Adjustable Tissue Transducer Carriage for Ear-Referenced Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional acoustic transducers in headsets, such as those for virtual, augmented, and mixed reality, are often fixed and fail to provide a consistent audio experience due to variations in user head shapes and sizes, leading to inefficient sound delivery.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable transducer assembly with a carriage that translates along the temple portion of the headset, contacting the helix root of the ear to maintain a consistent position, utilizing springs or motors to ensure accurate placement and maintain contact with the ear's cartilage or bone for effective sound conduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If acoustic transducers are fixed at fixed locations on headsets, then device complexity is reduced, but audio consistency across different users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the transducer assembly movable rather than fixed. The carriage mechanism allows the transducer to dynamically adjust its position along the temple portion of the headset, enabling it to reach a target area relative to the user's ear anatomy (such as the tragus or helix root). This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by maintaining audio consistency across different users without requiring overly complex customizable positioning systems for each user.
2Measurement precision
If the carriage is made adjustable to contact the helix root, then audio positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the self-service principle through the spring mechanism that automatically biases the carriage in a rearward direction. When a user places the headset on their head, the carriage engages the helix root of the user's ear, and as the user moves the headset rearward, the contact force from the helix root overcomes the spring force and causes the carriage to translate forward along the temple portion. The spring continuously maintains contact pressure, enabling accurate positioning without requiring active user adjustment or complex motorized systems.
3Ease of operation
If a spring mechanism is used to bias the carriage, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the parameter changes principle by using a spring mechanism with a specific force characteristic that allows the carriage to respond to the natural forces applied during headset donning. The spring force is calibrated to be overcome by the contact force from the helix root when the user properly positions the headset, enabling the carriage to automatically translate to the correct position. This approach simplifies operation while the manufacturing precision requirements are managed through standardized spring specifications rather than custom calibration for each unit.
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 ensures consistent audio delivery by accurately positioning the transducer relative to the ear's anatomy, enhancing sound quality and user experience across different head shapes and sizes.
Implementation Method 1
the headset includes at least one spring that biases the carriage in a rearward direction
Implementation Method 2
the tissue transducer is positioned to provide the audio content via tissue conduction to a target area
Data Source
AI summary
A headset includes a tissue transducer on a carriage that translates along a temple portion of the headset. The carriage is configured to contact the helix root of a user's ear. The helix root provides a reference point, and when the carriage is contact with the helix root, the tissue transducer is configured to be located in a target area. By maintaining a fixed location of the tissue transducer relative to the helix root of the user's ear, the tissue transducer may be accurately positioned, even for users with different head shapes and sizes.