Active acoustics performance shell

• US 7,600,608 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wenger Corporation (Wenger NA)
• Original Assignee: Wenger Corporation (Wenger NA)
• Inventors: Freiheit, Ronald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels; Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phillips; Forrest M
• Application Number:
  US11/229,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20060060420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 181/287, 181/30, 381/87, 381/89, 381/332, 381/333, 381/334, 381/335, 381/336, 381/91, 381/92
• US Class Current: 181/287
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/8236 Stage shells

Abstract

An electroacoustic shell system adapted create a performance area where sound created by a performer is received, processed, and returned to the performer in the performance area. The system broadly includes an electroacoustic shell with a vertical panel and a canopy, a microphone and a speaker operably coupled to the shell, and an electronics processing assembly connected to the microphones and speakers for recording, broadcasting, and simulating sound.

Claims

1. An acoustic shell system for enhancing sound made by a performer in a performance area, the acoustic shell system comprising:

a microphone positioned in the performance area to receive sound made by the performer;

a first panel having an acoustic reflective surface oriented toward the performance area;

a second panel spaced apart from the first panel, the second panel having an acoustic reflective surface oriented toward the first panel and an acoustic absorptive surface oriented toward the performance area to create a semi-anechoic zone within the performance area proximal the acoustic absorptive surface;

an electronic acoustic assembly operably coupled to the microphone for processing sound received by the microphone; and

a speaker operably coupled to the electronic acoustic assembly, positioned intermediate the first panel and the second panel, and oriented toward the acoustic reflective surface of the first panel to broadcast sound processed by the electronic acoustic assembly indirectly to the performance area.

2. The acoustic shell system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third panel angularly from the first panel toward the performance area; and

a biasing hinge assembly operably coupling the first panel to the third panel.

3. The acoustic shell system of claim 1, further comprising a fourth panel having an acoustic reflective surface oriented toward the performance area, the fourth panel being operably coupled to the first panel with a locking mechanism.

4. The acoustic shell system of claim 1, wherein the electronic acoustic assembly is adapted to process the sound received by the microphone such that the sound broadcast by the speaker has customizable audio characteristics.

5. The acoustic shell system of claim 1, further comprising a second speaker operably coupled to the electronic acoustic assembly, positioned intermediate the first panel and the second panel, and oriented toward the acoustic reflective surface of the first panel to broadcast the sound processed by the electronic acoustic assembly indirectly to the performance area.

6. The acoustic shell system of claim 5, wherein the electronic acoustic assembly is adapted to transmit first and second amplified signals to the respective speakers on different channels.

20. The acoustic shell system of claim 1, further comprising a second speaker operably coupled to the electronic acoustic assembly, located within the space, and positioned to broadcast sound into the space, wherein sound processed by the electronic acoustic assembly is broadcast indirectly to the performance area.

7. A method of enhancing sound made by a performer in a performance area of an acoustic shell system, the acoustic shell system including a microphone, a speaker positioned intermediate first and second spaced-apart panels and oriented toward the first panel, and an electronic acoustic assembly operably coupled to the microphone and the speaker, the method comprising:

creating a semi-anechoic zone within the performance area proximal the second panel;

receiving, with the microphone, sound made by the performer;

processing, with the electronic acoustic assembly, sound received by the microphone; and

broadcasting, from the speaker indirectly to the performance area, sound processed by the electronic acoustic assembly.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

altering a signal corresponding to the sound received by the microphone with a preamplifier;

filtering the signal with a filter; and

processing the signal with a digital signal processor.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first panel has an acoustic reflective surface oriented toward the performance area, the method further comprising reflecting, off of the acoustic reflective surface of the first panel, the sound broadcast by the speaker.

10. the method of claim 9, wherein the second panel has an acoustic reflective surface oriented toward the first panel, the method further comprising reflecting, off of the acoustic reflective surface of the second panel, the sound reflected by the acoustic reflective surface of the first panel.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising re-reflecting, off of the acoustic reflective surface of the first panel, the sound reflection by the acoustic reflective surface of the second panel.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the second panel has an acoustic absorptive surface oriented toward the performance area, the method of creating, with the acoustic reflective surface, a semi-anechoic zone comprising absorbing the sound made by the performer.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing acoustic feedback to the performance area.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the acoustic shell system further comprises a second speaker positioned intermediate the first and second spaced-apart panels and oriented toward the first panel, the step of processing the sound further comprising transmitting audio amplified signals to the speakers on different channels.

15. The method of claim 7, further comprising altering, with a preamplifier, a signal corresponding to the sound received by the microphone.

16. The method of claim 7, further comprising filtering, with a filter, a signal corresponding to the sound received by the microphone.

17. The method of claim 7, further comprising processing, with a digital signal processor, a signal corresponding to the sound received by the microphone.

18. The method of claim 7, further comprising amplifying, with an audio amplifier, a signal corresponding to the sound received by the microphone.

19. An acoustic shell system for enhancing sound made by a performer in a performance area, the acoustic shell system comprising:

a microphone positioned in the performance area to receive sound made by the performer;

a first panel having a first acoustic reflective surface oriented toward the performance area;

a second panel spaced apart from the first panel, the second panel having a second acoustic reflective surface oriented toward the first acoustic reflective surface and an acoustic absorptive surface oriented toward the performance area, the first acoustic reflective surface and the second acoustic reflective surface being opposed boundaries of a space between the first acoustic reflective surface and the second acoustic reflective surface;

an electronic acoustic assembly operably coupled to the microphone for processing sound received by the microphone; and

a speaker operably coupled to the electronic acoustic assembly, located within the space, and positioned to broadcast sound into the space, wherein sound processed by the electronic acoustic assembly is broadcast indirectly to the performance area.