Acoustically transparent debris barrier for audio transducers

• US 20050018866A1
• Filed: 06/10/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Etymotic Research Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Etymotic Research Incorporated
• Inventors: Schulein, Robert B., French, John S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,751,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/325
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/12 Sanitary or hygienic devices for mouthpieces or earpieces, e.g. for protecting against infection
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/654 Ear wax retarders

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods for protecting acoustic devices. In particular embodiments, barrier are useful for preventing a variety of solid, liquid, and vapor contaminants from modifiying or damaging the performance of acoustic transducers, while at the same time providing essentially an acoustically transparent passage of sound.

Claims

1. A barrier used with an acoustic device that is substantially acoustically transparent to sound comprising a non-rigid, non-tensioned film having a thickness of about 0.0003 inches or less and formed of a non-porous material capable of being formed into a highly compliant sealing structure.

2. The barrier of claim 1 wherein said film is about 0.00015 inches thick.

3. The barrier of claim 1 having a diameter of about 2.75 mm or less.

4. The barrier of claim 1 having an active compliant area of about 2.5 mm or greater.

5. The barrier of claim 1 wherein said material is of a low mass.

6. The barrier of claim 1 wherein said material has low stiffness.

7. The barrier of claim 1 wherein said material is chemically resistant.

8. The barrier of claim 1 wherein said material has a high elongation and high impact strength.

9. The barrier of claim 1 wherein said material has a low sensitivity to temperature change.

10. The barrier of claim 1 wherein said material comprises a polyethylene blend.

11. The barrier of claim 10 wherein said polyethylene blend comprises at least an organometallic complex such as hexane or metalocine.

12. A barrier used with an acoustic device that is substantially acoustically transparent to sound comprising a non-rigid, non-tensioned film having a thickness of about 0.00015 inches or less and formed of a non-porous, chemically resistant, high elongation and high impact strength and is capable of being formed into a highly compliant sealing structure used with the acoustic device.

13. The barrier of claim 12 having a diameter of about 2.75 mm or less.

14. The barrier of claim 12 having an active compliant area of about 2.5 mm or greater.

15. The barrier of claim 12 wherein said material has a low mass and low stiffness.

16. The barrier of claim 12 wherein said material is insensitive to temperature change.

17. The barrier of claim 12 wherein said material comprises a polyethylene blend.

18. The barrier of claim 17 wherein said polyethylene blend comprises at least an organometallic complex such as hexane or metalocine.

19. A communication device adapted to block debris comprising:

an acoustic device; and

a non-rigid, non-tensioned, membrane-like barrier removably coupled to said acoustic device.

20. The communication device of claim 19 wherein said barrier comprises a non-porous material about 0.00015 inches thick or less and capable of being formed into a highly compliant sealing structure.

21. The communication device of claim 20 having a diameter of about 2.75 mm or less.

22. The communication device of claim 20 having an active compliant area of about 2.5 mm or greater.

23. The communication device of claim 19 further comprising an attachment device adapted to be removably coupled into said acoustic device.

24. The communication device of claim 23, wherein said attachment device is adapted to be removably inserted into at least one port of said acoustic device.

25. The communication device of claim 24 wherein said membrane is fixed to said attachment device.

26. The communication device of claim 25 wherein said barrier is adapted to be protected from static pressure forces.

27. The communication device of claim 25, wherein said film is fixed to said attachment device using a heat process.

28. The communication device of claim 25 wherein said film is fixed to said attachment device using an adhesive or mechanical process.

29. The communication device of claim 19 wherein said barrier is selected from a material having a low mass, low stiffness, a high elongation and high impact strength and is chemical resistant.

30. The communication device of claim 29 wherein said material comprises a polyethylene blend.

31. The communication device of claim 30 wherein said polyethylene blend comprises at least an organometallic complex such as hexane or metalocine.

32. A method of protecting an acoustic device from debris comprising:

forming a barrier that is substantially acoustically transparent to sound comprising a non-rigid, non-tensioned film having a thickness of about 0.00015 inches or less, said film being formed of a non-porous material capable of being formed into a highly compliant sealing structure; and

affixing said barrier to an attachment device adapted to be removably used with the acoustic device.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said material has a low mass, low stiffness, a high elongation and high impact strength, is chemical resistant and is insensitive to temperature change.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein said material comprises a polyethylene blend.

35. A method of forming an acoustic device having a debris barrier, the method comprising:

forming a thin low mass, low stiffness and compliant film;

preparing the acoustic device; and

coupling said film to the acoustic device forming the debris barrier.

36. The method of claim 35 comprising forming said film of a material having a thickness of about 0.00015 inches or less and capable of being formed into a highly compliant sealing structure.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein said material has a, low stiffness, a high elongation and high impact strength, and is chemically resistant.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein said material comprises a polyethylene blend.

39. A barrier used with an acoustic device comprising a non-porous film that is substantially acoustically transparent to sound having a maximum attenuation of approximately 2 dB or less over a frequency range of approximately 100 Hz to 10,000 Hz and adds less than 0.5% THD for sound pressure levels up to about 115 dB SPL.

40. The barrier of claim 39 wherein said film is chemically resistant.

41. The barrier of claim 39 wherein said film has a high elongation and high impact strength.

42. The barrier of claim 39 wherein said film has a thickness of about 0.0003 inches or less.

43. The barrier of claim 39 having a diameter of about 3.0 mm or less.