Cartilage Conduction Mobile Telephone Audio Clarity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile telephones lack user-friendliness, particularly in noisy environments, due to inadequate sound transmission and noise cancellation mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A mobile telephone configuration with a cartilage conduction unit that contacts the ear cartilage, utilizing a cartilage conduction vibration source to increase sound pressure by at least 10 dB, and a single-chip integrated circuit for power management and control, enabling effective audio transmission without external auditory meatus contact with the auricular helix.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bone conduction speaker is employed to provide clear listening in noisy environments, then audio transmission quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the bone conduction speaker, external auditory meatus stoppage means, and control circuitry into an integrated mobile telephone device. This merging approach maintains the audio transmission quality benefits of bone conduction technology while reducing overall device complexity through integration, directly resolving the technical contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile telephone is designed to perform multiple functions including bone conduction audio transmission, external auditory meatus stoppage, and automatic mode switching. This multi-functionality allows a single device to provide clear listening in noisy environments without requiring separate specialized equipment, thereby improving reliability while managing device complexity.
2Reliability
If manual operation is used to adjust contact pressure between tragus and vibrating surface, then audio transmission ratio is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic control of the cartilage conduction unit's contact pressure through sensing mechanisms that detect user ear placement and automatically adjust the vibration transmission. This self-service approach eliminates the need for manual adjustment by the user, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining reliable audio transmission ratio through automated optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the contact state between the cartilage conduction unit and the user's ear, then automatically adjust the vibration parameters to optimize audio transmission. This feedback loop ensures reliable audio transmission ratio without requiring manual intervention, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
3Measurement precision
If cartilage conduction unit contacts ear cartilage to increase sound pressure, then audio clarity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the cartilage conduction unit with the mobile telephone's existing structure, combining the vibration source, contact mechanism, and control systems into a unified device. This integration maintains the audio clarity benefits of direct cartilage contact while reducing the perceived complexity by consolidating components into a single cohesive unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartilage conduction unit is designed to contact specific localized areas of the ear cartilage (such as the tragus or anti-tragus) to optimize sound transmission. This localized contact approach improves audio clarity by targeting specific anatomical features while keeping the overall device design simple and focused, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
4Device complexity
If single-chip integrated circuit is used for power management and control, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates the power management unit, drive circuit, and controller onto a single-chip integrated circuit. This merging of multiple functional components into one chip directly reduces device complexity by eliminating separate components and interconnections, while the integrated design standardizes manufacturing processes to manage precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The single-chip integrated circuit enables precise control of power consumption and vibration parameters through integrated circuitry that can dynamically adjust operational parameters. This parameter control capability maintains high manufacturing precision standards while simplifying the overall device architecture, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and manufacturing precision requirements.
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 solution provides a more user-friendly mobile telephone experience with enhanced audio clarity and noise cancellation, allowing for clear communication in noisy conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a cartilage conduction vibration source arranged inward from the outer wall surface, wherein when the vibration of the cartilage conduction vibration source is transmitted to the surface of the outer wall
Implementation Method 2
a manual operation is used to adjust the pressure of contact between the tragus and a vibrating surface to be brought into contact with the tragus, whereby the ratio at which audio information through cartilage conduction and audio information through air conduction are transmitted can be altered
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile telephone includes a cartilage conduction unit for making contact with the ear cartilage. The cartilage conduction unit is provided to at least one of two corner parts at an upper side of the mobile telephone. The mobile telephone can include a surface of an outer wall and a cartilage conduction vibration source arranged inward from the surface of the outer wall, the vibration of the cartilage conduction vibration source being transmitted to the surface of the outer wall, wherein when the surface of the outer wall is brought into contact with at least a part of the ear cartilage around the entrance part to the external auditory meatus without making contact with the auricular helix, the sound pressure inside the external auditory meatus at about 1 cm from the entrance part of the external auditory meatus has an at least 10 dB increase compared to the non-contact state.