SINGLE-SURFACE DIRECTIVE SOUND SYSTEM CHIPPING MULTIPLE GLASS SPEAKERS

Abstract

A directional sound system comprises a base element, with at least one disc element attached to the base element. The base element has a base surface. An exciter is attached to the at least one disc element and has an excitation surface. An adhesive separating ring is applied between the at least one disc element and the base element. A predetermined thickness of the adhesive separating ring creates a gap between the base surface of the base element and the exciter surface. The at least one disc element is positioned on the base surface of the base element. When excited, the exciter generates a directional signal.

Description

INTRODUCTION

[0001] The present disclosure relates to systems for generating sound.

[0002] A sound system is typically used to entertain the operator while driving. Sound systems designed for installation in a vehicle may include loudspeakers mounted within components such as the dashboard, door panel, and seat headrest. The loudspeaker installation may include the ability to direct the sound based on the location of the one or more loudspeakers positioned within the dashboard, door panel, and seat headrest.

[0003] While known systems and methods for providing sound for entertainment during vehicle operation fulfill their intended purpose, there is a need for a new and improved system and method to generate directed sound from a sound system.

[0004] US 000006510919 B1 discloses a modular flat-screen sound radiator assembly for installation in a suspended ceiling, which is compatible with the surrounding ceiling panels of the ceiling system and is practically indistinguishable from them visually. US 020220396207 A1 discloses a loudspeaker arrangement comprising a loudspeaker with an at least partially transparent diaphragm and an actuator, for example a transducer, connected to the diaphragm, wherein the movement of the transducer causes a vibration of the diaphragm to generate sound. DE 102023123582 A1 discloses a device comprising a vibration element, a vibration device, a support element, and a porous element. The vibration device is configured to set the vibration element into vibration.The support element is arranged on a rear surface of the vibration element, and the porous element is arranged between the vibration element and the support element. The device can improve sound quality and sound pressure level characteristics. DE 102020123100 A1 discloses systems and methods for a transducer assembly for a vehicle with a resonating surface, such as a window or other vehicle surface. WO 002004107806 A1 discloses an audio system comprising an actuator and an acoustic sensor, wherein the sensor is connected to a control unit that modifies an audio signal according to the vibrations detected by the sensor. WO 002024070584 A1 discloses a glass membrane module configured to achieve a reduction in noise generation. SUMMARY

[0005] A directional sound system comprises a base element with at least one disc element attached to the base element. The base element has a base surface. An exciter, attached to the at least one disc element, has an excitation surface. An adhesive separating ring is applied between the at least one disc element and the base element. A predetermined thickness of the adhesive separating ring creates a gap between the base surface of the base element and the exciter surface. The at least one disc element is arranged on the base surface of the base element. When excited, the exciter generates a directional audio signal by exciting the disc element. The exciter is embedded in the at least one disc element, arranged coplanarly with an inwardly facing surface oriented towards the base surface.The adhesive separating ring is arranged directly adjacent to an outwardly facing edge of at least one disc element.

[0006] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the exciter defines a piezoelectric element that is excited to actuate the disk element.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the base element defines a glass base.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an adhesive substance attaches the pathogen to the at least one disk element.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the adhesive material defines a double-sided adhesive tape.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the adhesive separating ring defines a urethane adhesive.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the adhesive separating ring defines a separating element to decouple excitation actuation from the base surface.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, power is provided to the exciter from an external power source using multiple wires.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the wires are arranged below the at least one disk element and above the base surface.

[0014] In several respects, a directional sound system for a vehicle comprises a base element of a vehicle window. The base element contains a base surface. Several pane elements are bonded to the base surface of the base element. Several exciters are individually attached to some of the pane elements and each contains an exciter surface. Several adhesive separating rings are individually applied between some of the pane elements and the base element. A predetermined thickness of the adhesive separating rings creates a gap between the base surface of the base element and the exciter surfaces of the several exciters. The several pane elements are selectively arranged on the base surface of the base element. When excited, the exciters generate a directional signal.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the disk elements have an outwardly curved shape that defines a convex surface.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the multiple adhering separating rings each define a continuous border around individual pathogens, thereby creating a seal around individual pathogens.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the adhering separating rings each define a discontinuous border around one of the several pathogens.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the adhesive separating rings act as a separating element to decouple the exciter activation from the base surface.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the disk elements have a smaller thickness directly adjacent to the adhering separating rings in order to reduce vibration of the disk element.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the multiple exciters are individually embedded in one of the multiple disk elements, and the wires are arranged between the base surface and the multiple disk elements.

[0021] According to several aspects, a method for generating directional sound comprises providing a base element; selecting a predefined shape of several disk elements; attaching one of several exciters to one of the several disk elements; applying one of several adhesive separating rings between each of the several disk elements and the base element to bond the several disk elements to a base surface of the base element; creating a gap between the base surface of the base element and an excitation surface of one of the several exciters, provided the several adhesive separating rings are applied while maintaining a predetermined thickness; and exciting the several exciters from a power source to generate a directional signal from the several disk elements.

[0022] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method further comprises providing power from an external power source to the multiple exciters using multiple wires; and arranging the wires between the base surface and the multiple disk elements.

[0023] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method further includes selecting the multiple exciters as individual piezoelectric elements which, when excited, actuate the base element.

[0024] Further areas of application will become apparent from the description provided here. It should be understood that the description and specific examples serve only for illustration and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The drawings described here serve only for illustration and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way; they show: Fig. 1. A top view of a directional sound system according to an exemplary aspect; Fig. 2 a lateral cross-sectional view, which is shown in section 2 of Fig. 1 is shown; Fig. 3 a top view of area 3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 a side cross-sectional view similar Fig. 2 of another aspect of the directional sound system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The following description is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application or uses.

[0027] With reference to Fig. 1 includes a directional sound system 10 and a base element 12, such as a glass base, a metal base, or a base with a rigid surface, which can, for example, define a vehicle window of a vehicle 13, wherein at least one and, according to several aspects, several pane elements 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24 are bound to the base element 12. According to several aspects, the vehicle 13 can define any vehicle type, including, but not limited to, a sedan, an SUV, a van, a truck, a battery electric vehicle, and a hybrid vehicle. According to several aspects, the pane elements 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24 can be formed from a glass material or a similar material containing a polycarbonate material.The individual disc elements 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24 each contain an exciter 26, which can define a piezoelectric element according to several aspects. When excited, this piezoelectric element actuates the disc element 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24. The multiple disc elements 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24 can be arranged on a base surface 28 of the base element 12 to enable the directional sound system 10 to function as a zoned audio system that provides a directional audio signal generated by multiple individual exciter zones.

[0028] With reference to Fig. 2 and again on Fig. 1. An adhesive material 30, such as double-sided adhesive tape, attaches the exciter 26 to individual parts of the several disc elements 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24, which contain the exemplary disc element 22 shown. An adhesive separating ring 32, such as a urethane adhesive, is then applied between individual parts of the several disc elements 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24, which contain the exemplary disc element 22 shown, and the base element 12, in order to attach the several disc elements 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24 to the base element 12, thereby facilitating the generation of directed sound. A predetermined thickness 34 of the adhesive separating ring 32 creates a cavity or gap 36 between a base surface 38 and an excitation surface 40 of the exciter 26 on each disk element, such as the disk element 22. According to several aspects, the gap 36 is therefore approximately at least 0.8 mm.The adhesive separating ring 32 also acts as a separating element to decouple the actuation of the exciter 26 from the base surface 38.

[0029] With reference to Fig. 3 and again on the Fig. 1 to 2 Power is supplied to the individual exciters 26 using multiple wires 42. The wires 42 are supplied with power from an external power source 44. The wires 42 can be arranged between the multiple disk elements 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24, such as the exemplary disk element 22 shown and the base surface 38.

[0030] With reference to the Fig. 4 and again on the Fig. 1 to 3, according to several aspects, instead of the exciter 26 being attached to a surface of the disk element, the exciter 26 can be embedded in the several disk elements 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24, such as in the disk element 22 shown by way of example. According to several aspects, the disk elements, such as the exemplary disk element 22, can have an outwardly curved shape, such as a convex surface 46. The exciter 26 can be arranged coplanarly with an inwardly facing surface 48 that is oriented towards the base surface 38 of the exemplary disk element 22. In the embedded arrangement of the exciter 26, a secondary gap 50 similar to the gap 36 shown in Fig.2 is shown and described, between the entire inwardly facing surface 48 and the base surface 38, wherein the adhesive separating ring 32 is arranged directly adjacent to an outwardly facing edge 52 of the disk element such as the disk element 22.

[0031] The directional sound system 10 contains an exciter, such as a piezoelectric exciter, which is attached to a disc element using an adhesive. The disc element is attached to a surface of a base element using an adhesive separator ring, with the exciter facing the surface of the base element. The adhesive separator ring has a predetermined thickness that distances the exciter from the surface of the base element, creating an air gap between the exciter and the surface of the base element to decouple the exciter from the base element. When excited, the exciter actuates the glass and generates directional sound. The adhesive separator ring also acts as an acoustic barrier to further decouple the exciter actuation from the base surface.The wires for supplying power to the exciter are routed below the adhesive separating ring and connected to an external power source using ribbon wire to excite the exciter.

[0032] The directional sound system 10 defines a glass loudspeaker consisting of three (3) components: (1) a disc element or diaphragm, (2) an exciter and wiring, and (3) an adhesive separator ring. The disc element may be concave in its center to allow the adhesive separator ring and exciter to be embedded within the element, thereby reducing the overall thickness of the assembly. The disc element may also be round, oval, square, rectangular, or have other shapes. The disc element may be curved and may have a reduced thickness immediately adjacent to the adhesive separator ring to reduce vibration of the element. The exciter may have several shapes, including square, round, annular, or other forms. The disc element is attached to a base surface by an adhesive separator ring.The adhesive separator ring can be continuous, dashed, or have other shapes. The adhesive separator ring can also be a structural adhesive or a composite. The adhesive separator ring isolates a vibration of the disc element, generated when the exciter is energized, from the base surface. Any one or all of the three (3) components of the loudspeaker can be made of a transparent material or can be made of a translucent material to enhance the aesthetics of the design.

[0033] A directional sound system 10 of the present disclosure offers several advantages. These include a disc element that is actuated to generate sound with the mounting via an adhesive separating ring applied to a base surface, which serves to decouple the vibrations of the disc element, resulting in a directional sound. The disc element is attached to the exciter by the adhesive separating ring, which has a predetermined thickness, and a geometry of the disc element improves the directional sound and reduces the installation space. Individual disc elements act as loudspeaker cones that can be arranged at multiple locations on a base surface such that the multiple disc elements together generate a directional signal. The disc elements provide the confinement of the sound at each location of the disc element to provide individual audio experiences for each zone.

[0034] Each disc element has a bonded exciter attached to it using an adhesive. The disc elements are individually mounted to a base element with an adhesive separator ring and generate directional sound when the exciter is activated. The adhesive separator ring creates a cavity between the base surface and the individual exciters on the disc elements. The adhesive separator ring also acts as a barrier to decouple the exciter activation from the base surface. An exciter wire is routed beneath the adhesive separator ring and connected, for example, to an external power source via a ribbon wire. One or more wire guides can also be secured with tape in an adhesive path, similar to typical fixed glass electronics.The wire guides can be soldered to the exciter of individual disk elements, thereby defining multiple actuators.

[0035] In a controlled environment, it is not necessary to seal individual actuators; however, the adhesive separating ring, when applied circumferentially, can act as a seal. In several respects, the individual adhesive separating rings define a continuous border around some of the multiple exciters, thereby creating a seal around them. Alternatively, the individual adhesive separating rings define a discontinuous border around some of the multiple exciters. Multiple disc elements can be arranged on the base surface to create a zoned audio system that provides a directional signal to the listeners. The directional signal is created by the orientation and number of the multiple disc elements.

Claims

[1] Directional sound system (10) comprising: a base element (12) with at least one disk element (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) attached to the base element (12), wherein the base element (12) has a base surface (28); a pathogen (26) which is attached to the at least one disc element (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) and has a pathogen surface (40); an adhesive separating ring (32) applied between the at least one disk element (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) and the base element (12), wherein a predetermined thickness (34) of the adhesive separating ring (32) creates a gap (36) between the base surface (28) of the base element (12) and the excitation surface (40); and the at least one disk element (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) is arranged on the base surface (28) of the base element (12), wherein the exciter (26), when excited, generates a directed audio signal by exciting the disk element (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24); wherein the exciter (26) is embedded in the at least one disk element (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) and the exciter (26) is arranged coplanarly with an inwardly facing surface that is aligned with the base surface (28), and wherein the adhesive separating ring (32) is arranged directly adjacent to an outwardly facing edge (52) of the at least one disk element (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24). [2] Directional sound system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the exciter (26) defines a piezo element which is excited to actuate the disk element (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24). [3] Directional sound system (10) according to claim 2, wherein the base element (12) defines a glass element. [4] Directional sound system (10) according to claim 1, which further comprises an adhesive (30) which attaches the exciter (26) to the at least one disk element (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24). [5] Directional sound system (10) according to claim 4, wherein the adhesive (30) defines a double-sided adhesive tape. [6] Directional sound system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive separating ring (32) defines a urethane adhesive. [7] Directional sound system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive separating ring (32) defines a separating element to decouple exciter actuation from the base surface (28). [8] Directional sound system (10) according to claim 1, comprising several wires (42) from an external power source (44) which provides power to the exciter (26). [9] Directional sound system (10) according to claim 8, wherein the wires (42) are arranged below the at least one disk element (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) and above the base surface (28).

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