Modular Sound Diffuser Segments for Flexible Acoustic Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sound diffusers lack flexibility and efficiency in configuring diffusive surfaces to effectively manage sound waves across various angles and spaces, particularly in incremental configurations up to 360 degrees.
Innovation Solution
The development of sound diffusers that can be configured in increments of 90-degree diffusive segments, allowing for vertical stacking and arrangement to create 90-degree, 180-degree, 270-degree, or 360-degree diffusive surfaces, with identical ends for easy alignment and freestanding capabilities, using materials like wood, ceramic, or plastic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If sound diffusers are configured in fixed angular segments (e.g., 90 degrees), then manufacturing and installation are simplified, but flexibility in configuring diffusive surfaces for various angles and spaces is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sound diffuser is divided into multiple modular segments, each with a diffusive surface extending through less than 360 degrees of the circumferential direction. These segments can be independently manufactured and then assembled in various configurations to create diffusive surfaces of different angular extents (e.g., 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees, or 360 degrees), resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and configurational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables dynamic reconfiguration of diffusive surfaces by allowing the modular segments to be arranged in different angular configurations. The diffusive surfaces can be adjusted to extend through various angles (90°, 180°, 270°, or 360°) depending on the specific acoustic requirements of the space, providing adaptability while maintaining standardized manufacturing of individual segments.
2Stability of the object's composition
If sound diffusers are designed as single integrated units, then structural stability is improved, but the ability to vertically stack and arrange multiple diffusers to create customizable diffusive surfaces is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The sound diffuser system is segmented into multiple independent diffuser units, each with its own diffusive surface extending through less than 360 degrees. These segmented units can be vertically stacked and arranged in series to create larger diffusive surfaces with extended angular coverage, maintaining the structural integrity of individual units while enabling flexible system-level configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the diffusive surface coverage by arranging multiple diffuser segments in the vertical dimension. By stacking diffusers with diffusive surfaces extending through less than 360 degrees, the system achieves comprehensive angular coverage (up to 360 degrees or more) through vertical arrangement, effectively using the vertical dimension to solve the limitation of single-unit diffusers.
3Reliability
If diffusive surfaces extend through 360 degrees in a single unit, then complete circumferential sound diffusion is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of manufacturing a single complex 360-degree diffuser unit, the system segments the diffusive surface into multiple smaller angular sections (each less than 360 degrees). These simplified segments are easier to manufacture with standard techniques while collectively providing complete circumferential sound diffusion when arranged in appropriate configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple diffuser segments, each providing partial circumferential diffusion, are combined through vertical stacking and angular arrangement to achieve complete 360-degree or greater circumferential sound diffusion. The merging of these simpler individual units creates the equivalent performance of a complex single-unit 360-degree diffuser while avoiding its manufacturing difficulties.
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 provides a flexible and efficient means to diffuse sound waves uniformly across different angles and spaces, enhancing sound management in various environments by allowing for customizable and reconfigurable diffusive surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a diffusive surface extending radially outward from a longitudinal axis of the sound diffuser and running in a direction of the longitudinal axis from the first flat end to the second flat end
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for diffusing sound can comprise a sound or acoustic diffuser or a plurality of sound or acoustic diffusers. The acoustic diffuser can be provided as a 90 degree segment to fit into an inside corner, and a plurality of 90 degree segments can be arranged relative to each other to effectively provide 180 degree, 270 degree, or 360 degree contiguous acoustic diffusers, where the 180 degree acoustic diffuser can be arranged relative to a flat wall, and the 270 degree acoustic diffuser can be arranged relative to an outside corner. Furthermore, each 90 degree segment, or contiguous combination of segments, can have vertically stacked thereon (or be vertically stacked on) another segment of same construction, in freestanding fashion.