Customizable waveguides and related systems and methods

Abstract

Customizable waveguides for use in speakers and related systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a waveguide includes a frame and a waveguide insert sealably coupled to the frame. The frame may include a first end region coupleable to a compression driver in the speaker and a second end region opposite the first end region. The second end region may be coupled to a front baffle of the speaker when the first end region is coupled to the compression driver. Further, the frame may be symmetric about a vertical axis and / or a horizontal axis of the frame. The waveguide insert may include a first half-horn coupleable to a first longitudinal half of the frame, a second half-horn coupleable to a second longitudinal half of the frame opposite the first longitudinal half, and a spacer between the first half-horn and the second half-horn.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority and benefit to U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 177,081, filed March 1, 2023, entitled “Customizable waveguides and related systems and methods,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure generally relates to loudspeaker technology. More specifically, the technology relates to customizable waveguides for shaping sound waves from loudspeakers. Background Technology

[0004] Loudspeakers typically use waveguides (also called loudspeaker horns) to improve the overall efficiency of the driving elements within the loudspeaker and to direct the resulting sound waves toward a target. For example, a typical loudspeaker has a compression driver that oscillates to generate sound waves. The compression driver is attached to a waveguide, which improves the coupling between the compression driver and the surrounding air, for example, by providing impedance matching between the material of the compression driver and the air. For this purpose, the waveguide has a narrow section coupled to the compression driver (called the "throat"), a gradually expanding middle section (called the "neck") to shape and extend the sound waves, and an end section that projects the sound waves out of the loudspeaker (called the "mouth") (e.g., the part of the loudspeaker that interacts with the external ambient air). As a result of waveform shaping and impedance matching, the waveguide can significantly improve the sound output from the compression driver.

[0005] The shape of the neck can also affect the direction in which sound waves leave the waveguide. Modern loudspeakers are manufactured with specific angles in their waveguides to better direct sound waves into the space where the loudspeaker is used. For example, wide-angle loudspeakers can be used to direct sound waves into large rooms (e.g., conference rooms, concert halls, cinemas, etc.), while narrow-angle loudspeakers can be used to fill specific spaces in a room that are not well covered by wide-angle loudspeakers. Attached Figure Description

[0006] Figure 1 It is a schematic top view of a space employing loudspeakers with various beamwidths customized for the space.

[0007] Figure 2 This is a partial schematic diagram of a speaker configured according to an embodiment of the present technology.

[0008] Figure 3A and 3B This is a schematic diagram of the exploded portion of a customizable waveguide configured according to an embodiment of the present technology.

[0009] Figure 4 This is a partial cross-sectional view of a customizable waveguide configured according to an embodiment of the present technology.

[0010] Figure 5A This is a partial schematic diagram of a frame configured for a customizable waveguide according to an embodiment of the present technology.

[0011] Figure 5B yes Figure 5A A magnified partial schematic diagram of the framework.

[0012] Figure 6 This is a partial cross-sectional view of a customizable waveguide configured according to a further embodiment of the present technology.

[0013] Figure 7 This is a schematic top view of a space with a speaker having a customizable waveguide configured according to an embodiment of the present technology.

[0014] The accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Similarly, for the purpose of discussing some embodiments of this technology, some components and / or operations may be divided into different blocks or combined into a single block. Furthermore, while this technology is applicable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings and are described in detail below. However, it is not intended to limit the technology to the specific embodiments described. Detailed Implementation

[0015] Overview

[0016] Loudspeaker systems can be manufactured using highly specialized waveguides and specific speaker placement to create sophisticated acoustic effects (e.g., surround sound, 3D sound environments, etc.) for spaces such as conference centers, concert halls, cinemas, and churches. More specifically, loudspeakers can be created and placed in specific locations to ensure complete acoustic coverage of the space with relatively little overlap and / or dead zones. Overlap can cause various distortions in sound, ruining artistic intent and / or the listener's experience. Similarly, dead zones create undesirable pockets in the space for the listener. However, loudspeakers created for these environments are limited in use because they are specifically designed for a particular environment and / or experience. Furthermore, they may require specific speaker placement, which can be difficult to address when the environment changes (e.g., when a conference center is moved between different meetings).

[0017] This document discloses loudspeakers with customizable waveguides that address these drawbacks, along with related systems and methods. A representative loudspeaker may include a compression driver (or other suitable driver, such as a piezoelectric driver, dome driver, cone driver, etc.) located within the loudspeaker housing and pointing towards a front baffle of the housing. The waveguide may include a frame operatively coupled (or hermetically coupled) between the compression driver and the front baffle, and a waveguide insert hermetically coupled to the frame. The operative coupling helps direct any acoustic waves generated by the compression driver into the frame and toward the front baffle. The operative coupling also secures the frame in place so that acoustic waves do not cause the frame to vibrate (or otherwise move), which could lead to distortion of the acoustic waves. The hermetically coupled coupling helps ensure that there is no (or very little) interface with ambient air (e.g., non-driven air within the loudspeaker housing) through the frame and / or the waveguide insert. The hermetically coupled coupling helps allow the waveguide insert to shape the acoustic waves and perform any necessary impedance matching between the compression driver and the front baffle. As discussed in more detail below, the frame can provide a fixed structure, while the waveguide inserts can be customized for specific speaker setups and / or use. Furthermore, the waveguide inserts can be asymmetrical about one or more axes and / or rotatable within the frame. As a result, the waveguide inserts can allow a single speaker to be configured to produce multiple different acoustic coverage angles.

[0018] The frame may include a first end region (e.g., a throat) that can be coupled to a compression driver in a loudspeaker and a second end region (e.g., a mouth) that can be coupled to a front baffle of the loudspeaker. In some embodiments, the frame may be symmetrical about the frame's vertical and / or horizontal axes. Purely as an example, the mouth of the frame may have a generally square perimeter, allowing the waveguide insert to rotate 90 degrees to achieve varying coverage.

[0019] In some embodiments, the waveguide insert includes a first half-horn couplerable to a first longitudinal half of a frame, a second half-horn couplerable to a second longitudinal half of a frame, and a separator positionable between the first and second half-horns. The first half-horn may have a first beamwidth, while the second half-horn may have a second beamwidth. The first and second beamwidths may differ, resulting in asymmetric coverage from the waveguide insert, which can be customized for a specific space and / or intended use of the loudspeaker. For example, in some embodiments, the first and / or second half-horns may be switched with various other half-horns having various other beamwidths. For example, the waveguide insert may be decoupled from the frame, the first and / or second half-horns may be interchanged with another half-horn, and the waveguide insert may be recoupled to the frame. This change can customize the acoustic coverage of the waveguide insert to suit the needs of the loudspeaker's space and / or specific use. Additionally or alternatively, the waveguide insert may be detached from the frame, rotated about a longitudinal axis, and recoupled to the frame in a new orientation.

[0020] For ease of reference, loudspeakers, waveguides, and their components are sometimes described herein with reference to top and bottom, upper and lower, upward and downward and / or horizontal planes, xy planes, vertical directions, or z-directions relative to the spatial orientation of the embodiments shown in the figures. However, it should be understood that loudspeakers, waveguides, and their components can be moved to different spatial orientations and used in different spatial orientations without altering the structure and / or function of the embodiments disclosed herein. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic top view of a space 101 employing a loudspeaker system 110 with various beamwidths. In various embodiments, space 101 can be a conference room, concert hall, cinema, and / or any other room (or outdoor space) where loudspeakers are used to project sound (speech, commentary, dialogue, music, film, or other audible output) to an audience, for example, having one or more receivers. Space 101 includes a target area 102 where the audience may be located. Therefore, loudspeaker system 110 can be positioned and configured to generally aim at target area 102.

[0022] exist Figure 1In the configuration shown, providing a loudspeaker system 110 for space 101 presents significant challenges, particularly when the system has loudspeakers 112 mounted near walls or ceilings, which can obstruct or interfere with sound propagation to the target area 102 within space 101. For example, each loudspeaker 112 may include a waveguide 115 that receives sound waves generated by a driving element 114, such as a compression driver, piezoelectric driver, dome driver, cone driver, and / or the like. The waveguide 115 may be mounted to a front baffle 116 of the loudspeaker 112. The waveguide 115 (sometimes referred to herein as a “loudspeaker horn,” “loudspeaker waveguide,” and / or the like) directs sound waves from the loudspeaker 112 to the target area 102. When the loudspeaker 112 has substantially symmetrical waveguides and is mounted near walls, ceilings, and / or other obstructions, the waveguide 115 will produce a beamwidth that is initially symmetrical about the principal plane. For example, as Figure 1 As shown in the first sound path 120, waveguide 115 can shape sound waves to exit speaker 112 at a first angle A relative to the plane of front baffle 116 (e.g., perpendicular to the main plane), reaching the left and right sides of speaker 112 (in the directions shown). Therefore, as shown in the first sound path 120, each of the speakers 112 can provide good acoustic coverage toward the center of target area 102. However, the first sound path 120 will reflect off adjacent walls of space 101, resulting in sound distortion, and areas with dual coverage and areas with only distorted coverage. In this configuration, speaker 112 does not address the challenges present when speakers are mounted next to walls (or other interference barriers), resulting in suboptimal sound propagation to target area 102 and poor sound coverage to the sides of target area 102.

[0023] Some loudspeakers 112 may be specifically constructed with fixed asymmetric waveguides 115 to better fit the target region 102. For example, a custom waveguide 115 may have a beamwidth asymmetric about the principal plane. For example, as shown in the second sound path 130, the custom waveguide 115 can shape sound waves to exit the loudspeaker 112 at a second angle B toward the center of the target region 102 and a third angle C toward the side of the target region 102. The second angle B and the third angle C can be set based on the location of the loudspeaker 112 in the space 101 and the size of the target region 102 in the space 101. As a result, the second sound path 130 provides better coverage over the target region 102 than the first sound path 120. However, such loudspeakers with waveguides 115 of a specific shape to fit a specific target region 102 and / or space 101 have significant limitations if the loudspeaker is to be used in different spaces 101 with different target regions 102.

[0024] Figure 2This is a partial schematic diagram of a loudspeaker 200 configured according to one or more embodiments of the present technology, which can address the challenges experienced by sound systems installed in a wide range of spaces with different configurations. In the illustrated embodiment, the loudspeaker 200 includes a housing 202 having a front baffle 204. The loudspeaker 200 also includes a bass component 210 (e.g., a woofer or subwoofer component) and a horn-speaker component 220, each coupled to the front baffle 204. The bass component 210 can generate sound waves with a relatively low frequency range (e.g., about 60-500 Hz), while the horn-speaker component 220 can generate sound waves with a mid-to-high frequency range (e.g., about 500 Hz-20 kHz).

[0025] In the illustrated embodiment, the loudspeaker component 220 includes a compression driver 222 (or other suitable driving element) and a customizable waveguide 230. The waveguide 230 has a frame 232 coupled between the compression driver 222 and the front baffle 204. The waveguide 230 also includes a waveguide insert 240 that is hermetically and removably coupled to the frame 232. The waveguide insert 240 (sometimes referred to herein as a “customizable waveguide system”) receives, shapes, and guides the sound waves generated by the compression driver 222. Meanwhile, the frame 232 provides structural and mounting support for the waveguide insert 240. The frame 232 helps ensure that the waveguide insert 240 remains rigidly secured to the frame 232 and the loudspeaker housing 202 to avoid distortion in the sound waves. As discussed in more detail below, a waveguide plug 240 of one shape or configuration can be easily and quickly removed from frame 232 and replaced with another waveguide plug 240 of a different shape or configuration (and / or components of waveguide plug 240 can be updated and / or changed to produce different shapes or configurations), thereby adjusting the coverage angle of speaker 200. The customizability of waveguide plug 240 allows speaker 200 to be customized for a given space.

[0026] To shape and guide sound waves, waveguide insert 240 includes a first half-horn 242, a second half-horn 244, and a separator 246. As discussed in more detail below, separator 246 can be mounted between the two half-horns 242 and 244 and extends from a region adjacent to compression driver 222 to the opening region of waveguide insert 240. The first half-horn 242 is coupled to a first longitudinal half of frame 232 and shapes a first half of the sound wave. The second half-horn 244 is coupled to a second longitudinal half of frame 232 and shapes a second half of the sound wave. Separator 246 serves to split the sound wave generated by compression driver 222 into two halves as the sound wave travels from compression driver 222 through waveguide 230 and exits the opening region.

[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, the first half-horn 242 and the second half-horn 244 are asymmetrical about the primary axis (e.g., the y-axis parallel to the separator 246 in the illustrated orientation, also referred to herein as the primary plane) and symmetrical about the secondary axis (e.g., the x-axis perpendicular to the separator 246 in the illustrated orientation). More specifically, the first half-horn 242 has a wider left-right beamwidth (also referred to as the horizontal beamwidth) than the second half-horn 244. As a result, the waveguide insert 240 directs the front half of the sound wave toward a wider region on the right side of the speaker 200 (referring to the direction of travel of the sound wave) than on the left side of the speaker 200. However, because the first half-horn 242 and the second half-horn 244 have the same vertical beamwidth (also referred to as the vertical beamwidth), the waveguide insert 240 will direct the sound wave in the same vertical field on either side of the separator 246. It should be noted that, for illustrative purposes, Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, waveguide 230 and separator 246 are positioned in a substantially vertical orientation, although in other embodiments waveguide 230 and separator 246 may be in different orientations, such as a horizontal orientation relative to a vertical / horizontal reference frame or other angular orientations.

[0028] In various embodiments, the beamwidth of the half-horn can be categorized and / or discussed by reference to the coverage angle provided by the half-horn. This angle is measured from the longitudinal axis (e.g., the z-axis in the illustrated orientation) to the surface of the half-horn. A larger angle is associated with a wider (or larger) beamwidth. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the first half-horn 242 has a left-right beamwidth of approximately 55 degrees (“°”), while the second half-horn 244 has a left-right beamwidth of approximately 35°, thereby establishing a wider left-right beamwidth in the first half-horn 242. Furthermore, both the first half-horn 242 and the second half-horn 244 have a vertical beamwidth of approximately 50°, thereby establishing equal vertical coverage. It should be understood that although the first half-horn 242 and the second half-horn 244 have been shown and discussed in the context of a particular beamwidth, the waveguide plug 230 may include half-horns with any suitable left-right and / or up-down beamwidth (e.g., left-right and / or up-down beamwidths of 0°, 30°, 35°, 45°, 50°, 55°, 60°, 65°, 70°, 90°, 120° and / or any other suitable angle).

[0029] Figure 3A and 3B This is an exploded view of a customizable waveguide 300 configured according to an embodiment of this technology. (See diagram below.) Figure 3A As shown, waveguide 300 is typically similar to the reference above. Figure 2Waveguide 230 is discussed. For example, waveguide 300 includes a driver 305, a frame 310 coupled to the driver 305, and a waveguide insert 320. The frame 310 provides a rigid structure for removably receiving and supporting the waveguide insert 320, which includes an asymmetrical first half-horn 330 and a second half-horn 340, as well as a spacer 350, which is shaped, positioned, and configured to shape and guide acoustic waves exiting the waveguide 300.

[0030] exist Figure 3A In the illustrated embodiment, frame 310 includes a throat 312, a neck 314, and a mouth 316. The throat 312 (sometimes also referred to as the "throat portion" and / or "proximal end") is operatively coupled to driver 305. The neck 314 (sometimes also referred to as the "transition portion") extends radially outward from the longitudinal axis (e.g., the z-axis) of frame 310. The mouth 316 (sometimes also referred to as the "mouth portion" and / or "distal end") is hermetically coupled to the front baffle of a loudspeaker (e.g., Figure 2 The front baffle 204 forms the sound wave that exits the distal end of the waveguide 320. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame 310 is generally symmetrical about the vertical and horizontal axes (e.g., the y-axis and x-axis, respectively). As discussed in more detail below, the symmetry of the frame 310 can help enable rapid rotation and / or other customizations of the waveguide insert 320.

[0031] like Figure 3A As further shown, the first half-horn 330 may include a first throat 332, a first neck 334, and a first mouth 336. The first half-horn 330 may be hermetically coupled to a first longitudinal half of the frame 310. For example, the first mouth 336 may include a through opening 339. To hermetically couple the first half-horn 330 to the frame 310, a user may insert a fastener 360 through the through opening 339 on the first half-horn 330 and into a receiving opening 319 on the frame 310. Once the fastener 360 (e.g., a screw, bolt, magnet, clip, and / or any other suitable element) is inserted, the first mouth 336 may be hermetically connected to the mouth 316, and the first throat 332 may be hermetically connected to the throat 312. In the illustrated embodiment, the first half-horn 330 also includes a protrusion 335. The protrusion 335 can help the user couple the first half-horn 330 (and more generally, the waveguide insert 320) by engaging with a groove in the frame (e.g., rib 524 discussed below with reference to Figure 5). The protrusion 335 can also help increase the rigidity of the first half-horn 330 to reduce deformation caused by vibrations in the first half-horn 330.

[0032] Similar to the first half-horn 330, the second half-horn 340 includes a second throat 342, a second neck 344, and a second mouth 346. Furthermore, the second half-horn 340 can be hermetically coupled to a second longitudinal half of the frame 310. For example, the second mouth 346 may include a through-hole 349 that can receive a fastener 360 in the same manner as described above. Once the fastener 360 (e.g., a screw, bolt, magnet, clip, and / or any other suitable element) is inserted, the second mouth 346 can be hermetically connected to the mouth 316, and the second throat 342 can be hermetically coupled to the throat 312.

[0033] A separator 350 may be positioned between the first half-horn 330 and the second half-horn 340 to form a sound barrier along a principal axis therebetween. The separator 350 may be positioned in the interface between the first half-horn 330 and the second half-horn 340 to create a first acoustic path 338 (also referred to herein as an "acoustic path") in the first half-horn 330 and a second acoustic path 348 isolated from the first acoustic path 338 in the second half-horn 340. Thus, the sound waves generated by the driver 305 are separated between the first acoustic path 338 and the second acoustic path 348, and are accordingly shaped by the asymmetrical first half-horn 330 and the second half-horn 340. In the illustrated embodiment, the separator 350 is captured and hermetically coupled between the first half-horn 330 and the second half-horn 340, thereby closing the open interface between the first half-horn 330 and the second half-horn 340. The separator 350 may include an edge portion 353 contacting the first half-horn 330 and the second half-horn 340, and a through-hole 359 for receiving a fastener 362. Before the user inserts the first half-horn 330 and / or the second half-horn 340 into the frame 310, the user may, for example, insert the fastener 362 into the through-hole 359 on the separator 350 and (respectively) into the receiving openings 337, 347 on the first half-horn 330 and the second half-horn 340. In various embodiments, the user may couple each component of the waveguide plug 320 together before hermetically coupling the waveguide plug 320 to the frame 310, and / or may couple the first half-horn 330 and the second half-horn 340 to the frame 310 independently.

[0034] In some embodiments, the customizable waveguide 300 may use a first half-horn 330 and a second half-horn 340 having the same shape and profile, so that the half-horns are mirror images of each other and symmetrical about the vertical and horizontal axes. As a result, the first half-horn 330 and the second half-horn 340 have the same beamwidth. In some such embodiments, the separator 350 may be omitted because there is no need to divide the sound waves. In other embodiments, the shape and profile of the first half-horn 330 differ from that of the second half-horn, such that the first half-horn 330 and the second half-horn 340 mounted within the frame 310 are not mirror images of each other and may be asymmetrical about one axis (e.g., asymmetrical about the main axis in the illustrated orientation) and symmetrical about a second orthogonal axis (e.g., symmetrical about the secondary axis in the illustrated orientation). The asymmetry along the main axis allows the waveguide insert 320 to be customized in which a loudspeaker (e.g., Figure 2 The space for the loudspeaker 200. Symmetry along the secondary axis helps ensure that when constructing the waveguide insert 320 (e.g., by allowing the edges of the separator 350 to uniformly match both the first and second half-horns 330, 340), the first and second half-horns 330, 340 form a sealed connection with the separator 350. However, in some embodiments, the first half-horn 330 and the second half-horn 340 are asymmetrical about both the primary and secondary axes. This additional asymmetry allows the waveguide insert 320 to be further customized in which the loudspeaker (e.g., [missing information]) will be utilized. Figure 2 The space for the speaker (200).

[0035] The modular construction of waveguide plug-in 320 also allows for further customization of the components and / or orientation of waveguide 300. For example, as Figure 3B As shown, waveguide insert 320 can rotate along rotation path P1 (e.g., about the longitudinal axis of waveguide 300). In the illustrated embodiment, waveguide insert 320 has been rotated 90 degrees, such that the vertical axis is the primary axis and the horizontal axis is the secondary axis.

[0036] As mentioned above, rotation allows a speaker with a waveguide insert 320 that is asymmetrical about the main axis to be customized for varying spatial configurations. Purely as an example, Figure 3B The orientation shown can be applied to Figure 1 The speaker 112 shown is configured to provide a narrow beamwidth toward the periphery of the target region 102 and a wide beamwidth toward the center of the target region 102. In another example, Figure 3A The orientation shown can be adapted for speakers carried by the ceiling of a space (e.g., ceiling-mounted speakers in a movie theater) to provide a narrow beamwidth to the ceiling of the space and a wide beamwidth to the rest of the space.

[0037] like Figure 3BAs further shown, the opening 316 of the frame 310 may have a peripheral shape symmetrical about the vertical and / or horizontal axes to facilitate rotation of the waveguide insert 320. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the opening 316 has a periphery of a generally square shape (e.g., a square with rounded corners and / or convex edges), while the first opening 336 and the second opening 346 each have a periphery matching half of the generally square shape. As a result, the waveguide insert 320 can be easily separated from the frame 310, rotated any multiple of 90 degrees about the longitudinal axis, and then recoupled to the frame 310. Furthermore, the shape matching between the periphery of the opening 316 and the first and second openings 336, 346 can help improve the seal between the frame 310 and the waveguide insert 320 by simplifying alignment.

[0038] It should be understood that, in various embodiments, waveguide plug-in 320 can be decomposed into additional components to further customize waveguide plug-in 320. Purely by way of example, the first and / or second half-horns 330, 340 of waveguide plug-in 320 can be interchanged with other half-horns having different beamwidths. In another example, waveguide plug-in 320 may include a quarter-horn instead of... Figure 3A and 3B The first half-horn 330 and the second half-horn 340 are shown. In such an embodiment, the waveguide insert 320 may include separators that divide the sound waves into four components, each shaped independently by one of the quarter-horns (e.g., with four varying beamwidths), thereby allowing the waveguide insert 320 to be further customized to space. Furthermore, it should be understood that additional customization does not require the use of a different frame in the loudspeaker. As a result, Figure 3A and 3B The frame 310 shown can link a loudspeaker to a custom waveguide plug-in for a wide array.

[0039] Figure 4 This is a partial cross-sectional view of a customizable waveguide 400 configured according to an embodiment of the present technology. In the illustrated embodiment, the customizable waveguide 400 (“waveguide 400”) is generally similar to the reference above. Figure 3A and 3B Waveguide 300 is discussed. For example, waveguide 400 includes a frame 410 and a waveguide insert 420. Frame 410 includes a throat 412, a neck 414, and a mouth 416. Waveguide insert 420 includes a first half-horn 430, a second half-horn 440, and a separator 450.

[0040] like Figure 4As further shown, the throat 412 includes a driver interface 411 operatively coupled to a compression driver 405 (or other suitable acoustic driver). In various embodiments, the driver interface 411 may be operatively coupled to the compression driver 405 via one or more fasteners, adhesives, washers (e.g., rubber washers), O-rings, and / or the like. As a result of the operative coupling between the compression driver 405 and the throat 412, acoustic waves generated by the compression driver 405 are guided into the waveguide 400. Furthermore, the waveguide insert 420 may be hermetically coupled to the throat 412 at a first interface 422. When the waveguide insert 420 is coupled to the frame 410 (e.g., using the reference above), Figure 3A The seal at the first interface 422 (discussed fastener 360) can be created by one or more fasteners, washers, O-rings, etc. As a result of the hermetically coupled connection between the throat 412 and the waveguide insert 420, the acoustic waves generated by the compression driver 405 are guided into the waveguide insert 420. Furthermore, the waveguide insert 420 can be hermetically coupled to the mouth 416 at the second interface 424. Similarly, the seal at the second interface 424 can be formed via one or more fasteners, washers, O-rings, and / or the like. This hermetically coupled connection helps ensure that the acoustic waves shaped by the waveguide insert 420 are projected outward with little (or no) distortion due to movement around the second interface 424.

[0041] Figure 4 An asymmetric embodiment of the waveguide plug 420 is also shown, which provides a varying beamwidth for the resulting acoustic waves. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the first half-horn 430 has a first pinch point 435 (sometimes referred to herein as a “knock point” and / or “pivot point”) at a first distance D1 from the driver interface 411. The first half-horn 430 extends generally straight to the first pinch point 435 and then tilts outward along its periphery towards the second interface 424 at a first angle E. The first angle E defines the beamwidth of the first half-horn 430. Similarly, the second half-horn 440 has a second pinch point 445 at a second distance D2 from the driver interface 411. The second half-horn 440 extends generally straight to the second pinch point 445 and then tilts outward along its periphery towards the second interface 424 at a second angle F. The second angle F defines the beamwidth of the second half-horn 440.

[0042] like Figure 4As shown, the first distance D1 is greater than the second distance D2, therefore the first clamp 435 is positioned far from the second clamp 445 relative to the driver interface 411. Therefore, the first angle E is greater than the second angle F (e.g., because the first half-horn 430 must transition faster than the second half-horn 440). Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, the first half-horn 430 has a wider beamwidth than the second half-horn 440. As mentioned above, the varying beamwidths of the different half-horns can be used to customize the waveguide insert 420 to fit the space. Purely as an example, the narrower beamwidth of the second half-horn 440 can be used to guide sound waves. Figure 1 The target area 102 is located around the perimeter, while the wider beamwidth of the first half-horn can be used to direct sound waves to the center of the target area 102.

[0043] like Figure 4 As further shown, the separator 450 includes a first edge 452 (e.g., a proximal edge) and a second edge 454 (e.g., a distal edge) opposite the first edge 452. The first edge 452 is positioned at a non-zero third distance D3 from the driver interface 411. As a result, the first edge 452 is positioned at a non-zero distance from the first junction 422. The non-zero spacing between the first edge 452 and the driver interface 411 allows acoustic waves from the compression driver 405 to initially enter the waveguide insert 420 before being split in half (or any other suitable split, such as one-third, one-quarter, one-eighth, etc.). The non-immediate splitting of the acoustic waves can improve the quality of the resulting wave. For example, by spacing the first edge 452 from the source of the acoustic waves, the waveguide insert 420 can reduce (or eliminate) reflections, resonances, and / or interference to the acoustic waves and / or the compression driver 405 from the first edge 452. The larger distance between the first edge 452 and the source of the acoustic waves results in more consistent acoustic coverage of the resulting wave. However, in embodiments where the waveguide insert 420 is asymmetrical about one or more axes, the larger distance between the first edge 452 and the source of the sound wave also results in a larger effect from acoustic cancellation. Furthermore, the acoustic cancellation can be centered on a significant audio range (e.g., between approximately 1 kHz and 1.5 kHz, or approximately 1.1 kHz). In contrast, a shorter distance between the first edge 452 and the sound wave source results in some variation in acoustic coverage but reduces the effect of acoustic cancellation below the range of human hearing. As a result, a third distance D3 can be selected to balance the trade-off between the larger and smaller distances. In various embodiments, the third distance D3 can be between approximately 10 mm and approximately 50 mm, or approximately 16 mm.

[0044] The central portion of the second edge 454 of the separator 450 is positioned at a fourth distance D4 from the driver interface 411 and a fifth distance D5 from the second interface 424. The fourth distance D4 is greater than the first distance D1 (and the second distance D2), while the fifth distance D5 is not zero. The second edge 454 of the separator 450 is positioned distal to the first clamp 435 and the second clamp 445, but within the waveguide insert 420. The distal positioning of the second edge 454 relative to the first clamp 435 and the second clamp 445 allows the separator 450 to maintain the separation of acoustic waves in the first half-horn 430 and the second half-horn 440 until the acoustic waves have been shaped in their respective halves. The separator 450 can be configured to close the open interface between the first half-horn 430 and the second half-horn 440 until the corresponding acoustic waves have been shaped in the first half-horn 430 and the second half-horn 440. After the acoustic waves have been shaped, the interaction between the waves does not cause interference between the waves and / or affect the beamwidth of the first half-horn 430 and the second half-horn 440. The proximal positioning of the second edge 454 relative to the second interface 424 (and therefore the opening 416) allows the acoustic waves to begin interacting before interacting with the ambient air outside the waveguide insert 420. This interaction allows the acoustic waves to combine before being incident on the ambient air, thereby reducing (or minimizing) distortion in the resulting acoustic waves.

[0045] Figure 5A It is configured according to embodiments of the present technology for customizable waveguides (e.g., Figure 4 A partial schematic diagram of the frame 500 of the waveguide 400. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame 500 includes a throat 510, a neck 520, and a mouth 530. As described above, the throat 510 (sometimes also referred to as the "first end region") is operatively coupled to a compression driver 505 (or other suitable driver) to guide acoustic waves into the waveguide. Figure 5B yes Figure 5A The rear view of frame 500 shows additional details on the throat 510. (See image below.) Figure 5B As shown, the throat 510 may include a radial slot 511, which facilitates the connection of the frame 500 with the compression actuator 505. Figure 5A )integrated.

[0046] Return to Figure 5A The neck 520 transitions from a first width at the throat 510 (e.g., radially expanded, etc.) to a second width at the mouth 530. In the illustrated embodiment, the neck 520 includes an opening 522, which may reduce the weight of the frame 500 and / or allow air to escape when the waveguide insert is coupled to the frame 500. However, in some embodiments, the neck 520 does not include an opening 522. In some such embodiments, the frame 500 may be hermetically coupled to a compression driver 505 and / or a front baffle (e.g., Figure 2 The front baffle 204) and / or another suitable surface. Additionally or alternatively, the neck 520 may include a rib 524 (sometimes referred to herein as a "groove," "mounting rail," etc.). The rib 524 can provide additional rigidity to the frame 500 to reduce (or minimize) distortion of acoustic waves shaped by the waveguide. Additionally or alternatively, the rib 524 can help guide the waveguide insert to couple to the frame 500. For example, the waveguide insert may include one or more protrusions (e.g., Figure 3A The protrusion 335, nested with the rib 524, helps guide the waveguide plug to couple into the frame 500 and / or helps stabilize the waveguide plug once coupled to the frame 500.

[0047] The mouth portion 530 (sometimes also referred to as the "second end region") can be hermetically coupled to the outer surface of the loudspeaker (e.g., Figure 2 Front baffle 204) and waveguide insert (e.g., Figure 3A The waveguide insert 320. In the illustrated embodiment, the mouth 530 includes an outer surface 532, which includes one or more first openings 534 (eight are shown in the illustrated embodiment). The first openings 534 may receive fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts, magnets, clips, and / or any other suitable elements) to couple the mouth 530 to the outer surface of the speaker. The mouth 530 also includes a gasket interface 536 having one or more second openings 538. The gasket interface 536 can help ensure that the waveguide insert is hermetically coupled to the frame 500 and / or help reduce (or minimize and / or eliminate) deformation caused by movement at the gasket interface 536. The second openings 538 may receive fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts, magnets, clips, and / or any other suitable elements) to couple and secure the waveguide insert to the frame 500.

[0048] As described above, frame 500 can be symmetrical about the vertical axis and / or the horizontal axis (e.g., the y-axis and x-axis, respectively). Symmetry allows the waveguide insert to rotate between various orientations and / or allows the half-horns in the waveguide insert to be easily interchanged to customize the beamwidth coverage from the resulting waveguide. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer surface 532 of the opening 530 has a generally square perimeter (in the illustrated embodiment, a square with rounded corners and slightly convex sides). In various other embodiments, the outer surface 532 of the opening 530 can have a variety of other shapes. For example, the perimeter can be a perfect square, a generally hexagonal shape (or a perfect hexagon), a generally octagonal shape (or a perfect octagon), a circle, a rectangle, and / or any other suitable shape.

[0049] Figure 6This is a partial cross-sectional view of a customizable waveguide 600 configured according to a further embodiment of the present technology. In the illustrated embodiment, the customizable waveguide 600 (“waveguide 600”) is generally similar to the reference above. Figure 3A and 3B Waveguide 300 is discussed. For example, waveguide 600 includes a frame 610 and a waveguide insert 620, which includes a separator 650 trapped between a first half-horn 630 and a second half-horn (not shown due to the orientation of the cross-sectional view).

[0050] Similar to the reference above Figure 4 The discussed separator 450, separator 650 has a first edge 652 (e.g., a proximal edge) that is spaced a third distance D3 from the interface 611 of the compression driver 605. However, in the illustrated embodiment, the first edge 652 has a concave curve (e.g., such that the central portion of the first edge 652 is spaced further from the interface 611 than the peripheral portion of the first edge 652). The concave shape helps to spread any reflections, resonances, and / or distortions caused by the splitting of sound waves at the first edge 652 across a variety of frequencies (e.g., rather than forming spikes around a single frequency). Therefore, the reflections, resonances, and / or distortions may be imperceptible to the human ear.

[0051] like Figure 6 As further shown, the separator 650 has a second edge 654 (e.g., a distal edge) spaced apart from the second interface 617 between the frame 610 and the waveguide insert 620 (e.g., at the opening of the waveguide 600). As described above, the spacing between the second edge 654 and the second interface 617 helps to reduce the negative effects of recombination (e.g., reflection, resonance, and / or distortion) by mixing the acoustic waves before they are incident on the ambient air outside the waveguide.

[0052] Furthermore, similar to the first edge 652, the second edge 654 has a concave curve (e.g., such that the central portion of the second edge 654 is spaced further from the second interface 617 than the peripheral portion of the second edge 654). The concave shape helps to amplify any reflections, resonances, and / or distortions caused by the diffraction of sound waves at the second edge 654 and / or the interactions when sound waves recombine to spread across various frequencies. Therefore, reflections, resonances, and / or distortions may be imperceptible to the human ear. In some embodiments, the shape of the concave curve is configured to amplify reflections, resonances, and / or distortions across the entire spectrum generated by the compression driver 605. Full amplification can minimize the effects at any given frequency. In some embodiments, the shape of the concave curve is configured to amplify reflections, resonances, and / or distortions only on a subset of the spectrum generated by the compression driver 605. The subset can be selected based on a preferred subset of the effects (e.g., rarely used frequencies, imperceptible frequencies, etc.).

[0053] Figure 7 This is a schematic top view of a space 701 of a loudspeaker system 710 configured according to an embodiment of the present technology. In the illustrated embodiment, space 701 includes a target area 702 (e.g., an audience area and / or a listening area), and loudspeaker system 710 includes three loudspeakers 712 configured to direct sound waves 730 toward the target area. Furthermore, each of the loudspeakers 712 includes a customizable waveguide 716 (collectively referred to as first waveguides 716a to third waveguides 716c) to customize the acoustic coverage of loudspeaker system 710 for the target area 702.

[0054] For example, the first waveguide 716a and the third waveguide 716c each have an asymmetrical beamwidth, having a peripheral component at a first angle G (above the front baffle of the speaker 712) and a central component at a second angle H. The first angle G is greater than the second angle H. That is, the first and third waveguides 716a and 716c have a relatively narrow beamwidth pointing towards the periphery of the target region 702 and a relatively wide beamwidth pointing towards the central portion of the target region 702. The relatively narrow beamwidth helps reduce reflections from the sides of space 701 and / or covers the entire periphery of the target region 702. The relatively wide beamwidth helps cover most of the central portion of the target region 702. The first angle G (and the corresponding relatively narrow beamwidth) can be created by a first half-horn in a customizable waveguide insert, while the second angle H (and the corresponding relatively narrow beamwidth) can be created by a second half-horn in a customizable waveguide insert. In addition, the waveguide plug-in can be rotated 180 degrees between the first waveguide 716a and the third waveguide 716c to produce an inverted overlay pattern.

[0055] Furthermore, the second waveguide 716b has a symmetrical beamwidth guided at a third angle I toward the central portion of the target region 702. The third angle I (and the corresponding beamwidth) can be generated by a third half-horn (e.g., replacing the first and second half-horns) mounted in the second waveguide 716b. The second waveguide 716b can help cover dead zones in the central portion of the target region 702 (e.g., areas not within the beamwidths from the first waveguide 716a and the third waveguide 716c), thus helping to improve coverage from the loudspeaker system 710. In some embodiments, the third angle I is relatively large, resulting in a narrow beamwidth from the second waveguide 716b covering only a small portion of the central portion of the target region 702, with minimal overlap with the beamwidths from the first waveguide 716a and the third waveguide 716c. In some embodiments, the third angle I is relatively small, resulting in a wide beamwidth from the second waveguide 716b covering a larger segment of the central portion of the target region 702, thus reducing (or eliminating) dead zones.

[0056] Because waveguide 716 is customizable, loudspeaker system 710 can be tailored to any number of spaces and / or acoustic requirements without requiring a variety of loudspeakers 712. For example, some events (e.g., lectures and / or conferences) may prefer to prioritize coverage of target area 702 to reduce (or eliminate) dead zones, with less emphasis on reducing overlap. In such an embodiment, second waveguide 716b can be given a wide beamwidth to ensure maximum coverage. Other events (e.g., movies, concerts, etc.) may prefer to minimize the amount of overlap while keeping the number of dead zones relatively low. In such an embodiment, second waveguide 716b can be given a narrow beamwidth to cover dead zones in target area 702 while minimizing overlap with beamwidths from first and third waveguides 716a, 716c. Because only second waveguide 716b needs to be changed, loudspeaker system 710 can quickly adapt to changing events. Furthermore, because the second waveguide 716b can be removed from, customized, and reinserted into the speaker 712, or even replaced with another waveguide (not shown) to customize the coverage, the speaker system 710 does not require many different speakers 712 to be swapped in and out. Therefore, the speaker system 710 can be flexibly adapted to different needs in different spaces and / or for different events.

[0057] Example

[0058] For example, the present technique is illustrated according to various aspects described below. For convenience, various examples of aspects of the present technique are described as numbered examples (1, 2, 3, etc.). These are provided as examples and do not limit the present technique. Note that any dependent examples can be combined in any suitable manner and placed within the corresponding independent examples. Other examples can be presented in a similar manner.

[0059] 1. A waveguide for use in a loudspeaker having a driver and a front baffle, the waveguide comprising:

[0060] A frame having a first end region and a second end region, the first end region being locating adjacent to the driver in the loudspeaker, and the second end region being opposite to the first end region and locating adjacent to the front baffle of the loudspeaker when the first end region is adjacent to the driver, wherein the second end region of the frame is symmetrical about the orthogonal principal axis and secondary axis of the frame; and

[0061] Waveguide plug-in, which has:

[0062] A first half-horn, the first half-horn being capable of coupling to a first longitudinal half of the frame, the first half-horn extending from a first end region to a second end region;

[0063] A second half-horn, removably coupled to the first half-horn and coupled to a second longitudinal half of the frame opposite the first longitudinal half, the second half-horn extending from the first end region to the second end region; and

[0064] A separator, positioned between the first half-horn and the second half-horn, extending from the first end region to the second end region;

[0065] The waveguide plug-in is asymmetrical relative to the primary axis or secondary axis.

[0066] 2. The waveguide according to Example 1, wherein the waveguide plug is removably coupled to the frame.

[0067] 3. The waveguide according to Example 2, wherein the waveguide insert is configured to be decoupled from the frame in a first orientation, rotate about the longitudinal axis of the frame during decoupling, and recoupled to the frame in a second orientation different from the first orientation.

[0068] 4. The waveguide according to Example 1, wherein the first half-horn has a first beamwidth, and wherein the second half-horn has a second beamwidth different from the first beamwidth.

[0069] 5. The waveguide according to Example 1, wherein the first end region of the frame is configured to be sealed with the driver when positioned in the loudspeaker.

[0070] 6. The waveguide according to Example 1, wherein the separator has an edge that can be positioned adjacent to the first end region of the frame, and wherein the edge has a concave curve spaced apart from the throat of the frame in the first end region.

[0071] 7. The waveguide according to Example 1, wherein each of the first half-horn and the second half-horn has a pinch point, wherein the separator has an edge, wherein when the separator is located between the first half-horn and the second half-horn, the edge is located distal to the pinch point of each of the first half-horn and the second half-horn relative to the first end region of the frame, and wherein the edge has a concave curve.

[0072] 8. The waveguide according to Example 1, wherein the first half-horn has a first shape and the second half-horn has a second shape that is different from and is not a mirror image of the first shape.

[0073] 9. A loudspeaker, comprising:

[0074] A housing having a front baffle;

[0075] A driver, which is positioned within the housing;

[0076] A waveguide frame having a first end region coupled to the driver and a second end region carried by the front baffle; and

[0077] A customizable waveguide plug-in, removably coupled to the waveguide frame and extending from the first end region to the second end region, the customizable waveguide plug-in comprising:

[0078] First half of the trumpet;

[0079] The second half of the horn is detachably coupled to the first half of the horn; and

[0080] A separator configured to be positioned between the first half-horn and the second half-horn before the first half-horn and the second half-horn are coupled together.

[0081] 10. The loudspeaker according to Example 9, wherein a first half-horn defines a first acoustic path having a first beamwidth, and a second half-horn defines a second acoustic path having a second beamwidth, and wherein a separator blocks the interaction between sound waves in the first acoustic path and the second acoustic path.

[0082] 11. The loudspeaker according to Example 9, wherein the first half-horn has a first shape and the second half-horn has a second shape that is different from and is not a mirror image of the first shape.

[0083] 12. The loudspeaker according to Example 9, wherein the first half-horn has a first beamwidth, and wherein the second half-horn has a second beamwidth.

[0084] 13. The loudspeaker according to Example 12, wherein the customizable waveguide insert further includes a third half-horn that can be coupled to the first half-horn or the second half-horn and has a third beamwidth, and wherein the customizable waveguide insert is configured to be coupled to the waveguide frame using any two of the first half-horn, the second half-horn and the third half-horn.

[0085] 14. The loudspeaker according to Example 9, wherein:

[0086] The waveguide frame includes a throat coupled to the driver in the first end region, an opening coupled to the front baffle in the second end region, and a neck extending distally from the throat to the opening; and

[0087] The separator has an edge positioned on the distal side of the throat of the frame when the customizable waveguide insert is coupled to the waveguide frame, wherein the edge has a concave curve.

[0088] 15. The loudspeaker according to Example 14, wherein:

[0089] When the customizable waveguide plug is coupled to the waveguide frame, the first half-horn and the second half-horn each have an inflection point located in the neck.

[0090] The edge of the separator is a first edge, and the concave curve is a first concave curve; and

[0091] The separator has a second edge that is positioned far from the inflection point of each of the first and second half-horns when the customizable waveguide insert is coupled to the waveguide frame, wherein the second edge has a second concave curve.

[0092] 16. The loudspeaker according to Example 14, wherein:

[0093] When the customizable waveguide insert is coupled to the frame, the first half-horn has a first inflection point positioned in the neck; and

[0094] The second half-horn has a second inflection point, which is located in the neck away from the first inflection point when the customizable waveguide plug is coupled to the waveguide frame.

[0095] 17. The loudspeaker according to Example 9, wherein the first half-horn is removable from the second half-horn, the separator, and the waveguide frame, wherein the first half-horn is interchangeable with the third half-horn, the third half-horn having a different shape from the first half-horn and being removably connected to the second half-horn, the separator, and the waveguide frame.

[0096] 18. The loudspeaker according to Example 9, wherein the second half-horn is coupled to the first half-horn via one or more first removable fasteners, and the customizable waveguide insert is coupled to the frame via one or more second removable fasteners.

[0097] 19. A customizable waveguide system for use in a loudspeaker, the customizable waveguide system comprising:

[0098] A first horn section extends longitudinally from a first throat to a first mouth, wherein the first horn section includes a first closed side and a first open side opposite to the first closed side, and wherein the first horn section is coupled to a rigid frame in the loudspeaker that extends from a driver to a front baffle.

[0099] A second horn portion, extending from the second throat to the second mouth in the longitudinal direction, includes a second closed side and a second open side opposite to the second closed side, and is coupleable to the first horn portion to form an open interface between the first open side and the second open side; and

[0100] A partition wall, which may be coupled between the first portion of the horn and the second portion of the horn, is positioned at a location that closes at least a portion of the open interface between the first opening side and the second opening side.

[0101] 20. The customizable waveguide system according to Example 19 further includes:

[0102] A third horn portion, extending from a third throat to a third mouth in the longitudinal direction, wherein the third horn portion includes a third closed side and a third open side opposite to the third closed side, and wherein the third horn portion (1) is coupleable to the first horn portion to form a second open interface between the first open side and the third open side, and / or (2) is coupleable to the second horn portion to form a third open interface between the second open side and the third open side, wherein:

[0103] The partition wall may also be coupled between (A) the first part of the horn and the third part of the horn, in a position that closes at least a portion of the second open interface, and / or between (B) the second part of the horn and the third part of the horn, in a position that closes at least a portion of the third open interface.

[0104] in conclusion

[0105] As can be understood from the foregoing, this document has described specific embodiments of the technology for illustrative purposes, but has not shown or described in detail well-known structures and functions to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of embodiments of the technology. In the event of any conflict between this disclosure and any material incorporated herein by reference, this disclosure shall prevail. Singular or plural terms may also include plural or singular terms, respectively, where the context permits. Furthermore, unless the word “or” is explicitly limited to referring only to a single item excluded from a list of two or more items, its use in such a list shall be interpreted as including (a) any single item in the list, (b) all items in the list, or (c) any combination of items in the list. Furthermore, as used herein, the phrase “and / or” in “A and / or B” refers to A alone, B alone, and both A and B. Additionally, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and “with” are always used to indicate that at least the stated feature is included, such that no further number of the same feature and / or other features of additional types are excluded. Furthermore, the terms “about” and “approximately” are used herein to indicate at least 10% of a given value or limit. As an example only, an approximate ratio means within ten percent of a given ratio.

[0106] Based on the foregoing, it should also be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from this disclosure or the present technology. For example, those skilled in the art will understand that the various components of the technology can be further divided into sub-components, or the various components and functions of the technology can be combined and integrated. Furthermore, certain aspects of the technology described in the context of a particular embodiment may also be combined or eliminated in other embodiments.

[0107] Furthermore, while advantages associated with certain embodiments of the present technology have been described in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and not all embodiments must exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the present technology. Therefore, this disclosure and associated technologies may cover other embodiments not expressly shown or described herein.

Claims

1. A waveguide for use in a loudspeaker having a driver and a front baffle, the waveguide comprising: A frame having a first end region and a second end region, the first end region being locating adjacent to the driver in the loudspeaker, the second end region being opposite to the first end region and being locating adjacent to the front baffle of the loudspeaker when the first end region is adjacent to the driver, wherein the second end region of the frame is symmetrical about the orthogonal principal axis and secondary axis of the frame; and Waveguide plug-in, which has: A first half-horn, which can be coupled to a first longitudinal half of the frame, the first half-horn extending from the first end region to the second end region; The second half-horn is removably coupled to the first half-horn and is coupled to a second longitudinal half of the frame opposite to the first longitudinal half, the second half-horn extending from the first end region to the second end region; and A separator, positioned between the first half-horn and the second half-horn, extending from the first end region to the second end region; The waveguide insert is asymmetrical relative to the primary axis or secondary axis.

2. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the waveguide insert is removably coupled to the frame.

3. The waveguide of claim 2, wherein the waveguide insert is configured to be decoupled from the frame in a first orientation, rotate about the longitudinal axis of the frame during decoupling, and recoupled to the frame in a second orientation different from the first orientation.

4. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the first half-horn has a first beamwidth, and wherein the second half-horn has a second beamwidth different from the first beamwidth.

5. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the first end region of the frame is configured to be sealed with the driver when positioned in the loudspeaker.

6. The waveguide according to claim 1, wherein, The separator has an edge that can be positioned adjacent to the first end region of the frame, and wherein the edge has a concave curve spaced apart from the throat of the frame in the first end region.

7. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein each of the first half-horn and the second half-horn has a pinch point, wherein the separator has an edge that, when the separator is positioned between the first half-horn and the second half-horn, is positioned distal to the pinch point of each of the first half-horn and the second half-horn relative to the first end region of the frame, and wherein the edge has a concave curve.

8. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the first half-horn has a first shape, and the second half-horn has a second shape that is different from and is not a mirror image of the first shape.

9. A loudspeaker, comprising: A housing having a front baffle; A driver, which is positioned within the housing; A waveguide frame having a first end region coupled to the driver and a second end region carried by the front baffle; and A customizable waveguide insert, removably coupled to the waveguide frame and extending from the first end region to the second end region, the customizable waveguide insert comprising: First half of the trumpet; The second half of the horn is detachably coupled to the first half of the horn; and A separator configured to be positioned between the first half-horn and the second half-horn before the first half-horn and the second half-horn are coupled together.

10. The loudspeaker of claim 9, wherein the first half-horn defines a first acoustic path having a first beamwidth, and the second half-horn defines a second acoustic path having a second beamwidth, and wherein the separator blocks the interaction between sound waves in the first acoustic path and the second acoustic path.

11. The loudspeaker of claim 9, wherein the first half-horn has a first shape and the second half-horn has a second shape, the second shape being different from the first shape and not a mirror image of the first shape.

12. The loudspeaker of claim 9, wherein the first half-horn has a first beamwidth, and wherein the second half-horn has a second beamwidth.

13. The loudspeaker of claim 12, wherein the customizable waveguide insert further comprises a third half-horn, the third half-horn being coupleable to the first half-horn or the second half-horn and having a third beamwidth, and wherein the customizable waveguide insert is configured to be coupled to the waveguide frame via any two of the first half-horn, the second half-horn, and the third half-horn.

14. The loudspeaker according to claim 9, wherein: The waveguide frame includes a throat coupled to the driver at a first end region, an opening coupled to the front baffle at a second end region, and a neck extending distally from the throat to the opening; and The separator has an edge positioned on the distal side of the throat of the waveguide frame when the customizable waveguide insert is coupled to the waveguide frame, wherein the edge has a concave curve.

15. The loudspeaker according to claim 14, wherein: When the customizable waveguide plug is coupled to the waveguide frame, the first half-horn and the second half-horn each have an inflection point located in the neck. The edge of the separator is a first edge, and the concave curve is a first concave curve; and The separator has a second edge that is positioned far from the inflection point of each of the first and second half-horns when the customizable waveguide insert is coupled to the waveguide frame, wherein the second edge has a second concave curve.

16. The loudspeaker according to claim 14, wherein: When the customizable waveguide plug is coupled to the frame, the first half-horn has a first inflection point located in the neck. and The second half-horn has a second inflection point, which is located in the neck away from the first inflection point when the customizable waveguide plug is coupled to the waveguide frame.

17. The loudspeaker of claim 9, wherein the first half-horn is removable from the second half-horn, the separator, and the waveguide frame, wherein the first half-horn is interchangeable with a third half-horn, the third half-horn having a different shape from the first half-horn and being removably connected to the second half-horn, the separator, and the waveguide frame.

18. The loudspeaker of claim 9, wherein the second half-horn is coupled to the first half-horn via one or more first removable fasteners, and the customizable waveguide insert is coupled to the frame via one or more second removable fasteners.

19. A customizable waveguide system for use in a loudspeaker, the customizable waveguide system comprising: A first horn section extends longitudinally from a first throat to a first mouth, wherein the first horn section includes a first closed side and a first open side opposite to the first closed side, and wherein the first horn section is coupled to a rigid frame in the loudspeaker that extends from a driver to a front baffle. The second part of the horn extends from the second throat to the second mouth in the longitudinal direction, wherein the second part of the horn includes a second closed side and a second open side opposite to the second closed side, and wherein the second part of the horn is coupled to the first part of the horn to form an open interface between the first open side and the second open side; and A partition wall, which may be coupled between the first portion of the horn and the second portion of the horn, is positioned at a location that closes at least a portion of the open interface between the first opening side and the second opening side.

20. The customizable waveguide system of claim 19, further comprising: A third horn portion, extending from a third throat to a third mouth in the longitudinal direction, wherein the third horn portion includes a third closed side and a third open side opposite to the third closed side, and wherein the third horn portion (1) is connectable to the first horn portion to form a second open interface between the first open side and the third open side, and / or (2) is connectable to the second horn portion to form a third open interface between the second open side and the third open side, wherein: The partition wall may also be coupled between (A) the first part of the horn and the third part of the horn, in a position that closes at least a portion of the second open interface, and / or between (B) the second part of the horn and the third part of the horn, in a position that closes at least a portion of the third open interface.

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