Wearable Vibration Converter Using Tensioned Thread
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric-mechanical vibration converters for low-frequency sound reproduction are large and heavy, limiting their miniaturization and portability, and restrict user mobility and freedom, as they require multiple units to effectively transmit acoustic vibrations across a wide range.
Innovation Solution
A wearable vibration presentation apparatus using a transmitting member, such as a thread, and a driving mechanism, like a motor, applies and varies tension to transmit vibrations to the user's body, allowing for compact and weight-saving design and wide-range vibration propagation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional electric-mechanical vibration converters are used for low-frequency sound reproduction, then acoustic vibration can be reproduced, but the device becomes large and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transmitting member (thread-like structure) as an intermediary between the driving mechanism and the user's body. This transmitting member efficiently transmits vibration from a compact driving mechanism to multiple body points, replacing the need for large conventional converters directly contact with the body.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional electric-mechanical vibration converter with a simplified driving mechanism that applies tension to the transmitting member. This substitution uses tension-based mechanical transmission instead of traditional electromagnetic conversion, achieving weight reduction while maintaining vibration reproduction capability.
2Reliability
If large speakers are used to efficiently reproduce low-frequency sound, then acoustic information can be reproduced, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitting member acts as an intermediary that distributes vibration from a compact source to multiple body contact points. This allows efficient low-frequency reproduction without requiring large speaker enclosures, as the vibration is transmitted through the thread to the user's body which acts as the resonating structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from reproducing sound through air (three-dimensional acoustic field) to transmitting vibration directly through the transmitting member to the body (one-dimensional linear transmission). This dimensional change allows compact low-frequency reproduction by utilizing the body as the transmission medium rather than requiring large air-moving speakers.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple vibration converters are used to transmit vibration across a wide range, then vibration coverage increases, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitting member serves as a single intermediary that connects the driving mechanism to multiple body contact points. By routing the transmitting member across different body areas (e.g., shoulders, chest, waist), a single driving mechanism can transmit vibration to multiple locations simultaneously, eliminating the need for multiple separate converters.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmitting member performs multiple functions: it transmits vibration, distributes it across different body contact points, and connects a single driving mechanism to multiple body regions. This multi-functionality allows wide vibration coverage with minimal device complexity, as the same transmitting member structure serves all coverage requirements.
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
Enables effective and portable vibration presentation across a wide range of the user's body, enhancing the sense of presence during audio experiences without the need for large, heavy equipment, while maintaining user mobility.
Implementation Method 1
a converter that converts the electric signal into the mechanical vibration such as an electric-mechanical vibration converter
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable vibration presentation apparatus includes a weight saving and simplified electric-mechanical vibration converter that has a mechanism that is quite different. The vibration presentation apparatus includes a transmitting member and a control unit, wherein a side portion of the transmitting member abuts a portion of a vibration presentation object or is wound to the vibration presentation object. Vibration is transmitted to the vibration presentation object via the transmitting member by applying predetermined tension to the transmitting member and varying the predetermined tension based on a driving signal on a basis of a vibration presentation signal.