Patent Application
20250024193
The present invention relates generally to a sound generator that produces sound having a tunable resonance at predetermined frequencies. In particular, the present invention relates generally to a sound generator wherein two streams of sound are constructively additive for a predetermined base frequency and harmonics thereof, and wherein that predetermined base frequency is tunable.
Resonant sound as the terminology is used herein refers to refers to sound having a frequency spectrum that includes a base frequency and many harmonics of the base frequency. Such sound is typically identifiable as being full and rich because of the effect of the harmonics blending together, and is traditionally produced using a sound source comprising one or more tuning forks, or bowls, or drums, or gongs, where the “resonant” terminology comes from the sound source being struck and vibrating at its own resonant vibrational frequencies.
It has been found that resonant sound at particular base frequencies can produce a variety of effects in a receiver's brain. Some of the observed effects include a measurable reduction in stress, depression, and/or anxiety, or improved sleep quality, mental acuity, and even creativity. It is believed that the effects of resonant sound can be used in therapeutic treatment regimes, for example without limitation, to improve or slow the progression of Parkinson's and other neuro-degenerative diseases, wherein the efficacy of the treatment can depend on the base frequency of the resonant sound.
Existing sources for producing resonant sound are limited to a single base frequency, for example, in the case of a tuning fork, there is a single resonant frequency that may include harmonics thereof. A need therefore exists for a device that can generate resonant sound in a range of base frequencies that could potentially be used for treating a variety of conditions, wherein the base frequency can be selected to be most therapeutic for a given condition. It would be beneficial if the device could generate any sort of sound or music including resonance at particular base frequencies and harmonics thereof. It would be further beneficial if the device could be quickly tuned to change the base frequency as needed.
In one aspect of the invention, a tunable resonance generator comprises a sound reflecting body and a speaker fixed on a support member that is disposed through the sound reflecting body. The speaker generates sound in a first direction away from the sound reflecting body and in a second opposite direction toward the sound reflecting body.
In another aspect of the invention, a tunable resonance generator comprises a sound reflecting body and a speaker fixed on a support member that is disposed through the sound reflecting body. The speaker generates sound in a first direction away from the sound reflecting body and in a second opposite direction toward the sound reflecting body. The support member is configured to move relative to the sound reflecting body to adjust a distance between the speaker and the sound reflecting body.
In a further aspect of the invention, a tunable resonance generator comprises a sound reflecting body and a speaker fixed on a support member that is disposed through the sound reflecting body. The tunable resonance generator further comprises a geared portion on the support member and a driven gear. The speaker generates sound in a first direction away from the sound reflecting body and in a second opposite direction toward the sound reflecting body. The support member is configured to move relative to the sound reflecting body to adjust a distance between the speaker and the sound reflecting body, and the geared portion is configured to mesh with the driven gear for moving the support member relative to the sound reflecting body.
Additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein only illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure are shown and described.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, wherein similar structures have similar reference numerals.
The following detailed embodiments presented herein are for illustrative purposes. That is, these detailed embodiments are intended to be exemplary of the present invention for the purposes of providing and aiding a person skilled in the pertinent art to readily understand how to make and use of the present invention. In the descriptions that follow identical reference numerals used to describe components of different disclosed embodiments refer to identical components that may be part of the different disclosed embodiments.
Referring to
In an embodiment the speaker 120 is fixed on the support member 130 so that a center of the speaker 120 is aligned with a center of the sound reflecting body 110 as indicated by a common centerline 140 passing through both the speaker 120 and the sound reflecting body 110. In other embodiments a centerline of the speaker 120 is not aligned with a centerline of the sound reflecting body 110. In an embodiment the speaker 120 is a conventional electrically driven speaker having a magnet and a coil driving vibrating diaphragms, but in other embodiments the speaker 120 can be any sort of speaker as is known in the art. In an embodiment the speaker 120 generates sound in a first direction indicated by arrow 150 away from the sound reflecting body 110 and in a second opposite direction indicated by arrow 160 toward the sound reflecting body 110.
In an embodiment the support member 130 is configured to move relative to the sound reflecting body 110 to adjust a distance D between the speaker 120 and the sound reflecting body 110. In an embodiment the support member 130, for example without limitation, includes a supporting rod 132 extending from a sliding stage 135, which is shown transparently in
In an embodiment the TRG 100 further comprises a driven gear or threaded rod 170 wherein the interior gear or threads 138 of the sliding stage 135 is configured to mesh with the driven gear or threaded rod 170. The sliding stage 135 is disposed in contact with a slide base 139 so that when the driven gear or threaded rod 170 is rotated around its longitudinal axis, the interaction between the driven gear or threaded rod 170 and the interior gear or threads 138 forces the sliding stage 135 to move along the driven gear or threaded rod 170. Movement of the sliding stage 135 along the driven gear or threaded rod 170 moves the support member 130 relative to the sound reflecting body 110, thereby moving the speaker 120 toward or away from the sound reflecting body 110. Therefore, by turning the driven gear or threaded rod 170, the distance D can be made larger or smaller. In an embodiment a stepper motor 180, for example, as connected to and controlled by a user interface 240 (see
Referring to
Again, without being held to theory, the sound wave B1 will reflect from the sound reflecting body 110 and propagate back toward the speaker 120 as reflected wave R1 traveling in the direction of arrow 210. If the distance D matches the wavelength or a multiple of the wavelength of the sound wave B1, then the amplitudes of the sound waves F1 and R1 will be constructively additive at the given frequency, as can be seen by the peaks of the sound waves F1 and R1 aligning along reference line 220 in
Similarly,
Of course, in reality the speaker 120 has a finite width, but any source offset caused by the finite width can accounted for by adjustment of the distance D so that the sound reflected from the sound reflecting body 110 adds constructively with the sound directed away from the sound reflecting body 110 for any desired predetermined frequency, where a change in the distance D between the speaker 120 and the sound reflecting body 110 changes the predetermined frequency.
If each predetermined frequency is considered to be a base frequency, then this constructive addition of the base frequencies and their harmonics boosts the sound levels for the constructively added frequencies in the generated sound, where the affected frequencies are tunable by adjusting the distance D. In fact, without being held to theory, the base frequency and its harmonics can be tuned to any frequency as desired by adjusting the distance D. In an embodiment the predetermined base frequency is in a range of frequencies from about 100 Hz to about 1200 Hz. In an embodiment the predetermined base frequency is about 200 Hz.
Further, without being held to theory, the material properties of the sound reflecting body 110, can have an effect on the efficiency of the reflection of the base frequency and the harmonics thereof. For example, without limitation, the stiffness, thickness, material density, surface hardness, and diameter of the sound reflecting body 110 can be factors in how strong the reflected sound waves are both for the base frequency and the harmonics thereof, which influences the richness and fullness of the overall resonant sound that is produced.
Referring to
In an embodiment the stepper motor 180 is controlled by user input via the user interface 240 to drive the driven gear 170. For example, the user interface can include a setting for the distance D allowing the user to increase or decrease the distance D, for example without limitation, by pressing on a displayed arrow, or by turning a knob, or by entering a numerical distance via a touchscreen or keyboard, or the like. In response to the user's manual input into the user interface 240, the stepper motor 180 drives the driven gear 170 in a rotational direction to increase or decrease the distance D, as required.
Still referring to
In an embodiment the user interface 240 is configured to accept user input of a predetermined base frequency, for example without limitation, by pressing on a displayed arrow to increase or decrease a displayed frequency, or by turning a knob, or by entering a numerical frequency via a touchscreen or keyboard, or the like. In an embodiment the processor 260 analyzes sound detected by the microphone 250 and transmitted as an electronic signal from the microphone 250 to the processor 260. Upon analyzing the sound, the processor 260 signals the stepper motor 180 to adjust the distance D between the speaker 120 and the sound reflecting body 110 until the sound detected by the microphone 250 includes the base frequency and harmonics of the base frequency.
In an embodiment the processor 260, microphone 250, and stepper motor 180 act as a feedback control loop utilizing the electrical signal sent from the microphone 250 to the processor 260 as feedback to adjust the distance D until the analyzed sound includes the base frequency as entered into the user interface 240. Without being held to theory, in an embodiment the feedback control loop can adjust the distance D within seconds (or less) to tune the TRG 100 to any desired base frequency.
A tunable resonance generator (TRG) as presented herein generates a resonant sound at a predetermined base frequency and its harmonics. The predetermined base frequency can be tuned to frequencies known to be efficacious for treatment of physical and mental diseases. The TRG can be manufactured in industry for use by individuals, therapists, and other care givers.
Numerous modifications to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. It is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use the invention and to teach the best mode of carrying out same. The exclusive rights to all modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims are reserved. All patents, patent publications and applications, and other references cited herein are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
