Platformula^® Technology

plat•form - a usually raised horizontal flat surface; especially: a raised flooring (2): a device or structure incorporating or providing a platform; a vehicle (as a satellite or aircraft) used for a particular activity or purpose or to carry a usually specified kind of equipment

for•mu•la - a general fact, rule, or principle expressed in usually mathematical symbols; a symbolic expression of the chemical composition or constitution of a substance

Gingko Audio’s Platformula® technology provides the means by which users can build a vibration control system for use in a variety of special applications, using a basic set of elements to achieve the intended results.

The design elements are chosen for their vibration control properties. They include two layers of horizontal plates and carefully selected balls that are sandwiched between the plates. The resultant platform dampens and eliminates vibrations four ways: vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and rotationally. The choice of device material is dependent upon the specific application requirements.

The first application of this technology is the high fidelity audio field where vibrations of all types (mechanical, electrical, electro-mechanical, etc.) can have very significant effects on the performance of the system. Other applications are envisioned such as video and computer technology.

To illustrate the power of Gingko Audio’s Platformula® technology applied to high-fidelity audio application, let’s review some basic requirements of an effective vibration control system used for the intended application.

An effective system used to control vibrations that can negatively affect the performance of a high-fidelity audio component should:

• Minimize the effect of any vibrations present in the environment on the component

• Minimize the effect of its own vibration characteristics on the component

• Allow users to empirically experiment with various configurations to achieve a variety of results in sonic performance to suit individual preferences.

Gingko Audio’s Platformula® technology for audio applications consists of the following: an acrylic base plate with multiple wells (circular depressions) on its top surface capable of holding spherical vibration control elements in the wells; a number of specially selected rubber balls setting in the wells; and a flat, skirted acrylic top plate resting on the balls. An audio component set on the top plate can readily move vertically, horizontally, and rotationally with respect to the vibration control elements and the base plate. The acrylate polymer base and top plate can effectively dissipate vibration energy as it propagates through its material structure. The vibration control elements are sets of rubber balls that can vary in size and composition. They absorb most of the vibrations and isolate the base from the top plate. Together, this system isolates the audio component resting on the top plate from movement of the base up and down, front to back, side to side, and rotationally. The rubber balls are also used to balance the uneven load by some equipment such as amplifiers or turntables. By judiciously positioning the rubber balls in the base wells, a user can level the equipment to even the load and simultaneously achieve different sonic results to suit his or her taste.

A vibration control platform using Gingko Audio’s Platformula® technology can not only reduce vibration affecting the supported audio component but can also reduce the noise level at the electrical output of the audio component caused by the vibration. This is shown in the following three figures.

Figure 1-1 shows the vibration levels of a component sitting on and off the vibration control platform when external vibration frequencies from 10 Hz to 500Hz are applied to the base of the platform.

Figure 1-1

Vibration level measured on a sensor on an acrylic block simulating an audio component sitting on and off the platform

Figure 1-2 shows the electrical noise level measured at the output of a tube preamp sitting on and off the platform as a function of the same external vibration frequencies. The reduction in vibration and noise level in the 10Hz to 1000Hz frequency range is significant enough to be readily recognizable in a listening test of a high-resolution audio system. The end result is higher fidelity reproduction of the audio source when the platform is used.

Figure 1-2

Noise level of the output signal of a tube preamp sitting off (top line) and on (bottom line) the platform

Note: We find in our experiments that any effects outside of this frequency range are insignificant by comparison.

The vibration control system using Gingko Audio’s Platformula® technology produces different results when various materials are employed. Different types of wood can be used instead of acrylic to yield different sonic results. Different types and/or size balls can produce significant variations in the sound reproduced. For instance, Figure 1-3 shows test results of vibrations on the same platform using two different types of rubber balls. We can also demonstrate in vibration test experiments that, depending on the choice of rubber balls and/or positioning of the balls, the resonance frequency of the platform itself can be reduced to less than 10 Hz thus minimizing the negative effect it can have on the supported audio component. Overall, the damping effects of dissimilar materials differ significantly and, depending on the user’s audio system, can produce recognizable differences in sound quality in a listening test.

Figure 1-3

Vibration level measured on a sensor on an acrylic block simulating an audio component sitting on and off the platform using two different types of rubber balls as vibration control elements

In summary, we demonstrated through a series of experiments that a vibration control system using Gingko Audio’s Platformula® technology can:

• Effectively reduce the effect of any vibrations present in the environment on the audio component it supports

• Effectively reduce the effect of its own vibration characteristics on the component

• Allow users to empirically experiment with various configurations to achieve a variety of results in sonic performance to suit individual preferences.