Spherical loudspeaker system
AssigneeSonic Systems, Inc.
InventorRobert W. Betts
Life of this patent
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Abstract
By providing a spherically shaped housing or enclosure containing one or more drivers or speakers motors, and cooperatively mounting the housing in association with a uniquely constructed reflector, a spherical loudspeaker system is achieved which controls and shapes the ultimate acoustical waveform produced thereby. The loudspeaker system of the present invention controls and distributes the acoustical energy of the driver and housing, while shaping the acoustical energy field into a true hemispherical pattern, within the system's power bandwidth. By employing the present invention, the point of summation of the hemispherical pattern is approximately eight times the diameter of the reflector, thereby achieving the desired hemispherical polar coverage patterns.
Claims12
A ceiling mounted loudspeaker system for providing a hemispherically shaped, high quality acoustical waveform, said system comprising:
- A. a housing comprising a substantially spherical shape and incorporating at least one portal;
- B. at least one speaker/driver mounted in said spherically spaced housing in association with the portal thereof;
- C. a reflector comprising:
- a. a base constructed for being cooperatively mounted with the housing, and
- b. a generally circular soundwave receiving surface formed on the base and comprising
- 1. a centrally disposed apex forming the center thereof,
- 2. an outer rim defining the terminating edge thereof, and
- 3. a concave shape radially extending between the apex and the rim, defining an exponentially progressive curve which is symmetrical both radially and annularly about the entire circumference of the reflector and conform to the following formula;
- De=(P1I)k, (P2I)k . . . (PnI)k
- where:
- De Linear axial distance between reflector and sphere at any incremental position along the acoustical path;
- and:
- P1, P2 . . . Pn=Linear axial distance of any previous (numbered) De
- and:
- k=wavelength coefficient factor (in exponential form);
- Expressed as the expansion factor of the prime parameter A C P L
- where:
- AC=coupling;
- area of cross section
- and:
- PL=loading;
- pressure units per area unit
- when:
- I=a fixed linear increment
- D. said reflector being mounted in cooperating relationship with the housing with the sound wave receiving surface in juxtaposed, spaced, cooperating relationship with the speaker for receiving and reflecting said sound waves in a widely disposed hemispherical pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.