Earphone Variable Loop Retention for Anatomical Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional earphones are often unsuitable for a wide range of ear anatomies, prone to unwanted removal, especially when wet, and lack effective adjustment mechanisms for individual fit.
Innovation Solution
An earphone design featuring a loop of variable geometry formed by the transmission cable that engages the ear's concha or antihelix, providing adjustable retention and resistance to removal, combined with a weighted sound tube to balance the earphone body and enhance retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an interference fit between the earphone body and the ear is used to hold the earphone in place, then the earphone body can be retained in the ear, but the earphone becomes prone to unwanted removal when the interface becomes wet and is not suited to a wide spectrum of ear anatomies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the loop geometry adjustable rather than fixed. The loop can be deformed and reconfigured to match different ear anatomies, allowing the same earphone design to adapt to various users. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction between reliable retention and adaptability to different ear shapes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by allowing the loop's geometric parameters (shape, size, configuration) to be modified to suit different ear anatomies. The loop can be stretched, compressed, or repositioned to create an optimal fit for each user, thereby maintaining reliable retention across diverse ear types without requiring multiple specialized designs.
2Reliability
If a retaining clip is provided around the external perimeter of the pinna to prevent unwanted removal, then resistance to removal is improved, but the earphone becomes unsightly and cannot be readily adjusted to individual ear anatomies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the retention function with the transmission cable itself by forming a loop from the cable that engages with the ear anatomy. Instead of adding a separate retaining clip as an auxiliary component, the cable is configured to perform both signal transmission and retention functions, thereby improving resistance to removal without adding visual complexity or reducing adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission cable is given multiple functions: it transmits electrical signals to the earphone body and simultaneously forms a retention loop that engages with the ear. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate retaining mechanisms, maintaining aesthetics while providing reliable retention and adjustability for individual ear anatomies.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the earphone body is located closer to the eardrum to reduce power requirements, then less electrical power is needed, but the earphone becomes more prone to unwanted removal and is harder to accommodate in smaller ears
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the retention problem by adding a spatial dimension through the loop structure. The loop extends from the earphone body to engage with the concha or other external ear surfaces, creating a retention mechanism that operates in a different spatial dimension than the simple insertion depth. This allows the earphone body to remain close to the eardrum for energy efficiency while the loop provides additional anchoring to prevent removal.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
An in-ear earphone (1) comprises an earphone body (2) and a transmission cable (3) for transmission of electrical signals to a speaker of the earphone. The earphone is adapted to be worn, at least partly, in the external auditory meatus (M) of the ear of the wearer and between, or internally of, the tragus and anti-tragus in the ear. A loop (4) formed at least in part by a part of the transmission cable assists in retaining the earphone in the ear. The loop is of variable length/geometry, which may be set by the loop being held in a passage (7) through, or a recess (107) in, the earphone body. When the earphone body (1) is in place, the loop is located at least partly in the concha (C) of the wearer and engages a surface of the ear, for example a portion of the ear forming the antihelix.