Bodily-Sensible Audio Gain Control for Sound-Vibration Balance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bodily-sensible acoustic devices struggle to maintain an appropriate balance between sound volume and vibration levels when the sound volume is changed, leading to an imbalance in user experience.

Innovation Solution

A bodily-sensible acoustic device with an operation part, a speaker, an amplifier, a vibrator, a vibration driver, and a gain setting part, where the gain setting part sets different gain characteristics for the amplifier and the vibration driver based on the operation amount, ensuring that the vibration level changes less than the sound volume level.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the sound volume is changed using a single gain setting for both speaker and vibrator, then the operation is simple, but the balance between sound volume level and vibration level becomes inappropriate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound volume control simplicityVSAvoidbalance between sound volume and vibration level

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by setting different gain characteristics for the amplifier and vibration driver. Specifically, when the operation amount changes, the gain of the amplifier and the gain of the vibration driver are adjusted by different amounts, allowing independent control of sound volume and vibration level to maintain appropriate balance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the gain control into two independent parts: a first gain for the amplifier controlling sound volume, and a second gain for the vibration driver controlling vibration level. This segmentation allows each component to be adjusted independently based on operation amount, resolving the contradiction between simple operation and balanced output

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If the gain characteristics of amplifier and vibration driver are made different, then the balance between sound and vibration is maintained, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebalance between sound volume and vibration levelVSAvoidgain control system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent manages device complexity by implementing parameter changes through a gain setting unit that adjusts amplifier gain and vibration driver gain differently based on operation amount. This approach maintains balance between sound and vibration while using a relatively simple control mechanism that adapts parameters dynamically

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses dynamics by making the gain characteristics adaptive rather than fixed. The gain setting unit dynamically adjusts the gain of the amplifier and vibration driver based on the operation amount, allowing the system to maintain appropriate balance across different operating conditions without requiring complex static control structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

This solution maintains a suitable balance between sound volume and vibration levels, preventing significant reductions or increases in vibration levels when sound volume changes, thereby enhancing user experience.

Implementation Method 1

an amplifier configured to amplify the input audio signal by a first gain

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical amplification:

Implementation Method 2

a speaker arranged in a position that allows the user to hear a sound output from the speaker

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroacoustic conversion:

Implementation Method 3

a vibration driver configured to vibrate the vibrator according to a signal obtained by amplifying the input audio signal at a second gain

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromechanical conversion:

Implementation Method 4

a vibrator arranged in a position that enables vibrations of the vibrator to be transmitted to the user

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical vibration transmission: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS20250030968A1Bodily-sensible acoustic device

Publication Date: 2025.01.23 ALPS ALPINE CO LTD

AI summary

A bodily-sensible acoustic device includes an operation part, speaker, amplifier, vibrator, vibration driver, and gain setting part. The operation part is operated by a user. The speaker is arranged in a position that allows the user to hear a sound output from the speaker. The amplifier is configured to amplify an input audio signal at a first gain to output the amplified input audio signal. The vibrator is arranged in a position that enables vibrations of the vibrator to be transmitted to the user. The vibration driver is configured to vibrate the vibrator according to a signal obtained by amplifying the input audio signal at a second gain. The gain setting part is configured to set the first gain and the second gain according to an operation amount of the operation part, where the first gain and the second gain are set to have different gain characteristics.