Woofer Assembly Using a High-Q Filter for Mid-Range Output

Solution Overview

Problem

Mid-range speakers in three-way multi-driver systems often require specific crossover frequencies and slopes, which can be affected by the integration with low and high frequency speakers, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs due to the need for dedicated components.

Innovation Solution

Replacing the dedicated mid-range speaker with an additional woofer speaker, electronically coupled to a high-Q filter, allowing the woofer to operate within the mid-range frequency range of 200-2000 Hz, thereby eliminating the need for a complex crossover and reducing manufacturing and purchasing costs by using identical woofer components across the system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a dedicated mid-range speaker is used in a three-way multi-driver system, then the frequency range coverage is improved, but the device complexity and crossover design complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrequency range coverageVSAvoidcrossover design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the mid-range speaker function into the woofer assembly by using a woofer with an extended frequency response capability. Instead of having separate mid-range and woofer drivers, the invention combines these functions into a single woofer unit that can reproduce both low frequencies (20-200 Hz) and mid-range frequencies (200-2000 Hz), thereby reducing the number of components and simplifying the overall speaker system architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The woofer speaker is designed with multi-functionality to perform both traditional woofer duties (reproducing low frequencies) and mid-range speaker duties (reproducing mid-range frequencies). This universal driver approach allows a single speaker component to fulfill multiple frequency coverage roles, eliminating the need for dedicated mid-range drivers and reducing system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a dedicated mid-range speaker is used in a three-way multi-driver system, then the frequency range coverage is improved, but the manufacturing and purchasing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrequency range coverageVSAvoidmanufacturing and purchasing costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the mid-range speaker function into the woofer assembly by using a woofer with an extended frequency response capability. Instead of having separate mid-range and woofer drivers, the invention combines these functions into a single woofer unit that can reproduce both low frequencies (20-200 Hz) and mid-range frequencies (200-2000 Hz), thereby reducing the number of components and simplifying the overall speaker system architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The woofer speaker is designed with multi-functionality to perform both traditional woofer duties (reproducing low frequencies) and mid-range speaker duties (reproducing mid-range frequencies). This universal driver approach allows a single speaker component to fulfill multiple frequency coverage roles, eliminating the need for dedicated mid-range drivers and reducing system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If a three-way crossover system is used, then the sound output precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound output precisionVSAvoidcrossover system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the complex three-way crossover system from the speaker assembly. By using a woofer with extended frequency response capability, the invention removes the need for complex crossover networks that would otherwise be required to manage three separate frequency bands across multiple drivers, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining adequate sound output precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 configuration results in a flat overall response with high sensitivity, reducing system impedance and maintaining sound quality while decreasing production costs and eliminating the need for additional enclosures, as the woofer provides equivalent performance to a traditional mid-range speaker.

Implementation Method 1

electronically coupled to a first electronic circuit including high-Q filter configured to provide first audio signals having frequencies between 200-2000 Hz to the first woofer speaker

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical filtering: Filter (electronic)

Data Source

PatentUS10271141B2Woofer assembly with one woofer configured to provide mid-range audio frequencies

Publication Date: 2019.04.23 HARMAN INT IND INC

AI summary

A speaker assembly may include a first woofer speaker electronically coupled to a first electronic circuit including high-Q filter configured to provide first audio signals having frequencies between 200-2000 Hz to the first woofer speaker. The speaker assembly may further include at least one second woofer speaker electronically coupled to a second electronic circuit configured to provide second audio signals having frequencies between 20-200 Hz to the second woofer speaker, wherein the first woofer speaker is identical to the second woofer speaker and is configured to operate as a mid-range speaker.