Bone Conduction Headset with Multi-Directional Sound Emission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional earphones and head-wearing audio devices project sound directly into the ears, leading to potential ear damage and environmental sound isolation, which can be dangerous and distracting.
Innovation Solution
A mountable multi-directional audio device that can be worn on the head, neck, or shoulders, featuring broadcasting devices with adjustable and foldable structures, removable baffles, and internal speakers, allowing sound to be emitted in various directions without direct ear contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If earphones are worn with direct contact to the ear, then sound can be delivered to the user, but long-term usage may cause damage to soft tissue in the ear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sound delivery function from direct ear contact by using bone conduction technology. The sound source is separated from the ear canal, transmitting vibrations through the skull bone directly to the inner ear, thereby eliminating the harmful pressure and friction on ear tissue while maintaining effective sound delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces bone (skull) as an intermediary medium to transmit sound vibrations from the earpiece to the inner ear. This intermediary pathway bypasses the vulnerable outer and middle ear structures, reducing direct harm to ear tissue while effectively delivering audio signals.
2Reliability
If earphones project sound directly to the ears, then audio delivery is effective, but the user cannot hear other sounds from the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sound delivery pathways by separating bone conduction (for audio content) from air conduction (for environmental sounds). This allows simultaneous transmission of music through bone vibrations while keeping the ear canal open to capture ambient sounds, preventing information loss about the environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows the ear canal to serve its natural function of capturing environmental sounds while the bone conduction pathway handles audio delivery. The ear's natural acoustic properties are preserved and utilized, enabling passive environmental awareness without active intervention.
3Loss of information
If speakers are used to solve safety problems, then environmental awareness is maintained, but speakers cannot be worn on the user due to their volumes and weights
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional acoustic speaker mechanism with a bone conduction transducer that utilizes mechanical vibration through bone tissue. This substitution eliminates the need for large, heavy speaker cones and enclosures, enabling a compact, wearable form factor that maintains environmental awareness while solving portability issues.
4Reliability
If earphones are used, then audio delivery is effective, but users may be distracted and cannot hear alert sounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments audio delivery from ear canal occlusion, using bone conduction for music while keeping the ear canal open. This segmentation allows users to hear alert sounds and environmental warnings through the open ear canal, eliminating safety hazards while maintaining effective audio delivery for entertainment.
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 prevents ear damage and maintains environmental awareness by emitting sound away from the ears, providing a safer and less distracting audio experience while being versatile and integrated with sound boxes, amplifiers, and power management.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the broadcasting devices has at least one speaker inside
Data Source
AI summary
A mountable multi-directional audio device comprises at least one broadcasting device, which has a sounding portion outwardly; and at least one connecting member, the any end of the connecting member is connected with the broadcasting device.