Curvable Line Array Loudspeaker with Flexible Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional line array loudspeakers often have a narrow vertical directivity response, failing to effectively reach listeners on multiple horizontal planes, leading to reduced intelligibility and listening ease in venues with varied seating arrangements.
Innovation Solution
A loudspeaker system featuring a flexible panel with electro-acoustic drivers linked by flexible joints, allowing for articulation into various configurations such as straight, J-shaped, reverse J-shaped, and C-shaped configurations, which increases vertical dispersion and adaptability to different venue layouts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If drivers are oriented in a straight line, then the structure is simple and compact, but the vertical directivity response becomes too narrow for venues with multiple horizontal planes
Solution Approach 1:
The line array is designed with flexible joints that enable dynamic reconfiguration between straight and arcuate configurations. This allows the system to adapt its vertical directivity pattern to match different venue requirements, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and adaptable sound coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The array configuration can change its geometric parameters (curvature, angle) to optimize vertical directivity. By adjusting the configuration parameter from straight to arcuate, the system expands its vertical coverage without requiring completely different hardware designs.
2Area of stationary object
If the line array is configured in an arcuate shape, then vertical dispersion is increased for better coverage, but the device complexity and adjustment mechanism are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The line array is divided into multiple driver modules connected by flexible joints. This segmentation allows the array to be bent into arcuate configurations while maintaining individual driver functionality. The modular design enables increased sound coverage area without requiring a completely complex monolithic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of flexible joints creates a flexible connection mechanism between drivers, analogous to flexible shells. This allows the rigid drivers to be connected in a way that permits bending and curving, enabling arcuate configurations that expand sound coverage while keeping the adjustment mechanism relatively simple.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple line arrays are stacked to increase height, then coverage of multiple horizontal planes is improved, but the overall system weight and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
By enabling a single array to dynamically change from straight to arcuate configuration, the system achieves multi-plane coverage capability without requiring multiple stacked arrays. This dynamic reconfiguration reduces the total weight compared to stacking multiple fixed arrays, while maintaining the ability to cover multiple horizontal planes.
Data Source
AI summary
A line array loudspeaker includes a first plurality of flexible joints, a first plurality of electro-acoustic drivers being linked to each other by the first plurality of flexible joints, and a first sectional horn assembly coupled to the first plurality of electro-acoustic drivers. The first plurality of electro-acoustic drivers is adjustable so that it can be positioned such that an axis that runs through an acoustic center of the first plurality of electro-acoustic drivers is articulable to produce three or more configurations including: a substantially straight configuration and a plurality of arcuate configurations.