US 9,111,521 B2 · Modular acoustic horns and horn arrays

Abstract

A modular horn type loudspeaker and a modular horn array formed of modular loudspeakers. An acoustic horn includes a first acoustic module. The first acoustic module includes a first acoustic driver and a first acoustic duct, for conducting acoustic energy from the first acoustic driver. The first acoustic duct has a first opening through which acoustic energy is radiated. The first acoustic duct is characterized by a first centerline. A second acoustic module includes a second acoustic driver and a second acoustic duct, for conducting acoustic energy from the acoustic driver. The second acoustic duct has a second opening through which acoustic energy is radiated. The second acoustic duct is characterized by a second centerline. The first module and the second module are configured to be positioned and held in place so that the first and second openings are aligned to form a substantially continuous diffraction slot and so that the first and second centerlines are normal to an arc and intersect at a first one of a plurality of angles.

Claims24

Dependent claims

Apparatus, comprising:

a first acoustic horn, comprising
a first acoustic module comprising
a first acoustic driver;
and
a first acoustic duct, for conducting acoustic energy from the first acoustic driver, the
first acoustic duct having a first opening through which acoustic energy is radiated, the
first acoustic duct characterized by a first centerline;
and
a second acoustic module comprising
a second acoustic driver;
and
a second acoustic duct, for conducting acoustic energy from the acoustic driver, the second acoustic duct having a second opening through which acoustic energy is radiated, the second acoustic duct characterized by a second centerline;
the first module and the second module configured to be positioned and held in place so that the first and second openings are aligned to form a substantially continuous diffraction slot and so that the first and second centerlines are normal to an arc and intersect at a first one of a plurality of angles, wherein the first acoustic horn is disposed within a first enclosure and a top wall of the first acoustic horn directly corresponds to a top wall of the first enclosure and a bottom wall of the first acoustic horn directly corresponds to a bottom wall of the first enclosure.

10 more elements

Apparatus, comprising:

a first acoustic horn, comprising
a first acoustic module comprising
a first acoustic driver;
and
a first acoustic duct, for conducting acoustic energy from the first acoustic driver, the first acoustic duct having a first elongated planar opening through which acoustic energy is radiated;
and
a second acoustic module comprising
a second acoustic driver;
and
a second acoustic duct, for conducting acoustic energy from the acoustic driver, the second acoustic duct having a second elongated planar opening through which acoustic energy is radiated;
the first module and the second module configured to be positioned so that the first and second elongated planar openings are aligned in the direction of elongation to form a substantially continuous diffraction slot and so that the plane of the first elongated planar opening intersects the plane of the second elongated planar opening at any one of a plurality of angles,
the apparatus further comprising a bracket to hold the acoustic modules in a desired position and orientation, wherein the first acoustic horn is disposed within a first enclosure and a top wall of the first acoustic horn directly corresponds to a top wall of the first enclosure and a bottom wall of the first acoustic horn directly corresponds to a bottom wall of the first enclosure.

9 more elements

A method for forming loudspeaker arrays, comprising:

providing at least two acoustic horns from a first plurality of acoustic horns each of the plurality of acoustic horns having a top having a planar top surface and a bottom having a planar bottom surface, the top and the bottom characterized by a thickness, each of the plurality of horns having a different vertical dispersion angle, and each horn comprising a diffraction slot,
arranging the plurality so that a top surface of one acoustic horn is parallel to, and in planar contact with, the bottom surface of an adjacent acoustic horn and so that the horn diffraction slots are aligned to form an array diffraction slot with gaps not substantially larger than the combined thickness of the top of the one horn and the bottom of the adjacent acoustic horn,
disposing the plurality of acoustic horns within an enclosure, and arranging the plurality so that a top surface of a first acoustic horn directly corresponds to a top wall of the enclosure and a bottom surface of a second acoustic horn directly corresponds to a bottom wall of the enclosure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Modular acoustic horns and horn arrays

Life of this patent

Modular acoustic horns and horn arrays

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24