FR3039350A1 - RETRACTABLE PANEL SPEAKER FOR VEHICLE DASHBOARD. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a loudspeaker for a motor vehicle comprising a vibrating actuator (11) coupled to a panel (12) forming a membrane, characterized in that it is mounted articulated on the dashboard (1) of said vehicle at the level of an opening (2) formed on its upper face (1A), between a retracted position in which said panel (12) is housed integrally inside said dashboard (1) or folded against it, and an extended position for use in which the major part of said panel (12) projects substantially vertically from said opening (2) above said dashboard (1).

Description

RETRACTABLE PANEL SPEAKER FOR VEHICLE DASHBOARD.

Field of the invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of sound reproduction of audio signals inside the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.

It relates in particular to a retractable dash panel speaker of such a vehicle.

Background of the invention

In motor vehicles, sound reproduction of audio signals is generally provided by electrodynamic speakers having an electromagnetic motor actuating a conical membrane and located in the front and rear doors and in the dashboard.

These speakers, however, have the disadvantage of being both heavy and bulky which causes a significant increase in the mass of the vehicle and a significant reduction in the available space of the doors and the dashboard.

Also known from the US application US 2003/147541 of the speakers for motor vehicles comprising a vibrating actuator coupled to a membrane formed by a thin panel.

US Pat. No. 8,155,344 describes such a loudspeaker whose membrane is formed by one of the windows of this vehicle such as a roof wall or a side window.

This type of speaker does not give full satisfaction of an acoustic point because it tends to generate many interference.

Object and summary of the invention

The present invention therefore aims at providing an alternative solution overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks and integrating perfectly into the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.

It proposes for this purpose speaker for a motor vehicle comprising a vibrating actuator coupled to a membrane panel, characterized in that it is mounted articulated on the dashboard of said vehicle at an opening on its upper face, between a retracted position in which said panel is housed integrally inside said dashboard or folded against it, and a deployed use position in which the major part of said panel projects substantially vertically from said opening above said board on board.

The loudspeaker according to the invention has the advantage of being particularly light with respect to a conventional electrodynamic loudspeaker conical membrane.

In addition, once deployed, the membrane panel can vibrate freely without constraint unlike the glass roof wall or a window whose edges are constrained by a frame. This speaker makes it possible to obtain a sound reproduction of excellent quality and free of interference.

Its streamlined structure and deployment kinematics also allow it to integrate elegantly and attractively into the cabin of the vehicle by constituting one of the most important elements of its visual identity.

According to preferred characteristics of the loudspeaker: said panel has a parabolic concavity turned towards the passenger compartment; said loudspeaker comprises motorized guiding means connecting said dashboard to said panel and provided with an anti-vibratory device able to absorb the parasitic vibrations emitted by said dashboard; the orientation of said panel is adjustable according to several degrees of rotation; said panel also serves as a display surface for a projection device implanted in said vehicle; said panel is transparent and constitutes the display of a head-up display device integrated in said dashboard; said actuator is coupled to the lower part of said panel in an area permanently concealed inside said dashboard; and / or - said loudspeaker comprises two said actuators coupled to said panel and arranged symmetrically to each other vis-à-vis its median plane. The invention also relates, in a second aspect, to a dashboard of a motor vehicle comprising at least one such loudspeaker.

According to a preferred feature, this dashboard comprises two such speakers at its two lateral ends.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The description of the invention will now be continued by the detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, given below by way of illustration but without limitation, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. a perspective view of the dashboard of a motor vehicle whose central portion incorporates a loudspeaker according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is an enlargement of detail II of FIG. 1; - Figure 3 is a perspective view of the dashboard of a motor vehicle whose central area incorporates a speaker according to an alternative embodiment of the invention; and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the dashboard of a motor vehicle incorporating two loudspeakers similar to that of FIG. 1 at its two lateral ends.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

FIG. 1 represents a dashboard 1 of a motor vehicle whose central zone incorporates a loudspeaker 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

This speaker 10 comprises a vibrating actuator 11 coupled to a rigid panel 12 forming a sound diffusion membrane. The thickness of the panel is adapted so that the panel can deform and play its role of membrane. The rigid panel is thin enough to transmit sound waves. The vibrating actuator 11, electrically powered by a not shown electrical conductor, is connected to the multimedia system of the motor vehicle by a wired or wireless link (for example of the Bluetooth type).

The panel 12, here a rectangular shape, is preferably made of a plastic polymer such as polycarbonate, polypropylene, ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) or PET (polyethylene terephthalate) ).

In order to ensure optimal transmission of sound waves, the panel 12 has a thickness of less than 5 mm and preferably of between 1 and 3 mm, for example 2 mm.

This panel 12 is also advantageously curved with a parabolic concavity turned towards the passenger compartment in order to reduce the interference caused by the out-of-phase sound waves and to direct the auditory perception in the passenger compartment. This spatialization effect can be adapted to the configuration of the cabin of the vehicle by varying the radius of curvature of the panel 12.

The loudspeaker 10 is articulated on the dashboard 1 of the vehicle at an opening 2 formed on its upper face IA, between a retracted position in which the panel is housed integrally inside the dashboard 1 or folded against it, and an extended use position (Figures 1 and 2) wherein the major part of the panel 12 projects substantially vertically from this opening 2 above the dashboard 1.

The loudspeaker 10 according to the invention thus integrates particularly well into the passenger compartment of the vehicle by providing a particularly elegant and modern visual rendering. The actuator 11, preferably of the piezoelectric type, is coupled to the panel 12 by means of a vibration-transmitting metal puck which is fixed by screwing, clipping or gluing against the face of this panel 12 oriented towards the passenger compartment of the vehicle .

It will also be noted that the actuator 11 is coupled to the lower part of the panel 12 near its lower longitudinal edge 12A, in an area permanently concealed inside the dashboard 1 (FIG. 2).

This actuator 11 is not visible to the passengers which gives the speaker a particularly refined and pleasant aesthetic.

The displacement of the speaker 10 is provided by means of motorized guide means connecting the dashboard 1 to the panel 12.

These motorized guide means are advantageously provided with an anti-vibration device (not shown in the figures) able to absorb the parasitic vibrations emitted by the dashboard 1 so that the latter are not transmitted to the panel 12.

According to a first preferred embodiment, which is particularly simple and inexpensive to implement, the deployment kinematics of the loudspeaker 10 consist of a single rotational movement of the panel 12 about a pivot axis from its retracted position in which this panel 12 is folded against the dashboard 1.

According to another preferred embodiment, this deployment kinematics of the loudspeaker 10 consists of a single upward translation movement of the panel 12 from its retracted position in which it is housed integrally inside the dashboard 1 .

More complex kinematics (for example of the elliptical type) combining several rotational and / or translational movements can also be envisaged for high-end vehicle models.

The deployment of the panel 12 to its position of use occurs automatically when the driver turns the ignition key to "accessory" (+ ACC) or "after contact" (+ APC). In the same way, the engine shutdown systematically returns to the retracted position.

Preferably, the panel 12 also serves as a display surface for an information projection device and / or light games implanted in the vehicle (Figure 2).

Thus, such a panel 12 made of a transparent material may advantageously constitute the display of the head-up display device integrated in the dashboard of the motor vehicle.

Advantageously, this actuator 11 is further centered laterally with respect to the panel 12, which ensures a homogeneous propagation of the sound waves on either side of this panel 12.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the dashboard 1 'of a motor vehicle whose central area incorporates a speaker 10' according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

The speaker 10 'is similar to the speaker 10 except that it comprises two actuators 11 coupled to the panel 12, the latter being arranged symmetrically to one another vis-à-vis the median plane of the panel 12, respectively near the lower left corner and the lower right corner of the panel 12. Such a configuration allows the speaker 10 to provide stereo sound broadcast in the cabin.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the dashboard 1 "of a motor vehicle incorporating two loudspeakers 10 arranged at its two lateral ends, this configuration also makes it possible to provide stereo sound broadcasting in the vehicle. A third loudspeaker 10 may also be provided in the central zone of the dashboard 1 in order to ensure diffusion on three different channels located respectively on the left, center and right of the vehicle.

According to alternative embodiments not shown, the orientation of the panel 12 is adjustable according to several degrees of rotation (for example by means of a ball-type connection), so as to allow the user to modify the spatialization of the sound waves emitted in the passenger compartment.

According to other variants of embodiment not shown, the deployment of the panel 12 takes place automatically at the start of the multimedia system of the vehicle.

According to yet other embodiments, the panel 12 is made of glass, metal (especially aluminum) or a composite material based on glass fibers or carbon.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but encompasses any other variant within the scope of the art.

Claims (10)

Motor vehicle loudspeaker comprising a vibrating actuator (11) coupled to a panel (12) forming a membrane, characterized in that it is mounted articulated on the dashboard (1) of said vehicle at an opening (2) formed on its upper face (IA), between a retracted position in which said panel is housed integrally inside said dashboard (1) or folded against it, and an extended position of use in which the most of said panel (12) substantially vertically of said opening (2) above said dashboard (1). 2. Loudspeaker for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that said panel (12) has a parabolic concavity facing the passenger compartment. 3. Loudspeaker for a motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises motorized guide means connecting said dashboard (1) to said panel (12) and provided with an anti -vibratoire able to absorb the parasitic vibrations emitted by said dashboard (1). 4. Loudspeaker for a motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the orientation of said panel (12) is adjustable in several degrees of rotation. 5. Loudspeaker for a motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said panel (12) also serves as a display surface for a projection device implanted in said vehicle. 6. Loudspeaker for a motor vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that said panel (12) is transparent and constitutes the display of a head-high display device integrated in said dashboard (1). 7. Loudspeaker for a motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said actuator (11) is coupled to the lower part of said panel (12) in an area permanently concealed inside said dashboard (1). 8. Loudspeaker for a motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises two said actuators (11) coupled to said panel (12) and arranged symmetrically from each other screw-to -vis of its median plane. Motor vehicle dashboard comprising at least one loudspeaker according to one of claims 1 to 8. 10. automotive dashboard according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises two said speakers at its two lateral ends.