Earphone Light Receiver Sound Passage Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional earphones that control external devices by detecting changes in the external auditory canal face challenges in maintaining sound quality due to the interference between sound and light passages, which affects the detection sensitivity and sound propagation.

Innovation Solution

The earphone design includes a sound passage pipe and a light radiator positioned within a housing, allowing light to be reflected off the external auditory canal and converted into a signal without obstructing sound transmission, ensuring both sound quality and accurate signal conversion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the sound passage is widened to improve sound quality, then the sound quality is improved, but the light passage becomes narrow which decreases the quantity of light reaching the light receiver

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequantity of light reaching light receiverVSAvoidsound passage width

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The passage is divided into a sound passage and a light passage that are spatially separated. The sound passage guides sound from the speaker to the external auditory canal, while the light passage guides light from the light emitter to the light receiver. This segmentation allows both passages to have adequate width for their respective functions without interfering with each other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The light passage is positioned in a different spatial dimension relative to the sound passage. By arranging the light emitter and light receiver such that light travels through a different path than sound, the patent achieves adequate width for both passages within the constrained space of the earphone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Illumination intensity

If the light emitter and light receiver are disposed on the sound passage to increase light quantity, then the quantity of light reaching the light receiver increases, but they constitute an obstacle to sound propagation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequantity of light reaching light receiverVSAvoidobstacle to sound propagation

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates the light transmission path from the sound transmission path. The light emitter and light receiver are positioned to create a dedicated light passage that does not obstruct the sound passage, eliminating the harmful effect of sound propagation obstacles while maintaining adequate light quantity for detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If both passages are widened to improve sound quality and maintain detection sensitivity, then both functions are improved, but the size restriction on the external auditory canal section prevents this

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection sensitivityVSAvoidpassage width

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the internal space into separate sound and light passages, the patent achieves adequate width for both passages within the constrained overall size. Each passage is optimized for its specific function without requiring the total volume to increase, thus maintaining detection sensitivity while ensuring good sound quality within the size restrictions of the external auditory canal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 configuration enables accurate conversion of external auditory canal changes into signals while maintaining sound quality, allowing for effective control of external devices without compromising sound production.

Implementation Method 1

a light receiver disposed in the internal space of the housing and configured to convert the light into a signal, the light having been reflected off the external auditory canal and passed through an internal space of the sound passage pipe

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric conversion: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

a sound passage pipe having a tubular shape and configured to be inserted into an external auditory canal to guide sound produced at the audio transmitter into the external auditory canal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic wave propagation: Sound

Implementation Method 3

a radiator configured to radiate light into the external auditory canal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Data Source

PatentUS10595115B2Earphone

Publication Date: 2020.03.17 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

An earphone includes an audio transmitter, a housing, a sound passage pipe, a radiator, and a light receiver. The audio transmitter transmits sound. The housing has an internal space for containing the audio transmitter. The sound passage pipe guides sound produced at the audio transmitter into an external auditory canal. The radiator radiates light into the external auditory canal. The light receiver is disposed in the internal space of the housing. The light receiver converts the light into a signal, the light having been reflected off the external auditory canal and passed through an internal space of the sound passage pipe. The housing, the sound passage pipe, and the radiator are disposed in this order.