EP0129320B1 - Lautsprechergehaüse für Sprachübertragungsstationen - Google Patents

Lautsprechergehaüse für Sprachübertragungsstationen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0129320B1
EP0129320B1 EP84303212A EP84303212A EP0129320B1 EP 0129320 B1 EP0129320 B1 EP 0129320B1 EP 84303212 A EP84303212 A EP 84303212A EP 84303212 A EP84303212 A EP 84303212A EP 0129320 B1 EP0129320 B1 EP 0129320B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
enclosure
foam material
loudspeaker
spider
peripheral edge
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP84303212A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0129320A1 (de
Inventor
Peter Fatovic
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Nortel Networks Ltd
Original Assignee
Northern Telecom Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Northern Telecom Ltd filed Critical Northern Telecom Ltd
Priority to AT84303212T priority Critical patent/ATE36794T1/de
Publication of EP0129320A1 publication Critical patent/EP0129320A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0129320B1 publication Critical patent/EP0129320B1/de
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R1/20—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics
    • H04R1/22—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics for obtaining desired frequency characteristic only 
    • H04R1/28—Transducer mountings or enclosures modified by provision of mechanical or acoustic impedances, e.g. resonator, damping means
    • H04R1/2807—Enclosures comprising vibrating or resonating arrangements
    • H04R1/283—Enclosures comprising vibrating or resonating arrangements using a passive diaphragm
    • H04R1/2834—Enclosures comprising vibrating or resonating arrangements using a passive diaphragm for loudspeaker transducers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R1/02—Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to sound translating devices and more particularly to loudspeaker enclosure arrangements for use in voice communication terminals.
  • a loudspeaker consists of a voice coil or motor unit operating an acoustic conical diaphragm, one side of which acts on an enclosed space known as the loudspeaker enclosure. Since the enclosure provides an acoustical load on the diaphragm, the operating characteristics of a loudspeaker are influenced by the acoustical properties of the enclosure.
  • the loudspeakers are usually mounted on an inside surface of the housing. often in a cramped location, and the entire unit including a variety of electronic circuitry therefore becomes a haphazard enclosure for the loudspeaker.
  • this type of equipment is meant toprovide only voice communication as opposed to high-fidelity music and since manufacturers find it desirable to minimize the cost and size of their equipment, the loudspeaker employed therein tends to be an inexpensive miniature unit having an acceptable frequency response only in the voice frequency range.
  • United States patent No. 3,833,085 describes a low-frequency loudspeaker wherein the tendency to provide excessive midrange acoustic output was solved by providing the speaker with a circular disk of neoprene rubber mounted inside its conical diaphragm. The disk is attached adhesively at its periphery to the diaphragm at a circle spaced inwardly from the outer periphery of the diaphragm and at its center to the support dome for the loudspeaker.
  • Another method of modifying loudspeaker output response is described in United States patent No. 3,324,966 which discloses the combination of a loudspeaker and a pseudo-enclosure comprising a pair of sound absorbing chambers interconnected by a valving arrangement in the form of a narrow channel.
  • Belgium patent number 673,136 relates to a high-fidelity loudspeaker having its rear portion and peripheral edges covered with a sound absorbent material whereby the parasitic oscillations of the vibrating mechanism, especially the ones caused by the deformable edges of the cone, are absorbed and are thus prevented from affecting the purity of the sound generated by the loudspeaker.
  • an electro-acoustic transducer comprising, a small loudspeaker (10) having a voice coil structure (11) and a conical diaphragm (13) supported by a spider (12) having a peripheral edge (14) defining the shape of the loudspeaker (10), a piece of resilient open cell foam material (15) having a shape complementary similar to that of the loudspeaker (10) and including an opening at its approximate geometrical center to permit close-fitting engagement with said voice coil structure (11) and means for securing the peripheral edge of one face of said foam material (15) to said peripheral edge (14) of the spider, characterised in that the outer surface of the foam material (15) is covered with a flexible layer (16) of substantially air-impermeable material, thereby providing the loudspeaker with an attached flexible enclosure.
  • the present invention further provides an enclosure arrangement for a loudspeaker (10) to be mounted in the housing (30) of a voice communication terminal, the loudspeaker (10) including a voice coil structure (11) and a spider (12) supporting a diaphragm (13), the arrangement comprising: a primary enclosure comprising a piece of resilient open cell foam material (15) having an opening at its approximate geometrical center to permit close-fitting engagement with said voice coil structure (11), the peripheral edge of one face of the foam material being secured to the peripheral edge (14) of the spider (12) characterised in that the outer surface of the foam material has a flexible layer (16) of substantially air-impermeable material whereby the loudspeaker is provided with an attached flexible enclosure (33), a secondary enclosure comprising the housing (30) in which the loudspeaker and the attached primary enclosure (33) are mounted, the flexibility of the primary enclosure allowing interaction between itself and the secondary enclosure.
  • a primary enclosure comprising a piece of resilient open cell foam material (15) having an opening at its approximate geometrical center to permit close-fitting
  • the invention therefore advantageously provides an economical enclosure arrangement for a piece of telecommunication equipment wherein the response peak due to the resonant frequency of the loudspeaker is substantially eliminated and in which the overall frequency response is improved. Since the enclosure is small and flexible, the unit may be fitted in a cramped location of a piece of equipment. In addition, the loudspeaker will operate acceptably even if a portion of the flexible enclosure is deformed slightly against an adjacent component or if the enclosure is shaped to match its mounting space.
  • FIG 1 shows a miniature loudspeaker 10 including a voice coil structure 11, and a spider 12 supporting a conical acoustic diaphragm 13.
  • Such loudspeakers are available as commercial off-the- shelf items and may be circular or rectangular in shape. Common nominal sizes for these loudspeakers are about 57mm (2i inches) in diameter or 57mm (2) inches) by 76mm (3 inches).
  • a peripheral edge 14 of the spider 12 defines the perimeter and shape of the loudspeaker 10.
  • Shown in cross-section is a piece of flexible foam material 15 having an open cell or air- permeable construction.
  • the foam material has a shape complementary similar to that of the loudspeaker; that is, it is either circular or rectangular and is provided with an opening at its approximate geometrical center as well as a conical depression to allow close-fitting engagement with the voice coil structure 11 and the spider 12.
  • the foam material is thus somewhat doughnut-shaped.
  • conical depression or concavity is not usually necessary as the foam will compress easily to adapt to the contour of the spider without unduly affecting the response of the loudspeaker.
  • Foam material suitable to realize the invention is commercially available from various manufacturers. Its basic requirements are flexibility, open cell structure and small pore size to provide maximum sound energy absorption in minimum weight and thickness.
  • the outer edge of the foam material is adhesively secured to the peripheral edge 14 of the loudspeaker 10.
  • the joint between the foam material 15 and the spider 12 should preferably be air-impermeable.
  • the outer surface of the foam material 15 is covered by a flexible layer 16 of air-impermeable material which seals the pores of the foam material 15.
  • a flexible layer 16 of air-impermeable material which seals the pores of the foam material 15.
  • Various rubber paints and compounds as well as some varnishes are ideally suited to the task.
  • the sealing material and the foam material must be chemically compatible.
  • silicone rubber compounds have been found to be ideally suited as sealing materials.
  • the volume enclosed by the flexible layer 16 thus becomes the primary enclosure for loudspeaker 10.
  • the efficiency of the enclosure may be increased by closing the circular opening at the center of the foam material 15. This may be achieved by adhesively securing a circular piece of air-impermeable material 17 over the opening.
  • the piece 17 should be of a size adequate to seal the opening and may conveniently be made of ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadine-Styrene) plastic. Alternately, the opening may be sealed simply with paper, cloth or plastic adhesive tape.
  • a complete enclosure may also be created by using a thicker piece of foam material 15 such that a continuous skin or sealing layer may be obtained.
  • the doughnut-shaped foam material lends itself to advantageous methods of manufacture as well as resulting in a more compact unit.
  • FIG. 2 is a graphical representation of the improved performance of the transducer of the invention.
  • Waveform 20 represents a nominal frequency response characteristics for a small unmodified loudspeaker mounted in a typical housing of a voice terminal. It is seen that the loudspeaker generates excessive acoustic output from about 200 to 650 hertz as well as a variety of other more minor variations across the voice frequency spectrum. These variations are due partly to the resonant frequency of the loudspeaker and partly to internal housing reflections due to the lack of a proper enclosure for the loudspeaker.
  • Waveform 21 illustrates the smoothing effect provided by the enclosure arrangement of the invention. The resonant frequency effects are cancelled and the effects of housing reflections are substantially minimized without unduly affecting the low frequency response of the speaker.
  • Waveform 22 illustrates the speaker response that might be expected if the primary enclosure was made of rigid material.
  • the undesirable 400 hertz peak is eliminated, but at the expense of mutilating the low frequency response of the speaker.
  • a primary enclosure having a flexible outer layer ensures that there is energy coupling between the primary and secondary enclosures.
  • the amount of coupling varies in accordance with the degree of flexibility of the sealing layer.
  • the amount of coupling may be further increased by providing the sealing layer with one or more breather holes as indicated at 18. Increasing the size of the hole(s) or the flexibility of the sealing layer increases the low frequency response of the transducer.
  • the amount of coupling required is dependent on the loudspeaker characteristics and may be determined with a minimal amount of experimentation.
  • FIG 3 illustrates an enclosure arrangement in accordance with the invention.
  • a typical voice communication terminal comprising a housing 30 which contains a variety of electronic components 31, a CRT 32 and an eIe ⁇ tro- acoustic transducer 33 having a construction as shown in figure 1.
  • the attached flexible enclosure of transducer 33 provides a primary enclosure which is energy coupled to a secondary enclosure formed by the interior volume of housing 30.
  • the invention provides a loudspeaker having an improved frequency response characteristic. Because of its compact size and its flexible self-contained enclosure, the transducer may be fitted in a constrained location of a communication terminal. The flexible enclosure may be deformed slightly without causing the response of the loudspeaker to be greatly affected. Similarly, if it should be necessary due to space restrictions, it is entirely possible to shape the primary enclosure such as by cutting off a small portion. For example, the volume enclosed within the line A-A (fig. 1) and the outer surface 16 of the enclosure may simply be removed. Of course, the newly exposed surface of foam material 15 would then have to be re-sealed as with silicone rubber.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Diaphragms For Electromechanical Transducers (AREA)
  • Telephone Set Structure (AREA)
  • Details Of Audible-Bandwidth Transducers (AREA)

Claims (17)

1. Elektroakustischer Übertrager mit einem kleinen Lautsprecher (10) mit einem Sprachspulenaufbau (11) und einer Kegelmembran (13), die durch eine Spinne (12) mit einer die Form des Lautsprechers (10) bestimmenden Umfangskante (14) abgestützt ist, einem Stück aus elastischem Offenzell-Schaummaterial (15) mit einer Form, die komplementär gleichartig der des Lautsprechers (10) ist und einer Öffnung ungefähr an ihrer geometrischen Mitte, um eine dicht passende Anlage an dem Sprachspulenaufbau (11) zuzulassen, und Mitteln zum Befestigen der Umfangskante einer Fläche des Schaummaterials (15) an der Umfangskante (14) der Spinne, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Außenfläche des Schaummaterials (15) mit einer flexiblen Schicht (16) aus im wesentlichen luftundurchdringlichem Material bedeckt ist, wodurch der Lautsprecher mit einem angefügten flexiblen Gehäuse versehen ist.
2. Elektroakustischer Übertrager nach Anspruch 1 und weiter mit einem Stück aus luftundurchlässigem Material (17) von einer Form, die wenigstens knapp grÖßer als die Öffnung ist, wobei das Material durch Kleben an dem Schaummaterial zum wirksamen Abdichten der Öffnung befestigt ist.
3. Elektroakustischer Übertrager nach Anspruch 2, wobei das Material (17) eine dünne Scheibe aus ABS-(Acrylnitril-Butadien-Styrol)Kunststoff ist.
4. Elektroakustischer Übertrager nach Anspruch, 2, bei dem die äußere flexible Schicht des Gehäuses mit wenigstens einer Energiekopplungs-Öffnung (18) versehen ist.
5. Elektroakustischer Wandler nach Anspruch 1, bei dem die eine Fläche des Schaummaterials (15) auch mit einer konischen Vertiefung zur Aufnahme an die Spinne versehen ist.
6. Elektroakustischer Übertrager nach Anspruch 1, bei dem das Schaummaterial (15) durch Kleben an der Umfangskante befestigt ist.
7. Elektroakustischer Übertrager nach Anspruch 1, bei dem eine Fläche des Schaummaterials mit einer konkaven Vertiefung zur Aufnahme der Spinne (12) und des Sprachspulenaufbaus (11) versehen ist.
8. Elektroakustischer Übertrager nach Anspruch 7, bei dem die äußere flexible Schicht (16) des Gehäuses mit mindestens einer Energiekopplungsöffnung (18) versehen ist.
9. Elektroakustischer Übertrager nach Anspruch 7, bei dem das Schaummaterial (15) durch Kleben an der Umfangskante (14) befestigt ist.
10. Gehäuseanordnung für einen Lautsprecher (10) zum Anbringen in dem Gehäuse (30) einer Sprachverbindungsstation, wobei der Lautsprecher (10) einen Sprachspulenaufbau (11) und eine eine Membran (13) abstützende Spinne enthält und die Anordnung umfaßt: ein Primärgehäuse aus einem Stück elastischem Offenzell-Schaummaterial (15) mit einer Öffnung ungefähr an seiner geometrischen Mitte, um eine engpassende Anlage an dem Sprachspulenaufbau (11) zuzulassen, wobei die Umfangskante einer Fläche des Schaummaterials an der Umfangskante (14) der Spinne befestigt ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Außenfläche des Schaummaterials eine flexible Schicht (16) aus im wesentlichen luftundurchlässigem Material besitzt, wodurch der Lautsprecher mit einem daran angebrachten flexiblen Gehäuse (33) versehen ist, wobei ein Sekundärgehäuse das Gehäuse (30) umfaßt, in dem der Lautsprecher und das daran angebrachte Primärgehäuse (33) untergebracht sind, und die Flexibilität des Primärgehäuses eine Wechselwirkung zwischen sich und dem Sekundärgehäuse zuläßt.
11. Gehäuseanordnung nach Anspruch 10, bei der die Öffnung in dem flexiblen Primärgehäuse mit einem Stück aus luftundurchlässigem Material (17) abgedichtet ist, welches durch Kleben an dem Schaummaterial befestigt ist.
12. Gehäuseanordnung nach Anspruch 11, bei dem die flexible Schicht (16) des Primärgehäuses mit mindestens einer Energiekopplungsöffnung (18) versehen ist.
13. Gehäuseanordnung nach Anspruch 10, bei der das Schaummaterial (15) des Primärgehäuses durch Kleben an der Umfangskante (14) befestigt ist.
14. Gehäuseanordnung nach Anspruch 10, bei der die eine Fläche des Schaummaterials auch mit einer für die Aufnahme der Spinne geeigneten kegelförmigen konkaven Vertiefung versehen ist.
15. Gehäuseanordnung nach Anspruch 10, bei der eine Fläche des Schaummaterials mit einer zur Aufnahme der Spinne (12) und des Sprachspulenaufbaus (11) geeigneten konkaven Vertiefung versehen ist.
16. Gehäuseanordnung nach Anspruch 15, bei der die äußere flexible Schicht des Primärgehäuses mit mindestens einer Energiekopplungsöffnung (18) versehen ist.
17. Gehäuseanordnung nach Anspruch 15, bei der das Schaummaterial (15) des Primärgehäuses durch Kleben an der Umfangskante (14) der Spinne (12) befestigt ist.
EP84303212A 1983-06-16 1984-05-11 Lautsprechergehaüse für Sprachübertragungsstationen Expired EP0129320B1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT84303212T ATE36794T1 (de) 1983-06-16 1984-05-11 Lautsprechergehauese fuer sprachuebertragungsstationen.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000430527A CA1196717A (en) 1983-06-16 1983-06-16 Loudspeaker enclosure arrangement for voice communication terminals
CA430527 1983-06-16

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0129320A1 EP0129320A1 (de) 1984-12-27
EP0129320B1 true EP0129320B1 (de) 1988-08-24

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ID=4125491

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP84303212A Expired EP0129320B1 (de) 1983-06-16 1984-05-11 Lautsprechergehaüse für Sprachübertragungsstationen

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0129320B1 (de)
JP (1) JPS6014596A (de)
AT (1) ATE36794T1 (de)
CA (1) CA1196717A (de)
DE (1) DE3473718D1 (de)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NZ225001A (en) * 1987-06-16 1990-09-26 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd Loudspeaker: reflected sound waves absorbed
US8767994B2 (en) 2010-11-19 2014-07-01 Apple Inc. Gas filled speaker volume
US8837768B2 (en) 2011-03-28 2014-09-16 Bose Corporation Electro-acoustic transducer enclosure

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE673136A (de) *
GB790998A (en) * 1953-10-23 1958-02-19 Tesla Np A device for the reproduction of sound
FR1152433A (fr) * 1956-06-20 1958-02-17 Perfectionnement aux haut-parleurs
US4090582A (en) * 1976-11-02 1978-05-23 Deschu Dennis F Speaker protector
JPS5616876U (de) * 1979-07-16 1981-02-14
FR2470511A1 (fr) * 1979-11-20 1981-05-29 Faugeras Alain Enceinte acoustique du type " actif - passif " associee a un resonateur
DE2948034A1 (de) * 1979-11-29 1981-06-11 Telefonbau Und Normalzeit Gmbh, 6000 Frankfurt Elektro-akustischer wandler mit zur verbesserung des frequenzverlaufes vorgesehenen resonanzraeumen

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3473718D1 (en) 1988-09-29
CA1196717A (en) 1985-11-12
ATE36794T1 (de) 1988-09-15
EP0129320A1 (de) 1984-12-27
JPS6014596A (ja) 1985-01-25

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