Electrostatic Earphone
First Claim
1. An earphone assembly, comprising:
- a closed-back housing comprising a nozzle for acoustic transmission of sound to an ear canal;
a sleeve removably attached to an exterior of the nozzle, the sleeve capable of acoustically sealing to the ear canal; and
an electrostatic transducer mounted within the closed-back housing, comprising;
a diaphragm having a conductive layer;
a pair of diaphragm rings each in contact with respective sides of the diaphragm, wherein at least one of the pair of diaphragm rings is in electrical contact with the conductive layer of the diaphragm;
a pair of stator plates, each of the pair of stator plates comprising;
an outer annular conductive portion in electrical contact with a DC bias voltage and one of the pair of diaphragm rings;
a central conductive portion having a dielectric layer, the central conductive portion in electrical contact with an AC audio signal; and
a plurality of holes;
wherein;
each of the pair of stator plates and the diaphragm are spaced apart by each of the pair of diaphragm rings;
the diaphragm generates the sound when the DC bias voltage and the AC audio signal are supplied; and
the sound is output through the plurality of holes of each of the pair of stator plates and through the nozzle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrostatic earphone with a closed-back housing, a sleeve for acoustically sealing to an ear canal, and an electrostatic transducer is provided. The closed-back housing may include a nozzle for acoustic transmission of sound to the ear canal, and the sleeve may be removably attached to the nozzle. The electrostatic transducer may include a diaphragm with a conductive layer, stator plates, and diaphragm rings in electrical contact with the conductive layer of the diaphragm. The stator plates may include an outer annular conductive portion and a central conductive portion. The outer annular portion may be in electrical contact with a bias voltage and the diaphragm rings. The central portion may have a dielectric layer and be in electrical contact with an audio signal. The stator plates and the diaphragm may be spaced apart by the diaphragm rings. An amplifier may provide the bias voltage and audio signal to the earphone.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An earphone assembly, comprising:
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a closed-back housing comprising a nozzle for acoustic transmission of sound to an ear canal; a sleeve removably attached to an exterior of the nozzle, the sleeve capable of acoustically sealing to the ear canal; and an electrostatic transducer mounted within the closed-back housing, comprising; a diaphragm having a conductive layer; a pair of diaphragm rings each in contact with respective sides of the diaphragm, wherein at least one of the pair of diaphragm rings is in electrical contact with the conductive layer of the diaphragm; a pair of stator plates, each of the pair of stator plates comprising; an outer annular conductive portion in electrical contact with a DC bias voltage and one of the pair of diaphragm rings; a central conductive portion having a dielectric layer, the central conductive portion in electrical contact with an AC audio signal; and a plurality of holes; wherein; each of the pair of stator plates and the diaphragm are spaced apart by each of the pair of diaphragm rings; the diaphragm generates the sound when the DC bias voltage and the AC audio signal are supplied; and the sound is output through the plurality of holes of each of the pair of stator plates and through the nozzle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An earphone system, comprising:
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a closed-back housing comprising a nozzle for acoustic transmission of sound to an ear canal; a sleeve removably attached to an exterior of the nozzle, the sleeve capable of acoustically sealing to the ear canal; an electrostatic transducer mounted within the closed-back housing, comprising; a diaphragm having a conductive layer; a pair of diaphragm rings each in contact with respective sides of the diaphragm, wherein at least one of the pair of diaphragm rings is in electrical contact with the conductive layer of the diaphragm; a pair of stator plates, each of the pair of stator plates comprising; an outer annular conductive portion in electrical contact with a DC bias voltage and one of the pair of diaphragm rings; a central conductive portion having a dielectric layer, the central conductive portion in electrical contact with an AC audio signal; and a plurality of holes; and an amplifier comprising; a bias voltage supply circuit for generating the DC bias voltage from a power source; and an audio signal amplifier circuit for generating the AC audio signal from an audio input signal received by the amplifier; wherein; each of the pair of stator plates and the diaphragm are spaced apart by each of the pair of diaphragm rings; the diaphragm generates the sound when the DC bias voltage and the AC audio signal are supplied; and the sound is output through the plurality of holes of each of the pair of stator plates and through the nozzle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An earphone assembly, comprising:
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a closed-back housing comprising a nozzle for acoustic transmission of sound to an ear canal; a sleeve removably attached to an exterior of the nozzle, the sleeve capable of acoustically sealing to the ear canal; and an electrostatic transducer mounted within the closed-back housing, comprising; a diaphragm having a conductive layer; a pair of diaphragm rings each in contact with respective sides of the diaphragm, wherein at least one of the pair of diaphragm rings is in electrical contact with the conductive layer of the diaphragm; a pair of stator plates having an electret layer with a permanent electric charge, each of the pair of stator plates comprising; an outer annular conductive portion in electrical contact with one of the pair of diaphragm rings; a central conductive portion in electrical contact with an AC audio signal; and a plurality of holes; wherein; each of the pair of stator plates and the diaphragm are spaced apart by each of the pair of diaphragm rings; the diaphragm generates the sound when the AC audio signal is supplied; and the sound is output through the plurality of holes of each of the pair of stator plates and through the nozzle.
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Specification