US20200092638A1 - Equipment Including Down-Firing Speaker - Google Patents
Equipment Including Down-Firing Speaker Download PDFInfo
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- US20200092638A1 US20200092638A1 US16/130,839 US201816130839A US2020092638A1 US 20200092638 A1 US20200092638 A1 US 20200092638A1 US 201816130839 A US201816130839 A US 201816130839A US 2020092638 A1 US2020092638 A1 US 2020092638A1
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- speaker
- port
- proximal
- housing
- horn
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- 238000010304 firing Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 15
- 239000006185 dispersion Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000001154 acute effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002537 cosmetic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000013016 damping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005236 sound signal Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/02—Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein
- H04R1/025—Arrangements for fixing loudspeaker transducers, e.g. in a box, furniture
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
- H04M1/03—Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
- H04M1/035—Improving the acoustic characteristics by means of constructional features of the housing, e.g. ribs, walls, resonating chambers or cavities
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R27/00—Public address systems
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10K—SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G10K11/00—Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound in general; Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general
- G10K11/02—Mechanical acoustic impedances; Impedance matching, e.g. by horns; Acoustic resonators
- G10K11/025—Mechanical acoustic impedances; Impedance matching, e.g. by horns; Acoustic resonators horns for impedance matching
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/60—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers
- H04M1/6033—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/60—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers
- H04M1/62—Constructional arrangements
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/02—Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein
- H04R1/04—Structural association of microphone with electric circuitry therefor
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/20—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics
- H04R1/22—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics for obtaining desired frequency characteristic only
- H04R1/30—Combinations of transducers with horns, e.g. with mechanical matching means, i.e. front-loaded horns
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/20—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics
- H04R1/32—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics for obtaining desired directional characteristic only
- H04R1/34—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics for obtaining desired directional characteristic only by using a single transducer with sound reflecting, diffracting, directing or guiding means
- H04R1/345—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics for obtaining desired directional characteristic only by using a single transducer with sound reflecting, diffracting, directing or guiding means for loudspeakers
Definitions
- the present invention relates to desktop equipment that includes a speaker, such as a desktop speaker phone.
- Desktop equipment is often configured with a speaker or speakers. It is desirable that the area on the desktop taken by such equipment be as small as possible.
- One approach to reducing the area includes down-firing speakers on the underside of the equipment. In this way, elements of the equipment such as the user interface, an electronics module and the speaker can be stacked, reducing the overall footprint of the equipment.
- a down-firing speaker in prior art equipment directs sound energy towards the desktop surface or other deflecting surface, causing it to disperse outwardly into the room. This can result in the sound being dispersed with undesirable patterns and directions. Accordingly, to account for this type of dispersion, high-power drivers are required in order to reach desired volume levels for users of the device.
- a desktop device such as a speaker phone is described herein that comprises a housing having a bottom side configured to face a surface on which the device is to be placed, such as a desktop, and a front side configured to face a user of the device.
- a down-firing speaker is placed on the housing, where “on the housing” includes being inside or otherwise attached to or part of the housing.
- a speaker port is disposed on the bottom side of the housing.
- a horn assembly on the housing is arranged to define a speaker horn in combination with the surface on which the device is placed. The speaker horn formed by this combination has a throat region proximal to the speaker port and a mouth proximal to the front side of the housing.
- the horn assembly is arranged in examples described herein so that the speaker horn has a substantially continuously increasing volume from the throat region to the mouth.
- the horn assembly can comprise first and second sidewalls on the housing having proximal ends proximal to the speaker port and distal ends proximal to the mouth of the speaker horn.
- the first and second sidewalls in one described example are separated by first width W 1 proximal to the speaker port, and separated by a second width W 2 proximal to the mouth, where W 2 is greater than W 1 .
- the first and second sidewalls have a first height H 1 proximal to the speaker port, and a second height H 2 proximal to the mouth, where H 2 is greater than H 1 .
- the speaker comprises a diaphragm and a phase plug.
- the phase plug has an aperture or apertures opening into the speaker port.
- a ring is used in some embodiments, disposed in the speaker port around a perimeter of the phase plug, the ring having a smooth outside surface defining an inside wall of the horn assembly at the speaker port.
- a microphone is disposed in the housing, which includes a microphone port, which can open on the bottom side of housing.
- the microphone port can be located in a position spaced laterally away from the horn assembly so that dispersion of acoustic energy in air from the speaker is diverted from this microphone port by a sidewall of the horn assembly.
- FIG. 1 is a drawing of a speaker phone having a down-firing speaker with a horn assembly having a mouth facing a user of the speakerphone.
- FIG. 2 is a view of the bottom side of the equipment shown in FIG. 1 , illustrating a speaker horn assembly and microphone port.
- FIG. 3 is a cutout cross-section of the equipment of FIG. 1 showing an arrangement of a down-firing speaker with a horn assembly.
- FIG. 4 is an illustration showing some relative dimensions of a horn assembly, like that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 .
- FIGS. 1-4 A detailed description of embodiments of the present invention is provided with reference to the FIGS. 1-4 .
- FIG. 1 illustrates device 10 , which is representative of a variety of desktop equipment which can be configured as described herein with a down-firing speaker and horn assembly.
- the desktop equipment can include electronic circuitry to apply signals to the speaker.
- a speakerphone as illustrated, in which the electronic circuitry supports telephone functions.
- Other types of equipment can include electronic circuitry that supports other functions that use the speaker, including simply circuits to apply signals from any source to the speaker.
- electronics are disposed on the housing typically in an electronics module or circuit board, including a speaker driver electronically connected to the speaker and other supporting circuits.
- the device 10 includes a housing having a first upwardly facing portion 11 and a second upwardly facing portion 12 .
- the first upwardly facing portion 11 has a user interface with buttons and a display region.
- the second upwardly facing portion 12 includes a tray configured to receive a mobile computing device.
- the tray can include a cutout portion 13 allowing space for charging cables or other cords.
- the device 10 includes a cradle 14 configured to hold a headset.
- the device 10 in this example includes a telephone having a microphone disposed in a microphone port and a down-firing speaker disposed in a speaker port that opens into a horn assembly on the housing of the device. Also, the device can be coupled to a telephone by a wireless connection, by a cord, or in other ways, such as in the case of a mobile phone in the tray on portion 12 of the housing.
- a desktop 20 is illustrated having a surface 21 on which the device 10 is placed.
- the surface 21 need not be the surface of the desk, but can be any surface on which the device can be placed.
- the device 10 has a bottom side that is configured to face the surface 21 . Also, the device has a front side which is configured to face a user of the device.
- the housing of the device 10 includes a horn assembly on the bottom side, which in combination with the surface 21 forms a speaker horn having a mouth 16 as seen in FIG. 1 proximal to the front side of the device 10 .
- the mouth 16 comprises an opening as defined by sidewalls of a horn assembly on the bottom side of the device 10 , and the portion 22 of the surface 21 on which the device 10 is placed, and which combines with the horn assembly on the bottom side of the device to form a speaker horn.
- the down-firing speaker is disposed beneath the portion 11 of the device 10 in which the user interface is disposed.
- the horn assembly extends beneath the first portion 11 from a speaker port on the bottom side of the equipment to the mouth 16 .
- the positions of these elements are arranged as suits a particular configuration.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device 10 shown in FIG. 1 rotated 180° in a clockwise direction to reveal the bottom side of the housing.
- the device 10 includes a bridge-shaped foot 31 coupled to the housing 30 , configured to support the device on a surface 21 .
- a speaker port 33 opens into a horn assembly on the bottom side.
- the horn assembly includes a first sidewall 35 and a second sidewall 36 , a back wall 55 , and a downwardly facing surface 38 which, in combination with the surface on which the device is placed, provide a speaker horn having a throat region proximal to the speaker port 33 and a mouth 16 at the front side of the device.
- the downwardly facing surface 38 of the horn assembly is corrugated along a portion proximal to the speaker port and smooth along a portion proximal to the mouth 16 of the horn assembly.
- the downwardly facing surface can be smooth and flat on a majority of its area or all of its area. Other surface textures can be used for cosmetic purposes or other purposes.
- a front portion 39 of the housing adjacent the mouth 16 of the horn assembly defines a front side of the device.
- First and second surface pads 40 , 41 are disposed proximal to the mouth 16 of the horn assembly on the downwardly facing surfaces of the first and second sidewalls 35 , 36 , to support contact to the surface on which the device is placed.
- the downwardly facing surface of the sidewall 36 also includes a surface pad 45 , to support contact with the surface on which the device is placed.
- the surface pad 45 can be configured to contact the surface along a majority of its length from the throat region to the mouth of the horn assembly.
- the bottom side of the device 10 includes a leg 32 , in this example beneath the portion 12 .
- a microphone port 50 is disposed on the leg 32 , in this example, spaced away from the horn assembly.
- the leg has a sidewall 51 , that faces an opposing sidewall 52 on the housing module supporting the speaker and the horn assembly on the underside of the device 10 .
- the sidewalls 51 and 52 along with the position of the microphone port laterally spaced away from the horn assembly, are configured so that dispersion of acoustic energy in air from the speaker is diverted from the microphone port by a sidewall of the horn assembly, serving to reduce coupling of sound from the speaker into the microphone port.
- a surface pad 42 is disposed on the downwardly facing portion of the leg 32 , and can comprise a material that absorbs sound or conforms to the surface to dampen coupling of audio signals from the surface and from air into the microphone port 50 .
- the surface pad 45 on the downwardly facing surface of sidewall 36 can comprise a material that can absorb sound or conform to the surface, and reduce coupling of sound via air in the direction towards the leg 32 .
- Surface pads are not provided on one or both of the downwardly facing surface 37 of the sidewall 35 and the downwardly facing surface of the back wall 55 , in some embodiments, leaving a narrow space between the housing of the device 10 and the surface on which the device is placed, allowing dispersion of some sound energy in lateral directions away from the microphone port.
- the downwardly facing surface 37 of the sidewall 35 can be configured to sit above the surface along a majority of its length from the throat region to the mouth.
- a ring 34 is disposed in the speaker port and has a ring surface configured to form a transitional volume from the speaker into the throat region of the horn assembly.
- the speaker can comprise a diaphragm and a phase plug, in which the phase plug has an aperture or apertures opening into the speaker port.
- the ring 34 can be disposed around a perimeter of the phase plug, and have a smooth outside surface defining an inside wall of the horn assembly at the speaker port.
- the speaker port 33 , the back wall 55 , the surface 38 , and the first and second sidewalls 35 , 36 combine with the surface on which the device is to be placed to form a speaker horn, which preferably has a continuously increasing volume from the throat region proximal to the speaker port 33 , to the mouth 16 .
- the surface can be represented by a plane defined by the set of points (e.g. surface pads 40 , 41 , 42 , 45 , foot 31 ) on the housing designed to contact the surface on which the device is placed.
- first and second sidewalls 35 , 36 are separated by a distance proximal to the speaker port that is less than the separation distance proximal to the mouth 16 .
- first and second sidewalls have heights proximal to the speaker port 33 that are less than the heights proximal to the mouth 16 .
- the ring 34 in the speaker port serves to smooth the transition from the downward facing speaker into the horn assembly, and reduces discontinuities that can impact the audio characteristics including the frequency response of the speaker and horn assembly.
- FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the housing of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 in the region of the down-firing speaker and the horn assembly.
- the illustrated structure includes the housing structural members 70 , 71 on which a speaker is disposed including a magnet 63 , a voice coil 62 , and a diaphragm 61 .
- the speaker has an axis that is slanted by a few degrees relative to normal of the surface on which it is to be placed, which orients the speaker to project sound primarily downwardly, but with a slightly forward facing vector component into the horn assembly.
- the speaker is coupled by a vibration damping gasket 67 to the housing structural members 70 , 71 .
- the speaker includes a phase plug 60 having an aperture or multiple apertures which open into the speaker port 33 .
- Ring 34 which is comprised of material having a smooth curved surface is disposed around the periphery of the phase plug 60 , defining an inside wall of the horn assembly at the speaker port and defining a transitional volume in the speaker port 33 downwardly into the speaker horn defined by the horn assembly.
- the ring 34 is formed without substantial discontinuities on the ring surface opening into the speaker horn volume, where “without substantial discontinuities” means that the ring surface is tapered or curved so that there are no acute features on the surface exposed inside the speaker port and horn assembly.
- sidewall 36 of the horn assembly is shown, having a surface pad 41 disposed proximal to the mouth 16 of the horn assembly.
- the surface 38 of the horn assembly can be smooth, or have other textures.
- the surface 38 has shallow corrugation over a portion of the region, and smooth in regions 72 and 73 .
- a surface pad ( 45 in FIG. 2 ) is disposed along a majority of the length of the downwardly facing surface 47 of the sidewall 36 .
- the height of the sidewall 36 proximal to the throat region of the horn assembly near speaker port 33 is less than the height of the sidewall 36 proximal to the mouth 16 .
- the back wall 55 has a side surface inside the horn assembly that is slanted relative to the surface on which the device is to be placed.
- the mouth 16 of the speaker horn formed by horn assembly in combination with the surface is framed by a slanted end of the sidewall 36 (and sidewall 35 not shown), an edge of the front portion 39 of the housing, and the surface on which the device is placed.
- FIG. 4 illustrates some of the dimensions of a horn assembly in an embodiment like that of FIG. 2 .
- the sidewalls 35 and 36 , back wall 55 , and downward facing surface 38 of the horn assembly are illustrated schematically, showing a volume of a speaker horn formed by combination of the horn assembly and the surface on which the device is to be placed.
- the sidewalls 35 and 36 have a width W 1 proximal to the throat region of the horn assembly at the speaker port 33 in this example, and a width W 2 proximal to the mouth 16 of the horn assembly.
- the width W 2 is greater than the width W 1 in this example.
- the sidewalls 35 and 36 have a height H 1 proximal to the throat region of the horn assembly at the speaker port 33 in this example, at a height H 2 proximal to the mouth 16 of the horn assembly.
- the height H 2 is greater than the height H 1 .
- the configuration of the horn assembly can have other dimensions.
- a technology is described suitable for implementation of a speakerphone or other desktop equipment, with a down-firing speaker and horn assembly that can provide improved quality audio performance.
- a horn assembly that forms a speaker horn in combination with the surface on which the device is placed, a pressure gradient created by the physical geometry can be leveraged to improve audio performance.
- This configuration can help focus sound towards users of the speakerphone, utilizing angled surfaces to create increasing pressure gradient and project audio.
- the speaker horn can be configured to focus sound away from a microphone on the device, passively minimizing echo that can improve voice quality.
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to desktop equipment that includes a speaker, such as a desktop speaker phone.
- Desktop equipment is often configured with a speaker or speakers. It is desirable that the area on the desktop taken by such equipment be as small as possible. One approach to reducing the area includes down-firing speakers on the underside of the equipment. In this way, elements of the equipment such as the user interface, an electronics module and the speaker can be stacked, reducing the overall footprint of the equipment.
- A down-firing speaker in prior art equipment directs sound energy towards the desktop surface or other deflecting surface, causing it to disperse outwardly into the room. This can result in the sound being dispersed with undesirable patterns and directions. Accordingly, to account for this type of dispersion, high-power drivers are required in order to reach desired volume levels for users of the device.
- It is desirable to provide a technology for improving the audio characteristics of equipment including down-firing speakers.
- A desktop device such as a speaker phone is described herein that comprises a housing having a bottom side configured to face a surface on which the device is to be placed, such as a desktop, and a front side configured to face a user of the device. A down-firing speaker is placed on the housing, where “on the housing” includes being inside or otherwise attached to or part of the housing. A speaker port is disposed on the bottom side of the housing. A horn assembly on the housing is arranged to define a speaker horn in combination with the surface on which the device is placed. The speaker horn formed by this combination has a throat region proximal to the speaker port and a mouth proximal to the front side of the housing.
- The horn assembly is arranged in examples described herein so that the speaker horn has a substantially continuously increasing volume from the throat region to the mouth. The horn assembly can comprise first and second sidewalls on the housing having proximal ends proximal to the speaker port and distal ends proximal to the mouth of the speaker horn. The first and second sidewalls in one described example are separated by first width W1 proximal to the speaker port, and separated by a second width W2 proximal to the mouth, where W2 is greater than W1. Also, the first and second sidewalls have a first height H1 proximal to the speaker port, and a second height H2 proximal to the mouth, where H2 is greater than H1.
- In an example described herein, the speaker comprises a diaphragm and a phase plug. The phase plug has an aperture or apertures opening into the speaker port. A ring is used in some embodiments, disposed in the speaker port around a perimeter of the phase plug, the ring having a smooth outside surface defining an inside wall of the horn assembly at the speaker port.
- In some types of equipment, a microphone is disposed in the housing, which includes a microphone port, which can open on the bottom side of housing. The microphone port can be located in a position spaced laterally away from the horn assembly so that dispersion of acoustic energy in air from the speaker is diverted from this microphone port by a sidewall of the horn assembly.
- Other aspects and advantages of the present invention can be seen on review of the drawings, the detailed description and the claims, which follow.
-
FIG. 1 is a drawing of a speaker phone having a down-firing speaker with a horn assembly having a mouth facing a user of the speakerphone. -
FIG. 2 is a view of the bottom side of the equipment shown inFIG. 1 , illustrating a speaker horn assembly and microphone port. -
FIG. 3 is a cutout cross-section of the equipment ofFIG. 1 showing an arrangement of a down-firing speaker with a horn assembly. -
FIG. 4 is an illustration showing some relative dimensions of a horn assembly, like that shown inFIGS. 2 and 3 . - A detailed description of embodiments of the present invention is provided with reference to the
FIGS. 1-4 . -
FIG. 1 illustratesdevice 10, which is representative of a variety of desktop equipment which can be configured as described herein with a down-firing speaker and horn assembly. The desktop equipment can include electronic circuitry to apply signals to the speaker. In the case ofdevice 10, a speakerphone as illustrated, in which the electronic circuitry supports telephone functions. Other types of equipment can include electronic circuitry that supports other functions that use the speaker, including simply circuits to apply signals from any source to the speaker. In examples of the device, electronics are disposed on the housing typically in an electronics module or circuit board, including a speaker driver electronically connected to the speaker and other supporting circuits. - In the illustrated example, the
device 10 includes a housing having a first upwardly facingportion 11 and a second upwardly facingportion 12. In this example, the first upwardly facingportion 11 has a user interface with buttons and a display region. In this example, the second upwardly facingportion 12 includes a tray configured to receive a mobile computing device. In theportion 12, the tray can include acutout portion 13 allowing space for charging cables or other cords. Also in the example illustrated, thedevice 10 includes acradle 14 configured to hold a headset. - The
device 10 in this example includes a telephone having a microphone disposed in a microphone port and a down-firing speaker disposed in a speaker port that opens into a horn assembly on the housing of the device. Also, the device can be coupled to a telephone by a wireless connection, by a cord, or in other ways, such as in the case of a mobile phone in the tray onportion 12 of the housing. - In
FIG. 1 , adesktop 20 is illustrated having asurface 21 on which thedevice 10 is placed. Of course, thesurface 21 need not be the surface of the desk, but can be any surface on which the device can be placed. - The
device 10 has a bottom side that is configured to face thesurface 21. Also, the device has a front side which is configured to face a user of the device. - The housing of the
device 10 includes a horn assembly on the bottom side, which in combination with thesurface 21 forms a speaker horn having amouth 16 as seen inFIG. 1 proximal to the front side of thedevice 10. Themouth 16 comprises an opening as defined by sidewalls of a horn assembly on the bottom side of thedevice 10, and theportion 22 of thesurface 21 on which thedevice 10 is placed, and which combines with the horn assembly on the bottom side of the device to form a speaker horn. - In this example, the down-firing speaker is disposed beneath the
portion 11 of thedevice 10 in which the user interface is disposed. Likewise, the horn assembly extends beneath thefirst portion 11 from a speaker port on the bottom side of the equipment to themouth 16. In other embodiments, the positions of these elements are arranged as suits a particular configuration. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of thedevice 10 shown inFIG. 1 rotated 180° in a clockwise direction to reveal the bottom side of the housing. In this example, thedevice 10 includes a bridge-shaped foot 31 coupled to thehousing 30, configured to support the device on asurface 21. - A
speaker port 33 opens into a horn assembly on the bottom side. The horn assembly includes afirst sidewall 35 and asecond sidewall 36, aback wall 55, and a downwardly facingsurface 38 which, in combination with the surface on which the device is placed, provide a speaker horn having a throat region proximal to thespeaker port 33 and amouth 16 at the front side of the device. In the illustrated example, the downwardly facingsurface 38 of the horn assembly is corrugated along a portion proximal to the speaker port and smooth along a portion proximal to themouth 16 of the horn assembly. In other embodiments, the downwardly facing surface can be smooth and flat on a majority of its area or all of its area. Other surface textures can be used for cosmetic purposes or other purposes. - A
front portion 39 of the housing adjacent themouth 16 of the horn assembly defines a front side of the device. - First and
second surface pads mouth 16 of the horn assembly on the downwardly facing surfaces of the first andsecond sidewalls sidewall 36 also includes asurface pad 45, to support contact with the surface on which the device is placed. Thesurface pad 45 can be configured to contact the surface along a majority of its length from the throat region to the mouth of the horn assembly. - Also, the bottom side of the
device 10 includes aleg 32, in this example beneath theportion 12. Amicrophone port 50 is disposed on theleg 32, in this example, spaced away from the horn assembly. The leg has asidewall 51, that faces an opposingsidewall 52 on the housing module supporting the speaker and the horn assembly on the underside of thedevice 10. Thesidewalls - A
surface pad 42 is disposed on the downwardly facing portion of theleg 32, and can comprise a material that absorbs sound or conforms to the surface to dampen coupling of audio signals from the surface and from air into themicrophone port 50. - The
surface pad 45 on the downwardly facing surface ofsidewall 36 can comprise a material that can absorb sound or conform to the surface, and reduce coupling of sound via air in the direction towards theleg 32. - Surface pads are not provided on one or both of the downwardly facing
surface 37 of thesidewall 35 and the downwardly facing surface of theback wall 55, in some embodiments, leaving a narrow space between the housing of thedevice 10 and the surface on which the device is placed, allowing dispersion of some sound energy in lateral directions away from the microphone port. For example, the downwardly facingsurface 37 of thesidewall 35 can be configured to sit above the surface along a majority of its length from the throat region to the mouth. - A
ring 34 is disposed in the speaker port and has a ring surface configured to form a transitional volume from the speaker into the throat region of the horn assembly. The speaker can comprise a diaphragm and a phase plug, in which the phase plug has an aperture or apertures opening into the speaker port. Thering 34 can be disposed around a perimeter of the phase plug, and have a smooth outside surface defining an inside wall of the horn assembly at the speaker port. - As illustrated in the perspective view of
FIG. 2 , thespeaker port 33, theback wall 55, thesurface 38, and the first andsecond sidewalls speaker port 33, to themouth 16. For the purposes of description of the volume of a speaker horn formed by the horn assembly and the surface on which the device is to be placed, the surface can be represented by a plane defined by the set of points (e.g. surface pads - In this example, it is seen that the first and
second sidewalls mouth 16. Also, the first and second sidewalls have heights proximal to thespeaker port 33 that are less than the heights proximal to themouth 16. Thering 34 in the speaker port serves to smooth the transition from the downward facing speaker into the horn assembly, and reduces discontinuities that can impact the audio characteristics including the frequency response of the speaker and horn assembly. -
FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the housing of the device ofFIGS. 1 and 2 in the region of the down-firing speaker and the horn assembly. The illustrated structure includes the housingstructural members magnet 63, avoice coil 62, and adiaphragm 61. The speaker has an axis that is slanted by a few degrees relative to normal of the surface on which it is to be placed, which orients the speaker to project sound primarily downwardly, but with a slightly forward facing vector component into the horn assembly. - The speaker is coupled by a
vibration damping gasket 67 to the housingstructural members phase plug 60 having an aperture or multiple apertures which open into thespeaker port 33.Ring 34 which is comprised of material having a smooth curved surface is disposed around the periphery of thephase plug 60, defining an inside wall of the horn assembly at the speaker port and defining a transitional volume in thespeaker port 33 downwardly into the speaker horn defined by the horn assembly. In some embodiments, thering 34 is formed without substantial discontinuities on the ring surface opening into the speaker horn volume, where “without substantial discontinuities” means that the ring surface is tapered or curved so that there are no acute features on the surface exposed inside the speaker port and horn assembly. - In the side cross-section view,
sidewall 36 of the horn assembly is shown, having asurface pad 41 disposed proximal to themouth 16 of the horn assembly. Thesurface 38 of the horn assembly can be smooth, or have other textures. In the illustrated embodiment thesurface 38 has shallow corrugation over a portion of the region, and smooth inregions FIG. 2 ) is disposed along a majority of the length of the downwardly facingsurface 47 of thesidewall 36. - As illustrated, the height of the
sidewall 36 proximal to the throat region of the horn assembly nearspeaker port 33 is less than the height of thesidewall 36 proximal to themouth 16. Theback wall 55 has a side surface inside the horn assembly that is slanted relative to the surface on which the device is to be placed. Likewise, themouth 16 of the speaker horn formed by horn assembly in combination with the surface is framed by a slanted end of the sidewall 36 (andsidewall 35 not shown), an edge of thefront portion 39 of the housing, and the surface on which the device is placed. -
FIG. 4 illustrates some of the dimensions of a horn assembly in an embodiment like that ofFIG. 2 . InFIG. 4 , thesidewalls back wall 55, and downward facingsurface 38 of the horn assembly are illustrated schematically, showing a volume of a speaker horn formed by combination of the horn assembly and the surface on which the device is to be placed. - In the illustrated example, the
sidewalls speaker port 33 in this example, and a width W2 proximal to themouth 16 of the horn assembly. To form a speaker horn with a continuously increasing volume, the width W2 is greater than the width W1 in this example. - Also in the illustrated example, the
sidewalls speaker port 33 in this example, at a height H2 proximal to themouth 16 of the horn assembly. To form a speaker horn with a continuously increasing volume, the height H2 is greater than the height H1. - In other embodiments the configuration of the horn assembly can have other dimensions.
- A technology is described suitable for implementation of a speakerphone or other desktop equipment, with a down-firing speaker and horn assembly that can provide improved quality audio performance. By deploying a horn assembly that forms a speaker horn in combination with the surface on which the device is placed, a pressure gradient created by the physical geometry can be leveraged to improve audio performance. This configuration can help focus sound towards users of the speakerphone, utilizing angled surfaces to create increasing pressure gradient and project audio. Also, the speaker horn can be configured to focus sound away from a microphone on the device, passively minimizing echo that can improve voice quality.
- While the present invention is disclosed by reference to the preferred embodiments and examples detailed above, it is to be understood that these examples are intended in an illustrative rather than in a limiting sense. It is contemplated that modifications and combinations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, which modifications and combinations will be within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.
Claims (20)
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US16/130,839 US10587951B1 (en) | 2018-09-13 | 2018-09-13 | Equipment including down-firing speaker |
EP19773324.9A EP3850866A1 (en) | 2018-09-13 | 2019-09-12 | Equipment including down-firing speaker |
PCT/US2019/050783 WO2020056115A1 (en) | 2018-09-13 | 2019-09-12 | Equipment including down-firing speaker |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US16/130,839 US10587951B1 (en) | 2018-09-13 | 2018-09-13 | Equipment including down-firing speaker |
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US10587951B1 US10587951B1 (en) | 2020-03-10 |
US20200092638A1 true US20200092638A1 (en) | 2020-03-19 |
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US16/130,839 Expired - Fee Related US10587951B1 (en) | 2018-09-13 | 2018-09-13 | Equipment including down-firing speaker |
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EP (1) | EP3850866A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2020056115A1 (en) |
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USD874422S1 (en) * | 2018-03-06 | 2020-02-04 | Plantronics, Inc. | Base unit for a communications device |
USD909328S1 (en) * | 2018-10-19 | 2021-02-02 | Yealink (Xiamen) Network Technology Co., Ltd. | Communication terminal |
USD909981S1 (en) * | 2018-10-19 | 2021-02-09 | Yealink (Xiamen) Network Technology Co., Ltd. | Communication terminal |
USD938411S1 (en) * | 2021-04-15 | 2021-12-14 | Eco Trend Inc. | Organizer |
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-
2018
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-
2019
- 2019-09-12 WO PCT/US2019/050783 patent/WO2020056115A1/en unknown
- 2019-09-12 EP EP19773324.9A patent/EP3850866A1/en active Pending
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EP3850866A1 (en) | 2021-07-21 |
US10587951B1 (en) | 2020-03-10 |
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