Earbud Housing Nested Acoustic Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing headsets face challenges in achieving a comfortable fit, optimal acoustic performance, intuitive user interfaces, and efficient manufacturing, particularly in compact designs that balance size, weight, and aesthetics while integrating multiple components effectively.
Innovation Solution
The headset design incorporates a compact unit with a primary housing and an earbud member, where components like speakers, microphones, antennas, and circuitry are strategically placed within the earbud and primary housing, utilizing processes like extrusion and deep draw processes to create a seamless, compact form that integrates multiple functions without increasing size, and employs flexible circuit boards and hidden acoustic ports to enhance acoustical performance and aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the headset size is decreased to improve comfort and wearability, then the weight and bulk are reduced, but achieving desired receiver and microphone acoustic performance becomes increasingly difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing the receiver assembly inside the earpiece housing, creating a compact nested structure. The receiver is positioned within the housing cavity, allowing the acoustic chamber to be formed within the limited space of the earpiece, thus maintaining acoustic performance while minimizing overall headset size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes three-dimensional spatial optimization by strategically positioning the receiver assembly at specific coordinates within the earpiece housing. The acoustic chamber is formed by utilizing the depth and width dimensions of the housing, creating an efficient acoustic path that maximizes performance within the constrained volume.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components (microphone, speaker, electronics, battery, connector) are integrated into a compact headset, then functionality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functional components into a unified compact structure. The earpiece housing integrates the receiver assembly, microphone, electronics, and battery into a single cohesive unit that can be comfortably worn in the ear, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The earpiece housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, houses the acoustic components, contains the electronics and battery, and interfaces with the user's ear. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall device architecture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the headset is designed to fit a wide range of ear sizes and shapes, then adaptability is improved, but the precision of fit for any individual ear may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing the earpiece housing with specific ergonomic contours that adapt to different ear geometries. The housing includes rounded edges, flexible sealing surfaces, and adjustable positioning features that can accommodate variations in ear size and shape while maintaining a precise seal and comfortable fit for each user.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided an earbud (1000) comprising: an earbud housing including an earbud member (1020) integrally formed with and protruding away from a first end of an elongate tube (1010), a bezel (1125, 2730) coupled to the earbud member; a first acoustic port (1021, 2733) formed through the bezel, a screen (2731) coupled to the bezel and covering the first acoustic port, a speaker disposed in the earbud member (1020) and aligned to emit sound through the first acoustic port (1021), a second acoustic port (432) formed at a second end of the elongate tube (1010) opposite the first end, a microphone (324) disposed in the elongated tube (1010) and operatively coupled to receive sound through the second acoustic port, a rechargeable battery disposed within the earbud housing, battery charging circuitry coupled to the rechargeable battery and positioned within the earbud housing, the battery charging circuitry operable to charge the rechargeable battery when connected to an external power supply, a wireless antenna (1415), and a processor (20, 1411) for controlling earbud functions.