Portable speakers with phased arrays
US5815579A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 1, 1995 |
| Grant date | Sep 29, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 1, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R2201/023
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A wearable speaker system which provides improved quality audio response and which does not interfere with the wearer's activities or block environmental sounds is disclosed. Transducer arrays, e.g. pairs of speakers, are situated in a wearable garment, headband, or the like and positioned on opposite sides of the wearer's head. In one embodiment, the transducer arrays share a common enclosure and are driven 180.degree. out of phase, so that back pressures cancel and low frequency response is enhanced. In another embodiment, two open-ended enclosures are provided, each with its own transducer array. In another embodiment, linear arrays of transducers are provided with appropriate time-delays between the audio signals. The speaker system is connected to or in communication with a conventional source of audio signals, such as a radio, tape player, CD player, cellular telephone or the like.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.