Rotating Ear Unit Ventilation for Adjustable Sound

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable sound devices with neck-band shapes require improved sound quality and usability, particularly in terms of size, weight, and sound adjustment capabilities, while existing technologies lack effective methods for enhancing sound quality and user convenience.

Innovation Solution

The ear unit includes a rotator with a bass hole and a flat hole in the ear housing, allowing for adjustable sound output by varying air ventilation through the driver unit, with a rotator that can be rotated to open or close these holes, enabling bass or treble boost functions, and a duct structure to manage ventilation effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If the ear unit is made small and lightweight for portability, then it can be carried conveniently on the body, but sound quality adjustment capabilities are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight of ear unitVSAvoidsound quality adjustment capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a rotatable element that dynamically changes the ventilation state of holes in the ear housing, allowing the compact ear unit to provide adjustable bass and flat sound modes without increasing its physical size. This dynamic adjustment mechanism enables sound quality versatility while maintaining portability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Volume of moving object

If the ear unit is made small for portability, then it can be carried conveniently, but effective sound quality enhancement becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume of ear unitVSAvoidsound quality enhancement capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating specific ventilation holes (bass hole and flat hole) at strategic locations in the ear housing, with different sizes and positions optimized for specific sound frequencies. This allows the small ear unit to achieve effective sound quality enhancement through localized structural features rather than increasing overall volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The rotatable element provides dynamic control over ventilation, allowing users to switch between bass boost and flat sound modes in a compact design. This dynamic adjustment enables versatile sound quality enhancement without requiring a larger ear unit volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If ventilation holes are added to enhance sound quality, then bass and treble boost functions are achieved, but noise may increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebass and treble boost capabilityVSAvoidnoise
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent carefully designs the ventilation holes with specific sizes and positions - a larger bass hole for low frequencies and a smaller flat hole for high frequencies. This localized optimization allows bass and treble boost functions while controlling noise by preventing excessive air flow that would create unwanted sounds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adjusts the ventilation parameters (hole size, position, and number) to optimize the balance between sound quality enhancement and noise control. By precisely controlling these parameters, the ear unit achieves effective bass and treble boost while minimizing noise generation from air flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This solution allows for adjustable sound output, minimizing noise and enhancing sound quality by allowing users to select between bass and treble boost settings, while ensuring reliable coupling and easy operation of the rotator, thus improving the overall sound experience and usability of portable sound devices.

Implementation Method 1

an inner case having a damper layer and an inner hole formed at the damper layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3340645B1Ear unit for a portable sound device
Publication Date: 2019.11.06 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3340645B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3340645B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3340645B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

An ear unit and a portable sound device having the same are provided. The ear unit includes a driver unit, an ear housing configured to form an electric part in which the driver unit is mounted and including a bass hole and a flat hole formed in a first surface of the electric part, a rotator including a second surface opposite the first surface and rotatably coupled to the ear housing, and an opening/closing hole provided in the second surface of the rotator to open or close the bass hole or the flat hole according to rotation of the rotator. The flat hole is connected to an inner hole formed in one position inside the first surface so as to form a duct.