Ring Speaker Control Member for Diagonal Sound Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Speakers with ring-shaped vibrating members experience sound pressure decrease and sound quality deterioration when listening from diagonal front due to interference between sound waves from opposing sound-generating portions, particularly in automobile systems where tweeters are often positioned at diagonal front positions.

Innovation Solution

A speaker design featuring a ring-shaped vibrating member with a ring-shaped control member that directs sound waves generated from the external peripheral edge to the front while suppressing sound waves from the internal peripheral edge, reducing interference by forming pass spaces outside and inside the control member, and using inclined faces to guide sound waves and prevent resonance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a ring-shaped vibrating member is used, then divisional resonance and sound distortion are reduced, but sound pressure decreases and sound quality deteriorates when listening at diagonal front due to interference between sound waves from opposing sound-generating portions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound qualityVSAvoidsound pressure level at diagonal front

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the sound-generating function into two distinct portions: the external peripheral edge and the internal peripheral edge of the ring-shaped vibrating member. Each portion has its own dedicated pass space (outer pass space and inner pass space respectively), allowing independent sound wave propagation paths that reduce interference effects when listening from diagonal positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control member is designed with asymmetric geometry where the external peripheral end portion and internal peripheral end portion are positioned at different radial distances from the center line. This asymmetric arrangement creates different sound wave propagation characteristics for sound waves from opposite sides, reducing constructive and destructive interference patterns that cause sound quality deterioration at diagonal listening positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Adaptability or versatility

If tweeters are positioned at diagonal front positions in automobile speakers, then sound coverage is improved, but interference between sound waves from bilateral sound-generating portions causes sound pressure decrease and sound quality deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound coverageVSAvoidsound quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control member acts as an intermediary structure between the vibrating member and the surrounding environment. It selectively guides sound waves from the external peripheral edge through the outer pass space while suppressing sound waves from the internal peripheral edge, thereby mediating the interference problem and maintaining high sound pressure levels at diagonal front positions where automobile tweeters are typically installed.

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

This design effectively suppresses sound pressure decrease and sound quality deterioration when listening from diagonal front by minimizing interference and maintaining high sound pressure levels across a wide frequency range.

Implementation Method 1

a voice coil which applies vibration force to the vibrating member, and a magnetic field generating portion which provide magnetic field to the voice coil

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Lorentz Force

Implementation Method 2

an inclined side face be formed at the external peripheral end portion of the control member to be apart gradually from a center as getting away frontward in the sound-generating direction from the vibrating member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound wave reflection and guidance: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS8983104B2Ring-shaped speaker having two voice coils and control member

Publication Date: 2015.03.17 ALPINE ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A speaker includes a ring-shaped vibrating member fixed to an internal support body at an internal peripheral edge, and a bobbin attached to an external peripheral edge thereof. A voice coil is attached to the bobbin and is located in a magnetic gap. A ring-shaped control member faces a front portion of the vibrating member, and a sound pass space is formed at an external peripheral side of the control member and at an internal peripheral side thereof. When listening to the speaker from a diagonal location, treble sound waves generated from the left side area are perturbed by the control member so as to prevent interference from sound waves generated from bilaterally separated areas, which prevents a decrease of treble sound pressure levels.