Array speaker system and array microphone system

• US 20100220877A1
• Filed: 03/28/2006
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Tamaru, Takuya, Ishibashi, Toshiaki
• Granted Patent: US 8,320,596 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/170
• 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 with the line array units being linked in the vertical direction normal to the straight line or linked in the left-right direction in the direction of the straight line.

2. The array speaker system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of line array units linked in the vertical direction are offset in the left-right direction by “

spacing/number of steps in array of speaker units” and

linked.

3. The array speaker system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of line array units are linked in the left-right direction, and other line array units are linked at the top and the bottom at the center of the arrangement in the left-right direction.

4. A line array unit used in the array speaker system according to claim 1, comprising:

a plurality of speaker units disposed side by side on straight lines;

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 the directivity of the line array unit;

a link detection device for detecting the mode of the link and its position therein; and

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

9. The array speaker system according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of line array units are linked in the left-right direction, and other line array units are linked at the top and the bottom at the center of the arrangement in the left-right direction.

10. A line array unit used in the array speaker system according to claim 2, comprising:

a plurality of speaker units disposed side by side on straight lines;

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 the directivity of the line array unit;

a link detection device for detecting the mode of the link and its position therein; and

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

11. A line array unit used in the array speaker system according to claim 3, comprising:

a plurality of speaker units disposed side by side on straight lines;

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 the directivity of the line array unit;

a link detection device for detecting the mode of the link and its position therein; and

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

5. An array microphone system comprising a plurality of line array units each including a plurality of microphone units disposed side by side on straight lines with the plurality of line array units being linked in the vertical direction, which is normal to the straight lines, or linked in the left-right direction, which is in the direction of the straight lines.

6. The array microphone system according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of line array units linked in the vertical direction are offset in the left-right direction by “

spacing/number of steps in array of microphone units” and

linked.

7. The array microphone system according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of line array units are linked in the left-right direction, and other line array units are linked at the top and the bottom at the center of the arrangement in the left-right direction.

8. A line array unit used in the array microphone system according to claim 5, comprising:

a plurality of microphone units disposed side by side on straight lines;

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

an output device for outputting audio signals externally;

a link detection device for detecting the linked mode and its position therein; and

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

12. The array microphone system according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of line array units are linked in the left-right direction, and other line array units are linked at the top and the bottom at the center of the arrangement in the left-right direction.

13. A line array unit used in the array microphone system according to claim 6, comprising:

a plurality of microphone units disposed side by side on straight lines;

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

an output device for outputting audio signals externally;

a link detection device for detecting the linked mode and its position therein; and

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

14. A line array unit used in the array microphone system according to claim 7, comprising:

a plurality of microphone units disposed side by side on straight lines;

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

an output device for outputting audio signals externally;

a link detection device for detecting the linked mode and its position therein; and

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