Sound focusing mechanism and method of estimating acoustic leakage of an object and method of estimating transmission loss of an object

• US 7,908,924 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Noiseout, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bonnie S. Schnitta, Mason A. Israel
• Inventors: Schnitta, Bonnie S., Israel, Mason A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Faulk; Devona E
• Application Number:
  US10/682,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20040258248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,716 Days
• Field of Search: 381/61, 381/58, 381/56, 381/59, 381/300, 381/350, 381/71.7, 381/71.4, 381/71.13, 381/55, 381/68, 381/69, 381/71.1, 735/99, 736/42, 73644-646
• US Class Current: 73/644
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 15/00 Measuring mechanical or acoustic impedance
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/26 Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence

Abstract

A sound focusing mechanism for generating a focused source of sound, which can be used to identify the transmission loss of an object or identify areas of acoustic leakage is disclosed. The sound focusing mechanism includes a housing having at least one wall formed from a material having high sound insulating properties. A sound generating device for generating a sound is located within a central cavity within the housing. An actuator assembly is operatively connected to the sound generating device for selectively operating the sound generating device. The wall is configured to limit the transmission of the sound there through such that a focused beam or pulse sound is emitted from the mechanism through the opening.

Claims

1. A sound focusing mechanism for generating a focused source of sound, comprising:

a housing, wherein the housing includes at least one wall which defines a central cavity, wherein one end of the housing has an opening formed therein;

a sound generating device for generating a sound is located within the central cavity;

an actuator assembly operatively connected to the sound generating device for selectively operating the sound generating device, the actuator assembly including a control remote from the sound generating device to cause the sound generating device to emit a sound for a short duration of time or continuous sound; and

a controller for selectively controlling the frequency of the sound generated by the sound generating device to emit a single frequency sound within a range of about 50 Hz to about 5,000 Hz or to perform a sweep in frequency within a range of about 50 Hz to about 5,000 Hz,

wherein the wall limits transmission of the sound generated by the sound generating device such that a focused sound is emitted from the sound focusing mechanism through the opening.

2. The sound focusing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the housing is formed from a material having sound transmission loss properties.

3. The sound focusing mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the material is a loaded vinyl.

4. The sound focusing mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the material has a predetermined sound transmission class rating.

5. The sound focusing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to modify the decibel level of the sound generated by the sound generating device.

6. The sound focusing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the duration of the sound generated by the sound generating device.

7. The sound focusing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the actuator assembly includes a remote control for remote activation of the sound focusing mechanism.