Air Guide Sound Absorption Hole Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air cleaners generate noise due to fan operation, which is emitted outside the device, and there is a need to reduce noise without increasing the size of the housing or using thick sound insulation.

Innovation Solution

The air cleaner incorporates an air guide with a sound absorption hole and sound insulation space, featuring a meta structure that absorbs sound waves generated by the fan, with a resonant frequency designed to minimize noise in the frequency region of 1000 Hz or less, and includes a guide flow path to prevent turbulence and reduce noise without increasing the device's size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If thick sound insulation is used to absorb fan noise, then noise reduction is improved, but device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovenoiseVSAvoidhousing size
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a porous sound absorption material filled in the air guide structure to absorb fan noise. The porous structure allows sound waves to enter and be absorbed through friction and resonance within the material's voids, achieving effective noise reduction without requiring thick insulation layers, thus maintaining compact device size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The sound absorption structure is nested within the air guide component itself. The air guide serves dual functions: guiding air flow and providing a housing for the sound absorption material. This nested design integrates noise reduction functionality into the existing structure without adding external volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional sound insulation is used to reduce fan noise, then noise reduction is improved, but the structure becomes bulky

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound generated by fanVSAvoidstructure compactness
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The sound absorption material is strategically placed only in specific regions where noise generation is most prominent, rather than uniformly distributing insulation throughout the entire housing. This localized approach targets the noise source effectively while maintaining overall structural compactness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite construction by combining the air guide structure with integrated sound absorption material. This composite design merges structural and acoustic functions into a single compact component, avoiding the bulkiness of separate insulation layers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the air guide structure is added to reduce noise, then noise reduction is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovenoiseVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air guide and sound absorption functions are merged into a single integrated component. The air guide structure simultaneously performs air flow guidance and houses the sound absorption material, eliminating the need for separate noise reduction components and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The air guide component is designed with multi-functionality: it guides air flow from the fan, structures the air outlet pattern, and provides accommodation for sound absorption material. This universal design reduces the total number of components needed in the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The solution effectively reduces noise generated by the fan operation while maintaining the air cleaner's compact size, achieving noise reduction without the need for bulky sound insulation.

Implementation Method 1

a sound absorption hole extending from the guide surface so that a sound generated by the fan while the fan operates is absorbed through the sound absorption hole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Implementation Method 2

the air guide including a guide surface along which the air moving through the flow path flows while the fan operates, and a sound absorption hole extending from the guide surface so that a sound generated by the fan while the fan operates is absorbed through the sound absorption hole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Data Source

PatentEP4636326A1Noise reduction apparatus and air cleaner including same
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4636326A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4636326A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4636326A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An air cleaner including a housing including a flow path through which air is movable; a fan configured to operate to move air through the flow path; and an air guide adjacent to the fan, the air guide including a guide surface along which the air moving through the flow path flows while the fan operates, and a sound absorption hole extending from the guide surface so that a sound generated by the fan while the fan operates is absorbed through the sound absorption hole.