Acoustic Instrument Sound Augmentation via Vibrating Driver

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Solution Overview

Problem

Musicians face challenges in amplifying and augmenting the sound of acoustic instruments without access to bulky, expensive, and power-dependent electronic equipment, limiting their mobility and creative options during performances.

Innovation Solution

A portable electronic sound augmentation system that captures the natural sound of acoustic instruments using audio pickups and routes it through an electronic system to add effects like reverb and delay, using a vibrating driver to reproduce the enhanced sound within the instrument's body, eliminating the need for external amplifiers and speakers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If conventional electronic amplification equipment is used to enhance the sound of acoustic instruments, then the sound output and sound effects are improved, but the equipment becomes bulky, expensive, and dependent on external power sources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound outputVSAvoidequipment size

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the sound capture device, electronic sound augmentation system with DSP, and vibrating driver into a single integrated unit that attaches directly to the acoustic instrument. This merging eliminates the need for separate external amplifiers and speakers, resolving the contradiction between achieving high sound output and avoiding bulky equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The vibrating driver acts as an intermediary between the electronic sound processing system and the instrument body. It converts electrical signals into mechanical vibrations that directly couple with the instrument's resonant body, enabling efficient sound transmission without requiring large external speakers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional amplification equipment is used, then enhanced sound effects are achieved, but access to power sources is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound effects capabilityVSAvoidpower source dependency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates an integrated power source (battery) and portable electronic components that enable the sound augmentation system to operate independently without external power sources. This self-contained design allows musicians to use advanced sound effects in locations without electrical outlets, resolving the contradiction between versatility and power dependency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Power

If external amplifiers and speakers are used, then sound augmentation is achieved, but mobility and freedom for musical performances are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound amplificationVSAvoidmobility

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into compact, modular components that can be easily attached and removed from the instrument. The sound capture device, processing unit, and vibrating driver are segmented into manageable parts that maintain the instrument's portability while providing powerful sound amplification, resolving the contradiction between sound power and mobility.

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

Enables versatile and creative sound enhancement for acoustic instruments, providing rich layered sounds without external equipment, maintaining instrument mobility and reducing dependency on power sources, while being easy to install and transport.

Implementation Method 1

A sound capture device is affixed to an acoustic instrument to capture the natural sound output of the instrument

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound capture:

Implementation Method 2

The processed and augmented sound is then reproduced via a vibrating driver that has been affixed to the body of the acoustic instrument

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 3

the body of the musical instrument, responding to a series of vibrations produced by the vibrating driver, acts as a speaker component, reproducing a rich augmented sound output

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic resonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentUS9111517B2System and method for sound augmentation of acoustic musical instruments

Publication Date: 2015.08.18 WEBMAN OFER

AI summary

A sound capture device is affixed to an acoustic instrument to capture the natural sound output of the instrument. The captured sound signal is routed to an electronic sound augmentation system that is configured to augment the captured sound with spatial sound effects such as reverb, echo, delay, etc. The processed and augmented sound is then reproduced via a vibrating driver that has been affixed to the body of the acoustic instrument. This creates a situation where the body of the musical instrument, responding to a series of vibrations produced by the vibrating driver, acts as a speaker component, reproducing a rich augmented sound output that comprises the sum of the sound produced by the original sound production capabilities of the acoustical instrument plus the added augmented or enhanced sound effects.