Temperature-Responsive Earpiece Core for User Customization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing earpieces for hearing devices require time-consuming and expensive customization processes, often involving healthcare professionals, and lack options for user-friendly, cost-effective customization that can maintain complex earmold shapes and allow for easy resetting.
Innovation Solution
An earpiece with a deformable core and elastic sleeve that conforms to the user's ear shape above a transition temperature and retains the shape below it, allowing user-friendly customization and resetting to the original shape by controlling the core's deformability through temperature changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If custom-molded and hardened earpieces are used to improve fit and wearing comfort, then the fit and wearing comfort are improved, but the customization process becomes time-consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing a material that changes its state of rigidity from very soft to relatively hard through a well-defined trigger mechanism (temperature change). The earpiece material transitions from a soft state during insertion to a hard state for permanent fixation, enabling on-site customization without time-consuming processes. This is achieved by heating the earpiece above its transition temperature to evoke a malleable condition, then cooling it below the transition temperature to preserve the deformed shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs phase transitions of the earpiece material between solid and rubbery states through temperature control. Above the transition temperature, the material is in a rubbery, deformable state that allows easy adaptation to ear geometry. Below the transition temperature, it transitions to a solid, rigid state that permanently fixes the deformed geometry. This phase transition mechanism enables quick on-site customization without requiring multiple visits or complex manufacturing processes.
2Loss of time
If on-site customization is implemented to reduce customization time, then the customization time is reduced, but the material must switch between soft and hard states quickly upon a well-defined trigger mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes (temperature) to control the material state switching. The earpiece material has a well-defined transition temperature that allows it to switch between soft and hard states quickly and predictably. By heating above this transition temperature, the material becomes soft and deformable; by cooling below it, the material hardens and maintains the deformed shape. This simple temperature-based control mechanism avoids complex state-switching systems while enabling rapid on-site customization.
3Productivity
If shape memory material is used for quick customization, then the customization speed is improved, but the ability to maintain complex earmold shapes and allow resetting is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes through temperature control to achieve both quick customization and shape retention. The earpiece material transitions from a soft, deformable state above the transition temperature to a hard, shape-retaining state below it. This allows the material to be quickly deformed during customization, then permanently hold complex earmold shapes. The same temperature mechanism also enables resetting by heating the material back above the transition temperature, allowing it to return to its original shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the earpiece material's rigidity changeable through temperature control. The material dynamically transitions between soft and hard states, allowing it to adapt to complex ear geometries during customization, then maintain those complex shapes during use. The dynamic nature of the material also enables resetting by reversing the temperature change, allowing the earpiece to return to its original shape and be reused for different ears.
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
Enables quick, cost-effective customization by the user, accommodating complex earmold shapes, and allows for easy resetting to the original shape, improving user convenience and reducing customization time and costs.
Implementation Method 1
The core comprises a material that is deformable during insertion of the earpiece into the ear above a transition temperature and non-deformable during insertion of the earpiece into the ear below the transition temperature
Implementation Method 2
The sleeve has elastic properties. The elastic properties of the sleeve are selected such that the core conforms to a shape of the sleeve above the transition temperature and the core retains the sleeve in its shape below the transition temperature
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to an earpiece configured to be at least partially inserted into an ear and comprising a core comprising a material that during insertion of the earpiece into the ear is deformable above a transition temperature and non-deformable below the transition temperature. The disclosure also relates to a method of manufacturing the earpiece. The disclosure further relates to a method of customizing the earpiece.