Neck-Worn Acoustic Device With Waveguide Sound Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional headsets with acoustic drivers on, over, or in the ears are obtrusive and inhibit the user's ability to hear ambient sounds.
Innovation Solution
An acoustic device designed to be worn around the neck with two open-backed acoustic drivers and waveguides that direct sound to the ears without direct contact, allowing for unobtrusive high-quality sound delivery while maintaining awareness of ambient sounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If acoustic drivers are placed on, over, or in the ears, then sound delivery quality is improved, but the device becomes obtrusive and inhibits the user's ability to hear ambient sounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the acoustic drivers from direct ear contact by positioning them on the neck or head away from the ears, and uses waveguides to transport sound acoustically to the ear canals. This separation removes the obtrusive element while preserving sound delivery function through the waveguide transmission path.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide acts as an intermediary element that transmits sound from the acoustic driver (positioned away from the ear) to the ear canal. This mediator enables sound delivery without requiring the driver to be in direct contact with or over the ear, thus resolving the contradiction between sound quality and ambient awareness.
2Ease of operation
If acoustic drivers are positioned away from the ears (e.g., on the neck), then the device becomes less obtrusive, but sound delivery quality may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide serves as an acoustic intermediary that maintains sound delivery quality despite the driver being positioned away from the ear. The waveguide is designed with specific acoustic properties (consistent cross-sectional area, proper length and shape) to preserve sound quality from the driver to the ear canal.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide is designed with specific parameters including consistent cross-sectional area along its length, particular material properties, and precise dimensional characteristics (length, shape) to ensure that sound transmission quality is maintained despite the spatial separation between driver and ear.
3Ease of operation
If waveguides are made to route sound from below the ears, then the device can be worn around the neck, but the waveguide path becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide path is segmented into distinct sections (first section from driver to first turn, second section after first turn, third section to second turn, fourth section after second turn) with specific geometric characteristics. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its function while collectively achieving the neck-worn configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide utilizes three-dimensional spatial routing, folding and turning in multiple directions (first turn, second turn) to route sound from the neck position to the ear canals. This dimensional complexity is necessary to achieve the neck-worn form factor while maintaining acoustic path integrity.
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 neck-worn acoustic device provides high-quality sound to each ear without blocking ambient noise, offering an unobtrusive and comfortable solution for sound delivery.
Implementation Method 1
a first open-backed acoustic driver acoustically coupled to the first waveguide and a second open-backed acoustic driver acoustically coupled to the second waveguide
Data Source
AI summary
An acoustic device having a neck loop that is constructed and arranged to be worn around the neck. The neck loop includes housing that defines an acoustic volume, a first acoustic driver located at a first distal end of the housing and acoustically coupled to the housing, and a second acoustic driver located at a second distal end of the housing, opposite the first distal end and acoustically coupled to the housing.