Patent Publication Number: US-9854339-B2

Title: Speaker system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a speaker system. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     The speaker cabinet described in PTL 1 for example, has been known as the above-mentioned the speaker system. This speaker cabinet includes a first cabinet to which a speaker unit is affixed, and a second cabinet for forming a bass-reflex duct which is affixed to a bottom plane of the first cabinet. At the end portion of the first cabinet-bottom wall, there is provided an opening communicating with the bass-reflex duct. 
     The first cabinet is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and includes three pairs of wall portions that are mutually opposing. Between these mutually opposing wall portions, there are respectively generated standing waves in each of which a wall portion serves as a node, and a central portion serves as an arc-shaped portion. Although the amplitude of typical standing wave takes the minimum value at the nodes of vibration, its sound pressure takes the maximum value at the same. As aforementioned, providing an opening at the end portion of the first cabinet-bottom wall is to provide the opening at a portion corresponding to a node of the standing wave, that is, the portion at which the sound pressure of the standing wave is maximized. Accordingly, there has been a concern that the influence of the standing wave with respect to sounds radiated through the bass-reflex duct becomes a serious matter, for an example. In particular, the provision of the opening in the bottom wall of the first cabinet elongated in a vertical direction shall lead to an occurrence of large peaks or dips at the low frequency range of the sound. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     In view of the above, the present invention aims, for example, to provide a speaker system that is less susceptible to the influence of the standing wave. 
     Solution to Problem 
     In order to address the above mentioned concern, an one aspect of the present invention provides a speaker system comprising: a speaker device; and a cabinet including a speaker-fixation wall to which the speaker device is to be affixed, an opposing wall opposing to the speaker-fixation wall, and two pairs of side walls opposing to each other that are provided between the speaker-fixation wall and the opposing wall, wherein a first duct communicating with an interior space of the cabinet is provided at the side wall of the cabinet, and wherein a first opening that makes the interior space of the cabinet communicated with an inlet of the first duct is provided at an area encompassing a central portion of one side wall in an one pair of side walls that has a shorter mutual distance therebetween in the two pairs of side walls. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the speaker system in the first example of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the speaker system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross section taken at the line I-I in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross section taken at the line II-II in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross section taken at the line III-III in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is an explanatory view for explaining the standing wave formed in the speaker system as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a graph showing the frequency characteristic of the speaker system and the first duct provided in this speaker system as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a view of a cross section taken at the line I-I in  FIG. 2  of another example. 
         FIG. 9  is a view of a cross section taken at the line II-II in  FIG. 2  of another example. 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of the speaker system in the second example of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a view of the cross section taken at the line IV-IV in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a view of the cross section taken at the line V-V in  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, the speaker system in accordance with an one embodiment of the present invention is described. The speaker system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is composed of a speaker device, and a cabinet including a speaker-fixation wall to which the speaker device is to be affixed, an opposing wall that opposes to the speaker-fixation wall, and mutually opposing two pairs of side walls provided between the speaker-fixation wall and the opposing wall. The side wall of the cabinet is provided with a first duct that communicates with the interior space of the cabinet. A first opening that makes the interior space of the cabinet communicated with the inlet of the first duct is also provided at an area that encompasses a central portion of one side wall in the one pair of side walls having a shorter mutual distance therebetween in the two pairs of side walls. 
     Due to such a configuration, the first opening is allowed to be provided at a portion corresponding to an arc-shaped portion of the standing wave having low frequency being prone to exert influence on the frequency characteristic of a speaker, that is, the portion at which the sound pressure of standing wave is minimized, whereby the speaker system becomes to be less susceptible to the influence of the standing wave. 
     Further, the first duct may be extended along the side wall through which the first opening is provided, and the outlet of the first duct may be provided at a further forward position in the sound-wave-radiation direction than the inlet thereof. Thereby, the sound that has passed through the first duct is allowed to be radiated forwardly in the sound-wave-radiation direction. 
     Alternatively, the first duct may be made extended along the side wall through which the first opening is provided, and the outlet of the first duct may be provided at a further backward position in the sound-wave-radiation direction than the inlet thereof. Thereby, the sound that has passed through the first duct is allowed to be radiated backwardly in the sound-wave-radiation direction. 
     Further, at the side wall of the cabinet, a second duct that communicates with the interior space of the cabinet is provided, and a second opening that makes the interior space of the cabinet communicated with the inlet of the second duct may be provided at an area that encompasses a central portion of the other side wall in the one pair of side walls having a shorter mutual distance therebetween in the two pairs of side walls. Due to such a configuration, the second opening can be provided at a portion corresponding to an arc-shaped portion of the standing wave having low frequency being prone to exert influence on the frequency characteristic of a speaker, that is, the portion at which the sound pressure of standing wave is minimized, whereby the speaker system becomes to be less susceptible to the influence of the standing wave. 
     Alternatively, at least one of the first duct and the second duct communicating with its inlet may be made extended along the side wall, through which the first opening or the second opening is provided, and the outlet of at least one of the first duct and the second duct may be provided at a further forward position in the sound-wave-radiation direction than the inlet thereof. Thereby, the sound having passed through the first duct or the second duct is allowed to be radiated forwardly in the sound-wave-radiation direction. 
     Alternatively, at least one of the first duct and the second duct communicating with its inlet may be made extended along the side wall through which the first opening or the second opening is provided, and the outlet of at least one of the first duct and the second duct may be provided at a further backward position in the sound-wave-radiation direction than the inlet thereof. Thereby, the sound that has passed through the first duct is allowed to be radiated backwardly in the sound-wave-radiation direction. 
     Further, the first duct may be provided such that its square measures become larger towards the outlet from the inlet. Thereby, the sound wave can be radiated without causing unnecessary turbulent air or the like within the first duct. 
     Further, the first duct may be provided such that its widthwise sizes become larger in a direction parallel to the side wall through which the first opening is provided, and such that its widthwise sizes maintain a constant value in a direction intersecting with the side wall through which the first opening is provided. Thereby, the square measures of the first duct are allowed to be larger while its widthwise sizes intersecting with the side wall through which the first opening is provided, are maintained in constant. 
     Further, at least one of the first duct and the second duct may be provided such that square measures thereof become larger towards the outlet from the inlet. Thereby, the sound wave is allowed to be radiated without causing unnecessary turbulent air or the like within the first duct or the second duct. 
     Further, at least one of the first duct and the second duct may be provided such that its widthwise sizes become larger towards the outlet from the inlet in a direction parallel to the side wall through which the first opening or the second opening is provided, and such that its widthwise sizes in a direction intersecting with the side wall through which the first opening or the second opening is provided, maintain a constant value. Thereby, the square measures of the second duct may be made lager towards the outlet from the inlet while its widthwise sizes intersecting with the side wall through which the second opening is provided, are kept in constant. 
     Further, in the first opening, the peripheral portion opposing in a direction extending from the inlet to the outlet may be provided so as to be positioned in closer proximity to each other as approaching to the central portion. Thereby, the sound wave is allowed to be radiated without causing unnecessary turbulent air or the like within the first duct. 
     Alternatively, in either one of the first opening or the second opening, the peripheral portion opposing in a direction extending from the inlet to the outlet of the first duct or the second duct may be provided so as to be positioned in closer proximity to each other as approaching to the central portion. Thereby, the sound wave can be radiated without causing unnecessary turbulent air or the like within the first duct or the second duct. 
     First Example 
     Next, the speaker system  1  in the first example is described with reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 6 . As shown in the figures, the speaker system  1  is composed of a speaker device  2 , and a cabinet  3  having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, to which the speaker device  2  is affixed. In this example, two pieces of speaker device  2  are affixed to the cabinet  3 . The above-described cabinet  3  is composed of a front wall  31  as a speaker-fixation wall to which the speaker device  2  is affixed, a rear wall  32  as an opposing wall opposing to the front wall  31 , and two pairs of side walls  33  and  34 , and side walls  35  and  36 , arranged between the front wall  31  and the rear wall  32 . 
     In the front wall  31 , the above-mentioned two speaker devices  2  are mounted side by side on an inner surface thereof. The front wall  31  is formed in a rectangular shape elongated in a direction in which the two speaker devices  2  are arranged. The rear wall  32  is formed in a rectangular shape elongated in a direction in which the two speaker devices  2  are arranged in a similar manner as the front wall  31 . Hereinafter, to simplify the description, it will be made such that the above-mentioned arrangement direction is the vertical direction, the opposing direction in which the front wall  31  and the rear wall  32  opposes to each other is the front to rear direction, a direction intersecting with both the arrangement direction and the front to rear direction is the crosswise direction. 
     Each of the side walls  33  to  36  is provided so as to stand towards peripheral portion of the rear wall  32  from the peripheral portion of the front wall  31 . Side walls  33  and  34  are respectively provided so as to stand from the peripheral portion of the front wall  31  extending in the vertical direction of the front wall  31 , and oppose to each other in the crosswise direction. These side walls  33  and  34  are formed in substantially the same shape having an equivalent square measure. The side walls  35  and  36  are provided so as to stand from the peripheral portion extending in the crosswise direction of the front wall  31  and oppose to each other in the vertical direction. These side walls  35  and  36  are also formed in substantially the same shape having an equivalent square measure. 
     As aforementioned, since the front wall  31  and the rear wall  32  are provided in an elongated manner in the vertical direction, the distance between the side walls  33  and  34  is designed so as to be shorter than the distance between the side walls  35  and  36 . That is, the side walls  33  and  34  correspond to the one pair of side walls having shorter mutual distance therebetween in the two pairs of the side walls  33  and  34 , and the side walls  35  and  36 . 
     In the side wall  34  that is the one side wall of the one pair of the side walls  33  and  34 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , a first duct  34 A communicating with the interior space of the cabinet  3  which constitutes a space surrounded by the walls  31  to  36 . The first duct  34 A is designed so as to pass the low tones generated in the rearward side in the front to rear direction of the speaker device  2  therethrough to radiate towards the outside of the cabinet  3 . 
     The first duct  34 A is extended in the front to rear direction along the side wall  34 , and its outlet is provided at both the further forward side (i.e., the sound-wave-radiation direction side) and the further rearward side (i.e., the reverse side, reverse to sound-wave-radiation direction). That is, the front wall  31  and the rear wall  32  are respectively provided with an opening, that serves as the outlet of the first duct  34 A. The above-described cross section in the first duct  34 A is formed in the rectangular shape elongated in the vertical direction, and is provided so as to maintain a substantially constant square measure towards the outlet from the inlet. 
     Further, in the side wall  34 , as shown in  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5 , at the area encompassing its central portion, there is provided a first opening  34 B making the interior space of the cabinet  3  communicated with the inlet of the first duct  34 A. Further, the first opening  34 B is, as shown in  FIG. 4 , formed in a rectangular shape elongated in the vertical direction. The first opening  34 B has the same height as the first duct  34 A in the vertical direction of the first duct  34 A. 
     By providing the above-described first duct  34 A and the first opening  34 B, the low tones radiated from the rearward side with respect to the speaker device  2  enter into the first duct  34 A from the first opening  34 B as shown in  FIG. 5 , and are radiated towards the outside of the cabinet  3  from the openings provided in the front wall  31  and the rear wall  32  through the first duct  34 A. 
     Next, the standing wave generated in the interior space of the above-described cabinet  3  will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . Typically, a phenomenon is occurred, that has been known as sympathetic vibration or resonance, by means of a formation of the two walls (ends) that are perpendicular to the traveling direction of the one-dimensional wave or the plane wave. In the portion interposed between the two ends, a wave having been reflected at the one end is reflected again at the other end. This repetition of the reflection causes a standing wave whose amplitude is drastically amplified. 
     In the cabinet  3  having a rectangular parallelepiped shape as described above, three pairs of the front wall  31  and the rear wall  32 , the side wall  33  and the side wall  34 , and the side wall  35  and the side wall  36  oppose to one another. Then, standing waves W 1  to W 3  are respectively generated between the mutually opposing the front wall  31  and the rear wall  32 , between the side wall  33  and the side wall  34 , and between the side wall  35  and the side wall  36 . As shown in  FIG. 6A , the standing wave W 1  is generated such that the side wall  35  and the side wall  36  as fixed ends are to serve as nodes, and the central portion between the side wall  35  and the side wall  36  is to serve as an arc-shaped portion. Further, the standing wave W 2  is generated such that the front wall  31  and the rear wall  32  as fixed ends are to serve as nodes and the central portion between the front wall  31  and the rear wall  32  is to serve as an arc-shaped portion. Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 6B , a standing wave W 3  is generated such that the side wall  33  and the side wall  34  as fixed ends are to serve as nodes and the central portion between the side wall  33  and the side wall  34  is to serve as an arc-shaped portion. 
     In this example, the distance between the side walls  35  and  36  becomes the longest, the distance between the front wall  31  and the rear wall  32  becomes the next longest, and the distance between the side walls  33  and  34  is the shortest. Thus, it should be noted that with regard to the frequency of the standing waves W 1  to W 3 , the standing wave W 1  has the lowest one, the standing wave W 2  has the next lowest one, and the standing wave W 3  has the highest one. 
     Next, the influences of the standing waves W 1  to W 2  on the frequency characteristic of the speaker system  1  are described with reference to  FIG. 7 . In the drawing, the mark L 1  indicates the frequency characteristic of the first duct  34 A, the mark L 2  indicates the frequency characteristic of the overall speaker system  1 . As aforementioned, the first duct  34 A is a duct from which low tones are derived. Hence, the frequency characteristic of the first duct  34 A is observed as having a high sound pressure within the low frequency wave range, whereas is observed as having a low sound pressure within the high frequency wave range. 
     When the standing waves W 1  to W 3  as described above, are generated, the frequency characteristic of the first duct  34 A at the frequency of each of the standing waves W 1  to W 3  is made disturbed, so as to exert its influence on the frequency characteristic of the speaker system  1 . That is, if it were not for the standing waves W 1  to W 3 , the frequency characteristic of the first duct  34 A shall be, as indicated by the mark L 1  in the drawing, such that the sound pressure is gradually reduced as reaching high frequency. Actually nonetheless, the frequency characteristic is disturbed due to the influence of the standing waves W 1  to W 3  as indicated by the marks N 11  to N 13 . In the meantime, the marks N 11 , N 12 , and N 13  respectively show the turbulence in the frequency characteristic of the first duct  34 A due to the influence of the standing waves W 1 , W 2 , and W 3 . In particular, at the low frequency of the standing waves W 1  and W 2 , the sound pressure of the first duct  34 A is stayed high therewith, the speaker system  1  is prone to be influenced thereby in its frequency characteristic. Conversely, at the high frequency of the standing wave W 3 , since the sound pressure of the first duct  34 A has been scarcely observed, the influence on the frequency characteristic of the speaker system  1  has been scarcely observed as well. Accordingly, if it were not for the standing waves W 1  to W 3 , the frequency characteristic of the speaker system  1  shows, as indicated by the mark L 2  in the figure, a substantially plain characteristic in the high-frequency range. However, being influenced by the standing waves W 1  and W 2 , a turbulence is caused in the frequency characteristic as indicated by the marks N 21  and N 22 . In the meantime, the marks N 21  and N 22  respectively show a turbulence in the frequency characteristic of the speaker system  1  due to the influence of the standing waves W 1  and W 2 . Nonetheless, a turbulence in the frequency characteristic due to the influence of the standing wave W 3  has been scarcely observed. 
     In this example, the first opening  34 B is provided at the area encompassing the central portion of the side wall  34  as the one side wall in the side walls  33  and  34  having a short mutual distance therebetween. Hence, as shown in  FIG. 6A , the first opening  34 B can be provided at the portions corresponding to the arc-shaped portions of the low standing waves W 1  and W 2 , which are likely to exert influence on the frequency characteristic of the speaker system  1 , that are the portions at which the sound pressures of the standing wave W 1  and W 2  take the minimum value, thereby becoming less susceptible to the influence of the standing waves W 1  to W 3 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 6A , although the first opening  34 B is provided at the portion corresponding to the node of the standing wave W 3 , that is the portion at which the sound pressure of the standing wave W 3  takes the maximum value, it should be noted that the original influence by the standing wave W 3  having high frequency can be neglected as aforementioned. 
     Further, according to the above-mentioned first example, the first duct  34 A is extended along the side wall  34  through which the first opening  34 B is provided, and the outlet of the first duct  34 A is provided at a further forward position (i.e., sound-wave-radiation direction side) than the inlet of the first duct  34 A with respect to the speaker device  2 . Thereby, the sound having passed through the first duct  34 A is allowed to be radiated forwardly in the sound-wave-radiation direction. 
     Further, according to the above-mentioned first example, the outlet of the first duct  34 A is provided at a further backward position (i.e., reverse side, reverse to the sound-wave-radiation direction side) than the inlet of the first duct  34 A with respect to the speaker device  2 . Thereby, the sound having passed through the first duct  34 A is allowed to be radiated backwardly in the sound-wave-radiation direction. 
     In the meantime, although in the first example, the first duct  34 A has an identical square measure at every position between the inlet and the outlet, and the first opening  34 B is formed in a rectangular shape, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the first opening  34 B may be provided so as to have larger square measures towards the outlet from the inlet of the first duct  34 A. Thereby, the sound wave can be radiated without causing unnecessary turbulent air or the like within the first duct  34 A. Further, as shown in  FIG. 9C , the vicinity area of the inlet of the first duct  34 A may be designed such that the square measures thereof become smaller towards the outlet, and afterward, its square measures become larger towards the outlet. 
     Further, as shown in the figure, the first duct  34 A has wider widthwise sizes (i.e., widthwise size in a direction parallel to the side wall  34 ) in the vertical direction towards the outlet from the inlet, and has a constant widthwise size (i.e., direction intersecting with the side wall  34 ) in the crosswise direction towards the outlet from the inlet. Thereby, the square measures of the first duct  34 A towards the outlet from the inlet are allowed to be larger while the widthwise sizes in the crosswise direction of the speaker system  1  is maintained in constant. 
     Further, the first opening  34 B may be formed, as shown in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9A , such that the peripheral portions opposing in the front to rear direction (i.e., direction extending from the inlet towards the outlet of the first duct  34 A) to each other are located closer to each other as approaching to the central portion. Thereby, the sound wave is allowed to be radiated without causing unnecessary turbulent air or the like within the first duct  34 A. Of course, as shown in  FIGS. 9B and 9C , the first duct  34 A may be formed in a horns-like shape, and the first opening  34 B may be formed in a rectangular shape as in the first example. 
     Second Example 
     Next, the speaker system  1  in the second example is described with reference to  FIG. 10  to  FIG. 12 . The difference between the first example and the second example lies in that a second duct  33 A and a second opening  33 B are provided at the side wall  33  that is the other one in the pair of the side walls  33  and  34  having smaller mutual distance therebetween. 
     The second duct  33 A, similarly to the first duct  34 A, radiates low tones generated from the rearward side in the front to rear direction through the interior space of the cabinet  3  towards the outside of the cabinet  3 . 
     The second duct  33 A is also extended in the front to rear direction along the side wall  33 , and its outlets are respectively provided closer to the forward side and the rearward side than the inlet of the second duct  33 A. That is, at the front wall  31  and the rear wall  32 , openings serving as the outlets of the second duct  33 A are respectively provided. The cross section of the above-described second duct  33 A is formed in a rectangular shape elongated in the vertical direction, and is also provided so as to have a constant square measure towards the outlet from the inlet. 
     Further, in the side wall  33 , as shown in  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 , the second opening  33 B making the interior space of the cabinet  3  communicated with the inlet of the second opening  33 A at the area encompassing its central portion. Further, the second opening  33 B is provided, as shown in  FIG. 11 , in a rectangular shape elongated in the vertical direction. The second opening  33 B has the same height as the second duct  33 A in the vertical direction. 
     Also in this case, by providing the second opening  33 B at the area encompassing the central portion of the side wall  33 , the portions corresponding to the arc-shaped portions of the standing waves W 1  and W 2  having low frequency are lead to the second duct  33 A, the influence of the standing waves W 1  to W 3  can be reduced in a similar manner. 
     Further, also with regard to the second duct  33 A, as shown in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , may be designed so as to have larger square measures from the inlet towards the outlet. Further, the second duct  33 A may be provided so as to have larger widthwise sizes towards the outlet from the inlet in the vertical direction, and so as to have a constant widthwise size towards the outlet from the inlet. Further, the second opening  33 B may be designed, in a similar manner to the first opening  34 B as shown in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , such that in the second opening  33 B, the peripheral portions opposing in the direction extending from the inlet towards the outlet are closer as approaching to the central portion. 
     In the meantime, although in the first and second examples as described above, the outlets of the first duct  34 A and the second duct  33 A are respectively provided in the two areas of the forward side and the rearward side, the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. The outlet of the first duct  34 A and the second duct  33 A may be provided at either one of the forward side or the rearward side. 
     In the above-described first and second example, the cabinet  3  is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. The cabinet  3  only have to be formed in any substantially rectangular parallelepiped shapes, for example, may be formed in a shape in which portion(s) of the corners of the rectangular parallelepiped shape has been lost. 
     Further, although in the example as described above, the cabinet  3  is provided with two speaker devices  2 , the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. Only one speaker device  2  may also be affixed to the cabinet  3 , or three or more than three speaker devices  2  may also be affixed to the cabinet  3 . 
     Further, the example described above merely exemplifies a representative aspect of the present invention. The present invention is not necessarily limited to the embodiment. That is, the present invention may be modified to be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           1  speaker system 
           2  speaker device 
           3  cabinet 
           31  front wall (speaker-fixation wall) 
           32  rear wall (opposing walls) 
           33  to  36  side wall 
           33 A second duct 
           33 B second opening 
           34 A first duct 
           34 B first opening