BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
[0001] The disclosure relates to a loudspeaker assembly with lighting.
2. Related Art
[0002] For a variety of reasons, a lighting device may be integrated into a loudspeaker
assembly. One such reason may be that there is simply not enough space to arrange
the loudspeaker assembly and the lighting device side by side. Another reason may
be to create ornamental effects. Still another reason may be to link acoustic information
to visual information. Accordingly, there are various fields where loudspeaker assemblies
with integrated lighting devices are applied such as acoustic and visual emergency
warning applications, automotive applications and home entertainment applications.
However, integrating a lighting device into a loudspeaker assembly may cause some
difficulties including thermal and mechanical issues.
SUMMARY
[0003] A loudspeaker assembly includes a diaphragm having a front side, a rear side and
a circumferential edge between the front side and the rear side, and a frame disposed
at the rear side and at the edge of the diaphragm and which is configured to support
the diaphragm. The assembly further includes a light source configured to generate
light, and a light guide attached to the frame and optically coupled to the light
source, the light guide being configured to guide the light from the light source
to the frame and to illuminate a vicinity of the light guide.
[0004] Other systems, methods, features and advantages will be, or will become, apparent
to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following detailed description
and appended figures. It is intended that all such additional systems, features and
advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention,
and be protected by the following claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The system may be better understood with reference to the following drawings and
description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis
instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover,
in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout
the different views.
Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an electrodynamic loudspeaker
assembly with a translucent membrane and a lighting assembly radiating light at a
rear side of the membrane.
Figure 2 is a schematic isometric view illustrating a light guide and a light source
applicable in the assembly shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a midrange loudspeaker assembly
with a translucent membrane and a lighting assembly radiating light at a rear side
of the membrane.
Figure 4 is a schematic isometric view illustrating a light guide and a light source
applicable in the assembly shown in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a tweeter assembly with
a light-reflective membrane and a lighting assembly radiating light at a front side
of the membrane.
Figure 6 is a schematic isometric view illustrating a light guide and a light source
applicable in the assembly shown in Figure 5.
[0006] The Figures describe concepts in the context of one or more structural components.
The various components shown in the figures can be implemented in any appropriate
manner. In some examples, the various components may reflect the use of corresponding
components in an actual implementation. Certain components may be broken apart into
plural sub-components and certain components can be implemented in an order that differs
from that which is illustrated herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0007] Referring to Figure 1, an exemplary loudspeaker assembly 101 includes a rigid basket
102 as a basic frame structure to which a magnet system 103 is fixedly mounted and
to which, as a diaphragm, a membrane 104 is movably attached via a resilient spider
105 and a resilient surrounding 106 to allow for an inward and outward movement of
the membrane 104 relative to the basket 102. At a front end 107 of the loudspeaker
assembly 101, a mounting ring 108 that includes holes and that defines a front aperture
109 forms an adhered (not shown) or integral part (shown) of the rigid basket 102
to allow the loudspeaker assembly 101 to be mounted to a carrier (not shown) such
as an enclosure or baffle. The membrane 104 is rigidly connected to a dust cap 110
at one end of a voice coil 111 which dips with its other end into an air-gap 112 of
the magnet system 103. The magnet system 103 is attached to the basket 102 at a rear
side 113 of the loudspeaker assembly 101 and includes a U-shaped pole piece 114, i.e.,
a pole piece with a U-shaped cross-section, which encompasses an alternating arrangement
of two discoidal permanent magnets 115, 116 and two discoidal pole pieces 117, 118.
The discoidal permanent magnets 115, 116 and the soft-magnetic discoidal pole pieces
117, 118 have central holes that form together with a central hole in the U-shaped
pole piece 103 a venting channel 119. The loudspeaker assembly 101 may include a grill
120 at the front end 107 and a cover 121 at the rear end 113 of the loudspeaker assembly
101.
[0008] The loudspeaker assembly 101 further includes a light guide 122 which, in the present
example, is wound to form a ring and is attached to the basket 102 on the rear side
(i.e., the side facing the rear end 113) of the membrane 104 in a position adjacent
to the position where the spider 105 is attached to the basket 102 between the basket
102, the membrane 104 and the spider 105, i.e., the light guide 122 is disposed "behind"
the membrane 104 from a front-end perspective. The membrane 104 is translucent so
that light emitted by the light guide 122 is visible from the front end 107. The translucent
character of the membrane 104 may be diffuse, clear or of any nuance in between and
may be white or have any desired color. The light guide can be produced of different
kinds of materials and in various arrangements. In one example, the light guide 122
may be diffuse, clear or of any nuance in between and may be white or have any desired
color. In another example, a diffuser may be placed in front of the light guide to
obtain more diffused illumination. The light guide 122 may be screwed on, welded,
clamped, molded, adhered with adhesive or attached in any other suitable way to the
basket 102.
[0009] In Figure 2, the light guide 122, when connected to a light source 201 via an optical
connector 202, is shown. For example, the light guide 122 may be any suitable type
that allows guiding the light in a main direction 203 along the light guide 122 and
reflecting (or diffusing, distracting, diverting etc.) parts of the light 204 in at
least one other direction, e.g., perpendicular to the (curved) main direction 203
of the light guide 122. In this example, prisms 205 are included in the light guide
122 which couple out light in a controlled way along the main direction, so that the
light direction and intensity can be adapted to specific applications, i.e., to illuminate
a field of interest 206 such as the (center of the) membrane 104. The light guide
122 is wound into a ring form starting at a certain distance from the optical connector
202 as shown.
[0010] For example, the light guide 122 may (or may not) be covered by a transparent layer
of polytetrafluoroethylene, polyurethane, polyvinylchloride, polyester, a blend of
two or more of these materials, or any other suitable cladding. The polyurethane material
may be based on any suitable isocyanate, e.g. diisocyanate, and polyol combination.
The polyol may for example be a polyester, polycapralactone, or polycarbonate. For
example, polyether polyurethane can provide a side-emissive light guide having both
a bright output and good transmissive quality. The material may also include any suitable
additives, including for example additives for ultraviolet (UV) protection or micro
prisms for directing the light. An exemplary light guide may be formed from an unclad
solid length of extruded thermoplastic polyurethane material of polyether composition
with UV protection and may include other additives. The (straight) light guide 122
may have any suitable cross-section such circular, oval, odd-shaped, triangular, rectangular
etc.
[0011] The lighting module 201 may include any suitable illuminant such as one or more single-color
or multi-color (RGB) light emitting diodes (LED), fluorescent lamps, lasers, light-emissive
polymeric materials and other suitable illuminants. The light source 201 may be cooled
with cooling fins, Peltier elements and other suitable cooling systems and may be
watertight or waterproof, e.g., for automotive applications. The lighting module 201
is connected via power supply lines (not shown) to a power source (not shown).
[0012] Another exemplary loudspeaker assembly 301 is shown in Figure 3 and includes a rigid
basket 302 as a basic frame structure to which a magnet system 303 is fixedly mounted
and to which a membrane 304 is movably attached via a resilient spider 305 and a resilient
suspension 306 to allow an inward and outward movement of the membrane 304 relative
to the basket 302. At a front end 307 of the loudspeaker assembly 301, a mounting
ring 308 that includes threaded holes and that defines a front aperture 309 forms
an adhered (shown) or integral part (not shown) of the rigid basket 302 to allow the
loudspeaker assembly 301 to be mounted to a carrier (not shown) such as an enclosure
or baffle. The membrane 304 is rigidly connected to a dust cap 310 at one end of a
voice coil 311 which dips with its other end into an air-gap 312 of the magnet system
303. The magnet system 303 is attached to the basket 302 at a rear side 313 of the
loudspeaker assembly 301 and includes an L-shaped pole piece 314, i.e., a pole piece
with a double-L-shaped cross-section, which encompasses an arrangement of a discoidal
permanent magnet 315 between a discoidal pole pieces 316 and the L-shaped pole piece
314. The discoidal permanent magnet 315 and the soft-magnetic discoidal pole piece
316 have central holes that form an opening with which the L-shaped pole piece 314
engages, thereby forming the air-gap 312 between the L-shaped pole piece 314 on one
side and the discoidal permanent magnet 315 and the soft-magnetic discoidal pole piece
316 on the other side of the air-gap 312. The L-shaped pole piece 314 includes a central
hole which serves as a venting channel 317. The loudspeaker assembly 301 may include
a grill 318 with an edge profile 319 at the front end 307 of the loudspeaker assembly
301.
[0013] The loudspeaker assembly 301 further includes a light guide 320 which, in the present
example, is wound to form a ring and is disposed between the mounting ring 308 and
the edge profile 319 on the front side (i.e., the side facing the front end 307) of
the basket 302 in a position adjacent to the position where the suspension 306 is
attached to the basket 302, i.e., is disposed "in front of" the membrane 304 from
a front-end perspective. The membrane 304 is reflective so that light emitted by the
light guide 320 is shadowed by the edge profile 319, but is visible from the front
end 307 via the reflective membrane 304. The reflective character of the membrane
304 may be diffuse or mirroring and may be clear, white or have any desired color.
Similarly, the light guide 320 may be reflective (diffuse, clear or of any nuance
in between) and may be white or have any desired color. The light guide can be produced
in different kinds of materials and in various arrangements. In one example, a diffuser
is placed in front of the light guide to obtain more diffused illumination. The light
guide 320 may be screwed on, welded, clamped, molded, adhered with adhesive or attached
in any other suitable way to the basket 302.
[0014] In Figure 4, the light guide 320, when connected to a light source 401 via an optical
connector 402, is shown. For example, the light guide 320 may be any suitable type
that allows for guiding the light in a main direction 403 along the light guide 320
and reflecting, diffusing, distract, divert etc. parts of the light 404 in at least
one other direction, e.g., perpendicular to the main direction 403 of the light guide
320, along the light guide 320. In this example, prisms 405 are included in the light
guide 320 which couple out light in a controlled way along the main direction , so
that the light direction and intensity can be adapted to specific applications, i.e.,
to illuminate a field of interest 406 such as the (center of the) membrane 304. The
light guide 320, starting from the optical connector 402 is wound into a ring form
as shown. The light guide 320 and the lighting module 401 may be designed similar
to the light guide 122 and the lighting module 201 described above in connection with
Figure 2. The lighting module 401 is connectable to a power source (not shown) via
an electrical connector 407.
[0015] Still another exemplary loudspeaker assembly 501 is shown in Figure 5 and includes
a rigid basket 502 as a basic frame structure to which a motor system 503 is fixedly
mounted and to which a dome shaped membrane 504 is movably attached via a resilient
suspension 505 to allow for an inward and outward movement of the membrane 504 relative
to the basket 502. At a rear end 506 of the loudspeaker assembly 501, a mounting ring
507 that includes holes and that defines a rear aperture 508 forms an adhered (not
shown) or integral part (shown) of the rigid basket 502 to allow the loudspeaker assembly
501 to be mounted to a carrier (not shown) such as an enclosure or baffle. The membrane
504 is driven by the motor system 503 which may include a voice coil, an air-gap,
pole pieces and magnets. The motor system 503 is attached to the basket 502 at a rear
side 506 of the loudspeaker assembly 501. The loudspeaker assembly 501 may include
at a front end 509 of the loudspeaker assembly 501 a grill 510 having an edge profile
511. The edge profile 511 may be made from a material that diffuses light and/or may
be designed to diffuse light.
[0016] The loudspeaker assembly 501 further includes a light guide 512 which, in the present
example, is wound to form a ring and is disposed between the basket 502 and the edge
profile 511 on the front side (i.e., the side facing the front end 509) of the basket
502 in a position adjacent to the position where the suspension 505 is attached to
the basket 502, i.e., is disposed "in front of" the membrane 504 from a front-end
perspective. The membrane 504 may be reflective so that light emitted by the light
guide 512 is diffused by the edge profile 519 and, thus, is visible from the front
end directly and via the reflective membrane 504. The reflective character of the
membrane 504 may be diffuse or mirroring and may be clear, white or have any desired
color. Similarly, the light guide 512 may be diffuse, clear or of any nuance in between
and may be white or have any desired color. The light guide can be produced of different
kinds of materials and in various arrangements. In one example, a diffuser is placed
in front of the light guide to obtain more diffused illumination. The light guide
512 may be screwed on, welded, clamped, molded, adhered with adhesive or attached
in any other suitable way to the basket 502.
[0017] In Figure 6, the light guide 512, when connected to a light source 601 via an optical
connector 602, is shown. For example, the light guide 512 may be of any suitable type
that allows guiding the light in a main direction 603 along the light guide 512 and
reflecting, diffusing, distracting, diverting etc. parts of the light 604 in at least
one other direction, e.g., perpendicular to the main direction 603 of the light guide
512. In this example, prisms 605 are included in the light guide 122 which couple
out light in a controlled way along the main direction , so that the light direction
and intensity can be adapted to specific applications, i.e., to illuminate a field
of interest 606 such as the (center of the) membrane 504. The light guide 512, starting
from the optical connector 602 is wound into a ring form as shown. The light guide
512 and the lighting module 601 may be designed similar to the light guide 122 and
the lighting module 201 described above in connection with Figure 2.
[0018] The translucent membranes may be made from any material that fulfills, on the one
hand, all acoustic requirements that allow an optimum sound experience but, on the
other hand, are also translucent such as diffusing, transparent or clear. Such materials
may be, for example, aromatic polyamides, para-aramids, or polycarbonate. Reflective
membranes may be based on common membrane material and include a reflective surface
coating with highly reflective material (e.g., mirror coating) or diffusing coating
(e.g., white paint).
[0019] Figure 1 depicts a common electro-dynamic loudspeaker (e.g., midrange loudspeaker)
with back light illumination, i.e., the light is radiated at the rear side of the
translucent membrane. Figure 3 depicts a midrange speaker with a colored (e.g., yellow)
para-amide membrane which is illuminated with light from in front of the membrane.
Figure 5 depicts a tweeter with front light illumination in the form of two luminous
rings and in connection with a light-reflective double dome membrane. The assemblies
described above allow applications in harsher environments such as automotive environments.
The assemblies are very compact as a slim light guide is used at the loudspeaker and
the corresponding light source can be placed where more space is available. The light
source may be designed to control the color of the emitted light. The light source
can be replaced easily since it is separate from the loudspeaker. Less light sources
are, in most applications even only one light source is utilized which makes the lighting
system more efficient and reduces the necessity for cooling at the loudspeaker. A
light guide may be molded using materials such as poly-methyl methacrylate or polycarbonate
which is useful, e.g., in automotive applications.
[0020] To couple out light from the light guide (optical fiber, fiber optics etc.), the
design of the light guide may be adapted by, e.g., integrating an adequate number
of prisms into the light guide, each of which of an adequate size so that a desired
light pattern around the light guide is achieved. In the present examples, the light
guide is focused on the speaker membrane but can be adapted easily to other points
of interest. The light guide may include a light diffusing outer shell. Alternatively
or additionally, a separate diffuser may be used to diffuse the light from the light
guide if desired. Notwithstanding that only one ring is utilized in the examples described
above, a multiplicity of rings may be employed in connection with a single source
(e.g., a single light guide wound to a coil and connected to a single source) or a
multiplicity of sources (e.g., one ring-shaped light guide per source), in order to
further intensify the illumination, to create multiple concentric illumination effects
etc.
[0021] The loudspeaker assemblies described above are suitable for applications in harsh
environments such as automotive applications. Harsh environments include at least
one of a wide (ambient and/or operating) temperature range, moisture, dust and mechanical
stress such as vibrations. Possible mounting locations in a vehicle such as an automobile
are e.g., a pillar, dashboard, door, center console, roof liner or any other location
in a field of view of a vehicle occupant. For example, the temperature range complying
with automotive standards is commonly of between -40° C and 125° C. The loudspeaker
assemblies are able to provide not only acoustic information such as speech, music
or warning sounds, but also corresponding optical information by controlling, e.g.,
the intensity, pattern and/or color of the light emitted by the assembly.
[0022] The description of embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description. Suitable modifications and variations to the embodiments may be performed
in light of the above description or may be acquired from practicing the methods.
For example, unless otherwise noted, one or more of the described methods may be performed
by a suitable device and/or combination of devices. The described methods and associated
actions may also be performed in various orders in addition to the order described
in this application, in parallel, and/or simultaneously.
[0023] The described systems are exemplary in nature, and may include additional elements
and/or omit elements. As used in this application, an element or step recited in the
singular and proceeded with the word "a" or "an" should be understood as not excluding
plural of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is stated. Furthermore, references
to "one embodiment" or "one example" of the present disclosure are not intended to
be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate
the recited features.
[0024] While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent
to those of ordinary skilled in the art that many more embodiments and implementations
are possible within the scope of the invention. In particular, the skilled person
will recognize the interchangeability of various features from different embodiments.
Although these techniques and systems have been disclosed in the context of certain
embodiments and examples, it will be understood that these techniques and systems
may be extended beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other embodiments
and/or uses and obvious modifications thereof.
1. A loudspeaker assembly comprising:
a diaphragm having a front side, a rear side and a circumferential edge between the
front side and the rear side,
a frame disposed at the rear side and at the edge of the diaphragm, and configured
to support the diaphragm,
a light source configured to generate light, and
a light guide attached to the frame and optically coupled to the light source, the
light guide configured to guide the light from the light source to the frame and to
illuminate a vicinity of the light guide.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the light guide is attached to the frame by clamping,
molding or adhering with adhesive.
3. The assembly of claim 1 or 2, wherein the light guide is attached to the frame adjacent
to the edge of the diaphragm.
4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the diaphragm has a light reflective surface on the
front side.
5. The assembly of claim 1 or 2, wherein the light guide is attached to the frame adjacent
to the rear side of the diaphragm.
6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the diaphragm is translucent.
7. The assembly of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the light guide includes at least one
of light redirecting elements and light diffusing elements.
8. The assembly of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the light guide is wound to one or more
rings.
9. The assembly of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the light guide is coupled to the light
source via an optical connector.
10. The assembly of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the light guide is molded.
11. The assembly of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the light guide is detachable from
the light source.
12. The assembly of any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the light source is configured to provide
light with a color that is controllable.
13. The assembly of any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the light source is disposed distant
from the frame and the diaphragm.
14. The assembly of any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the light source comprising a cooling
arrangement.
15. The assembly of any of claims 1 to 14, further comprising a diffusing element attached
to the light guide.