Abstract:
An acoustic device configured for use with an audio source. The acoustic device includes a stem portion and multiple branches forming a cavity for passage of an audio signal when connected to an audio source. An array of multiple acoustic devices or nodes may be physically connected to form a tree-like structure for providing amplified sound in an aesthetically and tonally pleasing manner which fills its surrounding with sound. In view of the physical connectability of the individual nodes, an audio outputting device may be form which is easily modified, scaled, and/or re-configured to adjust its tonal properties and directionality.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/890,543, filed Oct. 14, 2013, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    Implementations of the present disclosure relate to the field of audio speakers and, more particularly, to a speaker cone configured in a tree-like configuration. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Sound, such as the human voice or a snapped twig, is produced by releasing mechanical energy from one localized spot into the surrounding medium, such as air. This released energy creates a pressure change around its source, forcing air into mechanical motion. Eventually, these mechanically induced sound waves expand and propagate through the air to the listener. 
         [0004]    Over centuries, instrument designers have discovered that terminating the end of an instrument (e.g., a trombone or bugle) with a flared cone increases the instrument&#39;s loudness and enhances the purity of the instrument&#39;s tone. Similar cones are essential parts of mechanical record players, such as the phonograph  101  of  FIG. 1A . A cone shaped component may also act as a mechanical sound amplifier for electromagnetic stadium speakers, such as the exemplary speaker  102  of  FIG. 1A  (shown in a side and perspective view). A person may even improvise a crude “megaphone” by cupping both hands around their lips to “throw” or project their voice a longer distance. 
         [0005]    Acoustic cones have three main functions. First, by gradually expanding the localized source of acoustic energy, a more gentle transition prevents sound from reflecting backwards from the abrupt interface between the source and the air. The cone is the acoustic equivalent of electrical impedance matching, and can increase sound output by a factor of ten or more. Second, in some cases, reflected sound waves re-enter the sound generator, causing the generator to produce distorted or corrupted signals. The fewer back reflections, the purer the sound. Third, the cone may collimate sound into the forward direction, increasing the forward volume levels and allowing the sound to be aimed at listeners in the distance. 
         [0006]    In a conventional acoustic cone, such as the “morning glory” shaped cone  101  attached to the needle assembly of a mechanical record player shown in  FIG. 1A , there is a single cavity from the narrow to wide end. The cone diameter smoothly increases as the distance from the sound source increases. As illustrated schematically by the density of dots in  150  of  FIG. 1B  representing a gradient of the intensity of the sound pressure, the sound pressure in a cone decreases away from the smaller end  151  near the source, while simultaneously broadening in area. 
         [0007]    Often, the relationship follows a logarithmic curve. This curve is known to optimally reduce reflections back into the record needle assembly, while not over-emphasizing any one frequency. This latter characteristic in critical for an acoustic cone intended to amplify a wide frequency range acoustic source, such a music. A cone with a uniform diameter (e.g., an organ pipe) resonates and tends to favor a single note. 
         [0008]    However, such cones are not ideal solutions since they are large and often heavy. In addition, conventional cones tend to be directional, so listeners not facing the lip of the cone hear quieter and somewhat distorted sound images. Also, traditional cones are not easily adjusted to adapt their acoustic properties to match or compensate for deficiencies in the sound source. Furthermore, conventional cones are visually intrusive, such that the cone in current speakers is typically hidden inside a console (e.g., a plastic or wooden console) or a speaker enclosure (e.g., a rectangular speaker enclosure). 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention. These drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more implementations of the present invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a prior art audio amplification devices; 
           [0011]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a conventional sound pressure density gradient in a cone; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2A  illustrates an exemplary acoustic device, according to implementations of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2B  illustrates an exemplary acoustic device, according to implementations of the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary acoustic device including multiple nodes for connection, according to implementations of the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates an x-ray perspective view of an exemplary acoustic device, according to implementations of the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary acoustic device, according to implementations of the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary acoustic device including an array of multiple interconnected nodes, according to implementations of the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary acoustic device including an array of multiple interconnected nodes physically connected to a base, according to implementations of the present disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary audio source base, according to implementations of the present disclosure; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  illustrates exemplary end caps attachable to distal ends of one or more nodes of an exemplary acoustic device, according to implementations of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Among those benefits and improvements that have been disclosed, other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary implementations of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    The present disclosure relates to an acoustic device configured for use with an audio source (e.g., an electromagnetic speaker). The acoustic device according to implementations of the present disclosure produces a pleasing tonal quality, amplifies sound (e.g., by more than 10 dB), uniformly fills its surrounding with sound, and can be easily modified, scaled, and/or re-configured to adjust its tonal properties and directionality. 
         [0023]    According to implementations of the present disclosure, the acoustic device (also referred to as a “node”) provides a cavity for the passage of an audio signal. In an implementation, the acoustic device or node may be configured as a cone. In an implementation, multiple nodes may be physically interconnected and configured in a tree-like arrangement. As shown in  FIG. 2A , a node  260  reduces the sound pressure by an amount (e.g., a factor of two or three), while simultaneously redirecting the audio emission direction slightly away from an audio source (not shown). The acoustic cone device accomplishes this division by having a stem portion  261  of area “X”, and gradually morphing the stem portion  261  into one or more arched pipes or branches  262  and  263 . In an implementation, the one or more branches  262 ,  263  extend from the stem portion  261  and have an area equal or substantially equal to the area of the stem portion  261  (e.g., branches  262  and  263  each also have an area “X”). By cascading or interconnecting multiple individual nodes (as shown in  FIG. 6 ), the sound pressure is sequentially divided and widened in new directions. Advantageously, the acoustic cone device provides for an adaptable, scalable and lightweight sound emission component for use with a sound producing element (e.g., an audio source). 
         [0024]    In an implementation, each branch of a node may be of different lengths or of a same length. In an implementation, since each node in an array of nodes occupies a unique position and total length, the array of branches of a node does not strongly favor a single frequency like a single organ pipe. In an implementation, the acoustic cone device may include multiple nodes having one or more of the same characteristics (i.e., a same configuration, arrangement, number and position of branches, length of branches, length of stem portion, etc.) assembled in a symmetric array in order to emphasize certain frequencies. 
         [0025]    In an implementation, the acoustic cone device may include an array having multiple nodes of different lengths and multiple nodes of identical length and/or position. According to implementations of the present disclosure, the acoustic cone device may include an array of nodes in any configuration in order to produce any desired frequency signature which is adjustable by a user upon re-configuration or re-positioning of the branches of the array. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2B  illustrates a three branch node  200 , wherein each branch  201 ,  202  and  203  is curved and their intersections smoothly mesh and extend from a stem portion  204 . According to an implementation, each branch (e.g., branch  201 , branch  202 , and branch  203 ) may be of a different total length or multiple branches may have the same length. 
         [0027]    In an implementation, a node (e.g., node  200 ) may be configured for physical attachment or connection with one or more other nodes. Multiple nodes may be mechanically attached and linked together by any standard means known in the art. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2B , node  200  includes a first end  210  having a boss containing a small annular ring  240 . One or more of the branches (e.g., branch  201 , branch  202 , branch  203 ) may have a distal end (e.g., end  213  of branch  203 ) having a matching recess with an annular notch  241  configured to mate and engage with a corresponding end and annular ring of another node. In an implementation, the two ends of respective nodes are configured to physically connect (e.g., snap, mate, interconnect, attach, join, link, etc.) with each other for scaling the acoustic cone device. As shown in  FIG. 3 , independent nodes  301  and  302  are configured to connect to one another via an application of a connecting action, as illustrated by the connecting action arrow  303  in  FIG. 3 . Advantageously, the acoustic cone device is configured to allow each node (e.g., node  301  and node  302 ) to be firmly attached, yet rotated about the joint formed at the connection of the node pair at ends  311  and  312 . In an implementation, rotation about the joint adjusts a direction of the sound emission of sound passing through a cavity formed by the connected nodes  301  and  302 , as well as the aesthetic appearance. It is noted that any suitable connection may be employed, such as, for example, threaded joints, glued joints, slotted joints, magnetic latching, etc. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  illustrates an “x-ray” view of an exemplary node  200 . As shown, node  400  includes an internal cavity  401  configured to smoothly expand from a stem portion  410  and merge into distal cavity portions of branches  411 ,  412 , and  413 . In an implementation, an end of stem portion  410  of node  400  is configured to attach to another component (e.g., an audio source configured to producing sound or another node configured to pass an audio signal). The cavity  401  of node  400  is configured to pass the audio signal there through to another node or as an audio output. In an implementation, if node  400  is a terminal node (i.e., a node positioned last or outermost relative to an audio source), the audio signal passes through and out of branches  411 ,  412  and  413  to produce an output audio signal for consumption by a listener. 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  illustrates a two branch node  500  configured for assembly into an array of nodes of an acoustic device as shown in  FIG. 6 , according to implementations of the present disclosure. In this implementation, an audio signal (e.g., sound) enters the array of interconnected nodes  600  at an opening of end  601 , divides along a length of array  600 , and emerges at openings of distal branches  640 - 651 . In one implementation, the entire tree of nodes is constructed from identical molded parts, which facilitates stacking of nodes into an array and reduces the number of unique node parts in manufacture. It is to be appreciated that the branch diameters of each node may all vary, which would then fix the order and shape of the final assembled array. 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  illustrates an array of interconnected nodes  700  including multiple two and three branch nodes attached to an audio source  701 . As may be appreciated, the arrangement of nodes and base  701  presents the appearance of a bonsai tree, and thus is an attractive addition to a room. 
         [0031]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary audio source configured as a base or platform capable of generating an audio signal (e.g., base  701  of  FIG. 7 ) having at least one mating component (e.g., mating component  803 ) for attachment with one or more nodes. The exemplary audio source may include two halves  801  and  802 . The base may include a speaker  810 , an electronics board  811  containing an amplifier circuit and optional illumination lights, a weight  812  for stability and prevention of vibrations while playing, an optional mass resonator  813  to extend the bass response of the speaker, an optional vent  814  to control the frequency response of the cavity inside the sealed base. Additional features and/or components of the base are not shown, such as, for example, a cord for power and audio signal, or a battery and wireless connection. As known in the art, the amplifier may be configured with an electronic pre-distortion circuit, such that any distortions from the speaker enclosure, the nodes or the speaker itself, are minimized. 
         [0032]    Conventional small speaker cabinets rarely exhibit a flat acoustic frequency response. Typically, the amp or internal volume resonances overemphasize some frequency bands. According to implementations of the present disclosure, a number, length, and arrangement of nodes may be selected to form a resulting acoustic cone-shaped device configured to reduce unwanted resonances. In addition, a distal end of the “tree” (e.g., acoustic device  600  of  FIG. 6 ) is configured to effectively spread sound throughout a hemispherical region, while taking up a reduced amount of physical space. 
         [0033]      FIG. 9  illustrates multiple exemplary end-caps  901 ,  902  for attachment to a distal end of a node assembly  900 , according to implementations of the present disclosure. In operation, sound pressures are reduced via the sequential division of sound energy at each node, a small amount of reflection may occur from the distal ends to the surrounding air. Small, bell-shaped rings  901  and  902  may be attached to the distal ends of a node assembly  900  to more smoothly transition the sound output from the last branches. According to implementations of the present disclosure, any suitable design for the end-caps (e.g., end-caps  901 ,  902 ) may be employed, such that the transition of the sound output by the acoustic device (e.g., device  900 ). 
         [0034]    It will be appreciated that other variations on the implementations of the present disclosure are within the scope of this invention. For example, a portable phone can replace the speaker in the base. In an implementation, the acoustic output from an audio producing element (e.g., a mobile audio device such as an Apple iPhone® or iTouch®) that generates an audio signal may be placed in a base or in communicative connection with the base. This output would be directed into the first node of the array, fore example, into  803  of  FIG. 8 . In an exemplary arrangement, an acoustic device may include any number of nodes (e.g., 15 or more nodes), wherein the acoustic device amplifies sound by more than 15 dB. 
         [0035]    It is noted that while the nodes are shown as having circular portions (e.g., stem portion, branches), they may be other suitable shapes, such as, for example, ellipses or hexagons. It is further noted that the branches may be fabricated from any suitable material, such as, for example, plastic, metal, ceramic, etc.