Headset Microphone Housing for Stable ANC

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Headphones with active noise compensation can experience instability and oscillation in the control loop due to varying ear anatomy, particularly when the microphone and playback transducer are in a small ear volume, leading to potential feedback whistling.

Innovation Solution

A headphone design featuring a housing with a defined acoustic volume around the microphone, connected to the ear volume through holes, and optionally a fabric gauze, to create a stable control system and prevent instability and feedback whistling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the microphone and playback transducer are placed in a small ear volume, then the headset fits better in the ear, but the control loop becomes unstable and oscillates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveear volumeVSAvoidcontrol loop stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into a first housing section that encloses the microphone to form a defined acoustic volume, separating the microphone environment from the playback transducer area. This segmentation creates a stable acoustic chamber for the control microphone while maintaining overall compactness for ear fitting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the ear anatomy varies between users, then the headset adapts to individual ears, but the active noise compensation becomes unstable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveear anatomy adaptationVSAvoidcontrol loop stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The defined acoustic volume in the first housing section provides a universal stable environment for the control microphone that works across different user ear anatomies. This standardized acoustic chamber ensures consistent control loop stability regardless of individual ear variations, while the overall headset design remains adaptable to different users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If the acoustic volume around the microphone is not defined, then the headset structure is simpler, but feedback whistling occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing structureVSAvoidfeedback whistling
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The first housing section is designed in advance to enclose the microphone and form a defined acoustic volume, preventing feedback whistling before it occurs. This preliminary structural arrangement establishes stable acoustic boundaries that eliminate the conditions for feedback oscillation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 defined acoustic volume and connected holes in the housing section stabilize the control loop, reducing the likelihood of instability and unwanted feedback whistling, ensuring effective active noise compensation.

Implementation Method 1

The defined acoustic volume is connected to the ear volume through at least one hole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic transmission: Sound

Implementation Method 2

a fabric gauze is applied to the section delimiting the acoustic volume

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 3

an electroacoustic playback converter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroacoustic conversion:

Implementation Method 4

a microphone for recording background noise

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic-to-electrical conversion:

Data Source

PatentEP2105039B1Headset with active noise compensation
Publication Date: 2014.12.17 SENNHEISER ELECTRONICS GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2105039B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2105039B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a headset comprising an electroacoustic sound transducer, a microphone (40) for recording noise, and an active noise compensating unit for compensating for noise based on the noise recorded by the microphone (40). The headset further comprises a housing (10) for receiving the microphone (40) and the electroacoustic sound transducer. The housing (10) further has a first housing section (50), which encloses at least the microphone (40) such that a defined acoustic volume is achieved.