Shape-Shifting Headphone Contact Elements for Acoustic Seal Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Head-worn audio devices face limitations in sound fidelity due to variations in user anatomy, leading to incomplete acoustic seals and external sound interference, and they struggle to provide information without interrupting audio or visual tasks.
Innovation Solution
A head-worn audio system with shape-changing actuators and sensors that adapt to the user's ear and head, forming a customized acoustic seal and conveying information tactically without visual or auditory interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single headphone cushion configuration or earbud seal is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but acoustic seal quality deteriorates due to variations in user anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs shape-changing actuators that dynamically adjust the contact elements of headphone cushions or earbud seals to match the user's unique ear and head anatomy. This dynamic adaptation allows a single standardized device to achieve a customized acoustic seal for each user, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and seal quality reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters of the headphone cushion or earbud seal by using actuators to modify the shape, position, and contact pressure of sealing surfaces. This parameter adjustment enables the same device to adapt to various anatomical variations, maintaining both ease of manufacture and reliable acoustic sealing.
2Loss of information
If auditory information is conveyed to the user, then information delivery is achieved, but interruption of current audio or visual tasks occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces tactile contact elements as an intermediary channel for information delivery. Instead of using auditory or visual channels that compete with existing tasks, the system uses tactile feedback through shape-changing contact elements to convey information, allowing users to receive notifications or guidance without interrupting their current audio or visual activities.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If resilient headphone cushions or earbud sealing surfaces are used, then isolation of external sounds is improved, but adaptability to unique user anatomy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms static resilient cushions into dynamic systems with shape-changing actuators that can adapt their configuration to each user's unique anatomy. This allows the sealing surfaces to maintain effective contact and sound isolation while accommodating variations in ear and head shapes, resolving the contradiction between isolation performance and anatomical adaptability.
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 system enhances sound fidelity by minimizing leakage and ambient sound intrusion, allowing for effective multitasking and information delivery through tactile means without disrupting audio or visual experiences.
Implementation Method 1
one or more actuators are configured to cause motion and/or changes in the shape of one or more contact elements
Implementation Method 2
one or more sensors are configured to monitor a position and/or a shape of the one or more contact elements
Data Source
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AI summary
A head-worn audio system includes a support frame, a first contact element configured to contact a first portion of a head of a user, a first actuator coupled to the support frame and configured to move the first contact element, a first sensor configured to generate a first sensor signal indicating a first state of the first contact element and a second sensor signal indicating a second state of the first contact element, and a processor. The processor is communicatively coupled to the first actuator and the first sensor and is configured to cause the first actuator to move the first contact element from a first position that corresponds to the first state to a second position that corresponds to the second state, wherein, in the second state, the first contact element is in contact with the head of the user.