Cylindrical Speaker Array for Compact Multi-Channel Surround Sound
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Solution Overview
Problem
Home theater systems struggle to achieve cost-effective and performance-preserving multi-channel surround sound solutions, as large speaker installations are expensive and space-intensive, and ceiling-mounted speakers are often undesirable for homeowners.
Innovation Solution
A cylindrical speaker array with multiple speakers mounted on an annular elliptical surface within a cylindrical enclosure, which can be placed on the floor and expanded for larger spaces, using a subwoofer and medium-to-high frequency speakers, along with digital signal processing and adaptive sound distribution techniques to enhance sound quality and directionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large collection of speakers is installed in a home theater system to achieve multi-channel surround sound, then the sound quality and theater experience are improved, but the cost and space occupied by the equipment increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The speaker system is segmented into a modular cylindrical array configuration, where multiple speakers are distributed around a vertical axis rather than spread across multiple wall locations. This segmentation allows the system to achieve multi-channel surround sound with a compact footprint by organizing speakers in a concentrated cylindrical structure that can be placed in a single location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional horizontal wall-mounted speaker arrangements to a vertical cylindrical configuration. By utilizing the vertical dimension and arranging speakers around a cylindrical surface, the system achieves three-dimensional sound distribution while maintaining a compact horizontal footprint, effectively moving the problem from 2D wall mounting to 3D spatial arrangement.
2Reliability
If ceiling-mounted speakers are installed to achieve immersive surround sound, then the sound coverage is improved, but the installation complexity and homeowner acceptance decrease
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of mounting speakers on the ceiling as conventional systems do, the patent inverts the approach by mounting speakers on a vertical cylindrical surface that faces upward and outward. This inversion allows the speaker array to achieve omnidirectional sound coverage similar to ceiling-mounted systems while being installable on the floor or wall, eliminating the need for ceiling penetration and complex electrical wiring through the ceiling.
Solution Approach 2:
The cylindrical speaker array is designed to be universally applicable in various installation environments (floor placement, wall mounting) without requiring ceiling installation. The single modular unit can serve multiple functions: providing surround sound, immersive audio, and spatial audio effects that previously required multiple separate speaker installations or ceiling-mounted systems.
3Reliability
If multiple speakers are distributed on theater walls and ceiling to achieve realistic sound movement, then the surround sound effect is improved, but the cost and space requirements for home installation become prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple speaker functions and channels into a single integrated cylindrical array unit. Instead of distributing speakers across multiple wall locations and the ceiling, all speakers are combined into one compact cylindrical structure that provides multi-channel surround sound output, effectively consolidating what would require extensive wall and ceiling space into a single space-efficient unit.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple speakers are nested around a common vertical axis within the cylindrical enclosure, with speakers arranged in concentric patterns on the cylindrical surface. This nesting arrangement allows maximum speaker density within a compact volume, achieving high channel count and surround sound效果 while minimizing the horizontal footprint and overall space requirement.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a speaker array for home theater and mini theater applications. The speaker array is built around a subwoofer speaker in a cylindrical enclosure. The speaker array may provide a good trade-off between the amount of equipment used and the theatre-quality sound produced. The speaker array can be placed on the floor level as a single unit for small home living room or multiple units for a large performance space. The multiple units deployed can coordinate with each other. The speaker array can be static, static with space measurement sensors, or moving with a motion-controlled platform.