Speaker system

• US 20050039975A1
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Onkyo Technology Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: ONKYO Corporation (Onkyo Home Entertainment Corp.)
• Inventors: Sadaie, Koichi, Toyofuku, Kenichiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,021,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 181/192
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/227 using transducers reproducing the same frequency band
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2842 for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/288 for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/30 Combinations of transducers with horns, e.g. with mechanical matching means , i.e. front-loaded hornshorns in general G10K; transducer enclosures or mountings using a back-loaded horn H04R1/2861; application of horns as guiding means to obtain a predetermined directivity characteristic H04R1/345
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/345 for loudspeakers

Abstract

A small-sized speaker system having a very excellent bass-range reproduction capability includes a sound radiation component for guiding acoustic waves radiated from the speaker units to a free space by causing a larger degree of air compression and expansion than in the case where acoustic waves are directly radiated to the free space with the speaker units mounted in corresponding enclosures of the same shape as the speaker units. The speaker system has 20% or more lower f0 than in the case where acoustic waves are directly radiated to the free space with the speaker units mounted in corresponding enclosures of the same shape as the speaker units.

Claims

1. A speaker system comprising:

speaker units; and

a sound radiation component for guiding acoustic waves radiated from the speaker units to a free space by causing a larger degree of air compression and expansion than in the case where acoustic waves are directly radiated to the free space with the speaker unit mounted in an enclosure alone,

wherein said sound radiation component has a front cavity defined in a fashion corresponding to a peripheral portion of said speaker unit and a port for guiding an acoustic wave radiated from the speaker unit to the free space,

wherein said port has a width in an intermediate portion thereof which is smaller than those of a connection between the front cavity and the port and of an outlet portion thereof and has a planar shape that is asymmetrical with respect to the axis of the port in an acoustic wave guide-out direction, and

wherein the speaker system has 20% or more lower f0 than in the case where acoustic waves are directly radiated to the free space with the speaker unit mounted in the enclosure.

7. The speaker system according to claim 1, wherein a line defining the planar shape of said port comprises a continuous curve.

8. The speaker system according to claim 1, wherein said line defining the planar shape of the port includes at least a straight portion.

2. A speaker system comprising:

a first speaker unit mounted in a first enclosure;

a second speaker unit mounted in a second enclosure; and

an intermediate member disposed between the first and second enclosures in such a manner that the first and second speaker units are opposed to each other at a predetermined distance, the intermediate member defining together with the first and second enclosures, a sound radiation component for guiding acoustic waves radiated from the first and second speaker units out to a free space,

wherein said sound radiation component has a front cavity defined in a fashion corresponding to a peripheral portion of said speaker unit and a port for guiding an acoustic wave radiated from the speaker unit to the free space,

wherein said port has a width in an intermediate portion thereof which is smaller than those of a connection between the front cavity and the port and of an outlet portion thereof and has a planar shape that is asymmetrical with respect to the axis of the port in an acoustic wave guide-out direction, and

wherein the speaker system has 20% or more lower f0 than in the case where acoustic waves are directly radiated to the free space with the speaker unit mounted in an enclosure of the same shape as the enclosure.

3. The speaker system according to claim 2 wherein said first speaker unit and second speaker unit are constructed in accordance with an identical specification.

10. The speaker system according to claim 2, wherein a line defining the planar shape of said port comprises a continuous curve.

11. The speaker system according to claim 3, wherein a line defining the planar shape of said port comprises a continuous curve.

15. The speaker system according to claim 2, wherein said line defining the planar shape of the port includes at least a straight portion.

16. The speaker system according to claim 3, wherein said line defining the planar shape of the port includes at least a straight portion.

4. A speaker system comprising:

a speaker unit mounted in an enclosure;

a wall member opposed to the speaker unit at a predetermined distance; and

an intermediate member provided between the enclosure and the wall member for defining together with the wall member and enclosure, a sound radiation component for guiding an acoustic wave radiated from the speaker unit out to a free space,

wherein said sound radiation component has a front cavity defined in a fashion corresponding to a peripheral portion of said speaker unit and a port for guiding an acoustic wave radiated from the speaker unit to the free space, and wherein said port has a width in an intermediate portion thereof which is smaller than those of a connection between the front cavity and the port and of an outlet portion thereof and has a planar shape that is asymmetrical with respect to the axis of the port in an acoustic wave guide-out direction, and

wherein the speaker system has 20% or more lower f0 than in the case where acoustic waves are directly radiated to the free space with the speaker unit mounted in an enclosure of the same shape as the enclosure.

5. The speaker system according to claim 4, wherein said wall member has an acoustic load section in a portion thereof opposed to said speaker unit.

12. The speaker system according to claim 4, wherein a line defining the planar shape of said port comprises a continuous curve.

13. The speaker system according to claim 5, wherein a line defining the planar shape of said port comprises a continuous curve.

17. The speaker system according to claim 4, wherein said line defining the planar shape of the port includes at least a straight portion.

18. The speaker system according to claim 5, wherein said line defining the planar shape of the port includes at least a straight portion.

6. A speaker system comprising:

a first speaker unit mounted in a first enclosure;

a first wall member opposed to the first speaker unit at a predetermined distance;

a first acoustic load section mounted on the first wall member and opposed to the first speaker unit;

a first intermediate member provided between the first enclosure and the first wall member for defining together with the first wall member and enclosure, a first sound radiation component for guiding an acoustic wave radiated from the first speaker unit out to a free space;

a second speaker unit mounted in a first enclosure;

a second wall member opposed to the first speaker unit at a predetermined distance;

a second acoustic load section mounted on the second wall member and opposed to the second speaker unit; and

a second intermediate member provided between the second enclosure and the second wall member for defining together with the second wall member and enclosure, a second sound radiation component for guiding an acoustic wave radiated from the second speaker unit out to a free space;

wherein the first and second speaker units are disposed to oppose to each other,

wherein the first sound radiation component has a first front cavity defined in a fashion corresponding to a peripheral portion of the first speaker unit and a first port for guiding an acoustic wave radiated from the first speaker unit to the free space,

wherein the second sound radiation component has a second front cavity defined in a fashion corresponding to a peripheral portion of the second speaker unit and a second port for guiding an acoustic wave radiated from the second speaker unit to the free space,

wherein the first port has a width in an intermediate portion thereof which is smaller than those of a connection between the first front cavity and the first port and of a first outlet portion thereof and has a planar shape that is asymmetrical with respect to the axis of the first port in an acoustic wave guide-out direction, and

wherein the second port has a width in an intermediate portion thereof which is smaller than those of a connection between the second front cavity and the second port and of a second outlet portion thereof and has a planar shape that is asymmetrical with respect to the axis of the second port in an acoustic wave guide-out direction.

14. The speaker system according to claim 6, wherein a line defining the planar shape of said port comprises a continuous curve.

19. The speaker system according to claim 6, wherein said line defining the planar shape of the port includes at least a straight portion.

9. A speaker system comprising:

a first speaker unit mounted in a first enclosure;

a first wall member opposed to the first speaker unit at a predetermined distance;

a first acoustic load section mounted on the first wall member and opposed to the first speaker unit;

a first intermediate member provided between the first enclosure and the first wall member for defining together with the first wall member and enclosure, a first sound radiation component for guiding an acoustic wave radiated from the first speaker unit out to a free space;

a second speaker unit mounted in a first enclosure;

a second wall member opposed to the first speaker unit at a predetermined distance;

a second acoustic load section mounted on the second wall member and opposed to the second speaker unit; and

a second intermediate member provided between the second enclosure and the second wall member for defining together with the second wall member and enclosure, a second sound radiation component for guiding an acoustic wave radiated from the second speaker unit out to a free space;

wherein the first and second speaker units are disposed to oppose to each other,

wherein the first sound radiation component has a first front cavity defined in a fashion corresponding to a peripheral portion of the first speaker unit and a first port for guiding an acoustic wave radiated from the first speaker unit to the free space,

wherein the second sound radiation component has a second front cavity defined in a fashion corresponding to a peripheral portion of the second speaker unit and a second port for guiding an acoustic wave radiated from the second speaker unit to the free space,

wherein the width of a first port decreases monotonously from the connection between a first sound radiation component and the first port, and

wherein at least part of the portion of the first and second intermediate member defining the first and second sound radiation component comprises a material having a pressure absorbing characteristic.

20. The speaker system according to claim 9, wherein said material having the pressure-absorbing characteristic is a polyurethane foam.

21. The speaker system according to claim 20, wherein said polyurethane foam has an expansion ratio between 2 and 80.

22. The speaker system according to claim 9, wherein said sound radiation component has a pressure adjustment section provided in at least part of a wall surface thereof.

23. The speaker system according to claim 9, wherein the outlet portion of said port is {fraction (1/20)} to {fraction (1/10)} of a diaphragm in said speaker unit in area.

24. The speaker system according to claim 9, wherein said material having the pressure absorbing characteristic is partly disposed inside said intermediate member, and an air portion is defined between the material and an inner wall member of the intermediate member.

25. A speaker system comprising:

a speaker unit mounted in an enclosure;

a wall member opposed to the speaker unit at a predetermined distance;

an acoustic load section mounted on the wall member and opposed to the speaker unit; and

an intermediate member provided between the enclosure and the wall member for defining together with the wall member and enclosure, a sound radiation component for guiding an acoustic wave radiated from the speaker unit out to a free space,

wherein the sound radiation component has a front cavity defined in a fashion corresponding to a peripheral portion of said speaker unit and a port for guiding an acoustic wave radiated from the speaker unit to the free space,

wherein the port has a width in an intermediate portion thereof which is smaller than that of a connection between the front cavity and the port, and

wherein at least part of the portion of the intermediate member defining the sound radiation component comprises a material having a pressure absorbing characteristic.

26. A speaker system comprising:

a first speaker unit mounted in a first enclosure;

a second speaker unit mounted in a second enclosure; and

an intermediate member disposed between the first and second enclosures in such a manner that the first and second speaker units are opposed to each other at a predetermined distance, the intermediate member defining together with the first and second enclosures, a sound radiation component for guiding acoustic waves radiated from the first and second speaker units out to a free space,

wherein the sound radiation component has a front cavity defined in a fashion corresponding to a peripheral portion of said speaker unit and a port for guiding an acoustic wave radiated from the speaker unit to the free space,

wherein the port has a width in an intermediate portion thereof which is smaller than that of a connection between the front cavity and the port, and

wherein at least part of the portion of the intermediate member defining the sound radiation component comprises a polyurethane foam.