Acoustic Driver Piston Protrusions for LSR Surround Integration

Solution Overview

Problem

Reliably manufacturing small-scale micro transducers with thin moving components, such as pistons and surrounds, is challenging due to the difficulty in forming these components in high-yielding processes without introducing manufacturing defects.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an acoustic driver with a piston featuring protrusions around its periphery, integrated with a liquid silicone rubber (LSR) surround, which enhances structural integrity and facilitates reliable manufacturing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If thin materials are used for piston and surround in micro transducers, then the device size is reduced and acoustic displacement is improved, but manufacturing defects increase and structural integrity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidmanufacturing yield

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The piston is segmented with protrusions extending from its periphery, creating distinct regions that facilitate controlled LSR flow and integration. These protrusions divide the piston structure into functional zones that enhance manufacturing reliability while maintaining thin overall dimensions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines the piston material with liquid silicone rubber (LSR) surround to create a composite structure. The LSR is molded around the piston protrusions, forming an integrated composite component that maintains structural integrity while using thin materials for reduced device size

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Volume of moving object

If thin materials are used for piston and surround in micro transducers, then the device size is reduced and acoustic displacement is improved, but structural integrity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The piston is segmented with protrusions extending from its periphery, creating distinct regions that facilitate controlled LSR flow and integration. These protrusions divide the piston structure into functional zones that enhance manufacturing reliability while maintaining thin overall dimensions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines the piston material with liquid silicone rubber (LSR) surround to create a composite structure. The LSR is molded around the piston protrusions, forming an integrated composite component that maintains structural integrity while using thin materials for reduced device size

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 3:

The LSR surround is nested around the piston protrusions, with the thinner LSR layer containing the piston structure. This nested configuration allows the thinner overall structure to maintain integrity through the contained piston framework

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Strength

If protrusions are added to the piston, then structural integrity and LSR integration are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidpiston structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The piston is segmented with protrusions extending from its periphery, creating distinct regions that facilitate controlled LSR flow and integration. These protrusions divide the piston structure into functional zones that enhance manufacturing reliability while maintaining thin overall dimensions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the piston and surround into a single integrated component by molding the LSR around the piston protrusions. This combining of components simplifies the overall device structure and reduces assembly steps, offsetting the localized complexity added by the protrusions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables the production of micro transducers with desirable acoustic displacement using thin materials at a small scale, while ensuring structural integrity and minimizing manufacturing defects.

Implementation Method 1

molding liquid silicone rubber (LSR) around the first mold portion and the second mold portion to form a driver piston

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 2

applying pressure to a piston material, and molding liquid silicone rubber (LSR) around the first mold portion and the second mold portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure application: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS20250133317A1Acoustic Driver with Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) Surround

Publication Date: 2025.04.24 BOSE CORP

AI summary

Various implementations include an acoustic driver having: a piston with a plurality of protrusions extending around a periphery thereof; and a liquid silicone rubber (LSR) surround, where the LSR surround extends around the plurality of protrusions.