Acoustic device

• US 20060159293A1
• Filed: 12/27/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: New Transducers Limited (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Harris, Neil John, Azima, Henry Firouz, Colloms, Martin
• Application Number:
  US11/317,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20060159293A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/152
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/022 combined with permanently fastened sound-producing or light-emitting means or carrying sound records
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0217 for loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/02 using wired connections, e.g. plugboards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/32 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/642 Disposition of sound reproducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/021 incorporating only one transducer
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/025 Arrangements for fixing loudspeaker transducers, e.g. in a box, furniture
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/24 Structural combinations of separate transducers or of two parts of the same transducer and responsive respectively to two or more frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/26 Spatial arrangements of separate transducers responsive to two or more frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2811 for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2834 for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/00 Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/021 Transducers or their casings adapted for mounting in or to a wall or ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/024 : Positioning of loudspeaker enclosures for spatial sound reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2307/029 : Diaphragms comprising fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2307/201 : Damping aspects of the outer suspension of loudspeaker diaphragms by addition of additional damping means
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2400/07 : Suspension between moving magnetic core and housing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2440/03 : Resonant bending wave transducer used as a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2440/05 : Aspects relating to the positioning and way or means of mounting of exciters to resonant bending wave panels
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2440/07 : Loudspeakers using bending wave resonance and pistonic motion to generate sound
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 : Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 : Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 : Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 : for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/14 : Cross-over networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 31/003 : for diaphragms or their outer suspension
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 : Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/027 : Spatial or constructional arrangements of microphones, e.g. in dummy heads
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/045 : 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/06 : comprising a plurality of sections or layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/08 : comprising superposed layers separated by air or other fluid
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/10 : comprising superposed layers in contact
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/12 : Non-planar diaphragms or cones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/20 : Securing diaphragm or cone resiliently to support by flexible material, springs, cords, or strands
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/025 : Magnetic circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/045 : Mounting H04R9/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/066 : using the principle of inertia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49005 : Acoustic transducer

Abstract

A panel loudspeaker comprising a panel, at least one driver, and a frame connected to the panel. The panel has a plurality of edges and is capable of sustaining bending waves. The driver is connected to the panel at a location that is neither at or near the edges of the panel, nor at or near the center of the panel, to vibrate the panel to cause it to resonate and produce an acoustic output. The driver location is in a positioning area that lies between a center-of-gravity area, which is centered on the center of gravity of the panel, and an edge area, which abuts the edges of the panel.

Claims

1. Panel loudspeaker comprising:

a panel, which includes a plurality of edges, a center-of-gravity area centered on a center of gravity of the panel, the center-of-gravity area having a diameter of at least 25% of a diagonal of the panel, an edge area abutting the plurality of edges and extending towards the center of gravity of the panel, and a positioning area extending between the edge area and the center-of-gravity area,

at least one driver, and

a frame connected to the panel,

wherein the at least one driver is connected to the panel only inside the positioning area.

2. Panel loudspeaker according to claim 1, wherein the panel is fixedly clamped in the frame and the edge area of the panel has a width that is at least 5% of a diagonal of the panel.

3. Panel loudspeaker according to claim 1, wherein the panel is yieldably connected to the frame, and wherein the center-of-gravity area is a cross-shaped two-dimensional area and formed by two mutually perpendicular two-dimensional stripes that extend through the center of gravity of the panel and connect the respective edge area by a shortest possible distance.

4. Panel loudspeaker according to claim 3, wherein the cross-shaped center-of-gravity area defines four positioning areas which each include a reduction proximate to an area where two respective intersecting edges of the panel form a corner.

5. Panel loudspeaker according to claim 4, wherein the respective reductions of the positioning areas have a triangular shape, wherein two sides of each triangular-shaped reduction are formed by respective inner edges of the edge area and the remaining side of each triangular reduction is formed by a closed continuous line that connects respective centers of intersecting edges.

6. Panel loudspeaker according to claim 2, wherein the panel has a rectangular shape,

wherein two intersecting edges of the panel that form a corner have a different length, and wherein a portion of the edge area that abuts an edge of the panel with one length has a different width than a portion of the edge area that abuts an edge of the panel with another length.

7. Panel loudspeaker according to claim 6, wherein a first width of the edge area which abuts a long edge of the panel, is a greater than a second width of the edge area which abuts a short edge of the panel.

8. Panel loudspeaker according to claim 7, wherein the first width is at least 10% and the second width is at least 5% of the diagonal of the panel.

9. Panel loudspeaker according to claim 3, wherein the two two-dimensional areas that cross one another have a different width.

10. Panel loudspeaker according to claim 6, wherein the two two-dimensional areas that cross one another have a different width, with a width of the two-dimensional area extending parallel to a long edge of the panel is greater than or equal to 2.5% and a width of the two-dimensional area extending parallel to a short edge of the panel is greater than or equal to 17% of the diagonal of the panel.

11. Panel loudspeaker according to claim 6, wherein the at least one driver maintains a first distance to a center line that extends parallel to a long edge of the panel and a second distance to a center line that extends parallel to a short edge of the panel, with the center lines intersecting at the center of gravity, wherein the first distance is smaller than the second distance.

12. Panel loudspeaker according to claim 11, wherein the first distance is approximately 7% and the second distance is approximately 14% of the diagonal of the panel.

13. Panel loudspeaker according to claim 1, wherein the panel has a rectangular shape.

14. Panel loudspeaker according to claim 13, wherein a first width of the edge area which abuts a long edge of the panel, is a greater than a second width of the edge area which abuts a short edge of the panel.

15. Panel loudspeaker according to claim 14, wherein the first width is at least 10% and the second width is at least 5% of the diagonal of the panel.

16. Panel loudspeaker according to claim 13, wherein the center-of-gravity area is a cross-shaped two-dimensional area and formed by two mutually perpendicular two-dimensional stripes that extend through the center of gravity of the panel and connect the respective edge area by a shortest possible distance, the two two-dimensional areas that cross one another have different widths, and a width of the two-dimensional area extending parallel to a long edge of the panel is greater than or equal to 2.5% and a width of the two-dimensional area extending parallel to a short edge of the panel is greater than or equal to 17% of the diagonal of the panel.

17. Panel loudspeaker according to claim 13, wherein the at least one driver maintains a first distance to a center line that extends parallel to a long edge of the panel and a second distance to a center line that extends parallel to a short edge of the panel, with the center lines intersecting at the center of gravity, wherein the first distance is smaller than the second distance.

18. Panel loudspeaker according to claim 17, wherein the first distance is approximately 7% and the second distance is approximately 14% of the diagonal of the panel.

19. Panel loudspeaker according to claim 1, wherein the panel has four edges.

20. Panel loudspeaker according to claim 1, wherein two intersecting edges of the panel that form a corner of the panel have different lengths.

21. A panel loudspeaker, comprising:

a frame;

a panel connected to the frame, the panel including;

a plurality of panel edges defining a shape of the panel;

a center of gravity;

an inner exclusion area, centered on the center of gravity of the panel and defined by exclusion-area edges, the shape of the inner exclusion area being the same as the shape of the panel, each exclusion-area edge corresponding to a different panel edge and having a length at least 25% of the length of the corresponding panel edge;

an outer exclusion area abutting the plurality of panel edges and extending towards the center of gravity of the panel;

a positioning area extending between the outer exclusion area and the inner exclusion area; and

a driver connected to the panel inside the positioning area.

22. A panel loudspeaker as set forth in claim 21, wherein the panel is fixedly clamped in the frame.

23. Panel loudspeaker comprising:

a panel capable of sustaining bending waves and including a plurality of edges, a center-of-gravity area centered on the center of gravity of the panel, the center-of-gravity area having a diameter of at least 25% of a diagonal of the panel, an edge area abutting the plurality of edges and extending towards the center of gravity of the panel, and a positioning area extending between the edge area and the center-of-gravity area for at least one driver to couple to plural modes of bending wave vibration;

at least one driver; and

a frame connected to the panel,

wherein the at least one driver is connected to the panel only inside the positioning area to vibrate the panel to cause it to resonate and produce an acoustic output.

24. A panel loudspeaker, comprising:

a frame;

a panel connected to the frame, the panel being capable of sustaining bending waves and including;

a plurality of panel edges defining a shape of the panel;

a center of gravity;

an inner exclusion area, centered on the center of gravity of the panel and defined by exclusion-area edges, the shape of the inner exclusion area being the same as the shape of the panel, each exclusion-area edge corresponding to a different panel edge and having a length at least 25% of the length of the corresponding panel edge;

an outer exclusion area abutting the plurality of panel edges and extending towards the center of gravity of the panel;

a positioning area extending between the outer exclusion area and the inner exclusion area for at least one driver to couple to plural modes of bending wave vibration; and

a driver connected to the panel inside the positioning area to vibrate the panel to cause it to resonate and produce an acoustic output.