Acoustic Panel with Clustered Apertures for Broadband Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional acoustic panels, such as plasterboard, reflect sound waves well, leading to reverberation issues in buildings, and existing sound-absorbing solutions either fail to absorb sound across a broad range of frequencies or compromise the aesthetic appearance when used as interior wall linings.

Innovation Solution

An acoustic panel with a substantially air-impermeable membrane layer and apertures arranged in clusters, where the apertures within clusters are closer together than those outside, creating resonance absorbers that vibrate at different frequencies, providing broad sound absorption without compromising the surface finish or appearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional plasterboard panels are used for interior wall lining, then the surface provides a smooth, paintable finish, but the panels reflect sound waves leading to reverberation issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface finish qualityVSAvoidsound reflection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a porous sound-absorbing material layer within the panel structure, allowing the panel to absorb sound waves across a broad frequency range while maintaining a smooth outer surface for painting and aesthetic purposes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The panel is constructed as a composite structure combining a smooth outer layer for aesthetic finish with an inner sound-absorbing porous material layer, enabling simultaneous achievement of smooth surface quality and sound absorption performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If soft sound-absorbing materials such as perforated acoustic tiles or fabric wall linings are used, then reverberation is reduced, but the aesthetic appearance and paintability are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound absorptionVSAvoidaesthetic appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a porous sound-absorbing material that is integrated within the panel structure rather than as a visible surface layer, enabling sound absorption functionality while maintaining a smooth, paintable outer surface that provides aesthetic appearance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The panel combines a smooth outer layer for aesthetic purposes with an inner porous sound-absorbing material layer, creating a composite structure that delivers both aesthetic appearance and effective sound absorption across broad frequencies

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of manufacture

If hard, solid materials like plasterboard are used, then the surface is smooth and paintable, but sound waves are reflected rather than absorbed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface smoothnessVSAvoidsound reflection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 panel effectively absorbs sound energy across a wide range of frequencies, reducing reverberation and maintaining a smooth, paintable surface similar to conventional plasterboard, while being suitable for various applications including building interiors, automotive use, and outdoor barriers.

Implementation Method 1

each portion of the membrane layer which overlies an aperture defines a diaphragm which is able to vibrate in response to sound waves incident on the membrane layer and thereby absorb at least part of the sound waves' energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

each region of the panel defined by an outer periphery of a cluster forming a resonance absorber which is able to vibrate in response to sound waves and thereby absorb at least part of the sound waves' energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResonance absorption: Resonance

Data Source

PatentEP2491194B1Acoustic panel

Publication Date: 2021.06.02 BELLMAX ACOUSTIC

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AI summary

A panel (1) including a substantially air impermeable membrane layer (3) and a layer (5) having apertures (6) therein, wherein each portion of the membrane layer (3) which overlies an aperture (6) defines a diaphragm (9) which is able to vibrate in response to sound waves incident on the membrane layer (3) and thereby absorb at least part of the sound waves' energy, at least some of the apertures (6) being arranged in clusters (11) whereby the greatest distance between adjacent apertures within a cluster (11 ) is less than the distance between (i) any one of the apertures (6) within the cluster (11) and (ii) any aperture (6) outside of the cluster (11), each region of the panel (1) defined by an outer periphery of a cluster (11) forming a resonance absorber (13) which is able to vibrate in response to sound waves and thereby absorb at least part of the sound waves energy, wherein at least one resonance absorber (13) is able to provide sound absorption at a frequency which is different to the frequency of resonance of at least one of the individual diaphragms (9).