Speaker

Details Speaker Speaker

2000-11-28

2002-09-03

Le, Huyen (Department: 2643)

Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices

Electro-acoustic audio transducer

Plural or compound reproducers

C381S423000, C381S424000, C381S432000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06445803

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to improvements to speakers used with electronic audio systems. Preferably the present invention may be adapted to improve the performance of existing speakers used to produce music, sound effects or dialogue in commercial or domestic sound systems.
BACKGROUND ART
This invention relates to improvements to or associated with speakers used with electronic audio systems. Preferably the present invention may be adapted to improve the performance of existing speakers used to produce music, sound effects or dialogue in commercial or domestic sound systems.
BACKGROUND ART
Electronically driven sound speakers are used in a wide variety of applications and locations. Speakers can be provided as part of a domestic home entertainment system or as part of the sound systems for movie theatres, bars, clubs or any other business with the need to transmit sound into an area.
In the case of systems primarily used to produce music, some listeners have very high standards for the quality of sound produced. The design of speakers used in such systems will have a significant effect on the quality of the resulting sound.
A standard electrical loud speaker normally employs a single flexible cone or diaphragm. This cone is mounted to the speaker housing through a single flexible connector or suspension system. The cone is linked to an electromagnetic driving system to vibrate the cone at the frequencies required to produce music or other sounds. Usually an analogue electrical signal is provided to drive the speaker, with the electrical properties of this signal determining the frequencies and the amplitude of the sounds produced by the speaker cone.
One problem with this type of speaker design is the presence of noise signals on the same line as the speaker-driving signal. These noise signals will also be reproduced as part of the sound produced by the speakers. Electrical noise can be caused for example, by low quality cabling used between the speaker and an audio amplifier, or through loose or bad connections between the speaker and the amplifier. In these instances relatively high frequency noise will be transmitted into the speaker and reproduced as unwanted sound.
Existing speakers can also experience problems when required to produce high volume low frequency bass sounds. The frequency and the amplitudes of the signals involved may cause a speaker housing or casing to resonate, thereby distorting the sound produced by the speaker and reducing the overall quality of the sound produced.
These speaker designs are also limited in the range of sound frequencies they can produce. Some speakers have difficulty producing low frequency or bass sounds because of the inability of the speaker cone to vibrate at the correct frequency. In this regard the mounting system for the speaker cone, the size of the speaker cone and also the materials used in its construction all have a significant effect on the ability of the speaker to produce such low frequency sounds.
Furthermore, these types of speakers may also experience degradation in the quality of the sound produced when low volumes are required. As the energy transmitted through to the speaker cone is relatively low, the physical resistance of the cone to vibration, and also the mounting system used to attach the cone to the housing may damp down the amount of energy retransmitted on as sound waves. This can be the cause of significant power losses at low volumes and hence result in a corresponding decrease in the quality of the sound produced.
An improved speaker or an attachment for a speaker that solved any or all of the above problems would be of advantage. Specifically an improved speaker system that could damp out or remove problems associated with high frequency noise sources, which could reduce or eliminate the chances of speaker casing resonating with low frequency bass sounds, which improved with the ability of the speaker to produce low frequency sounds and which also performed well at low listening volume levels would be of advantage.
It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description that is given by way of example only.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an improved speaker which includes:
at least one radiating surface configured to vibrate to produce sound waves, and
an existing speaker cone configured to vibrate to produce sound waves, wherein said and at least one radiating surface is adapted to fit over or onto the existing speaker cone, the said at least one radiating surface having a direct or indirect airtight attachment to the existing speaker cone to provide a hermetically sealed cavity between the existing speaker cone and said at least one radiating surface. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an improved speaker which includes:
at least two radiating surfaces, and
a housing adapted to at least partially enclose and support said at least two radiating surfaces, and
a primary flexible suspension element adapted to directly secure a radiating surface to said housing, and
at least one secondary flexible suspension element adapted to indirectly secure one or more radiating surfaces to said housing.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a speaker modifying module and speaker which includes:
at least one radiating surface configured to vibrate to produce sound waves,
said at least one radiating surface being adapted for airtight attachment to an existing speaker to form a hermetically sealed cavity between the topside diaphragm or cone of said existing speaker and said at least one radiating surface.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a speaker modifying module which includes:
at least two radiating surfaces, and
a housing adapted to at least partially enclose and support said at least two radiating surfaces, and
a primary flexible suspension element adapted to directly secure a radiating surface to said housing, and
at least one secondary flexible suspension element adapted to indirectly secure one or more radiating surfaces to said housing,
said module being adapted for airtight attachment to an existing speaker to form a hermetically sealed cavity between the topside diaphragm or cone of said existing speaker and the speaker-modifying module.
The present invention may be adapted to provide improvements to existing speaker technology. The present invention may be used either in the construction of new speakers as an integral component or alternatively may be or provided as an improvement module or component which can be installed into or onto an existing speaker. Reference throughout this specification will also be made to the present invention being implemented as an after market module or kit used to improve the performance of an existing speaker. However, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other applications have also been considered and reference to the above only throughout this specification should in no way be seen as limiting.
In a preferred embodiment the present invention may be adapted to fit over or onto an existing single radiating speaker cone mounted in a standard speaker. This existing speaker cone may be driven normally by an electromagnetic driving system and may radiate and direct the appropriate frequency sound waves up onto the rear surfaces of the radiating surface or surfaces cones discussed above.
At least one radiating surface may be adapted to fit over the top of such an existing speaker cone with an airtight attachment. This will provide a substantially sealed cavity between the driven speaker cone and the one or more radiating surfaces of the present invention. This will allow air pressure waves generated by the driven speaker cone to drive the radiating surface or surfaces of the present invention

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