Vehicle Loudspeaker Module

• US 20130259258A1
• Filed: 04/02/2012
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Ludwig, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 9,253,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/02 Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein H04R1/28 takes precedence ; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2819 for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2834 for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/323 for loudspeakers H04R1/34 and H04R1/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/02 Details casings, cabinets or mounting therein for transducers covered by H04R1/02 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles

Abstract

An audio module for use in a vehicle cabin. An elongated substantially sealed enclosure has two ends in the lengthwise direction. A first acoustic driver is mounted in the enclosure near one end of the enclosure for radiating acoustic energy from the end of the enclosure. A second acoustic driver is mounted in the enclosure near a second end of the enclosure for radiating acoustic energy from the second end of the enclosure. The audio module includes a bass augmenting device for radiating low frequency acoustic energy from the enclosure. The audio module is constructed and arranged to be pre-assembled so that the audio module can be installed in the vehicle as a single assembly. The audio module is configured to be mounted to the vehicle so that the lengthwise direction is substantially vertical with the first end of the enclosure higher than the second end of the enclosure.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

an audio module for use in a vehicle cabin, comprising;

an elongated substantially sealed enclosure having two ends in the lengthwise direction;

a first acoustic driver mounted in the enclosure near one end of the enclosure for radiating acoustic energy from the one end of the enclosure;

a second acoustic driver mounted in the enclosure near a second end of the enclosure for radiating acoustic energy from the second end of the enclosure;

a bass augmenting device for radiating low frequency acoustic energy from the enclosure, wherein the audio module is constructed and arranged to be pre-assembled so that the audio module can be installed in the vehicle as a single assembly; and

wherein the audio module is configured to be mounted to the vehicle so that the lengthwise direction is substantially vertical with the first end of the enclosure higher than the second end of the enclosure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio module is configured to be mounted to an instrument panel of the vehicle so that the first acoustic driver radiates acoustic energy from an upper surface of the instrument panel, and so that the second acoustic driver and the bass augmenting device radiate acoustic energy from a lower surface of the instrument panel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bass augmenting device comprises a plurality of passive radiators each including a passive radiator diaphragm, the passive radiators mounted in openings in the acoustic enclosure so that in operation, the inertial forces of the passive radiator diaphragms cancel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the volume of the elongated substantially sealed enclosure is greater than 1.5 liters and wherein the first acoustic driver and the second acoustic driver are separated by at least 200 mm.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first acoustic driver and the second acoustic driver are substantially full range acoustic drivers and wherein the bass augmenting device radiates acoustic energy below 100 Hz.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a single receptacle for connection with a single wiring harness.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radiating element of the bass augmenting device is closer to the second end of the enclosure than to the first end of the enclosure.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle cabin is configured so that there is an acoustic null of radiation from the first acoustic driver at a predetermined position in the vehicle cabin in a predetermined frequency range, the apparatus comprising circuitry to cause the second acoustic driver to radiate in the predetermined frequency range and to roll off radiation from the second acoustic driver above and below the frequency range.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end and the second end are planar and wherein the plane of the first end and the plane of the second end are parallel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end and the second end are planar and wherein the plane of the first end and the plane of the second end are non-parallel.

11. An audio system for an automobile, comprising:

an acoustic module, comprising

an elongated substantially sealed enclosure having two ends in the lengthwise direction;

a first acoustic driver mounted in one of the ends;

a second acoustic driver mounted in the second end; and

a first bass augmenting for radiating low frequency acoustic energy from the enclosure, mounted in the side of the enclosure, mounted near the second end;

wherein the acoustic module is mounted in a vehicle cabin so that the first end faces substantially vertically upward from the upper surface on an instrument panel, and wherein the second end faces vertically downward into the footwell of the vehicle.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the elongated enclosure is substantially sealed and the volume of the substantially sealed enclosure is greater than 2 liters and wherein the first acoustic driver and the second acoustic driver are separated by at least 300 mm.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first acoustic driver and the second acoustic driver are substantially full range acoustic drivers and wherein the bass augmenting device are passive radiators tuned to 55 Hz.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a single receptacle for connection with a single wiring harness.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the radiating element of the bass augmenting device is closer to the second end of the enclosure than to the first end of the enclosure.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the vehicle cabin is configured so that there is an acoustic null of radiation from the first acoustic driver at a predetermined position in the vehicle cabin in a predetermined frequency range, the apparatus comprising circuitry to cause the second acoustic driver to radiate in the predetermined frequency range and to roll off radiation from the second acoustic driver above and below the frequency range.

17. A method, comprising:

radiating, from the top of an instrument panel in a vehicle cabin, acoustic energy from a first acoustic driver mounted near the end of an enclosure;

radiating, into the footwell of the vehicle, acoustic energy from a second acoustic driver mounted near a second end of the enclosure; and

radiating, into the footwell of the vehicle, acoustic energy from a bass augmenting device mounted near the second end.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein in the enclosure is in the form of a rectangular prism, and in which the length one edge of the prism is more than four times the length of any other edge of the prism.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the bass augmenting device comprises a passive radiator.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the vehicle cabin is configured so that there is an acoustic null of radiation from the first acoustic driver at a predetermined position in the vehicle cabin in a predetermined frequency range,

the radiating into the footwell comprising radiating in the predetermined frequency range and rolling off radiation from the second acoustic driver above and below the predetermined frequency range.