Speaker illumination apparatus and method
An audio speaker can include a lighted visual feature positioned within the speaker. For example, illuminators can be positioned around the circumference of the speaker interior, underneath a surround connecting a speaker cone to a mounting flange of a rigid speaker frame. The surround can be formed from translucent material, thereby enhancing visual effects as illuminators radiate through the surround, e.g., in a controlled or coordinated manner. Thus, audio and visual effects can be merged and provided by a single speaker device.
1. A system for illuminating a speaker, the system comprising:
a rigid speaker support basket having an outer circumferential flange configured for securement to a cabinet;
a downwardly-extending circumferential surface extending from the outer circumferential flange and having a supporting feature configured to retain an illumination structure;
the illumination structure, comprising a supporting surface configured to interface with the basket's downwardly-extending circumferential surface and its supporting feature, light-emitting diodes distributed circumferentially about the illumination structure, and electrical leads connecting to each of the diodes; and
an audio diaphragm, linked to the rigid speaker support basket near the outer circumferential flange by a resilient translucent surround, the surround configured to enclose a lighted interior volume of the speaker and at least partially transmit optical energy emanating from the light-emitting diodes of the illumination structure.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the resilient translucent surround is formed from nitrile rubber.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the resilient translucent surround is formed from TPV.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the illumination further comprises a plurality of side-emitting LEDs configured and positioned to illuminate the resilient translucent surround.
5. An audio loudspeaker apparatus with optical features, the loudspeaker comprising:
a basket forming a rigid supporting structure, the basket having:
an upper flange at an outer circumference of the supporting structure and configured for mounting to a surface adjacent to a round speaker hole when the remainder of the basket is lowered into the speaker hole;
a surround seat immediately within the circumference of the upper flange, the surround seat configured for adhesion to a resilient surround;
a downward wall immediately within and below the surround seat, the downward wall forming a ring with an inward-facing face configured for supporting and securing an illumination ring; and
the illumination ring configured for positioning generally flush against the face and underneath the surround, the ring having at least five illuminators that are regularly spaced along the circumference of the ring such that they emit light energy through the surround, thereby illuminating a circular portion of the outer surface of the audio loudspeaker.
6. The loudspeaker of claim 5 , further comprising an inwardly-protruding lip at the base of the downward wall, the lip configured to assist in supporting, securing and aligning the illumination ring against the face of the ring formed by the downward wall.
7. The loudspeaker of claim 6 , further comprising the resilient surround, wherein the surround is formed from translucent rubber.
8. The loudspeaker of claim 7 , wherein the surround is formed from NBR.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the surround is formed from TPV.
10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the illumination ring further comprises a plurality of side-emitting LEDs positioned immediately below the surround, thereby configured to illuminate the surround when viewed from outside the loudspeaker.
11. A method of speaker illumination, the method comprising:
providing a rigid speaker support structure with an upper mounting flange and a lower receptacle, the flange and receptacle connected by at least one bridging feature;
positioning a magnetic speaker driver within the receptacle;
connecting at least one portion of the speaker driver to a cone that extends generally upward and outward toward the flange;
providing a resilient translucent surround connected to the cone and bridging a gap between an upper circumference of the cone and an inner circumference of the flange;
positioning an illumination ring within two inches below the surround, the ring having illuminators positioned thereon and generally aligned with the surround to allow emitted radiation to pass through the surround to outside the speaker, above the flange of the speaker support structure.