Transducer for sensing body sounds

• US 20060018487A1
• Filed: 10/13/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Clive Smith
• Original Assignee: Clive Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Clive
• Application Number:
  US10/964,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20060018487A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/46 Special adaptations for use as contact microphones, e.g. on musical instrument, on stethoscope throat mountings H04R1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2307/029 Diaphragms comprising fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 31/003 for diaphragms or their outer suspension
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/10 comprising superposed layers in contact
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/122 comprising a plurality of sections or layers

Abstract

The structure and method of manufacture of diaphragms for use in electronic body sound transducers is described. The diaphragm is a critical element in shaping the overall amplitude and frequency response of such transducers. Various embodiments of novel diaphragms are described, each of which offers particular advantages in shaping the transducer response and the mechanical or electrical characteristics of the diaphragms. Manufacturing steps for producing such diaphragms are also disclosed. The diaphragms can be used in any electronic body sound transducer, particularly capacitive, magnetic or optical transducers. Such diaphragms and transducers are applicable to the sensing of body sounds in electronic stethoscopes.

Claims

1. An acoustic to electrical transducer for detecting body sounds, comprising:

a transducer placed inside a housing;

a diaphragm that forms the movable sensor element of the transducer mechanism;

a means for attaching the diaphragm to the housing;

Two or more diaphragms, each diaphragm having unique mechanical or electrical characteristics;

wherein the transducer amplitude and frequency response can be modified by selectively attaching one of many diaphragms to the housing.

2. The diaphragms in claim 1 wherein the unique mechanical characteristic of each diaphragm is the thickness of each diaphragm.

4. The diaphragm in claim 1 wherein the unique mechanical characteristic of each diaphragm is the surface contour of each diaphragm.

5. The diaphragm in claim 1 wherein the diaphragm has raised surfaces around the circumference of the diaphragm, in the area of contact with the housing or attachment means.

3. The diaphragm in claim 3 wherein the thickness of each diaphragm is selected from one of the following:

10 mils, 12 mils, 15 mils, 16 mils, 20 mils, 25 mils.

6. An acoustic to electrical transducer for detecting body sounds, comprising a capacitive transducer with a first plate of the capacitive sensor being a fixed plate, and the second plate being a conductive layer of a movable diaphragm which contacts the body;

wherein the gap between the first and second capacitive plates varies as a function of the profiles of each plate, such that the capacitance per unit area between the diaphragm and the fixed plate varies across the area of the diaphragm-plate gap as a function of said profiles.

7. A diaphragm for use in an acoustic to electrical transducer for sensing body sounds, the diaphragm being fabricated by injection-molding plastic to form a contoured diaphragm surface.

8. A diaphragm for use in an acoustic to electrical transducer for sensing body sounds, the diaphragm being fabricated by thermoforming flat plastic sheets, to form a contoured diaphragm surface.