Patent Publication Number: US-11381920-B1

Title: Loudspeaker with acoustically transparent spider

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     In various sound systems, it may be desirable to include installed loudspeakers in components of an environment, such as in walls of a room, doors of a vehicle, etc. Further, with the advent of immersive 3-dimensional surround sound systems, it may be desirable to include loudspeakers in an elevated position, such as in a ceiling or headliner of a vehicle, or in a headrest. In numerous such environments there may be limited room, especially depth, for an installed loudspeaker. Accordingly, there exists a need for a loudspeaker that requires only minimal depth for installation. 
     SUMMARY 
     Systems and methods disclosed herein are directed to loudspeakers having a compact depth, e.g., front-to-back when mounted in a wall or door and top-to-bottom when mounted in a ceiling, roof, or headliner. According to various examples, a motor of the loudspeaker may be reverse-mounted, such that a sound-producing diaphragm is inverted relative to a conventional speaker design. For example, an ‘inside’ face of a diaphragm cone may face the motor such that the motor (e.g., a magnetic circuit and voice coil, for instance) is somewhat ‘inside’ the cone of the diaphragm (e.g., see  FIG. 3 ). 
     In various examples, the diaphragm may be suspended by two suspension components, a surround at the outer edge of the diaphragm and a spider coupled to a more central location of the diaphragm, often but not necessarily aligned with a drive point of the motor. According to various aspects of the instant disclosure, the spider is acoustically transparent and the loudspeaker is configured to produce acoustic output through the spider. By comparison, conventional speakers are configured to produce audio output without passing through the spider. 
     Various aspects include loudspeakers having an inverted diaphragm configuration, configured to produce acoustic output from the rear or back side of the diaphragm, for the acoustic output to pass through an acoustically transparent spider, and may be dimensioned to serve in a mid-range or higher acoustic frequency band, e.g., may be dimensioned to be substantially unsuitable to serve in a bass acoustic frequency band, such that the loudspeaker may be substantially unsuitable as a woofer or subwoofer. 
     According to at least one aspect, a loudspeaker is provided that includes a housing, a diaphragm coupled to the housing and having a front side for the production of acoustic output when in use, and a suspension coupled to the front side of the diaphragm at a central edge of the suspension and coupled to the housing at an outer edge of the suspension, the suspension positioned in front of the diaphragm such that the acoustic output passes through the suspension when in use. 
     In various examples, a diameter of the suspension may be substantially the same as a diameter of the diaphragm. In some examples, the diameter is 3.0 inches or less. In some examples, the diameter is 2.5 inches or less. In certain examples, the diameter is 2.5 inches or less. 
     According to various examples, the diaphragm is dimensioned to operate in a frequency range of about 100 Hz and higher. In some examples, the diaphragm is dimensioned to operate in a frequency range of about 150 Hz and higher. In certain examples, the diaphragm is dimensioned to operate in a frequency range of about 200 Hz and higher. 
     In some examples, the housing includes a front portion that at least partially forms a substantially sealed acoustic volume between the front side of the diaphragm and the suspension. Some examples include a voice coil coupled to the diaphragm and a magnetic circuit at least partially supported by a back portion of the housing, the voice coil suspended with a magnetic field of the magnetic circuit. In certain examples the back portion of the housing may acoustically couple a back side of the diaphragm to the surrounding environment. 
     According to another aspect, an automobile is provided that includes an interior cabin for the accommodation of occupants, a roof, and a transducer coupled to the roof. The transducer includes a housing, a diaphragm coupled to the housing and having a front side for the production of acoustic output when in use, and a suspension coupled to the front side of the diaphragm at a central edge of the suspension and coupled to the housing at an outer edge of the suspension, the suspension positioned in front of the diaphragm such that the acoustic output passes through the suspension when in use. The transducer is coupled to the roof such that the acoustic output is directed into the interior cabin when in use. 
     In some examples the transducer has a diameter of 3.0 inches or less. 
     In some examples the diaphragm is dimensioned to operate in a frequency range of about 100 Hz and higher. 
     According to various examples, the housing may include a front portion that at least partially forms a substantially sealed acoustic volume between the front side of the diaphragm and the suspension. 
     According to yet another aspect, a headrest is provided that includes an enclosure configured to accommodate a loudspeaker and a loudspeaker coupled to the enclosure. The loudspeaker includes a housing, a diaphragm coupled to the housing and having a front side for the production of acoustic output when in use, and a suspension coupled to the front side of the diaphragm at a central edge of the suspension and coupled to the housing at an outer edge of the suspension, the suspension positioned in front of the diaphragm such that the acoustic output passes through the suspension when in use. 
     In some examples the transducer has a diameter of 3.0 inches or less. 
     In some examples the diaphragm is dimensioned to operate in a frequency range of about 100 Hz and higher. 
     According to various examples, the housing may include a front portion that at least partially forms a substantially sealed acoustic volume between the front side of the diaphragm and the suspension. 
     Still other aspects, examples, and advantages of these exemplary aspects and examples are discussed in detail below. Examples disclosed herein may be combined with other examples in any manner consistent with at least one of the principles disclosed herein, and references to “an example,” “some examples,” “an alternate example,” “various examples,” “one example” or the like are not necessarily mutually exclusive and are intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described may be included in at least one example. The appearances of such terms herein are not necessarily all referring to the same example. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various aspects of at least one example are discussed below with reference to the accompanying figures, which are not intended to be drawn to scale. The figures are included to provide illustration and a further understanding of the various aspects and examples and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification but are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention(s). In the figures, identical or nearly identical components illustrated in various figures may be represented by a like reference character or numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every figure. In the figures: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example loudspeaker; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the example loudspeaker of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of one example of an interior of the loudspeaker of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of another example of an interior of the loudspeaker of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of another example of an interior of the loudspeaker of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of an automobile wherein an example loudspeaker may be utilized. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exterior perspective view of a loudspeaker  100  in accord with various aspects disclosed herein. The loudspeaker  100  includes a housing  110 , e.g., an enclosure, having a front portion  110   a  and a back portion  110   b . The loudspeaker  100  includes a central region  120  on a front side that is surrounded by and at least partially suspended by a spider  130 . An outer edge of the spider  130  is coupled to the housing  110 . Beneath the spider  130  and inside the housing  110  is a diaphragm  140  (see  FIGS. 3-5 ) from which acoustic energy is produced that propagates through the spider  130 . In various examples, a diameter of the spider  13 —may be substantially the same as a diameter of the diaphragm  140 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the loudspeaker  100  from a different view and illustrates a cross-sectional position A-A (referenced with respect to  FIGS. 3-5 ) and a dimension B, which is approximately a diameter of the spider  130  and is approximately a diameter of the interior diaphragm  140  (shown in  FIGS. 3-5 ). According to various examples, the dimension B is 3.0 inches or less. In some examples the dimension B is 2.5 inches or less, while in certain examples the dimension B is 2.0 inches or less. In various examples, the loudspeaker  100  is configured with a dimension B to be suitable for producing acoustic waves at a frequency of about 100 Hz and higher. In some examples the loudspeaker  100  is suitable for producing acoustic waves at a frequency of about 150 Hz or higher, while in certain examples the loudspeaker  100  may be suitable for producing acoustic waves at a frequency of about 200 Hz or higher. Accordingly, in various examples, the loudspeaker  100  is configured with a dimension B to be relatively unsuitable for producing acoustic waves below about 100 Hz. In some examples the loudspeaker  100  is relatively unsuitable for producing acoustic waves below about 150 Hz, while in certain examples the loudspeaker  100  may be relatively unsuitable for producing acoustic waves below about 200 Hz. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view (at position A-A of  FIG. 2 ) of at least one example of an interior of the loudspeaker  100 . The diaphragm  140  is at least partially supported by the spider  130  (a first suspension) and at least partially supported by a surround  150  (a second suspension). 
       FIG. 3  also illustrates an interior motor that includes a voice coil  160  and a magnetic circuit  170 . The voice coil is mechanically coupled to the diaphragm  140  and thereby suspended in a magnetic field produce by the magnetic circuit  170 . An electric current through the voice coil  160  creates an additional magnetic field that interacts with the magnetic field of the magnetic circuit  170  to exert a force the diaphragm  140  and cause movement of the diaphragm  140  along an axis  180 , thereby producing an acoustic output  190  that passes through the spider  130 . 
     According to various examples, various alternate forms of motor arrangement may be suitable for the loudspeaker  100 , two of which are illustrated in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  respectively, each of which include a voice coil and a magnetic circuit, though other arrangements or styles of motor may also be suitable. 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 3 , the spider  130  is made from an acoustically transparent material and the diaphragm  140  produces acoustic output (sound pressure) off of a front side  140   a  that propagates through the acoustically transparent spider  130 . In various examples, the spider  130 , the diaphragm  140 , the surround  150 , and the front portion  110   a  of the housing  110  may form a substantially sealed acoustic volume. Some examples may include a bleed or vent hole, or other component, to allow for pressure inside the acoustic volume to equalize with an exterior pressure. Other examples may include openings to provide tuning of the overall output, e.g., to affect a frequency response of the loudspeaker  100 . 
     The diaphragm  140  also has a rear side  140   b . In general, the diaphragm  140  has a conical shape, or more accurately in some examples the diaphragm  140  is a frustum, e.g., because the diaphragm  140  may not include an apex or vertex. In various examples, the loudspeaker  100  is inverted in that an ‘inside’ portion of the diaphragm  140  is the rear side  140   b , e.g., the motor is on the ‘inside’ of the cone or frustum of the diaphragm  140 , which is an inverse of conventional speaker systems. Accordingly, acoustic output is produced from the ‘outside’ of the cone or frustum of the diaphragm  140 . 
     The back portion  110   b  of the housing  110  is a frame that provides structural support to the motor and an outer edge of the surround  150 . According to various examples, the back portion  110   b  of the housing  110  may acoustically couple the rear side  140   b  of the diaphragm  140  to the surrounding environment, such as by having openings in the back portion  110   b  of the housing  110 . In such cases, the back portion  110   b  of the housing  110  may be considered a basket. The loudspeaker  100  may, in some examples, be mounted or coupled to other structures, such as various acoustic volumes, ports, etc., that may provide tuning of the overall output, e.g., to affect a frequency response of the loudspeaker  100 . 
     Because the loudspeaker  100  in accord with aspects disclosed herein produces acoustic output from a front side  140   a  of the diaphragm  140  and through the spider  130 , the loudspeaker  100  is suitable for installation with the spider  130  facing toward the intended direction of acoustic output (unlike conventional speakers). For example, in a vehicle or automobile cabin, the loudspeaker  100  may be mounted in or coupled to a roof or headliner such that the spider  130  faces substantially downward. In another example in a vehicle or automobile cabin, the loudspeaker  100  may be mounted in or coupled to a headrest of a seat such that the spider  130  faces generally forward, or may be angled outward from forward, to be heard by an occupant of the seat. In other examples, the loudspeaker  100  may be mounted in or coupled to a door or other structural boundary of a vehicle cabin such that the spider  130  faces generally inward to the cabin.  FIG. 6  illustrates an automobile  600  having an interior cabin  610  with examples of the loudspeaker  100  installed in various positions, including a roof or headliner  620  and a headrest  630 . 
     The central region  120  may include a cap or cover and may or may not be considered part of the diaphragm  140  in various examples. The central region  120  may contribute to the acoustic output and therefore may conventionally be considered to contribute to the function of the diaphragm  140  even though the central region  120  may not be part of the conical and/or frustum form. In some examples the central region  120  may be an extended portion of a material from which the spider  130  is constructed, or a material from which the diaphragm  140  is constructed, or may be a different material. 
     The herein illustrated shapes of the various components described, such as the housing  110 , spider  130 , diaphragm  140 , surround  150 , voice coil  160 , and magnetic circuit  170 , are not necessarily intended to be limiting, unless the context clearly makes it so. Various examples may include alternate shapes for the various components described so long as the alternate is capable of satisfying the function of that component described herein. 
     Examples of the methods and apparatuses discussed herein are not limited in application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the above descriptions or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The methods and apparatuses are capable of implementation in other examples and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Examples of specific implementations are provided herein for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. Various functions, components, elements, and features discussed in connection with any one or more examples are not intended to be excluded from a similar role in any other examples. 
     Examples disclosed herein may be combined with other examples in any manner consistent with at least one of the principles disclosed herein, and references to “an example,” “some examples,” “an alternate example,” “various examples,” “one example” or the like are not necessarily mutually exclusive and are intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described may be included in at least one example. The appearances of such terms herein are not necessarily all referring to the same example. 
     Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Any references to examples, components, elements, acts, or functions of the systems and methods herein referred to in the singular may also embrace embodiments including a plurality, and any references in plural to any example, component, element, act, or function herein may also embrace examples including only a singularity. Accordingly, references in the singular or plural form are not intended to limit the presently disclosed systems or methods, their components, acts, or elements. The use herein of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. References to “or” may be construed as inclusive so that any terms described using “or” may indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms. Any references to front and back, left and right, top and bottom, upper and lower, and vertical and horizontal are intended for convenience of description, not to limit the present systems and methods or their components to any one positional or spatial orientation, unless the context reasonably implies otherwise. 
     Having described above several aspects of at least one example, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure and are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only, and the scope of the invention should be determined from proper construction of the appended claims, and their equivalents.