Sound-Absorbing Material with Zoned Freezing for Block Integrity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current sound-absorbing materials for speakers face challenges such as static electricity interference, powder loss, and poor performance due to fracturing and breakage during freezing, leading to low yields and poor reproducibility.

Innovation Solution

A method for preparing a sound-absorbing material involving formulating a slurry with specific components, freezing it using a conveyor belt with controlled temperature zones, and then sublimating ice to obtain a sound-absorbing material that is then dried to enhance stability and adjustability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If sound-absorbing slurry is frozen using conventional methods, then sound-absorbing material is produced, but the slurry fractures and breaks due to volume expansion and layered ice crystal formation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepreparation processVSAvoidblock material strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by controlling freezing temperature and adding additives to modify the freezing behavior of the slurry. Specifically, the slurry is frozen at controlled temperatures to prevent excessive volume expansion, and additives are introduced to inhibit layered ice crystal formation, thereby maintaining block integrity during the freezing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses additives as intermediaries to mediate the freezing process. These additives are incorporated into the slurry before freezing and act to prevent the formation of large, layered ice crystals that cause fracturing. The additives modify the freezing dynamics to produce a more uniform, fine-grained ice structure that preserves block strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If particle-shaped sound-absorbing materials are used to fill speakers, then sound-absorbing performance is achieved, but static electricity interference and powder loss occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound-absorbing performanceVSAvoidstatic electricity and powder loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs porous block-shaped sound-absorbing materials instead of loose particles. The porous structure provides the necessary sound-absorbing performance while the solid block form eliminates static electricity interference and powder loss associated with particle-filled speakers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from using disposable loose particles that cause contamination and static issues to durable block materials that can be permanently installed. The block materials eliminate the need for filling operations and avoid the harmful effects of particle-based systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If sound-absorbing blocks and sheets are produced to eliminate filling processes, then static electricity interference is avoided, but the preparation process is cumbersome with low yields

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestatic electricity interferenceVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous freezing operations using a freezing conveyor belt system. The slurry is continuously fed onto the conveyor and frozen in a continuous process, eliminating batch processing steps and significantly improving production efficiency and yield while maintaining block integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex, multi-step mechanical preparation processes with a streamlined freezing-based approach. The freezing process naturally forms solid blocks without requiring additional molding or shaping operations, simplifying the overall manufacturing system and improving productivity

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

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 method improves the efficiency of sound-absorbing material production, enhances its performance by preventing ice crystal formation, and facilitates scalable mass production.

Implementation Method 1

placing the film or the mold at an inlet of a freezing conveyor belt, and sequentially freezing and crystallizing the film or the mold in a first freezing zone and a second freezing zone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFreezing: Freezing

Implementation Method 2

sequentially freezing and crystallizing the film or the mold in a first freezing zone and a second freezing zone to obtain a film sample and a mold sample

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrystallization: Crystallisation

Implementation Method 3

placing the film sample or the mold sample into a low-pressure vacuum environment with a pressure of 0 to 500 Pa for a sublimation treatment to remove ice in the film sample or the mold sample

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSublimation: Sublimation

Implementation Method 4

This is due to the expansion of the volume of the sound-absorbing slurry at low temperatures, as well as the formation of layered ice crystals during freezing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS20250290694A1Sound-absorbing material, method for preparing same, and speaker using the sound-absorbing material
Publication Date: 2025.09.18 AAC MICROTECH (CHANGZHOU) CO LTD
  • US20250290694A1 patent drawing
  • US20250290694A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Disclosed is a sound-absorbing material, a method, and a speaker, a sound-absorbing slurry is frozen by using a freezing conveyor belt, and the sound-absorbing slurry is then molded by a mold or coated onto a film. During pre-cooling of the sound-absorbing slurry in a first freezing zone of the conveyor belt, temperatures of the mold and a carrier film are reduced, followed by rapid freezing in a second freezing zone. Pre-cooling the mold in advance ensures uniform freezing of the sound-absorbing slurry. The freezing time of the material may be controlled by adjusting the speed of the conveyor belt. A temperature gradient is formed between the freezing conveyor belt and hot air thereabove. This enhances the top-bottom permeability of the sound-absorbing material, and thus improves the performance of the sound-absorbing material. The preparation efficiency of sound-absorbing material is increased, thereby facilitating scalable mass production is facilitated.