Adjustable Loudspeaker Orientation for Audio Apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional audio devices with fixed loudspeaker orientations provide suboptimal sound experiences as users often do not face the direction of sound emission, limiting the area of optimal sound effect.

Innovation Solution

An audio device with an adjustable loudspeaker and a spherical microphone array that determines the user's spatial position to calculate and adjust the loudspeaker's direction, aligning it with the user for optimal sound emission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the loudspeaker opening direction is fixed, then the device structure is simple, but the area of optimal sound effect is limited and user experience deteriorates when user is not facing the sound emission direction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearea of optimal sound effectVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The loudspeaker opening direction is made adjustable through a motor-driven rotating mechanism, allowing the loudspeaker to dynamically change its orientation to face the user. This transforms the fixed structure into a dynamic one that can adapt to different user positions, thereby expanding the area of optimal sound effect while accepting increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A spherical microphone array is used to detect the user's position and provide feedback to the control system. The control system processes this spatial information and adjusts the loudspeaker orientation accordingly, creating a closed-loop feedback system that continuously optimizes sound emission direction based on real-time user position data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the loudspeaker opening direction is adjustable to align with user position, then the acoustic experience is improved, but the device complexity and control difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic experienceVSAvoidcontrol system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The manual adjustment of loudspeaker direction is replaced with an automated motor-driven rotating mechanism controlled by electronic systems. The spherical microphone array and processing unit substitute for human judgment and manual operation, automatically calculating the optimal loudspeaker orientation based on detected user position, thereby improving ease of operation while managing control complexity through automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the orientation parameters (azimuth and elevation angles) of the loudspeaker based on processed spatial audio data from the spherical microphone array. By dynamically adjusting these angular parameters according to user position, the system optimizes acoustic experience while using standardized parameter control methods to manage system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If a spherical microphone array is used to determine user spatial position, then the positioning accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser spatial position accuracyVSAvoidmicrophone array structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A spherical microphone array is employed instead of planar or linear array configurations. The spherical geometry provides superior spatial sampling characteristics, enabling accurate determination of user position in three-dimensional space from multiple angles. This curved geometric arrangement improves measurement precision by capturing acoustic signals from all directions simultaneously, justifying the increased structural complexity through enhanced positioning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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

Ensures the user is within the area of optimal sound effect by accurately aligning the loudspeaker with the user's position, enhancing acoustic experience.

Implementation Method 1

by using the spherical microphone array, determining a spatial position of a sound-emission sound source of a user

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound wave detection: Sound

Data Source

PatentUS11438692B2Directional sound generation method and device for audio apparatus, and audio apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.09.06 GOERTEK INC

AI summary

The present disclosure discloses a method and apparatus for directional sound emission of an audio device, and an audio device. The method includes: by using the spherical microphone array, determining a spatial position of a sound-emission sound source of a user; according to a relationship among the spatial position of the sound-emission sound source of the user, a center position of the audio device and an opening position of the loudspeaker, determining a horizontal compensatory angle and a vertical compensatory angle of the opening direction of the loudspeaker relative to the spatial position of the user; and adjusting the opening direction of the loudspeaker, so that the horizontal compensatory angle and the vertical compensatory angle are made to be zero.