Ported loudspeaker system and method with reduced air turbulence
AssigneePolk Investment Corporation
InventorsMatthew S. Polk, Colin B. Campbell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vented loudspeaker system is provided which has at least one active driver and a port opening in a speaker cabinet, Disks or baffle plates are mounted a predetermined distance to and concentric to the port opening, resulting in a vented system achieving an equivalent performance as would result from a flared, ducted port, but with several performance advantages and simpler construction. Flow guides are provided, attached to the disks or baffle plates, extending back into the port to block areas of stagnant air and enhance laminar air flow.
Claims11
A loudspeaker system comprising a cabinet containing at least one distinct air volume, at least one active loudspeaker transducer mounted to said cabinet, at least one port or vent connecting the air volume inside the cabinet to air outside the cabinet for the purpose of radiating sound and wherein said port or vent comprises a duct having a varying cross-sectional area which varies according to a continuous or piece-wise continuous function from inside to outside the cabinet and which increases monotonically from a minimum value between the ends of said duct to a larger cross-section at at least one end thereof, the varying cross-sectional area of said duct being defined by an opening or port in a wall of the cabinet, a first disk or baffle plate having an area larger than the minimum value, means mounting said disk or plate substantially perpendicular to the port at a predetermined distance from said one end of the port to configure said duct at said one end as an opening extending substantially around the periphery of said disk or baffle plate, and including a flow guide substantially concentric to the port connected to said at least one disk or baffle plate and having curved or slanted sides extending from said disk or baffle plate back into said port, to thereby block areas of stagnant air and insure laminar airflow with reduced turbulence and noise.
A method of venting a loudspeaker system of the type comprising a cabinet containing at least one distinct air volume, at least one active loudspeaker transducer mounted to said cabinet and at least one passive radiating port connecting the air volume inside the cabinet to air outside the cabinet for the purpose of radiating sound, the method comprising the steps of forming the at least one passive radiating port with a duct having a varying cross sectional area which varies according to a continuous or piece-wise continuous function from inside to outside the cabinet and which increases monotonically from a minimum value between the ends of the duct to a larger cross section at at least one end thereof, the varying cross sectional area of the duct being defined by forming an opening or port in a wall of the cabinet, mounting a first disk or baffle plate having an area larger than the minimum value substantially perpendicular to the port and a predetermined distance from the one end of the port to configure the duct at the one end as an opening extending substantially around the perimeter of the disk or baffle plate, and providing a flow guide substantially concentric to the port having curved or slanted sides extending from the first disk or baffle plate back into the duct.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.