Line Array Loudspeaker Driver Group Articulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Line array loudspeakers often suffer from inconsistent sound coverage in the near field due to wide articulation angles, causing listeners close to the array to hear one driver more than others, leading to diminished sound magnitude, especially when they are off-axis from any driver.

Innovation Solution

The arrangement of acoustic drivers in two groups with parallel axes, where the first group has a fixed articulation angle and the second group has varied articulation angles less than the first, providing more consistent sound coverage by intersecting their azimuthal projections at a fixed angle, allowing the second group to be pointed towards the front rows for improved sound quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the articulation angle is wide to cover a broader audience area, then the coverage area is improved, but the sound coverage consistency in the near field deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidsound coverage consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The line array is divided into multiple groups of acoustic drivers, with each group having different articulation angles. The first group has a first articulation angle and the second group has a second articulation angle, allowing each segment to optimize sound coverage for different audience zones independently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different groups of acoustic drivers are assigned different articulation angles tailored to their specific positioning and coverage requirements. The first group targets a different angular sector than the second group, creating locally optimized sound distribution patterns that collectively achieve uniform overall coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the articulation angle is wide to point drivers away from the array, then the off-axis sound coverage is improved, but the sound magnitude for near-field listeners deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoff-axis sound coverageVSAvoidsound magnitude
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The driver array is segmented into multiple groups with different articulation angles, allowing some drivers to point away from the array for off-axis coverage while other drivers maintain more direct orientation for near-field listeners

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple groups of acoustic drivers with different articulation angles are combined to work together, merging their individual sound coverage patterns to create a composite sound field that provides both off-axis coverage and adequate near-field magnitude

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4014510B1Line array loudspeaker
Publication Date: 2024.06.05 BOSE CORP
  • EP4014510B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~2
  • EP4014510B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4014510B1 patent drawingFigure 4A

AI summary

A line array loudspeaker (150) has a first group of acoustic drivers (152) comprising a first plurality of acoustic drivers (160-165) each comprising an axis, the axes being parallel. There is a second plurality of acoustic drivers (170-175) each comprising an axis, the axes being parallel. The first and second plurality of acoustic drivers are arranged such that projections onto an azimuth plane of the axes of the first and second plurality of acoustic drivers intersects at a first, fixed articulation angle. There is a second group of acoustic drivers (154) adjacent to the first group. The second group comprises a third plurality of acoustic drivers (180-183) each comprising an axis. The drivers of the second group are arranged such that projections onto the azimuth plane of the axes of the third plurality of acoustic drivers intersect at varied articulation angles.