Osseous Conduction Transducer Using Thermoplastic Elastomer Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing acoustic osseous conduction transducers are cumbersome, expensive, and prone to intolerance due to high pressure requirements and complex assembly, with sealing elements being weak and easily damaged, limiting their use for extended periods.
Innovation Solution
A transducer design featuring a vibrating unit, a connecting element made of plastic or metal, and a headset with a U-shaped housing and annular sealing element, using soft thermoplastic elastomers for effective sealing and reduced pressure requirements, facilitating easy assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If strong pressure is applied to press the transducer against the mastoid bone, then sound transmission effectiveness is improved, but wearer comfort deteriorates due to stiffening and intolerance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the housing from stiff thermosetting plastic to flexible thermoplastic elastomer, which allows the transducer to maintain effective contact with the mastoid bone at lower pressures, thereby improving sound transmission while enhancing wearer comfort and reducing stiffening effects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material construction with thermoplastic elastomer housing combined with sealing elements, creating a structure that provides both flexibility for comfort and sealing capability for reliability, resolving the contradiction between pressure requirements and wearer tolerance
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple sealing elements and components are added to prevent dust and sweat ingress, then protection against harmful factors is improved, but device complexity increases and assembly becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the housing structure with sealing functionality by integrating the sealing element directly into the housing assembly, eliminating the need for separate sealing components and simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining protection against dust and sweat
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical support, acts as a seal against environmental contaminants, and facilitates assembly through its integrated design, thereby reducing the need for additional specialized components
3Volume of moving object
If thin sealing elements are used to accommodate miniaturized components, then device miniaturization is achieved, but sealing reliability deteriorates as elements become weak and easily damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the sealing element from thin and weak to robust and damage-resistant by selecting materials with superior mechanical properties, allowing the sealing element to maintain adequate thickness for durability while accommodating miniaturized transducer components
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 design reduces pressure on the mastoid bone, enhances durability, and simplifies manufacturing and assembly, making the device more comfortable and reliable for long-term use while maintaining effective sound transmission.
Implementation Method 1
headset (5) made from a soft material, for instance from thermoplastic elastomers (TPE)... this, together with the headset itself being made of a soft material, helps in making the device incorporating the transducer according to the invention less troublesome to wear; it has been further found that this particular transducer construction... allows the pressure required to get a good connection with the mastoid bone is markedly reduced
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
Transducer substantially comprising a hollow housing (1), a device located inside the hollow housing to transform the electrical signals output by a vibration pickup microphone, a generally discoid shaped element for acoustical coupling with the mastoid bone, having one face directed to the outside of the housing and one face arranged onto the inside of the housing itself, and a coupling element (5) for connection between the vibrating unit (7) and the acoustic coupling element (5). The acoustic coupling element (5) comprises one soft material headset (5) apt to close and seal one opening made on one face of the hollow housing (1), and to hold the vibrating element freely hanging into said housing, by means of the coupling element (5).