Localized Speaker Pairing With Phase Cancellation for Sound Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users find earphones or headphones uncomfortable and inconvenient for prolonged use, and existing methods like wave field synthesis with large-scale speaker arrays are impractical.
Innovation Solution
A speaker system that uses paired speaker units with opposite phase inputs to cancel sound outside a limited area, allowing sound to be heard only in the vicinity of the system, with additional features to control high-frequency sound leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If earphones or headphones are used for sound reproduction, then sound can be heard only by the user, but user comfort deteriorates due to pressure on ears and hairstyle disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based sound delivery system (earphones/headphones physically inserted into ears) with an acoustic field-based system (speaker units creating localized sound zones). This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical insertion while achieving the same sound isolation effect through acoustic phase cancellation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the acoustic parameters (phase and amplitude) of sound waves emitted by paired speaker units. By controlling the phase difference between adjacent speaker units, the system creates constructive interference in the user's ear direction and destructive interference in surrounding areas, achieving sound localization without physical contact.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a large-scale speaker array is used for wave field synthesis, then sound can be reproduced in a controlled area, but device complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sound reproduction task into multiple independent speaker units arranged in an array. Each speaker unit operates independently with controlled phase relationships, allowing the system to create localized sound zones without requiring a massive interconnected array. The segmentation enables modular deployment and simplified control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different acoustic characteristics (phase and amplitude) to different speaker units based on their positions in the array. Each speaker unit is configured to contribute to sound reinforcement in specific directional zones while creating cancellation in others, achieving localized sound control with a relatively simple array configuration.
3Ease of operation
If speaker units are used for sound reproduction, then user comfort is maintained, but sound reaches surroundings and becomes a nuisance to other users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by emitting sound waves with opposite phase from adjacent speaker units before the sound can propagate to surrounding areas. This pre-emptive cancellation prevents harmful sound leakage rather than attempting to contain or block it after generation, achieving sound isolation through proactive acoustic interference.
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 sound reproduction that is inaudible to others outside a small, defined area, enhancing user comfort and reducing sound leakage.
Implementation Method 1
paired speaker units with opposite phase inputs to cancel sound outside a limited area
Data Source
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AI summary
A speaker system that reproduces sound inaudible to users around, without using earphones, headphones, or a large-scale speaker array, is provided. Assuming that N is an integer equal to or larger than one, and that a (2n - 1)-th sound signal (n = 1, ..., N) is a sound signal obtained based on a subject to be reproduced, a speaker system that emits sound based on a first sound signal, ..., and sound based on a (2N - 1)-th sound signal such that the sound is heard only in a vicinity, includes an n-th speaker unit pair (n = 1, ..., N) including a speaker unit that emits sound based on the (2n - 1)-th sound signal (hereinafter, referred to as the positive speaker unit) and a speaker unit that emits sound based on a 2n-th sound signal that is a sound signal with opposite phase to phase of the (2n - 1)-th sound signal (hereinafter, referred to as the negative speaker unit).