Acoustic Reflector for Speaker Sound Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing speaker systems in public areas have limited sound coverage and uneven sound distribution due to their design, which restricts the range and effectiveness of sound transmission, and often require larger speaker housings to achieve adequate sound pressure.
Innovation Solution
A speaker assembly with a housing and a symmetrical acoustic reflector that includes a central convex region for reflecting low-frequency vibrations back to the speaker and a concave secondary region for directing midrange to high-frequency vibrations away from the speaker, optimizing sound distribution and reducing the size of the resonating chamber, while also incorporating a translucent reflector for illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If traditional speaker systems are used in public areas, then sound coverage is limited and sound distribution is uneven, but increasing speaker size or power to improve coverage and distribution would increase housing size and packaging complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension by positioning the speaker above ground level and using a reflector to direct sound waves downward and outward. This spatial arrangement allows sound to cover a wider area without increasing the horizontal footprint of the housing, effectively resolving the contradiction between sound coverage area and housing volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflector acts as an intermediary element between the speaker and the target area. It receives sound waves from the speaker and redirects them to achieve broader and more uniform sound distribution. This intermediary component enables enhanced sound coverage without requiring a larger speaker housing.
2Stress or pressure
If traditional speaker systems are used, then adequate sound pressure requires larger speaker housings, but larger housings increase packaging complexity and installation difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
By utilizing the vertical space above ground level, the system achieves adequate sound pressure without increasing housing volume. The elevated position combined with the reflector creates an efficient acoustic pathway that maintains sound pressure while minimizing housing size and packaging complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflector serves as a mediator that amplifies and distributes sound pressure efficiently. It captures sound waves from the compact speaker housing and redirects them to achieve the desired sound pressure levels in the target area, thereby maintaining adequate sound pressure without increasing housing size or packaging complexity.
3Reliability
If speakers are mounted in public areas, then they are exposed to vandalism, wind load, and weather, but adding protective enclosures increases housing size and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The speaker is nested within a protective housing that also contains the reflector. This nested arrangement provides protection from vandalism and weather while maintaining a compact overall volume. The reflector is positioned within the housing structure, allowing the system to achieve both protection and acoustic performance without significantly increasing housing volume.
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 provides a wider and more evenly distributed sound range, reducing the size of the speaker housing and minimizing packaging, while also enhancing the appearance by concealing the speaker and providing overlapping light and sound coverage without external speakers, with empirical testing showing a 2.6 times increase in sound radius at ear height with uniform distribution.
Implementation Method 1
The reflector has a central convex region for reflecting pressure back to the speaker for amplifying back pressure of the speaker
Implementation Method 2
The reflector has a secondary region with a concave cross-section oriented about the central region for reflecting acoustic vibrations past and outboard of the housing
Implementation Method 3
A translucent acoustic reflector is spaced apart from and faces the speaker for reflecting acoustic vibrations past and outboard of the housing to a first region. A light source is oriented proximate to the reflector to convey light through the reflector
Data Source
AI summary
A speaker assembly is provided with a housing, a speaker mounted to the housing, and a reflector spaced apart from and facing the speaker. The reflector is symmetrical and has an arcuate central convex region for reflecting pressure back to the speaker for amplifying back pressure to the speaker. The reflector has a secondary region with an arcuate cross-section for reflecting acoustic vibrations past and outboard of the housing. The reflector is partially translucent, and a light source is provided adjacent the reflector for conveying light to the reflector, past and outboard of the housing for illuminating a region that receives acoustic vibrations reflected from the reflector. A media assembly is provided with a fan operably connected to a generator so that air that passes into a housing through an inlet and out of an outlet, causes the fan to rotate thereby providing a power source to a media device.