Directional Audio Waveguide Array with Logarithmic Spiral Ports
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing directional audio systems face challenges in being cost-effective, scalable, and adaptable for various environments and applications, while also requiring complex manufacturing, high power consumption, and susceptibility to noise and environmental factors.
Innovation Solution
A directional waveguide array apparatus with a planar exterior surface featuring logarithmic spiral waveguide ports, coupled with reduction-expansion chambers and transducers, allowing for real-time steering and tuning of audio characteristics through geometric configurations and waveguide parameters, enabling efficient and adaptable directional audio systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If digital delays are inserted into audio channels to steer the array directivity pattern, then the reception or transmission directivity pattern can be steered away from perpendicular direction, but the device complexity, manufacturing cost, noise susceptibility, size, weight, and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the digital signal processing system (electronic delays and beamforming algorithms) with a mechanical acoustic system using waveguide channels of different lengths. The physical structure of the waveguides inherently provides the delay differences needed for steering, eliminating complex digital processing hardware and software.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of waveguide channel length to achieve steering functionality. By constructing waveguide channels with different lengths, the system creates different acoustic path lengths that result in phase differences, enabling the directivity pattern to be steered without electronic delays.
2Manufacturing precision
If the number of transducer channels is increased to improve directional audio performance, then the audio quality and directional control are enhanced, but the manufacturing cost, complexity, and power consumption increase rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple acoustic channels into a single integrated waveguide structure. Multiple waveguide channels are combined and terminate at a common focal region, allowing the system to achieve enhanced directional control through the combined acoustic field rather than requiring separate electronic processing for each channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the acoustic path into multiple waveguide channels with different lengths, each contributing to the overall directional pattern. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each channel's acoustic path while maintaining a unified termination point, simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Use of energy by moving object
If parabolic dishes are used for directional audio reception or transmission, then power efficiency and directionality are improved, but the system cannot be steered off broadside without physical re-orientation and the transducer is exposed to environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic acoustic system where the effective steering direction can be changed by modifying the acoustic path lengths of the waveguide channels. This allows electronic steering without physical movement of the entire structure, providing both power efficiency and steering flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces waveguide channels as intermediary acoustic paths between the transducer array and the focal region. These waveguides act as mediators that shape and control the acoustic field, protecting the transducer from direct environmental exposure while maintaining directional control.
4Reliability
If traditional array configurations are used for directional audio systems, then directional filtering is achieved, but the systems are not adaptable to non-planar surfaces and various fixtures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional planar array configurations to a three-dimensional waveguide structure. The waveguide channels extend in multiple directions and can be configured to fit various surface geometries, allowing the system to maintain directional filtering performance while adapting to non-planar surfaces and different fixture types.
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 provides a lightweight, power-efficient, and cost-effective directional audio system that is scalable and immune to noise and environmental factors, capable of real-time steering and integration into non-planar fixtures, while maintaining high reliability and low power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
A directional waveguide array apparatus with a planar exterior surface featuring logarithmic spiral waveguide ports
Implementation Method 2
coupled with reduction-expansion chambers and transducers
Data Source
AI summary
A directional waveguide array apparatus can transmit and/or receive airborne or fluid-borne audio with the appropriate selection of transducers. The present invention advances directional waveguide arrays by allowing construction of a directional audio device with desired frequency bandwidths, array patterns, and gain by appropriate geometric configurations of the array of waveguide channel ports, as well as dimensioning and configuration of waveguide channel and chamber parameters. Embodiments of the present invention enable increased immunity to environmental noises, temperature, and humidity; low cost of construction; high reliability; simplicity of operation; very low power consumption; real-time steering of directivity (interference) pattern; wide range of audio powers that can be transmitted or received; and interchangeable transducer types.