Ear-Mounted Watcher Using Cartilage Conduction and Bone Conduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current watching systems and detection devices face challenges in effectively monitoring and notifying about the activities and conditions of individuals, particularly in providing comfortable and private monitoring solutions that do not interfere with daily life.
Innovation Solution
A watching detection device mounted on the ear, utilizing a cartilage conduction vibration source and short-range communication, which functions as both a hearing aid and a monitoring tool, communicating with a mobile phone and notification device to provide alerts on masticatory movements and voice presence without revealing conversation contents, ensuring comfortable wear and privacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a watching detection device is mounted on the ear to monitor activities and conditions, then monitoring effectiveness is improved, but comfort and privacy are worsened due to constant wear and potential intrusion into personal space
Solution Approach 1:
The ear-mounted device integrates multiple functions including cartilage conduction for audio output, bone conduction microphone for voice detection, and masticatory movement sensing, allowing a single device to serve both as a hearing aid and a watching detection device, reducing the need for multiple separate devices that would compromise comfort
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses cartilage conduction as an intermediary mechanism to transmit audio signals without blocking the ear canal, and bone conduction to detect voice signals, enabling monitoring and communication functions while maintaining ear canal openness and user comfort
2Measurement precision
If the air conduction microphone is used during phone calls, then voice signal quality is improved, but privacy is worsened as conversation contents can be detected by others
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and prioritizes bone conduction microphone signals during phone calls, which capture voice through bone vibrations rather than air conduction, thereby obtaining voice signals while preventing external eavesdropping that would occur with air conduction microphones
Solution Approach 2:
The device applies different microphone characteristics to different functions: the bone conduction microphone is optimized for private voice capture during calls, while the air conduction microphone handles ambient sound detection, allowing each microphone to operate in its optimal mode for specific purposes
3Adaptability or versatility
If the watching detection device monitors all activities including masticatory movements, then monitoring comprehensiveness is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges the masticatory movement sensor with the cartilage conduction vibration source, allowing a single component to serve dual purposes: detecting chewing movements for monitoring while also functioning as the vibration source for cartilage conduction audio output
4Loss of information
If the bone conduction microphone is activated during phone calls, then privacy is improved by preventing eavesdropping, but voice signal detection capability is worsened compared to air conduction
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the cartilage conduction vibration source to enhance bone conduction microphone performance during calls, creating a coupled system where the vibration source and detection sensor work together to improve signal quality while maintaining privacy
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 enables effective monitoring of individuals' activities and conditions while maintaining comfort and privacy, allowing for timely notifications of abnormalities or urgent situations without intruding on personal conversations.
Implementation Method 1
vibration generated by a vibration source contacting an ear cartilage around the entrance part of an external auditory canal causes air-conducted sound to be generated from a cartilage surface inside the external auditory canal
Implementation Method 2
a bone conduction microphone
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
This watching system is provided with: a watching detection device that is provided with a cartilage conduction vibration source, a mastication sensor, and a bone conduction microphone and that is configured to be mounted on an ear such that the entry of the ear canal is opened; and a mobile phone or an in-home monitoring unit that receives watching detection signals from the mastication sensor and the bone conduction microphone by means of short-range communication and issues a notification to the outside. The watching detection device has an air conduction microphone and also functions as a hearing aid. When detection signals cannot be received from the mastication sensor or the bone conduction microphone for a predetermined time period, a notification is issued to the outside. The mobile phone and the in-home monitoring unit crosscheck watching detection information. The mobile phone also issues a notification of information indicating that there is no abnormality. Regarding an audio signal from the bone conduction microphone, a notification of only whether the audio signal is present is issued to the outside, and no notification of the contents of the audio signal is issued, so that privacy is protected. Regarding audio signals indicating high urgency such as a scream, and a call for help, etc., a notification of the real voice is issued exceptionally.