Rotational Diaphragm Audio Transducer for Breakup Resonance Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional loudspeaker drivers suffer from unwanted mechanical resonance, known as diaphragm breakup, which affects performance and sound quality, and there is a need for alternative designs that can better address these issues in specific applications.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a diaphragm structure that is movably coupled to a base via a compliant diaphragm suspension system, featuring flexible hinge mounts that enable rotation and translational motion, effectively managing resonance modes by locating the axis of rotation at the diaphragm's node axis, which is coaxial with the centre of mass, and using a decoupling mounting system to minimize vibration transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a rigid diaphragm and suspension system are used, then unwanted resonances are pushed beyond the listening range, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunwanted mechanical resonanceVSAvoiddiaphragm suspension system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the diaphragm and suspension system to push resonance frequencies beyond the listening range. This includes using a rigid diaphragm with specific material properties (Young's modulus, density) and designing the suspension system with particular stiffness and mass characteristics that elevate the resonant frequencies above 20kHz, effectively removing harmful resonances from the audible range while maintaining manageable device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material structures for the diaphragm, combining materials with specific mechanical properties to achieve the desired rigidity and resonance characteristics. The composite construction allows optimization of the diaphragm's mass distribution, stiffness, and damping properties to control resonance behavior without excessive complexity in the suspension system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Device complexity

If a flexible membrane diaphragm is used, then the device structure is simpler, but unwanted mechanical resonance occurs at certain frequencies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediaphragm structure simplicityVSAvoiddiaphragm breakup resonance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a flexible membrane diaphragm to a rigid diaphragm with carefully controlled physical parameters. By increasing the diaphragm's stiffness-to-mass ratio and adjusting its dimensional parameters, the resonance frequencies are shifted beyond the listening range, eliminating diaphragm breakup while maintaining relatively simple device structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a curved or domed diaphragm geometry rather than a flat membrane. This curvature affects the stress distribution and vibrational modes of the diaphragm, helping to push resonance frequencies higher and reduce unwanted mechanical resonance while maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 approach significantly reduces unwanted resonances, enhancing sound quality and performance by shifting resonance frequencies outside the operational range or managing them within the bandwidth, resulting in improved audio reproduction.

Implementation Method 1

flexible hinge mounts that enable rotation and translational motion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

decoupling mounting system to minimize vibration transmission

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration isolation: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3837859B1Systems methods and devices relating to audio transducers
Publication Date: 2024.10.02 WING ACOUSTICS LTD
  • EP3837859B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1E
  • EP3837859B1 patent drawingFigure 1F
  • EP3837859B1 patent drawingFigure 1G~1H

AI summary

The invention relates to various rotational action audio transducer embodiments having a diaphragm structure including a single or multiple diaphragms. A diaphragm suspension rotatably mounts the diaphragm structure to a base structure. In some embodiments, the diaphragm suspension may be made from soft and/or damped materials. In some embodiments, the location of an axis of rotation of the diaphragm is determined based on a node axis of the diaphragm. A transducing mechanism of the audio transducer cooperates with the moving diaphragm to transduce sound. The mechanism may comprise a moving magnet design in some embodiments, or a moving coil design in others.