Reflector Baffle Patents (Class 181/155)
  • Patent number: 5815589
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system having a multiple driver array arranged in a push-pull configuration is loaded into an acoustic transmission line ported to the outside of the loudspeaker enclosure. The transmission line is preferably tapered and is filled with acoustic damping material. The combination of the push-pull driver configuration loaded into an acoustic transmission line produces a high performance, spatially enhanced sound reproduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Inventors: Charles E. Wainwright, James N. Birks
  • Patent number: 5804774
    Abstract: An integrally formed ported reflex horn comprises an outer housing having a plurality of side walls disposed about a central axis, an open discharge end and a second closed end, oppositely disposed to the open end. The horn also includes a compression driver reception member, for rigidly maintaining a conventional compression driver within the hollow interior of the horn housing, and sound wave guide structure which defines a plurality of ports and a divider for splitting sound waves exiting the throat of the compression driver into a plurality of constituent sound waves of substantially equal sound pressure levels. The constituent sound waves are redirected toward the housing open end as they travel through respective ports and are recombined into a single wave front after exiting the ports upstream of the housing open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Ford, Thomas J. Bekasi
  • Patent number: 5802196
    Abstract: A speaker is adapted to transmit sound waves in an omni-directional manner relative to an installation surface upon which the speaker is mounted. The speaker includes an oscillator having a hemispherical oscillating body comprising a piezoelectric body polarized in a thickness direction thereof, a pair of electrodes provided on an inner surface and an outer surface of the oscillating body, input terminals connected to the electrodes via lead wires, an end portion of the oscillator being connected to spacers in a groove to cover a projecting portion of a horn, a cavity communicating with a hole of the horn and being defined between the oscillator and the horn and support members fixed to a flange portion of the horn whereby a sound transmission path communicating with the hole of the horn is defined between the horn and the installation surface upon which the speaker is mounted such that the sound transmission path extends in all directions relative to the installation surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5793001
    Abstract: In general, the invention comprises a device capable of emitting either acoustic or electromagnetic radiant energy. The device has at least one reflector with a smooth concave surface which reflects the energy emitted from the transducing element. The device also has at least two transducing elements for producing this energy. The shape of this reflector surface is preferably defined by either an ellipse or a parabola that is rotated about an axis of revolution, for any angular distance between zero and one complete revolution. The shape of this reflector surface can also be preferably defined by the coincident surfaces of revolution of an ellipse and a parabola that are rotated about a common axis of revolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Technology Licensing Company
    Inventor: Michael W. Ferralli
  • Patent number: 5784473
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a sound system that provides high quality sound notwithstanding extreme background noise. Preferably implemented in amusement ride vehicles, such as roller coasters, the present sound system mounts left and right channel sets of speakers in each seat back, one on each side of a center section that supports the passenger's back. These speakers are mounted in a wing-back relationship, such that they direct their sound away from one another and toward laterally extending arms that extend forward from the seat back, outside of the speakers. These arms mount an inward-facing spherical reflector, which reflects and disperses sound toward a range of positions associated with height variance of the passenger. Using this arrangement, all passengers will experience the same high quality sound, whatever the passenger's height. The left and right channels speakers are each coaxially-mounted, two-way speakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Bran Ferren
  • Patent number: 5764782
    Abstract: The surface of an acoustic reflector faces the source, and has a plurality (N) of wells, where N is an odd prime number. Each well has a depth D.sub.n =(n.sup.2 rem N)* unit depth (0<=N<=N-1), governed by a Quadratic Residue Sequence. Acoustic energy directed from the source to the reflector, and reflected along a length direction of the reflector, has substantially equal acoustic energy in all angular directions from the reflector within plus and minus .pi./2 from the direction of radiation. The surface above can be used for the surface of a loudspeaker, where either it is the surface of the loudspeaker or has speakers positioned at the bottom of the wells. The surface above can also be used for drag reduction in moving vehicles when it is positioned either at the front or rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Inventor: Joseph Francis Hayes
  • Patent number: 5764783
    Abstract: The invention comprises a device capable of emitting either acoustic or electromagnetic radiant energy. The device has at least one movable transducing element for producing this energy, and at least one reflector with a smooth concave surface which reflects the energy emitted from the transducing element. The shape of the reflector surface is preferably defined by either a rotated ellipse or a rotated parabola. A reflector surface of either shape is characterized by a continuum of distinct focal points that define a focal curve, such that each distinct focal point of the continuum is a unique focal point of each ellipse or parabola in the continuum forming the reflector surface. The radius of curvature of the parabolic surface of revolution can be extended up to an infinite length, causing the focal curve to appear as a straight line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Technology Licensing Company
    Inventor: Michael W. Ferralli
  • Patent number: 5739480
    Abstract: Either a tweeter or a woofer diffuser may alternatively be detachably secured to a driver holder of a speaker base through axial engagement of lugs carried by the holder with guide grooves formed in a skirt of the driver and thereafter rotating the driver to dispose the lugs in a circumferential groove and out of alignment with the guide grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Inventor: Steff Lin
  • Patent number: 5734728
    Abstract: A speaker system includes a vertically oriented elongated tube supported on a ground surface, and open at upper and lower ends thereof; a woofer, mid-range speaker and tweeter mounted at a lower end of the tube, the woofer having a front driving face with an effective driving area, the woofer providing an in-phase audio signal directed upwardly through the tube and an out-of-phase ground wave audio signal directed in an opposite direction therefrom; an enclosure enclosing the woofer and mounting the tube on the ground surface; a restricted open area formed between a lower edge of the enclosure and the ground surface and being less than the effective driving area, the restricted open area being arranged to transmit the out-of-phase ground wave audio signal from the woofer in a direction transverse to the axial direction; and a driving circuit for driving the woofer and including a power amplifier for amplifying an input signal with a variable gain and supplying the amplified input signal to the woofer, a circu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Inventor: Juergen P. Meissner
  • Patent number: 5721401
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sub-woofer module which has a simple construction and provides a good low-frequency bass in compliance with an audience's taste. The sub-woofer module has an enclosure, a baffle board which separates the enclosure into first and second chambers, and a speaker coupled to the baffle board. The baffle board is engaged with a screw shaft and moves upward and backward along the screw shaft to vary the volume of the first and second chambers. A reverse-conical cap is disposed above the enclosure to permit the upwardly projected sound to be projected in 360 degrees, and a conical base is disposed below the enclosure to permit the downwardly projected sound to be projected in 360 degrees. The audience can listen to sound of the same quality regardless their position in relation to the sub-woofer module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Daewood Electronics Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-Hoon Sim
  • Patent number: 5675131
    Abstract: As the front surface diaphragm of the speaker is provided with a first acoustic waveguide and the rear surface diaphragm is provided with a back cavity reflecting sound waves and a second acoustic waveguide guiding the reflected sound waves, a mass of air by the first acoustic waveguide will be applied to the front surface diaphragm, substantially the same load as to the rear surface diaphragm, the acoustic loads in the front and rear of the diaphragm will be balanced, the sound waves of the low frequency ranges will be able to be efficiently discharged on substantially the same level from both acoustic waveguides and sounds having an expansion and presence will be able to be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hitoshi Saito, Hitoshi Sango
  • Patent number: 5673329
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system includes a flexible compressible tube having a woofer mounted at one end with its cone directed outward, and a vented baffle mounted at the other end. A first sound dispersion element is mounted with its apex facing the cone of the woofer and a midrange speaker is mounted in the base of the dispersion element with its cone facing away from the tube. A second sound dispersion element is mounted with its apex facing the cone of the midrange speaker, and at least one tweeter is mounted on the base of the second sound dispersion element with its cone facing away from the tube. According to one embodiment, a plurality of tweeters are mounted in an enclosure mounted on the base of the second dispersion element. According to another embodiment, a single tweeter is mounted in the base of the second dispersion element and a third dispersion element is mounted with its apex facing the cone of the tweeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Inventor: David Wiener
  • Patent number: 5637840
    Abstract: A thin, compact, high power speaker for producing high volume sound alarm signals and for reproducing voice messages, and which may be installed in a limited space. The speaker of the invention includes a housing, a transducer mounted in the housing for generating sound signals, a high pressure chamber acoustically coupled to the transducer for receiving and compressing the sound signals from the transducer, a nozzle acoustically coupled to the high pressure chamber, a sound resonance/reflection passage acoustically coupled to the nozzle to amplify and reflect the sound signals, and a sound induction passage acoustically coupled to the resonance/reflection passage to direct the amplified and reflected sound signals through the front of the speaker into the surrounding space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: K & J Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jae H. Kim
  • Patent number: 5616892
    Abstract: In general, the invention comprises a device capable of emitting either acoustic or electromagnetic radiant energy. The device has at least two transducing elements for producing this energy, and at least one reflector which reflects the energy emitted from the transducing elements. The shape of the reflector surface is defined by both an ellipse and a parabola that are rotated coincidentally about a common axis of revolution (hereinafter referred to as a "para-elliptic" reflector surface), formed by coincidentally rotating, for up to one complete revolution, a section of both geometric shapes about an common axis of revolution that lies in the plane of both geometric shapes. The resulting "para-elliptic" reflector surface will be characterized by two sets of distinct focal points defining two focal curves. Focused energy will be redirected as if emanating from each focal region, causing each focal region to appear as a virtual source of the energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Technology Licensing Company
    Inventor: Michael W. Ferralli
  • Patent number: 5532438
    Abstract: An acoustic imaging sound apparatus includes an acoustically reflective dome for reflecting and focusing stereophonic sound waves from stereo speakers directed into the interior of the dome. The stereophonic sound waves are focused by the dome to a listening area to provide a listener with pure stereophonic sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Inventor: Kevin Brown
  • Patent number: 5525767
    Abstract: A sound imaging system preferably including two enclosures each comprising a truncated conical base unit and a truncated conical upper unit supported above and spaced apart from of the base unit, and containing a bass driver and composite midrange and high frequency drivers. The bass driver is oriented horizontally at the top of the base unit, and the sound energy produced therefrom is reflected by a conically shaped acoustic lens or defector depending from within the interior of the upper unit directly above the bass driver, such that the sound energy is reflected downwardly along and between the spaced apart truncated conical walls of the upper unit and base unit and emanates radially therefrom in all directions. The composite midrange and high frequency drivers are supported at the top of the upper unit on a crown structure having a plurality of vertical legs defining a platform oriented approximately 20.degree. relative to horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Inventor: Walter Fields
  • Patent number: 5485521
    Abstract: In an audio mirror speaker, an uneven area is formed on a planar mirror surface and a directivity distribution is controlled by changing a relative position of a diaphragm facing the mirror surface and the mirror. The directivity distribution of such a speaker is determined by a radius of curvature of the uneven area. Since the directivity changes with various movements of the planar mirror, a freedom in setting the directivity distribution is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Yagisawa, Shoichi Ibaraki, Motokazu Kashida, Kenichi Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 5451726
    Abstract: An omnidirectional speaker system includes woofer and tweeter speakers mounted in a concave, curved upper housing fabricated of a relatively hard shell exterior and a foam interior, preferably plastic. Beneath the upper housing is a base, including a generally conical phase compensation plug which disperses the sound waves equally in all directions through a circumferential aperture between the upper housing and base. In a preferred embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the upper housing is parabolic and the cross-sectional shape of the phase compensation plug is hyperbolic. A foam ring is attached to the exterior surface of the upper housing to prevent the formation of a sonic "hot spot" which can lead to a high intensity sonic beam objectionable to listeners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Eclipse Research Corporation
    Inventor: Ted L. Haugum
  • Patent number: 5446792
    Abstract: A speaker apparatus includes a speaker having a diaphragm, a frame having a mouth and a reflector. The speaker is mounted inside a cylindrical box, and the frame is formed cylindrically and covers over the diaphragm. The mouth opens perpendicular to an axis along the center of the diaphragm. The reflector is positioned opposite the diaphragm in the frame and is formed roughly conically but asymmetrically between a side of the mouth and the opposite side of the cylindrical box. Sound waves radiated from the diaphragm are reflected by the reflector and an inner surface of the frame, and are released to the outside of the mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hitoshi Sango
  • Patent number: 5418336
    Abstract: A speaker unit includes a speaker housing having a lower portion and an upper portion. A drive unit is housed in the upper portion for producing and outputting sound, with the drive unit having a central axis, and a sound mirror is housed in the lower portion for reflecting the sound output by the drive unit. The mirror has a generally conical surface facing the drive unit for redirecting sound therefrom into a generally horizontal direction and a cone shape, with an apex of the cone being closest to the drive unit. A supporter supports the drive unit in a cantilever type manner above the sound mirror, and the center axis of the drive unit is offset from the apex of the sound mirror, with the drive unit supporter positioned at substantially the opposite side of the apex than the center of the drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Canon Research Centre Europe Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiro Negishi, Michael D. G. Jewitt
  • Patent number: 5402502
    Abstract: A loudspeaker unit is provided for attachment at an elevated position within a listening space. It has a drive unit for producing a beam of treble sound, and a sound mirror that distributes a beam from the sound unit over a wide angular extent both horizontally and vertically with a generally consistent amplitude of perceptible sound. The unit may further comprise an angled mid range and low frequency drive unit. The unit demountably clips into a support bracket that can be carried by a post or fixed directly to the wall. Signal supply is via connectors in the bracket so that as the unit is clipped in place, the electrical connections are established. The speaker is quadrant shaped when viewed in plan and lends itself to installation in groups and clusters (FIG. 13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Canon Audio Limited
    Inventors: Allen Boothroyd, Michael D. G. Jewitt, Graeme V. Foy
  • Patent number: 5359158
    Abstract: A ceiling-mounted loudspeaker includes upper and lower sound-directing structures having walls acting as a radial horn to provide a wide included angle of coverage for sound energy generated by a loudspeaker driver assembly having a piston for directing generated sound energy upwardly into the horn. The lower structure further has a continuously convex bottom configured and dimensioned to define a diffraction path for at least some of the sound energy exiting the output mouth of the radial horn, so that the convex bottom acts as a downwardly-directed diffractor. The radial horn and convex bottom together produce an oblate spheroid of sound energy affording a substantially uniform amplitude of sound within a large finite horizontal plane at the level of a listener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Sonic Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel L. Queen
  • Patent number: 5327985
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an acoustical transducer enclosure which is particularly adapted for directing sound waves and is housed in a multisided enclosure. The enclosure has a cylindrical hollow tube, held in position by a pair of forward baffles, with a speaker housed within. Forward wave guides line the interior area of the enclosure. A wave form vent is located on a horizontal plane with the speaker at one end of the cylindrical hollow tube. A rear back pressure booster baffle is located at the end of the cylindrical hollow tube with a wave splitter which is located proximate the rear back pressure booster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Inventor: Louis Porzilli
  • Patent number: 5306880
    Abstract: An omnidirectional speaker system includes woofer and tweeter speakers mounted in a concave, curved upper fabricated of a relatively hard shell exterior and a foam interior, preferably plastic. Beneath the upper housing is a base, including a generally conical phase compensation plug which disperses the sound waves equally in all directions through a circumferential aperture between the upper housing and base. In a preferred embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the upper housing is parabolic and the cross-sectional shape of the phase compensation plug is hyperbolic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Eclipse Research Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Coziar, Ted L. Haugum
  • Patent number: 5298690
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sound distributor with symmetry of revolution. The distributor comprises two sound reflecting cups, having a convex shape which is an exponential of surface revolution about a fictitious axis. The outer surfaces of these cups are arranged in tail to tail manner. The distributor has at least one sound source positioned facing a small opening of one of the cups. Around an opening in the bottom of the second cup, the distributor also has a trumpet-shaped reflector and a cone-shaped reflector for directing sound along the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventor: Siegfried Klein
  • Patent number: 5274709
    Abstract: A speaker unit for a television receiver includes speakers SP.sub.L, SP.sub.R arranged at the back of a television screen surface, sound reflectors for reflecting the sound from the speakers substantially in a forward direction from the television screen surface, and acoustic lenses provided on a surface coplanar with the television screen surface for controlling the sound radiating direction. A high quality sound with a sense of ambience and compatibility with the television picture may be produced without enlarging the size of the television receiver cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Koizumi
  • Patent number: 5268538
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system having the ability to uniformly direct high-frequency as well as low-frequency sound hemispherically is described. The acoustical centers of a low-frequency and a high-frequency driver are aligned in space to provide a common source of sound to be directed through a common sound-guiding structure. The high-frequency sound is guided by the formation of an acoustical horn between the spherical mounting structure of the low-frequency driver and the reflector generally employed in reflecting and diffracting low-frequency sounds. One side of the acoustical horn has an acoustic path length smaller than the other, forcing sound to further diffract upon passage from the horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: Sonic Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Queen
  • Patent number: 5268539
    Abstract: An acoustic apparatus adapted to be heard only by a specific person or persons in one space without being worn by the user as in the case of an earphone. Sounds issuing from the apparatus do not leak to the outside and are not affected by the surrounding noise. Basically, the apparatus is arranged such that a sound source is disposed in one focus of a reflector having an ellipsoidal surface of revolution, and sounds are heard at the other focus. To increase the number of specific hearers, if the central portion of the reflector is made into a non-ellipsoidal surface of revolution, or a cross section having an ellipsoidal surface of revolution is extended orthogonally to the cross section by a predetermined length, the range of the other focus expands. In addition, by arranging a plurality of reflectors, it is possible to hear different sounds within the effective areas of the respective reflectors without mutual interference of the sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ono
  • Patent number: 5266752
    Abstract: A reflex folded horn loudspeaker enclosure system provides a compact speaker that can produce high quality sounds in all ranges. The system has at least one resonance air chamber that is in communication with the sound chambers of the speaker housing, which allows for a compact space to provide the high quality sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Inventor: Rick C. Cussans
  • Patent number: 5258584
    Abstract: A compound driver loudspeaker system combines a single exterior radiating loudspeaker with a plurality of internal auxiliary loudspeakers in a cabinet. The cabinet has an external baffleboard and an internal baffleboard, the external baffleboard having a single baffle cutout for receiving the radiating loudspeaker and a plurality of internal baffleboard cutouts for receiving each of the auxiliary loudspeakers. The baffleboards and loudspeakers define a desirable air chamber between them. The auxiliary loudspeakers are selected to be smaller than the radiating loudspeaker and the number of auxiliary loudspeakers is such that, taken together, they form an equivalent single driver which is matched to the radiating loudspeaker to provide the desired frequency performance of the loudspeaker system. Since the auxiliary loudspeakers are smaller than the radiating loudspeaker, the baffle cutout in the external baffleboard is larger than the cutouts in the internal baffleboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Donald E. Mitchell
    Inventor: Jerry K. Hubbard
  • Patent number: 5250763
    Abstract: An acoustical equalization device is designed to be attached to the front of a stereo speaker and includes a plurality of moveable baffles which may be used to either reflect or absorb sound waves being emitted from the speaker. The baffles can be slidably positioned along a plurality of rods forming a part of the device and may be pivoted into a desired sound adjusting position. Modified baffles include through-extending apertures into which sound modifying cones may be removably positioned, while the cones may be provided with pivotal closures to further affect sound quality. The device is used as an aid in equalizing a sound system so as to obtain the best audio response curve without the use of electronic equalization systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Inventor: William G. Brown
  • Patent number: 5229555
    Abstract: In the speaker system, an acoustic pipe for conducting a sound wave is arranged in front of a speaker for reproducing a middle and low frequency sound. The acoustic pipe has a rectangular open end portion. A speaker for reproducing a high frequency sound is disposed within the acoustic pipe coaxially with and in front of the speaker for reproducing the middle and low frequency. With this construction, attenuation of middle and high frequency components of sound signals which are produced from the middle and low frequency sound reproducing speaker is suppressed. Moreover, it is possible to conduct the high and middle frequency components and a high frequency component, which is reproduced by the high frequency sound reproducing speaker, as naturally composed sound signals to the open end portion of the acoustic pipe. The speaker system thus exhibits excellent characteristics in sound image localization and articulation of sound, thereby providing a high tone quality to the TV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Inoue, Kiyoshi Ohashi, Asahiko Okada, Hiroshi Koshiishi, Toshiharu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5227591
    Abstract: The invention relates to a loudspeaker arrangement for creating a three-dimensional stereo sound effect. The loudspeaker arrangement is to be located at a suitable distance from sound-reflecting surfaces. The loudspeaker elements (12a, 13a, 14a; 12b13b, 14b) of the left-hand channel (2) and the right-hand channel (3) in the loudspeaker arrangement are located within one and the same loudspeaker unit (1), where they are separated from each other by means of a zone (4) which is at least of the same size as the interval (a) between human ears. The loudspeaker elements are arranged to radiate towards different sides (A, B) of the said zone (4), in a similar fashion, within 180.degree. circle sectors, in which case the sounds reflected from the surfaces, together with the sounds coming directly from the loudspeaker unit, create a depthwise expanded, three-dimensional stereo sound effect, mainly within the sector (10) expanding away from the loudspeaker unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Inventor: Timo Tarkkonen
  • Patent number: 5225639
    Abstract: A loudspeaker has a magnetic circuit and a speaker frame attached to the magnetic circuit, which is mounted on a rear tray of an automobile. A grille is attached to the speaker frame so as to reflect sound generated from the magnetic circuit. The grille has a slit so as to radiate the sound in a forward horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Takeshi Tokusyo, Tomiaki Ando
  • Patent number: 5220608
    Abstract: Monophonic sound is transformed into a stereo pattern by arranging two reflectors on a common axis at a predetermined distance from each other with both facing in the direction of the sound. One reflector has a larger diameter than the other and is provided with a central aperture into which a tone generator is mounted and spaced from the smaller reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Inventor: Arthur Pfister
  • Patent number: 5216209
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system 10 and a method for disbursing sound waves are disclosed. The loudspeaker system 10 has a reflector screen 12 which is provided with a concave reflective surface 14. The reflective surface 14 is a complex curve having a central axis 16. A first speaker 18 is positioned in front of the reflective surface 14 a longitudinal distance along the central axis 16 less than a pre-determined distance x. The first speaker 18 projects sound waves above a pre-determined frequency toward the reflective surface 14 to be reflected and disbursed into a listening area. A second speaker 20 is positioned to project sound waves below the pre-determined frequency into the listening area generally. A frame 24 supports the first and second speakers 18,20. A method for disbursing sound waves is also disclosed including the steps of providing a reflector screen 12 having a concave reflective surface 14 and positioning first and second speakers 18,20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Inventor: Timothy A. Holdaway
  • Patent number: 5216210
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system including a cabinet and at least one loudspeaker mounted on the cabinet which includes a movable speaker element for directing acoustical wave energy to the ambient atmosphere and to the interior of the cabinet. A passive radiator is mounted on the cabinet at a location spaced from the loudspeaker. A panel mounted within the cabinet interior vibrates at a free end when impacted by the acoustical wave energy from the loudspeaker. The panel generates acoustical wave energy which is directed to the passive radiator and causes the passive radiator to move and to direct sound externally of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Inventor: Brent T. Kammer
  • Patent number: 5194700
    Abstract: A loudspeaker cabinet has an annular frame mounted on its front face to support a multiplicity of louvers that are coupled together by a transversely extending coupling arm. The louvers can be opened when the loudspeaker is operating. When the loudspeaker is not in operation the louvers can be closed to protect the speaker against dust accumulations. The louver coupling arm is located in cut outs formed in the louver rear edges so that the arm is relatively inconspicuous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Inventor: Jen-Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 5189706
    Abstract: An acoustic apparatus comprises an inner cabinet, a vibrator mounted thereon and an outer cabinet. The inner cabinet and the outer cabinet constitute an acoustic cabinet having a closed cavity. The outer cabinet covers the inner cabinet with a predetermined gap formed between the inner peripheral surface of the outer cabinet and the outer peripheral surface of the inner cabinet and has an opening causing the gap to communicate with the external region of the acoustic cabinet and to function as a resonance port. The resonance port and the closed cavity constitute a resonator. The vibrator is provided so as to face the closed cavity. The resonator radiates a resonant sound from the open end of the gap, i.e., the resonance port, upon being driven by the vibrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuo Saeki
  • Patent number: 5187333
    Abstract: Coiled exponential bass/midrange/high frequency horn loudspeakers which are characterized by a rigid cabinet of selected size having a sealed air chamber in the base thereof for receiving a low frequency speaker, or driver, a coiled or convoluted, exponentially flared sound passage extending from the air chamber to the top of the cabinet and a high frequency horn mounted in the cabinet near the open top to extend the audio range of the loudspeaker system, which high frequency horn is attached to a corresponding high frequency driver by means of a time adjustable acoustic delay line. The combination of a high frequency acoustically delayed horn and a low frequency driver separated by a continuously exponentially expanding or flared, coiled or convoluted, multi-tapered sound passage chamber, enables the sound waves from both horns to exit the cabinet at substantially the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Inventor: John F. Adair
  • Patent number: 5181301
    Abstract: A vehicle warning system (1) is disclosed. The device includes a main housing (2) to which is attached a sound generator (7), a lighting system (4), a mounting bracket (4) which is used to attach the device to an emergency vehicle, and a trim ring (6) which conceals the structure for mounting the device. As a sound signal is produced by the generator (7) it passes through a nozzle (9) and an aperture (14) into a deflector means (3) which is designed to expand and direct the sound signal through carefully proportioned chambers (30) and (33) of the deflector (3) so as to direct the sound signal against the closed portion (15) of expander horn (16) and out the open portion of the expander horn (16). In operation the sound generating system is attached to an amplifier of well known design and is capable of producing a variety of sound signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Inventor: Basil W. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 5173942
    Abstract: An audio system includes a speaker unit having an opening in its front surface supporting a speaker and a diffuser with a reflecting surface detachably attached to the speaker unit and positioned opposite to the speaker and in front of the opening such that sound waves from the speaker are diffused by the reflecting surface of the diffuser to propagate radially. A multi-channel amplifier for driving the speaker includes a compensating circuit for correcting the output level and frequency characteristic of the system when the diffuser is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isamu Hirose
  • Patent number: 5144670
    Abstract: A sound output system has a pair of right and left speakers and a pair of audio mirrors for respectively controlling directivities of sounds which are output from the pair of speakers. The shapes or arrangement of the pair of audio mirrors are adjusted such that a difference between arrival times of the sounds which are respectively output from the pair of speakers can be compensated by a sound pressure difference due to the Haas effect in a predetermined area. Alternative means are phase difference, dipole, and asymmetrical horn loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirokazu Negishi
  • Patent number: 5115882
    Abstract: A sound dispersing system using two or more vertically facing drivers in substantially coaxial alignment on a vertical axis. The drivers face conic reflectors which reflect sound radially over 360 degrees with substantial dispersion in vertical planes that include the vertical axis. Mounting means for drivers and reflectors are spaced vertically apart so that the vertical separation of the effective acoustic centers does not exceed industry standards for coherent sound above and below the horizontal plane equidistant between two drivers assigned adjacent bands of sound frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Inventor: D. Grier Woody
  • Patent number: 5105905
    Abstract: A speaker housing arrangement which uniquely combines a number of acoustic functions is disclosed in both a simple embodiment and in a more complex embodiment. Each embodiment utilizes a pair of angular deflectors in a tubular or pipe type enclosure to directionally co-align the sound product from both sides of the speaker cone. A slight interval in time of egress between the pressure opposite signals provides sonic contrast and hence sharp imaging. In the simpler embodiment linearity and signal integrity is preserved throughout the sound spectrum. In the more complex embodiment part of the bass signal is momentarily retained for purposes of co-phasing in a partial bass reflex arrangement. Either embodiment permits the production of sound of unusual quality and quantity in relation to input energy and to cost and grade of components. Secondary improvements in high frequency linearity and in overall spectral equalization in the region of the speaker itself are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Inventor: Winston C. Rice
  • Patent number: 5086871
    Abstract: Omnidirectional electro-acoustical chamber comprising two transducers (4) for low/medium tones and (7) for shrill tones disposed coaxially with their membranes facing one another, the transducer (4) being maintained at the end of the extensions (2) of a compartment (1) and the transducer (7) at the end of the compartment (5), a portion of the sounds emitted by the transducers (4, 7) being diffused by means of a diffuser (9) placed between the membranes, the other portion being reflected on the surfaces (12, 13) of the compartments (1, 5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Inventor: Alain Barbe
  • Patent number: 5031220
    Abstract: A mobile stereo speaker unit and assembly includes a central speaker for reproducing both left and right stereo sound channels. The central speaker is in a well in the central portion of the front panel of a vehicle, and a reflector is positioned above the speaker to intercept the sound and reflect it in a desired direction. The direction is selectable vertically or horizontally depending on the particular reflector used and the reflected sound may be directed towards the rear or towards the front windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Takagi, Masahiko Ito
  • Patent number: 4991688
    Abstract: An audio speaker system includes a pair of satellite speakers each having a copper lined pyramidal enclosure formed by four side walls diverging outwardly upwardly from a downwardly facing apex. A speaker mounting support at an upper end of each of the satellite speaker enclosures has a horizontal upper surface through which an upwardly facing speaker is mounted. A plurality of upwardly and inwardly inclined walls connect an upper end of each of the triangular side walls of the satellite speaker enclosures with the horizontal upper surface. A pyramidal speaker grill having four triangular side walls tapering to an upper apex covers the horizontal upper surface and is supported by the inclined walls. A sub-woofer speaker includes a pyramidal enclosure lined with a thin sheeting of copper and has four triangular side walls tapering to an upwardly facing apex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Inventors: Ervin Kery, Steve A. Alverson
  • Patent number: 4984653
    Abstract: The invention relates to a loudspeaker arrangement in which, in front of the loudspeaker (5) or another sound source, when viewed in the direction of the sound projection, two, preferably plane, sound guide surfaces (2,3) are disposed which, in a bow-like manner, are inclined towards one another at an obtuse angle. The projected sound is better distributed hereby and a good stereophonic effect is achieved. This applies particularly to a stereophonic arrangement with at least two loudspeakers (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Inventor: Wolfgang Spors
  • Patent number: 4979586
    Abstract: An acoustically shielded speaker enclosure for use in the ear pockets of motorcycle helmets is disclosed wherein parasitic sound waves emitted from the rear side of an enclosed audio loudspeaker are prevented from entering the motorcycle rider's ear and from mixing with and distorting the primary sound waves issued from the audio loudspeaker directed at the rider's ear. The acoustically shielded speaker enclosure consists of a pair of joined together cup-shaped housing assemblies forming a shortened cylinder adapted to enclose and secure an audio loudspeaker, the enclosure having openings in one face of the housing assemblies to allow passage of the primary sound waves from the contained loudspeaker. An acoustic shield attached to the speaker enclosure cylindrical side extends to the edge of the ear pocket and is sealed there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Inventors: John J. Lazzeroni, Melinda K. Lazzeroni