Method and a system to adjust the acoustical performance of a loudspeaker

• US 20100086162A1
• Filed: 10/06/2008
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bang & Olufsen a/s
• Original Assignee: Bang & Olufsen a/s
• Inventors: Nielsen, Kaj, Jensen, Ole
• Granted Patent: US 7,991,175 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/333
• 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 1/323 for loudspeakers H04R1/34 and H04R1/40 take precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a system for optimizing the performance of a loudspeaker system as perceived by user.

The physical part of the speaker system is adjustable which enables the speaker units to be placed in positions that imply maximal acoustical performance. This is obtained by combined means to: 1) bring the speaker in a specified position and 2) apply accordingly position dependant individual acoustical filters inserted in the signal path to each individual speaker.

Claims

1. A speaker system, where the speaker units mounted in the speaker system may be configured into different positions to increase the acoustical performance perceived by the user, where said speaker system contains a mechanical structure consisting of four members:

a first member, where said first member may have any geometrical shape, where said member has a first surface and defining a circular innermost periphery of said first member;

a second member, where said second member may be arranged within the circular periphery provided on the first member, such that the second member may be rotate able around an axis perpendicular to, or close to being perpendicular to, the plane of the surface of the first member, and with the second member fully or partly having a material surface;

a third member being an integrated part of the second member or being a separate object mounted on top of the second member, and where said third member includes one or more speaker units mounted to deliver acoustical output directed away from the surface of the third member;

a fourth member, where said fourth member is support structure including a hinge for the third member and enables the third member to be tilt able around an axis horizontal to, or close to being horizontal to, the plane of the surface of the second member(2) and with the fourth member (4) attached to the second member(2).

2. A speaker system according to claim 1, wherein motor means controls the rotating of the second member and controls the tilting of the third member.

3. A speaker system according to claim 2, wherein the position of the speakers are obtained by passing information of X, Y coordinates related to the rotation of the second member to the second member motor means and by passing information of X, Y coordinates related to the tilting of the third member to the third member motor means.

4. A speaker system according to claim 3, wherein a predefined set of filter attributes are applied as the default correction filters to be in the signal path for each of the one or more speakers.

5. A speaker system according to claim 4, wherein one of the predefined set of X, Y coordinates defines the initial position of the second member.

6. A speaker system according to claim 4, wherein one of the predefined set of X, Y coordinates defines the initial position of the third member.

7. A speaker system according to claim 6, wherein the X, Y coordinates of the second member position may be forced to given values, and thus forced to a given position of the speaker, specified from an external control device.

8. A speaker system according to claim 6, wherein the X, Y coordinates of the third member position may be forced to given values, and thus forced to a given position of the speaker, specified from an external control device.

9. A speaker system according to claim 8, wherein a predefined plurality of individual set of X, Y coordinates are related to the second member position and where a predefined plurality of individual set of other X, Y coordinates are related to the third member position and where an index is related to a set of corresponding filter attributes that applies in that specific speaker position.

10. A speaker system according to claim 9, wherein a predefined plurality of individual set of X, Y coordinates are related to the second member position and where a predefined plurality of individual set of other X, Y coordinates are related to the third member position and where an index is related to a set of corresponding filter attributes that applies in that specific speaker position and where the complete set of definitions may be replaced with data from an external source.

11. A speaker system according to claim 10, wherein the position of the second member and the position of the third member are determined from a detected maximum and or a detected minimum in a signal beam issued from a source located in the listening position of the user towards the speaker system.

12. A speaker system according to claim 1, wherein a predefined plurality of individual set of filter attributes are related to different speaker positions for each of the one or more speakers.

13. A speaker system according to claim 1, wherein a predefined set of filter attributes are selected and applied as the actual correction filter to be in the signal path for each of the one or more speakers, where the set of filter attributes are selected based on the X,Y position of the speaker.

14. A speaker system according to claim 1, wherein a predefined plurality of individual set of filter attributes related to speaker positions for each of the one or more speakers may be replaced with data from an external source.

15. Use of the speaker system according to claim 1, implemented as a stand alone loudspeaker.

16. Use of the speaker system according to claim 1, implemented as a built in loudspeaker, to be applied as in-wall loudspeaker, and/or as in-ceiling loudspeaker and/or as in-floor loudspeaker.

17. Use of the speaker system according to claim 1, implemented as a loudspeaker in a home appliance and/or in media systems.