Sounder and wearable sound device

Abstract

The invention provides a sounder and a wearable sound device. The sounder comprises an airflow generator used for generating airflow, a first resonant cavity and a second resonant cavity. The second resonant cavity is stacked on the first resonant cavity. The sound is generated by the airflow generated by the airflow generator passing through the first resonant cavity and the second resonant cavity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a sound generator and a wearable sound device, and more particularly to a sound generator and a wearable sound device capable of increasing sound pressure level (SPL). Background Technology

[0002] Unless otherwise specified, the practices described below are not prior art within the scope of this invention and should not be included in the prior art.

[0003] Achieving optimal acoustic performance remains a challenge in the field of sound reproduction, particularly in the context of thin, compact, and wearable devices. Especially when size is a constraint, existing sound generators are often limited in producing sufficient sound pressure levels and maintaining acoustic efficiency. This can result in reduced audio output, failing to fully meet expected performance benchmarks.

[0004] One of the reasons for these challenges is often related to acoustic characteristics. Observations have shown that the internal acoustic channels or structure of a sound generator cannot be properly arranged to accommodate acoustic characteristics. As a result, the ability to effectively amplify sound pressure levels is limited, leading to an output that, while functionally normal, may not achieve the desired acoustic effect. This situation highlights the ongoing pursuit in this field: improving the acoustic performance of sound generators, especially in increasing sound pressure levels.

[0005] Therefore, effectively improving the acoustic characteristics of a sound generator to achieve a higher sound pressure level is an important goal in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, the main objective of this invention is to provide a sound generator and a wearable sound device to improve upon the shortcomings of the prior art.

[0007] This invention provides a sound generator, including an airflow generator for generating an airflow; a first resonant cavity and a second resonant cavity; wherein the second resonant cavity is stacked on the first resonant cavity; wherein sound is generated by the airflow generated by the airflow generator passing through the first resonant cavity and the second resonant cavity.

[0008] This invention provides a wearable sound device, including a housing; a sound generator including an airflow generator for generating an airflow; a first resonant cavity and a second resonant cavity; wherein the second resonant cavity is stacked on the first resonant cavity; wherein sound is generated by the airflow generated by the airflow generator passing through the first resonant cavity and the second resonant cavity. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Figure 1This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a wearable sound device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The diagram shows an explosion of a wearable sound device.

[0011] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a sound generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a sound-generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 5 Show Figure 3 The performance curve of the sound generator is shown.

[0014] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a sound generator used for comparison is shown.

[0015] The attached figures are labeled as follows:

[0016] 10: Wearable sound devices

[0017] 101: First petal

[0018] 103: Second lobe

[0019] 112: Virtual Valve

[0020] 12: Shell

[0021] 14,14wo: Voice generator

[0022] 140: Gas Pulse Generating Encapsulation

[0023] 1401: Gas Pulse Generating Device

[0024] 1402: First cover structure

[0025] 1403: Petal Pair

[0026] 141: First resonant cavity

[0027] 142: Second cover structure

[0028] 1420: Sealing structure

[0029] 1422: Capping layer

[0030] 143',143'wo: cavity

[0031] 143: Second resonant cavity

[0032] 145: First Exit

[0033] 147: Second Exit

[0034] 16: Earplugs

[0035] AF: Airflow

[0036] AFG: Airflow Generator Detailed Implementation

[0037] U.S. Patent No. 11,943,585 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and forms part of this specification.

[0038] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a wearable sound device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an explosion of the wearable sound device 10. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a sound generator 14 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a sound-generating device 1401 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] The sound generator 14 includes an airflow generator AFG, a first resonance chamber 141, and a second resonance chamber 143. The first resonance chamber 141 and the second resonance chamber 143 are arranged in a stacked manner. The airflow generator AFG is used to generate airflow AF. In one embodiment, the airflow generator AFG may include the air pulse generating device disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,943,585, designated 1401.

[0040] Specifically, the sound generator 14 includes (or can be considered to include) an air-pulsegenerating package 140 and a second cover structure 142. The air-pulsegenerating package 140 includes an air-pulse generating device 1401 and a first cover structure 1402.

[0041] The first resonant chamber 141 is formed between the gas pulse generating device 1401 (a membrane structure or a pair of lobes) and the first cover structure 1402. The gas pulse generating package 140 is used to generate multiple gas pulses at ultrasonic frequencies.

[0042] The second cover structure 142 is disposed on the gas pulse generating device 140. A second resonant cavity 143 is formed within the second cover structure 142 or between the gas pulse generating device 140 and the second cover structure 142. The second resonant cavity 143 enhances the acoustic impedance of the transmitter at ultrasonic frequencies. The second cover structure 142 further includes a sealing structure 1420 and a cover layer 1422. In one embodiment, the sealing structure 1402 may be a gasket. A hollow cavity 143' is formed within the sealing structure 1420. The hollow cavity 143' emphasizes the space formed within the gasket or sealing structure, while the second resonant cavity 143 emphasizes its resonant effect in enhancing acoustic impedance. The cover layer 1422 covers the sealing structure 1420. Due to the hollow cavity 143', the second resonant cavity 143 is formed between the cover layer 1422, the sealing structure 1420, and the first cover structure 1402. The diameter of the cavity 143' within the sealing structure 1420 may gradually narrow from the first cover structure 1402 toward the sealing layer 1422. In one embodiment, the sealing layer 1422 may include a plastic layer, a polymer layer, or a polyester layer. In one embodiment, the sealing layer 1422 may include or be made of Mylar or biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BoPET), but is not limited thereto.

[0043] The first cover structure 1402 includes a plurality of first outlets 145 formed on its top. Furthermore, the second cover structure 142 includes at least one second outlet 147 formed on its top. Therefore, the first resonant chamber 141 can form a first Helmholtz resonance, and the second resonant chamber 143 can form a second Helmholtz resonance. The sound generator 14 can be considered as including the stacked first (Helmholtz) resonant chamber 141 and the second (Helmholtz) resonant chamber 143.

[0044] In one embodiment, the gas pulse generating device 1401 includes a pair of slits 1403, which includes a first slit 101 and a second slit 103 disposed opposite to each other. A slit 112 is formed between the first slit 101 and the second slit 103. The slits 1403 perform differential movement to form an opening 112 at an ultrasonic frequency, and the opening 112 is formed by the slit 112.

[0045] From one perspective, the flaps 1403 constitute a virtual valve 112. When the virtual valve 112 is closed or sealed (at which point the acoustic impedance is extremely high, so that the airflow is negligible), the virtual valve 112 can be considered as a slit 112. When the virtual valve 112 is open (at which point the acoustic impedance is extremely low, so that the airflow is significant), the virtual valve 112 can be considered as an opening 112.

[0046] Furthermore, the flap pair 1403 can simultaneously perform common-mode motion and differential-mode motion. Based on the common-mode motion and differential motion of the flap pair 1403, the air pulse generating device 1401 generates multiple air pulses, or more specifically, multiple airflow pulses.

[0047] From one perspective, the airflow generator AFG includes an air pulse generating device 1401, and the airflow AF generated by the airflow generator AFG includes a plurality of airflow pulses generated by the air pulse generating device 1401.

[0048] For further details on the operation of the gas pulse generating device 1401, please refer to patent number 11,943,585, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0049] The sound generator 14 can be disposed within the wearable sound device. The wearable sound device of the present invention can be a wearable device capable of generating sound. The wearable sound device of the present invention can be an earbud, an earphone, a hearing aid, a smartwatch, smart glasses, an augmented reality (AR), a virtual reality (VR), a mixed reality (MR), an extended reality (XR) device, etc.

[0050] according to Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the wearable sound device 10 is an earbud-type headphone, which includes a housing 12 and the aforementioned speaker 14. The wearable sound device 10 may also include an ear tip 16, making it an in-ear wearable sound device.

[0051] The performance enhancement of the speaker 14 can be utilized Figure 5 To verify, Figure 5 The sound pressure level curves of a transmitter 14 (with a stacked second (Helmholtz) resonant chamber) and a transmitter 14wo (without a second resonant chamber) are shown. The transmitter 14wo is as follows... Figure 6 As shown. In Figure 6 The cavity 143'wo within the sound generator 14wo is too open to form a (Helmholtz) resonance. Therefore, the cavity 143'wo cannot enhance the acoustic impedance and thus cannot correspondingly increase the sound pressure level.

[0052] In contrast, when the air pulse generating device 140 generates an airflow pulse, the second resonant chamber 143 stacked above the first resonant chamber 141 can (using Helmholtz resonance) effectively enhance the acoustic impedance of the sound generator 14 (especially at ultrasonic frequencies), resulting in a stronger sound pressure level. Figure 5 As shown, in terms of sound pressure level, the sound generator 14 with two stacked (Helmholtz) resonant chambers can increase the performance gain by 5-7 dB compared to the sound generator 14wo without stacked resonant chambers.

[0053] Various modifications and alterations may be made to the apparatus and method without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the above content should be limited only by the claims.

[0054] For example, the sound generator is not limited to including two resonant chambers. The sound generator may include multiple (more than two) resonant chambers, which may be stacked on top of each other or stacked along the direction of airflow, all of which should be covered by the present invention.

[0055] For example, apart from the first outlet 145 and the second outlet 147, the second resonant chamber 143 may be substantially enclosed. The second outlet 147 may be small enough to achieve Helmholtz resonance. Optionally, the size (e.g., length, width, or diameter) of a certain second outlet 147 may be substantially close to or smaller than the size (e.g., width or diameter) of a certain first outlet 145 or one-third of the cross-sectional area of ​​the second resonant chamber 143. Optionally, the size (e.g., length, width, or diameter) of a certain second outlet 147 may be a function of the resonant frequency or volume of the second resonant chamber 143.

[0056] For example, the configuration of the second outlet 147 can be adapted. Optionally, the projection of the second outlet 147 onto the first cover structure 1402 may or may not overlap with the first outlet 145.

[0057] For example, the resonant frequency of the second resonant cavity 143 may be a function of the resonant frequency of the first resonant cavity 141.

[0058] In summary, this invention utilizes multi-layered stacked resonant chambers to increase acoustic impedance, thereby enhancing sound pressure level.

[0059] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. All equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the claims of the present invention should be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A sound generator, comprising: An airflow generator is used to generate an airflow; as well as A first resonant cavity and a second resonant cavity; The second resonant cavity is stacked on top of the first resonant cavity; The sound is generated by the airflow produced by the airflow generator passing through the first resonant cavity and the second resonant cavity.

2. The sound generator as described in claim 1, in, The airflow generator includes an air pulse generating device for generating multiple airflow pulses at an ultrasonic frequency; The airflow includes the multiple airflow pulses.

3. The sound generator as described in claim 2, wherein, The gas pulse generating device includes a pair of flaps, which includes a first flap and a second flap arranged opposite to each other.

4. The sound generator as claimed in claim 3, wherein, The flaps undergo a differential motion to form an opening at the ultrasonic frequency.

5. The sound generator as described in claim 3, in, The lobe undergoes a common-mode motion and a differential-mode motion; The air pulse generating device uses the pair of flaps that perform the common-mode motion and the differential-mode motion to generate the multiple airflow pulses.

6. The sound generator as claimed in claim 1, comprising: A gas pulse generating package includes the gas flow generator and a first cover structure; The first resonant cavity is formed between the airflow generator and the first cover structure.

7. The sound generator as claimed in claim 6, wherein, The first cover structure includes a plurality of first outlets formed on the top of the first cover structure.

8. The sound generator as claimed in claim 6, comprising: A second cover structure is disposed on the gas pulse generating encapsulation body; The second resonant cavity is formed within the second cover structure.

9. The sound generator as claimed in claim 8, wherein, The second cover structure includes a sealing structure and a cover layer.

10. The sound generator as claimed in claim 9, wherein, A cavity is formed within the sealed structure.

11. The sound generator as claimed in claim 10, in, The capping layer covers the sealing structure; The second resonant cavity is formed between the cover layer, the sealing structure and the first cover structure due to the cavity.

12. The sound generator as claimed in claim 10, wherein, The diameter of the cavity within the sealing structure gradually narrows from the first cover structure toward the sealing layer.

13. The sound generator as claimed in claim 9, wherein, The sealing structure is a gasket.

14. The sound generator as claimed in claim 9, wherein, The capping layer includes a plastic layer, a polymer layer, or a polyester layer.

15. The sound generator as claimed in claim 8, wherein, The second cover structure includes at least one second outlet formed on the top of the second cover structure.

16. The sound generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The second resonant chamber is used to enhance the acoustic impedance of the transmitter at that ultrasonic frequency.

17. A wearable sound device, comprising: A shell; as well as A sound generator, including: An airflow generator, used to generate an airflow; and A first resonant cavity and a second resonant cavity; The second resonant cavity is stacked on top of the first resonant cavity; The sound is generated by the airflow produced by the airflow generator passing through the first resonant cavity and the second resonant cavity.

18. The wearable sound device as claimed in claim 17, in, The airflow generator includes an air pulse generating device for generating multiple airflow pulses at an ultrasonic frequency; The airflow includes the multiple airflow pulses.

19. The wearable sound device as claimed in claim 18, wherein, The gas pulse generating device includes a pair of flaps, which includes a first flap and a second flap arranged opposite to each other.

20. The wearable sound device as claimed in claim 19, in, The lobe undergoes a common-mode motion and a differential-mode motion; The air pulse generating device uses the pair of flaps that perform the common-mode motion and the differential-mode motion to generate the multiple airflow pulses.

21. The wearable sound device of claim 17, comprising: A gas pulse generating package includes the gas flow generator and a first cover structure; The first resonant cavity is formed between the airflow generator and the first cover structure.

22. The wearable sound device of claim 17, comprising: A second cover structure is disposed on the gas pulse generating encapsulation body; The second resonant cavity is formed within the second cover structure.

23. The wearable sound device of claim 17, comprising: One earplug; The wearable sound device is an in-ear wearable sound device.

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