Earphone Vibration Unit with Elastic Body for Cartilage Conduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hearing devices and vibration units for hearing devices face challenges in providing effective cartilage conduction and efficient vibration transmission, particularly in noisy environments, where traditional methods struggle to maintain clear audio quality.
Innovation Solution
The use of an electromagnetic vibrating element with an elastic body interposed between two moving parts, which serves as a cartilage conduction unit, effectively transmitting vibrations to the ear cartilage, allowing for improved cartilage conduction in hearing devices like mobile telephones and earphones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional air conduction speakers are used, then audio transmission is simple, but audio clarity deteriorates in noisy environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an elastic body as an intermediary medium between the vibrating element and the ear cartilage. This elastic body transmits vibrations through cartilage conduction, providing an alternative transmission path that bypasses the air conduction route which is susceptible to noise interference, thereby improving audio clarity in noisy environments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional air conduction mechanical system with a cartilage conduction system. By directly transmitting vibrations through the elastic body to the ear cartilage, it substitutes the air medium with a solid mechanical transmission path, achieving better noise rejection and audio clarity
2Reliability
If bone conduction speakers are used, then audio clarity improves in noisy environments, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the speaker function and bone conduction function into a single integrated structure. The same vibrating element that generates sound waves also directly transmits vibrations through the elastic body to the ear cartilage, combining air conduction and cartilage conduction into one unified system without requiring separate bone conduction speakers
Solution Approach 2:
The vibrating element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both an air conduction speaker and a cartilage conduction vibration source. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while still providing improved audio clarity
3Reliability
If manual pressure adjustment is used, then cartilage conduction efficiency can be adjusted, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic body automatically adapts to the user's ear cartilage when the device is worn. The material's inherent elasticity allows it to self-adjust to the contact surface and apply optimal pressure without requiring manual adjustment by the user, thereby maintaining cartilage conduction efficiency while improving ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic body provides dynamic adaptation to the user's ear structure. As the user's ear cartilage has different shapes and positions, the elastic material dynamically conforms to these variations, automatically optimizing the contact area and pressure distribution without requiring manual intervention
4Reliability
If through-holes are formed in earphone casings, then audio transmission is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio transmission function into multiple pathways: air conduction through the through-hole and cartilage conduction through the elastic body. This segmentation allows the through-hole to be optimized for audio transmission while the elastic body compensates for any imperfections in hole positioning, reducing the overall manufacturing precision requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission medium parameter from solely air to a combination of air and solid elastic material. By introducing the elastic body as an additional transmission path, the system becomes less sensitive to the precise positioning and dimensions of the through-hole, thereby reducing manufacturing precision requirements
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 enhances audio transmission by utilizing cartilage conduction, reducing noise interference and improving audio clarity, especially in noisy conditions, while maintaining a compact design that does not protrude from the device.
Implementation Method 1
an electromagnetic vibrating element of which two parts that move relative to each other are supported with an elastic body interposed in between
Implementation Method 2
an electromagnetic vibrating element of which two parts that move relative to each other are supported with an elastic body interposed in between
Implementation Method 3
vibration for cartilage conduction is extracted from at least one of the two parts
Implementation Method 4
the elastic body serves as a cartilage conduction unit that makes contact with the ear cartilage
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a portable telephone or an earphone or an electromagnetic-type vibration unit that comprises an electromagnetic-type vibrator including two mutually relatively moving portions supported via an elastic body, and that is configured to produce vibrations from at least one of the two portions for cartilage conduction. The elastic body provides a cartilage conduction portion to be contacted with the ear cartilage. The elastic body is disposed on or in the vicinity of an upper corner portion of a housing. One of the two portions is supported on a housing structure with the elastic body supported by the housing structure, and the other of the two portions is supported by the elastic body. Of the two portions, one with a greater weight is supported by the elastic body. Of the two portions, one or a portion connected thereto provides a cartilage conduction portion to be contacted with the ear cartilage, with the elastic body disposed between the two portions. From both of the two portions, vibrations to be conducted to the elastic body are obtained.