Apparatus and method for producing sound
First Claim
1. A sound generation process utilizing a loudspeaker arrangement comprising distributed mode and pistonic loudspeaker devices, said arrangement being such that each said loudspeaker device generates sound with a frequency response which, measured under anechoic conditions, comprises an operating range and roll-off portions respectively above and below the upper and lower ends of the operating range, said operating ranges of said distributed mode and said pistonic loudspeaker devices overlapping without roll-off over at least one octave in the frequency band up to 6 kHz, said distributed mode and pistonic loudspeaker devices being driven simultaneously from a common audio signal so that both said loudspeaker devices produce the sounds represented by said common audio signal at least over said at least one octave.
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Abstract
A sound reproduction method and apparatus utilizes both distributed mode and pistonic loudspeakers which are simultaneously driven over frequency ranges which at least partially overlap, for enhancing the spaciousness of the sound produced. The disclosure includes monophonic, stereophonic and multi-channel sound reproduction systems and electronic musical instruments such as digital pianos.
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Citations
74 Claims
- 1. A sound generation process utilizing a loudspeaker arrangement comprising distributed mode and pistonic loudspeaker devices, said arrangement being such that each said loudspeaker device generates sound with a frequency response which, measured under anechoic conditions, comprises an operating range and roll-off portions respectively above and below the upper and lower ends of the operating range, said operating ranges of said distributed mode and said pistonic loudspeaker devices overlapping without roll-off over at least one octave in the frequency band up to 6 kHz, said distributed mode and pistonic loudspeaker devices being driven simultaneously from a common audio signal so that both said loudspeaker devices produce the sounds represented by said common audio signal at least over said at least one octave.
- 19. A loudspeaker assembly comprising a distributed mode loudspeaker and a pistonic loudspeaker, and a circuit having a common input terminal for driving both said loudspeakers simultaneously from a common input signal representing the sound to be reproduced, said assembly being such that each said loudspeaker is operable to generate sound with a frequency response which, measured under anechoic conditions, comprises an operating range and roll-off portions respectively above and below the upper and lower ends of the operating range, said operating ranges of said distributed mode and said pistonic loudspeakers overlapping without roll-off over at least one octave in the frequency band up to 6 kHz.
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32. Sound production apparatus comprising a distributed mode and a pistonic loudspeaker and an amplifier for driving said loudspeakers, the arrangement being such that:
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(a) each said loudspeaker is operable to generate sound with a frequency response which, measured under anechoic conditions, comprises an operating range and roll-off portions respectively above and below the upper and lower ends of the operating range, said operating ranges of said frequency responses overlapping without roll-off over at least one octave in the frequency band up to 6 kHz, and (b) said amplifier is operable to drive said distributed mode and said pistonic loudspeakers simultaneously from a common audio signal so that said distributed mode and pistonic loudspeakers both produce the sounds represented by said common audio signal at least over said at least one octave. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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62. A digital keyboard musical instrument comprising a keyboard, at least one distributed mode loudspeaker, at least one pistonic loudspeaker and electronic circuitry for driving said loudspeakers in response to actuation of the keyboard so that said at least one distributed mode loudspeaker and said at least one pistonic loudspeaker operate simultaneously to produce the same musical notes in response to actuation of the keyboard.
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63. A process of generating sound utilizing both a distributed mode loudspeaker device and a pistonic loudspeaker device, each said loudspeaker device being arranged to operate with a frequency response which, measured under anechoic conditions, comprises a substantially flat portion with roll off at each end thereof and in which said substantially flat portions overlap over at least one octave in the frequency band up to 6 kHz, said process comprising driving said distributed mode loudspeaker device and said pistonic loudspeaker device respectively by first and second electrical signals representing substantially the same sound to be reproduced and having frequency ranges which overlap over at least said at least one octave.
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64. A loudspeaker assembly which comprises a distributed mode loudspeaker device, a pistonic loudspeaker device, and a circuit having a common input terminal for driving both said loudspeaker devices simultaneously from a common input signal representing the sound to be reproduced, said assembly being such that each said loudspeaker device operates with a frequency response which, measured under anechoic conditions, comprises a substantially flat portion at each end of which there is roll off, said substantially flat portion of said frequency responses overlapping over at least an octave in the frequency band up to 6 kHz.
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65. Sound production apparatus comprising:
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(a) a distributed mode loudspeaker device, (b) a pistonic loudspeaker device, and (c) an amplifier device for driving both said loudspeaker devices, the arrangement being such that (i) each said loudspeaker device is operable with a frequency response which, measured under anechoic conditions, comprises a substantially flat portion at each end of which there is roll off and in which said substantially flat portions of said frequency responses overlap over at least one octave in the frequency band up to 6 kHz, and (ii) said amplifier devices may drive said distributed mode loudspeaker devices and said pistonic loudspeaker devices by respective first and second electrical signals representing substantially the same sound to be reproduced and having frequency ranges which overlap over at least said at least one octave.
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68. A process of modifying an electronic keyboard musical instrument having a keyboard, at least one pistonic loudspeaker and circuitry for driving said at least one pistonic loudspeaker in response to actuation of said keyboard, said process comprising connecting a distributed mode loudspeaker to said circuitry so that said pistonic loudspeaker and said distributed mode loudspeaker are driven so as to produce the same notes in response to actuation of the keyboard.
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69. An electrical circuit comprising left and right inputs for connection to the left and right outputs of a stereophonic signal producing device, first and second buffer amplifiers connected to the left and right inputs for buffering the signals applied thereto respectively, each said buffer amplifier having its output connected to a respective pair of further amplifiers, said pairs of amplifiers being operable to provide respectively first and second left channel output signals for driving a left distributed mode loudspeaker and a left pistonic loudspeaker and first and second right channel output signals for respectively driving a right channel distributed mode loudspeaker and a right channel pistonic loudspeaker.
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70. Auxiliary apparatus for connection to a digital piano comprising an input for receiving signals from the digital piano representing actuation of the keyboard and pedals, an audio signal generator comprising a digital library of piano sounds and means for selecting signals from said library in accordance with the input signal, an amplifier for amplifying signals derived by selection from the library, and a distributed mode loudspeaker device adapted to be driven by the signals generated by the amplifier.
- 71. A process of enhancing the spaciousness of sounds produced, in a listening space defined by a boundary, by at least one loudspeaker driven by a signal representing the sound to be reproduced, which comprises driving at least one further loudspeaker by said signal so as to produce a combined sound field in which the value of at least one parameter differs from the value thereof in a field produced by said at least one loudspeaker alone, said difference in value being such as to enhance the spaciousness.
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74. A process of enhancing the spaciousness of sounds produced, in a listening space defined by a boundary, by at least one loudspeaker driven by a signal representing the sound to be reproduced, said process comprising driving at least one further loudspeaker by said signal so as to produce a combined sound field in which the value of the Lateral Early Energy Fraction is increased and the value of the Inter-Aural Cross Correlation Coefficient is decreased relative to the values thereof in a sound field produced by said at least one loudspeaker alone.
Specification