1959 - History of Ericsson - History of Ericsson

Fig. 3
Grouping of components in width
Fig. 4
Grouping of components in depth
Fig. 5 X 2397
Omnidirectional principle — a step towards
the final solution
110
A broad grouping of the components is shown in fig. 3. This design is
very similar to the previous loudspeaking telephone, but was considered
unsuitable since its breadth would block an unnecessarily large part of the
desk area behind it. An attempt at grouping of the components in depth is
shown in fig. 4. This was no more satisfactory, however, owing to the
exaggeration of a single dimension.
A vertical grouping of the components (fig. 7) brought out the essential
character of a loudspeaking telephone compared with an ordinary telephone,
namely, that it should be heard in all directions. Previous types of loudspeaking
telephone have not been true to character in this respect, but transmit
and receive sound principally in one direction. This is also revealed by the
methods of loudspeaking telephone measurement employed hitherto. At this
stage of the work it was decided that the loudspeaker and microphone should
be so placed that the sound would be reproduced as equally as possible in
all directions. This omnidirectional function should be emphasized, furthermore,
in the very design of the case. A vertical grouping was open to the
same criticism as the other two concepts, that an exaggeration of one dimension
makes the instrument unduly voluminous.
Finally, a more concentrated, cubiform shape was tried out, in which no
dimension unduly overshadowed the others (fig. 6). In the sketch stage the
type emerged as a development of the vertical grouping idea. It was considered
that the final solution should be along these lines.
Fig. 6 x 7751
An approach to the final solution