Adjustable Sound Director for Ceiling Tile Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many ceiling speakers are designed for specific ceiling tile thicknesses, leading to deformation or failure over time due to loading, and lack versatility in sound delivery, particularly in sound masking applications.
Innovation Solution
A small ceiling speaker system with a variable adjustable length sound director that can accommodate a range of ceiling tile thicknesses, featuring a flanged cylindrical shell body, direct fire ring, magnetically attachable grill, and couplings, allowing for direct downward sound projection and interchangeability with existing systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ceiling speakers are designed for predetermined thicknesses of ceiling tile, then the speaker can be properly installed and supported, but the ceiling tile may deform or fail over time due to loading
Solution Approach 1:
The speaker system employs an adjustable sound director with variable length that can be configured to accommodate different ceiling tile thicknesses. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the same speaker unit to adapt to various installation conditions without compromising tile integrity or sound performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The sound director's adjustable length parameter enables the system to compensate for variations in ceiling tile thickness. By changing this physical parameter, the speaker maintains proper alignment and support across different tile specifications while distributing load appropriately to prevent tile deformation.
2Reliability
If ceiling speakers are designed for specific ceiling tile thicknesses, then proper sound delivery is achieved, but the speaker lacks versatility for different applications and settings
Solution Approach 1:
The speaker system is designed with interchangeable components including a diffuser and sound director that can be swapped based on application requirements. The adjustable sound director provides both diffuse and direct sound delivery modes, making the system universally applicable to various acoustic environments and installation scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable sound director allows dynamic reconfiguration of the speaker system to suit different acoustic requirements. Users can modify the sound director's position and orientation to achieve either diffuse sound distribution or direct sound projection, enabling the same hardware to serve multiple functions across different settings.
3Volume of moving object
If a small form factor speaker is used, then the acoustic footprint is reduced and installation space is minimized, but the sound output and power may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic channel shell extends through the ceiling tile to position the sound director in an optimal location below the tile surface. This three-dimensional spatial arrangement allows a compact above-ceiling enclosure to achieve effective sound projection by utilizing the vertical dimension and proper acoustic positioning rather than increasing horizontal size.
Solution Approach 2:
The speaker system features a nested configuration where the acoustic components are efficiently packed within a compact enclosure. The voice coil assembly, magnet structure, and acoustic channel are arranged in a space-efficient manner that maximizes sound output capability within the constrained volume of a small ceiling speaker.
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 efficient sound delivery with reduced tile deformation, supporting various tile thicknesses and allowing for both diffuse and directed sound systems with a small acoustic footprint, enhancing the usability of ceiling speakers in public address and entertainment settings.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetically attachable and releasable grill
Data Source
AI summary
A pair of subwoofer speakers mounted on a carrier in a ceiling speaker enclosure having a small acoustic port using an acoustic channel shell that extends from the enclosure, the output of which is directed by adjustable attachment of a director to the acoustic channel shell. An annular flange on the director is used to clamp to a bottom surface of a ceiling tile. The enclosure has braces for engaging grid members of a suspended ceiling support grid. The braces are independently extendable from the enclosure. The subwoofer speakers at least partially face each other. Vibration damping approaches are used. An audio controller may be used to control the phases of the audio signals to the subwoofer speakers to permit a push-pull synchronization strategy.