EAR WORN DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to an ear worn device (1), particularly a wireless headphone or a hearing aid, comprising a first module (10) configured to be inserted at least partially into an ear canal (2a) of a user, wherein the first module (10) comprises a loudspeaker (11) configured to emit sound into the ear canal (2a) of the user, and wherein the first module (10) comprises at least one microphone (12, 13) configured to pick up sound, and a second module (20) configured to be arranged outside of the concha cava (2b) adjacent to said ear canal (2a) of the user when the first module (10) is inserted into said ear canal (2a), wherein the second module (20) comprises at least one electronic component (21) which is operatively coupled to the loudspeaker (11) and/or the at least one microphone (12, 13) of the first module, wherein the first ambient microphone (12) is configured to be arranged behind the tragus (2c) of the ear (2) of the user adjacent to the ear canal (2a) and faces away from the ear canal (2a).

Claims

1. An ear worn device (1), particularly a wireless headphone or a hearing aid, comprising a. a first module (10) configured to be inserted at least partially into an ear canal (2a) of a user, wherein the first module (10) comprises a loudspeaker (11) configured to emit sound into the ear canal (2a) of the user, and wherein the first module (10) comprises at least one microphone (12, 13) configured to pick up sound, and b. a second module (20), wherein the second module is configured to be arranged outside of the concha cava (2b) adjacent to said ear canal (2a) of the user when the first module (10) is inserted into said ear canal (2a), wherein the second module (20) comprises at least one electronic component (21) which is operatively coupled to the loudspeaker (11) and/or the at least one microphone (12, 13) of the first module (10) characterized in that the first module (10) comprises a first ambient microphone (12), wherein the first ambient microphone (12) is configured to be arranged behind the tragus (2c) of the ear (2) of the user adjacent to the ear canal (2a) and faces away from the ear canal (2a) when the first module is inserted into said ear canal (2a), such that the concha cava (2b) of the ear (2) of the user remains unobstructed.

2. The ear worn device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the ear worn device (1) comprises an earpiece (3) configured to be inserted at least partially into said ear canal (2a), wherein the earpiece (3) comprises the first module (10) and wherein the ear worn device (1) comprises a main body (5) connected to the earpiece (3), wherein the main body (5) comprises the second module (20), and wherein the main body (5) comprises a first section (6) connected to the earpiece (3), wherein the ear worn device (1) is configured such that the first section (6) extends upward from the ear canal (2a) behind the tragus (2c) towards the helicis crus (2f) of the ear (2) when the earpiece is (3) inserted into the ear canal (2a), such that the concha cava (2b) of the ear (2) remains unobstructed, wherein particularly the main body (5) further comprises a second section (7) connected to the first section (6), wherein the ear worn device (1) is configured such that the second section (7) extends from the helicis crus (2f) along an outside of the helix (2e) of the ear (2) of the user when the earpiece (3) is inserted at least partially into the ear canal (2a) of the ear (2).

3. The ear worn device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the earpiece (3) comprises a core part (32) and a sleeve part (33), wherein the sleeve part (33) is mechanically connectable to the core part (32), such that the sleeve part (33) is arranged around the core part (32).

4. The ear worn device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the main body (5) further comprises a third section (8) connected to the second section (7), wherein the third section (8) forms a hook configured to be arranged behind the auricle (2d) of the ear (2) when the earpiece (3) is inserted at least partially into the ear canal (2a) of the ear (2).

5. The ear worn device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one microphone (12, 13) of the first module comprises an in-ear microphone (13) facing into the ear canal (2a) when the first module is inserted into said ear canal (2a), wherein the in-ear microphone (13) is configured to pick up sound from inside the ear canal (2a) of the user.

6. The ear worn device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first module (10) comprises a biometric sensor (14) configured to pick up a biometric signal, wherein particularly the at least one electronic component (21) of the second module (20) is operatively coupled to the biometric sensor (14), wherein particularly the biometric signal is a heart rate, a blood oxygen saturation, a body temperature, a respiration rate, blood glucose level, a hormone level, an electroencephalogram (EEG) signal of the user, or a sound signal picked up from inside the body of the user.

7. The ear worn device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the ear worn device (1) comprises a first electrode and a second electrode configured to detect a galvanic skin response, an electroencephalogram or an electrocardiogram, wherein particularly the first electrode is comprised in the first module (10) and the second electrode is comprised in the second module (20).

8. The ear worn device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the ear worn device (1), particularly the first module (10), comprises a contact sensor configured to pick up sounds from inside the body of the user when the user wears the ear worn device (1), particularly when the first module (10) is inserted at least partially into the ear canal (2a) of the user.

9. The ear worn device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the ear worn device (1) comprises a housing (16) covering at least the first module (10), wherein the housing (16) is configured to seal the ear canal (2a) of the user.

10. The ear worn device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second module (20) comprises at least one second ambient microphone (25) forming a microphone array with the first ambient microphone (12) of the first module (10) to achieve directional listening.

11. The ear worn device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second module (20) comprises a movement and/or acceleration sensor (22), particularly an inertial measurement unit, wherein particularly the movement and/or acceleration sensor (22) is comprised in the at least one electronic component (21).

12. The ear worn device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second module (20) comprises a communication device, particularly comprising a radio antenna, more particularly a radio antenna configured to receive and/or transmit signals at a frequency between 2,402 GHz and 2,480 GHz, wherein particularly the communication device is comprised in the at least one electronic component (21).

13. The ear worn device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second module (20) comprises a signal processing device (24) configured to process signals obtained from the at least one microphone (12, 13, 25), particularly the first ambient microphone (12), the second ambient microphone (25) and/or the in-ear microphone (13), wherein particularly the ear worn device (1) is configured to play back the processed signals to the loudspeaker (11) of the first module (10), wherein particularly the signal processing device (24) is comprised in the at least one electronic component (21).

14. The ear worn device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one electronic component (21) is operatively coupled to the loudspeaker (11) and/or the at least one microphone (12, 13) of the first module (10) by an electric connection (15).

Description

[0080] The invention is further illustrated by the following examples and figures, from which further embodiments and advantages can be drawn. These examples are meant to illustrate the invention but not to limit its scope.

[0081] FIG. 1 shows a schematic of an example of an earpiece comprising the first module according to the invention;

[0082] FIG. 2 shows a schematic of a first example of a flexible PCB of the first module according to the invention comprising a balanced armature loudspeaker;

[0083] FIG. 3 shows a schematic of a second example of a flexible PCB of the first module according to the invention comprising a micro-electro-mechanical system loudspeaker;

[0084] FIG. 4 shows a schematic of an example of the ear worn device according to the invention comprising the first module and the second module;

[0085] FIG. 5 shows the embodiment of the ear worn device depicted in FIG. 4 placed in an ear of a user;

[0086] FIG. 6 depicts a further embodiment of the ear worn device comprising an earpiece with a core part and a sleeve part;

[0087] FIG. 7 shows the core part and the sleeve part of the earpiece of the ear worn device shown in FIG. 6 in a disassembled state;

[0088] FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of the sleeve part of the earpiece of the ear worn device which is custom-fit to a user's ear canal.

[0089] FIG. 1A shows an overview of an earpiece 3 of the ear worn device 1 (particularly true wireless headphones) according to the invention which is inserted partially into an ear canal 2a of an ear 2. Electrical connections 15 connecting the internal parts of the earpiece 3 to the main body 5 of the ear worn device 1 (see FIG. 4) are shown.

[0090] The earpiece 3 comprises a housing 4 which is particularly manufactured from a soft flexible material such as silicone, which adapts to the dimensions of the ear canal 2a of the wearer and particularly seals the ear canal 2a for noise reduction purposes.

[0091] A more detailed sectional view of the earpiece 3 showing the internal components is depicted in FIG. 1B. As shown in FIG. 1B, the earpiece 3 extends between a first end 3a and a second end 3b along a first longitudinal axis L1, which essentially extends parallel to the ear canal 2a when the earpiece 3 is inserted into the ear canal 2a (see FIG. 1A). When the earpiece 3 is inserted into the ear canal 2a, the first end 3a is facing the ear canal 2a and the second end 3b is facing outside. To aid insertion into the ear canal 2a, the housing 4 tapers towards the first end 3a.

[0092] The housing 4 of the earpiece 3 defines a cavity harboring a first module 10 (also termed transducer bundle herein) of the ear worn device 1, the first module 10 being formed for example by a flexible printed circuit board (PCB, see FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0093] In the depicted example, the first module 10 comprises a loudspeaker 11, e.g. a balanced armature, BA, loudspeaker, or a micro-electromechanical system, MEMS, loudspeaker, a first ambient microphone 12, particularly a micro-electromechanical system, MEMS, microphone, an in-ear microphone 13, particularly a micro-electromechanical system, MEMS, microphone, and a biometric sensor 14, for example, an optical sensor such as an infrared sensor.

[0094] At its first end 3a, the housing 4 further comprises a first channel 4a and a second channel 4b both extending parallel to the first longitudinal axis L1, when the first channel 4a and the second channel 4b are both open towards the ear canal 2a when the earpiece 3 of the ear worn device 1 is inserted into the ear canal 2a. The loudspeaker 11 is arranged with respect to the first channel 4a, such that sound emitted from the loudspeaker 11 can enter the ear canal 2a through the first channel 4a. In particular, the loudspeaker 11 may be used to playback sound, i.e. from an audio file or from the environment.

[0095] Likewise, the in-ear microphone 13 is arranged with respect to the second channel 4b, such that sound from inside the ear canal 2a can travel through the second channel 4b to be picked up by the in-ear microphone 13. The in-ear microphone 13 may be used to pick up sound from the user's body, such as the user's voice, chewing noises or the like which may be compensated by an algorithm to reduce distraction and produce a more natural sound.

[0096] The first ambient microphone 12 is arranged at the second end 3b of the earpiece 3 to pick up sound from the surrounding environment of the ear worn device 1. This may be used, e.g. for applications such as active noise cancelling or augmented hearing, i.e. to play back certain selected sounds from the environment while cancelling out other unwanted environmental sounds. In addition, the first ambient microphone 12 may be used to pick up the user's own voice, e.g. for voice calls or for talking to an automatic voice assistant.

[0097] Furthermore, the biometric sensor 14 is facing towards the outside of the earpiece 3 in a direction which is perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis L1. This orientation may be favorable to achieve close proximity with the tissue of the ear canal 2a (see FIGS. 5A and 5B) laterally surrounding the earpiece 3 to pick up biometric signals. For example, such signal may be a heart rate, a blood oxygen saturation, a respiration rate, blood glucose level, a hormone level or an electroencephalogram (EEG) signal of the user wearing the earpiece 3.

[0098] For example, the biometric sensor 14 may be a photoplethysmographic (PPG) sensor configured to pick up a heart rate or heart rate variability. According to a further example, the biometric sensor 14 may be an infrared (IR) sensor configured to pick up the body temperature of the user. Yet alternatively, the biometric sensor 14 may comprise an electrode configured to detect a galvanic skin response, an electroencephalogram or an electrocardiogram, particularly in combination with at least one further electrode arranged in the main body 5/second module 20 of the ear worn device 1.

[0099] Electrical connections 15 are shown branching, e.g. from the flexible PCB harboring the components of the first module 10, towards the second module 20 in the main body 5 of the ear worn device 1 (see below). For example, the electrical connections 15 may be arranged inside a connector 9, particularly a flexible connector, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0100] FIG. 1C shows a further embodiment of the earpiece 3 comprising a housing 4 with a first channel 4a and a second channel 4b oriented towards the ear canal 2a (see FIGS. 5A and 5B). The housing 4 harbors a first module 10 which comprises a loudspeaker 11, a first ambient microphone 12, an in-ear microphone 13, and a biometric sensor 14 in an alternative arrangement compared to FIG. 1B. The first module 10 is connected via electrical connections 15 to the second module 20 (not shown).

[0101] FIGS. 2A and B show an example of a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) 17 constituting the first module 10. According to this embodiment, the first module 10 comprises a balanced armature loudspeaker 11, a MEMS first ambient microphone 12, a MEMS in-ear microphone 13, a biometric sensor 14 and contacts 18 for connecting electrical connections 15 (see FIG. 1).

[0102] FIG. 2A shows the circuit board 17 in an extended configuration, such as during manufacture and before insertion into the housing 4 of the earpiece 3.

[0103] FIG. 2B illustrates a more compact folded configuration of the circuit board 17 shown in FIG. 2A which may result in the orientation of the components of the first module 10 as shown in FIG. 1B and described above.

[0104] FIG. 3 depicts an alternative embodiment of a flexible printed circuit board 17 constituting the first module 10 of the ear worn device 1. Compared to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, the balanced armature (BA) loudspeaker 11 is replaced by a MEMS loudspeaker 11.

[0105] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the ear worn device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The ear worn device 1 comprises an earpiece 3 for insertion into the ear canal 2a (see FIGS. 5A and 5B), e.g., such as the one shown in FIG. 1B or C and described above, and a main body 5 to be worn on the outer ear while the earpiece 3 is inserted into the ear canal 2a.

[0106] The main body 5 comprises a housing which harbors the second module 20 of the ear worn device 1 which is electrically connected by electrical connections 15 to the first module 10 within the earpiece 3. The earpiece 3 is mechanically connected to the main body 5 by a connector 9 harboring the electrical connections 15.

[0107] The second module 20 is particularly implemented by an electronic component, 21, such as a further printed circuit board including electronic parts constituting the second module 20. In the example depicted in FIG. 4, the electronic component 21 comprises a movement and/or acceleration sensor 22, e.g. an inertial measurement unit, IMU, a microcontroller 23 including a communication device, e.g., a wireless interface, particularly based on the Bluetooth standard, a signal processing device 24, e.g., a microprocessor capable of processing sound picked up by the ambient and in ear microphones of the ear worn device 1, a second ambient microphone 25, particularly forming a microphone array with the first ambient microphone 12 to implement directional hearing features, a memory 29, e.g. a flash memory, capable of storing data, an amplifier 30, particularly to drive the loudspeaker 11 of the first module 10, and a light emitter 31, e.g. a light-emitting diode, LED, particularly as part of a user interface of the ear worn device 1. The second ambient microphone 25 may be used to pick up the user's own voice, e.g. for voice calls or for talking to an automatic voice assistant.

[0108] The second module 20 further comprises a power source 26, e.g. a rechargeable battery, for providing the electrical power used to operate particularly the microphones 12, 13, 25, the loudspeaker 11 and the biometric sensors 14 of the ear worn device as well as other electronic components.

[0109] Recharging of the power source 26 via charging contacts 27 as well as distribution of the electrical power is implemented by a power controller 28 incorporated in the second module 20.

[0110] The shape of the ear worn device 1 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is now more closely described with additional reference to FIG. 5 showing the ear worn device 1 placed in an ear 2 of a user in a perspective view (FIG. 5A) and a front view (FIG. 5B).

[0111] The main body 5 of the ear worn device 1 comprises a first section 6 extending along a second longitudinal axis L2, the first section 6 being connected to the earpiece 3 via the connector 9, a second section 7 comprising a first subsection 7a extending along a third longitudinal axis L3 and a second subsection 7b extending along a fourth longitudinal axis L4 parallel to the second longitudinal axis L2, and a third section 8 forming a hook to be placed behind the wearer's ear.

[0112] The angle formed between the first longitudinal axis L1 of the earpiece 3 and the second longitudinal axis L2 of the first section 6 is approximately 100° to 120°, such that the first section 6 runs straight up behind the tragus 2c towards the helicis crus 2f (see FIGS. 5A and 5B) when the earpiece 3 is inserted into the ear canal 2a. Importantly, this results in the concha cava 2b of the ear 2 being unobstructed which allows to use the natural filtering abilities of the ear 2 to produce an more natural playback of the environmental sounds picked up by the first ambient microphone 12 (and optionally the second ambient microphone 25 and/or further ambient microphones).

[0113] The second section 7 of the main body 5 extends essentially along the helix 2e of the ear 2. This may be achieved, e.g., by two or more straight subsections, such as the first subsection 7a and second subsection 7b depicted in FIG. 4, or alternatively by a curved second section 7.

[0114] The third section 8, which is connected to the second section 7, forms a hook which can be placed behind the auricle 2d of the ear 2 to firmly keep the ear worn device 1 in position while the earpiece 3 is positioned in the ear canal 2a.

[0115] FIG. 6 illustrates an ear worn device 1 according to the present invention comprising a main body 5 and an earpiece 3 connected by a connector 9. The main body 5 of the ear worn device 1 comprises the same shape as the main body 5 of the device 1 shown in FIG. 4, and the internal components of the main body 5 main be the same or similar to those described above for the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

[0116] However, the earpiece 3 of the device 1 shown in FIG. 6 consists of two separate and connectable parts, a core part 32 and a sleeve part 33, which are shown in a disassembled state in FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0117] The first module 10 described above may be arranged completely inside of the core part 32, or alternatively, some components of the first module 10 may be arranged in the core part 32 and other components of the first module 10 may be arranged in the sleeve part 33.

[0118] The core part 32 is mechanically connected to the main body 5 by the connector 9, and electrical connections may lead from components of the first module 10 in the core part 32 through the connector 9 to the second module 20 in the main body 5.

[0119] For connection to the core part 32, the sleeve part 33 particularly comprises a through-hole 35, e.g., a cylindrical through-hole extending a along the first longitudinal axis L1. The core part 32 is particularly shaped as a cylindrical body which can be inserted into the through-hole 35. Optionally, a locking mechanism (not shown) can be provided to achieve a snapping connection between the core part 32 and the sleeve part 33, when the core part 32 is inserted into the sleeve part 33.

[0120] The core part 32 particularly comprises a rigid housing and the sleeve part is particularly formed at least partially from a softer, flexible material, e.g. silicone, which shape can adapt to the shape of the ear canal of the user to achieve a tight fit in the ear canal.

[0121] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the sleeve part may comprise one or several skin contact sensors 34, which may function as biometric sensors 14, e.g. as a PPG sensor that can be used to determine the heart rate from measuring blood flow under the skin. The skin contact sensors 34 are arranged on the outside surface of the sleeve part 33, such that they are in contact with the skin on the inner surface of the ear canal to pick up biometric signals when the user is wearing the ear worn device 1.

[0122] Due to this location of the sensors 34, it is possible to leave the concha cava unobstructed to use the natural filtering abilities of the ear.

[0123] Due to this location of the sensors 34, it is possible that the sensors can pick up a more accurate reading in this location, particularly a more accurate reading of a biometric signal. In an embodiment in that the sensor 34 is a thermometer 34 (particularly a contact thermometer 34), due to the location of the thermometer 34, the core body temperature can be detected.

[0124] The skin contact sensors 34 are connected to electrical connection contacts 18 on the inner surface of the through-hole 35 by electrical connections 15. According to the examples shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the connection contacts 18 are formed by circumferentially extending rings of a conductive material on the inside surface of the through-hole 35.

[0125] The core part 32 comprises corresponding electrical connection contacts 18 on its outer surface, e.g. in form of circumferentially extending rings of a conductive material on the outside surface of the core part 32 (see FIG. 7).

[0126] When the core part 32 is inserted into the sleeve part 33, the connection contacts 18 of the core part 32 and the sleeve part 33 are aligned to establish an electrical connection between the skin contact sensors 34 and components of the first module 10 in the core part 32.

[0127] FIG. 8 shows an alternatively shaped embodiment of the sleeve part 33. The outer surface of this sleeve part is custom-fit to an ear canal of a user to achieve optimal fit and wearing comfort.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference signs Ear worn device  1 Ear  2 Ear canal 2a Concha cava 2b Tragus 2c Auricle 2d Helix 2e Helicis crus 2f Earpiece  3 First side 3a Second side 3b Housing  4 First channel 4a Second channel 4b Main body  5 First section  6 Second section  7 First subsection 7a Second subsection 7b Third section  8 Connector  9 First module 10 Loudspeaker 11 First ambient microphone 12 In-ear microphone 13 Biometric sensor 14 Electrical connection 15 Housing 16 Circuit board 17 Connection contact 18 Second module 20 Electronic component 21 Movement and/or acceleration sensor 22 Microcontroller 23 Signal processing device 24 Second ambient microphone 25 Power source 26 Charging contact 27 Power controller 28 Memory 29 Amplifier 30 Light emitter 31 Core part 32 Sleeve part 33 Skin contact sensor 34 Through-hole 35 First longitudinal axis L1 Second longitudinal axis L2 Third longitudinal axis L3 Fourth longitudinal axis L4