Headphone Headband with Embedded Shape Memory Alloy Wires
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercially available headphones lack a desirable balance between twist range, restoration force, and wearing comfort due to inadequate structural designs in their headbands.
Innovation Solution
A headphone design featuring a headband with a rubber block and shape memory alloy wires embedded within, allowing for increased twistability and restoration while reducing pressure on the user's head through strategically placed cutouts and a combination of materials like Nickel-Titanium alloy and TR90 plastic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the headband is made rigid to maintain structural strength, then the headband can provide sufficient support, but the twist range is limited and wearing comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The headband employs a flexible rubber block as its core structural element, replacing traditional rigid materials. This rubber block can undergo significant deformation including twisting while maintaining structural integrity, thereby simultaneously achieving both structural support and enhanced twist range for improved wearing comfort
Solution Approach 2:
The headband combines rubber material with shape memory alloy wires to create a composite structure. The rubber provides flexibility and twistability, while the shape memory alloy wires provide structural support and enable automatic restoration to the original shape after deformation, resolving the contradiction between strength and twist range
2Ease of operation
If the headband is made flexible to increase twist range, then the headband becomes more easily twistable, but the restoration force decreases and structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the temperature-dependent shape memory effect of the alloy wires. When the headband is deformed, the shape memory alloy wires undergo phase transformation that enables them to automatically restore to their original shape, providing the necessary restoration force while maintaining flexibility and twist range
Solution Approach 2:
By combining rubber material with shape memory alloy wires, the headband achieves both high flexibility for twisting and strong restoration force. The rubber allows easy deformation while the shape memory alloy wires provide the driving force for recovery, maintaining structural stability during and after deformation
3Strength
If the headband pressure is increased to improve durability, then the headband can maintain its shape better, but the wearing comfort deteriorates due to increased pressure on the user's head
Solution Approach 1:
The rubber block headband naturally conforms to the user's head shape through its flexibility, distributing the supporting force evenly across the head surface. This eliminates concentrated pressure points while maintaining the ability to support the headphone structure, thereby improving wearing comfort without sacrificing shape maintenance capability
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
The design enhances twistability and restoration of the headband, improving wearing comfort by distributing stress effectively and maintaining durability through the use of shape memory alloy wires and a deformable rubber block.
Implementation Method 1
at least one shape memory alloy wire at least partially embedded in the rubber block
Implementation Method 2
a rubber block and at least one shape memory alloy wire at least partially embedded in the rubber block
Data Source
AI summary
A headphone includes two audio output devices and a headband connected between the two audio output devices. The headband includes a rubber block and at least one shape memory alloy wire. The shape memory alloy wire is at least partially embedded in the rubber block. The rubber block has at least one cutout.