Earphone Speaker Unit Frame Pipe Conduit Pressure Relief

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Solution Overview

Problem

Earphones experience discomfort due to increased internal pressure when worn, and are prone to water damage, which can lead to degraded acoustic performance and risk of explosion or fire when exposed to moisture.

Innovation Solution

A speaker unit design with a frame having a pipe conduit and strategically placed holes to allow communication between internal spaces, preventing sealing and facilitating airflow, while mesh members cover holes to prevent water ingress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the space in front of the speaker unit is sealed to improve acoustic performance, then sound quality is improved, but internal pressure increases causing discomfort to the user

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic performanceVSAvoidinternal pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The frame includes a pipe conduit with multiple holes that act as a porous structure, allowing air to pass through while maintaining the integrity of the speaker unit. This resolves the contradiction by enabling pressure relief through the holes in the pipe conduit while preserving acoustic performance through the overall sealed structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Reliability

If the speaker unit is sealed to protect internal components, then protection is improved, but water ingress risk increases when dropped in water or exposed to humidity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of internal componentsVSAvoidwater ingress

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pipe conduit is formed by a groove and the bottom surface of the fixing ring, creating a flexible pathway that allows air passage while the mesh member provides a barrier against water ingress. This resolves the contradiction by enabling protection through the mesh barrier while maintaining airflow capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of operation

If holes are added to the frame to relieve pressure, then comfort is improved, but water may ingress through the holes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser comfortVSAvoidwater ingress

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mesh member acts as an intermediary between the holes in the pipe conduit and the external environment. It allows air to pass through for pressure relief while blocking water from entering through the same holes, thus resolving the contradiction between comfort and water protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Volume of moving object

If the earphone is miniaturized to improve portability, then compactness is improved, but the speaker unit structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveearphone sizeVSAvoidspeaker unit structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pipe conduit is formed by merging the groove in the frame with the bottom surface of the fixing ring, creating an integrated structure that reduces the number of separate components. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining the pressure relief function while reducing overall complexity through integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Relieves discomfort by maintaining airflow and minimizing water ingress, thus protecting internal components from moisture and maintaining acoustic performance.

Implementation Method 1

A first hole configured to come into contact and communicates with a 1_1 space disposed in front of the speaker unit and to allow a 1_2 space disposed on a side of the speaker unit to communicate with the pipe conduit is formed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAirflow:

Implementation Method 2

mesh members cover holes to prevent water ingress

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical barrier filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS11202139B2Speaker unit for earphone

Publication Date: 2021.12.14 ALMUS CORP

AI summary

A speaker unit includes a magnet, an upper plate fixed to a top surface of the magnet, a voice coil disposed to surround outer circumferences of the magnet and the upper plate, a vibration plate to which the voice coil is fixed, a fixing ring on which an edge of the vibration plate is mounted, and a frame having an open top and configured to accommodate the magnet, the upper plate, and the voice coil. Here, a pipe conduit is formed in the frame along a circumferential direction. A first hole configured to come into contact and communicates with a 1_1 space disposed in front of the speaker unit and to allow a 1_2 space disposed on a side of the speaker unit to communicate with the pipe conduit is formed in at least one first position of a side surface of the frame in a circumferential direction.