Array speaker system and array microphone system

• US 8,320,596 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2006
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Ishibashi, Toshiaki, Tamaru, Takuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRAHAM, ANDREW R
• Application Number:
  US11/988,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20100220877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,436 Days
• Field of Search: 381/92, 381/59, 381/335, 381/182, 381/152, 381/361, 381/386, 381/87, 381/91, 340/4.41
• US Class Current: 381/335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/403 loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/406 microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/401 2D or 3D arrays of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/403 Linear arrays of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

A plurality of speakers are linked in the present invention. The linked position of each speaker can be detected. Audio signal is input to any one of the master speakers. The master speaker synchronizes the other linked speakers, and supplies audio signals to other speakers. It also controls the delay quantity of the speaker unit of each speaker. For a single speaker, the apparent width of this array speaker system becomes twice the width, and the speaker unit spacing becomes one third the spacing. Consequently, the frequency band at which direction is controllable becomes enhanced.

Additionally, a plurality of microphone devices are linked at the top, bottom, left and right sides in the present invention. The linked position of each microphone device can be detected. Audio data is output from each microphone device to the master microphone device. The master microphone device synchronizes with other linked microphone devices, treats them as array microphones in the entire linked array microphone system, and controls the delay quantity of the microphone unit of the microphone device. For a single microphone device, the apparent width of this array microphone system becomes twice the width, and the microphone unit spacing becomes one-third the spacing. Consequently, the frequency band at which direction is controllable becomes enhanced.

Claims

1. An array speaker system comprising a plurality of line array units each including a plurality of speaker units aligned on a straight line at equal intervals with a spacing between the speaker units in a longitudinal direction of the line array unit, the line array units being linked in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the line array units being offset in the longitudinal direction by “

the spacing/the number of the line array units linked in the lateral direction”

, each of the line array units further comprising;

a case in which the plurality of speaker units are disposed, the case having longitudinal side faces in the longitudinal direction and lateral side faces in the lateral direction;

a plurality of linking connectors, at least one linking connector being disposed on each of the lateral side faces and at least two linking connectors being disposed on each of the longitudinal side faces;

an input device for inputting audio signals;

a signal processing device for supplying the audio signals by delaying them at specific delay times to each speaker unit and for controlling a directivity of the line array unit;

a link detection device for detecting a linked direction and a linked position of the line array unit within the array speaker system based on a connection state of the plurality of linking connectors; and

a control device for setting delay times of the signal processing device according to the linked direction and the linked position detected by the link detection device.

2. The array speaker system according to claim 1, wherein a first one of the plurality of line array units is linked to another line array unit in the longitudinal direction to form a two line array unit arrangement, and a second one of the plurality of line array units linked to the first one of the plurality of line array units is linked at the center of the two line array unit arrangement in the lateral direction.

3. An array microphone system comprising a plurality of line array units each including a plurality of microphone units disposed side by side on a straight line at equal intervals with a spacing between the microphone units in a longitudinal direction of the line array unit, the plurality of line array units being linked in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the line array units being offset in the longitudinal direction by “

the spacing/the number of the line array units linked in the lateral direction”

, each of the line array units further comprising;

a case in which the plurality of microphone units are disposed, the case having longitudinal side faces in the longitudinal direction and lateral side faces in the lateral direction;

a plurality of linking connectors, at least one linking connector being disposed on each of the lateral side faces and at least two linking connectors being disposed on each of the longitudinal side faces;

a signal processing device for delaying the delay time of audio signals output by each microphone unit and for controlling a directivity of line array units in each microphone unit;

an output device for outputting audio signals externally;

a link detection device for detecting a linked direction and a linked position of the line array unit within the array microphone system based on a connection state of the linking connectors; and

a control device for setting delay times of the signal processing device according to the linked direction and the linked position detected by the link detection device.

4. The array microphone system according to claim 3, wherein a first one of the plurality of line array units is linked to another line array unit in the longitudinal direction to form a two line array unit arrangement, and a second one of the plurality of line array units linked to the first one of the plurality of line array units is linked at the center of the two line array unit arrangement in the lateral direction.