LED Illumination Device with Integrated Speaker Sound Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional LED illumination devices with integrated speaker functions face design limitations due to the placement of speakers, leading to compromised sound quality and light extraction efficiency, as the speaker's vibration is often absorbed or reflected by optically translucent members, resulting in muffled sound and glare issues.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a separate sound and light extraction part with a concave outer light-reflection plate and inner light-reflection plate, allowing the LED light source and sound source to be positioned differently, with a frame member forming a sound and light extraction space that separates sound and light extraction paths, using a piezoelectric element or dynamic speaker for improved sound quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the speaker is disposed in front of the illumination device, then the design is simple, but the sound quality deteriorates due to absorption and reflection of vibration by optically translucent members

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign simplicityVSAvoidsound quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The illumination device is divided into distinct functional regions: a light extraction region with optically translucent members and a sound extraction region with sound extraction openings. This segmentation allows the speaker to be positioned without its vibration being absorbed by the optically translucent members, thereby maintaining sound quality while keeping the design relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sound extraction function is extracted from the light extraction path by providing separate sound extraction openings in the housing. This allows sound waves to be directly extracted from the interior space without passing through optically translucent members, resolving the contradiction between design simplicity and sound quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the speaker size is increased to improve sound quality, then the sound pressure level improves, but the illumination device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound qualityVSAvoidillumination device size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sound extraction openings are positioned on the lateral surface of the housing rather than on the front or rear faces. This utilizes the lateral dimension for sound extraction, allowing a larger speaker to be installed in the interior space without increasing the overall front-to-back depth of the device, thus improving sound quality while controlling the device size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Illumination intensity

If the optically translucent member is used for light extraction, then the light distribution is uniform, but the speaker vibration is absorbed or reflected causing muffled sound

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distribution uniformityVSAvoidsound quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into a light extraction path through optically translucent members and a separate sound extraction path through dedicated openings in the housing. This allows the optically translucent member to perform its light distribution function without interfering with sound extraction, resolving the contradiction between uniform light distribution and sound quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing acts as an intermediary structure that provides separate pathways for light and sound extraction. The sound extraction openings in the housing allow sound to bypass the optically translucent member entirely, preventing the absorption and reflection issues while maintaining uniform light distribution through the translucent member.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If the speaker is disposed on the rear side to avoid light extraction interference, then the light extraction efficiency improves, but the sound extraction path becomes longer causing muffled sound

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight extraction efficiencyVSAvoidsound quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of extracting sound only from the front or rear faces, sound extraction openings are provided on the lateral surface of the housing. This allows sound to be extracted from the interior space through a shorter path when the speaker is positioned on the rear side, maintaining light extraction efficiency while preventing muffled sound caused by excessive extraction path length.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 the extraction of sound and light with enhanced sound quality and reduced glare, allowing for a compact, aesthetically pleasing LED illumination device with improved sound pressure levels and uniform light distribution.

Implementation Method 1

an LED light source (15)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission from LED: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

sound generated by vibration of a sound source (17)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound wave generation: Sound

Implementation Method 3

outer light-reflection plate (11) and an inner light-reflection plate (13)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3653932B1LED illumination device with speaker function, and method for extracting light and sound from LED illumination device with speaker function
Publication Date: 2022.02.23 FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP3653932B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3653932B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3653932B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In the present invention, a frame member is attached to an opening in an outer light-reflection plate. The frame member is composed of an inner frame part, and an outer frame part disposed around the inner frame part. Alight extraction part is formed between the outer frame part and the inner frame part. The inner frame part is constituted by a separate extraction part that extracts acoustic vibrations and light. A space of the separate extraction part includes, on both ends, a sound intake port on an internal space side where a sound source is disposed, and a sound extraction port formed in the top of the inner frame part so as to open toward the outside of an LED illumination device. The sound intake port and the sound extraction port are formed separated from each other by a prescribed distance, and the space is formed continuously in the inner frame part so as to connect the sound intake port and the sound extraction port.