Headrest Speaker Partition With Sound Absorption for Private Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
In noisy environments such as aircraft, using headphones or earphones for sound reproduction leads to sound leakage to surrounding seats, causing discomfort to other passengers, and prolonged use can be burdensome for the wearer.
Innovation Solution
A sound reproduction device with a headrest portion and partition portions that store the user's head, incorporating speakers and sound absorbing structures, uses sensors and microphones to control sound output and prevent leakage by adjusting frequencies and pausing reproduction when the user is not present.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If headphones or earphones are used for sound reproduction in noisy environments, then sound can be reproduced clearly for the user, but sound leaks to surrounding seats causing discomfort to other passengers
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the sound reproduction space into a private listening zone (storing space) and a public zone by using partition portions that protrude from the headrest. The partition creates physical separation that directs sound toward the user's head while preventing sound from reaching surrounding seats, thus resolving the contradiction between clear sound reproduction and sound leakage prevention
Solution Approach 2:
A sound absorbing structure is introduced as an intermediary element within the storing space to control sound propagation. This sound absorbing material prevents sound from reflecting off the headrest surface and leaking outward, while still allowing the user to hear the reproduced sound clearly through direct acoustic coupling with the headphones
2Measurement precision
If headphones or earphones are worn for long periods, then sound can be reproduced clearly, but it becomes burdensome for the passenger
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the burden of wearing headphones from the user by providing an alternative sound reproduction path through the speaker system integrated into the headrest. The partition structure directs sound waves toward the user's head, allowing clear sound reproduction without requiring the user to wear headphones continuously, thus reducing physical burden while maintaining audio quality
3Ease of operation
If speakers are used for sound reproduction, then no wearing burden on passengers, but sound leaks to surrounding seats
Solution Approach 1:
The sound absorbing structure is selectively applied only to specific surfaces within the storing space (the partition portions and headrest surface facing the user), rather than the entire headrest. This localized application of sound absorbing material effectively prevents sound leakage to surrounding seats while maintaining comfortable speaker-based sound reproduction without headphones
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 clear sound reproduction for the user while preventing sound leakage to adjacent seats, reducing discomfort and burden on the passenger.
Implementation Method 1
a sound absorbing structure provided in at least a part of the inner surface of the partition portion
Data Source
AI summary
A sound reproduction device is configured to store a head of a user and reproduce sound. The sound reproduction device includes: a headrest portion; a partition portion attached to the headrest portion so as to protrude forward relative to a front surface of the headrest portion; a speaker disposed in the partition portion; and a sound absorbing structure provided in at least a part of the inner surface of the partition portion excluding a region corresponding to an output surface of the speaker.