Wooden Capacitive Touch Loudspeaker With Dielectric Control Surface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional capacitive touchscreens lack a seamless integration of wireless functionality and user control interfaces in a single device, such as a loudspeaker, which limits user interaction and content management.

Innovation Solution

A wireless-enabled loudspeaker with a wooden or dielectric capacitive touch user interface that incorporates electroacoustic transducers, a processor, and a wireless transceiver circuit, allowing users to control audio playback and streaming through capacitive touch controls etched into the surface, enabling wireless connectivity and social media integration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional capacitive touchscreen is used, then user control interface is provided, but wireless functionality and user control interface are not integrated in a single device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegration of wireless functionality and user control interfaceVSAvoidseparation of functions into multiple devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a capacitive touch interface and wireless communication functionality into a single loudspeaker device. The touch interface includes electrodes and dielectric layers integrated into the speaker housing, allowing users to control audio playback, volume, and wireless connectivity directly on the speaker without needing separate control devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The loudspeaker serves multiple functions: audio output through electroacoustic transducers, wireless communication through transceiver circuits, and user control through capacitive touch interface. This multi-functional integration eliminates the need for separate control devices and enhances adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If capacitive touch controls are integrated into the loudspeaker surface, then user interaction is enhanced, but device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interaction through capacitive touch controlsVSAvoidintegration of touch interface layers into speaker structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The capacitive touch interface is nested within the speaker housing structure. The touch interface includes a substrate layer, dielectric layer, and electrode layer that are integrated into the existing speaker components, allowing user interaction without adding significant external complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Productivity

If wireless transceiver circuit and electroacoustic transducer are integrated with processor, then seamless wireless audio streaming is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless audio streaming capabilityVSAvoidintegration of multiple functional circuits

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The processor, wireless transceiver circuit, and electroacoustic transducer are integrated into a single loudspeaker system. The processor receives audio data wirelessly through the transceiver circuit and drives the electroacoustic transducer for audio output, enabling seamless wireless audio streaming in one device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enables intuitive user control of audio content playback, streaming, and social media interaction directly on the loudspeaker, enhancing user experience through capacitive touch controls and wireless connectivity without the need for additional devices.

Implementation Method 1

a wooden (or other dielectric) exterior surface 102 comprising a capacitive touch user interface 420 that allows a user to control operation of the loudspeaker 100. The capacitive touch user interface 420 comprises at least one capacitive sense electrode 502 in communication with the processor 402

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

the wooden exterior surface 102 acts a dielectric for the capacitive touch user interface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDielectric: Dielectric

Implementation Method 3

at least one electroacoustic transducer 802, 804 for producing audible sound

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroacoustic transduction:

Implementation Method 4

a wireless transceiver circuit 408 in communication with the processor 402, wherein the wireless transceiver circuit 408 is for receiving and transmitting wireless communication signals via a wireless network

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation:

Data Source

PatentUS11310574B2Wooden or other dielectric capacitive touch interface and loudspeaker having same

Publication Date: 2022.04.19 KOSS CORP

AI summary

Wireless-enabled loudspeaker includes a wooden capacitive touch user interface. The loudspeaker may comprise at least one electroacoustic transducer, a processor in communication with the at least one electroacoustic transducer, and a wooden exterior surface comprising a capacitive touch user interface that allows a user to control operation of the loudspeaker. The wooden exterior surface acts a dielectric for the capacitive touch user interface. The loudspeaker may comprise a wireless transceiver circuit for receiving and transmitting wireless communication signals via a wireless network. The wireless transceiver circuit may receive wirelessly audio content from streaming audio content servers that are connected to the Internet. The capacitive touch user interface comprises a plurality of user control icons etched in the wooden exterior surface, and a plurality of capacitive sense electrodes located under the wooden exterior surface.