Beamforming Audio System for Spectacles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio systems that direct sound into the ear opening often attenuate ambient noise and are uncomfortable due to direct placement, and previous solutions have not effectively addressed the issue of transmitting audio information without being perceivable by others while maintaining wearing comfort.
Innovation Solution
An audio system with a carrier element that includes a cavity with a primary opening oriented towards the ear and a secondary opening oriented away from the ear, using MEMS speakers and a control unit for acoustic beamforming to focus sound waves on the user while reducing ambient noise perception, ensuring sound waves are out of phase to minimize environmental sound emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the audio system is placed directly at the ear opening, then audio information can be transmitted effectively to the user, but ambient noise is dampened and wearing comfort is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the loudspeaker and primary opening in a third dimension (spaced away from the ear) rather than placing them directly at the ear opening. The carrier element is arranged such that the primary opening faces the ear canal from a distance, allowing audio transmission without direct contact, thus improving wearing comfort while maintaining transmission effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a carrier element as an intermediary structure that holds the loudspeaker and directs sound waves toward the ear. This intermediary component allows the audio system to transmit sound effectively without being placed directly at the ear opening, thereby resolving the contradiction between transmission effectiveness and wearing comfort.
2Reliability
If the audio system is placed directly at the ear opening, then audio information can be transmitted effectively, but the system becomes perceptible to persons in the vicinity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a directional sound distribution approach where the primary opening is oriented specifically toward the ear canal, concentrating sound energy in a localized direction. This local quality of sound emission ensures effective transmission to the user while minimizing sound dispersion toward other directions, reducing perceptibility to persons in the vicinity.
Solution Approach 2:
By positioning the primary opening in a specific spatial orientation (facing the ear canal from a distance), the patent creates a directional sound pathway that separates the user's audio reception path from others' potential listening paths, thereby improving privacy while maintaining transmission effectiveness.
3Reliability
If a sound-guiding element is placed directly at the ear opening, then audio information can be transmitted effectively, but relevant ambient noise is dampened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the audio system in a third dimension (spaced away from the ear) rather than placing it directly at the ear opening. This spatial separation allows ambient noise to reach the ear naturally without being blocked by the audio system, while the directed sound waves from the primary opening still effectively transmit audio information to the user.
4Reliability
If the primary opening is positioned close to the ear, then audio transmission is effective, but the design becomes complex and uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the loudspeaker and primary opening from the immediate ear vicinity and positions them on a carrier element that can be placed at a distance from the ear. This extraction simplifies the overall design by eliminating the need for complex sound-guiding structures that would be required if the opening were placed directly at the ear, while still maintaining effective audio transmission through directional sound waves.
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 audio system effectively transmits audio information to the user without being perceivable by others, enhancing customer acceptance and wearing comfort by using a contactless design that focuses sound waves from a distance, thereby reducing ambient noise attenuation and discomfort.
Implementation Method 1
The loudspeaker is preferably a MEMS loudspeaker
Implementation Method 2
The phase shift is designed such that the volume of the sound waves emitted into the environment by the audio system can be reduced
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to an audio system (2) for placement in the outer part of an ear, comprising a carrier element (4) that can be attached to the user's head, which has at least one cavity (26, 27, 28) with a primary opening (11, 12, 13) that, when the carrier element (4) is arranged as intended, is oriented towards an ear opening (22) of the ear provided for this purpose, and comprising at least one loudspeaker (5, 6, 7) arranged in the cavity (26, 27, 28), the cavity (14, 15, 16) of which is at least partially formed by a first cavity area (29) and by means of which first sound waves (35) can be emitted via the primary opening (11, 12, 13) in the direction of the spaced-away ear.According to the invention, the cavity (26, 27, 28) has a secondary opening (17, 18, 19) arranged in the first cavity area (29) such that, when the support element (4) is arranged as intended, it is oriented away from the ear into the environment, so that second sound waves (36) can be emitted by means of the loudspeaker (5, 6, 7) via the secondary opening (17, 18, 19), which are phase-shifted to the first sound waves (35) in such a way that the volume of the sound waves emitted into the environment by the audio system (2) can be reduced.