Portable Audio Waveguide Exit for Single-Hand Gripping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable audio systems lack a convenient and ergonomic design for grasping and handling, as they do not have a dedicated feature to facilitate easy manipulation with a single hand, leading to difficulties in portability and usability.
Innovation Solution
A portable audio system with a housing featuring an acoustic exit that serves as a flared handle with a textured surface, positioned on the back surface next to the top surface, allowing for easy grasping with multiple fingers and thumb, and a docking cradle that can rotate between open and closed positions for versatile usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the portable audio system is designed with a conventional smooth housing surface, then the manufacturing is simple and cost-effective, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in grasping and handling
Solution Approach 1:
The housing surface is modified locally at specific regions (acoustic exits) to provide textured grip surfaces, while the rest of the housing maintains its smooth conventional surface. This localized modification improves grasping ease without requiring complex changes to the entire housing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The acoustic exits serve dual functions: they perform their primary acoustic function of sound output and simultaneously serve as ergonomic grasping features with textured surfaces. This multi-functionality improves ease of operation without adding separate dedicated gripping elements that would increase device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the acoustic exit is positioned on the back surface next to the top surface, then the ease of operation improves for single-hand grasping, but the device complexity increases due to specialized positioning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic exit is positioned and designed to serve dual purposes: acoustic output and ergonomic grasping feature. This positioning on the back surface next to the top surface enables effective single-hand handling while maintaining the acoustic function, eliminating the need for separate dedicated gripping structures.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
An apparatus includes a housing. A waveguide is located within the housing. The waveguide includes a first subsection that bends around a first axis and has a first cross-sectional area with an aspect ratio that is substantially different from unity. A second subsection bends around a second axis that is non-parallel to the first axis and includes a second cross-sectional area with an aspect ratio that is substantially different from unity. A third subsection acoustically couples the first subsection to the second subsection. The third subsection includes a third cross-sectional area with an aspect ratio that varies between the first aspect ratio and the second aspect ratio. The waveguide exits the housing through an acoustic exit having a shape that facilitates the grasping of the housing with a plurality of fingers from a single human hand.