Open-Ear Acoustic Driver Layout for Sound Leakage Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Open-ear type earphones and headphones suffer from significant sound leakage to the surroundings, which is a common issue among acoustic signal output devices that do not block the external auditory canal.
Innovation Solution
The device employs two driver units arranged along the same virtual plane, with one driver unit emitting sound in a specific direction and the other arranged annularly around it, utilizing antiphase or approximation signals to minimize sound leakage by controlling the phase relationship between the emitted acoustic signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If open-ear type earphones or headphones are used that do not block the external auditory canal, then comfort and natural hearing are improved, but sound leakage to the surroundings increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic signal output device is divided into multiple independent driver units (first driver unit and second driver unit) that are arranged along the same virtual plane. Each driver unit emits acoustic signals independently, allowing precise control over sound distribution and leakage suppression while maintaining open-ear comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The device proactively suppresses sound leakage by strategically positioning multiple driver units along the same virtual plane before sound leakage can occur. The second driver unit is arranged to complement the first driver unit, creating a controlled acoustic field that prevents unwanted sound propagation to the surroundings.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If multiple driver units are arranged along the same virtual plane with one annularly around the other, then sound leakage is suppressed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The driver units are arranged along the same virtual plane rather than stacking them in the depth direction. This planar arrangement optimizes sound leakage suppression by distributing acoustic sources laterally, while the annular configuration of the second driver unit around the first creates an elegant geometric solution that manages complexity through symmetry.
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 effectively suppresses sound leakage to the surroundings while maintaining necessary sound pressure near the user's ears, ensuring uniform sound distribution and minimizing unwanted sound propagation.
Implementation Method 1
one or more first driver units that emit a first acoustic signal in a first direction, and one or more second driver units that emit a second acoustic signal in the first direction
Implementation Method 2
an attenuation rate of the first acoustic signal at a second point relative to a predetermined first point where the first acoustic signal reaches, the second point being farther from the acoustic signal output device than the first point, is designed to be equal to or less than a predetermined value smaller than an attenuation rate of an acoustic signal at the second point relative to the first point due to air propagation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
An acoustic signal output device is provided, which comprises a driver unit 11 that emits an acoustic signal AC1 in a direction D1 and a driver unit 12 that emits an acoustic signal AC2 in the direction D1. The driver unit 11 and the driver unit 12 are arranged along the same virtual plane, and the driver unit 12 is arranged annularly around the driver unit 11. In a case where the acoustic signal AC1 is emitted from the driver unit 11 and the acoustic signal AC2 is emitted from the driver unit 12, an attenuation rate of the first acoustic signal at a second point relative to a predetermined first point where the acoustic signal AC1 reaches, the second point being farther from the acoustic signal output device than the first point, is designed to be equal to or less than a predetermined value smaller than an attenuation rate of an acoustic signal at the second point relative to the first point due to air propagation. Alternatively, an attenuation amount of the first acoustic signal at the second point relative to the first point is designed to be equal to or greater than a predetermined value greater than an attenuation amount of the acoustic signal at the second point relative to the first point due to air propagation.