EP2164278A2 - Single-unit high-fidelity device with a stereophonic speaker enclosure. - Google Patents

Abstract

The assembly has a low audio frequency reproducing system i.e. caisson (1), placed in a space unique and distinct from a space containing loud-speakers that produce medium or high frequencies. The loudspeakers are placed at a top part of the assembly and wirelessly connected to the system and to a flat screen (3). The loud-speakers are situated on left and right pieces (2, 2') to be separated from both sides of the assembly. The pieces are rotated around their longitudinal axes according to a limited angular variation corresponding to a portion of circle.

Description

The present invention relates to a high fidelity monobloc assembly of stereophonic acoustic enclosure.

There are known audio devices, portable, whose speakers can slide into one another; this is particularly the case of the patent application US 2005/0031148 . In this case, it is a system in the form of a telescopic case, with a male part and a female part sliding one inside the other, each of these parts comprising a speaker making the bass, the mids and the highs. Such a system, however, does not correspond to the objective of the present invention which is to achieve a high fidelity set allowing optimized rendering of the bass in a single volume using one or more speakers and a rendering separated from the mediums / highs adapted to the position of the user through one or more separate speakers or speakers to make the low frequencies.

Due to their acoustic properties which are not very directive, the single volume ensuring the restitution of the so-called low frequencies is omnidirectional. On the other hand, the pair of speakers providing the reproduction of the frequencies useful for stereophonic so-called mediums / highs or high frequencies can be controlled directivity by the user so as to optimize the balance of the sound image and the rendering of the stereophonic scene according to its position in the space in depth and height.

Other systems are known, for example those described in the international patent applications WO 96/31083 , European EP 1207717 or Japanese JP 62208797 but in none of these systems is the arrangement of the assembly according to the present invention, an arrangement which can not be deduced from these documents that they are taken individually or in combination.

The present invention is radically different from the devices of the state of the art as mentioned above.

Indeed, the assembly forming the subject of the present invention is in the field of high fidelity as defined by the International Electrotechnical Committee for Standardization (IEC 268, and more particularly IEC 60 268-5).

The objective of the present invention is indeed to achieve a system ensuring compliance of sound reproduction for a frequency band corresponding to the nearest spectrum audible frequencies ranging from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

The assembly that is the object of the present invention makes it possible, in particular, thanks to the single volume charged to reproduce the low-pitched sounds, to go down to 40 Hz, with the aid of loudspeakers as well as high performance acoustic systems and admitting electrical power of several tens of watts, even a few hundred watts.

Thus, the assembly according to the present invention allows both to have a compact one-piece system, while ensuring the high fidelity as it was previously defined.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a high fidelity monobloc set of stereophonic acoustic speaker, installed in a piece of furniture, of the type comprising separate loudspeakers to render on the one hand the non-directional bass and on the other hand the mediums / acute and also incorporates at least one screen, the system for reproducing the low frequencies being located in a single volume and separate from that containing the speakers for making the frequencies mid / treble, the latter being located in another part said set and being wirelessly connected to said system and said screen.

According to a preferred embodiment, the loudspeakers intended to make the medium / high frequencies are located on parts that can be spaced relative to each other.

According to an even more preferred mode, said parts are integral with one another and can slide into one another, while being able to rotate about their longitudinal axis.

According to a mode also preferred, each of the aforementioned parts will have a polygonal cross section.

• la figure 1 représente schématiquement l'ensemble selon l'invention vu de face, les pièces supportant les haut-parleurs mediums/aigus étant en position rentrée,
• la figure 2 représente schématiquement l'ensemble selon l'invention vu de face, les pièces supportant les haut-parleurs mediums/aigus étant à l'une des positions possibles d'écartement,
• la figure 3 représente les deux pièces, avant leur pliage sous forme de polyèdres, qui sont destinées à supporter les haut-parleurs mediums/aigus,
• les figures 4A à 4D représentent en coupe transversale plusieurs modes de réalisation desdits polyèdres,
• la figure 5 montre une vue de face des haut-parleurs medium/aigus dans 2 positions de coulissement, et
• la figure 6 montre une vue de face des haut-parleurs medium/aigus selon une variante d'exécution.

The present invention will be better understood with reference to the figures given for information only and in no way limiting, among which:

• the figure 1 schematically represents the assembly according to the invention seen from the front, the parts supporting the medium / high speakers being in the retracted position,
• the figure 2 schematically represents the assembly according to the invention seen from the front, the parts supporting the medium / high speakers being at one of the possible positions of spacing,
• the figure 3 represents the two pieces, before their folding in the form of polyhedra, which are intended to support the medium / high speakers,
• the Figures 4A to 4D represent in cross section several embodiments of said polyhedra,
• the figure 5 shows a front view of the medium / high speakers in 2 sliding positions, and
• the figure 6 shows a front view of the medium / high speakers according to a variant embodiment.

A schematic representation of the assembly, object of the present invention, is given in front view in the Figures 1 and 2 , said assembly, installed in a piece of furniture, being represented without its base. This set includes a housing (1) constituting a single volume for the reproduction of low frequencies. The term "single volume" means any assembly consisting of one or more loudspeakers operating inside a single volume visible from the outside but which can be compartmentalised internally in different sub-volumes separated or interconnected by partitions. The bass frequencies concerned by the invention which belongs to the field of application of high fidelity, if they are situated between 20 Hz and 180 Hz, are not directional. It is recalled in this respect that the assembly forming the object of the present invention is in the field of high fidelity as defined in the preamble of the present description. In the same way, in the present invention, the higher frequencies, called mediums / highs, which are directional, and whose orientation may be preferably controlled, are generally calibrated in order to reproduce frequencies above 120 Hz. However, it may be envisaged also, in certain particular applications and depending on other parameters, the use of medium speakers capable of also reproducing frequencies below this hinge value of 120 Hz given by way of example in the present description. The bass reproduction system is connected in the assembly according to the invention to medium / high speakers located on parts (2), (2 ').

According to a first embodiment, the parts (2) and (2 ') are independent in translation along the longitudinal axis, and are located on each side of the assembly and can be either in the retracted position as it appears in FIG. figure 1 , either in a remote position as shown in figure 2 .

According to a second embodiment, given preferably, the parts (2) and (2 ') are integral with one another and can slide into one another as will be described further in the description, thus allowing their spacing.

Whatever the embodiment, each piece (2) or (2 ') is intended to support one or more medium / high speakers, preferably arranged at their end, which will thus be integrated in separate volumes, separate from each other. that of the bass speakers and that can be removed by acting on the parts (2) and (2 '). In addition and according to the configuration of the places and the positioning of the user, the spacing parts (2) and (2 ') may be symmetrically, on either side of said assembly, or in a non-symmetrical manner, these two spacing actions not necessarily being simultaneous.

As just mentioned, the spacing of the two left and right parts (2) and (2 ') supporting the medium / high speakers allows either to enter them completely in the furniture, as shown in the configuration to the figure 1 , or on the contrary to remove them in order to optimize the stereophonic effect, as this is represented in the figure 2 , while keeping these in mechanical contact with the assembly according to the invention.

In the second embodiment mentioned above, the fact that the pieces (2) (2 ') are integral with each other makes it possible to rotate them simultaneously about their longitudinal axis, in order to adapt the stereophonic sound reproduction according to the recoil and from the listening position at the height of the listener. This results in an optimization of the rendering of the stereophonic scene according to the position of the listener by controlling the orientation and spacing of the main axes of diffusion of the two middle and treble speakers left and right (2) and (2). '). In the same way, the sound diffusion can be optimized, when the speakers (2) (2 ') are in the retracted position, by positioning the speakers facing appropriate deflectors acting as acoustic reflectors.

In this embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 , the volume (1) is located in the lower part of the assembly, the parts (2) and (2 ') being located in its upper part, the latter also incorporating a screen (3) which will be further detailed in the description.

The advantages thus obtained are multiple: there is only one volume of sufficient size for optimized reproduction and high fidelity of low frequencies while reducing manufacturing costs and the corresponding size compared to two traditional acoustic speakers. This stereophonic unit, which incorporates a separate subwoofer, is pre-wired and does not require unsightly connecting wires or complex connection diagrams of the different transducers with each other and with their amplifiers.

The adjustment, the connection and the positioning of the loudspeakers, moreover, can be optimized once and for all and one also has a central volume in which can be grouped and connected simultaneously, in a coherent and simple way, different multimedia products: amplifier, computer, screen (3), video or sound player. Thus, the assembly according to the invention is effectively compact and monobloc; it can also be envisaged to make a transportable version of this set.

Parts (2) and (2 ') corresponding to the second embodiment mentioned above will now be described in more detail. These pieces can be made of different materials; Thus, there are processes by pressure injection of plastics or metal alloys to achieve light and adjustable medium / treble systems but the tools needed to manufacture these parts are expensive and depreciable only on very large series .

These disadvantages can be overcome by using the current methods of machining metal sheets, synthetic materials or composites by digital programming.

According to the material chosen to make the pieces (2) and (2 '), reference being made to the figure 3 , starting from sheets (4) (4 ') ranging from 1 mm to several millimeters thick forming a support for loudspeakers (5) (5') and (6) (6 ') to the dimension of the distances fasteners and the diameters of the chosen speakers. These are preferably placed symmetrically near the outer edges (7) (7 ') of the sheets (4) (4'). Each of these sheets thus produced is then folded several times in the length direction, so as to form several folds or edges (8) (8 '), leading to the aforementioned parts (2) and (2'). One of these two pieces (2) and (2 ') will have, with respect to the other part, slightly different dimensions at its section, so that these two pieces (2) and (2') can nest in one another and can then slide into one another. This nesting can be further improved, thus saving space, if practiced at each piece (2) or (2 '), at the opposite end to that where are arranged the speakers, a notch, no illustrated at figure 3 , so that the speakers of the room (2) for example would fit into the notch in the room (2 ') and likewise for the speakers of the room (2') that would come nest in the notch in the room (2).

• la figure 4A fait apparaître cinq plis (8) avec cinq angles sortants,
• la figure 4B fait apparaître deux plis (8) avec deux angles sortants, et
• les figures 4C et 4D font apparaître cinq plis (8) avec quatre angles sortants et un angle rentrant.

The Figures 4A to 4D illustrate a cross section of the workpiece (2) after folding of the sheet (4) as has just been described, according to different types of folding, it being understood that the workpiece (2 ') has the same cut, with dimensions slightly different as has just been described:

• the Figure 4A shows five folds (8) with five outward angles,
• the Figure 4B reveals two folds (8) with two outward angles, and
• the Figures 4C and 4D show five folds (8) with four outbound angles and one re-entrant angle.

According to a preferred feature of the present invention, these polygons are designed such that at least two of their edges (8) can be guided and allow all the parts (2) (2 ') to pivot possibly on him even in a circular perimeter (9) as shown in Figures 4A to 4C or partially circular (10) as shown in figure 4D ; in the latter case, the rotation of the pieces (2) and (2 ') about their longitudinal axis will be only at an angle corresponding to the portion of the circle (10).

In all the cases illustrated in Figures 4A to 4D the cross-section of the pieces (2) (2 ') is in the form of a non-closed polygon; other folds may however be envisaged without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, said polygon may be closed, the same plane (11) (11 ') may be the support of two speakers or more. Similarly, between two edges (8) (8 ') it can be envisaged a curvilinear surface and not flat.

According to an alternative embodiment not illustrated here, the two parts (2) and (2 ') can slide and pivot simultaneously inside a PVC tube or extruded PMMA, for example, or a tube in which is disposed a coating having a slippery surface and not aggressive to the edges (8) of the polyhedra constituting the parts (2) and (2 ').

An assembly is thus obtained according to the present invention, the rigidity of which is obtained on the one hand by virtue of the different successive folds (8) (8 '), on the other hand by the interlocking of the right / left pieces. that is to say parts (2) and (2 ') between them, and finally by maintaining them horizontally and inside the circular or partially circular spaces cut in one or more successive walls traversed by said parts (2) and (2 ') either inside a closed tube or inside a sleeve having an identical shape in section to that of said parts (2) and (2').

It is also possible to put a teflon-type adhesive material bonded inside the outer part or outside the inner part, so as to optimize the friction between the two parts (2) and (2 ') for avoid any wear or scratches caused by one of the parts on the other and improve the fluidity of the sliding of these two parts relative to each other.

On the other hand, the different plans (11) according to Figures 4A to 4D provided by the successive folds (8) - and respectively the planes (11 ') determined by the folds (8') - allow, if necessary, an acoustic phase shift by depth shift of the speakers of mediums and highs between them (5), (5 '), (6), (6'). Finally, the shape obtained which different faces are not parallel and are formed for the most part closed angles allows both to minimize internal stationary waves and acoustic diffraction phenomena due to the protruding angles located near the loudspeakers (5), (5 ' ), (6), (6 ').

In addition, as shown in figure 5 the sliding of the two parts (2) and (2 ') one inside the other, between their extreme configurations (retracted position or separated position), as well as their possible possible rotation about their longitudinal axis allows to vary the stereophonic effect and to adapt the sound reproduction according to the recoil and the listening position of the listener in height as well as the constraints of the listening room.

As illustrated in figure 6 it is also possible to insert between the parts (2) and (2 ') an intermediate piece (12) having the same profile as the other two allowing, while keeping the same pieces (2) and (2') in mechanical connection with each other, to increase their possible spacing on a horizontal plane. This arrangement is particularly interesting in the case where the initial width of the piece of furniture is small and that a spacing between the parts (2) and (2 ') optimal from the point of view of the stereophonic image can not be achieved without the use of the intermediate piece (12).

Moreover, because behind the flat TV screens there are screw fastening systems at standardized distances, it is possible to use the same concept of speakers with variable spacings in this context. Thus, by sliding, with a similar and standardized assembly also comprising symmetrical loudspeakers according to the description above, the possibility of installing and adapting them in a discrete and effective way to obtain a stereophonic system on either side of a screen, regardless of the exact dimensions in width of the latter, said flat screen constituting the screen (3) above.

Claims (9)

High-fidelity monobloc set of stereophonic acoustic loudspeaker, installed in a piece of furniture, of the type comprising separate loudspeakers for rendering on the one hand the non-directional bass and on the other hand the midrange / treble characterized in that it integrates into in addition to at least one screen (3), the system (1) for reproducing the low frequencies being located in a single volume and distinct from that containing the loudspeakers (5) (5 ') (6) (6') for making the frequencies mid / high, the latter being located in another part of said assembly and being wirelessly connected to said system (1) and said screen (3). An assembly according to claim 1 characterized in that said loudspeakers (5) (5 ') (6) (6') are located on two pieces (2) (2 ') that can be spaced apart on either side of said set . Assembly according to claim 2 characterized in that said parts (2) and (2 ') are integral with each other and slide in one another while being able to rotate about their longitudinal axis. Assembly according to claim 3 characterized in that each piece (2) (2 ') has a polygonal cross-section whose vertices are inscribed in an at least partially circular space (9) (10), said pieces (2 ) (2 ') being able to rotate about their longitudinal axis. Assembly according to claim 4 characterized in that said space, when circular, is a cylinder. Assembly according to claim 4 characterized in that said parts (2) (2 ') rotate about their longitudinal axis in a limited angular variation corresponding to a portion of a circle when said space will be partially circular. Assembly according to any one of claims 3 to 6 characterized in that an intermediate piece (11) is provided between the pieces (2) and (2 '), said intermediate piece (12) having the same geometry as that of the two other parts (2) and (2 '). Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the system (1) is located in the lower part of said assembly and the medium / high speakers (5) (5 ') (6) (6') in the upper part. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that the medium / high speakers (5) (5 ') (6) (6') are attached to the rear of a flat television screen constituting the screen (3).

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