IP Library Patent Application 17912879
Patent Application
App. No. 17/912,879

LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
17/912,879
Abstract

A speaker system that reproduces sound inaudible to users around, without using earphones, headphones, or a large-scale speaker array, is provided. Assuming that N is an integer equal to or larger than one, and that a (2n−1)-th sound signal (n=1, . . . , N) is a sound signal obtained based on a subject to be reproduced, a speaker system that emits sound based on a first sound signal, . . . , and sound based on a (2N−1)-th sound signal such that the sound is heard only in a vicinity, includes an n-th speaker unit pair (n=1, . . . , N) including a speaker unit that emits sound based on the (2n−1)-th sound signal (hereinafter, referred to as the positive speaker unit) and a speaker unit that emits sound based on a 2n-th sound signal that is a sound signal with opposite phase to phase of the (2n−1)-th sound signal (hereinafter, referred to as the negative speaker unit).

Claims (25)

1 . A speaker system that emits sound based on a first sound signal, . . . , and sound based on a (2N−1)-th sound signal such that the sound is heard only in a vicinity, N being an integer equal to or larger than one, a (2n−1)-th sound signal (n=1, . . . , N) being a sound signal obtained based on a subject to be reproduced, the speaker system comprising:

an n-th speaker unit pair (n=1, . . . , N) including a speaker unit that emits sound based on the (2n−1)-th sound signal (hereinafter, referred to as the positive speaker unit) and a speaker unit that emits sound based on a 2n-th sound signal that is a sound signal with opposite phase to phase of the (2n−1)-th sound signal (hereinafter, referred to as the negative speaker unit).

2 . The speaker system according to claim 1 , wherein

assuming that a direction in which the n-th speaker unit pair faces a user is an n-th user direction (n=1, . . . , N),

a member is attached to the n-th speaker unit pair, the member being for lengthening a path of sound bending around in the n-th user direction, of sound emitted from the positive speaker unit and the negative speaker unit of the n-th speaker unit pair in an opposite direction to the n-th user direction.

3 . The speaker system according to claim 1 , wherein

the positive speaker unit and the negative speaker unit of the n-th speaker unit pair (n=1, . . . , N) are speaker units to each of which a tweeter is added, and

the tweeter added to the positive speaker unit of the n-th speaker unit pair emits sound based on the (2n−1)-th sound signal, and the tweeter added to the negative speaker unit of the n-th speaker unit pair emits sound based on the 2n-th sound signal.

4 . The speaker system according to claim 1 , wherein

assuming that a direction in which the n-th speaker unit pair faces a user is an n-th user direction (n=1, . . . , N),

a member is attached to the n-th speaker unit pair, the member being for absorbing sound emitted from the positive speaker unit and the negative speaker unit of the n-th speaker unit pair in an opposite direction to the n-th user direction.

5 . The speaker system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the positive speaker unit and the negative speaker unit of the n-th speaker unit pair is housed in a perforated speaker box.

6 . A speaker system that emits sound based on a first sound signal, . . . , and sound based on a (2N−1)-th sound signal such that the sound is heard only in a vicinity, N being an integer equal to or larger than one, a (2n−1)-th sound signal (n=1, . . . , N) being a sound signal obtained based on a subject to be reproduced, the speaker system comprising:

an n-th speaker unit pair (n=1, . . . , N) including a speaker unit that emits sound based on a (2n−1)-th low-frequency signal that is a signal at low frequencies generated from the (2n−1)-th sound signal (hereinafter, referred to as the positive speaker unit), a tweeter that is added to the positive speaker unit and emits sound based on a (2n−1)-th high-frequency signal that is a signal at high frequencies generated from the (2n−1)-th sound signal, a speaker unit that emits sound based on a 2n-th low-frequency signal that is a signal at low frequencies generated from a 2n-th sound signal (hereinafter, referred to as the negative speaker unit), and a tweeter that is added to the negative speaker unit and emits sound based on a 2n-th high-frequency signal that is a signal at high frequencies generated from the 2n-th sound signal, the 2n-th sound signal being a sound signal with opposite phase to phase of the (2n−1)-th sound signal.

7 . A speaker system that emits sound based on a first sound signal, . . . , and sound based on a (2N−1)-th sound signal such that the sound is heard only in a vicinity, N being an integer equal to or larger than one, a (2n−1)-th sound signal (n=1, . . . , N) being a sound signal obtained based on a subject to be reproduced, the speaker system comprising:

an n-th speaker unit pair (n=1, . . . , N) including a speaker unit that emits sound based on a (2n−1)-th low-frequency signal that is a signal at low frequencies generated from the (2n−1)-th sound signal (hereinafter, referred to as the positive speaker unit), a tweeter that is added to the positive speaker unit and emits sound based on a (2n−1)-th high-frequency signal that is a signal at high frequencies generated from the (2n−1)-th sound signal, and a speaker unit that emits sound based on a 2n-th low-frequency signal that is a signal at low frequencies generated from a 2n-th sound signal (hereinafter, referred to as the negative speaker unit), the 2n-th sound signal being a sound signal with opposite phase to phase of the (2n−1)-th sound signal.

8 . The speaker system according to claim 1 , wherein

assuming that a direction in which the n-th speaker unit pair faces a user is an n-th user direction (n=1, . . . , N),

the positive speaker unit and the negative speaker unit of the n-th speaker unit pair (n=1, . . . , N) are disposed such that sound emitted from the positive speaker unit in an opposite direction to the n-th user direction and sound emitted from the negative speaker unit in the opposite direction to the n-th user direction propagate in the n-th user direction due to bending around of the sound.

9 . The speaker system according to claim 6 , wherein

assuming that a direction in which the n-th speaker unit pair faces a user is an n-th user direction (n=1, . . . , N),

the positive speaker unit and the negative speaker unit of the n-th speaker unit pair (n=1, . . . , N) are disposed such that sound emitted from the positive speaker unit in an opposite direction to the n-th user direction and sound emitted from the negative speaker unit in the opposite direction to the n-th user direction propagate in the n-th user direction due to bending around of the sound.

10 . The speaker system according to claim 7 , wherein

assuming that a direction in which the n-th speaker unit pair faces a user is an n-th user direction (n=1, . . . , N),

the positive speaker unit and the negative speaker unit of the n-th speaker unit pair (n=1, . . . , N) are disposed such that sound emitted from the positive speaker unit in an opposite direction to the n-th user direction and sound emitted from the negative speaker unit in the opposite direction to the n-th user direction propagate in the n-th user direction due to bending around of the sound.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 1, 2026
From: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
To: NTT, INC.
Reel/Frame 074164/0597 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 20, 2022
From: FUKUI, MASAHIRO; KOBAYASHI, KAZUNORI
To: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 061145/0108 →