Earpiece Seal Quality Detection Using Ear Canal Pressure Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Earpiece manufacturers face challenges in designing earpieces that provide a good seal for each user due to the high variability of human ear shapes, leading to subjective assessment methods and mechanical solutions that are uncomfortable, complex, and increase device size and power consumption.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus that uses a pressure sensor to measure pressure within the ear canal and determine the quality of the seal between the earpiece and the ear canal based on signal characteristics, allowing for an objective and unobtrusive assessment without the need for active user initiation or mechanical means.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mechanical means such as inflating an ear tip are used to ensure a good seal, then seal quality is improved, but device complexity and user discomfort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal qualityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical seal verification systems (inflatable ear tips with pumps and pressure regulators) with an acoustic measurement system using a microphone and signal processing to analyze ear canal resonance frequencies, thereby determining seal quality without mechanical inflation components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a microphone as an intermediary sensing element that indirectly measures seal quality by detecting acoustic resonance frequencies in the ear canal, avoiding the need for direct mechanical contact and inflation mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If mechanical means such as inflating an ear tip are used to ensure a good seal, then seal quality is improved, but user comfort deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal qualityVSAvoiduser discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If mechanical means are used to ensure a good seal, then seal quality is improved, but device size and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal qualityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic test signals (such as swept sine waves or impulse signals) played through the earpiece speaker to excite resonances in the ear canal, allowing seal verification during normal operation without requiring continuous power-consuming mechanical systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

4Reliability

If mechanical means are used to ensure a good seal, then seal quality is improved, but device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal qualityVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

5Ease of operation

If subjective assessment guided by user perception is used, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidseal assessment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent provides automated feedback to the user about seal quality based on acoustic measurements, guiding users to adjust earpiece placement or ear tip selection to achieve optimal seal without requiring subjective judgment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Facilitates a repeatable and effective determination of seal quality, reducing computational resources and user discomfort, while enabling features like noise cancellation and user authentication.

Implementation Method 1

receiving, over a period of time, a signal indicative of a pressure measured by a pressure sensor of an earpiece, wherein the pressure sensor is arranged to measure a pressure within the ear canal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure measurement:

Data Source

PatentUS20230292069A1Determination of seal quality

Publication Date: 2023.09.14 OMNIBUDS LTD

AI summary

An apparatus, method and computer program is described for: receiving, over a period of time, a signal indicative of a pressure measured by a pressure sensor of an earpiece, the earpiece comprising an ear tip configured for insertion into an ear canal of a user, wherein the pressure sensor is arranged to measure a pressure within the ear canal whilst the ear tip is inserted into the ear canal; determining one or more characteristics of the signal; and determining a measure of a quality of a seal between the earpiece and the ear canal based on the one or more characteristics.