Intercom Station Loudspeaker Offset for Front Panel Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
State-of-the-art intercom stations face challenges in accommodating a large number of control elements, functional elements, and displays due to limited space on the housing front, which restricts the arrangement of operating elements and connections.
Innovation Solution
The loudspeaker is positioned offset from the housing front, creating a channel that allows sound to be compressed and concentrated through a small opening, freeing up space for additional control elements and displays without compromising audio quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the loudspeaker is positioned directly behind the front panel, then the audio transmission is direct and simple, but the space for arranging control elements and displays on the front panel is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The loudspeaker is repositioned from a two-dimensional plane arrangement (directly behind front panel) to a three-dimensional spatial arrangement (offset to the rear within the housing). This dimensional change allows the front panel to be fully utilized for control elements while the loudspeaker occupies depth space, resolving the space conflict.
Solution Approach 2:
A sound channel is introduced as an intermediary structure between the loudspeaker and the front panel opening. This sound channel mediates the acoustic transmission while allowing the loudspeaker to be positioned offset to the rear, enabling both adequate audio transmission path and maximum front panel space utilization.
2Reliability
If the opening area on the front panel is enlarged to improve sound emission, then more space is available for controls, but the space for functional elements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial parameter of the loudspeaker position (offset to rear) and the geometric parameters of the sound channel (compressed and concentrated sound path). These parameter changes enable the opening area to be kept small while maintaining audio transmission quality through the compressed sound channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The sound channel is designed with an asymmetric cross-sectional area relationship: the loudspeaker diaphragm area is significantly larger than the opening area in the front panel. This asymmetric design allows the opening to be small (preserving front panel space) while the larger diaphragm area maintains audio transmission quality.
3Reliability
If multiple loudspeakers are arranged at the speaking point, then audio quality and coverage are improved, but the space consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple loudspeakers are arranged in the depth dimension (offset to rear) rather than spreading them across the front panel area. This allows multiple speakers to be positioned within the housing volume without increasing the front panel footprint, maintaining both audio quality and space efficiency.
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 configuration enables a more efficient use of space on the housing front for controls, displays, and connections while maintaining high-quality audio transmission, allowing for a higher density of functional elements without impairing sound quality.
Implementation Method 1
the sound emitted by the loudspeaker propagates to an opening in the front of the housing
Implementation Method 2
the sound emitted by the loudspeaker is compressed and concentrated onto a small opening in the front of the enclosure
Data Source
Figure 1~1a
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates, inter alia, to a communication station (10) for an intercom network (11), comprising a housing (12), in particular a cuboid shape, with a housing front (13) and a housing rear (14), wherein a plurality of programmable control elements (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) and several displays (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) are arranged closely together on the housing front (13), wherein the control elements comprise a plurality of selection buttons (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d), wherein, as a result of an operator pressing a selection button, the communication station provides an immediate audio and/or audio connection to a selected other communication station (18a, 18b) of the intercom network via a switching station (19), wherein a plurality of connections (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d), such as Power supply connection, data cable connection, BNC connection, is arranged, wherein at least one loudspeaker (24a, 24b) is permanently arranged at the speaking station,wherein the loudspeaker is housed in a housing space (25) between the housing front (13) and the housing rear (14), offset to the rear (26) of the housing front (13), and wherein the loudspeaker (24a, 24b) has a sound emission surface (27) from which the sound propagates to an opening (28) in the housing front (13), the opening having an opening cross-section (29) which is only a fraction of the sound emission surface (27).