Magnetic Field Antenna with Core Extension for Earplug Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communications earplugs face challenges in achieving high sensitivity while maintaining a compact size and preventing electromagnetic interference, particularly in aircraft environments where they must coexist with headset earcups without mechanical interference.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a magnetic field antenna with a coil core and extension that redirects magnetic field lines through the antenna coil, providing increased voltage sensitivity and using magnetic material as a shunt to shield electrical components, allowing for a smaller, more comfortable form factor and improved noise dosimetry capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electromagnetic shielding is added to prevent pickup of spurious fields, then sensitivity to electromagnetic interference is improved, but device size increases making the earplug less comfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic core serves dual functions: it concentrates magnetic field lines to enhance antenna sensitivity and simultaneously acts as electromagnetic shielding to block spurious fields. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by providing both improved reliability and maintaining compact size without adding separate shielding components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the magnetic core and electromagnetic shielding into a single integrated component. The magnetic core material inherently provides shielding properties while performing its primary function of field concentration, thereby eliminating the need for additional shielding structures that would increase earplug volume.
2Reliability
If antenna size is increased to improve sensitivity, then voltage sensitivity is improved, but earplug size increases causing discomfort and mechanical interference with headset earcups
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic core performs multiple functions simultaneously: it concentrates magnetic field lines through the antenna coil to enhance sensitivity, and it provides electromagnetic shielding. This multi-functionality allows high sensitivity to be achieved without increasing antenna physical dimensions, thereby maintaining comfortable earplug size and avoiding interference with headset earcups.
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 configuration enhances the earplug's ability to receive and transmit audio signals effectively, offering improved speech intelligibility and noise attenuation while minimizing mechanical interference and electromagnetic shielding issues.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic core within the coil, a magnetic core extension that redirects magnetic field lines through the magnetic core and antenna coil
Implementation Method 2
magnetic material used as a magnetic shunt to at least partially shield an electrical component coupled to the antenna coil
Implementation Method 3
According to Faraday's Law, also well-known in the art, a time-varying magnetic field passing through the inner region of a coil will produce a voltage on the ends of the coil proportional to the time derivative of the magnetic flux through the turns
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic field antenna that provides high efficiency and a compact form factor. Electromagnetic shielding of electrical components used in the antenna is provided, and one embodiment of the invention is a wireless battery-free communications earplug.