Earphone-Type Auditory Meatus Sensor for Chewing Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional chewing action detection devices face challenges such as sensor size and airtight attachment difficulties, and noise issues with optical sensors leading to imprecise detection.

Innovation Solution

A chewing detection device featuring earphone-type external auditory meatus sensors with light emitting and receiving elements, association processing, and chewing section sensing means to filter noise and accurately detect jaw movements, allowing for long-term wear and precise chewing detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a pressure sensor is used to detect movement of the external auditory meatus, then chewing action can be detected, but the sensor grows in size and needs to be attached airtightly, making it difficult to attach for long times

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechewing action detectionVSAvoidattachment difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the pressure sensor (mechanical sensing system) with an optical sensor that uses light emission and reception to detect chewing actions. This substitution eliminates the need for airtight attachment and mechanical pressure measurement, allowing for easier long-term wear while maintaining detection capability through optical detection of external auditory meatus movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If an optical sensor is used to detect chewing action, then attachment becomes easier and long-term wear is possible, but the signal contains many noises making precise chewing detection difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment easeVSAvoidchewing action detection precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback processing by having the external auditory meatus sensor continuously monitor light reflection changes, and the determination unit analyzes these signals to distinguish genuine chewing actions from noise. The system uses threshold comparison and signal validation to confirm chewing events, filtering out false positives while maintaining the ease of optical sensor attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Duration of action of stationary object

If the external auditory meatus sensor is made earphone-type for comfortable wear, then long-term wear is enabled, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewear durationVSAvoidsensor structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the external auditory meatus sensor to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a chewing detection device and a compatible earphone component. The light emitting and receiving elements are integrated into the earphone structure, allowing the same device to provide both auditory feedback and chewing detection, thereby reducing overall system complexity while enabling long-term wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 device provides precise chewing detection with minimal wear load, enabling hands-free operations and accurate command signal generation, effectively overcoming previous sensor size and noise issues.

Implementation Method 1

the light receiving element receives reflective light of light emitted by the light emitting element into an external auditory meatus to output a voltage signal corresponding to a light receiving amount

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS10588548B2Chewing detecting device

Publication Date: 2020.03.17 LOTTE CO LTD

AI summary

A chewing detecting device includes: earphone-type external auditory meatus sensors which have a pair of a light emitting element and a light receiving element and in which the light receiving element receives reflective light of light emitted by the light emitting element into an external auditory meatus to output a voltage signal corresponding to a light receiving amount; association processing means associating an output signal of the external auditory meatus sensors with a motion of a jaw, and outputting a chewing signal showing that the jaw performs chewing; and chewing section sensing means which determines whether or not an output of the external auditory meatus sensors is based on the motion of the jaw (within a chewing section), and which invalidates the output of the association processing means when the output of the external auditory meatus sensors is not based on the motion of the jaw (without the chewing section).