Air Pulse Speaker Architecture for Compact Full-Range Audio
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional speaker drivers face challenges in producing high-fidelity sound across the full range of human audible frequencies due to the need for multiple components, which increases size and cost, and suffer from distortion in compact designs due to insufficient enclosure volume.
Innovation Solution
A sound producing device utilizing air pulse generating elements with a membrane, a first air chamber, and openings to create non-zero offset sound pressure levels through ultrasonic air pulses, overcoming the limitations of conventional speaker designs by using a single component to generate sound across a wide frequency range and minimizing enclosure size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple speaker components (tweeters, mid-range drivers, woofers) are used to cover full audible frequency range, then frequency coverage is improved, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a single speaker driver that can operate across the entire audible frequency spectrum (20 Hz to 20 kHz), eliminating the need for separate tweeters, mid-range drivers, and woofers. This universal driver design achieves full frequency coverage while reducing component count and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the frequency spectrum handling by using a single driver with optimized parameters that allow it to effectively cover low, mid, and high frequencies without requiring physical segmentation into multiple specialized drivers.
2Volume of moving object
If speaker enclosure volume is reduced for compact devices, then device size is improved, but sound quality and fidelity deteriorate due to distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the speaker driver parameters, specifically using a driver with a resonance frequency of 50 Hz or lower and an Qts value of 0.35 or higher, allowing compact enclosure design while maintaining sound fidelity. This parameter optimization enables small enclosures to achieve distortion-free operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-compensates for potential distortion issues by carefully selecting speaker parameters and enclosure volume relationships before operation, ensuring that even in compact designs, the air pressure fluctuations remain within linear ranges and distortion is prevented.
3Volume of moving object
If conventional speaker parameters are used in compact enclosures, then device size is reduced, but distortion increases due to nonlinearity near movement peaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies using a speaker driver with resonance frequency of 50 Hz or lower and Qts of 0.35 or higher, which allows the enclosure volume to be reduced to 1/64 or less of the conventional value while maintaining linear operation and minimizing distortion through optimized parameter selection.
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 device achieves high-fidelity sound production with reduced size and complexity, maintaining sound pressure levels while minimizing distortion, by generating ultrasonic air pulses that are propagated through a network of small through-holes, enhancing acoustic wave propagation efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the membrane is actuated to change the chamber pressure of the first air chamber to generate a plurality of air pulses, the air pulses are propagated through the at least one opening
Implementation Method 2
the air pulses produce a non-zero offset in terms of sound pressure level, and the non-zero offset is a deviation from a pressure value of an ambient pressure outside the sound producing device
Data Source
AI summary
A sound producing device includes at least one air pulse generating element. Each of the at least one air pulse generating element includes a membrane, a first air chamber and at least one opening, wherein a chamber pressure exists in the first air chamber, and the opening is connected between the first air chamber and an ambient surrounding the sound producing device. The membrane is actuated to change the chamber pressure of the first air chamber to generate a plurality of air pulses, the air pulses are propagated through the at least one opening, the air pulses produce a non-zero offset in terms of sound pressure level, and the non-zero offset is a deviation from a pressure value of an ambient pressure outside the sound producing device.