Acoustic Panel Angled Recesses Conceal Rear Holes

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing acoustic panels with high porosity suffer from reduced visual attractiveness due to visible rear holes, which limits their application, and their sound absorption efficiency is compromised by the arrangement of grooves and holes, resulting in insufficient reverberation time.

Innovation Solution

The acoustic panel features obliquely oriented recesses on the visible side that cover the rear recesses, allowing sound to enter at an angle and increasing absorption by deflecting sound within the cavity, while maintaining a visually appealing design by concealing the rear recesses, with a width ratio of visible to rear openings between 0.1 and 0.5, and a larger rear recess cross-sectional area for enhanced sound absorption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If rear recesses are made visible to improve sound absorption, then sound absorption capacity is improved, but visual appeal deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound absorption capacityVSAvoidvisual appeal
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional view (front and back surfaces) to a three-dimensional solution by creating angled recesses that extend through the panel thickness. The recesses are positioned and angled such that they are accessible from the front surface but terminate before reaching the rear surface, making them invisible from the back while maintaining sound absorption functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The panel material itself acts as an intermediary element that selectively reveals recesses from the front while concealing them from the rear. The angled geometry of the recesses creates an optical effect where the panel material covers the recess openings when viewed from the back, yet sound can still enter through the front openings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If grooves and recesses are interconnected to increase sound absorption, then sound absorption capacity is improved, but reverberation time is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound absorption capacityVSAvoidreverberation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different geometric properties to different parts of the recess structure. The recesses have varying depths and angles, with some portions extending further into the panel than others. This local variation in geometry creates diverse sound paths and reflection patterns, allowing sound absorption to be enhanced while maintaining appropriate reverberation characteristics through controlled sound scattering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Shape

If rear recesses are covered by panel material, then visual appeal is improved, but sound absorption capacity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual appealVSAvoidsound absorption capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The recesses are segmented into different zones: front openings that accept sound, intermediate angled passages through the panel, and rear termination points that remain covered. This segmentation allows the panel material to cover the rear openings for aesthetic purposes while preserving the sound absorption function through the front openings and angled passages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 design improves sound absorption by increasing the sound path within the cavity and maintaining visual appeal by hiding the rear recesses, thus enhancing room acoustics while allowing for flexible arrangement and adaptation to specific acoustic requirements.

Implementation Method 1

When sound penetrates the cavities created by the porosity, it is absorbed, distributed, and thus dissipated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

sound to enter at an angle and increasing absorption by deflecting sound within the cavity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound deflection: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP3670777B1Acoustic panel
Publication Date: 2023.05.17 EICHHORN VERW GMBH
  • EP3670777B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3670777B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2d
  • EP3670777B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c

AI summary

The invention relates to an acoustic panel, with a back side (2) and a front side (3), wherein the back side (2) and front side (3) are parallel to each other, with at least one rear recess (4), in particular a bore (5), and with at least one front side recess (6), in particular a groove (7), wherein in a cross-section (8) orthogonal to the back side (2) a rear recess center line (IRA) of the rear recess (4) and a front side recess center line (ISA) of the front side recess (6) are at an angle to each other.It is proposed that the respective rear recess (4) has a first side wall (9) and an opposing second side wall (10), that in the cross-section (8) the respective front recess (6) enters the rear recess (4), wherein the respective front recess (6) enters via the first side wall (9) of the rear recess (4) and/or a projection of the respective front recess (4) along the front recess center line (ISA) partially or completely meets the second side wall (10) of the rear recess (4).