Speaker Membrane Blocking Unit for Wide Horizontal Directivity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Speaker apparatuses in slim electronic devices face challenges in achieving wide horizontal directivity and high-frequency sound pressure due to the size constraints of the speaker units, leading to sound quality deterioration when emitting sounds through small openings.
Innovation Solution
A speaker apparatus with a membrane and blocking unit configuration, where the membrane is vibratable and emits sound in a specific direction, and a blocking unit is used to expose only a portion of the membrane's height and width to the front, ensuring sound pressure levels are maintained while minimizing distortion through sound-absorption members and strategic placement of the blocking unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If the speaker unit size is increased to maintain sound pressure level, then the sound pressure is improved, but the device thickness and opening size constraints are violated
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is configured to vibrate in the vertical direction (first direction) rather than the horizontal direction, changing the vibration dimension to achieve wide horizontal directivity. This allows the speaker unit to maintain sufficient sound pressure with a smaller effective radiating area, resolving the contradiction between sound pressure and device thickness.
2Length of stationary object
If the speaker unit is partially hidden behind the opening, then the device slim design is maintained, but the sound quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking unit is strategically positioned to block only the upper portion of the membrane while exposing the lower portion. This local selective blocking allows the speaker to maintain a slim profile while ensuring that the exposed membrane region provides sufficient sound output quality, resolving the contradiction between device thickness and sound quality.
3Length of stationary object
If the opening size is reduced to fit slim electronic apparatus, then the device thickness is improved, but the sound pressure level decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the membrane vibration direction to the vertical dimension and configuring the membrane width to be greater than its height, the system achieves wide horizontal directivity. This dimensional change allows the smaller opening to effectively radiate sound with maintained pressure levels, resolving the contradiction between opening size and sound pressure level.
4Length of stationary object
If the membrane height is reduced to fit the opening, then the device thickness is improved, but the frequency response characteristics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is configured with width greater than height and is vibrated in the vertical direction, changing the effective radiating dimension. This allows the membrane to maintain appropriate acoustic characteristics for good frequency response while fitting within the limited height constraints of the device opening.
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 enables wide horizontal directivity and high-frequency sound output with maintained sound pressure levels, reducing distortion and improving frequency response characteristics even when emitting through small openings.
Implementation Method 1
a magnet configured to provide a magnetic field and a membrane disposed in the magnet field and configured to be vibratable in a first direction and emit a sound in a front direction
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~3B
Figure 4A
AI summary
A speaker apparatus includes a speaker unit including a magnet configured to provide a magnetic field; and a membrane disposed in the magnet field, configured to be vibratable in a first direction, and configured to emit a sound in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a blocking unit disposed at the membrane, configured to block a first region of the membrane having a first height along the first direction from being exposed and configured to expose a second region of the membrane having a second height, a sum of the first and the second heights corresponds to a total height of the membrane, wherein the first height of the membrane blocked by the blocking unit is less than a half of a wavelength corresponding to a maximum frequency in a frequency domain of the sound emitted from the membrane.