Integrated AVAS Speaker Housing for Wider Radiation Area

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Solution Overview

Problem

Acoustic vehicle alerting systems for electric and hybrid vehicles face challenges in maximizing efficiency while maintaining compact size and protecting against external agents, with existing designs requiring screws/rivets and gaskets that limit effective radiation area and expose components to harsh environments.

Innovation Solution

The system integrates the front part of the casing and the loudspeaker frame into a single piece, eliminating the need for screws/rivets and gaskets, which increases effective radiation area, enhances protection from external agents, and simplifies manufacturing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If screws/rivets and gaskets are used to connect the front part of the casing and the loudspeaker frame, then mechanical connection and sealing are achieved, but the effective radiation area is reduced and manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffective radiation areaVSAvoidconnection structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the front part of the casing and the loudspeaker frame into a single integrated component. This eliminates the need for separate connection elements (screws/rivets) and sealing elements (gaskets), thereby maximizing the effective radiation area while reducing structural complexity. The integration is achieved through co-molding or integral forming processes that create a unified structure with both protective and acoustic functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Strength

If screws/rivets and gaskets are used to connect the front part of the casing and the loudspeaker frame, then mechanical connection is achieved, but manufacturing steps and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the front part of the casing and loudspeaker frame into one piece, the patent eliminates multiple assembly steps involving screws, rivets, and gasket installation. This reduces manufacturing complexity and labor requirements while maintaining structural integrity through the integrated design that distributes mechanical loads across the unified structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If separate front part and loudspeaker frame are used, then assembly flexibility is maintained, but protection from external agents is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from external agentsVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated structure eliminates gaps and interfaces between separate components that could allow water, dust, and other external agents to penetrate. The unified design provides continuous protection across the entire front assembly, while the co-molding process creates seamless transitions that prevent ingress pathways.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Productivity

If the effective radiation area is increased, then loudspeaker efficiency is improved, but the casing size may need to increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloudspeaker efficiencyVSAvoidcasing area
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The integration of the front part and loudspeaker frame allows for optimized spatial arrangement and elimination of wasted space that would be required for separate connection and sealing components. This enables a larger effective radiation area within the same overall casing footprint, as the integrated structure eliminates the need for clearance around fasteners and sealing elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 integration results in improved efficiency, increased protection from environmental factors, and reduced manufacturing costs without altering the casing size, achieving a wider effective radiation area and enhanced durability.

Implementation Method 1

When an electrical current is applied to the voice coil, the interaction between the electric current in the voice coil and the magnetic field in the air gap generates a mechanical force that moves the voice coil axially through the air gap and, thus, the former and the cone attached thereto.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Lorentz Force

Data Source

PatentEP4227937B1Acoustic vehicle alerting system
Publication Date: 2024.06.05 FAITAL SPA
  • EP4227937B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4227937B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4227937B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An acoustic vehicle alerting system (100) is disclosed, which comprises a loudspeaker (102) and a casing (104) in which the loudspeaker (102) is received, wherein the loudspeaker (102) comprises a frame (114) and a cone (116), wherein the casing (104) comprises a front part (104a) and a rear part (104b) connected to each other, said front part (104a) having an opening (108) facing the cone (116) of the loudspeaker (102), and wherein the front part (104a) of the casing (104) and the frame (114) of the loudspeaker (102) are made integrally with each other to form one single piece.