&


(19)

(11) EP 1 072 177 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Date of publication and mention (51) Int Cl.:

of the grant of the patent: H05K 5/00 (2006.01) G10K 11/30 (2006.01)
23.01.2008 Bulletin 2008/04
(86) International application number:
(21) Application number: 99919825.2 PCT/US1999/008070

(22) Date of filing: 13.04.1999 (87) International publication number:

WO 1999/056512 (04.11.1999 Gazette 1999/44)

(54) APPARATUS FOR THE REDISTRIBUTION OF ACOUSTIC ENERGY

VORRICHTUNG ZUR UMVERTEILUNG VON SCHALLENERGIE
APPAREIL DE REDISTRIBUTION D’ENERGIE ACOUSTIQUE

(84) Designated Contracting States: (72) Inventor: LaCarrubba, Emanuel

AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU Sausalito, CA 94966 (US)
MC NL PT SE
(74) Representative: Nielsen, Henrik Sten et al
(30) Priority: 13.04.1998 US 59226 Budde Schou A/S
Vester Søgade 10
(43) Date of publication of application: 1601 Copenhagen V (DK)
31.01.2001 Bulletin 2001/05
(56) References cited:
(73) Proprietor: BANG & OLUFSEN A/S GB-A- 2 248 996 US-A- 5 345 045
7600 Struer (DK) US-A- 5 615 176 US-A- 5 616 892
EP 1 072 177 B1

Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give
notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in
a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art.
99(1) European Patent Convention).

Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)

 1 EP 1 072 177 B1
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to reflective devices that,
when coupled with a transducer, are capable of redistrib-
uting and broadly dispersing sound over a broad spec-
trum of frequencies with little or no distortion.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is well known in acoustics that the dispersion
pattern of a sound source is related to the size of the
radiating element. This causes conventional electro-
acoustic transducers, or loudspeakers, to have an off-
axis response that degrades with increasing frequency.
This has long been regarded as a basic problem in loud-
speaker design and over the years several different so-
lutions have been proposed. These include the use of
multiple transducers, horns and waveguides, electrostat-
ic elements, and acoustic reflectors of varying shapes.
Many of these solutions have undesirable side effects
such as the introduction of frequency response anoma-
lies and complicated fabrication techniques. Further-
more, these systems as well as conventional loudspeak-
ers can act in unpredictable ways in typical listening en-
vironments due to the lack of consideration usually given
to the human auditory perceptual system.
[0003] The recreation of sound via loudspeakers can
be enhanced by controlling the direction, amplitude and
spectral content of the sound arriving at the listener’s
ears via the loudspeaker/listening environment combi-
nation. It is the purpose of this invention to address all
these issues in a single device which is simple to man-
ufacture. When properly mated to a suitable conventional
transducer, the invention causes sound to be transferred
to the listening environment with a nearly frequency-in-
variant horizontal dispersion pattern. This affords a great-
er number of listeners with timbrally accurate sound with
a greater sense of envelopment due to greatly enhanced
lateral room reflections. Furthermore, floor and ceiling
reflections are reduced causing increased stereophonic
phantom image stability. A number of the invention’s fea-
tures can be modified to suit the designer’s particular
needs when incorporating the invention into a complete
loudspeaker system.
[0004] US5615176 discloses an acoustic reflector
shaped to have a reflection surface in the form of a single
ellipse with the transducer being placed in one of the foci
of the ellipse or two ellipses having different opening an-
gles but the same foci in the horizontal plane.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention addresses these con-
cerns by providing an apparatus for the redistribution of
acoustic power which comprises a base, a lens, and a
means for mounting the lens upon the base. The base
2
has an upper surface, a lower surface, a front surface,
and a rear surface. The rear surface of the base is posi-
tionable upon a supporting surface. The lens also has an
upper surface, a lower surface, a front surface, and a
5 rear surface.
[0006] The front surface of the lens includes a reflec-
tive surface, a point P lying on the reflective surface, and
at least one adjoining surface S1. A line L passes through
the point P and intersects the lower surface of the base
10 at a point B. A point F1 lies on the line L between the
point P and the point B. The reflective surface is defined
by the surface of revolution R1 of an elliptical arc A1
rotated about the line L through an angle α1 and the
surface of revolution R2 of an elliptical arc A2 rotated
15 about the line L through an angle α2. The elliptical arc
A1 constitutes a portion of an ellipse E1 having a focal
point located at the point F1 and having a lower end ter-
minating at the point P. The elliptical arc A2 constitutes
a portion of an ellipse E2 having a focal point located at
20 said point F1 and having an upper end terminating at
said point P. The angle α1 is chosen such that the surface
of revolution R1 is convex with respect to adjoining sur-
face S1, and the angle α2 is chosen such that the surface
of revolution R2 is concave with respect to adjoining sur-
25 face S1.
[0007] A primary object of the present invention is to
provide an apparatus which redirects acoustic energy
radiated from a sound radiator positioned at or proximate
to focal point F1 such that the resulting dispersion pattern
30 is very broad over a very wide frequency range horizon-
tally and is limited vertically.
[0008] A further object of the present invention is to
provide an apparatus which produces horizontally redi-
rected acoustic radiation which is substantially free of
35 frequency response anomalies.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to pro-
vide an apparatus with insulative surfaces positioned to
tailor the overall acoustic radiation pattern.
[0010] Other objects and advantages of the present
40 invention will become apparent when the apparatus for
redistribution of acoustic radiation of the present inven-
tion is considered in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, specification, and claims.
45 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011]
Figure 1 is a side plan view of an embodiment of the
50 inventive apparatus placed on a supporting surface
showing the boundary of an interior reflective surface
in phantom.
Figure 2 is a front plan view of an embodiment of the
inventive apparatus placed on a supporting surface.
55 Figure 3 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the
inventive apparatus showing the boundary of the ex-
posed upper surface of its base member in phantom.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment
2
 3 EP 1 072 177 B1
of the inventive apparatus of Figure 3 taken at section
line 4-4 showing in phantom two ellipses used in the
formation of the reflective surface of the inventive
apparatus.
Figure 5 is a diagram depicting the formation of the
two surfaces of rotation which form the reflective sur-
face of the inventive apparatus by the rotation of two
elliptical arcs.
Figure 6 is a side view of an embodiment of the in-
ventive apparatus having a transducer mounted in
a tilted orientation on the upper surface of its base.
Figure 7 is a diagram showing the connection of a
high pass filter between a power amplifier for the
sound system and a transducer used with the inven-
tive apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0012] Referring to Figure 1, a preferred embodiment
of the inventive apparatus 1 for redistribution of acoustic
energy is shown. Apparatus 1 comprises a base 10, a
lens 30, and a means for mounting lens 30 upon base
10. Base 10 has an upper surface 12, a lower surface
14, a front surface 16, and a rear surface 18. Lower sur-
face 14 is configured such that base 10 is positionable
upon a supporting surface 20. Supporting surface 20
shown here is planar; it should be understood, however,
that supporting surface 20 can be any surface upon which
the user desires to place the inventive apparatus 1.
[0013] Lens 30 has an upper surface 32, a lower sur-
face 34, a front surface 36, and a rear surface 38. Re-
ferring to Figure 2, front surface 36 includes, but is not
limited to, a reflective surface 50, a point P lying on re-
flective surface 50, and at least one adjoining surface
S1. Additional adjoining surfaces such as S2 may also
be designed.
[0014] Reflective surface 50 is configured to provide
optimal dispersion of acoustic radiation emitted from a
transducer, and is defined by two surfaces of revolution
R1 and R2. Referring to Figure 4, a line L passes through
the point P lying on reflective surface 50 and intersects
the lower surface 14 of base 10 at a point B. Two ellipses
E1 and E2 can then be chosen such that point P is located
on each ellipse E1 and E2, and ellipses E1 and E2 share
a common focal point F1 which lies on line L between
point P and point B. Ellipse E1 then will have a second
focal point F21, and ellipse E2 will have a second focal
point F22. Ellipse E1 defines an elliptical arc A1 having
a lower end terminating at point P, and ellipse E2 defines
an elliptical arc A2 having an upper end terminating at
point P. Referring to Figure 5, surface of revolution R1
is formed by rotating elliptical arc A1 through an angle
α1, and surface of revolution R2 is formed by rotating
elliptical arc A2 through an angle α2. Angle α1 should
be chosen such that surface of revolution R1 is convex
with regard to adjoining surface S1; angle α2 should be
chosen such that surface of revolution R2 is concave with
regard to adjoining surface S1.
4
[0015] In an embodiment of the inventive apparatus,
the length of elliptical arc A1 is varied constantly as it is
rotated about line L at angles α1, while arc A1 always
terminates at lower point P. Effectively, this allows the
5 user to produce a number of variances upon reflective
surface R1, each having a different upper boundary.
[0016] Referring to Figure 6, in operation, a transducer
60 is positioned at or proximate to point F1. Acoustic
radiation is emitted from F1 and disperses outward in all
10 directions from the transducer’s emissive area. Acoustic
radiation dispersing towards lens 30 is reflected by re-
flective surface 50.
[0017] While ellipses E1 and E2 may be any two el-
lipses selected to have the appropriate focal point F1,
15 point P, and arc A1 or A2 described above, they are
preferably chosen such that most acoustic radiation strik-
ing surfaces R1 and R2 will be reflected upon paths which
have a limited vertical component and a broad horizontal
component. It should be understood, however, that the
20 directivity of the reflected acoustic radiation, will depend
upon many factors including, but not limited to, the posi-
tioning of the sound radiator producing the reflected
acoustic radiation and the orientation of the reflective sur-
face 50 with regard to the surrounding environment. The
25 choice of ellipses E1 and E2 and the exact positioning
of transducer 60 can be tailored to produce optimal ef-
fects.
[0018] Transducer 60 may be tilted as shown in Figure
6, thus changing the direction at which the acoustic en-
30 ergy emitted from the transducer is radiated. The degree
to which transducer 60 is tilted, which can be measured
by an angle β made between an axis 62 of the transducer
60 and the line L, can be varied to tailor the overall fre-
quency response and vertical directivity of the apparatus.
35 [0019] Referring to Figure 4, the surfaces of apparatus
1 other than reflective surface 50 also affect the overall
sound production. Means for mounting lens 30 upon base
10 preferably comprises an absorptive material insulator
40 having an upper surface 42, a lower surface 44, a
40 front surface 46, and a rear surface 48. Lower surface
44 of insulator 40 is fixed upon upper surface 12 of base
10. Lower surface 34 of lens 30 is fixed upon upper sur-
face 42 of insulator 40.
[0020] Insulator 40 may be composed of felt or any
45 other appropriate absorptive material. Note that the ver-
tical thickness of insulator 40 has been made large in
Figures 1 and 4 for purposes of clarity of illustration. Ben-
efits of the use of insulator 40 include, but are not limited
to, the reduction of acoustic resonances that might oth-
50 erwise degrade performance.
[0021] The placement of insulator 40 may define a first
covered portion 17 and a second uncovered portion 19
of the upper surface 12 of base 10. The uncovered portion
19 of upper surface 12 may slope downwardly. Benefits
55 of such downward sloping include, but are not limited to,
the tailoring of vertical dispersion to suit the needs of the
designer. It should be understood that absorptive mate-
rial insulator could entirely cover upper surface 12 of base
3
 5 EP 1 072 177 B1
10, if increased sound absorption is desired.
[0022] Similarly, adjoining surfaces S1 and S2 may be
covered with some absorptive material 72 to absorb
acoustic radiation which would otherwise reflect from
them. This technique can be used to tailor overall system
frequency response and limit the amount of horizontal
dispersion.
[0023] Considering the exterior surfaces of apparatus
1, curved surfaces will typically produce fewer disruptive
diffraction effects. Accordingly, front surface 16 prefera-
bly forms a curvilinear arc, such as a generally elliptical
or circular arc. Additionally, the rear surfaces 18, 38, and
48 of the base 10, lens 30, and insulator 40 preferably
together form a rear surface 70 which is curvilinear and
connects lower surface 14 of the base 10 to upper surface
32 of the lens 30. Preferably at least a portion of lower
surface 14 is curvilinear and slopes upwardly to meet
rear surface 70. Lower surface 14 and front surface 16
of base 10, rear surface 70, and upper surface 32 of lens
30 may also be covered with absorptive material 72 to
inhibit diffraction effects.
[0024] All conventional transducers have a sound
power output that increases with decreasing frequency.
Since the apparatus equally redistributes sound power,
the overall response of the system will have a corre-
sponding rising response with decreasing frequency. Re-
ferring to Figure 7, to address this problem, in a preferred
embodiment a simple high pass filter 100 which decreas-
es electrical energy with decreasing frequency is con-
nected to the transducer 60 of the inventive apparatus.
The output of a signal source 110 used to drive the sound
system passes through filter 100, causing the system to
have an output at all frequencies that is substantially
equal. Where multiple transducers 60 are installed in a
sound system employing the apparatus, the filter may be
part of the crossover network used to connect the multiple
transducers 60.
[0025] While the inventive apparatus has been de-
scribed in terms of redistributing acoustic energy, it
should be understood that the inventive apparatus could
also be used to redistribute other energy waveforms such
as electromagnetic waves.
[0026] Although the foregoing invention has been de-
scribed in some detail by way of illustration for purposes
of clarity of understanding, it will be readily apparent to
those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings
of this invention that certain changes and modifications
may be made thereto without departing from the scope
of the appended claims.
Claims
1. An apparatus 1 for the redistribution of acoustic en-
ergy, comprising:
a base 10 having an upper surface 12, a lower
surface 14, a front surface 16, and a rear surface
6
18, said lower surface 14 positionable upon a
supporting surface 20;
a lens 30 having an upper surface 32, a lower
surface 34, a front surface 36, and a rear surface
5 38; and
means for mounting said lens 30 upon said base
10;
said front surface 36 of said lens 30 including a
reflective surface 50, a point P lying on said re-
10 flective surface 50, and at least one adjoining
surface S1, a line L passing through said point
P and intersecting the lower surface 14 of said
base 10 at a point B, a point F1 lying on said
line L between said point P and said point B,
15 said reflective surface 50 defined by the surface
of revolution R1 of an elliptical arc A1 rotated
about said line L through an angle α1 and the
surface of revolution R2 of an elliptical arc A2
rotated about said line L through an angle α2,
20 said elliptical arc A1 having a lower end termi-
nating at said point P and constituting a portion
of a first ellipse E1 having a focal point located
at said point F1, said elliptical arc A2 having an
upper end terminating at said point P and con-
25 stituting a portion of a second ellipse E2 having
a focal point located at said point F1, said angle
α1 chosen such that said surface of revolution
R1 is convex with respect to said adjoining sur-
face S1, said angle α2 chosen such that said
30 surface of revolution R2 is concave with respect
to said adjoining surface S1.
2. The apparatus 1 of claim 1 wherein:
35 said means for mounting said lens 30 upon said
base 10 comprises an absorptive material insu-
lator 40 having an upper surface 42, a lower sur-
face 44, a front surface 46, and a rear surface
48;
40 said absorptive material insulator 40 is fixed atop
said upper surface 12 of said base 10; and
said lens 30 is fixed atop said upper surface 42
of said absorptive material insulator 40.
45 3. The apparatus 1 of claim 2 further comprising a trans-
ducer 60 positioned at said point F1.
4. The apparatus 1 of claim 2 further comprising a trans-
ducer 60 positioned proximate to said point F1.
50
5. The apparatus 1 of claim 4 wherein said transducer
60 defines a central axis 62 and wherein said trans-
ducer 60 is tilted such that said central axis 62 of
said transducer 60 intersects said line of rotation L
55 at an acute angle β.
6. The apparatus 1 of claim 5 wherein said point F1 lies
proximate to said upper surface 12 of said base 10
4
 7 EP 1 072 177 B1
and wherein said transducer 60 is mounted upon
said upper surface 12 of said base 10.
7. The apparatus 1 of claim 6 wherein:
said lower surface 44 of said absorptive material
insulator 40 has a smaller surface area than
does said upper surface 12 of said base 10;
said absorptive material insulator 40 is posi-
tioned on said upper surface 12 to form a first
covered portion 17 and a second uncovered por-
tion 19 of said upper surface 12; and
said second uncovered portion 19 slopes down-
wardly from said first covered portion 17.
8. The apparatus 1 of claim 7 wherein said front surface
16 of said base 10 is curvilinear.
9. The apparatus 1 of claim 8 wherein said front surface
16 of said base 10 is generally circular.
10. The apparatus 1 of claim 8 wherein said front surface
16 of said base 10 is generally elliptical.
11. The apparatus 1 of claim 8 wherein:
said rear surfaces 18, 38, and 48 of said base
10, said lens 30, and said absorptive material
insulator 40, respectively, together form a rear
surface 70 for said apparatus 1 which is distal
of said reflective surface 50 and connects said
lower surface 14 of said base 10 to said upper
surface 32 of said lens 30; and
said rear surface 70 of said apparatus 1, said
upper surface 32 of said lens 30, and at least a
portion of said lower surface 14 of said base 10
are curvilinear.
12. The apparatus 1 of claim 11 wherein said elliptical
arc A1 has a constantly varying length as said ellip-
tical arc A1 is rotated about said line L.
13. The apparatus 1 of claim 12 wherein each said ad-
joining surface S1 is covered with an absorptive ma-
terial.
14. The apparatus 1 of claim 13 wherein said lower sur-
face 14 and said front surface 16 of said base 10,
said rear surface 70, and said upper surface 32 of
said lens 30 are covered with an absorptive material.
15. The apparatus 1 of claim 14 wherein said transducer
60 produces an output, and further comprising a filter
connected to said transducer 60, said filter modifying
said output of said transducer such that said output
has approximately equal energy at all frequencies.
8
Patentansprüche
1. Vorrichtung (1) zur Umverteilung von Schallenergie
mit:
5
einer Basis (10) mit einer Oberseite (12), einer
Unterseite (14), einer Vorderseite (16) und einer
Rückseite (18), wobei die Unterseite (14) auf ei-
ner Auflagefläche (20) positionierbar ist;
10 einer Linse (30) mit einer Oberseite (32), einer
Unterseite (34), einer Vorderseite (36) und einer
Rückseite (38); und
einer Einrichtung zum Anordnen der Linse (30)
auf der Basis (10);
15
wobei die Vorderseite (36) der Linse (30) eine re-
flektierende Oberfläche (50), einen auf der reflektie-
renden Oberfläche (50) liegenden Punkt (P) und
mindestens eine angrenzende Oberfläche (S1) auf-
20 weist, wobei eine Linie (L) den Punkt (P) durchläuft
und die Unterseite (14) der Basis (10) an einem
Punkt (B) schneidet, ein Punkt (F1) auf der Linie (L)
zwischen dem Punkt (P) und dem Punkt (B) liegt,
die reflektierende Oberfläche (50) bestimmt ist durch
25 die Rotationsfläche (R1) eines Ellipsenbogens (A1),
der um die Linie (L) über einen Winkel (α1) rotiert,
und die Rotationsfläche (R2) eines Ellipsenbogens
(A2), der um die Linie (L) über einen Winkel (α2)
rotiert, der Ellipsenbogen (A1) ein unteres Ende hat,
30 das am Punkt (P) endet und einen Abschnitt einer
ersten Ellipse (E1) mit einem am Punkt (F1) liegen-
den Brennpunkt bildet, der Ellipsenbogen (A2) ein
oberes Ende hat, das am Punkt (P) endet und einen
Abschnitt einer zweiten Ellipse (E2) mit einem am
35 Punkt (F1) liegenden Brennpunkt bildet, der Winkel
(α1) so ausgewählt ist, daß die Rotationsfläche (R1)
im Hinblick auf die angrenzende Oberfläche (S1)
konvex ist, und der Winkel (α2) so ausgewählt ist,
daß die Rotationsfläche (R2) im Hinblick auf die an-
40 grenzende Oberfläche (S1) konkav ist.
2. Vorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 1, wobei:
die Einrichtung zum Anordnen der Linse (30)
45 auf der Basis (10) einen Absorptionsmaterial-
isolator (40) mit einer Oberseite (42), einer Un-
terseite (44), einer Vorderseite (46) und einer
Rückseite (48) aufweist;
der Absorptionsmaterialisolator (40) oben auf
50 der Oberseite (12) der Basis (10) befestigt ist;
und
die Linse (30) oben auf der Oberseite (42) des
Absorptionsmaterialisolators (40) befestigt ist.
55 3. Vorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 2, ferner mit einem
Wandler (60), der am Punkt (F1) positioniert ist.
4. Vorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 2, ferner mit einem
5
 9 EP 1 072 177 B1
Wandler (60), der nahe dem Punkt (F1) positioniert
ist.
5. Vorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 4, wobei der Wandler
(60) eine Mittelachse (62) festlegt und wobei der
Wandler (60) so geneigt ist, daß die Mittelachse (62)
des Wandlers (60) die Rotationslinie (L) in einem
spitzen Winkel (β) schneidet.
6. Vorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 5, wobei der Punkt
(F1) nahe der Oberseite (12) der Basis (10) liegt und
wobei der Wandler (60) auf der Oberseite (12) der
Basis (10) angeordnet ist.
7. Vorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 6, wobei:
die Unterseite (44) des Absorptionsmaterialiso-
lators (40) einen kleineren Flächeninhalt als die
Oberseite (12) der Basis (10) hat;
der Absorptionsmaterialisolator (40) auf der
Oberseite (12) so positioniert ist, daß er einen
ersten abgedeckten Abschnitt (17) und einen
zweiten nicht abgedeckten Abschnitt (19) der
Oberseite (12) bildet; und
der zweite nicht abgedeckte Abschnitt (19) vom
ersten abgedeckten Abschnitt (17) nach unten
abfällt.
8. Vorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 7, wobei die Vorder-
seite (16) der Basis (10) krummlinig ist.
9. Vorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 8, wobei die Vorder-
seite (16) der Basis (10) allgemein kreisförmig ist.
10. Vorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 8, wobei die Vorder-
seite (16) der Basis (10) allgemein elliptisch ist.
11. Vorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 8, wobei:
die Rückseiten (18, 38 und 48) der Basis (10),
der Linse (30) bzw. des Absorptionsmaterialiso-
lators (40) gemeinsam eine Rückseite (70) für
die Vorrichtung (1) bilden, die distal zur reflek-
tierenden Oberfläche (50) ist und
die Unterseite (14) der Basis (10) mit der Ober-
seite (32) der Linse (30) verbindet; und
die Rückseite (70) der Vorrichtung (1), die Ober-
seite (32) der Linse (30) und mindestens ein Ab-
schnitt der Unterseite (14) der Basis (10)
krummlinig sind.
12. Vorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 11, wobei der Ellip-
senbogen (A1) eine konstant variierende Länge hat,
wenn der Ellipsenbogen (A1) um die Linie (L) rotiert.
13. Vorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 12, wobei jede an-
grenzende Oberfläche (S1) mit einem Absorptions-
material bedeckt ist.
10
14. Vorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 13, wobei die Unter-
seite (14) und die Vorderseite (16) der Basis (10),
die Rückseite (70) sowie die Oberseite (32) der Linse
(30) mit einem Absorptionsmaterial bedeckt sind.
5
15. Vorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 14, wobei der Wand-
ler (60) eine Ausgabe erzeugt, und ferner mit einem
Filter, das mit dem Wandler (60) verbunden ist, wo-
bei das Filter die Ausgabe des Wandlers so modifi-
10 ziert, daß die Ausgabe annähernd gleiche Energie
auf allen Frequenzen hat.
Revendications
15
1. Un appareil (1) pour la redistribution d’énergie
acoustique, comprenant :
une base (10), ayant une surface supérieure
20 (12), une surface inférieure (14), une surface
avant (16), et une surface arrière (18), ladite sur-
face inférieure (14) étant susceptible d’être po-
sitionnée sur une surface support (20) ;
une lentille (30), ayant une surface supérieure
25 (32), une surface inférieure (34), une surface
avant (36), et une surface arrière (38); et
des moyens, pour monter ladite lentille (30) sur
ladite base (10) ;
ladite surface avant (36) de ladite lentille (30)
30 incluant une surface réfléchissante (50), un
point P situé sur ladite surface réfléchissante
(50), et au moins une surface adjacente (81),
une ligne L passant par ledit point P et coupant
la surface inférieure (14) de ladite base (10) en
35 un point B, un point C1 situé sur ladite ligne L,
entre ledit point P et ledit point B, ladite surface
réfléchissante (50) étant définie par la surface
de révolution R1 d’un arc elliptique A1 effectuant
une rotation autour de ladite ligne L de la valeur
40 d’un angle α1, et la surface de révolution R2
d’un arc elliptique A2 effectuant une rotation
autour de ladite ligne L de la valeur d’un angle
α2, ledit arc elliptique A1 ayant une extrémité
inférieure s’achevant audit point P et constituant
45 une partie d’une première ellipse E1 ayant un
point focal situé audit point F1, ledit arc elliptique
A2 ayant une extrémité supérieure s’achevant
audit point P et constituant une partie d’une
deuxième ellipse E2 ayant un point focal situé
50 audit point F1, ledit angle α1 étant choisi de ma-
nière que ladite surface de révolution R1 soit
convexe par rapport à ladite surface adjacente
SI, ledit angle α2 étant choisi de manière que
ladite surface de révolution R2 soit concave par
55 rapport à ladite surface adjacente S1.
2. L’appareil (1) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel :
6
 11 EP 1 072 177 B1
lesdits moyens de montage de ladite lentille (30)
sur ladite base (10) comprennent un isolant (40)
en matériau absorbant, ayant une surface su-
périeure (42), une surface inférieure (44), une
surface avant (46) et une surface arrière (48) ;
ledit isolant (40) en matériau absorbant est fixé
au sommet de ladite surface supérieure (14) de
ladite base (10) ; et
ladite lentille (30) est fixée au sommet de ladite
surface supérieure (42) dudit isolant (12) en ma-
tériau isolant.
3. L’appareil (1) selon la revendication 2, comprenant
en outre un transducteur (60), positionné audit point
F1.
4. L’appareil (1) selon la revendication 2, comprenant
en outre un transducteur (60), positionné à proximité
dudit point F1.
5. L’appareil (1) selon la revendication 4, dans lequel
ledit transducteur (60) définit un axe central (62) et
dans lequel ledit transducteur (60) est incliné, de ma-
nière que ledit axe central (62) dudit transducteur
(60) coupe ladite ligne de rotation L sous un angle
aigu β.
6. L’appareil (1) selon la revendication 5, dans lequel
ledit point F1 est situé à proximité de ladite surface
supérieure (12) de ladite base (10), et dans lequel
ledit transducteur (60) est monté sur ladite surface
supérieure (12) de ladite base (10).
7. L’appareil (1) selon la revendication 6, dans lequel :
ladite surface inférieure (44) dudit isolant (40)
en matériau absorbant présente une aire de sur-
face plus petite que celle de ladite surface su-
périeure (12) de ladite base (10);
ledit isolant (40) en matériau absorbant est po-
sitionné sur ladite surface supérieure (12), pour
former une première partie couverte (17) et une
deuxième partie non couverte (19) de ladite sur-
face supérieure (12) ; et
ladite deuxième partie non couverte (19) est en
pente vers le bas depuis ladite première partie
couverte (17).
8. L’appareil (1) selon la revendication 7, dans lequel
ladite surface avant (16) de ladite base (10) est de
nature curviligne.
9. L’appareil (1) selon la revendication 8, dans lequel
ladite surface avant (16) de ladite base (10) est glo-
balement circulaire.
10. L’appareil (1) selon la revendication 8, dans lequel
ladite surface avant (16) de ladite base (10) est glo-
12
balement elliptique.
11. L’appareil (1) selon la revendication 8, dans lequel:
5 lesdites surfaces arrière (18), (38), et (48) de
ladite base (10), ladite lentille (30), et ledit isolant
(40) en matériau absorbant, respectivement,
forment conjointement pour ledit appareil (1)
une surface arrière (70), qui est distale de ladite
10 surface réfléchissante (50) et relie ladite surface
inférieure (14) de ladite base (10) à ladite sur-
face supérieure (32) de ladite lentille (30) ; et
ladite surface arrière (70) dudit appareil (1), la-
dite surface supérieure (32) de ladite lentille
15 (30), et au moins une partie de ladite surface
inférieure (14) de ladite base (10) sont curvili-
gnes.
12. L’appareil (1) selon la revendication 11, dans lequel
20 ledit arc elliptique A1 présente une longueur variant
de façon constante lorsque ledit arc elliptique A1 est
tourné autour de ladite ligne L.
13. L’appareil (1) selon la revendication 12, dans lequel
25 ladite surface adjacente S1 est couverte d’un maté-
riau absorbant.
14. L’appareil (1) selon la revendication 13, dans lequel
ladite surface inférieure (14) et ladite surface avant
30 (16) de ladite base (10), ladite surface arrière (70),
et ladite surface supérieure (32) de ladite lentille (30)
sont couvertes d’un matériau absorbant.
15. L’appareil (1) selon la revendication 14, dans lequel
35 ledit transducteur (60) produit un signal de sortie, et
comprend en outre un filtre connecté audit transduc-
teur (60), ledit filtre modifiant ledit signal de sortie
dudit transducteur, de manière que ledit signal de
sortie ait une énergie à peu près égale, à toutes les
40 fréquences.
45
50
55
7
EP 1 072 177 B1

8
EP 1 072 177 B1

9
EP 1 072 177 B1

10
EP 1 072 177 B1

11
 EP 1 072 177 B1

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader’s convenience only. It does not form part of the European
patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be
excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description

• US 5615176 A [0004]

12