Acoustically transparent display with tilted acoustic wave conduit

Abstract

Provided is an acoustically transparent display with a tilted acoustic wave conduit. There is provided an acoustically transparent display device in the form of a device, the device comprising: a display panel; a light source disposed on a front surface of the display panel; and an aperture passing through the display panel, the aperture being disposed between the light sources. In order to better direct sound from a speaker to the viewer, the device is also provided with an acoustic wave conduit arranged on the rear surface of the display panel, the acoustic wave conduit being arranged at a portion of the aperture, the acoustic wave conduit being angularly offset from a normal to the rear surface of the display panel, the sound guide is disposed in the aperture to guide sound received at the rear surface through the portion in the aperture at a non-zero angle with respect to a respective normal to the front surface of the display panel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This specification relates generally to acoustically transparent display devices, and more specifically to acoustically transparent displays with tilted acoustic waveguides. Background Technology

[0002] Self-emissive display technologies, such as LED displays, are increasingly used in theaters and other types of environments. However, a major challenge with self-emissive display technologies is that their use may prevent speakers from being placed behind the display, as the substrate and / or display panel on which the light source is located can block sound from speakers behind the display. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This specification provides an apparatus comprising: a display panel; a light source disposed on a front surface of the display panel; an aperture passing through the display panel and disposed between the light sources; and an acoustic waveguide disposed on a rear surface of the display panel, the acoustic waveguide being disposed at a portion of the aperture, the acoustic waveguide being angled relative to the normal of the rear surface of the display panel to guide sound received at the rear surface through the portion of the aperture at a non-zero angle relative to a corresponding normal of the front surface of the display panel. Attached Figure Description

[0004] To better understand the various examples described herein and to more clearly illustrate how to implement them, reference will now be made to the accompanying figures only by way of example, wherein:

[0005] Figure 1 The front of an acoustically transparent display with a tilted acoustic waveguide, according to a non-limiting example, is depicted.

[0006] Figure 2 Depicting Figure 1 The acoustically transparent display shows a partial cross-section along line AA, and further depicts the wall of the inclined acoustic waveguide in perspective according to a non-limiting example.

[0007] Figure 3 A top view of an acoustically transparent display with a tilted acoustic waveguide, according to a non-limiting example, is depicted, which directs sound to the right and outwards.

[0008] Figure 4 A top view of an acoustically transparent display with a tilted acoustic waveguide, according to a non-limiting example, is depicted, which directs sound to the left and outward.

[0009] Figure 5 An acoustically transparent display installed in a theater according to a non-limiting example is depicted, which has inclined acoustic waveguides that direct sound downward, left, right and outward. Detailed Implementation

[0010] Self-emissive display technologies, such as light-emitting diode (LED) displays, are increasingly used in theaters and other types of environments. However, in many cases, in such theaters, it can be difficult to mount speakers on the walls and / or around the theater. Theater owners and content creators often tend to mount speakers behind the self-emissive display because most of the sound (e.g., actors' voices on screen) originally comes from there. To accommodate speakers behind the self-emissive display, the display can be provided with openings through which sound from the speakers mounted behind it can travel to reach the audience. However, even such a configuration fails to account for the fact that the self-emissive display and speakers may often be mounted above the audience. Therefore, sound from the speakers may be directed over the audience's heads or mistakenly perceived as actors speaking from above the audience. Therefore, this paper presents an acoustically transparent display with a tilted acoustic waveguide. This acoustically transparent display with a tilted acoustic waveguide can more closely match the performance and directionality of traditional theater sound systems.

[0011] One aspect of this specification provides an apparatus comprising: a display panel; a light source disposed on a front surface of the display panel; an aperture through the display panel, the aperture being disposed between the light sources; and an acoustic waveguide disposed on a rear surface of the display panel, the acoustic waveguide being disposed at a portion of the aperture, the acoustic waveguide being angularly offset from the normal of the rear surface of the display panel to guide sound received at the rear surface through the portion of the aperture at a non-zero angle relative to a corresponding normal of the front surface of the display panel.

[0012] Please refer to the following. Figure 1 and Figure 2 They respectively depict the front view and the view along the edge of the device 100. Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional view of device 100 taken by line AA.

[0013] Specifically, device 100 includes an acoustically transparent self-emissive display and / or a modular panel for such an acoustically transparent self-emissive display (e.g., when multiple devices 100 are laid out together).

[0014] The device 100 includes: a display panel 102, light sources 104 disposed on the front surface 105 of the display panel 102, and apertures 106 passing through the display panel 102, the apertures 106 being disposed between the light sources 104. Although only one light source 104 and one aperture 106 are indicated, it will be understood that the device 100 includes a plurality of light sources 104, which are arranged, for example, in an array and / or any other suitable configuration, wherein the plurality of apertures 106 are arranged in an array offset relative to the array of light sources 104. Although the apertures 106 are generally depicted as being located at approximately the same distance from the corners of four adjacent light sources 104, the apertures 106 may be located in any suitable position between the light sources 104 and may or may not be arranged in an array.

[0015] Display panel 102 may include a printed circuit board (PCB), however, display panel 102 may include any suitable material and / or substrate of the components of support device 100.

[0016] The light source 104 may include a light-emitting diode (LED) and / or any other suitable self-emissive light source, including but not limited to an organic light-emitting diode (OLED). Therefore, the display panel 102 and the light source 104 may form one or more of an LED panel and an LED display.

[0017] The light source 104 can be controlled by an image generator (not depicted) to form images and / or video at device 100. Therefore, although not depicted, device 100 should also be understood to include electrical connections to the light source 104, connectors to the image generator, and / or any suitable connectors for tiling and / or electrically connecting device 100 to other devices 100 to form a larger display. For example, such electrical connections can be integrated with a display panel. Such images and / or video can also be accompanied by sound; therefore, as shown, a speaker 108 (and / or multiple speakers) can be mounted behind device 100 to provide such sound, which can pass through aperture 106.

[0018] In practice, the aperture 106 typically passes through the display panel 102 (e.g., from the front surface 105 to the rear surface 110 opposite to the front surface 105, the rear surface 110 being in...). Figure 2 The sound from the speaker 108, mounted behind the device 100 (e.g., adjacent to the rear surface 110), can pass through it, for example, to reach the viewer who is viewing the image and / or video presented at the device 100. Figure 1 In the image, the speaker 108 is depicted in outline, indicating that the speaker 108 is located behind the device 100.

[0019] It should also be understood that the loudspeaker 108 can be arranged relative to the edges of the device 100. In particular, it should be understood that when the device 100 is installed in a theater (or other suitable environment), the device 100 is directional and therefore should be understood to include the left edge 111, the right edge 112, the top edge 113, and the bottom edge 114.

[0020] However, it should be understood that the speaker 108 is not necessarily a component of the device 100, but rather... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The area is depicted to indicate a portion of device 100 where sound can be received from speaker 108 and transmitted through aperture 106. This area will be referred to hereinafter as the speaker area and / or the speaker area of ​​display panel 102. In practice, in some examples, aperture 106 may be located only within the speaker area (and / or may be located within the speaker area, although device 100 may include aperture 106 overlapping with the speaker area), but for ease of manufacture, aperture 106 may be positioned throughout display panel 102, including both inside and outside the speaker area.

[0021] However, since sound can pass through the aperture 106 almost perpendicularly to the display panel 102, the sound may travel over the audience viewing the device 100. In fact, it should be understood in a theater that speakers mounted behind a display (e.g., a screen) are typically mounted at about two-thirds of the height of the display and / or screen from the floor. This often represents the natural area where sound typically emanates from the image (e.g., the sound from an actor's mouth on the screen is often about two-thirds of the height of the display and / or screen from the bottom and / or floor) and helps to distribute the sound more evenly throughout the audience.

[0022] Therefore, as Figure 2 As best shown, the device 100 also includes an acoustic waveguide 202 disposed on the rear surface 110 of the display panel 102, the acoustic waveguide 202 being disposed at least in a portion of the aperture 106 (e.g., in the speaker region), the acoustic waveguide 202 being angled off from the normal 204 of the rear surface 110 of the display panel 102, so as to guide the sound 206 received at the rear surface 110 through the portion of the aperture 106 at a non-zero angle relative to the corresponding normal 208 of the front surface 105 of the display panel 102.

[0023] Furthermore, to illustrate the specific geometry of the acoustic waveguide 202, Figure 2 The acoustic waveguide 202 is drawn in perspective view, but it can be understood that this perspective view is relative to... Figure 2 The original cross-sectional view of the other components of the device 100 depicted in the figure is distorted.

[0024] Although for simplicity, sound 206 is depicted as entering only one acoustic waveguide 202 adjacent to the top edge 113, it can be understood that sound 206 can be emitted throughout the surface of speaker 108 and can enter all acoustic waveguides 202.

[0025] In addition, Figure 2 The wall 210 of the acoustic waveguide 202 is depicted (e.g., not in cross-section) to illustrate that the acoustic waveguide 202 can be generally conical and can include an oblique frustum, as described in more detail below.

[0026] To further understand, the acoustic waveguide 202 and / or the wall 210 are rigid, and therefore the wall 210 is supported by a rigid material 212 located between the walls 210 (and / or at the walls 210, for example, at any of the edges 111, 112, 113, 114). In fact, openings in the rigid material 212 can define the wall 210.

[0027] In addition, to help the acoustic waveguide 202 not resonate at a given set of frequencies, the acoustic waveguide 202 may include one or more of rigid and / or dense materials, such as metals (e.g., aluminum), rigid plastics (e.g., polycarbonate), etc.

[0028] For example, for frequencies in the range of about 20 Hz to about 20 kHz (which is the average range of sound frequencies in many videos or movies), the diameter of the circular aperture 106 can be at least 1.7 mm (e.g., to allow 20 kHz sound to pass through), but preferably, the diameter of the circular aperture 106 can be about 34 mm and / or between about 1.7 mm and about 34 mm, and the diameter of the sound emission opening 216 is about the same size as the diameter of the corresponding aperture 106.

[0029] Therefore, the diameter of the aperture 106 can be selected based on a given wavelength or a given frequency of the sound 206.

[0030] However, in some examples, the speaker 108 may include a two-way, three-way, or four-way speaker that emits different frequency ranges in different regions of the speaker 108. In these examples, the diameter of the aperture 106 may vary depending on the frequency emitted by the speaker 108 in different regions adjacent to the aperture 106. For example, the speaker region of the display panel 102 may be divided into two or more speaker sub-regions associated with different frequency ranges, and the corresponding diameter of the aperture 106 in different sub-regions may be different, wherein the corresponding diameter of the aperture 106 in the low-frequency speaker sub-region is larger than the corresponding diameter of the aperture 106 in the high-frequency speaker sub-region.

[0031] Similarly, one or more of the shape and dimensions of the acoustic waveguide 202 are chosen to be non-resonant for a given set of frequencies (e.g., frequencies in the range of about 20 Hz to about 20 kHz). For example, for a 20 kHz sound, the length of the acoustic waveguide 202 (e.g., from the rear surface 110 along the normal 204, and / or along the axis 218 (described in more detail below), for example, to the maximum distance from the rear surface 110) can be in the range of about 7 mm to 10 mm, and preferably, for 20 kHz, about 8.6 mm. For example, this length can be defined as the distance between the peak of the cross-section of the rigid material 212 and the rear surface 110, and / or the perpendicular distance between the openings 214 and 216.

[0032] More specifically, as will be described herein, the acoustic waveguide 202 may include one or more portions of a cone and a truncated body extending from the rear surface 110 of the display panel 102, and the length of the cone and / or truncated body may be selected based on a given wavelength or a given frequency of the sound 206, and the size of the aperture 202 is similarly adapted.

[0033] In a further example, the color of the acoustic waveguide 202 can be chosen to be generally non-reflective, so that light from the light source 104 (which may be scattered into the aperture 106) is not reflected by the acoustic waveguide 202. For example, the acoustic waveguide 202 can be black, dark gray, dark brown, and / or any other suitable color.

[0034] The shape of the acoustic waveguide 202 will be discussed next; however, the acoustic waveguide 202 may include one or more portions of a cone and a truncated body extending from the rear surface 110 of the display panel 102.

[0035] like Figure 2 As shown in one of the acoustic waveguides 202 (e.g., for simplicity), each acoustic waveguide 202 typically includes a larger sound receiving opening 214 that transmits sound 206 to a smaller sound emitting opening 216 when the device 100 is mounted adjacent to the speaker 108. The size and shape of the sound emitting opening 216 may be defined by a corresponding aperture 106, and / or are typically aligned with, and / or have the same diameter and / or the same size and / or the same shape.

[0036] For example, the acoustic waveguide 202 should be understood to include a side facing the speaker, where a sound receiving opening 214 is provided; the acoustic waveguide 202 should also be understood to include a side facing the aperture, where a sound emitting opening 216 is provided. Furthermore, a wall 210 extends between the sound receiving opening 214 and the sound emitting opening 216, and furthermore, the wall 210 narrows from the sound receiving opening 214 to the sound emitting opening 216.

[0037] In other words, the acoustic waveguide 202 is further understood to be hollow between the sound receiving opening 214 and the sound emitting opening 216, and furthermore, it typically narrows from the sound receiving opening 214 to the sound emitting opening 216. However, the acoustic waveguide 202 can have any suitable shape through which the sound received at the side facing the speaker is transmitted through the corresponding aperture 106.

[0038] Similarly, although the orifice 106 is circular, and therefore the conical shapes of the acoustic waveguide 202, the sound receiving opening 214, and the sound emitting opening 216 are also generally circular, as shown in the figure, the orifice 106 and the acoustic waveguide 202 can have any suitable shape that narrows from the side of the acoustic waveguide 202 facing the loudspeaker. For example, the orifice 106, the conical shape of the acoustic waveguide 202, the sound receiving opening 214, and the sound emitting opening 216 can be elliptical, or square or rectangular (e.g., making the shape of the acoustic waveguide 202 pyramidal), or any other suitable shape.

[0039] However, specifically, the acoustic waveguide 202 is depicted as a truncated body. For example, a truncated body is a truncated body in which the walls of a truncated cone (e.g., or pyramid) are not perpendicular to the base. In other words, the axis of the cone or pyramid from which the truncated body originates is skewed or tilted (e.g., relative to the base), thus giving it a “slanted” shape.

[0040] Specifically, it is understandable that a truncated solid can be formed by cutting off the top of a cone or pyramid with a plane parallel to the base, thus creating two parallel surfaces (the top and the bottom). When the axis of the cone is perpendicular to the base, the truncated solid is called a regular truncated solid. However, when the axis is tilted or not perpendicular, it becomes an oblique truncated solid.

[0041] Therefore, as shown in the figure, it can be understood that the acoustic waveguide 202 may include a truncated cone (e.g., formed and / or defined by wall 210), wherein the “bottom surface” of the cone includes a corresponding sound receiving opening 214, and the “top surface” of the cone includes a corresponding sound emitting opening 216. As shown, openings 214, 216 are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the normal 204 of the rear surface 110; however, the axis 218 of the acoustic waveguide 202 is not perpendicular to openings 214, 216. However, openings 214, 216 need not be parallel to each other; for example, the corresponding sound emitting opening 216 may form the conventional “top surface” of the truncated cone defined by wall 210, but the corresponding sound receiving opening 214 may be at any suitable angle to the loudspeaker 108 and may or may not be parallel to the corresponding sound emitting opening 216.

[0042] To illustrate the angular offset of the acoustic waveguide 202 from the normal 204 of the rear surface 110 of the display panel 102, note the normal 204 of the rear surface 110 of the display panel 102 and the axis 218 extending from the rear surface 110 of the display panel 102, which is approximately equidistant from the wall 210 of the acoustic waveguide 202. Although only one axis 218 is depicted for simplicity, it will be understood that each of the acoustic waveguides 202 includes a corresponding axis 218. As shown, the axis 218 forms a non-zero angle 220 with the normal 204. Furthermore, the axis 218 can be understood to extend downward from the rear surface 110 to the front surface 105. Thus, the sound 206 entering the acoustic waveguide 202 is guided downward at the same angle 220 relative to the normal 208 of the front surface 105. Thus, the sound 206 is guided downward relative to the top edge 113 and / or the bottom edge 114.

[0043] In other words, such as Figure 2 As shown, the acoustic waveguide 202 can be angled relative to the normal 204 of the rear surface 110 of the display panel 102 at an angle 220 toward the top edge 113 (e.g., the same angle 220 as the angular offset of axis 218), so that sound is directed downward and outward relative to the front surface 105.

[0044] However, the angular offset of axis 218 can be in any suitable direction and can be selected to direct sound 206 downward, leftward, rightward, downward and leftward, or downward and rightward. In each case, sound 206 should also be understood as being directed outward from display panel 102, for example, outward from front surface 105.

[0045] For example, please pay attention to the following. Figure 3 The figure depicts a top view of another example of device 100, and an acoustic waveguide 202 extending from the rear surface 110. Although only one acoustic waveguide 202 is depicted for simplicity, Figure 3 The device 100 can be understood as comprising multiple acoustic waveguides 202. Similarly, although Figure 3 Not all components of the device 100 and the acoustic waveguide 202 are depicted, but they should still be understood to exist, including but not limited to the light source 104, the rigid material 212, etc.

[0046] However, in this example, the axis 218 of the acoustic waveguide 202 is offset at an angle 302 toward the left edge 111 from the normal 204 of the rear surface 110 of the display panel 102, such that the sound 206 entering the acoustic waveguide 202 at the larger sound receiving opening 214 is guided to the right, for example toward the right edge 112, and outward relative to the front surface 105, through the corresponding aperture 106 (not depicted but to be understood as present) at an angle 302 relative to the normal 208 of the front surface 105.

[0047] Please pay attention next. Figure 4 , and Figure 3 The components are generally similar, with identical components having the same numbering. However, in this example, the axis 218 of the acoustic waveguide 202 is offset at an angle 402 toward the right edge 112 from the normal 204 of the rear surface 110 of the display panel 102, such that the sound 206 entering the acoustic waveguide 202 at the larger sound receiving opening 214 is directed to the left, for example toward the left edge 111, and outward relative to the front surface 105, through the corresponding aperture 106 (not depicted but to be understood as present) at an angle 402 relative to the normal 208 of the front surface 105.

[0048] However, the axis 218 of the acoustic waveguide 202 can be in any suitable orientation.

[0049] For example, please note Figure 5 The figure depicts an example of a device 500 similar to device 100, installed in a theater 502 and adjusted to fit the size and shape of a device mounted on wall 504 of theater 502. A viewer 506 is watching device 500, standing on floor 508 of theater 502 (although viewer 506 may stand and / or sit in a seat). The location of rear wall 510 of theater 502 is also depicted in the figure. For simplicity, device 500 is depicted without light source 104, although light source 104 is still understood to be present, allowing images and / or video to be played at device 500, and corresponding sounds 206L, 206C, 206R from corresponding speakers 108L, 108C, 108R (e.g., where “L”, “C”, and “R” indicate left, center, and right, respectively) are directed toward viewer 506 through device 500. In fact, audio 206L, 206C, and 206R can respectively include the left, center, and right channels of audio for images and / or videos.

[0050] Furthermore, device 500 depicts a left speaker 108L, a center speaker 108C, and a right speaker 108R mounted at the rear of device 500, approximately two-thirds of the height of the display (e.g., the centers of speakers 108L, 108C, and 108R are approximately two-thirds of the height of the display from the floor 508, and / or approximately two-thirds of the height of device 500). Speakers 108L, 108C, and 108R are depicted in outline to indicate their respective location at the rear of device 500.

[0051] Furthermore, the device 500 has different types of acoustic waveguides 202L, 202C, and 202C respectively provided on the corresponding rear surfaces 110 in the corresponding areas of the left loudspeaker 108L, the middle loudspeaker 108C, and the right loudspeaker 108R. The acoustic waveguides 202L, 202C, and 202C are outlined to indicate that they are respectively present on the rear surfaces of the device 500.

[0052] Although the device 500 is depicted with only three orifices 106L, 106C, and 106R, the device 500 should be understood to include any suitable number of orifices 106.

[0053] Similarly, although only one acoustic waveguide 202L, 202C, 202C is depicted, the device 500 should be understood to include any suitable number of acoustic waveguides 202 and corresponding orifices 106, for example, having multiple acoustic waveguides 202L and corresponding orifices 106L in the region of the left loudspeaker 108L, multiple acoustic waveguides 202C and corresponding orifices 106C in the region of the middle loudspeaker 108C, and multiple acoustic waveguides 202R and corresponding orifices 106R in the region of the right loudspeaker 108R.

[0054] Brief Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 The left acoustic waveguide 202L is understood to have an axis 218 that forms an angle 220 and an angle 302 with the normal 204 of the rear surface of the device 500. In this way, the sound 206L from the left loudspeaker 108L is directed to the right and downward (e.g., and outward toward the audience 506).

[0055] Similarly, a brief reference Figure 2 and Figure 4 The right acoustic waveguide 202R is understood to have an axis 218 that forms an angle 220 and an angle 402 with the normal 204 of the rear surface of the device 500. In this way, the sound 206R from the right loudspeaker 108R is directed to the left and downward (e.g., and outward toward the audience 506).

[0056] Brief Reference Figure 2The central acoustic waveguide 202C is understood to have an axis 218 that forms an angle 220 with the normal 204 of the rear surface of the device 500. In this way, the sound 206C from the central loudspeaker 108C is directed downward (e.g., and outward toward the audience 506).

[0057] Therefore, by providing the device 500 with three types of acoustic waveguides 202L, 202C, and 202R for three different locations of the loudspeakers 108L, 108C, and 108R, the corresponding sounds 206L, 206C, and 206R can be better directed toward the audience 506, rather than, for example, over their heads.

[0058] More details are now described for device 100 and / or device 500.

[0059] For example, re-attention Figure 2 An acoustic waveguide 202 can be provided at each orifice 106 through which the online AA extends.

[0060] In some examples, the acoustic waveguide 202 is arranged at least in the portion of the aperture 106 located in the speaker area of ​​the display panel 102. In some of these examples, the acoustic waveguide 202 is provided at each aperture 106 of the device 100, while in other examples, the acoustic waveguide 202 is arranged only in the portion of the aperture 106 located in the speaker area of ​​the display panel 102 (and overlaps with the speaker area).

[0061] As previously described, the display panel 102 has a left edge 111, a right edge 112, a top edge 113, and a bottom edge 114, and the acoustic waveguide 202 (see reference) Figure 2 The acoustic waveguide 202 can be offset at one or more angles 220 toward the top edge 113 relative to the normal 204 of the rear surface 110 of the display panel 102, for example, to direct the sound 206 downward and outward. In other words, although the device 100 has been described with respect to an angle 220, different acoustic waveguides 202 can use different angles 220, such that the angle 220 of the acoustic waveguide 202 positioned closer to the top edge 113 is greater than that of the acoustic waveguide 202 positioned closer to the bottom edge 114. For example, when Figure 5 When the device 500 is configured in this way, in the area of ​​the middle speaker 108C, this configuration can better guide the sound 206C to a greater downward angle 220 than the downward angle 220 of the acoustic waveguide 202C which is closer to the bottom edge 114 of the device 500 (which may be closer to the audience 506) into the acoustic waveguide 202C which is closer to the top edge 113 of the device 500, toward the audience 506.

[0062] In some examples, one or more angles 220 toward the top edge 113 may be between about 2° and about 12° relative to the normal 204 of the rear surface 110 of the display panel 102. In these examples, the acoustic waveguide 202 may direct sound 206 downward (and outward), just like the acoustic waveguide 202C. In some examples, one or more angles 220 may be about 10°, which may be suitable for the display size and speaker placement in a theater.

[0063] However, in other examples, the reference Figure 3 The acoustic waveguide 202 is offset at one or more angles 302 toward the left edge 111 relative to the normal 204 of the rear surface 110 of the display panel 102 (and may also be offset at an angle 220 toward the top edge 113, or may not be offset at an angle 220 toward the top edge 113), for example, to direct sound 206 to the right and outward. In other words, although the device 100 has been described with respect to one angle 302, different acoustic waveguides 202 may use different angles 302, such that the angle 302 of the acoustic waveguide 202 positioned closer to the left edge 111 is greater than that of the acoustic waveguide 202 positioned closer to the right edge 112. For example, when Figure 5 When the device 500 is configured in this way, in the area of ​​the left speaker 108L, this configuration can better guide the sound 206L to enter the sound waveguide 202L, which is closer to the left edge 113 of the device 500, at a greater right angle 302 than the sound waveguide 202L in the area of ​​the left speaker 108L, which is closer to the right edge 112 of the device 500 (which may be closer to the audience 506), and towards the audience 506.

[0064] In some examples, one or more angles 302 toward the left edge 111 may be between about 5° and about 15° relative to the normal 204 of the rear surface 110 of the display panel 102. In these examples, the acoustic waveguide 202 may direct sound 206 to the right (and outwards), just like the acoustic waveguide 202L. In some examples, one or more angles 220 may be about 5°, which may be suitable for the display size and speaker placement in a theater.

[0065] However, in other examples, the reference Figure 4The acoustic waveguide 202 is offset at one or more angles 402 toward the right edge 112 relative to the normal 204 of the rear surface 110 of the display panel 102 (and may also be offset at an angle 220 toward the top edge 113, or may not be offset at an angle 220 toward the top edge 113), for example, to direct sound 206 to the left and outward. In other words, although the device 100 has been described with respect to one angle 402, different acoustic waveguides 202 may use different angles 402, such that the angle 402 of the acoustic waveguide 202 positioned closer to the left edge 111 is greater than that of the acoustic waveguide 202 positioned closer to the right edge 112. For example, when Figure 5 When the device 500 is configured in this way, in the area of ​​the right speaker 108R, this configuration can better guide the sound 206R to a greater right angle 302 than the right waveguide 202R in the area of ​​the right speaker 108R which is closer to the left edge 111 of the device 500 (which may be closer to the audience 506) into the waveguide 202R which is closer to the right edge 112 of the device 500, toward the audience 506.

[0066] In some examples, one or more angles 402 toward the right edge 112 may be between about 5° and about 15° relative to the normal 204 of the rear surface 110 of the display panel 102. In these examples, the acoustic waveguide 202 may direct sound 206 to the left (and outwards), just like the acoustic waveguide 202L. In some examples, one or more angles 220 may be about 5°, which may be suitable for the display size and speaker placement in a theater.

[0067] In a further example, the acoustic waveguide 202 is offset relative to the normal 204 of the rear surface 110 of the display panel 102 at one or more first angles 220 toward the top edge 113 and one or more second angles 302, 402 toward the left edge 111 or the right edge 112. In other words, the acoustic waveguide 202 can be offset at two angles: in Figure 5 In the left acoustic waveguide 202L, the angle 220 toward the top edge 113 and the angle 302 toward the left edge 111; or in Figure 5 In the right acoustic waveguide 202R, there is an angle 220 toward the top edge 113 and an angle 402 toward the right edge 112.

[0068] In some examples, one or more first angles 220 toward the top edge 113 may be between about 2° and about 12° relative to the normal 204 of the rear surface 110 of the display panel 102, and one or more angles toward the left edge 111 or the right edge 112 may be between about 5° and about 15° relative to the normal 204 of the rear surface 110 of the display panel 102.

[0069] Furthermore, the device 500 may include multiple different devices 100 laid flat together, each having different types of acoustic waveguides 202L, 202C, 202C at a corresponding rear surface 110. Additionally, the devices 100 outside the speaker region may or may not include orifices or acoustic waveguides. For example, since speakers 108L, 108C, 108R may...

[0070] In practice, device 500 can be assembled from four types of devices 100: one or more devices 100 having a sound waveguide 202L installed in the area of ​​speaker 108L and directing sound 206L downward, to the left, and outward toward the audience 506; one or more devices 100 having a sound waveguide 202C installed in the area of ​​speaker 108C and directing sound 206C downward and outward toward the audience 506; one or more devices 100 having a sound waveguide 202R installed in the area of ​​speaker 108R and directing sound 206R downward, to the right, and outward toward the audience 506; and one or more devices 100 that do not have a sound waveguide (but may include or not include an aperture 106). However, device 500 can be provided in any suitable manner.

[0071] It can also be understood that angles 220, 302, and 402 can be selected based on the size of the theater 502, particularly based on the distance from the speakers 108L, 108C, and 108R (e.g., placed at two-thirds of the height of the device 500) to the rear wall 510, which can be referred to below as the length of the theater 502. Specifically, angles 220, 302, and 402 can depend on the length of the theater 502, for example, to align the speakers 108L, 108C, and 108R near the center of the theater 502; the longer the theater 502, the farther the center is from the device 100. In other words, as the length of the theater 502 increases, angles 220, 302, and 402 can decrease, and / or as the length of the theater 502 decreases, angles 220, 302, and 402 can increase.

[0072] It should be understood that, for the purposes of this specification, expressions such as "at least one of X, Y, and Z" and "one or more of X, Y, and Z" can be understood as X only, Y only, Z only, or any combination of two or more of X, Y, and Z (e.g., XYZ, XY, YZ, XZ, etc.). Similar logic can be applied to any two or more items when the expressions "at least one of..." or "one or more of..." appear.

[0073] The definitions of words such as “about,” “basically,” “essentially,” and “approximately” are, for example, “close to” as understood by those skilled in the art. In some examples, these words are understood as “within 10%”, in others as “within 5%”, in still others as “within 1%”, and in yet another set of examples as “within 0.5%”.

[0074] Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can have many alternative examples and modifications, and the above examples are merely illustrative of one or more examples. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising: Display panel; A light source, wherein the light source is disposed on the front surface of the display panel; An aperture, which passes through the display panel, is positioned between the light sources; as well as An acoustic waveguide is disposed on the rear surface of the display panel, and is located at a portion of the aperture. The acoustic waveguide is offset at an angle to the normal of the rear surface of the display panel to guide sound received at the rear surface through the portion of the aperture at a non-zero angle relative to the corresponding normal of the front surface of the display panel.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The acoustic waveguide is arranged in the orifice at a portion located in the speaker area of ​​the display panel.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The display panel has a left edge, a right edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge, and The acoustic waveguide is angularly offset relative to the normal of the rear surface of the display panel at one or more angles toward the top edge.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, The angles toward the top edge are between about 2° and about 12° relative to the normal of the rear surface of the display panel.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The display panel has a left edge, a right edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge, and The acoustic waveguide is offset at an angle relative to the normal of the rear surface of the display panel toward the left edge by one or more angles.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, The angles or more toward the left edge are between about 5° and about 15° relative to the normal of the rear surface of the display panel.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The display panel has a left edge, a right edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge, and The acoustic waveguide is angularly offset relative to the normal of the rear surface of the display panel at one or more angles toward the right edge.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, The angles or more toward the right edge are between about 5° and about 15° relative to the normal of the rear surface of the display panel.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The display panel has a left edge, a right edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge, and The acoustic waveguide is angularly offset relative to the normal of the rear surface of the display panel at one or more first angles toward the top edge and one or more second angles toward the left edge or the right edge.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, The first angles toward the top edge are between about 2° and about 12° relative to the normal of the rear surface of the display panel, and the first angles toward the left edge or the right edge are between about 5° and about 15° relative to the normal of the rear surface of the display panel.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The acoustic waveguide includes a cone extending from the rear surface of the display panel between the orifices.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The acoustic waveguide includes one or more portions of a cone and a truncated body extending from the rear surface of the display panel between the apertures, and the length of one or more of the cone and the truncated body is selected based on a given wavelength or a given frequency of the sound.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The display panel includes a printed circuit board.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The light source includes a light-emitting diode.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display panel and the light source form one or more of a light-emitting diode (LED) display panel and an LED display.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The diameter of the aperture is selected based on a given wavelength or a given frequency of the sound.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The acoustic waveguide is a color that does not reflect light.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The acoustic waveguide comprises a rigid material.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, One or more of the shape and size of the acoustic waveguide are not resonant for a given set of frequencies.

Images