Acoustic Material Packaging for Miniature Loudspeaker Back Volume

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing loudspeaker devices face challenges in efficiently utilizing acoustically active materials to enhance sound performance and increase acoustic volume without increasing physical space, particularly in miniature devices where direct insertion is difficult and can lead to damage.

Innovation Solution

An acoustic element comprising a container with acoustic volume increasing material, where the container is designed to house the material and ensure sound transmission while preventing particle loss, using materials with varying sound transmissibility and being formed from single sheet materials for cost-effective and easy manufacturing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If acoustically active material is directly inserted into the loudspeaker device to increase acoustic volume, then the resonance frequency is lowered, but the device components may be damaged and mounting becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of device componentsVSAvoidmounting difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The acoustically active material is segmented into a contained form (container or capsule) rather than being directly inserted as loose particles. This segmentation allows the material to be handled as a single unit, simplifying mounting while protecting internal components from damage by contained particles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A container or capsule acts as an intermediary between the acoustically active material and the loudspeaker components. This intermediary structure protects the material itself and prevents it from damaging other components, while still allowing acoustic functionality to be achieved.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a container with acoustic volume increasing material is used to protect components and simplify mounting, then reliability and ease of installation improve, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of installationVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container is designed as a flexible or thin-walled structure that can be easily integrated into the existing loudspeaker device. This minimizes the added structural complexity while maintaining the protective and containment functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The container serves multiple functions simultaneously: it contains the acoustically active material, protects internal components from damage, and acts as a mounting unit. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If molded gas adsorber with binder is used to achieve good adsorption/desorption characteristics, then acoustic performance improves, but manufacturing difficulty and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadsorption/desorption characteristicsVSAvoidmanufacturing cost and difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using expensive molded composite materials with binders, the invention uses a simpler container structure that can be manufactured more easily and at lower cost. The focus is on providing adequate acoustic functionality through the containment approach rather than through complex material engineering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the approach from modifying material properties (using binders to create molded structures) to changing the physical form and containment parameters. This allows achieving the desired acoustic performance through structural configuration rather than complex material composition.

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 solution effectively increases the virtual acoustic volume, reducing resonance frequency and improving sound performance in loudspeaker devices, while protecting the device from damage and simplifying the mounting process, especially in miniature applications.

Implementation Method 1

an acoustic volume increasing material which virtually enlarges the back volume. Hence, by use of an acoustically active material the resonance frequency of the loudspeaker device is lowered

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic absorption and reflection: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

the sound transmissibility of the first wall portion is higher than the sound transmissibility of the second wall portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound transmission: Sound

Data Source

PatentUS9099073B2Packaging of acoustic volume increasing materials for loudspeaker devices

Publication Date: 2015.08.04 SSI NEW MATERIAL (ZHENJIANG) CO LTD

AI summary

There is provided an acoustic element (102) for placement in a sound path (120) of a loudspeaker device (100), the acoustic element (102) comprising a container (104) and an acoustic volume increasing material (106) located in the container (104). In an embodiment, the container (104) comprises wall portions with different physical characteristics. In other embodiments, the walls of the container (104) are made of the same material.