Speaker Cooling via Inaudible Audio Vibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumer audio devices face challenges in maintaining component temperatures within safe limits when transitioning from active to inactive states, leading to potential overheating due to reduced air movement and cooling effects.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where playback devices use inaudible audio content to generate air movement and cool components by causing speakers to vibrate, even when not playing audible content, using thermal sensors to determine temperature thresholds and activate this cooling mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the playback device stops playing audio content to conserve energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but component temperature increases due to reduced air movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidcomponent temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs periodic action by playing inaudible audio content at intervals even when no audible content is requested. This periodic playback creates recurring air movement cycles that continuously cool components without requiring constant audible output, thus resolving the contradiction between energy conservation and temperature control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the potentially harmful effect of playing audio (energy consumption) into a beneficial cooling mechanism by using inaudible content. The audio playback serves dual purposes: maintaining component cooling through air movement while consuming minimal energy and producing no audible output, thus transforming the trade-off into a mutually beneficial solution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Temperature

If the playback device plays inaudible audio content to cool components, then component temperature is reduced, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent temperatureVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by playing only inaudible frequencies rather than full audible content. This partial playback provides sufficient air movement for cooling components while consuming significantly less energy than full audio playback would require, thus resolving the contradiction between effective cooling and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of audio frequency content from audible range to inaudible range (ultrasonic or subsonic frequencies). This parameter change maintains the air-movement cooling effect while dramatically reducing perceived energy consumption and eliminating audible output, thus resolving the energy-temperature trade-off.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Temperature

If thermal management is prioritized over energy conservation, then component temperature is controlled, but device operational time is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent temperatureVSAvoiddevice operational time

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic inaudible playback to maintain thermal management during extended operational periods. By cycling inaudible content playback rather than continuous audible output, the system sustains component cooling throughout extended operational time while consuming minimal energy, thus resolving the contradiction between temperature control and operational duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

Effectively reduces component temperatures by maintaining air movement and dispersing heat, preventing overheating and extending device lifespan.

Implementation Method 1

causing the at least one speaker to vibrate and disperse heat away from the one or more components

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir movement: Convection

Implementation Method 2

causing the at least one speaker to vibrate and disperse heat away from the one or more components

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 3

determining, based on a detection by a thermal sensor, a temperature on or around one or more components

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal detection: Thermography

Data Source

PatentUS9451724B2Speaker cooling

Publication Date: 2016.09.20 SONOS INC

AI summary

Embodiments are provided for cooling one or more components of a playback device using speaker vibrations that result from inaudible audio. Movement of air molecules arising from the speaker vibrations may disperse heat away from the one or more components of a playback device. In an example implementation, while playing audible audio content via the at least one speaker, a playback device may receive input data indicating an instruction to stop playback of the audible audio content. The playback device may determine that playback of the audible audio content has stopped and based on that determination, play inaudible audio content to cause the at least one speaker to vibrate thereby inducing air movement within the playback device.