Piezoelectric Vibration Speaker Structure for Impact-Resistant Vehicle Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Piezoelectric elements used in speakers are fragile and prone to damage from external impacts, limiting their reliability and sound quality in apparatuses, especially in vehicular applications.
Innovation Solution
A vibration apparatus comprising a vibration member, a vibrator, and a connector between the vibration member and the vibrator, which includes a supporting member, connection members, and a protection part to enhance durability and facilitate attachment on curved surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If piezoelectric elements are used to reduce thickness, then the thickness is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to fragile characteristic and impact damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by introducing a shock-absorbing structure between the piezoelectric element and the external environment. This structure is designed to absorb impact energy before it reaches the fragile piezoelectric element, thereby protecting it from damage while maintaining the thin profile enabled by piezoelectric technology.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining the piezoelectric element with protective materials that have different mechanical properties. This composite structure provides both the thinness advantage of piezoelectric elements and the durability needed to resist impact damage, resolving the contradiction between thickness reduction and reliability improvement.
2Length of stationary object
If piezoelectric elements are used for thin design, then thickness is reduced, but damage occurs due to fragile characteristic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by placing a protective structure in advance between the piezoelectric element and potential impact sources. This structure is designed to dissipate impact energy through controlled deformation, preventing direct transmission of harmful forces to the fragile piezoelectric element while preserving the thin overall design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary protective structure that acts as a mediator between the external impact environment and the piezoelectric element. This intermediary absorbs and redistributes impact forces, protecting the piezoelectric element from direct damage while allowing the thin design to be maintained.
3Reliability
If connector design is modified to improve attachment, then reliability is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the connector into modular components with standardized interfaces. This allows for improved attachment reliability through optimized connection mechanisms while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular assembly and standardization of parts.
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 minimizes damage from impacts and enhances sound quality by providing a reliable and efficient attachment process, improving productivity and reliability of the apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
A speaker applied to the apparatus may be, for example, an actuator including a magnet and a coil. However, when an actuator is applied to the apparatus, a thickness thereof becomes bulky. Therefore, piezoelectric elements for realizing a thin thickness are attracting much attention.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a vibration member, a vibrator at the vibration member, and a connector between the vibration member and the vibrator and accommodating the vibrator. A vehicular apparatus includes an exterior material; an interior material covering the exterior material; and one or more vibration generating devices at one or more of the exterior material, the interior material, and a region between the exterior material and the interior material, wherein the one or more vibration generating devices comprise the apparatus, and wherein one or more of the exterior material and the interior material output a sound based on vibrations of the one or more vibration generating devices.