Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The present patent application for industrial invention relates to a solution for controlling the vibrations generated by a loudspeaker and induced on a baffle (box, panel, door panel, rear shelf, etc.) where the loudspeaker is mounted.
With reference to
The lower polar plate (2) has a “T”-shaped section and is commonly known as a “T-yoke”. The lower polar plate (2) comprises a cylindrical shank, known as core (20). The magnet (28) and the upper polar plate (29) have a toroidal shape. The air gap (T) is formed between the core (20) of the lower polar plate and the upper polar plate (29).
A voice coil (3) is mounted on a cylindrical support (30) and is disposed in the air gap (T) of the magnetic assembly, with possibility of moving in axial direction. A basket (4) is fixed to the magnetic assembly (M).
A centering device (5) is fixed to the basket (4) and to the cylindrical support (30) of the voice coil in such way as to maintain the voice coil (3) in the air gap (T) of the magnetic assembly. A membrane (6) is fixed to the basket (4) and to the cylindrical support (30) of the voice coil.
The loudspeaker (100) is suitable for being connected to a baffle (not shown) by means of the external edge of the basket (4).
When the voice coil (3), which is immersed in a radial magnetic field, is crossed by electrical current, according to the Lorentz law, a force is generated, which causes the axial movement of the cylindrical support (30) of the voice coil, causing the movement and the vibration of the membrane (6) that generates a sound. Therefore the loudspeaker (100) produces sounds because of the displacement of the membrane (6).
The loudspeaker comprises a moving part comprising: the membrane (6), the centering device (5), and the cylindrical support (30) with the voice coil (3). Because of the movement of its inertial mass, the moving part can generate vibrations induced on the baffle where the loudspeaker is mounted. As a result, the baffle can vibrate and generate spurious sounds.
With reference to
Moreover, in some applications, it is necessary to increase the vibrations of the baffle in correspondence of the low frequency sounds emitted by the loudspeaker. In such a case, a system capable of effectively controlling the vibrations of the baffle is desirable.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,868 discloses a dynamic speaking device having a small-sized vibrating plate for reproducing a high frequency sound and an additional coil in the vicinity of the magnet assembly of the speaker.
The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art by disclosing a loudspeaker with vibration control system that is capable of controlling the vibrations of the baffle whereon the loudspeaker is mounted.
Another purpose is to obtain such a loudspeaker that is compact, inexpensive and simple to make and install.
These purposes are achieved according to the invention with the characteristics of the independent claim 1.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention appear from the dependent claims.
In order to oppose the vibrations of the baffle whereon the loudspeaker is mounted, the invention provides for integrating a shaker in the loudspeaker structure. The shaker, which is suitably powered with an electrical signal, generates induced vibrations on the baffle, which are suitable for opposing and reducing/suppressing the undesired vibrations that are induced by the movement of the moving part of the loudspeaker.
Additional features of the invention will appear dearer from the detailed description below, which refers to merely illustrative, not limiting embodiments, wherein:
In the following description the parts that are identical or correspond to the parts described above are identified with the same numerals, omitting their detailed description.
With reference to
The loudspeaker (1) comprises an external cylinder (7) disposed around said magnetic assembly (M). The external cylinder is made of ferromagnetic material. The external cylinder (7) supports at least one control coil (71, 72) directed towards the magnetic assembly (M).
At least one elastic suspension (8, 8′) is connected to the external cylinder (7) and to the magnetic assembly (M) in such way as to maintain the external cylinder (7) in coaxial position relative to the magnetic assembly. In view of the above, when powering the control coil (71, 72), the external cylinder (7) can move axially, using the magnetic field of the magnetic assembly (M). The movement of the external cylinder (7) relative to the magnetic assembly (M) permits to control the vibration on the baffle (not shown in the drawings) where the loudspeaker is mounted.
The magnetic assembly (M), the external cylinder (7) that supports at least one control coil (71, 72), and the elastic suspension (8, 8′) operate as a shaker having the external cylinder (7) that supports at least one control coil (71, 72) as inertial mass.
In the example of
The loudspeaker (1) comprises:
Each elastic suspension (8, 8′) comprises an internal ring (80) suitable for being fixed to the magnetic assembly (M), and an external ring (81) suitable for being fixed to the external cylinder (7). A plurality of spokes (81) connects the internal ring (80) to the external ring (81) of the elastic suspension. The spokes (82) have a very low thickness in order to bend elastically. The spokes (82) have a substantially “S”-shaped curvilinear shape. The external ring (81) has a groove (83) suitable for receiving one edge of the external cylinder (7). The internal ring (80) has a planar surface that is suitable for being glued on the magnetic assembly (7).
The lower polar plate (2) comprises:
Obviously, the lower polar plate (2) can have a lower planar surface.
The internal ring (80) of the elastic suspension is fixed to the peripheral portion (22) of the lower polar plate and is provided with a suitable thickness so that the lower surface of the elastic suspension is substantially at the same level as the lower surface of the central portion (21) of the lower polar plate.
With reference to
The two control coils (71, 72) are generally connected in series. In the control coils (71, 72) the current generally circulates in opposite direction.
The elastic suspension (8) can comprise leaf springs, helical springs, wave springs or elastic elements of plastic material (rubber, silicone rubber, polyurethane foam, etc.). As shown in
The external cylinder (7) can be made in one piece with the cup (70); in such a case, the entire part will be made of ferromagnetic material.
Alternately, the cup (70) can be partially made of plastic material, in the bottom of the cup. In such a case, the plastic portion of the cup (70) can integrate the elastic suspensions, at least partially. The cup (70) can comprise the external cylinder (7) of ferromagnetic material and the bottom of plastic material obtained, for example, by co-molding two different materials (a ferromagnetic material and a plastic material). The plastic portion of the cup (70) can integrate two elastic suspensions.
In the solutions shown in
The external cylinder (7) that supports the control coil (72) is fixed to the upper polar plate (29) by means of an elastic suspension (8′).
The external diameter of the lower polar plate (22) is higher than the diameter of the magnet (28) and of the upper polar plate (29). The lower polar plate (22) has a peripheral collar (24) that protrudes in upper position from the edge of the lower polar plate and is disposed outside the external cylinder (7). In view of the above, an air gap (T′) is formed between the upper polar plate (29) and the peripheral collar (24) of the lower polar plate. Therefore the control coil (72) is disposed in said air gap (T′).
The loudspeaker (100) of the invention provides for integrating a traditional loudspeaker (with a vibrating membrane) with an inertial system (shaker) that provides for one external cylinder (7) with at least one control coil (71, 72) disposed in the magnetic field generated outside the magnetic assembly (M) of the traditional loudspeaker. The control coil (71, 72) of the inertial system is electrically powered with suitable signals in order to:
The bass booster applications are required when a vibratory sensation is desired, together with an acoustic sensation. For instance, said bass enhancement applications can be obtained by integrating the loudspeaker (1) according to the invention in a seat. In this way, the user will perceive an increase of the seat vibrations produced by the movement of the shaker, simultaneously with the acoustic emission of the low frequencies produced by the movement of the membrane (6) of the loudspeaker.
The control coil of the loudspeaker (1) can be electrically powered by means of DSPs, amplifiers and filters.
The loudspeaker (1) of the invention is compact and can be used in noise/vibration control applications, in ANC (active noise control) systems or in applications used to reinforce the vibrations generated by the low frequencies in audio reproduction systems.
With reference to
In mechanics the shaker fixed to the loudspeaker can be identified and studied as a damper for dynamic vibrations, which is frequently known as a 2-DOF (two degrees of freedom) TMD (Tuned Mass Damper). A TMD is a system suitable for damping the width of an oscillator (loudspeaker) by coupling a second oscillator (shaker).
M, K, C represent the mass, stiffness and damping of the loudspeaker, respectively, whereas m, k, c represent the mass, stiffness and damping of the shaker, respectively.
With reference to
x1 and x2 represent the absolute positions of M and m, respectively; x2 can be substituted with the relative position of m relative to M, assuming x2−x1.
Assuming that the damping force is proportional to the speed and a force p0 cos (ωt) is applied on M, simplifying with C=0, the motion of the system can be expressed in differential equations:
Mx1″+Kx1+k(x1−x2)+c(x1′−x2′)=p0 cos(ωt)
mx2″+k(x2−x1)+c(x2′−x1′)=0
where x1′ is the derivative in time of x1, substituting the first equation with the sum of the two:
Mx1″+Kx1+mx2″=p0 cos(ωt)
mx2″+k(x2−x1)+c(x2′−x1′)=0
Then the periodical solutions are obtained in the form:
x1=a cos(ωt)+bsen(ωt)
x2=c cos(ωt)+dsen(ωt)
Substituting in the differential equations, the equation system is obtained:
Calling the matrix coefficients M, M can be written in blocks and inverted:
therefor
where:
A=r1I,B=r2I,C=r3I−s1W,D=r4I+s1W,
r1=K−MΩ2,r2=−mω2,r3=−k,r4=k−mω2,s1=cω
Commuting A and B, we obtain:
Now let's define r and s
AD−BC=(r1r4−r2r3)I+s1(r1+r2)W=rI+sW
As a result
The width of x1 is A1=√{square root over (a2+b2)} and the width of x2 is
Explicitly, we can write A12 and A22
From here we can write the following constants:
autofrequencies:
mass ratio
damping ratio:
wherefrom
c=2ξ2mω22
C=2ξ1mω
The stiffness relation is
k=μK
The best approximation for the damper frequency is given when the damper is tuned at the fundamental of the structure, that is:
ω2=ω1
wherefrom the optimal frequency
ω2=foptω1
If we consider the periodical excitation:
p=p0sen(Ωt)
the response is given by
u1=x1sen(Ωt+δ1)
u2=x2sen(Ωt+δ1+δ2)
where x and δ indicate the width of the displacement and the phase shift, respectively. The critical load is in the resonance condition Ω=ω, in such a case the solution has the following form:
The response without damper is given by:
To compare these two cases, (1) is expressed in terms of equivalent damping ratio:
where
(3) represents the relative contribution of the damper parameters to the total damping. When the mass ratio increases, the damping will increase.
Dimensioning of the Loudspeaker According to the Invention
Let's suppose that ξ=0 with a damping ratio of 10%. By using (3) and inserting ξe=0.1, we obtain the following relation between μ and ξ2
The relative displacement is given by (2):
Combining (4) and (5) and substituting ξ=0 we obtain:
Approximating (6), eliminating the root and the square with
The generalized form of (7) follows from (3)
For example, selecting
we reach an estimate of μ:
whereas from (2), we obtain
From the stiffness relation k=μK we obtain
k=μK=20K
In the specific case, considering 10% damping, from (8) we obtain a mass (m) of the moving assembly of the shaker that is four times higher than the mass (M) of the moving assembly of the loudspeaker. In similar solutions, advantageously, the mass (m) of the moving assembly of the shaker can be 3-5 times higher than the mass (M) of the moving assembly of the loudspeaker.
Numerous equivalent variations and modifications can be made to the present embodiments of the invention, which are within the reach of an expert of the field, falling in any case within the scope of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
102017000034713 | Mar 2017 | IT | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2539672 | Olson | Jan 1951 | A |
4495638 | Yamada | Jan 1985 | A |
4550428 | Yanagishima | Oct 1985 | A |
4720868 | Hirano | Jan 1988 | A |
5583944 | Morohoshi | Dec 1996 | A |
5894263 | Shimakawa | Apr 1999 | A |
6269168 | Tagami | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6373958 | Enomoto | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6611605 | Kim | Aug 2003 | B2 |
6754363 | Chang | Jun 2004 | B2 |
6766034 | Kobayashi | Jul 2004 | B2 |
6810128 | Kaneda | Oct 2004 | B2 |
7010140 | Furuya | Mar 2006 | B2 |
7076079 | Chung | Jul 2006 | B2 |
8396244 | Huang | Mar 2013 | B2 |
20010017922 | Kim | Aug 2001 | A1 |
20090190794 | French | Jul 2009 | A1 |
20120020479 | Zhang | Jan 2012 | A1 |
20130301866 | Bank | Nov 2013 | A1 |
20150280634 | Servadio | Oct 2015 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
204031441 | Dec 2014 | CN |
2014072299 | May 2014 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20180288529 A1 | Oct 2018 | US |