Acoustic Horn Waveguide Lens Plug Directivity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional acoustic systems experience directivity anomalies and non-uniform sound dispersion due to differing coverage angles of transducers in the crossover region, leading to varying listening experiences for individuals in the same area.

Innovation Solution

An acoustic assembly with a modular enclosure and an integrated acoustic horn that includes waveguides, lenses, and plugs to optimize directivity across frequency bands, ensuring uniform sound coverage by aligning and positioning these components to influence sound waves from various transducers, thereby achieving consistent sound distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple transducers with different coverage angles are used in the crossover region, then frequency coverage is improved, but directivity uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency coverageVSAvoiddirectivity uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

An acoustic horn is introduced as an intermediary component between the transducers and the listening area. The acoustic horn has a specific geometry designed to transform the sound waves from transducers with different coverage angles into a unified directional pattern, thereby mediating between the conflicting requirements of frequency coverage and directivity uniformity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The acoustic horn is designed with varying cross-sectional dimensions along its length, creating different local acoustic properties. The geometry is optimized to provide appropriate impedance matching and wavefront transformation at different positions, enabling uniform directivity across the crossover region while maintaining broad frequency coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If transducers with different coverage angles are used, then frequency range coverage is improved, but sound dispersion uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency range coverageVSAvoidsound dispersion uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The acoustic horn serves as a mediator that receives sound waves from multiple transducers with different coverage angles and transforms them into a unified dispersion pattern. This intermediary structure enables the system to maintain both broad frequency range coverage and uniform sound dispersion across the listening area

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The acoustic horn geometry is specifically designed with varying cross-sectional dimensions that change along the length of the horn. These parameter variations are optimized to control wave propagation and achieve uniform sound dispersion while accommodating transducers with different coverage angles across the frequency range

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The acoustic assembly provides a uniform sound coverage pattern across the listening area, enhancing the listening experience by minimizing differences in sound perception at various locations, and improving directivity and beamwidths within the audible hearing range.

Implementation Method 1

an acoustic horn that includes waveguides, lenses, and plugs to optimize directivity across frequency bands, ensuring uniform sound coverage by aligning and positioning these components to influence sound waves from various transducers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic wave propagation: Sound

Data Source

PatentEP3563589B1Acoustic horn for an acoustic assembly
Publication Date: 2024.10.23 HARMAN INT IND INC
  • EP3563589B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3563589B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3563589B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An acoustic assembly may include acoustic emitting devices attached to an enclosure. The acoustic assembly may further include an acoustic horn for influencing sound emitted by one or more of the acoustic emitting devices. For example, the acoustic horn may influence a beamwidth of sound emitted by one of the acoustic emitting devices. As a further example, the acoustic horn may influence a first beamwidth of a first acoustic emitting device and a second beamwidth of a second acoustic emitting device in a crossover region between the first acoustic emitting device and the second acoustic emitting device. The acoustic horn may include a waveguide attached to at least one integrator. The at least one integrator may include at least one plug and at least one lens.