Directivity pattern control waveguide for a speaker, and speaker including a directivity pattern control waveguide
A directivity pattern control (DPC) waveguide for a speaker is disclosed. The DPC waveguide comprises a body and first, second, and third drivers secured to the body. The body comprises a substantially planar portion having a planar surface, a waveguide portion having a waveguide surface contiguous with the flat surface, a first driver aperture at least substantially formed by the planar portion, a second driver aperture at least substantially formed by the planar portion, and a third driver aperture formed by the waveguide portion. The first driver propagates sound toward the first driver aperture, the second driver propagates sound toward the second driver aperture, and the third driver propagates sound toward the third driver aperture. The third driver is in a plane along an axis different than a plane for the first driver and the second driver. Also disclosed is a speaker including the DPC waveguide.
1 . A directivity pattern control (DPC) waveguide transducer for a speaker, the DPC waveguide having a major axis of propagation, the DPC waveguide transducer comprising:
a body comprising:
a first portion including a substantially flat surface in a first plane intersecting the major axis of propagation;
a second portion including a horn surface adjacent to the flat surface, the horn surface being contoured from a throat to a mouth in a substantially horn shape; and
a tweeter aperture at least substantially formed by the first portion,
the tweeter aperture being at least substantially in the first plane, and
the throat being at least substantially in a second plane, the second plane intersecting the major axis of propagation and being offset from the first plane along the major axis of propagation;
a first tweeter coupled to the body substantially adjacent to the throat, the first tweeter to propagate a first sound radiation toward the throat, through the second portion, and exiting the mouth in vertical and horizontal directivities based on the horn surface; and
a second tweeter coupled to the body substantially adjacent to the tweeter aperture, the second tweeter to propagate a second sound radiation toward the tweeter aperture and not being at least substantially controlled by the second portion,
the second tweeter to support additional power handling to the first tweeter thereby increasing sensitivity and reducing compression for the DPC waveguide transducer, and
the second tweeter being offset from the first tweeter, via the tweeter aperture and the throat, respectively, to allow for time alignment and further beamforming of the DPC waveguide transducer thereby increasing beamforming sensitivity.
2 . The DPC waveguide transducer of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a unitary, substantially-rigid body.
3 . The DPC waveguide transducer of claim 1 , wherein the first portion includes a discoid portion and wherein the second portion includes a waveguide portion contiguous with the discoid portion.
4 . The DPC waveguide transducer of claim 1 , wherein the first plane and the second plane intersecting the major axis of propagation are orthogonal to the major axis of propagation.
5 . The DPC waveguide transducer of claim 1 , wherein the throat is formed at a center of the second portion.
6 . The DPC waveguide transducer of claim 1 , wherein the second portion, at a plurality of planes orthogonal to the major axis of propagation, includes respective cross-sections of the horn surface being substantially oval, thereby limiting early reflections from two external surfaces from the DPC waveguide and reducing distortion.
7 . The DPC waveguide transducer of claim 1 , wherein the first tweeter radiates the first sound radiation at a first range of tweeter frequencies, wherein the second tweeter radiates the second sound radiation at a second range of tweeter frequencies, and wherein the second range of tweeter frequencies is a lesser range than the first range of tweeter frequencies.
8 . The DPC waveguide transducer of claim 1 , wherein the first tweeter includes a first full range tweeter having a first range of tweeter frequencies, wherein the second tweeter includes a midrange tweeter at a second range of tweeter frequencies less than the first range of tweeter frequencies.
9 . The DPC waveguide transducer of claim 1 , wherein the second plane is parallel to the first plane along the major axis of propagation.
10 . The DPC waveguide transducer of claim 1 , wherein the tweeter aperture includes a first respective portion in the first portion of the body and a second respective portion in the second portion of the body.
11 . The DPC waveguide transducer of claim 10 , further comprising a first driver cover having a first surface with a first plurality of apertures, the first surface comprising a first flat surface portion and a first contoured portion contiguous with the first flat surface portion.
12 . The DPC waveguide transducer of claim 11 , wherein the first flat surface portion of the first driver cover is in the first plane of the flat surface, and wherein the first contoured portion substantially follow the contour of the horn surface.
13 . The DPC waveguide transducer of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second tweeter aperture at least substantially formed by the first portion,
the second tweeter aperture being at least substantially in the first plane, and
the tweeter aperture, the second tweeter aperture, and the throat being in a linear arrangement along a diameter of the body; and
a third tweeter coupled to the body and substantially adjacent to the second tweeter aperture, the third tweeter to propagate a third sound radiation toward the second tweeter aperture and not being at least substantially controlled by the second portion.
14 . The DPC waveguide transducer of claim 13 , wherein the third tweeter further supports additional power handling to the first tweeter thereby further increasing sensitivity and reducing compression for the DPC waveguide transducer, and
wherein the third tweeter is offset from the first tweeter to allow for time alignment and further beamforming of the DPC waveguide transducer thereby further increasing beamforming sensitivity.
15 . A loud speaker comprising:
a housing;
a mid-woofer supported by the housing; and
the directivity pattern control (DPC) waveguide transducer of claim 1 supported to the housing.
16 . The speaker of claim 15 , further comprising a second mid-woofer supported by the housing, wherein the DPC waveguide transducer is disposed between the mid-woofer and the second mid-woofer, and wherein the DPC waveguide transducer has a different frequency range from the mid-woofer and the second mid-woofer.
17 . The speaker of claim 16 , further comprising a woofer supported by the housing.