Earpiece Optical Vibration Detection System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable devices like earpieces face challenges in effectively detecting and minimizing the impact of bone vibrations, which can cause signal distortion and mechanical malfunctions, leading to potential transmission or reception failures.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a system within the earpiece that uses a coherent light source and receiver, such as a laser Doppler vibrometer, to measure bone vibrations by transmitting light towards the user's body and processing the reflected light to determine vibration measurements, thereby minimizing mechanical disturbances and signal interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If bone vibration detection is implemented in wearable earpieces, then vibration measurement capability is improved, but signal distortion and mechanical malfunctions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical measurement system that indirectly detects bone vibrations through optical reflection rather than direct mechanical contact. The optical sensor acts as a mediator that captures vibration information without physically touching or constraining the bone, thereby enabling accurate vibration measurement while avoiding the mechanical interference and signal distortion that would occur with direct mechanical sensing in the ear canal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical vibration sensing mechanisms with an optical measurement system. Instead of using mechanical transducers or microphones that directly contact the bone and risk causing distortion or malfunction, the system uses coherent light sources and optical sensors to measure bone vibrations through optical reflection, substituting a mechanical field with an optical field to eliminate mechanical interference.
2Measurement precision
If mechanical contact sensors are used to detect bone vibrations, then vibration detection is achieved, but mechanical malfunctions and signal distortion occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical contact by substituting it with an optical measurement system. Coherent light sources transmit light through or near the bone, and optical sensors detect reflected light to measure vibrations. This replacement of mechanical sensing with optical sensing removes the source of mechanical disturbances and malfunctions while preserving vibration detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses optical fields as an intermediary to detect bone vibrations without mechanical contact. The optical sensor serves as a mediator that captures vibration information through non-contact optical reflection, thereby measuring vibrations accurately while avoiding the harmful mechanical interactions that would occur with direct contact sensors.
3Reliability
If signal attenuation is applied to compensate for vibrations, then signal quality improves, but transmission effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary detection and characterization of bone vibrations using the optical sensor system. By measuring the vibration patterns in advance and in real-time, the system can proactively compensate for vibration effects on signal transmission, allowing for dynamic adjustment of transmission parameters before signal degradation occurs, thereby maintaining both signal quality and transmission effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the optical sensor continuously monitors bone vibrations and feeds this information back to the signal processing system. This feedback allows the system to dynamically adjust signal transmission parameters in response to actual vibration conditions, enabling real-time compensation that maintains signal quality without sacrificing transmission effectiveness.
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 approach allows for accurate detection and mitigation of bone vibrations, reducing the likelihood of signal failures and maintaining effective earpiece functionality by neutralizing vibrations and transmitting corrected signals.
Implementation Method 1
a light source operatively connected to the earpiece housing and configured to transmit light toward an outer surface of a user's body... a light receiver operatively connected to the earpiece housing proximate to the light source configured to receive reflected light from the light transmitted to the outer surface of the user's body
Implementation Method 2
The light source and light receiver may comprise a laser Doppler vibrometer. The bone vibration measurements may comprise either the velocity or the displace pattern of one or more bone vibrations.
Implementation Method 3
The light source and light receiver may comprise a laser Doppler vibrometer
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes at least one earpiece wherein each earpiece comprises an earpiece housing, a light source operatively connected to each earpiece housing and configured to transmit substantially coherent light toward an outer surface of a user's body, a light receiver operatively connected to the earpiece housing proximate to the light source and configured to receive reflected light from the outer surface of the user's body, and one or more processors disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to the light source and light receiver, wherein one or more processors is configured to determine bone vibration measurements from the reflected light. A method of determining bone vibrations includes providing at least one earpiece, transmitting substantially coherent light toward an outer surface of a user's body using the earpiece, receiving reflected light from the outer surface of the user's body using the earpiece, and determining bone vibration measurements using the earpiece.