Wooden Loudspeaker Basket Using Segmented Ring Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional loudspeaker baskets are limited in their material options due to the need for deep drawing, die casting, or injection molding, which are energy-intensive and environmentally unfriendly, and do not effectively utilize sustainable materials like wood for improved acoustic and environmental performance.

Innovation Solution

A loudspeaker basket design utilizing a series of ring elements with varying internal cross sections, arranged concentrically and connected by ribs or frames, allowing for the use of wood and other wood-based materials, which enhances internal damping and acoustic quality while reducing environmental impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If conventional deep-drawn sheet steel or injection molded plastic is used for loudspeaker baskets, then manufacturing cost is low and production is simple, but energy consumption is high and environmental impact is negative

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The loudspeaker basket is divided into multiple ring elements with different internal diameters that can be assembled together. This segmentation allows the use of wood and wood-based materials that would be difficult to manufacture as a single deep-drawn or injection-molded piece, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining manufacturability through modular assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs wood and wood-based composite materials (veneer, chipboard, MDF, OSB) instead of conventional metal or plastic. These composite materials offer sustainable alternatives with lower energy footprint, and the ring element design enables their effective utilization in constructing the basket structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If wood is used for the loudspeaker basket, then internal damping and acoustic quality improve, but manufacturing precision and assembly complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacoustic qualityVSAvoidassembly precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the basket into standardized ring elements with precise but achievable tolerances, the patent enables wood to be used effectively. Each ring can be manufactured separately with controlled precision, and the modular design allows for easier quality control compared to a monolithic wooden structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ring elements serve as intermediary components that facilitate the assembly of wooden parts. Their standardized interfaces and progressive internal diameters provide natural alignment and positioning features, acting as mediators that simplify the assembly process and maintain precision without requiring extremely tight tolerances across the entire structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple ring elements are assembled to form the basket side wall, then material versatility increases and sustainability improves, but device complexity and assembly steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial versatilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The basket is segmented into multiple ring elements that can be manufactured from different wood-based materials or the same material in different configurations. This segmentation provides material versatility and sustainability benefits while the standardized ring design keeps individual components simple, offsetting the increased assembly steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ring elements are designed as universal components with a standardized interface and progressive internal diameters. Each ring serves multiple functions: structural support, acoustic damping, and alignment reference for adjacent rings. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity despite the modular approach

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

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 design enables the use of sustainable materials like wood, improving sound quality and reducing the carbon footprint, with various construction variants optimizing material utilization, tool effort, and acoustic properties, while maintaining precision in assembly.

Implementation Method 1

Especially when using wood, there is better internal damping in the speaker basket compared to a metal speaker basket

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInternal damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP4287651A1Loudspeaker basket
Publication Date: 2023.12.06 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP4287651A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4287651A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4287651A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a loudspeaker basket, in particular made of wood, with a basket base (1) from which a basket side wall (3) is conically extended with an expanding cross-section by a basket height (h). According to the invention, the loudspeaker basket is constructed from a number of ring elements (7, 9, 11, 12; 32) which define different internal cross-sections or internal diameters. The ring elements (7, 9, 11, 12; 32) are arranged one above the other in the basket's vertical direction (z) and are aligned concentrically with respect to the basket axis (A).