Directivity Pattern Control Waveguide for Speaker Drivers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current speaker systems for home entertainment lack effective control over directivity patterns, especially in the vertical and horizontal axes, and are limited in maximum sound pressure level and flexibility in design.
Innovation Solution
A directivity pattern control waveguide system that combines a waveguide with multiple beamforming drivers and a passive crossover to adjust and enhance directivity, allowing for physical placement and alignment of drivers to control sound distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single driver with a waveguide is used to control directivity, then the directivity control is achieved, but the maximum sound pressure level is limited and the sensitivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single driver system into multiple drivers (tweeter and mid-range drivers) arranged in a vertical array. Each driver handles specific frequency ranges and contributes to the overall directivity control, allowing the system to achieve higher sound pressure levels while maintaining directivity control through the waveguide structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple drivers (tweeter and mid-range drivers) with a waveguide structure into an integrated system. This merging allows the drivers to work together in unison, increasing the maximum sound pressure level while the waveguide maintains directivity control across the combined output of all drivers.
2Device complexity
If a single driver with a waveguide is used, then the structure is simple, but the sensitivity and power handling are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the acoustic output into multiple drivers, each contributing to the overall sensitivity. The tweeter and mid-range drivers are positioned at different heights in the waveguide, allowing each to operate optimally in its frequency range while collectively achieving higher sensitivity than a single driver could provide.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension by arranging drivers at different heights within the waveguide structure. This vertical array configuration allows for enhanced sensitivity and power handling by distributing the acoustic load across multiple drivers in the vertical dimension, while the waveguide maintains a relatively simple horizontal structure.
3Power
If multiple drivers are added to increase power, then the sound pressure level improves, but the directivity control becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple drivers with a unified waveguide structure that provides integrated directivity control. The waveguide acts as a common element that shapes the combined output of all drivers, maintaining relatively simple directivity control despite the increased power from multiple drivers working together.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide structure provides localized directivity control at each driver aperture, with each driver's output being shaped by the waveguide geometry at its specific location. This local quality approach allows multiple drivers to contribute to high power output while maintaining manageable directivity control through the waveguide's geometric design.
4Volume of moving object
If drivers are placed closer together to reduce size, then the compactness improves, but the time alignment and phase control become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension within the waveguide structure to position drivers at different heights, achieving compact horizontal dimensions while maintaining adequate vertical spacing for time alignment. The waveguide's internal geometry provides the necessary path length differences to achieve proper time alignment between drivers without requiring large overall speaker dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide acts as an intermediary structure that mediates the acoustic paths between drivers at different positions. It provides the necessary acoustic path length adjustments and phase alignment, allowing drivers to be positioned in a compact arrangement while maintaining proper time alignment through the waveguide's geometric design.
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 solution provides improved control over vertical and horizontal directivity, increased sensitivity, reduced distortion, and lower power handling, resulting in better sound imaging and reduced heat generation.
Implementation Method 1
The first driver propagates sound toward the first driver aperture. The second driver propagates sound toward the second driver aperture. The third driver propagates sound toward the third driver aperture.
Implementation Method 2
a waveguide portion having a waveguide surface contiguous with the planar surface
Data Source
AI summary
A directivity pattern control (DPC) waveguide for a speaker is disclosed. The DPC waveguide comprises a body and first, second, and third drivers secured to the body. The body comprises a substantially planar portion having a planar surface, a waveguide portion having a waveguide surface contiguous with the flat surface, a first driver aperture at least substantially formed by the planar portion, a second driver aperture at least substantially formed by the planar portion, and a third driver aperture formed by the waveguide portion. The first driver propagates sound toward the first driver aperture, the second driver propagates sound toward the second driver aperture, and the third driver propagates sound toward the third driver aperture. The third driver is in a plane along an axis different than a plane for the first driver and the second driver. Also disclosed is a speaker including the DPC waveguide.