Planar Magnetic Transducer Anti-Diffraction Waveguide

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Planar magnetic transducers face issues with diffraction and phase distortion due to obstacles like magnets and stator plates, causing sound wave interference and affecting stereo imaging and frequency response.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an anti-diffraction structure, such as a wave guide with aligned anti-diffraction plates adjacent to magnets, which minimizes diffraction and phase distortion by smoothing sound wavefronts and diffusing reflected waves, thereby enhancing frequency response and imaging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If magnets and pole pieces are used in the planar magnetic transducer, then the magnetic field is generated to drive the diaphragm, but diffraction and phase distortion occur due to the obstacles blocking sound wave propagation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic field generationVSAvoidsound wave diffraction and interference
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Acoustic waveguides are introduced as intermediary structures between the magnets and the diaphragm. These waveguides serve as mediators that allow sound waves to pass through the magnetic assembly without significant diffraction or interference, while still permitting the magnetic field to function. The waveguides effectively decouple the magnetic field generation function from the sound wave propagation path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The acoustic waveguides extend in the vertical dimension (perpendicular to the diaphragm plane), creating a three-dimensional sound propagation path. This dimensional change allows sound waves to bypass the two-dimensional obstacle of the magnet array, reducing diffraction effects by providing a dedicated acoustic channel that traverses through rather than around the magnetic components.

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

2Weight of moving object

If a flat diaphragm is suspended in a magnetic field, then the transducer achieves a planar structure with lightweight construction, but obstacles like magnets interfere with sound wave travel from the diaphragm

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediaphragm weightVSAvoidsound wave interference from magnetic structures
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Acoustic waveguides are positioned between the diaphragm and the magnetic structures to serve as intermediaries. These waveguides provide a clear acoustic path that allows sound waves to travel from the lightweight diaphragm without encountering the obstructive magnetic components, thereby maintaining both the lightweight advantage and the acoustic integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of energy

If magnets are positioned close to the diaphragm to create an effective magnetic field, then the transducer efficiency is improved, but diffraction of sound waves increases due to the proximity of obstacles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransducer efficiencyVSAvoidsound wave diffraction
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Acoustic waveguides are introduced as intermediary structures that fill the space between the diaphragm and magnets. These waveguides enable the magnets to be positioned close to the diaphragm for efficient magnetic coupling while simultaneously providing protected acoustic channels that prevent sound wave diffraction, thus resolving the contradiction between efficiency and acoustic integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 results in a more uniform wavefront, reduced phase distortion, improved high-frequency extension, and increased efficiency by eliminating resonant chambers and improving acoustical impedance, leading to better sound quality and imaging.

Implementation Method 1

The shape of each anti-diffraction structure is designed to minimize or eliminate diffraction of a sound wave traveling from the diaphragm as the sound wave passes by the magnets and plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Implementation Method 2

A planar magnetic transducer with wave guides positioned adjacent to one or more magnets in the array. The wave guides are positioned between the magnets and the diaphragm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWave propagation: Sound

Implementation Method 3

The diffusion structures diffuse the reflected waves and minimize their interference with other sound waves emitting from the diaphragm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3058751B1Planar magnetic transducer
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 AUDEZE LLC
  • EP3058751B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3058751B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3058751B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An anti-diffraction plate for including in a planar magnetic transducer. The anti- diffraction plate includes anti-diffraction structures for positioning adjacent to magnets of the planar magnetic transducer. By introducing a shape over top surface of the magnets, the anti-diffraction structures cause the elimination of diffraction patterns as a main audio wavefront passes by the magnets from a diaphragm. A diffusion structure for diffusing reflected sound waves, the diffusion structures reducing or eliminating the power and capacity of the reflected sound waves to create interference patterns with oncoming sound waves.