Electrostatic Actuator Array for High-Resolution Sound Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital loudspeakers face challenges in accurately generating physical effects like sound with high time resolution and cost-effectiveness, due to limitations in drive schemes and noise shaping techniques.
Innovation Solution
The use of a multiplicity of electrostatic actuator elements with subsets of electrodes and moving elements, interconnected to apply predetermined finite sets of voltages, allowing for precise movement control and noise shaping to enhance time resolution and accuracy in producing desired physical effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional digital loudspeakers use traditional drive schemes, then device complexity is reduced, but time resolution and accuracy of physical effect generation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the actuator array into multiple subsets, where each subset can be independently controlled with a specific voltage from the finite set. This segmentation allows precise control of individual actuator groups to achieve high time resolution while managing complexity through modular voltage application sequences.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic switching between different voltage states in a systematic sequence. By periodically cycling through predetermined voltage application patterns across different actuator subsets, the system achieves high time resolution without requiring excessively complex real-time control logic.
2Manufacturing precision
If the number of drive voltages is increased to improve movement control precision, then manufacturing precision improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes changes in the temporal parameters (timing sequences) and spatial parameters (which actuator subsets receive voltage) rather than increasing the number of voltage levels. By applying a finite set of voltages in carefully controlled sequences across different actuator groups, precise movement control is achieved without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Productivity
If more opportunities for initiating movements are provided, then productivity increases, but device complexity and control difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-defines multiple valid voltage application sequences that can be executed in a systematic cycle. By preparing these predetermined sequences in advance, the system enables frequent movement initiation opportunities while keeping control logic manageable through reuse of established voltage patterns rather than requiring complex real-time decision-making.
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
This approach increases the time resolution and accuracy of physical effect generation, such as sound production, while minimizing costs by reducing the number of drive voltages and opportunities for movement, effectively addressing the limitations of conventional technologies.
Implementation Method 1
The conductive layers of each transducer form a parallel plate capacitor so that a drive signal applied across the capacitor induces electrostatic force between the capacitor plates, thereby driving the diaphragm.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Apparatus for generating a target physical effect, at least one attribute of which corresponds to at least one characteristic of a digital input signal sampled periodically, the apparatus comprising a multiplicity of electrostatic actuator elements, each comprising a moving element moving between first and second electrodes, the multiplicity of electrostatic actuator elements including Nr first subsets (R-subsets) of actuator elements and Nc second subsets (C-subsets) of actuator elements, wherein a first partitioning of the multiplicity of actuator elements yields the Nr first subsets (R-subsets) and a second partitioning of the multiplicity of actuator elements yields the Nc second subsets (C-subsets); a first plurality of Nr electrical connections (R-wires) interconnecting the moving elements of actuator elements in each R-subset, such that the moving element of any actuator element in each individual R-subset is electrically connected to the moving elements of all other actuator elements in the individual R- subset, and electrically isolated from the moving elements of all actuator elements not in the individual R-subset; a second plurality of Nc electrical connections (A-wires) interconnecting the first electrodes of actuator elements in each C-subset, such that the first electrode of any actuator element in each individual C-subset is electrically connected to the first electrode of all other actuator elements in the individual C-subset, and electrically isolated from all actuator elements not in the individual C-subset; a third plurality of Nc electrical connections (B-wires) interconnecting the second electrodes of actuator elements in each C-subset, such that the second electrode of any actuator element in each individual C-subset is electrically connected to the second electrode of all other actuator elements in the individual C-subset, and electrically isolated from all actuator elements not in the individual C-subset; and a controller electrically connected to the first, second and third pluralities of electrical connections, operative to receive a digital input signal, and to apply one of a predetermined, finite set of electric potentials to each of said electrical connections respectively, such that resulting movements of the moving elements together produce the desired physical effect.