Ear-canal Earpiece with Oscillatable Diaphragm for Ambient Sound
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ear canal earpieces effectively seal the ear canal, reducing external noise but impairing sound quality and ambient sound transmission, leading to isolation from environmental sounds which can be dangerous, especially for musicians or individuals in public.
Innovation Solution
An ear canal earpiece design featuring a sound guide unit with an oscillatable diaphragm that seals the canal while allowing ambient sound to pass through, utilizing damping units at the ends to enhance frequency response and minimize adverse acoustic effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ear canal earpiece seals the ear canal to improve fitment and bass reproduction, then the wearing comfort and bass quality are improved, but the transmission of ambient sound is severely restricted and acoustic properties are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The earpiece system is segmented into two independent parts: the earpiece itself and the otoplastic means (earmold portion). The earpiece provides the sound transducer and sealing function, while the otoplastic means provides the custom fit and ambient sound transmission pathway, allowing each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other
Solution Approach 2:
The otoplastic means acts as an intermediary element between the earpiece and the ear canal. It provides a custom-molded interface that maintains the seal for bass reproduction while incorporating design features that allow ambient sound to reach the ear canal, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of sealing and ambient sound transmission
2Manufacturing precision
If the ear canal earpiece closes the ear canal air-tightly to improve bass reproduction, then the bass quality is improved, but the user perceives external noise only in highly damped fashion
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the bass reproduction function (handled by the sealed earpiece) from the ambient sound transmission function (handled by the otoplastic means with its own acoustic pathway), allowing both functions to coexist without compromising either
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the system have different acoustic properties: the earpiece cavity is sealed for bass reproduction, while the otoplastic means incorporates an open pathway or vent for ambient sound transmission, creating local quality differences that satisfy both conflicting 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
Improves sound quality by allowing adequate ambient sound transmission while maintaining a secure fit, ensuring important frequency ranges are not excessively damped, thus enhancing user safety and listening experience.
Implementation Method 1
The provision of the oscillatable diaphragm in the canal makes it possible to improve the transfer function of the canal and effectively limit the adverse effects on the acoustics of the earpiece
Implementation Method 2
a first damping unit in the region of the first end of the canal and/or a second damping unit in the region of the second end of the canal
Data Source
AI summary
An ear-canal earpiece having an electroacoustic sound transducer, a sound guide unit having a first and a second end for guiding the sound from the electroacoustic sound transducer to an ear of a user and at least one portion. The ear canal earpiece has a canal having a first end open towards the ear canal and a second outwardly open end. A diaphragm is provided in the canal and extends over the entire cross-section of the canal.