Speaker system

Abstract

To provide a speaker system that uses building timber as a base, allows for free processing of all parts except the central section, and harmonizes with both building materials and furniture. [Solution] The speaker body 1, which is based on building timber, has a structure in which the speaker components containing the speaker units 16a and 16b are limited to the central part of the building timber, and the parts other than the central part can be freely processed as wood, such as by cutting or drilling. In addition, the design incorporates sound-absorbing materials 17a and 17b and lead sheets to improve acoustic performance, and mass production technology using NC machines.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention uses general construction wood (especially 2×4 lumber) as a base, attaches shelf support fittings for 2×4 lumber or 1×4 lumber, and combines with the present invention to form a shelf or a desk and be used as furniture. Further, it relates to a speaker system that can also be used as part of the interior decoration of a house or a store or furniture.

Background Art

[0002] Conventional speaker systems have been limited to use as independent audio equipment, and integration as building materials or furniture has not been sufficiently considered. In addition, resonance or unnecessary vibration may occur in the installation members, affecting the sound quality and aesthetics. Furthermore, in manufacturing, the specificity of speaker design has restricted mass productivity. As disclosed in Patent Document 1, a speaker system using a long member constituting a part of a house is disclosed. In this case, the entire structure is used as an internal space for enhancing the bass range of the speaker, and it is not possible to perform cutting or drilling operations on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the speaker as in the present invention.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] To provide a speaker system that uses construction wood as a base and can also be utilized as building materials or furniture.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] The speaker system according to the present invention has the following configuration. It has a construction wood as a main body, integrally forms a space portion in a substantially central portion of the main body, incorporates a speaker unit into the space portion, and is characterized in that a region where processing is possible is provided outside the central portion of the main body. Another invention is characterized by providing an acoustic space around the speaker unit, wrapping sound-absorbing material around the magnet portion of the speaker unit, and providing a lead sheet on the back cover located on the back of the speaker unit to suppress vibration and resonance. Another invention is characterized in that the speaker unit and bass reflex port are arranged on the front of the main body. Another invention is characterized by using a plate material of 7 mm or less in thickness for the back cover. Another invention is characterized by incorporating an amplifier with wireless communication capabilities and providing high-frequency and low-frequency adjusters. Another invention is characterized in that a plurality of the speaker units are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the main body. Another invention is characterized by providing fixing screw holes or mounting members in the machinable area, thereby creating a structure that can be fixed as a building material or furniture component. Another invention is characterized in that the amplifier having wireless communication functionality is equipped with a volume control and a tone adjustment volume, and has a space provided so that the caps of the volume control and tone adjustment volume cannot be physically removed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0005] The speaker system of the present invention has the following effects. By allowing the entire speaker system, except for the central part of the wood, to be freely processed, the customizability for use as building material or furniture is greatly improved. The integrated wooden body also enhances sound quality. Furthermore, the use of sound-absorbing materials 17a and 17b and lead sheet 23 suppresses resonance and optimizes acoustic characteristics. By utilizing NC machine processing technology, the number of parts is reduced, improving mass production efficiency and cost-effectiveness. High acoustic performance as a speaker system is achieved while maintaining the basic performance as a building material. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] Figures 1a to 12 are configuration diagrams and graphs showing the speaker characteristics of the speaker system according to the present invention, and each is explained below. [Figure 1a] : Front view of the right side of the speaker body [Figure 1b] : Front view of the left side of the speaker body [Figure 2a] : Rear view of the right side of the speaker unit [Figure 2b] : Rear view of the left side of the speaker unit [Figure 3] : Diagram showing the back cover on the right side of the speaker unit with the back cover removed. [Figure 4a] : Cross-sectional view of the right side of the speaker body in Figure 3A (central cross-sectional view) [Figure 4b] : Cross-sectional view of the left side of the speaker body in Figure 3A (central cross-sectional view) [Figure 5] : Cross-sectional view of section B in Figure 4 (back cover drawing) [Figure 6] Connection diagram for use [Figure 7] Frequency response graph [Figure 8] Directional characteristics graph [Figure 9] Sound pressure level versus distance graph [Figure 10] Graph showing radio wave transmission relative to wood thickness [Figure 11a] : Diagram of the right speaker unit and the areas that can be processed and cut. [Figure 11b] Diagram of the left speaker unit and the areas that can be processed and cut. [Figure 12] : A diagram showing shelf brackets attached to the left and right sides of the speaker unit, with a shelf board placed across them. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] The following describes an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 3, the building 2x4 lumber that forms the base of the speaker bodies 1a and 1b has a cross-sectional shape of 38 mm thick x 89 mm wide, and various lengths are commercially available, ranging from several tens of centimeters to nearly 2 meters in the longitudinal direction. Speaker units 16a and 16b are built into the central part, and sound-absorbing material 17a and 17b made of polyurethane or other resin is wrapped around the magnet portion of the speaker units 16a and 16b. In this way, the sound quality is improved by canceling out-of-phase sound generated from the back of the speaker units 16a and 16b that tries to cancel out the sound reproduced from the front of the speaker units 16a and 16b. In addition, in commercially available speakers, it is common to install sound-absorbing material on the inside of the back of the speaker box, which is behind the speaker unit. However, when trying to install sound-absorbing material in the area corresponding to the back of the speaker box, the sound components of the speaker unit spread radially, so it is necessary to apply it over a wide area. In this invention, space saving is a priority. If sound-absorbing material is attached to the back of the speaker unit, the volume of the speaker box will decrease, causing a significant air brake on the movement of the speaker unit and making it difficult to produce low frequencies. To counteract this, sound-absorbing material 17a and 17b are placed near the speaker units 16a and 16b, which are close to the source of the sound, thereby minimizing the reduction in internal volume and improving the ability to reproduce low frequencies. In this invention, a lead sheet 23 is attached to the inside of the back cover 7 on the rear of the speaker units 16a and 16b to reduce resonance of the back cover 7 of the speaker box. Sound energy is reproduced from the front and rear of the speaker units 16a and 16b. The sound energy emitted forward is useful as reproduced sound, but the sound energy emitted from the rear spreads inside the speaker box 40, and the back cover 7, which is the rear of the speaker units 16a and 16b, is particularly susceptible to the effects of low-frequency vibration energy. The back cover 7, receiving this vibration energy, generates resonance and rattling noises, which impairs the value of the speaker. As a countermeasure, in this invention, a lead sheet 23 is attached to the back of the speaker units 16a and 16b. The freely processable parts 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d other than the parts constituting the central parts of the speaker bodies 1a, 1b can be freely cut, drilled, and screwed as wood. The wood parts other than the speaker components can be cut into any shape and can be used for various purposes such as building materials and furniture members. The following are examples of various uses. · Attach wallpaper to the processable parts 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d to make a sounding wall. · As a decorative pillar, cut the upper and lower parts of the present invention to an appropriate length and incorporate them into a part of the architectural interior with arranged woods. · Use it as a wall base material, attach wallpaper on it to make a sounding wall. Combine it in a square shape to make a photo frame for a painting or a photograph, and make a picture frame capable of music reproduction. · By combining the commercially available 2x4 stud adapter 27 for using the present invention as a stud in a 2x4 material, the present invention can be used as a stud from the ceiling to the floor to install a speaker. In addition, when using two of the present invention to install as a stereo speaker in a floor plan with different left and right heights, the speaker can be installed by cutting the upper and lower parts of one of the present invention to an appropriate length suitable for the floor plan. By driving screws into the processable parts of the present invention and fixing them to the studs of a house, etc., a strong speaker system that does not fall even during an earthquake can be installed. This mechanism can also be applied to the interior wood parts of ships and camping cars that are easily affected by vibrations. By screwing to the wood parts inside a ship or a camping car, a speaker system can be installed without pressing the space inside the cabin. · Install the present invention horizontally at a height about the same as a person's shoulder using an adapter for fixing a commercially available 2x4 material to a room wall. Then, attach a heat sink or a screw-shaped hook to the processable part of the present invention in that state. By doing so, a hanger hook with a speaker on the wall can be provided. This hanger hook can hang clothes or a pot of a foliage plant and functions as furniture and interior. By attaching the back covers 7a and 7b to the speaker bodies 1a and 1b in a close contact manner, it is possible to maintain not only the function as a speaker but also a certain degree of strength as a building structural material. With this design, the speaker system can exhibit high acoustic performance while playing the role of a building member. In particular, the close contact structure at the back enhances the stability when fixed to a building or furniture and also has the effect of absorbing vibrations and impacts from the outside. Since the back covers 7a and 7b are attached with a large number of screws such as 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e, 8f, 8g, 8h, 8i, and 8j, natural wood thin plates are likely to crack along the grain during screwing. Therefore, 2.5 mm MDF material, which is less likely to crack, is used as the back cover material. In the present invention, circular speaker units 16a and 16b with a diameter of 66 mm are arranged at positions 800 mm above and below from the center of the space where the wood is cut out. First, the 66 mm speaker units 16a and 16b are speaker units of the maximum size that can be installed while giving the minimum strength as a building material to the 2×4 material with a thickness of 38 mm and a width of 89 mm, which serves as the base of the speaker bodies 1a and 1b. Then, by arranging two speaker units 16a and 16b in the longitudinal direction (i.e., the vertical direction) of the speaker bodies 1a and 1b, the sound field is made easier to spread vertically. As a result, a consistent acoustic effect can be obtained over a wide range regardless of the listening position. And the control of directivity is also aimed at. The vertical arrangement by the vertically arranged speaker units 16a and 16b has the effect of suppressing the horizontal sound directivity. Therefore, the reflected sound from the room wall is reduced and the clarity of the direct sound is improved. Thus, clear sound can be provided. Next, the ease of adjusting the sound balance. Since the upper and lower units are close to each other, it is easier to adjust the crossover and the sound overlap. As a result, it is possible to reproduce sound with a balanced tone from bass to treble. Note that the speaker units 16a and 16b are provided at the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the speaker bodies 1a and 1b, but may be provided at a position shifted to either one of the longitudinal directions of the body as needed. At least, a processed portion may be provided at either one of both ends of the body. In this embodiment, a Bluetooth® amplifier 20 with high-frequency and low-frequency tone control volumes is built into the interior of the speaker body 1a, which is a structural material that is hollowed out. Furthermore, a volume knob with a switch 4, a bass adjustment volume 5, and a treble adjustment volume 6 are placed on the front side where sound is generated from speaker units 16a and 16b, while a DC power input terminal 10, a 3.5mm AUX input terminal 11, ± output terminals to the speaker unit on the left side 1b of the speaker body, a - output terminal 12 for the left speaker, and a + output terminal 13 for the left speaker are placed on the back side. As a result, by housing the Bluetooth amplifier 20 inside the wood of the speaker body 1a, aesthetic appeal and space saving are achieved. Moreover, by building the Bluetooth amplifier 20 inside the internal space of the speaker body 1a, processing of the outer perimeter of the wood is reduced, while maintaining the strength of the structural material through the exoskeleton. Furthermore, the protrusion of the amplifier section when the amplifier is externally mounted reduces the risk of accidents occurring in the home due to tripping hazards, which could cause the attached device to detach and fall over. Regarding the design of the bass reflex ports: The speaker units 16a and 16b and the bass reflex ports 3a and 3b are positioned at the front to improve acoustic characteristics. The bass reflex ports are manufactured by machining using an NC machine, achieving a reduction in the number of parts and high precision. Furthermore, by positioning the bass reflex ports 3a and 3b equidistant from each other vertically, the aim is to equalize the airflow and pressure distribution within the speaker box 40. The bass reflex ports 3a and 3b are formed in the wood that forms the base of the speaker bodies 1a and 1b, connecting the speaker boxes 40 and 41, which form the space for the speaker units, with the front sides of the speaker bodies 1a and 1b, and the area around them is machined to leave a certain thickness and length. This suppresses resonance peaks and dips, enabling stable bass reproduction. In addition, because the upper and lower bass reflex ports 3a and 3b radiate bass from different heights, the bass is less likely to concentrate on the floor or ceiling, resulting in an acoustic effect that spreads evenly throughout the room. Next, the elongated shape and placement of the port aim to reduce the "wind noise" characteristic of bass reflex ports. Furthermore, the vertical length of the port is utilized to effectively achieve resonance at lower frequencies. Regarding the manufacturing method and manufacturing system: By utilizing NC machines for cutting, manufacturing efficiency is increased, and advanced processing of individual components becomes possible. In this invention, in the speaker body 1a on the amplifier side, two internal spaces are formed by cutting: the space constituting the speaker boxes 40 and 41 and the space constituting the amplifier room 41, separated by a wall. On the other hand, in a typical amplifier-integrated speaker, the amplifier board is built into the space constituting the speaker box. In a bass reflex type speaker box, the bass reflex port resonates in the low-frequency range to reinforce the bass based on the internal volume of the speaker box and the diameter and length of the bass reflex port. However, if the internal volumes of the left and right bass reflex stereo speakers are different, the expected low-frequency resonance cannot be obtained. In other words, in the speaker unit on the non-amplifier side and the speaker with a built-in amplifier, the internal volume on the amplifier-integrated side is reduced by the amount of the circuit board, wiring, and terminals, resulting in a situation where the expected low-frequency resonance cannot be obtained. In this invention, by precision cutting with an NC router, a wiring passage 15 is prepared in the room constituting the amplifier room 41 from the part forming the speaker box 40, and the internal wiring is tightly fitted into the gaps in the wiring passage 15 with adhesive. As a result, both the speaker box 40 on the amplifier side and the speaker box 42 on the non-amplifier side are constructed to have the same volume, thereby ensuring the sound quality as designed and improving productivity through identical shapes. This invention is a thin speaker system that prioritizes flexibility in installation. Therefore, it is intended for use not only in residential buildings but also in campervans and boat cabins. On the other hand, campervans and boats are prone to shaking and vibration, and the speaker system of this invention is also susceptible to vibration. In particular, the switchable volume knob 4, bass adjustment volume 5, and treble adjustment volume 6 of the Bluetooth amplifier 20, which are visible to the user, are directly attached to the Bluetooth amplifier 20, and each of the switchable volume knob 4, bass adjustment volume 5, and treble adjustment volume 6 is constructed with a knob shaft 22 and a volume cap 21 covering it. The mounting areas for each of the volume 4, 5, and 6 on the speaker body 1a have a larger opening diameter than the volume cap 21, but by attaching the Bluetooth amplifier 20 from the rear of the speaker body 1a and making the gap in the opening diameter in the direction of the mounting area along the axis of the knob shaft 22 narrower than the length of the volume cap 21, the system has a structure that prevents the volume cap from falling off even if it is physically detached and loosened. Wood absorbs vibrations to a moderate degree while resonating at specific frequencies. This characteristic creates an acoustic effect that gives warmth and depth to the sound reproduced by the speaker. Furthermore, the growth that occurs with age is also an effect of this product. Wooden musical instruments often improve in sound quality over time. This is because as the wood dries and the internal resin stabilizes, a richer and deeper sound can be obtained. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to by instrument enthusiasts as "the sound developing," and it is one of the attractive elements of this invention. In addition, the added value created by changes in sound quality characteristics through the use of different types of wood is also an element of this invention when developing product variations. For example, if softwood such as spruce is used, the sound reproduced by the speaker will be bright and clear, while if hardwood such as rosewood is used, the sound will be deep and rich. This invention is intended for use in small spaces such as studio apartments in the Tokyo metropolitan area. By utilizing the Bluetooth function of this invention, users can pair their devices with their smartphones, enabling them to install audio equipment with minimal space consumption even in small rooms. Furthermore, in similar rooms, by connecting the audio from this invention to a projector via the AUX code 25, it becomes possible to enjoy movies and video entertainment with stereo sound on a large screen, even in a small room. Figure 6 shows the overall structure of this speaker system. The speaker system is composed of two speaker units, 1a and 1b. Speaker units 1a and 1b are fitted with 2x4 lumber tension adapters 27a, 27b, 27c, and 27d, respectively, for securing them to a house. A DC power input terminal 10 is provided at the bottom of the Bluetooth amplifier 20, to which an AC power adapter 24 is connected. Left channel audio output terminals 12 and 13 are also provided and connected to the left speaker + / - input terminal 28 on the left speaker unit 1b via a speaker cable 26. Furthermore, an example of how to use this speaker system will be explained, as shown in Figure 12. Speaker bodies 1a and 1b can have dedicated shelf brackets 30a and 30b for 2x4 lumber, or shelf brackets commercially available at home improvement stores, attached to the workable parts 29a and 29c, and 29b and 29c. By attaching shelf boards 31a and 31b to bridge the gap between speaker bodies 1a and 1b from these brackets 30a and 30b, shelves or desks can be constructed. When the desk is constructed, speaker units 1a and 1b become structural elements for shelves 31a and 31b. Therefore, users do not need space to place commercially available desktop speakers in the desk environment using this invention, and can effectively utilize the desk surface. Furthermore, even when using only one of the speaker units, 1a or 1b, it is possible to use it in combination with a shelf. By attaching the brackets 30a and 30b to either the speaker unit 1a or the speaker unit 1b, and then combining it with a board approximately 20cm (length) x 20cm (width) x 2cm (thickness), a small shelf equipped with an audio system can be constructed. This small shelf can be used to place vases or decorations, contributing to room decoration and the provision of an audio system in a space-saving environment.

[0008] The speaker design of this invention employs a speaker unit with the following characteristics to optimize acoustic performance. The performance of this speaker unit results in a balanced sound quality and a wide sound field. Figure 7 shows a graph of the frequency response. In Figure 7, the frequency response graph shows sound pressure on the vertical axis and frequency on the horizontal axis. The speaker units 16a and 16b used in this invention have a flat frequency response of 20Hz to 10kHz, with a reference level of 83dB (±3dB). In particular, in the low-frequency range (20Hz to 150Hz), the sound pressure gradually increases due to the reinforcement effect of the bass reflex port, enabling deep bass reproduction. On the other hand, in the high-frequency range, the frequency response is kept flat, resulting in a clear and natural sound quality. Figure 8 shows a graph of the polar response characteristics. In the polar response graph in Figure 8, the vertical axis represents sound pressure, and the horizontal axis represents the vertical sound diffusion angle. In typical speakers, the listening sound pressure decreases as the listening position moves away from the speaker vertically. However, in this invention, by combining two speaker units 16a and 16b with a bass reflex port, a uniform sound pressure distribution is provided in the vertical direction (0° to ±60°), achieving a wide listening area. Therefore, even in layouts such as a studio apartment, sound is diffused widely in the vertical direction, delivering a more expansive sound to users ranging from those cooking while standing to those relaxing on the floor. Figure 9 shows a graph of sound pressure level versus distance (SPL vs Distance). In the graph of sound pressure level versus distance (SPL vs Distance) in Figure 9, the vertical axis represents sound pressure and the horizontal axis represents listening distance. The speaker unit used in the speaker design of the present invention suppresses sound pressure attenuation in the low-frequency range (20Hz to 150Hz), and the sound pressure remains stable even at distances of 2 to 3 meters or more. Furthermore, by exhibiting natural attenuation curves in the mid-frequency range (1kHz) and high-frequency range (10kHz), it is possible to deliver balanced sound throughout the entire room. Figure 10 shows the transmittance of Bluetooth radio waves (Signal strength %). In Figure 10, the graph of Bluetooth signal transmittance (Signal strength %) shows the Bluetooth signal strength on the vertical axis and the wood thickness on the horizontal axis. In this invention, wood is cut so that the distance from the wood surface to the mounting of the built-in Bluetooth amplifier is less than 10 mm. By cutting to this thinness, it is found that the built-in Bluetooth amplifier 20 maintains over 90% of its radio wave transmission and reception performance while being covered by the wood of the speaker body 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0009] 1a: Right side of the speaker unit 1b: Left side of the speaker unit 2a, 2b: Speaker cover 3a, 3b: Bass reflex port 4: Volume knob with switch 5: Bass adjustment volume 6: Treble Adjustment Volume 7a, 7b: Back cover 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e, 8f, 8g, 8h, 8i, 8j: Screws for mounting the speaker box rear cover. 9: Opening for heat dissipation and radio wave path of the amplifier section 10: DC power input terminal 11: AUX input terminal 12: Output terminal for the left speaker 13: Left speaker output terminal 14: Decorative board to conceal the amplifier section 15: Cutting wiring passage 16a, 16b: Speaker unit 17a, 17b: Sound absorbing material 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d: Speaker unit mounting screws 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d: Areas left uncut to reduce resonance 20: Bluetooth amplifier 21: Volume Cap 22: Volume knob shaft 23: Vibration-damping lead sheet 24: AC power adapter 25: AUX code 26: ± Speaker Cable 27: Tension adapter for 2x4 lumber 28: Left speaker + / - input terminals 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d: Examples of parts that become unnecessary due to flexible cutting → Flexible machinable parts 30a, 30b: Shelf brackets for 2x4 lumber; 31a, 31b: Shelf boards 32: Wall 33: Ceiling 34: Floor 40: Speaker box 41: Amplifier room

Claims

1. A speaker system characterized by using building timber as the main body, forming a space integrally with the main body approximately in the center, incorporating a speaker unit into the space, and providing areas other than the center of the main body that can be processed.

2. The speaker system according to claim 1, characterized in that an acoustic space is provided around the speaker unit, sound-absorbing material is wrapped around the magnet portion of the speaker unit, and a lead sheet is provided on the back cover located on the back of the speaker unit to suppress vibration and resonance.

3. The speaker system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the speaker unit and bass reflex port are arranged on the front of the main body.

4. The speaker system according to claim 3, characterized in that the bass reflex port is manufactured by cutting with an NC machine.

5. The speaker system according to claim 2, characterized in that the back cover is made of a plate material with a thickness of 7 mm or less.

6. The speaker system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by having a built-in amplifier with wireless communication capabilities and being provided with high-frequency and low-frequency adjusters.

7. The speaker system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a plurality of the speaker units are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the main body.

8. The speaker system according to claim 1, characterized in that screw holes for fixing and mounting members are provided in the machinable area, and the structure is such that it can be fixed as a building material or furniture component.

9. The speaker system according to claim 6, wherein the amplifier having wireless communication functionality is equipped with a volume control and a tone control, and a space is provided to prevent the caps of the volume control and tone control from physically coming off.

10. A speaker system comprising a pair of speaker systems according to claim 1, and a shelf fixed so as to straddle the pair of speaker systems.

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