Vehicle Door Speaker System Reducing Acoustic Reflection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing speaker systems in vehicles degrade high pitch acoustic characteristics due to the use of a blocking member that increases door thickness and reflects or absorbs sound, leading to poor sound quality.

Innovation Solution

A speaker system configuration with a spacer between the speaker unit and the inner panel, positioning the sound emitting surface closer to the vehicle interior panel, and using an elastic body to reduce sound reflection and absorption, along with a recessed second panel to minimize door thickness and enhance sound quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cylindrical blocking member is used to block the gap between the door trim and speaker unit, then sound leakage is prevented, but door thickness increases and high pitch acoustic characteristics degrade due to sound reflection and absorption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound leakage preventionVSAvoiddoor thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the cylindrical blocking member from the speaker system configuration. Instead of using a separate blocking member, the gap between the door trim and speaker unit is eliminated through proper positioning and mounting of the speaker unit directly against the door trim, thereby preventing sound leakage without adding door thickness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The speaker unit is divided into separate functional components (speaker driver, mounting bracket, sealing elements) that can be independently positioned and secured to the door trim, allowing the gap to be eliminated without requiring a bulky blocking member

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a cylindrical blocking member is used to block the gap between the door trim and speaker unit, then sound leakage is prevented, but high pitch acoustic characteristics degrade due to sound reflection and absorption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound leakage preventionVSAvoidsound reflection and absorption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the cylindrical blocking member that was causing sound reflection and absorption. The gap blocking function is achieved through alternative means (direct mounting and sealing) that do not introduce harmful acoustic reflections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harmful effect of gap blocking into a beneficial direct mounting configuration where the speaker unit is positioned flush against the door trim, eliminating the need for reflective blocking surfaces and improving high pitch acoustic characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS11445292B2Speaker system and vehicle door

Publication Date: 2022.09.13 YAMAHA CORP

AI summary

Disclosed is a speaker system that includes a first panel that is an outer plate of a vehicle door, a second panel that is disposed on a vehicle interior side of the vehicle door, a third panel that is disposed between the first panel and the second panel, a speaker unit that has a sound emitting surface for emitting a sound toward a vehicle interior, and spacers that are disposed between the speaker unit and the third panel.