Bone-Conduction Earphone Microphone With Integrated Earplug
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bone-conduction earphone microphones have a low Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) and fail to provide adequate noise control in noisy workplace environments, making it difficult for workers to communicate effectively.
Innovation Solution
A bone-conduction earphone microphone design incorporating a polyurethane earplug section with a core part and a cylindrical projection part connected via a tubular connection section, providing high sound insulation and allowing for input and output of voices through bone-conduction sound vibrations without picking up ambient noise, along with a PTT switch for alternating between transmission and reception modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional bone-conduction earphone microphones are used, then voice transmission is enabled, but noise reduction rating is low and ambient noise is picked up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a bone-conduction earphone microphone with an earplug into a single integrated device. The earphone microphone unit is inserted into the ear canal along with the earplug, allowing simultaneous noise isolation from the earplug and voice transmission through bone conduction, thereby resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and voice clarity
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs multiple functions: noise isolation through the earplug, voice detection through the bone-conduction microphone, and voice transmission through the bone-conduction speaker. This multi-functionality allows a single device to address both noise reduction and clear communication needs in noisy environments
2Object-affected harmful factors
If earplugs with high sound insulation are used to protect hearing, then noise protection is improved, but communication capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges hearing protection (earplug) with communication functionality (bone-conduction earphone microphone) into a single integrated device. The bone-conduction transducers bypass the blocked ear canal, enabling clear voice transmission and reception even while the ear canal is sealed by the earplug for noise protection
Solution Approach 2:
The bone-conduction transducers act as an intermediary that bypasses the ear canal blockage. Instead of transmitting sound through the air-filled ear canal (which is blocked by the earplug), the device uses bone conduction through the skull bones to transmit voices directly to the inner ear, maintaining communication capability while preserving hearing protection
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
Enables smooth communication in noisy environments by protecting hearing and reducing noise interference, allowing workers to easily hear and transmit voices without ambient noise contamination.
Implementation Method 1
a bone-conduction sound vibration unit (110) which generates a bone-conduction sound vibration
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a bone-conduction earphone microphone provided with adequate noise control measures for workers working in a noisy workplace, thus enabling the workers to perform smooth communication with other people. The bone-conduction earphone microphone has a configuration in which a bone-conduction sound vibration unit 110 and a projection part 11 connected thereto are formed in a main body 1, and a core part 20 of a polyurethane first earplug section 2a and the projection part 11 are connected, facing each other, by a tubular connection section 30. This configuration enables the bone-conduction earphone microphone to provide hearing protection by acting as a high sound-insulation earplug for an ear canal, and also to perform input and output of voices by means of bone-conduction sound vibrations without picking up noises.