Side-Mounted Speaker Guide Tube for Thin Display Sound Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sound output apparatuses, particularly in thin and curved display devices, face challenges in achieving high immersive effects and wide sound fields due to limited speaker installation options and restricted sound distribution.
Innovation Solution
The sound output apparatus incorporates a housing with strategically positioned speakers featuring guide tubes with changing cross-sectional areas and radiation apertures, along with a processor for audio signal distribution and processing, including up-mixing and down-mixing, to enhance sound directivity and immersion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If speakers are installed in thin display devices with limited space, then the device thickness is reduced and aesthetics are improved, but sound distribution capability and immersive effect deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional forward-facing speaker installation to side-mounted speaker installation on the display device housing. By utilizing the side surface dimension rather than the front surface, the speaker can be positioned in a spatial dimension that does not conflict with the thin profile requirement, thereby maintaining both reduced thickness and effective sound distribution capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a reflective structure (reflector) as an intermediary element between the speaker and the listening environment. This reflector mediates the sound propagation by redirecting sound waves from the side-mounted speaker toward the viewer, enabling effective sound distribution without requiring the speaker to be positioned in the traditional forward direction.
2Device complexity
If the number of speakers is reduced to accommodate thin device design, then device simplicity is improved, but sound field width and immersive effect deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances the local quality of the single speaker by incorporating a guide tube with specifically designed internal geometry. The guide tube creates localized acoustic conditions that direct and shape the sound waves, allowing one speaker to achieve sound field effects that would traditionally require multiple speakers. The varying cross-sectional area of the guide tube optimizes sound distribution in different directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent mounts the speaker on the side surface of the display device rather than the front surface, utilizing a different spatial dimension. This side-mounted configuration, combined with the guide tube orientation, enables the single speaker to create a wide sound field by projecting sound laterally and reflecting it off surrounding surfaces, thereby achieving immersive effects without increasing device complexity.
3Shape
If speakers are mounted on curved surfaces, then device aesthetics are improved, but speaker installation complexity and sound directivity control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the housing into distinct functional zones: a curved display surface for aesthetics and a relatively flat side surface for speaker installation. This segmentation allows the curved aesthetic requirements to be maintained on the display surface while providing a separate installation surface that simplifies speaker mounting and acoustic alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide tube serves as an intermediary acoustic element that decouples the speaker from the curved surface geometry. By positioning the speaker on the side surface and using the guide tube to direct sound waves, the system mediates between the curved aesthetic form and the need for controlled sound directivity, eliminating the need for complex installation on curved surfaces.
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 enables the delivery of high immersive effects and wide sound fields, even in devices with limited speaker count or space, by optimizing sound distribution and directivity.
Implementation Method 1
a sound generator configured to generate a sound; and a guide tube that has a cross sectional area that changes from a first end of the guide tube to a second end of the guide tube, and wherein the guide tube receives the generated sound via the first end
Data Source
AI summary
A sound output apparatus, a display apparatus and a method for controlling the same are provided. The sound output apparatus includes a housing; and at least one speaker provided on a side of the housing, wherein the housing includes an accommodation portion provided with an insertion groove to which the at least one speaker is inserted and mounted, wherein the at least one speaker includes a sound generator configured to generate a sound; and a guide tube that has a cross sectional area that changes from a first end of the guide tube to a second end of the guide tube, and wherein the guide tube receives the generated sound via the first end, and the guide tube includes an outer surface having a plurality of radiation apertures arranged in at least one row.