Acoustic resistor for hearing improvement and audiometric applications, and method of making same

• US 20050002541A1
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Etymotic Research Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Etymotic Research Incorporated
• Inventors: Haapapuro, Andrew J., Killion, Mead C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,091,680 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/353
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/16 Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general G10K11/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/48 using constructional means for obtaining a desired frequency response H04R25/652 takes precedence

Abstract

An acoustic resistor or damper and method of manufacturing the same is disclosed. The damper has mesh material and mounting material attached to the mesh material. The mounting material defines an open region for transmission of sound through the mesh material, and has a mounting surface for mounting the damper on a surface surrounding an acoustic port or tube. The mounting surface is located on a plane different from the mesh material, thereby shielding the mesh material from adhesive applied between the mounting surface and the surface surrounding the acoustic port or tube.

Claims

1-15. -15. (Cancelled)

16. A method of manufacturing an acoustic damper comprising:

exposing emulsion applied to mesh material through at least one opening in a photographic mask to ultraviolet light;

removing the emulsion exposed; and

cutting a portion of the remaining emulsion and mesh material in a shape surrounding the removed emulsion.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising generating the photographic mask having the at least one opening.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising applying the emulsion to the mesh material.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein removing the emulsion exposed comprises washing away the emulsion exposed.

20. The method claim 16 wherein cutting a portion of the remaining emulsion and mesh material comprises mechanically punching a shape surrounding the removed emulsion.

21. A method of manufacturing an acoustic damper comprising:

applying a sheet of double-sided tape having at least one perforation to a mesh material; and

cutting the double-sided tape and mesh material in a shape surrounding the at least one perforation.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising cutting the at least one perforation in the double-sided tape.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein cutting the double-sided tape and mesh material comprises mechanically punching a shape surrounding the at least one perforation.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising removing backing material of the double-sided tape.

25-30. -30. (Cancelled)

31. A method of manufacturing an acoustic damper comprising:

preparing a mask;

preparing an emulsion on a material;

exposing at least a portion of said emulsion to ultraviolet light through said mask, forming exposed emulsion and remaining emulsion;

removing at least a portion of said exposed emulsion; and

cutting at least a portion of said remaining emulsion and said material in a shape surrounding said removed exposed emulsion.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein preparing said mask comprises selecting at least one of a shape or size of an opening.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein preparing said mask comprises defining an inner diameter of said opening using at least said selected shape and size.

34. The method of claim 31 comprising applying said emulsion to said material.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein preparing said emulsion comprises selecting a material having a desired resistance value.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said material comprises at least one of a cloth, mesh, metal, polyester, nylon and silk.

37. The method of claim 31 wherein preparing said emulsion comprises mounting said material on a frame.

38. The method of claim 31 wherein cutting at least a portion of said remaining emulsion and said material comprises mechanically punching a shape surrounding said removed exposed emulsion.

39. The method of claim 31 wherein removing at least a portion of said exposed emulsion comprises washing away said exposed emulsion.

40. The method of claim 31 wherein preparing said emulsion comprises a mounting material having at least one mounting surface.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein preparing said emulsion comprises defining an approximately circular open region in said mounting material.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein preparing said emulsion comprises defining an approximately rectangular open region in said mounting material.

43. The method of claim 31 wherein preparing said emulsion comprises applying a sheet of double-sided tape having at least one perforation to at least said material.

44. A method of manufacturing at least one acoustic damper comprising:

applying a double-sided first material to a second material; and

cutting at least said double-sided first material forming the at least one acoustic damper.

45. The method of claim 44 comprising defining an inner diameter of the at least one acoustic damper using at least one perforation formed in said double-sided first material.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein said at least one perforation defines an inner diameter of the at least one acoustic damper of approximately 0.045 inches.

47. The method of claim 44 comprising defining an outer diameter of the at least one acoustic damper by cutting said at least said double-sided first material and said second material.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein said cutting at least said double-sided first material and said second material defines an outer diameter of the at least one acoustic damper of approximately 0.120 inches.

49. The method of claim 44 comprising removing a backing material from said double-sided first material prior to applying it to said second material.

50. The method of claim 44 wherein said double-sided first material comprises a double-sided tape having a plurality of perforations.

51. The method of claim 44 wherein said second material comprises at least one of a cloth, mesh, metal, polyester, nylon and silk.

52. The method of claim 44 wherein said cutting at least said double-sided first material comprises mechanically punching through said double-sided first material and said second material in a predefined shape surrounding at least one perforation formed in said double-sided first material.

53. The method of claim 44 wherein said cutting at least said double-sided first material comprising cutting said double-sided first material using a laser.

54. The method of claim 53 comprising removing a plug formed by cutting said double-sided first material using said laser, defining an inner diameter of the at least one acoustic damper.

55. The method of claim 54 comprising mechanically punching through said double-sided first material and said second material in a predefined shape, defining an outer diameter of the at least one acoustic damper.

56. A method of manufacturing a plurality of acoustic dampers comprising:

removing a backing from at least one side of a double-sided tape material;

applying said double-sided tape material to a mesh material; and

cutting at least said double-sided first material forming the plurality of acoustic dampers.

57. The method of claim 56 comprising defining an inner diameter of the plurality of acoustic dampers using a plurality of perforations formed in said double-sided tape material.

58. The method of claim 56 wherein said mesh material comprises at least one of a cloth, metal, polyester, nylon and silk.

59. The method of claim 56 wherein said cutting at least said double-sided tape material comprises mechanically punching through said double-sided tape material and said mesh material in a predefined shape surrounding a plurality of perforations formed in said double-sided tape material.

60. The method of claim 56 wherein said cutting at least said double-sided tape material comprises cutting said double-sided tape material using a laser.

61. The method of claim 60 comprising removing a plug formed by cutting said double-sided tape material using said laser, defining an inner diameter of the plurality of acoustic dampers.

62. The method of claim 61 comprising mechanically punching through said double-sided tape material and said mesh material in a predefined shape, defining an outer diameter of the plurality of acoustic dampers.