Adjustable Speaker Driver Separation for Stereo Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media playback systems lack the ability to dynamically adjust speaker configurations to optimize sound output based on specific audio content, listener location, and environmental factors, leading to suboptimal sound distribution and directional accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A playback device with two body portions and a moveable connecting portion that allows configuration into multiple settings, enabling the separation of speaker drivers to enhance spatial separation and frequency positioning, with the ability to adjust height and orientation for improved sound distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If speaker drivers are positioned close together in a compact playback device, then the device size is reduced, but stereo separation and spatial accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The playback device employs moveable body portions that can dynamically adjust the separation distance between speaker drivers. The connecting portion between body portions is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing the device to transition between compact and extended configurations. This dynamic adjustment enables optimization of spatial separation for audio quality while maintaining compact form factor when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The playback device is divided into multiple separate body portions (first body portion, second body portion, etc.) that can be independently positioned. Each body portion contains specific speaker drivers, and the separable structure allows for adjusted spacing between drivers while maintaining overall device coherence. This segmentation enables the device to achieve greater effective driver separation without increasing the footprint of the entire device.
2Manufacturing precision
If speaker drivers are positioned far apart to improve stereo separation, then spatial accuracy is improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using a fixed complex structure to maintain large driver separation, the invention uses dynamic moveable connections that can extend when needed. The connecting portions between body portions are designed to be movable, allowing the structure to simplify when drivers are close and extend when greater separation is required for audio optimization, thereby reducing overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The body portions are designed to be nestable or foldable when not in use, with the moveable connecting portions allowing compact retraction. When driver separation is needed for audio quality, the body portions can be extended from a compact nested state, achieving the required spatial separation without permanently increasing device complexity or size.
3Ease of manufacture
If higher frequency drivers are positioned at standard height, then manufacturing is simplified, but frequency positioning accuracy and directional output deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The body portions containing speaker drivers are designed to be movable relative to each other, allowing the height and position of higher frequency drivers to be dynamically adjusted. This enables optimization of frequency positioning accuracy by placing tweeters or high-frequency drivers at positions that maximize directional output and spatial accuracy, while maintaining ease of manufacture through the use of standardized moveable connection interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a playback device, comprising: a first body portion, a second body portion, a first speaker driver mounted in the first body portion, a second speaker driver mounted in the second body portion and a substantially rigid connecting portion extending between the first body portion and the second body portion. The connecting portion is moveable and/or extendable to configure the playback device in at least a first configuration and a second configuration. In the second configuration the first and second body portions are arranged farther apart than in the first configuration.