Earphone
By separating the circuit board and speaker, the problem of unreasonable circuit board layout is solved, improving the sound quality and aesthetics of the headphones and adapting to the wearing needs of different users.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-05-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-18
Smart Images

Figure CN2025094684_18062026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
A type of headphone
[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese application No. 202411844133.7, filed on December 15, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in part. Technical Field
[0002] This invention relates to the field of acoustic technology, and more specifically to a pair of headphones. Background Technology
[0003] Headphones have become an indispensable tool in people's daily lives and work. They can be used with mobile phones, computers, and other terminal devices to provide users with an auditory feast. As users' demands for headphones continue to increase, in addition to stable output performance, the rationality of the headphone circuit board structure layout is also one of the important factors affecting the headphone user experience. Summary of the Invention
[0004] This invention provides an earphone to solve the problem of unreasonable circuit board layout.
[0005] In one embodiment, an earphone is provided, including a housing, an ear hook, a speaker, a battery, and a circuit board. The housing has a first accommodating cavity, the speaker is located within the first accommodating cavity, one end of the ear hook is connected to the housing, and the other end of the ear hook away from the housing has a second accommodating cavity. The battery and the circuit board are disposed within the second accommodating cavity, and the circuit board is electrically connected to the speaker and the battery. The circuit board is used to control the speaker to emit sound. In the wearing state, the housing is located on the front side of the ear, and at least a portion of the ear hook is located on the back side of the ear.
[0006] In one embodiment, no circuit board is disposed within the first accommodating cavity.
[0007] In one embodiment, the circuit board includes a first circuit board and a second circuit board stacked and electrically connected. The first circuit board is electrically connected to the speaker and is used to control the speaker to produce sound. The second circuit board is electrically connected to the battery and is used to control the charging and discharging of the battery.
[0008] In one embodiment, the first circuit board and the second circuit board are arranged in parallel; or, the distance between the ends of the first circuit board and the second circuit board closer to the battery is greater than the distance between the ends of the first circuit board and the second circuit board farther from the battery.
[0009] In one embodiment, the first circuit board and the second circuit board are respectively tilted relative to the central axis of the battery.
[0010] In one embodiment, the tilt angles of the first circuit board and the second circuit board relative to the central axis of the battery are 0-30°.
[0011] In one embodiment, the second accommodating cavity has a first end and a second end, the first end of the second accommodating cavity being closer to the end of the ear hook than the second end, the volume of the second end of the second accommodating cavity decreasing in the direction away from the first end, and the ends of the first circuit board and the second circuit board being narrowed away from the first end of the second accommodating cavity.
[0012] In one embodiment, the ear hook has an installation opening on the side facing away from the ear when worn, and the installation opening is covered by a cover plate.
[0013] In one embodiment, an antenna is provided on the inner surface of the cover plate or in the first accommodating cavity near the cover plate, and the antenna is electrically connected to the first circuit board.
[0014] In one embodiment, the first circuit board is closer to the antenna than the second circuit board.
[0015] In one embodiment, at least a portion of the first circuit board is located in the area between the antenna and the second circuit board.
[0016] In one embodiment, a sensor is provided on the side of the ear hook facing the ear when worn, and the sensor is used to detect whether the earphone is worn on the ear; the sensor is electrically connected to the second circuit board.
[0017] In one embodiment, the sensor is located at the position where the ear hook contacts the ear when worn, and the sensing area of the sensor is offset from the housing portion.
[0018] In one embodiment, the first circuit board includes at least a speaker control module and an antenna control module, and the second circuit board includes at least a sensor control module.
[0019] In one embodiment, the system further includes a circuit board support, wherein the first circuit board and the second circuit board are mounted on the circuit board support, and the circuit board support is mounted within the second accommodating cavity.
[0020] In one embodiment, the circuit board support is provided with a first mounting portion and a first limiting portion, and the first circuit board and the second circuit board are mounted on the circuit board support at intervals through the first mounting portion; a second limiting portion is provided in the second accommodating cavity, and the first limiting portion and the second limiting portion are connected to limit the circuit board support within the second accommodating cavity.
[0021] In one embodiment, the device further includes an adapter and an adapter circuit board. One end of the ear hook is connected to the housing via the adapter. The adapter has a third accommodating cavity, and the adapter circuit board is located within the third accommodating cavity. The first circuit board is electrically connected to the speaker via the adapter circuit board.
[0022] According to the above embodiment of the headphones, since the circuit board is disposed in the second accommodating cavity at the end of the ear hook portion away from the housing portion, and the speaker is disposed in the first accommodating cavity of the housing portion, the circuit board does not occupy the volume space of the first accommodating cavity within the housing portion, allowing a larger speaker to be installed within the first accommodating cavity of the housing portion. The sound quality of a speaker is related to its size; a larger speaker provides more installation space for a larger diaphragm and other components that improve sound quality. Therefore, by disposing the circuit board in the second accommodating cavity of the ear hook portion, a larger speaker can be installed within the first accommodating cavity of the housing portion, thereby improving the sound quality of the headphones.
[0023] The circuit board is not located inside the housing, thus not occupying the volume space of the first accommodating cavity within the housing, and can also reduce the overall size of the housing. When the headphones are worn, the housing is located in front of the ear, i.e., exposed on the outside. The smaller housing is more aesthetically pleasing, improving the overall look of the headphones. Furthermore, the smaller housing is more convenient to wear, especially for users with relatively small ears, meeting their wearing needs.
[0024] The circuit board is housed within the second accommodating cavity of the ear hook. The circuit board is positioned relatively far from and separated from the speaker, reducing electromagnetic interference between the two and improving the headphone's sound quality. When the headphones are worn, the housing and its internal speaker are located in front of the ear (in the concha), while the end of the ear hook and its internal circuit board are located behind the ear (behind the ear). The speaker and circuit board are isolated by the ear, and the ear itself further isolates them, further reducing electromagnetic interference and improving the headphone's sound quality. Attached Figure Description
[0025] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a human ear in one embodiment;
[0026] Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of the headphones in the wearing state in one embodiment;
[0027] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the outer side of the earphone in one embodiment;
[0028] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure inside the earphone in one embodiment;
[0029] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the sensing area C of the sensor in one embodiment;
[0030] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cover plate earphone separation in one embodiment;
[0031] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the internal electrical connection component of the earphone in one embodiment;
[0032] Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ear loop in one embodiment;
[0033] Figure 9 is an exploded view of the circuit board and circuit board support in one embodiment;
[0034] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the housing portion and the adapter portion in one embodiment;
[0035] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the shell part and the connecting part separated in one embodiment;
[0036] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the combined installation of the adapter circuit board and the adapter circuit board bracket in one embodiment;
[0037] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the adapter circuit board bracket in one embodiment;
[0038] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the third accommodating cavity of the adapter circuit board bracket separating the adapter portion in one embodiment;
[0039] Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the adapter in one embodiment;
[0040] Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of the third accommodating cavity of the adapter circuit board bracket separating the adapter portion in one embodiment;
[0041] The accompanying diagrams are labeled as follows: 101-external auditory canal, 102-concha cavity, 103-cymba conchae, 104-triangular fossa, 105-antihelix, 106-scaphoid fossa, 107-helix, 108-earlobe, 109-helix foot, P1-first region, P2-second region, P3-third region; 10-shell part, 10a-first accommodating cavity, 11-inner wall, 111-first through hole, 12-outer wall, 121-second through hole, 13-upper wall, 14-lower wall, 15-flexible wall; 20-adapter part, 20a-third accommodating cavity, 21-button, 22-pressing structure, 23-microphone, 24-second mounting hole; 30-ear hook part, 30a-second accommodating cavity, 31-mounting port, 32-cover plate, 33-second limiting part; 40-Speaker, 41-Second electrical connection terminal; 50-Battery; 60-Circuit board, 61-First circuit board, 62-Second circuit board, 63-Antenna, 64-Sensor, 65-Circuit board bracket, 651-First mounting part, 652-First limiting part; 70-Adapter circuit board, 71-First adapter circuit board, 711-First electrical connection terminal, 72-Second adapter circuit board, 73-Third adapter circuit board; 80-Wire; 90-Adapter circuit board bracket, 91-Second mounting part, 92-Third mounting hole, 93-Glue groove, 94-Seal; A-Upper cavity, B-Lower cavity, C-Sensing area, D-First adapter cavity, E-Second adapter cavity. Detailed Implementation
[0042] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. Similar elements in different embodiments are referred to by associated similar element reference numerals. In the following embodiments, many details are described to facilitate a better understanding of this application. However, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that some features may be omitted in different situations, or may be replaced by other elements, materials, or methods. In some cases, certain operations related to this application are not shown or described in the specification. This is to avoid obscuring the core parts of this application with excessive description. For those skilled in the art, detailed description of these related operations is not necessary; they can fully understand the related operations based on the description in the specification and general technical knowledge in the art.
[0043] Furthermore, the features, operations, or characteristics described in the specification can be combined in any suitable manner to form various embodiments. At the same time, the steps or actions in the method description can be rearranged or adjusted in a manner obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the various orders in the specification and drawings are only for the clear description of a particular embodiment and do not imply a necessary order, unless otherwise stated that a particular order must be followed.
[0044] The serial numbers assigned to components in this document, such as "first" and "second," are used only to distinguish the described objects and have no sequential or technical meaning. Unless otherwise specified, the terms "connection" and "linkage" used in this application include both direct and indirect connections (linkages). The perpendicular or parallel arrangement between two components in this document includes absolutely perpendicular and approximately perpendicular, as well as absolutely parallel and approximately parallel.
[0045] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the physiological structure of an exemplary ear provided in some embodiments of this application. Referring to Figure 1, the exemplary ear may include physiological parts such as the external auditory canal 101, the concha 102, the cymba conchae 103, the triangular fossa 104, the antihelix 105, the scaphoid fossa 106, the helix 107, the earlobe 108, and the crus of the helix 109. Although the external auditory canal 101 has a certain depth and extends to the tympanic membrane of the ear, unless otherwise specified, the external auditory canal 101 can be understood as its entrance (i.e., the ear canal) away from the tympanic membrane. Furthermore, the physiological parts such as the concha 102, the cymba conchae 103, and the triangular fossa 104 have a certain volume and depth in three-dimensional space, and the concha 102 is directly connected to the external auditory canal 101, that is, the aforementioned ear canal can be simply regarded as being located at the bottom of the concha 102.
[0046] Regarding the headphones provided in some embodiments of this application, stable wearing of the headphones can be achieved by means of one or more physiological parts of the ear.
[0047] For example, since the external auditory canal 101, concha 102, cymba concha 103, triangular fossa 104 and other physiological parts have a certain depth and volume in three-dimensional space, they can meet the requirements for stable wearing of the headphones. When the headphones are in the wearing state, the whole or part of the headphone structure can contact the upper part of the external auditory canal 101 (such as one or more physiological parts such as the concha 102, cymba concha 103, triangular fossa 104, antihelix 105, scaphoid 106, helix 107, crus of helix 109, etc.); when the headphones are in the wearing state, the whole or part of the headphone structure can also be located in one or more physiological parts of the ear, for example, in the first region P1 enclosed by the dotted line in Figure 1, which at least includes the cymba concha 103 and triangular fossa 104, or in the second region P2 enclosed by the dotted line in Figure 1, which at least includes the concha 102.
[0048] For example, when the headphones are in the wearing state, the entire or part of the headphone structure may also be located on the front side of the helix foot 109, such as within the third region P3 enclosed by the dotted line in Figure 1.
[0049] Due to individual differences among users, ears may vary in shape, size, and other dimensions. To facilitate description and understanding, and to minimize or even eliminate these individual differences, unless otherwise specified, this application primarily uses an ear model with a "standard" shape and size as a reference to describe the structure of the headphones in different embodiments and how they are worn on that ear model. For example, a simulator (such as GRAS 45BC KEMAR) containing a head and its (left and right) ears can be manufactured based on ANSI:S3.36, S3.25, and IEC:60318-7 standards as a reference for wearing headphones, thus representing the scenario of most users normally wearing headphones.
[0050] Therefore, descriptions such as "user wearing," "in wearing state," and "under wearing state" in this application can refer to the headphones described in this application being worn on the ears of the aforementioned simulator. Of course, considering the individual differences among different users, the structure, shape, size, thickness, etc. of one or more parts of the ear can be differentiated according to different ear shapes and sizes. These differentiated designs can be manifested in the characteristic parameters of one or more parts of the headphones having different ranges of values to adapt to different ears.
[0051] It should be noted that in fields such as medicine and anatomy, the sagittal plane of the human body can be defined.
[0052] The three basic planes are the axial plane (Plane), the coronal plane, and the horizontal plane, and the three basic axes are the sagittal axis, the coronal axis, and the vertical axis.
[0053] In this context, the sagittal plane is a section perpendicular to the ground along the anteroposterior direction of the body, dividing the body into left and right parts; the coronal plane is a section perpendicular to the ground along the lateral direction of the body, dividing the body into anterior and posterior parts; and the horizontal plane is a section parallel to the ground along the vertical direction of the body, dividing the body into superior and inferior parts. Correspondingly, the sagittal axis is the axis along the anteroposterior direction of the body and perpendicular to the coronal plane, the coronal axis is the axis along the lateral direction of the body and perpendicular to the sagittal plane, and the vertical axis is the axis along the vertical direction of the body and perpendicular to the horizontal plane.
[0054] Furthermore, the "anterior side of the ear" mentioned in this application is a concept relative to "posterior side of the ear." The former refers to the side of the ear facing the positive axial direction of the external auditory canal 101, while the latter refers to the side facing away from the positive axial direction of the external auditory canal 101. Both refer to the user's ear. The positive axial direction of the external auditory canal 101 refers to the direction in which the axial direction of the external auditory canal 101 is away from the tympanic membrane. Observing the ear of the simulator along the direction of the human coronal axis yields the schematic diagram of the anterior contour of the ear shown in Figure 1.
[0055] It should be noted that the above description of the ear is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of this application. Those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications based on the description in this application, and such changes and modifications still fall within the protection scope of this application.
[0056] Please refer to Figures 2 to 10. In some embodiments, an earphone is provided. The earphone mainly includes a housing 10, an adapter 20, an ear hook 30, a speaker 40, a battery 50, and a circuit board 60. The earphone may also include a microphone assembly and other functional components as needed (such as an antenna structure, a pressing structure, a wearing detection structure, etc.), which will be described in detail below.
[0057] The adapter 20 connects the housing 10 and the ear hook 30. The housing 10, adapter 20, and ear hook 30 are connected sequentially, and together they roughly constitute the overall outline of the earphone. The housing 10 provides structural assembly space for components such as the speaker 40 and microphone assembly. One or more of the adapter 20 and ear hook 30 can provide structural assembly space for functional components such as the circuit board 60, battery assembly, and microphone assembly.
[0058] The adapter 20 can be understood as a transitional structure connecting the housing portion 10 and the ear hook portion 30. Exemplarily, the adapter 20 can be a part of the housing portion 10; for example, the portion of the housing portion 10 used to connect to the ear hook portion 30 and occupying a certain structural space can be considered the adapter 20. Exemplarily, the adapter 20 can also be a part of the ear hook portion 30; for example, the portion of the ear hook portion 30 used to connect to the housing portion 10 and occupying a certain structural space can be considered the adapter 20. Exemplarily, the housing portion 10, the adapter 20, and the ear hook portion 30 are relatively independent structures. By connecting the adapter 20 between the housing portion 10 and the ear hook portion 30, the general outline of the overall headphone can be assembled. In some embodiments, the adapter 20 can also be a part of the ear hook portion 30, and the adapter 20 and the ear hook portion 30 are integrally formed.
[0059] The speaker 40 converts electrical signals into sound signals, which can be used to output noise-reduced audio, user voice, and audio played according to user needs (such as music, alert sounds, etc.). The circuit board 60 can be understood as the main control board or motherboard of the headphones and a collection of related components. The circuit board 60 plays a role in regulating and managing all or some of the functional components in the headphones. The circuit board 60 can be used to control the speaker to produce sound and play audio; for example, it is used in the headphones to convert and process electrical signals to support the realization of various headphone functions (such as supporting the headphones to turn on and off, switch playback content, increase or decrease volume, etc.).
[0060] Please refer to Figure 2. When the headphones are worn, the housing 10 is located in front of the ear, and at least part of the ear hook 30 is located behind the ear and between the ear and the head, so that the headphones are hung on the ear when worn. For example, the housing 10 can be positioned near the external auditory canal 101 but does not block the external auditory canal 101 when worn, so that the headphones are open-back headphones. It should be noted that due to individual differences among users, the housing 10 may partially cover the external auditory canal 101 when the headphones are worn by different users, but the external auditory canal 101 is still not blocked.
[0061] To improve the stability of the headphones while they are being worn, the headphones may employ any one or a combination of the following methods.
[0062] Firstly, at least a portion of the ear hook portion 30 is configured as a contoured structure (e.g., an arc-shaped hook) that conforms to at least one of the back of the ear and the head, thereby increasing the contact area between the ear hook portion 30 and the ear or head, and thus increasing the resistance to the earphone falling off the ear.
[0063] Secondly, at least a portion of the ear hook 30 is configured as an elastic structure, so that the ear hook 30 has a certain elastic deformation when worn, in order to increase the pressure of the ear hook 30 on the ear or head, thereby increasing the resistance to the headphones falling off the ear.
[0064] Third, at least a portion of the ear hook 30 is configured to rest against the head when worn, so that the ear hook 30 generates a reaction force that presses against the ear, causing the housing portion 10 to press against the front of the ear, thereby increasing the resistance to the headphones falling off the ear.
[0065] Fourth, the shell part 10 and the ear hook part 30 are configured to clamp the physiological parts such as the area where the helix 107 and the area where the concha 102 are located from the front and back sides of the ear when worn, thereby increasing the resistance to the earphone falling off the ear.
[0066] Fifth, the housing portion 10 or other auxiliary structures connected to the housing portion 10 (such as the adapter portion 20) are configured to extend at least partially into physiological parts such as the concha cavity 102, cymba conchae 103, triangular fossa 104 and scaphoid 106 when worn, thereby increasing the resistance to the earphone falling off the ear.
[0067] Please refer to Figures 2 to 10. In some embodiments, the circuit board 60 and the speaker 40 are disposed in different cavities, separated from each other and far apart. This arrangement has several advantages: first, it increases the distance between the circuit board 60 and the speaker 40, reducing electromagnetic interference between them and ensuring the accuracy of audio playback and reception; second, it reduces the installation space occupied by the circuit board 60 on the speaker 40, allowing for the installation of a larger speaker 40 with better sound quality; and third, it optimizes the appearance of the housing 10 containing the speaker 40, improving the aesthetics of the headphones and meeting the needs of a wider range of users.
[0068] One end of the housing portion 10 is provided with a flexible wall 15, and the end of the housing portion 10 away from the flexible wall 15 is connected to the adapter portion 20. The flexible wall 15 abuts against the concha wall when the headphones are worn. The outer surface of the flexible wall 15 is made of a flexible material such as silicone, which can improve the comfort of wearing the headphones.
[0069] The housing portion 10 has a first accommodating cavity 10a, which is enclosed by the housing portion 10, the flexible wall 15, and the connecting portion 20. The speaker 40 is disposed in the first accommodating cavity 10a. The outer wall of the housing portion 10 has a through hole communicating with the first accommodating cavity 10a. This through hole is a sound outlet hole, through which the speaker 40 can transmit the played audio to the human ear.
[0070] The housing portion 10 has mutually perpendicular major axis, minor axis, and thickness direction. The thickness direction is parallel to the vibration direction of the speaker 40 within the housing portion 10. When the headphones are worn, the vibration direction of the speaker 40 is parallel to the coronal axis and faces the human body, so that the sound emitted by the speaker 40 propagates towards the ear. When the headphones are worn, the major axis of the housing portion 10 is oriented approximately the same as the sagittal axis of the human body, and the major axis can be slightly tilted relative to the front-back direction of the human body. The minor axis of the housing portion 10 is oriented approximately the same as the vertical axis of the human body, and the thickness direction of the housing portion 10 is oriented approximately the same as the coronal axis of the human body. Referring to Figure 2, the major axis is tilted relative to the sagittal axis of the human body, and the major axis is closer to the sagittal axis than the minor axis; the minor axis is tilted relative to the vertical axis of the human body, and the minor axis is closer to the vertical axis than the major axis.
[0071] The housing portion 10 includes an inner wall 11 facing the ear along the vibration direction of the speaker 40 when worn, an outer wall 12 away from the ear, an upper wall 13 facing upwards, and a lower wall 14 facing downwards. The inner wall 11 and outer wall 12 are located on both sides of the thickness direction (vibration direction of the speaker 40) of the housing portion 10, and the upper wall 13 and lower wall 14 are located on both sides of the housing portion 10 along its minor axis. The outer wall 12, upper wall 13, inner wall 11, and lower wall 14 are sequentially connected to form a first accommodating cavity 10a. The outer wall 12, upper wall 13, inner wall 11, and lower wall 14 can be planar or curved. The points where the outer wall 12, upper wall 13, inner wall 11, and lower wall 14 connect to each other can be provided with rounded chamfers to make the outer contour of the housing portion 10 smoother, which can improve wearing comfort and aesthetics.
[0072] When the earphone is worn, it has an inner surface facing the user and an outer surface facing away from the user, as well as a side surface connecting the inner and outer surfaces, with a flexible part located on this side surface. In some embodiments of this application, the inner surface of the earphone is the outer surface of the inner wall 11 of the housing portion 10, the outer surface of the earphone is the outer surface of the outer wall 12 of the housing portion 10, and the side surface of the earphone is the surface between the outer surface of the inner wall 11 and the outer surface of the outer wall 12.
[0073] The housing portion 10 can be made of a rigid structural material such as metal or plastic. The rigid structural material housing portion 10 can form a stable first accommodating cavity 10a to achieve secure mounting of components such as the speaker 40. In some embodiments, the housing portion 10 is made of metal and forms a glossy outer surface to enhance the texture and aesthetics of the headphones.
[0074] The housing portion 10 can be a single-layer structure with a relatively thin thickness. A reinforcing structure can be provided inside the housing portion 10 to minimize the weight of the earphone while ensuring its strength. In some embodiments, this reinforcing structure can also form a snap-fit part to position and secure the speaker 40. The housing portion 10 can also employ a multi-layered composite structure. For example, the housing portion 10 may include an inner liner and an outer layer, where the inner liner is a support layer with relatively high structural strength, and the outer layer is a metal or silicone layer with good tactile and wearing feel.
[0075] The housing portion 10 can be an integral structure, formed from a single material or a mixture of materials. An integrally formed housing portion 10 offers higher structural stability and can also create a seamless surface. It is understood that in other embodiments of this application, the housing portion 10 may also be formed by joining multiple housing portions together through snap-fitting, welding, bonding, or other methods.
[0076] Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the inner wall 11 of the housing 10 has a first through hole 111 penetrating the inner wall 11. The first through hole 111 forms an acoustic connection with the sound-emitting surface of the speaker 40 (allowing sound to propagate between them), and the sound-emitting surface of the speaker 40 faces the first through hole 111. The first through hole 111 is a sound outlet, allowing sound emitted by the speaker 40 to pass through the first through hole 111 and enter the listener's ear. The outer wall 12 of the housing 10 has a second through hole 121 penetrating the outer wall 12. The sound-emitting surface of the speaker 40 faces away from the second through hole 121. The second through hole 121 is a pressure relief hole, providing ventilation and pressure relief for the speaker 40 inside the housing 10, thereby improving the audio playback quality of the speaker 40 and achieving a higher level of active noise cancellation.
[0077] The first through hole 111 and the second through hole 121 can be a micropore array structure. It can be understood that a micropore array structure is an array structure with tiny holes; and these holes can be formed by drilling directly on the side wall of the shell part 10, or they can refer to small holes in the acoustic steel mesh or acoustic yarn (that is, the inner wall 11 or the outer wall 12 can be made of acoustic steel mesh or acoustic yarn).
[0078] On the one hand, by utilizing the micro-pore array structure of the first through hole 111 and the second through hole 121, the rigidity of the shell part 10 can be guaranteed while ensuring the effective area for sound output. This allows the headphones to have sufficient strength while ensuring high-intensity sound output, thereby providing support for ensuring sound quality and enhancing active noise cancellation.
[0079] On the other hand, by setting the first through hole 111 and the second through hole 121 into a micro-hole array structure, and by acoustically connecting the two sides of the speaker 40 in the vibration direction to the first through hole 111 and the second through hole 121 respectively, the sound output efficiency can be guaranteed, and the internal air pressure of the speaker 40 can be balanced during vibration. This avoids problems such as affecting the overall appearance of the headphones, accumulating dirt and impurities, and requiring additional pressure relief holes due to the use of a single through hole with a large aperture. It also avoids problems such as high acoustic impedance, low sound output efficiency, and poor sound quality due to the use of a single through hole with a small aperture.
[0080] In other embodiments, the first through hole 111 and the second through hole 121 can also adopt a single-hole structure or a multi-hole structure with a larger aperture. By covering the first through hole 111 and the second through hole 121 with acoustic steel mesh or acoustic mesh, the technical effect of waterproofing and dustproofing can be achieved while ensuring the effective area of sound output.
[0081] In other embodiments, the housing portion 10 has only a first through hole 111 penetrating the inner wall 11, and the sound-emitting surface of the speaker 40 faces the first through hole 111. The outer wall 12 of the housing portion 10 does not have a second through hole 121. This structure can also meet the needs of some scenarios with low sound quality requirements or some users with low sound quality requirements.
[0082] In this embodiment, one end of the ear hook 30 is connected to the adapter 20, and the other end of the ear hook 30 away from the adapter 20 is provided with a second receiving cavity 30a. The battery 50 and the circuit board 60 are disposed in the second receiving cavity 30a. Specifically, the battery 50 can be installed in the second receiving cavity 30a at the end near the end of the ear hook 30, and the circuit board 60 can be installed in the second receiving cavity 30a at the end away from the end of the ear hook 30. This makes the wiring distance between the circuit board 60 and the speaker 40 shorter, which can reduce signal transmission damage and ensure the stability of signal transmission.
[0083] The circuit board 60 is electrically connected to the battery 50 and the speaker 40 respectively. The circuit board 60 can be electrically connected to the battery 50 and the speaker 40 through electrical connection components such as wires or flexible circuit boards. The battery 50 is used to power the entire headset. The ear hook 30 can be provided with a wired charging port or a wireless charging module electrically connected to the battery 50 to achieve recharging of the battery 50.
[0084] The battery 50 can be cylindrical or nearly cylindrical. The end of the ear hook 30 away from the adapter 20 is cylindrical, and a nearly cylindrical second accommodating cavity 30a is formed within the ear hook 30. The cylindrical battery 50 can be fitted into the cylindrical second accommodating cavity 30a, allowing for the installation of a larger volume battery 50 within the limited space of the second accommodating cavity 30a, thus increasing the headphone's battery life. The cylindrical shape of the end of the ear hook 30 away from the adapter 20 provides sufficient space to form the second accommodating cavity 30a while maintaining aesthetics.
[0085] In this embodiment, since the circuit board 60 is disposed in the second receiving cavity 30a at the end of the ear hook portion 30 away from the housing portion 10, and the speaker 40 is disposed in the first receiving cavity 10a of the housing portion 10, the circuit board 60 does not occupy the volume space of the first receiving cavity 10a within the housing portion 10. If the housing portion 10 maintains its external size, a larger speaker 40 can be installed in the first receiving cavity 10a of the housing portion 10. The sound quality of the speaker 40 is related to its size; a larger speaker 40 has more space to install a larger diaphragm and other components that improve sound quality. Therefore, by disposing the circuit board 60 in the second receiving cavity 30a of the ear hook portion 30, a larger speaker 40 can be installed in the first receiving cavity 10a of the housing portion 10, thereby improving the sound quality of the headphones.
[0086] The circuit board 60 is not located in the first accommodating cavity 10a, and the first accommodating cavity 10a is not provided with a circuit board. The circuit board refers to a circuit board with control and processing functions. The first accommodating cavity 10a may be provided with a flexible circuit board or wires for transfer connection.
[0087] The circuit board 60 is not located inside the housing portion 10 and does not occupy the volume space of the first accommodating cavity 10a within the housing portion 10. If no other components are added to the first accommodating cavity 10a, and the volume of the speaker 40 is not increased or only slightly increased, the overall size of the housing portion 10 can be reduced. When the headphones are worn, the housing portion 10 is located in front of the ear, i.e., exposed on the outside. The smaller housing portion 10 is more aesthetically pleasing, improving the appearance of the headphones. Furthermore, the smaller housing portion 10 is more convenient to wear, especially for users with relatively small ears, meeting their wearing needs.
[0088] The circuit board 60 is disposed within the second accommodating cavity 30a of the ear hook portion 30. The circuit board 60 and the speaker 40 are relatively far apart and separated, which can reduce the electromagnetic interference between the circuit board 60 and the speaker 40 and improve the playback sound quality of the headphones. When the headphones are worn, the housing portion 10 and the speaker 40 inside it are located in front of the ear (at the concha), and the end of the ear hook portion 30 and the circuit board 60 inside it are located behind the ear (at the back of the ear). The speaker 40 and the circuit board 60 are isolated by the ear, and there is also an isolation effect between the speaker 40 and the circuit board 60, which can further reduce the electromagnetic interference between the circuit board 60 and the speaker 40 and further improve the playback sound quality of the headphones.
[0089] Please refer to Figures 7 to 9. In some embodiments, the circuit board 60 is a component structure, comprising a first circuit board 61 and a second circuit board 62 stacked together. The first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 can be electrically connected through flexible circuit boards, wires, or plug-in terminals. The first circuit board 61 is the main board, electrically connected to the speaker 40. The first circuit board 61 has the main functions of the circuit board 60, controlling the speaker 40 to produce sound. The first circuit board 61 may have at least a speaker control module and an antenna control module, and may also have functional modules such as Bluetooth, charging, and microphone. For example, the first circuit board 61 can also be used to control the charging and discharging of the battery 50. The second circuit board 62 is a secondary board, connected to the battery 50. The second circuit board 62 may have at least a sensor control module, and may also have functional modules such as charging and capacitive touch sensing. For example, the first circuit board 61 can also be used to control the charging and discharging of the battery 50.
[0090] The circuit board 60 is configured as a stacked first circuit board 61 and a second circuit board 62. Both the first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 are flat structures. The first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 can be arranged in parallel or at an angle to fit the space of the second accommodating cavity 30a. The multi-board split and stacked arrangement of the circuit board 60 can make full use of the space of the cylindrical second accommodating cavity 30a, and can also install a circuit board 60 with a larger total area in a limited space to realize more functional modules of the headphones. In other words, the multi-board split and stacked arrangement of the circuit board 60 can reduce the space occupied by the circuit board 60 in the second accommodating cavity 30a, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the ear hook part 30, thereby improving the aesthetics of the headphones and reducing the burden of wearing the headphones.
[0091] In other embodiments, the circuit board 60 can also be split into other numbers of boards, such as three stacked circuit boards; or, the circuit board 60 can be set as an irregularly shaped structure board; it can also be adapted to the second accommodating cavity 30a of certain spatial structures to reduce the space occupied by the circuit board 60, which is beneficial to the miniaturization of the ear hook part 30.
[0092] Referring to Figures 3 to 9, in some embodiments, the ear hook portion 30 is a C-shaped or approximately C-shaped curved structure, and the second accommodating cavity 30a formed at the end of the ear hook portion 30 is a corresponding curved cavity. The end of the ear hook portion 30 away from the adapter portion 20 has a smaller curvature or is approximately straight, while the end and middle of the ear hook portion 30 near the adapter portion 20 have a larger curvature. Correspondingly, the end of the second accommodating cavity 30a away from the adapter portion 20 is divided into a cavity with a smaller curvature or is approximately straight; this cavity is defined as the lower cavity B. The end of the second accommodating cavity 30a near the adapter portion 20 has a cavity with a larger curvature; this cavity is defined as the upper cavity A. The second accommodating cavity 30a has a first end and a second end, with the first end of the second accommodating cavity 30a being closer to the end of the ear hook portion 30 away from the adapter portion 20 than the second end. The upper cavity A is located at the second end of the second accommodating cavity 30a, and the lower cavity B is located at the first end of the second accommodating cavity 30a. When the headphones are worn, the upper cavity A of the second accommodating cavity 30a is located above the lower cavity B.
[0093] The battery 50 is installed in the lower cavity B of the second accommodating cavity 30a. The central axis of the battery 50 can be parallel or approximately parallel to the extending direction of the lower cavity B of the second accommodating cavity 30a. The circuit board 60 is installed in the upper cavity A of the second accommodating cavity 30a. Since the upper cavity A of the second accommodating cavity 30a is a cavity with a large curvature, and the upper cavity A of the second accommodating cavity 30a is curved relative to the lower cavity B.
[0094] The stacked first circuit board 61 and second circuit board 62 are respectively inclined relative to the central axis of the battery 50. The stacked first circuit board 61 and second circuit board 62 are obliquely inserted into the upper cavity A of the second accommodating cavity 30a, and the inclination direction of the stacked first circuit board 61 and second circuit board 62 is consistent with the bending direction of the upper cavity A of the second accommodating cavity 30a. The stacked first circuit board 61 and second circuit board 62 extend from one end of the bent upper cavity A to the other end. The stacked first circuit board 61 and second circuit board 62 can make full use of the bent cavity space at the end of the second accommodating cavity 30a, that is, make full use of the bent cavity space in the upper cavity A. Compared with the first circuit board 61 and second circuit board 62 being parallel to the central axis of the battery 50, the inclined first circuit board 61 and second circuit board 62 can shorten the length of the large outer diameter part of the ear hook 30, that is, shorten the length of the part with the lower cavity B of the adapter 20, reduce the overall volume of the ear hook 30, and improve the aesthetics and wearing comfort of the headphones.
[0095] The angle at which the stacked first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 are tilted relative to the central axis of the battery 50 can be in the range of 0-30°. The angle at which the first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 are tilted relative to the central axis of the battery 50 can be set according to the curvature of the upper cavity A of the second accommodating cavity 30a. For example, the angle at which the stacked first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 are tilted relative to the central axis of the battery 50 can be 15° or 20°.
[0096] In some embodiments, the first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 may be tilted relative to each other, and the distance between the first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 near the end of the battery 50 is greater than the distance between the first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 away from the battery 50.
[0097] The upper cavity A of the second accommodating cavity 30a is a curved cavity. The volume of the curved cavity near the lower cavity B is greater than the volume of the other end away from the lower cavity B. The upper cavity A of the second accommodating cavity 30a tapers away from the lower cavity B, forming a gradually shrinking conical cavity structure. The combination of the mutually inclined first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 has one end larger than the other, forming a wedge-shaped structure. The combination of the mutually inclined first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 is inserted into the gradually shrinking upper cavity A, allowing the combination of the first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 to be inserted deeper into the upper cavity A. The first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 can make better use of the space of the curved and gradually shrinking upper cavity A. In other words, the length of the part of the adapter 20 with the lower cavity B can be further shortened, the external volume of the ear hook 30 can be further reduced, and the aesthetics and wearing comfort of the headphones can be improved.
[0098] In some embodiments, the ends of the first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 away from the battery 50 are narrowed. For example, both the ends of the first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 away from the battery 50 are provided with trapezoidal or triangular pointed structures. The ends of the first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 away from the battery 50 are inserted into the innermost part of the upper cavity A of the second accommodating cavity 30a away from the lower cavity B. The narrowed ends of the first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 can also make full use of the space of the upper cavity A with its curved and gradually changing structure, further shortening the length of the portion of the adapter 20 with the lower cavity B, further reducing the overall volume of the ear hook 30, and improving the aesthetics and wearing comfort of the headphones.
[0099] Referring to Figure 6, in some embodiments, the ear hook 30 has an installation port 31 on the side facing away from the ear when the headphones are worn, and the installation port 31 is covered by a cover plate 32. The battery 50 and the circuit board 60 can be installed into the second receiving cavity 30a through the installation port 31, and the cover plate 32 then seals the battery 50 and the circuit board 60 in the second receiving cavity 30a.
[0100] An antenna 63 is provided on the inner surface of the cover plate 32. The antenna 63 can be fixed to the inner surface of the cover plate 32 by means of adhesive, welding, etc. The antenna 63 can also be set in the second accommodating cavity 30a and close to the cover plate 32. The antenna 63 is electrically connected to the first circuit board 61. The antenna 63 is set on the inner surface of the cover plate 32 or close to the cover plate 32 so that when the earphone is worn, the antenna 63 is not blocked by the ear to receive and transmit signals, which can improve the communication capability of the antenna 63.
[0101] Please refer to Figure 8. In some embodiments, the first circuit board 61 is closer to the antenna 63 than the second circuit board 62. The first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 can be inserted into the second accommodating cavity 30a through the mounting port 31 in an inclined manner. The antenna 63, the first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 form a three-layer spaced structure in sequence, and the first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 are approximately parallel or inclined to the plane where the antenna 63 is located.
[0102] The antenna 63 and the first circuit board 61 can be electrically connected through electrical connection components such as contact terminals, flexible flat cables (flexible circuit boards), and wires.
[0103] The first circuit board 61 is located closer to the antenna 63, which can shorten the connection distance between the antenna 63 and the first circuit board 61, shorten the signal transmission path, and reduce signal loss during the transmission process.
[0104] The antenna 63, the first circuit board 61, and the second circuit board 62 form a three-layer spaced structure in sequence. At least part or all of the first circuit board 61 is located between the antenna and the second circuit board 62. The first circuit board 61 serves as the main board. The antenna and the second circuit board 62 can provide electromagnetic shielding protection for the functional modules and circuits on the first circuit board 61, reducing external electromagnetic interference with the first circuit board 61.
[0105] Please refer to Figures 5, 8 and 9. In some embodiments, the ear hook 30 is provided with a sensor 64 on the side facing the ear when the headphones are worn. The sensor 64 can be an in-situ detection sensor such as an infrared sensor or a photoelectric sensor. The sensor 64 is used to detect whether the headphones are worn on the ear, so as to realize whether the headphones need to communicate with terminal devices such as mobile phones, or whether the sound needs to be turned on or off.
[0106] Sensor 64 is electrically connected to the second circuit board 62. Sensor 64 can be mounted on a flexible flat cable that connects the second circuit board 62 to the battery 50 to reduce the number of wires in the second accommodating cavity 30a and optimize the space utilization within the second accommodating cavity 30a. Of course, sensor 64 can also be electrically connected to the second circuit board 62 using a separate flexible flat cable or connecting terminal.
[0107] The sensor 64 is located close to the second circuit board 62 to reduce the signal transmission distance between the sensor 64 and the second circuit board 62, reduce transmission loss, and improve the detection accuracy of the sensor 64.
[0108] The sensor 64 is located at the curved part of the ear hook 30, that is, at the position where the sensor 64 contacts the ear when the ear hook 30 is worn. This ensures that the ear is within the sensing range of the sensor 64, guaranteeing accurate position detection after the headphones are worn. If the sensor 64 is located in a position where it does not contact the ear when the ear hook 30 is worn, the sensor 64 may not detect that the headphones are being worn.
[0109] The sensing area C of the sensor 64 is offset from the housing portion 10. Since the housing portion 10 is outside the sensing area C of the sensor 64, erroneous detection caused by the sensor 64 being triggered by the housing portion 10 when the headphones are not being worn is avoided. For example, if the housing portion 10 were located within the sensing area C of the sensor 64, it might incorrectly determine that the headphones are being worn even when they are not being worn.
[0110] When the sensor 64 is located in the position of contact with the ear during the wearing state, and the housing part 10 is located outside the sensing area C of the sensor 64, the accuracy of the sensor 64 in place detection can be improved when both conditions are met.
[0111] Please refer to Figures 7 to 9. In some embodiments, the earphone also includes a circuit board bracket 65. The first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 are mounted on the circuit board bracket 65. The first circuit board 61, the second circuit board 62 and the circuit board bracket 65 can be assembled into a combination outside the second accommodating cavity 30a. After the combination is assembled, it is installed into the second accommodating cavity 30a together.
[0112] The circuit board bracket 65 may also be provided with a first mounting portion 651. The first mounting portion 651 may be a protruding mounting post or mounting step on the circuit board bracket 65. Multiple first mounting portions 651 may be provided, and the first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 are mounted on the circuit board bracket 65 through multiple first mounting portions 651. The first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 may be fixed to the first mounting portion 651 by screws, adhesive, or snap-fit. The first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 are stacked and fixed on the circuit board bracket 65 with alternating layers.
[0113] The circuit board support 65 may also be provided with a first limiting part 652, and the inner wall of the second receiving cavity 30a may be provided with a second limiting part 33 that is adapted to and corresponds to the first limiting part 652. One of the first limiting part 652 and the second limiting part 33 may be a slot, and the other may be a buckle. The first limiting part 652 and the second limiting part 33 engage to position and fix the circuit board support 65 in the second receiving cavity 30a. The circuit board support 65 may also be fixed in the second receiving cavity 30a by means of bonding, welding, etc.
[0114] The circuit board bracket 65 simplifies the installation, disassembly, and maintenance of the first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62. The circuit board bracket 65 also improves the accuracy and stability of the first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 installed in the second accommodating cavity 30a.
[0115] Please refer to Figures 7, 10 to 13. In some embodiments, the earphone also includes an adapter circuit board 70, which is used for adapter circuitry. The adapter circuit board 70 may not have processing and control functions. In other embodiments, the adapter circuit board 70 may also have some processing and control functions.
[0116] The adapter 20 has a third accommodating cavity 20a, and the adapter circuit board 70 is located in the third accommodating cavity 20a. The circuit board 60 is electrically connected to the speaker 40 through the adapter circuit board 70. The adapter circuit board 70 can facilitate long-distance electrical connection between the circuit board 60 and the speaker 40 and improve the stability of the electrical connection between the circuit board 60 and the speaker 40.
[0117] The earphone also includes a wire 80. A wire hole is provided within the ear hook portion 30. One end of the wire hole communicates with a second receiving cavity 30a within the ear hook portion 30, and the other end communicates with a third receiving cavity 20a within the adapter portion 20. The wire 80 passes through the wire hole, with one end extending into the second receiving cavity 30a and electrically connected to the circuit board 60. For example, one end of the wire 80 extends into the second receiving cavity 30a and is electrically connected to the second circuit board 62, while the other end extends into the third receiving cavity 20a and is electrically connected to the adapter circuit board 70. The wire 80 can also be directly molded into the ear hook portion 30 by injection molding or other methods. Both ends of the wire 80 can be fixedly connected to the circuit board 60 and the adapter circuit board 70 respectively by soldering or other methods, thus forming an electrical connection.
[0118] In this process, the circuit board 60, the wire 80, the adapter circuit board 70 and the speaker 40 are electrically connected in sequence. During the assembly of the headphones, the adapter part 20 is first connected and fixed to the ear hook part 30, that is, the circuit board 60, the wire 80 and the adapter circuit board 70 are first connected and fixed; then the housing part 10 is connected and fixed to the adapter part 20, that is, the speaker 40 is then connected and fixed to the adapter circuit board 70.
[0119] To further facilitate the electrical connection assembly between the speaker 40 and the adapter circuit board 70, a first electrical connection terminal 711 can be provided on the adapter circuit board 70, and a corresponding second electrical connection terminal 41 can be provided on the speaker 40. The first electrical connection terminal 711 and the second electrical connection terminal 41 can be detachable plug-in structures. For example, one of the first electrical connection terminal 711 and the second electrical connection terminal 41 can be a plug, and the other can be a socket. The two are plugged in to achieve the electrical connection between the speaker 40 and the adapter circuit board 70. The plug-in structure of the first electrical connection terminal 711 and the second electrical connection terminal 41 eliminates the need for soldering, which can greatly improve the assembly efficiency of the electrical connection between the speaker 40 and the adapter circuit board 70. Furthermore, the plug-in structure does not expose the electrical connection structure and can provide insulation protection. The plug-in structure can also be set as a plug-in structure with a limit, which forms a limit fixation after plugging in, thereby improving the stability of the electrical connection.
[0120] The speaker 40 can be connected to the second electrical connection terminal 41 via a flexible flat cable or other electrical connection structure. The second electrical connection terminal 41 can also be directly fixed to the housing of the speaker 40.
[0121] The speaker 40 and the adapter circuit board 70 can also be electrically connected in other ways, such as by connecting the speaker 40 and the adapter circuit board 70 with wires.
[0122] Because an adapter circuit board 70 is provided within the adapter section 20, the circuit board 60 located within the ear hook section 30 is connected to the speaker 40 located within the housing section 10 via the adapter circuit board 70. The adapter circuit board 70 acts as a transitional connector, allowing the circuit board 60 and the speaker 40 to connect. The adapter circuit board 70 allows the ear hook section 30 and the adapter section 20 to be initially assembled as a single component. After the ear hook section 30 and the adapter section 20 are fixed in place, the circuit board 60 first establishes an electrical connection with the adapter circuit board 70. When the adapter section 20 is then connected to the housing section 10, the electrical connection between the relatively distant speaker 40 and the circuit board 60 is transformed into a connection between the relatively close speaker 40 and the adapter circuit board 70. This close-range connection between the speaker 40 and the adapter circuit board 70 simplifies the installation difficulty compared to a long-range connection. Furthermore, the adapter circuit board 70, fixed within the adapter section 20, forms a fixed electrical connection node, improving the stability of the long-range electrical connection between the circuit board 60 and the speaker 40.
[0123] The adapter circuit board 70 may include multiple adapter circuit boards to make full use of the space within the adapter section 20; the arrangement of multiple adapter circuit boards also facilitates the connection of other functional components.
[0124] The adapter circuit board 70 may include a first adapter circuit board 71 and a second adapter circuit board 72 connected to each other. Both the first and second adapter circuit boards 71 and 72 may be flat and may be stacked and spaced apart. The first adapter circuit board 71 is positioned closer to the speaker 40 than the second adapter circuit board 72. A first electrical connection terminal 711 may be disposed on the first adapter circuit board 71, and the first adapter circuit board 71 is electrically connected to the speaker 40 via the first electrical connection terminal 711. The second adapter circuit board 72 is electrically connected to the wire 80 and is also electrically connected to the circuit board 60 via the wire 80.
[0125] The adapter portion 20 includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the adapter portion 20 is connected to the housing portion 10, and the second end of the adapter portion 20 is connected to the ear hook portion 30. The adapter portion 20 has a central axis extending from the first end toward the second end. This central axis is a curved line, and the portion of the central axis at the first end of the adapter portion 20 is parallel or approximately parallel to the long axis direction. The first adapter circuit board 71 and the second adapter circuit board 72 can be arranged sequentially at intervals along this central axis, and the first adapter circuit board 71 and the second adapter circuit board 72 are arranged perpendicular to or inclined to the central axis. This arrangement allows the first adapter circuit board 71 to be positioned closer to the speaker 40, and the second adapter circuit board 72 to be closer to the wire 80, which is beneficial for the electrical connection between the first adapter circuit board 71 and the speaker 40, and for the electrical connection between the second adapter circuit board 72 and the wire 80. This arrangement of the first adapter circuit board 71 and the second adapter circuit board 72 also helps to make full use of the space of the third accommodating cavity 20a.
[0126] In some embodiments, the first adapter circuit board 71 and the second adapter circuit board 72 may also be parallel or approximately parallel to the long axis direction of the housing portion 10. This arrangement of the first adapter circuit board 71 and the second adapter circuit board 72, which involves splitting the adapter circuit board 70 into multiple boards for mounting, improves the utilization rate of the space in the third accommodating cavity 20a compared to an adapter circuit board 70 with a single-board structure.
[0127] In some embodiments, the first adapter circuit board 71 is parallel to the end face of the speaker 40 facing the first adapter circuit board 71. The speaker 40 is mounted along the long axis of the housing portion 10, and the central axis of the speaker 40 is parallel to the long axis of the housing portion 10. The first adapter circuit board 71 is also perpendicular to the long axis of the housing portion 10.
[0128] This configuration allows the first adapter circuit board 71 to be closer to the speaker 40, reducing the connection distance between them. This reduces the electrical connection path between the first adapter circuit board 71 and the speaker 40, minimizing signal transmission damage and ensuring signal transmission quality. Furthermore, it reduces wasted space between the first adapter circuit board 71 and the speaker 40, allowing for more efficient use of the space within the third accommodating cavity 20a, which in turn helps reduce the overall size of the adapter part 20.
[0129] Referring to Figures 10 and 12, in some embodiments, the first adapter circuit board 71 and the second adapter circuit board 72 are inclined relative to each other. The first adapter circuit board 71 is perpendicular to the long axis of the housing portion 10, and the second adapter circuit board 72 is inclined relative to the long axis of the housing portion 10. The distance between the upper ends of the first adapter circuit board 71 and the second adapter circuit board 72 when the headphones are worn is less than the distance between their lower ends. The direction in which the first adapter circuit board 71 and the second adapter circuit board 72 are inclined relative to each other is adapted to the bending direction of the adapter portion 20; that is, the closer end of the first adapter circuit board 71 and the second adapter circuit board 72 is located on the inner side of the bend in the adapter portion 20, and the farther end of the first adapter circuit board 71 and the second adapter circuit board 72 is located on the outer side of the bend in the adapter portion 20.
[0130] The first adapter circuit board 71 and the second adapter circuit board 72 are inclined to each other, and the inclination direction is consistent with the bending direction of the adapter part 20. This allows the first adapter circuit board 71 and the second adapter circuit board 72 to make full use of the bending space in the adapter part 20. This ensures that the first adapter circuit board 71 and the second adapter circuit board 72 have enough area for connecting and transferring other functional components, and also ensures the miniaturization of the adapter part 20.
[0131] The included angle between the first adapter circuit board 71 and the second adapter circuit board 72 can be 0-45°, for example, the included angle between the first adapter circuit board 71 and the second adapter circuit board 72 is 15°. The tilt angle between the first adapter circuit board 71 and the second adapter circuit board 72 can be set according to the degree of curvature of the adapter part 20, so that the combination of the first adapter circuit board 71 and the second adapter circuit board 72 can be adapted to the bending space within the adapter part 20, making full use of the bending space within the adapter part 20.
[0132] Please refer to Figures 10 and 12. In some embodiments, the second adapter circuit board 72 is provided with a button 21. The button 21 can be fixed to the second adapter circuit board 72 by means of soldering or other methods. The button 21 is electrically connected to the circuit board 60 through the second adapter circuit board 72 and the wire 80. The button 21 is used to control the opening and closing of the headphones, adjusting the volume, and other functions.
[0133] The adapter 20 has a pressable structure 22, which is axially aligned with the button 21 in the pressing direction of the button 21, so that the pressable structure 22 can compress and control the button 21 when pressed. The adapter 20 can be a double-layer structure. The outer layer of the adapter 20 is made of a soft silicone material, while the inner layer is made of a hard plastic material. The pressable structure 22 is part of the outer layer of the adapter 20, and the silicone pressable structure 22 can deform when pressed. The inner layer of the adapter 20 has a cutout between the pressable structure 22 and the button 21, so that the pressable structure 22 can deform to compress the button 21 when pressed, and automatically reset and separate from the button 21 when released. The pressing structure 22 allows the outer side of the adapter 20 to form a sealing structure. For example, the pressing structure 22 with a silicone structure is part of the outer structure of the adapter 20. It does not damage the sealing of the third accommodating cavity 20a and has a better sealing and protection effect.
[0134] In other embodiments, the adapter 20 may also have a first mounting hole that penetrates the side wall of the adapter 20, and a portion of the button 21 passes through the first mounting hole and protrudes to the outside of the adapter 20, so that the user can directly contact and press the button 21, and can also operate the button 21.
[0135] Referring to Figure 10, in some embodiments, the second adapter circuit board 72 is arranged parallel to the pressing direction of the button 21. The pressing part of the button 21 can be installed perpendicularly to the second adapter circuit board 72, for example, the button 21 can be installed at the end of the second adapter circuit board 72. This can reduce the space occupied by the button 21 and the second adapter circuit board 72 after assembly, and also allow the button 21 to be directly fixed to the second adapter circuit board 72 by welding or other means, without the need for other adapter structures, thus simplifying the installation structure of the button 21. Furthermore, the second adapter circuit board 72 can also form a vertical support for the button 21. The pressing force borne by the button 21 will be transmitted to the end face of the second adapter circuit board 72 without generating a component force on the second adapter circuit board 72. The second adapter circuit board 72 can play a better supporting role, maintain the structural stability of the second adapter circuit board 72 and the button 21, and avoid the pressing force affecting the stability of the electrical connection between the second adapter circuit board 72 and the button 21.
[0136] Referring to Figures 7, 10 to 12, in some embodiments, the adapter circuit board 70 further includes a third adapter circuit board 73, which can be electrically connected to either the first adapter circuit board 71 or the second adapter circuit board 72. The third adapter circuit board 73 can be connected to a microphone 23. The adapter portion 20 can have a second mounting hole 24. The microphone 23 can be a modular structure, including an inner microphone body and an outer housing structure, the housing structure having a pickup hole. Part of the microphone 23 is located within the second mounting hole 24 of the adapter portion 20, and the pickup hole of the outer housing structure of the microphone 23 is exposed on the outside of the adapter portion 20, so that the microphone body located in the adapter portion can collect sound from outside the headphones through the pickup hole.
[0137] The microphone 23 is designed as a modular structure, allowing the microphone body and outer housing to be assembled as a single unit before being installed into the adapter 20. This improves the accuracy of alignment between the microphone body and the pickup hole and provides better sealing protection for the microphone body. The outer shell of the microphone 23 blocks the second mounting hole 24 of the adapter 20. The outer shell of the microphone 23 can be sealed using methods such as interference fit or adhesive bonding to ensure the airtightness of the third accommodating cavity 20a.
[0138] In other embodiments, the microphone 23 may consist only of the microphone body, with the adapter 20 having a through-hole. The microphone 23 is located inside the through-hole and is positioned close to and aligned with it. With this configuration, the microphone 23 can also collect external sound through the through-hole of the adapter 20.
[0139] Please refer to Figures 13 to 16. In some embodiments, the third adapter circuit board 73 can be a flat plate structure. The third adapter circuit board 73 is arranged perpendicularly to the central axis of the second mounting hole 24 or the pickup hole of the adapter part 20, so that the third adapter circuit board 73 is as close as possible to the inner surface of the adapter part 20, thereby reducing the space occupied by the third adapter circuit board 73 in the third accommodating cavity 20a.
[0140] The third adapter circuit board 73 can also be a curved panel structure, with the third adapter circuit board 73 arranged parallel to the curved housing of the adapter part 20 having the second mounting hole 24 or the pickup hole. With this arrangement, the third adapter circuit board 73 can be positioned as close as possible to the inner surface of the adapter part 20, reducing the space occupied by the third adapter circuit board 73 in the third accommodating cavity 20a.
[0141] In some embodiments, the adapter circuit board 70 can be a flexible circuit board, and the adapter circuit board 70 can be divided into multiple adapter circuit boards, which can be formed by bending a single flexible circuit board. For example, the adapter circuit board 70 includes a first adapter circuit board 71 and a second adapter circuit board 72, which are formed by bending a single flexible circuit board once; or, for another example, the adapter circuit board 70 includes a first adapter circuit board 71, a second adapter circuit board 72, and a third adapter circuit board 73, which are formed by bending a single flexible circuit board twice.
[0142] Multiple adapter circuit boards are formed by bending a single flexible circuit board, which simplifies the electrical connection between them. Only the flexible circuit board needs to be bent; the two bent circuit boards directly form an electrical connection without requiring additional electrical connection installation. Furthermore, the flexible circuit board has a high degree of bending freedom due to its flexible structure, allowing it to be accurately bent into multiple adapter circuit boards distributed in different positions. For example, it can be directly bent into a first adapter circuit board 71 and a second adapter circuit board 72 with a certain angle between them.
[0143] Please refer to Figures 10 to 13. In some embodiments, the adapter portion 20 may be provided with an adapter circuit board bracket 90. The adapter circuit board bracket 90 is installed and fixed in the third accommodating cavity 20a of the adapter portion 20, and the adapter circuit board 70 is installed on the adapter circuit board bracket 90. When assembling the adapter circuit board 70, the adapter circuit board 70 can be first installed on the adapter circuit board bracket 90 outside the adapter portion 20 to form an assembly, and then the assembly is installed inside the adapter portion 20.
[0144] The adapter circuit board bracket 90 improves the convenience and accuracy of installing the adapter circuit board 70. For example, the first adapter circuit board 71 and the second adapter circuit board 72 can be installed at a preset angle in the adapter circuit board bracket 90 and then installed together in the adapter part 20. This improves the convenience of installing the first adapter circuit board 71 and the second adapter circuit board 72 at an angle, as well as the accuracy of the angle installation.
[0145] In particular, when the adapter circuit board 70 is a flexible circuit board, the adapter circuit board bracket 90 can fix the flexible adapter circuit board 70 to ensure the stability of the electrical connection between the adapter circuit board 70 and the wire 80 and the speaker 40.
[0146] The adapter circuit board bracket 90 has a second mounting part 91 at one end facing away from the speaker 40. The second mounting part 91 can be a mounting structure such as a protruding mounting post. The first adapter circuit board 71, the second adapter circuit board 72, and the third adapter circuit board 73 can be fixedly connected to the second mounting part 91 by means of screws, snap-fit, welding, or bonding, or by welding the mounting post, so as to position and install the first adapter circuit board 71, the second adapter circuit board 72, and the third adapter circuit board 73 on the adapter circuit board bracket 90.
[0147] In some embodiments, the adapter circuit board 70 is a flexible circuit board. The first adapter circuit board 71 has a first electrical connection portion electrically connected to the first electrical connection terminal 711, and the first electrical connection portion is soldered to the first electrical connection terminal 711. The second adapter circuit board 72 has a second electrical connection portion electrically connected to one or both of the wire 80 and the button 21, and the second electrical connection portion is soldered to the wire 80. The third adapter circuit board 73 has a third electrical connection portion electrically connected to the microphone 23, and the third electrical connection portion is soldered to the microphone 23. Rigid structural plates, such as steel plates or other metal plates, are respectively installed and fixed at the solder joints of the first, second, and third electrical connection portions. The rigid structural plates can improve the structural stability of the flexible circuit board at the solder joints of the first, second, and third electrical connection portions, thereby ensuring the soldering stability of the solder joints at these locations.
[0148] Please refer to Figures 10 to 16. In some embodiments, the adapter circuit board bracket 90 can divide the third accommodating cavity 20a in the adapter portion 20 into two independent adapter cavities. One adapter cavity is connected to the first accommodating cavity 10a of the housing portion 10, and the other adapter cavity is separated from the first accommodating cavity 10a. The adapter circuit board 70 is installed in the adapter cavity separated from the first accommodating cavity 10a.
[0149] The adapter circuit board bracket 90 can be a plate or a near-plate structure. The adapter circuit board bracket 90 divides the third accommodating cavity 20a of the adapter portion 20 into two independent adapter cavities. This allows for the separate installation of components such as the adapter circuit board 70 within the adapter portion 20 from the speaker 40 within the housing portion 10, thus avoiding or reducing potential electromagnetic interference to the speaker 40. Furthermore, since the adapter circuit board 70 is installed within the adapter cavities of the adapter portion 20, the independent adapter cavities facilitate sealing, providing sealed protection for the components such as the adapter circuit board 70 within the adapter portion 20.
[0150] Specifically, the adapter circuit board bracket 90 divides the third accommodating cavity 20a into a first adapter cavity D and a second adapter cavity E, and the adapter circuit board bracket 90 is sealed to the inner wall of the adapter part 20, so that the first adapter cavity D and the second adapter cavity E are completely separated, and can also play a role in preventing water from entering and preventing water from entering.
[0151] The first transition cavity D and the second transition cavity E can be sequentially distributed along the direction from the first end to the second end of the transition portion 20. The first transition cavity D is located at one end of the transition portion 20 near the housing portion 10, and the second transition cavity E is located at the other end of the transition portion 20 away from the housing portion 10.
[0152] The first adapter cavity D can also communicate with the first receiving cavity 10a of the housing part 10. The adapter part 20 has an opening at one end near the housing part 10, and this opening communicates with the first adapter cavity D. The opening of the adapter part 20 and the opening of the housing part 10 are complementary and adaptable. After the adapter part 20 is connected to the housing part 10, the first adapter cavity D and the first receiving cavity 10a are connected to form a single cavity. This arrangement separates the second adapter cavity E from the first receiving cavity 10a, allowing components such as the adapter circuit board 70 to be installed inside the second adapter cavity E, thus separating these components from the speaker 40. Simultaneously, the second adapter cavity E forms a sealed cavity, providing waterproof protection for the components within it.
[0153] The first transition cavity D and the second transition cavity E can also adopt other layouts, such as a vertically layered layout where both extend from the first end of the transition portion 20 to the second end. This layout facilitates the installation of components within the first and second transition cavities D and E, and allows for the separation of these components, facilitating partial structural sealing and reducing mutual interference between the components.
[0154] Referring to Figures 10 and 14, in some embodiments, the adapter circuit board 70 is installed inside the second adapter cavity E. The adapter circuit board 70 and the speaker 40 are separated by the adapter circuit board bracket 90, which can reduce mutual electromagnetic interference between them. The adapter circuit board 70 is located inside the sealed second adapter cavity E, which can prevent external moisture from entering the second adapter cavity E and avoid or reduce the risk of damage such as short circuits caused by moisture to the adapter circuit board 70.
[0155] To achieve electrical connection between the adapter circuit board 70 and the speaker 40, the adapter circuit board bracket 90 is provided with a third mounting hole 92, which penetrates the adapter circuit board bracket 90. The first adapter circuit board 71 can be mounted against the adapter circuit board bracket 90. The area of the first adapter circuit board 71 is larger than the opening area of the third mounting hole 92, and the first adapter circuit board 71 covers the third mounting hole 92. Viewed from one side of the first adapter cavity D, a portion of the first adapter circuit board 71 is exposed in the third mounting hole 92. The first electrical connection terminal 711 is installed in the area of the first adapter circuit board 71 exposed in the third mounting hole 92. That is, all or part of the first electrical connection terminal 711 is located inside the third mounting hole 92, i.e., the first electrical connection terminal 711 is located inside the first adapter cavity D. The first electrical connection terminal 711, as part of the adapter circuit board 70, extends into the first adapter cavity D to achieve electrical connection with the second electrical connection terminal 41 connected to the speaker 40, while the main body of the adapter circuit board 70, the first adapter circuit board 71, is spaced out within the first adapter cavity D. This structure enables electrical connection between the adapter circuit board 70 and the speaker 40, while separating the main body of the adapter circuit board 70 from the speaker 40.
[0156] In some embodiments, the size of the third mounting hole 92 is adapted to the first electrical connection terminal 711. The first electrical connection terminal 711 is inserted into the third mounting hole 92, allowing it to extend from the second adapter cavity E to the first adapter cavity D. The first electrical connection terminal 711 can also simultaneously block the third mounting hole 92. With this configuration, using the first electrical connection terminal 711 to block the third mounting hole 92, the first adapter circuit board 71 can be installed in other locations within the second adapter cavity E to meet the layout requirements of other components.
[0157] Please refer to Figure 13. In some embodiments, the adapter circuit board bracket 90 is a plate structure, which can simplify the structure. At the same time, the two sides of the plate structure are flat. When the first adapter circuit board 71 is installed on the side of the adapter circuit board bracket 90 facing the second adapter cavity E, the first adapter circuit board 71 can be parallel and attached to the adapter circuit board bracket 90, so that the first adapter circuit board 71 can block the third mounting hole 92 of the adapter circuit board bracket 90.
[0158] The adapter circuit board bracket 90 is a one-piece molded structure, which can eliminate the splicing gaps on the adapter circuit board bracket 90 and improve the sealing and waterproof effect.
[0159] The adapter circuit board bracket 90 can also have other structures. For example, the third mounting hole 92 of the adapter circuit board bracket 90 may have an annular plane surrounding it, facing the second adapter cavity E. This annular plane may surround the annular boss of the third mounting hole 92, away from the surface of the separator; or it may surround the bottom surface of the annular groove recessed around the third mounting hole 92; or it may surround the plane recessed around the third mounting hole 92. Other parts of the adapter circuit board bracket 90 can be planes, inclined planes, curved surfaces, or combinations thereof. In this structure, the first adapter circuit board 71 abuts against the annular plane surrounding the third mounting hole 92, which can also seal the third mounting hole 92 to isolate the first adapter cavity D and the second adapter cavity E.
[0160] The four edges of the adapter circuit board bracket 90 are sealed to the inner wall of the adapter part 20 to prevent moisture from entering the first adapter cavity D or the second adapter cavity E from the connection between the adapter circuit board bracket 90 and the inner wall of the adapter part 20.
[0161] Referring to Figure 16, in some embodiments, the adapter circuit board support 90 has protrusions around its perimeter, or the inner wall of the adapter portion 20 has grooves. The adapter circuit board support 90 and the inner wall of the adapter portion 20 form an adhesive-containing groove 93, which is filled with adhesive. The adhesive-containing groove 93 is formed by the inner walls of the adapter circuit board support 90 and the adapter portion 20, so that the adhesive simultaneously contacts and connects with the inner walls of the adapter circuit board support 90 and the adapter portion 20, thereby achieving a seal at the connection between the inner walls of the adapter circuit board support 90 and the adapter portion 20. The adhesive reservoir 93 is located on one side of the second adapter cavity E. This allows the adapter circuit board bracket 90 to be installed inside the adapter portion 20, effectively isolating the adhesive within the second adapter cavity E. The adhesive reservoir 93 and the adhesive do not occupy space in the first adapter cavity D, which is beneficial for installing larger speakers 40. Simultaneously, confining the adhesive within the sealed second adapter cavity E reduces interference from factors such as speaker 40 vibration, improving the stability of the adhesive seal. Alternatively, the adhesive reservoir 93 and the adhesive can also be located on one side of the first adapter cavity D, achieving a seal at the connection between the adapter circuit board bracket 90 and the inner wall of the adapter portion 20.
[0162] Other structures or components can also be provided between the four edges of the adapter circuit board bracket 90 and the inner wall of the adapter portion 20 for sealing. For example, an annular step is provided inside the adapter portion 20, with the annular step facing the opening of the adapter portion 20 facing the housing portion 10. The adapter circuit board bracket 90 is installed into the annular step inside the adapter portion 20, and the four edges of the adapter circuit board bracket 90 are fitted to the annular step inside the adapter portion 20. With this connection structure, by adding adhesive between the adapter circuit board bracket 90 and the annular step, a sealed connection between the adapter circuit board bracket 90 and the adapter portion 20 can be achieved.
[0163] Referring to Figure 13, in some embodiments, a sealing element 94 is provided between the adapter circuit board bracket 90 and the first adapter circuit board 71. For example, the adapter circuit board bracket 90 has an annular groove surrounding the third mounting hole 92 on the side facing the first adapter circuit board 71. The sealing element 94 is installed in the annular groove. After the first adapter circuit board 71 and the adapter circuit board bracket 90 are fitted together, the sealing element 94 forms a seal on the third mounting hole 92, separating the third mounting hole 92 from the second adapter cavity E. The setting of the sealing element 94 can further improve the waterproof sealing effect at the third mounting hole 92. The setting of the annular groove can facilitate the installation and fixation of the sealing element 94, avoid misalignment and movement of the sealing element 94, and improve the waterproof stability of the sealing element 94. In this application, the sealing element 94 can be an annular adhesive strip or waterproof foam adhesive that fits the annular groove, which can achieve sealing of the third mounting hole 92 while fixing the first adapter circuit board 71 and the adapter circuit board bracket 90.
[0164] Alternatively, the adapter circuit board bracket 90 may not have an annular groove. The sealing element 94 can be directly disposed between the first adapter circuit board 71 and the adapter circuit board bracket 90, and surround the third mounting hole 92, thus achieving a seal for the third mounting hole 92. For example, the sealing element 94 can be adhesive, which is directly applied to the first adapter circuit board 71 and / or the adapter circuit board bracket 90. After the first adapter circuit board 71 and the adapter circuit board bracket 90 are attached and installed, bonding, fixing, and sealing are achieved.
[0165] The above examples illustrate the present invention only to aid in understanding it and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art can make various simple deductions, modifications, or substitutions based on the principles of this invention.
Claims
1. An earphone, characterized in that, The device includes a housing, an ear hook, a speaker, a battery, and a circuit board. The housing has a first accommodating cavity, and the speaker is located within the first accommodating cavity. One end of the ear hook is connected to the housing, and the other end of the ear hook away from the housing has a second accommodating cavity. The battery and the circuit board are disposed within the second accommodating cavity. The circuit board is electrically connected to the speaker and the battery and is used to control the speaker to produce sound. In the wearing state, the housing is located on the front side of the ear, and at least part of the ear hook is located on the back side of the ear.
2. The headphones as described in claim 1, characterized in that, No circuit board is installed inside the first accommodating cavity.
3. The headphones as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The circuit board includes a first circuit board and a second circuit board stacked and electrically connected. The first circuit board is electrically connected to the speaker and is used to control the speaker to produce sound. The second circuit board is electrically connected to the battery and is used to control the charging and discharging of the battery.
4. The headphones as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The first circuit board and the second circuit board are arranged in parallel; or, the distance between the ends of the first circuit board and the second circuit board closer to the battery is greater than the distance between the ends of the first circuit board and the second circuit board farther from the battery.
5. The headphones as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The first circuit board and the second circuit board are respectively tilted relative to the central axis of the battery.
6. The headphones as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The first circuit board and the second circuit board are tilted at an angle of 0-30° relative to the central axis of the battery, respectively.
7. The headphones as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The second accommodating cavity has a first end and a second end. The first end of the second accommodating cavity is closer to the end of the ear hook than the second end. The volume of the second end of the second accommodating cavity decreases in the direction away from the first end. The ends of the first circuit board and the second circuit board away from the first end of the second accommodating cavity are narrowed.
8. The headphones as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The ear hook has an installation opening on the side facing away from the ear when worn, and the installation opening is covered by a cover plate.
9. The headphones as described in claim 8, characterized in that, An antenna is provided on the inner surface of the cover plate or in the first accommodating cavity near the cover plate, and the antenna is electrically connected to the first circuit board.
10. The headphones as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The first circuit board is closer to the antenna than the second circuit board.
11. The headphones as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that, At least a portion of the first circuit board is located in the area between the antenna and the second circuit board.
12. The headphones as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The ear hook has a sensor on the side facing the ear when worn, and the sensor is used to detect whether the earphone is worn on the ear; the sensor is electrically connected to the second circuit board.
13. The headphones as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The sensor is located at the position where the ear hook contacts the ear when worn, and the sensing area of the sensor is offset from the housing.
14. The headphones as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The first circuit board includes at least a speaker control module and an antenna control module, and the second circuit board includes at least a sensor control module.
15. The headphones as described in claim 3, characterized in that, It also includes a circuit board bracket, on which the first circuit board and the second circuit board are mounted, and the circuit board bracket is installed within the second accommodating cavity.
16. The headphones as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that, The circuit board support is provided with a first mounting part and a first limiting part. The first circuit board and the second circuit board are mounted on the circuit board support at intervals through the first mounting part. The second accommodating cavity is provided with a second limiting part. The first limiting part and the second limiting part are connected to limit the circuit board support within the second accommodating cavity.
17. The headphones as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 16, characterized in that, It also includes an adapter and an adapter circuit board. One end of the ear hook is connected to the housing part through the adapter. The adapter has a third accommodating cavity. The adapter circuit board is located in the third accommodating cavity. The first circuit board is electrically connected to the speaker through the adapter circuit board.