TRANSDUCER DEVICES AND METHODS FOR HEARING

• US 20120039493A1
• Filed: 03/22/2011
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: EarLens Corporation
• Original Assignee: Soudbeam LLC
• Inventors: Rucker, Paul, Puria, Sunil, Fay, Jonathan, Rosen, Micha
• Application Number:
  US13/069,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20120039493A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/166
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 11/02 Loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/00 Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 23/008 using optical signals for detecting or generating sound
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/09 Non-occlusive ear tips, i.e. leaving the ear canal open, for both custom and non-custom tips H04R2460/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/02 adapted to be supported entirely by ear
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/606 acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/65 Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/652 Ear tips; Ear moulds hybrid ear moulds or post-processing thereof for their customisation H04R25/659

Abstract

A device to transmit an audio signal to a user may comprise a mass, a piezoelectric transducer, and a support to support the mass and the piezoelectric transducer with the eardrum. The piezoelectric transducer can be configured to drive the support and the eardrum with a first force and the mass with a second force opposite the first force. The device may comprise circuitry configured to receive wireless power and wireless transmission of an audio signal, and the circuitry can be supported with the eardrum to drive the transducer in response to the audio signal, such that vibration between the circuitry and the transducer can be decreased. The transducer can be positioned away from the umbo of the ear to drive the eardrum, for example on the lateral process of the malleus.

Claims

1. A device to transmit an audio signal to a user, the user having an ear comprising an eardrum, the device comprising:

a mass;

a piezoelectric transducer; and

a support to support the mass and the piezoelectric transducer with the eardrum, the piezoelectric transducer configured to drive the support and the eardrum with a first force and the mass with a second force, the second force opposite the first force.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one flexible structure disposed between the piezoelectric transducer and the mass.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric transducer is magnetically coupled to the support.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric transducer comprises a first portion connected to the mass and a second portion connected to the support to drive the mass opposite the support.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the support comprises a first side shaped to conform with the eardrum.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein a protrusion is disposed opposite the first side and affixed to the piezoelectric transducer.

8. The device of claim 6 further comprising a fluid disposed between the first side and the eardrum to couple the support to the eardrum, the fluid comprising a liquid composed of at least one of an oil, a mineral oil, a silicone oil or a hydrophobic liquid.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein the support comprises a second side disposed opposite the first side, the protrusion extending from the second side to the piezoelectric transducer.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the support comprises a first component and a second component, the first component comprising a flexible material shaped to conform to the eardrum and flex with motion of the eardrum, the second component comprising a rigid material extending from the transducer to the flexible material to transmit first force to the flexible material and the eardrum.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the rigid material comprises at least one of a metal, titanium, a stainless steel or a rigid plastic and wherein the flexible material comprises at least one of a silicone, a flexible plastic or a gel.

12. The device of claim 1 further comprising a housing, the housing rigidly affixed to the mass to move the housing and the mass opposite the support.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the support comprises a rigid material that extends through the housing to the transducer to move the mass and the housing opposite the support.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the mass comprises circuitry coupled to the transducer and supported with the support and the transducer, the circuitry configured to receive wireless power and wireless transmission of the audio signal to drive the transducer in response to the audio signal.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric transducer comprises at least one of a piezoelectric unimorph transducer, bimorph-bender piezoelectric transducer, a piezoelectric multimorph transducer, a stacked piezoelectric transducer with a mechanical multiplier or a ring piezoelectric transducer with a mechanical multiplier.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the piezoelectric transducer comprises the bimorph-bender piezoelectric transducer and the mass comprises a first mass and a second mass, and wherein the bimorph bender comprises a cantilever extending from a first end supporting the first mass to a second end supporting the second mass, and wherein the support is coupled to the cantilever between the first end and the second end to drive the ear drum with the first force and drive the first mass and the second mass with the second force.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein the piezoelectric transducer comprises the stacked piezoelectric transducer with the mechanical multiplier and wherein the mechanical multiplier comprises a first side coupled to the support to drive the eardrum with the first force and a second side coupled to the mass to drive the mass with the second force.

18. The device of claim 15 wherein the piezoelectric transducer comprises the ring piezoelectric transducer with the mechanical multiplier and wherein the mechanical multiplier comprises a first side and a second side, the first side extending inwardly from the ring piezoelectric transducer to the mass, the second side extending inwardly toward a protrusion of the support, and wherein the mass moves away from the protrusion of the support when the ring contracts and toward the protrusion of the support when the ring expands.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein ring piezoelectric multiplier defines a center having central axis extending there through and wherein the central protrusion and the mass are disposed along the central axis.

20. The device of claim 15 wherein the piezoelectric transducer comprises the bimorph bender and wherein the mass comprises a ring having a central aperture formed thereon and wherein the bimorph bender extends across the ring with a first end and a second end coupled to the ring and wherein the support extends through the aperture and connects to the piezoelectric transducer between the first end and the second end to move the support opposite the ring when the bimorph bender bends.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein bimorph bender is connected to the ring with an adhesive on the first end and the second end such that the first end and the second end are configured to move relative to the ring with shear motion when the bimorph bender bends to drive the support opposite the ring.

2. The device of claim I wherein the piezoelectric transducer is disposed between the mass and the support.

22. A device to transmit an audio signal to a user, the user having an ear comprising an eardrum, the device comprising:

a transducer;

circuitry coupled to the transducer, the circuitry configured to receive at least one of wireless power or wireless transmission of the audio signal to drive the transducer in response to the audio signal; and

a support configured to couple to the eardrum and support the circuitry and the transducer with the eardrum.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the transducer is configured to drive the support and the eardrum with a first force and drive the circuitry with a second force, the second force opposite the first force.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein the circuitry is rigidly attached to a mass and coupled to the transducer to drive the circuitry and the mass with the first force.

25. The device of claim 23 wherein the circuitry is rigidly attached to a mass and coupled to the transducer to drive the circuitry and the mass with the second force.

26. The device of claim 22 wherein the circuitry is flexibly attached to a mass and coupled to the transducer to drive the circuitry and the mass with the first force.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein the circuitry is flexibly attached to a mass and coupled to the transducer to drive the circuitry and the mass with the second force.

28. The device of claim 22 wherein the circuitry comprises at least one of a photodetector a coil supported with the support and coupled to the transducer to drive the transducer with the at least one of the wireless power or wireless transmission of the audio signal.

29. The device of claim 22 wherein the transducer comprises at least one of a piezoelectric transducer, a magnetostrictive transducer, a magnet or a coil.

30. A device to transmit an audio signal to a user, the user having an ear comprising an eardrum having a mechanical impedance, the device comprising:

a transducer; and

a support to support the transducer with the eardrum, wherein a combined mass of the support and the transducer supported thereon is configured to match the mechanical impedance of the eardrum for at least one audible frequency between about 0.8 kHz and about 10 kHz.

31. The device of claim 30 wherein the combined mass comprises no more than about 50 mg.

32. The device of claim 31 wherein the combined mass is within a range from about 10 mg to about 40 mg.

33. The device of claim 30 wherein the combined mass comprises at least one of a mass from circuitry to drive the transducer, a mass from a housing disposed over the transducer or a metallic mass coupled to the transducer opposite the support.

34. The device of claim 33 wherein the transducer, the circuitry to drive the transducer, the housing disposed over the transducer and the metallic mass are supported with eardrum when the support is coupled to the eardrum.

35. The device of claim 30 wherein the at least one audible frequency is between about 1 kHz and about 6 KHz.

36. The device of claim 30 wherein the transducer and the mass are positioned on the support to place at least one of the transducer or the mass away from an umbo of the eardrum when the support is placed on the eardrum, so as to decrease a mechanical impedance of the support to sound transmitted with the eardrum when the support is positioned on the eardrum.

37. The device of claim 30 wherein the piezoelectric transducer comprises a stiffness and wherein the stiffness of the piezoelectric transducer is matched to the mechanical impedance of the eardrum for the at least one audible frequency.

38. The device of claim 30 wherein the eardrum comprises an umbo and the acoustic input impedance comprises an acoustic impedance of the umbo and wherein the stiffness of the piezoelectric transducer is matched to the acoustic input impedance of the umbo.

39. A device to transmit an audio signal to a user, the user having an ear comprising an eardrum and a malleus connected to the ear drum at an umbo, the device comprising:

a transducer; and

a support to support the transducer with the eardrum, the transducer configured to drive the eardrum and wherein the transducer is positioned on the support to extend away from the umbo when the support is placed on the eardrum.

40. The device of claim 39 further comprising a mass positioned on the support for placement away from the umbo when the support is placed against the eardrum and wherein the transducer extends between the mass and a position on the support that corresponds to the umbo so as to couple vibration of the transducer to the umbo.

41. The device of claim 40 wherein the mass is positioned on the support to align the mass with the malleus away from the umbo when the support is placed against the eardrum.

42. The device of claim 39 wherein the transducer is positioned on the support so as to decrease a first movement of the transducer relative to a second movement of the umbo when the eardrum vibrates and to amplify the second movement of the umbo relative to the first movement of the transducer when the transducer vibrates.

43. The device of claim 42 wherein first movement of the transducer is no more than about 75% of the second movement of the umbo and wherein the second movement of the umbo is at least about 25% more than the first movement of the transducer.

44. The device of claim 43 wherein first movement of the transducer is no more than about 67% of the second movement of the umbo and wherein the second movement of the umbo is at least about 50% more than the first movement of the transducer.

45. The device of claim 39 further comprising a mass, wherein the transducer is disposed between the mass and the support.

46. The device of claim 39 wherein the support is shaped to the eardrum of the user to position the support on the eardrum in a pre-determined orientation and wherein the transducer is positioned on the support to align the transducer with a malleus of the user with the eardrum disposed between the malleus and the support when the support is placed on the eardrum.

47. The device of claim 46 wherein the support comprises a shape from a mold of the eardrum of the user.

48. The device of claim 46 wherein the transducer is positioned on the support to place the transducer away from a tip of the malleus when the support is placed on the eardrum.

49. The device of claim 46 wherein the malleus comprises a head and a handle, the handle extending from the head to a tip near the umbo of the eardrum, and wherein the transducer is positioned on the support to place the transducer away from the tip when the support is positioned on the eardrum.

50. The device of claim 46 wherein the transducer is positioned on the support to align the transducer with the lateral process of the malleus with the eardrum disposed between the lateral process and the support when the support is placed on the eardrum.

51. The device of claim 50 wherein the support comprises a rigid material that extends from the transducer toward the lateral process to move the lateral process opposite the mass.

52. The device of claim 39 wherein the transducer comprises at least one of a piezoelectric transducer, a magnetostrictive transducer, a photostrictive transducer, a coil or a magnet.

53. The device of claim 52 wherein the transducer comprises the piezoelectric transducer and wherein the piezoelectric transducer comprises a cantilevered bimorph bender, the cantilevered bimorph bender having a first end anchored to the support and a second end attached to a mass to drive the mass opposite the lateral process when the support is placed on the eardrum.

54. The device of claim 39 further comprising:

a mass coupled to the piezoelectric transducer; and

circuitry coupled to the transducer to drive the transducer, the mass and the circuitry supported with the eardrum when the support is placed on the ear;

wherein the support, the transducer, the mass and the circuitry comprise a combined mass of no more than about 60 mg.

55. The device of claim 54 wherein the support, the circuitry, the mass, and the piezoelectric transducer comprise a combined mass of no more than about 40 mg.

56. The device of claim 55 wherein the support, the circuitry, the mass, and the piezoelectric transducer comprise a combined mass of no more than about 30 mg.

57. A device to transmit an audio signal to a user, the user having an ear comprising an eardrum, the device comprising:

a first transducer;

a second transducer; and

a support to support the first transducer and the second transducer with the eardrum when the support is placed against the eardrum, the first transducer positioned on the support to couple to a first side of the malleus, the second transducer positioned on the support to couple to a second side of the malleus.

58. The device of claim 57 wherein the first transducer is positioned on the support to couple to the first side of the malleus and the second transducer is positioned on the support to coupled to the second side of the malleus which is opposite the first side of the malleus.

59. The device of claim 57 wherein the support comprises a first protrusion extending to the first transducer to couple the first side of the malleus to the first transducer and a second protrusion extending to the second transducer to couple the second side of the malleus to the second transducer.

60. The device of claim 57 wherein the first transducer and second transducer are positioned on the support and configured to twist the malleus with a first rotation about an elongate longitudinal axis of the malleus when the first transducer and second transducer move in opposite directions.

61. The device of claim 60 the first transducer and second transducer are positioned on the support and configured to rotate the malleus with a second hinged rotation when the first transducer and second transducer move in similar directions.

62. The device of claim 57 further comprising circuitry coupled to the first transducer and the second transducer, the circuitry configured to generate a first signal to drive the transducer and a second signal to drive the second transducer.

63. The device of claim 62 wherein the circuitry is configured to generate the first signal at least partially out of phase with the second signal and drive the malleus with a twisting motion.

64. The device of claim 62 wherein the circuitry is configured to drive the first transducer substantially in phase with the second transducer at a first frequency below about 1 kHz and wherein the circuitry is configured to drive the first transducer at least about ten degrees out of phase with the second transducer at a second frequency above at least about 2 kHz.

65. The device of claim 62 wherein the first transducer comprises at least one of a first piezoelectric transducer, a first coil and magnet transducer, a first magnetostrictive transducer or a first photostrictive transducer and wherein the second transducer comprises at least one of a second piezoelectric transducer, a second coil and magnet transducer, a second magnetostrictive transducer or a second photostrictive transducer.

66-72. -72. (canceled)