EP4133747A1

EP4133747A1 - Eartip, earphone, and method of manufacturing eartips for earphones

Info

Publication number: EP4133747A1
Application number: EP20734865.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Miikka Tikander; Petri Jarske; Jyri PAKARINEN
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-06-18
Filing date: 2020-06-18
Publication date: 2023-02-15
Also published as: CN115699802A; WO2021254621A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an eartip for an earphone. The eartip comprising a deformable eartip body configured to be at least partially inserted into an ear canal, and one or more anisotropic stiffness elements arranged in or on the eartip body. Furthermore, the one or more anisotropic stiffness elements are configured to provide a location-specific stiffness to the eartip body. The present disclosure also relates to an earphone comprising at least an eartip.

Description

EARTIP, EARPHONE, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING EARTIPS FOR

EARPHONES

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to an eartip for an earphone, to an earphone, and to a method of manufacturing an eartip for an earphone. In particular, the eartip may comprise anisotropic stiffness elements such as anisotropic microstructures, which may provide a location-specific stiffness and/or a direction-specific stiffness to the eartip body.

BACKGROUND

Generally, some conventional earphones are based on insert-type headphones. Such insert-type headphones typically comprise a body part and a soft eartip part. The eartip part is often designed to be pushed inside a user’s ear canal, for example, in order to block it from outside sounds, and to further allow the sounds generated by the headphone entering the user’s ear canal.

A conventional eartip for earphones is based on isotropic homogeneous materials (typically silicone). Further, the homogeneous materials of the eartip is selected such that the overall stiffness of the eartip to be compromised. For example, the eartip should not be too stiff to exert too much pressure to the user’s ear canal, but the eartip should also not be too soft to still enable insertion into the user’s ear canal.

However, an issue of such a conventional eartip is that due to the abovementioned compromise, desired results including ease of insert, wearing comfort, and good sealing cannot be individually optimized, but have a strong co-dependency. It is thus generally desirable to provide an alternative eartip for earphones.

SUMMARY

In view of the above-mentioned problems and disadvantages, embodiments of the present disclosure aim to improve a conventional eartip for earphones. An objective is to provide an eartip that provides a better sealing of the user’s ear canal. Further, the eartip should provide an improved wearing comfort to the user. The disclosed eartip should overcome shortcomings of the conventional eartip that are based on isotropic materials. The objective is achieved by the embodiments of the disclosure as described in the enclosed independent claims. Advantageous implementations of the embodiments of the disclosure are further defined in the dependent claims.

In particular, by using one or more anisotropic stiffness elements in an eartip body, embodiments of the invention make it possible to control the stiffness of the eartip in different locations and directions, and may thus maximize a wearing comfort for the user, while ensuring a stable fit and a good sound quality, and/or an efficient acoustic sealing.

A first aspect of the present disclosure provides an eartip for an earphone, the eartip comprising a deformable eartip body configured to be at least partially inserted into an ear canal, and one or more anisotropic stiffness elements arranged in or on the eartip body, wherein the one or more anisotropic stiffness elements are configured to provide a location-specific stiffness to the eartip body.

The eartip may be an eartip for an insert-type earphone. The deformable body may enable the eartip (e.g., the deformable eartip body of the eartip) to be at least partially inserted (e.g., positioned) within the ear canal of a user.

Furthermore, the one or more anisotropic stiffness elements may be based on anisotropic microstructures, and may be arranged such that a location-specific stiffness may be provided to the eartip body. For example, the one or more anisotropic stiffness elements may be used to control the stiffness and other material parameters in different locations and directions in the eartip. Thus, the eartip may provide a maximized wearing comfort to the user, while ensuring a stable fit and good sound quality.

For example, the stiffness of the eartip may vary locally, allowing more pressure to be exerted to areas that are not that sensitive to force (such as the tragus of the ear), and less pressure to areas of higher sensitivity. Hence, it may be possible to increase both the wearing comfort and the secure fit (preventing the earphone to drop from the ear of the user) of the eartip. In an implementation form of the first aspect, the one or more anisotropic stiffness elements are further configured to provide a direction-specific stiffness to the eartip body, wherein the stiffness of the eartip body is highest along an ear canal insertion direction.

In particular, providing direction-specific stiffness to the eartip body may enable the eartip to be more easily inserted in the ear canal of the user, more comfortable to wear, and it may be easily manufactured. Furthermore, due to the direction-specific stiffness of the eartip body, the eartip may be stiffer during insertion (preventing folding of the eartip body, and thus facilitating insertion), but more flexible during wearing (increasing comfort and providing better sealing).

In a further implementation form of the first aspect, the one or more anisotropic stiffness elements are configured to provide a stiffer characteristic to the eartip body along a first axis of the eartip, wherein, in particular, the first axis is along the ear canal insertion direction.

In a further implementation form of the first aspect, the one or more anisotropic stiffness elements are further configured to provide a less stiff characteristic to the eartip body along a second axis of the eartip, wherein in particular the second axis is oblique to the ear canal insertion direction.

In a further implementation form of the first aspect, the second axis is orthogonal to the first axis.

In a further implementation form of the first aspect, the one or more anisotropic stiffness elements comprise a plurality of beams arranged inside the eartip body.

The plurality of beams may be based on tubes, e.g., may each be a tube. Furthermore, each beam (e.g., each tube) may have a radial angle that may be varied, i.e., upon manufacturing the eartip, the radial angle of each tube may be controlled, which may result in an eartip that exerts less pressure on the ear canal of the user.

In a further implementation form of the first aspect, each of the beams has a higher stiffness along the beam extension direction, and has a lower bending stiffness oblique to the beam extension direction. In a further implementation form of the first aspect, the one or more anisotropic stiffness elements further comprise a plurality of bonding structures interconnecting the plurality of beams.

In a further implementation form of the first aspect, the plurality of bonding structures provide a support body to the interconnected plurality of beams, thereby forming a mesh structure.

In a further implementation form of the first aspect, the one or more anisotropic stiffness elements further comprise a plurality of rings arranged next to each other, and positioned at an end of the eartip opposite to the end of the eartip that is configured to be inserted into the ear canal.

In a further implementation form of the first aspect,

• the plurality of beams comprises silicone, and/or

• the plurality of rings comprises silicone, and/or

• the plurality of bonding structures comprises metal wires.

A second aspect of the disclosure provides an earphone comprising at least one eartip according to the first aspect or one of the implementation form of the first aspect.

The earphone may comprise at least one eartip, for example, an eartip or a pair of eartip. It may further include a circuitry.

The earphone may further comprise a circuitry comprising electronics such as transducer elements that may be operative to provide acoustic sound. The circuitry of the earphone may comprise hardware and software. The hardware may comprise analog or digital circuitry, or both analog and digital circuitry. In some embodiments, the circuitry comprises one or more processors and a non-volatile memory connected to the one or more processors. The non volatile memory may carry executable program code which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the device to perform the operations or methods described herein.

Furthermore, the at least one eartip of the earphone may be operative to deform in order to fit inside a user's ear canal and provide an acoustic sealing. The earphone of the second aspect achieves the advantages and effects described for the eartip of the first aspect. A third aspect of the disclosure provides a method of manufacturing an eartip for an earphone, the method comprising forming a deformable eartip body for being at least partially insertable into an ear canal, and arranging one or more anisotropic stiffness elements in or on the eartip body, such that the one or more anisotropic stiffness elements provide a location-specific stiffness to the eartip body.

In an implementation form of the third aspect, the manufacturing method of the third aspect is executed for manufacturing the eartip according to the first aspect or one of the implementation form of the first aspect.

It has to be noted that all devices, elements, units and means described in the present application could be implemented in the software or hardware elements or any kind of combination thereof. All steps which are performed by the various entities described in the present application as well as the functionalities described to be performed by the various entities are intended to mean that the respective entity is adapted to or configured to perform the respective steps and functionalities. Even if, in the following description of specific embodiments, a specific functionality or step to be performed by external entities is not reflected in the description of a specific detailed element of that entity which performs that specific step or functionality, it should be clear for a skilled person that these methods and functionalities can be implemented in respective software or hardware elements, or any kind of combination thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above described aspects and implementation forms will be explained in the following description of specific embodiments in relation to the enclosed drawings, in which

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic view of an eartip for an earphone, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIGS. 2A-B depict diagrams illustrating anisotropic stiffness elements based on a plurality of beams for arranging inside the eartip body (FIG. 2A) and a plurality of rings provided as support-structure for the eartip (FIG. 2B); FIGS. 3A-3B depict diagrams illustrating providing a stiffer characteristic to the eartip body along a first axis of the eartip (FIG. 3 A), and providing a less stiff characteristic to the eartip body along a second axis of the eartip (FIG. 3B);

FIG. 4 depicts a schematic view of anisotropic stiffness elements comprising a plurality of beams and a plurality of rings;

FIG. 5 depicts a schematic view of anisotropic stiffness elements of FIG. 4 implemented with metal wires and another support material; and

FIG. 6 depicts a schematic view of a flowchart of a method of manufacturing an eartip for an earphone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic view of an eartip 110, 120 for an earphone 100, 101, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

In FIG. 1, in particular, a pair of earphones 100, 101 is shown, including a first earphone 100 comprising an eartip 110, for instance, for use in a user's left ear, and a second earphone 101 comprising an eartip 120, for instance, for use with a user's right ear. The first earphone 100 and the second earphone 101 may be similar or identical, and may have similar or identical functions as described in this disclosure. Furthermore, the eartip 110 and the eartip 120 may be similar or identical, and may have similar or identical functions as described in this disclosure.

The eartip 110, 120 comprises a deformable eartip body 111, 121 configured to be at least partially inserted into an ear canal.

The eartip 110, 120 further comprises one or more anisotropic stiffness elements 112, 113, 122, 123 arranged in or on the eartip body 111, 121, wherein the one or more anisotropic stiffness elements 112, 113, 122, 123 are configured to provide a location-specific stiffness to the eartip body 111, 121. For example, in FIG. 1, the eartip 110 comprises the anisotropic stiffness elements 112, 113 arranged in or on the eartip body 111 of the eartip 110. Furthermore, the eartip 120 comprises the anisotropic stiffness elements 122, 123 arranged in or on the eartip body 121 of the eartip 120

Moreover, the anisotropic stiffness elements 112, 113, 122, 123 are configured to provide a location-specific stiffness to each of the respective eartip bodies 111, 121.

For example, the anisotropic stiffness elements 112, 113 and 122, 123 may be, respectively, arranged such that the stiffness of the eartips 110 and 120 varies locally. Furthermore, this may allow pressure to be exerted more to areas that are not that sensitive to force (such as the tragus of the ear), and less to areas of higher sensitivity. Hence, it may be possible to increase both the wearing comfort and the secure fit (preventing the earphone 100, 101 to drop from the ear of the user) of each eartip 110, 120.

Moreover, a user may wear the first earphone 100 and the second earphone 101 by at least partially inserting the respective deformable eartip bodies 111, 121 of the eartips 110, 120 into the respective ear canals. Furthermore, by providing the location-specific stiffness by the anisotropic stiffness elements 112, 113 and 122, 123, respectively, the deformable eartip bodies 111 and 121 may deform to fit within the unique shape of the particular user's ear canal.

The first earphone 100 and/or the second earphone 101 may further comprise a processing circuitry (not shown in FIG. 1) configured to perform, conduct or initiate the various operations of the device 100 described herein. The processing circuitry may comprise hardware and software. The hardware may comprise analog circuitry or digital circuitry, or both analog and digital circuitry. The digital circuitry may comprise components such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), or multi-purpose processors. In one embodiment, the processing circuitry comprises one or more processors and a non-transitory memory connected to the one or more processors. The non-transitory memory may carry executable program code which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the first earphone 100 and/or the second earphone 101 to perform, conduct or initiate the operations or methods described herein. Reference is now made to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, which depict diagrams 200A and 200B illustrating anisotropic stiffness elements (like 112, 113 and 122, 123 in FIG. 1) that are based on a plurality of beams 201 for arrangement inside the eartip body (diagram 200 A of FIG. 2 A), and based on a plurality of rings 203 provided as support-structure for the eartip (diagram 200B of FIG. 2B).

The anisotropic stiffness elements 112, 113 and 122, 123 may comprise a plurality of beams 201. In the example of FIG. 2 A, eight beams 201 are illustrated that may provide a stiffer characteristic to the eartip body along the ear canal insertion direction.

Further, each of the beams 201 may have a higher stiffness along the beam extension direction, and may have a lower bending stiffness (e.g., an elastic characteristic) oblique to the beam extension direction.

Moreover, a plurality of bonding structures 202 may be provided for interconnecting the plurality of beams 201.

For example, the anisotropic stiffness elements 112, 113 and 122, 123 may comprise thicker elements (e.g., the beams 201) in the direction of ear canal insertion, preventing excessive bending or folding of the respective eartip 110, 120. Adjoining the thicker elements may be thinner elements like supporting structures, e.g., a mesh 202 as shown in light gray in FIG. 2, which may hold the beams 201 together, but at the same time allow elasticity in the direction orthogonal to the beams 201 (the thicker elements). Thus, the eartip 110, 120 may be flexible towards the ear canal walls of the user, preventing discomforting pressure, but may be stiff towards the ear canal itself, and thus may prevent excessive bending when inserting the eartip 110, 120. Note that the thin support structures may not be beam-like as shown, but may also be or comprise a membrane-like structure that can be used as well for non-leaky operation.

For instance, such anisotropic microstructures may be created by 3D printing using, e.g., one or more mesh structures 202 with varying element thickness, or with varying materials. For example, the beams 201 may be based on eartip tubes, which may be stiffer in the insertion direction, but more flexible towards the ear canal walls. According to diagram 200B of FIG. 2B, the anisotropic stiffness elements 112, 113 and 122, 123 may be based on a plurality of rings 203. For example, the plurality of rings 203 may be arranged next to each other, and may be positioned at an end of the eartip 110, 120 opposite to the end of the eartip 110, 120 that is configured to be inserted into the ear canal. Moreover, each ring 203 may be based on a tube, which has a radial angle that can be varied. For instance, the plurality of rings 203 may allow the radial direction of the eartip body 111, 121 to be varied. In diagram 200B of FIG. 2B, two possible variations are indicated with dashed lines in this respect.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, which depict diagrams illustrating a stiffer characteristic of the eartip body 111, 121 along a first axis of the eartip (FIG. 3A), and a less stiff characteristic of the eartip body 111, 121 along a second axis of the eartip (FIG. 3B).

As can be taken from diagram 300A of FIG. 3A, the plurality of beams 201 may have a higher stiffness along the first direction of the beams 201 (indicated with arrows 301 and 302). Such a characteristic enables the tips of the beams 201 to maintain substantially their shape. Thus, they may be easily inserted into the ear canals. Further, as can be taken from diagram 300B of FIG. 3B, the plurality of beams 201 may have a lower bending stiffness in the second directions (indicated with arrows 303 and 304). Such a characteristic enables the beams 210 to easily conform to the ear canal, and to have a low restoring pressure. This improves the sealing of the ear canal.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which depicts a schematic view of anisotropic stiffness elements (e.g., 112, 113 and 122, 123 in FIG. 1) comprising a plurality of beams 201 and a plurality of rings 203.

For example, the anisotropic stiffness elements 112, 113 and 122, 123 may be based on the plurality of beams 201, and the plurality of rings 203, and the plurality of bonding structures 202 (e.g., the mesh structure 202).

Combining the plurality of beams 201 and the plurality of rings 203 may result in an eartip 100, 101, which may exert less pressure on the ear canal opening (as the structure shown in diagram 200B of FIG. 2B complies better with the natural angle variation of human’s ear canal directions), and which may further be easy to insert, but not exert too much pressure on the ear canal walls. For instance, the structure shown in diagram 200A of FIG. 2A is stiffer towards the ear canal, but more flexible towards the walls.

Moreover, such a combination structure is depicted in diagram 400 of FIG. 4. The anisotropic stiffness elements 12, 113 and 122, 123 may comprise the plurality of beams 201 that are based on silicone, the plurality of rings 203 that are based on silicone, and the plurality of bonding structures 202 (e.g., mesh). Further, the ring-support design may be used to prevent the eartip tube from being squeezed, for example, when being inserted in a narrow ear canal.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5, which depicts a schematic view of anisotropic stiffness elements of FIG. 4 implemented with metal wires and another support material.

The anisotropic stiffness elements 12, 113 and 122, 123 may comprise the plurality of beams 201 that are based on silicone, the plurality of rings 203 that are based on silicone, and the plurality of bonding structures 202 that are based on metal wires 501. Combining such structures for forming the anisotropic stiffness elements 12, 113 and 122, 123 may result in an eartip design, which can bend in the direction of the user’s ear canal (e.g., due to the plurality of rings 203 (not shown in FIG. 5)) while being easy to insert but not exerting too much pressure on the ear canal wall. This combination is an example of not only anisotropic eartip structure, but it also has different characteristics in different locations (for example, it may be easy to bend in the headset body end, but not other locations).

In diagram 500 of FIG. 5, the plurality of beams 201 are interconnected with bounding structures that are exemplary based on metal wires 501, and an additional soft material 502 (shown in dark grey) that is provided over the structure of metal wires 501.

Alternatively to 3D printing, such microstructures could be manufactured by molding softer material 502 (e.g., silicone) over a harder supporting material (e.g., a mesh of metal wires 501), for example, a structure as shown in diagram 500 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 shows a method 600 of manufacturing an eartip 110, 120 for an earphone 100, 101, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The method 600 comprises a step S601 of forming a deformable eartip body 111, 121 for being at least partially insertable into an ear canal.

The method 600 further comprises a step S602 of arranging one or more anisotropic stiffness elements 112, 113, 122, 123 in or on the eartip body 111, 121, such that the one or more anisotropic stiffness elements 112, 113, 122, 123 provide a location-specific stiffness to the eartip body 111, 121.

The present disclosure has been described in conjunction with various embodiments as examples as well as implementations. However, other variations can be understood and effected by those persons skilled in the art and practicing the claimed disclosure, from the studies of the drawings, this disclosure and the independent claims. In the claims as well as in the description the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single element or other unit may fulfill the functions of several entities or items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in the mutual different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used in an advantageous implementation.

Claims

1. An eartip (110, 120) for an earphone (100, 101), the eartip (110, 120) comprising: a deformable eartip body (111, 121) configured to be at least partially inserted into an ear canal; and one or more anisotropic stiffness elements (112, 113, 122, 123) arranged in or on the eartip body (111, 121), wherein the one or more anisotropic stiffness elements (112, 113, 122, 123) are configured to provide a location-specific stiffness to the eartip body (111, 121).

2. The eartip (110, 120) according to claim 1, wherein: the one or more anisotropic stiffness elements (112, 113, 122, 123) are further configured to provide a direction-specific stiffness to the eartip body (111, 121), wherein the stiffness of the eartip body (111, 121) is highest along an ear canal insertion direction.

3. The eartip (110, 120) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: the one or more anisotropic stiffness elements (112, 113, 122, 123) are configured to provide a stiffer characteristic to the eartip body (111, 121) along a first axis of the eartip (110, 120), wherein in particular the first axis is along the ear canal insertion direction.

4. The eartip (110, 120) according to one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein: the one or more anisotropic stiffness elements (112, 113, 122, 123) are further configured to provide a less stiff characteristic to the eartip body (111, 121) along a second axis of the eartip (110, 120), wherein in particular the second axis is oblique to the ear canal insertion direction.

5. The eartip (110, 120) according to one of the claim 4, wherein: the second axis is orthogonal to the first axis.

6. The eartip (110, 120) according to one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein: the one or more anisotropic stiffness elements (112, 113, 122, 123) comprise a plurality of beams (201) arranged inside the eartip body (111, 121).

7. The eartip (110, 120) according to claim 6, wherein: each of the beams has a higher stiffness along the beam extension direction, and has a lower bending stiffness oblique to the beam extension direction.

8. The eartip (110, 120) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the one or more anisotropic stiffness elements (112, 113, 122, 123) further comprise a plurality of bonding structures (202) interconnecting the plurality of beams (201).

9. The eartip (110, 120) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein: the plurality of bonding structures (202) provide a support body to the interconnected plurality of beams (201), thereby forming a mesh structure.

10. The eartip (110, 120) according to one of the claims 6 to 9, wherein: the one or more anisotropic stiffness elements (112, 113, 122, 123) further comprise a plurality of rings (203) arranged next to each other, and positioned at an end of the eartip (110, 120) opposite to the end of the eartip (110, 120) that is configured to be inserted into the ear canal.

11. The eartip (110, 120) according to one of the claim 10, wherein: the plurality of beams (201) comprises silicone; and/or the plurality of rings (203) comprises silicone; and/or the plurality of bonding structures (202) comprises metal wires.

12. An earphone (100, 101) comprising: at least one eartip (110, 120) according to one of the claims 1 to 11.

13. A method (600) of manufacturing an eartip (110, 120) for an earphone (100, 101), the method (600) comprising: forming (S601) a deformable eartip body (111, 121) for being at least partially insertable into an ear canal; and arranging (S602) one or more anisotropic stiffness elements (112, 113, 122, 123) in or on the eartip body (111, 121), such that the one or more anisotropic stiffness elements (112, 113, 122, 123) provide a location-specific stiffness to the eartip body (111, 121).

14. The manufacturing method of claim 13, which is executed for manufacturing the eartip according to one of the claims 1 to 11.