Vehicle Loudspeaker Sound Guide Headrest Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional loudspeakers in vehicles pose a risk of head injury during collisions due to their hard structure, and existing sound guiding systems do not effectively distribute sound to accommodate varying user heights without adjusting the seat or headrest.
Innovation Solution
A sound guide system comprising an oblong element with multiple channels, preferably made of soft materials, that directs sound from a loudspeaker positioned in the vehicle's seat or back portion to a headrest, ensuring sound distribution along a vertical axis and accommodating different user heights, while being designed to cushion the head during impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a loudspeaker is positioned directly in the headrest, then sound output to the user is improved, but the risk of head injury during collision increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sound guide as an intermediary element between the loudspeaker and the user's head. The sound guide channels sound waves from the loudspeaker (positioned in the backrest) to the user's ears via the headrest, eliminating direct contact between the hard loudspeaker and the user's head during collisions while maintaining effective sound delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the loudspeaker from the headrest position and relocates it to the backrest, separating the sound generation function from the head contact zone. This extraction eliminates the direct harmful interaction between the loudspeaker and the user's head during collisions.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the loudspeaker is positioned away from the headrest, then collision safety is improved, but sound distribution to accommodate varying user heights deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sound guide acts as a mediator that extends the acoustic path from the backrest-mounted loudspeaker to the headrest area, allowing the loudspeaker to be positioned safely away from the head while still delivering sound effectively to users of various heights through the headrest interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The sound guide introduces a spatial dimension by creating a dedicated acoustic channel that bypasses the limitations of direct loudspeaker-to-ear positioning, enabling effective sound delivery along the vertical axis of the headrest regardless of user height variations.
3Power
If a hard loudspeaker structure is used, then sound output efficiency is improved, but the cushioning effect during impact is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sound guide serves as a mediator that allows the hard loudspeaker structure to maintain its sound output efficiency while preventing direct impact with the user's head. The sound guide absorbs and distributes impact forces, providing cushioning while the loudspeaker continues to function effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The sound guide is positioned in advance between the loudspeaker and the user's head to provide cushioning protection before any collision occurs. This pre-positioned cushioning element protects the user's head during impacts while allowing the loudspeaker to maintain its hard structure for sound output efficiency.
4Ease of operation
If multiple sound guides are used for stereo output, then sound quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sound guide system into separate channels for stereo output, with each channel independently guiding sound to the corresponding ear. This segmentation enables high-quality stereo sound delivery while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure by using identical modular sound guide units.
Solution Approach 2:
The sound guide design is made universal and modular, allowing the same basic sound guide structure to be used for both mono and stereo configurations. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by reusing the same proven design rather than creating different structures for different audio modes.
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
The sound guide system effectively directs sound to the user's ears, providing optimal sound distribution and safety by positioning the loudspeaker away from direct head contact during collisions, and can be adapted for mono or stereo sound output.
Implementation Method 1
a sound guide configured to guide sound from the loudspeaker to a headrest of the seat
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A vehicle having a seat with a head rest portion and a loudspeaker as well as a sound guide guiding sound from the loudspeaker to an output in the head rest portion, where the sound guide has a cross section at least substantially identical to that of a membrane of the loudspeaker.