Series-configured crossover network for electro-acoustic loudspeakers

• US 6,381,334 B1
• Filed: 02/23/1999
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Diaural LLC
• Original Assignee: Diaural LLC
• Inventors: Alexander, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Isen, Forester W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PENDLETON, BRIAN T
• Application Number:
  US09/256,040
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: 381/99, 381/100, 381/98, 333/172, 333/181
• US Class Current: 381/99
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/14 Cross-over networks

Abstract

A crossover network for partitioning by frequency an electrical audio signal from an amplifier into a plurality of frequency bands, namely a high frequency band, and a low frequency band, and alternatively a high frequency band, a mid-range frequency band, and a low frequency band. The crossover network is implemented in a simplified configuration and in a series configuration which reduces cost and component matching complexity. In one embodiment, the high frequency driver is configured in shunt with an inductor, a resistive component and a capacitive component connected at least partially in shunt with the low frequency driver. This crossover network provides improved performance and simplified crossover network implementation.

Claims

1. In an audio system, a series-configured, crossover network for partitioning by frequency the electrical audio signal as provided by at least one amplifier into a plurality of electrical audio frequency bands comprising at least one high frequency band and one low frequency band for powering a corresponding plurality of electro-acoustic transducers comprising at least one high frequency electro-acoustic transducer and a low frequency electro-acoustic transducer, said crossover network comprising:

a) an input pair comprised of a positive input and a negative input as received from said at least one amplifier;

b) a first inductor having a first input end directly electrically coupled to said positive input of said input pair and a second input end, said first inductor for coupling partially in shunt with at least one of said high frequency electro-acoustic transducer;

c) at least one series high frequency band waveshaping element for coupling in series with said high frequency electro-acoustic transducer and together which are for coupling in shunt with said first inductor; and

d) a shunt resistor having a first end directly electrically coupled to said second input end of said first inductor, and said second end of said shunt resistor electrically coupled to said negative input of said input pair and for coupling to the negative input to said low frequency electro-acoustic transducer, said shunt resistor for coupling at least partially in shunt with said low frequency electro-acoustic transducer.

2. In an audio system, the crossover network, as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one additional inductor for coupling in shunt with at least one mid-range frequency transducer, each of at least one said additional inductors coupled in series with each other to form a series, said series of said at least one additional inductor having a first mid-range terminal end electrically coupled to said negative input end of said first inductor and said series of at least one additional inductor also having a second mid-range terminal end for electrically coupling to a positive input of said low frequency electro-acoustic transducer.

3. In an audio system, the crossover network, as recited in claim 2, wherein said at least one additional inductor is comprise of a second inductor for coupling in shunt with one mid-range frequency electro-acoustic transducer, said one additional inductor having a first end electrically coupled to said negative input end of said first inductor and a second end for electrically coupling with said positive input of said lower frequency electro-acoustic transducer.

4. In an audio system, the crossover network, as recited in claim 3, comprising:

a) said first inductor attached in shunt with said high frequency electro-acoustic transducer having a value of approximately 0.25 milliHenries;

b) said second inductor attached in shunt with said mid-range frequency electro-acoustic transducer having a value of approximately 2 milliHenries; and

c) said shunt resistor having a value of approximately 10 ohms.

5. In an audio system, the crossover network, as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one series high frequency band waveshaping element comprises:

a) at least one resistor for coupling in series with said high frequency electro-acoustic transducer and together which are for coupling in shunt with said first inductor.

6. In an audio system, the crossover network, as recited in claim 5, wherein said at least one series high frequency band waveshaping element further comprises:

a) at least one capacitor coupled in series with said at least one resistor and for coupling in series with said high frequency electro-acoustic transducer and together which are for coupling in shunt with said first inductor.

7. In an audio system, the crossover network, as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one series high frequency band waveshaping element comprises:

a) at least one capacitor for coupling in series with said high frequency electroacoustic transducer and together which are for coupling in shunt with said first inductor.

8. In an audio system, the crossover network, as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

a) at least one shunt high frequency band waveshaping element coupled in series with said at least one series high frequency band waveshaping element, said at least one shunt high frequency band waveshaping element for coupling in shunt with said high frequency electro-acoustic transducer.

9. In an audio system, the crossover network, as recited in claim 8, wherein said at least one shunt high frequency band waveshaping element comprises:

a) at least one resistor for coupling in shunt with said high frequency electro-acoustic transducer.

10. In an audio system, the crossover network, as recited in claim 8, wherein said at least one shunt high frequency band waveshaping element comprises:

a) at least one yet additional inductor for coupling in shunt with said high frequency electro-acoustic transducer.

11. In an audio system, the crossover network, as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

a) a resistor connected directly in shunt with said first inductor.

12. In an audio system, the crossover network, as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

a) a resistor connected directly in shunt with said first inductor.

13. An audio system, comprising:

a) at least one high frequency electro-acoustic transducer;

b) a low frequency electro-acoustic transducer; and

c) a series-configured, crossover network for partitioning by frequency an electrical audio signal as provided by at least one amplifier into a plurality of frequency bands comprising at least one high frequency band and one low frequency band for driving a corresponding plurality of electro-acoustic transducers comprising said at least one high frequency electro-acoustic transducer and said low frequency electro-acoustic transducer, said crossover network comprising;

i) an input pair comprised of a positive input and a negative input as received from said at least one amplifier;

ii) a first inductor having a first input directly end electrically coupled to said positive input of said input pair and a second input end for coupling in shunt with one of said at least one high frequency electro-acoustic transducer;

iii) at least one series high frequency band waveshaping element for coupling in series with said high frequency electro-acoustic transducer and together which are for coupling in shunt with said first inductor; and

vi) a shunt resistor having a first end directly electrically coupled to said second input end of said first inductor and a second end electrically coupled to said negative input of said input pair and said second input to said low frequency electro-acoustic transducer, said shunt resistor for coupling at least partially in shunt with said low frequency electro-acoustic transducer.

14. The audio system, as recited in claim 13, wherein said crossover network further comprises at least one additional inductor for coupling in shunt with at least one mid-range frequency electro-acoustic transducer, each of said at least one additional inductor coupled in a series with each other to form a series, said series of said at least one additional inductor having a first terminal end electrically coupled to said negative input end of said first inductor and said series of at least one additional inductor also having a second terminal end for electrically coupling to a positive input of said low frequency electro-acoustic transducer.

15. The audio system, as recited in claim 14, wherein said at least one additional inductor of said crossover network is comprised of a second inductor coupled in shunt with one mid-range frequency electro-acoustic transducer, said one additional inductor having a first end electrically coupled to said second input end of said first inductor coupled in shunt with high frequency electro-acoustic transducer, and a second end for electrically coupling with said first input of said low frequency electro-acoustic transducer.

16. The audio system, as recited in claim 15, wherein said crossover network is comprised of:

a) said first inductor connected in shunt with said high frequency electro-acoustic transducer said inductor having a value of approximately 0.25 milliHenries;

b) said second inductor connected in shunt with said mid-range frequency electro-acoustic transducer said inductor having a value of approximately 2 milliHenries; and

c) said shunt resistor having a value of approximately 10 ohms.

17. The audio system, as recited in claim 13, wherein said at least one series high frequency band waveshaping element comprises:

a) at least one resistor for coupling in series with said high frequency electro-acoustic transducer and together which are for coupling in shunt with said first inductor.

18. The audio system, as recited in claim 17, wherein said at least one series high frequency band waveshaping element further comprises:

a) at least one capacitor coupled in series with said at least one resistor and for coupling in series with said high frequency electro-acoustic transducer and together which are for coupling in shunt with said first inductor.

19. The audio system, as recited in claim 13, wherein said at east one series high frequency band waveshaping element comprises:

a) at least one capacitor for coupling in series with said high frequency electro-acoustic transducer and together which are for coupling in shunt with said first inductor.

20. The audio system, as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

a) at least one shunt high frequency band waveshaping element coupled in series with said at least one series high frequency band waveshaping element, said at least one shunt high frequency band waveshaping element for coupling in shunt with said high frequency electro-acoustic transducer.

21. The audio system, as recited in claim 20, wherein said at least one shunt high frequency band waveshaping element comprises:

a) at least one resistor for coupling in shunt with said high frequency electro-acoustic transducer.

22. The audio system, as recited in claim 20, wherein said at least one shunt high frequency band waveshaping element comprises:

a) at least one inductor for coupling in shunt with said high frequency electro-acoustic transducer.

23. The audio system, the crossover network, as recited in claim 22, further comprising:

a) a resistor connected directly in shunt with said first inductor.

24. The audio system, the crossover network, as recited in claim 20, further comprising:

a) a resistor connected directly in shunt with said first inductor.

25. In an audio system, a series-configured, crossover network for partitioning by frequency the electrical audio signal as provided by at least one amplifier into a plurality of electrical audio frequency bands comprising at least one high frequency band and one low frequency band for powering a corresponding plurality of electro-acoustic transducers comprising at least one high frequency electro-acoustic transducer and a low frequency electro-acoustic transducer, said capacitor-less crossover network comprising:

a) an input pair comprised of a positive input and a negative input as received from said at least one amplifier;

b) an inductor having a first input end directly electrically coupled to said positive input of said input pair and a second input end, said inductor for coupling partially in shunt with at least one of said high frequency electro-acoustic transducer;

c) a shunt resistor having a first end directly electrically coupled to said second input end of said inductor, and said second end of said shunt resistor electrically coupled to said negative input of said input pair and for coupling to the negative input to said low frequency electro-acoustic transducer, said shunt resistor for coupling at least partially in shunt with said low frequency electro-acoustic transducer; and

d) a shunt capacitor having a first end and second end, said first end electrically coupled to said first end of said shunt resistor and said second end electrically coupled to said second end of said shunt resistor.