Directional Speaker Guide Tube for Slim Display Thickness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display apparatuses face challenges in reducing thickness while maintaining surround sound effects, as they need to accommodate speakers and printed circuit boards, limiting design slimness.

Innovation Solution

A directional speaker design featuring a driver unit, a guide tube with decreasing cross-sectional areas and sound radiation holes, and a cap with a V-shaped groove to enhance sound directivity and reduce noise, allowing for efficient sound radiation and surround sound effects even when speakers are placed centrally.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If speakers are arranged at rear portions of the display unit to provide surround sound effects, then surround sound quality is improved, but the display unit thickness increases to accommodate the speakers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurround sound qualityVSAvoiddisplay unit thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The speaker system is segmented into multiple independent directional speakers distributed at different positions (front, rear, side portions) of the display unit. Each directional speaker operates as a separate sound radiation unit with its own guide tube, allowing surround sound effects to be achieved through spatial distribution rather than requiring thick rear housing for conventional speakers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from conventional omnidirectional sound radiation to directional sound radiation by introducing guide tubes that control sound propagation in specific directions. This dimensional control of sound waves allows speakers to be placed at various positions including thin edge portions while maintaining effective surround sound coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Shape

If the display unit thickness is reduced for slim design, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but the ability to accommodate speakers and PCBs is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay unit slimnessVSAvoidaccommodation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The guide tube structure extends sound radiation in a directional manner along the length of the tube, allowing speakers to be positioned at various locations including the thin edge portions of the display unit. This directional propagation enables effective sound output without requiring increased thickness at speaker locations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the display unit are assigned different functions: front speakers for dialogue, rear speakers for surround effects, and edge portion directional speakers for additional spatial audio. This local optimization allows each region to contribute to overall sound quality without requiring uniform thickness increase throughout the display unit

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Length of stationary object

If conventional speakers are used in thin display units, then display slimness is maintained, but surround sound effects are degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay unit thicknessVSAvoidsurround sound effects
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The audio system is divided into multiple independent directional speaker units positioned at different locations (front, rear, side portions) of the display unit. Each unit uses a guide tube to radiate sound in a specific direction, creating spatially distributed surround sound effects that compensate for the thin profile of the display unit

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide tube structure enables sound to propagate directionally along the tube's length, allowing speakers to be effectively positioned at various locations including the thin edge portions of the display unit. This creates three-dimensional sound spatialization without requiring increased physical thickness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 directional speaker effectively radiates sound with improved directivity, maintaining surround sound effects without increasing the overall thickness of the display unit, enabling slim and efficient display designs.

Implementation Method 1

a guide tube having a hollow tube shape with a first end and a second end that is open, the guide tube configured to guide the sound generated by the driver and received via the first end

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound wave propagation: Sound

Implementation Method 2

the cap has a groove in a V-shape on an inner surface facing the second end of the guide tube to allow sounds that reach the groove to destructively interfere with each other

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic interference: Interference

Data Source

PatentEP3334182B1Directional speaker and display apparatus having the same
Publication Date: 2020.11.18 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3334182B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3334182B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3334182B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A directional speaker and a display apparatus having the same are provided. In particular, the display apparatus includes a pair of directional speakers as a surround sound speaker, wherein each directional speaker includes a driver to generate sound and a guide tube provided with sound radiated holes linearly aligned on one surface thereof.