Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices – Electro-acoustic audio transducer – Driven diverse static structure
Utility Patent
1998-05-13
2001-01-02
Kuntz, Curtis A. (Department: 2743)
Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices
Electro-acoustic audio transducer
Driven diverse static structure
C381S190000
Utility Patent
active
06169809
ABSTRACT:
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
The invention relates to visual display apparatus and more particularly to visual display means (hereinafter visual display units) incorporating loudspeakers.
2. Background Art
It is known from GB-A-2262861 to suggest a panel-form loudspeaker comprising:
a resonant multi-mode radiator element being a unitary sandwich panel formed of two skins of material with a spacing core of transverse cellular construction, wherein the panel is such as to have ratio of bending stiffness (B), in all orientation s, to the cube power of panel mass per unit surface area (&mgr;) of at least 10;
a mounting means which supports the panel or attaches to it a supporting body, in a free undamped manner;
and an electro-mechanical drive means coupled to the panel which serves to excite a multi-modal resonance in the radiator panel in response to an electrical input within a working frequency band for the loudspeaker.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention use members of nature, structure and configuration achievable generally and/or specifically by implementing teachings of our co-pending patent application Ser. No. 08/707,012. Such members thus have capability to sustain and propagate input vibrational energy by bending waves in operative area(s) extending transversely of thickness often but not necessarily to edges of the member(s); are configured with or without anisotropy of bending stiffness to have resonant mode vibration components distributed over said area(s) beneficially for acoustic coupling with ambient air; and have predetermined preferential locations or sites within said area for transducer means, particularly operationally active or moving part(s) thereof effective in relation to acoustic vibrational activity in said area(s) and signals, usually electrical, corresponding to acoustic content of such vibrational activity. Uses are envisaged in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 08/707,012 for such members as or in “passive” acoustic devices without transducer means, such as for reverberation or for acoustic filtering or for acoustically “voicing” a space or room; and as or in “active” acoustic devices with transducer means, such as in a remarkably wide range of sources of sound or loudspeakers when supplied with input signals to be converted to said sound, or in such as microphones when exposed to sound to be converted into other signals.
This invention is particularly concerned with active acoustic devices e.g. in the form of loudspeakers for visual display means. Members as above are herein called distributed mode radiators and are intended to be characterised as in the above co-pending patent application and/or otherwise as specifically provided herein.
The invention is a visual display unit comprising a display screen, a housing in which the display screen is mounted and a loudspeaker in the housing, characterised in that the loudspeaker comprises a a stiff lightweight member having capability to sustain and propagate input vibrational energy by bending waves in at least one operative area extending transversely of thickness to have resonant mode vibration components distributed over said at least one area and have predetermined preferential locations or sites within said area for transducer means and having a transducer mounted wholly and exclusively on said member at one of said locations or sites to vibrate the member to cause it to resonate forming an acoustic radiator which provides an acoustic output when resonating. The radiator may be integral with the housing. The housing may have an external wall with which the radiator is integral. The radiator may comprise a cellular core sandwiched by skin layers, one of which skin layers is integral with the housing. The said one skin layer may be thinner than the average wall thickness of the housing. The external wall of the housing may be formed with a groove which surrounds the radiator and which defines a resilient suspension coupling the loudspeaker to the housing. At least one slot may be provided in the groove to increase the compliance of the suspension.
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Azima Henry
Colloms Martin
Harris Neil
Foley & Lardner
Kuntz Curtis A.
New Transducers Limited
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