Elastic Eartip Earphones for Consistent EEG Electrode Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional earphones fail to maintain consistent electrode contact with diverse ear shapes and ear canals, leading to inaccurate electroencephalogram signal acquisition and estimation.
Innovation Solution
The earphones feature elastic eartips and housings with adjustable joints, along with elastic electrodes that conform to the ear canal shape, and a system for personalized electroencephalogram signal processing using a customized model.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional earphones use fixed electrode positions, then manufacturing is simple, but electrode contact with diverse ear shapes is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The eartip is designed with elastic material that dynamically adapts its shape to conform to the user's ear canal geometry, enabling the electrode to maintain optimal contact position across diverse ear shapes without requiring multiple fixed-position electrode designs
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode's physical parameters (shape, position) are changed through elastic deformation of the eartip material, allowing the same electrode structure to achieve proper contact positioning for different users by simply changing its form factor through material elasticity
2Measurement precision
If conventional earphones use generalized evaluation models, then processing is simple and fast, but state estimation accuracy for individual users is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary learning to acquire individual user characteristics before actual state estimation, storing this personalized information for subsequent accurate evaluation. This preliminary action enables the system to switch from generic to personalized processing without adding complexity during real-time operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically learns and adapts to each user's characteristics through the learning unit, which self-adjusts the evaluation model based on acquired electroencephalogram signals and user-specific patterns, eliminating the need for manual model configuration or complex user setup procedures
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
Enhances electrode contact and accuracy in electroencephalogram signal acquisition, allowing for precise estimation of user states.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic electrode that performs sensing of an electroencephalogram of a wearer
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an earphone in which electroencephalogram electrodes come into close contact more readily when worn. An earphone includes a housing having elasticity on at least one end portion side outer layer, a speaker accommodated inside the housing, and an eartip that is fixed on the end portion side of the housing having the elasticity, and that includes a sound conduit portion through which sound from the speaker passes, and an elastic electrode that performs sensing of an electroencephalogram of a wearer.