The present disclosure relates generally to the field of sound decibel reduction as it relates to workplace safety. More specifically the present disclosure relates to the field of sound suppression in environments housing personnel located proximate to loud environments, including, for example, shop floor environments.
Workers and personnel occupying buildings that house large manufacturing operations, including automated operations, are typically exposed to a significant level of noise. When operational noise levels, especially operational noise levels within an enclosed building, reach and are maintained at high enough levels, for prolonged duration (e.g., an eight our work shift, etc.) personnel exposed to the noise levels can experience long term effects that can include short-term and even long-term damage including hearing impairment, hearing loss, etc. Unless explicitly identified as such, no statement herein is admitted as prior art merely by its inclusion in the Technological Field and/or Background section.
Presents aspects disclose customized kiosks or enclosures that can include wall segments that incorporate sound-reducing members that can be tailored to reduce ambient sound decibel levels within the enclosures. The enclosures can be fashioned, for example, into useful workstations, operational control centers, offices, breakrooms, etc., with the enclosures located proximate to and/or exposed to noise-generating operations at regions of, for example, a factory or shop floor. According to present aspects, occupants within the enclosures can experience a significant reduction in ambient sound decibel levels as compared to the decibel levels outside of the enclosures, as present apparatuses, systems, and methods can automatically condition and otherwise tailor, in real time, the sound levels admitted into the enclosure. The terms “decibel level” and “decibel value” or decibel level value” are equivalent terms and are used interchangeably.
According to present aspects, a method is disclosed for reducing the decibel level of sound within an enclosure, with the method including providing an enclosure, and with the enclosure comprising a plurality of enclosure wall sections. The plurality of enclosure wall sections can be in communication with a floor that can be an enclosure floor, and with at least one of the plurality of wall sections further comprising at least one resonator cavity. The at least one resonator cavity can include a first resonator cavity volume, with the at least one resonator cavity in communication with an actuator, and with the actuator further in communication with a drive mechanism. The at least one resonator cavity further includes at least one resonator cavity fixed wall, and at least one resonator cavity moveable wall, with the at least one resonator cavity moveable wall in communication with the actuator and the drive mechanism. The resonator cavity further includes a resonator cavity neck. The method further includes providing a sound detector, with at least a portion of the sound detector exposed to an area that is exterior to the enclosure, with the sound detector configured to detect a first sound level exterior to the enclosure, and with the first sound level having a first decibel value. The sound detector can be positioned exterior to the enclosure or can be integrated within the disclosure. The method further includes providing a controller, with the controller in communication with the sound detector, and with the controller further in communication with the at least one resonator cavity moveable wall. The method further includes detecting the first sound level, with the first sound level detected exterior to the enclosure, sending a signal from the sound detector to the controller, sending a signal from the controller to the actuator, actuating the drive mechanism, and moving the at least one resonator cavity moveable wall. The method further includes altering the first resonator cavity volume to a second resonator cavity volume in response to the first sound level detected exterior to the enclosure, and producing a second sound level within the enclosure, with the second sound level having a second decibel value, and with the second decibel value less than the first decibel value.
In another aspect the second sound level represents a reduction in decibel value from the first decibel value by an amount ranging from about a 20 to about a 25 decibel value reduction.
In another aspect, the resonator cavity neck comprises the at least one resonator cavity moveable wall.
In a further aspect, the method further comprises altering the first resonator cavity volume to a second resonator cavity volume in real time in response to the first sound level detected exterior to the enclosure.
In another aspect at least one of the plurality of enclosure wall sections comprises an at least two-part enclosure wall section, with the at least two-part enclosure wall section including an enclosure wall first section and an enclosure wall second section.
In another aspect, one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section is a fixed wall section.
In a further aspect, at least one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section comprises a moveable wall section, with the moveable wall section in communication with the drive mechanism.
In another aspect, the method further includes orienting the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section relative to one another to form the at least two-part enclosure wall section, forming at least one resonator cavity in the at least two-part enclosure wall section, said at least one resonator cavity oriented between the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section, actuating the drive mechanism, moving laterally at least a portion of at least one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section relative to one another, and altering the dimension of the at least one resonator cavity.
In another aspect, the at least one resonator cavity comprises a resonator neck. In a further aspect, the resonator neck comprises a pathway from the at least one resonator cavity through the enclosure wall first section to an exterior environment.
In another aspect, the enclosure wall first section comprises at least one moveable wall section, said at least one moveable wall section in communication with the drive mechanism.
In another aspect, the enclosure wall first section comprises at least one moveable wall section, said at least one moveable wall section in communication with the drive mechanism.
In a further aspect, the enclosure wall first section comprises a plurality of moveable wall sections, said plurality of moveable wall sections in communication with at least one drive mechanism.
In another aspect, the enclosure wall first section comprises a plurality of moveable wall sections, each of said plurality of moveable wall sections in communication with a separate drive mechanism (e.g., an individual drive mechanism).
In another aspect, a method further includes orienting the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section relative to one another to form the at least two-part enclosure wall section, forming at least one resonator cavity in the at least two-part enclosure wall section, with the at least one resonator cavity oriented between the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section, actuating the drive mechanism, moving vertically at least one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section relative to one another, altering the dimension of the at least one resonator cavity.
In another aspect, a method further includes altering the dimension of the resonator cavity neck in real time in response to the first sound level detected exterior to the enclosure.
In a further aspect, a method further includes altering the width of the resonator cavity neck in real time in response to the first sound level detected exterior to the enclosure.
According to further present aspects, an apparatus for reducing the decibel level of sound within an enclosure, with the apparatus including an enclosure, with the enclosure including a plurality of enclosure wall sections, and with the enclosure further including at least one of the plurality of wall sections further including at least one resonator cavity, with the at least one resonator cavity having a first resonator cavity volume, with the at least one resonator cavity in communication with a resonator cavity actuator, and with the resonator cavity actuator further in communication with a resonator cavity drive mechanism. The at least one resonator cavity further includes at least one resonator cavity fixed wall, and at least one resonator cavity moveable wall, with at least one resonator cavity moveable wall in communication with the resonator cavity actuator and the resonator cavity drive mechanism. The at least one resonator cavity further includes a resonator cavity neck. The apparatus further includes a sound detector, with the sound detector positioned to detect sound originating exterior to the enclosure, with the sound detector configured to detect a first sound level exterior to the enclosure, and the first sound level having a first decibel value. The apparatus further includes a controller, with the controller in communication with the sound detector, and with the controller further in communication with at least one of the at least one resonator cavity moveable wall, the resonator cavity actuator, and the resonator cavity drive mechanism.
In another aspect, the enclosure includes an enclosure floor segment, with the enclosure floor segment at least partially bounded by or otherwise in communication with the plurality of enclosure wall sections.
In another aspect, the resonator cavity drive mechanism is configured to drive in real time the at least one resonator cavity moveable wall to alter the first resonator cavity volume of the at least one resonator cavity in response to a detected first sound level.
In another aspect, the resonator cavity at least one resonator cavity moveable wall is driven in real time by the drive mechanism to alter the volume of the at least one resonator cavity in response to a detected first sound level.
In a further aspect, the resonator cavity neck comprises the at least one resonator cavity moveable wall.
In a further aspect, the at least one resonator cavity moveable wall comprises the resonator cavity neck.
In another aspect, at least one of the plurality of enclosure wall sections includes an at least two-part enclosure wall section, said at least two-part enclosure wall section including an enclosure wall first section and an enclosure wall second section.
In another aspect, one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section comprises a fixed wall section.
In a further aspect, at least one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section comprises at least one moveable wall section, said at least one moveable wall section in communication with the resonator cavity drive mechanism.
In another aspect, the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section are oriented relative to one another to form the at least two-part enclosure wall section, with the at least two-part enclosure wall section configured to form at least one resonator cavity between the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section, and with the at least one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section configured to move laterally relative to one another to alter at least one of the dimension of the at least one resonator cavity and the volume of the at least one resonator cavity.
In another aspect, the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section are oriented relative to one another to form the at least two-part enclosure wall section, with the at least two-part enclosure wall section configured to form at least one resonator cavity between the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section, and with the at least one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section is configured to move laterally relative to one another to alter at the resonator cavity first volume to a resonator cavity second volume, said resonator cavity second volume differing from the resonator cavity first volume.
In another aspect, the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section are oriented relative to one another to form the at least two-part enclosure wall section, with the at least two-part enclosure wall section configured to form at least one resonator cavity between the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section, and with the at least one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section is configured to move laterally relative to one another to alter at least one of a resonator cavity dimension and a resonator cavity volume configured to move laterally relative to one another to alter volume of the at least one resonator cavity from the first resonator cavity volume.
In another aspect, the at least one resonator cavity includes a resonator neck.
In another aspect, the resonator neck includes a pathway from the at least one resonator cavity through the enclosure wall first section to an exterior environment.
In another aspect, the enclosure wall first section includes at least one moveable wall section, said at least one moveable wall section in communication with the resonator cavity drive mechanism.
In another aspect, the enclosure wall first section includes a plurality of moveable wall sections, said plurality of moveable wall sections in communication with at least one resonator cavity drive mechanism.
In a further aspect, the enclosure wall first section includes a plurality of moveable wall sections, each of said plurality of moveable wall sections in communication with a separate resonator cavity drive mechanism.
In another aspect, the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section are configured to form the at least two-part enclosure wall section, with the at least two-part enclosure wall section configured to form at least one resonator cavity between the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section, and with the at least one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section configured to move vertically relative to one another to alter a dimension of the at least one resonator cavity.
In another aspect, the at least one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section are further configured to alter a dimension of the resonator cavity neck.
In a further aspect, the at least one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section are further configured to alter a width of the resonator cavity neck.
According to further present aspects, an enclosure is disclosed, with the enclosure including an enclosure floor, a plurality of enclosure wall sections, with the plurality of enclosure wall sections optionally in communication with the enclosure floor, with at least one of the plurality of wall sections further comprising at least one resonator cavity, with at least one resonator cavity having a first resonator cavity volume. The at least one resonator cavity is in communication with a resonator cavity actuator, with the resonator cavity actuator further in communication with a resonator cavity drive mechanism, and the at least one resonator cavity further includes at least one resonator cavity moveable wall, with the resonator cavity moveable wall in communication with the actuator and the drive mechanism, with the resonator cavity further including a resonator cavity neck.
In another aspect, the at least one resonator cavity is further in communication with at least one resonator cavity fixed wall.
In another aspect, the drive mechanism is configured to drive in real time the at least one resonator cavity moveable wall to alter the volume of the at least one resonator cavity in response to a detected first sound level.
In another aspect, the resonator cavity neck comprises the at least one resonator cavity moveable wall.
In another aspect, at least one of the plurality of enclosure wall sections includes at least a two-part enclosure wall section, with the at least two-part enclosure wall section including an enclosure wall first section, and an enclosure wall second section.
In another aspect, one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section includes a fixed wall section.
In another aspect, at least one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section includes a moveable wall section, with the moveable wall section in communication with the drive mechanism.
In another aspect, the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section are oriented relative to one another to form the at least two-part enclosure wall section. The at least two-part enclosure wall section is configured to form at least one resonator cavity between the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section and the at least one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section are configured to move laterally relative to one another to alter the dimension of the at least one resonator cavity. In another aspect, the at least one resonator cavity comprises a resonator neck.
In a further aspect, the resonator neck comprises a pathway from the at least one resonator cavity through the enclosure wall first section to an exterior environment.
In a further aspect, the enclosure wall first section comprises at least one moveable wall section, with the at least one moveable wall section in communication with the drive mechanism.
In another aspect, the enclosure wall first section comprises a plurality of moveable wall sections, said plurality of moveable wall sections in communication with the drive mechanism.
In another aspect, the enclosure wall first section comprises a plurality of moveable wall sections, with each of said plurality of moveable wall sections in communication with a separate drive mechanism.
In another aspect, the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section are configured to form the at least two-part enclosure wall section, the at least two-part enclosure wall section is configured to form at least one resonator cavity between the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section, and the at least one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section are configured to move vertically relative to one another to alter a resonator cavity dimension of the at least one resonator cavity. In another aspect, the at least one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section are further configured to alter a dimension of the resonator cavity neck.
In another aspect, the at least one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section are further configured to alter a width of the resonator cavity neck.
According to further present aspects, an enclosure wall is disclosed, with the enclosure wall including a first wall side, a second wall side, and a wall interior thickness, with the wall interior thickness bounded by the first wall side and the second wall side. The wall interior thickness further includes at least one resonator cavity having a first resonator cavity volume, with the at least one resonator cavity in communication with a resonator cavity actuator, with the resonator cavity actuator further in communication with a resonator cavity drive mechanism. The at least one resonator cavity further includes at least one resonator cavity fixed wall, at least one resonator cavity moveable wall, with the at least one resonator cavity moveable wall in communication with at least one of the resonator cavity actuator and the resonator cavity drive mechanism. The interior wall thickness further includes a resonator cavity neck.
In another aspect, the enclosure wall includes at least one integral tunable resonator.
In another aspect, the drive mechanism is configured to drive in real time the at least one resonator cavity moveable wall to alter the first resonator volume of the at least one resonator cavity in response to a detected first sound level.
According to a further present aspect, an enclosure wall is disclosed including at least a two-part enclosure wall section, with the at least two-part enclosure wall section including an enclosure wall first section, and an enclosure wall second section. The enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section are oriented relative to one another to form the at least two-part enclosure wall section, and the at least two-part enclosure wall section is configured to form at least one resonator cavity between the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section.
In another aspect, the at least one resonator cavity comprises a resonator cavity first volume.
In another aspect, the at least one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section are configured to move laterally relative to one another to alter the dimension of the at least one resonator cavity.
In another aspect, the at least one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section are configured to move laterally relative to one another to alter the resonator cavity first volume, including altering the resonator cavity first volume to a resonator cavity second volume.
In another aspect, one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section includes a fixed wall section.
In another aspect, at least one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section includes a moveable wall section, with the moveable wall section in communication with a drive mechanism.
In another aspect, the at least one resonator cavity comprises a resonator neck.
In a further aspect, the resonator neck comprises a pathway from the at least one resonator cavity through the enclosure wall first section to an exterior environment.
In another aspect, the enclosure wall first section includes at least one moveable wall section.
In another aspect, the enclosure wall first section includes a plurality of moveable wall sections.
In another aspect, the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section are configured to form the at least two-part enclosure wall section, the at least two-part enclosure wall section is configured to form the at least one resonator cavity between the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section, and the at least one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section are configured to move vertically relative to one another to alter a dimension of the at least one resonator cavity.
In another aspect, the at least one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section are further configured to alter a dimension of the resonator cavity neck.
In a further aspect, the at least one of the enclosure wall first section and the enclosure wall second section are further configured to alter a width of the resonator cavity neck.
In another aspect, the enclosure wall further comprises a first resonator cavity comprising a first resonator cavity neck, with the first resonator cavity neck comprising a first resonator cavity neck width. The enclosure wall further comprises a second resonator cavity comprising a second resonator cavity neck, with second resonator cavity neck comprising a second resonator cavity neck width, and with the second resonator cavity width selected to differ from the first resonator cavity neck width.
The features, functions and advantages that have been discussed can be achieved independently in various aspects or may be combined in yet other aspects, further details of which can be seen with reference to the following description and the drawings.
Having thus described variations of the disclosure in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
Automation has improved manufacturing in the areas of quality and speed, but the resulting high level of noise and vibration continues to affect workers in various manufacturing settings. Noise exposure is one of the most persistent problems for manufacturing personnel, and can result in sustained hearing damage or even permanent hearing loss. In certain manufacturing settings (e.g., areas of the factory shop floor, etc.) repetitive manual and/or robotic noise levels including, for example, riveting noise levels, may be very high, depending on the number of machines, their installation, the factory floor/wall/ceiling size, etc. Despite the adoption of noise abatement treatments, machine noise levels in certain manufacturing areas may persist and approach undesirable levels as set forth by regulatory agencies or internal company safety limits.
Such noise levels can be compounded when multiple machines are operating simultaneously. Prolonged exposure to high noise levels may have adverse impacts on the human hearing system and/or contribute to psychological concerns, job satisfaction, workforce turnover rates, etc.
For example, typical riveting processes used to assemble components, can involve either manual riveting or the use of riveting robots. The manual riveting technique requires a pneumatic hammer in conjunction with a bucking bar. A pneumatic hammer is set at one end of the rivet, while the bucking bar is held at the other end. An automatic riveting machine compresses rivets to join materials together. These operations produce significant noise and can create a hazardous environment for operators and other people in the workshop floor vicinity.
Noise levels in a manufacturing environment (e.g., a work factory shop floor, etc.) can be theoretically reduced to an extent by noise reduction at source, in transmission path, reducing reflections from hard surfaces (e.g., wall, ceiling, floor, etc.), using personal protective equipment, and combinations thereof. However, if the noise levels are very high, (e.g., a noise sound decibel level ranging from about 120 to about 130 dB, or higher), reducing the noise to a level to avoid hearing loss damage injuries has been difficult or impossible to accomplish.
Riveting tools generally operate at a low frequency and create a sharp tone or peak corresponding to riveting frequency in the noise spectrum. These tonal peaks are generally much higher than the broadband part of the spectrum and are major contributors to overall noise levels. Accordingly, according to present aspects, the disclosed apparatuses, systems, and methods condition and tailor sound within an enclosure and further reduce problematic tonal peak(s) that occur in repetitive manufacturing processes, including, for example, manual and automated riveting processes.
According to present aspects, an at least partially or completely enclosed structure that can be, for example, a workstation “kiosk” comprises tunable resonators to at least significantly reduce low-frequency tones caused by, for example, the frequency tones associated with automatic/robotic riveting operation. According to further present aspects, the tunable resonators can be selectively tuned, tailored, etc., to reactively “muffle” selected frequencies (including, e.g., sound emanated during machining operations such as, for example, riveting sound frequencies, etc.) in response to sound detected outside an enclosure in substantially “real-time”.
The present apparatuses and systems comprise an integrated resonator comprising a tunable resonator cavity, with the tunable resonator cavity configured to act, for example, as an acoustical spring, with the cavity working as the mass of the system. Selected resonator cavity dimensions and volumes (including cavity neck dimensions and volumes) are selectively altered and “tuned” by moving resonator cavity structural components to change the resonator cavity volume in response to sensed or detected sound frequencies. According to present aspects, the change in resonator cavity volume, changes the resonator frequency. According to still further aspects, a second reduced sound level achievable by implementing the present apparatuses, systems, and methods achieves a reduction in decibel sound value from, and in response to, an initial, or first, decibel value by a decibel value reduction ranging from about a 20 to about a 25 decibel reduction.
The enclosure walls 14 are shown in
According to a present aspect, in operation, when the resonator cavity actuator 26 actuates the resonator cavity drive mechanism 28, resonator cavity moveable wall 22 can be moved from an initial or “first” resonator moveable wall position to a second resonator moveable wall position. According to one present aspect, the resonator cavity drive mechanism 28 in combination with the resonator moveable wall 22 can, in “piston-like” fashion move within or otherwise extend into the resonator cavity fixed walls 20 and can reduce the resonator cavity volume. The resonator moveable wall (e.g., “piston”) position that impacts the resonator cavity volume is calibrated against the resonator frequency and is used to determine the second resonator moveable wall position (e.g., the selected “frequency-cancelling” and “tonal peak-reducing” position).
Resonators shown in
As shown in
According to apparatus 10 and enclosure 14, the motion required to alter the resonator cavity volume is generated by movement of the resonator movable wall 22 acting like a part of a piston within resonator cavity 18. That is, according to present aspects as shown in
In contrast to
As shown in
According to present aspects,
The resonator cavity actuator 126 and resonator cavity drive mechanism 128 are shown in
As shown in
While
As further shown in
As shown in
According to apparatus 200 and enclosure wall 214 (the “multi-part” wall), the motion required to alter the resonator cavity volume is generated by vertical movement of the enclosure wall second sections 214b with respect to the enclosure wall first section 214a.
While the tunable resonator apparatuses, systems, and methods disclosed herein, can reduce tonal peak and reduce decibel sound levels, including low frequency tones, additionally, as disclosed herein, the presently disclosed enclosures and enclosure walls can be further treated or modified to include insulation (e.g., acoustic insulation, for example, honeycomb insulation, fiberglass blankets, etc.) for significantly reducing at least the mid-to-high frequency broadband noise part of the sound spectrum.
As further shown in
In addition, although not shown in
In addition, the actuators and drive mechanism contemplated and according to present aspects can include systems able to deliver a force required to move a structure in communication with the actuators, dive mechanisms, with the drive mechanisms understood to include mechanical, electrical, magnetic systems that further comprise hydraulic, pneumatic, pulleys, levers, or other force-delivering mechanisms, etc.
In addition to the tailorable reduction of decibel sound levels within the present enclosures in response to detected sound levels outside of the enclosure, present apparatuses, systems and methods further address the reduction of tonal peaks that can include the fundamental frequency and the attendant harmonic frequencies that can compound a sound level.
The apparatuses and systems shown in
According to further present aspects, to address harmonics, two type of resonators of same size but different neck area (A2=2×A1), and differing neck widths (w1, w2) are deployed, as represented and illustrated in
Without being bound to any particular theory,
Resonator cavities 318a, 418a differ in initial area/volume, as resonator cavity neck 324 (shown as “A1”, and having a cavity neck width, “w1”) of resonator cavity 318b varies in dimension from resonator cavity neck 424 (shown as “A2”, and having a cavity neck width, “w2”) of resonator cavity 418a. As the sound level changes (e.g., increases, etc.) exterior to the enclosure housing the resonator cavity “array” (e.g., the multiple resonator cavities that, as shown in
wherein f=frequency.
if initially, f1=100 Hz and d1=2 inches, K=100√{square root over (2)} for the first curve shown in
If the disturbance frequencies are initially 100 Hz and 200 Hz, the resonator cavities 318a, 418a reduce both of the tonal peak amplitudes of the fundamental and harmonic frequencies.
If the disturbance frequencies of the fundamental and the harmonics change, for example as shown in
The sound reducing capabilities of present apparatuses, systems, and methods were concept was proven in laboratory testing. Reactive tuned sound absorbers acting as tunable resonator cavities were placed in a large, enclosed wooden box and a discrete frequency sound was presented to and received by interior areas with the box, with the sound originating from a loudspeaker oriented outside of the box. The sound spectrum outside and inside the box was recorded using a spectrum analyzer. The initial/untreated sound tonal peaks of the sound level within the box before present resonator tailoring is shown in
The experimental design set forth in Example 1 was modified such that the enclosed box was replaced with a box featuring one open wall (e.g., a partial enclosure). Reactive tuned sound absorbers acting as tunable resonator cavities were placed in the partially enclosed box featuring one open wall and a discrete frequency sound was presented to and received by interior areas with the partially enclosed box, with the sound originating from a loudspeaker oriented outside of the partially enclosed box. The sound spectrum outside and inside the partially enclosed box was recorded using a spectrum analyzer. The initial/untreated sound tonal peaks of the sound level within the partially enclosed box before present resonator tailoring is shown in
The method 1000 further includes detecting 1008 the first sound level, with the first sound level detected exterior to the enclosure, sending 1010 a signal from the sound detector to the controller, sending 1012 a signal from the controller to the actuator, actuating 1014 the drive mechanism, and moving 1016 the at least one resonator cavity moveable wall. The method 1000 further includes altering 1018 the first resonator cavity volume to a second resonator cavity volume in response to the first sound level detected exterior to the enclosure, and producing 1020 a second sound level within the enclosure, with the second sound level having a second decibel value, and with the second decibel value less than the first decibel value.
In another aspect, the second decibel value represents a reduction in decibel value from the first or initial, decibel value by an amount ranging from about a 20 to about a 25 decibel reduction. The method 1000 can incorporate the apparatuses and systems shown at least in
According to present aspects, the terms “in real-time” and “substantially in real-time” are used equivalently, with “real-time” (as used herein) referring to a duration of time measured from the time a sound level is detected to the initiation of an alteration of the resonator cavity, and occurring in an elapsed time ranging from about 0.1 to 0.5 seconds, although faster elapsed times are contemplated.
The present aspects may, of course, be carried out in other ways than those specifically set forth herein without departing from essential characteristics of the disclosure. The present aspects are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.
This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 17/585,805 filed Jan. 27, 2022, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/167,295 filed on Mar. 29, 2021, the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63167295 | Mar 2021 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17585805 | Jan 2022 | US |
Child | 18810741 | US |