Sound-absorbing panel

Abstract

A sound-absorbing panel (10), comprising a portion (11) based on sound-absorbing material (19); the panel (10) comprises: - one or more sensors (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 28) for sensing data of one or more environmental conditions, - a unit (17) for managing and processing the data, connected to the one or more sensors (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 28), - means (18) for changing the one or more environmental conditions, connected to the unit (17) for the management and processing of the data.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a sound-absorbing panel.

[0002] The invention is applicable in the technical field of the provision of furnishing accessories, in particular for co-working environments, open spaces, libraries, classrooms, waiting rooms, hospitals, bars, restaurants, etc.

[0003] Currently, the spread of shared work environments, such as co-working spaces, has revolutionized the traditional concept of the office.

[0004] These spaces promote collaboration, creativity, and flexibility, encouraging communication between colleagues and breaking down hierarchies.

[0005] However, these types of work environment also have numerous problems, such as noise management, privacy protection, and control of lighting and temperature conditions suitable for different personal needs.

[0006] Sound-absorbing panels are widely used to mitigate, at least in part, the problems shown above.

[0007] Sound-absorbing panels are devices that comprise one or more layers of insulating material, for example a non-woven fabric made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and help to reduce overall noise levels.

[0008] Moreover, if provided so that they can be mounted vertically on one or more sides of a work table, the sound-absorbing panels provide a separating element that increases privacy and facilitates mental concentration.

[0009] Such sound-absorbing panels usually have an exclusively passive behavior, in the sense that they simply absorb the sound waves that reach them.

[0010] However, sound-absorbing panels provided with an LED (Light Emitting Diode) strip for mainly decorative lighting are also commercially available .

[0011] This background art has some aspects that can be improved.

[0012] In fact, currently there is a growing need to live and work in environmental conditions that are comfortable in terms of lighting, air quality, humidity, etc., and the use of sound-absorbing panels of the known type, although it reduces problems related to the presence of noise or privacy protection, does not allow for optimal management of the comfort derived from said environmental conditions.

[0013] The need is therefore felt, in this regard, to provide solutions that make it possible to improve the quality of life and comfort derived from the environmental conditions of the spaces in which a lot of time is spent during the day.

[0014] The aim of the present invention is to provide a sound-absorbing panel that is capable of improving the background art in one or more of the above cited aspects.

[0015] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a sound-absorbing panel that allows a recording and management of data of the environmental conditions of the space in which it is used, in order to improve user comfort.

[0016] Another object of the invention is to provide a sound-absorbing panel that allows automatic modification of at least some of the environmental conditions of the space in which it is used, on the basis of the sensing of data related to said conditions.

[0017] A further object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the background art in a manner that is alternative to any existing solutions.

[0018] Not the least object of the invention is to provide a sound-absorbing panel that is highly reliable, relatively easy to provide, and at competitive costs.

[0019] This aim, as well as these and other objects that will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a sound-absorbing panel comprising a portion based on sound-absorbing material, characterized in that it comprises: one or more sensors for sensing data of one or more environmental conditions, a unit for managing and processing said data, connected to said one or more sensors, means for changing said one or more environmental conditions, which are connected to said unit for the management and processing of said data.

[0020] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the sound-absorbing panel according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a view of an application of use of a plurality of sound-absorbing panels according to the invention, in a first embodiment; Figure 2 is an exploded view of a sound-absorbing panel according to the invention in the first embodiment; Figure 3 is a schematic enlarged-scale view of a detail of the first embodiment of a sound-absorbing panel according to the invention; Figure 4 is an enlarged-scale view of a first component of a sound-absorbing panel according to the invention, in a second embodiment; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second component of a sound-absorbing panel according to the invention; Figure 6 is a view of an example of an algorithm written in C / C++ programming language, which can be used to control a background noise masking sound based on the measured background noise intensity.

[0021] With reference to the figures, a sound-absorbing panel according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

[0022] In the example shown in Figure 1, a plurality of sound-absorbing panels 10 according to the invention, in a first embodiment, are used in a co-working space and installed on corresponding desks 1.

[0023] The panel 10 comprises a substantially flat sound-absorbing portion 11, which is based on sound-absorbing material 19 such as, for example, polyester fiber of various densities.

[0024] One of the particularities of the panel 10 resides in that it comprises: one or more sensors 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 28 for sensing data of one or more environmental conditions, a unit 17 for managing and processing the data, connected to the one or more sensors 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 28, means 18 for changing said environmental conditions, the means 18 being connected to the unit 17 for the management and processing of the data.

[0025] Advantageously, the panel 10 comprises a frame 20 formed by a metallic border which surrounds the sound-absorbing portion 11 and is constituted by: two opposite horizontal profiled elements, respectively: a first upper profiled element 21, a second lower profiled element 22, two opposite vertical profiled elements, respectively: a third lateral profiled element 23, a fourth lateral profiled element 24.

[0026] In the present description, expressions such as "horizontal," "vertical," "upper," "lower," etc., refer to the orientation of use of the panel 10.

[0027] Below the second profiled element 22 there are one or more feet 25 for the vertical positioning of the panel 10 on a supporting surface, for example a desk 1.

[0028] A fifth metallic profiled element 26 is interposed between the first profiled element 21 and the portion 11 and is fixed to the first profiled element 21 and parallel to it, the fifth profiled element 26 having a substantially T-shaped cross-section.

[0029] The fifth profile 26 accommodates: the sensors 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 28, and their respective electronic components, the data management and processing unit 17.

[0030] In some embodiments of the panel 10, such as for example the one shown in Figures 1-3, a bar 27 is fixed to the fifth profiled element 26, forms a user interface for the interaction of the latter with the sensors 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, the data processing unit 17, and is part of the means 18 for modifying the environmental conditions.

[0031] In particular, the user interface comprises, for example, an interactive interface.

[0032] In other embodiments, such as the one partially shown in Figure 4, the bar 27 is not present.

[0033] Advantageously, the sensors 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 28 comprise: a brightness detection sensor 12, constituted by a photoresistor, and / or a carbon dioxide concentration detection sensor 13, and / or an infrared motion sensor 14, and / or an ultrasonic distance sensor 15, and / or a temperature and humidity sensor 16, and / or a noise detection sensor 28, for example constituted by an electro-acoustic transducer.

[0034] It should be noted that the sensors 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 28 measure their respective data in real time and continuously.

[0035] This data is then sent to and processed by the data management and processing unit 17.

[0036] The data management and processing unit 17 comprises a digital microcontroller which, by integrating the data arriving from the various sensors, is able, by using dedicated software, to detect the presence of suboptimal environmental conditions and to implement actions adapted to improve such conditions by sending commands to the means 18 for modifying the environmental conditions.

[0037] In particular, the means 18 for modifying the environmental conditions comprise, for example, one or more loudspeakers 29 accommodated inside corresponding first seats 30 provided in the sound-absorbing material 19 of the portion 11.

[0038] By means of the loudspeakers 29 it is possible to broadcast sounds that mask background noise, for example to help the user concentrate, or to broadcast sounds and / or audio messages related to the sensed data on temperature, humidity, carbon monoxide concentration, etc., to alert the user and allow said user to take corrective / improvement actions on the environmental conditions.

[0039] Figure 6 shows, for example, an algorithm that can be used to control a sound masking background noise on the basis of the measured background noise intensity.

[0040] The means 18 for modifying the environmental conditions also comprise the bar 27, if present, and transmit warning messages to the user on the basis of the data collected by the sensors 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 28 and processed by the unit 17, to allow the user to take actions to improve the environmental conditions.

[0041] The sound-absorbing material 19 also includes a second seat 32 in which a haptic actuator 33 is inserted.

[0042] The haptic actuator 33 is adapted to provide tactile feedback.

[0043] The sound-absorbing material 19 is covered by a fabric 31, shown in Figures 1 and 3, and in this manner the speakers 29 and the haptic actuator 33 are hidden from view.

[0044] The panel 10 may also comprise an LED strip 34, with variable brightness, connected to the data management and processing unit 17.

[0045] The latter can send commands to vary the brightness of the LED strip 34 based on the data collected by the sensor 12.

[0046] The LED strip 34 is associated with the first profile 21 of the frame 20 and is interposed between the latter and the bar 27 in the embodiment in which said bar is present.

[0047] Advantageously, the panel 10 comprises Wi-Fi data communication means, not shown in the figures, which are connected to a cloud-based platform and / or to other home automation devices present in the environment.

[0048] All the panels 10 of a given environment are connected to this cloud-based platform, which receives, integrates, and stores all the data.

[0049] The processing of this large amount of data allows for sampling of the environmental parameters at each individual location and for extended periods of time, making it possible to implement energy saving and predictive maintenance policies.

[0050] In practice it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, providing a sound-absorbing panel that allows the recording and management of data of the environmental conditions of the space in which it is used, in order to improve user comfort.

[0051] The invention has provided a sound-absorbing panel that allows automatic modification of at least some of the environmental conditions of the space in which it is used, on the basis of the sensing of data related to said conditions.

[0052] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0053] In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

[0054] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102024000024225 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0055] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A sound-absorbing panel (10), comprising a portion (11) based on sound-absorbing material (19), characterized in that it comprises: - one or more sensors (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 28) for sensing data of one or more environmental conditions, - a unit (17) for managing and processing said data, connected to said one or more sensors (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 28), - means (18) for changing said one or more environmental conditions, connected to said unit (17) for the management and processing of said data.

2. The panel (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a frame (20) formed by a border which surrounds said sound-absorbing portion (11), said border (20) being constituted by: - two opposite horizontal profiled elements, respectively: - a first upper profiled element (21), - a second lower profiled element (22), - two opposite vertical profiled elements, respectively: - a third lateral profiled element (23), - a fourth lateral profiled element (24).

3. The panel (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that a fifth profiled element (26) is interposed between said first profiled element (21) and said portion (11) and is fixed to said first profiled element (21) and parallel to it, said fifth profiled element (26) accommodating: - said one or more sensors (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 28) and the respective electronic components, - said data management and processing unit (17).

4. The panel (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that a bar (27) is fixed to said fifth profiled element (26) and forms a user interface.

5. The panel (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said one or more sensors (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 28) comprise: - a brightness detection sensor (12), - and / or a sensor (13) for detecting carbon dioxide concentration, - and / or an infrared motion sensor (14), - and / or an ultrasonic distance sensor (15), - and / or a temperature and humidity sensor (16), - and / or a noise detection sensor (28).

6. The panel (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said data management and processing unit (17) comprises a digital microcontroller.

7. The panel (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said means (18) for changing the environmental conditions comprise one or more loudspeakers (29) accommodated within corresponding first seats (30) provided in said sound-absorbing material (19) of said portion (11).

8. The panel (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that said means (18) for changing the environmental conditions comprise said bar (27).

9. The panel (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a second seat (32) is present in said sound-absorbing material (19) and a haptic actuator (33) is inserted therein.

10. The panel (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sound-absorbing material (19) is covered with a fabric (31).

11. The panel (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an LED strip (34) of variable brightness, connected to said data management and processing unit (17).

12. The panel (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises Wi-Fi data communication means which are configured to be connected to a cloud-based platform and / or to other home automation devices in the environment.

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