TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to an earphone comprising a body configured to at least partially block an ear canal of a user.

BACKGROUND

Insert type earphones typically comprise at least a body and an ear tip. The body fits in the concha area of the user's outer ear, and makes up the main part of the earphone as it includes most of the electronic components and a battery. The ear tip, often made of silicone, is inserted into the user’s ear canal. Usually, a firm fit without any air leakage is preferred in order to ensure good low-frequency audio playback or to enable audio features such as active noise cancellation.

However, one drawback with this type of earphone is that the user’ s own voice sounds “boomy” due to the occlusion effect. The user’ s voice transmits naturally to the ear canal by means of bone conduction, but the occlusion prevents low-frequency sound from escaping the ear canal as the entrance is blocked by the insert-type earphone. Another drawback is that, with insert earphones, the user’s ear canal may get sweaty, and sometimes itchy or irritated, due to the lack of ventilation.

In prior art, the occlusion effect has been relieved by implementing complex solutions such as adding a controlled valve to the earphone, or by using active noise control for reducing the low frequencies in the ear canal. These methods are generally called de-occlusion techniques. While active noise control may relieve the occlusion effect to a certain extent, it does address the issue of lacking ventilation. Electronically switchable physical valves have been created to allow ear canal venting and de-occlusion, as well as allowing the user to clearly hear the surroundings. The drawback of these physical valve solutions is their large size or oblong shape. In particular, existing solutions cannot easily be implemented in small structures which makes them rather unpractical for insert earphone use. Furthermore, the oblong shape used in prior art forces the sound to go through a narrow long tube, which creates undesired coloration, a so-called combfilter effect, on the sound passing therethrough. Hence, there is a need for an improved earphone.

SUMMARY

It is an object to provide an improved earphone. The foregoing and other objects are achieved by the features of the independent claims. Further implementation forms are apparent from the dependent claims, the description, and the figures.

According to a first aspect, there is provided an earphone comprising a body configured to at least partially block an ear canal of a user, the body comprising an air passage configured to allow air to pass through the body. A magnet actuator is arranged within the body, the magnet actuator comprising a magnet, a first coil arrangement, and a second coil arrangement. Manipulation of electrical current in the first coil arrangement and/or the second coil arrangement generates movement of the magnet between a first position and a second position, the magnet being aligned with the air passage when in the first position such that the magnet blocks the air passage completely, preventing air from passing through the body, and the magnet being offset relative the air passage when in the second position such that air can pass through the body via the air passage.

Such a solution provides a reliable yet non-complex solution for sealing the ear canal as well as ventilating the ear canal and allowing sound waves to propagate into the ear canal. The solution has a small footprint and is highly suitable in small apparatuses such as in-ear earphones.

In a possible implementation form of the first aspect, the body is configured to be at least partially arranged within an ear canal of the user or to be arranged immediately adjacent an opening of the ear canal in a concha of the user’s ear, allowing the apparatus to be placed as close to the ear canal as possible.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the body comprises an outer section adapted for being arranged at least partially within the concha of the user, the magnet actuator being arranged within the outer section. This allows the size of the magnet actuator to be more flexible since the concha provides a larger space than the ear canal. In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the air passage is configured to allow air to pass between the ear canal of the user and an exterior to the ear canal when the magnet is in the second position, allowing excellent ventilation and exterior sound propagation into the ear canal.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the magnet is arranged completely between the first coil arrangement and the second coil arrangement, the magnet being located adjacent the first coil arrangement when in the first position and the magnet being located adjacent the second coil arrangement when in the second position. By moving the magnet between two positions, the objectives of the invention are achieved by means of an as simple and reliable solution as possible.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the magnet is in galvanic contact with the first coil arrangement when in the first position and in galvanic contact with the second coil arrangement when in the second position, allowing simple detection of the magnet’s position as well as maintaining of the magnet in that position.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the movement of the magnet between the first position and the second position is generated along an actuation axis, the actuation axis extending at an angle >0° to a center axis of the air passage. This allows the actuator to take up as little space as possible, even when actuated, and it also allows the air passage to be completely sealed all around its periphery by the magnet.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, electrical current in the first coil arrangement generates a first electromagnetic field between the first coil arrangement and the magnet, the first electromagnetic field moving the magnet in a first direction along the actuation axis, and electrical current in the second coil arrangement generates a second electromagnetic field between the second coil arrangement and the magnet, the second electromagnetic field moving the magnet in a second direction along the actuation axis. This allows for very reliable movement of the magnet between positions, which also may be easily adapted and scaled to suit different conditions.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the first coil arrangement and the second coil arrangement are separated by a dielectric space, the magnet being movable within the dielectric space between the first position and the second position. This prevents electrical current from flowing between the coil arrangements, which in turn facilitates sensing of galvanic contact between the magnet and one of the coil arrangements such that it is easily determined which position the magnet is currently in.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the first coil arrangement and the second coil arrangement comprises at least one coil each, allowing sufficient magnetic fields to be generated while also considering the small form factor of the earphone.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the first coil arrangement comprises a plurality of first coils separated by dielectric gaps and/or the second coil arrangement comprises a plurality of second coils separated by dielectric gaps, facilitating generation of stronger magnetic fields by means of several coils.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the first coil arrangement and the second coil arrangement each comprises a coil holder configured to maintain the coil(s), the magnet being in in galvanic contact with the coil holder when in the first position or the second position, providing a stable solution for holding the coils as well as for providing an end stop for the magnet range of motion.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the coil holder comprises at least one pin protruding towards the magnet, each one of the coils being wound around one of the pins. The pins help to focus the electromagnetic field towards the magnet and allow less power to be used.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the first coil arrangement is configured to maintain the magnet in the first position and the second coil arrangement is configured to maintain the magnet in the second position when there is no electrical current in either of the first coil arrangement and the second coil arrangement, such that the magnet is maintained in the position that it was in when the electrical current was switched off. This allows the magnet to be maintained in position even if the electrical current is switched off unintentionally, e.g. due to dropping the earphone, or intentionally in order to conserve battery energy. In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the magnet is a permanent magnet having a first polarity in a direction towards the first coil arrangement and a second polarity in a direction towards the second coil arrangement, allowing an as simple, bidirectional magnet actuator as possible.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect, the earphone further comprises at least one membrane arranged between the magnet and an adjacent inner surface of the body, the membrane having a lower coefficient of friction than an adjacent surface of the magnet. This facilitates the sliding movement of the magnet and allows the body to be manufactured without having to consider the coefficient of friction of the body material.

These and other aspects will be apparent from the embodiments described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed portion of the present disclosure, the aspects, embodiments, and implementations will be explained in more detail with reference to the example embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a partial earphone in accordance with an example of the embodiments of the disclosure;

Fig. 2 shows a top view of a magnet actuator of an earphone in accordance with an example of the embodiments of the disclosure;

Fig. 3a shows a cross-sectional side view of a partial earphone in accordance with an example of the embodiments of the disclosure, wherein the magnet actuator is in a first position;

Fig. 3b shows a cross-sectional side view of a partial earphone in accordance with an example of the embodiments of the disclosure, wherein the magnet actuator is in a second position;

Fig. 4a shows a cross-sectional top view of a partial earphone in accordance with an example of the embodiments of the disclosure, wherein the magnet actuator is in a first position;

Fig. 4b shows a cross-sectional top view of a partial earphone in accordance with an example of the embodiments of the disclosure, wherein the magnet actuator is in a second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an earphone comprising a body 1 configured to at least partially block an ear canal of a user, the body 1 comprising an air passage 2 configured to allow air to pass through the body 1, and a magnet actuator 3 arranged within the body 1. The magnet actuator 3 comprises a magnet 4, a first coil arrangement 5, and a second coil arrangement 6, and manipulation of electrical current in the first coil arrangement 5 or the second coil arrangement 6 generates movement of the magnet 4 between a first position Pl and a second position P2. The magnet is aligned with the air passage 2 when in the first position Pl such that the magnet 4 blocks the air passage 2 completely, preventing air from passing through the body 1, and the magnet 4 is offset relative the air passage 2 when in the second position P2 such that air can pass through the body 1 via the air passage 2.

The body 1 may have any suitable shape even though the Figs, illustrate a substantially rectangular body. The body 1 and the components within the body 1 may have any suitable complementary shapes as long as these shapes facilitate movement of the magnet actuator 3 within the body 1, as described in more detail below.

The earphone, also known as an in-ear headphone, comprises a body 1 that is configured to at least partially block an ear canal of a user. The earphone may comprise further components such as an ear tip made of an elastomer such as silicone.

The body 1 may be configured to be at least partially arranged within the user’s ear canal or to be arranged immediately adjacent the opening of the ear canal, i.e. in the concha of the user’s ear.

The body 1 may comprise an outer section 1 a adapted for being arranged at least partially within the concha, the magnet actuator 3 being arranged within the outer section la. The earphone may comprise an inner section (not shown) in the form of, e.g., an elastomer ear tip.

The body 1 comprises an air passage 2 configured to allow air to pass through the body 1. The air passage 2 extends through the body such that, when in use, air can pass between the user’s ear canal and the exterior, i.e. between any space outside of the user’s ear canal. The exterior can be, e.g., the air volume formed within the concha of the user’s ear, or the air volume which is completely outside of the user’s ear.

The earphone comprises a magnet actuator 3 arranged within the body 1. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the magnet actuator 3 comprises a magnet 4, a first coil arrangement 5, and a second coil arrangement 6. The magnet 4 is arranged between the first coil arrangement 5 and a second coil arrangement 6, as shown in the Figs., in a way that facilitates movement of magnet 4 between the first coil arrangement 5 and a second coil arrangement 6, which are stationary.

Movement of the magnet 4 is generated through manipulation of electrical current in one or both of the first coil arrangement 5 and the second coil arrangement 6.

The earphone may furthermore comprise at least one membrane 10, shown in Fig. 1, arranged between the magnet 4 and an adjacent inner surface of the body 1. The membrane may, e.g., be made of polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon). The membrane 10 has a lower coefficient of friction than an adjacent surface 4a of the magnet 4, facilitating the movement of magnet 4 when arranged adjacent to an inner surface of the body 1. This also allows the body 1 to be manufactured without having to consider the coefficient of friction of the body material. The body 1 may also comprise further components such as mesh, covering the opening of the body and air passage which is to face the ear canal, sealing or vibration dampening materials such as Poron, and electronic components such as contact pads and other electronic circuitry.

The magnet 4 is moved between a first position Pl and a second position P2. When the magnet

4 is in the first position Pl, it is aligned with the air passage 2 such that the magnet 4 blocks the air passage 2 completely, thus preventing air, and therefore also sound, from passing through the body 1. When the magnet 4 is in the second position P2, it is offset relative the air passage 2 such that air can pass through the body 1 via the air passage 2. The air passage 2 may, in other words, be configured to allow air to pass between the ear canal of the user and an exterior to the ear canal when the magnet 4 is in the second position P2. This allows the ear canal to be ventilated and sound waves to propagate into the ear canal.

As mentioned above, the magnet 4 is arranged between the first coil arrangement 5 and the second coil arrangement 6. The magnet 4 is arranged completely between the first coil arrangement 5 and the second coil arrangement 6 such that it is enclosed by the first coil arrangement 5 and the second coil arrangement 6.

When the magnet 4 is in the first position Pl, it is located adjacent to the first coil arrangement

5 as shown in Figs. 3a and 4a. When the magnet 4 is in the second position P2, it is located adjacent to the second coil arrangement 6 as shown in Figs. 2, 3b, and 4b. The magnet 4 is enclosed by the first coil arrangement 5 and the second coil arrangement 6 regardless of which position it is in due to the magnet 4, the first coil arrangement 5, and the second coil arrangement 6 being arranged in the same plane and the magnet 4 moving in said plane.

When the magnet 4 is in the first position Pl, it is in galvanic contact with the first coil arrangement 5. Correspondingly, when the magnet 4 is in the second position P2, it is in galvanic contact with the second coil arrangement 6. By galvanic contact is meant direct physical contact, which generates a direct electrical connection between magnet 4 and coil arrangement 5, 6. The magnet 4 may be a permanent magnet having a first polarity in a direction towards the first coil arrangement 5, e.g. a north pole N, as shown in Figs. 2 to 4b, and a second polarity in a direction towards the second coil arrangement 6, e.g. a south pole S.

The movement of the magnet 4 between the first position Pl and the second position P2 may be generated along an actuation axis Al, the actuation axis Al extending at an angle >0° to a center axis A2 of the air passage 2. The angle may be 90° to the center axis A2 of the air passage 2, such that the magnet 4 slides within a plane, comprising actuation axis Al, which is parallel with a plane comprising the air passage 2. This allows the air passage 2 to be completely sealed all around its periphery by the magnet 4. The movement of the magnet 4 between the first position Pl and the second position P2 may be linear.

By supplying electrical current to the first coil arrangement 5, a first electromagnetic field is generated between the first coil arrangement 5 and the magnet 4. The first electromagnetic field attracts, i.e. moves, the magnet 4 in a first direction DI along the actuation axis Al as shown in Fig. 4b. Correspondingly, by supplying electrical current to the second coil arrangement 6, a second electromagnetic field is generated between the second coil arrangement 6 and the magnet 4. The second electromagnetic field attracts, i.e. moves, the magnet 4 in a second direction D2 along the actuation axis Al. One electrical field may be generated at a time. Optionally, two electrical fields may be generated simultaneously. In such an embodiment, the first electromagnetic field attracts the magnet 4 while the second electromagnetic field repels the magnet 4, or the first electromagnetic field repels the magnet 4 while the second electromagnetic field attracts the magnet 4.

The first coil arrangement 5 and the second coil arrangement 6 are separated by a dielectric space 7 which is larger than the width of the magnet 4 as seen along the actuation axis Al. The magnet 4 is, in other words, movable within the dielectric space 7 between the first position Pl and the second position P2. The dielectric space 7 prevents electrical current from flowing between the first coil arrangement 5 and the second coil arrangement 6, which in turn facilitates sensing of galvanic contact between the magnet 4 and one of the first coil arrangement 5 and the second coil arrangement 6. By sensing galvanic contact, it can be easily determined if the magnet 4 is in the first position Pl or if it is in the second position P2, since the magnet 4 is in galvanic contact with the first coil arrangement 5 when in the first position Pl and in galvanic contact with the second coil arrangement 6 when in the second position P2.

The first coil arrangement 5 and the second coil arrangement 6 comprise at least one coil 5a, 6a each. As shown in Figs. 2, 4a, and 4b, the first coil arrangement 5 may comprise a plurality of first coils 5a separated by dielectric gaps 8. Correspondingly, the second coil arrangement 6 may comprise a plurality of second coils 6a separated by dielectric gaps 8.

The first coil arrangement 5 and the second coil arrangement 6 may each comprise a coil holder 9 configured to maintain the coils 5a, 6a. The magnet 4 may be in galvanic contact with the respective coil holder 9 when in the first position Pl or the second position P2.

The coil holder 9 may comprise at least one pin 9a protruding towards the magnet 4. Each one of the coils 5a, 6a is wound around one pin 9a, as shown in Figs. 2, 4a, and 4b which show three coils 5a, 6a and the pins 9a for each coil arrangement 5, 6. The pins 9a help to focus the electromagnetic field towards the magnet and allow less power to be used. The pins 9a may comprise ferromagnetic material.

The first coil arrangement 5 may be configured to maintain the magnet 4 in the first position Pl when there is no electrical current in the first coil arrangement 5. Correspondingly, the second coil arrangement 6 may be configured to maintain the magnet 4 in the second position P2 when there is no electrical current in the second coil arrangement 6. This allows the magnet 4 to be maintained in the position that it was in if and when the electrical current is switched off unintentionally, e.g. due to dropping the earphone, or intentionally in order to conserve battery energy. This may be achieved by means of the pins 9a comprising a material that attracts the magnet, i.e., a material which has a polarization attracting either the north pole or the south pole of the magnet. The various aspects and implementations have been described in conjunction with various embodiments herein. However, other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed subject-matter, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. The reference signs used in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope. Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read (e.g., cross-hatching, arrangement of parts, proportion, degree, etc.) together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this disclosure. As used in the description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down”, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader. Similarly, the terms “inwardly” and “outwardly” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate.