Earbud Temperature Sensor Housing Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing earbuds face challenges in integrating a temperature sensor to accurately measure core body temperature due to space constraints from densely packed sound components.
Innovation Solution
The earbud design incorporates a housing with specific openings that align with areas near the ear canal, eardrum, tragus, cavum conchae, antitragus, or cheek, allowing a temperature sensor to detect body temperature with high accuracy and without obstructing the sound components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sound components are densely packed in the earbud housing, then the audio functionality is maintained, but space for temperature sensor integration is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the temperature sensor on the exterior surface of the earbud housing rather than integrating it within the internal component structure. This spatial relocation from the internal three-dimensional space to the external surface allows temperature sensing functionality to coexist with densely packed sound components inside the housing, resolving the space constraint issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The earbud is divided into functional zones: sound components are contained within the housing interior while the temperature sensor is separated and positioned on the exterior surface. This segmentation allows independent optimization of audio and temperature sensing functions without interference, enabling both dense audio component packaging and accurate temperature measurement.
2Measurement precision
If a temperature sensor is integrated inside the housing, then temperature sensing is possible, but it interferes with sound component space and airtightness
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor is relocated from the internal volume to the external surface of the housing, eliminating the need to compromise internal component packaging or airtight seals. The sensor detects body temperature through the housing material from the exterior, maintaining full airtightness while enabling temperature measurement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If openings are added for temperature sensing, then non-contact temperature detection is enabled, but airtightness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The housing material itself acts as an intermediary medium that allows the temperature sensor to detect body temperature through it from the exterior opening. This eliminates the need for direct optical line-of-sight openings while maintaining airtightness, as the housing material transmits thermal radiation for sensing purposes.
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
This design enables accurate non-contact temperature sensing while maintaining sufficient space for sound components, ensuring good airtightness and high accuracy in body temperature measurement.
Implementation Method 1
The first temperature sensor is positioned along an interior surface of the housing and aligned with the second opening in the housing for non-contact temperature sensing
Data Source
AI summary
An earbud with temperature sensing is provided, and the earbud includes a housing and a first temperature sensor. The housing defines a second opening and a third opening. The first temperature sensor is positioned along an interior surface of the housing and aligned with the second opening in the housing for non-contact temperature sensing. In response to the earbud being positioned for use within an ear of a user, the second opening aligns with an inner side of the tragus close to the ear canal, the cavum conchae, an inner edge of the antitragus, or the cheek close to the ear, such that the first temperature sensor detects a body temperature of the user through the second opening.