An ear flexible acoustic coupling structure

Abstract

This invention discloses a flexible acoustic coupling structure for the ear, relating to the field of wearable electronic devices. This flexible acoustic coupling structure, through the overall design of a headband body, a flexible earmuff, a bone conduction transducer built into the flexible earmuff, a pressure sensor located inside the flexible earmuff, and a control module electrically connected to it, enables real-time monitoring and dynamic adjustment of the contact pressure between the earmuff and the skin. This solution utilizes the feedback signal from the pressure sensor to ensure that the bone conduction transducer maintains a suitable and stable fit with the ear bones to maintain efficient audio signal transmission. Furthermore, the adjustment function of the control module avoids localized pressure discomfort caused by prolonged wear or individual head shape differences, solving the technical challenge of balancing conduction efficiency and wearing comfort in traditional bone conduction devices during sleep.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electronic wearable device technology, specifically to a flexible acoustic coupling structure for the ear. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, audio stimulation devices used to improve sleep quality or perform neuromodulation are mainly divided into two categories: air conduction headphones and bone conduction headphones. Air conduction headphones transmit sound waves through the air medium via speakers placed at the ear canal opening or around the auricle. Their technology is relatively mature and can provide good audio fidelity. However, when using such devices in a sleep setting, the sealing and pressure of the ear canal by the earmuffs or earplugs often causes users to experience a significant foreign body sensation. The problem of ear pressure is particularly prominent when lying on one's side, and the comfort of wearing them for a long time is difficult to guarantee. In addition, most existing audio stimulation devices usually use fixed output frequencies and intensities. For example, some sleep aids can only continuously play preset natural white noise or audio in a specific frequency band, and their stimulation parameters remain unchanged during the user's wear.

[0003] Bone conduction technology, as an alternative, converts audio signals into mechanical vibrations through a vibrator, which are then transmitted directly to the inner ear via the skull, avoiding ear canal blockage and providing a new approach to improving wearing comfort. Based on this, some products have emerged that integrate bone conduction vibrators into headbands or pillows to address the issue of foreign body sensation during sleep. Meanwhile, with the development of sensing technology and control theory, some high-end wearable devices have begun to incorporate pressure monitoring functions to optimize the wearing experience.

[0004] Despite the progress made in the aforementioned aspects, existing technologies still have the following problems: First, the coupling pressure between the vibrator and the head in traditional bone conduction sleep aids is usually fixed. The factory settings are difficult to adapt to all users' head shapes and wearing habits. Too little pressure will lead to attenuation of vibration energy and reduced sound wave conduction, affecting the stimulation effect; too much pressure will cause local skin discomfort, which also limits its continuous use throughout the night. Second, the output parameters of existing sound frequency stimulation devices are mostly open-loop controlled, which cannot be dynamically adjusted according to the user's real-time physiological state. Studies have shown that the brain responds differently to stimulation of specific frequencies (such as 40Hz gamma waves) at different sleep stages. Fixed-frequency stimulation modes cannot provide personalized intervention for changes in brain electrical activity from wakefulness to light sleep and deep sleep. The accuracy and effectiveness of its sleep aid or neuromodulation cannot meet the requirements. To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a flexible acoustic coupling structure for the ear to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a flexible acoustic coupling structure for the ear. Through the overall design of a headband body, a flexible earmuff, a bone conduction vibrator built into the flexible earmuff, a pressure sensor located inside the flexible earmuff, and a control module electrically connected to it, this structure achieves real-time monitoring and dynamic adjustment of the contact pressure between the earmuff and the skin. This solution utilizes the feedback signal from the pressure sensor to ensure that the bone conduction vibrator and the ear bones maintain a suitable and stable fit, thus maintaining efficient audio signal transmission. Furthermore, the control module's adjustment function avoids localized pressure discomfort caused by prolonged wear or individual head shape differences. This solves the technical challenge of balancing conduction efficiency and wearing comfort in traditional bone conduction devices during sleep.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a flexible acoustic coupling structure for the ear, comprising: The headband itself, worn on the user's head; At least one flexible earmuff is disposed at the end of the headband body for fitting the user's ear area; A bone conduction oscillator, built into the flexible earmuff, is used to output audio frequency stimulation signals; A pressure sensor is installed inside the flexible earmuff to monitor the contact pressure between the earmuff and the skin in real time. The control module, electrically connected to the bone conduction vibrator and the air pressure sensor, is used to adjust the contact pressure of the flexible earmuff according to the feedback signal of the air pressure sensor and control the output parameters of the bone conduction vibrator.

[0007] Preferably, the flexible earmuff adopts a multi-layer composite structure, which consists of the following layers from the outside to the inside: The outer memory foam layer is used to provide initial fit and comfort; A middle elastic support layer is used to maintain the shape of the earcups; The inner skin-friendly silicone layer is used for direct contact with the user's skin, and the bone conduction oscillator is embedded and fixed between the middle elastic support layer and the inner skin-friendly silicone layer.

[0008] Preferably, the vibration surface of the bone conduction oscillator is flush with or slightly protrudes from the inner surface of the inner skin-friendly silicone layer to ensure that the vibration signal is efficiently transmitted to the user's ear bone region.

[0009] Preferably, the pressure sensor is a thin-film flexible pressure sensor, which is attached to the inner surface of the inner skin-friendly silicone layer to collect pressure distribution data between the earmuff and the skin around the ear in real time.

[0010] Preferably, the control module includes a pressure regulating unit, and a miniature air pump is provided inside the headband body. The pressure regulating unit is electrically connected to the miniature air pump and is used to automatically adjust the air pressure inside the earmuffs according to the feedback signal of the air pressure sensor to maintain a preset contact pressure range.

[0011] Preferably, the preset contact pressure range is 200g to 500g, and the control module starts the micro air pump to inflate when the pressure is below 200g and starts the exhaust valve to release pressure when the pressure is above 500g.

[0012] Preferably, the control module further includes an audio drive unit, which is electrically connected to the bone conduction oscillator and is used to output an audio pulse signal with a frequency of 40Hz±2Hz, and dynamically adjust the output frequency and intensity according to the feedback of the electroencephalogram signal.

[0013] Preferably, the headband body has a flexible circuit board inside, on which the control module and signal transmission lines electrically connected to the bone conduction vibrator and the air pressure sensor are integrated.

[0014] Preferably, the headband body has an internal energy storage battery for providing power to the electrical structure, an external charging port, and a heat dissipation groove on the outer side of the headband body.

[0015] Preferably, the control module further includes a safety monitoring unit. The headband body is equipped with a temperature sensor. The safety monitoring unit is electrically connected to the air pressure sensor and the temperature sensor respectively. It is used to automatically cut off the drive signal of the bone conduction oscillator and issue an alarm when the internal pressure of the flexible earmuff is lower than 100g or the temperature at the target position exceeds a preset threshold.

[0016] The technical effects and advantages of this invention are as follows: 1. This flexible acoustic coupling structure for the ear, through the overall design of the headband body, flexible earmuff, bone conduction vibrator built into the flexible earmuff, air pressure sensor set inside the flexible earmuff, and control module electrically connected to it, realizes real-time monitoring and dynamic adjustment of the contact pressure between the earmuff and the skin. This solution can not only use the feedback signal of the air pressure sensor to ensure that the bone conduction vibrator and the ear bones always maintain a suitable and stable fit to maintain efficient audio signal transmission, but also avoid local pressure discomfort caused by prolonged wear or individual head shape differences through the adjustment function of the control module. It solves the technical problem of balancing conduction effect and wearing comfort in traditional bone conduction devices during sleep.

[0017] 2. This flexible acoustic coupling structure for the ear utilizes a multi-layered composite structure consisting of an outer memory foam layer, a middle elastic support layer, and an inner skin-friendly silicone layer. The bone conduction transducer is embedded and fixed between the middle elastic support layer and the inner skin-friendly silicone layer. Simultaneously, the vibration surface of the bone conduction transducer is flush with or slightly protrudes from the inner surface of the inner skin-friendly silicone layer, optimizing the acoustic energy transmission path. The outer memory foam layer ensures a soft initial feel, the middle elastic support layer provides stable mechanical support for the bone conduction transducer, and the thin-walled nature of the inner skin-friendly silicone layer and its flush design with the vibration surface minimize energy loss during vibration transmission between different media, ensuring that the audio stimulus signal is faithfully applied to the user's ear bone region.

[0018] 3. This flexible acoustic coupling structure for the ear, through the electrical connection between the audio drive unit in the control module and the bone conduction oscillator, and based on real-time EEG signal feedback, dynamically adjusts the output frequency and intensity of the 40Hz±2Hz audio pulse signal. This structure constructs a closed-loop personalized audio intervention system. This design breaks through the limitation of fixed output parameters of traditional devices, enabling the stimulation parameters to be adaptively adjusted according to the EEG activity of the user in different sleep stages, realizing the adjustment from preset stimulation to on-demand stimulation, and improving the accuracy and effectiveness of audio stimulation. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a top view of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the headband body of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional layering of the flexible earmuff material of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a flowchart of the pressure regulation logic of the present invention; Figure 6 This is the control logic diagram of the audio drive unit of the present invention.

[0021] In the diagram: 10. Headband body; 11. Flexible circuit board; 20. Flexible earmuffs; 21. Outer memory foam layer; 22. Middle elastic support layer; 23. Inner skin-friendly silicone layer; 30. Bone conduction oscillator; 31. Vibration surface; 40. Air pressure sensor; 50. Control module; 51. Pressure regulation unit; 52. Audio drive unit; 53. Safety monitoring unit; 60. Miniature air pump; 61. Exhaust valve; 70. Energy storage battery; 71. Charging port; 72. Heat dissipation groove; 80. Temperature sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] This embodiment discloses a flexible acoustic coupling structure for the ear, according to the attached... Figure 1 To be continued Figure 6 As shown, it includes: The headband body 10 worn on the user's head; At least one flexible earmuff 20 is disposed at the end of the headband body 10 for fitting the user's ear area; Bone conduction oscillator 30 is built into flexible earmuff 20 and is used to output audio frequency stimulation signals; A pressure sensor 40 is installed inside the flexible earmuff 20 to monitor the contact pressure between the earmuff and the skin in real time. The control module 50 is electrically connected to the bone conduction vibrator 30 and the air pressure sensor 40. It is used to adjust the contact pressure of the flexible earmuff 20 according to the feedback signal of the air pressure sensor 40 and control the output parameters of the bone conduction vibrator 30.

[0024] According to the appendix Figure 4 As shown, the flexible earmuff 20 further employs a multi-layer composite structure, consisting of the following layers from the outside to the inside: The outer memory foam layer 21 is used to provide initial fit comfort; The middle elastic support layer 22 is used to maintain the shape of the earcups; The inner skin-friendly silicone layer 23 is used to directly contact the user's skin. The bone conduction oscillator 30 is embedded and fixed between the middle elastic support layer 22 and the inner skin-friendly silicone layer 23. This multi-layer structure design can provide a stable installation base for the bone conduction oscillator 30 while ensuring wearing comfort, and ensure effective transmission of vibration energy.

[0025] Furthermore, the vibration surface 31 of the bone conduction oscillator 30 is flush with or slightly protruding from the inner surface of the inner skin-friendly silicone layer 23 to ensure that the vibration signal is efficiently transmitted to the user's ear bone area. This design can minimize the energy loss of vibration during transmission, so that the sound frequency stimulation signal generated by the bone conduction oscillator 30 can act directly and efficiently on the ear bone.

[0026] Specifically, the air pressure sensor 40 is a thin-film flexible pressure sensor, which is attached to the inner surface of the inner skin-friendly silicone layer 23. It is used to collect pressure distribution data between the earmuff and the skin around the ear in real time. The air pressure sensor 40 is set as a thin-film flexible structure, which can perfectly fit the inner curved surface of the flexible earmuff 20. It can accurately sense the pressure changes of the contact surface without affecting the wearing comfort.

[0027] Specifically, the control module 50 includes a pressure adjustment unit 51. The headband body 10 is equipped with a miniature air pump 60. The pressure adjustment unit 51 is electrically connected to the miniature air pump 60 and is used to automatically adjust the air pressure inside the earmuffs according to the feedback signal from the air pressure sensor 40 to maintain a preset contact pressure range. Through this control method, the dynamic and precise adjustment of the contact pressure between the flexible earmuffs 20 and the skin can be achieved to adapt to different users' head shapes and maintain the best sound wave conduction conditions.

[0028] It is important to emphasize that the preset contact pressure range is 200g to 500g. When the pressure is below 200g, the control module 50 starts the micro air pump 60 to inflate the air, and when the pressure is above 500g, it starts the exhaust valve 61 to release the pressure. This pressure range is the optimal working range verified by experiments. It can ensure that the bone conduction oscillator 30 fits stably with the skin to ensure the conduction effect, and avoid discomfort caused by excessive pressure during long-term wear.

[0029] It is worth emphasizing that the control module 50 also includes an audio frequency drive unit 52, which is electrically connected to the bone conduction oscillator 30. This audio frequency drive unit 52 is used to output an audio frequency pulse signal with a frequency of 40Hz±2Hz and dynamically adjusts the output frequency and intensity based on the feedback of the electroencephalogram (EEG) signal. By monitoring the user's EEG signal in real time, such as Gamma wave energy, the audio frequency drive unit 52 can achieve personalized adjustment of audio frequency stimulation to achieve the best sleep aid or neuromodulation effect.

[0030] Furthermore, the headband body 10 has a flexible circuit board 11 inside. The flexible circuit board 11 integrates a control module 50 and a signal transmission line that is electrically connected to the bone conduction vibrator 30 and the air pressure sensor 40. The use of the flexible circuit board 11 can better adapt to the bending shape of the headband body 10, improve the utilization of internal space and the comfort and reliability of wearing.

[0031] Furthermore, the headband body 10 has an internal energy storage battery 70 for providing power to the electrical structure, an external charging port 71, and a heat dissipation groove 72. The energy storage battery 70 provides independent power support for the entire system, the charging port 71 facilitates charging, and the heat dissipation groove 72 helps dissipate the heat generated by the internal circuitry, thereby improving safety and stability.

[0032] According to the appendix Figure 3 As shown, the control module 50 further includes a safety monitoring unit 53. The headband body 10 is equipped with a temperature sensor 80. The safety monitoring unit 53 is electrically connected to the air pressure sensor 40 and the temperature sensor 80 respectively. When the internal pressure of the flexible earmuff 20 is detected to be lower than 100g or the internal temperature of the headband body 10 exceeds a preset threshold, the driving signal of the bone conduction vibrator 30 is automatically cut off and an alarm is issued. This safety monitoring mechanism can effectively prevent potential safety risks caused by device detachment, improper wearing or overheating, and ensure the safety of user experience.

[0033] Example 1: This example uses a pressure adaptive adjustment workflow as an example, combined with the attached... Figure 5 The workflow is explained in detail below: Step S101: The system starts up, and the air pressure sensor 40 begins to monitor the contact pressure data between the inner skin-friendly silicone layer 23 of the flexible earmuff 20 and the user's skin around the ear in real time.

[0034] In step S102, the pressure sensor 40 transmits the collected pressure signal to the pressure regulating unit 51 of the control module 50 in real time.

[0035] Step S103: The pressure regulating unit 51 judges the received pressure data. If the detected pressure is lower than the preset 200g threshold, it is considered that the contact pressure is insufficient, which may affect the bone conduction effect. The pressure regulating unit 51 then sends an inflation command to the micro air pump 60.

[0036] If the detected pressure is higher than the preset 500g threshold, it is considered that the pressure is too high and may cause discomfort when wearing it. The pressure regulating unit 51 then sends a pressure relief command to the exhaust valve 61.

[0037] If the detection pressure is within the preset range of 200g to 500g, the current state will be maintained and no adjustment will be made.

[0038] In step S104, the micro air pump 60 or the exhaust valve 61 performs the corresponding action according to the instruction, adjusting the internal air pressure of the flexible earmuff 20, thereby changing its contact pressure with the skin.

[0039] Step S105: Repeat steps S101 to S104 to form feedback control, so that the contact pressure between the flexible earmuff 20 and the skin is always dynamically maintained within the optimal range of 200g to 500g.

[0040] Example 2: This example uses the workflow of closed-loop modulation of sound frequency stimulation based on electroencephalogram (EEG) signals as an example, combined with the appendix... Figure 6 The workflow is explained in detail below: Step S201: The user wears the flexible acoustic coupling structure on the ear, the system starts, and the EEG acquisition module (which can be external or integrated into the headband body 10) begins to acquire the user's real-time EEG signals.

[0041] In step S202, the audio drive unit 52 of the control module 50 receives and analyzes the electroencephalogram (EEG) signals, especially extracting the energy characteristics of Gamma waves (approximately 40 Hz) related to cognition, attention, and sleep.

[0042] In step S203, the audio drive unit 52 dynamically generates drive commands based on the analysis results of the EEG signal. For example, when it is detected that the user is awake and the Gamma wave energy is low, an audio pulse signal with an initial frequency of 40Hz±2Hz is output to the bone conduction oscillator 30.

[0043] In step S204, the bone conduction oscillator 30 receives the drive signal and transmits the 40Hz sound frequency stimulation signal through the vibration surface 31 to the user's ear bones via the inner skin-friendly silicone layer 23, thereby acting on the brain.

[0044] In step S205, the audio drive unit 52 continuously receives and analyzes the changes in the user's brainwave signals as feedback. For example, if the brainwave Gamma wave energy reaches the preset ideal range or the user enters a deeper sleep stage after a period of stimulation, the audio drive unit 52 adjusts the frequency (fine-tuning within the range of 38-42Hz) or intensity of the output signal according to the preset algorithm.

[0045] Step S206: Repeat steps S202 to S205 to form a real-time closed-loop regulation based on EEG signals, thereby realizing personalized and dynamic audio intervention for different sleep stages or individual states.

[0046] Finally, it should be noted that the above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A flexible acoustic coupling structure for the ear, characterized in that, include: The headband body (10) worn on the user's head; At least one flexible earmuff (20) is disposed at the end of the headband body (10) for fitting the user's ear area; A bone conduction oscillator (30) is built into the flexible earmuff (20) and is used to output an audio frequency stimulation signal; A pressure sensor (40) is installed inside the flexible earmuff (20) to monitor the contact pressure between the earmuff and the skin in real time; The control module (50), electrically connected to the bone conduction vibrator (30) and the air pressure sensor (40), is used to adjust the contact pressure of the flexible earmuff (20) according to the feedback signal of the air pressure sensor (40) and control the output parameters of the bone conduction vibrator (30).

2. The flexible acoustic coupling structure for the ear according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible earmuff (20) adopts a multi-layer composite structure, which consists of the following layers from the outside to the inside: An outer memory foam layer (21) is used to provide initial fit comfort; A middle elastic support layer (22) is used to maintain the shape of the earmuff structure; The inner skin-friendly silicone layer (23) is used to directly contact the user's skin, and the bone conduction oscillator (30) is embedded and fixed between the middle elastic support layer (22) and the inner skin-friendly silicone layer (23).

3. The flexible acoustic coupling structure for the ear according to claim 2, characterized in that, The vibration surface (31) of the bone conduction oscillator (30) is flush with or slightly protrudes from the inner surface of the inner skin-friendly silicone layer (23) to ensure that the vibration signal is efficiently transmitted to the user's ear bone area.

4. The flexible acoustic coupling structure for the ear according to claim 2, characterized in that, The air pressure sensor (40) is a thin-film flexible pressure sensor, which is attached to the inner surface of the inner skin-friendly silicone layer (23) and is used to collect pressure distribution data between the earmuff and the skin around the ear in real time.

5. The flexible acoustic coupling structure for the ear according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control module (50) includes a pressure regulating unit (51). The headband body (10) is equipped with a miniature air pump (60). The pressure regulating unit (51) is electrically connected to the miniature air pump (60) and is used to automatically adjust the air pressure inside the earmuff according to the feedback signal of the air pressure sensor (40) to maintain a preset contact pressure range.

6. The flexible acoustic coupling structure for the ear according to claim 5, characterized in that, The preset contact pressure range is 200g to 500g. The control module (50) starts the micro air pump (60) to inflate when the pressure is below 200g and starts the exhaust valve (61) to release pressure when the pressure is above 500g.

7. The flexible acoustic coupling structure for the ear according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control module (50) also includes an audio drive unit (52), which is electrically connected to the bone conduction oscillator (30) and is used to output an audio pulse signal with a frequency of 40Hz±2Hz, and dynamically adjust the output frequency and intensity according to the feedback of the electroencephalogram signal.

8. The flexible acoustic coupling structure for the ear according to claim 1, characterized in that, The headband body (10) has a flexible circuit board (11) inside, on which the control module (50) and signal transmission lines electrically connected to the bone conduction vibrator (30) and the air pressure sensor (40) are integrated.

9. The flexible acoustic coupling structure for the ear according to claim 1, characterized in that, The headband body (10) is provided with an energy storage battery (70) inside for providing power to the electrical structure, and a charging port (71) is provided outside the headband body (10). A heat dissipation groove (72) is provided on the outside of the headband body (10).

10. The flexible acoustic coupling structure for the ear according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control module (50) also includes a safety monitoring unit (53). The headband body (10) is equipped with a temperature sensor (80). The safety monitoring unit (53) is electrically connected to the air pressure sensor (40) and the temperature sensor (80) respectively. It is used to automatically cut off the drive signal of the bone conduction oscillator (30) and issue an alarm when the internal pressure of the flexible earmuff (20) is lower than 100g or the temperature at the target position exceeds a preset threshold.

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