Rotary Loudspeaker Cabinet for Dual-Mode Acoustic Axis Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional soundbars face issues when transitioning from a horizontal to a vertical configuration, as the acoustic axis is no longer directed towards the user, leading to undesirable orientation of the logo and obstruction of passive membranes by pivot connections, making the device heavier and more expensive.
Innovation Solution
The soundbar features a speaker that rotates around an axis forming specific angles with the cabinet's axes, allowing the acoustic axis to remain directed towards the user in both configurations while maintaining logo orientation and enabling the inclusion of passive membranes, using a notched pivot connection to conceal the pivot links.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the main speaker is mounted with a fixed acoustic axis for the first configuration, then the acoustic rendering is good in the first configuration, but the acoustic axis is no longer directed towards the user in the second configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The speaker is made rotatable relative to the cabinet around an axis of rotation, allowing it to dynamically change its acoustic axis orientation between two configurations. In the first configuration, the acoustic axis is directed substantially towards the user, and in the second configuration, the acoustic axis is also directed substantially towards the user after rotation, thus maintaining good acoustic rendering in both configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The single speaker is designed to serve both configurations effectively by being rotatable. The same speaker unit can be oriented to direct its acoustic axis towards the user in both the first configuration (horizontal placement) and the second configuration (vertical placement), eliminating the need for separate speakers for each configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the main speaker is moved from the first position to the second position by rotation around an axis parallel to the direction, then the acoustic axis is directed towards the user in the second configuration, but the pivot connections become visible and unattractive
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot connections are extracted and relocated to the rear of the cabinet, where they are no longer visible from the front. The rotation mechanism is designed so that the pivot connections are positioned at the back, allowing the front of the speaker to maintain a clean, aesthetic appearance without visible pivot links in either configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot connections are moved from the front view to the rear dimension. By positioning the rotation axis and pivot connections at the back of the cabinet, the aesthetic front surface is preserved while still allowing the necessary rotational movement to occur in three-dimensional space.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the main speaker is moved from the first position to the second position by rotation, then the acoustic axis is directed towards the user in the second configuration, but the logo orientation becomes reversed and incorrect
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation axis is positioned asymmetrically relative to the logo on the speaker. The axis of rotation is offset from the center of the logo, specifically positioned at a distance from the logo center, such that when the speaker rotates between configurations, the logo maintains its correct orientation relative to the user in both positions rather than being reversed.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of rotating the speaker in a way that would reverse the logo orientation, the rotation axis is positioned such that the rotation effectively inverts the rotation direction relative to the logo center, keeping the logo upright and correctly oriented in both configurations.
4Adaptability or versatility
If pivot connections are used to move the speaker between positions, then the speaker can be repositioned, but passive membranes cannot be added on either side of the main speaker
Solution Approach 1:
The speaker system is segmented into the main active speaker and separate passive membranes that can be independently positioned on either side of the main speaker. The passive membranes are mounted on the cabinet rather than being integrated into the rotating speaker assembly, allowing them to remain stationary while the main speaker rotates between configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The cabinet serves as an intermediary structure that supports both the rotatable main speaker and the stationary passive membranes. The passive membranes are mounted on the cabinet in positions that do not interfere with the rotation of the main speaker, allowing all components to coexist and function together.
Data Source
AI summary
Acoustic loudspeaker (10) comprising a cabinet (12) extending in a direction (L), and a speaker (14) defining an acoustic axis (X). The cabinet defines a first axis (V1) perpendicular to the direction, and a second axis (V2) perpendicular to the direction and to the first axis.The acoustic loudspeaker is intended to be used in a first configuration, wherein the first axis is essentially vertical, and a second configuration, wherein the second axis is essentially vertical.The speaker is movable relative to the cabinet around an axis of rotation (D) between a first position, wherein the acoustic axis defines with the second axis a first angle less than 30°, and a second position, in which the acoustic axis defines with the first axis (V1) a second angle less than 30°. The axis of rotation makes two angles between 40° and 50° with the first axis and the second axis.