WO2020035608A1 - Method for the fine adjustment of an ear bud, and ear bud - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the fine adjustment of a housing (1) of an ear bud (2) to a person's ear (3). The housing bears in a form-fitting manner against an inside of a tragus and against an inside of an antihelix of a pinna of the ear (3). In a fitting step (9), a reference housing (8), which was fabricated in a prefabricating step (7) and has a reference housing shape (6), is inserted into the person's ear (3). In a sensing step (10) following the fitting step (9), a difference in shape (12) between the reference housing shape (6) and the person's ear (3) is determined. In a determining step (13) following the sensing step (10), a housing shape (14) of the housing (1) is determined on the basis of the difference in shape (12) and the reference housing shape (6), and, in a fabricating step (15), the housing (1) having the housing shape (14) is produced. The invention further relates to an ear bud (2).

Description

Method of fine-tuning an earphone and earphone

The invention relates to a method for fine-tuning a housing of an earphone to an ear of a person, the housing being form-fitting on an inside of a tragus and on an inside of an antihelix

Of the ear.

The performance of auditory acoustic devices, such as

For example, from hearing aids or monitors, it depends to a large extent on how far the audible device and in particular its housing are adapted to the ear of the device user. Something similar to human ears

are in their basic structure among each other, so big are the differences between the ears in detail, which is why it is particularly powerful

It is common for hearing acoustic devices to be adapted to the user's ear. Such adjustments provide very well-fitting housings with excellent

acoustic properties. The disadvantage here is that these adjustments for many areas of application

hearing acoustic devices are disproportionately time-consuming and cost-intensive.

For individual adjustment of the housing are from

US 2017/0 104 977 Al and GAO, T .; Jarng,

SS: Design and Realization of Hearing Aids Based 3D Rapid Shell Molding CADCAM, In: IEEE International Symposium on Industrial Electronics (ISIE 2009), Seoul, July 5-8, 2009; Pp. 1488-1492, known methods in which means

special scanner first creates a three-dimensional model of the auricle and then an attached one

customized housing is designed and manufactured. Special scanning devices for generating the three-dimensional image of the auricle are required to carry out the methods described in these documents

required, so that the use of these methods for the production of hearing-acoustic devices adapted to the ear of the respective user is comparatively high

is time consuming and costly.

One way to save time and money

reduce, is the use of universal housings for auditory devices. Universal housing for

Acoustic devices have an external design that is similar to the external design of housings of the individually adapted acoustic devices. However, the shape of the universal housing corresponds to a medium shape, which is determined by comparing a large number of housings individually adapted to individual ears. With such universal housings, relatively good results can be achieved with regard to the wearing comfort and the acoustic performance of acoustic devices.

However, it is still the case that universal

Housing must go through a more or less complex adaptation process in order to be physiological and / or

listening acoustic requirements of the user so far

suffice that he is satisfied with the audible device is. The methods known from the prior art rely on a more or less empirical method that places high demands on the skills of the hearing aid acoustician.

It is therefore considered to be an object of the present invention to provide a method for the fine adjustment of a

to make available acoustic device, in particular an earphone, by means of which the adaptation of the earphone to the user's ear is facilitated.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that a reference housing manufactured in a prefabrication step in a subsequent to the prefabrication step

A fitting step is inserted into the ear of the person and a form deviation between the reference housing shape and the ear of the person is determined in a detection step following the fitting step, a housing shape of the housing being determined in a determination step following the detection step on the basis of the shape deviation and the reference housing shape and wherein the housing having the housing shape is produced in one production step.

In the detection step, a kind of difference image between the ear and the reference housing is determined, which conveys information about in which areas and in what way the reference housing deviates from the respective ear. When manufacturing the customized housing in the manufacturing step, only the

Reference housing shape slightly modified so that the housing shape corresponds to the ear. By such Design of the method according to the invention

Allows universal housing to easily meet the individual needs of the person

are customizable.

It is envisaged that in the fitting step both a physically present reference housing can be inserted into the real ear of the person and that a reference housing that only exists virtually can be fitted into a virtual model of the person's ear. The physically existing reference housing can be a reusable reference housing as well as a reference housing newly manufactured for each person, whereby for hygienic reasons a new production of the reference housing is preferred for each person. It is envisaged that the production of the reference housing is fundamentally independent of the others

Procedural steps, in particular also in stock,

is feasible.

Insofar as the reference housing has to be adapted to the person, in an advantageous embodiment of the

The inventive method provided that in a pre-adjustment step on the basis of

Reference records that include dimensions of different ears of different people who

Reference housing shape is determined, the reference housing being manufactured with the reference housing shape in a pre-production step following the pre-adjustment step. Such a configuration of the method ensures that the reference housing shape is reproducibly determined on the basis of traceable data can, for example, without a hearing care professional having to determine the reference housing shape on the basis of estimates and / or experience. The adaptation on the basis of reference data records also makes it possible, in particular, for the reference housing shape from

can be adapted to the ear of a child or an adult, for example.

An advantageous implementation of the concept of the invention provides that dimensions of the ear are determined in a measurement step that takes place before the pre-adjustment step, wherein in a filter step that follows the measurement step on the basis of the determined dimensions that are in the

Pre-adjustment step used reference records

are filtered so that the shape deviation between the reference housing shape and the housing shape is minimized. The dimensions of the human ear depend on a variety of factors. The human ear is one of the few organs in the human body that changes or grows in size for life.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the reference data sets in the filtering step are based indirectly on the dimensions of the ear

related data of the person are filtered. In addition to the dimensions of the ear itself, which can sometimes only be determined with great effort, the dimensions of the ear also depend on other parameters, such as age, gender, body fat percentage or the like. Certain physical impairments and / or disabilities also affect the dimensions of the ear. By a

Filter the reference records based on this Data, it is possible to optimize the method according to the invention.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention it is provided that the detection step is carried out by means of an optical and / or optronic device. Optical and optronic devices in the sense of the inventive concept are in particular analog and digital cameras, laser sensors, surface scanners and the like. As an alternative or in addition to the optical and / or optronic devices, it is also possible for other imaging methods, for example ultrasound-based methods, to be used in the detection step.

An advantageous implementation of the inventive concept provides that the determination of the housing shape in the

Determination step by means of a, or by means of a

Data processing device is performed. The

The determination step can be computer-aided as well as automated by a computer

be performed. Computer-assisted in the sense of the inventive concept means in particular the use of software for processing images and / or

three-dimensional data.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that in the detection step by means of the optical

and / or optronic acquired data in one after the acquisition step and before the determination step

The first data transmission step is carried out by means of a first data transmission method Data processing device are transmitted. Such an embodiment of the method according to the invention makes it possible for the data acquisition to take place initially independently of the data processing device, the data determined after the data acquisition being sent to the first data transmission method

Data processing device can be transmitted.

It is possible, for example, that the data acquisition in the acquisition step can be carried out using a so-called smartphone and that in the acquisition step

transmitted data via a cellular network to those also connected to the cellular network

 Data processing device can be transmitted. In addition, it is also possible that the

Acquisition step by means of a specialized

Detection device can be performed, the

Detection device can be both wired and wirelessly connected to the data processing device in a data-conducting manner.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention it is provided that the housing in the

Manufacturing step using a computer-aided

Machine tool is manufactured. Computational

Machine tool in the sense of the inventive concept means in particular so-called CNC machines, in particular multi-axis milling machines, 3D printers or the like.

An advantageous implementation of the concept of the invention provides that in the determination step by means of

Data processing device determined housing shape in one following the investigative step second

Data transmission step by means of a second

Data transmission method is transmitted in machine-readable form to the computer-aided machine tool. Such an embodiment of the method according to the invention enables that in a simple manner

a fine-tuned universal housing for the person can be produced inexpensively.

The invention also relates to an earphone with a

Housing, the housing of the earphone using a method according to the invention for fine adjustment of a

Earphone is made. It is particularly provided that the earphone is attached to the housing

has fixed socket and a lamella fixed to the socket, the lamella being inserted at least in sections into an auditory canal of the ear when the earphone is used as intended.

In an advantageous embodiment of the earphone according to the invention it is provided that the lamella

Intended use of the earphone rests at least in sections on a wall of an auditory canal of the ear, the lamella receiving a socket head

has, wherein the neck of the earphone with a neck head is inserted into the neck head receptacle and the lamella is fixed to the earphone by means of the neck, the neck head receptacle allowing articulated storage with the neck head and wherein by

Stutzenkopfaufnähme and the neck head a joint is formed so that an articulated connection is made between the lamella and the earphone. Studies in human auditory canals have found that the course of the auditory canal varies considerably between people. In particular, at an angle formed between the ear canal and the outer ear, the studies were able to determine differences in the range of up to 30 °. When using earphones that are adapted to the ear shape with the method according to the invention, an individual adjustment of the neck is not readily possible, since only a difference image exists between the standardized earphone and the actual ear shape for the individual adjustment of the earphone. Information about the shape of the ear canal is usually not available. Therefore, it is articulated

Connection between the lamella and the earphone is particularly advantageous in the case of earphones adapted according to the method according to the invention.

In an advantageous embodiment of the earphone, it is provided that the neck has a neck foot, the housing has a neck foot receptacle in which the neck is fixed by means of the neck foot and wherein the neck foot receptacle enables articulated storage with the neck foot, so that by the

The socket base and the socket base form a joint with which an articulated connection can be established between the lamella and the earphone.

An advantageous implementation of the inventive concept provides that the housing has two housing parts which can be connected to one another along a housing connection line, the housing connection line at most runs in sections in one plane and the

Housing connection line is specified such that

Housing parts are designed without undercuts.

The connecting line in the housings known from the prior art usually runs in one plane.

 This avoids undercuts in the housing notes for anatomically adapted housings. Through the

Use of a non-level

Connecting line, these undercuts can be avoided.

Below are some embodiments of the

The inventive concept explained in more detail, which are shown in the drawing.

It shows:

Figures 1A to 1F and Figure 2 are schematic representations of an embodiment of the method and

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the invention inserted into an ear

Earphone.

FIGS. 1A to 1F show a schematic representation of an embodiment of the method according to the invention for fine-tuning a housing 1 of an earphone 2 to an ear 3 of a person. In a pre-adjustment step 4 shown in FIG. 1A, on the basis of

Reference data sets 5, the dimensions of different ears 3 different people, one

Reference housing shape 6 determined. In one in Figure 1B shown and following the pre-adaptation step 4 pre-production step 7, a reference housing 8 is manufactured with the reference housing shape 6. In one on the

Prefabrication step 7 following and shown in Figure IC fitting step 9, the reference housing 8 is inserted into the ear 3 of the person.

In a detection step 10 shown in FIG. ID and following the fitting step 9, a

optronic device 11 determines a shape deviation 12 between the reference housing shape 6 and the ear 3 of the person.

In one shown in Figure IE and on the

Detection step 10 following determination step 13 is based on the shape deviation 12 and the

Reference housing shape 6 determines a housing shape 14 of the housing 1. In a shown in Figure 1F and on the

Determining step 13 following manufacturing step 15, the housing 1 having the housing shape 14 is produced.

FIG. 2 shows the method from FIGS. 1A to 1F in summary. The method begins with the pre-adaptation step 4. The pre-adaptation step 4 is followed by the pre-production step 7. After the

The prefabrication step 7 is followed by the fitting step 9. After the fitting step 9, the detection step 10 is carried out

Determination step 13. After the determination step 13, the manufacturing step 15 takes place.

FIG. 3 shows the housing 1 produced in the manufacturing step 16, which is arranged in the ear 3. The housing 1 is form-fitting on the inside of the tragus 16 and on the inside of the antihelix 17 of the auricle 18 of the ear 3.

B E Z U G S Z E I C H E N L I S T E

1. Housing

2. Earbuds

 3rd ear

 4. Pre-adjustment step

 5. Reference records

 6. Reference housing shape

7th prefabrication step

 8. Reference housing

9. Fit step

 10. Detection step

11. optronic device

12. Shape deviation

 13. Investigation step

14. Housing shape

 15. Manufacturing step

 16. Tragus

17. Antihelix

 18. Auricle

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Method for fine adjustment of a housing (1) of an earphone (2) to an ear (3) of a person, the Housing (1) on an inside of a form-fitting Tragus (16) and on an inside of an antihelix (17) of an ear cup (18) of the ear (3), one manufactured in a prefabrication step (7) Reference housing (8) in one on the  Prefabrication step (7) following fitting step (9) inserted into the ear (3) of the person and in a detection step (10) following the fitting step (9) a shape deviation (12) between the reference housing shape (6) and the ear (3) Person is determined, in one following the detection step (10) Determination step (13) based on the Shape deviation (12) and the reference housing shape (6) a housing shape (14) of the housing (1) is determined and wherein the housing (1) having the housing shape (14) is produced in one manufacturing step (15). 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that in a pre-adjustment step (4) on the basis of reference data sets (5), the dimensions of different ears (3) of different people include Reference housing shape (6) is determined, in a following the pre-adjustment step (4) Prefabrication step (7) the reference housing (8) with the reference housing shape (6) is manufactured. 3. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that in a before Pre-adaptation step (4) measuring step Dimensions of the ear (3) are determined, with the filter step following the measurement step on the Based on the dimensions determined in the Pre-adaptation step (4) used reference data sets (5) are filtered so that the shape deviation (12) between the reference housing shape (6) and the housing shape (14) is minimized. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the reference data sets (5) in the filtering step on the basis of indirectly with the Dimensions of the ear (3) related data of the person are filtered. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the detection step (10) by means of an optical and / or optronic device (11) is carried out. 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the determination of the housing shape (14) in the determination step (13) is carried out by means of, or by a data processing device. 7. The method according to claim 5 and 6, characterized in that in the detection step (10) by means of the optical and / or optronic device (11) acquired data in a after the detection step (10) and before Determination step (13) takes place first Data transmission step by means of a first data transmission method to the Data processing device are transmitted. 8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the housing (1) in the Manufacturing step using a computer-aided Machine tool is manufactured. 9. The method according to claims 6 and 8 or 7 and 8, characterized in that in the Determination step (13) by means of  Data processing device determined housing shape (14) in a second data transmission step following the determination step (13) by means of a second  Data transmission method is transmitted in machine-readable form to the computer-aided machine tool. 10. earphone with a housing (1), the housing (1) of the earphone (2) being produced by means of a method according to one of claims 1 to 9.