Earphone Controlled Leak Port for Acoustic Pressure Equalization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Intra-canal earphones suffer from sound quality issues due to external vibration amplification, while intra-concha earphones experience sound leakage and inconsistent acoustic performance due to varying ear shapes and sizes.

Innovation Solution

An earphone design featuring a housing with a primary output opening for sound and a secondary output opening, or controlled leak port, aligned at an acute angle to vent air and modify acoustic pressure, ensuring consistent sound delivery across users.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If intra-canal earphones form a sealed cavity with the ear canal wall, then sound output power is maximized, but external vibrations are amplified and sound quality diminishes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound output powerVSAvoidexternal vibration amplification

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The earphone system is segmented into two functional pathways: a primary sealed acoustic pathway for sound delivery and a secondary controlled leak port for pressure equalization. This segmentation allows the sealed cavity to maintain sound output power while the separate leak port prevents external vibration amplification by allowing controlled air exchange.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The controlled leak port acts as an intermediary element between the sealed acoustic cavity and the external environment. It mediates the pressure differential caused by external vibrations, allowing air to escape or enter the cavity in a controlled manner, thereby preventing vibration amplification while preserving sound quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If intra-concha earphones do not seal within the ear canal, then external vibration amplification is avoided, but sound leakage occurs and acoustic performance becomes inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexternal vibration amplification avoidanceVSAvoidacoustic performance consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the critical parameter of acoustic sealing from binary (sealed vs. open) to a controlled gradient system. The controlled leak port provides a regulated air exchange pathway that maintains consistent acoustic pressure across different ear canal geometries, making acoustic performance reliable regardless of individual ear variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The controlled leak port serves multiple functions simultaneously: it prevents external vibration amplification, maintains consistent acoustic pressure across different users, and enables reliable bass response. This multi-functionality allows the same design to work consistently across diverse ear canal shapes and sizes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If a controlled leak port is added to vent air and modify acoustic pressure, then sound quality and consistency are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic performance consistencyVSAvoidhousing structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controlled leak port is merged with the existing earphone housing structure rather than being a separate component. It is integrated into the body portion of the housing, combining the functions of structural support and acoustic pressure regulation in a single element, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The controlled leak port utilizes a flexible membrane or thin film structure that can dynamically respond to pressure changes. This flexible structure provides the necessary acoustic pressure regulation without requiring complex mechanical components, maintaining simplicity in the housing design while achieving the desired acoustic performance consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 controlled leak port enhances sound quality by reducing external vibrations and ensuring consistent acoustic performance by maintaining a controlled air leakage, improving bass response and frequency tuning.

Implementation Method 1

A secondary output opening for venting air to the external environment is formed in a face of the body portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir venting:

Implementation Method 2

secondary output opening may be calibrated to reduce a sound pressure level at a peak around 6 kHz and tune a frequency response of the earphone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic pressure equalization:

Data Source

PatentUS11750966B2Earphone having a controlled acoustic leak port

Publication Date: 2023.09.05 APPLE INC

AI summary

An earphone comprising: an earphone housing having a cap portion and a body portion that interlock with one another to enclose a driver, the driver having a front face that outputs sound waves and a back face opposite the front face, the cap portion defines a first chamber coupled to the front face of the driver and the body portion defines a second chamber coupled to the back face of the driver, a first opening formed through the cap portion; a first port and a second port formed through the body portion and open to a surrounding environment; and a mesh coupled to the first opening, the first port or the second port.