Headrest Personal Audio With Conduction Tubes for Private Sound
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automobile audio systems face issues with sound field misalignment, difficulty in maintaining privacy, high cost, and poor bass quality due to acoustic short circuiting and the need for headsets that obstruct communication.
Innovation Solution
A personal audio system mounted on a headrest or neck pillow uses symmetrically arranged loudspeakers with conduction tubes to direct sound waves to the ears, minimizing acoustic interference and enhancing bass quality while maintaining privacy and reducing user burden.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If loudspeakers are mounted in door panels or center consoles, then the audio system can provide sound output, but the sound field cannot be centered and is difficult to distinguish
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional door panel mounting (horizontal dimension) to headrest mounting (vertical dimension above the user). This dimensional change positions loudspeakers directly above the user's head, creating a centered sound field that is easily distinguishable and eliminates the asymmetry problem of door panel installation.
2Ease of operation
If a headset is used to provide personal audio, then privacy and sound field centering are improved, but the user's ears are blocked and communication with others is inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The audio system is segmented into multiple loudspeakers positioned at different locations (above each ear). This segmentation allows sound to be directed specifically to each ear without blocking the ear canal, maintaining privacy while leaving the ear canal open for ambient sound and communication.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a loudspeaker box with cavity is used to prevent acoustic short circuiting, then bass quality is improved, but the lowest resonant frequency increases and bass performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the loudspeaker from the traditional enclosed box structure and mounts it directly on the headrest without a cavity. This eliminates the acoustic short circuiting problem by preventing sound wave interference while avoiding the resonant frequency increase that would result from adding a cavity, thus maintaining good bass performance.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If mid-to-high-end automobile audio devices with many loudspeakers are used, then sound quality is improved, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest-mounted loudspeaker system serves multiple functions: it provides centered sound field, ensures privacy, enables good bass quality, and allows communication with others. This multi-functional design achieves high sound quality without requiring the large number of loudspeakers found in expensive audio systems.
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 system provides high-quality, private sound reproduction with improved bass and reduced interference, allowing comfortable use without obstructing communication or increasing user burden.
Implementation Method 1
the sound waves from one side of the loudspeaker can be transmitted to a farther position by means of a conduction tube
Implementation Method 2
the sound wave has a characteristic that each time a propagation distance in a free field space is doubled, the amplitude will be attenuated by half (6 dB)
Data Source
AI summary
A personal audio system and an application thereof are disclosed. The personal audio system includes a housing, in which a right front loudspeaker, a left front loudspeaker and a controller are arranged. A right rear conduction tube is arranged on the right front loudspeaker. An opening at one end of the right rear conduction tube is tightly connected and sealed to one side of the right front loudspeaker, and an opening at the other end of the right rear conduction tube is away from a right ear. The right front loudspeaker and the left front loudspeaker are arranged symmetrically.