Waveguides for side-firing audio transducers
AssigneeSonos, Inc.
InventorPaul Peace
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A playback device includes an enclosure having a front face substantially normal to a first direction, a side-firing audio transducer facing a second direction that is angled with respect to the first direction, and a waveguide in fluid communication with the side-firing transducer. The waveguide includes a first chamber extending along a first axis and a second chamber extending along a second axis. The first and second central axes diverge along the second direction away from the side-firing transducer. The waveguide can be adjustable to vary the relative dimensions and/or orientations of the first and second chambers.
Claims19
A playback device comprising:
- an enclosure having a front face substantially normal to a first direction;
- a side-firing audio transducer facing a second direction that is angled with respect to the first direction;
- a waveguide in fluid communication with the side-firing transducer, the waveguide comprising:
- a first chamber having a first throat portion proximate the side-firing transducer and a first mouth portion opposite the first throat portion, the first chamber extending from the first throat portion to the first mouth portion along a first central axis;
- and
- a second chamber having a second throat portion proximate the side-firing transducer and a second mouth portion opposite the second throat portion, the second chamber extending from the second throat portion to the second mouth portion along a second central axis, the first and second central axes diverging along the second direction away from the side-firing transducer.
A playback device comprising:
- an enclosure having a front face substantially normal to a first axis;
- a side-firing audio transducer oriented along a second axis that is horizontally angled with respect to the first axis;
- a first waveguide body in fluid communication with the side-firing transducer, the first waveguide body configured to direct sound along a third axis;
- and
- a second waveguide body in fluid communication with the side-firing transducer, the second waveguide body configured to direct sound along a fourth axis, wherein the second axis lies between the third axis and the fourth axis.
A playback device comprising:
- an audio transducer;
- and
- a waveguide coupled to the transducer, the waveguide comprising:
- a body comprising a first end portion having a first opening configured to be disposed proximate the audio transducer and a second end portion having a second opening opposite the first end portion, the body defining an interior region between the first opening and the second opening;
- and
- a divider within the interior region defining a first chamber and a second chamber, each of the first chamber and the second chamber being in fluid communication with the first opening and the second opening, the first chamber configured to direct a first set of sound waves from the transducer along a forward sound axis and the second chamber configured to direct a second set of sound waves from the transducer along a side sound axis, wherein the first chamber defines a third opening adjacent the transducer, and the second chamber defines a fourth opening adjacent the transducer, the fourth opening having a larger cross-sectional dimension than the third opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.