Narrow-Aperture Waveguide Loudspeaker for Direct Flat-Display Audio
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Modern flat panel displays face challenges in integrating high-quality speakers due to their thin form factor, which limits acoustic volume and directional sound projection, leading to poor audio quality and design constraints.
Innovation Solution
A speaker design with a narrow aperture waveguide that directs sound from the rear of the display panel outward and around its edge, using fins to control directivity and resonators to minimize resonance, allowing sound to be projected directly to the listener while maintaining a sleek design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If speakers are integrated into thin flat panel displays, then the display design becomes sleeker with minimal bezel area, but the acoustic volume is limited and low frequency content is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional forward-firing speakers requiring horizontal space to upward-firing speakers utilizing the vertical dimension. The waveguide directs sound upward from the display panel, wrapping around the back to create immersive audio without increasing display thickness or bezel area, effectively using the third dimension (vertical space) to resolve the volume constraint.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide structure is integrated within the display panel's thin profile, with the acoustic path nested within the panel thickness. The waveguide channels sound through the display's internal volume, utilizing the available space efficiently without requiring external speaker enclosures or increasing overall device thickness.
2Shape
If speakers are mounted on the back or underside of the display, then the display maintains a sleek design, but the sound does not project directly towards the listener reducing audio fidelity
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide creates dynamic sound propagation by directing audio upward and wrapping it around the display back to the listener's position. This dynamic acoustic path allows the sound to effectively 'reach around' the display, maintaining direct sound projection to the listener while preserving the sleek display profile without visible external speakers.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide acts as an intermediary acoustic channel between the speaker driver mounted on the back of the display and the listener's position in front of the display. It transports and redirects sound waves through the display structure, enabling back-mounted speakers to deliver front-facing audio quality without requiring external speaker placement.
3Reliability
If forward firing speakers are installed on the edges of the display, then high fidelity audio is achieved, but the bezel area increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of mounting speakers on the front edges of the display (traditional approach), the patent inverts the mounting location to the back of the display panel. Combined with the waveguide that wraps sound around the back, this inversion allows forward-firing audio quality to be achieved without occupying front bezel space, effectively moving the speaker system to the opposite side of the display.
4Manufacturing precision
If the waveguide includes fins to control directivity, then sound projection accuracy is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide is segmented into multiple fins that divide the acoustic space into distinct channels. Each fin creates separate acoustic pathways that control sound directionality. This segmentation allows precise control over sound propagation patterns while using simple, repeatable fin structures that can be manufactured using standard molding or fabrication techniques, balancing manufacturing precision with manufacturability.
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 solution enables high-fidelity audio playback by directing sound waves directly to the listener, minimizing visual clutter, and enhancing frequency response and spatial rendering, while conforming to the thin profile of modern displays.
Implementation Method 1
A transducer of the speaker radiates sound through the waveguide and outwards from the rear of the display panel and around an edge of the display panel to form soundwaves radiating directly or nearly directly to a listener positioned in front of the display panel
Implementation Method 2
The waveguide includes fins that control the directivity of soundwaves exiting the waveguide and around the edge of the display panel
Implementation Method 3
The waveguide includes fins that control the directivity of soundwaves exiting the waveguide
Implementation Method 4
Resonators may be provided to eliminate or minimize the resonance created within the waveguide
Data Source
AI summary
A speaker having a narrow aperture waveguide for transmitting sound from the rear side of a flat display panel. A transducer of the speaker radiates sound through the waveguide and outwards from the rear of the display panel and around an edge of the display panel to form soundwaves radiating directly or nearly directly to a listener positioned in front of the display panel. The waveguide includes fins that control the directivity of soundwaves exiting the waveguide and around the edge of the display panel.