Measurement and application of 3D ear images for earphone design

Abstract

Detail anthropometric dimensions and a 3D shape of the outer-ear are applicable to design ear-related products such as an earphone. However, 3D scanning of the ear part is quite difficult due to a complex shape of the ear, also detailed ear dimensions which are needed to be measured for earphone design were not identified in previous studies. This study collected 3D scan images of the whole outer-ear from 100 Korean participants (50 females and 50 males) aged 20 to 59, then measured their detailed ear dimensions for earphone design. The pinna part was directly 3D scanned;
and complex shape of the concha and acoustic canal parts were cast by applying an ear casting tool, then the cast was scanned in 3D. 13 ear dimensions were measured by applying an ear measurement system coded using Matlab. Both 3D ear scans and ear measurements were applied to design some earphone parts (earphone-head, ear-band, ear-tip) in
this study.