Isolating deep canal fitting earphone

• US 20070217642A1
• Filed: 03/02/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Knowles Electronics Llc (Knowles Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Knowles Electronics Llc (Knowles Corporation)
• Inventors: Wickstrom, Timothy, Schaefer, David, Ballad, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,477,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/380
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type

Abstract

An insert earphone comprises a housing and at least one transducer that is located in the housing. The transducer is adapted to receive electrical energy and to responsively convert the electrical energy into acoustic energy for presentation to an eardrum of a user. The transducer is positioned within the housing so as to be in close proximity to the eardrum of the user when the housing is inserted into the ear canal. At least one sealing member is coupled to the housing. The at least one sealing member is adapted to provide an acoustic seal within the ear canal of the user.

Claims

1. An insert earphone adapted to be in close proximity to the eardrum of a user comprising:

a housing, the housing adapted to being positioned within an ear canal of a user;

at least one transducer positioned within the housing, the at least one transducer adapted to receive electrical energy and to responsively convert the electrical energy into acoustic energy for presentation to an eardrum of a user, the at least one transducer being positioned within the housing so as to be in close proximity to the eardrum of the user when the housing is inserted into the ear canal; and

at least one sealing member coupled to the housing, the at least one sealing member adapted to provide an acoustic seal within the ear canal of the user.

2. The insert earphone of claim 1 wherein the at least one sealing member comprises a coupling member that is coupled to an outer wall of the housing.

3. The insert earphone of claim 1 wherein the coupling member comprises a soft compliant material selected from the group of materials comprising a polyurethane foam;

a polymer; and

a silicone.

4. The insert earphone of claim 1 wherein the at least one sealing member comprises a handle positioned at an end of the housing.

5. The insert earphone of claim 4 wherein the housing comprises a body portion defining a first chamber, a tubular portion defining a second chamber, and an annular member and wherein the handle is coupled between the tubular portion and the annular member.

6. The insert earphone of claim 1 wherein the at least one sealing member comprises a coupling member that is coupled to an outer wall of the housing and a handle positioned at an end of the housing.

7. The insert earphone of claim 1 wherein the at least one transducer is selected from a group comprising a receiver;

a conjoined receiver and microphone; and

a dual receiver.

8. The insert earphone of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a body portion defining a first chamber, a tubular portion defining a second chamber, and an annular member.

9. The insert earphone of claim 8 wherein the sealing member is coupled to a portion of the earphone selected from a group comprising the body portion;

the tubular portion; and

both the body and tubular portions of the housing.

10. The insert earphone of claim 8 wherein a wire is disposed within the second chamber of the tubular portion.

11. The insert earphone of claim 8 wherein the at least one transducer is disposed within the first chamber of the body portion.

12. A method of providing acoustic energy to an eardrum of a user comprising:

inserting at least one transducer into the ear canal of a user, the at least one transducer being positioned within the ear canal so as to be in close proximity to an eardrum of the user, the at least one transducer converting electrical energy into acoustic energy for presentation to the ear drum of the user; and

positioning at least one acoustic sealing member outward from the at least one transducer so as to provide an acoustic seal that substantially prevents noise originating outside of the ear canal from entering the ear canal of the user.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein positioning the at least one acoustic sealing member comprises positioning a coupling member that is attached to an outer wall of a housing that houses the transducer.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the coupling member comprises a soft compliant material selected from the group of materials comprising a polyurethane foam;

a polymer; and

a silicone.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein positioning the at least one acoustic sealing member comprises attaching a handle at an end of a housing that comprises the transducer.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein positioning the at least one acoustic sealing member comprises attaching a coupling member to an outer wall of a housing that comprises the transducer and a handle at the end of the housing.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the at least one transducer is selected from a group comprising a receiver;

a conjoined receiver and microphone; and

a dual receiver.