Bumper Speaker for Law Enforcement Siren Projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern law enforcement vehicles with tighter aerodynamic designs face challenges in projecting siren sounds effectively due to reduced grill sizes and increased noise insulation, leading to reduced sound output and potential masking by air horns, which can compromise warnings and increase liability.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a speaker within the push bumper upright of a law enforcement vehicle, featuring an aerodynamic design with anti-vibration mounting and simultaneous operation with air horns to project sound forward and enhance auditory warnings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If siren speakers are installed in front grills near hoods, then sound can be transmitted forward effectively, but front grills have been reduced in size or eliminated due to aerodynamic design requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The siren speaker system is extracted from the traditional front grill location and relocated to the front bumper fascia. This separates the sound transmission function from the aerodynamic grill structure, allowing the grill to be minimized or eliminated for aerodynamic efficiency while the bumper-mounted speaker maintains effective sound projection forward to violators.
Solution Approach 2:
The siren mounting location transitions from the vertical plane of the front grill to the horizontal plane of the front bumper fascia. This dimensional shift allows the siren to be positioned in a location that does not interfere with aerodynamic grill design while still projecting sound effectively forward.
2Ease of manufacture
If siren is mounted on fascia behind or within bumper, then aerodynamic design is maintained, but sound output and performance are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The front bumper fascia is designed with a specific localized feature - a forward-facing opening or aperture in the lower portion - that provides an acoustic pathway for sound projection. This local modification to the bumper structure allows the siren mounted on the fascia to project sound effectively forward without compromising the overall aerodynamic shape of the vehicle front end.
3Power
If air horns are used for warnings, then louder lower pitch sound is produced, but police siren sound is masked making warnings improper
Solution Approach 1:
The auditory warning system is segmented into two distinct functional components: air horns mounted on the vehicle for general attention-grabbing with loud lower pitch sound, and a dedicated siren speaker mounted on the front bumper for clear directional sound projection to violators. This segmentation allows each component to operate in its optimal frequency and volume range without masking the other, ensuring both components fulfill their specific warning functions effectively.
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 directs siren sounds forward, improving auditory warnings and reducing liability by ensuring violators can hear the siren over air horns, thus enhancing public safety during pursuits.
Implementation Method 1
The driver generally activates an electromagnet rapidly that moves the diaphragm inwardly and outwardly within a speaker housing to create sound of a certain frequency and volume
Implementation Method 2
the diaphragm generating a sound wave propagating generally forward of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A sound projecting bumper may include a vehicle bumper configured to be attached to a vehicle, the bumper comprising a plurality of uprights and at least one generally horizontal member, the bumper further comprising a horn for emitting sound, the horn comprising a driver, a cone, a speaker and a diaphragm for producing the sound, and wiring to connect the bumper device to the vehicle's electrical system. The horn may be configured to focus sound particularly forward of the vehicle. The driver may be attached to one of the uprights, and the bumper may include a second driver attached to a second one of the uprights. The horn may be generally aligned with one of the uprights, or the horn may be formed in a generally horizontal member. The bumper may further include a channel in the generally horizontal member, wherein the channel extends generally along a portion of the generally horizontal member, turning to form the horn.