Neck-Worn Wireless Collar With Ultrasonic Directional Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional headphones and Bluetooth earpieces are uncomfortable for extended wear, affect normal hearing, and expose users to RF radiation due to their design, which requires placement in the ear canal or over the ear, limiting their usability in various applications.
Innovation Solution
A wireless extension collar with directional speakers and microphones positioned around the neck, using ultrasonic frequency carriers to deliver audio directly to the ears, allowing hands-free and head-free operation while keeping radiation away from the brain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional headphones or earpieces are used, then audio delivery to the user is achieved, but comfort for extended wear deteriorates and normal hearing is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the audio delivery function from the ear canal/ear cup location and relocates it to the neck collar location. The directional speaker system is positioned on the collar around 6-8 inches from the ears, removing the need for ear insertion or over-ear cupping, thereby eliminating discomfort and hearing impact while maintaining audio delivery capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an ultrasonic carrier wave as an intermediary medium to transmit audio signals through air to the user's ears. The directional speaker modulates audio onto ultrasonic frequencies, creating an invisible acoustic bridge between the collar and the user's ears without requiring physical contact with the ear canal or eardrum
2Ease of operation
If Bluetooth earpieces are used for hands-free operation, then wireless communication is achieved, but RF radiation exposure to the brain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the wireless communication antenna from proximity to the brain and relocates it to the collar position around 6-8 inches away from the head. This spatial extraction maintains hands-free Bluetooth functionality while significantly reducing RF radiation exposure to sensitive brain tissue
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the antenna placement from the traditional ear-level dimension (close to the brain) to a neck-level dimension (far from the brain). By changing the spatial dimension and distance relationship between the antenna and the user's head, the system achieves hands-free operation with minimized radiation exposure
3Adaptability or versatility
If directional speakers using ultrasonic carriers are used, then audio can be directed specifically to the user without affecting others, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar device integrates multiple functions into a single universal platform: directional audio delivery, wireless Bluetooth communication, microphone for voice commands, and battery power. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate devices (headphones, Bluetooth transmitter, microphone), reducing overall system complexity despite the advanced directional speaker technology
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
Enables comfortable, long-term use for music listening and wireless communication without affecting normal hearing, providing a versatile and user-friendly alternative to traditional headphones and earpieces by directing audio specifically to the user and minimizing RF exposure.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasonic frequency carrier is used to radiate a directional ultrasound beam. The ultrasound beam signal is used as a carrier that is modulated with an audio signal
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless extension device to end-user wireless device has a collar that is worn around the neck. The collar has two end-members that are positioned on the two collarbone areas next to the neck. The end-members have positioned directional speakers therein that radiate sound in the direction of two ears of the human wearing the collar around the neck. The end-members have positioned microphones that pick up voice commands of a human wearing the collar around the neck. The wireless collar extension device is used for hands free communication with end-user wireless device, without having to plug a prior art BLUETOOTH earpiece into one of the ears. The collar using voice commands can control operational mode of the end-user device pertaining to communications, music, computations, record, send and enter data and images.