Narrow profile speaker configurations and systems
AssigneeTHX Ltd.
InventorLawrence R. Fincham
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A narrow profile speaker unit comprises at least one speaker outputting sound towards an internal surface and through a duct with an output terminus, such as a slot, having a narrow dimension, effectively changing the cross-section of the speaker's audio output wave. A pair of speakers may face one another, outputting sound towards a common output slot. Multiple pairs of speakers may be used to form an inline speaker unit for increased sound output. A slotted speaker unit may include multiple speakers facing the same direction, towards a groundplane or reflecting surface, and having parallel apertures for allowing sound radiation. The speaker units may be integral with or attached to electronic appliances such as desktop computers or flatscreen devices, or may be used in automobiles or other contexts.
Claims42
A narrow-profile groundplane audio speaker system, comprising:
- a speaker housing;
- a first drive unit disposed within said speaker housing, said first drive unit mounted on a baffle whereby the drive unit's forward radiation is isolated from its rearward radiation;
- one or more support members separating said first drive unit from a first sound reflecting surface facing said first drive unit;
- and
- a high frequency drive unit facing a second sound reflecting surface;
- wherein the baffle and the first sound reflecting surface collectively define a sound duct terminating in a first sound output aperture;
- whereby forward radiation from said first drive unit is turned at a substantially right angle and travels along a straight path to exit the first sound output aperture;
- and
- wherein said first sound output aperture is sufficiently narrow such that an interfering phase shift is avoided between the direct and reflecting sound waves output from said first drive unit.
A narrow-profile groundplane audio speaker system, comprising:
- a speaker housing;
- a mid-range drive unit disposed within said speaker housing, said mid-range drive unit mounted on a baffle whereby the mid-range drive unit's forward radiation is isolated from its rearward radiation;
- a spacer attached to said speaker housing by one or more support members, said spacer having a first sound reflecting surface substantially parallel with and facing said mid-range drive unit, whereby forward radiation from said mid-range drive unit is turned at a substantially right angle by said first sound reflecting surface such that the radiation emanates from a first sound output aperture defined by said first sound reflecting surface and said baffle;
- a high-frequency drive unit mounted beneath said spacer, said high-frequency drive unit oriented the same direction as said mid-range drive unit;
- a second sound reflecting surface substantially parallel with and facing said high-frequency drive unit whereby forward radiation from said high-frequency drive unit is turned at a substantially right angle by said second sound reflecting surface such that the radiation emanates from a second sound output aperture.
A narrow-profile groundplane audio speaker system, comprising:
- a speaker housing having an enclosure portion;
- a mid-range drive unit disposed within said enclosure portion, said mid-range drive unit mounted on a baffle whereby the mid-range drive unit's forward radiation is isolated from its rearward radiation;
- a substantially flat first sound reflecting surface facing said mid-range drive unit;
- a first sound duct defined at least in part by said first sound reflecting surface, whereby forward radiation from said mid-range drive unit is turned at a substantially right angle by said first sound reflecting surface such that the radiation emanates from a first sound output aperture defined by said first sound reflecting surface and said baffle;
- a high-frequency drive unit;
- a substantially flat second sound reflecting surface facing said high-frequency drive unit;
- a second sound duct defined at least in part by said second sound reflecting surface, whereby forward radiation from said high-frequency drive unit is turned at a substantially right angle by said second sound reflecting surface such that the radiation emanates from a second sound output aperture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.