Patent Description:
Methods of controlling sound are classified into three types: reflection, sound absorption, and dispersion. In the case of a sound absorption method, sound absorption performance and a frequency domain are controlled using a porous structure, such as sponge or polymer felt, having a porosity of at least <NUM> % or using a resonator or a micro-perforated panel (MPP), each having a high sound absorption property in a certain frequency band.

Regarding the polymer, metal sponge, and felt, which are materials usually used as a sound absorber, the absorption performance of the material in a wide range of frequencies is increased by increasing the porosity of the material to match the impedance of air with the impedance of a sound absorbing structure and by increasing the thickness of the material to at least <NUM>. In addition, to increase the sound absorption performance at a certain frequency, a resonator or an MPP is attached to walls or surfaces of materials of cars or submarines.

Resonators, which have a complex inner structure and are made of rigid materials, may usually be manufactured as the surface of a soundproof wall, the surface of a wall, or the inner structure of a speaker because of the inner shape that reacts to a certain frequency. Resonators may be arranged in various sizes but may not be arranged to overlap each other in the thickness direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction) of a soundproof wall or the like. Resonators have a high sound absorption property at a certain frequency but are bulky and not easy to manufacture.

MPPs are manufactured by uniformly forming air tubes across the surface of a rigid body, such as a wooden, metal, or glass body, to penetrate the rigid body. Unlike resonators, MPPs are thin but are difficult to use in various fields because their sound absorption performance is selectively high only at a certain frequency of <NUM> or less. [A] <CIT> relates to a sound absorbing structure having a nanofiber layer and to a method for fabricating the sound absorbing structure having a nanofiber layer. <CIT> relates to processes for fabricating composite laminates and a method of producing hole patterns in such laminates. <CIT> relates to sound absorbing materials, particularly to a novel sound absorbing felt.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sound absorption device according to claim <NUM>. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method according to claim <NUM>.

One or more embodiments include a sound absorbing panel having a spiral-shaped micropore and a sound absorption device including the sound absorbing panel.

One or more embodiments include a sound absorption device including a thin sound absorbing panel and a method of manufacturing the sound absorption device.

According to one or more embodiments, a sound absorption device includes a sound absorbing panel including first elements, second elements, third elements, and fourth elements, the first elements being spaced apart from each other along a first direction, the second elements being arranged on the first elements and being spaced apart from each other along a second direction different from the first direction; the third elements being arranged on the second elements and being spaced apart from each other along a third direction different from the second direction, and the fourth elements being arranged on the third elements and being spaced apart from each other along a fourth direction different from the third direction, wherein a cross-section of at least one of the first through fourth elements has a distorted circular shape, a distorted polygonal shape, or a distorted elliptical shape, and a thickness of the sound absorbing panel is about <NUM> or less.

A ratio of a short-axis length to a long-axis length of the cross-section of the at least one of the first through fourth elements is about <NUM> % or less.

The long-axis length may be about <NUM> or less.

The sound absorbing panel includes a plurality of pores having a spiral shape in a thickness direction of the sound absorbing panel.

An angle between the first direction and the second direction is greater than <NUM>° and less than or equal to <NUM>°.

At least one of the first through fourth elements may have a long bar shape.

At least one of the first through fourth elements may include a polymer filament.

A transparency of the sound absorbing panel is about <NUM> % or greater.

The sound absorption device may further include a first substrate spaced apart from the sound absorbing panel.

The first substrate may include a transparent material.

A gap between the sound absorbing panel and the first substrate may be about <NUM> or less.

The sound absorption device may further include a second substrate facing the first substrate with the sound absorbing panel between the first substrate and the second substrate.

The sound absorption device may further include another sound absorbing panel spaced apart from the sound absorbing panel.

The sound absorption device may absorb sound waves having frequencies of about <NUM> to about <NUM> at a sound absorption coefficient of at least <NUM>.

According to one or more embodiments, a method of manufacturing a sound absorption device includes forming a sound absorbing panel by forming first elements spaced apart from each other in a first direction, forming second elements on the first elements to be spaced apart from each other in a second direction different from the first direction, forming third elements on the second elements to be spaced apart from each other in a third direction different from the second direction, and forming fourth elements on the third elements to be spaced apart from each other in a fourth direction different from the third direction, wherein a cross-section of at least one of the first through fourth elements has one of a distorted circular shape, a distorted polygonal shape, and a distorted elliptical shape, and a thickness of the sound absorbing panel is about <NUM> or less.

The method may further include applying a pressure to at least one of the first through fourth elements.

An angle between the first direction and the second direction may be greater than <NUM>° and less than or equal to <NUM>°.

A transparency of the sound absorbing panel is <NUM> % or greater.

The method may further include forming a substrate spaced apart from the sound absorbing panel.

The terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes", and/or "including" used herein should not be interpreted as the definite presence of all components or steps described in the embodiments and should be interpreted as the absence of some components or steps or the addition of one or more other components or steps.

When a component is referred to as being "above" or "on" another component, it may be directly above, below, on the left, or on the right in contact with the other component or may be above, below, on the left, or on the right with no contact with the other component. Hereinafter, detailed descriptions will be made based on only embodiments with reference to the drawings.

While such terms "first," "second," etc., may be used to describe various components, such components must not be limited to the above terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one component from another.

<FIG> is a conceptual diagram of a sound absorbing panel <NUM> included in a sound absorption device, according to an embodiment. <FIG> is a diagram of a cross-section of the sound absorbing panel <NUM> of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the sound absorbing panel <NUM> may be formed by arranging a plurality of elements. The elements may have a long bar shape and may include a polymer filament, plaster, metal powder, etc..

The orientation angles of the elements may sequentially change in a thickness direction (e.g., a Z-axis direction) of the sound absorbing panel <NUM>. The elements may be divided into first elements <NUM>, second elements <NUM>, third elements <NUM>, and fourth elements <NUM> by layers. For example, the sound absorbing panel <NUM> may include the first elements <NUM> which are spaced apart from each other along a first direction; the second elements <NUM> which are in contact with the first elements <NUM> and are spaced apart from each other along a second direction different from the first direction; the third elements <NUM> which are in contact with the second elements <NUM> and are spaced apart from each other along a third direction different from the second direction; and the fourth elements <NUM> which are in contact with the third elements <NUM> and are spaced apart from each other along a fourth direction different from the third direction.

The first elements <NUM> may be arranged in a line such that a length direction d1 of the first elements <NUM> is parallel with an X-axis direction. When a length direction of elements is parallel with the X-axis direction, it may be defined as an orientation angle of <NUM>°. Accordingly, the orientation angle of the first elements <NUM> may be <NUM>°. The first elements <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other.

The second elements <NUM> may be arranged on the first elements <NUM> in the thickness direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction) of the sound absorbing panel <NUM>. A portion of the second elements <NUM> may be in contact with a portion of the first elements <NUM>. A length direction d2 of the second elements <NUM> may be different from the length direction d1 of the first elements <NUM>. For example, the orientation angle of the second elements <NUM> may be <NUM>°. The second elements <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other.

The third elements <NUM> may be arranged on the second elements <NUM> in the thickness direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction) of the sound absorbing panel <NUM>. A portion of the third elements <NUM> may be in contact with a portion of the second elements <NUM>. A length direction d3 of the third elements <NUM> may be different from the length direction d2 of the second elements <NUM>. For example, the length direction d3 of the third elements <NUM> may be different from the length direction d2 of the second elements <NUM> by <NUM>°. In other words, the orientation angle of the third elements <NUM> may be <NUM>°. The third elements <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other.

The fourth elements <NUM> may be arranged on the third elements <NUM> in the thickness direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction) of the sound absorbing panel <NUM>. A portion of the fourth elements <NUM> may be in contact with a portion of the third elements <NUM>. A length direction d4 of the fourth elements <NUM> may be different from the length direction d3 of the third elements <NUM>. For example, the length direction d4 of the fourth elements <NUM> may be displaced from the length direction d3 of the third elements <NUM> by <NUM>°. In other words, the orientation angle of the fourth elements <NUM> may be <NUM>°. The fourth elements <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other.

The angle between the orientation angles of respective adjacent elements in the thickness direction of the sound absorbing panel <NUM> may be greater than <NUM>° and less than or equal to <NUM>°. For example, the angle between the orientation angles of respective adjacent elements in the thickness direction of the sound absorbing panel <NUM> may be equal to or greater than <NUM>° and less than <NUM>°. Referring to <FIG>, the orientation angles of the first through fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> sequentially change by a certain amount. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. An angle θ between adjacent orientation angles of the first through fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may not be constant. For instance, the first elements <NUM> may be arranged at an orientation angle of <NUM>°, the second elements <NUM> may be arranged at an orientation angle of <NUM>°, the third elements <NUM> may be arranged at an orientation angle of <NUM>°, and the fourth elements <NUM> may be arranged at an orientation angle of <NUM>°.

According to an embodiment, the first through fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be repeated a plurality of times in the thickness direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction) of the sound absorbing panel <NUM>. According to the arrangements of the first through fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, stair-shaped or spiral-shaped pores may be formed in the sound absorbing panel <NUM> in the thickness direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction) of the sound absorbing panel <NUM>. In other words, a pore formed by the first elements <NUM> partially overlaps a pore formed by the second elements <NUM> both in the thickness direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction) and in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction). The pore formed by the second elements <NUM> partially overlaps a pore formed by the third elements <NUM> both in the thickness direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction) and in the perpendicular direction to the thickness direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction).

At least two of the distances between two adjacent ones of the first through fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be different in the thickness direction of the sound absorbing panel <NUM>. The distances among the first through fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be controlled by a flow rate at which the first through fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are formed. For example, when the first through fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are formed using three-dimensional (3D) printing, the distances among the first through fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be controlled by the flow rate of a source forming the first through fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The cross-sections of the first through fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> in the thickness direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction) of the sound absorbing panel <NUM> may have at least one shape selected from a distorted circular shape, a distorted polygonal shape, and a distorted elliptical shape. The cross-sections of the first through fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be distorted by applying a pressure to the first through fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> during the manufacture of the sound absorbing panel <NUM>. Accordingly, the sound absorbing panel <NUM> may be made thin. For example, as shown in <FIG>, a long-axis length r1 of a cross-section of an element may be perpendicular to the thickness direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction) of the sound absorbing panel <NUM>, and a short-axis length r2 of the cross-section may be parallel with the thickness direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction) of the sound absorbing panel <NUM>. In other words, the pressure may be applied in a direction parallel with the thickness direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction) of the sound absorbing panel <NUM>. A ratio of the short-axis length r2 to the long-axis length r1 may be inversely proportional to the pressure applied to the sound absorbing panel <NUM>. For example, the ratio of the short-axis length r2 to the long-axis length r1 may be <NUM> % or less. The long-axis length r1 may be <NUM> or less.

Even though a pressure is applied to the sound absorbing panel <NUM> to decrease the thickness of the sound absorbing panel <NUM>, stair- or spiral-shaped pores of the sound absorbing panel <NUM> may be maintained because the first through fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are arranged spaced apart or displaced from each other. For example, to make the sound absorbing panel <NUM> to be a thin type, a pressure may be applied to the sound absorbing panel <NUM> such that the thickness of the sound absorbing panel <NUM> is <NUM> or less. Although the sound absorbing panel <NUM> is thin, the spiral-shaped pores of the sound absorbing panel <NUM> may make the travel of sound waves complicated such that the sound waves collide into the sound absorbing panel <NUM> and dissipate.

In addition, because spiral-shaped pores having various lengths are arranged in the sound absorbing panel <NUM>, a wide range of sound waves may be absorbed. The sound absorbing panel <NUM> including spiral-shaped microsize pores may be referred to as a microstructured sound absorption panel (MAP).

Since the sound absorbing panel <NUM> is thin, the sound absorbing panel <NUM> may be transparent. For example, the sound absorbing panel <NUM> may have a light transmittance of about <NUM> % to about <NUM> %. A transparent sound absorbing panel may minimize the influence of optical properties of other devices with which the transparent sound absorbing panel is combined. For example, the sound absorbing panel <NUM> may be combined with a double-glazed window to absorb sound. The sound absorbing panel <NUM> may be combined with other components to form a sound absorption device <NUM> of <FIG>.

<FIG> shows results of testing the sound absorption performance of sponge type sound absorbing panels as comparative examples. As shown in <FIG>, sponge may absorb, at a sound absorption coefficient of <NUM> or greater, sound waves having a high frequency of about <NUM> or greater. Sponge usually has a high sound absorption coefficient with respect to high-frequency sound waves. Therefore, there is a limit to using sponge for a sound absorbing panel that absorbs low-frequency noise in daily life.

<FIG> shows results of testing the sound absorption performance of sound absorbing panels including the arrangement of elements according to an embodiment.

In <FIG>, "2D MAP" indicates that an angle between the orientation angles of two adjacent elements in the thickness direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction) of a sound absorbing panel is <NUM>°. For example, "2D MAP" may indicate a sound absorbing panel which has elements arranged at an orientation angle of <NUM>° in an odd-numbered layer and elements arranged at an orientation angle of <NUM>° in an even-numbered layer. "4D MAP" indicates that an angle between the orientation angles of two adjacent elements in the thickness direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction) of a sound absorbing panel is <NUM>°. For example, "4D MAP" may indicate a sound absorbing panel which has elements arranged at an orientation angle of <NUM>° in a <NUM>(k-<NUM>)+<NUM>-th layer, elements arranged at an orientation angle of <NUM>° in a <NUM>(k-<NUM>)+<NUM>-th layer, elements arranged at an orientation angle of <NUM>° in a <NUM>(k-<NUM>)+<NUM>-th layer, and elements arranged at an orientation angle of <NUM>° in a <NUM>(k-<NUM>)+<NUM>-th layer, where "k" is a natural number. "6D MAP" indicates a sound absorbing panel in which an angle between the orientation angles of two adjacent elements in the thickness direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction) of a sound absorbing panel is <NUM>° and which has at least six layers of elements. "9D MAP" indicates a sound absorbing panel in which an angle between the orientation angles of two adjacent elements in the thickness direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction) of a sound absorbing panel is <NUM>° and which has at least nine layers of elements.

It may be seen that a sound absorbing panel having at least <NUM>° as an angle between two adjacent orientation angles absorbs sound waves in a wider range of frequencies. In particular, it may be seen that a sound absorbing panel corresponding to 4D MAP absorbs sound waves having frequencies of about <NUM> to about <NUM> at a sound absorption coefficient of at least <NUM> and a sound absorbing panel corresponding to 6D MAP absorbs sound waves having frequencies of about <NUM> to about <NUM> at a sound absorption coefficient of at least <NUM>.

While pores of the sound absorbing panel corresponding to 2D MAP have a straight line shape, pores of sound absorbing panels respectively corresponding to 4D MAP, 6D MAP, and 9D MAP have a spiral shape. It may be seen that a sound absorbing panel including spiral-shaped pores efficiently absorbs sound waves in a wide range of frequencies. It may be seen that the sound absorbing panel also absorbs <NUM> sound waves. Accordingly, when a sound absorbing panel is manufactured, an angle between orientation angles may be adjusted according to the frequency band of sound waves to be absorbed.

According to an embodiment, the sound absorbing panel <NUM> is thin and includes spiral-shaped pores, thereby having high transparency. For example, <FIG> shows results of measuring transparency with respect to thicknesses of the sound absorbing panel <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram of the sound absorption device <NUM> including the sound absorbing panel <NUM> of <FIG>, according to an embodiment. Referring to <FIG>, the sound absorption device <NUM> may include the sound absorbing panel <NUM>, which is formed by arranging a plurality of elements, and a substrate <NUM> spaced apart from the sound absorbing panel <NUM>. The sound absorbing panel <NUM> has been described above, and thus detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. The substrate <NUM> may be transparent. For example, the substrate <NUM> may include polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), a transparent glass material mainly including SiO2, or the like. The substrate <NUM> is not limited to those materials but may include a plastic material.

The sound absorption device <NUM> may further include a spacer <NUM> which maintains a gap between the sound absorbing panel <NUM> and the substrate <NUM>. When the spacer <NUM> is provided, the space between the sound absorbing panel <NUM> and the substrate <NUM> may be filled with a gas such as the air. The gap between the sound absorbing panel <NUM> and the substrate <NUM> may be about <NUM> to about <NUM>. The gap between the sound absorbing panel <NUM> and the substrate <NUM> may be referred to as a gap layer <NUM>. The gap layer <NUM> may increase the sound absorption coefficient of sound waves by enhancing the resonance characteristic of the sound waves. In addition, a sound absorption frequency band may vary with the thickness of the gap layer <NUM>.

<FIG> shows results of testing sound absorption properties with respect to gaps between the sound absorbing panel <NUM> and the substrate <NUM>, according to an embodiment. Sound absorption properties were tested when the gaps between the sound absorbing panel <NUM> corresponding to "4D MAP" and the substrate <NUM>, i.e., the thicknesses of the gap layer <NUM>, were <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. According to the results, the central frequency of absorbed sound waves decreased as the thickness of the gap layer <NUM> increased. In particular, when the thickness of the gap layer <NUM> were <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, a wide range of sound waves including a low frequency band were absorbed. Accordingly, the sound absorption device <NUM> absorbing a wide range of sound waves including a low frequency band may be designed such that the gap between the sound absorbing panel <NUM> and the substrate <NUM> is about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a sound absorption device 200a including a plurality of substrates, according to one or more embodiments. Referring to <FIG>, the sound absorption device 200a may include a first substrate 120a and a second substrate 120b, which are spaced apart from each other with the sound absorbing panel <NUM> therebetween. The sound absorbing panel <NUM> is formed by arranging a plurality of elements, as described above, and thus detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. The first and second substrates 120a and 120b may include a transparent substrate. For example, the first and second substrates 120a and 120b may include PMMA, a transparent glass material mainly including SiO2, or the like but are not limited thereto.

The sound absorption device 200a may further include a first spacer 130a, which maintains a gap between the sound absorbing panel <NUM> and the first substrate 120a, and a second spacer 130b, which maintains a gap between the sound absorbing panel <NUM> and the second substrate 120b. When the first and second spacers 130a and 130b are provided, the space between the sound absorbing panel <NUM> and each of the first and second substrates 120a and 120b may be filled with a gas such as the air. The gap between the sound absorbing panel <NUM> and each of the first and second substrates 120a and 120b may be about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

Because the first and second substrates 120a and 120b are spaced apart from each other with the sound absorbing panel <NUM> therebetween, the sound absorption device 200a of <FIG> may absorb sound waves entering in opposite directions. For example, the sound absorbing panel <NUM> and a first gap layer 140a between the sound absorbing panel <NUM> and the first substrate 120a may absorb sound waves entering the second substrate 120b from outside, and the sound absorbing panel <NUM> and a second gap layer 140b between the sound absorbing panel <NUM> and the second substrate 120b may absorb sound waves entering the first substrate 120a from outside.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a sound absorption device 200b including a plurality of sound absorbing panels, according to one or more embodiments. Referring to <FIG>, the sound absorption device 200b may include the substrate <NUM>, a first sound absorbing panel 110a, and a second sound absorbing panel 110b, which are sequentially arranged to be spaced apart from one another. Each of the first and second sound absorbing panels 110a and 110b is formed by arranging a plurality of elements, as described above, and thus detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. The first gap layer 140a may be formed between the substrate <NUM> and the first sound absorbing panel 110a, and a third gap layer 140c may be formed between the first sound absorbing panel 110a and the second sound absorbing panel 110b. The frequencies of sound waves absorbed by each of the first and second sound absorbing panels 110a and 110b may vary with the material of elements, the distance between adjacent elements, the thickness of the first or second sound absorbing panel 110a or 110b, the shape of pores, and the thickness and material of each of the first and third gap layers 140a and 140c. The first and second sound absorbing panels 110a and 110b and the first and third gap layers 140a and 140c may increase a sound absorption frequency band.

<FIG> shows the results of testing the sound absorption property of a sound absorption device including a plurality of sound absorbing panels. It is seen that sound waves in a low frequency band may be absorbed more when a plurality of gap layers are formed using a plurality of sound absorbing panels than when a single sound absorbing panel and a single gap layer are used to absorb sound waves.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a method of manufacturing a sound absorption device.

The sound absorbing panel <NUM> may be formed by arranging a plurality of elements in three dimensions in operation S1110. The elements may have a long bar shape. The elements may be may be divided into the first elements <NUM>, the second elements <NUM>, the third elements <NUM>, and the fourth elements <NUM> by layers. The sound absorbing panel <NUM> may be formed by repeatedly forming the first elements <NUM> spaced apart from each other in a first direction, the second elements <NUM> on the first elements <NUM> to be spaced apart from each other in a second direction different from the first direction, the third elements <NUM> on the second elements <NUM> to be spaced apart from each other in a third direction different from the second direction, and the fourth elements <NUM> on the third elements <NUM> to be spaced apart from each other in a fourth direction different from the third direction. The first through fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be formed using 3D printing.

The orientation angles of the first through fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may sequentially change. For example, the angle between the orientation angles of respective elements adjacent to each other in the thickness direction of the sound absorbing panel <NUM> may be greater than <NUM>° and less than or equal to <NUM>°. Accordingly, the sound absorbing panel <NUM> may include spiral-shaped pores. The angle between orientation angles may be constant or inconstant.

A pressure may be applied to the sound absorbing panel <NUM> during the formation of the sound absorbing panel <NUM>. For example, when each of the respective layers of the second through fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is formed, a pressure may be applied respectively. Alternatively, after the sound absorbing panel <NUM> is completely formed, the thickness of the sound absorbing panel <NUM> may be reduced by applying a pressure to the sound absorbing panel <NUM>. The first through fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may have at least one shape selected from a distorted circular shape, a distorted polygonal shape, and a distorted elliptical shape, and the thickness of the sound absorbing panel <NUM> may be <NUM> or less.

The gap layer <NUM> may be formed by forming the substrate <NUM> spaced apart from the sound absorbing panel <NUM> in operation S1120. For example, the gap layer <NUM> may be formed by arranging the sound absorbing panel <NUM> and the substrate <NUM> to be spaced apart from each other and arranging the spacer <NUM> fixing the sound absorbing panel <NUM> and the substrate <NUM>. The gap layer <NUM> may absorb incident sound waves by allowing the sound waves to resonate.

Manufacturing conditions may be changed according to the frequency band of sound waves to be absorbed by a sound absorbing panel and a sound absorption device.

A wide range of sound waves including low and medium frequencies may be absorbed using a sound absorbing panel and a gap layer.

The sound absorption device may be applied to various fields because the sound absorption device uses a thin sound absorbing panel.

The sound absorption device may be applied to various fields because the sound absorption device uses a sound absorbing panel having a high transparency.

The sound absorbing panel is porous and thus easily used together with other sound absorbing structures.

The sound absorbing panel may be easily applied to various fields and surfaces because the sound absorbing panel is manufactured using a flexible material.

Claim 1:
A sound absorption device (<NUM>) comprising
a sound absorbing panel (<NUM>) absorbing sound waves and including first elements (<NUM>), second elements (<NUM>), third elements (<NUM>), and fourth elements (<NUM>), the first elements being spaced apart from each other along a first direction, the second elements being arranged on the first elements and being spaced apart from each other along a second direction different from the first direction; the third elements being arranged on the second elements and being spaced apart from each other along a third direction different from the second direction, and the fourth elements being arranged on the third elements and being spaced apart from each other along a fourth direction different from the third direction,
characterised in that the first through fourth elements are arranged sequentially in a thickness direction of the sound absorbing panel, and characterized
in that a cross-section of the first through fourth elements has one of a distorted circular shape, a distorted polygonal shape, and a distorted elliptical shape, and a thickness of the sound absorbing panel is about <NUM> or less, and
wherein the cross-section has a long-axis and a short-axis, the long-axis and the short-axis being perpendicular and parallel to the thickness direction of the sound absorbing panel, respectively;
wherein a ratio of a short-axis length, r2, to a long-axis length, r1, of the at least one of the first through fourth elements is about <NUM>% or less;
wherein the first elements, second elements, third elements, and fourth elements are each orientated at a respective orientation angle, and wherein an angle between the orientation angles of respective adjacent elements in the thickness direction of the sound absorbing panel <NUM> is equal to or greater than <NUM>° and less than <NUM>°;
wherein the sound absorbing panel includes a plurality of pores having a spiral shape in the thickness direction of the sound absorbing panel, and
wherein the transparency of the sound absorbing panel is about <NUM> % or greater.