Adaptive earbud for true wireless stereo headset

Abstract

A device for fitting an earbud headphone device into an ear canal, the device having an anatomically shaped compressible cushion member (5), a channel (6), a spacer member (8) extending from a side wall (7B) of the channel (6) but not connected to the other side wall (7A) of the channel (6), thereby providing sufficient transmission of acoustic signals to the ear canal in all cases by ensuring a minimum clearance C between the opposite side walls (7A, 7B) of the channel (6) in the uncompressed and compressed state of the cushion member (5), while also enabling a flexible and comfortable design.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of personal listening audio devices such as earbuds, headphones, and headsets, and more particularly to compressible earbuds for true wireless stereo (TWS) in-ear headsets. BACKGROUND

[0002] In recent years, the use of earphones has become increasingly common with the growing popularity of portable media players and cell phones. In the following disclosure, the term "earphone" will be used to refer to both headphones and in-ear or earbud earphones.

[0003] Headsets such as true wireless stereo (TWS) headsets are a type of earphone that includes one or more microphones, thus enabling the equivalent functionality of a telephone handset with hands-free operation. These headsets can be single-earpiece (monaural) or double-earpiece (binaural, monoaural, or stereo). In addition to personal use for listening and transmitting audio, numerous applications for (TWS) headsets include aviation, theater or television studio intercom systems, and console or PC gaming.

[0004] In-ear earphones are a type of portable earphone that have a compressible earbud at the end for insertion into the ear canal to provide at least partial acoustic seal, thus isolating from noise from the external environment. These in-ear earphones are increasingly popular because of their small size, which makes them particularly suitable for mobile use while commuting in public transportation or other noisy environments such as airplanes.

[0005] However, the earbuds in current in-ear earphones do not provide optimal wearing comfort for most users. Due to the physiological characteristics of the human ear, the shape and angle of the ear canal varies from person to person (and possibly from ear to ear for each person). Existing earbud designs only partially accommodate different ear shapes, especially elongated and angled ears. Specifically, many existing earbuds compromise between comfort, adaptability to different ears, and methods to prevent soft earbuds from collapsing, and often block the audio port from opening for acoustic signal transmission from the headset to the ear when pushed into the ear canal. In practice, round earbuds are the easiest to manufacture, although most ear canals are not round but anatomically oval. However, it is difficult to manufacture an optimal oval shape that provides acoustic signal transmission in all cases.

[0006] Some earplug manufacturers have provided a partial solution to the above problems by offering both round and oval earplugs with their earphones, but the sound ports of these earplugs tend to close easily due to compression when inserted into narrow or irregularly shaped ear canals. Other suppliers have made the body of the earplug very rigid so that the sound port does not close due to applied pressure, but these earplugs do not adapt to different ear canals and therefore are not comfortable to wear. Another existing solution provides an earplug with a cross-shaped support in the middle that prevents the sound port from closing, but this design is not flexible enough for elongated ear canals, is not comfortable, and is too rigid in structure.

[0007] There is therefore a need to provide earphone or earphone earplugs that provide both good wearing comfort over long periods of time and sufficient transmission of sound signals to the ear canal in all situations, and that are simple and inexpensive to manufacture. SUMMARY

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device and system for fitting an earplug earphone device into an ear canal, thereby overcoming or at least reducing the above-mentioned problems.

[0009] The above and other objects are achieved by the features of the independent claims. Further implementation forms are evident from the dependent claims, the specific embodiments and the figures.

[0010] According to a first aspect, there is provided a device for fitting an earplug earphone device into an ear canal, the device comprising:

[0011] an anatomically shaped compressible cushion member for fitting into the ear canal;

[0012] a channel arranged in the cushion member and extending from a first side to a second side, and comprising at least two opposing side walls;

[0013] at least one spacer member extending from at least one of the side walls towards the opposing side wall, but not connected to the opposing side wall;

[0014] the at least one spacer member is configured to provide a minimum gap between the opposing side walls C such that a sound wave passes through the channel from the first side to the second side in both a non-compressed state and a compressed state of the cushion member.

[0015] Arranging a spacer member in the earplug (cushion member) extending from a side wall of the (acoustic) channel to the opposite side wall but not connected to the opposite side wall ensures both compressibility in order to fit into all shapes of ear canal and sufficient transmission of acoustic signals through the channel to the ear canal in all cases, even when compressed in a narrow ear canal. The simple structure of the earplug also enables the earplug to be designed and manufactured simply and economically in a flexible material which provides good wearing comfort over a long period of time.

[0016] In one embodiment, the anatomically shaped cushion member is oval.

[0017] In a possible implementation form of the first aspect, the cushion member and the channel are oval, the channel comprising a first pair of opposite side walls defined by a smaller curvature and a second pair of opposite side walls defined by a larger curvature.

[0018] In another possible implementation form of the first aspect, the at least one spacer member comprises a tab protruding from one of the first pair of opposite side walls, the tab being homogenous with the cushion member.

[0019] In another possible implementation form of the first aspect, the at least one spacer member comprises two tabs, each tab protruding from one of the first pair of opposite side walls, respectively.

[0020] In another possible implementation form of the first aspect, the cushion member is made of a flexible and elastic material, and the at least one spacer member comprises a stiffening flange attached to at least one of the second pair of opposite side walls, the stiffening flange being made of a material which is less flexible than the cushion member.

[0021] In one embodiment, the cushion member is made of silicone. In another possible embodiment, the cushion member is made of a silicone material having a Shore hardness of 25, and the stiffening flange is made of a silicone material having a higher hardness, preferably between a Shore hardness of 40 and 60.

[0022] In another possible implementation form of the first aspect, the at least one spacer member comprises two stiffening flanges, each stiffening flange being attached to one of the second pair of opposite side walls, respectively.

[0023] In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the spacer member is arranged to extend only partially within the channel between the first side and the second side; the cushion member further comprises a continuous groove arranged within the side wall of the channel in the portion of the channel where the spacer member does not extend, to enable the cushion member to flexibly adapt to a curved ear canal.

[0024] In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the cushion member comprises an elongated hollow body having a closed body cavity surrounding the channel, thereby providing additional flexing and compressibility.

[0025] In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the body cavity opens towards a side of the cushion member to provide a connection slot for connection to an earphone housing.

[0026] In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the cushion member and the spacer member are configured such that, in a compressed state, the minimum gap between the opposing side walls is C between 1 mm and 1.5 mm; the minimum overall width of the cushion member measured in the compressed state is 3.5 mm; the minimum cross-sectional area of the channel measured in the compressed state is 5 mm 2 .

[0027] According to a second aspect, there is provided an earphone device, the earphone device comprising:

[0028] the apparatus according to any of the possible implementation forms of the first aspect;

[0029] a housing for detachable connection to the cushion member of the apparatus at the first side;

[0030] a loudspeaker arranged in the housing for generating sound waves in response to an audio signal for delivery through the channel to the ear canal.

[0031] Combining a compressible earplug comprising a spacer member according to a possible implementation form of the first aspect with a detachably connected earphone housing having a loudspeaker enables an earphone design that ensures good wearing comfort over a long time while also enabling sufficient sound signal delivery to the ear canal in any situation.

[0032] In a possible implementation form of the second aspect, the detachable connection between the housing and the cushion member is a snap-in connection between a connection slot arranged at the first side of the cushion member and a correspondingly shaped connection rim arranged on the housing.

[0033] In a further possible implementation form of the second aspect, the cushion member is configured to substantially fill a cross section of the ear canal when inserted into the ear canal; the cushion member and the housing are configured to provide an acoustic seal between a first portion of the ear canal facing the eardrum and a second portion of the ear canal facing an external environment when connected.

[0034] According to a third aspect, a system is provided, the system comprising:

[0035] at least one earphone device according to any of the possible implementation forms of the first aspect;

[0036] a host device configured to establish a data connection with the at least one earphone device and to generate the audio signal for delivery to the loudspeaker over the data connection.

[0037] Establishing a data connection between the earphone device and a host device enables the earphone device to be implemented without its own storage space and with limited processing means, thereby enabling a simpler construction with a smaller size and a lower weight, which is of great importance in the case of TWS headsets.

[0038] In a possible implementation form of the third aspect, the earphone device is a True Wireless Stereo (TWS) headset; the host device is a mobile smartphone; and the data connection is established using a Bluetooth protocol.

[0039] These and other aspects will be apparent from one or more of the embodiments described hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0040] In the following detailed portion of the application, aspects, embodiments and implementation forms will be explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0041] Figure 1 3D front view of the cushion member in a non-compressed state and a compressed state, as provided by one embodiment of the first aspect, is shown;

[0042] Figure 2 Cross-sectional view of the spacer member, as provided by one embodiment of the first aspect, is shown;

[0043] Figure 3 Cross-sectional view of the spacer member, as provided by another embodiment of the first aspect, is shown;

[0044] Figure 4 3D view of half of the cushion member, as provided by another embodiment of the first aspect, is shown;

[0045] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of an earbud-type earphone device arranged in an ear canal provided by an embodiment of the second aspect is shown;

[0046] Figure 6 An embodiment of the third aspect provides a system having an earbud-type headphone device, wherein the earbud-type headphone device is data-connected to a host device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] Figure 1 The present invention provides a device comprising: an anatomically shaped compressible cushion member 5 having a first side 5A (forward) and a second side 5B (backward); a channel 6 disposed in the cushion member 5 and extending from the first side 5A to the second side 5B to enable transmission of acoustic signals (e.g., generated by a speaker 15) through the cushion member 5, as described below in conjunction with Figure 5 As stated.

[0048] "Anatomical shape" as used herein is intended to encompass all possible shapes that are based on or designed to fit the structure of a human body part, in particular the structure of the human outer ear and ear canal.

[0049] The channel 6 comprises at least two opposing side walls 7A, 7B, and the spacing member 8 extends from the side wall 7B towards the opposing side wall 7A but does not reach or connect to the opposing side wall 7A.

[0050] The left side diagram shows the shape of the cushion member 5 in a non-compressed state, while the right side diagram shows the compressed state of the cushion member 5. As shown in the figure, the spacer member 8 is used to provide a minimum gap between the opposite side walls 7A, 7B. C , so that sound waves pass through the channel 6 from the first side 5A to the second side 5B in both the uncompressed state and the compressed state of the cushion member 5.

[0051] In a possible embodiment, the cushion member 5 is oval-shaped. In other possible embodiments, both the cushion member 5 and the channel 6 are oval-shaped.

[0052] exist Figure 2 In one embodiment shown, the channel 6 in the cushion member 5 includes a first pair of opposite side walls 71 defined by a smaller curvature and a second pair of opposite side walls 72 defined by a larger curvature. The spacer member 8 can be implemented as a projection 9 protruding from one of the first pair of opposite side walls 71, the projection 9 being of the same material as the cushion member 5, such as Figure 1 or implemented as two protrusions 9A, 9B, each protrusion 9A or 9B protrudes from one side wall of the first pair of opposite side walls 71, as Figure 2 The homogenous structure described in these embodiments enables the earplugs used in headphones to be manufactured in a simple and inexpensive manner.

[0053] In Figure 3 In another embodiment shown, the cushion member 5 is made of a flexible and elastic material such as silicone and at least one spacer member 8 is implemented as a stiffening flange 10 attached to at least one of the second pair of opposing side walls 72. In the embodiment shown, the cushion member 5 comprises two stiffening flanges 10A and 10B, each stiffening flange 10A or 10B being attached to one of the second pair of opposing side walls 72, respectively. An important aspect of this embodiment is that the stiffening flanges 10 are made of a material that is less flexible than the cushion member 5. In one possible embodiment, the cushion member is made of a silicone material with a Shore hardness of 25 and the stiffening flanges are made of a silicone material with a higher hardness, preferably between a Shore hardness of 40 and 60.

[0054] In Figure 4 In another possible embodiment shown, the spacer member 8 is arranged to only partially extend between the first side 5A and the second side 5B within the channel 6, thereby allowing for the use of less material to achieve cost savings in manufacturing and make the structure lighter, while still providing sufficient spacing between the side walls 7A and 7B.

[0055] In one possible embodiment, the cushion member 5 further comprises a continuous groove 11 arranged within the side walls of the channel 6 in the portion of the channel 6 where the spacer member 8 does not extend, to enable the cushion member 5 to flexibly adapt to a curved ear canal 4.

[0056] In another possible embodiment, the cushion member 5 comprises an elongated hollow body 12 with a closed body cavity 13 encircling the channel 6, thereby providing additional flexing flexibility and compressibility and further saving manufacturing costs. In one possible embodiment, the closed body cavity 13 is open towards one side 5A or 5B of the cushion member 5 to provide a connection slot 14 for connection to an earphone housing 3, such as Figure 5 the earphone housing shown.

[0057] In one possible embodiment, the cushion member 5 and the spacer member 8 are configured such that in the compressed state, the minimum gap between the opposing side walls 7A, 7B is C between 1 mm and 1.5 mm.

[0058] In one possible embodiment, the cushion member 5 and the spacer member 8 are configured such that in the compressed state, the minimum total width of the cushion member 5 is 3.5 mm.

[0059] In one possible embodiment, the cushion member 5 and the spacer member 8 are configured such that in the compressed state, the minimum cross-sectional area of the channel 6 is 5 mm 2 .

[0060] Figure 5 FIG1 shows an earphone device 1 according to the present invention. For simplicity, features identical or similar to corresponding features previously described or illustrated herein are denoted by the same reference numerals used previously. In the illustrated embodiment, the earphone device 1 comprises a housing 3 that is removably connected at a first side 5A to a cushion member 5 of the device.

[0061] In one embodiment, the detachable connection between the housing 3 and the cushion member 5 is a snap-fit ​​connection between a connection groove 14 arranged on the first side 5A of the cushion member 5 and a correspondingly shaped connection edge 17 arranged on the housing 3 .

[0062] "Snap-fit ​​connection" in this context refers to an assembly method for connecting flexible parts, usually plastic parts, to form a final product by pushing the interlocking components of said parts together.

[0063] like Figure 5 As shown, the cushion member 5 can be used to: when installed in the ear canal 4, basically fill the cross-section of the ear canal 4, so that the cushion member 5 and the shell 3 can provide an acoustic seal between the first part 4A of the ear canal 4 facing the eardrum and the second part 4B of the ear canal 4 facing the external environment when connected.

[0064] In addition, a speaker 15 may be arranged in the housing 3 for generating sound waves 16 in response to an audio signal to be delivered to the ear canal 4 through the channel 6. The speaker 15 may include a front cavity and a rear cavity isolated from the front cavity to generate optimal sound waves.

[0065] In a possible embodiment, a dial such as a volume knob may be further arranged on the housing 3 toward the external environment for adjusting at least one of the total output volume of the speaker 15 or the balance between the signal components of the input audio signal.

[0066] In a possible embodiment (not shown), the earphone device 1 may further include a microphone disposed in the housing 3 and configured to capture sound waves from the direction of the external environment. In one embodiment (also not shown), the earphone device 1 may include at least two microphones, the at least two microphones being configured to face the mouth of the user of the earphone device 1 to implement acoustic beamforming.

[0067] In another embodiment (also not shown), the earbud-type earphone device 1 may further include a voice accelerometer, which is configured to detect the voice of the user of the earbud-type earphone device 1 through vibration.

[0068] These additional inputs can generate further input signals which can be used as further components to be mixed into the input audio signal of the loudspeaker 15 or for controlling further functions of the earphone device 1 (e.g. de-occlusion).

[0069] Figure 6 A system is shown which comprises at least one earphone device 1 according to any of the above embodiments, comprising a housing 3 and a connected cushion member 5, a host device 2 for data connection with the at least one earphone device 1. Although Figure 6 The system is shown with a single earphone device 1 in the middle, but in most embodiments the system will comprise two earphone devices 1 (corresponding to a TWS earphone system), configured to be used in the left and right ear of the user respectively, and without a wired connection between the earphone devices 1.

[0070] The host device 2 can be a mobile smartphone, and the data connection can be established using Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocols, etc.

[0071] Various aspects and implementations have been described herein in connection with various embodiments. However, it should be understood that the disclosure of the disclosed embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter to particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will be able to appreciate from the disclosure the nature and advantages of the embodiments presented hereafter. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite articles "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit can fulfil the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. A computer program can be stored / distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state storage medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but also distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems. The claims are not limited to the embodiments described herein, but can be implemented in any desired form, which shall be within the scope of the claims.

[0072] The use of the same reference signs in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.

Claims

1. A device for fitting an earbud headphone device (1) into an ear canal (4), characterized in that, The device comprises: an anatomically shaped compressible cushion member (5) for fitting into an ear canal (4); a channel (6), the cushion member (5) and the channel (6) being elliptical, the channel (6) comprising a first pair of opposite side walls (71) defined by a smaller curvature and a second pair of opposite side walls (72) defined by a larger curvature; the channel (6) being arranged in the cushion member (5) and extending from a first side (5A) to a second side (5B), and at least one of the first pair of opposite side walls (71) and the second pair of opposite side walls (72) comprising at least two opposite side walls (7A, 7B); at least one spacer member (8) extending from at least one of the side walls (7B) towards an opposite side wall (7A) but not connected to the opposite side wall (7A), the at least one spacer member (8) comprising a tab (9) protruding from one of the first pair of opposite side walls (71), the tab (9) being homogenous with the cushion member (5); The at least one spacing member (8) is configured to provide a minimum gap between the opposite side walls (7A, 7B) C so that a sound wave passes from the first side (5A) through the channel (6) to the second side (5B) in both the uncompressed state and the compressed state of the gasket member (5).

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, the at least one spacer member (8) comprising two tabs (9A, 9B), each tab (9A / 9B) protruding from one of the first pair of opposite side walls (71), respectively.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, the cushion member (5) being made of a flexible and elastic material having the flexibility of silicon, and the at least one spacer member (8) comprising a reinforcing flange (10) attached to at least one of the second pair of opposite side walls (72), the reinforcing flange (10) being made of a less flexible material than the cushion member (5).

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein, the at least one spacer member (8) comprising two reinforcing flanges (10A, 10B), each reinforcing flange (10A / 10B) being attached to one of the second pair of opposite side walls (72), respectively.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, the spacer member (8) being arranged to extend only partially within the channel (6) between the first side (5A) and the second side (5B); the cushion member (5) further comprising a continuous groove (11) arranged within the side walls of the channel (6) in a portion of the channel (6) where the spacer member (8) does not extend, to enable the cushion member (5) to flexibly adapt to a curved ear canal (4).

6. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, the cushion member (5) comprising an elongated hollow body (12) having a closed body cavity (13) encircling the channel (6), thereby providing additional flexing flexibility and compressibility.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein, the closed body cavity (13) opening towards one side (5A / 5B) of the cushion member (5) to provide a connection slot (14) for connection to a housing (3) of an earbud headphone device (1).

8. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, the cushion member (5) and the spacer member (8) being configured to: in the compressed condition, the minimum gap between the opposite side walls (7A, 7B) C between 1 mm and 1.5 mm; a minimum total width of the cushion member (5) measured in the compressed state being 3.5 mm; The minimum cross-sectional area of the channel (6) measured in the compressed state is 5 mm 2 .

9. An earbud earphone device (1), characterized in that comprising: the device according to any one of claims 1 to 8; a housing (3) for detachable connection to the cushion member (5) of the device at the first side (5A); the device according to any one of claims 1 to 8; a loudspeaker (15) arranged in the housing (3) for generating sound waves (16) in response to an audio signal for delivery through the passage (6) to the ear canal (4).

10. The earbud device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that The detachable connection between the housing (3) and the cushion member (5) is a snap-in connection between a connection groove (14) arranged at the first side (5A) of the cushion member (5) and a correspondingly shaped connection rim (17) arranged on the housing (3).

11. The earplug device (1) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the cushion member (5) is configured to fill a cross section of the ear canal (4) when fitted into the ear canal (4); the cushion member (5) and the housing (3) are configured to provide an acoustic seal between a first portion (4A) of the ear canal (4) facing the eardrum and a second portion (4B) of the ear canal (4) facing the outer environment when connected.

12. A system, characterized by The system comprises: at least one earplug device (1) according to any of claims 9 to 11; a host device (2) configured to establish a data connection with the at least one earplug device (1) and to generate the audio signal for delivery to the loudspeaker (15) through the data connection.

13. The system according to claim 12, characterized in that the earplug device (1) is a True Wireless Stereo (TWS) headset; the host device (2) is a mobile smartphone; the data connection is established using a Bluetooth protocol.

Images