Portable Reflective Speaker Panels for Stereo Crosstalk Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stereo audio systems face challenges in reproducing high-performance three-dimensional surround sound due to issues like stereo speaker crosstalk and out-of-sync listening room reflections, which distort the original sound and are difficult and expensive to address.
Innovation Solution
A portable, low-cost sound system that utilizes the normally wasted indirect sound from stereo speakers to create a three-dimensional surround sound experience by reflecting and focusing sound waves towards the listener using acoustically reflective surfaces, without electronically manipulating the sound signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional stereo speakers are used to reproduce sound, then sound is emitted in all directions including lateral sound, but this causes stereo speaker crosstalk and out-of-sync listening room reflections that distort the original sound
Solution Approach 1:
The patent captures the normally wasted and harmful lateral indirect sound from stereo speakers using acoustically reflective surfaces, converts it into beneficial acoustically-pure three-dimensional surround sound by reflecting and focusing it toward the listener, while simultaneously blocking the harmful direct sound from traveling out into the listening room to prevent crosstalk and out-of-sync reflections
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustically reflective surfaces as intermediary elements between the stereo speakers and the listener. These surfaces act as mediators that capture lateral indirect sound, reflect and focus it toward the listener's ears, while also blocking direct sound from propagating freely into the listening room environment
2Adaptability or versatility
If acoustically reflective surfaces are added to capture and focus indirect sound, then three-dimensional surround sound is provided, but the system complexity and setup difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs acoustically reflective surfaces that perform multiple functions simultaneously: capturing lateral indirect sound, reflecting and focusing sound toward the listener, and blocking direct sound from traveling out into the listening room. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the naturally emitted indirect sound from conventional stereo speakers as a dynamic resource, capturing and redirecting it in real-time without requiring additional active sound sources or complex electronic processing, thereby maintaining system simplicity while achieving three-dimensional surround sound
3Reliability
If electronic signal manipulation is used to correct crosstalk and reflections, then sound quality may be improved, but the system becomes more expensive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic signal processing and manipulation with a purely acoustic solution using reflective surfaces. Instead of using electronics to correct crosstalk and reflections, the system uses acoustically reflective surfaces to physically capture, redirect, and focus sound waves, eliminating the need for complex electronic correction systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the stereo speakers to serve themselves by utilizing their own normally wasted lateral indirect sound output. The acoustically reflective surfaces capture this self-generated sound and redirect it beneficially toward the listener, eliminating the need for external correction systems or additional sound sources
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 solution effectively cancels stereo speaker crosstalk and prevents out-of-sync reflections, providing a high-fidelity, three-dimensional surround sound experience that is economically viable and easy to set up, using universally available two-channel stereo signals without additional speakers or wires.
Implementation Method 1
The first panel and the second panel are shaped such that sound waves emitted laterally from the first speaker and the second speaker are reflected and focused toward the listener
Data Source
AI summary
A system for enhancing sound provided by a pair of speakers relative to a listener includes a support structure, a first panel, and a second panel. The first panel is a material having a sound reflective surface and is disposed upright relative to the ground and the listener by the support structure. The first panel extends between a first area proximate a first speaker and a second area proximate the listener. The second panel is a material having a sound reflective surface and is disposed upright relative to the ground and the listener by the support structure. The second panel extends between a third area proximate a second speaker and a fourth area proximate the listener. The first panel and the second panel are shaped such that sound waves emitted laterally from the first speaker and the second speaker are reflected and focused toward the listener.