Eyeglass Hearing Structure With Temple Biosensing and Directional Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing eyeglass hearing devices require separate mechanical structures for securing to the head and delivering sound to the ear, which can be cumbersome and unsightly, and they lack reliable biosensing capabilities for vital signs.
Innovation Solution
An eyeglass hearing device with a medially oriented speaker and temple portion extending anterior to the ear, incorporating biosensors near the superficial temporal artery for non-invasive vital sign detection, and multiple microphones for enhanced sound directionality and wireless communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate mechanical structures are used for securing the eyeglass to the head and delivering sound to the ear, then the device can fulfill both functions, but the structure becomes cumbersome and unsightly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sound delivery function with the temple portion structure. The speaker is integrated into the temple portion that extends anterior to the ear, eliminating the need for separate sound delivery structures. This merging of functions reduces overall structural complexity while maintaining both securing and sound delivery capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The temple portion is designed to serve multiple functions: it secures the eyeglass to the head, delivers sound to the ear through integrated speakers, and houses biosensors for vital sign detection. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate mechanical structures, directly resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and functional completeness.
2Reliability
If biosensors are placed in prior art wearable hearing devices, then vital sign sensing is provided, but the sensing reliability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional contact-based biosensing mechanisms with optical sensing technology. Optical sensors are used to detect vital signs through the skin at the temple area, providing more reliable and accurate measurements compared to mechanical or electrical contact methods. This substitution significantly improves both sensing reliability and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses optical signals as an intermediary to detect vital signs non-invasively. Light is transmitted through the skin and absorbed by blood, with the absorption characteristics providing information about heart rate, oxygen saturation, and other vital signs. This intermediary approach enables reliable biosensing without direct contact with biological tissues.
3Use of energy by moving object
If sound is delivered directly into the ear cavity, then energy efficiency is improved and ambient noise is suppressed, but the device requires complex positioning structures
Solution Approach 1:
The speaker is integrated directly into the temple portion structure that naturally positions itself at the ear. This merging eliminates the need for complex positioning mechanisms while enabling direct sound delivery into the ear cavity, achieving energy efficiency without structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The temple portion leverages the natural anatomy and positioning of the user's head and ear to achieve proper speaker alignment. The structure serves itself by using the user's own head geometry to position the sound delivery element correctly, eliminating the need for additional positioning structures or adjustment mechanisms.
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
Provides efficient sound delivery, improved sound directionality, and reliable biosensing of vital signs, enhancing hearing ability and health monitoring in noisy conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a speaker that is medially oriented for delivering sound into the ear of a user
Implementation Method 2
at least one biosensor for detecting one or more vital signs of the user near the superficial temporal artery of the user
Implementation Method 3
at least one microphone positioned on the temple portion and an audio processor for processing signals sensed by the microphone
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes eyeglass hearing devices, systems and methods of enhancing the hearing ability, while providing reliable biosensing of vital signs with sensors located along the path of superficial temporal artery. A temple portion extending downward in front of the ear then medially into the ear cavity secures the eyeglass device to the head and provides highly efficient sound delivery. An array of microphones enables high directionality for enhancing speech recognition in noisy environments. The eyeglass hearing device may be communicatively coupled to a smartphone for telephony, audio streaming, and for selecting the directionality for sound pickup. Applications include hearing enhancement, music listening, telephony, voice detection, voice authentication, speaker isolation, audio recording, language translation, and acoustic scene detection.