ROUNDFFUSOR1: a complete sound diffuser device

The Roundffusor1 is now an US PATENT NR.7261182 

(Open)

Reference:

HOS 02

Organization:

National Documentation Centre

IRC Name:

IRC Hellenic  

Country:

Greece

Entry Date:

Mon, May 12, 2003

Last Update:

Deadline:

Sun, May 09, 2004

Abstract:

A Greek SME presents Roundffusor1, a sound diffuser device that surpasses all previous competitive diffusers and is ready to be installed easily in any critical listening or performance facility. It is a lightweight, thermoformed complex hard plastic device, which is self-adjusted in low and very low frequency absorption and a clean diffuser for mid and high frequencies. Partners and end-users sought for commercial agreement with technical assistance or license agreement for further exploitation

Description:

Small and medium sized rooms like recording studios or dedicated rooms for listening or live played music, needs a most efficient surface to diffuse interfering rear wall reflections (and generally all kind of reflections) to provide an homogeneous diffuse sound field. These kind of rooms are the most difficult to treat acoustically. The smaller is a room the most difficult to have really good results: aesthetically & acoustically. To solve this problem a Greek SME, owned by an extremely experienced inventor, decided to produce a new kind of acoustical material, mainly based in psychoacoustic knowledge. The result is the most powerful and aesthetic diffusing surface in the acoustic industry: ROUNDFFUSOR 1.

Roundfusor1 is composed from a main body and two lateral drivers. These two drivers support steadily the diffuser upon the surface to be mounted: walls or ceiling. The diffuser may be used in any kind of room where the critical listening is needed. Its main advantage is that it is working simultaneously in two ways: as a clean diffuser for mid and high frequencies and as a self controlled absorber, below 250 Hz, for low and very low frequencies. This is possible, because being mounted in a new way works like a complex Helmholtz resonator. In real time, there is a kind of reconstruction of all music characteristics/parts diffused or absorbed or both. Even for the trained ears, there is no time to realize when and how the music is processed and the listener is just immersed in the sound without any trace of coloration. Additionally the sweet spot becomes obsolete and the consequence is that almost every person in the room senses the same sound mix.

The ROUNDFFUSOR 1 is relative simple as an object and can be easily mounted by anybody with simple tools. Another basic characteristic is that is very cheap. Generally, all that is necessary as a room treatment are 9 Roundffusor1 units (less or more, depends upon the application and the volume of the room). All 9 Roundffusor1 units occupy only a total area of 174x174 cm (Dimensions for each: 58 x 58 x 11 cm) from one wall and weights only 27 kg. It may be used at any formation of at least 3 units in a row: 2X4, 2x5, 3x3, 3X4, 2X5, 2X6, 4X4 or various combinations for one wall and ceiling. No other room changes are required. Roundffusor1 must be mounted symmetrically towards the common loudspeaker axis plane either behind the speakers, either on the opposite wall, or on the ceiling if necessary. Each diffuser is mounted upon 2 lateral supports, and all diffusers are mounted in parallel rows, vertically or horizontally relative to the floor, if to be put on the back wall.

May be used in all critical listening rooms including recording & TV studios, home theatres, big cinema multi-channel audio halls, quality control rooms, film mix and dubbing stages, CD mastering, music practice or normal residential rooms and also rooms for professional reviewers.

Innovative Aspects:
- It works simultaneously in two ways: as a clean diffuser for mid and high frequencies and as a self controlled absorber, below 250 Hz, for low and very low frequencies
- Based mainly on psychoacoustic research
- Solves complicated problems of small and medium rooms

Main Advantages:
- Outstanding performance
- Easy to mount by anyone, almost everywhere using simple home tools
- Extremely affordable

 The ideal diffuser polar plots

Roundffusors polar plots and a studio treated only with R1's

''Best'' diffuser from an US company

Technology Keywords:

• Telecommunications
• Audiovisual Equipment and Communication
• Construction Technology
• Sound Insulation
• Sound Engineering/Technology
• Physics
• Acoustics

Current Stage of Development:

Already on the market

Exploitation of RTD Results:

PRIVATE RESEARCH

Intellectual Property Rights:

Patent(s) granted

Comments

G10K 11/20 , E04B 1/84 until 22/05/2022. Additionally a world wide patent and PCT is pending.

Important note: The documents considered to be relevant for this invention- the Roundffusor1, were all in the ''A'' category [document defining the general state of the art which is not considered to be of particular relevance]. There are 3 older patents [1939,1957,1983 , with indications, where appropriate, of the relevant passages, also, not considered to be of particular relevance ] and a sole paper to be open from here. This indicate the almost absolute originality of our invention. The paper is an indication of our predictions that the Roundffusor1 may be used and as Music hall’s ceiling stage reflector or generally in Music Halls because is the most efficient diffuser on the market, his diffused field being easily perceived at more than 12 meters from any angle.  

Organization/Company Type:

Other
SME

Organization/Company Size:

11-50

Brief Market Application Codes:

• OTHERS (Specify in Market Application Highlights)

Comments

Detailed Market Application Codes (VEIC):

Keywords

• Radio and TV broadcasting and other related equipment
• Leisure and Recreational Products and Services
• Movies, movie products and theatre operations
• Amusement and recreational facilities
• TVs, radio, stereo equipment and consumer electronics
• Music, records, production and instruments
• Churches

Highlights
Recording & TV studios, home theatre installations, quality control rooms, film mix and dubbing stages, CD mastering, music practice or normal residential rooms and also rooms for professional reviewers.

Collaboration Type:

• Joint venture agreement
• License agreement

Comments
Target partner expertise sought: Companies related to acoustical applications (especially in studio and P.A. installations) or companies that are just interested in exploiting further the patent in national or trans-national level.

Preferred Countries for diffusion:

ALL