Systems and methods for protecting a speaker from overexcursion

Abstract

A system may include a controller configured to be coupled to an audio speaker. The controller may be configured to receive an audio input signal. The controller may also be configured to, based on a linear displacement transfer function associated with the speaker, process the audio input signal to generate a modeled linear displacement of the audio speaker, wherein the linear displacement transfer function has a response that models linear displacement of the audio speaker as a linear function of the audio input signal. The controller may further be configured to, based on an excursion linearity function associated with the audio speaker, process the modeled linear displacement to generate a predicted actual displacement of the audio speaker, wherein the excursion linearity function is a function of the modeled linear displacement and has a response modeling non-linearities of the displacement of the speaker as a function of the audio input signal. The excursion linearity function is determined by statistically minimizing an error between the modeled linear displacement and a measured displacement during an offline testing.

Description

Technical field [0001] The present invention relates generally to audio speakers, and more specifically, to modeling the displacement of the speaker system to protect the audio speakers from damage. Background technique [0002] Audio speakers or speakers are ubiquitous in many devices used by individuals, including televisions, stereo systems, computers, smart phones, and many other consumer devices. Generally speaking, the audio speaker is an electro-acoustic transducer, and the electro-acoustic transducer generates sound in response to an electric audio signal input. [0003] Due to its nature as a mechanical device, audio speakers may be subject to damage caused by the operation of the speaker, including overheating and / or excessive excursions, where the physical components of the speaker deviate too far from the resting position. In order to prevent such damage, the speaker system usually includes a control system that can control the audio gain, audio bandwidth, and / or other...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0004] However, existing loudspeaker system control methods have disadvantages

For example, while many such methods model loudspeaker operation based on measured operating characteristics, linear models

While such a linear model adequately models small-signal behavior, it may not adequately model the loudspeaker nonlinear effects caused by larger signals

As another example, while some existing methods model nonlinear behavior, such models tend to be mathematically complex, often requiring additional design complexity, cost, and processing resources

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