Headphone Speaker Trenches for Spatial Audio

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional multi-channel headphones produce monotonous sound output and lack the ability to create a diverse sound environment and spatial sense of the sound field due to speakers being located at the same level.

Innovation Solution

The design includes inclined speaker surfaces and a crossfeed speaker system with specific output paths and structures, such as trenches and through holes, to modify sound timing and frequency, allowing both ears to hear multiple sound channels and enhancing stereo sound experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If speakers are located on the same level in conventional multi-channel headphones, then the structure is simple, but the sound output is monotonous and lacks spatial sense

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeaker arrangement structureVSAvoidsound environment diversity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dimensionality change by arranging speakers at different levels (vertical stacking) rather than on the same horizontal plane. The first speaker and second speaker are positioned at different vertical levels within the earphone body, creating a multi-level spatial arrangement that enables diverse sound field effects and spatial perception while maintaining structural compactness.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If speakers are arranged at different levels to create spatial sound, then sound quality improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial sound capabilityVSAvoidinternal structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs nesting by placing the first speaker and second speaker in a vertically stacked configuration within the earphone body, where each speaker is positioned in its own designated space level. This nested arrangement allows multiple speakers to coexist in a compact volume, achieving spatial sound effects without proportionally increasing the overall device size or structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Quantity of substance

If multiple sound channels are provided, then audio information increases, but sound guidance and positioning becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound channel quantityVSAvoidacoustic field positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different spatial positions and orientations to different speakers within the earphone. Each speaker is positioned at a specific location (different vertical levels) and can be oriented to direct sound in specific directions, enabling precise acoustic field positioning and clear sound channel differentiation despite providing multiple audio channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3200476B1headphone
Publication Date: 2020.01.15 SINTAI OPTICAL SHENZHEN CO LTD
  • EP3200476B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3200476B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3200476B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B

AI summary

A headphone is provided. The headphone includes a housing and an speaker. The housing includes a first layer structure, a first receiving space, a first output path, a first trench and a sound output side. The speaker is located in the first receiving space, wherein the speaker includes a first speaker orientation, and the first speaker orientation corresponds to the first output path. The first output path includes the first trench, which is located at the first layer structure, extends around the speaker, and is connected to the sound output side.