Adjustable Acoustic Interface Loudspeaker Driver Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Loudspeakers are often configured for fixed positions, limiting their flexibility and acoustic performance, as changing acoustic properties without replacing the speaker is difficult due to constraints like time, packaging, and mass, leading to poor spatial/directivity characteristics and high-Q frequency effects that cannot be corrected by electrical equalization.
Innovation Solution
A loudspeaker configuration with a driver, housing structure, and adjustable acoustic interface, featuring a positioning element such as a linear or multiple motion actuator that allows the driver to be positioned in a baffle or horn configuration, enabling flexible acoustic output and directivity control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a loudspeaker is configured for a fixed position with a fixed acoustic interface, then the speaker structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the acoustic performance and spatial directivity characteristics are poor and cannot be adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic interface is made dynamically adjustable through a positioning mechanism that allows the driver to move between different positions (e.g., recessed for horn configuration, flush for baffle configuration). This dynamic adjustment enables the same speaker to adapt to multiple acoustic environments and performance requirements without requiring multiple fixed speakers.
Solution Approach 2:
The loudspeaker is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating a positioning mechanism that enables the driver to assume multiple positions within the housing. This allows a single speaker unit to serve multiple acoustic functions (horn-loaded, baffle-mounted, etc.), replacing what would traditionally require multiple specialized speakers.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the acoustic interface is permanently fixed to the housing structure, then the manufacturing process is simple and quick, but the loudspeaker loses flexibility for different use cases and applications
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning mechanism introduces dynamic adjustability to the acoustic interface configuration. The driver can be positioned at different locations (recessed, flush, extended) depending on the desired acoustic performance, allowing the same manufactured housing to support multiple use cases without requiring custom manufacturing for each application.
3Reliability
If the driver is positioned in a recessed location to form a horn configuration, then directional control and efficiency are improved, but the acoustic interface complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning mechanism enables the driver to dynamically switch between recessed positions (for horn configuration and improved efficiency) and flush positions (for baffle configuration). This dynamic capability allows the system to achieve high acoustic efficiency when needed while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through a standardized housing design that accommodates multiple positions.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple speakers are used to provide different acoustic configurations, then the acoustic performance requirements are met, but the mass, packaging volume, and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The loudspeaker is designed as a universal multi-functional unit that can provide multiple acoustic configurations (horn-loaded, baffle-mounted, directional control) through a single driver positioned at different locations. This eliminates the need for multiple specialized speakers, thereby reducing total mass, packaging volume, and system cost while maintaining full acoustic configuration capability.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to loudspeakers and loudspeaker configurations. In one embodiment, a loudspeaker includes a driver, a basket structure and an acoustic interface surrounding the driver. The outer portion of the acoustic interface can be supported by the basket structure. Loudspeaker configurations provided herein can include a positioning element configured to position the driver in at least one of a first position relative to the basket structure, and a second position relative to the basket structure. Other embodiments are directed to loudspeaker components and configurations. In one embodiment, loudspeaker includes a housing structure and a flexible (e.g., stretch) acoustic interface to surround a driver of the loudspeaker.