Open-Ear Ear Hook Geometry for Stable Audio Without Canal Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing earphones often compromise wearing comfort and block the ear canal, limiting the user's ability to hear external sounds while using them.
Innovation Solution
An earphone design featuring a sound production component and an ear hook with a specific curvature and clamping mechanism that positions the component near the ear canal without blocking it, allowing for both internal and external sound transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sound production component is positioned near the ear canal to improve sound output performance, then the acoustic effect is enhanced, but the ear canal opening becomes blocked and wearing comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ear hook is designed with a specific curved profile including a first curve with an extremum point, allowing it to conform to the natural curvature of the auricle and head. This ergonomic curvature enables the hook to wrap around the auricle effectively, providing stable support while maintaining the sound production component at an optimal position near the ear canal without complete blockage.
Solution Approach 2:
The ear hook is divided into functional portions: a first portion that contacts and clamps the auricle, and a second portion that extends toward the ear canal. The sound production component is positioned at a specific location along this gradient, achieving local optimization where sound delivery is enhanced while the ear canal remains partially open for ambient sound perception.
2Ease of operation
If the ear hook is designed with a specific curvature to improve wearing comfort and stability, then the ergonomic fit is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ear hook incorporates a first curve with an identifiable extremum point in its profile. This specific curvature is engineered to match the anatomical contours of the user's auricle and head, distributing contact pressure evenly and providing a secure, comfortable fit. The curved design allows the hook to naturally conform to individual ear shapes while maintaining structural integrity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the housing and ear hook clamp the auricle to provide clamping force for stability, then the wearing stability is improved, but the pressure on the auricle increases which may reduce comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The ear hook is designed to distribute the clamping force required for stable wearing across multiple contact points along the auricle. The curved profile and strategic positioning create a balanced force distribution system where the clamping action secures the earphone firmly while minimizing concentrated pressure on any single point of the auricle, thereby maintaining both stability and comfort.
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
Enhances wearing comfort by maintaining ear canal openness, enabling simultaneous hearing of both internal and external sounds, and improving stability and adjustability through ergonomic design.
Implementation Method 1
The sound production component may include a transducer and a housing accommodating the transducer
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an earphone, comprising a sound production component and an ear hook configured to place the sound production component near an ear canal but not blocking an ear canal opening. An inner contour of a projection of the ear hook on a user's sagittal plane includes a first curve having an extremum point in a first direction. The first direction is perpendicular to a long-axis direction of a projection of the sound production component. The extremum point is located behind a projection point of an upper vertex of the ear hook on the sagittal plane. The upper vertex is a highest point of an inner contour of the ear hook along the user's vertical-axis. A housing of the sound production component and a first portion of the ear hook clamp the user's auricle and provide a clamping force of 0.03 N-1 N to the auricle.