MXPA00011483A

MXPA00011483A - Panel-form loudspeaker.

Info

Publication number: MXPA00011483A
Application number: MXPA00011483A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Neil Harris
Original assignee: New Transducers Ltd
Priority date: 1998-05-23
Filing date: 1999-05-20
Publication date: 2002-06-04
Also published as: BR9910666A; ZA200005771B; CN1299576A; IL139669A0; WO1999062294A1; JP2002517149A; CA2332824A1; AU3938199A; GB9811098D0; KR20010043478A; EP1080605A1

Abstract

A method of operating a resonant panel-form loudspeaker, comprising arranging the loudspeaker panel near to a boundary so as to be acoustically linked to the boundary and with the plane of the loudspeaker panel at an angle to the boundary. The method may comprise moving the panel between a rest position in which the panel is parallel to and adjacent the boundary and a position of use in which the panel is at an angle to the boundary. A resonant panel-form loudspeaker support comprising means engaging and retaining the loudspeaker panel to be supported, means adapted for engagement with, and fixing to, a boundary, e.g. a wall or ceilling, and means connecting the respective loudspeaker and boundary engagement means, whereby the loudspeaker is supported adjacent to the boundary and at an angle thereto and such that the loudspeaker is linked acoustically to the boundary. The combination of a resonant panel-form loudspeaker and a support as described above.

Description

SPEAKER IN THE FORM OF A PANEL Field of the Invention The present invention relates to loudspeakers in the form of a panel, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to resonant loudspeakers in the form of a panel, for example, of the kind described in our International Patent Application WO 97/09842.

Antecedents of the Invention The loudspeakers are generally placed in the same plane of a room or near the walls or main boundaries in the same plane and at a distance range from that end. This range extends from a close proximity to that end to approximately one meter or more of free space from the end. When several loudspeakers are used together, they are often placed in such a way that the listener or the audience that is listening to the loudspeaker is on or near the perimeter, in the middle and / or on the diffusion axes designed by the loudspeakers . This generalization applies to both the conventional source of the near point eg, piston speakers, and to, the use of resonant loudspeakers in the form of a panel suggested above, which is the subject of International Patent Application WO 97/09842. Unlike a conventional piston speaker, a resonant loudspeaker in the form of a distributed panel has a largely bipolar and natural diffusion radiation. There can be interference problems when a loudspeaker in the form of a panel is placed very close, and in the same plane, at one end, leading to the cancellation of the radiation coming from the surface of the panel oriented towards the end. It is an object of the present invention to remove or at least moderate said end cancellation problems, without the need to assemble the panels in an open space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION From one aspect the present invention is a method of operation of a resonant loudspeaker in the form of a panel, which comprises arranging the loudspeaker panel near one end in such a way that it is acoustically linked to said end and with the plane of the speaker panel at an angle of the end. The angle can be greater by approximately 10 ° with respect to the end. The angle may be substantially normal with respect to the end. If desired, the panel can be placed in a rest position, parallel to, and adjacent to the end, and can be moved to a position of use at an angle established therefor. From another aspect of the present invention, it is a resonant loudspeaker support in the form of a panel, which comprises linking and retaining means for the loudspeaker panel to be supported, means adapted to connect it with, and hold it to, one end, for example, the wall or ceiling of a room, and means connecting the corresponding loudspeaker and the end link means, the connection means being accommodated adjacent to a side end of the loudspeaker panel and adjacent to the end. Preferably, the connecting means are such that the loudspeaker panel can be moved from a storage position in which the loudspeaker panel is substantially flush with the end to a working position in which the loudspeaker panel extends in an end angle. The connection means can be substantially one 10 hinge with axes mounted on a pivot in a substantially vertical position. The means may be provided with a shock absorber of the movement of the hinge to prevent an unplanned movement, whereby the loudspeaker panel remains in the position in which it has 15 been placed. The respective linking means can be such as to allow secure, for example, screws, which fix the means of linking to the panel and the wall, or the like. From another aspect, the present invention is a combination 20 of a resonant loudspeaker in the form of a panel and an end bracket adapted to fix the panel to the end, such that the end of the panel is adjacent the end, and in such a way that the panel can be moved between an working position in which the panel is located at an angle to the End, and a storage position in which the panel is level with the end. The panel-shaped resonant speaker may be of the distributed mode radiator type, as described in our International Patent Application WO97 / 09842.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is illustrated with diagrams, by way of example, by means of the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a domestic room in which an audiovisual apparatus is installed; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a part of the room of Figure 1 and illustrates a loudspeaker in the form of a panel mounted on the wall; Figure 2a is a perspective view, on an amplified scale, of the speaker illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a part of the room having a loudspeaker in the form of a ceiling-mounted panel, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a support by means of which a loudspeaker in the form of a panel can be fixed to a wall or ceiling.

Detailed Description of the Invention. According to the drawings, and referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, a rectangular domestic room is surrounded by a front wall 2, a rear wall 3 and an opposite pair of side walls 4,5 respectively. A listening / observation position 6 is illustrated in the form of a diagram in the center of the room. A display screen 7 is centrally positioned in the front wall 2 and may be in the form of a combined projection screen and a resonant loudspeaker in the form of a common type panel, as described in WO document. 97/09842, and that is known as a distributed mode speaker. The front and rear pairs 8, 9 and 10, 1 1 respectively of resonant speakers in the form of a panel, in substantially rectangular form, are mounted on the respective side walls 4,5 by means of the supports 22 (see Figure 4), in the positions that are opposite and behind respectively, of the listening position 6. These speakers can be distributed mode loudspeakers, as described in WO 97/09842. Each of the speakers 8, 9, 10, 1 1 are arranged to be mounted on the wall, in such a way that a vertical edge of the panel is adjacent to the wall and such that the panel can be mounted on a pivot from a storage position 12, in which the panel is flush with the wall to a position of use 13, in which the panel is placed at an angle with respect to the wall. The alternative positions of use of loudspeaker panels 8, 9, 10, 1 1 are shown with dotted lines in reference 14. The layout is such that the respective resonant loudspeaker panels are close enough to the wall as to be acoustically bonded to the wall so that, during use, the apparent size of each loudspeaker is effectively duplicated by means of an acoustic mirror image reflection 15, see Figure 2. This implementation of loudspeaker placement distributed mode on the side walls, leaves the wall of focal interest 2 in the room, visually clear or incapacitated. The end in the assembly of loudspeaker panels 8, 9, 10, 1 1, as proposed in the present invention, returns the desired operation axes of the loudspeakers in line, towards the listener (s) . The results of the test indicate improved acoustic handling for the room and superior sound quality from smaller designs of the speaker panel in distributed mode. In the use of Home Theater placement, a distributed mode speaker placed on the side walls at right angles provides a close approximation to the acoustic dipole recommended for the generation of an optimal surrounding sound field (surround). Figure 3 shows a generally rectangular room that has adjacent 2, 4 and a roof 16 in which a resonant loudspeaker in the form of a generally rectangular panel 17 is mounted, for example, a distributed mode loudspeaker of the common type, as described in WO 97/09842. The loudspeaker 17 is mounted by means of hinges in the ceiling 16 by means of an edge, such that the edge is adjacent to the ceiling and such that the loudspeaker can be mounted on pivots from a position of use 18, in which the The panel generally extends in a normal manner from the ceiling to a storage position 19 in which the loudspeaker is flush with the ceiling. In reference 20, alternative positions of use, and intermediate positions 18 and 19 are shown with dotted lines. The close mounting of the resonant loudspeaker in the form of a panel in the ceiling means that the loudspeaker is acoustically connected to the end represented by the ceiling, such that, during use, the apparent size of the loudspeaker is effectively duplicated by means of a mirror image acoustic reflection 21. In Figure 4, a loudspeaker support 22 is shown by means of which a resonant loudspeaker in the form of a panel of the type illustrated in Figures 1 through 3 can be fixed to one end, for example, a wall or the ceiling of a room. The support comprises means 23 for fixing to a wall, ceiling or other end in the form of a plate-like wall support, which can be secured in place in a conventional manner by fasteners (not shown), such as screws or screws. similar separated. The wall support 22 carries a pair of separate handles 24, which carry a hinge pin 25, to which is fixed an edge of a resonant loudspeaker in the form of a panel, for example, that illustrated by the numerals 8. , 9, 10 and 11 in figures 1 to 3, in any convenient way, for example, by means of clamps for safeguards, or by means of adhesive means, as desired. In this way, the loudspeaker panel can be mounted on pivots between the position shown by means of the solid lines and an inert or storage position 12, leveled against the end surface, as well as several intermediate positions, also illustrated with dotted lines. A screw The butterfly 26 at one end of the hinge pin 25 applies friction to the hinge such that the loudspeaker panel remains in any position that is selected by the user. Therefore, the present application proposes that a distributed mode speaker be placed at, or near, an appropriate end, 15 in close contact by means of an edge at the appropriate angles or in a range of angles greater than 10 ° with respect to the end, being adjusted by the user conveniently, for example, enabled by means of a stabilized friction hinge, or other means of adjusting the azimuth angle that connects a 20 wall bracket with panel speaker. Among the advantages of the present invention include: (1) The alignment of the edge and the operating axes adjustable by the user. (2) The reinforcement of the end of the sound power using the wall as a flat mirror to increase the sonority to 3dB. (3) The low frequency increase, effectively doubling the area of the panel as a low frequency source. (4) The panel can be oriented to adjust the tone balance and directed to obtain an optimal quality in the listening position. (5) The panel can be oriented to provide a moderate power null directed to the user / listener for the reduced location in a beneficial way, and also, the improved sound diffusion in the generation field. This is important for Home Theater applications. (6) The panel can be folded and disassembled to facilitate cleaning and improve the appearance of the room when it is not in use. Thus, the present invention provides a simple method for increasing the efficiency of a loudspeaker in the form of a panel, particularly a radiator in a distributed form, facilitating its use and storage, for example, in a domestic installation.

Claims

J I R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the property contained in the following CLAIMS is claimed as property:

1 . A method of operating a resonant loudspeaker in the form of a panel, comprising aligning the loudspeaker panel in a room and at one end of the room, so that it is linked 10 acoustically at the end and with the plane of the loudspeaker panel at an angle to the end.

2. A method as described in Claim 1, further characterized in that the angle is greater than 15 approximately 10 °.

3. A method as described in Claims 1 or 2, further characterized in that it comprises the movement of the panel between a fixed position in which the panel is parallel to and 20 adjacent to the end, and a position of use in which the panel is positioned at an angle with respect to the end.

4. A resonant loudspeaker support in the form of a panel, comprising means for supporting and retaining the loudspeaker panel that 25 will be supported, means adapted for linking with and fixing to one end of the room, for example, a wall or ceiling, and means for connecting the corresponding speaker and the end link means, wherein the speaker supports adjacent to the end and at an angle thereof such that the speaker is acoustically linked to the end.

5. A support as described in Claim 4, further characterized in that the connection means are such that the panel can be moved from a storage position in which the loudspeaker panel is substantially level with the end to a working position. in which the loudspeaker panel extends at an angle with respect to the end.

6. A support as described in Claim 5, further characterized in that the connection means comprise a hinge.

7. A support as described in Claim 6, further characterized in that it comprises means for damping a movement of a hinge to eliminate relative unplanned movement.

8. A support as described in any of Claims 4 to 7, further characterized in that the end attachment means comprises a wall support.

9. A support as described in any of Claims 4 through 8, further characterized in that the loudspeaker panel is a distributed mode radiator loudspeaker.

10. The combination of a panel-shaped resonant speaker and a support as described in any of Claims 4 through 9.