Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices – Electro-acoustic audio transducer – Plural or compound reproducers
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-31
2004-01-27
Tran, Sinh (Department: 2643)
Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices
Electro-acoustic audio transducer
Plural or compound reproducers
C381S387000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06683963
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of audio system performance, and more particularly, to a loudspeaker assembly capable of pivoting the low-frequency and high-frequency transducers to provide directional sound and to avoid hindrance of sound waves by the loudspeaker frame itself.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The home audio industry places great emphasis on convenience, and sound quality. In-wall and in-ceiling audio speakers are at the height of their popularity. While floor speakers may at times, provide superior sound quality, the aesthetic appeal of in-wall speakers and their ability to deliver high-quality sound without the need to rearrange one's living room to make space for the speakers, have created a significant demand for quality in-wall speakers that deliver the hi-fidelity sound of floor speakers.
Unfortunately, traditional in-wall speakers are mounted in a wall and therefore cannot simply be turned to redirect the sound as can be done with floor speakers, absent a great deal of effort and expense. One possible solution to such a dilemma is to make the transducers that comprise the in-wall speaker movable, so that the sound emanating from the transducers can be redirected without repositioning the entire speaker assembly.
Such designs, however, face a number of inherent difficulties. One difficulty is that a speaker designed to allow transducers to rotate may inhibit the sound emanating from the transducers, thereby causing diffraction of the sound waves. In particular, when the transducer rotates, a portion of the transducer rises above the baffle surface, while naturally the opposing portion recedes within and below the surface of the baffle. The inner “wall” created by the transducer's receding below the baffle, reflects sound emanating from the transducer. This reflection causes diffraction of the sound waves resulting in reduced quality of sound reproduction. Another difficulty is that once a speaker is mounted in the wall or in the ceiling, it is very difficult to service and/or swap the speaker out for other speakers.
As discussed above, pivotable and/or rotatable, together “swiveling,” in-wall transducers would be an advantage over those which cannot be swiveled to maximize the sonic “sweet spot.” A further advantage could be found in the ability interchange various speaker configurations. Ideally, the transducers should be rotatable and pivotable without causing sound diffraction.
Previous attempts have been made to provide speakers with components to direct sound for optimal listening such as are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,101,262 to Haase et al. (the '262 patent); U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,694 to Burdett et al. (the '694 patent); U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,095 to Chang (the '095 patent); U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,502 to Boothroyd et al. (the '502 patent); U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,407 to Cassity et al. (the '407 patent); U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,364 to Shen (the '364 patent); U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,428 to Perrson (the '428 patent); U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,212 to Iwaya (the '212 patent); U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,655 to Freadman et al. (the '655 patent); U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,406 to Kawachi (the '406 patent); U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,630 to Ando (the '630 patent); U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,228 to Bruni (the '228 patent); U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,577 to Kurihara (the '577 patent); U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,734 to Fincham (the '734 patent); U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,429 to Senzaki (the '429 patent); and U.S. Pat. No. 3,976,838 to Stallings, Jr. (the '838 patent).
The '262 patent describes a panel mount speaker system including a housing having flange and wall portions, a locating portion defining a primary support surface as a concave annular spherical segment, a secondary support member defining a secondary support surface as a concave spherical segment opposite a main pivotal point; a main speaker mount having an outwardly facing primary support surface; a main speaker unit coaxially mounted to the main speaker mount; a secondary mount member fastened to the stator element of the main speaker unit and having an outwardly facing secondary engagement surface slidably engaging the secondary support surface; an auxiliary speaker; a grill structure pivotally supporting the auxiliary speaker forwardly of the main speaker unit; a crossover network connected to the main speaker unit and the auxiliary speaker; a circuit panel mounting elements of the crossover network oriented and supported perpendicular to the housing axis, the panel flexing in response to axial loading of the secondary support member for preloading sliding engagement of the main speaker axis. However, the '262 patent suffers from a number of disadvantages. For example, the main speaker unit is set very deeply into the housing, thereby causing sound distortion when in a highly pivoted position. Another disadvantage is the size of the '262 speaker system. The main speaker unit and the main speaker mount are composed of two separate pieces, this is disadvantageous relative to a speaker system that integrates the pivoting structure (main speaker mount) with the main speaker. A similarly sized pivoting speaker to the '262, that is only one piece, could occupy less space and reduce the overall size of the system.
The '694 patent, assigned to the assignee of the present application, describes a loudspeaker assembly with a transducer capable of being swiveled to direct the sound to a convenient point thereby allowing the listener to select the optimal direction of sound.
The '095 patent describes a loudspeaker assembly including a base, a supporting plate, a casing, and a loudspeaker. The supporting plate is securely mounted to the base and includes a jointing member formed on a side thereof. The casing has a first end securely engaged with the supporting plate and a second end. The loudspeaker has a first end extending beyond a second end of the casing and a second end with a planar bottom side in a universal joint connection with the jointing member on the supporting plate. The loudspeaker has a section, which is slidable relative to an inner periphery of the casing to allow adjustment of an orientation of the loudspeaker relative to the supporting plate.
The '502 patent describes sound output system comprised of a baffle, a plurality of sound drivers, and a sound mirror. The sound mirror reflects a beam of sound from the sound driver horizontally and vertically while maintaining generally consistent amplitude. One disadvantage of the '502 patent is that it requires a sound mirror to deflect sound waves rather than having the sounds waves emanating from the loudspeakers directly.
The '407 patent describes a tilt adjuster for a speaker which adjusts the position of a speaker recessed in a wall. The tilt-adjuster, preferably assembled with a speaker cover, is a wedge-shaped frame with an open central portion for receiving the speaker housing; a front side including a flattened perimeter from making abutting engagement with the speaker's housing; and a back side which attaches to the speaker's support frame. Although the '407 enables some modicum of control over the directional sound of a speaker, it is not highly adjustable, and further does not provide for a pivoting tweeter or interchangeability.
The '164 patent describes a speaker holder including a hollow, open holder body which receives a speaker within an inward top flange thereof, a bottom plate fastened to the holder body at the bottom to hold a spring-supported ball in a center hole on an upright center rod thereof for permitting the speaker to be balanced on the ball, and a mounting plate detachably fastened to the bottom plate through hooked joints for mounting the speaker holder on a supporting surface.
The '428 patent shows a direction-adjustable speaker system comprised of a sound driver disposed within a rotatable mount positioned within a housing. The mount swivels within the housing to direct the sound to a desi
Sterns Frank
Wright Doug Stuart
Lott & Friedland, P.A.
Niles Audio Corporation
Tran Sinh
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