Vibration Measurement Device for Human Ear Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring vibration in electronic devices, such as mobile phones with piezoelectric elements, fail to accurately evaluate the vibration transmission characteristics to a human ear, leading to inadequate evaluation and specification management of devices that transmit sound through vibration.
Innovation Solution
A measurement system comprising a vibration pickup device and a vibration measurement device that simulates a human ear model, using a plate-shaped vibration transmission member and a piezoelectric acceleration pickup to detect vibrations weighted for human ear characteristics, allowing for accurate evaluation of vibration transmission and sound pressure levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a piezoelectric acceleration pickup is used to measure vibration directly from the vibrating body, then the measurement is simple and direct, but the measurement does not reflect the actual vibration transmission characteristics to a human ear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an artificial ear model as an intermediary between the vibrating body and the measurement system. This artificial ear model includes an ear canal model and a dummy head, which simulates the actual vibration transmission path to a human ear. The vibration pickup measures vibration after it has passed through this intermediary, thereby capturing the weighted vibration characteristics that actually reach the human ear rather than just the raw vibration from the source.
2Reliability
If an artificial mastoid is used for bone conducted vibrator measurement, then the measurement accounts for human body characteristics, but it does not accurately represent vibration transmission when the vibrating body is pressed against a human ear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a more accurate copy of the human ear structure by using an artificial ear model that includes an ear canal model and a dummy head, rather than simply copying the mastoid process. This copy better represents the actual vibration transmission path from the vibrating body pressed against the ear to the inner ear, capturing the nuanced characteristics of ear-specific vibration transmission that the artificial mastoid cannot provide.
3Device complexity
If vibration measurement is performed without simulating human ear characteristics, then the measurement system is simpler, but the evaluation of vibration transmission performance is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an artificial ear model as an intermediary that simulates human ear characteristics. This intermediary includes an ear canal model with specific dimensions and a dummy head with tissue-like material, which together create a realistic vibration transmission environment. The complexity added by this intermediary is justified by the significant improvement in measurement accuracy for evaluating vibration transmission to the human ear.
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 precise evaluation of electronic devices by measuring vibration levels and sound pressure weighted for human ear characteristics, facilitating effective specification management and improving the assessment of vibration transmission performance.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration pickup device (55) including a plate-shaped vibration transmission member (56) and a piezoelectric acceleration pickup (57)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A vibration pickup device (55) for measuring an electronic device (100) that transmits sound to a user via vibration transmission by pressing a vibrating body (102) held in a housing (100) against a human ear includes a plate-shaped vibration transmission member (56) and a vibration pickup (57) joined to a portion of the vibration transmission member (56). The vibration transmission member (56) is mountable on a peripheral portion of an artificial external ear canal (53), formed in an ear model unit (50) modeled after a human ear, and includes a hole (56a) in communication with the artificial external ear canal (53).