WO2005086527A1

WO2005086527A1 - An improved audio arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2005086527A1
Application number: PCT/AU2005/000312
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ilario Carmen Deciccia
Original assignee: Ilario Carmen Deciccia
Priority date: 2004-03-08
Filing date: 2005-03-07
Publication date: 2005-09-15

Abstract

An audio arrangement including a furniture structure adapted to support at least one of a Visual Display Unit (16), video recorder, DVD player or a combination thereof. The furniture structure includes an arrangement of panels(18, 20, 22, 14, 26, 28) defining a space and enclosure for at least 3 independent speakers (34, 36, 38). Each independent speaker (34, 36, 38) system is integral or integrated with the said furniture structure such that each speaker (34, 36, 38) is configured independently to transmit a full range of audio reproduction audible to the human ear such that when an audio signal requires amplification the or said speaker system (34, 36, 38) may utilize the space defined by corresponding separate speaker(34, 36, 38).

Description

AN IMPROVED AUDIO ARRANGEMENT

TECHNICAL FIELD

This present invention relates generally to an improved audio arrangement and more particularly to a set of speakers and a furniture component of said arrangement.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, speakers are manufactured as discrete units whereby one unit is used for each channel of audio information. There are many formats of audio signals available such as the following non-exhaustive list: • Mono audio, requires 1 speaker for correct reproduction

• Stereo audio, requires 2 discrete speakers for correct reproduction

• 'Dolby Pro Logic', requires 6 discrete speakers for correct reproduction

• 'Dolby Digital' or 'DTS', requires 6 discrete speakers for correct reproduction • 'Dolby Digital 6.1 ', requires 7 discrete speakers for correct reproduction

• 'Dolby Digital 7.1 ', requires 8 discrete speakers for correct reproduction

Traditionally, furniture designed to accommodate audio arrangement systems, commonly referred to as, 'Audio/Visual Furniture' are manufactured to receive a visual display unit or support one thereon, along with other related electronic components, in an overall aesthetically pleasing appearance. Such furniture is also designed where possible to hide certain functional components of the Visual Display Unit and related electronic component devices, but yet displays a viewing screen and provides access to the controls of the electronic components.

Audio/Visual Furniture is generally of a fixed height and width, including a pair of opposed, spaced apart towers which define a Visual Display Unit receiving area there between, there also being adjustable means in the form of shelves, light bars and face plates that span the area between the towers so as to support the Visual Display Unit within the area.

Alternatively, the furniture structure includes a planar or top panel adapted merely to support the Visual Display Unit and a series of speakers or speaker systems can then be mounted in or on the furniture by adjusting the shelves.

There are many problems with such Audio/Visual furniture having either spaced apart towers which are adjustable to accommodate Visual Display Units with shelves being provided above, to the side and/or below the Visual Display Unit to provide support for speakers or other media devices, for example video recorders and DVD players.

Typically the 'Left Front' and 'Right Front' speakers are placed to either side of the Visual Display Unit. If the speaker units are small enough they are typically placed on or in the AudioΛ/isual furniture structure. Often they are placed to the left and right of the Audio/Visual furniture structure on separate stands.

Stands are required to lift them up to the correct height for optimal sound reproduction, which is an additional cost to the system. If the speakers are larger units they are typically referred to as, 'floor standing' and are placed either side of the audio arrangement furniture.

Speakers placed on stands are top heavy which are easily knocked over by young children. If the speakers are more powerful larger units which stand directly on the floor then this problem is avoided however in either case the aesthetically unpleasing speaker wires can be seen running across the floor from the audio arrangement furniture to each speaker.

For this invention the "home theatre" speaker system is characterized largely in part but certainly not limited to, a play back of 6 separate channels of audio. The invention is also applicable to all the different audio formats that require anywhere from 1 to 8 discrete channels.

Audio signals are generated by electronic media devices that may or may not be part of the unit or may in fact be supported thereon, and would include sources such as video tapes, laser discs, television broadcasts, CD Audio, SACD and DVD audio/video discs. Generally, these signals may originate from the sound source in many formats. One format such as, 'Dolby Pro Logic' contains two channels that are encoded for matrixing into 6 discrete channels. The other common configuration, 'Dolby Digital' contains 6 discrete (separate and independent) channels that include 5 full range and one low frequency channels. This invention can also be embodied for older audio formats such as mono and stereo.

Generally, each speaker unit includes at least one audio driver that is mounted into a cavity within a furniture structure. Each speaker is configured to independently transmit a full range of audio reproduction. Further, independent terminals are mounted to the loud speaker, wherein these terminals are adapted to receive a separate and discrete channel of a full range electrical audio signal transmitted from an amplified media/video component. Often electrical audio crossover networks are integrated into the speaker enclosure.

A typical arrangement for reproduction of home theatre audio involves the use of the 'Dolby Digital' audio format that requires 5 discrete full range loud speakers and at least one subwoofer. Generally, the front center speaker is p.aced in the same vertical axis as the Visual Display Unit, and then right front and left front speakers are located at the respective sides of the Visual Display Unit. Two surround speakers are then positioned to the side or rear of the person who is listening or viewing the home theatre system.

As is to be appreciated such an arrangement requires considerable effort, technical knowledge and precision if the optimal audio play back of the sound field as intended by the person skilled in the art.

Furniture accommodating Audio arrangement systems is configured so as to symmetrically arrange the television, audio/video equipment and multiple speakers there into, or on the furniture structure are available but have a variety of problems.

In these conventional arrangements the speakers and the furniture structure are independent of each other. Though it is possible to adjust shelving or panels to define a space to receive the necessary electronic devices into the furniture structure, the speaker boxes will in fact be enclosed twice once it is included within the furniture structure. For example once as a speaker and again within the shelving of the furniture structure.

Furthermore a problem exists with the routing/hiding of the speaker's cables on, around and through the furniture structure to the amplifier equipment.

A further problem is that as the speaker system and the furniture are independent, it is not possible to accurately align the independent speakers within the furniture until the selection of the speakers is made and both the speakers and furniture structure are brought together.

A still further problem is that in order to reproduce a full range of audio signal transmission from a speaker system a certain amount of space needs to be defined within that speaker. As the conventional furniture structures have discrete separate cavities for accommodating the independent speakers it is not possible to utilize that space of a separate speaker by another speaker. Consequently, the size of each independent speaker will need to be defined with a larger dimension if the appropriate amplified audio/ ideo component signal is to be reproduced over the full frequency bandwidth that is audible to the human ear. Hence such furniture structures would tend to be large in size and awkward to handle

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least substantially ameliorate some of the disadvantages and shortcomings of the speaker units and accommodating Audio arrangement furniture discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, in one form of the invention there is provided an audio arrangement including: a furniture structure adapted to support at least one of a Visual Display Unit, video recorder, DVD player or a combination thereof; said structure including an arrangement of panels defining a space and enclosure for at least 3 independent speakers; the or each independent speaker system is integral or integrated with the said furniture structure such that each speaker is configured independently to transmit at least a partial range of audio reproduction audible to the human ear such that when an audio signal requires amplification the or said speaker system may utilize the space defined by corresponding separate speaker.

Preferably the unit further includes at least one low frequency speaker, commonly referred to as a 'sub woofer'. Preferably, the low frequency speaker or subwoofer is integrated with the furniture structure and may utilize the space defined by corresponding separate speakers.

An advantage of such an arrangement is that the Audio arrangement furniture structure and the speakers are integrated into the one unit. There is no purchase of a separate piece of furniture and then subsequently thereafter the arrangement there into of an audio system utilizing more than one independent speaker.

Advantageously, panels making up the furniture structure also form panels making up the speakers. Further, and importantly, the Audio arrangement furniture panels create the outer wall for at least three speakers so that they can be configured to transmit a full range of audio reproduction audible to the human ear and this is possible by the spacing that is defined by the panels enclosing the independent speakers and subwoofer.

Traditionally, for a speaker to be able to reproduce the required audio frequency bandwidth audible to the human ear a certain defined space is required in order for the signal to be amplified acoustically as required. This means the speaker would have to take up larger space within the Audio arrangement furniture structure making the overall size of the home theatre unit larger and perhaps less aesthetically pleasing or convenient for placement within a home or the like.

Advantageously, in this arrangement the Audio arrangement furniture structure has the speakers integrated and enclosed within the panels and also positioned such that the cavities defined by the cover frames formed by the arrangement of panels of the furniture structure created spacing can be used by separate independent speakers. Hence, the overall size of such a furniture structure capable of producing this same full range of frequency band audible to the human ear is smaller than expected. Generally a much larger furniture structure is required if the appropriate reproduction of the audio signal is to be achieved as separate units due to wasted space between relative panels.

Nonetheless this invention by the utilization of space created by the integration of the speakers and subwoofer directly into the furniture structure during manufacturing allows for a more streamlined and compact furniture structure.

A further advantage of such an arrangement is that the costs of manufacturing the furniture structure as well as the speakers and subwoofer are reduced.

There is no longer the requirement to define a cavity that will accommodate the speaker as the panels forming the cavity now form the actual cover frame of the speakers.

Integration of the speakers within the furniture structure avoids having virtually two support panels for each speaker. For example, one for actually acting as the frame of the speaker and the other to support the speaker within a cavity or shelf within a furniture structure.

A further advantage of such an arrangement is that as the speakers and their associated components are enclosed within the Audio arrangement furniture structure and the electrical wiring and related power cords thereto can be kept out of main view from the user of the system.

Part of every multiway speaker is an electrical crossover network. A crossover network is an arrangement of electrical components such as resistors, capacitors and inductors typically mounted on a printed circuit board. In the manufacture of speakers a crossover network is mounted inside each separate speaker unit. Advantageously this invention allows for the integration of 3 or more crossover networks, such as but not limited to, (front left, front centre and front right speakers) onto a single printed circuit board, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

Conventionally, if the speakers were separate from the audio arrangement furniture and have to be incorporated there into, the wiring would require substantial set up effort to try and hide from view, and if this is not possible, it may have an influence on the overall room decor and furnishings if wiring is left independent or hanging from the furniture structure.

The speaker wiring also presents further problems associated with children and the like, as they may potentially trip over, and also further, if the speakers are in fact independent of the furniture structure, such speakers are susceptible to easily being knocked over. Preferably, the Audio arrangement includes a bench top for supporting a Visual Display Unit thereon.

In a further form of the invention the furniture structure includes a pair of spaced apart towers defining a Visual Display Unit receiving area there in-between said towers, with adjustable means connected with each of said towers and spanning said area between the towers whereby the spaced distance between the towers may be determined by the adjustment of said means.

An advantage of such an arrangement is that a Visual Display Unit may be received as part of the Audio arrangement System by either being supported on the bench or the top panel of the unit, or alternatively, it may be incorporated within the furniture structure through an adjustable tower arrangement.

Preferably, the furniture structure includes a shelf or shelves to accommodate or support at least one of a video recorder, DVD player, amplifier, game machine or other like electronic devices or a combination thereof.

Preferably, the shelving is adjustable. An advantage of such an arrangement is that the Audio arrangement furniture structure integrates the necessary speakers so as to reproduce the appropriate audio sound that has been signaled from an audio source.

Nonetheless, various audio arrangement components such as the Visual Display Unit, video recorder or DVD player can be selected by the user independent of restrictions of the structure of the furniture structure.

What is significant to this invention is that the integrated Audio arrangement furniture structure establishes spacing for the speakers necessary to create the full range of frequency band audible to the human ear. Conveniently the audio signals received from the sources such as videotapes, laser discs, CD audio, television broadcasts and also DVD discs are not restricted by the overall structure of the furniture structure. Hence, these electronic devices can be purchased separately from the furniture structure and are also manufactured independently thereof.

Preferably, the various independent speakers positioned within the furniture structure are so as to include at least a centre speaker, a left speaker, a rigfit speaker and at least one subwoofer each configured to transmit a full range of audio reproduction.

Preferably, the centre speaker is characterized by being in the same vertical axis as the Visual Display Unit.

In a further form of the invention the Audio arrangement Furniture unit further includes a right rear speaker and a left rear speaker independent of said furniture structure and configured to transmit a pre determined range of audio reproduction so as to correspond directly to said respective front centre, front left, front right and low frequency speakers for electrical audio signal transmission from the amplified audio video component reproduction thereof, to a full range of a frequency bandwidth that is audible to the human ear. Preferably, the right rear speaker and left rear speaker are manufactured integrally into a furniture structure of an appearance substantially similar from an aesthetic point of view to the furniture structure adapted to support the Visual Display Unit, video recorder, DVD player or the like electronic device or a combination thereof.

An advantage of such an arrangement is that in order to complete the home theatre speaker system which most commonly receive and play back 6 discrete channels of audio, the additional surround speakers which are placed traditionally to the side or to the rear of the listener / viewer though not forming part of the main furniture structure including the integrated speaker system, this additional integrated speaker furniture structure housed to the rear of the listener / viewer provides for a room decor which is far more pleasing in appearance and function than merely mounting said rear right and left speakers against the wall or the like.

A further advantage is that the speakers by not being mounted to the wall are now enclosed neatly within a furniture structure providing the same full reproduction of sound by being at the back of the listener / viewer. The advantages of speaker integration as referred to above in the main furniture structure are then passed on to the same furniture structure which forms the integration of the speakers into a separate furniture structure which could form the main structure for a bookcase, occasional table or the like.

Advantageously, if a home theatre unit utilizing at least 6 discrete channels of audio to be received by a listener/Viewer, they would need only to purchase two integrated speaker audio arrangement furniture structures and place them into the room without any further substantial set up effort in obtaining the necessary reproduction of the audio coming from sources such as video tapes, laser discs, television broadcasts and DVD discs. The difficulties of arranging independent speakers is no longer required as these speakers including subwoofer form part of the furniture structure which will support the said signal source. At the same time by integrating the speakers and subwoofer there into the furniture structure manufacturing costs are reduced as there is no duplication of the covering required to enclose the audio speaker of the speaker system. The furniture structure in the preferred embodiment enables a neat, compact, convenient and aesthetic means of providing home audio reproduction without the aesthetically unpleasing sight of separate speaker boxes and their corresponding wires scattered throughout the living environment.

It is however to be appreciated by those skilled in the art that up until this stage what has been discussed is a home theatre speaker systems which most commonly receives and playbacks 6 separate channels of audio. It is obvious to appreciate the same concept of the invention is applicable whether one speaker or in fact scores of speakers are incorporated into the furniture structure with one or many subwoofers.

What is essential to this invention is the fact that the speakers are integrated within the furniture structure, and by integrating they are able to utilize spaces defined by the panels separating independent speakers.

There is a substantial audio reproduction advantage to this integrated solution. Persons familiar in the art of speaker engineering know of an immovable law that applies to the design of all speaker enclosures. Bass frequencies cannot be reproduced without a 'large' enclosure.

'Large' is a relative term so more specifically if we were to compare the sound quality of two speakers with other factors being constant we would find that a larger enclosure allows for 1.) Lower bass resonant and cut off frequencies and 2.) Higher amplitude bass output. Traditionally home speakers were large boxes in our lounge rooms. These large boxes reproduced the full range of audio audible to the human ear.

Large speaker boxes became unpopular in the marketplace as consumers found them to be aesthetically unpleasing in the home decor environment. In response to these manufacturers of speakers developed a technique to produce smaller speakers. This is achieved by splitting the larger enclosures into two separate units which work together as one, one unit can be made being very small in size while the other, normally the subwoofer, retains its large enclose size required for the reproduction of bass frequencies.

The smaller unit remains visible to the consumer while the larger subwoofer may be hidden under furniture. Inconveniently however speaker cables need to be routed to the satellite units while the subwoofer unit requires routing of power cables and signal cables.

Persons specialized in the engineering of speakers understand that this solution which has obvious aesthetic advantages over larger boxes is made at the expense of overall sound quality. So it can be seen that this splitting of speakers into two parts solves one problem but creates another.

Furthermore the separate subwoofer units require power from their own independent amplifier. In this invention the subwoofer, one or more, may be integrated into the left and right speakers and powered by the main multi channel amplifier. This reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for a subwoofer amplifier. As a natural consequence, cable clutter is reduced as the need to route power from an outlet to the separate active subwoofer and its associated amplifier is eliminated.

Advantageously the speakers are able to utilize otherwise wasted space within Audio arrangement furniture structure to reproduce louder and lower bass frequencies and thus no compromises are made in terms of sound quality over the larger units of years gone by.

For this invention the speakers are virtually invisible as they are hidden within the volume of the audio arrangement furniture structure.

Preferably an electrical crossover network is built onto one rather than many circuit boards. This results in the various integrated speakers, cable connection points to be located together in very close proximity to the amplifier equipment. Thus advantageously from a cost and convenience point of view, only very short lengths of speaker cable are required to connect the main amplifier up to each separate speaker channel connection point.

Advantageously during the playback of stereo or mono signal sources the centre channel lies dormant and unused. By the incorporation of a 'mode switch' and very simple circuit, bass frequencies can be directed to the centre bass drivers, at a post not pre amplifier level, thereby producing a greater volume output.

FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For a better understanding of this invention, it will now be described in relation to preferred embodiments, which will be described with assistance of drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front plan view of the integrated speakers audio arrangement furniture structure;

Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the integrated speakers audio arrangement furniture structure;

Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the integrated speakers audio arrangement furniture structure; Figure 4 is a rear perspective cut away view of the integrated speakers audio arrangement furniture structure showing the utilization of cavity space between independent speakers and the subwoofer;

Figure 5 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention whereby additional surround speakers are placed to the rear of the listener within a separate bookshelf style furniture structure;

Figure 6 is a block diagram of devices required for a very common multi channel audio format, 'Dolby Digital 5.1 ' surround sound;

And Figure 7 is a front perspective view of the unit in a further embodiment of the invention.

In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and the preferred embodiments will be described in accordance with the requirements of various patent laws, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be constructed in as much as the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope and the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings now in detail a home theatre unit is generally shown in figure 1. An integrated speakers audio arrangement furniture structure is a generally upright rectangular box structure. The furniture structure includes a planar horizontal top 14 adapted to support a Visual display Unit 16. The furniture structure upright box structure includes spaced apart left and right side panels 18 & 20 extending vertically between the support base 22 and the planar top panel 14.

The furniture structure 12 further includes a middle panel 26 divided by a central panel 28 that extends down to the base 22. Feet, 64 allow the furniture structure 12 to be suspended above the floor to allow sound produced by the integrated subwoofer 29 to exit furniture structure. Supported on the base panel 22 and defined by panel 27 is a cavity 30 that has there integrated a subwoofer 29 and subwoofer amplifier 58. The frame panels 32 and 33 form the inner panels for the independent speakers, 34, 36, and 38. Therefore inner panels 32 and 33 not only separate the independent speakers, 34, 36, and 38 but also provide a means in which to form a cover or the casing for the audio speaker of the speakers 34, 36, 38.

These speaker inner panels 32 and 33 extend from the front panel 31 back to join panel 59. Panel 60 then extends to said back panel 63. The frame panels 31 , 32, 33, 59, 20, 18, 14, 26 provide the enclosure for the front left, front centre, front right speakers, 34, 36 and 38 so that the audio signal received from a source such as a DVD player can be reproduced as a full range of audio bandwidth audible to the human ear.

The inner panels, 32 & 33 of the speakers by not extending totally across from the front panel, 31 to the rear panel, 63 creates gaps or recesses 30 & 40 which are utilized for additional subwoofer volume 30 and electrical crossover network enclosure volume 40 respectively.

Volume 40 allows for integrated crossover network 70. The furniture structure 12 includes storage compartments 65 & 66 that are accessible via doors 67 & 68. Storage compartment 66 is smaller in volume than 65 due to the volume occupied by subwoofer enclosure 30.

The audio arrangement furniture structure may or may not include one or many integrated subwoofer amplifiers, 58 and terminal block 69 for three separate speakers 34, 36, 38 that is accessible from the rear of the furniture structure. Conveniently the distance from the terminal block 69 to the rear of Amplifier 52 is minimal which eliminates the problem of wiring on the floor for left, front and centre speakers, 38, 34 & 36 respectively. This invention provides a solution to the common problem of speaker cabling on the floor. Advantageously, each speaker is able to be integrated within the furniture structure thereby avoiding the need of first enclosing this speaker in housing to form a speaker so that it can be incorporated into a cavity defined by the furniture structure. The integration avoids the duplication of enclosure of the speakers, while at the same time the enclosed frame can also be designed so as to utilize the volumetric spacing of a separate speaker or alternatively the spacing defined by the cavity 30 integrating the subwoofer 29 into the furniture structure.

The furniture structure 12 also includes shelving 44 adjustable to various sizes in order to accommodate additional electronic media devices for example shown with this embodiment that of a video recorder 46, DVD player 48, a games device 50 and amplifier 52.

As shown in this embodiment the shelving 44 has adjustable means so as to enable a span appropriate in area between the spaced apart inner panels 54,28,57 such as the overall portions can be created so that they correspond essentially with the width and dimensions of the electronic media devices being received or accommodated by the furniture structure 12.

In the second preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in figure 5 in order to complete a integrated speakers audio arrangement furniture structure which has 5 separate full range frequency bandwidth audible to the human ear channels of audio and one limited bandwidth subwoofer channel, rear right surround 61 and left surround 62 speakers are placed in a bookshelf furniture structure 56 which is adapted to be positioned in parallel with the main furniture structure 12 of the integrated speakers audio arrangement furniture structure .

As can be seen from the figures speakers 34, 36 and 38 have been configured within the furniture structure 12 such that speaker 36 remains central to the furniture structure 12 substantially along the same vertical axis as the visual display unit 16 with speakers 34 and 38 interconnected independently on the right and left hand side respectively of speaker 36.

Advantageously, speakers 34,36,38 do not need to be arranged when the system has been initially been set up by the listener or viewer as the furniture structures 12 and 56 themselves have the speakers appropriately located therein.

Further the speakers do not need to be purchased independent of the furniture structures 12,56. Alternatively, the furniture structure need not be adjusted or designed to incorporate independent speakers. In this preferred embodiment the furniture structure integrally connects the speakers so that they form part of their required configured positioning when the furniture structure is in fact being manufactured. As a further background and improved understanding of the invention it is best to refer to the following and figure 6.

In figure 7 for this embodiment the centre speaker 80 has drivers 82a, 82b and 82c which are vertically inclined up at an optimal angle to improve the on axis frequency response as heard by the listener at the normal seated position. Further, the centre speaker 80 driver 82a has a moveable support structure that allows the driver 82a to moved forwards and backwards relative to the adjacent drivers. This allows the high frequencies to be aligned to sound emanating from the mid/low frequency drivers so that the combined sound arrives at exactly the same time and therefore, in 'acoustic phase' at the listening position.

The left front 86 and right front speakers 88 have drivers 90, 91 , 92 and 93 which are inclined up and inclined inwards at optimal angles to improve the on axis frequency response as heard by the listener at the normal seated position.

Further, the left front 86 and right front 88 speaker's high frequency drivers

91 ,and 93 are physically mounted further away relative to the mid/low frequency drivers from the listener. This allows the high frequencies to arrive at the same time as sound emanating from the mid/low frequency drivers therefore making it acoustically 'in phase' at the listening position.

To further assist the person skilled in the art, what is meant by 'Home Theatre'? 'Home Theatre' is an arrangement of 'devices' that together reproduce the experience of a movie theatre at home. The 'devices' required are as follows:

1. A Visual Display Unit such as:

• CRT. Television / Monitor

• L.C.D. Television / Monitor

• Plasma Display Panel • CRT., LCD., or D.L.P. Projector

• Any device able to reproduce static or moving images

2. A device to playback the video and or audio signals such as:

• Video Recorder / Player

• DVD Player / Recorder • Laser disc Player

• Digital Broadcast set top box

• Games machine

• CD Player

° MP3 player • Personal Computer

• Any equipment with ability to produce any format audio or video signals

3. A device to amplify and or decode the audio information such as:

• An amplifier with Dolby Pro Logic decoder • An amplifier with Dolby Digital 5.1 or AC3 decoder

• An amplifier with DTS decoder

• Any amplifier capable of generating any number of discrete audio channels

4. Any number of speakers to reproduce the any number of separate channels of audio information generated by the equipment listed at 3 above, namely:

A front left speaker

A front right speaker

A front centre speaker

A low frequency driver or subwoofer • A rear left speaker

A rear right speaker.

The figures 1 to 7 illustrate how these devices are typically arranged to deliver the 'Home Theatre' experience. New standards of multi channel audio sound have been developed such as 6.1 and 7.1 -surround sound. In these newer formats, 7 and 8 separate speakers respectively are required. Although the invention as illustrated in this patent document is designed for 5.1 -surround sound the concept is applicable to the newer formats.

Persons skilled in the art of speaker engineering are familiar with the importance of the correct physical placement of speakers for optimum sound reproduction.

A two-fold advantage is gained by the particular arrangement of the speaker units within this furniture structure design. Firstly; the horizontal alignment of high frequency drivers, (tweeters in this particular embodiment of the invention) between the front left, front centre and front right speakers ensures the optimal alignment to maximize realism of sound effects that pan across the sound stage such as an aircraft moving across the display.

Secondly; the horizontal spacing between front left and front right speakers is important for optimal reproduction of high fidelity music or music sound effects. Advantageously the relevant speakers are spaced apart approximately 2.1 meters which results in an ideal 45 degree angle of separation to a listener sitting a typical 2.5 meters from the furniture structure.

Persons familiar in the engineering of home theatre speakers are aware of another important factor for optimal sound reproduction. Ideally all 5 full range speakers but as a minimum the front 3, (front left, front centre and front right) should be equally 'voiced'. This simply means that the sound reproduced by the relevant speakers should match as closely as possible, in tonal character and output volume, ideally be identical to each other. This invention ensures that the front left, front centre and front right speakers are engineered together which prevents the consumer from inadvertently creating an inferior sound by mismatching their speakers.

The second embodiment of the invention, as illustrated by figure 5, is another furniture structure that integrates rear surround speakers. The benefits of this particular embodiment are not essential to the invention. By having the surround speakers which will be placed in respective upper corners of the rear furniture structure, where said furniture structure will be then located to the rear of the listener or viewer, this will provide for receivable and play back of the rear 2 of 6 discrete channels of audio sourced from the suitably equipped multi channel amplifier.

As explained above, and will now be explained again to the person skilled in the art, this commonly received and play back of 6 separate channels of audio is not the only way in which audio signals can be received and then broadcasted to maximize frequency bandwidth audible to the human ear.

Hence, the same system can work with or without the surround speakers that will be placed at the rear of the listener/viewer within the furniture structure. Further, speakers 34,36,38 are only representative of a symmetrical arrangement of such speakers within the furniture structure 12.

Furthermore traditional separate speaker units can be used as the 'rear right' and 'rear left' speaker in combination with this invention being utilized for the 'front left', 'front centre', 'front right' and 'subwoofer' speaker units.

Figures 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 illustrate an embodiment of the invention that integrates an audio arrangement furniture structure with speakers. Figure 6 further describes how the loudspeakers are the last device in a chain of equipment to correctly reproduce audio and or sound effects.

As the person skilled in the art will appreciate in further embodiments of the invention, the arrangement may integrate an amplifier and/or decoder device and further again, devices that playback audio and or video signals into the illustrated embodiment. Such further arrangements remove the technical knowledge and skill required by the user to correctly match amplifier equipment to the respective speakers. It assists the users by preventing the overspending on over-powered amplifier equipment. Worse still cheaper underpowered amplifiers can permanently damage speakers. Thus manufacturers are able to provide an all in one solution, significantly reducing the knowledge and effort required by the consumer toward optimal sound quality.

To this aim it may be advantageous to integrate any manner of electrical or electronic equipment such as but not limited to active crossovers, amplifiers, decoders, infra red signaling, audio arrangement transmission, lighting, power supply to the audio arrangement structure. Obviously each additional integration allows for cost savings during manufacture as less cover panels, associated external interconnecting wiring and clutter may be eliminated.

The person skilled in the art will readily be able to find alternative constructions to obtain the same outcome using either more or less speaker drivers and providing configuration of symmetrically arranging the or each additional speakers such that it contains the appropriate discrete channels which include the full range of frequency bandwidth audible to the human ear.

It is to be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, that numerous variations and or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific preferred embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as described.

Consequently, the present embodiments are therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive of the invention. Particularly, as pointed out above it can be appreciated that a variety of amounts of separate speaker systems can be integrated into the furniture structure and any number of definable spacings of cavities can be intertwined so that the corresponding speakers can utilize such defined space in a separate speaker system. It is the intention of the description to incorporate such arrangements.

Claims

1. An audio arrangement including: a furniture structure adapted to support at least one of a Visual Display Unit, video recorder, DVD player or a combination thereof; said structure including an arrangement of panels defining a space and enclosure for at least 3 independent speakers; the or each independent speaker system is integral or integrated with the said furniture structure such that each speaker is configured independently to transmit at least a partial range of audio bandwidth audible to the human ear such that when an audio signal requires amplification the or said speaker system may utilize the space defined by corresponding separate speaker.

2. The audio arrangement of claim 1 wherein the unit further includes at least one low frequency speaker commonly referred to as a 'sub woofer'.

3. The audio arrangement of claim 2 wherein the low frequency speaker or subwoofer is integrated with the furniture structure and utilizes the space defined by corresponding separate speakers.

4. The audio arrangement of claim 3 further including a bench top for supporting a Visual Display Unit thereon.

5. The audio arrangement unit of claim 4 wherein the furniture structure includes a pair of spaced apart towers defining a Visual Display Unit receiving area there in-between said towers, with adjustable means connected with each of said towers and spanning said area between the towers whereby the spaced distance between the towers may be determined by the adjustment of said means.

6. The audio arrangement unit of claim 5 wherein the furniture structure includes a shelf or shelves to accommodate or support at least one of a video recorder, DVD player, amplifier, game machine or other like electronic devices or a combination thereof.

7. The audio arrangement of claim 6 wherein the shelving is adjustable.

8. The audio arrangement unit of claim 7 wherein the independent speakers positioned within the furniture structure are so as to include at least a centre speaker, a left speaker, a right speaker and at least one subwoofer each configured to transmit their respective bandwidth of audio reproduction.

9. The audio arrangement of claim 8 wherein the centre speaker is characterized by being in the same vertical axis as the Visual Display Unit.

10. The audio arrangement unit of claim 9 wherein the centre speaker unit includes a multiplicity of drivers that are vertically inclined to improve the on axis frequency response as heard by a listener.

11. The audio arrangement of claim 10 wherein at least one of said centre speaker driver has a moveable support for retraction and extension of said or each driver.

12. The audio arrangement of claim 11 wherein left and right speakers are inclined both horizontally and vertically.

13. The audio arrangement unit of any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the unit further includes a right rear speaker and a left rear speaker independent of said furniture structure and configured to transmit a pre determined range of audio reproduction so as to correspond directly to said respective front centre, front left, front right and low frequency speakers for electrical audio signal transmission from the amplified audio video component reproduction thereof, to at least a partial range of a frequency bandwidth that is audible to the human ear.

14. The audio arrangement unit of claim 13 wherein the right rear speaker and left rear speaker are manufactured integrally into a further furniture structure of an appearance substantially similar from an aesthetic point of view to the furniture structure adapted to support the Visual Display Unit, video recorder, DVD player or the like electronic device or a combination thereof.

15. The audio arrangement of any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein the unit is modular in construction adapted to be assembled and disassembled.

16. The audio arrangement of any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein an electrical crossover network is built onto one rather than many circuit boards.