Acoustic Signal Output Device with Eccentric Sound Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Open-ear type earphones and headphones suffer from significant sound leakage into the surroundings due to not completely blocking the ear canal.
Innovation Solution
An acoustic signal output device with a structure featuring one or more first sound holes to emit a first acoustic signal and one or more second sound holes to emit a second acoustic signal, where the second sound holes are positioned to emit the signal at a lower sound pressure level in one direction compared to another, thereby suppressing sound leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If open-ear type earphones and headphones are used that do not block the ear canal, then comfort and awareness of surrounding environment are improved, but sound leakage into the surroundings increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic signal output device divides the ear canal opening into multiple separate sound holes (first sound holes and second sound holes) rather than using a single blocked structure. This segmentation allows sound to be directed through specific paths - the first sound holes emit acoustic signals toward the ear canal while the second sound holes emit acoustic signals toward the surrounding environment, thereby reducing sound leakage while maintaining comfort and environmental awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the acoustic signal output device are assigned different functions: the first sound holes are positioned and oriented to deliver acoustic signals primarily into the ear canal, while the second sound holes are positioned and oriented to emit acoustic signals toward the surrounding environment. This local differentiation of function reduces sound leakage in specific directions while maintaining overall comfort and environmental awareness.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If sound holes are positioned to emit acoustic signals in specific directions, then sound leakage is suppressed, but device structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic signal output device employs asymmetric positioning of sound holes relative to the central axis of the housing. The first sound holes and second sound holes are positioned at different locations and oriented at different angles, creating an asymmetric structure that naturally directs acoustic signals in specific directions. This asymmetric design achieves sound leakage suppression through geometric configuration rather than complex active control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution addresses sound leakage by introducing spatial dimensionality through the positioning and orientation of multiple sound holes in different directions. Rather than attempting to control sound propagation in a single dimension, the device utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement of sound holes to direct acoustic signals away from the surrounding environment while maintaining comfort and environmental awareness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively suppresses sound leakage into the surroundings without completely blocking the ear canal, ensuring that the acoustic signals are directed primarily to the user while minimizing external noise interference.
Implementation Method 1
a structure portion provided with one or more first sound holes to emit a first acoustic signal to outside
Implementation Method 2
one or more second sound holes to emit a second acoustic signal to outside the structure portion
Implementation Method 3
an attenuation factor of the first acoustic signal at a second point with respect to a first point is equal to or lower than a predefined value that is smaller than an attenuation factor associated with air conduction of an acoustic signal at the second point with respect to the first point
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an acoustic signal output device that does not completely block the ear canal and is capable of suppressing sound leakage into the surroundings. There is provided an acoustic signal output device 10 including a structure portion provided with one or more sound holes 121a to emit an acoustic signal AC1 to outside and one or more sound holes 123a to emit an acoustic signal AC2 to the outside. The sound holes 121a are each positioned at an eccentric location offset in the B1-direction from a central axis of the structure portion. A sound pressure level of the acoustic signal AC2 that is emitted from the sound holes 123a into a first space is lower than a sound pressure level of the acoustic signal AC2 that is emitted from the sound holes 123a into a second space. Here, the first space is a space positioned on the B1-direction side relative to the sound holes 121a, the second space is a space positioned on the B2-direction side relative to the sound holes 121a, and the B2 direction contains an opposite direction component of the B1 direction.