Arrayable Loudspeaker Horn With LF Exit Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional loudspeaker systems face challenges in maintaining a constant wide beamwidth over the operating frequency range, particularly at mid to low frequencies, leading to inconsistent sound coverage and energy distribution, which results in off-axis lobing and reduced LF efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The arrayable loudspeaker system features a large horn mouth with LF exit channels that maintain nominal horizontal beamwidth and phase response, combined with a correction circuit to compensate for beamwidth distortions, allowing for consistent sound distribution and minimized cabinet size without sacrificing LF output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If multiple transducers are placed close together to achieve compact size, then cabinet size is reduced, but beamwidth consistency and distortion performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions transducers in a three-dimensional arrangement within the horn structure, utilizing vertical and depth dimensions to space transducers apart while maintaining a compact front footprint. This allows close spacing for compact cabinet size while preserving beamwidth consistency through proper spatial distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple transducers are nested within the horn structure, with each transducer positioned in a specific spatial relationship to the horn geometry. The transducers are embedded within the horn's three-dimensional volume, allowing compact overall size while maintaining proper spacing for consistent beamwidth performance.
2Power
If horn mouth dimensions are increased to improve LF efficiency, then LF output is improved, but cabinet size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The horn structure is segmented into multiple sections with transducers positioned at different locations within the horn volume. This segmentation allows the horn mouth to be sufficiently large for LF efficiency while distributing the transducer array to maintain compact overall cabinet dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes three-dimensional positioning of transducers within the horn, extending into the depth and vertical dimensions, to achieve large effective horn mouth area for LF efficiency while keeping the front projection and overall cabinet footprint compact.
3Ease of operation
If transducers are mounted coaxially to simplify alignment, then alignment is improved, but beamwidth consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an asymmetric transducer arrangement within the horn structure, positioning transducers at specific non-coaxial locations that are optimized for beamwidth consistency. The asymmetric positioning within the three-dimensional horn volume achieves consistent acoustic performance while remaining simpler than precise coaxial alignment of multiple transducers.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design achieves spatially consistent impulse response and improved sound quality throughout the coverage area, reducing off-axis lobing and maintaining LF efficiency, while allowing for a narrower cabinet size and enhanced audience sightlines.
Implementation Method 1
The arrayable loudspeaker includes a cabinet having top, bottom and side walls forming an enclosure. The cabinet further has a front with a front opening and a center axis passing through the front opening. A horn for a high frequency transducer is mounted in the cabinet on the center axis of the enclosure behind the enclosure's front opening.
Implementation Method 2
The horn has a front perimeter portion defining a mouth end, a throat end, flared sidewalls extending from the throat end to the mouth end, and a top wall and a bottom wall extending between the sidewalls; the horn further has an axis extending from the throat end of the horn through the horn's mouth end which defines a propagation axis.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2A
AI summary
An arrayable loudspeaker (11) has at least one high frequency driver (39) mounted to a horn (37) and at least one pair of low frequency drivers (41) configured behind and in a closely spaced relationship to the horn to form low frequency side chambers (71) between the drivers and the horn from which acoustic energy produced by the low frequency drivers can propagate. Low frequency exit channels (77) above and below the horn are coupled to the low frequency side chambers (71). The configuration of the horn and low frequency drivers and the low frequency side chambers and low frequency exit channels is such that acoustical outputs of all drivers radiate coaxially from the loudspeaker with substantially constant wide beamwidth in the non-arraying plane. Signal processing can be added to enhance beamwidth control in critical frequency ranges above crossover.