Speaker Device Orientation Adaptation via Dynamic Equalization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Speaker devices with multiple units face variations in sound quality when their orientation is changed, due to differences in speaker unit diameter and sound emission direction, leading to inconsistent audio experiences.

Innovation Solution

A speaker device with first and second speaker units of different diameters and sound emission directions, equipped with equalizer, delay, and level correction means to adjust frequency characteristics, delay, and signal levels based on detected orientation, ensuring consistent sound quality across different installation positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If the speaker device is reduced in thickness to meet design constraints, then the device can be installed in space-constrained environments, but it becomes difficult to arrange multi-way speaker units on the same surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethickness of speaker deviceVSAvoidarrangement of speaker units
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dimensionality change by arranging speaker units on adjacent surfaces (front surface and top surface) instead of the same surface. This spatial reconfiguration allows multiple speaker units to be positioned optimally while maintaining a reduced thickness profile, resolving the conflict between thinness and speaker arrangement capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the orientation of the speaker device is changed, then the device can be adapted to different installation positions, but the sound quality at the listening position varies due to changes in dominant speaker units

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation orientation flexibilityVSAvoidsound quality consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics by making the equalizer correction characteristics changeable based on detection means that identifies the installation orientation. The equalizer correction means dynamically adjusts frequency characteristics according to whether the device is in a first state (speaker units on front surface) or second state (speaker units on top surface), ensuring consistent sound quality across different orientations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses feedback through detection means that detects the installation orientation of the speaker device. Based on this detection, the equalizer correction means automatically adjusts the frequency characteristics to compensate for changes in dominant speaker units, maintaining reliable sound quality regardless of orientation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3214854B1Speaker device
Publication Date: 2020.09.09 YAMAHA CORP
  • EP3214854B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3214854B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3214854B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a speaker device, which includes speaker units having different diameters and sound emission directions, and which is capable of suppressing variations in sound quality at a listening position, which are caused by changing an orientation in which the speaker device is installed. A speaker device (10) has first and second speaker units (23L, 23R, 24L, 24R), which have different diameters and sound emission directions, mounted thereto. The speaker device (10) is installable in a state of being placed on a rack with the first speaker units (23L, 23R) facing the listening position, and in a state of being hung on a wall with the second speaker units (24L, 24R) facing the listening position. A controller (41) is configured to control, depending on the orientation in which the device is installed, an equalizer correction unit (47) to correct frequency characteristics of acoustic signals input to the first and second speaker units (23L, 23R, 24L, 24R) so that sound quality is not varied at the listening position depending on the difference in diameter and sound emission direction.