v United States Patent 1 [111 3,766,334
Burke Oct. 16,1973
[54] DOUBLE VOICE COIL LOUDSPEA KER 2,897,291 7/1959 Burl e 179/118.5 R [76] n entor: Ambrose D. Burke North Scituate 2,922,849 1/1960 Uchida 179/115.5 DV
R.1. Primary Examiner-William C. Cooper [22] Ffled: 1971 Assistant Examiner-Thomas L. Kundert App]. No.: 198,873
Att0rney-William Frederick Werner [5 7'] ABSTRACT The present invention relates to sound reproducers or loud-speakers of the electro-dynamic or moving-coil type and to a new series-parallel circuit provided with resistance to increase the cycle range and improve the timbre of the sound.
3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDUBI 16 ms. 3,766; 334
FIG./.
INVENTOR AMBROSE D. BURKE BY 9%W ATTORNEY DOUBLE VOICE COIL LOUDSPEAKER This invention relates to sound reproducers and more particularly, to loudspeakers of the electro-dynamic or moving-coil type and more specifically to improving the cycle range and sound qualities.
A primary object of the present invention is the provision in the circuit structure of a loudspeaker of resistance which will supply more harmonics or overtones than heretofore, increase the cycle range and improve the timbre of the sound, thereby providing sound which, in effect, appears to be more three dimensional in scope and less flat than sound reproduced by conventional speakers heretofore utilized.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of a loudspeaker capable of utilizing a greater output from a transformer while at the same time producing sharp and distinct tones.
Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a speaker which has virtually no resonant frequency such as usually caused by cone vibration,
and which smooths out and reduces the gain or such caused by an audio frequency.
A further object is the provision of a speaker which is exceedingly effective at low frequencies, down to 30 cycles, and to frequencies as high as 1,500 cycles.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of a loudspeaker which, although simple in construction, is nevertheless highly efficient and sensitive in operation.
Other objects of the present invention will be pointed out in part and become apparent in part in the following specification and claims.
Referring to the drawings in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts:
FIG. lis a front elevation of a loudspeaker embodying the instant invention;
FIG. 2 is a rear elevation thereof, partly broken away;
FIG. 3- is an enlarged section taken on line 33 of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is a detail section, partly broken away, of the outer armature utilized in the present invention.
The conventional electrodynamic loudspeaker or sound reproducer as heretofore utilized, has worked on the principle of a moving voice coil, which, when excited, usually by magnetic means, imparts vibration to the speaker cone thereby producing sound. More specifically, the moving voice coil is usually wound on a cardboard bobbin or the like which in turn is secured to the speaker cone. A magnetic field is provided proximate to said voice coil and the electrodynamic action which results between the flux produced by current passing through the wires of said coil and the magnetic lines of force creates a mechanical upward and downward pulling action. This force causes the voice coil to move up and down, which in turn makes the speaker cone vibrate and produce sound. The volume from the speaker is determined by the strength of the magnetic field, the number of turns in the voice coil, and the amount of current passing there through.
It has been found that the above-described speaker operation can be greatly improved by the use of double Referring to the drawings, a loudspeaker constructed in accordance with the instant invention is shown gen tional construction. Thetruncated end 20 of cone 18' has secured thereto by any desirable means, such as cementing, an outervoice coil bobbin 22 comprising a cardboard oraluminum cylinder 24 havingwindings 26 therearound. A cork orcomposition ring 28 is secured to the inner surface of thecylinder 24 and acts as both spacing and insulating means betweenouter coil bobbin 22 and an innervoice coil bobbin 30, likewise comprising a cardboard or aluminum cylinder having windings therearound. It will be understood that the innervoice coil bobbin 30 is secured to thespacer 28 and is maintained solely thereby in concentric relation with respect to outervoice coil bobbin 22. It will further be understood that thebobbins 22 and 30, other than the formers connection tospeaker cone 18, are not anchored in any way and hence are free to move axially whereby to impart vibration to thespeaker cone 18.
Secured to the truncated end ofshell 12 by any desirable means, as at 32, is a metallic rectangular supportingstrap 34. Supportingstrap 34 comprises arear wall 36,side walls 38 and afront wall 40 having therein a centrally disposedaperture 42, theinner surface 43 of which comprises a pole face. Mounted on the inner surface ofrear wall 36, as by cementing or the like, is apermanent magnet 44, although it will be understood that other forms and types of magnets, such as an electromagnet, for example, could well be utilized.Magnet 44 at its free end forward surface engages inner andouter poles 46 and 48, respectively, now to be described. It will be understood thatpoles 46 and 48 are each contructed of magnetic steel and hence, due to their contact withmagnet 44, provide their respective magnetic fields. Theouter pole 48 comprises atubular body portion 50, the outer diameter of which extends through theaperture 42 in spaced relation topole face 43 thereof, whereby to provide agap 51.Pole 48 further comprises an outwardly extendingperipheral flange 52 which is in contact withmagnet 44.Inner pole 46 comprises acore portion 54, and likewise is provided with an outwardly extendedflange 56. As will be noted,inner pole 46 is mounted concentrically withinouter pole 48 by virtue of the fact thatflange 56 is a press-fit therein. Acircular spacer ring 57 of nonmagnetic material, such as brass, maintainsouter pole 48 against longitudinal movement, and also maintainspoles 46 and 48 centered with respect to theaperture 42.
In operation and use, outer voice coil bobbin'22 surroundsouter pole 48 in very close proximity thereto and extends intogap 51, while innervoice coil bobbin 30 is disposedintermediate core 54 of the inner pole andtubular portion 50 of the outer pole. As will be noted clearly in FIG. 3,tubular portion 50 does not extend inwardly ofgap 51, thereby leaving uncovered a substantial portion of the windings ofbobbin 30. As will hereinafter become apparent, this relation is important in that it enables vibrations from one bobbin to be imparted to the other, whereas if such tubular portion extended in appreciably farther, it would tend to isolate the two bobbins with respect to each other.
It has been found that'much improved sound characteristics are achieved in my specific structural arrangement by providing anon-magnetic coating 58 on the inner surface oftubular portion 50. It will be understood that this coating may be of any material which is incapable of being magnetized or attracted by a magnet, some examples of such material being so-called white metal, brass, aluminum, copper, etc.
Another important feature of the instant invention resides in the fact that thespace 59 betweenvoice coil bobbins 22 and 30 acts, in effect, as a soundcompression chamber. In other words, the sound vibration waves which emanate from theouter bobbin 22 will be carried across thechamber 59 and imparted to theinner bobbin 30 and vice versa. Hence, in effect, each voice coil bobbin cooperates with the other to produce more pronounced vibration of the speaker cone. In this respect it might be pointed out that the windings on eitherbobbin 22 or 30 could be eliminated, and the loudspeaker would still function in improved fashion. More specifically, if, for example, thewindings 26 ofouter bobbin 22 were eliminated, the vibrations emanating frominner bobbin 30 would still move acrosschamber 59 and be imparted to thecylinder 24, thereby causing the latter to aid in vibrating the speaker cone.
Conventional terminals 60 and 62 andwiring 64 and 66 are provided for the energization of the voice coils. Also, aconventional spider 68 may be utilized, if desired, to help maintain the voice coils in proper position and also to act as a dust shield.
FIG. 2 is a wiring diagram showing outer voicecoil bobbin terminal 22 and inner voicecoil bobbin terminal 30. A first electrical conduit 66 (which may be considered to be negative or ground) is connected on one end to outer voicecoil bobbin terminal 22 and on the other end it may be connected to an amplifier (not shown). A second electrical conduit 64 (which maybe considered to be positive) is connected on one end to outer voicecoil bobbin terminal 22 and on the other end to the amplifier (not shown). A first auxiliaryelectrical conduit 66A connects inner voicecoil bobbin terminal 30 with secondelectrical conduit 64. A second auxiliaryelectrical conduit 64A connects inner voicecoil bobbin terminal 30 with secondelectrical conduit 64. An electrical resistance, which may take any known form, is illustrated as aresistor 75 intermediate the connections ofconduits 64A and 66A withconduit 64. In this manner by way of example an 8 ampere current from the amplifier will flow throughelectrical conduit 66 andouter coil 22 to the parallel circuit ofresistor 75 andinner coil 30. 4 amperes will flow throughresistor 75 and 4 amperes will flow through coil 30 (assuming equal resistances), whereby reactants are created which are fed back toelectrical conduit 64. This feedback assists the frequencies to thereby increase the cycle range to thirty cycles on the low end of the scale to 15,000 cycles on the high end of the scale. The timbre of the music is thereby greatly enhanced.
Having shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention by way of example, it should be realized that structural changes could be made and other examples given without departing from either the spirit or scope of this invention.
What I claim is:
1. A loudspeaker of the electrodynamic type, comprising dual voice coils driving a substantially frustroconical speaker cone, whose sound output is monaural and whose sound intensity is equal and audible at each ear, said dual voice coils comprising, an outer voice coil bobbin, an inner voice coil bobbin, mounted concentrically with respect to each other, means securing one of said voice coil bobbins to said speaker cone in axially extending relation therefrom, means comprising an insulating and spacing collar attached to said compression chamber, and pole faces disposed adjacent the outer surface of the outer voice coil bobbin and cooperating with said second pole to form a gap, said second pole tubular portion having on the inner surface a non-magnetic metallic coating to isolate the magnetic field of said second pole from the magnetic field of said first pole, a first electrical conduit attachable to an amplifier, and to said outer voice coil bobbin, a second electrical conduit attachable to an amplifier and to said outer voice coil bobbin, a first auxiliary electrical conduit connected to said inner voice coil bobbin and tosaid second electrical conduit, a second auxiliary electrical conduit connected to said inner voice coil bobbin and to said second electrical conduit and resistance means interposed in said second electrical conduit intermediate said first auxiliary electrical conduit and said second auxiliary electrical conduit said electrical conduits and auxiliary electrical coduits and voice coils being arranged in inphase relation.
2. A loudspeaker of the electrodynamic type, comprising dual voice coils driving a substantially frustroconical speaker cone, whose sound output is monaural and whose sound intensity is equal and audible at each ear, said dual voice coils comprising, inner and outer voice coil bobbins mounted concentrically with respect to each other, means securing said outer voice coil bobbin to speaker cone in axially extended relation therefrom, a spacing collar of magnetic insulating material secured to both said inner and outer voice coil bobbins to rigidly support said bobbins in concentric relationship and to define an annular sound compression chamber therebetween, means for creating a magnetic field in juxtaposition to each of said bobbins, said magnetic means comprising a permanent magnet, a first pole attached to said permanent magnet and provided with a core portion extending within the inner voice coil bobbin, a second pole attached to said permanent magnet and mounted concentrically with respect tosaid first pole and provided with a tubular portion extending into said sound compression chamber, a gap formed between said first and second poles, said second pole tubular portion having on the inner surface a nonmagnetic metallic coating to control the effective force of the magnetic field of said first pole, a first electrical conduit attachable to an amplifier, and to said outer voice coil bobbin, a second electrical conduit attachable to an amplifier and to said outer voice coil bobbin, a first auxiliary electrical conduit connected to said inner voice coil bobbin and to said second electrical conduit, a second auxiliary electrical conduit connected to said inner voice coil bobbin and to said second electrical conduit, and resistance means interposed in said second electrical conduit intermediate said first auxiliary electrical conduit and said second auxiliary electrical conduit said electrical conduits and auxiliary electrical conduits and voice coils being arranged conduits in-phase relation.
3. A loudspeaker of the electrodynamic type, comprising dual voice coils driving a substantially frustroconical speaker cone, whose sound output is monaural and whose sound intensity is equal and audible at each ear, said dual voice coils comprising, inner and outer voice coil bobbins mounted concentrically with respect to each other, means securing said outer voice coil bobbin to said speaker cone in axially, extending relation therefrom, a spacing collar of magnetic insulating material secured to both said inner and outer voice coil bobbins to rigidly support said bobbins in concentric relationship and to define an annular sound compression chamber therebetween, means for creating a magnetic field consisting of a circular strap having an axial orifice and open opposite sides, a block formed in the circular strap opposite the axial orifice, said circular strap and block comprising a low loss permanent magnetic circuit, a first pole bar magnet attached to said block and provided with a core portion extending within the inner voice coil bobbin, a second pole attached to said block, mounted concentrically with respect to said first pole and provided with a tubular portion extending into said sound compression chamber end of said sound compression chamber, said inner and outer voice coil bobbins and said first and second pole's extending axially through said axial orifice to form a first gap between said circular strap at said axial orifice and said outer voice coil bobbin, and a second gap formed between said first and second poles, said second pole tubular portion having on the inner surface'a non-magnetic metallic coating to control the effective magnetic field between said first pole bar magnetic and said second pole low loss magnetic circuit, a first electrical conduit attachable to an amplifier, and to said outer voice coil bobbin, a second electrical conduit attachable to an amplifier and to said outer voice coil bobbin, a first auxiliary electrical conduit connected to said inner voice coil bobbin and to said second electrical conduit, a second auxiliary electrical conduit connected to said inner voice coil bobbin and to said second electrical conduit, and resistance means interposed in said second electrical conduit intermediate said first auxiliary electrical conduit and said second auxiliary electrical conduit said electrical conduits and auxiliary electrical conduits and voice coils being arranged in inphase relation.