Directive Display and Speaker for Multi-User Audio Visual Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional display apparatuses fail to simultaneously and effectively direct different visual and audio information to multiple users in different directions, leading to conflicting demands for information display in shared environments, such as a vehicle where a driver needs navigation and a passenger wants to watch a movie.

Innovation Solution

A display apparatus with a directive display unit and a directive speaker unit, utilizing acoustic meta-structure bodies and sound wave generators to collimate audio and visual information towards specific locations, controlled by a central unit that adjusts directivity based on audience location information from sensors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single display apparatus is used for multiple users to view the same image, then the display apparatus can be shared and resource utilization is improved, but different users cannot view different information simultaneously and the display lacks directivity control

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAbility to serve multiple usersVSAvoidDirectivity control for different users

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display apparatus segments the display area into multiple regions, each corresponding to a specific user location. The display unit is divided into multiple pixel groups, where each pixel group displays information directed toward a particular user, enabling simultaneous personalized content delivery to multiple users without interference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the display apparatus are assigned different functional qualities. Specifically, pixels at different locations are controlled to emit light in different directions or with different characteristics, allowing each local region to serve a specific user's needs while maintaining overall system versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If earphones are used for each user to obtain audio information, then audio directivity is achieved, but device complexity increases and user convenience decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAudio directivity for different usersVSAvoidAdditional audio devices required

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display apparatus integrates both visual display functionality and audio output functionality into a single unified device. The speaker unit, positioned at or near the display, provides audio directivity toward specific user locations, eliminating the need for separate earphones and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining audio versatility for multiple users

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional speakers are used for audio output, then audio information can be transmitted, but the speaker lacks directivity and audio information cannot be directed to specific users

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAudio information transmissionVSAvoidAudio directivity control

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The speaker unit is designed with directional audio output capability, where different portions of the speaker or the same speaker at different times direct audio information toward specific user locations. This local quality differentiation enables audio directivity control without requiring multiple separate speakers, maintaining simplicity while achieving user-specific audio delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 simultaneous and directed display of different visual and audio information to multiple users, enhancing user experience by satisfying diverse information demands in shared environments without interference.

Implementation Method 1

at least one acoustic meta-structure body having directivity configured to collimate the wave generated by the sound wave generator toward one direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic wave collimation: Acoustics

Implementation Method 2

diverging the wave generated by the sound wave generator by a radiation angle within about 30°, and converging the wave generated by the sound wave generator into one point

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWave divergence and convergence: Diffraction

Data Source

PatentUS9667949B2Display apparatus for visual and audio multiplexed display

Publication Date: 2017.05.30 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A display apparatus for visual and audio multiplexed display may include a directive display unit configured to display a plurality of pieces of visual information toward a corresponding plurality of locations, wherein each of the plurality of pieces of visual information is output toward a specific location of the plurality of locations. The display apparatus may also include a directive speaker unit configured to transmit a plurality of pieces of audio information toward the plurality of locations, wherein each of the plurality of pieces of audio information is output toward a specific location of the plurality of locations, and a central control unit configured to control the directive display unit and the directive speaker unit.