Sealed In-Canal Vibratory Transducer for Dual Sound Conduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hearing devices face challenges in efficiently delivering sound signals through both air conduction and bone conduction pathways while being resistant to ear discharge, earwax, liquid, and dust ingress, particularly in in-canal configurations.
Innovation Solution
The development of an ear-wearable electronic device with a vibratory transducer housed in a sealed case, featuring an oscillator arrangement that generates audible sound via air conduction and vibratory signals for transcranial bone conduction, utilizing orthogonal, radial, or swing oscillator arrangements, which are impervious to ear discharge, earwax, liquid, and dust.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the hearing device uses open acoustic pathways for air conduction, then sound transmission is efficient, but the device becomes vulnerable to ear discharge, earwax, liquid, and dust ingress
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing device is divided into two separate functional modules: a sealed bone conduction module containing the vibratory transducer, and an open air conduction pathway. This segmentation allows the sealed module to prevent foreign material ingress while the open pathway maintains efficient sound transmission, resolving the contradiction between reliability and acoustic performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed case acts as an intermediary barrier between the vibratory transducer and the ear canal environment. It transmits vibratory energy for bone conduction while blocking ear discharge, earwax, liquid, and dust from reaching sensitive components, thus protecting the device without interfering with its primary function.
2Reliability
If the vibratory transducer is sealed to prevent ingress, then reliability improves, but sound transmission efficiency may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates bone conduction and air conduction functions into distinct pathways. The sealed vibratory transducer handles bone conduction efficiently without compromising sound transmission, while air conduction operates through an open pathway, ensuring overall sound transmission efficiency is maintained while achieving protection from contaminants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional acoustic air conduction mechanisms with a vibratory transducer for bone conduction. This mechanical vibration approach allows the transducer to be sealed against contaminants while still efficiently transmitting sound energy through bone conduction, bypassing the need for open acoustic pathways for this specific function.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the device provides both air conduction and bone conduction, then hearing functionality is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vibratory transducer serves multiple functions: it provides bone conduction through direct vibration transmission and simultaneously drives air conduction by vibrating the sealed case which acts as an acoustic radiator. This multi-functionality allows the device to provide both air conduction and bone conduction capabilities through a single transducer component, enhancing versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the bone conduction and air conduction functions into a single integrated vibratory transducer system. The transducer generates vibrations that are transmitted both directly to the skull for bone conduction and to the sealed case for air conduction, combining two hearing pathways into one unified device structure, thereby enhancing adaptability while controlling complexity.
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 device effectively transmits sound signals through both air and bone conduction pathways, maintaining functionality and durability by preventing ingress of foreign materials, and supports frequencies up to at least 20 kHz.
Implementation Method 1
a coil arrangement comprising a main coil, a weight ballast, and an armature positioned between the first and second magnets and passing through the main coil
Implementation Method 2
generate output signals in the form of audible sound transmissible via air conduction to an eardrum of the wearer
Data Source
AI summary
An ear-wearable electronic device comprises a housing configured for deployment at least partially within an ear canal of a wearer, sound processing circuitry, and a vibratory transducer disposed in the housing and coupled to the sound processing circuitry. The vibratory transducer comprises an oscillator arrangement disposed in a sealed case. The vibratory transducer is configured to generate output signals in the form of audible sound transmissible via air conduction to an eardrum of the wearer and vibratory signals for stimulating a cochlea of the wearer via transcranial bone conduction.