Speaker Actuator Vibration for Omni-Directional Sound

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional speakers using magnetostrictive actuators create a localized acoustic image due to vibrations primarily orthogonal to the diaphragm plane, making it difficult to achieve a global acoustic output.

Innovation Solution

The speaker design incorporates an actuator that vibrates the diaphragm with components along its plane, allowing elastic waves to propagate and mix longitudinal and transverse waves, enabling sound emission in all directions and preventing loud sound localization at a single point.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the magnetostrictive actuator vibrates the diaphragm primarily in the orthogonal direction, then the acoustic output is obtained, but the acoustic image becomes localized to the vibration point

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic outputVSAvoidacoustic image distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a new dimension of vibration by causing the actuator to vibrate not only in the orthogonal direction (perpendicular to diaphragm plane) but also in the parallel direction (along the diaphragm plane). This dimensional expansion of vibration modes transforms the localized acoustic image into a distributed global acoustic image, as the sound waves propagate from multiple points across the diaphragm surface rather than from a single vibration point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the actuator vibrates with component along the plane of the diaphragm, then elastic waves propagate and mix longitudinal and transverse waves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound emission capabilityVSAvoidvibration mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetostrictive actuator is designed to perform multiple vibration functions simultaneously - it generates both orthogonal vibrations (for primary acoustic output) and parallel vibrations (for elastic wave propagation and wave mixing). This multi-functionality allows a single actuator to achieve complex sound field effects including longitudinal wave generation, transverse wave generation, and their interaction, without requiring separate mechanisms for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 enhances the acoustic image by distributing sound evenly across the diaphragm, providing a global acoustic output and allowing for omni-directional sound emission and sound field processing.

Implementation Method 1

a magnetostrictive actuator 303, and a diaphragm 304. In this device 300, the magnetostrictive actuator 303 and the diaphragm 304 constitutes a speaker 305

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetostriction: Magnetostriction

Implementation Method 2

The actuator vibrates with the acoustic diaphragm by at least its component of the vibration along a plane of the acoustic diaphragm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic wave propagation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS8090140B2Speaker and method of outputting acoustic sound

Publication Date: 2012.01.03 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

A speaker has an acoustic diaphragm, and an actuator that is driven based on an acoustic signal. The actuator has a transmission portion that is directly or indirectly attached to the acoustic diaphragm and transmits a displacement output of the actuator to the acoustic diaphragm. The actuator vibrates with the acoustic diaphragm by at least its component of the vibration along a plane of the acoustic diagram.