3D-Shaped Variable-Thickness Hearing Membrane for Cerumen Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hearing device transducers are prone to malfunction due to entry of substances like cerumen or dirt, leading to reduced acoustic performance and potential failure, with current solutions causing sound distortion or requiring larger receivers to compensate for sound loss.
Innovation Solution
A 3D-shaped protective element with varying thickness, featuring thinner portions for sound transmission and thicker portions for stability, attached to the transducer or sound tube, enhancing mechanical stability and sound transmission while preventing entry of foreign substances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flat membrane is used to protect the transducer, then cerumen blocking is improved, but sound transmission quality deteriorates due to nonlinearities at large sound levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a flat 2D membrane to a 3D-shaped membrane with varying thickness. This dimensional change allows the membrane to maintain protection while improving sound transmission through optimized geometric configuration that reduces nonlinearities.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane is designed with non-uniform thickness distribution, having thinner portions in certain regions to improve sound transmission and thicker portions in other regions to maintain structural integrity and cerumen blocking capability. This local variation in properties resolves the contradiction between protection and sound quality.
2Strength
If the membrane thickness is increased to improve mechanical stability, then durability is improved, but sound transmission loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane employs varying thickness locally - thicker portions provide mechanical stability and durability, while thinner portions minimize sound transmission loss. This localized differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of both conflicting requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
By introducing the thickness dimension variation within the membrane structure, the patent creates a 3D configuration that optimizes both mechanical properties and acoustic transmission, resolving the trade-off between stability and sound loss.
3Ease of operation
If the membrane is made more compliant to prevent damage, then ease of operation is improved, but mechanical strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane has different mechanical properties in different regions - thinner portions are more compliant and easier to clean, while thicker portions provide mechanical strength and durability. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between ease of cleaning and mechanical strength.
4Reliability
If a dense grid or membrane is used to block cerumen, then protection is improved, but acoustic performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a 3D-shaped membrane with varying thickness instead of a flat 2D grid or membrane. This three-dimensional configuration provides effective cerumen blocking while maintaining superior acoustic performance through optimized sound wave transmission paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane is designed with local variations in thickness - thinner regions allow better acoustic transmission while thicker regions provide effective cerumen blocking. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between protection and acoustic performance.
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
Improves sound transmission and reduces the risk of transducer malfunction, maintaining acoustic performance and reducing the need for servicing, with a design that is easier to clean and less prone to damage.
Implementation Method 1
one or more thinner portions configured to transmit sound
Implementation Method 2
one or more thicker portions at which a rigidity of the membrane is greater than at the thinner portions
Implementation Method 3
The invention is set out in the appended set of claims. According to the invention, a protective element is provided, the protective element configured to be connected to an electroacoustic transducer or a sound tube included in a hearing device
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a protective element (2) configured to be connected to an electroacoustic transducer (1) or a sound tube (3) included in a hearing device, the protective element (2) comprising a 3D-shaped membrane (7) enclosing a cavity (6) with an opening (8) at which the membrane (7) is configured to connect to the transducer (1) or sound tube (3), wherein the membrane (7) has one or more thinner portions (7.1, 7.4) configured to transmit sound and one or more thicker portions (7.2) at which a rigidity of the membrane (7) is greater than at the thinner portions (7.1, 7.4).