Method of estimating acoustic or thermal leakage of an object and method of estimating transmission loss of an object, using a sound focusing mechanism

• US 9,146,152 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2011
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Noiseout, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Noiseout, Inc.
• Inventors: Schnitta, Bonnie S, Israel, Mason A
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): TON, DAVID L
• Application Number:
  US13/028,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20120036935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 381/56, 381/58, 381/59, 381/61, 73/405, 735/99, 736/42, 73644-646, 73/40, 735/59, 181/175, 181/284, 181/290, 181198-205
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 or thermal 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 with a central cavity within the housing. An actuator assembly is operatively connected to the sound generating device for selectively operating 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 method of determining the sound transmission loss of an object, comprising:

generating and directing a source of focused sound having a predetermined decibel level on the object such that the transmission of sound is substantially localized on the object;

measuring the decibel level of sound after the sound interacts with the object; and

comparing the predetermined decibel level to the measured decibel level to determine the transmission loss;

wherein the directing occurs at a plurality of locations on the object such that the transmission of sound is substantially localized on each of the plurality of locations on the object; and

the measuring occurs at a plurality of corresponding locations on the object; and

wherein the source of focused sound is generated by a sound focusing mechanism whereby the sound focusing mechanism comprises;

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

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

an actuator assembly operatively connected to the sound generating device for selectively operating the sound generating device, wherein the wall limits the transmission of the sound generated by the sound generating device such that the focused sound is emitted from the sound focusing mechanism through the opening.

2. The method of determining the sound transmission loss of an object according to claim 1, wherein the directing of the source of sound on the object includes positioning the opening in the housing of the sound focusing mechanism at each of the plurality of locations on the object.

3. The method of determining the sound transmission loss of an object according to claim 1, further comprising:

identifying variations in transmission loss within the object.

4. The method of determining the sound transmission loss of an object according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining measures for improving transmission loss of the object based upon the measured transmission loss.

5. The method of determining the sound transmission loss of an object according to claim 1, wherein the measuring occurs on a side of the object opposite from the side at which the sound is directed.

6. A method of locating acoustic leakage points along an object, comprising:

generating a focused sound having a predetermined decibel level;

directing the focused sound into the object such that transmission of sound is substantially localized on the object;

measuring a decibel level of sound transmitted through the object;

identifying areas of the object where sound transmission is higher than sound transmission through other areas of the object; and

identifying variations in transmission loss within the object;

wherein the focused sound is generated by a sound focusing mechanism whereby the sound focusing mechanism comprises;

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

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

an actuator assembly operatively connected to the sound generating device for selectively operating the sound generating device, wherein the wall limits the transmission of the sound generated by the sound generating device such that the focused sound is emitted from the sound focusing mechanism through the opening.

7. The method of locating acoustic leakage points according to claim 6, wherein the directing of the source of sound into the object includes positioning the opening in a housing of a sound focusing mechanism at each of a plurality of locations on the object.

8. The method of locating acoustic leakage points according to claim 6, further comprising:

determining measures for improving transmission loss of the object based upon the measured transmission loss.

9. The method of locating acoustic leakage points according to claim 6, wherein the measuring occurs on a side of the object opposite from the side at which the sound is directed.

10. The method of locating acoustic leakage points according to claim 6, wherein:

the directing occurs at a plurality of locations into the object such that the transmission of sound is substantially localized on each of the plurality of locations on the object; and

the measuring occurs at a plurality of corresponding locations.

11. The method of locating acoustic leakage points along an object according to claim 6, wherein the opening in a sound focusing mechanism is positioned adjacent an opening in the object.

12. A method of locating acoustic leakage points along an object, comprising:

generating a focused sound having a predetermined decibel level using a sound generating mechanism including a sound generating device positioned in a housing of the sound generating mechanism;

directing the focused sound into the object such that transmission of sound is substantially localized on the object;

measuring a decibel level of sound transmitted back from the object knowing that it is what did not pass through the object at various locations along the object; and

identifying areas of the object where reflection/refraction is higher reflection/refraction through other areas of the object; and

determining measures for improving transmission loss of the object based upon the measured transmission loss;

wherein the housing of the sound generating mechanism includes at least one wall which defines a central cavity; and

wherein one end of the housing has an opening formed therein and wherein the wall limits transmission of the sound generated by the sound generating device such that the focused sound is emitted from the sound generating mechanism through the opening.

13. A method of locating acoustic leakage points along an object, comprising:

generating a focused sound having a predetermined decibel level;

directing the focused sound into the object such that transmission of sound is substantially localized, on the object;

measuring a decibel level of sound transmitted through the object; and

identifying, areas of the object where sound transmission is higher than sound transmission through other areas of the object;

wherein the source of focused sound is generated by a sound focusing mechanism whereby the sound focusing mechanism comprises;

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

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

an actuator assembly operatively connected to the sound generating device for selectively operating the sound generating device, wherein the wall limits the transmission of the sound generated by the sound generating device such that the focused sound is emitted from the sound focusing mechanism through the opening,

wherein the directing of the source of sound on the object includes positioning the opening in the housing of the sound focusing mechanism at each of a plurality of locations on the object.