Stereo Speaker Caps with Air Tubes for Channel Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

When stereo speakers are packed together in a closed capsule or located very close to each other, they typically produce mixed sound, failing to deliver the stereo effect as sound from each speaker does not reach the corresponding ear, resulting in mono sound perception.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising caps that cover the speaker cones hermetically and guide the sound through air tubes directly to the user's ears, ensuring that sound from the right speaker reaches the right ear and sound from the left speaker reaches the left ear, mimicking the natural stereo effect by using hollow tubes to conduct the sound hermetically and exclusively to the user's ears.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If stereo speakers are packed together in a closed capsule or located very close to each other, then the device size is reduced and portability is improved, but the stereo sound effect is lost and sound is heard as mono

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeaker package sizeVSAvoidstereo sound effect

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the sound transmission path into separate independent channels for left and right speakers. Each speaker is connected to its corresponding ear through dedicated air tubes, preventing sound mixing. This segmentation maintains stereo separation even when speakers are physically close together in a compact package.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces air tubes as intermediary elements between the speakers and the user's ears. These tubes act as sound guides that directly transmit sound from each speaker to the corresponding ear, preventing sound mixing and maintaining the stereo effect despite the compact speaker arrangement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If speakers are placed away from user ears, then the device structure is simplified, but sound directionality and stereo perception are degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeaker arrangement structureVSAvoidstereo sound perception

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Air tubes serve as intermediaries that extend the sound transmission path from the speakers to the user's ears. This allows speakers to be positioned away from the ears while maintaining direct sound coupling, preserving stereo perception without requiring complex positioning mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from direct spatial positioning of speakers near the ears to a distributed arrangement connected by air tubes. This dimensional change allows speakers to be placed in a compact package while the air tubes provide the necessary acoustic connection, simplifying the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Volume of moving object

If speakers are packed in a closed box, then protection and compactness are improved, but sound isolation and stereo channel separation are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeaker enclosure sizeVSAvoidsound channel separation

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the acoustic environment by creating separate hermetic pathways for left and right sound channels using air tubes. This segmentation ensures that even within a closed box enclosure, sound from each speaker remains isolated in its dedicated channel, maintaining reliable stereo separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Air tubes act as intermediary sound transmission channels that provide hermetic isolation between the two audio channels. These tubes prevent sound leakage and cross-contamination within the closed box, ensuring that each ear receives only the intended stereo channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This solution allows the listener to perceive the sound as coming from various directions, effectively recreating the stereo effect even when speakers are together in a closed box or close to each other, by ensuring independent audio channels are heard as intended.

Implementation Method 1

guide the sound through air tubes directly to the user's ears

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound wave propagation: Sound

Data Source

PatentUS8577064B2Sound capturing and guiding system from stereo speakers packed together in a closed box and heard as stereo sound coming from various directions

Publication Date: 2013.11.05 WAX OMER ARYE

AI summary

A stereo speaker sound capturing and guiding system. The system includes devices that connected on each one of the stereo speakers as a cap. The device covers the speaker cones in hermetic way that captures the sound of the specific speaker and don't let the sound mixed with the sound of the other speaker that located in the same closed box or very near to the first speaker. The sound in the cap device guided directly from the speaker through connector facility between the speakers and the user's ears—such as air tubes—and transmitted exclusively to the user's matched ear—the sound from the right speaker gets only to right ear and sound from the left speaker gets only to the left ear—as at least two independent audio channels.