Earpiece with Cup Holes for In-Front Sound Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional earphones face challenges in achieving cost-effective manufacturing due to complex structures and increased components, which hinder external sound guidance, leading to difficulties in predicting environmental dangers and maintaining high sound quality.
Innovation Solution
An earpiece design featuring a central tube section, cup section, and plug section with adjustable cup holes and sound channel holes, allowing for in-front sound localization and external sound perception while minimizing manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional earphone structures with multiple sound channels and reflected sound components are used, then in-front sound localization is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The earpiece is divided into multiple functional sections: a sound channel hole for direct sound transmission, cup holes for external sound entry, and an internal space for sound reflection and mixing. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, achieving complex sound localization effects through simple, modular structures that reduce manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines direct sound transmission (through the sound channel hole) and reflected sound transmission (through the internal space and cup holes) into a single integrated earpiece structure. This merging of multiple sound paths within one component achieves in-front localization without requiring separate devices or complex assembly, thereby reducing overall device complexity
2Measurement precision
If earphones are designed to block external noise for high sound quality, then sound quality improves, but external sound perception deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The earpiece applies different acoustic properties to different regions: the sound channel hole provides a direct, unobstructed path for high-quality audio transmission, while the cup holes strategically positioned on the outer surface allow external sound to enter the internal space. This local differentiation of acoustic characteristics enables simultaneous achievement of high sound quality and external sound perception
Solution Approach 2:
The internal space acts as an intermediary chamber that receives both direct sound from the sound channel hole and external sound through the cup holes. This intermediate space mixes the two sound sources and directs them toward the eardrum, allowing the ear to perceive both high-quality audio and environmental sounds without compromising either
3Loss of information
If conventional canal type earpieces with through holes are used, then external sound can be heard, but in-front sound localization is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The earpiece features an asymmetric configuration where the sound channel hole is positioned centrally for direct sound transmission, while multiple cup holes are positioned off-center on the outer surface of the cup section. This asymmetric arrangement creates distinct acoustic paths with different characteristics, enabling the brain to perceive sound directionality and achieve in-front localization while maintaining external sound perception
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 enables realistic in-front sound localization and improved external sound perception, allowing users to predict environmental dangers while maintaining high sound quality and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of cup holes 17 penetrating the cup section 14 in a radial direction are formed near an outer surface of the cup section 14
Implementation Method 2
a sound channel hole 13E through which the sound channel space 13A and an internal space 20 inside the cup section 14 communicate with each other is formed in the central tube section 13
Data Source
AI summary
In an earpiece 10 of the present invention, mainly, a plug section 15 is fitted into a sound channel space 13A of a central tube section 13, and the plug section 15 is formed with a sound channel long hole 15B penetrating in a longitudinal direction thereof and sound channel short holes 15G penetrating in lateral directions thereof. With this structure, a very small part of sound transmitted from a stem section 12 is directly transmitted to the eardrum through an aperture 15A, but most of the sound transmitted from the stem section 12 is directly transmitted via an internal space 20 to the eardrum. Then, the user perceives the sound having detoured as indirect sound that comes from the front of himself/herself with a time difference, and thereby can feel out-of-head sound localization and sound spread, thereby experiencing a sense of direction from the front and realistic sensation.