NL1030661C2 - The loudspeaker is provided with a driver and a composite horn with first and second horns, one above the other, second horn has a wider outlet than first and both horns at their outer ends have a common opening - Google Patents

Abstract

The loudspeaker (Lu) is provided with a driver (Dr1,Dr2) and a composite horn with first and second horns (Ho1,Ho2), one above the other. The second horn has a wider outlet than the first and both horns at their outer end have a common opening (M). By choice, the second horn is asymmetric in a vertical direction, whereby its lowest part has a wider outlet than its uppermost part. The vertical dimension (L1,L2) of the horns is such that the first is smaller than the second. This makes a better, more constant sound pressure possible in an area very close to the loudspeaker and enables the loudspeaker to be positioned at a lower level. The first and second horns have a common overlap space (O) which extends overlap length between 15 and 45 per cent of the average lengths of the two horns.

Description

Loudspeaker with a loudspeaker hoom, loudspeaker hoom for a loudspeaker.

The invention relates to a loudspeaker provided with a driver and a loudspeaker hoom.

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The invention also relates to a loudspeaker hoom for a loudspeaker.

A loudspeaker provided with a driver and a loudspeaker hoom is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,630.

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The known loudspeaker is a hoom-type loudspeaker which has to be placed in the middle on a short side of a rectangular auditorium in the middle above the listening area. To calculate the length of the room or listening area, the length of the room is 2.75 times the height of placement of the hoom-type speaker.

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Although the known loudspeaker may be suitable for certain rooms, the known loudspeaker has shortcomings.

For rooms or spaces (including open air) with large dimensions, the required suspension height of the loudspeaker is a drawback.

For a space with a dimension of 200 meters, the required suspension height is, for example, 72 meters, which will often prove to be impossible or may encounter large or insurmountable objections in terms of construction, with safety and costs being particularly important.

Moreover, the known loudspeaker does not provide sufficient power to bridge relatively large distances (in the order of magnitude of 100-200 meters) with a reasonably constant sound pressure.

Increasing the size of the known loudspeaker to generate more and more power leads to a situation in which a very large and very heavy sound installation must be placed at a very high (more than 70 meters) position, which from the point of view of costs and safety , all the more so since this often concerns temporary installations that are exposed to weather conditions, such as rain and wind, in the middle of a very dense crowd, far from ideal.

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It is an object of the invention to provide a loudspeaker of the type mentioned in the first paragraph which reduces one or more of the shortcomings mentioned.

To this end, the loudspeaker according to the invention is characterized in that the horn is a compound horn, comprising a first horn placed above a second horn, wherein the second horn extends wider than the first horn, and wherein the first and the second horn have their ends common opening.

By using two horns, the first horn extending less than the second horn, a hoom-type speaker is provided which is capable of creating more focused energy intended for an area that is relatively far away from the speaker and relatively less energy for a listening area that is closer to the hoom-type speaker. The first, upper horn extends less than the lower horn so that, with the same energy supplied by a driver, the sound pressure at the output of the horn is greater than that for the second, lower horn. Since the upper horn is intended to cover an area farther from the speaker than the area covered by the lower horn, the invention allows a speaker to sound approximately as loud in an area far from the speaker for the room, as in an area close to the loudspeaker, at the back of the room where the sound pressure is approximately constant everywhere. This construction 20 of loudspeaker hooms makes it possible to place the loudspeaker at a much smaller angle with the ground surface and thereby to considerably lower the height at which the loudspeaker is to be hung, typically by a factor of 2 to more. The use of a common opening makes a compact and solid construction easier.

The second boom is preferably asymmetrical in the vertical direction, the lower part of the second horn extending wider than the upper part of the second horn.

This makes a better, more constant sound pressure possible.

The first and the second horn are preferably formed such that the first and second horn comprise a common overlap space that extends over a length between 15 and 45% of the average lengths of the first and second horn.

As explained above, the horns radiate sound to regions, with the upper horn radiating to an area far away from the speaker and the lower, widening horn radiating sound to a more nearby region. It is important that the sound pressure on the ground is as constant as possible and, if there are any changes, 1 0 3 0 6 6 1 3 they are as even as possible. The sound quality appears to improve considerably by creating an overlap space in the common opening between 15 and 45% of the lengths of the horns. The overlap area improves the sound reproduction in the area that receives, at least in part, sound from both horns.

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More preferably, the common overlap space extends between 20 and 35% of the length of the horns.

Preferably, the quotient of the vertical dimensions of the first and second horn 10 at the location of the common openings is in the range of 1/3 to 2/3. This has proven to be a favorable area that allows the energy to be distributed favorably over both horns.

In embodiments, the first and second horn have a common driver. This simplifies the construction and control of the speaker.

In preferred embodiments, the first and second horns are asymmetrical in the horizontal direction. This makes it possible to direct the noise energy. These embodiments are preferably used in a system of speakers, the system 20 comprising a mirror-symmetrical pair of speakers. This allows a surface to be covered very efficiently by a pair of speakers.

These and further aspects of the invention are described below and illustrated with reference to the drawing:

In the drawing:

Figures 1 and 2 schematically show an arrangement for a loudspeaker with a horn known from US 5,020,630 in a hall; Figures 3,4 and 5 show a loudspeaker known from US 5,020,630 in front, top and side view, respectively;

Figure 6 is a loudspeaker according to the invention, side view;

Figure 7 shows a loudspeaker according to the invention in front view; 1030661 4

Figures 8 and 9 show a further example of a loudspeaker according to the invention in side view and front view, respectively;

Figures 10 and 11 show a further example of a loudspeaker according to the invention in side view and front view, respectively; Figures 12 and 13 show an arrangement of a pair of loudspeakers according to the invention in a space in front view and side view, respectively;

Figure 14 shows a double arrangement of two speakers;

Figures 15 and 16 are embodiments of loudspeakers with horns of different lengths.

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The figures are exemplary figures, the same parts are generally designated by the same reference numerals.

Figure 1 shows an arrangement for a speaker in a room. Figures 1 and 2 show the arrangement as known from US 5,020,630.

Sound engineers and technicians conventionally place one or more hoom type speakers or loudspeaker boxes one above the other in the perimeter of an arena where sound is necessary or should be provided. The general challenge of such solutions is to enhance a universal correct approximately equal sound pressure to all parts of the listening area. Often this challenge requires the use of a multitude of speakers and / or speaker boxes, although some speakers can provide the necessary acoustic power.

The use of a large number of loudspeakers and / or loudspeaker boxes is not only very expensive, but in many places in the listening area it lowers the acoustic power and deteriorates the sound quality. The multitude of sound sources often negatively influences intelligibility. For music reproduction of live music etc. in the arenas, halls, halls and outside areas where amplified sound is needed or should be cared for, sound engineers and technicians nowadays use a “Line Array” system, whereby several 30 loudspeaker boxes are raised in a certain way. placed at a certain height to the left and right of the stage. The use of a large number of loudspeaker boxes for this “Line Array” is not only very expensive, but as mentioned, in many places in the listening area it reduces the acoustic power and reduces the sound quality due to the incorrect phasing behavior and influences the intelligibility 1030661 5 (intelligibility) negative. In addition to the high costs for the large number of loudspeaker boxes, there are additional costs due to the large number of amplifiers that are required.

If the listening area is an auditorium, hall or hall, the performance is further influenced by an additional 5 negative influences from wall and ceiling reflections. For these reasons, it is necessary for sound engineers and technicians to position the speakers in an auditorium, hall, or hall so that the sound level on the walls and ceilings remains limited so that the negative influences of sound reflections are minimized.

Often the required result can only be achieved by means of multiple hoom-type speakers and / or speaker boxes, although only a few speakers are required to minimize the specified sound threshold on the walls and ceilings.

A known attempt to achieve an equal constant sound pressure over a relatively large listening area, using only one or only a small number of speakers, has been made by David W. Gunness Patent No. 5,020,630. In this document, a hoom-type speaker is to be placed in the center on a short side of a rectangular auditorium in the center above the listening area. To calculate the length of the room or listening area, the spring of the room is 2.75 times the height of placement of the hoom-type speaker. Figures 1 and 2 schematically show an arrangement for a loudspeaker with a hoom in a hall. To calculate the length of the hall or listening area, the length of the hall is 2.75 times the height of placement of the hoom-type speaker.

Figures 3 to 5 show, in front, top, side and side view, respectively, a loudspeaker according to US 5,020,630. The speaker has a Dr driver and a handset. Viewed from the driver's perspective, the hoom comprises a number of parts A to D which open into an opening M. Although the known loudspeaker may be suitable for certain rooms, the known loudspeaker has shortcomings.

For rooms or spaces (including open air) with large dimensions, the required suspension height of the loudspeaker is a drawback.

For a space with a dimension of 200 meters, the required suspension height 30 is, for example, 72 meters, which will often prove to be impossible or may encounter large or insurmountable objections in terms of construction, with safety and costs being particularly important.

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Moreover, the known loudspeaker does not provide sufficient power to bridge relatively large distances (in the order of magnitude of 100-200 meters) with a reasonably constant sound pressure.

Increasing the size of the known loudspeaker to generate more and more power leads to a situation in which a very large and very heavy sound installation must be placed at a very high (more than 70 meters) position, which from the point of view of costs and safety , all the more so since this often concerns temporary installations exposed to weather conditions, such as rain and wind, in the midst of a very dense crowd, is far from ideal. Moreover, the sound source is at a position far from the position of the actual sound source (the stage). For music playback from eg a live band, film, DVD etc. this is an unnatural solution, because the sound comes from above while the music or film is playing from the front.

It is an object of the invention to provide a loudspeaker of the type described in the first paragraph which reduces one or more of the shortcomings mentioned.

To this end, the loudspeaker according to the invention is characterized in that the horn is a compound horn, comprising a first horn placed above a second horn, the second horn extending wider than the first horn, and wherein the first and the second horn have a terminal at their ends. common opening.

Figure 6 shows an example of a loudspeaker Lu according to the invention. The Lu loudspeaker contains two horns Hol and Ho2. In the example shown in Figure 6, a driver Dr1 or Dr2 is provided for each horn Hol, Ho2. The first horn Hol is less widely spaced than the second horn Ho2 placed under the first horn. This means that L1 <L2 where L1 and L2 is the vertical dimension of the opening of the horns. Or to put it another way: the vertical mouth opening of the upper horn Hol is smaller than the vertical mouth opening of the lower horn Ho2, that is to say that L1 is smaller than L2. Both horns form a common opening M at their ends. By using two horns, where the first horn Hol extends less than the second horn Ho2, a hoom-type loudspeaker is provided which is capable of creating more focused energy intended for an area which is relatively far away from the speaker and relatively less energy for a listening area that is closer to the hoom type speaker. The first, upper horn extends less than the lower horn so that, with the same energy supplied by a driver, the sound pressure at the horn output is greater than that for the second, lower horn. Since the upper horn Hol is intended to cover an area farther from the speaker than the area covered by the lower horn Ho2, the invention allows a speaker to sound approximately as loud in an area far from the speaker, in the front of the room or at the back of the room depending on the arrangement of the loudspeaker, as in an area close to the loudspeaker, in the back (in the front) of the room where the sound pressure is approximately constant everywhere. This construction of loudspeaker hooms makes it possible to place the loudspeaker at a much smaller angle with the ground surface than the loudspeaker known from US 5,020,630 and thereby to considerably lower the height at which the loudspeaker is to be hung, typically with a fector 2 to more. The use of a common opening M makes a compact and solid construction easier.

The second horn Ho2 is preferably asymmetrical in the vertical direction, the lower part of the second horn extending wider than the upper part of the second horn. Or, to put it in other words: calculated relative to the center line of the lower horn Ho2, the lower half of the horn Ho2 extends wider than the upper half. In the figure this is indicated by the fact that L2 ”> L2 \ This makes a better, more constant sound pressure possible, especially in an area very close to the loudspeaker. This makes it possible to lower the speaker while still achieving approximately the same sound pressure.

Preferably, the first and the second horn are shaped such that the first and second horn comprise a common overlap space O which extends over a length between 15 and 45% of the average lengths of the first and second horn. In the figure, this means that 0.15 XL <OL <0.45 XL.

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As explained above, the horns Hol and Ho2 radiate sound to areas, with the upper horn Hol radiating to an area far away from the loudspeaker and the lower, widening horn Ho2 radiating to a more nearby area sound. It is important that the sound pressure on the ground is as constant as possible and, if there are already 30 changes, they are as smooth as possible. The sound quality appears to improve considerably by creating an overlap space O with a length OL between 15 and 45% of the lengths XL of the horns in the common opening M. The overlap area improves the sound reproduction in the area that receives, at least in part, sound from both horns.

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The horns are divided from the driver into a number of flaring sections A, B C. The sections are bounded horizontally in horn Den by parts A1, B1, C1 for horn Den, and in vertical direction by sides ΕΓ, E2 ' and E3. The parts in horn Ho2 are bounded in the horizontal direction by sides A, B C, and in the vertical direction by 5 sides E1, E2 and E3.

Preferably, the lower horn Ho2 is asymmetrical in the vertical direction, that is, measured from the center line, the distance L2 'is smaller than L2', preferably from 2 times to 4 times smaller, i.e. the lower half of the horn Ho2 is wider than the top half. The length of the horn is typically in the order of magnitude of 50 cm to 1.5 meters. With such lengths, good sound quality can be achieved in a large frequency range (from about 300 Hz to 18,000 Hz for a hoom length of about 1 meter, and from about 700 Hz to 18,000 Hz for a hoom length of 50 centimeters). Preferably, the hoom length is therefore between 50 and 150 centimeters.

Due to the shape and construction of the horns, not only the horizontal and vertical spread is variable, but also the radiation of the sound pressure from the noise spectrum is variable.

The wall parts B and B1 provide a first start of the horizontal spread and are chosen such that the start and the course of the sound in the horn are selected differently, separated for both the horizontal and the vertical spread.

In order to be able to realize a correct spread angle of the skin spectrum, the sound is further controlled by the wall parts C and Cl of the horn.

The wall parts B and C provide a horizontal conduit up to 120 ° in this example, while the walls B1 and C1 of the horn take care of the horizontal spread from in this example 30 ° at the top of the horn.

Because the surface spectra of the two separate compartments come together after point X, the course of 30 ° in the upper part of the horn is achieved with a gradual course of up to 120 ° at the bottom of the horn, whereby an improved effect is achieved

The sound pressure from the upper horn Hol with a relatively small vertical spread of, for example, 20 ° upwards and a relatively small horizontal spread of, for example, 30 ° is many times greater than the sound pressure from the lower horn Ho2, for which, due to the widening of horn Ho2, a larger vertical spread up to for example 70 ° downwards and a larger horizontal spread up to for example 120 ° applies. The more concentrated sound beam emanating from horn Hol is covered over 1030661 9 the area by the more fanning sound beam emitted from horn Ho2.

Because the horns Hol and Ho2 have an overlap area O after point X, the variation of the sound pressure and spread is uniform and the horizontal spread of the upper horn Ho1 increases evenly to the horizontal spread for the lower horn Ho2. Here too, the vertical spread and the associated sound pressure run regularly from top to bottom. It has been found that at a ratio of OL / XL between 0.15 and 0.45, preferably between 0.20 and 0.35, a loudspeaker can be provided in which the length of the total horn ensures a good carrying sound , whereby an optimum sound spectrum is guaranteed for at the back of the room or the field, while the spread is smooth enough to prevent a sudden change in sound quality on the ground.

Due to the foregoing and the area surface radiation of the noise spectrum from the front of the horn, an acoustic output with a good correct quality and an uneven controlled distribution is obtained from the horn.

An improved, more even sound volume over a large surface area of the area to be covered from front to back and from left to right is achieved without the need to place the loudspeaker at a very high height relative to the surface.

In figures 6 and 7, the loudspeaker has two drivers Dr1 and Dr2. Figures 8 and 9 show an embodiment of the loudspeaker according to the invention in which a common driver Dr1 is used for both the upper, narrow horn Hol, and the lower, widening horn Ho2. This simplifies the construction. Furthermore, the Hol and Ho2 horns are broadly comparable. For the quotient of the length of the horns, the length between the driver Dr1 and the opening M is now measured along the center lines H4 and H3, the sum of which is taken and divided by two.

In this case too, the horn Ho2 is asymmetrical in the vertical direction, ie that L4 'is smaller than L4', but in this case, the angle between the center lines H3 and H4 means that the lower horn is directed more downwards relative to the arrangement 6. As a result, the asymmetry of the horn Ho2 is less, that is, the ratio L47L4 "is in the range between 1.5 and 2.5.

Figures 10 and 11 show embodiments of the loudspeaker according to the invention in which the horns Hol and Ho2 are designed asymmetrically in the horizontal direction. The part C1 of horn Ho 1 is larger than the part Cr of horn Ho 1, the part B1 of horn Ho2 is 1030661 more large than the part Br of horn Ho2. The same applies to all flared parts. As a result, the sound waves emitted by the Hol and Ho2 horns fanned out more to the left than to the right.

Figures 12 and 13 finally show an arrangement of two loudspeakers L1 and L2 in a room or a room. The construction of the speakers allows a much lower arrangement of the speakers than that known from US 5,020,630. With such an arrangement it is advantageous if asymmetric loudspeakers are used as shown by way of example in Figs. 10 and 11, that use is made of a pair of loudspeakers that are mirror-symmetrical, i.e. a left and right asymmetrical loudspeaker. .

Briefly, the invention can be described by:

A loudspeaker (Lu) is provided with a driver (Drl, Dr2) and a loudspeaker hoom.

The horn is a compound horn containing a first horn (Ho1) placed above a second horn (Ho2), the second horn extending wider than the first horn (L2> L1), and wherein the first and the second horn comprise a common opening (M) at their ends.

It will be clear that many variations are possible within the scope of the invention and that the invention is not limited to the examples given above.

For example: a single speaker is shown in the examples. It may be advantageous to use a dual arrangement for generating even more power.

Figure 14 shows schematically an arrangement with two loudspeakers Lu1 and Lu2. As shown, each of the speakers Lu1 and Lu2 can have a single driver for both horns or two drivers, one for each horn. The center lines of the horns may run parallel, as in Figure 6, or at an angle, as shown in Figure 8, the angle not to be considered limited by the given example, although the given example is a realistic representation. When using different drivers, it is not necessary for the length of the two horns to be exactly identical, although it is preferred that the lengths are approximately (plus or minus 10%), since the frequency range of both horns is approximately more equal.

Figures 15 and 16 show two embodiments of a loudspeaker according to the invention. For the sake of clarity, indications already given in earlier figures 3030661 have been omitted in these figures, so that the difference between the embodiments of figures 15 and 16 and embodiments shown in earlier figures are more clearly apparent. The embodiment of Figure 15 is particularly suitable for very large spaces. In this embodiment, the upper horn Hol is considerably (more than 20%) longer than the lower horn Ho2. This greatly bundles the sound of the upper horn and carries it far. In this example, the length LHol of the upper horn Hol is approximately 25% more than the length LHo2 of the lower horn Ho2. The transition area O covers a length OL that is approximately 56% of the average length of the horns with the average length given by half the sum of the lengths LHol and LHo2. The lower handset extends wider than the upper handset, d / w. L6 <L7. In this example, L6 / L7 is 0.63.

The embodiment of Figure 16 is particularly suitable for relatively small halls. In this embodiment, the upper horn Hol is considerably shorter (more than 25%) than the lower horn, i.e. LHol <LHo2. In this embodiment a common driver Dr 1 is used and it is also shown that the horns are placed in a speaker S1. The upper horn Hol extends less than the lower horn, i.e.

L8 <L9. In this example, L8 / L9 is 0.50.

The horns shown have a relatively small number of transitions between parts A, B C etc, which parts are themselves straight. This cannot be seen as a limitation. The horns can contain a larger number of distinguishable parts or can be designed in a smooth curve.

The loudspeaker hooms can be made of various materials, including metal, plastic plexiglass and birch muliplex.

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Claims (9)

1. A loudspeaker (Lu, Lui, Lu2) provided with a driver (Dr1, Dr2) and a loudspeaker hoom, characterized in that the horn is a compound horn containing a first horn (Ho1) placed above a second horn ( Ho2), wherein the second horn extends wider than the first horn (L2> L1), and wherein the first and the second horn comprise a common opening (M) at their ends. 2. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, characterized in that the second horn is asymmetrical in the vertical direction, the lower part of the second horn extending wider than the upper part of the second horn (L2 '<L2', L4 '<L4 "). A loudspeaker according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first and the second horn are shaped such that the first and second horn have a common overlap space which extends over a length between 15 and 45% of the average lengths of the first and extending the second horn (0.15XL <OL <0.45XL). 4. A loudspeaker as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the first and the second horn are formed such that the first and second horn comprise a common overlap space which extends over a length between 20 and 35% of the average lengths of the first and second horn extends (0.20XL <OL <0.35XL). 5. A loudspeaker according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the quotient of the vertical dimensions of the first and second hoom at the location of the common openings located in the range of 1/3 to 2/3 (1/3 < L1 / L2; L3 / L4 <2/3). A loudspeaker according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second hoom have a common driver (Drl). 7. A loudspeaker according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second hoom are asymmetrical in the horizontal direction. A mirror-symmetrical pair of loudspeakers according to claim 7. A composite loudspeaker hoom for a loudspeaker according to any one of the preceding claims. 1 0 3 0 6 6 1 '