embodiments it may be cast from metal or molded from suitable plastic material. The outer attachment member of this surround-suspension is preferably configured in a special cross-sectional shape that maximizes the area available for adhesive attachment to the basket.

Description

Speaker surround structure maximizes cone diameter {SPEAKER SURROUND STRUCTURE FOR MAXIMIZING CONE DIAMETER}

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to audio loudspeakers / transducers, and more particularly to improving the midrange and low frequency response of popular compact category full range speakers.

Compact speakers are categorized by external dimensions, such as the diameter of a round speaker, while the main performance limitations, such as midrange and low frequency performance, are primarily diaphragm range and excursion performance, ie diamonds acting as pistons. It is mainly determined by the volume of air moved by the effective moving part of the fram.

Many of the smaller speakers are used in vehicles such as cars, trucks, boats and aircraft. These speakers are generally designed to be mechanically suitable for the specific mounting pattern used by the vehicle manufacturer, and typically include a main cutout and surround mounting holes, which are in accordance with various standards around the world. The dimension is determined.

Round speakers with basket diameters ranging from 4 inches to 7 inches are used in vehicles in the United States and around the world in very large quantities. Most speakers in the 6 to 7 inch range are either Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS, hereinafter referred to as "JIS") that define 6.18 inch (157 mm) diameters or German Industrial Standards (DIN, which specify 6.69 inch (170mm) diameters). Hereinafter referred to as 'DIN'-used in Europe.

A useful advantage factor with regard to size efficiency is obtained by comparing the cone area with the projected entire basket area. These elements are tabulated below with typical basket diameters and associated cone diameters.

(Main dimensions of popular compact speakers) Nominal size standard Cone diameter (mm) Basket diameter (mm) Cone area to basket area ratio 4 inch 73 102.3 0.51 5 1/4 inch 92 129 0.51 6 1/2 inch JIS Japan (a) 111.8 157 0.51 JIS Japan (b) 115.3 157 0.54 DIN Europe 119.3 170 0.49

Table 1 shows that conventional speaker structures typically provide a cone to basket area ratio of approximately 0.51. The JIS standard (b) standard represents an effort to maintain a smaller JIS basket size while partially upgrading to DIN cone size and corresponding midrange and low frequency performance.

All practical loudspeakers experience an inherent dropout of acoustic efficiency at a low-end cutoff frequency inversely proportional to the cone area (for a given cone deviation). Therefore, it is very beneficial to increase the cone diameter of a full range speaker because the cone diameter increase rate results in a cone area increase rate greater than twice. Regardless of whether the speaker basket is round, oval, or any other shape, increasing the cone area without increasing its external dimensions is subject to strict limitations on basket size—e.g. In automotive acoustic systems and small personal radio / stereo players, multimedia computer systems, etc. It will be especially helpful for midrange and low frequency performance of the vulnerable compact speakers when used in large quantities.

1 is a cross-sectional view of an edge portion of a molded metal sheet basket 10 of a conventional conventional speaker. A typical surround-suspension 12 has a radially flat outer flange 12a as a peripheral extension portion to adhesively attach to a planar margin landing 10a at the periphery of the basket. And adhesively attached to the cone 14 (some shown) with a conical inner flange 12b as the inner extending periphery. The central arcuate flexible portion 12c of the annular surround-suspension 12 restrains the cone 14 radially, but allows it to oscillate axially when driven by a voice coil (not shown). do.

The positions of the cones 14 and the surround-suspension 12 are shown in solid lines in the case of a normal "stopped" state. The displacement positions of the surround suspension 12 'and the cone 14' are shown in dashed lines at the maximum downward cone excursion in the case of maximum drive. The arch 12c displacement of the surround-suspension provides an effective piston diameter that is somewhat larger than the cone diameter extending to the middle region of the arch 12c.

FIG. 1A shows a cross section of the basket 10a, which is molded from plastic or cast from a metal such as aluminum as an alternative to the pressing metal sheet configuration, and the landing (pressing of FIG. 1) as shown. And to attach the outer flange 12a of the surround-suspension 12 in an adhesive manner.

U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,111,510 (Mitobe) and 5,115,474 (Tsuchiya et al.) Show cross-sectional views showing conventional conventional speaker surround-suspension structures. Their standard cone mounting configuration is characterized by having radially planar fixing flanges extending outwards on the surround-suspension as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A, which are practiced in an absolute number of conventional speakers. Same as

U.S. Patent 5,867,583 "TWIST-LOCK MOUNTABLE VERSATILE LOUDSPEAKER MOUNT" (inventor Hazelwood, Espiritu, Jorgensen) discloses a non-conventional mounting system comprising a special surround-suspension configuration, wherein the special surround-suspension configuration is a cone area. This results in an increase in the ratio of the basket area, for example by enabling the use of DIN cones in a JIS standard basket, a cone area to basket area ratio of 0.58 can be achieved, which is higher than that of conventional speakers (typically 0.51, see Table 1). Increase over 13%.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a non-conventional mount in the surround-suspension of a cone-shaped speaker, which allows the use of larger cone sizes than in the prior art, thereby increasing the ratio of cone area to basket area, thereby increasing the speaker's midrange and low It is to increase the frequency performance.

It is yet another object of the present invention to allow the surround-suspension to occupy less space in the external fixed area, thereby enabling a larger cone area and providing at least the same capacity as the cone deflection capability found in conventional equivalent speakers. -To provide a new configuration and mounting system in which the suspension is configured.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an embodiment using a molded metal sheet standard speaker basket, as well as a basket molded from plastic or cast from a metal, such as aluminum.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a high quality level of adhesive attachment performance and reliability, for example by maximizing the interface area of the adhesive attachment with the special surround-suspension attachment configuration of the present invention.

The above-mentioned objectives are achieved by using diaphragms of larger diameter than conventionally used for the basket size, and the outer periphery of the surround suspension with special configurations (positioning larger cones and / or soluble arches of the surround-suspension). It is achieved by the subject speaker of the present invention by increasing the thickness to increase the effective vibration area, making the effective piston area large while retaining the necessary elasticity and full shifting capability.

In a new development of the invention the surround-suspension outer attachment member is in the form of an axial skirt, ie entirely tubular and extends rearward, instead of the corresponding planar shape which extends radially outwardly from the soluble arch. Dimensioned to fit snugly inside the basket, extending forward from the periphery of the basket, and adhesively fixed to the interface region.

The axial skirt can be specially shaped to maximize the adhesive fixation area.

In the case of various embodiments and variations, the basket may be in the form of a metal stamp, similar to conventional JIS speech, or in the form of a metal or molded of a suitable plastic material.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

1 to 9 show cross sections of the basket rim area of the speaker, respectively.

1 and 1A show a surround-suspension mounting and attachment configuration for a conventional conventional speaker using the molded metal sheet or mold / casting basket discussed above, respectively.

2-9 illustrate various embodiments of a novel cone surround-suspension constructed in accordance with the present invention.

2 shows a basic embodiment of the present invention. The specially configured surround-suspension 16 is made so that the outer attachment member is formed as an axial skirt 16a extending rearwardly, and which has an outwardly extending radial plane flange 12a shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A. The basic development from the conventional practice of attaching through.

The skirt 16a interfaces with the inner surface of the basket rim and rests on the edge landing where its lower edge is flat. The skirt 16a is adhesively attached to the interface as shown. The basic embodiment may be used with a press metal flake basket 10 or with a basket molded from plastic or cast from a metal such as aluminum.

The increased size of the cone 14a, ie increased diameter in the case of round speakers, made possible by the present invention is apparent when comparing FIG. 2 with the conventional cone 14 of FIGS. 1 and 1A.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment using a surround-suspension 16 specially shaped as in FIG. 2. However, the skirt 16a has an annular channel (the outer wall formed by the inner wall of the basket rim 18 and the inner wall formed by the thickened area 18a of the basket 18 and is molded from plastic or made of aluminum Cast into metal]. This configuration is excellent in attachment reliability because the adhesion area increases at the interface between the inner wall surface of the peripheral flange of the basket 18 and the outer wall surface of the skirt 16a of the surround-suspension 16.

FIG. 4 illustrates a variation on the basic implementation of FIG. 2, wherein the surround-suspension 16 is identical to FIGS. 2 and 3, but retained by an annular retainer ring 20 shaped as shown. And is adhesively fixed to the landing portion of the basket (10). The skirt 16a of the surround-suspension 16 is exactly adhesively fixed to the rim of the basket 10 and the ring 20.

FIG. 5 illustrates a variation on the general embodiment of FIG. 4, where the retainer ring 22 has an annular channel for receiving the skirt 16a of the surround-suspension 16. The thickness of the channel outer wall of the ring 22 should be taken into account in determining the value of the span of the flexible arch of the basket, cone and / or surround-suspension 16.

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention wherein the surround-suspension 24 is specially shaped to have a cross-sectional shape that extends adjacent to a flat edge landing as shown. This shape allows both the axial and radial interface regions to be adhesively fixed, so that the fixing region is increased as compared with the fixing region of the conventional speaker shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A to obtain high reliability.

7 shows an alternative embodiment, in which the skirt 26a of the surround-suspension 26 is doubled in itself as shown and the inner and planar edge landings of the peripheral flange of the basket 10. The adhesive is fixed to.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment similar to FIG. 6, in which the skirt 28a of the special surround-suspension 28 substantially covers the enlarged area of the adhesive fixation (the entire area of the planar edge landing 20 of the basket 10). It is molded to form an illustrated shape enlarged to a thickness to enable (included).

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention further comprising a mounting adapter 32 fitted within an axial peripheral flange of the basket 10, wherein the mounting adapter 32 is intended for the speaker to be mounted to the rear side of the panel. To help.

The skirt of the surround-suspension 30 is made such that the narrow fixing flange 30a extends outward from the edge of the skirt and is adhesively fixed to the edge landing of the basket 10 and the bottom of the annular speaker mount adapter 32, The annular speaker mount adapter 32 may be molded from plastic or molded / cast from metal. The adapter 32 forms a spacer between the speaker and a panel that interfaces with the upper horizontal plane of the adapter 32. The bottom of the vertical portion of the adapter 32 clamps the narrow anchoring flange 30a and is adhesively anchored to the inner surface of the basket 10 rim and provides additional interface area to improve adhesive anchoring.

Incorporating most embodiments of the present invention into a 4 inch round speaker with a conventional basket having an outer diameter of 129 mm can increase the conventional cone diameter (92 mm) to 102.6 mm. This is an increase of 11.5% in diameter and 24.4% in area, which significantly improves the low frequency response. Referring to Table 1, the cone area to basket area ratio achieved by the present invention in the 4 inch category is 0.633, an increase of 24% compared to 0.51 of conventional speakers.

In any of the embodiments, the arch portion of the surround-suspension may form a uniform thickness, or may specifically vary the thickness to increase suitability. For example, the surround-suspension may be thinly formed in the center region and / or tapering both or one flange.

The present invention may be implemented in an alternative configuration in which the surround-suspension skirt is arranged around the outer periphery, not the inner periphery of the basket rim flange as shown. Thus, the inner axial wall of the surround-suspension skirt will interface with the outer axial wall of the basket rim and be adhesively attached to the wall.

Typically, in various embodiments disclosed, the specially configured surround-suspension of the present invention functions in cooperation with a conventional second cone suspension member (usually a concentric spider suspension attached in a known manner to the central voice coil region of the cone). Exert. However, the invention may also be practiced in embodiments in which a special surround-suspension functions as a sole cone suspension component.

Although described herein as being applied to round basket speakers for illustrative purposes, the principles of the present invention, i.e. shortening or eliminating the mounting flanges extending outward of the surround-suspension, are not limited to round speakers, and may be elliptical or It can be done in speakers with baskets of any practical shape, including right angles.

The invention can be embodied or implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and basic features of the invention. Accordingly, the present embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the spring invention is indicated by the following claims rather than by the foregoing description. All modifications, substitutions and changes that fall within the scope of equivalents of the claims are within the scope of the present invention.

1-9 are cross-sectional views of the rim regions of the speaker.

1 and 1A are partial cross-sectional views of a typical conventional speaker.

2 to 9 are partial cross-sectional views of a speaker cone suspension system constructed in accordance with the present invention.

2 is a surround-suspension specially shaped to have an outer skirt, the outer surface of which is adhesively attached, bounding the inner surface of the flange at the basket rim, of a first embodiment of the inventive suspension system with the surround-suspension; Partial section.

3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a suspension system of the present invention.

4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a suspension system of the present invention.

5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a suspension system of the present invention.

6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of a suspension system of the present invention.

7 is a partial cross sectional view of a sixth embodiment of a suspension system of the present invention;

8 is a partial cross-sectional view of a seventh embodiment of a suspension system of the present invention.

9 is a partial cross sectional view of an eighth embodiment of a suspension system of the present invention;

Claims (25)

A basket rim with an inner wall, a basket comprising a thickened area, Cone and Surround-suspension with skirt Including, The surround-suspension extends between the cone and the basket, And the skirt is maintained inside an annular channel comprising a first wall surface defined by an inner wall of the basket rim and a second wall surface spaced from the first wall surface and defined by the thickened area. A basket rim with an inner wall, a basket including a landing area, Retainer rings, Cone and Surround-suspension with skirt Including, The surround-suspension extends between the cone and the basket, And the skirt is maintained inside an annular channel comprising a first wall surface defined by an inner wall of the basket rim and a second wall surface spaced from the first wall surface and formed by the retainer ring. A basket rim with an inner wall, a basket including a landing area, A retainer ring comprising an annular channel, Cone and Surround-suspension with skirt Including, The surround-suspension extends between the cone and the basket, And the skirt is maintained inside the annular channel. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the surround-suspension is arcuate. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the thickened filtration frame is molded from the same material. The loudspeaker of claim 2, wherein the retainer ring is adhesively fixed to the landing area. The loudspeaker of claim 2, wherein the skirt is adhesively fixed to the inner wall of the basket rim and the retainer ring. A basket rim with an inner wall, a basket including a landing area, Cone, A surround-suspension having a skirt and extending between the cone and the basket; Mounting adapter located inside the inner wall of the basket rim It includes a loudspeaker. The loudspeaker of claim 8, wherein the mounting adapter is held between the skirt and an inner wall of the basket rim. The loudspeaker of claim 8, wherein the skirt includes a fixing flange extending outwardly. The loudspeaker of claim 10, wherein the lower end of the mounting adapter acts downward on the fixing flange. The loudspeaker of claim 10, wherein the fixing flange is adhesively fixed to the landing area. The loudspeaker of claim 8, wherein the mounting adapter includes an upper horizontal surface that interfaces with a panel of the loudspeaker to facilitate mounting of the loudspeaker. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the skirt extends downwardly as a whole. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the skirt is maintained using an adhesive. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the basket is made of one of a press sheet metal, a plastic, and a casting metal. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the loudspeaker is mounted inside an opening of the vehicle. The loudspeaker of claim 2, wherein the skirt extends downwardly as a whole. The loudspeaker of claim 2, wherein the skirt is maintained using an adhesive. The loudspeaker of claim 2, wherein the basket is made of one of a press sheet metal, a plastic, and a casting metal. The loudspeaker of claim 2, wherein the loudspeaker is mounted inside an opening of the vehicle. 4. The loudspeaker of claim 3, wherein the skirt extends downwardly as a whole. The loudspeaker of claim 3, wherein the skirt is maintained using an adhesive. The loudspeaker of claim 3, wherein the basket is made of one of a press sheet metal, a plastic, and a casting metal. The loudspeaker of claim 3, wherein the loudspeaker is mounted inside an opening of the vehicle.

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