In-Ear Earphone with Rotatable Hinge for Pressure Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current earphones either fail to provide secure fit and comfort due to pressure on sensitive areas or compromise sound quality by not fully sealing the ear canal, and existing designs do not allow for adjustable positions that balance noise reduction and ambient sound awareness.
Innovation Solution
An in-ear earphone design featuring a cylindrical hinge and a bendable element that allows the earphone to be worn in two positions, one with the sound opening near the ear canal entrance and another with the earphone partially inside, distributing pressure and maintaining comfort while providing adjustable noise reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If in-ear-canalphones are used to provide good noise insulation and sound quality, then sound insulation and audio quality are improved, but they cause unpleasant and painful sensations during long-term wear due to strong pressure on the sensitive area of the external auditory canal
Solution Approach 1:
The earphone incorporates a rotatable shaft that allows the acoustic housing to be positioned in different orientations within the ear. This dynamic adjustment capability enables users to switch between positions that provide noise insulation and positions that reduce pressure on sensitive areas, resolving the contradiction between noise insulation and comfort during long-term wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the positional parameter of the acoustic housing relative to the ear canal by enabling rotation around the shaft axis. This parameter change allows the same earphone device to provide different levels of noise insulation and pressure distribution, letting users optimize between sound quality and comfort based on their needs.
2Shape
If in-ear-canalphones completely plug the ear canal to provide good noise insulation, then noise insulation is improved, but it becomes difficult to outflow from sebaceous and sulfur glands and hearing of ambient sounds is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable shaft mechanism allows users to dynamically adjust the earphone position to switch between a plugged configuration that provides noise insulation and a more open configuration that allows ambient sound perception and gland outflow, resolving the contradiction between noise insulation and physiological function.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If earbuds are used to avoid pressure on sensitive areas and allow hearing surrounding sounds, then comfort and ambient sound awareness are improved, but they do not completely cover the external auditory canal resulting in degraded audio quality and poor sound insulation
Solution Approach 1:
The earphone allows dynamic repositioning of the acoustic housing along and around the shaft, enabling users to switch between an earbud-like position that avoids pressure and an in-canal position that provides better audio quality and noise insulation, thus resolving the contradiction between comfort and audio performance.
4Shape
If earbuds are supplied with a directed-into-the ear canal pin with soft sealing cushion to increase useful volume, then audio quality is improved, but they acquire all the disadvantages of in-ear-canalphones including pressure on sensitive areas
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a fixed pin structure that forces deep insertion, the invention provides a rotatable shaft that allows the acoustic housing to be positioned at different depths and angles. This enables the earphone to achieve good audio quality without necessarily inserting deep into the ear canal, thus avoiding pressure on sensitive areas while maintaining useful volume.
5Adaptability or versatility
If existing earphone designs allow adjustment of position inside the ear, then adaptability is improved, but they are either cumbersome with hook-shaped structure or limited to earbuds only without transformation into in-ear-canalphones
Solution Approach 1:
The earphone design with rotatable shaft and bendable element provides multi-functionality, allowing the same device to be used as an earbud or transformed into an in-ear-canalphone by rotating the shaft. This universal design achieves position adjustment and adaptability without requiring cumbersome hook-shaped structures, as the rotation mechanism itself enables transformation between usage modes.
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 design ensures secure fit and comfort by distributing pressure across less sensitive areas and allows for improved sound quality and noise control by adjusting the earphone's position within the ear canal.
Implementation Method 1
a mounting part coupled to the acoustic housing through a cylindrical hinge and having a rotatable wire guide
Implementation Method 2
an acoustic housing (1) including at least one electroacoustic transducer (8) and at least one sound opening (2)
Data Source
AI summary
An earphone includes an acoustic housing including an electroacoustic transducer and an opening, a wire connected to the electroacoustic transducer, a mounting part coupled to the acoustic housing through a cylindrical hinge and having a rotatable wire guide, and a bendable element connected to the mounting part near an axis of rotation of the wire guide. The wire is connected to the wire guide. The sound opening is opposite the axis of rotation. The bendable element and an outer portion of the wire guide in a first orientation are in the same plane as the axis of rotation and oriented in a generally opposite direction from the axis of rotation. The outer portion of the wire guide is oriented towards the sound opening. The outer portion of the wire guide and the bendable element are movable through at least 50 degrees from the first to a second orientation.