Bone Conduction Transducer with Contact Detection and Sound Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current bone conducting transducers (BCTs) face inefficiencies in power usage and sound leakage, as they often require constant operation regardless of contact with a surface and can emit vibrations perceivable to others due to lack of sound-absorbing materials in their design.

Innovation Solution

The BCT incorporates a metal spring and anvil configuration with sound-absorbing materials in its sidewalls and base, allowing for adjustable signal gain based on contact with a surface and utilizing sensors to determine operational characteristics, thereby optimizing power use and reducing sound leakage by using sound-absorbing materials in the transducer's construction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the BCT operates constantly to ensure sound transmission, then the reliability of audio output is improved, but the power consumption increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio output reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The BCT dynamically adjusts its operational state based on contact detection. The system transitions between active and inactive states depending on whether the sensor detects surface contact, allowing the device to adapt its power consumption characteristics to actual usage conditions rather than operating constantly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor provides feedback about contact status to the control system, which then adjusts the BCT operation accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the BCT only operates when needed (when contact is detected), optimizing the balance between reliability and power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Power

If the BCT emits vibrations for sound transmission, then the audio output is achieved, but sound leakage occurs and vibrations are perceivable to others

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio outputVSAvoidsound leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potentially harmful sound leakage into a beneficial feature by using the vibrations that would otherwise leak as the primary transmission mechanism through bone conduction. The vibrations are directed through the bone structure to the inner ear, transforming what would be wasted energy into useful audio transmission while the sound-absorbing materials selectively block external leakage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Device complexity

If the BCT is designed without sound-absorbing materials to maintain simplicity, then the device complexity is reduced, but sound leakage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransducer structureVSAvoidvibration leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Sound-absorbing materials are applied locally at specific locations on the BCT housing where vibration leakage occurs, rather than throughout the entire structure. This targeted approach provides effective sound isolation at critical points while maintaining overall structural simplicity and avoiding unnecessary complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The BCT housing combines different materials with complementary properties: structural materials for the main body and sound-absorbing materials for specific surfaces. This composite construction achieves both vibration control and structural integrity without significantly increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 enhances the efficiency of BCTs by adjusting power usage based on contact with a surface and significantly reduces sound leakage, making them more desirable for wearable computing systems by conserving power and minimizing unwanted vibrations.

Implementation Method 1

A bone conduction transducer transmits vibrations to the inner ear by a vibrating anvil placed on a bony structure of the skull or jaw. Such a bone conduction transducer can include an anvil suitable for making contact with a bony portion of the head can be mounted to a transducer, which can vibrate the anvil according to received electrical signals.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic transduction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 3

The at least one sensor is configured to generate data regarding at least one characteristic of the BCT.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration detection: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS8965012B1Smart sensing bone conduction transducer

Publication Date: 2015.02.24 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

Example methods and devices are provided related to bone conduction. A bone conducting transceiver (BCT) is provided. The BCT includes a metal spring, an anvil, a base, and at least one sensor. The metal spring has two ends. The anvil is mounted on an upper surface of the metal spring and is configured to move in conjunction with the metal spring based on an input signal. The base contacts a lower surface of the metal spring and supports at least one end of the two ends of the metal spring. The at least one sensor is configured to generate data regarding at least one characteristic of the BCT.