Intra-auricular Earpiece Diffusion Enclosure for Sound Spatiality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional intra-auricular earpieces fail to provide optimal sound spatiality due to the proximity of the loudspeaker to the ear, resulting in inadequate immersion and artificial spatiality enhancements that are costly and not naturally pleasing.
Innovation Solution
A device for transmitting sounds with a diffusion enclosure featuring orthogonal vibration walls and a blind lower chamber, which increases sound spatiality by offsetting frequencies and providing a mechanical vibration mechanism, allowing for a more natural and immersive listening experience by increasing the distance between sound entry and exit points and incorporating soundposts and balance pieces for enhanced vibration and sound synthesis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the loudspeaker is positioned close to the ear in conventional intra-auricular earpieces, then the device structure is simple and compact, but the sound spatiality is insufficient and immersion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a diffusion enclosure that extends the sound path from the loudspeaker to the ear along a curved trajectory through the pinna, transforming the direct linear transmission into a multi-dimensional path. This increases the effective distance and spatial complexity of sound transmission, improving sound spatiality without significantly increasing device compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffusion enclosure acts as an intermediary structure between the loudspeaker and the ear canal. It includes vibration walls and blind chambers that mechanically process the sound waves, offsetting frequencies and creating natural spatial effects before the sound reaches the ear, thereby resolving the contradiction between close positioning and spatial quality.
2Loss of information
If artificial spatiality enhancement is used to compensate for the proximity of the loudspeaker, then sound spatiality is improved, but the cost increases and the spatiality appears artificial rather than natural
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs mechanical vibration walls within the diffusion enclosure that physically resonate in response to the sound waves from the loudspeaker. These vibration walls naturally offset frequencies and create spatial effects through mechanical resonance rather than electronic processing, providing authentic spatial perception without artificial enhancement or increased cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffusion enclosure structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it guides the sound path, provides mechanical vibration for spatial enhancement, creates blind chambers for frequency offsetting, and structures the overall device. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate expensive electronic spatiality enhancement systems.
3Loss of information
If the sound path is extended to improve spatiality, then sound spatiality and immersion are improved, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The diffusion enclosure utilizes a curved configuration that follows the natural anatomy of the pinna and ear structure. This curved path allows the sound to travel a longer distance through a compact three-dimensional arrangement, extending the effective sound path without proportionally increasing the device volume, as the curvature packs the path efficiently in space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates blind chambers and vibration walls within the diffusion enclosure in a nested arrangement. The blind chambers are positioned within the overall enclosure structure, and vibration walls are integrated into the enclosure walls themselves, allowing multiple functional elements to occupy overlapping or nested spatial volumes, thereby extending functionality without linearly increasing device size.
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 solution enhances sound spatiality and dynamics, providing a more natural and immersive listening experience without compression, allowing listeners to adjust settings for personalized preferences, thereby improving the overall quality of sound reproduction.
Implementation Method 1
a first vibration wall extending orthogonally to the entrance axis able to resonate following a sound emission along said entrance axis
Data Source
AI summary
A device for transmitting sounds for intra-auricular earpiece, comprising an entrance opening extending along an entrance axis, said entrance opening being able to receive a sound emission source, an exit opening able to be presented in an ear and a diffusion enclosure able to conduct the sound from upstream to downstream from said entrance opening to said exit opening, said diffusion enclosure comprising, opposite said entrance opening, a first vibration wall extending orthogonally to the entrance axis able to resonate following a sound emission along said entrance axis.