WO2024164906A1

WO2024164906A1 - A ear-wearable monitoring device for long term wearing

Info

Publication number: WO2024164906A1
Application number: PCT/CN2024/074919
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ming Yip Wallace WONG
Original assignee: Well Being Digital Ltd
Current assignee: Well Being Digital Ltd
Priority date: 2023-02-10
Filing date: 2024-01-31
Publication date: 2024-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 2025-08-10

Abstract

A earphone having a housing; the housing comprising of at least two sub-housings; the first of the two sub-housings provided with a ear tip for inserting into a ear canal; a connector joining two sub-housings; the connector providing a distance between the two sub-housings; the sub-housings each has a width; the connector having a width narrower than the widths of the parts of the sub-housings to which the connecter is joined.

Description

A EAR-WEARABLE MONITORING DEVICE FOR LONG TERM WEARING

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of ear wearable physiological monitoring devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Personal audio devices such as headphones and earbuds used to be rather straightforward in purpose and functions. Earbuds in particular, are small speakers powered by a cable connected to a playback device. The speakers have the shape of a round disc for placement over the ear canal, held by the anti-tragus.

A smart earphone is much larger than a non-smart, conventional earphone, and users are unable to enjoy the sense of stability and security that one gets wearing a conventional earphone. One reason for making the smart earphone big in size is the need for the smart earphone to be equipped with a battery and antenna, for power and communication are no longer provided by cable.

In addition, it appears that smart phone makers compete to include a greater number of functions packed into a smart earphone, many of which have nothing to do with audio output. Particularly well-received are the functions that equipped a smart earphone for health monitoring. These functions are certainly not trivial, and include evaluation user’s gait, his stress level, sleep quality, blood glucose level, blood pressure, and many more. Some of these functions require the earphone to be installed with many different sensors, such as a photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor for pulse measurement, tympanic temperature monitor, an accelerator for step counting. Functions not related to physiology may include sensors for monitoring ambient noise, humidity and heat. It should go without saying that the operation of these sensors and electronic components required the earphone to be provided with a memory and a processor too.

Figure 4 comprises two drawings of a prior art smart earphone worn by a user. The left drawing shows the earphone in the concha cavum and a significant portion is extended outside the ear, held by the ear tip in the ear canal, over-extending and folding down over the anti-tragus, and extends alongside a part of the earlobe. It is not difficult for the earphone to fall out of the ear is the user tilts his head, as illustrated in the right drawing, since the center of gravity lies rather almost outside the ear. If the use sleeps with his head lying on this earphone the anti-tragus is pinched or pressed on by the part of the smartphone outside the ear,

Attempts to improve the user’s comfort and the stability in the wearing of a large size smart earphone are mainly focused on proposing novel earphone shapes, which are guided by one or the other of two general approaches.

Figure 5 is an illustration of one approach, which is to provide earphones with space for battery, electronic components, sensors etc., by extending the earphone housing along a plane. The ear opens up like a funnel around the ear canal. The earphone is to be worn by inserting a ear tip into the ear canal, so that the plane of the earphone lie as close to the upward slant of the “funnel” as possible. However, the bigger the earphone the more the earphone sticks out of the ear. Therefore, it is not difficult for the earphone to fall out of the ear. Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of the other approach, which is simply to consolidate contents inside the earphone as much as possible to the base of the concha. However, it is inevitable that a portion of the smart earphone extends over the anti-tragus, which can easily slip over the anti-tragus should the ear tip comes loose from the ear canal.

None of the approaches produce earphones that contain all or most of the desired electronic components and sensors in such a way that the earphones are comfortable and secure suitable for a user to wear the earphones for a long time, including during bedtime. It appears that there is little concern for a shape and size that suit long term wearing even when in bed. In particular, none of the shape and size in prior art earphones would reduce the chance of inadvertent brushing off of the earphone by an unaware, sleeping user.

It ought to be mentioned that it would be a grave mistake to presume that future developments of relevant technologies could bring a smaller ear device without compromising the offers of many different functions. This is because there will more sophisticated components and sensors to be packed into a smart earphone, and demands for larger battery capacity will offset any possible capacity intensification and available space will again be fully exploited.

Some health issues may only be evaluated after the user has been monitored or observed over long a period of time, such as sleep pattern. Users try to wear their smart earphones almost endlessly, even in bed, just to self-monitor their sleep quality.

In this regard, a smart earphone that may be worn securely during sleep might offer a potential solution to the difficulty of conduct clinical sleep studies. Presently, spending a night in a fully equipped sleep clinic is already a very expensive affair. However, the expense becomes a complete waste if the patient, who already has difficulty falling asleep, remains awake throughout the study because he cannot relax enough to sleep in the unfamiliar clinic environment. A smart earphone which would allow the patient to be monitored for all or part of the study while in the comfort of his own bed at home could reduce the number of failed sleep studies. However, any prior art device in the ear becomes a cause of discomfort eventually, and such an uncomfortable fit can easily become dislodged when one moves against the pillow during sleep. In particular, children respond badly to discomfort and might make many attempts to remove the device, which disrupt the studies.

It is desirable to propose improvements to earphones, to mitigate some of the discussed problems or limitations. In particular, it is desirable to propose comfortable earphones that could be won to bed comfortably while yet increasing the likelihood of accidental brushing-off of the earphones inadvertently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention proposes a earphone configured to be cradled in ear of the user; the earphone having a housing that comprises: a lower sub-housing and an upper sub-housing connected by a neck; the lower sub-housing provided with a nozzle to be held in the ear canal of the ear such that the upper sub-housing is held by the neck past the helicis crus; the neck having a width narrower than the widths of the parts of the sub-housings to which the connecter is joined, and a thickness thinner than the thickness of the sub-housings; the earphone having an overall length and thickness such that the earphone is within the cartilaginous ridges surrounding the concha cymba and concha cavum.

An embodiment of the invention provides the possibility of a earphone housing that can be placed into two cavities of the ear structure, and therefore the earphone does not stick out of the ear. This reduces the chance of the earphone from falling out of the ear. Moreover, the ridges surrounding the earphone protects the earphone from being pressed on by a large surface and provides that the user may lie on his ear with the earphone worn in it, without feeling any pressure of the earphone pushed into his ear. This gives a possibility of an earphone that can be worn for a long time, especially at night and suitable for irritable children, such that overnight health monitoring may be conducted effectively. In addition, as the earphone is able to collect data from the user overnight, the user can be monitored for sleep disorder in the comfort of his own home without having to be in a sleep clinic.

Preferably, a central apex extending linearly from the lower sub-housing to the upper sub-housing on the side of the earphone that faces away from the user when worn.

Preferably, the earphone neck is capable of bending and remaining in the shape as bent.

Preferably, the sub-housings each has a length; the lengths of the neck and the two sub-housings have a combined length; such that one sub-housing is capable of being urged against any point along the tragus, intertragic notch and the anti-tragus of the user; the other sub-housing is capable of being urged against the anti-helix of the user.

In a second aspect, the invention proposes a method of securing a earphone into the ear of a user, comprising the steps of: providing a earphone in the form of two sub-housing; connecting the two sub-housing by a bridge; dividing the components for operation of the earphone among the sub-housings; providing one of the sub-housings with a ear tip such that when the ear tip is inserted into the ear canal of a user, the other sub-housing is held above the ear canal; wherein the bridge holds the other sub-housing within the edge of the anti-helix of the ear.

Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of: providing a earphone in the form of two sub-housing; connecting the two sub-housing by a bridge, the bridge having a resilience such that if the two sub-housings are pressed near to each other by a force, the bridge is biased to spread the two sub-housings apart; placing one sub-housing against a cartilaginous ridge about the concha cavum; placing the other sub-housing against the cartilaginous ridge of the anti-helix; such that the earphone is held by the sub-housings against the respective cartilaginous ridges instead of by the ear canal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

It will be convenient to further describe the present invention with respect to the accompanying drawings that illustrate possible arrangements of the invention, in which like integers refer to like parts. Other embodiments of the invention are possible, and consequently the particularity of the accompanying drawings is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a earbud according to the prior art;

Figure 2 illustrates a earphone according to the prior art;

Figure 3 illustrates a smart earphone worn to bed, according to the prior art;

Figure 4 illustrates a smart earphone of the prior art worn by the ear;

Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of a general approach in improving the prior art;

Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of another general approach in improving the prior art;

Figure 7 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention schematically;

Figure 8 is an illustration of the anatomy of the outer ear, in the embodiment of Figure 7 may be worn;

Figure 9 is a line drawing representing relevant parts of the anatomy of the outer ear for explaining how embodiments such as that shown in Figure 7 may be worn;

Figure 10 illustrates how the embodiment of Figure 7 may be worn;

Figure 11 illustrates how the embodiment of Figure 7 may be adjusted upon being worn;

Figure 12 illustrates a negative, comparative example to the illustration in Figure 11;

Figure 13 illustrates a variation of the embodiment of Figure 7;

Figure 14 illustrates another variation of the embodiment of Figure 7;

Figure 15 illustrates another variation of the embodiment of Figure 7;

Figure 16 illustrates the use of the embodiment of Figure 15;

Figure 17 illustrates another variation of the embodiment of Figure 7;

Figure 18 illustrates another variation of the embodiment of Figure 7;

Figure 19 illustrates the components inside the embodiment of Figure 7;

Figure 20 illustrates a battery which is one the components inside the embodiment of Figure 7;

Figure 21 is a photograph of a prototype of the embodiment of Figure 15;

Figure 22 a photograph of a user wearing the prototype of Figure 21;

Figure 23 is a photograph of another user wearing the prototype of Figure 21;

Figure 24 illustrates another variation of the embodiment of Figure 7;

Figure 25 illustrates another variation of the embodiment of Figure 7;

Figure 26 illustrates the embodiment of Figure 25 in greater detail;

Figure 27 illustrates another variation of the embodiment of Figure 7;

Figure 28 illustrates further variations of the embodiment of Figure 7; and

Figure 29 show two photographs of a prototype of the embodiment of Figure 14.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT (S)

Terminologies referring to wearable private audio devices include earphones, earbuds and, recently, earpods. Generally, however, earbuds refer to audio speakers that are shaped like a disc and which are placed over opening of the ear canal without entering into the ear canal. On the other hand, earphones are audio devices that have a nozzle that can insert into the ear canal. The nozzle is usually capped with a soft material which is called a ear tip.

Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the invention, which is a earphone shown in three views. On the left is the front view, which is the outer side of the earphone that a person standing next to the user would see worn in the user’s ear. The back view is on the opposite, inner side, but it is not illustrated. The inner side of the earphone is the side which faces the user. The view on the right of Figure 7 is a side view, which shows the thickness of the earphone. An ear tip is shown provided on the inner side of the earphone, a nozzle extending from the surface of the inner side is covered from view by the ear tip. On the top is the top view or the plan view.

The earphone comprises split-housing. The preferred configuration of split-housing comprises two sub-housings connected by a connector in the form of a slender neck 101. The neck is substantively narrower than the widths of both the sub-housings, as can be seen in the front view. The neck is also substantially thinner than the sub-housings, as can be seen in the side view.

The length of the earphone, which is indicated by x, includes the lengths of the two sub-housings and the length of the neck in between. The length of the neck between the two sub-housings is indicated by w. The width of the sub-housings is indicated by y, while the slender width of the neck is indicated by z. The sub-housings have a thickness indicated, p, and the thickness of the neck is indicated by q. The neck is shown connected to both the sub-housings at mid-depth of p. However, there are other preferred points for connecting the neck and a sub-housing, which will be described in following paragraphs.

The sub-housing from which the nozzle extends is called the lower sub-housing 105. The other sub-housing is therefore the upper sub-housing 107. The nozzle 811 is covered with a replaceable ear tip 103, also called a ear gel, which is usually a silicone cap for the nozzle 811. When inserted into a ear canal, the ear tip 103 fills up the space between the circumferential side of the nozzle and the canal wall. If the opening of the ear canal is too big or too small, the ear tip 103 can be replaced with other ear tips 103 for a change of size. Also, the ear tip has a cushioning effect which prevents the nozzle from being pressed into the wall of the ear canal painfully, and also prevents the nozzle from bruising the canal. The ear tip also isolates the atmosphere in the deeper parts of the ear canal from ambient noise and ambient light. Typically, the silicone material does not obstruct sensors in the earphone from monitoring the user. However, placements of sensors should be selected so that each sensors may operate as efficiently as possible.

Preferably, the whole earphone is made of a hard thermoplastic material such that the earphone is rigid in shape except for the ear tip 103. Examples of preferred material include PVC (polyvinylchloride) , PC (polycarbonate) or ABS (acrylic nitrile-butadiene-styrene) . That is, two sub-housings, the neck 101 there between, and the nozzle are all rigid in shape.

In most embodiments, the upper sub-housing 107 and the lower sub-housing have the same lengths and widths. In some embodiments, the upper sub-housing 107 and the lower sub-housing 105 have different lengths, widths, or thicknesses, or even different shapes.

The earphone is worn by inserting the ear tip 103 into the ear canal, so that the nozzle is held in the ear canal firmly. This secures the lower sub-housing 105 in the concha cavum 1017, and the upper sub-housing 107 is lifted up by the neck.

The entire part of the ear that is visible on the head is called the “outer ear” , with the inner ear being inside the head and not visible. The whole outer ear is a cartilaginous structure, and comprises several raised cartilaginous ridges that encircle the ear canal. Between the ridges are cavities. The cavity bases are also mostly cartilage.

Figure 8 is an illustration of the anatomy of the outer ear, provided as a reference to the reader as some parts of the ear are mentioned many times in the following paragraphs. One can see in Figure 8 the following, the anti-helix 1001, the helix 1003, the concha cymba 1005, the superior crus 1007, the triangular fossa 1009, the inferior crus 1011, the helicis crus 1013, the tragus 1015, the concha cavum 1017, the intertragic notch 1019, the lobule 1021, the anti-tragus 1023. The tragus 1015 is a small pointed eminence of the external ear in the front of the concha cavum 1017, and projecting backwardly over the ear canal or ear canal. The nearby anti-tragus 1023 projects forwardly and upwardly. The opening of the ear canal 1025 is not visible in Figure 8 but the skilled reader would understand that the ear canal 1025 is typically right behind the tragus 1015 and extends into the inner ear.

The ear has a structure that looks like a funnel opening up away from the person, and also away from the ear canal by extending upwardly, backwardly, downwardly, but just a little to the front. The ear may also be said to look like a cradle when turned on its side, so that the ear canal faces upward. The diagram in Figure 9 depict the ridges most relevant for the understanding the fit of the embodiments, in a schematic arrangement that looks like a cradle.

More specifically, Figure 9 is a schematic line drawing of the ridges and cavities in the plane AA. The lines in Figure 9 represent these ridges and cavities: the lobule 1021 (which is not really a raised ridge) , the anti-tragus 1023, the concha cavum 1017, the helicis crus 1013, the tragus 1005, the inferior crus 1011, the anti-helix 1001, the triangular fossa 1009, the superior crus 1007, the helix 1003.

Figure 9 does not show all the ridges or cavities because plane AA does not cut though some of the ridges, such as the tragus 1015. However, although the ear canal 1025 is not in plane AA, the ear canal 1025 is illustrated as a circle, as this is unlikely to confuse any reader. The helicis crus 1013 is represented by the thickest line in the centre of the drawing.

The cartilaginous ridges of the ear do not all have the same stiffness. Generally, the further away from the ear canal, the softer is the cartilage. Typically, the helicis crus 1013 and the anti-helix 1001 are the stiffest and strongest of the ridges, and defy deformation well.

The concha cavum 1017 is a cavity below the helicis crus 1013, and the concha cymba 1005 is a cavity above the helicis crus 1013.

The concha cymba 1005 is surrounded by the helicis crus 1013 beneath, the anti-helix 1001 above and to the back, and the inferior crus 1011 to the front. An object of a befitting size placed in the concha cymba 1005 is protected by the ridges from being pressed on by a large surface or an object with a large surface by the ridges, but a finger can dig into the concha cymba 1005 for removal of such an object.

The concha cavum 1017 is a cavity that goes a little deeper into the head, behind the jaw bone, and is surrounded by the tragus 1015 to the front, anti-tragus 1023 to the side and back, and the helicis crus 1013 to the top. An object of a befitting size placed in concha cavum 1017 is protected by these ridges and also the more profound depth of this cavity.

Accordingly, “cradled” includes the meaning of being protected or shielded by the heights of the surrounding cartilaginous ridges or the sides and edges of a cartilaginous cavity from being pressed on by a larger surface or object.

As Figure 10 illustrates, the lower sub-housing is set into and cradled by the concha cavum 1017, with the nozzle held in the ear canal, and by the surrounding tragus 1015, anti-tragus 1023 and helicis crus 1013. The upper sub-housing is set into and cradled by the concha cymba 1005, surrounded by the anti-tragus 1023, the anti-helix 1001 and the inferior crus 1011 that extends from the anti-helix 1001. The inserted drawing on the top in Figure 10 shows how the two sub-housing configuration allows the earphone to be placed close to the surface of the outer ear in the concha cavum 1017 and the concha cymba 1005 when the user stands upright. This keeps the centre of gravity of the earphone within the outer ear and reduces the tendency of the earphone to fall out or be brushed off.

More generally, however, the earphone as whole, from the furthest edge of the lower sub-housing 105 to furthest edge of the upper sub-housing 107, fits within the cartilaginous ridges surrounding both the concha cymba 1005 and the concha cavum 1017. In other words, the earphone is cradled within an outer cradle formed of the outer ridges, including part of the base of the concha cavum 1017 and the surrounding anti-tragus 1023 and tragus 1015 on one end, the anti-helix 1001 and the inferior crus 1011 on the other end.

Figure 10 shows a broken line indicating an invisible plane defined roughly by the anti-tragus 1023 and the anti-helix 1001 and the inferior crus 1011 t, beneath which is the earphone. This prevents or reduces any accidental brushing against the earphone, whether by pillow or the user’s hair, which could dislodge the earphone from the ear canal.

For convenience, in relation to “cradles” in the rest of this description, reference to the anti-helix 1001 also includes the inferior crus 1011, both of which share the same edge. Furthermore, references to the anti-tragus 1023 also include the tragus, as both surround the same base of the concha cavum 1017. The base can also be said to be formed of the tragus, intertragic notch and the anti-tragus of the user.

The helix 1003 and lobule 1021 on the outer edges of the ear are softer parts of the ear. However, these parts are resistant to becoming deformed and flattened even when compressed. The thickness of these parts provides a minimum distance between the cavities and any hard surface the ear may be lying on, ensuring that the surface cannot press on a earphone that is kept within the edge of the ridges.

Therefore, the concha cymba 1005 and the concha cavum 1017 are very good places for keeping the sub-housings of the earphone from outside elements, and the user can sleep lying on his ear over a large surface such as a pillow, while wearing the earphone, without feeling the earphone being pressed into the ear.

Besides fitting the earphone into the cradle of ridges, the earphone should avoid pressing on the helicis crus 1013. This is made possible by the narrow, slender neck. The neck has only a small surface that risks pressing on the helicis crus 1013 but may avoid the helicis crus 1013 by re-positioning the earphone. Figure 11 comprises three drawings showing three angles in which the earphone can be rotated into, about the ear canal, so as to extend over different parts of the helicis crus 1013. However, the slenderness or thinness of the neck is not the only factor that helps to avoid the neck pressing on the helicis crus 1013. The neck is also rather thin in the side view, which gives a greater possibility of stretching over a greater part of the helicis crus 1013 without touching.

The average helicis crus 1013 extends in a thinning manner from the front edge of the ear to about one half to two thirds across the concha, and finally disappears. The neck of earphone on the left drawing touches a thick part of the helicis crus 1013. However, the middle drawing shows the earphone an angle wherein the neck does not contact the helicis crus 1013. The left drawing shows that the neck is way above the helicis crus 1013. The user may prefer the middle drawing’s position for the placement of the upper housing in the concha cymba 1005.

Figure 12 is a comparative example showing how a wide neck has little room for avoiding the helicis crus 1013.

Figure 13 shows a variation of the embodiment where the neck is narrower in the centre than at the ends which are connected to the sub-housings. In the side view, the neck is also thinnest in the centre than at the ends. This embodiment also offers a good chance of avoiding contact with the helicis crus 1013 while the sub-housings are contained in the concha cymba 1005 and the concha cavum 1017.

Figure 14 shows an embodiment in which the neck is curved towards the back of the user when worn. The curve neck follows the inner edge of the anti-helix 1001, which avoids the helicis crus 1013 because the helicis crus 1013 would have disappeared into the concha already. The broken line on the outer part of the curved neck is a preferred location for an antenna 814, and the solid line shows how a wire 813 extends between the two sub-housings.

Figure 15 shows an embodiment in which the neck is connected to the lower sub-housing at a point almost flushed to the outer side of the earphone. The other end of the neck is connected to the upper sub-housing at a point almost flushed to the inner side of the earphone. The embodiment looks like a letter S from the side. This configuration is suitable for ears that have a very sharp funnel shape, that is, the outward slant of the ear structure from the ear canal is very sharp, with respect to the vertical plane of the user’s head. Hence, as shown in the schematic drawing on the right of Figure 16, it is easier for the neck of the embodiment of Figure 15 to lift the upper sub-housing as the angle is closer to the vertical. The left drawing in Figure 16 shows how an embodiment with the neck almost flushed to the outer side of both sub-housings having a more outward slanting angle, which does not help in keeping the earphone in the cradle as securely as the drawing on the right side.

Figure 17 shows a variation of the embodiment of Figure 15, wherein one of the sub-housing is rotatable about the neck so that the earphone can be transformed between the two possible configurations shown in Figure 16.

Figure 18 shows an embodiment in which the nozzle and the ear tip on the lower sub-housing are provided with a sharper angle with respect to the back surface of the lower sub-housing, such that axis of the earphone is generally inclined inwardly towards the ear. The sharper angle does not cause discomfort by pressing into the ear, as the user can turn the earphone about the ear canal to find an orientation of which avoids pressing on the helicis crus 1013. Instead, this feature provide a potential advantage of increasing in the likelihood that the upper sub-housing is worn leaning inwardly, reducing the chance of the upper sub-housing accidentally poking out of the ear even if worn incorrectly.

Figure 19 is a schematic diagram of some of the electronic components that may be installed in actual products based on the embodiment. The actual number and types of components depends on the functions that the manufacturer wants the earphone to provide.

Figure 19 also shows a wirelessly re-chargeable battery 809 is installed in the upper sub-housing 107. Figure 20 illustrates the diameter of the battery 809 having a diameter of 9.7 mm and a thickness of 4.7 mm and, at least in this embodiment, occupies the entire upper sub-housing which is about 10 mm in diameter, has a thickness about 5 mm. The weight of the battery 809 is just less than 1 g. The size of the battery 809 used in a prototype is provided in this description so that the skilled reader may appreciate how big the battery 809 could be, and understand the challenge to pack such a battery 809 with all the desired components into a earphone that has a size suitable for long term wearing on the ear.

Most of the electronic components are installed into the lower sub-housing 105 for consolidation, as interconnection between electronic components is typically provided by very thin conductive wires that perform best over short distance. Nevertheless, in some embodiments, some electronic components (not shown) may be installed in the upper sub-housing 107. In other embodiments which are less preferable, the battery 809 is installed into the lower housing while the upper housing comprises mostly of electronic components.

Figure 19 shows installed in the lower sub-housing 105 a speaker 801, a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) microphone 803, a printed circuit board (PCB) 805, and various sensors 807. Laid inside the slender neck 101 are conductive lines or wires 813 connecting the battery 809 to the components in lower sub-housing 105. An antenna 814 is also placed in the neck. Preferably, the antenna 814 is on nearer to the outer side of the earphone while the wires 813 are on the inner side.

As mentioned for Figure 14, the antenna is also preferably placed in the neck and towards the back of the ear.

Also, to avoid interference between the wires and the antenna in the neck a shielding material is provided that separates the wires from the antenna (not illustrated) .. More preferably, the shielding material wraps around the wires like a casing (not illustrated) .

Sensor in the earphone may include a photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor, an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor and electrodes 2601, a 3-axes accelerometer for movement and step detection, a user-contact module such as skin detector, infrared detector tympanic temperature measurement and so on. Different sensors 807 may be placed in a variety of positions in any of the two sub-housings, which depends on the type and purpose of each of the sensors. For example, the nozzle 811 in the lower sub-housing 105 has sensors that may sense the user’s physical state from within the ear canal. For example, the nozzle 811 is provided with sensors may include, inter alias, sensors such as a photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor which is a light-based pulse detector, or an infrared temperature sensor. Sensors that need not be placed in the ear canal includes the electrocardiogram monitor, which would only require skin contact for two electrodes 2601, and the accelerometers for movement detection.

Without need of illustration, the skilled reader should appreciate that the earphone also contains a processor and memory for operation of the components in the earphone, communication modules for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and so on, non-audio function modules. The electronic components provides the earphone with ability to convert data transmissions from a mobile telephone (amobile phone) into sound issued from speaker, and to apply other data for other functions including operation and calibration of the sensors. The earphone also contains a microphone for a collecting sounds from the user and converting sound waves into a transmissible data stream to a mobile phone for further tele-transmission.

Without containing any or many electronic components along with the battery, the upper sub-housing 107 may be made small enough to be cradled or held within the concha cymba 1005 without protruding, or protruding much, over the ridges to risk being brushed off. Similarly, containing mostly electronic components and without a battery, the lower sub-housing may be made small enough to be contained in the concha cavum 1017 without protruding or protruding much, over the ridges to risk being brushed off.

Figure 21 is a photograph of a prototype embodiment of the invention. Figure 22 is a photograph of a male model wearing the prototype. iFigure 23 s a photograph of a female model wearing the same prototype. It is quite visible in both Figure 22 and Figure 23 how the two sub-housings are able to stretch across the cavities but the earphone remains within the outer ridges of the tragus and the anti-helix.

Figure 24 shows an embodiment in which the neck is not rigid. Instead, the neck is bendable but is relatively stiff, and remains in the shape into which the neck is bent by the user. This can be made by, for example, making the neck of a soft rubber material and inserting a thick wire rod inside the rubber, such as a tin wire. The wire can provides the structure for bending and re-straightening by the user. The user can just push on the upper sub-housing after filling the ear tip on lower sub-housing into the ear canal. In this case, the upper sub-housing can be moved deeper into the concha cymba 1005.

As the embodiments are suitable for being worn in the ear for long time, and has a low risk of being brushed off by a sleeping use, the embodiments may now be equipped with sensors that require long term monitoring such as those for sleep studies. For example, electrodes 2601 for detecting brainwaves may be supplied on the inner side of the earphone. Accordingly, Figure 25 shows an embodiment in which the inner side of each of the sub-housings has a convex shape. Electrodes

2601 can be placed on the convex surface to ensuring as much constant, uninterrupted contact as possible. Without protruding over the ridges it is very unlikely that the convex side of the sub-housings would be pressed painfully into the cavity.

Figure 26 shows three electrodes 2601 of changing electrode widths, that encircle the convex surface of the lower sub-housing. The wider widths can be used on the side of the convex surface more likely to be wobbled or moved, so as to reduce the chances of interrupted contact with the ear. Also, three other electrodes 2601 are provided that encircles a specifically made ear tip. The upper sub-housing is provided electrodes 2601 that are aligned in a direction which is orthogonal to the axis of the neck, in order to increase the likelihood that all the electrodes 2601 remain in contact with the base of the cavity or the ridges on the side if the earphone might be moved about the axis of the neck. The electrode examples are not meant to be strictly followed, and the arrangement of the electrodes 2601 on one sub-housing can be used on the other sub-housing.

Figure 27 shows a variation of the embodiment, in which the upper housing is covered with a soft cushion 2701 for even greater comfort.

In one application of the smart earphone with electrodes 2601 for brainwave measurement, it is possible to replace the computer mouse with a brain controlled mouse through the two earphones or just one earphone.

Figure 28 shows different variations of the embodiments. These variations have a flexible but resilient neck, which springs back into being straight after the neck was bent. The top drawing shows an embodiment in the front view. The bottom drawing shows another embodiment, but in the side view. Both the top and bottom drawings show the two reversible configurations of the embodiments. The earphone can be pressed to bend the neck and then inserted into the desired cavities. Upon lifting of the pressure, the biasing force in the earphone will cause the earphone to attempt rebounding into the original shape, but the edges of the two sub-housings are pressed against the relevant ridges. The earphone is therefore held by the strength of the resistance of the ridges to the pressure of the unreleased bias. Accordingly, there is no need of the nozzle to be as tightly held in the ear canal as in the earlier embodiments. These embodiments are not as comfortable as the embodiments that rely on the hold of the nozzle in the ear canal to be stable. However, these embodiments may provide the same advantage of being protected within the larger cavity of the anti-helix and the anti-tragus 1023. Another advantage is that the ear tip can be made thinner so as to insert into the ear canal less tightly, since securement of the earphone is provided by the expansionary bias of the sub-housings against the anti-helix and the anti-tragus 1023.

Smart earphones with health monitoring functions that read a user’s pulse using PPG technology could benefit from a loose ear tip 103 fitting. Generally, the PPG technology uses at least one light emitter that transmits light of a pre-selected wavelength into the wall of the ear canal 1401 (or a plurality of emitters that each transmits light of a pre-selected wavelength into the wall of the ear canal) . Light is scattered in all directions along the trajectory in the tissue, and a statistical portion re-enters the ear canal 1401, which is detected by one or more sensors. The wavelength is highly absorbable by components in oxygenated blood. Hence, the pulse of the user is represented by sensing the fluctuations in absorption of the light. When the heart contracts the body is flushed with oxygenated blood, which absorbs much of the light. Accordingly, the sensor detects little of the light emerging from the ear canal 1401 wall. When the heart expands and drawings in blood, there is little oxygenated blood in the body to absorb the back-scattered light, and the sensor detects more light. The pulse can be interpreted to deduce certain health conditions. For example, a person’s blood pressure has been deduced from the shape of this pulse. Also, a low variance in the shape of the pulse has been found to be indicative of intense mental or emotional stress.

However, manufacturers of prior art ear worn pulse monitors, also called heart rate sensors, adhere to the teaching of stuffing a ear tip 103 as firmly as possible into the ear canal 1401. This is because prior art practitioners believe that a firm attachment reduces small tiny random movements of the earphone in the ear caused by user activity. However, a firmly inserted ear tip 103 exerts pressure against the ear canal 1401, which disrupts normal blood flow in the ear.

PPG sensors arranged on the nozzle 811 emitting light and sensing back-scattered light is really not as sensitive to small positional displacements in sub-millimetre range as reduced blood flow due to artificially applied pressure on the canal wall, unless the displacements allows ambient light to enter the ear canal 1401 and overwhelms the sensor randomly. However, constant pressure applied against ear canal 1401 tissue slowly restricts blood flow. As a result, the PPG sensing becomes increasingly inaccurate which often escapes notice until the latest data has become clearly unuseable, of then at the expense of much time.

For avoidance of doubt, it should be noted that a loose fitting nozzle may still provide good sound and light proofing in the ear canal 1401 by selecting an ear tip of a suitable size, design and material.

The two photographs in Figure 29 shows another prototype of an embodiment. The neck is curved in this prototype, and the inner side of the upper sub-housing is almost flushed to the neck, and the outside side of the lower sub-housing is almost flushed to the neck.

While there has been described in the foregoing description preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the technology concerned that many variations or modifications in details of design, construction or operation may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as claimed.

For example, although the earphones are described in pairs in the embodiments, it is possible for only one earphone in a pair that is configured according to an embodiment. The other earphone can be without smart earphone functions or have a completely different smart earphone configuration.

For a further example, although the earphones are described in having a lower sub-housing that lifts up an upper sub-housing with a connector called the neck, with the neck being rigid in most embodiments, or the neck being deformable but still stiff enough for the lower sub-housing to hold up the upper sub-housing in other embodiments, or the neck being flexible and resilient in yet other embodiments pairs in the embodiments, it is possible in yet further embodiments that the neck is entirely flexible like a piece of string. In this case, the lower sub-housing is secured by the hold of the nozzle in the ear cana. The upper sub-housing is secured by being made of a suitable expandable material so that the upper sub-housing can be squeezed into the concha cymba 1005 and holds itself there by the expansion of the material against the surrounding ridges.

In some embodiments, not described in the fore-going paragraphs, the feature of the two sub-housings being cradled within the heights of the ridges surrounding the sub-housings may not be implemented. These embodiments are not preferred, because the chance of a sub-housing that protrudes over the ridges in being brushed off is higher. Nevertheless, these embodiments may still benefit from the advantage of a better distribution of the earphone, i.e. over the two cavities.

In a further embodiment, the earphone can be used to detect the angle of the head and therefore an implication of the neck position during sleep monitoring. The user’s head position can be detected by accelerometers. A 3-axes accelerometer in each earphone, worn on both ears can tell if the head has turned, bent towards the chest or was the neck lifted higher and the head and so on.

Claims

A earphone configured to be cradled in ear of the user;

the earphone having a housing that comprises:

a lower sub-housing and an upper sub-housing connected by a neck;

the lower sub-housing provided with a nozzle to be held in the ear canal of the ear such that the upper sub-housing is held by the neck past the helicis crus;

the neck having a width narrower than the widths of the parts of the sub-housings to which the connecter is joined, and a thickness thinner than the thickness of the sub-housings;

the earphone having an overall length and thickness such that the earphone is within the cartilaginous ridges surrounding the concha cymba and concha cavum.
A earphone as claimed in claim 1; wherein

a central apex extending linearly from the lower sub-housing to the upper sub-housing on the side of the earphone that faces away from the user when worn.
A earphone, as claimed in claim 1 or claim 1, wherein

the earphone neck is capable of bending and remaining in the shape as bent .
A earphone as claimed in claim 2, claim 3 or claim 4, wherein

the sub-housings each has a length;

the lengths of the neck and the two sub-housings have a combined length; such that

one sub-housing is capable of being urged against any point along the tragus, intertragic notch and the anti-tragus of the user;

the other sub-housing is capable of being urged against the anti-helix of the user.
A method of securing a earphone into the ear of a user, comprising the steps of:

providing a earphone in the form of two sub-housing;

connecting the two sub-housing by a bridge

dividing the components for operation of the earphone among the sub-housings;

providing one of the sub-housings with a ear tip such that when the ear tip is inserted into the ear canal of a user, the other sub-housing is held above the ear canal; wherein

the bridge holds the other sub-housing within the edge of the anti-helix of the ear.
A method of securing a earphone into the ear of a user, comprising the steps of:

providing a earphone in the form of two sub-housing;

connecting the two sub-housing by a bridge, the bridge having a resilience such that if the two sub-housings are pressed near to each other by a force, the bridge is biased to spread the two sub-housings apart;

placing one sub-housing against a cartilaginous ridge about the concha cavum, ;

placing the other sub-housing against the cartilaginous ridge of the anti-helix; such that

the earphone is held by the sub-housings against the respective cartilaginous ridges instead of by the ear canal.