Multiple aperture speaker assembly
View Patent ↗Methods and apparatus are provided for waveguide structures and speaker assemblies. In one embodiment, a waveguide may include an input aperture configured to receive a sound signal from a sound source, and a plurality of isolated sound paths having substantially equal path lengths. Each isolated sound path may be formed within a housing of the waveguide and formed with a curved path to reduce the depth of the waveguide. The waveguide may include a plurality of plugs, wherein each plug divides an output of one of the isolated sound paths into a plurality of output sound paths and defines a plurality of output apertures of the waveguide. Each output sound path is characterized by a reduced width relative to the output of the isolated sound path, the plurality of output apertures configured to output a combined sound signal based, at least in part, on the plurality of sound signals.
1. A waveguide, comprising:
a sound input portion having an input aperture configured to receive a sound signal from a sound source;
a sound output portion spaced apart from the sound input portion, wherein a minimum distance between the sound input portion and sound output portion defines a depth of the waveguide;
a plurality of isolated sound paths extending between the sound input portion and sound output portion and having substantially equal path lengths, each isolated sound path formed within a housing of the waveguide and configured to receive the sound signal from the input aperture such that the sound signal is divided into a plurality of sound signals, wherein each isolated sound path has a path with eater than the depth of the waveguide; and
a plurality of plugs, wherein each plug divides an output of one of the isolated sound paths into a plurality of output sound paths and defines a plurality of output apertures of the waveguide, and wherein each output sound path is characterized by a reduced width relative to the output of the isolated sound path, the plurality of output apertures configured to output a combined sound signal based, at least in part, on the plurality of sound signals.
2. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the input aperture is configured to receive the sound signal from a driver.
3. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein an isolated sound path relates to a continuous structure for guiding sound waves from the input aperture to an output of an isolated sound path.
4. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein each isolated sound path is characterized by a one of a cylindrical or uniform shape one-quarter of the input aperture size.
5. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the isolated sound paths are formed by upper and lower housings of the waveguide.
6. The waveguide of claim 5 , wherein channels in the housing form the isolated sound paths.
7. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein equal path lengths of the isolated paths direct sound signals to the plurality of plugs in a substantially similar amount of time.
8. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein each isolated sound path is curved within a plane.
9. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein each plug is biased with a first end and second end, wherein the maximum width of the plug defines output sound paths.
10. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein each output path relates to a cylindrical path one-half of the dimension of an isolated sound path.
11. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is characterized by one of a linear and curvilinear front face, the output distributed by the output apertures based on the front face of the waveguide.
12. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of sound signals emanate from the plurality of output apertures at substantially the same time to form a substantially coherent combined sound signal that is expanded relative to the front face of the waveguide.
13. The waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the isolated sound paths of the waveguide include similar curved paths for pairs of the isolated paths, wherein a first pair are associated with a first curvature, and a second pair are associated with a second curvature.
14. A speaker assembly, comprising:
a sound source that produces a sound signal;
a waveguide coupled to the sound source, the wave guide comprising:
a sound input portion having an input aperture configured to receive the sound signal from the sound source;
a sound output portion spaced apart from the sound input portion, wherein a minimum distance between the sound input portion and sound output portion defines a depth of the waveguide;
a plurality of isolated sound paths extending between the sound input portion and sound output portion and having substantially equal path lengths, each isolated sound path formed within a housing of the waveguide and configured to receive the sound signal from the input aperture such that the sound signal is divided into a plurality of sound signals, wherein each isolated sound path has a path with a dimension greater than the depth of the waveguide; and
a plurality of plugs, wherein each plug divides an output of one of the isolated sound paths into a plurality of output sound paths and defines a plurality of output apertures in the sound output portion of the waveguide, and wherein each output sound path is characterized by a reduced width relative to the output of the isolated sound path, the plurality of output apertures configured to output a combined sound signal based, at least in part, on the plurality of sound signals.
15. The speaker assembly of claim 14 , wherein the input aperture is configured to receive the sound signal from a driver.
16. The speaker assembly of claim 14 , wherein an isolated sound path relates to a continuous structure for guiding sound waves from the input aperture to an output of an isolated sound path.
17. The speaker assembly of claim 14 , wherein each isolated sound path is characterized by a one of a cylindrical or uniform shape one-quarter of the input aperture size.
18. The speaker assembly of claim 14 , wherein the isolated sound paths are formed by upper and lower housings of the waveguide.
19. The speaker assembly of claim 18 , wherein channels in the housing form the isolated sound paths.
20. The speaker assembly of claim 14 , wherein equal path lengths of the isolated paths direct sound signals to the plurality of plugs in a substantially similar amount of time.
21. The speaker assembly of claim 14 , wherein each isolated sound path is curved within a plane.
22. The speaker assembly of claim 14 , wherein each plug is biased with a first end and second end, wherein the maximum width of the plug defines output sound paths.
23. The speaker assembly of claim 14 , wherein each output path relates to a cylindrical path one-half of the dimension of an isolated sound path.
24. The speaker assembly of claim 14 , wherein the waveguide is characterized by one of a linear and curvilinear front face, the output distributed by the output apertures based on the front face of the waveguide.
25. The speaker assembly of claim 14 , wherein a plurality of sound signals emanate from the plurality of output apertures at substantially the same time to form a substantially coherent combined sound signal that is expanded relative to the front face of the waveguide.
26. The speaker assembly of claim 14 , wherein the isolated sound paths of the waveguide include similar curved paths for pairs of the isolated paths, wherein a first pair are associated with a first curvature, and a second pair are associated with a second curvature.