Bone Conduction Microphone Elastic Mounting for Ear Canal Noise Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing telephonic communication devices with bone conduction microphones face challenges in achieving stable contact due to individual differences in ear shape, leading to gaps and poor acoustic performance. Additionally, rigid housings fail to adapt to changes in ear canal shape during user actions, causing abnormal noise generation.

Innovation Solution

The device incorporates a housing with first and second elastic members, where the second elastic member has a protruding portion that abuts against the tragus, ensuring a stable contact between the bone conduction microphone and the vocal cord vibration transmission part of the ear, while preventing abnormal noise generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid housing shaped complementary to the ear canal is used to stabilize contact between the bone conduction microphone and the ear canal wall, then the contact stability is improved, but the ability to adapt to changes in ear canal shape during user actions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact stabilityVSAvoidadaptability to ear canal shape changes

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible housing made of elastic material instead of a rigid housing. This flexible housing can deform to follow the changes in ear canal shape during user actions while maintaining stable contact with the ear canal wall, thus resolving the contradiction between contact stability and adaptability to shape changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a static rigid housing to a dynamic flexible housing that can change its shape in response to ear canal movements. The flexible housing continuously adapts its configuration to maintain optimal contact with the ear canal wall throughout user actions, achieving both stability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the bone conduction microphone is directly attached to the housing to simplify the structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to prevent abnormal noise pickup deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidabnormal noise pickup

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an elastic member as an intermediary between the housing and the bone conduction microphone. This elastic member acts as a buffer that isolates the microphone from abnormal vibrations and noises generated by the housing-ear canal contact, while still allowing the microphone to detect user utterances effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a fitting member is used to fit into the fossa navicularis space to achieve stable contact, then the contact stability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to individual differences in ear shape

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact stabilityVSAvoidease of fitting

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible housing material allows the device to conform to various ear canal shapes and sizes without requiring a specific fitting member design. Users can easily insert the device into their ears, and the flexible material automatically adapts to their individual ear anatomy, maintaining stable contact while improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 configuration ensures a secure and stable contact between the microphone and the ear, preventing abnormal noise and improving acoustic performance by adapting to individual ear shapes and changes in ear canal shape during user actions.

Implementation Method 1

the first elastic member is formed to abut against at least an ear canal wall opposite the tragus

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the second elastic member is elastically supported by a peripheral edge of the opening while holding the bone conduction microphone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

the protruding portion having an abutting surface that abuts against a surface on or around the tragus

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS20250203263A1Telephonic communication device

Publication Date: 2025.06.19 PANASONIC SYST NETWORKS R&D LAB

AI summary

Provided is a telephonic communication device that achieves a stable contact between a bone conduction microphone and a vocal cord vibration transmission part of an ear and prevents generation of abnormal noise by a user's action and prevents the microphone from picking up such noise. The device includes a bone conduction microphone for picking up a user's utterance, an air conduction receiver for reproducing a communication partner's voice, a housing having an opening facing the user's tragus, and a tip rubber (first elastic member) and microphone rubber (second elastic member) attached to the housing. The tip rubber abuts against an ear canal wall opposite the tragus. The microphone rubber is elastically supported by a peripheral edge of the opening while holding the bone conduction microphone, and includes a protruding portion protruding from the opening and having an abutting surface that abuts against a surface on or around the tragus.