# US 9,883,283 B2 · Acoustic deflector for omni-directional speaker system

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- Number: US 9,883,283 B2
- Document ID: US9883283B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/366,755
- Filed: 2016-12-01
- Published: 2017-03-23
- Granted: 2018-01-30
- Earliest claimed: 2015-01-31
- Assignees: Bose Corporation
- Applicants: Bose Corporation
- Inventors: Wontak Kim; George E. P. Chute
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9883283B2

## CPC

- H04R 1/345: {for loudspeakers}
- H04R 1/2811: {for loudspeaker transducers}
- H04R 1/2819: {for loudspeaker transducers}
- H04R 1/288: {for loudspeaker transducers}
- H04R 1/2834: {for loudspeaker transducers}
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)

## Abstract

An omni-directional acoustic deflector includes an acoustically reflective body having a truncated conical shape including a substantially conical outer surface, a top surface and a cone axis, the acoustically reflective body having at least one opening disposed along a circumference of the substantially conical outer surface at a cone radius associated with a pressure maximum of an acoustic resonance mode with an acoustic absorber at each such opening. Speaker systems employing the omni-directional acoustic deflector have an improved high frequency acoustic spectrum response regardless of the location of the listener with respect to the speaker system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An omni-directional acoustic deflector, comprising:
an acoustically reflective body having a truncated conical shape including a substantially conical outer surface, and
at least one non-circularly symmetric surface radially extending from the substantially conical outer surface,
wherein the acoustically reflective body comprises at least one opening disposed along a circumference of the substantially conical outer surface at a cone radius associated with a pressure maximum of an acoustic resonance mode.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The omni-directional acoustic deflector of claim 1 wherein the substantially conical outer surface comprises a non-linear slant profile.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The omni-directional acoustic deflector of claim 1 further comprising an acoustically absorbing material disposed at the at least one opening.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The omni-directional acoustic deflector of claim 3 wherein the acoustically absorbing material comprises a foam.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The omni-directional acoustic deflector of claim 3 wherein the acoustically absorbing material comprises an acoustically absorbing fabric.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The omni-directional acoustic deflector of claim 1 wherein the acoustic resonance mode is a circularly symmetric mode.

### Claim 7

An omni-directional acoustic deflector, comprising:
an acoustically reflective body having a truncated conical shape including a substantially conical outer surface,
wherein the acoustically reflective body comprises at least one opening disposed along a circumference of the substantially conical outer surface at a cone radius associated with a pressure maximum of an acoustic resonance mode, and
wherein the conical outer surface is defined by a truncated hyperboloid of revolution.

### Claim 8

A speaker system comprising:
an acoustic enclosure;
a downward firing acoustic driver disposed within the acoustic enclosure; and
an omni-directional acoustic deflector disposed in the acoustic enclosure below the acoustic driver to receive acoustic energy propagating from the acoustic driver, the omni-directional acoustic deflector comprising an acoustically reflective body having a truncated conical shape including a substantially conical outer surface,
wherein the acoustically reflective body comprises at least one opening disposed along a circumference of the conical outer surface at a cone radius associated with a pressure maximum of an acoustic resonance mode.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The speaker system of claim 8 further comprising at least one passive radiator.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The speaker system of claim 8 wherein the acoustic enclosure comprises a pair of opposing passive radiators configured to be driven by audio signals from an audio source such that each opposing pair of passive radiators are driven acoustically in phase with each other and mechanically out of phase with each other, to minimize vibration of the acoustic enclosure.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The speaker system of claim 8 wherein the substantially conical outer surface of the acoustic deflector comprises a non-linear slant profile.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The speaker system of claim 8 wherein the acoustic resonance mode is a circularly symmetric mode.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The speaker system of claim 8 further comprising an acoustically absorbing material disposed at the at least one opening.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The speaker system of claim 8 further comprising at least one non-circularly symmetric surface radially extending from the substantially conical outer surface.

### Claim 15

A speaker system comprising:
an acoustic enclosure;
a downward firing acoustic driver disposed within the acoustic enclosure;
an upward firing acoustic driver disposed with the acoustic enclosure and adjacent to the downward firing acoustic driver; and
a first omni-directional acoustic deflector disposed in the acoustic enclosure below the downward firing acoustic driver to receive acoustic energy propagating therefrom and a second omni-directional acoustic deflector disposed in the acoustic enclosure above the upward firing acoustic driver to receive acoustic energy propagating therefrom, the first and second omni-directional acoustic deflectors each comprising an acoustically reflective body having a truncated conical shape including a substantially conical outer surface,
wherein the acoustically reflective body of each of the first and second omni-directional acoustic deflectors comprises at least one opening disposed along a circumference of the conical outer surface at a cone radius associated with a pressure maximum of an acoustic resonance mode.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The speaker system of claim 15 wherein the acoustic resonance mode is a circularly symmetric mode.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The speaker system of claim 15 further comprising an acoustically absorbing material disposed at the at least one opening of each of the first and second omni-directional acoustic deflectors.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The speaker system of claim 15 further comprising at least one non-circularly symmetric surface radially extending from the substantially conical outer surface.
