Speaker installation and method

• US 6,956,956 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2003
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roland Corporation (Taiyo Pacific Partners LP)
• Original Assignee: Roland Corporation (Taiyo Pacific Partners LP)
• Inventors: Takata, Kosuke, Kuratani, Tomoaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENSEY, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US10/385,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20040017924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 381/397, 381/343, 381/335, 381/345, 381/166, 381/386, 381/396, 381/393, 381/124, 381/349, 181/198, 181/199, 181/148, 181/155, 181/156, 361/367, 361/368, 361/681, 361/682, 361/683, 361/684, 361/685, 361/686
• US Class Current: 381/397
• 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

Abstract

A speaker system in which it is possible for power amplifier heat radiation and satisfactory audio characteristics to coexist. The power amplifier, and other components which are sources of heat, are arranged in an air flow convection path that is formed in a curved path from a lower bass reflex port toward an upper bass reflex port of a speaker box. The heat is exhausted (radiated) to the outside from the interior air space of the speaker box by the air flow and air from outside is introduced into the interior air space with good efficiency. In addition, the power amplifier includes a heat sink. The heat sink includes gaps that are formed between each of a plurality of fins which are opened in a vertical or diagonal direction such that the air flow convection path passes through the gaps.

Claims

1. In a speaker system having a speaker box defining an interior air space, the speaker box having a speaker arranged within the interior air space, a method of efficiently radiating heat from the interior air space to outside the speaker box, comprising:

providing at least one air inflow port on a first surface of the speaker box, the at least one air inflow port opening to outside of the speaker box from the interior air space;

providing at least one air outflow port on a second surface of the speaker box, the at least one air outflow port opening to outside of the speaker box from the interior air space; and

arranging a heat producing component relative to the speaker within the interior air space such that air entering the interior air space from outside the speaker box via the at least one air inflow port is directed towards the heat producing component and such that heat radiated from the heat producing component rises above the speaker in the interior air space before exiting to outside the speaker box via the at least one air outflow port.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the heat producing component is an amplifier for driving the speaker.

3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one air inflow port is a bass reflex port and wherein acoustic characteristics of the speaker system are tuned using the at least one air inflow port.

4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one air inflow port comprises two or more air inflow ports.

5. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the speaker is arranged on the first surface.

6. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the first surface is a slanted surface.

7. The method recited in claim 6, wherein the speaker is arranged slightly above a vertical center of the slanted surface and wherein the at least one air inflow port is arranged below the vertical center.

8. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one air inflow port comprises two air inflow ports and wherein one of the two air inflow ports is arranged on a left edge of the first surface and another of the two air inflow ports is arranged on a right edge of the first surface.

9. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the interior air space is a single continuous air space.

10. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the second surface opposes the first surface.

11. The method recited in claim 1, wherein providing at least one air outflow port further comprises selecting a length and a diameter of the at least one air outflow port such that the at least one air outflow port has substantially no effect on audio characteristics of the speaker system.

12. The method recited in claim 1, wherein an air flow between the at least one air inflow port and the at least one air outflow port is produced by driving the speaker.

13. The method recited in claim 12, wherein the air flow path is maintained when the speaker is not being driven.

14. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the speaker is a woofer for reproducing primarily low frequency sounds, and wherein the speaker box is a woofer section of a speaker system.

15. The method recited in claim 14, further comprising a tweeter section adjoining the woofer section, the tweeter section comprising:

a tweeter for reproducing primarily high frequency sounds; and

a preamplifier for driving the tweeter and the woofer.

16. The method recited in claim 15, wherein a height of the tweeter in the speaker system is substantially the same as a height at which electronic cymbals are arranged in an actual drum set.

17. The method recited in claim 15, further comprising a control panel for adjusting settings for the preamplifier and for an amplifier.

18. The method recited in claim 17, wherein the control panel comprises:

a plurality of input channels for inputting musical tones for mixing by the amplifier; and

a plurality of operators for adjusting parameters of the speaker system.

19. The method recited in claim 18, wherein at least one of the plurality of input channels is for inputting musical tone signals that have been produced by a performance on an electronic percussion instrument.

20. The method recited in claim 18, wherein the parameters comprise at least one of channel volume, master volume, tone qualities for reproduced sounds, and output destinations for output signals based on musical tone signals that have been input to at least one of the plurality of input channels.

57. The method recited in claim 1,

wherein the first surface faces a first direction;

and

wherein the second surface faces a second direction that is different from the first direction.

58. The method recited in claim 1,

wherein the first surface is a front surface of the speaker box;

and

wherein the second surface is a back surface of the speaker box.

59. The method recited in claim 1,

wherein the at least one air inflow port and the at least one air outflow port provide an air flow path within the speaker box from the at least one air inflow port to the at least one air outflow port;

and

wherein at least a portion of the air flow path is free from obstructions other than the heat producing component.

60. The method recited in claim 1,

wherein there are no obstructions between the at least one air inflow port and the heat producing component.

61. The method recited in claim 1,

wherein the at least one air inflow port and the at least one air outflow port provide an air flow path within the speaker box from the at least one air inflow port to the at least one air outflow port;

and

wherein there are no obstructions in the air flow path between the at least one air inflow port and the heat producing component.

62. The method recited in claim 61,

wherein there are no obstructions in the air flow path between the heat producing component and the at least one air outflow port.

63. The method recited in claim 1,

wherein the interior air space is a single continuous air space.

21. In a speaker system having a speaker box defining an interior air space, the speaker box having a speaker arranged within the interior air space, a method of efficiently radiating heat from the interior air space to outside the speaker box, comprising:

providing an air inflow port in the speaker box, the air inflow port opening to outside of the speaker box from the interior air space;

providing an air outflow port in the speaker box, the air outflow port opening to outside of the speaker box from the interior air space;

arranging the air inflow port and the air outflow port in the speaker box such that an air flow path through the speaker box is formed; and

arranging a heat producing component within the interior air space such that the heat producing component is within the air flow path and is in a location that is either between the air inflow port and the air outflow port or is linearly aligned with at least one of a central axis of the air inflow port in a direction of air flow into the air inflow port and a central axis of the air outflow port in a direction of air flow out of the air outflow port.

22. The method recited in claim 21, wherein the heat producing component is an amplifier for driving the speaker.

23. The method recited in claim 21, wherein the air inflow port and the air outflow port are bass reflex ports and wherein acoustic characteristics of the speaker system are tuned using at least one of the air inflow port and the air outflow port.

24. The method recited in claim 23, wherein the acoustic characteristics of the speaker system are tuned by changing at least one of an inner diameter and a length of at least one of the air inflow port and the air outflow port.

25. The method recited in claim 21, wherein the speaker box includes a first surface and wherein the speaker is arranged on the first surface.

26. The method recited in claim 25, wherein the air inflow port and the air outflow port are arranged on the first surface.

27. The method recited in claim 26, wherein the air inflow port and the air outflow port are arranged on the first surface such that a straight line drawn from a center of the air inflow port to a center of the air outflow port would form a diagonal line across the first surface.

28. The method recited in claim 21, wherein the air flow path is a generally diagonally curving air flow convection path formed in the interior air space such that air flows from the air inflow port to the air outflow port.

47. The method recited in claim 21, wherein the interior air space is a single continuous air space.

48. The method recited in claim 21, wherein the speaker is a woofer for reproducing primarily low frequency sounds.

49. The method recited in claim 21, wherein the speaker box further includes a tweeter for reproducing primarily high frequency sounds.

29. In a speaker system having a speaker box defining an interior air space, the speaker box having a speaker arranged within the interior air space, a method of efficiently radiating heat from the interior air space to outside the speaker box, comprising:

providing at least one air inflow port in the speaker box, the at least one air inflow port opening to outside of the speaker box from the interior air space;

providing at least one air outflow port in the speaker box, the at least one air outflow port opening to outside of the speaker box from the interior air space;

arranging the at least one air inflow port and the at least one air outflow port in the speaker box such that an air flow path through the speaker box is formed;

arranging a heat producing component within the interior air space such that the heat producing component is within the air flow path, wherein the heat producing component is an amplifier for driving the speaker; and

providing a drive and control unit for driving and controlling the speaker system, the drive and control unit comprising;

a main board including thereon a preamplifier for driving the speaker system and operators for controlling the speaker system;

a transformer for transforming an input voltage to a voltage value suitable for driving the speaker system;

a heat sink for dissipating heat generated by the amplifier;

a jack board for providing input signals to the main board; and

a chassis for carrying the main board, the transformer, the amplifier and the jack board.

30. The method recited in claim 29, wherein the chassis is formed from a flat plate member comprising a metal material, the flat plate member formed into a substantially “

L”

shape and including a first plate and a second plate.

31. The method recited in claim 30, wherein the speaker box includes an upper surface and a rear surface and wherein the chassis is mounted in the speaker box such that the first plate and the second plate configure a portion of the upper surface and the rear surface, respectively, of the speaker box.

32. The method recited in claim 31, wherein a control panel is arranged on the first plate for adjusting settings for the preamplifier and for the amplifier.

33. The method recited in claim 31, wherein the main board, the transformer, the heat sink and the jack board are arranged on the second plate.

34. The method recited in claim 33, wherein the heat sink is arranged a specified distance above the second plate of the chassis such that a predetermined air gap is formed between a bottom surface of the heat sink and the second plate.

35. The method recited in claim 34, wherein the specified distance is approximately 30 millimeters (mm).

36. The method recited in claim 33, wherein the transformer is arranged a specified distance above the second plate of the chassis such that a predetermined air gap is formed between a bottom surface of the transformer and the second plate.

37. The method recited in claim 34, wherein the specified distance is approximately 10 millimeters (mm).

38. The method recited in claim 33, wherein the transformer, the heat sink and the jack board are arranged within the interior air space.

39. The method recited in claim 33, wherein the transformer, the heat sink and the jack board are arranged in the air flow path.

40. The method recited in claim 29, wherein the amplifier is a power amplifier including an amplifying element and wherein the amplifying element contacts a surface of the heat sink.

41. The method recited in claim 40, wherein the surface of the heat sink is a substantially planar surface and wherein the amplifying element includes a flat surface for contacting the planar surface.

42. The method recited in claim 29, wherein the heat sink comprises a plurality of fins functioning as an expanded heat transmission surface of the heat sink, ones of the plurality of fins being arranged standing mutually parallel with, and separated by a specified interval from, adjacent ones of the plurality of fins, such that gaps are formed between opposing faces of the plurality of fins, each of the gaps exposing a portion of a bottom side surface of the heat sink and two side surfaces of the plurality of fins to surrounding air.

43. The method recited in claim 42, wherein the heat sink is oriented within the speaker box such that the air flow path passes through the gaps in the two exposed side surfaces of the plurality of fins.

44. The method recited in claim 42, wherein the speaker box includes an upper surface and a lower surface and wherein the heat sink is oriented within the speaker box such that the gaps in one of the two exposed side surfaces of the plurality of fins face the upper surface and the gaps in the other of the two exposed side surfaces of the plurality of fins face the lower surface such that the air flow path passes through the gaps.

45. The method recited in claim 42, wherein the speaker box includes an upper surface and a lower surface and wherein the heat sink is oriented within the speaker box such that the gaps in the two exposed side surfaces of the plurality of fins are oriented in a generally diagonal direction with respect to a vertical line between the upper surface and the lower surface.

46. The method recited in claim 45, wherein the heat sink is rotated on the second plate such that air flow passing through the gaps between each of the plurality of fins is maximized.

50. A speaker system, comprising:

a speaker box defining an interior air space and having at least a first surface and a second surface;

a speaker arranged within the interior air space;

at least one air inflow port on the first surface, the at least one air inflow port opening to outside of the speaker box from the interior air space;

at least one air outflow port on the second surface, the at least one air outflow port opening to outside of the speaker box from the interior air space; and

a heat producing component arranged relative to the speaker within the interior air space such that air entering the interior air space from outside the speaker box via the at least one air inflow port is directed towards the heat producing component and such that heat radiated from the heat producing component rises above the speaker in the interior air space before exiting to outside the speaker box via the at least one air outflow port.

51. The speaker system recited in claim 50, wherein the heat producing component is an amplifier for driving the speaker.

52. The speaker system recited in claim 50, wherein the at least one air inflow port is a bass reflex port and wherein acoustic characteristics of the speaker system are tuned using the at least one air inflow port.

53. A speaker system, comprising:

a speaker box defining an interior air space;

a speaker arranged within the interior air space;

an air inflow port in the speaker box, the air inflow port opening to outside of the speaker box from the interior air space;

an air outflow port in the speaker box, the air outflow port opening to outside of the speaker box from the interior air space, the air inflow port and the air outflow port being arranged in the speaker box such that an air flow path through the speaker box is formed; and

a heat producing component arranged within the interior air space such that the heat producing component is within the air flow path and is in a location that is either between the air inflow port and the air outflow port or is linearly aligned with at least one of a central axis of the air inflow port in a direction of air flow into the air inflow port and a central axis of the air outflow port in a direction of air flow out of the air outflow port.

54. The method recited in claim 53, wherein the heat producing component is an amplifier for driving the speaker.

55. The method recited in claim 53, wherein the air inflow port and the air outflow port are bass reflex ports and wherein acoustic characteristics of the speaker system are tuned using at least one of the air inflow port and the air outflow port.

56. The method recited in claim 55, wherein the acoustic characteristics of the speaker system are tuned by changing at least one of an inner diameter and a length of at least one of the air inflow port and the air outflow port.