Bone Conduction Housing With Elastic Contact for Consistent Sound

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing audio equipment using bone conduction fails to ensure high sound quality due to inconsistent fit with individual head shapes, leading to reduced volume and discomfort.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of an elastic member on the outer surface of the housing that presses against the wearer's head, ensuring a secure fit and uniform vibration transmission regardless of head shape variations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rigid housing is used for bone conduction audio equipment, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the fit to individual head shapes is poor and vibration transmission is inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound quality consistencyVSAvoidfit to individual head shapes
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by covering the rigid housing with a flexible elastic member that can deform to match individual head shapes while the rigid housing maintains structural integrity and vibration generation capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines rigid housing material with elastic covering material to create a composite structure that provides both structural stability and adaptive fit to different head shapes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If the housing shape is fixed, then manufacturing is simplified, but the adhesion to different head shapes is insufficient leading to reduced volume

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing productionVSAvoidadhesion and volume consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic member acts as a flexible shell that conforms to individual head shapes, ensuring consistent adhesion and volume transmission while the rigid housing maintains a fixed, easily manufacturable form

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic member serves as an intermediary between the fixed housing and the variable head shapes, transferring vibrations effectively while adapting to different contours

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If no elastic member is used, then the device structure is simpler, but vibration transmission to bone is insufficient and sound quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestructureVSAvoidvibration transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic member acts as a mediator that improves vibration transmission from the rigid housing to the bone by adapting to the contact surface and ensuring efficient energy transfer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic member changes the physical parameters at the contact interface (compliance, contact area, pressure distribution) to optimize vibration transmission efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 elastic member enhances sound quality by improving adhesion and vibration transmission efficiency, providing consistent sound pressure across different head shapes.

Implementation Method 1

an electroacoustic transducer that generates vibration to be transmitted to a bone of the wearer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroacoustic transduction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

an elastic member disposed at least on an outer surface of the housing that faces the wearer in a worn state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4661421A1Acoustic device
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 AUDIO TECHNICA CORP
  • EP4661421A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4661421A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4661421A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A configuration for generating bone conduction vibration is provided, and high sound quality is ensured by achieving a secure fit to a head regardless of individual differences. Audio equipment 1000 includes: an electroacoustic transducer 1 that generates vibration to be transmitted to a bone of a wearer; a housing 2 that houses the electroacoustic transducer; and an elastic member 2b disposed at least on an outer surface 2a of the housing that faces the wearer in a worn state.