EARPIECE SYSTEM

• US 20100296664A1
• Filed: 02/23/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Verto Medical Solutions LLC (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Fishbaine, David, Wetle, Michael D., Daniels, Richard J., Burgett, Seth D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,706,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/08 internal, e.g. earplugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1058 Manufacture or assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06

Abstract

A system and method for providing earpieces includes an inventory of earpieces having a plurality of parameters and a device for making a non-contact ear measurement. An earpiece is selected from the inventory based on the non-contact measurement.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an inventory of earpieces having a plurality of parameters;

a device for making a non-contact ear measurement;

wherein an earpiece is selected from the inventory based on the non-contact measurement.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the device for making the non-contact ear measurement comprises a camera.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the device for making the non-contact ear measurement comprises a 3D scanner.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a computer system including:

an earpiece parameter database for storing earpiece parameter data; and

a processor programmed to select the earpiece based on the earpiece parameter database and the non-contact ear measurement.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor is programmed calculate a plurality of factors selected from a group including:

a pain score, a stay-in score, a fit score; and

wherein the earpiece is selected based on the calculated factors.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the inventory includes a first inventory situated proximate the device for making a non-contact ear measurement and a second inventory situated remote from the device for making a non-contact ear measurement.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the earpiece is an earbud or an earbud adapter.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the parameters include earpiece shape and/or size.

9. A method of providing an earpiece, comprising:

providing an inventory of earpieces having a plurality of parameters;

making a non-contact ear measurement;

selecting an earpiece from the inventory based on the non-contact measurement.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing an earpiece parameter database;

calculating at least one factor selected from a group including a pain score, a stay-in score, and/or a noise-isolation score; and

selecting the earpiece based on the non-contact ear measurement, the earpiece parameters and the calculated factor.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing an ear measurement database; and

constructing the earpiece parameter database based on the ear measurement database.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

calculating at least one factor including at least one of a pain score, a stay-in score, and/or a noise-isolation score based on the earpiece measurement database;

determining earpiece parameters for earpieces to include in the earpiece inventory.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein providing the inventory of earpieces includes:

providing a first inventory situated proximate a device for making the non-contact ear measurement; and

providing a second inventory situated remote from the device for making the non-contact ear measurement.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first inventory includes earpieces having first parameters and the second inventory includes earpieces having second parameters.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the non-contact ear measurement includes making a 3D image of an ear.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the non-contact ear measurement includes making a 2D image of an ear.