Headset Flow Channel Support Member for Noise Masking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Head-mounted devices face challenges in managing heat dissipation and noise mitigation, as active cooling mechanisms generate noise that interferes with the user's experience, particularly due to tonal aero-acoustic noises produced by components within the flow channel.
Innovation Solution
A support member with multiple sections of varying cross-sectional dimensions within the flow channel is used to distribute tonal noises across a range of frequencies, allowing them to be masked by broadband noises, while also facilitating heat dissipation by drawing heat away from components and dissipating it through air flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If active cooling mechanisms are used to dissipate heat from head-mounted device components, then heat dissipation is improved, but noise is generated that interferes with user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful tonal aero-acoustic noise into a beneficial masking effect by designing support members with varying cross-sectional dimensions that generate broadband noise to mask the tonal noise from cooling mechanisms, transforming a harmful acoustic phenomenon into a useful noise cancellation strategy
Solution Approach 2:
The support members are designed with varying cross-sectional dimensions along their length, changing the physical parameters of the components within the flow channel to distribute tonal noises across different frequencies and enable effective masking by broadband noise
2Object-affected harmful factors
If support members with varying cross-sectional dimensions are placed within the flow channel, then noise distribution is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support members serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for positioning components, manage acoustic noise distribution, and maintain flow channel integrity, thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated noise control components and simplifying the overall device architecture
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 solution effectively reduces the perception of noise and maintains effective heat management, ensuring a more immersive user experience by masking tonal noises within the broader frequency range of broadband noise generated by the head-mounted device.
Implementation Method 1
a blower for moving air through the flow channel and across the support member
Implementation Method 2
the support member having multiple sections with different cross-sectional dimensions within the flow channel
Implementation Method 3
facilitating heat dissipation by drawing heat away from components and dissipating it through air flow
Data Source
AI summary
A head-mounted device can effectively manage heat while also managing noise output in a manner that reduces the user's perception thereof. For example, a support member extending across a flow channel can provide multiple sections with different profiles and/or cross-sectional dimensions within the flow channel. Each of the profiles and/or cross-sectional dimensions can generate tonal noises at different frequencies, so that the tonal noises generated are distributed across multiple frequencies to mask such tonal noises among broadband noises that are generated by the head-mounted device. Such a support member can be moveably positioned within the flow channel and rigidly coupled to other components of the head-mounted device. Such a support member can also be used to draw heat away from other components of the head-mounted device to be dissipated by the flow of air within the flow channel.