Adjustable Air Columns for Head Mounted Display Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Head mounted display devices face challenges in balancing portability with audio quality, as higher-quality speakers and materials often increase weight and bulk, limiting features like sound quality and battery life.
Innovation Solution
Implementing adjustable air column lengths in speaker tubes within head mounted displays using programmatically controlled valves, allowing for dynamic selection and actuation of speakers to optimize sound output based on input sound characteristics, direction, and user preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If higher-quality speakers and materials are used to improve audio quality, then sound quality is improved, but weight and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the acoustic parameters of the existing speaker system by dynamically adjusting air column lengths using valves. This allows the same physical speaker to produce different sound qualities (resonance, noise factors) without changing the speaker hardware itself, thereby improving audio quality without adding weight.
2Reliability
If higher-quality speakers and materials are used to improve audio quality, then sound quality is improved, but device bulk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustability to the acoustic system through programmatically controlled valves that can change air column lengths in real-time. This dynamic capability allows a compact speaker system to deliver variable high-quality audio output, replacing what would traditionally require multiple fixed speakers or larger acoustic chambers.
3Power
If air column length is increased to increase sound resonance and volume, then sound volume is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes a single speaker system multi-functional by enabling it to perform multiple acoustic roles through dynamic air column adjustment. The same speaker can produce different resonance characteristics and volume levels by changing the air column configuration, replacing what would traditionally require multiple specialized speakers or acoustic pathways.
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 approach enables more immersive and realistic sound experiences by dynamically adjusting resonance and noise factors, enhancing audio quality without increasing device weight or complexity.
Implementation Method 1
Sound waves propagate through air columns based in part on the air column length. For example, increased air column length results in increased resonance of the sound wave
Data Source
AI summary
A head mounted display device includes a frame with multiple tubes inside the frame. The tubes contain a number of speakers and valves. The valves can be actuated on demand, changing the air column length relative to the speakers. Based on an input sound, speakers can be selected and valves can be actuated to improve sound quality.