Seatback Speaker Acoustic Exit Angle for Consistent Frequency Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seats with integrated speakers fail to provide a consistent and satisfactory acoustic output across a range of distinct users and seating positions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a loudspeaker assembly with an acoustic exit angled to provide an acoustic output below the nominal ear position, ensuring a consistent frequency response across various seating positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If speakers are integrated into conventional seats, then audio output is provided, but consistent frequency response across range of seating positions is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic exit is angled at approximately 45 degrees relative to the seat backrest, redirecting sound propagation from a conventional forward direction to a downward-forward direction. This angular redirection in a new dimension enables the sound to reach occupants across multiple seating positions and recline angles, achieving consistent frequency response that conventional forward-facing speakers cannot provide.
2Reliability
If acoustic exit is angled to provide output below nominal ear position, then frequency response consistency is improved, but speaker assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic exit is positioned and angled at specific parameters (approximately 45 degrees relative to the seat backrest, located below the nominal ear position) to optimize sound propagation. By carefully selecting and fixing these geometric parameters during design, the system achieves consistent frequency response across multiple seating positions without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms, thus balancing performance improvement with assembly simplicity.
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 configuration achieves a consistent frequency response, characterized by low frequency consistency equal to or greater than that at the nominal ear position, and reduced high frequency response variation, providing improved acoustic performance across a range of seating positions.
Implementation Method 1
at least one driver for generating an acoustic output
Implementation Method 2
an acoustic exit fixed in the seat backrest portion and angled to provide the acoustic output to a location below a nominal ear position
Data Source
AI summary
Various implementations include seats and related loudspeakers. In particular cases, a seat includes: a seat headrest portion; a seat backrest portion; and a loudspeaker assembly including: at least one driver for generating an acoustic output; and an acoustic exit fixed in the seat backrest portion and angled to provide the acoustic output to a location below a nominal ear position of an occupant of the seat, wherein an angle of the at least one driver provides the acoustic output to achieve a consistent frequency response across a range of positions deviating from the nominal ear position, wherein the consistent frequency response is characterized by a low frequency (LF) consistency equal to or greater than a LF consistency for an acoustic output provided to the nominal ear position.