Customized Ear Tips With Sealing Structure For Ear Canal Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard eartips often fail to comfortably fit diverse ear geometries, leading to discomfort and instability for users with unique ear features, as they are not customized to accommodate individual ear structures.
Innovation Solution
A method to produce customized eartips by generating an electronic representation based on the structural features of a user's ear, including a sealing structure and outlet configuration, to create a personalized fit that accommodates specific ear canal dimensions and preferences for comfort and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If standard eartips are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but fit comfort and stability deteriorate for users with unique ear features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary scanning and measurement of the user's ear canal geometry before eartip production. Digital models and 3D representations are created in advance, allowing customization parameters to be determined before manufacturing begins. This preliminary action enables tailored fit without adding significant complexity to the production process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent varies multiple geometric parameters of the eartip including outlet diameter, sealing structure dimensions, curvature, and material composition based on the scanned ear geometry. By adjusting these parameters according to individual ear measurements, the system achieves customized fit comfort while maintaining efficient manufacturing through parameterized design.
2Manufacturing precision
If customized eartips are produced for each user, then fit precision and acoustic seal quality improve, but manufacturing complexity and production time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates accurate digital copies or 3D models of the user's ear canal geometry through scanning. These digital replicas serve as templates for eartip design and manufacturing. By working with digital copies rather than physical prototypes, the system achieves high precision customization while maintaining rapid iteration and production capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses parameterized design where eartip geometry is defined by adjustable parameters derived from ear scans. This allows precise customization through mathematical relationships and automated design rules, enabling high manufacturing precision while maintaining production efficiency through algorithmic generation of customized geometries.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the sealing structure is made larger to improve acoustic seal, then noise isolation improves, but comfort deteriorates due to pressure on the ear canal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different properties to different regions of the sealing structure. The seal is optimized locally at the ear canal interface with appropriate pressure distribution, while other portions of the eartip maintain different characteristics for comfort and stability. This localized optimization achieves effective noise isolation without excessive overall size or pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing structure is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to adapt to the ear canal geometry. The material and geometry enable the seal to deform and conform to the unique shape of each user's ear canal, achieving effective acoustic isolation while distributing pressure evenly to maintain comfort during wear.
4Reliability
If the outlet is customized to match ear canal geometry, then acoustic performance improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet geometry is defined by a set of adjustable parameters including diameter, length, curvature, and orientation that are automatically determined from ear scan data. This parameterized approach allows acoustic optimization tailored to each user while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through automated design and standardized production processes.
Data Source
AI summary
The technology described in this document can be embodied in a method that includes receiving one or more electronic files comprising information on structural features of a portion of an ear of a user, generating an electronic representation of the eartip or a cast based on a portion of the information on the structural features of the portion of the ear, and producing the eartip based on the electronic representation. The eartip includes an outlet, and a sealing structure disposed around an exterior of the outlet, wherein a first end of the sealing structure is attached to the outlet, and a second, opposite end of the sealing structure is physically separated from the exterior of the outlet. Generating the electronic representation includes configuring one or more structural parameters of the outlet or the sealing structure in accordance with the structural features of the portion of the ear.