WO1992022990A1 - Montage de haut parleu stereo avec miroirs acoustiques - Google Patents

Montage de haut parleu stereo avec miroirs acoustiques Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1992022990A1
WO1992022990A1 PCT/GB1992/001030 GB9201030W WO9222990A1 WO 1992022990 A1 WO1992022990 A1 WO 1992022990A1 GB 9201030 W GB9201030 W GB 9201030W WO 9222990 A1 WO9222990 A1 WO 9222990A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
sound
speaker
unit
unit according
channels
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1992/001030
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Negishi Hirokazu
Original Assignee
Canon Research Centre Europe Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Canon Research Centre Europe Limited filed Critical Canon Research Centre Europe Limited
Publication of WO1992022990A1 publication Critical patent/WO1992022990A1/fr

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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
    • H04R5/00—Stereophonic arrangements
    • H04R5/02—Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
    • 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

  • This invention relates to a loudspeaker unit for reproducing stereophonic sound by reflection from a wall or walls or, in portable form, radiated directly towards the listener.
  • the present invention provides a loudspeaker unit for reproducing stereophonic sound which comprises a single body and first and second drive units in the body for individual stereophonic channels for emitting treble sound with the main intensities thereof being in different directions other than parallel or perpendicular.
  • the invention also relates to the use of a speaker unit as aforesaid for reproduction of stereo sound emitted from the unit, in which treble sound from the individual channels is emitted in a direction facing away from an intended listening direction, the individual sound channels being reflected from different locations of a wall or walls before reaching the listener. Both channels may be first reflected from a single wall or they may be reflected initially at different walls e.g. at the corner of a room. The perceived positions from which sound comes are virtual images of the sound source produced when the sound undergoes its first and or second reflections.
  • the result is to produce spaced-apart virtual sound sources for the individual channels, the apparent sound distribution from the individual channels generally corresponding to the sound distribution in the same channels from the actual loudspeaker unit.
  • the positions from which the sound seems to come which are defined by the virtual images are much further apart than the positions where the drive units occur in the body of the loudspeaker unit giving the effect or illusion of a wide stereo stage.
  • both the left and right sound channels can be reproduced from within a single enclosure, and the acoustics of the room in which the sound is reproduced can be used to give a wide stereo stage.
  • the angle between the main intensity directions of the respective channels is a large acute angle e.g. from 60 to 90 degrees and preferably about 90 degrees.
  • the drive units which produce the beams of sound are treble units and reproduce at least intermediate frequencies above 5kHz where the reflection of sound begins to be predictable by geometrical acoustics. They may each comprise concentric diaphragms for relatively low and relatively high frequencies which may be individually driven or which may be a parasitic tweeter arrangement e.g. as disclosed in patent application number 9111775.4 filed 31 May 1991 in the United Kingdom.
  • the treble unit may also be used for the production of bass sound but separate bass speakers can also be provided. There may be one or two such bass speakers which may radiate sound direct into the room or via a sound mirror which diffracts sound into the room even at frequencies below 5kHz with change in direction.
  • Each loudspeaker unit comprises a drive unit or speaker which emits sound in a generally vertical direction and an acoustic reflector disposed at a spacing from the speaker for redirecting sound therefrom into a generally horizontal direction, the reflector having a generally conical surface facing the speaker with the apex of the cone nearest the speaker and with the center of the speaker offset from the axis of the conical surface so as to define a preferential direction of mid range and high frequency sound leaving the speaker (see Patent GB-B-2188811) .
  • the use of such a generally conical sound mirror particularly where the mirror is concave when viewed in profile to produce a controlled distribution sound in the vertical direction, is particularly advantageous when used in association with an offset single concentric drive unit e.g. of the parasitic tweeter type.
  • the invention also provides a portable player for tape cassettes and/or compact discs optionally also incorporating a tuner and in which individual sound channels to produce stereophonic sound are reproduced by drive units the sound from which is deflected into a generally horizontal direction by audio mirrors.
  • the audio mirrors are of the aforesaid generally conical or part conical shape including a sector of a conical surface.
  • the individual loudspeaker units which are present in the player may be directed so that the higher frequency sound distributions diverge from the player, converge from the player or are generally parallel. Where the sound intensities are divergent the player will be intended for use in reflection as aforesaid, and the face of the player on which the controls appear may be opposite to that from which the main sound intensities are radiated.
  • Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a diagrammatic plan and a partly cut away elevation of a first form of loudspeaker unit
  • Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a diagrammatic plan and a cut away elevation of a second form of loudspeaker unit
  • Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of a third form of the loudspeaker unit;
  • Figure 6 shows diagrammatically a pattern of treble sound from a loudspeaker according to the invention reflected at a corner of a room;
  • Figure 7 shows diagrammitically a pattern or treble sound from a loudspeaker unit according to the invention reflected first at an end wall and then at side walls of a generally rectangular room;
  • Figures 8 and 9 are respectively a perspective view and a diagrammatic plan of a first form of portable player for tape cassettes and/or compact discs incorporating a loudspeaking unit according to the invention.
  • Figure 10 is a diagrammatic plan of a second form of portable player for tape cassettes and/or compact discs incorporating a loudspeaker unit according to the invention.
  • a loudspeaker unit 10 comprises a main body 12 which supports a treble drive housing 14 above a pair of sound mirrors 16, 18 which reflect treble sound into a room or other listening environment.
  • the housing 14 contains a pair of downwardly facing drive units 20, 22 for the individual sound channels from which intermediate and/or high frequency sounds are radiated onto mirrors 16, 18 and thence horizontally into the room.
  • the drive units 20, 22 which may be circular or elliptical have their centers offset from the apexes of the conical reflectors 16, 18 so as to direct beams of sound at angular directions about 90 degrees apart with the beams of sound being diagonally outwards with reference to the line joining the centers of the sound mirrors.
  • Each sound mirror which is located below the drive unit so that sound is directed downwards onto the floor of the room where the speaker is used is concave in profile as disclosed in European patent application number EP-A-0409360 in order to cause the reflected sound to diverge in a vertical direction and increase the range of positions where a stereo image is perceptible.
  • EP-A-0409360 European patent application number
  • the use of an offset conical mirror and drive unit is described in patent GB-B-2188811 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • the drive units for treble are directed downwardly in the embodiment shown they could be directed upwardly with the positions of the mirrors 16 and 18 reversed, although that arrangement is less preferred.
  • the individual sound channels also pass via a suitable cross-over network (not shown) to bass speakers 26, 28 which direct sound downwardly onto a sound mirror 30 which is shared between them.
  • the positions of the drive units 26, 28 are less critical because low frequency sound tends to be radiated omni-directionally, although the mirror 30 produces a degree of diffraction of the sound towards the horizontal direction, particularly at frequencies about 800 Hz.
  • the drive units 26, 28 could alternatively face towards the listener.
  • the treble drive units 20, 22 are housed within individual compartments bounded by flexible membranes 21 and 23 which serve to prevent cross-talk and to damp sound from the back face of each drive unit as disclosed in our UK application number 9013640.9.
  • absorbent as a channel separator is provided in the form of a sound-damping member or wall which is directed in a front-two-rear direction midway between sound mirrors 14, 16 to limit unwanted cross-talk.
  • cross-talk can arise by sound from the drive unit 22 being reflected at the mirror 16 and correspondingly sound at the drive mirror unit 24 being reflected at the mirror 18.
  • FIG. 3 The arrangement is figures 3 and 4 is similar to figures 1 and 2 except that the drive units 20, 22 face opposite sides of a common sound mirror 40.
  • figure 5 The arrangement of figure 5 is similar to that of figure 4 except that both sound channels are reproduced through a single bass speaker 42 from which sound is radiated omni-directionally from a concentric sound mirror 44.
  • Figure 7 shows the effect of a unit 10 radiating diagonally opposed sound intensities at least at the mid and high frequencies towards an end wall 60 to produce for example a first virtual source 10a by first reflection at the end wall 61 and second widely spaced virtual sources 62, 64 by second reflections from the side wall 65, 66 so that the individual channels of high frequency sound seem to come from the widely spaced sources 62, 64 or from the opposite walls of the room.
  • the stereo image may be less clearly perceived than sound direct from speakers it is nevertheless agreeable and effective for some listeners.
  • an optionally adjustable delay unit e.g. a charge coupled device or a travelling-wave filter
  • Figure 8 diagrammatically shows a portable tape or disc player unit 70 comprising a disc player 72, tape player 74, 76, a radio tuner 78 and amplifier not shown, stereo sound signals from all of which are fed to drive units 80, 82.
  • the sound from these drive units is directed downwardly relative to the normal orientation of the reproducer 70 onto sound mirrors 84, 86 which are semi-circular when viewed in plan and of concave profile as shown. These mirrors produce a relatively wide distribution of sound in a horizontal plane and a controlled spread of sound in a vertical plane.
  • the drive unit 80, 82 may be fixed or movable relative to the sound mirror 84, 86 and for example in figure 9 they may be movable between the solid and phantom positions.
  • the drive units and mirrors 80, 84 and 82, 82 When in the position that presented by the solid lines the drive units and mirrors 80, 84 and 82, 82 produce sound intensities direct diagonally outwardly of the unit 70, whereas when they are in the position shown in phantom they produce sound intensities that are diagonally inwards.
  • An alternative structure is shown diagrammatically in figure 10 in which the drive units 80, 82 are disposed above quadrant rather than half conical sound mirrors, the sound mirrors 90, 92 still being concave when viewed in profile. With this arrangement the sound passes diagonally outwards from the unit, and the controls may be located on a face of the unit opposite to that from which sound is radiated.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Stereophonic System (AREA)

Abstract

Montage de haut-parleur destiné à la reproduction de son stéreo possédant un corps unique à partir duquel une première et une deuxième unité d'excitation (20, 22) émettent des ondes sonores diagonales de moyennes et hautes fréquences par l'intermédiaire de miroirs acoustiques (16, 18). Les ondes sonores sont détournées de l'auditeur de telle sorte que le son soit réfléchi par les murs de la pièce avant d'atteindre ledit auditeur. Chacune des unités d'excitation (20, 22) est positionnée verticalement et le son qu'elles émettent est réfléchi vers la pièce à l'aide de miroirs acoustiques décalés (16, 18). L'acoustique de la pièce est utilisée pour donner l'illusion d'un vaste volume stéréo.
PCT/GB1992/001030 1991-06-12 1992-06-09 Montage de haut parleu stereo avec miroirs acoustiques WO1992022990A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9112631A GB2256773A (en) 1991-06-12 1991-06-12 Loudspeaker uinit
GB9112631.8 1991-06-12

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1992022990A1 true WO1992022990A1 (fr) 1992-12-23

Family

ID=10696529

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1992/001030 WO1992022990A1 (fr) 1991-06-12 1992-06-09 Montage de haut parleu stereo avec miroirs acoustiques

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2256773A (fr)
WO (1) WO1992022990A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE9408805U1 (de) * 1994-05-30 1994-09-01 Baur Albert Lautsprecher, insbesondere in Säulenform
SE528998C2 (sv) * 2004-05-28 2007-04-03 Lennart Hoeglund Högtalarsystem

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2085377A7 (fr) * 1970-04-15 1971-12-24 Radiotechnique Compelec
JPS603297A (ja) * 1983-06-20 1985-01-09 Victor Co Of Japan Ltd 小型ステレオ装置用可変指向性スピ−カ
GB2188811A (en) * 1986-04-01 1987-10-07 Canon Kk Sound output system
US4704729A (en) * 1984-11-30 1987-11-03 Fricker France Single acoustic box with spatial effect for stereophonic musical reproduction systems
EP0248172A2 (fr) * 1986-06-05 1987-12-09 Ses Sound Electronic Systems S.A. Enceinte stéréophonique
WO1990005434A1 (fr) * 1988-11-08 1990-05-17 Timo Tarkkonen Agencement de haut-parleur
EP0409360A2 (fr) * 1987-12-09 1991-01-23 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Système de production de son

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1086464B (it) * 1977-09-06 1985-05-28 Selmin Sas Metodo e dispositivi per l'irradiazione omnidirezionale di onde acustiche
US4410063A (en) * 1981-03-04 1983-10-18 Onkyo Kabushiki Kaisha Loudspeaker system
WO1985001176A1 (fr) * 1983-09-06 1985-03-14 Henry Oliver Wolcott Structure de haut-parleur
US4574906A (en) * 1984-11-15 1986-03-11 Audio Technica U.S., Inc. Outdoor speaker
ES1008181Y (es) * 1988-11-07 1989-09-01 Gadea Veses Javier Caja acustica para transduccion de sonido.

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2085377A7 (fr) * 1970-04-15 1971-12-24 Radiotechnique Compelec
JPS603297A (ja) * 1983-06-20 1985-01-09 Victor Co Of Japan Ltd 小型ステレオ装置用可変指向性スピ−カ
US4704729A (en) * 1984-11-30 1987-11-03 Fricker France Single acoustic box with spatial effect for stereophonic musical reproduction systems
GB2188811A (en) * 1986-04-01 1987-10-07 Canon Kk Sound output system
EP0248172A2 (fr) * 1986-06-05 1987-12-09 Ses Sound Electronic Systems S.A. Enceinte stéréophonique
EP0409360A2 (fr) * 1987-12-09 1991-01-23 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Système de production de son
WO1990005434A1 (fr) * 1988-11-08 1990-05-17 Timo Tarkkonen Agencement de haut-parleur

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 9, no. 115 (E-315)(1838) 18 May 1985 & JP,A,60 003 297 ( NIPPON VICTOR K.K. ) 9 January 1985 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2256773A (en) 1992-12-16
GB9112631D0 (en) 1991-07-31

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