Harman International Industries, Inc.

Jbl, Incorporated

Apple Inc.

University of Utah Research Foundation

Electro-voice, Inc.

Douglas J Button

Russell H Lambert

Alexander V Salvatti

Ajay Sundaram Iyer

Jerry Moro

Ralph E Hyde

Richard D Kamlet

Alex V Salvatti

Aram M Lindahl

Bernard M Werner

V John Mathews

D Broadus Keele, Jr

Paul Robert Williams

Shreyas Srikanth Payal

Ernest Bird

Russel H Lambert

A loudspeaker parameter system for vented box driver excursion modeling, may include a loudspeaker driver having a conductor, a magnet and a diaphragm. The system may further include a processor for excursion modeling configured to receive an input signal, determine a voltage level of the input signal, an enclosure having a resonant port, estimate port parameters including at least one of an acoustic resistance or acoustic mass, and apply a voltage limit based on the vented box excursion model utilizing the port parameters.

Nonlinear port parameters for vented box modeling of loudspeakers

A technique for controlling a loudspeaker system with an artificial neural network includes filtering, with a deconvolution filter, a measured system response of a loudspeaker and a reverberant environment in which the loudspeaker is disposed to generate a filtered response, wherein the measured system response corresponds to an audio input signal applied to the loudspeaker while the loudspeaker is disposed in the reverberant environment. The techniques further include generating, via a neural network model, an initial neural network output based on the audio input signal, comparing the initial neural network output to the filtered response to determine an error value, and generating, via the neural network model, an updated neural network output based on the audio input signal and the error value.

Neural network-based loudspeaker modeling with a deconvolution filter

A thermal model system for estimating a voice coil temperature of a loudspeaker that has frequency dependent parameters to model thermal behavior of the loudspeaker may include a loudspeaker having a voice coil and a magnet, and a thermal model configured to have multiple frequency dependent thermal circuits including the voice coil and the magnet that determine a voice coil temperature which is used to limit input to the loudspeaker to prevent thermal overload of the loudspeaker.

Constrained nonlinear parameter estimation for robust nonlinear loudspeaker modeling for the purpose of smart limiting

A loudspeaker real-time state variable prediction system may include a loudspeaker having a voice coil and a magnet, and a non-linear excursion model configured to estimate non-linear excursion of the loudspeaker. The system may further include a thermal model configured to utilize thermal parameters and frequency based on at least one thermal property of the loudspeaker, and a gain adjustment thermal limiter configured to apply a gain reduction an incoming audio signal to protect the loudspeaker from thermal overload.

A non-linear excursion estimations system for estimating non-linear excursion of a loudspeaker may include a loudspeaker having a force transducer, and a controller programmed to limit excursion of the loudspeaker by modeling at least one constrained nonlinearity curve based on an asymptote outside of a safe operating area (SOA) nonlinearly curve of the loudspeaker.

A loudspeaker baffle that provides variable sound patterns is described. The baffle may support non-low frequency sound sources and a waveguide to provide varying sound beam patterns. The baffle may include a center mount adapted to receive a plurality of audio outputs and a plurality of low frequency apertures to receive a plurality low frequency output. The waveguide may be formed from a front face of the baffle. The front face may be intermediate the center mount and the low frequency apertures. The front face may include a continuously varying waveguide surface with a first waveguide portion adjacent a first audio output of the plurality of audio outputs providing a first sound pattern and a second waveguide portion adjacent a second audio output of the plurality of audio outputs providing a second sound pattern that is different than the first sound pattern.

Baffle for line array loudspeaker

An audio system is described that corrects for linear and nonlinear distortions. The system can include a physical loudspeaker system responsive to an audio input signal, an adaptive circuit, e.g., with a recurrent neural network, to correct for non-linear distortions from the loudspeaker.

Adaptive correction of loudspeaker using recurrent neural network

An acoustic system that includes an acoustic assembly and a sound system. The acoustic assembly at least includes a tube removably attached to a compression driver. Additionally, the acoustic assembly includes either a waveguide or a deflector. Either the waveguide or the deflector is also removably attached to the tube. The sound system communicates with the acoustic assembly and includes a filter. The filter includes a filter length that is based on an impulse response of the acoustic assembly. As part of the communication, the sound system sends an audio signal, which has been filtered by the filter, to the acoustic assembly. In response to the audio signal, the compression driver generates a sound wave that travels through the acoustic assembly. While traveling, the acoustic assembly transitions the sound wave from generally traveling in a first direction to a second direction.

System for reducing response anomalies in an acoustic pathway

A loudspeaker configured to provide asymmetrical beam coverage. A first group of drivers to outputs a first beam pattern. A second group of drivers, which is different from the first group of drivers, is configured to output a second beam pattern. A transmission line is adapted to output signals to the first driver group and the second driver group to provide an asymmetrical beam pattern. The first driver group outputs a beam pattern different than the second driver group. This can improve acoustic coverage, e.g., sound pressure levels, in the acoustic environment. In an example, the transmission line is separated into two distinct parts that feeds the first driver group and the second driver group respectively.

Asymmetrical passive group delay beamforming

In one embodiment, a pre-correcting engine generates a pre-corrected signal that may be used to mitigate air path distortions in sounds generated by loudspeaker systems that include loudspeakers coupled to waveguides. In operation, the pre-correcting engine virtually propagates a target signal in a reverse direction from the output of the waveguide to the output of a driver. Notably, the pre-correcting engine implements a propagation distortion compensation model that, when applied to the target signal, corrects for the effects of air path distortions on the target signal. The pre-correcting engine then transmits the pre-corrected signal to the driver. As the driver drives the waveguide based on the pre-corrected signal, effects of the pre-corrected distortions negate effects of air path distortions and the loudspeaker system generates high-fidelity sounds. By contrast, conventional loudspeaker systems that drive the waveguide based on the target signal typically generate lower fidelity sounds that include air path distortions.

Compensation of air path distortions using backpropagation

In one embodiment of the present invention, a manifold composites sound from multiple drivers into a single aperture that includes multiple concentric rings. In operation, channels within the manifold isolate the sound generated by each driver from the sound generated by the other drivers. The channels within the manifold are intertwined to route the sound from each driver to a separate location in one of the multiple concentric rings. When the sound generated by each of the drivers is judiciously and deterministically delayed, the manifold generates a single point source of sound that may be fed into an acoustic horn. Notably, by isolating the sound generated by each driver, the manifold minimizes reflections and resonances that often degrade the sound fidelity of conventional horn loudspeakers. Consequently, the disclosed manifold enables an acoustic horn to project coherent sound for significantly longer distances than the acoustic horn would achieve using a conventional manifold.

Manifold for multiple compression drivers with a single point source exit

A protection management unit is described that detects one or more poor performing transducers in a loudspeaker array. Upon detection of one or more poor performing transducers, the protection management unit adjusts driving signals for neighboring transducers to compensate for the reduced capabilities of the poor performing transducers. By adjusting driving signals to neighboring transducers, the protection management unit ensures that a desired tone and spatial response for sound emitted by the loudspeaker array is maintained despite one or more poor performing transducers. Other embodiments are also described.

Growing community of inventors

Simi Valley, CA, United States of America

Douglas J Button