Adjustable Opening Headphones with Dynamic Aperture for Noise Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional headphones either fail to protect the wearer's hearing from damaging noise while allowing environmental awareness or become uncomfortably warm and muffle the user's voice, and they often lack adjustable sound isolation configurations suitable for different listening preferences or situations.
Innovation Solution
The headphones feature a shutter assembly with adjustable blades that can move between open and closed positions, controlled by a controller communicating with external devices to manage sound isolation based on signals from guns, phones, or other devices, and include acoustic drivers and equalizers for customizable sound delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a resilient seal is used to surround the user's ear for noise protection, then hearing protection is improved, but the user's voice is muffled and comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a dynamic adjustable aperture mechanism that can transition between open and closed states. The aperture is formed by movable blades or segments that allow the user to adjust the degree of sound isolation in real-time, enabling optimization between noise protection and voice clarity/comfort based on situational requirements
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a sealed headphone design is used for hearing protection, then noise isolation is improved, but environmental awareness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable aperture allows dynamic control over the balance between noise isolation and environmental awareness. Users can open the aperture to hear environmental sounds or close it for noise protection, adapting to different situational requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The aperture can be adjusted to different opening sizes, changing the acoustic parameters of the headphone. This allows continuous variation in sound isolation levels, enabling the user to optimize both noise protection and environmental awareness according to the task at hand
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed sound isolation configuration is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different situations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms a static sealed design into a dynamic adjustable system. The aperture mechanism with movable blades or segments enables the sound isolation configuration to change based on user needs, providing adaptability to different situations while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The aperture is divided into multiple movable segments or blades that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows for adjustable opening sizes while keeping each individual segment simple in structure, balancing manufacturing simplicity with situational adaptability
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
This solution allows for adaptive sound isolation, protecting hearing while allowing awareness of environmental sounds and customizable audio experiences, enhancing user comfort and situational awareness.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient cushion attached to the housing to define a chamber with the housing for enclosing the user's ear
Implementation Method 2
the headphone includes at least one acoustic driver for transmitting sound signals to the chamber in the headphone
Data Source
AI summary
A headphone and method are provided. The headphone includes a headphone housing and a resilient cushion attached to the housing to define a chamber with the housing for enclosing the user's ear. An assembly is disposed in the housing proximate to a distal end and has a plurality of blades moveable between at least one open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the blades define a distal surface of the housing. In the open position, the assembly defines an aperture in the housing. The aperture allows sound communication from outside the housing into the chamber. The headphone is in communication with at least one external device and is programmed to receive a signal from the external device. The assembly to moves between the open position and the closed position based on the signal.