Columnar Reflector Layout for Balanced Acoustic Room Diffusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sound absorbing structures in acoustic rooms suffer from poor frequency balance, leading to issues like 'sense of confinement' due to excessive high-frequency absorption and 'obscurity' due to insufficient low-frequency absorption, and regular periodic arrangements cause coloration and uneven acoustic characteristics across different locations.
Innovation Solution
A sound field adjusting method that calculates the diameters and arrangement conditions of columnar reflectors to diffuse sound waves of different frequency ranges, forming reflecting surfaces with random reflection directions and time delays, and incorporates sound absorbing layers to control energy and frequency characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If porous sound absorbing materials are used to cover wall surfaces, then sound absorption in high frequency ranges is improved, but sound absorption in low frequency ranges becomes insufficient and excessive absorption in high ranges causes 'sense of confinement' and 'muffled feeling'
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different types of sound absorbing materials in different frequency ranges. Porous materials are used for high frequency absorption while resonating structures are used for low frequency absorption, allowing each material to perform optimally in its designated frequency range rather than using a single material type for all frequencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining porous sound absorbing materials with resonating sound absorbing structures in a hybrid configuration. This composite approach allows the system to achieve both high frequency absorption (via porous materials) and low frequency absorption (via resonating structures), resolving the frequency balance problem.
2Loss of energy
If conventional sound absorbing structures with regular periodic arrays are used, then sound absorption is improved, but acoustic differences across locations occur and coloration appears due to periodic reflection properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by using irregular or random arrangements of sound absorbing elements instead of regular periodic arrays. This asymmetric configuration eliminates the periodic reflection properties that cause coloration and ensures more uniform acoustic characteristics across different locations in the room.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses local quality by varying the properties and positions of sound absorbing elements throughout the structure, creating non-uniform distribution patterns that prevent periodic reflections while maintaining effective sound absorption across the entire surface area.
3Ease of operation
If reflecting surfaces are added to adjust sound field balance, then sound field distribution is improved, but the structure becomes more complex and space is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing sound absorbing structures that simultaneously provide both sound absorption and sound diffusion functions. The resonating structures and irregular configurations create diffuse reflections that distribute sound uniformly throughout the space, eliminating the need for separate reflecting surface components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of sound absorption and sound diffusion into a single integrated structure. The resonating elements and irregular arrangements perform both absorption and diffusion simultaneously, reducing overall structural complexity compared to using separate absorbing and reflecting surfaces.
4Loss of energy
If more sound absorbing materials are used to improve absorption, then sound absorption is improved, but the space occupied increases and frequency balance may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing resonating structures that achieve effective low frequency absorption with smaller physical dimensions compared to traditional porous materials. By changing the absorption mechanism from purely porous to resonating, the system achieves better low frequency performance with reduced space occupation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials to achieve high absorption efficiency in both frequency ranges with compact dimensions. The combination of porous materials and resonating structures creates a space-efficient solution that provides comprehensive frequency coverage without requiring large volumes of material.
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 approach provides a well-balanced sound field with desired frequency characteristics across a wide area, reducing coloration and achieving natural reverberations by diffusing sound waves uniformly, thus addressing the limitations of conventional technologies.
Implementation Method 1
calculating diameters of a plurality of columnar reflectors so as to diffuse sound waves of respective different frequency ranges; and calculating an arrangement condition so that the columnar reflectors having the calculated diameters form a plurality of reflecting surfaces that make reflection directions, reflection time delays of the sound waves of different frequency ranges, and/or phases of reflected sound random
Implementation Method 2
incorporates sound absorbing layers to control energy and frequency characteristics
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a sound field adjusting method that can provide an acoustic improvement effect tailored to the characteristics of various acoustic rooms, with small differences in reflection properties between sound receiving points. The diameters of a plurality of columnar reflectors are calculated so as to diffuse sound waves of respective different frequency ranges. An arrangement condition is calculated so that the columnar reflectors having the calculated diameters form a plurality of reflecting surfaces that reflect the sound waves of different frequency ranges in random reflection directions, with random reflection time delays, or in random phases. The plurality of columnar reflectors having respective different diameters are then arranged under the arrangement condition. The arrangement condition is calculated to form a reflecting surface for a sound wave of a higher frequency range near a sound source, and form a reflecting surface for a sound wave of a lower frequency range far from the sound source. A sound absorbing structure by using the internal space of the arranged columnar reflectors provides effective countermeasures against low-range standing waves.