WO2000032011A2 - Haut-parleur a membrane epousant la forme exterieure d'une figurine de type mannequin ou automate - Google Patents

Haut-parleur a membrane epousant la forme exterieure d'une figurine de type mannequin ou automate Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2000032011A2
WO2000032011A2 PCT/US1999/027708 US9927708W WO0032011A2 WO 2000032011 A2 WO2000032011 A2 WO 2000032011A2 US 9927708 W US9927708 W US 9927708W WO 0032011 A2 WO0032011 A2 WO 0032011A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
diaphragm
driver
loudspeaker
statuary
sound
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.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US1999/027708
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2000032011A3 (fr
Inventor
Alejandro Bertagni
Eduardo Bertagni
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.)
Sound Advance Systems Inc
Original Assignee
Sound Advance Systems Inc
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 Sound Advance Systems Inc filed Critical Sound Advance Systems Inc
Publication of WO2000032011A2 publication Critical patent/WO2000032011A2/fr
Publication of WO2000032011A3 publication Critical patent/WO2000032011A3/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R5/00—Stereophonic arrangements
    • H04R5/02—Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to loudspeakers, and, more particularly, to an apparatus and a related method for producing sound from a statuary-like figure.
  • Statuary-like figures are widely used in both the retail sales and entertainment industries. Such figures vary from simple clothing mannequins for use in department stores windows or tabletop displays, to animated storybook characters appearing as a human, an animal, or the like, for entertaining viewers in amusement parks, zoological parks, museums, or the like.
  • statuary-like figures are sometimes equipped with speakers to add to their effectiveness.
  • the speakers provide the apparent spoken words or sounds of the figure, while in other cases the speakers simply carry a narrative describing information of interest to viewers of the figures.
  • the planar diaphragm is constructed of a preexpanded cellular plastic material, such as polystyrene or STYROFOAM ®.
  • the front, visible side, of the diaphragm is flat, and may be disguised as a ceiling tile or section of wall.
  • the rear of the diaphragm, where the voice coil or driver is mounted, while generally planar, has a specific contour to improve the sound quality of the loudspeaker.
  • Such a loudspeaker while highly advantageous for architectural uses, would suffer many of the same disabilities as conventional speakers if installed as a separate speaker within or near a statuary-like figure.
  • the present invention provides a loudspeaker, and a related method, for producing sound as part of a statuary-like figure.
  • it provides for sound reproduction from a substantially large portion of the circumference of the statuary-like figure, or even from the entire statuary-like figure, with sound quality superior to conventional statuary-like figure speaker systems.
  • Garments or other surface treatments may be added to many embodiments of the statuary-like figure, while causing less muting than would occur over a typical speaker, and the loudspeaker is readily concealable as an integrated portion of the statuary-like figure.
  • the contoured outer surface of the diaphragm is preferably configured to extend around the substantial portion of the figure's lateral circumference, and is preferably configured to respond modally to the driver, thus directing sound waves around a substantial portion of the lateral circumference of the figure.
  • An advantage of the invention is that sound is produced off the outer surface of the statuary-like diaphragm in a multitude of directions, and from a multitude of locations. Viewers of the figure may be standing in a wide range of locations around the lateral circumference of the figure, and still have the loudspeaker effectively facing them. Furthermore, the loudspeaker is naturally disguised as part of the figure, and may be further concealed through the use of clothing or other synthetic surface treatments simulating animal furs or the like, without incurring the level of detriment to the quality of sound produced by the loudspeaker.
  • FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the loudspeaker depicted in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a statuary-like figure including the loudspeaker depicted in FIG. 1, and including garments draped over a diaphragm of that loudspeaker, and including a head affixed to a frame of the loudspeaker.
  • the loudspeaker includes a voice coil driver 11 and a statuary-like diaphragm 12.
  • the driver 11 includes a housing 13 that is mounted to a preferably acoustically stationary support, such as frame 14, by any conventional mechanism.
  • the housing typically includes electronics, magnets, and/or other components necessary to drive a second, acoustically active, portion 15 of the driver.
  • the acoustically active portion 15 of the driver 11 is affixed to, and fully supported by, the driver. It is configured to be oscillated along a longitudinal axis between the housing 13 and the acoustically active portion.
  • the diaphragm 12 is preferably made from a lightweight and relatively stiff material, such as polystyrene, STYROFOAM ®, or other preexpanded cellular plastic material. While the diaphragm may respond rigidly to low frequency vibration, i.e., in rigid oscillation, to the driving force of the acoustically active portion 15 of the driver 11, it is preferably configured with acoustic natural frequencies such that the diaphragm modally responds to the driver to produce sound throughout most of the audio range.
  • a lightweight and relatively stiff material such as polystyrene, STYROFOAM ®, or other preexpanded cellular plastic material. While the diaphragm may respond rigidly to low frequency vibration, i.e., in rigid oscillation, to the driving force of the acoustically active portion 15 of the driver 11, it is preferably configured with acoustic natural frequencies such that the diaphragm modally responds to the driver to produce sound throughout most of the audio range
  • the contouring can control not only the ID panel displacement of flat panel vibration, but also the 3D movement of the panel as different portions of the diaphragm are moving in entirely different directions (i.e., the torso's chest may move forward while its upward facing portions 17 move up and the side of its shoulder moves to the side).
  • the diaphragm can receive vertical support from a cord attached between the diaphragm and the head.
  • This string could carry a portion of the diaphragm's weight, without substantially interfering with its laterally directed oscillation of the portion of the diaphragm attached to the string.
  • a similar support could be derived from a web-like member extending between the upper portion of the torso and the lower portion of the head, such as through the neck region. Such a web-like member may also be used to form a connection between the diaphragm and other portions of the figure to better conceal the nature of the diaphragm.
  • the diaphragm can be entirely carried by a support, such as a frame, and the driver can be suspended from the diaphragm.
  • a support such as a frame
  • the driver can be suspended from the diaphragm.
  • One possible embodiment of this would entail the diaphragm being supported by a flexible margin, preferably extending around the outer, contoured surface.
  • the flexible margin could connect the diaphragm to the frame.
  • the support system could include a shaped screen, enclosing the inner diaphragm surface, and forming part of the visible portion of the figure.
  • the support system could include a flat screen, such as to allow the figure to be conformingly placed next to a wall.
  • the present invention provides for a loudspeaker allowing a statuary-like figure to produce superior quality sound around a substantial lateral circumference of the statuary-like figure, while having little or no visual clues as to the form or location of the loudspeaker.
  • a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
  • the description of the preferred embodiment describes a human-like figure, animal-like figures, plant-like figures, and even inanimate objects such as rocks, pieces of sculpture, and the like, are all contemplated within the scope of the invention.
  • the description of the preferred embodiment describes a diaphragm used in a stationary statuary-like figure, animated statuary-like figures are well within the scope of the invention.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Diaphragms For Electromechanical Transducers (AREA)
  • Audible-Bandwidth Dynamoelectric Transducers Other Than Pickups (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un haut-parleur placé dans des figurines de type mannequin ou automate, comprenant une membrane épousant la forme extérieure de la figurine, telle que celle épousant la forme supérieure du torse. Le haut-parleur comprend une commande de bobine vocale montée sur un cadre, et une membrane épousant la forme extérieure de la figurine totalement montée dans la partie acoustiquement active de la commande. Le haut-parleur peut également comprendre un tissu drapé sur la membrane. Il peut, en outre, être incorporé dans une figurine comprenant des parties non acoustiques, ayant la forme d'une tête.
PCT/US1999/027708 1998-11-23 1999-11-22 Haut-parleur a membrane epousant la forme exterieure d'une figurine de type mannequin ou automate Ceased WO2000032011A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US19818698A 1998-11-23 1998-11-23
US09/198,186 1998-11-23

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000032011A2 true WO2000032011A2 (fr) 2000-06-02
WO2000032011A3 WO2000032011A3 (fr) 2000-11-16

Family

ID=22732347

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1999/027708 Ceased WO2000032011A2 (fr) 1998-11-23 1999-11-22 Haut-parleur a membrane epousant la forme exterieure d'une figurine de type mannequin ou automate

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2000032011A2 (fr)

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB306268A (en) * 1928-02-06 1929-02-21 Walter Bryan Loud speaker apparatus for wireless telephony
US2068590A (en) * 1935-10-29 1937-01-19 Charles J Applestam Combined statue, lamp, and loudspeaker
GB2160759A (en) * 1984-06-29 1986-01-02 Music Wear Inc A cloth article with sound reproducing means
US4754852A (en) * 1987-03-23 1988-07-05 Mule Anthony F Simulated rock speaker assembly
US5619585A (en) * 1994-07-14 1997-04-08 Grasso; Mark A. Means for affixing an ornamental sculpture to a sound emitting device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2000032011A3 (fr) 2000-11-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7688992B2 (en) Seat electroacoustical transducing
JP3763848B2 (ja) 音響装置
US4928312A (en) Acoustic transducer
KR101888115B1 (ko) 자기공명 발음형 스피커 및 자기공명 발음형 스피커의 설치방법
JPH11512245A (ja) ラウドスピーカを組み入れるディスプレースクリーン
PL182854B1 (pl) Sposób propagowania energii akustycznej oraz urządzenie akustyczne do stosowania tego sposobu
US8958591B2 (en) Speaker system method and apparatus
KR101684141B1 (ko) 패널 표면에 가상 스피커를 형성하는 음향 방사 장치 및 방법
CN103037281A (zh) 阵列扬声器系统
JPH11512255A (ja) パネル形状音響放射エレメントからなるラウドスピーカ
JP5113471B2 (ja) スピーカシステム
JPH11512248A (ja) グリーティング等のカード
US6721436B1 (en) Remote edge-driven panel speaker
EP1100288A2 (fr) Radiateur acoustique
CA2440926A1 (fr) Appareil de lutte anti-bruit
US3026955A (en) Spherical loudspeaker enclosure
JPS6365800A (ja) スピ−カを備えた天井構造
WO2000032011A2 (fr) Haut-parleur a membrane epousant la forme exterieure d'une figurine de type mannequin ou automate
CN115604639A (zh) 包括箱体和旋转安装的扩音器的声学扬声器
CN210518812U (zh) 喇叭振膜片
US6243478B1 (en) Flat speakers for personal computer
JP2004096273A (ja) 映像装置用スピーカシステム
JP2021034864A (ja) 音響装置
JP7735678B2 (ja) スピーカー、室内構造
JP2006138149A (ja) 音響機能付き仕切り部材

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): JP KR

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): JP KR

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase