Mobile Terminal Sound Guide Unit for Microphone Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mobile terminals face challenges in optimizing microphone placement, which affects both performance and aesthetics, leading to a longer device length and compromised external appearance.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a sound guide unit within the mobile terminal that directs sound waves from a microphone hole on the side of the device to a perpendicular sound receiving portion, allowing for improved sound concentration and aesthetics by relocating the microphone from the front to the side, thus enhancing both functionality and design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the microphone is positioned close to the user's mouth on the front surface, then the microphone performance is suitable, but the external appearance is degraded and the overall length is lengthened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemicrophone performanceVSAvoidoverall length
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent repositions the microphone from the front surface to the side surface of the terminal case, utilizing a different spatial dimension. The sound guide unit redirects sound waves at angles to convey audio signals from the side microphone position to the speaker, effectively reducing the front-to-back length while maintaining audio functionality.

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

2Reliability

If the microphone is positioned close to the user's mouth on the front surface, then the microphone performance is suitable, but the external appearance is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemicrophone performanceVSAvoidexternal appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent relocates the microphone to the side surface of the terminal case and uses the sound guide unit to redirect sound waves at various angles. This dimensional repositioning improves external appearance by removing the microphone opening from the front surface while maintaining audio signal quality through the angled sound guidance path.

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

3Reliability

If the sound guide unit has a decreasing cross sectional area, then the sound is concentrated, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound concentrationVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sound guide unit features a cross-sectional area that gradually decreases along the sound wave propagation direction. This parameter change concentrates the sound waves toward the speaker, improving audio signal quality. The gradual tapering design achieves sound concentration while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 maintains microphone performance while aesthetically improving the device's external appearance and allowing for a larger display area, effectively addressing the trade-off between functionality and design in conventional mobile terminals.

Implementation Method 1

a sound guide unit located between the microphone hole and the sound receiving portion of the microphone, the sound guide unit guiding the sound, which has passed through the microphone hole, along the first direction and the second direction, toward the sound receiving portion of the microphone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound wave propagation: Sound

Implementation Method 2

the sound guide unit may be configured to concentrate the sound as the sound travels extending along the first direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound concentration: Focusing

Data Source

PatentEP1968285B1Mobile terminal
Publication Date: 2014.10.01 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP1968285B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1968285B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP1968285B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A mobile terminal including a terminal case, a microphone located within the terminal case, and a sound guide unit, is provided. The terminal case includes a first case member, a second case member, and a frame member located between the first case member and the second case member. The frame member includes a microphone hole formed on an outer surface thereof for guiding a sound into the terminal case in a first direction. The microphone includes a sound receiving portion disposed in a second direction different from the first direction, for receiving the sound. And the sound guide unit is located between the microphone hole and the sound receiving portion of the microphone, the sound guide unit guiding the sound, which has passed through the microphone hole, along the first direction and the second direction, toward the sound receiving portion of the microphone.