Sound Plate Speaker System Forward Emission
Solution Overview
Problem
As electronic devices become slimmer, the degradation of sound quality is increased due to the need for acoustic devices that are not optimized for slim structures, leading to issues with sound reflection and vibration interference.
Innovation Solution
A sound plate with integrated speaker units, including woofer and tweeter modules, is designed to emit sound through slits in the side surface, functioning as both a speaker system and a stand for the electronic device, ensuring sound is emitted forward without reflection from the rear surface, thus maintaining sound quality similar to front-firing speakers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If electronic devices are made slimmer, then the device thickness is reduced, but sound quality deteriorates due to sound reflection and vibration interference
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two separate functional modules: a main body and a sound plate. The sound plate contains the speaker units and is configured to function as a stand, separating the acoustic function from the main device structure. This segmentation allows the main body to be ultra-slim while the sound plate handles sound emission independently, resolving the contradiction between thinness and sound quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The sound plate acts as an intermediary element between the main body and the support surface. It serves triple functions: supporting the main body (stand function), emitting sound (acoustic function), and preventing direct contact between the main body and the support surface that would cause vibration interference. This intermediary structure enables the main body to be slim while maintaining sound quality.
2Device complexity
If speaker units are integrated into the main body, then device functionality is combined, but vibration interference and thermal emission limitations occur
Solution Approach 1:
The speaker units are extracted from the main body and relocated to the sound plate. This extraction removes the source of vibration interference from the main body structure, allowing the main body to be ultra-slim without suffering from vibration issues. The sound plate, being a separate component, absorbs and isolates any vibration generated by the speaker units.
Solution Approach 2:
The sound plate is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as a stand to support the main body, as a housing for the speaker units, and as a vibration isolation element. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, effectively managing device complexity while eliminating vibration interference through physical separation.
3Reliability
If down-firing type front speaker is used, then moderate/high-pitched sounds are emitted, but sound reflection from rear surface degrades sound quality
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of emitting sound downward from the front (down-firing) or from the rear (back-firing), the sound plate emits sound forward through its front surface. The sound plate is configured with speaker units that face forward, and sound is emitted through the front surface of the sound plate in a forward direction, avoiding reflection from the rear surface entirely. This inverted emission direction eliminates the sound reflection problem.
4Reliability
If back-firing type woofer is used, then low-pitched sounds are emitted to rear side, but sound transfer to front side through diffraction degrades sound quality
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of emitting low-pitched sounds to the rear side (back-firing) and relying on diffraction to transfer sound to the front, the sound plate emits sound directly forward. The speaker units in the sound plate are positioned and oriented to emit sound in a forward direction, eliminating the need for sound diffraction and the associated quality degradation.
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 allows for improved sound playback and articulation, particularly in low-frequency ranges, while maintaining an ultra-slim device design by separating the speaker system from the main body, reducing self-vibration and thermal emission limitations, and ensuring optimal sound quality and sweet spots.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one speaker unit may be disposed to allow an acoustic diaphragm to face a lower plate of the plate
Implementation Method 2
the at least one speaker unit may include a woofer module and a tweeter module, which are arranged in parallel to one another in the inner space between the upper plate and the lower plate of the plate
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a sound plate and an electronic device employing the same. The sound plate includes at least one speaker unit disposed within a plate that is configured as a stand of the electronic device. Sound output by the at least one speaker is emitted through at least slit provided in a side surface of the plate.