Earphone PCB Layout Around a Columnar Battery for Antenna Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ear-clip earphones face challenges in spatial limitations of batteries on antenna assemblies and signal interference due to increased circuit elements and power requirements.

Innovation Solution

The earphone design incorporates a circuit board assembly with first and second rigid circuit boards arranged at intervals along the battery's axial direction, overlapping projections with battery surfaces, and a flexible circuit board connecting them, optimizing space utilization and integrating more circuit elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a larger-volume battery is used to meet power supply requirements, then power supply capability is improved, but spatial limitations on antenna assemblies worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply capabilityVSAvoidspace for antenna assemblies
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The circuit board assembly transitions from a planar two-dimensional layout to a three-dimensional folded structure that wraps around the battery. The first and second rigid circuit boards are positioned at opposite ends of the battery along its axial direction, with flexible circuit boards connecting them, creating a spatial configuration that utilizes the vertical dimension and circumferential space around the battery, thereby accommodating more circuit elements without increasing the overall footprint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit board assembly is nested around the battery in a concentric arrangement. The rigid circuit boards are positioned at the ends of the battery with their projections overlapping the battery's end surfaces, while the flexible circuit boards wrap around the circumferential surface of the battery, creating a nested configuration where the circuit board assembly fits within the spatial envelope defined by the battery's dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If more circuit elements are integrated into the earphone, then functionality is improved, but signal interference worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidsignal interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The circuit board assembly is divided into multiple separate rigid circuit boards (first and second rigid circuit boards) connected by flexible circuit boards, rather than using a single large circuit board. This segmentation allows different functional modules to be distributed across separate boards, enabling better spatial separation of signal paths and reducing electromagnetic interference between different circuit elements while maintaining overall functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If circuit board area is increased to accommodate more elements, then circuit element space utilization is improved, but assembly complexity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit element space utilizationVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple rigid circuit boards and flexible circuit boards are merged into an integrated circuit board assembly that functions as a unified structure. The flexible circuit boards serve dual purposes as both connectors between rigid boards and as structural elements that maintain spatial relationships, reducing the need for additional fasteners or mounting mechanisms and simplifying the overall assembly process despite the increased number of circuit elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4697746A1headphone
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO LTD
  • EP4697746A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4697746A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4697746A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is an earphone. The earphone includes a first housing assembly configured to form an accommodation cavity, a battery, and a circuit board assembly, the battery and the circuit board assembly being disposed in the accommodation cavity. The battery is arranged in a columnar shape. The circuit board assembly includes a first rigid circuit board, a second rigid circuit board, and a first flexible circuit board, the first rigid circuit board and the second rigid circuit board are arranged at intervals at two ends of the battery along an axial direction of the battery, the first flexible circuit board connects the first rigid circuit board and the second rigid circuit board, a projection of the first rigid circuit board and a projection of the second rigid circuit board along the axial direction of the battery at least partially overlap with an end surface of the battery, and a projection of the first flexible circuit board along a radial direction of the battery at least partially overlaps with a circumferential surface of the battery. In this way, the interference from the battery on the antenna assembly can be effectively reduced, so that the performance of the antenna assembly is effectively improved, and meanwhile, the space utilization rate between the antenna assembly and the battery assembly is also effectively improved.