Acoustic-Device Cooling Unit

This invention relates to a cooling unit for acoustic devices a typical example of which is a power amplifier, and more particular to a cooling unit for acoustic devices which can effectively suppress noises produced by a cooling fan.

Recently, acoustic devices have been improved not only in performance but also in output, and high power amplifiers are provided with a cooling fan as forcible cooling means. This tendency is significant with acoustic devices installed on vehicles.

For instance, as shown in FIG. 1, in order to cool a power amplifer 1, an electric motor 2 for driving a cooling fan is connected to a cooling fan circuit 3 having a cooling fan drive power source 3A, and the input terminal 1A of the power amplifier 1 is connected to the output terminal of a reproducing device (or player) or the like whereas the output terminal 1B is connected to a loudspeaker 4. Thus, during operation of the power amplifier, the cooling fan driven by the motor 2 supplies cooling air to the power amplifier 1 to cool the latter.

In the above-described cooling unit, the cooling fan is operated independently of the level of the input or output signal of the power amplifier 1; in other words, the cooling fan supplies air to the power amplifier 1 at a certain flow rate corresponding to the maximum amount of heat generated by the power amplifier 1 to cool the latter 1. Therefore, when the output level is low for instance in the case where the operation of the music source is suspended or the reproduction comes between pieces of music, or a pause period occurs in the reproduction, the air cutting sound or vibration of the cooling fan becomes conspicuous inside the vehicle, thus causing the operator to feel disagreeable with it.

In view of the foregoing, an object of this invention is to provide a cooling unit for acoustic device in which the noise or vibration of the cooling fan is suppressed, so that the operator can drive the vehicle more comfortably.

The foregoing object and other objects of the invention have been achieved by the provision of a cooling unit for an acoustic device which, according to the invention, comprises: a cooling fan drive circuit for outputting a DC voltage corresponding to an input or output signal level of the acoustic device; and a cooling fan motor which is driven by the output DC voltage of the cooling fan drive circuit.

The nature, principle and utility of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram, partly as a block diagram, showing a conventional cooling unit for an acoustic device; and

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram, partly as a block diagram, showing one example of a cooling unit for an acoustic device according to this invention.

One example of a cooling unit for acoustic devices according to this invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2, in which those components which have been previously described with reference to FIG. 1 are therefore designated by the same reference numerals or characters.

As shown in FIG. 2, part of an audio signal applied to the input terminal 1A of the power amplifier 1 is supplied to a cooling fan drive circuit 3, so that the output of the latter 3 drives the electric motor 2 of the cooling fan. The cooling fan drive circuit 3 comprises: an amplifier 31 for amplifying the part of the audio signal (applied to the power amplifier 1); a rectifier circuit 32 connected to the amplifier 31; a smoothing circuit 33 connected to the rectifier circuit 32; and an addition circuit 34 connected to the smoothing circuit 33. A voltage source 35 for providing a set voltage when no input signal is available is connected to the addition circuit 34.

The part of the audio signal is amplified by the amplifier 31, rectified by the rectifier circuit 32, and smoothed by the smoothing circuit 33, the output DC voltage of which is applied to the addition circuit 34, where it is added to the voltage set by the voltage source 35 to provide a superposition voltage. The superposition voltage is applied to the motor 2 to drive the cooling fan. Therefore, if the level of the audio signal is high, the cooling fan is rotated at high speed; and if the level is low, the cooling fan is rotated at low speed; that is, the speed of rotation of the cooling fan is increased with the level of the audio signal.

In the above-described cooling unit, the cooling fan is driven even when no audio signal is available. However, the cooling unit may be so modified that, when no signal is available, the motor 2 is stopped. In the modification, the addition circuit 34 and the voltage source 35 may be eliminated, and the output voltage of the smoothing circuit 33 can be applied directly to the motor 2 of the cooling fan.

Furthermore, the cooling fan drive circuit 3 may be so modified that it outputs a DC voltage corresponding to the output signal level of the power amplifier 1.

As is apparent from the above description, with the cooling unit for acoustic devices according to the invention, the flow rate of cooling air supplied to a heat generating acoustic device such as a power amplifier is determined according to the signal level of the acoustic device. Therefore, when no signal is available, the noise of the cooling fan is lowered; and when the signal level is high, the noise is substantially masked by reproduced musical sounds or the like, and reproduced sounds can be enjoyed comfortably.