Retractable Screen and Rotating Speaker Layout for Space Saving

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multimedia installations with large screens and speakers occupy significant space in interior decoration schemes and do not seamlessly integrate into the environment when not in use, as existing solutions fail to effectively minimize their visual impact and spatial requirements.

Innovation Solution

A multimedia installation design featuring a base with a rotatable screen and loudspeaker assemblies that fold out when activated, allowing the screen to be elevated and the loudspeakers to rotate from a position covering the screen to one exposing it, minimizing space usage and providing an aesthetically pleasing integration with the environment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the multimedia installation uses large screens and loudspeaker assemblies, then the audio and video quality is improved, but the space occupied in the interior decoration scheme increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio and video qualityVSAvoidspace occupied
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The loudspeaker assemblies are designed to be rotatable between a retracted position (covering the screen) and an extended position (exposing the screen). This dynamic configuration allows the system to maintain high-quality large speakers while minimizing their visual impact and space occupation when not in use, effectively resolving the contradiction between audio quality and space usage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The solution transitions the loudspeaker assemblies from a static two-dimensional wall-mounted appearance to a three-dimensional rotatable structure. By adding the rotational dimension, the speakers can occupy minimal wall space when retracted while still providing large speaker surfaces when extended, thus improving audio quality without permanently increasing space occupation

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

2Reliability

If the multimedia installation uses large screens, then the picture quality is improved, but the wall surface area required increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepicture qualityVSAvoidwall surface area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The screen is integrated with a rotatable mechanism that allows it to be positioned in front of the loudspeaker assemblies during playback. This dynamic positioning enables the screen to display high-quality images while effectively hiding the large speaker surfaces when the system is not in use, thus maintaining picture quality while reducing the visible wall surface area

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the loudspeaker assemblies are positioned to provide wide sound coverage, then the sound quality is improved, but they interfere with the screen visibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound qualityVSAvoidscreen visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable mechanism enables the loudspeaker assemblies to dynamically switch between covering the screen during retraction and exposing the screen during extension. When extended, the speakers are positioned to provide wide sound coverage without blocking the screen, thus improving sound quality while maintaining screen visibility. The system coordinates the rotation and screen elevation to ensure both functions operate optimally

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If the multimedia installation is activated to elevate the screen, then the viewing angle is improved, but the loudspeaker assemblies must be moved out of the way

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviewing angleVSAvoidmovement coordination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the screen elevation mechanism with the loudspeaker rotation mechanism into a coordinated single operation. When the multimedia installation is activated, both the screen elevation and loudspeaker rotation occur simultaneously through integrated control, improving viewing angles while managing the complexity of coordinated movement through unified system design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 creates a visually appealing and space-efficient multimedia installation that can be easily integrated into interior designs, offering a surprising effect while maintaining optimal viewing angles and sound quality, regardless of screen size, by using mechanical and electrical actuators for smooth movement and precise control of the loudspeaker assemblies.

Implementation Method 1

the base comprises at least one electrically operated actuator suitable to elevate and lower the movable part relative to the stationary part of the base

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical actuation: Linear Motor

Implementation Method 2

Each ground tower in a distal end is provided with a pivotable connection to a first end of a lever arm, where said lever arm in the opposite end is pivotally connected to one loudspeaker assembly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLever mechanism: Lever

Data Source

PatentEP3716614B1Multimedia installation
Publication Date: 2022.02.09 BANG & OLUFSEN AS
  • EP3716614B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3716614B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4c
  • EP3716614B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6b

AI summary

Multimedia installation (1) comprising a base (10) to which base a video screen (2) is mounted and where two movable loudspeaker assemblies (3,4) are rotatably mounted to said base where the base has a stationary part (11) and a movable part (12), such that by activating the multimedia installation the screen is elevated by the movable part, and the movable loudspeaker assemblies comprise means for rotating the movable loud-speaker assemblies from a first position where the loudspeaker assemblies cover at least a part of the screen as seen from a user's position, into a second position where at least a substantial and larger part of the screen is visible and if/when desirable back to the first position.