Adjustable loudspeaker assembly

Abstract

A speaker assembly is provided with a housing having an opening formed through and disposed about an axis. A transducer is mounted to the housing to project sound through the opening. At least one door is mounted for adjustment relative to the axis between a closed position in which a distal end of the at least one door extends over a portion of the opening and an open position. Wherein in the open position the distal end of the at least one door is retracted along the housing to facilitate projection of the sound through the opening. An actuator is coupled to the at least one door to adjust the at least one door between a closed position and an open position.

Description

[0001] Cross - reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 425,561, filed on November 15, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical field

[0003] One or more embodiments relate to a speaker system having a speaker assembly that is adjustable between different positions. Background art

[0004] Traditional vehicles include an audio system having speakers that are flush - mounted with the underlying surface. Such flush - mounted speakers may not directly provide sound to the vehicle's occupants, but rather reflect the sound off one or more surfaces. A speaker assembly can be mounted to extend from the underlying surface to direct sound toward the vehicle's occupants; however, such a speaker assembly can be damaged during use or interfere with one or more other vehicle systems. Summary of the invention

[0005] In one embodiment, a speaker assembly includes a housing having an opening formed therethrough and disposed about an axis. A transducer is mounted to the housing to project sound through the opening. At least one door is mounted for adjustment between a closed position and an open position relative to the axis, wherein in the closed position, a distal end of the at least one door extends above a portion of the opening. Wherein in the open position, the distal end of the at least one door retracts along the housing to facilitate projection of the sound through the opening. An actuator is coupled to the at least one door to adjust the at least one door between the closed position and the open position.

[0006] In another embodiment, a method for controlling a speaker assembly is provided. A housing is provided that is formed with a base disposed about an axis and a sidewall extending laterally from the base, wherein the sidewall is formed with an opening for facilitating projection of sound therethrough. Movement proximate to the housing is detected. In response to the movement proximate to the housing, the at least one door is adjusted to the closed position so that it extends above the opening.

[0007] In yet another embodiment, a speaker assembly includes a housing that forms an annular base about a longitudinal axis and a sidewall that extends laterally from the base, wherein the sidewall forms an opening. A transducer is mounted to the base to project sound through the opening of the housing. A first door and a second door are mounted for rotation relative to each other about the longitudinal axis in opposite directions between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the distal ends of each door contact each other above a central portion of the opening, and wherein in the open position, the distal ends of each door are spaced apart from each other along a circumference of the housing to facilitate projection of sound through the opening. Each of the first and second doors is formed by a segment of an annular gear. An actuator including a motor is coupled to a pair of output gears through one or more intermediate gears such that the output gears rotate in opposite directions. Each output gear is configured to engage one of the annular gear segments to rotate a corresponding door between the open position and the closed position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a speaker system having a plurality of speaker assemblies mounted within a vehicle, showing the speaker assemblies arranged in the open position and the closed position according to one or more embodiments.

[0009] Figure 2 is Figure 1 an exploded view of the speaker assembly.

[0010] Figure 3 is Figure 1 a top perspective view of the speaker assembly shown in the closed position without a cover.

[0011] Figure 4 is Figure 1 another top perspective view of the speaker assembly shown in the closed position without a cover and one of the doors.

[0012] Figure 5 is a schematic view of a rotary actuator of the speaker assembly showing the adjustment between the open position and the closed position.

[0013] Figure 6 is a schematic view of a linear actuator of the speaker assembly according to one or more embodiments showing the adjustment between the extended position and the retracted position.

[0014] Figure 7A is Figure 1 a top perspective view of the speaker assembly shown in the open position.

[0015] Figure 7B is Figure 1 another top perspective view of the speaker assembly shown in the closed position.

[0016] Figure 7C is Figure 1 Another top perspective view of the speaker assembly of

[0017] Figure 7D is Figure 1 Another top perspective view of the speaker assembly of

[0018] Figure 8 is Figure 1 System diagram of the speaker system and multiple speaker assemblies of

[0019] Figure 9 It is a flowchart showing a method for controlling the adjustment of the speaker assembly according to one or more embodiments. Detailed Description

[0020] As required, detailed embodiments are disclosed herein; however, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary and can be embodied in various alternative forms. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale; some features may be enlarged or minimized to show details of specific components. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein should not be construed as restrictive, but merely as a representative basis for teaching those skilled in the art to adopt the present disclosure in different ways.

[0021] The speaker assembly can be mounted to extend from the underlying surface within the vehicle to direct sound towards the occupants. However, such a speaker assembly can be damaged or interfere with one or more other vehicle systems during use. Therefore, it is preferred to hide or make the speaker assembly invisible when not in use.

[0022] The speaker assembly is constructed in such a way as to provide translational or vertical movement. The speaker assembly includes an opening that can be covered with a door-like assembly, thereby enabling multi-directional horizontal sliding movement. In this case, the "door" is divided into two separate parts and can slide in different directions, separating the two separate parts from each other, thereby exposing the transducer. The "door" is not limited to elements of two units, but can also be a single element that rotates to either side of the unit. The movement of the entire speaker assembly can be controlled by software, thereby achieving dynamic movement with variable speed and motion. Translational or vertical movement allows the transducer assembly to retract and hide in a storage location under the instrument panel (IP), thereby clearing the IP and protecting the transducer. In one instance, the transducer can still remain functional in this position when hidden.

[0023] The door assembly can include different materials, and the acoustic transparency of these materials can vary. The speaker assembly can be located on either side of the IP, but can also be located in multiple positions, such as but not limited to the center IP, front door or rear door, roof rack, pillar, etc.

[0024] In an advantageous embodiment, the lighting assembly can be integrated into the construction, allowing the system (but not limited to) to be graded for indication purposes, such as turn signals, blind spot assist, navigation, audio settings, Bluetooth pairing mode, etc., or other use cases where multicolor lighting can be used in the IP. The animation of the LEDs is not limited to static lighting, nor is it limited to a single color. This can allow pulsed or flashing lighting to indicate that the end user needs to increase their attention. In another advantageous embodiment, the LED light can pass through a prism or diffuser, enabling directional and / or uniform lighting of the transducer, or a small area of lighting projection near the speaker assembly.

[0025] In one embodiment, the speaker assembly can be used as a protective device for the transducer because they are typically very fragile. In the described assembly, a mechanism driven by one or more electric motors closes the above-mentioned "door" and retracts the entire device, thus protecting the transducer when the system is not in use. Exposing the transducer can cause the vehicle's occupants to interact with the device and potentially damage the transducer. One way to solve this problem is to replace or extend the mechanical protection with an active protection system that can detect when a hand is approaching a sensitive component.

[0026] The system can take one or more of these actions to prevent component damage: a) mechanically closing the "door" of the visible transducer and / or retracting the assembly into the dashboard; b) issuing an audible warning; c) using the LED to give a visual indication.

[0027] An object approaching the speaker assembly can be detected in a variety of ways, such as: a) capacitive sensing; b) optical (IR) barrier; c) radar sensing; d) ultrasonic sensing, possibly using the speaker

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the speaker assembly can be used to grade the audio system in the vehicle, thus enhancing the customer experience with a variety of mechanical movements. The transducer assembly enhances the customer experience with unexpected behavior. The combination of sound, vision, materials, and movement provides a high-end experience for the end user.

[0029] User-defined settings and preferences can be included in the software to control the unit, allowing specific movements and / or assembly use cases defined by the customer.

[0030] In addition to the use cases mentioned, the customer can also change the visual appearance of the construction, thereby allowing the use of different materials on the "door" and the top of the assembly. These components can be snapped in and replaced to meet the requirements or needs of specific customers.

[0031] Reference Figure 1 , a loudspeaker system according to one or more embodiments is shown and the loudspeaker system is generally designated by reference numeral 100. The loudspeaker system 100 is shown within a vehicle 102, which vehicle includes a passenger compartment 104 and a storage compartment 106. The loudspeaker system 100 includes one or more speaker assemblies 108 mounted within the passenger compartment 104.

[0032] The speaker assemblies 108 can be located at various positions within the passenger compartment 104, such as within the instrument panel 110 on either side of the combination meter, on the door, on the luggage rack, on the pillar, etc. The illustrated embodiment depicts three speaker assemblies 108a, 108b, and 108c mounted to the instrument panel 110 of the vehicle 102. The speaker assemblies 108 are adjustable between an open position and a closed position. When arranged in the open position, the speaker assemblies 108 project sound within the passenger compartment 104. The speaker assemblies 108 are also adjustable between an extended position and a retracted position.

[0033] The loudspeaker system 100 monitors for the presence of an object in the vicinity of the speaker assembly 108 that may damage the speaker assembly (e.g., a user attempting to touch the speaker assembly), and then adjusts the speaker assembly 108 to the closed position and / or the retracted position. The first speaker assembly 108a is depicted in the closed and extended position. The second speaker assembly 108b is depicted in the closed and retracted position. The third speaker assembly 108c is depicted in the open and extended position. The loudspeaker system 100 may also include a fixed speaker assembly (not shown) that is not adjustable between an open position and a closed position.

[0034] Reference Figure 2 , the speaker assembly 108 includes a transducer 202 mounted to a housing 204. The housing 204 includes a base 206 mounted to a underlying surface. The base 206 is formed in an annular shape about a longitudinal axis AA. The housing 204 includes a sidewall 208 that extends laterally from the base 206. The sidewall 208 is formed in a generally cylindrical shape to define a cavity 210. The sidewall 208 is formed with an opening 212 therethrough. The transducer 202 is mounted to the base 206 and disposed within the cavity 210 to project sound through the opening 212. According to one or more embodiments, the transducer 202 is a high-frequency tweeter. In other embodiments, the transducer 202 is a mid-frequency or low-frequency transducer.

[0035] The speaker assembly 108 includes a rotary actuator 214 for adjusting a first door 216 and a second door 218 between an open position and a closed position about a longitudinal axis A-A. The speaker assembly 108 includes a central axis 220 extending along the axis A-A, and each door 216, 218 is pivotally connected to the central axis 220. The speaker assembly 108 includes a screen 222 disposed above the transducer 202. The speaker assembly 108 includes a cover 224 attached to the distal end of the sidewall 208, which together with the screen 222 encloses the transducer 202, the rotary actuator 214, and the doors 216, 218 within a cavity 210.

[0036] The speaker assembly 108 includes a sensor 226 to monitor movement near the housing. For example, the sensor 226 can detect a user's hand near the housing 204. The sensor 226 is mounted to a base 206 within the cavity 210. The sensor 226 can be a capacitive sensor to detect contact with the housing 204, or one or more ranging sensors that detect distance, such as an optical sensor, a radar sensor, or an ultrasonic sensor.

[0037] The speaker assembly 108 includes an illumination assembly 228 to convey information to one or more occupants of the vehicle 102. According to the illustrated embodiment, the illumination assembly 228 includes a light-emitting device 230, such as a light-emitting diode (LED), mounted to a circuit board assembly 232. The illumination assembly 228 can be controlled to emit light in response to movement detected by the sensor 226.

[0038] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 and, the first door 216 is formed in an arc shape corresponding to the circumference of the sidewall 208. A first plate 302 extends laterally from the upper portion of the first door 216. The first plate 302 includes a distal end 304 having a hole 306 formed therethrough that is aligned with the longitudinal axis A-A (as Figure 2 shown). A first annular gear segment 308 extends laterally from the first plate 302 near the first door 216. The rotary actuator 214 includes a first output gear 310 that engages the first annular gear segment 308 to adjust the first door 216.

[0039] The second door 218 is formed in an arc shape corresponding to the circumference of the sidewall 208. A second plate 312 extends laterally from the upper portion of the second door 218. The first plate 312 includes a distal end 314 having a hole 316 formed therethrough that is aligned with the longitudinal axis A-A (as Figure 2 shown). A second annular gear segment 318 extends laterally from the second plate 312 near the second door 218. The rotary actuator 214 includes a second output gear 320 that engages the second annular gear segment 318 to adjust the second door 218 between an open position and a closed position.

[0040] The rotary actuator 214 rotates the first door 216 and the second door 218 relative to each other in opposite directions about the longitudinal axis A-A between a closed position and an open position. The first door 216 includes a distal end 322, and the second door 218 includes a distal end 324. As Figure 3 shown, when the doors 216, 218 are arranged in the closed position, the distal ends 322, 324 of the doors 216, 218 contact each other above the central portion of the opening 212 to enclose the screen 222 of the transducer 202 within the cavity 210. As Figure 7A shown, when in the open position, the distal ends 322, 324 of the doors 216, 218 are spaced apart from each other along the circumference of the housing 204 to facilitate the scattering of sound from the transducer 202 through the opening 212.

[0041] Referring Figure 5 to, the rotary actuator 214 includes a motor 502 and a transmission 504 supported by a housing 506. According to one or more embodiments, the motor 502 is a direct current motor connected to a vehicle battery (not shown). The housing 506 defines a cavity 508. The motor 502 is mounted to the housing 506 and includes a motor shaft 510 that extends into the cavity 508 along a motor axis B-B that is parallel and aligned with the longitudinal axis A-A (as Figure 2 shown). A worm 512 is attached to the motor shaft 510.

[0042] The transmission 504 includes a worm wheel 514 that is mounted for rotation about a worm axis C-C that is laterally disposed relative to the motor axis B-B. The worm wheel 514 meshes with the worm 512 to transfer motor torque to the transmission 504. The transmission 504 includes a worm screw 516 that extends from the worm wheel 514 along the worm axis C-C.

[0043] The transmission 504 includes a first compound idler gear train 518 and a second compound idler gear train 520 that mesh with opposite sides of the worm screw 516 to rotate in opposite directions. The first compound idler gear train 518 includes a first helical gear 522 and a first spur gear 524 that are coaxially aligned. The first helical gear 522 meshes with the worm screw 516. The first output gear 310 is part of a compound output gear train that also includes a first output spur gear 526 (not shown). The first spur gear 524 meshes with the first output spur gear 526 to transfer motor torque through the transmission to the first ring gear segment 308.

[0044] The second compound idler gear drive 520 includes a second helical gear 532 and a second spur gear 534 that are coaxially aligned. The second helical gear 532 meshes with the worm screw 516. The second output gear 320 is part of a compound output gear drive that also includes a second output spur gear 536 (not shown). The second spur gear 534 meshes with the second output spur gear 536 to transmit motor torque through the transmission to the second ring gear 318.

[0045] Reference Figure 6 , according to one or more embodiments, the speaker assembly 108 includes a linear actuator 600 for adjusting the housing 204 between an extended position and a retracted position along the longitudinal axis A-A. The linear actuator 600 includes a motor 602 coupled to a transmission 604. The transmission 604 includes a lead screw 606 that is connected to the housing 204 to translate the housing 204 between the extended position and the retracted position. In one or more embodiments, a single actuator provides the functions of both the rotary actuator 214 and the linear actuator 600.

[0046] Figures 7A through 7D Adjustments of the speaker assembly 108 between an open position and a closed position and between an extended position and a retracted position are shown. Figure 7A The speaker assembly 108 in an open and extended position is shown. Figure 7B The speaker assembly 108 in a closed and extended position is shown. Figure 7C The speaker assembly 108 in a closed and partially retracted position is shown. Figure 7D The speaker assembly 108 in a closed and retracted position is shown.

[0047] Reference Figure 8 , the speaker system 100 includes a controller 802 for controlling the adjustment of each speaker assembly 108. The controller 802 includes a transceiver 804 for communicating with each sensor 226 to receive inputs indicative of movement proximate to the speaker assembly 108. The controller 802 can then control the motor 502 of the rotary actuator 214 and / or the motor 602 of the linear actuator 600 to adjust the speaker assembly between an open position and a closed position and between an extended position and a retracted position. The controller 802 can also control the lighting assembly 228 to convey information to a user of the vehicle 102.

[0048] The controller 802 also communicates with one or more vehicle systems 806 to receive vehicle information such as a vehicle accident, and then controls the actuators 214, 600 to adjust the speaker assembly 108 before an accident occurs. The controller 802 may also receive information that another vehicle system 806 is using the same location of the vehicle 102 as the speaker assembly 108 for other purposes (e.g., projecting an image onto the dashboard), and then controls the actuators 214, 600 to adjust the speaker assembly 108 before the overlapping use.

[0049] The controller 802 also communicates with a media device 808 (such as a head-unit of an audio system) to receive media content (such as audio files). The controller 802 uses the transceiver 804 to provide an audio signal to the speaker assembly 108 based on the media content. In other embodiments, the media device 808 may communicate with the speaker assembly 108 via wired communication and / or provide other media content, such as a video signal. According to one or more embodiments, the media device 808 also includes one or more receivers (not shown) for receiving signals from external sources (e.g., AM, FM, satellite, and HD signals).

[0050] The controller 802 includes a processing unit or processor 810, which may include any number of microprocessors, GPUs, ASICs, ICs, memories (e.g., FLASH, ROM, RAM, EPROM, and / or EEPROM), and software code to cooperate with each other to perform a series of operations. Such hardware and / or software may be grouped together in an assembly to perform certain functions. Any one or more of the controllers or devices described herein include computer-executable instructions that may be compiled or interpreted from computer programs created using various programming languages and / or technologies. The controller 802 also includes a memory 812 or a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium capable of storing instructions of a software program. The memory 812 may be, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination thereof. Generally, the processor 810 receives instructions, for example, from the memory 812, a computer-readable medium, etc., and executes these instructions. According to aspects of the present disclosure, the controller 802 also includes predetermined data or a "look-up table" stored in the memory 812.

[0051] Reference Figure 9 , a flowchart depicting a method for controlling the adjustment of a speaker assembly according to one or more embodiments is shown, and the flowchart is generally referred to by the numeral 900.

[0052] According to one or more embodiments, method 900 is implemented using software code executed by processor 810 and included in memory 812 of controller 802. Although the flowchart is shown as having multiple ordered steps, one or more steps may be omitted and / or performed in another manner without departing from the scope and intent of the present disclosure.

[0053] At step 902, controller 802 receives inputs such as motion data from sensor 226 and vehicle information from vehicle system 806. The motion data may also indicate the position of speaker assembly 108. The vehicle information may include accident information, overlapping usage information, vehicle on / off status information, and audio system status information.

[0054] At step 904, controller 802 determines whether speaker assembly 108 is in the open position based on the inputs. If the speaker assembly is closed, i.e., not open, controller 802 proceeds to step 906 to determine whether vehicle 102 is on, and then proceeds to step 908 to determine whether media device 808 is on. If both vehicle 102 and media device 808 are on, controller 802 proceeds to step 910 and controls rotary actuator 214 to open speaker assembly 108. If controller 802 determines at step 904 that speaker assembly 108 is open, it proceeds to step 912.

[0055] At step 912, controller 802 evaluates the inputs to determine whether an object (e.g., a hand) is detected near speaker assembly 108. If an object is detected nearby, controller 802 proceeds to step 914 and controls rotary actuator 214 to close speaker assembly 108. In one or more embodiments, controller 802 also controls linear actuator 600 to retract speaker assembly 108. If no object is detected nearby, controller 802 proceeds to step 916. At step 916, controller 802 evaluates the inputs to determine whether the vehicle system is using the same space as speaker assembly 108, and if so, controller 802 proceeds to step 914 and controls rotary actuator 214 to close speaker assembly 108. If no nearby or overlapping vehicle system usage is detected, controller 802 proceeds to step 918. At step 918, controller 802 evaluates the inputs to determine whether an accident is detected, and if so, controller 802 proceeds to step 914 and controls rotary actuator 214 to close speaker assembly 108.

[0056] Although the exemplary embodiments described above are presented, these embodiments are not intended to describe all possible forms. On the contrary, the words used in this specification are descriptive rather than restrictive, and it should be understood that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, the features of the various implemented embodiments can be combined to form additional embodiments.

Claims

1. A loudspeaker assembly, comprising: A housing having an opening formed therethrough along an axis and disposed about the axis; A transducer mounted to the housing to project sound through the opening; At least one door mounted for adjustment relative to the axis between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, a distal end of the at least one door extends over a portion of the opening, and wherein in the open position, the distal end of the at least one door retracts along the housing to facilitate projection of the sound through the opening; And An actuator coupled to the at least one door to adjust the at least one door between the closed position and the open position.

2. The loudspeaker assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one door further comprises a first door and a second door, each of the first door and the second door being formed in an arc shape and being mounted for rotation about the axis in opposite directions relative to the other of the first door and the second door between the closed position and the open position.

3. The loudspeaker assembly according to claim 2, wherein in the closed position, the distal ends of the first door and the second door contact each other above the central portion of the opening, and wherein in the open position, the distal ends of the first door and the second door are spaced apart from each other along the circumference of the housing to facilitate projection of the sound through the opening.

4. The loudspeaker assembly according to claim 3, wherein each of the first door and the second door comprises an annular gear segment, and the actuator comprises: A motor coupled to a pair of output gears through one or more intermediate gears such that the output gears rotate in opposite directions, each output gear configured to engage one of the ring gear segments to rotate a corresponding door between the open position and the closed position.

5. The loudspeaker assembly according to claim 4, wherein the actuator further comprises: A motor shaft extending from the motor along a motor axis parallel to the axis; A first worm attached to the motor shaft; A worm set mounted for rotation about a worm axis disposed transverse to the motor axis, the worm set including worm gears to engage the first worm and a second worm; A pair of compound idler gears, each compound idler gear including a first gear and a second gear for engaging the second worm, each compound idler gear disposed on opposite sides of the second worm to rotate in a direction opposite to the other compound idler gear; And A pair of compound output gears, each compound output gear including a first output gear for engaging one of the ring gear segments and a second output gear for engaging the second gear.

6. The loudspeaker assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: A sensor for monitoring movement around the housing; And A controller in communication with the sensor and programmed to control the actuator to adjust the at least one door to the closed position in response to movement near the housing.

7. The loudspeaker assembly according to claim 6, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a capacitive sensor, an optical sensor, a radar sensor, and an ultrasonic sensor.

8. The loudspeaker assembly according to claim 6, further comprising: A linear actuator coupled to the housing and configured to adjust the housing between an extended position and a retracted position along the axis, wherein the housing is at least partially disposed below a surface in the retracted position.

9. The loudspeaker assembly according to claim 8, wherein the controller is further programmed to control the linear actuator to adjust the housing to the retracted position in response to movement close to the housing.

10. The loudspeaker assembly according to claim 6, further comprising: At least one light-emitting device supported by the housing; Wherein the controller is further programmed to control the at least one light-emitting device to emit light in response to movement near the housing.

11. The loudspeaker assembly according to claim 10, wherein the at least one light-emitting device further comprises a light-emitting diode.

12. The loudspeaker assembly according to claim 6, wherein the controller is further programmed to: Control the actuator to adjust at least one door to the closed position in response to an input indicating at least one of a vehicle accident and overlapping use, the overlapping use indicating a device or feature that occupies the same space as the loudspeaker assembly.

13. The loudspeaker assembly according to claim 6, wherein the controller is further programmed to control the actuator to adjust the at least one door to the open position in response to vehicle status information and audio system status information.

14. A method for controlling a loudspeaker assembly, comprising: Detect movement near a sound projection opening of a speaker housing; And In response to movement near the speaker housing, adjust at least one door to a closed position such that it extends over the sound projection opening.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising: Retract the speaker housing in response to detecting movement near the housing.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising: Emit light in response to detecting movement near the housing.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising: Close the at least one door in response to detecting at least one of a vehicle accident and overlapping use, the overlapping use indicating a device or feature occupying the same space as the speaker assembly.

18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising: Open the at least one door in response to vehicle state information and audio system state information.

19. A loudspeaker assembly, comprising: A housing that forms an annular base about a longitudinal axis and a sidewall that extends laterally from the base, wherein the sidewall forms an opening; A transducer mounted to the base to project sound through the opening of the housing; A first door and a second door mounted to rotate relative to each other in opposite directions about the longitudinal axis between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the distal ends of each door contact each other above a central portion of the opening, and wherein in the open position, the distal ends of each door are spaced apart from each other along a circumference of the housing to facilitate scattering of the sound through the opening, each of the first door and the second door being formed with an annular gear segment; And An actuator that includes a motor coupled to a pair of output gears through one or more intermediate gears such that the output gears rotate in opposite directions, each output gear configured to engage one of the annular gear segments to rotate a corresponding door between the open position and the closed position.

20. The loudspeaker assembly according to claim 19, further comprising: A sensor for monitoring movement in proximity to the housing; And A controller in communication with the sensor and programmed to control the actuator to adjust the first door and the second door to the closed position in response to movement in proximity to the housing.

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