Ear-mount able listening device with baffled seal

An ear-mountable listening device includes a soft ear interface, an acoustic package, and electronics. The soft ear interface is shaped to house one or more components of the ear-mountable listening device. The soft ear interface has an outer surface that contacts a canal of an ear when the ear-mountable listening device is worn by the ear. The outer surface of the soft ear interface includes a plurality of baffles to form one or more channels for air or moisture to propagate through. The one or more channels extend from between a distal end and a proximal end of the soft ear interface. The proximal end of the soft ear interface extends to at least a first bend of the canal and the distal end of the soft ear interface contacts a concha of the ear when the ear-mountable listening device is worn.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to the field of acoustic devices, and in particular but not exclusively, relates to ear-mountable listening devices.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Ear mounted listening devices include headphones, which are a pair of loudspeakers worn on or around a user's ears. Circumaural headphones use a band on the top of the user's head to hold the speakers in place over or in the user's ears. Another type of ear mounted listening device is known as earbuds or earpieces and include individual monolithic units that plug into the user's ear canal.

Both headphones and ear buds are becoming more common with increased use of personal electronic devices. For example, people use headphones to connect to their phones to play music, listen to podcasts, place/receive phone calls, or otherwise. However, headphone devices are currently not designed for all-day wearing since their presence blocks outside noises from entering the ear canal without accommodations to hear the external world when the user so desires. Thus, the user is required to remove the devices to hear conversations, safely cross streets, etc.

Hearing aids for people who experience hearing loss are another example of an ear mountable listening device. These devices are commonly used to amplify environmental sounds. While these devices are typically worn all day, they often fail to accurately reproduce environmental cues, thus making it difficult for wearers to localize reproduced sounds. As such, hearing aids also have certain drawbacks when worn all day in a variety of environments. Furthermore, conventional hearing aid designs are fixed devices intended to amplify whatever sounds emanate from directly in front of the user. However, an auditory scene surrounding the user may be more complex and the user's listening desires may not be as simple as merely amplifying sounds emanating directly in front of the user.

With any of the above ear mountable listening devices, monolithic implementations are common. These monolithic designs are not easily custom tailored to the end user, and if damaged, require the entire device to be replaced at greater expense. Accordingly, a dynamic and multiuse ear mountable listening device capable of providing all day comfort in a variety of auditory scenes is desirable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein are embodiments of a binaural listening system and/or ear-mountable listening device including a soft ear interface to provide high levels of acoustic attenuation along with proper management of temperature, moisture levels (e.g., humidity), and standing canal pressure when the system and/or device is inserted into or otherwise mounted to the ear (i.e., worn). Important conditions include maintaining not only a high level of comfort but good health of the outer ear via proper management of temperature, moisture, cerumen, and standing pressure (e.g., pressure within the ear canal) relative to the pressure in the middle ear. When traditional in-ear devices are worn, a seal may form that prevents pressure within the ear canal from equalizing with the pressure within the middle ear causing discomfort when wearing the device. It is appreciated that the pressure within the middle ear is typically comparable to ambient pressure (e.g., atmosphere pressure of the physical environment outside of the body of the user) due to the eustachian tube connecting the middle ear to the nasopharynx. Thus, the pressure of the ear canal can be substantially equalized with the pressure of the middle ear by matching the ambient pressure.

Embodiments of the disclosure include a soft ear interface that forms a baffled seal with the ear when the associated ear-mountable listening device is inserted, worn, or otherwise mounted to the ear. The baffled seal provided by the soft ear interface and/or other features described herein enables an acoustic seal that may provide high impedance (e.g., 30 dB or greater, 35 dB or greater, 40 dB or greater, or otherwise) of sound attenuation (e.g., passive noise isolation) while still allowing for pressure equalization and moisture/cerumen to be wicked or otherwise moved from inside the ear canal to outside and away from the device. The baffled seal is achieved, at least in part, by implementing a plurality of baffles formed on or from an outer surface of the soft ear interface that contacts the ear canal, concha, or other anatomical features of the ear when the ear-mountable listening device associated with the soft ear interface is inserted into the ear. The plurality of baffles forms one or more channels through which air, moisture, and/or cerumen may propagate. More specifically, the one or more channels form a tortuous pathway to attenuate sound while still allowing moisture and/or cerumen to be wicked away from the device.

FIGS. 1A-1Cillustrates a binaural listening system100including an ear-mountable listening device101shown when worn plugged into an ear canal, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The ear-mountable listening device101may be wirelessly coupled or otherwise paired with another instance of the ear-mountable listening device (not illustrated) to form the binaural listening system100. In various embodiments, the ear-mountable listening device101(also referred to herein as an “ear device”) is capable of facilitating a variety of auditory functions including wirelessly connecting to (and/or switching between) a number of audio sources (e.g., Bluetooth connections to personal computing devices, etc.) to provide in-ear audio to the user, controlling the volume of the real world (e.g., modulated noise cancellation and transparency), providing speech hearing enhancements, localizing environmental sounds for spatially selective cancellation and/or amplification, and even rendering auditory virtual objects (e.g., auditory assistant or other data sources as speech or auditory icons). Ear-mountable listening device101is amenable to all day wearing provided, at least in part, via a soft ear interface (e.g., soft ear interface115illustrated inFIG. 1C). When the user desires to block out external environmental sounds, the mechanical design and form factor along with active noise cancellation and passive noise isolation can provide substantial external noise dampening (e.g., 40 to 50 dB). When the user desires a natural auditory interaction with their environment, ear-mountable listening device101can provide near (or perfect) perceptual transparency by reassertion of the user's natural Head Related Transfer Function (HRTF), thus maintaining spaciousness of sound and the ability to localize sound origination in the environment.

As illustrated inFIG. 1C, when the ear-mountable listening device101is worn (e.g., inserted, at least partially, into an ear canal), the soft ear interface115extends beyond the first and second bends of the ear canal, which provides an acoustic seal of the ear canal. It is appreciated that the soft ear interface115may have a custom shape specifically tailored to substantially match a corresponding shape of the ear (e.g., including the concha and ear canal) for the wearer of the ear-mountable listening device101. By having an overall shape tailored to the specific geometry of an individual user's ear the soft ear interface provides a conformal fit to the ear and holds the ear-mountable listening device101in place. Additionally, the plurality of baffles (see, e.g., baffles450illustrated inFIG. 4Aand/or baffles550illustrated inFIG. 5) of the soft ear interface115provide enhanced comfort of the ear-mountable listening device101by promoting propagation of air, moisture, and/or cerumen. It is appreciated that in other embodiments, the soft ear interface115may not extend beyond the second bend of the ear canal or even the first bend of the ear canal depending on a configuration of the soft ear interface115and/or more generally the ear-mountable listening device101.

FIG. 2illustrates an exploded view of ear-mountable listening device201, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Ear-mountable listening device201is one possible implementation of ear-mountable listening device101illustrated inFIGS. 1A-1C. Referring back toFIG. 2, ear-mountable listening device201has a modular design including an electronics package205, an acoustic package210, and a soft ear interface215. The three components are separable by the end-user allowing for any one of the components to be individually replaced should it be lost or damaged. The illustrated embodiment of electronics package205has a puck-like shape and includes an array of microphones for capturing external environmental sounds along with electronics disposed on a main circuit board for data processing, signal manipulation, communications, user interfaces, and sensing. In some embodiments, the main circuit board has an annular disk shape with a central hole to provide a compact, thin, or close-into-the-ear form factor.

The illustrated embodiment of acoustic package210includes multiple transducers or speakers212, and in some embodiments, an internal microphone213for capturing user noises incident via the ear canal, along with electromechanical components of a rotary user interface. A distal end of acoustic package210may include a cylindrical post220that slides into and couples with a cylindrical port207on the proximal side of electronics package205. In embodiments where the main circuit board within electronics package205is an annular disk, cylindrical port207aligns with the central hole. The annular shape of the main circuit board and cylindrical port207facilitate a compact stacking of speakers212with the microphone array within electronics package205directly in front of the opening to the ear canal enabling a more direct orientation of speakers212to the axis of the auditory canal. Internal microphone213may be disposed within acoustic package210and electrically coupled to the electronics within electronics package205for audio processing (illustrated), or disposed within electronics package205with a sound pipe plumbed through cylindrical post220and extending to one of the ports235(not illustrated). Internal microphone213may be shielded and oriented to focus on user sounds originating via the ear canal. Additionally, internal microphone213may also be part of an audio feedback control loop for driving cancellation of the ear occlusion effect.

Post220may be held mechanically and/or magnetically in place while allowing electronics package205to be rotated about central axial axis225relative to acoustic package210and soft ear interface215. This rotation of electronics package205relative to acoustic package210implements a rotary user interface. The mechanical/magnetic connection facilitates rotational detents (e.g., 8, 16, 32) that provide a force feedback as the user rotates electronic package205with their fingers. Electrical trace rings230disposed circumferentially around post220provide electrical contacts for power and data signals communicated between electronics package205and acoustic package210. In other embodiments, post220may be eliminated in favor of using flat circular disks to interface between electronics package205and acoustic package210.

Soft ear interface215is fabricated of a flexible material (e.g., silicone, flexible polymers, any other material or materials amenable to be at least partly compressible or flexible, or combinations thereof) and includes a first segment216shaped to be inserted into an ear canal of an ear and a second segment217shaped to contact or otherwise be inserted into a concha of the ear of the user to mechanically hold ear-mountable listening device201in place (e.g., via friction or elastic force fit). Soft ear interface215may be a custom molded piece (or fabricated in a limited number of sizes) to accommodate different concha and ear canal sizes/shapes. Soft ear interface215provides a comfortable fit while mechanically sealing the ear to dampen or attenuate direct propagation of external sounds into the ear canal. Soft ear interface215includes an internal cavity disposed, at least in part, in the second segment217and is shaped to house one or more components (e.g., acoustic package210) of the ear-mountable listening device201and securely holds the one or more components therein. In some embodiments, the specific shape of the cavity formed by the soft ear interface215aligns ports235with in-ear aperture240to deliver audio emitted from the acoustic package210to the ear. A flexible flange245seals soft ear interface215to the backside of electronics package205encasing acoustic package210and keeping moisture away from acoustic package210. In some embodiments, one or more of a plurality of baffles (e.g., as illustrated inFIG. 4AandFIG. 5) disposed on an outer surface of the soft ear interface215may extend to taper246. Though not illustrated, in some embodiments, the distal end of acoustic package210may include a barbed ridge encircling ports235that friction fit or “click” into a mating indent feature within soft ear interface215.

Referring back toFIG. 1A, which illustrates how ear-mountable listening device101is held by, mounted to, or otherwise disposed in the user's ear. As illustrated, soft ear interface215is shaped to hold ear-mountable listening device101with central axial axis225substantially falling within (e.g., within 20 degrees) a coronal plane104. As is discussed in greater detail below, an array of microphones extends around central axial axis225in a ring pattern that substantially falls within a sagittal plane106of the user. When ear-mountable listening device101is worn, electronics package205is held close to the pinna of the ear and aligned along, close to, or within the pinna plane. Holding electronics package205close into the pinna not only provides a desirable industrial design (relative to further out protrusions), but may also has less impact on the user's HRTF or more readily lend itself to a definable/characterizable impact on the user's HRTF, for which offsetting calibration may be achieved. As mentioned, the central hole in the main circuit board along with cylindrical port207facilitate this close in mounting of electronics package205despite mounting speakers212directly in front of the ear canal in between electronics package205and the ear canal along central axial axis225.

FIG. 3is a block diagram illustrating select functional components300of ear-mountable listening device301, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Ear-mountable listening device301is one possible implementation of ear-mountable listening device101illustrated inFIGS. 1A-IC and ear-mountable listening device201illustrated inFIG. 2. The illustrated embodiment of components inFIG. 3includes an adaptive phased array305of microphones310and a main circuit board315disposed within electronics package205while speaker320are disposed within acoustic package210. Main circuit board315includes various electronics disposed thereon including a compute module325, memory330, sensors335, battery340, communication circuitry345, and interface circuitry350. The illustrated embodiment also includes an internal microphone355disposed within acoustic package210. An external remote360(e.g., handheld device, smart ring, etc.) may be wirelessly coupled to ear-mountable listening device101(or binaural listening system100) via communication circuitry345. Although not illustrated, acoustic package210may also include some electronics for digital signal processing (DSP), such as a printed circuit board (PCB) containing a signal decoder and DSP processor for digital-to-analog (DAC) conversion and EQ processing, a bi-amped crossover, and various auto-noise cancellation and occlusion processing logic.

In one embodiment, microphones310are arranged in a ring pattern (e.g., circular array, elliptical array, etc.) around a perimeter of main circuit board315. Main circuit board315itself may have a flat disk shape, and in some embodiments, is an annular disk with a central hole. In the case of a binaural listening system, protrusion of electronics package205may extend significantly out past the pinna plane and may even distort the natural time of arrival of the sounds to each ear and further distort spatial perception and the user's HRTF potentially beyond a calibratable correction. Fashioning the disk as an annulus (or donut) enables protrusion of the driver of speaker320(or speakers212) through main circuit board315and thus allow a more direct orientation/alignment of speaker320with respect to the entrance of the auditory canal.

Microphones310may each be disposed on their own individual microphone substrates. The microphone port of each microphone310may be spaced in substantially equal angular increments about central axial axis225. InFIG. 3, sixteen microphones310are equally spaced; however, in other embodiments, more or less microphones may be distributed (evenly or unevenly) in the ring pattern about central axial axis225.

Compute module325may include a programmable microcontroller that executes software/firmware logic stored in memory330, hardware logic (e.g., application specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, etc.), or a combination of both. AlthoughFIG. 3illustrates compute module325as a single centralized resource, it should be appreciated that compute module325may represent multiple compute resources disposed across multiple hardware elements on main circuit board315and which interoperate to collectively orchestrate the operation of the other functional components. For example, compute module325may execute logic to turn ear-mountable listening device101on/off, monitor a charge status of battery340(e.g., lithium ion battery, etc.), pair and unpair wireless connections, switch between multiple audio sources, execute play, pause, skip, and volume adjustment commands received from interface circuitry350, commence multi-way communication sessions (e.g., initiate a phone call via a wirelessly coupled phone), control volume of the real-world environment passed to speaker320(e.g., modulate noise cancellation and perceptual transparency), enable/disable speech enhancement modes, enable/disable smart volume modes (e.g., adjusting max volume threshold and noise floor), or otherwise. In some embodiments, compute module325may operably configure (e.g., variably power) a plurality of electroacoustic transducers (e.g., loudspeakers, tweeters, woofers, and/or combinations thereof) included in the acoustic package210to emit audio in response to an audio signal (e.g., from one or more audio sources).

Sensors335may include a variety of sensors such as an inertial measurement unit (IMU) including one or more of a three axis accelerometer, a magnetometer (e.g., compass), or a gyroscope. Communication interface345may include one or more wireless transceivers including near-field magnetic induction (NFMI) communication circuitry and antenna, ultra-wideband (UWB) transceivers, a WiFi transceiver, a radio frequency identification (RFID) backscatter tag, a Bluetooth antenna, or otherwise. Interface circuitry350may include a capacitive touch sensor disposed across the distal surface of electronics package205to support touch commands and gestures on the outer portion of the puck-like surface, as well as a rotary user interface (e.g., rotary encoder) to support rotary commands by rotating the puck-like surface of electronics package205. A mechanical push button interface operated by pushing on electronics package205may also be implemented.

FIG. 4Aillustrates an example soft ear interface415with a plurality of baffles450, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Soft ear interface415is one possible implementation of soft ear interface115of ear-mountable listening device101illustrated inFIGS. 1A-1Cand/or soft ear interface215illustrated inFIG. 2. As shown inFIG. 4A, soft ear interface415includes a first segment416and a second segment417extending from the first segment416. The first segment416and second segment417collectively form an outer surface421of the soft ear interface415that may contact the concha and canal of an ear when mounted to an ear of a user (e.g., when the ear-mountable listening device101is inserted into the ear of the user as illustrated inFIG. 1B). As shown inFIG. 4A, a proximal end495of the soft ear interface415, corresponding to aperture440, extends beyond the first and second bend of the ear canal when the soft ear interface415is inserted into the ear of the user. Advantageously, by extending to the second bend of the ear canal, the attenuation of noise (e.g., passive noise isolation) provided by the soft ear interface415is enhanced while also enabling the propagation of sound via an acoustic package (e.g., acoustic package210illustrated inFIG. 2) through the aperture440. However, it is appreciated that in other embodiments the soft ear interface415may not extend beyond the second bend of the ear canal, the first bend of the ear canal, or both when inserted into or otherwise mounted to the ear.

As illustrated inFIG. 4A, the outer surface421of the soft ear interface415forms a plurality of baffles450to form one or more channels (e.g., first channel460) for air or moisture to propagate through. Each baffle included in the plurality of baffles450corresponds to a wall, ridge, groove, facet, step, bump, striation, or any other feature that otherwise corresponds to a change in height or thickness of the soft ear interface450that deflects, checks, or regulates the propagation of sound, air, moisture, cerumen, or combinations thereof. For example, channel452is formed by adjacent baffles450-A and450-B, which provide a pathway extending circumferentially around the outer surface421of the soft ear interface415. Accordingly, the plurality of baffles450structures the soft ear interface415to wick, move, or otherwise allow moisture and/or cerumen to propagate from the proximal end495towards the distal end490, which mitigates their accumulation proximate to the boundaries where the soft ear interface415meets the ear canal while still allowing for pressure equalization within the ear canal (e.g., middle ear pressure) with respect to an ambient pressure. The mitigation of moisture and/or cerumen accumulation at the ear canal combined with pressure equalization may enhance comfort to enable wearing the ear-mountable listening device associated with the soft ear interface415for extended periods of time.

The illustrated embodiment shows individual baffles included in the plurality of baffles450extending circumferentially around the outer surface421of the soft ear interface415and collectively along a longitudinal direction of the soft ear interface415(e.g., a direction extending from a midpoint of the proximal end495to a midpoint of the distal end490). However, in other embodiments, the plurality of baffles450may not extend the full length of the soft ear interface415. In one embodiment, the plurality of baffles450may only be present within the first segment416of the soft ear interface415(e.g., the plurality of baffles450may extend from the proximal end495to where the soft ear interface415transitions from the first segment416to the second segment417). In other words, the plurality of baffles450may be distributed on the outer surface421of the soft ear interface415such that individual baffles contact the ear canal, but do not contact other segments of the ear (e.g., the concha) when the soft ear interface415is inserted in the ear. In another embodiment, the first channel460included in the one or more channels formed by the plurality of baffles450has a length greater than a longitudinal length of the soft ear interface415that spans from the proximal end495to the distal end490. In the same or other embodiments, the first channel460and/or other channels included in the one or more channels formed by the plurality of baffles450may terminate proximate to a tragus, concha, and/or saddle point of the ear when the soft ear interface415is inserted in the ear to move moisture and/or cerumen formed within the ear canal to outside of the ear canal via capillary action, diffusion, evaporation, or other means.

In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 4A, the plurality of baffles415include or otherwise form embossed rings extending, at least in part, circumferentially around the soft ear interface415. In some embodiments, the embossed rings are open rings with corresponding gaps that each correspond to an opening for the one or more channels to transition between adjacent rings. More specifically, the corresponding gap of a given ring is representative of a break in said ring. For example, baffle450-A forms a discontinuous ring that extends circumferentially around the soft ear interface415and includes a first gap455-A and a second gap455-B such that the ring formed by baffle450-A does not extend continuously around the soft ear interface415. The multiple gaps of baffle450-A allows for divergence of the one or more channels. However, in other embodiments, each of the embossed rings may have a singular gap such that there is a single continuous and tortuous pathway or channel that extends between the proximal end495and the distal end490. In the illustrated embodiment, the corresponding gaps of adjacent rings (e.g., formed by baffles450-C,450-D, and450-E) are offset from one another such that there is not a straight line path between any three successive rings included in the embossed rings (e.g., as illustrated by first channel460having multiple turns to extend from baffle450-E to baffle450-C). In some embodiments, a separation distance between adjacent rings formed by the plurality of baffles450is uniform and is less than 1 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.1 mm, or any other pre-determined threshold separation distance. It is appreciated that reducing the separation distance between the adjacent rings may promote capillary action within the one or more channels. In other embodiments the separation distance between the adjacent rings may be non-uniform (e.g., randomly distributed below a threshold value), uniformly varying (e.g., increasing linearly from the proximal end495to the distal end490or vice versa), non-uniformly varying (e.g., increasing non-linearly from the proximal end495to the distal end490or vice versa), or otherwise.

As illustrated inFIG. 4A, the embossed rings formed by the plurality of baffles450include a first ring (e.g., baffle450-E), a second ring (e.g., baffle450-C), and a third ring (e.g., baffle450-A). When the soft ear interface415is inserted into the ear, the second bend of the ear canal is disposed between the first ring and the second ring. Similarly, the first bend of the ear canal is disposed between the second ring and the third ring. In some embodiments, there may be a plurality of rings disposed beyond the second bend of the ear canal (e.g., disposed between the second bend and the tympanic membrane) when the soft ear interface415is worn. The soft ear interface415is further shaped to include at least one desiccant channel (e.g., desiccant channel472illustrated inFIG. 4F) that includes a first opening470and a second opening480at the outer surface421. As illustrated, the first opening470is disposed proximate to the proximal end495and the second opening480is disposed proximate to the distal end490. In other words, the first opening470and the second opening480define where the at least one desiccant channel initiates and terminates. The soft ear interface415is further structured to include a plurality of collection points475, which couples the outer surface421of the soft ear interface415to the at least one desiccant channel. As illustrated, the plurality of collection points475are disposed between the first opening470and the second opening480on the outer surface421of the soft ear interface415. It is appreciated that in some embodiments, the second opening480is disposed proximate to the tragus of the ear and the first opening470is disposed proximate to the second bend of the ear when the soft ear interface415is inserted in the other. However, in other embodiments the first opening470and the second opening480may be disposed in different positions relative to the anatomical structure of the ear.

FIG. 4Billustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of the soft ear interface415illustrated inFIG. 4Athat includes baffle450-A and450-B, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. As illustrated, the thickness of the soft ear interface415changes (e.g., based on the outer surface421and the inner surface423of the soft ear interface415) to form ridges451defined by baffles450-A and450-B, which are separated from one another by separation distance454to form channel452. In some embodiments, individual baffles included in the plurality of baffles450may have a width453, which is less than, equal to, or greater than the separation distance454of the channel452. In one or more embodiments, the width453and the separation distance454between adjacent baffles are both less than 1 mm. In another embodiment, the width453of a given baffle may be less than the separation distance454between adjacent baffles included in the plurality of baffles450. For example, the width453may be less than 1 mm while the separation distance454may be greater than 1 mm. In some embodiments, the plurality of baffles450may be structured or otherwise arranged to promote wicking or capillarity of moisture and/or cerumen while still maintaining a high impedance acoustic seal when the soft ear interface is inserted in the ear for specific frequencies (e.g., audible frequencies up 16 kHz). More specifically, the one or more channels formed by the plurality of baffles450may have a cross-sectional area and length sufficient to contribute to acoustic resistance of the specific frequencies. In some embodiments, this may be achieved via submillimeter width of the one or more channels. As described in relation toFIG. 4A, the plurality of baffles450(e.g., baffle450-A and/or450-B) may form or otherwise include embossed rings. As illustrated, the embossed rings correspond to a protrusion from the outer surface421. However, in the same or other embodiments, the embossed rings may correspond to depressions into the outer surface421. As illustrated inFIG. 4B, the plurality of baffles450may form a step profile in which the thickness of the soft ear interface415abruptly changes. In the same or other embodiments, the thickness may change linearly, non-linearly, or otherwise.

FIG. 4Cillustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of the soft ear interface415illustrated inFIG. 4Athat includes the plurality of baffles450and optional coating458when the soft ear interface415is inserted in the ear, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. As illustrated, when the soft ear interface415is inserted in the ear, at least a portion of the plurality of baffles450(e.g., baffles450-C,450-D, and450-E illustrated inFIG. 4A) contacts the ear canal, which forms an occlusive fit of the ear-mountable listening device to the ear such that the one or more channels (e.g., channel460) are sealed by the ear. Advantageously, the occlusive fit of the soft ear interface415to the ear combined with the continuous and/or tortuous pathway formed by the one or more channels provide a high impedance barrier to sound waves. In other words, noise propagating through the one or more channels will be attenuated to enhance passive noise isolation of the ear-mountable listening device.

In some embodiments, regions of the outer surface421that form the one or more channels (e.g., channel460) may be coated or otherwise treated with one or more hydrophilic materials (e.g., polymers or other molecules containing polar or charged functional groups, hydrogels, self-assembled monolayers, and the like) to cause the surface energy of the regions to increase such that they are hydrophilic (e.g., water contact angle is less than 90°). In other embodiments, the entire outer surface421of the soft ear interface415may be coated, treated, or otherwise formed of hydrophilic materials to promote capillary action. In some embodiments, the soft ear interface415may be coated, treated, or otherwise formed from a fluoropolymer (e.g., stretched polytetrafluorethylene, expanded polytetrafluorethylene, or otherwise) to enhance moisture resistance of the soft ear interface415.

FIG. 4DandFIG. 4Eillustrate cross-sectional views of example baffles450-X and450-Y, respectively, which may be included in the plurality of baffles450of the soft ear interface415illustrated inFIG. 4A, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. As illustrated, the plurality of baffles450do not necessarily form an abrupt step profile, but instead may include baffles that form descending or ascending step profiles in which the separation distance along a thickness of the channel decreases or increases in a linear or non-linear manner as shown inFIG. 4DandFIG. 4E. In the same or other embodiment, the plurality of baffles450may have uniform profiles (e.g., each of the plurality of baffles450may have a substantially identical step profile), while in other embodiments a number of different profiles may be utilized (e.g., any combination of abrupt, linear, or non-linear step profiles).

FIG. 4Fillustrates a cross-sectional view of the soft ear interface415including at least one desiccant channel472, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. As illustrated and described in relation toFIG. 4A, the soft ear interface415includes desiccant channel472disposed internally within the soft ear interface415(e.g., between the outer surface421and the inner surface423. The desiccant channel472includes the first opening470and the second opening480respectively disposed proximate to the proximal end and the distal end of the soft ear interface415. In some embodiments, the second opening480is disposed proximate to a tragus of the ear when the ear-mountable listening device associated with the soft ear interface415is worn or otherwise mounted to the ear. The desiccant channel472forms an internal channel to the soft ear interface for internally collecting and transferring moisture and/or cerumen towards the second opening480(e.g., outside the ear canal). In some embodiments, the desiccant channel472may be coated or otherwise treated with one or more hydrophilic materials (e.g., polymers or other molecules containing polar or charged functional groups, hydrogels, self-assembled monolayers, and the like) to cause the surface energy of the regions to increase such that they are hydrophilic (e.g., water contact is angle less than 90°).

It is appreciated that while only a singular continuous desiccant channel472is shown inFIG. 4F, in other embodiment additional desiccant channels may also be included in the at least one desiccant channel. For example, there may be a plurality of desiccant channels, including desiccant channel472, disposed between the outer surface421and the inner surface423. In one embodiment, the plurality of desiccant channels may be coupled to one another or otherwise interconnected. In the same or other embodiments, a longitudinal length of the desiccant channel472is less than a pathway length of the one or more channels (e.g., channel460illustrated inFIG. 4A) formed from the plurality of baffles (e.g., plurality of baffles450).

As illustrated inFIG. 4F, the soft ear interface415is further shaped or structured to include a plurality of collection points475, disposed between the first opening470and the second opening480, that couple the outer surface421of the soft ear interface415to desiccant channel472. Each of the plurality of collection points475form a corresponding secondary channel477extending from the outer surface to the desiccant channel472. The plurality of collection points475and corresponding secondary channels477may further aid with propagation of moisture and/or ceremony out of the ear canal to promote extended comfort. In some embodiments, at least one of the corresponding secondary channels477is interconnected with the one or more channels formed by the plurality of baffles (e.g., collection point475, which is coupled to a corresponding secondary channel477, is disposed in the channel452formed by baffle450-A and450-B as illustrated inFIG. 4A).

It is noted that in the illustrated embodiment, soft ear interface415is further shaped to house one or more components of the ear-mountable listening device (e.g., acoustic package210illustrated inFIG. 2) via a cavity426, such that audio may be emitted from the acoustic package toward the canal of the ear through the aperture440of the soft ear interface415.

FIG. 5illustrates soft ear interface515with a plurality of baffles550arranged in a serpentine pattern, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Soft ear interface515is one possible implementation of soft ear interface115of ear-mountable listening device101illustrated inFIGS. 1A-1Cand/or soft ear interface215illustrated inFIG. 2. Furthermore, it is appreciated that soft ear interface515may include the same or similar features of soft ear interface415.

Soft ear interface515includes the plurality of baffles515that form a serpentine pattern on an outer surface521of the soft ear interface515. In the illustrated embodiment, the serpentine pattern extends between a proximal end595and a distal end590of the soft ear interface515. The serpentine pattern is characterized as including a plurality of inflections561in which directionality of a given baffle included in the plurality of baffles550changes to form one or more channels560. For example, baffle550-A and550-B collectively define channel560-A included in the one or more channels560. A width and path of channel560-A is determined by both the directionality and separation distance between baffles560-A and560-B. Similarly, baffles550-B and550-C define channel560-B, which is adjacent to channel560-A. In other words, the serpentine pattern of the plurality of baffles550forms at least two adjacent circuitous channels.

In the illustrated embodiment, the pathway formed by the channels560-A and560-B extend longitudinally from the proximal end595to the distal end590while simultaneously extending around approximately a quarter of the circumference of the soft ear interface515. In other embodiments, the one or more channels may extend at least a half, three-quarters, or even a variable amount around the circumference of the soft ear interface515while extending longitudinally. In other embodiments, there may be multiple distinct serpentine patterns that wrap completely around the circumference of the soft ear interface515.