High performance stereo sound enclosure for computer visual display monitor and method for construction

• US 6,275,595 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1994
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Oxford, William V., Lundgren, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Application Number:
  US08/351,851
• Time in Patent Office: 2,442 Days
• Field of Search: 381/24, 381/159, 381/158, 381/306, 381/308, 381/87, 381/91, 381/333, 381/336
• US Class Current: 381/306
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers

Abstract

A high quality stereophonic sound enclosure system high resolution intended for computer visual display monitors employing cathode ray tubes (CRTs) having a vertical aperture grill, and methods for construction of same. The aperture grill has a natural frequency centered within the musical scale. The stereo speaker system comprises a ported speaker enclosure within which are mounted two conventional cone speaker assemblies. A stereo audio amplifier and control unit for controlling the audio signals delivered to the speakers is mounted within the speaker enclosure. The speaker enclosure is internally mounted within the monitor with a minimum number of attachment members incorporating vibration isolation material to remove vibration components near the natural frequency of the aperture grill. The speaker enclosure is internally reinforced to reduce structural deformations which contribute to airborne transmitted vibration within the monitor housing when the speaker system is operating.

Claims

1. A method for supporting a stereo sound system within a high resolution visual display monitor receiving a plurality of video and audio signals from a central processor unit within an audio-visual information processing system, comprising the steps of:

providing a hollow body subtending an enclosed volume and including a rigid unit having a plurality of body rib members for resisting deformation of said hollow body;

coupling a plurality of audio speakers to said hollow body for receiving said audio signals and for generating a plurality of sound waves;

forming a tuned port within said hollow body for facilitating a substantially in-phase relationship between sound waves emitted from different portions of said hollow body; and

mounting a plurality of vibration isolation members on a corresponding plurality of isolation-mounting surfaces formed in a said hollow body for maintaining said vibration isolation members in a state of compression between said hollow body and said monitor such that said vibration isolation members substantially and vibrationally isolate the audio speakers from said monitor;

wherein said vibration isolation members comprise first and second cylindrical side grommets and an ovaloid rear grommet, said side grommets each has an interior circumference with a plurality of grommet rib members disposed thereon, said rear grommet has an exterior circumference with a plurality of grommet rib members disposed thereon; and

said rib members disposed on said interior circumference of said side grommets and said rib members disposed on said exterior circumference of said rear grommet support said sound hollow body within said visual display monitor only along coaxially extending apexes of said rib members.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said hollow body consists essentially of glass-filled polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a sound processor unit for modifying said audio signals.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of providing said sound processor unit comprises mounting, within said hollow body, a sound processor board including:

an amplifier for increasing sound levels of said audio signals to be reproduced by said audio speakers; and

a sound controller for inducing a plurality of psychoacoustic characteristics in said audio signals supplied to said audio speakers.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said sound processor board is cooled by air passing through said tuned port into said hollow body when said speakers are active.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of body rib members resist deformation from airborne vibrations.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said tuned port reinforces a selected low frequency band of the sound emitted from said hollow body to deter sound in said low frequency band from being coupled to components within said monitor.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said vibration isolation members have a cutoff frequency and rolloff selected to resist transmission of vibrations.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the weight of said hollow body causes said vibration isolation members to attenuate vibrations.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said vibration isolation members have a substantially small area of contact with said hollow body.