Patent Publication Number: US-7584820-B2

Title: Acoustic radiating

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/805,440, filed Mar. 19, 2004, and incorporated here in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This description relates to acoustic radiating. 
     Acoustic radiating has been done using waveguides in products such as the commercially available Bose® WAVE® radio, WAVE® Radio/CD and ACOUSTIC WAVE® (Bose Corporation, Framingham, Mass.) music systems. Acoustic radiating has also been done using so-called acoustic ports on speaker cabinets. In some examples, the acoustic port openings are on the front of the speaker cabinet and face the listening area. In other examples, the port openings are on the rear of the cabinet and face away from the listening area. Port openings that face away from the listening area have been used in radios. Some horns have associated waveguides that face away from the listening area. 
     SUMMARY 
     In general, in one aspect, an apparatus includes an acoustic device comprising a waveguide having a sound opening at one end facing a space, an audio source, an acoustic driver at another end of the waveguide, the acoustic driver facing a listening area, and structure supporting the acoustic device, the audio source, and the acoustic driver, as an integrated audio system, the acoustic driver and the opening in the waveguide facing in substantially different directions from the structure. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The acoustic driver and the sound opening of the waveguide face in substantially opposite directions. The sound opening of the waveguide does not face the listening area. The waveguide comprises a trunk and branches coupled to the trunk. Each of the branches has a corresponding acoustic driver. The sound radiated by the acoustic device has a different frequency spectrum from the sound radiated from the waveguide. The integrated audio system comprises a radio. 
     In general, in another aspect, an apparatus includes an audio source, an acoustic driver supported by a housing and facing a listening area, an acoustic device comprising a waveguide or port having one end driven by the acoustic driver and a second, open end, the housing supporting the audio source, the acoustic driver, and the acoustic device in an integrated audio system, the housing having an aperture facing in a direction different from the listening area, the aperture comprising two or more openings, the second, open end of the waveguide being separated by a space from the aperture of the housing and oriented with respect to the aperture so that sound radiated from the open end passes through the aperture. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The aperture comprises a grille. The aperture comprises slots in the housing. The acoustic device comprises a folded waveguide. The space is at least large enough to substantially reduce distortion caused by the aperture of the housing in sound radiated from the acoustic device. 
     In general, in another aspect, an apparatus includes an audio source, an acoustic driver facing a listening area, a housing supporting the audio source and the acoustic driver in an integrated audio system, the housing comprising an aperture comprising two or more openings, an acoustic device comprising a waveguide having one end driven by the acoustic driver and a second, open end, the second, open end of the waveguide being separated by a space from the aperture of the housing and oriented with respect to the aperture so that sound radiated from the open end passes through the aperture. 
     In some implementations of the invention the second opening at the end of the waveguide is flared. 
     Other aspects may include methods of making and using the apparatus, systems that include the apparatus, and components of the apparatus. 
     Other advantages and features will become apparent from the following description and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION 
         FIG. 1  is a graphical representation of a target and measured room frequency response. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a waveguide system. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic representation of a waveguide system. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a waveguide system. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an exemplary waveguide system. 
         FIGS. 6A through 6E  are three-dimensional, top, front, bottom, and broken away end views, respectively, of a waveguide with a cover section removed. 
         FIGS. 7A ,  7 B, and  7 C are three-dimensional, side and bottom views, respectively, of a cover section to the apparatus of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIGS. 8A ,  8 B and  8 C are schematic representations of waveguides. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a waveguide with the cover section removed. 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are front and rear three-dimensional views of a radio including an exemplary waveguide. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic top view of portions of a radio. 
         FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of portions of a radio. 
     
    
    
     For the embodiments discussed here, a “waveguide” is defined to have certain features. Specifically, waveguide as used herein refers to an acoustic enclosure having a length which is related to the lowest frequency of operation of the waveguide, and which is adapted to be coupled to an acoustic energy source to cause an acoustic wave to propagate along the length of the waveguide. The waveguide also includes one or more waveguide exits or openings with a cross-sectional area, that face free air and allow energy coupled into the waveguide by the acoustic energy source to be radiated to free air through the waveguide exit. Exemplary waveguides can be characterized by specific relationship between the cross-sectional area of the waveguide exit and the wavelength of sound at the low frequency cutoff of the waveguide, where the low frequency cutoff can be defined as the −3 dB frequency. The −3 dB frequency is typically slightly lower in frequency than the lowest frequency standing wave that can be supported by the waveguide, which is typically the frequency where the longest dimension of the waveguide is one quarter of a wavelength.  FIG. 1  graphically depicts an exemplary target frequency response  12  and a measured room frequency response  14  of a waveguide according to one example. Embodiments of the invention have the following characteristic:
 
(√ A )/λ≦ 1/15(0.067)
 
where A is the cross-sectional area of the waveguide exit and λ is the wavelength of the −3 dB frequency of the waveguide system. In one exemplary embodiment, the low frequency cutoff is 55 Hz and corresponding wavelength λ is 20.6 ft. The cross-sectional area of the waveguide exit A is 2.5 sq. in (0.0174 sq ft):
 
(√ A )/λ=(0.0174) 1/2 /20.6 ft=0.2 ft/20.6 ft=0.0064&lt; 1/15(0.067)
 
     As seen in  FIG. 2 , an electroacoustical waveguide system  15  includes a hollow trunk acoustic waveguide section  20 , which has a single open end  25 , and hollow branch acoustic waveguide sections  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c  and  30   d . Each of the branch sections, such as  30   a , has an open end  35   a  and a terminal end  40   a . The open ends of the branch sections are coupled to the trunk section  20  at locations  41   a ,  41   b ,  41   c  and  41   d . The hollow trunk extends from its open end  25  to the locations  41 . One or more of the terminal ends  40  of the branch sections (such as  40   a ) are acoustically coupled to an acoustic energy source  50 . 
     Each acoustic energy source can include an acoustic driver  55  that has a radiating surface with an outer side  60  facing free air and an inner side  65  facing the trunk section  20 . Although the driver  55  is shown positioned outside the branch waveguide sections, the driver can also be located inside one or more of the branch sections. The acoustic energy sources  50  are connected to an audio source (not shown) through a power amplifier, for example, a radio, a CD or DVD player, or a microphone. The branch sections can be arranged so that the radiating surfaces facing free air are generally aimed toward a designated listening area  70 . Sound produced by the acoustic drivers is projected through the air into the listening area  70  and through the waveguide sections into the area  71  at the open end  25  of the trunk section  20 . Any number of (or none) branch section drivers could be coupled to face free air. Furthermore, there may be back enclosures coupled to the drivers (not shown). Although areas  70  and  71  are shown apart, these may be essentially the same area or areas not spaced that far apart as shown (e.g., about a foot or two) to keep the waveguide and product in which the waveguide is implemented compact (for example, the waveguide can be folded over on itself to accomplish this). 
     The physical dimensions and orientations of the branch sections can be modified to suit specific acoustical requirements. For example, the lengths of the respective branch sections can be the same or different. The cross-sectional areas and shapes along each of the branch and trunk sections and between sections can be the same or different. The coupling locations  41   a  through  41   d  for the waveguide sections may be at a common position or at different positions along the trunk, for example, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The spatial separation of branch sections allows for spatial distribution of different program information that is fed into the listening area  70  from acoustic energy sources  50 . 
     Additional information about acoustic waveguides is set forth in Bose U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,628,528 and 6,278,789 and patent application Ser. No. 10/699,304, filed Oct. 31, 2003, which are incorporated here by reference. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , an electroacoustical waveguide  80  has a general tree structure and includes open end root nodes  85   1 ,  85   2 , . . .  85   m  and terminal end leaf nodes  90   1 ,  90   2 , . . .  90   n . The root nodes are connected along a first portion  95  of a trunk section  100  at root nodes  102   1 , . . .  102   m  by leaf branch sections  87   1 ,  87   2 , . . .  87   m . The end leaf notes  90   1 ,  90   2 , . . .  90   n  are connected to a second portion  105  of the trunk section  100  by a branching network of primary, secondary, and tertiary internal waveguide sections  110   1 , . . .  110   i ,  115   1 , . . .  115   j , and  120   1 , . . .  120   n , respectively, and internal nodes, such as  125   1 , . . .  125   i . Each of the leaf nodes,  90   1 ,  90   2 , . . .  90   n , can be coupled to an acoustic energy source that has an acoustic driver including radiating surfaces, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The root nodes are spatially separated from each other. The leaf nodes are spatially separated from each other. Different program information may be fed into the different leaf nodes to produce a spatial distribution of program information. For example, program information having similar or the same low frequency components but with different high frequency components can be fed into the leaf nodes. An outer side of the radiating surfaces of the acoustic drivers of the leaf nodes face a designated listening area  101  and an inner side face into the area  102 . 
     When program information is fed into acoustic sources which drive the leaf nodes  90 , the leaf nodes, along with the internal sections  110 ,  115 ,  120 , and the internal nodes  125 , are comparable to the branch sections  30  of  FIG. 2 . As that program information can merge and be delivered to the root nodes  85 , the root nodes, along with the leaf branch section  87  and the trunk section  100  are comparable to the hollow trunk  20  of  FIG. 2 . Although particular combinations of trunks and branch sections are shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a wide variety of other combinations and configurations of trunk and branch sections are contemplated in an exemplary waveguide. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 4 , an electroacoustical waveguide system  110  includes a trunk section  115  that has a single open end  120  and two branch sections  125   a ,  125   b  extending from the other end of the trunk section. The two branch sections have open ends  130   a  and  130   b  and terminal ends  135   a  and  135   b . The open ends of the two branch sections are coupled to the trunk section  20  at a substantially common location  140 . The two branch sections are acoustically coupled to acoustic energy sources  145   a  and  145   b  located at the terminal ends  135   a  and  135   b . The acoustic energy sources can each include acoustic drivers  150   a  and  150   b . Each of the acoustic drivers also has a radiating surface on a back side  155   a ,  155   b  of the acoustic driver, facing free air, and a front side  160   a ,  160   b  of the acoustic driver that is generally oriented toward the trunk section  115 . It should be noted that the driver motor  150   a ,  150   b  can be located inside the branch sections  125   a ,  125   b , rather than the outside orientation as shown, and the front side  160   a ,  160   b  will face free air. 
     Separate program information can be fed into each branch section, which may be highly correlated or uncorrelated, or may be highly correlated just over a given frequency ranges, such at low frequency range, for example. 
     A wide variety of implementations of the arrangement in  FIG. 4  are possible. In one example, shown in  FIG. 5 , which is suitable for use in a table radio/CD player, a waveguide  200  has a right portion  205 , a middle portion  210 , and a left portion  215 . The waveguide is a rigid structure formed by an injection molding process using a synthetic resin, such as LUSTRAN® 448 (Bayer Corporation, Elkhart, Ind.), for example. As shown also in  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B, and  6 C, The waveguide includes a main body  220 , depicted in  FIGS. 6A through 6E  and a cover section  225 , depicted in  FIGS. 7A through 7C , which are molded separately and then bonded together. 
     Referring collectively to  FIGS. 6A through 6E  and  7 A and  7 C, the waveguide includes left and right frames  230   a ,  230   b  located in the left and right portions of the waveguide and contain left and right acoustic drivers  235   a ,  235   b  (shown schematically). The drivers each include a radiating surface (not shown) with a first side facing the free air and a second side, opposite the first, facing into the waveguide. 
       FIGS. 6A through 6E  show detailed views of a waveguide trunk section  255  and left and right branch sections  240   a  and  240   b . Each branch section is a folded continuous tube defining an interior passage and extending from one of the left and right frames containing the drivers at either end of the waveguide to a branch junction  250 . The trunk section  255  extends from the branch junction to a single trunk opening  260  having a flared end. Each of the folds defines subsections within each branch section. Each subsection is bounded by baffles or panels extending from the front to the rear of the waveguide. The waveguide housing can also support components such as a CD player, AM antenna, and power supply, for example. The acoustic waveguide system as shown may further include an electronic device (not shown) which uses acoustic energy sources to provide program information to the branch sections. 
     The first left and right subsections  265   a ,  265   b , respectively, are partially formed by the outside surfaces (facing the drivers) of tapered first panels  270   a ,  270   b  adjacent the drivers  235   a ,  235   b  and extend to the second subsections  275   a ,  275   b . The second subsections are formed by the inside surfaces (facing the trunk section  255 ) of the tapered first panels  270   a ,  270   b  and an outside surface of second panels  280   a ,  280   b  and extend to the third subsections  290   a ,  290   b . Generally, each of the panels is a curved vertical surface extending from the front or back of the waveguide and includes a free edge. A contoured post  285  is formed at each free edge to reduce losses and turbulence of the acoustic pressure waves. The third subsections  290   a ,  290   b  are formed by the inside surfaces of the second panels and the outside surface of third panels  295   a ,  295   b  and extend to the fourth subsections  300   a ,  300   b . The fourth subsections are formed by the inside surfaces of the third panels and the outside surface of the trunk section walls  305   a ,  305   b  and extend from the third subsections to connect with the trunk section  255  at the branch junction  250 . 
     The cross-sectional area of each of the branch sections continuously decreases along a path from the left and right frames to the branch junction  250 . The first and second subsections are relatively large and more tapered compared with the third and fourth subsections and the common trunk section. Progressing from the second subsection to the third and fourth subsection, the cross-sectional area and degree of taper of the adjacent panels decrease as the height of the subsections along the middle portion  210  decreases. The total volume and cross-sectional area profiles of the left and right branch sections are similar. However, the left and right sections are not completely symmetrical because of the need to accommodate the packaging of differently-sized electronic components within the waveguide  200 . For example, an AM antenna (not shown) is located in the left portion and a power supply/transformer (not shown) is located in the right portion. 
     With specific reference to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the front of the waveguide includes a lateral channel  310  extending from an upper portion of the left driver frame  230   a  to an upper portion of the right driver frame  230   b . The lateral channel is formed between a front portion of the second, third and fourth panels and a middle panel  315 . Vent  320  proximate the branch junction  250  connects the center of the lateral channel  310  to the trunk section  255 . The lateral channel  310  includes a left branch channel  322   a , extending from the vent  320  to an upper portion of the left driver frame, and a right branch channel  322   b , extending from the vent  320  to an upper portion of the right driver frame. The left and right branch channels  322   a ,  322   b  form acoustic structures, such as the elongate cavities depicted, that are sized and configured for reducing the magnitude of a resonance peak. The length of the elongate cavities are chosen to exhibit a resonance behavior in the frequency range where it is desired to control the magnitude of a resonance peak in the waveguide. The elongate cavity is designed such that the acoustic pressure due to the resonance in the elongate member, that is present at the location where the elongate member couples to the waveguide, destructively interferes with the acoustic pressure present within the waveguide, thus reducing the peak magnitude. 
     In one example, the center of the lateral channel  310  proximate the vent  320  contains resistive acoustical dampening material  324  such as polyester foam or fabric, for example, to help reduce this peak. The resonance peak in one example is 380 Hz. In one example, the length of the elongate member is chosen such that it is one quarter of the wavelength of the frequency of the resonance peak that it is desired to reduce. The cross-section area of the vent  320  can be as small as 25 percent of the cross-section area of the trunk. 
     Additionally, as shown, resistive acoustical dampening materials  325   a ,  325   b  can be placed behind each driver within first left and right subsections  265   a ,  265   b , respectively, to damp out peaks at the higher frequencies (710 Hz-1.2 kHz in one example), but not affect the low frequencies as disclosed in the subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 6,278,789. It should be noted that the location of the vent  250  and the cavities  322   a ,  322   b  are not limited to what has shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . The location of the cavities can be anywhere along a general waveguide system corresponding to the pressure maximum of the target standing wave and the particular resonance peak to be attenuated. The use of such cavities for damping out a resonance peak is not limited to waveguides having common trunk and branch section configurations. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8A , a waveguide system includes a waveguide  330  having a trunk section  332  with a single open end  334  and two branch section  336   a ,  336   b  extending from the opposite end of the trunk section. Two cavities  338   a ,  338   b  are attached to the waveguide between the two branch sections at a vent  340 . By establishing a vent  340  in the trunk, a target frequency component, 380 Hz in one example is significantly reduced. Resistive acoustical dampening materials  342  can be located proximate the vent  340  and/or in one or both of the cavities  338   a ,  338   b . The cavities may also be located in the branch sections or bifurcated into multiple cavities for reducing multiple resonance peaks. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8B and 8C , a waveguide system includes an acoustical waveguide  344  having a terminal end  346  and an open end  348 . An electroacoustical driver  350  is coupled to the terminal end  346 . The waveguide  344  is connected with a cavity  352  by a vent  353 , or as shown in  FIG. 8C , a bifurcated cavity having first and second subsections,  354   a ,  354   b , commonly attached at vent  353  to the waveguide  344 . In another example, the waveguide  344  leaks directly into the space outside the waveguide  344  (not shown). The vent  353  can have a cross-sectional area equal to or less than the cross-section area of the cavities. The cavities  352 ,  354   a ,  354   b  define a small volume as compared with the volume of the waveguide  344  and can include, for example, a resonance tube. Various other examples are disclosed in the subject matter of Bose patent application Ser. No. 10/699,304, filed Oct. 31, 2003. Acoustical dampening materials  356  ( FIG. 8B ) can be positioned proximate vent  353  and may fill a portion or substantially all of cavity  352  as indicated by dampening material  356 ′. Dampening material  358  ( FIG. 8C ) may fill a portion or substantially all of one or both cavities  354   a ,  354   b , as indicated by dampening material  358 ′. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9  and in one example, the waveguide  200  has dimensions as follows. The length T L  of the trunk section  255  extending from the branch junction  250  to the trunk opening  260  is 4.8 in (122.4 mm) and the cross-sectional area T A  of the trunk opening  260  is 2.5 sq. in. (1622 sq. mm). The length L L  of the left subsection  240   a  of the waveguide from the start of the left subsection at the left frame  230   a  to the end of the left subsection proximate the branch junction  250  is 21.4 in (543.7 mm). The length R L  of the right subsection  240   b  from the start of the right subsection at the right frame  230   b  to the end of the right subsection proximate the branch junction  250  is 21.0 in (535 mm). The cross-sectional area LS A  at start of the left subsection is 7.9 sq. in (5134 sq. mm) and the cross-sectional area RS A  at the start of the right subsection is 8.3 sq. in. (5396 sq. mm). The cross-sectional areas LE A , RE A  at the ends of the left subsection and right subsections, respectively, are 0.7 sq. in (448 sq. mm). Other dimensions wherein the waveguide lengths are related to the lowest frequency of operation and the cross-sectional areas are related to the −3 dB low frequency of the waveguide system, as described above, are contemplated. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , a radio  400  includes a housing  402  to enclose the waveguide system  200  ( FIG. 5 ). In this example, the housing is substantially trapezoidal, approximating the overall shape of the waveguide. The radio  400  includes left and right openings  404   a ,  404   b , corresponding to drivers  235   a  and  235   b  and a rear opening  406  generally proximate to the trunk opening  260 . Thus, the radio is an example of an integrated audio system that, in this case, includes an audio source, two acoustic drivers, an acoustic device in the form of a split waveguide, and a housing that supports the source, drivers and device. A wide variety of other configurations of integrated audio systems are possible. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  when the radio is being used, the drivers  235   a  and  235   b  face generally in the direction  600  toward a listening area  602  and the trunk opening  604  (an example of a sound opening of a waveguide) faces in the direction  606  of a space  608 . The rear opening  406  in the housing (an example of an aperture) includes a number of vertical openings  609  (slots) and is separated from the trunk opening  604  by a space  610 . Space  610  in this example is 32 mm, but could be larger or smaller depending on the design of the housing. Keeping the space small permits a compact design for the integrated audio system. But if the space is too small, the configuration of ribs  611  and the slots  609  that they separate may cause turbulence that distorts the sound as it is radiated from the rear opening  406 . Thus, it is desirable to make the space large enough to reduce (or substantially eliminate) the distortion that would otherwise occur. The trunk opening  604  has a flare  605 , which also contributes to reduction of turbulence in the sound that is radiated. Because the trunk opening faces the rear, the flare can be accommodated more easily than in the front wall where space is at a premium. The rear opening  406  can have a variety of configurations including a conventional metal or fabric grille, and other patterns of slots, holes, or other openings. 
     The trunk opening is oriented so that sound that is radiated from the trunk opening passes through the rear opening of the housing and into the space  608 . Lower frequency components of the sound radiate omnidirectionally and reach the listening area where they combine with the sound radiated from the speakers. Higher frequency components of the sound radiated from the trunk opening, such as the higher frequency distortion components, tend to radiate directionally away from the listening area and are less audible. 
     The directions  600  and  606  are generally opposite in the example shown in  FIG. 11 . They are not exactly opposite because the front surface of the housing of the radio is curved; the drivers face directions  601  and  603  at small angles to the direction  600 . In other examples, the directions  600  and  606  need not be opposite but could be, for example, at 90 degrees to one another, or a variety of other angles. In many examples, the direction  606  would not be into the listening area. 
     The techniques of (a) spacing the trunk end of the waveguide away from the rear end slots or grille of the housing and (b) facing the trunk end in a direction other than toward the listening area, can also be used with the open end of an acoustic port that is driven at its other end by a driver acting through air in a cabinet, for example. 
     Components  410  including a CD player and display, for example, are mounted generally along the middle portion  210  of the waveguide ( FIG. 6A ). 
     In operation, an audio circuit (e.g., an audio amplifier, or an audio amplifier combined with an audio source such as a radio or a CD player) drives two speakers (or other acoustic energy sources) that are mounted at the terminal ends of the two branch waveguide sections. The two speakers are driven by distinct audio program parts, for example, left and right channels of an audio source. The waveguides enhance the sound produced by the drivers and the smooth interior passages of the branch and trunk sections reduce turbulence and minimize acoustic reflections. Because the branch waveguide sections are spatially separated, the enhanced program parts are delivered separately to the listener. At the common trunk, the distinct program parts carried in the two branch sections can merge, and space can be saved because only a single trunk is required, without affecting the audio separation of the two program parts experienced by the user. Thus, the structure achieves the benefits of spatially separated waveguides with the space savings of a single trunk at the end away from the acoustic energy sources. 
     Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.