Sound reproduction system comprising a loudspeaker enclosure with ports, and associated processing circuit

• US 8,391,510 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2008
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nexo Co.
• Original Assignee: Nexo Co.
• Inventors: Vincenot, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Assistant Examiner(s): TON, DAVID L
• Application Number:
  US12/670,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20100202619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,688 Days
• Field of Search: 381/300, 381/61, 381/17, 381/1, 381/308, 381/335, 381/338, 381/337, 381/349, 381/351, 381/345, 381/97
• US Class Current: 381/97
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/346 using phase variation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2826 for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/323 for loudspeakers H04R1/34 and H04R1/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/20 Processing of the output signals of the acoustic transducers of an array for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic H04R2203/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

A sound reproduction system includes a loudspeaker enclosure that has a first loudspeaker and a second loudspeaker which are mounted on a surface of the enclosure. The first and second loudspeakers are respectively accommodated in a first space and a second space of the enclosure, the spaces being separated by a partition and being in communication with a first port and a second port, respectively. The first and second ports are located on opposite sides of the unit formed by the first and second loudspeakers. Processing elements are used for respectively applying a first and a second electric signal to the first and second loudspeaker, the first and second electric signals being generated from a single signal by differentiated phase processing that varies according to the frequency such that the first and second electric signals are offset relative to one another by a variable period of time which is proportionate to the acoustic distance between the first half of the loudspeaker enclosure including the first space, the first loudspeaker, and the first port, and the second half of the loudspeaker enclosure including the second space, the second loudspeaker, and the second port.

Claims

1. A sound reproduction system comprising:

a loudspeaker enclosure (2) provided with a first loudspeaker and a second loudspeaker mounted on one face of the enclosure, the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker being respectively received in a first volume of the loudspeaker enclosure and in a second volume of the loudspeaker enclosure separated by a partition and respectively discharging via a first and a second port, the first port and the second port being situated on respective opposite sides of the combination formed by the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker; and

processing means for applying respectively to the first loudspeaker and to the second loudspeaker a first electrical signal and a second electrical signal obtained from a same signal by differentiated phase processing varying with frequency, the processing means generating, between the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal a delay varying with frequency and proportional to an acoustic distance between the first half-enclosure, including the first volume, the first loudspeaker and the first port, and the second half-enclosure, including the second volume, the second loudspeaker and the second port,

wherein the acoustic distance is larger than a first distance between the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker and smaller than a second distance between the first port and the second port over a frequency range from a tuned frequency of the first and second ports to a contribution limit frequency of the first and second loudspeakers.

2. The sound reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein the differentiated phase processing is such that the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal are in phase opposition and offset by the delay, the delay being equal to the ratio between the acoustic distance and the speed of sound.

3. The sound reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein the differentiated phase processing is such that the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal are in phase opposition and offset by the delay, the delay corresponding to one third of said acoustic distance.

4. The sound reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein the differentiated phase processing is such that the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal are in phase opposition and offset by the delay, the delay corresponding to three times said acoustic distance.

5. The sound reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein the differentiated phase processing is such that the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal are in phase and offset by the delay, which corresponds a time corresponding to the acoustic distance.

6. The sound reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein the differentiated phase processing is such that the direction of maximum radiation efficiency is directed along the axis (Y) formed by the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker.

7. The sound reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein the axis formed by the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker is directed toward an audience area to be covered.

8. The sound reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein the processing means are adapted selectively to apply (K) an identical electrical signal to the first loudspeaker and to the second loudspeaker in a first mode of operation and the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal obtained by differentiated processing in a second mode of operation.

9. The sound reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker are identical and wherein the first volume and the second volume are symmetrical with respect to the partition.

10. The sound reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker are at a first distance (D_HP), the first port and the second port are at a second distance (D_EV) and the ratio of the second distance to the first distance is from 2 to 3.

11. The sound reproduction system according to claim 10, wherein the ratio is from 2.2 to 2.5.

12. The sound reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein the loudspeaker enclosure comprises a first pair of connecting points electrically connected to the first loudspeaker and a second pair of connecting points electrically connected to the second loudspeaker and wherein the processing means apply respectively the first electrical signal to the first pair of connecting points and the second electrical signal to the second pair of connecting points.

13. The sound reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein the processing means comprise a filter, wherein the filter transfer function generates a delay varying with frequency and substantially corresponding to the acoustic distance between the first half-enclosure, including the first volume, the first loudspeaker and the first port, and the second half-enclosure, including the second volume, the second loudspeaker and the second port.

14. Sound reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic distance decreases over the frequency range.

15. A processing circuit for applying a first electrical signal to a first loudspeaker mounted with a second loudspeaker on a wall of a loudspeaker enclosure having a first volume and a second volume separated by a partition, respectively receiving the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker, and each respectively communicating with a first port and a second port situated on respective opposite sides of the combination formed by the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker, the processing circuit comprising:

a processing means for applying respectively to the first loudspeaker and to the second loudspeaker a first electrical signal and a second electrical signal obtained from a same signal by differentiated phase processing varying with frequency,

the processing means for generating between the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal a delay varying with frequency and proportional to the acoustic distance between the first half-enclosure, including the first volume, the first loudspeaker and the first port, and the second half-enclosure, including the second volume, the second loudspeaker and the second port,

wherein the acoustic distance is larger than a first distance between the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker and smaller than a second distance between the first port and the second port over a frequency range from a tuned frequency of the first and second ports to a contribution limit frequency of the first and second loudspeakers.

16. The processing circuit according to claim 15, wherein the processing means selectively apply an identical electrical signal to the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker in a first operating mode and the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal obtained by differentiated processing in a second operating mode.

17. Processing circuit according to claim 15, wherein the processing means include a filter the phase transfer function of which is such that it generates a delay varying with frequency and substantially corresponding to the acoustic distance between the first half-enclosure, including the first volume, the first loudspeaker and the first port, and the second half-enclosure, including the second volume, the second loudspeaker and the second port.

18. Processing circuit according to claim 16, wherein the processing means include a filter the phase transfer function of which is such that it generates a delay varying with frequency and substantially corresponding to the acoustic distance between the first half-enclosure, including the first volume, the first loudspeaker and the first port, and the second half-enclosure, including the second volume, the second loudspeaker and the second port.