In-Ear Device Segmentation for Canal Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing in-the-ear devices, such as binaural microphones and earphones, face challenges in being inserted deeply into the external auditory canal due to the first curve's shape, leading to inconsistent fitting and potential resonance interference, which affects sound localization and quality.
Innovation Solution
An in-the-ear device design featuring a main body unit with a back surface matching the cavum conchae and an external auditory canal insertion unit that protrudes diagonally from the front surface, allowing deeper insertion and minimizing protrusion into the cavum conchae, along with a shielding unit and cable configuration to enhance sound isolation and transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the in-the-ear device is inserted deeper into the external auditory canal to improve sound quality and reduce resonance interference, then the sound localization accuracy is improved, but the device cannot be properly inserted due to the first curve's shape constraint
Solution Approach 1:
The in-the-ear device is divided into two main segments: a body unit that fits in the cavum conchae and an insertion unit that extends into the external auditory canal. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function - the body unit provides stable positioning while the insertion unit achieves deep sound transmission without being constrained by the first curve.
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion unit is designed to extend in a direction that bypasses the first curve's constraint, effectively utilizing a different spatial dimension for insertion. This allows the device to reach deeper into the external auditory canal without being blocked by the curve's shape.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the device body is made larger to improve the matching with cavum conchae and enhance stability, then the fitting stability is improved, but the device becomes more difficult to insert and may cause discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the device into a body unit and an insertion unit, the design allows the body unit to be sufficiently large for stable cavum conchae matching while the insertion unit remains slender for easy canal insertion. The connection between units transmits necessary forces without requiring the entire device to be large.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the device have different size characteristics optimized for their specific locations - the body unit has larger dimensions for stability in the cavum conchae, while the insertion unit has smaller dimensions for comfortable insertion into the narrow external auditory canal.
3Manufacturing precision
If the insertion unit is made longer to reach deeper into the external auditory canal, then the sound transmission quality is improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of manufacture increase
Solution Approach 1:
The long insertion unit is designed as a separate, modular component that can be manufactured independently using standardized processes. This segmentation allows the length to be optimized for sound transmission without requiring the entire device to be complex, as the insertion unit can be produced using conventional extrusion or molding techniques.
Data Source
AI summary
An in-the-ear device such as a binaural microphone and an earphone is provided. An in-the-ear device 300 is used while being inserted into a human ear (external auditory canal), examples of which include the microphone and the earphone. This in-the-ear device 300 includes an in-the-ear device main body unit 310 substantially round column-shaped and a cylindrical inner side insertion unit 320 provided to protrude from an end surface of the in-the-ear device main stomach body unit 310 on an inner side. The in-the-ear device main body unit 310 is inserted closer to the inside than a first curve of the external auditory canal. As will be described later, an end surface of the in-the-ear device main body unit 310 on an outer side forms a surface substantially same as that of a cavum conchae while being worn. In addition, in the inner side insertion unit 320, the in-the-ear device main body unit 310 is provided to protrude closer to the inner side than the first curve of the external auditory canal in order to be along the external auditory canal.