Inductive Earphone Coupling for Rotating Headset Joints

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional headphones and headsets with wired connections face issues such as tangled wires, cumbersome adjustments due to non-rotatable joints, and high manufacturing costs associated with mechanical stops, which affect user friendliness and ergonomics.

Innovation Solution

The use of an inductive connection between earphone units and a connecting band allows for 360-degree rotation without mechanical stops, eliminating the need for wires and reducing complexity, enabling easy adjustment and interchangeability of earphone units and connecting bands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fixed joints are used to protect wires from damage, then wire protection is improved, but ease of adjustment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewire protectionVSAvoidadjustment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wired connection system with an inductive coupling system using transceivers. This eliminates physical wires that need protection while maintaining electrical connectivity, allowing the joint to rotate freely without mechanical constraints or protection mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes the wires from the joint area by using inductive coupling. The electrical connection is achieved through electromagnetic fields between transceivers rather than physical wire connections, eliminating the need for wire protection mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Stability of the object's composition

If mechanical stops are used to restrict joint rotation, then joint stability is improved, but device complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejoint stabilityVSAvoidjoint complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical stop system with an inductive coupling system. The transceivers maintain electrical connection through electromagnetic coupling without requiring mechanical stops, eliminating the complexity of mechanical restriction mechanisms while maintaining joint stability through the flexibility of wireless connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If wired connections are used to connect earphones, then electrical connectivity is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connectivityVSAvoidmanufacturing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces wired electrical connections with inductive coupling between transceivers. This eliminates the need for wire routing, connection management, and assembly of wired components, significantly simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining reliable electrical connectivity through electromagnetic coupling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Ease of operation

If rotatable joints are used to improve ergonomics, then ease of operation is improved, but wire tangling worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveergonomicsVSAvoidwire tangling

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the wires from the rotatable joint system by using inductive coupling. The transceivers enable electrical connection without physical wires, eliminating wire tangling while preserving full rotational freedom for ergonomic adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the wired rotatable joint system with a wireless inductive coupling system. This allows unrestricted rotation for ergonomic positioning without the harmful effect of wire tangling, as the electrical connection is maintained through electromagnetic fields rather than physical wires.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This solution provides a user-friendly, cost-effective, and ergonomic design that allows for full rotational adjustment of headphones and headsets, improving comfort and usability while reducing manufacturing costs and minimizing sound quality degradation.

Implementation Method 1

the first and second transceivers are configured to inductively connect, thereby connecting the first earphone unit to conducting elements in the connecting band

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInductive connection: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS9031254B2Inductive earphone coupling

Publication Date: 2015.05.12 GN HEARING AS

AI summary

A headphone or a headset having at least a first and a second earphone unit is provided, the first and second earphone units being interconnected via a connecting band, the connecting band having a first end configured to connect to the first earphone unit and a second end configured to connect to the second earphone unit, wherein at least the first earphone unit comprises a first transceiver, and at least the first end of the connecting band comprises a second transceiver, the first and second transceivers being configured to inductively connect, thereby connecting the first earphone unit to conducting elements in the connecting band. It is an advantage of using an inductive connection between the earphone unit and the connecting band that no wires need to be transferred from the earphone unit to the connecting band. Hereby, a 360 degree rotation of the joint may be obtained.