WO2000065869A2 - Bending-wave panel loudspeakers - Google Patents

Bending-wave panel loudspeakers Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2000065869A2
WO2000065869A2 PCT/GB2000/001459 GB0001459W WO0065869A2 WO 2000065869 A2 WO2000065869 A2 WO 2000065869A2 GB 0001459 W GB0001459 W GB 0001459W WO 0065869 A2 WO0065869 A2 WO 0065869A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
panel
voice coil
bending
exciter
dish
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2000/001459
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2000065869A3 (en
Inventor
Graham Bank
Julian Fordham
Original Assignee
New Transducers 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 New Transducers Limited filed Critical New Transducers Limited
Priority to DE60004813T priority Critical patent/DE60004813T2/en
Priority to AU45815/00A priority patent/AU4581500A/en
Priority to JP2000614692A priority patent/JP2002543702A/en
Priority to EP00927409A priority patent/EP1174001B1/en
Publication of WO2000065869A2 publication Critical patent/WO2000065869A2/en
Publication of WO2000065869A3 publication Critical patent/WO2000065869A3/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R9/00—Transducers of moving-coil, moving-strip, or moving-wire type
    • H04R9/06—Loudspeakers
    • H04R9/066—Loudspeakers using the principle of inertia
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R7/00—Diaphragms for electromechanical transducers; Cones
    • H04R7/02—Diaphragms for electromechanical transducers; Cones characterised by the construction
    • H04R7/12—Non-planar diaphragms or cones
    • H04R7/127—Non-planar diaphragms or cones dome-shaped
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R7/00—Diaphragms for electromechanical transducers; Cones
    • H04R7/02—Diaphragms for electromechanical transducers; Cones characterised by the construction
    • H04R7/04—Plane diaphragms
    • H04R7/045—Plane diaphragms using the distributed mode principle, i.e. whereby the acoustic radiation is emanated from uniformly distributed free bending wave vibration induced in a stiff panel and not from pistonic motion
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R7/00—Diaphragms for electromechanical transducers; Cones
    • H04R7/02—Diaphragms for electromechanical transducers; Cones characterised by the construction
    • H04R7/04—Plane diaphragms
    • H04R7/06—Plane diaphragms comprising a plurality of sections or layers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R7/00—Diaphragms for electromechanical transducers; Cones
    • H04R7/02—Diaphragms for electromechanical transducers; Cones characterised by the construction
    • H04R7/12—Non-planar diaphragms or cones
    • H04R7/122—Non-planar diaphragms or cones comprising a plurality of sections or layers

Definitions

  • the invention relates to loudspeakers and more particularly to bending-wave panel loudspeakers, e.g. resonant panel speakers of the kind described in International patent application O97/09842.
  • an electrodynamic vibration exciter having a tubular voice coil fixed as a continuous or discontinuous ring contact to a bending-wave or resonant panel to excite the panel can cause the disc of panel material directly underneath and enclosed by the ring contact of the voice coil to vibrate in the manner of a drum, and the frequency at which this localised resonance, occurs depends upon the exciter voice coil diameter and the panel material properties. For some panels, there may be little or no modal panel behaviour above this resonant frequency and therefore this resonant frequency may form the effective upper frequency limit of the panel. For thin panels used with 25mm diameter exciters this can be a particular problem.
  • the panel material underneath or within the ring contact of the voice coil of an electrodynamic exciter is dished, e.g. formed or deformed to extend out of the plane of the panel, e.g. is formed into a raised or depressed concave or convex structure e.g. a dome or pyramidal shape. Since such a depressed or raised shape, whether curved or faceted, forms an inherently stiffer structure than the flat panel material, and this causes the local resonant frequency to be shifted to a higher frequency. The degree of frequency shift is dependent upon the radius or height, and diameter of the raised or depressed structure.
  • the simplest form is a spherical contour which may be raised as in a dome or concave, the latter partially dependant on the depth available to the moving part of the exciter.
  • the height of the raised element may be altered to suit, and its shaped may be based on other curves e.g. hyperbolic, or parabolic, or combinations of straight and curved sections.
  • a simple cone shape may also be effective .
  • the 'dome' element may be formed integrally with the panel, or be additional to the panel, where it may reinforce or replace the original disc section.
  • a section of the core may be processed for increased thickness in the region of the exciter, or the panel may be moulded to conform to the desired local contour.
  • the 'dome' feature may be part of the overall moulding profile.
  • controlling feature may have more complex profiles such as a series or an array of smaller 'domes' proportioned so as to give finer control of the resultant acoustic output.
  • the invention is also applicable to the conventional paper/felted speaker diaphragm technology where the bonded felted matrix is formed as a bending wave panel with the dome section for the exciter made integrally by design of the profile of the former.
  • the internal diameter of the dome or other raised or depressed structure may match the internal diameter of a foot or mounting ring by which the exciter voice coil is mounted on the panel, or that of the voice coil itself if directly mounted on the panel, to enhance the improvement in frequency bandwidth.
  • a 22mm diameter dome may be suitable for use with 25mm diameter exciters whilst for 19mm exciters, a 16mm diameter dome may be more suitable .
  • Figure 1 is a partial side view of bending wave loudspeaker
  • Figure 2a to 2f are partial perspective views of bending wave loudspeaker panels showing alternative embodiments ;
  • Figure 3 is a full spectrum graph of loudspeaker frequency response
  • Figure 4 is a part-spectrum graph of loudspeaker frequency response.
  • a bending wave loudspeaker generally of the kind described m WO 97/09842, comprises a thin stiff lightweight panel 2 excited by an electrodynamic vibration exciter 3, of the kind comprising an mertial magnet assembly comprising a magnet 8 and a pair of pole pieces 6, and a voice coil assembly comprising a coil 10 wound on a former 4 having an annular mounting foot 7 to produce an acoustic output, the exciter 3 being fixed to the panel 2 by the mounting foot 7 of the voice coil assembly to form a contact ring therewith.
  • Tne ring may be discontinuous or continuous as desired.
  • the area of the panel inside the contact ring is bulged away from the exciter to form a domed, part spherical dish 5.
  • the magnet assembly 6,8 of the exciter 3 is resiliently suspended on the panel 2 by a compliant suspension 9, e.g. of foam rubber .
  • Figures 2a to 2f show alternative shapes of the dish 5 m the panel 2.
  • m Figure 2a the dish is conical
  • m Figure 2b the dish is a part -sphere
  • m Figure 2c the part spherical dish of Figure 2b is inverted.
  • the dish is pyramidal
  • m Figure 2e the dish is a combined cone and dome shape
  • in Figure 2f the dish is of hyperbolic shape.
  • Figure 3 shows the improvement m frequency bandwidth of the loudspeaker by using the dome feature or shape compared to a conventional flat panel.
  • the flat panel frequency response shows a panel "local or cap” resonance at approximately 6 kHz and a subsequent isolated harmonic of this resonance at approximately 18kHz.
  • the 'dish' feature panel shows an extended high frequency range with a minor resonance at approximately 16 kHz.
  • the height of the dome or dish may be changed to improve the frequency bandwidth.
  • Figure 4 shows the effect of using different dome height (radius) on a different type of felt paper panel, m this case a Black SIG grade of paper with a lacquer treatment .
  • Figure 4 clearly shows that the 5mm dome height (thick line) increases the useful bandwidth by approximately 2 kHz .
  • the aperture resonance frequency for the 5mm height dome is approximately 2 kHz greater than that of the 3mm height dome (thin line) .
  • the useful range of heights for the dome feature may vary from about 1 to 7mm. Above 7mm or below 1mm, there is likely to be only a very slight increase in the aperture effect resonance frequency.
  • the total thickness of the panel may be of critical importance m some applications which will prohibit the use of very high domes i.e. >7mm.
  • the dome feature is most suited to thinner resonant panels because the "cap or local" resonance frequency is more of a problem on thin materials.
  • a typical panel thickness range for the present invention would be approximately 0.2 -4mm.
  • the invention thus provides a simple way of increasing the frequency bandwidth of a bending-wave panel loudspeaker.

Abstract

A bending-wave panel loudspeaker comprising a bending-wave panel and an electrodynamic exciter attached to the panel to vibrate the panel, the exciter comprising a magnet assembly and a voice coil assembly, the exciter being attached to the panel via the voice coil assembly, characterised in that the panel within the ring contact of the voice coil is dished.

Description

TITLE: LOUDSPEAKERS
DESCRIPTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to loudspeakers and more particularly to bending-wave panel loudspeakers, e.g. resonant panel speakers of the kind described in International patent application O97/09842.
It is an object of the invention to improve the working frequency bandwidth of a bending-wave or resonant panel loudspeaker.
BACKGROUND ART In normal operation, an electrodynamic vibration exciter having a tubular voice coil fixed as a continuous or discontinuous ring contact to a bending-wave or resonant panel to excite the panel can cause the disc of panel material directly underneath and enclosed by the ring contact of the voice coil to vibrate in the manner of a drum, and the frequency at which this localised resonance, occurs depends upon the exciter voice coil diameter and the panel material properties. For some panels, there may be little or no modal panel behaviour above this resonant frequency and therefore this resonant frequency may form the effective upper frequency limit of the panel. For thin panels used with 25mm diameter exciters this can be a particular problem.
It has previously been proposed to counter the problem by removing panel material enclosed within the ring contact of the exciter voice coil, but such a solution is not always practicable.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
According to the invention the panel material underneath or within the ring contact of the voice coil of an electrodynamic exciter is dished, e.g. formed or deformed to extend out of the plane of the panel, e.g. is formed into a raised or depressed concave or convex structure e.g. a dome or pyramidal shape. Since such a depressed or raised shape, whether curved or faceted, forms an inherently stiffer structure than the flat panel material, and this causes the local resonant frequency to be shifted to a higher frequency. The degree of frequency shift is dependent upon the radius or height, and diameter of the raised or depressed structure.
The simplest form is a spherical contour which may be raised as in a dome or concave, the latter partially dependant on the depth available to the moving part of the exciter. The height of the raised element may be altered to suit, and its shaped may be based on other curves e.g. hyperbolic, or parabolic, or combinations of straight and curved sections. A simple cone shape may also be effective .
Depending on the manufacturing/constructional method the 'dome' element may be formed integrally with the panel, or be additional to the panel, where it may reinforce or replace the original disc section.
In the panel forming process, a section of the core may be processed for increased thickness in the region of the exciter, or the panel may be moulded to conform to the desired local contour. In the case of monolithic, moulded bending panel radiators, the 'dome' feature may be part of the overall moulding profile.
In addition the controlling feature may have more complex profiles such as a series or an array of smaller 'domes' proportioned so as to give finer control of the resultant acoustic output.
The invention is also applicable to the conventional paper/felted speaker diaphragm technology where the bonded felted matrix is formed as a bending wave panel with the dome section for the exciter made integrally by design of the profile of the former.
The internal diameter of the dome or other raised or depressed structure may match the internal diameter of a foot or mounting ring by which the exciter voice coil is mounted on the panel, or that of the voice coil itself if directly mounted on the panel, to enhance the improvement in frequency bandwidth. Thus, for example, a 22mm diameter dome may be suitable for use with 25mm diameter exciters whilst for 19mm exciters, a 16mm diameter dome may be more suitable .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The invention is diagrammatically illustrated, by way of example, m the accompanying drawings, m which: -
Figure 1 is a partial side view of bending wave loudspeaker;
Figure 2a to 2f are partial perspective views of bending wave loudspeaker panels showing alternative embodiments ;
Figure 3 is a full spectrum graph of loudspeaker frequency response; and
Figure 4 is a part-spectrum graph of loudspeaker frequency response.
BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
In Figure 1, a bending wave loudspeaker 1, generally of the kind described m WO 97/09842, comprises a thin stiff lightweight panel 2 excited by an electrodynamic vibration exciter 3, of the kind comprising an mertial magnet assembly comprising a magnet 8 and a pair of pole pieces 6, and a voice coil assembly comprising a coil 10 wound on a former 4 having an annular mounting foot 7 to produce an acoustic output, the exciter 3 being fixed to the panel 2 by the mounting foot 7 of the voice coil assembly to form a contact ring therewith. Tne ring may be discontinuous or continuous as desired. The area of the panel inside the contact ring is bulged away from the exciter to form a domed, part spherical dish 5. The magnet assembly 6,8 of the exciter 3 is resiliently suspended on the panel 2 by a compliant suspension 9, e.g. of foam rubber .
Figures 2a to 2f show alternative shapes of the dish 5 m the panel 2. Thus m Figure 2a the dish is conical, m Figure 2b the dish is a part -sphere, while m Figure 2c the part spherical dish of Figure 2b is inverted. In Figure 2d the dish is pyramidal, m Figure 2e the dish is a combined cone and dome shape and in Figure 2f the dish is of hyperbolic shape.
Figure 3 shows the improvement m frequency bandwidth of the loudspeaker by using the dome feature or shape compared to a conventional flat panel. The flat panel frequency response (thin line) shows a panel "local or cap" resonance at approximately 6 kHz and a subsequent isolated harmonic of this resonance at approximately 18kHz. The 'dish' feature panel (thick line) shows an extended high frequency range with a minor resonance at approximately 16 kHz.
If desired, the height of the dome or dish may be changed to improve the frequency bandwidth. Figure 4 shows the effect of using different dome height (radius) on a different type of felt paper panel, m this case a Black SIG grade of paper with a lacquer treatment . Figure 4 clearly shows that the 5mm dome height (thick line) increases the useful bandwidth by approximately 2 kHz . The aperture resonance frequency for the 5mm height dome is approximately 2 kHz greater than that of the 3mm height dome (thin line) . However, the useful range of heights for the dome feature may vary from about 1 to 7mm. Above 7mm or below 1mm, there is likely to be only a very slight increase in the aperture effect resonance frequency. Clearly, the total thickness of the panel may be of critical importance m some applications which will prohibit the use of very high domes i.e. >7mm.
The dome feature is most suited to thinner resonant panels because the "cap or local" resonance frequency is more of a problem on thin materials. A typical panel thickness range for the present invention would be approximately 0.2 -4mm.
Clearly only certain panel materials will be able to be deformed m this manner. This conventional pistonic cone speaker material i.e. felted paper, can be formed m this manner, and the process could be extended to foam materials such as polystyrene, polyurethane and polymethylacrylimide (PMI = Rohacell [RTM] ) , and also to injection-moulded thermoplastics such as nylon, ABS (acrylo butadiene styrene) or polypropylene. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The invention thus provides a simple way of increasing the frequency bandwidth of a bending-wave panel loudspeaker.

Claims

1. A bending-wave panel loudspeaker comprising a bending- wave panel and an electrodynamic exciter attached tc the panel to vibrate the panel, the exciter comprising a magnet assembly and a voice coil assembly, the exciter being attached to the panel via the voice coil asserr-Dly, characterised m that the panel within the ring contac: of the voice coil is dished.
2. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, wherein the dish is a part -spherical curve.
3. A loudspeaker according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the dish is formed integrally with the panel.
4. A loudspeaker according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the diameter of the dish matches the internal diameter of a foot or mounting ring by which the voice coil is mounted on the panel, or that of the voice coil itself if directly mounted on the panel.
PCT/GB2000/001459 1999-04-27 2000-04-27 Bending-wave panel loudspeakers WO2000065869A2 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE60004813T DE60004813T2 (en) 1999-04-27 2000-04-27 PLATE-SHAPED BENDING SHAFT SPEAKERS
AU45815/00A AU4581500A (en) 1999-04-27 2000-04-27 Loudspeakers
JP2000614692A JP2002543702A (en) 1999-04-27 2000-04-27 Loudspeaker
EP00927409A EP1174001B1 (en) 1999-04-27 2000-04-27 Bending- wave panel loudspeakers

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9909535.8 1999-04-27
GBGB9909535.8A GB9909535D0 (en) 1999-04-27 1999-04-27 Loudspeakers

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000065869A2 true WO2000065869A2 (en) 2000-11-02
WO2000065869A3 WO2000065869A3 (en) 2001-02-01

Family

ID=10852249

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2000/001459 WO2000065869A2 (en) 1999-04-27 2000-04-27 Bending-wave panel loudspeakers

Country Status (8)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1174001B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2002543702A (en)
CN (1) CN1343437A (en)
AU (1) AU4581500A (en)
DE (1) DE60004813T2 (en)
GB (1) GB9909535D0 (en)
TW (1) TW484337B (en)
WO (1) WO2000065869A2 (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002045460A2 (en) * 2000-11-30 2002-06-06 New Transducers Limited Loudspeakers
US6839444B2 (en) 2000-11-30 2005-01-04 New Transducers Limited Loudspeakers
US7120263B2 (en) 2001-03-23 2006-10-10 New Transducers Limited Bending wave acoustic radiator
EP2192792A1 (en) * 2007-08-29 2010-06-02 Toa Corporation Vibration plate and speaker
GB2539029A (en) * 2015-06-04 2016-12-07 Amina Tech Ltd Distributed mode loudspeaker damping oscillations within exciter feet

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3521845A1 (en) * 1985-06-19 1987-01-02 Martin Stute Electrodynamic loudspeaker
US5241140A (en) * 1989-11-01 1993-08-31 Yamaha Corporation Speaker diaphragm
US5259036A (en) * 1991-07-22 1993-11-02 Shure Brothers, Inc. Diaphragm for dynamic microphones and methods of manufacturing the same
WO1999002012A1 (en) * 1997-07-03 1999-01-14 New Transducers Limited Panel-form loudspeakers
WO1999013684A1 (en) * 1997-09-06 1999-03-18 New Transducers Limited Vibration exciter

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3521845A1 (en) * 1985-06-19 1987-01-02 Martin Stute Electrodynamic loudspeaker
US5241140A (en) * 1989-11-01 1993-08-31 Yamaha Corporation Speaker diaphragm
US5259036A (en) * 1991-07-22 1993-11-02 Shure Brothers, Inc. Diaphragm for dynamic microphones and methods of manufacturing the same
WO1999002012A1 (en) * 1997-07-03 1999-01-14 New Transducers Limited Panel-form loudspeakers
WO1999013684A1 (en) * 1997-09-06 1999-03-18 New Transducers Limited Vibration exciter

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002045460A2 (en) * 2000-11-30 2002-06-06 New Transducers Limited Loudspeakers
WO2002045460A3 (en) * 2000-11-30 2003-03-13 New Transducers Ltd Loudspeakers
US6839444B2 (en) 2000-11-30 2005-01-04 New Transducers Limited Loudspeakers
CN100433937C (en) * 2000-11-30 2008-11-12 新型转换器有限公司 Loudspeakers
US7120263B2 (en) 2001-03-23 2006-10-10 New Transducers Limited Bending wave acoustic radiator
EP2192792A1 (en) * 2007-08-29 2010-06-02 Toa Corporation Vibration plate and speaker
EP2192792A4 (en) * 2007-08-29 2014-02-19 Toa Corp Vibration plate and speaker
GB2539029A (en) * 2015-06-04 2016-12-07 Amina Tech Ltd Distributed mode loudspeaker damping oscillations within exciter feet
GB2539029B (en) * 2015-06-04 2017-06-07 Amina Tech Ltd Distributed mode loudspeaker damping oscillations within exciter feet

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2002543702A (en) 2002-12-17
EP1174001B1 (en) 2003-08-27
WO2000065869A3 (en) 2001-02-01
DE60004813T2 (en) 2004-07-08
GB9909535D0 (en) 1999-06-23
DE60004813D1 (en) 2003-10-02
AU4581500A (en) 2000-11-10
EP1174001A2 (en) 2002-01-23
CN1343437A (en) 2002-04-03
TW484337B (en) 2002-04-21

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