A speaker, an electroacoustic transducer, converts an electrical audio signal into a corresponding sound. A driver of the speaker, known as the active driver, may include a diaphragm and a voice coil. The diaphragm, sometimes cone-shaped, is a transducer intended to inter-convert mechanical vibrations, for example generated by the voice coil, to sounds. The voice coil, generally a coil of wire attached to the apex of the diaphragm, provides the motive force, or vibrations, to the diaphragm by the reaction of a magnetic field to an electric current passing through the voice coil. In addition to the active driver, additional components may be included in the speaker, for example, to provide further enhancements. As an example of extending the low frequency response of the speaker, bass extender components may be included, such as a bass reflex port or a passive radiator. Compared to active drivers, passive radiator may also include a diaphragm, but may not have a magnet or voice coil. Rather, internal air pressure produced within the enclosure of the speaker, for example, by movements of the diaphragm of the active driver, may move the diaphragm of the passive radiator as well, thereby extending the low frequency response of the speaker.
Examples disclosed herein provide a speaker with different cavities housing various components of the speaker. As an example, the active driver may be found in a first cavity, while a bass extender component, such as the passive radiator, may be found in a second cavity. In order for the passive radiator to be driven by the active driver, the first and second cavities may be connected to each other by a third cavity, which may have a height lower than either the first or second cavity.
The lower height of the third cavity may afford the opportunity to accommodate an electronic device, such as a computer monitor, in between the first and second cavities of the speaker. As a result, the cavity housing the active driver may be directed towards the user positioned in front of the electronic device, while the cavity housing the passive radiator, which creates omnidirectional sound waves, may be positioned behind the electronic device, away from the view of the user. As the cavity housing the passive radiator is away from a viewpoint of the user, its dimensions may be increased, thereby providing the opportunity to extend the low frequency response of the speaker. By arranging the placement of the components of the speaker as described, particularly exposing the active driver to the user in front of the electronic device, placement of the speaker can vary, according to user preference, as will be further described.
With reference to the figures,
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As an example, a speaker driver 110 may be disposed in the first cavity 104, and a passive radiator 112 may be disposed in the second cavity 106. As an example, the speaker driver 110 may be angled upwards within the first cavity 104, for example, to be directed towards where the user may generally be found. As will be further described, the L-shape passage provided by a combination of the second cavity 106 and third cavity 108 provides a conduit for the internal air pressure produced within the enclosure 102 of the speaker 100, for example, via the speaker driver 110, to move the passive radiator 112 between an in and out position, thereby extending the low frequency response of the speaker 100. As mentioned above, the size of each cavity, for example, the first cavity 104 and second cavity 106, may be taken into consideration for the proper operation of the speaker 100, such as the acoustic coupling between the speaker driver 110 and passive radiator 112. Although a single speaker driver 110 and single passive radiator 112 is illustrated, the number of active drivers and passive radiators may vary. In addition, although a passive radiator 112 is illustrated in the second cavity 106, other bass extender components may be used in its place, such as a bass reflex port.
As the cavity housing the passive radiator 112 is away from a viewpoint of the user, the dimensions of the second cavity 106 and the passive radiator 112 may be increased, thereby providing the opportunity to extend the low frequency response of the speaker 100, possibly reducing the need for a subwoofer. As a result, the volume of the second cavity 106 may be larger than the volume of the first cavity 104, according to an example. As an example, as the first cavity 104 is also not limited by the clearance provided under the electronic device 120, the dimensions of the first cavity 104 and the speaker driver 110 may be increased as well.
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As the enclosure 102 of the speaker 100 may be sealed and airtight, air inside the enclosure 102 may function as a spring. For example, when the diaphragm 114 of the speaker driver 110 moves out, for example, due to the vibrations originating from the electric current passing through the voice coil 116, the air behind the diaphragm 114, within the enclosure 102 of the speaker 100, may experience a partial vacuum, thereby drawing the diaphragm 118 of the passive radiator 112 in, as the diaphragm 118 of the passive radiator 112 moves in response to changing pressures within the enclosure 102. Similarly, when the diaphragm 114 of the speaker driver 110 moves in, the air behind the diaphragm 114, within the enclosure 102 of the speaker, compresses, thereby pushing the diaphragm 118 of the passive radiator 112 out. As a result, the “in and out” motion of the passive radiator 112 may create an omnidirectional sound wave tuned acoustically to enhance the audio performance of the speaker 100, particularly extending the low frequency response of the speaker 100.
This vacuum and compression oscillation may occur in the air cavity of the enclosure 102, particularly the L-shape passage provided by a combination of the second cavity 106 and third cavity 108. The size of the cavities, particularly the first cavity 104 and second cavity 106 may be tuned in order to ensure acoustic coupling between the speaker driver 110 and the passive radiator 112. These two components of the speaker 100 may work in concert to enhance the audio performance, by creating sound waves that add together, effectively enhancing the bass frequencies.
It is appreciated that examples described may include various components and features. It is also appreciated that numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the examples. However, it is appreciated that the examples may be practiced without limitations to these specific details. In other instances, well known methods and structures may not be described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the examples. Also, the examples may be used in combination with each other.
Reference in the specification to “an example” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one example, but not necessarily in other examples. The various instances of the phrase “in one example” or similar phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same example.
It is appreciated that the previous description of the disclosed examples is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to these examples will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other examples without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2019/029918 | 4/30/2019 | WO | 00 |