Patent Publication Number: US-9838789-B2

Title: Honeycomb speaker system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit to U.S. provisional application 62/056,527, filed on Sep. 27, 2014, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present general inventive concept is directed to a loudspeaker system. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Loudspeakers are well known devices which are designed to convert electrical energy signals into corresponding acoustical energy sound waves. Such loudspeakers typically include a closed box-shaped housing or similar enclosure having one or more individual speakers mounted on an edge thereof. The speakers face outwardly from the enclosure such that the sound waves are emitted forwardly therefrom. When more than one speaker is provided on the enclosure, an electronic cross over circuit is usually provided to divide the electrical signals. The nature of the sounds generated by the loudspeaker is dependent upon many factors, including the size and shape of the enclosure, the size and number of speakers mounted within the enclosure, and the electronic cross over circuit. 
     Speaker enclosures have been generally constructed with rectangular planer sidewalls and have had a rectangular or square horizontal cross section. As the loudspeaker system contained therein moves to produce the sound, these structures are characterized by vibration and standing waves as well as diffracted waves caused by sharp boundaries of the sidewalls of the enclosure which lessens the quality of the sound response. 
     One drawback with current stereo loudspeaker arrangements is that the created stereophonic effect hardly gives an impression of a depth-expanded sound. The sound field seems to come flat out of the wall. 
     In the field of sound reproduction, it is desirable to have a loudspeaker system that exists as a stand alone or single device or unit, such that it can be readily set up, moved, or transported, and where the design and placement of the speakers is optimized to attain high quality sound reproduction. 
     In a system of two loudspeakers (with or without a separated dedicated subwoofer), it is to some degree possible to create a depth extension of the sound field (particularly within the medium level of the loudspeakers) but the impression of the space of the performance remains inadequate. 
     What is needed is a speaker system which can achieve high power, low distortion in a compact package. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an aspect of the present invention to provide an improved loudspeaker system. 
     These together with other aspects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a drawing showing components of a honeycomb speaker in a disassembled state, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2A  is a drawing of a front view of an exterior of the honeycomb speaker, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2B  is a drawing of a cross section of the honeycomb speaker showing the subwoofer on the bottom, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2C  is a drawing of a bottom view of an exterior of the honeycomb speaker, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2D  is a drawing of a side view of an exterior of the honeycomb speaker, according to an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 2E  is a drawing of an isometric view of the honeycomb speaker, according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
     The present inventive concept relates to a speaker enclosure  10  configured in a honeycomb shape, with six edges/sides. Four of the sides (edges) have a driver  60  embedded in them and two of the edges do not have a driver. The speaker is configured as two adjacent drivers  60 , then an edge without a driver then two more adjacent drivers  60 , then another edge without a driver. A subwoofer  50  is located on the bottom of the speaker and a stand  20  (can be made out of aluminum) attaches onto the bottom of the speaker to raise the speaker off the ground to give the subwoofer  50  some room. The sound waves generated by the downwardly facing subwoofer  50  are emitted through the open space around the enclosure. Because of the relative positions the drivers  60  face, the honeycomb shaped speaker can provide a full 360 cover of sound. 
     The speaker system adopts a hexagonal (honeycomb) shape as an enclosure  10  for its downward-firing subwoofer  50 ; two speakers  60  at the front edges, and two speakers  60  on the rear edges. Honeycomb structures form a perfect geometry allowing for a minimum amount of material in relation to weight and cost. There is also a high strength to weight ratio. The front edge houses an LED display and onboard controls in sync with the remote control, while the rear edge allows for inputs to TV, DVD, video games, and mp3 music. 
     The loudspeaker elements  60  of the left-hand channel and the right-hand channel in the loudspeaker system are combined within the same loudspeaker unit. The loudspeaker elements  60  are arranged to radiate towards different edges in a similar fashion, in which case the sounds reflected from the surfaces, together with the sounds coming directly from the loudspeaker unit, create a depth expanded, three-dimensional stereo sound effect. By employing only one loudspeaker unit, it creates a stereophonic, depth-expanded impression of the original space of performance. Thus the impression that the listener receives of a musical performance or the like comes close to the real impression experienced by the listeners present at the original performance. 
     Since higher audible frequencies travel in a straight line and do not have the capability to bend around objects in their path, it is important to raise high frequency (full range) drivers  60  closer to ear level and position at the upper part of the enclosure  10 . Therefore, a plurality of speakers  60  should be mounted in the upper half of the speaker enclosure  10 . 
     Speaker drivers  60  should be spaced at equidistant intervals along the circumference of the sidewall. This increases stability of the direction of the emanating sound. Since direct sound is received a fraction of a second earlier than indirect sound, the omnidirectional speakers maintain directional clues while providing the listener with a broad sound source. The drivers  60  can be arranged in a 360 degree surround sound array. 
     Further, utilizing the four speakers  60  (drivers) improves speaker capability and produces a superior transient response. Transient response of a speaker is inversely related to the moving mass of the speaker. To improve transient response, decreasing the physical size of the cone reduces the moving mass of the speaker. However, reduction in cone size decreases power output capability in low frequency response. Therefore, by utilizing a plurality of smaller speaker elements  60 , power output capability is maintained and transient response is improved. 
     By utilizing full range speaker drivers  60 , the need for cross-over networks to differentiate between high and low frequency signals are eliminated. When utilizing cross over networks, problems may be present, primarily at the cross over frequency. For example, when operating at the cross over frequency, power capability is usually reduced to approximately one-half of the total available power. In addition, transient distortion is usually present at or near the cross over frequency due to the sharp attenuation rate in the network. 
     Wherein high frequency speakers  60  are utilized along with a low frequency speaker  50 , the utilization of this combination of loudspeakers  60 ,  50  can create a greater degree of efficiency and sound reproduction by reducing intermodulation distortion and providing more reserve power handling capabilities. In addition, it permits adjustment of sound levels, thereby creating a more balanced sound output. 
       FIG. 1  is a drawing showing components of a honeycomb speaker in a disassembled state, according to an embodiment. 
     A speaker has a baffle  10 , aluminum footing  20 , grilles  30  (with cloth cover), and a decorative plastic insert  40 . The speaker also has 6.5 inch downfiring subwoofer  50 , and four 2.5 inch drivers  60 . Note that a pair of drivers  60  are on adjacent edges of the hexagon and another pair of drivers  60  are on opposite edges of the hexagon. The speaker is raised off the ground via aluminum footing  20  (also referred to as stand/base) so that the downfiring subwoofer  50  has room off the floor for its sound to spread out in all directions, complementing the sound being spread out in all directions from the four drivers  60 . 
     The drivers  60  and their firing axis/angle relative to the front and rear are shown in  FIG. 1 . The drivers reproduce sound at 360 degrees. The sound pressure radiated from the drivers  60  is angled and dispersed in such a way so as to transmit wide dispersion patterns at angles away from one another. As the sound pressure travels farther away from the loudspeaker cones of the drivers  60 , the dispersion is widened resulting in both near field and long field pattern control, and resulting in sound being dispersed at 360 degrees. The drivers  60  are set at an outwardly facing angle as illustrated. 
       FIG. 2A  is a drawing of a front view of an exterior of the honeycomb speaker, according to an embodiment. Two drivers  60  are shown in this view with an edge between them without a driver. 
       FIG. 2B  is a drawing of a cross section of the honeycomb speaker showing the subwoofer  50  on the bottom, according to an embodiment. Two drivers  60  are shown in this view on adjacent edges. Note that drivers  60  are on the upper section of the speaker. The subwoofer  50  is positioned on the bottom. 
       FIG. 2C  is a drawing of a bottom view of an exterior of the honeycomb speaker, according to an embodiment. The subwoofer  50  is adjacent to an air vent tube  55 . Also shown is an aluminum base  20  which raises the honeycomb speaker off the ground thereby giving the subwoofer some room so it doesn&#39;t touch the floor. 
       FIG. 2D  is a drawing of a side view of an exterior of the honeycomb speaker, according to an embodiment. Two adjacent drivers  60  are shown. 
       FIG. 2E  is a drawing of an isometric view of the honeycomb speaker, according to an embodiment. The decorative panel  40  is shown in top. 
     The sound system is designed as a one-piece, AC (plug-in) powered, 2.1 channel, plug-n-play, transportable stereo speaker system (6½″ subwoofer  50 ; 2½″ full-range speaker  60 ×2 per channel) with Bluetooth® wireless capability. 
     The speaker system has a six-sided hexagonal (irregular) shape enclosure  10 , 2.1 channel amplification with 6½″ powered subwoofer  50  (downward-firing), and a four full-range speaker  60  array. The honeycomb shape (6 sided) provides structural integrity and reduced diffraction. The speaker enclosure  10  can be 12 inches wide by 10.5 inches deep by 14 to 16 inches height (without a base), but of course the speaker enclosure  10  can be made using other dimensions as well. The height can increase to 16 inches to accommodate an amplifier. The front and rear edges can measure 6 inches in length while the side edges can measure 4⅝ inches. The drivers  60  (2 each on the front-side edges and back-side edges) can be 2.5 inches. The subwoofer  50  can be 6.5 inches (downward firing). In an embodiment, the speaker enclosure  10  can be made from medium density fiberboard (should be 18 millimeters thick) with wood veneer finish and a metal support stand  20 . It can also utilize a 2.1 channel amplifier, stereo BLUETOOTH remote control and can have an LED indicator display. 
     The honeycomb design provides a 360 degree sound field. The speaker system can be positioned as a floor-standing unit. The unit can generate an exceptional dynamic range, deep clean bass, and a wide sound stage. The speaker system also has multiple inputs for mp3 music players, DVD&#39;s, TV&#39;s, gaming consoles, PC&#39;s; or wireless functionality via Bluetooth® to connect to smart phones, laptops, and tablets. The hexagonal (six-sided) design configuration can provide wide-dispersion patterns and true stereo surround-sound capabilities. The speaker system has a downward firing 6.5 inch subwoofer  50  and a four speaker driver  60  surround array. 
     The subwoofer  50  utilizes a honeycomb cone with paper skin. The 2.5 inch drivers  60  (speakers) use eco-friendly composite paper pulp. The sound waves generated from the subwoofer  50  are directed downward and are emitted through the open space provided between the lower edges of the side edges and the bottom base  20 . The loudspeaker functions in this manner to minimize the effects of back wave generation within. 
     The speaker system has a small footprint and a recessed handle, making it easy to transport. The speaker system can have a 2.1 channel 50-watt digital amplifier which provides ample power sources to both the subwoofer  50  and the full range drivers  60 . Other technologies such as DOLBY DIGITAL and BLUETOOTH processing are also incorporated into the speaker. DOLBY DIGITAL is an advanced encoding/decoding audio system that is the industry standard in terms of creating a multi-channel cinematic experience of impact and realism. The Bluetooth processor provides quality wireless without compromising audio quality. It is easy to communicate with the speaker via BLUETOOTH using devices such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. 
     The speaker system also has cloth grilles  30  (2 panels): an LED front edge display for remote control operation via wireless Remote: a 2.1 channel digital amplifier with DOLBY DIGITAL Processing; BLUETOOTH wireless technology; Virtual Surround Sound Mode &amp; Separate Bass/Treble Controls; 6½″ Downward-Firing subwoofer  50 ; four—2½″ full-range speakers  60  in 360 degree surround configuration; 50 watts power (approx.)—20 w×1 (subwoofer) and 15 w×2 (full range speaker  60 ); inputs for optical digital, coaxial digital, aux in (analog), 3.5 mm; and remote control (functions—source, volume, bass/treble, surround). 
     Benefits of the honeycomb speaker system described herein are that the non-rectangular shape of the speaker is inherently anti-resonant. The baffle&#39;s projection and angled edges greatly reduce diffraction, while enhancing the stereo effect, permitting full stereo enjoyment even when the listener is sitting off axis from the enclosure. Other benefits include improved low frequency performance, spatial imaging, high sensitivity, and clarity. 
     The speaker is a “2.1” system because the drivers  60  reproduce the left sound channel and the right sound channel at higher frequencies, and down firing subwoofer  50  reproduces a combination of the left and right sound channels, at lower frequencies. 
     It is noted that all of the sizes/measurements of the speaker and its components described herein can be varied and the invention is not limited to the particular sizes/measurements described herein. 
     The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.