Pinna Bone Conduction Device Vibration Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ear-worn devices often obstruct the ear canal, causing discomfort and impairing the ability to hear ambient noises, and they either deliver vibrations directly to the ear canal or not effectively, leading to inefficient vibration transfer and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
The development of ear-worn devices that are configured to fit within the pinna without obstructing the ear canal, using a bone conduction actuator to deliver vibrations directly to the pinna's surface, with optional projections that resist vibration transfer to the ear canal, and incorporating dampers to enhance comfort by reducing vibration transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional ear-worn devices are designed to deliver vibrations to the ear canal, then vibration transfer efficiency is improved, but user comfort deteriorates and ambient noise perception is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the vibration delivery function from the ear canal location and relocates it to the pinna surface. The bone conduction actuator is positioned to contact the pinna rather than extending into the ear canal, thereby separating the vibration transfer path from the ear canal obstruction, achieving both effective vibration transfer and unobstructed ambient noise perception
Solution Approach 2:
The pinna surface serves as an intermediary structure between the bone conduction actuator and the skull bone. By delivering vibrations through the pinna tissue to the underlying bone, the system achieves effective bone conduction without requiring direct insertion into the ear canal, thus maintaining comfort and ambient awareness
2Reliability
If ear-worn devices are designed to fit within the ear canal, then vibration delivery is improved, but device complexity and user discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the need for in-canal components entirely by extracting the vibration delivery function to the pinna surface. The bone conduction actuator contacts the external pinna surface, eliminating the complexity of in-canal positioning structures, retention mechanisms, and sealing components that would otherwise be required
Solution Approach 2:
The pinna surface contact design serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides effective bone conduction vibration delivery, maintains user comfort, allows ambient noise perception, and simplifies device structure. This single contact point approach replaces what would otherwise require multiple specialized in-canal 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
These devices provide effective vibration transfer to the pinna while minimizing discomfort and obstruction, allowing for clear hearing of ambient noises and improved user experience by avoiding the need for in-canal components.
Implementation Method 1
a bone conduction actuator configured to conduct vibrations directly to a surface of a pinna
Implementation Method 2
incorporating dampers to enhance comfort by reducing vibration transmission
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed examples include devices that are wearable at a recipient’s pinna and configured to deliver bone-conduction vibrations directly to the pinna. The device can be so configured by having a vibration transfer surface disposed within the pinna when the device is worn. The devices can lack a component configured to deliver vibrations to a non-pinnal surface, such as the ear canal. The devices can include a projection configured to be disposed within a recipient’s ear canal that is vibrationally decoupled from the remainder of the device.