Speaker Touch Display Integrated Vibration Plate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless speakers face challenges in providing user input functionality without generating acoustic problems and limiting control functions when input devices like buttons are integrated into the sound emission direction.

Innovation Solution

A speaker device with a touch display integrated into the central part of a vibration plate, allowing user input through a rotation knob and touch operations, enabling control of various functions such as connecting to wireless Internet, adjusting volume, and managing playlists without disrupting sound emission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If buttons are included in the sound emission direction, then user input functionality is provided, but acoustic problems are generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser input functionalityVSAvoidacoustic problems
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A touch display is introduced as an intermediary component between the user and the speaker system. The touch display is positioned on the vibration plate in the sound emission direction, allowing users to interact with the speaker through touch operations without adding physical buttons that would block or interfere with sound waves. The touch display receives user inputs (touches, rotations) and transmits control signals to the processor, which then controls the speaker functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Physical buttons are replaced with a touch-sensitive display interface. Instead of mechanical buttons that would physically obstruct sound emission, the patent uses a touch display that detects user inputs through touch, pressure, or rotation gestures. This substitution eliminates the mechanical obstruction while maintaining user input functionality, as the touch display can sense user interactions without requiring physical protrusions into the sound path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If input devices are added to provide user control, then control functions are enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol functionsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The touch display serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a display screen for showing information, a touch sensor for receiving user inputs, and a rotation detector for detecting rotational gestures. By integrating these functions into a single component, the patent avoids adding separate input devices for each function. The processor interprets different touch patterns (tap, long press, rotation) to control various speaker functions (play/pause, volume, Bluetooth pairing), providing versatile control without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3379848B1Speaker device including touch display
Publication Date: 2019.11.06 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3379848B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3379848B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3379848B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A speaker device is provided. The present speaker device comprises: a speaker; a touch display disposed at a central part of a vibration plate included in the speaker, displaying a UI for receiving an input of a user's operation, and receiving an input of a user's touch; and a processor for controlling the speaker device according to the user operation input through the UI.