Speaker Port Seal Detection Using Touch Sensors for Flat Audio Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing speaker systems in electronic devices face challenges in distinguishing between sealed and leak conditions, leading to inconsistent acoustic output and perceived degradation of sound quality, especially in miniature speakers like those in mobile telecommunications devices, where detecting diaphragm movement is difficult.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of touch sensors around the speaker port to detect the degree of seal by estimating touch contact patterns, allowing for adjustment of acoustic output based on whether the contact is continuous over an arc of a notional circle, with thresholds determining sealed or leak conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If diaphragm movement detection is used to distinguish sealed and leak conditions, then the degree of seal can be detected, but the measurement precision is insufficient due to very slight movement in miniature speakers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces touch sensors as intermediary devices that detect ear contact with the device housing around the speaker port. These sensors serve as mediators between the user's ear and the speaker system, providing indirect but reliable information about seal conditions without requiring direct measurement of diaphragm movement. The touch sensors detect whether the ear is touching the device, which correlates with sealed versus leak conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical measurement approach (directly measuring diaphragm movement) with an electrical sensing approach (using touch sensors to detect ear contact). This substitution avoids the limitations of mechanical measurement in miniature speakers by using electrical fields or capacitive sensing to detect the presence and position of the ear relative to the device.
2Ease of manufacture
If speaker plays into contained air volume in sealed condition, then lower frequencies are amplified, but sound quality perception becomes inconsistent across different seal conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of speaker output based on real-time detection of seal conditions. The system continuously monitors touch sensor inputs and dynamically modifies speaker parameters (such as frequency response or volume) to compensate for sealed versus leak conditions. This dynamic adaptation ensures consistent sound quality perception regardless of how the user holds the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes acoustic parameters (frequency response, gain, or other speaker characteristics) based on the detected seal condition. When a sealed condition is detected through touch sensors, the system adjusts speaker parameters to compensate for the bass amplification effect, thereby maintaining consistent perceived sound quality across different seal conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If touch sensors are used to detect seal conditions, then acoustic output can be adjusted dynamically, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the touch sensors multi-functional by using them for both user interface interactions (such as button presses or gestures) and for detecting seal conditions. This universal usage of touch sensors for multiple purposes minimizes the additional complexity introduced by the sensing system, as the same hardware infrastructure serves both communication and acoustic compensation functions.
Data Source
AI summary
A degree of seal of an ear about a speaker port may be estimated by detecting touch contact between the ear and at least one touch sensor in fixed relation to the speaker port. The degree of seal is estimated based on the detected touch contact. Based upon the estimated degree of seal, the acoustic output of the speaker may be adjusted. The adjustment may compensate for perceived changes to the quality of the acoustic output resulting from the degree of seal. The at least one touch sensor may be a plurality of touch sensors spaced around the speaker port. Each sensor may have a truncated wedge shape, with a narrow end closest to the speaker port. Upon receipt of user input indicative of a high degree of ear seal, a sample of the sensor(s) may be taken and stored for using during future estimation of the degree of seal.