IP Library Granted Patent US 12707192
Granted Patent B2
US 12707192 · App. 18/731,345 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Constant coverage horn

Inventors: Charles Emory Hughes, II (Gastonia, NC); Michael Alan Brody (Haddon Heights, NJ)
Assignee: Bianmp Systems, LLC
H04R1/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12707192
App. No.
18/731,345
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An example apparatus may include one or more of a throat that includes an opening that receives sound, a bell that directs the sound, a mouth opening that outputs the sound, and a variable-width slot disposed between the throat and the bell which directs the sound, wherein the variable-width slot may include a lower portion with a first width and an upper portion with a second width which is greater than the first width.

Claims (30)

1 . A horn comprising:

a throat comprising an opening that receives sound;

a bell that directs the sound;

a mouth opening that outputs the sound; and

a variable-width slot disposed between the throat and the bell which directs the sound, wherein the variable-width slot comprises a lower portion with a first width and an upper portion with a second width which is greater than the first width,

wherein the lower portion of the variable-width slot is associated with a lower vertical coverage region of the horn and the upper portion of the variable-width slot is associated with an upper vertical coverage region of the horn.

2 . The horn of claim 1 , wherein the variable-width slot comprises a curved shape from the lower portion to the upper portion.

3 . The horn of claim 1 , wherein the variable-width slot comprises a V shape.

4 . The horn of claim 1 , wherein the variable-width slot comprises a pie-piece shape.

5 . The horn of claim 1 , wherein the variable-width slot comprises a lower acoustic resistance in the upper portion in comparison to the lower portion.

6 . The horn of claim 1 , wherein the mouth comprises a rectangular opening comprising an upper portion that has a first width, a bottom portion that has a second width, and sides between the upper portion and the bottom portion which include a vertical height, wherein the vertical height is greater than the first width and the second width.

7 . The horn of claim 1 , wherein the mouth comprises a rectangular opening comprising an upper portion that has a first width, a bottom portion that has a second width, and sides between the upper portion and the bottom portion which include a vertical height, wherein the vertical height is less than the first width and the second width.

8 . The horn of claim 1 , wherein the mouth comprises a square opening comprising an upper portion that has a first width, a bottom portion that has a second width, and sides between the upper portion and the bottom portion which include a vertical height, wherein the vertical height is equal to the first width and the second width.

9 . The horn of claim 1 , wherein a horizontal coverage area of the horn is dependent on the relative location of said horizontal coverage within the range of the vertical coverage area of the horn.

10 . A loudspeaker comprising:

a throat comprising an opening that receives sound;

a bell that directs the sound;

a mouth opening that outputs the sound;

a sound source positioned behind the opening of the throat which is configured to output the sound towards the opening of the throat; and

a variable-width slot disposed between the throat and the bell which directs the sound, wherein the variable-width slot comprising a lower portion with a first width and an upper portion with a second width which is greater than the first width,

wherein the lower portion of the variable-width slot is associated with a lower vertical coverage region of the horn and the upper portion of the variable-width slot is associated with an upper vertical coverage region of the horn.

11 . The loudspeaker of claim 10 , wherein the variable-width slot comprises a curved shape from the lower portion to the upper portion.

12 . The loudspeaker of claim 10 , wherein the variable-width slot comprises a V shape.

13 . The loudspeaker of claim 10 , wherein the variable-width slot comprises a pie-piece shape.

14 . The loudspeaker of claim 10 , wherein the variable-width slot comprises a lower acoustic resistance in the upper portion in comparison to the lower portion.

15 . The loudspeaker of claim 10 , wherein the mouth comprises a rectangular opening comprising an upper portion that has a first width, a bottom portion that has a second width, and sides between the upper portion and the bottom portion which include a vertical height, wherein the vertical height is greater than the first width and the second width.

16 . The loudspeaker of claim 10 , wherein the mouth comprises a rectangular opening comprising an upper portion that has a first width, a bottom portion that has a second width, and sides between the upper portion and the bottom portion which include a vertical height, wherein the vertical height is less than the first width and the second width.

17 . The loudspeaker of claim 10 , wherein the mouth comprises a square opening comprising an upper portion that has a first width, a bottom portion that has a second width, and sides between the upper portion and the bottom portion which include a vertical height, wherein the vertical height is equal to the first width and the second width.

18 . The loudspeaker of claim 10 , wherein a horizontal coverage area of the loudspeaker is dependent on the relative location of said horizontal coverage within the range of the vertical coverage area of the horn.

19 . The horn of claim 1 , wherein the variable-width slot is configured such that the upper portion presents lower acoustic resistance to sound propagation than the lower portion, thereby directing a greater portion of sound energy toward an upper vertical coverage region with respect to a lower vertical coverage region of the horn.