Stepped Glass Plate Composite for Loudspeaker Resonance Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional diaphragms for loudspeakers, such as those made of cone paper or resin, suffer from low acoustic velocity and high resonance issues, particularly in high-frequency ranges, leading to poor sound reproduction and tonal degradation.

Innovation Solution

A glass sheet composite is developed, comprising at least two glass sheets with a liquid layer in between, where the sheets are disposed to form a stair-like step portion sealed with a seal material, enhancing strength and damping resonance through a high loss coefficient and controlled vibration characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If glass or metal materials are used to increase acoustic velocity, then high-frequency sound reproduction is improved, but resonant vibration and tonal degradation occur due to low loss coefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacoustic velocityVSAvoidloss coefficient
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite structure consisting of multiple glass sheets (at least two sheets) bonded together with a resin layer. This composite configuration combines the high acoustic velocity of glass with the damping properties of the resin, achieving both high-frequency sound reproduction and resonance suppression. The multi-layer glass structure with intermediate resin layers creates a material system that balances stiffness for acoustic transmission with internal damping for resonance control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Speed

If single glass sheet is used to achieve high acoustic velocity, then high-frequency response is improved, but resonant vibration occurs due to low loss coefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacoustic velocityVSAvoidresonant vibration
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs a composite structure of multiple glass sheets bonded with resin layers. This composite configuration combines the high acoustic velocity of glass with the damping properties of the resin, achieving both high-frequency sound reproduction and resonance suppression. The multi-layer glass structure with intermediate resin layers creates a material system that balances stiffness for acoustic transmission with internal damping for resonance control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The resin layer serves as an intermediary between the glass sheets, providing damping functionality while maintaining the structural integrity and acoustic coupling of the composite. The resin acts as a mediator that suppresses resonant vibrations generated by the glass sheets without significantly impeding the transmission of acoustic waves, thus resolving the harmful resonance effect while preserving the high acoustic velocity benefit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of energy

If conventional materials like paper or resin are used to achieve high loss coefficient, then resonant vibration is suppressed, but acoustic velocity is low leading to poor high-frequency reproduction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloss coefficientVSAvoidacoustic velocity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite structure consisting of multiple glass sheets (at least two sheets) bonded together with a resin layer. This composite configuration combines the high acoustic velocity of glass with the damping properties of the resin, achieving both high-frequency sound reproduction and resonance suppression. The multi-layer glass structure with intermediate resin layers creates a material system that balances stiffness for acoustic transmission with internal damping for resonance control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 glass sheet composite achieves improved sound reproducibility across a wide frequency range with reduced resonance, ensuring high strength and effective vibration damping, suitable for diaphragms in loudspeakers and microphones, and vibration damping in building and vehicle opening members.

Implementation Method 1

the present invention can exhibit high vibration damping capacity to render resonance less apt to occur, thereby inhibiting the generation of an abnormal noise attributed to resonance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

a material having a high velocity of sound propagation therethrough, such as a metal, ceramic, or glass

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic wave propagation: Sound

Data Source

PatentEP3588976B1Glass plate construct
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 AGC INC
  • EP3588976B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(c)
  • EP3588976B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3588976B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A glass plate construct including at least two plates and a liquid layer held between the two plates, at least one of the two plates being a glass plate. The glass plate construct constitutes a step part presenting a stair shape in a cross-sectional view due to the fact that the end faces of each of the two plates are arranged out of alignment, and further includes a sealant provided so as to seal up at least the liquid layer in the step part.