Cartilage Conduction Mobile Telephone Earpiece Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile telephones lack user-friendliness, particularly in noisy environments, as they fail to effectively transmit audio signals without interference from external noise and do not provide a comfortable design for earpiece usage.
Innovation Solution
A mobile telephone configuration with cartilage conduction units that contact the ear cartilage, utilizing a cartilage conduction vibration source to increase sound pressure by at least 10 dB within the external auditory meatus, combined with a single-chip integrated circuit for power management and control, allowing for efficient audio transmission and comfortable earpiece design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bone conduction speaker is employed to provide clear listening in noisy environments, then audio clarity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the bone conduction speaker with the external auditory meatus stoppage means into an integrated unit. The stoppage means includes a stopper that blocks the external auditory meatus while the bone conduction speaker transmits audio vibrations through the tragus to the skull bone, creating a unified structure that delivers clear audio in noisy environments without requiring separate components
Solution Approach 2:
The earphone unit serves multiple functions: the bone conduction speaker provides audio output through cartilage conduction, the stoppage means blocks external noise from entering the ear canal, and the structure itself acts as both a hearing aid and a noise isolation device, reducing the need for additional separate components
2Reliability
If manual operation is used to adjust contact pressure between the tragus and vibrating surface, then audio transmission ratio is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The earphone structure is designed to automatically achieve proper contact pressure when inserted into the ear. The stopper and vibrating surface are positioned such that natural insertion forces the tragus against the vibrating surface with appropriate pressure, eliminating the need for manual adjustment while maintaining optimal audio transmission ratio
Solution Approach 2:
The earphone is pre-configured with the stopper and vibrating surface in fixed positions that ensure correct contact pressure is achieved automatically upon insertion. The structural design anticipates the needed contact pressure and builds it into the insertion mechanism, so no subsequent manual adjustment is required
3Reliability
If the cartilage conduction vibration source contacts the ear cartilage to increase sound pressure, then audio transmission is improved, but comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The vibrating surface is designed with specific local properties: it has a limited contact area that targets only the necessary portion of the tragus cartilage, and the stopper is shaped to distribute pressure evenly. This localized, optimized contact provides sufficient sound pressure transmission while minimizing discomfort to the user
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 enhances user-friendliness by providing clear audio in noisy conditions and a comfortable, non-intrusive earpiece design, ensuring effective audio transmission through both cartilage and air conduction pathways.
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, and 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
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.