Bone Conduction Microphone Headset Noise Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ear-muff type headsets for two-way communication under high noise conditions face issues with variable performance due to boom microphone positioning and vulnerability to external noise, especially when operators wear masks or use bone conduction microphones that are susceptible to external noise due to their external mounting.
Innovation Solution
The headset incorporates a bone conduction microphone supported by a buffer material, positioned to abut against the ear or its surroundings, with an extensible and retractable design using a spring or elastic body, housed within the sound-insulating annular pad to minimize external noise interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a boom microphone is used for two-way communication, then the headset can function in high noise conditions, but the performance becomes variable depending on microphone positioning and it cannot be used when operators wear masks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional boom microphone (mechanical positioning system) with a bone conduction microphone that detects vibrations directly through the skull. This substitution eliminates the need for precise mechanical positioning and mask compatibility issues, as the microphone contacts the temporal bone directly behind the ear, providing consistent performance regardless of mouth coverage or positioning variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the skull bone as an intermediary medium between the sound source and the microphone sensor. Instead of capturing air-borne sound waves directly (which requires precise positioning), the bone conduction microphone uses the skull bone to transmit vibrations directly to the inner ear, bypassing the need for mask compatibility and positioning precision.
2Ease of operation
If a bone conduction microphone is mounted on a projecting portion outside the annular pad, then the headset can provide two-way communication, but external noise is easily mixed in
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the bone conduction microphone inside the housing structure, specifically positioning it so that the distal end contacts the temporal bone within the protected space of the annular pad. This nesting arrangement places the microphone sensor inside the sound-insulating barrier rather than outside it, preventing external noise from reaching the sensor while maintaining bone conduction functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the microphone sensor from the traditional external mounting position and relocates it to an internal position within the housing. By taking the bone conduction microphone out of the projecting portion configuration and integrating it inside the sound-insulating annular pad structure, the design eliminates external noise exposure while preserving the bone conduction transmission path to the skull.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the bone conduction microphone is positioned to contact the ear, then sound insulation is improved, but the microphone needs to be precisely positioned within the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an extensible and retractable support mechanism for the bone conduction microphone, allowing the distal end to dynamically adjust its position to contact the user's temporal bone. This dynamic positioning system compensates for variations in user anatomy and wear conditions, eliminating the need for precise fixed positioning during manufacturing while maintaining effective bone conduction contact and sound insulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameter of the bone conduction microphone from a fixed configuration to a variable configuration through the extensible support mechanism. This parameter change allows the microphone to adapt its position based on individual user characteristics and wear conditions, reducing manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining effective contact with the temporal bone for both sound insulation and bone conduction transmission.
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 excellent sound insulation, preventing external noise from being mixed in, thereby enabling effective simultaneous or alternate two-way communication even in high noise environments.
Implementation Method 1
a bone conduction microphone supported by a buffer material such that a distal end is brought into abutment against an ear or a portion around the ear
Implementation Method 2
a spring or another elastic body interposed between the support base and the outer tube to act to restore the outer tube to an original position
Implementation Method 3
an acoustic speaker supported by a buffer material is arranged in at least one of the housings
Data Source
AI summary
It is an object of the invention to provide a headset for performing simultaneous two-way communication or alternate two-way communication, which has excellent sound insulating properties such that external noise is not possibly mixed even when used under high noise conditions. A pair of bowl-shaped housings 1 each having an annular pad 2 attached to the rim of an opening portion are connected together through a headband 3, an acoustic speaker 5 supported by a buffer material 4 is arranged in at least one of the housings 1, and a bone conduction microphone 6 supported by the buffer material 4 such that the distal end is brought into abutment against the ear or the portion around the ear when a user wears the headset is arranged in at least one of the housings 1.