Passive Audio Waveguide Assembly for Extra-Aural Wearable Sound
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Solution Overview
Problem
Extra-aural speaker units in wearable devices, such as mixed reality headsets, suffer from lower sound quality, loudness, and immersion compared to headphones due to their positioning near the ear.
Innovation Solution
An audio accessory in the form of a passive waveguide that directs sound emitted by extra-aural speaker units directly into the ear, enhancing loudness and frequency bandwidth while maintaining cost-effectiveness and comfort, and optionally incorporating sensors for adaptive equalization and noise cancellation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If extra-aural speaker units are positioned near the ear in wearable devices, then the user can hear the sound output, but the speaker efficiency, loudness and sound quality are lower compared to headphones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an acoustic waveguide as an intermediary component between the extra-aural speaker unit and the user's ear. The waveguide captures sound waves emitted by the speaker and directs them into the ear canal, effectively mediating the sound transmission path. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining the comfortable extra-aural positioning while achieving headphone-like sound quality and loudness through the waveguide's sound-directing function.
2Reliability
If headphones are used to improve sound quality and loudness, then audio performance is enhanced, but cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential sound-direction function from the complex headphone structure and implements it through a simple acoustic waveguide. Instead of using powered headphones with electronics, batteries, and wireless connectivity, the invention uses a passive waveguide that simply directs sound waves physically. This extraction approach maintains sound quality improvement while dramatically reducing device complexity and cost.
3Device complexity
If extra-aural speaker units are used to maintain comfort and cost-effectiveness, then device simplicity is preserved, but audio loudness and immersion are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial dimension of sound delivery by introducing the waveguide structure that extends from the extra-aural speaker into the ear canal. This dimensional extension allows the sound to travel a more direct path from the speaker to the eardrum, increasing acoustic pressure and perceived loudness without requiring additional power or complex amplification systems. The waveguide essentially adds a spatial dimension to the sound transmission path.
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
Improves sound quality and loudness by 10-20 dB and extends low frequency bandwidth by 1-2 octaves, provides a private listening experience, and reduces power consumption compared to headphones, with the added benefit of adaptive audio tuning.
Implementation Method 1
a waveguide portion configured to extend from the attachment portion and guide a sound wave emitted by the extra-aural audio unit to an ear of a user
Data Source
AI summary
An extra-aural waveguide assembly comprising: an attachment portion configured to attach to an extra-aural audio unit of a wearable device; a waveguide portion configured to extend from the attachment portion and guide a sound wave emitted by the extra-aural audio unit to an ear of a user; and a sensor operable to detect a coupling of the attachment portion to the extra-aural audio unit.