Receiver system for receiving audio electrical signals

• US 3,985,977 A
• Filed: 04/21/1975
• Issued: 10/12/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beaty, David W., Severson, Gerald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Claffy, Kathleen H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Popek, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US05/569,645
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 179/82, 179/107 R, 179/107 BC, 179/1 AL, 325/111, 325/118, 325/119
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• 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

Abstract

A receiver system includes means for electromagnetically coupling audio bandwidth information signals from an induction loop to a miniature induction receiver/transducer. The induction loop is shaped to be worn around the neck of a wearer. The receiver/transducer is physically shaped for placement in the mouth of the wearer. In response to the varying magnetic induction field generated by the induction loop, the audio bandwidth information signals are amplified by the receiver and converted into substantially linear mechanical movement by the transducer. The output of the transducer is propagated mechanically, directly to the inner ear mechanism, via the teeth and gums of the wearer whereby the wearer perceives the message content of the audio bandwidth information signals without the use of conventional outer ear mechanism.

Claims

1. A receiver system for receiving audio electrical signals, comprising:

means external to a subject'"'"'s mouth for generating a varying electromagnetic field in response to the audio electrical signals; and

means physically shaped to be easily and removably disposed in the mouth of said subject and being mechanically coupled to the gums for converting said electromagnetic field into mechanical movement to impart motion through said mouth so that said subject perceives the message content of said audio electrical signals.

2. The receiver system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for generating a varying electromagnetic field includes an induction loop, said induction loop being physically shaped to be worn around the neck of said subject.

3. The receiver system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said induction loop is suitable to be concealably disposed under the clothing of said subject.

4. The receiver system of claim 1, wherein said converting means includes:

power supply means for providing an operating bias potential;

amplifying means operatively coupled to said power supply means and being responsive to said varying electromagnetic field for deriving amplified audio electrical signals at an output terminal thereof;

electromechanical transducer means operatively coupled to said power supply means to said output terminal of said amplifying means for converting said audio electrical signals from said amplifying means into said mechanical movement; and

a polymeric housing for encapsulating said amplifying means, said power supply means, and said electromechanical transducer means, said polymeric housing means being physically shaped so that it can be positioned between the teeth, gum area, and the cheek of said subject.

5. The receiver system of claim 4, wherein said amplifying means includes:

a miniature induction pickup coil for coupling said varying electromagnetic field from said generating means to said audio amplifier, said miniature induction pickup coil converting said varying electromagnetic field into driving voltages and currents; and

an audio amplifier for developing said audio electrical signals in response to said driving voltages and currents from said pickup coil.

6. The receiver system of claim 5, wherein said audio amplifier operates as a push-pull amplifier.

7. The receiver system of claim 4, wherein said electromechanical transducer means includes;

said electromechanical transducer means being operatively bonded to said polymeric housing means;

a moveable E-core assembly coupled to said output terminal of said amplifying means, said audio electrical signals from said amplifying means causing said E-core assembly to have oscillatory motion corresponding to the magnitude and polarity of said audio electrical signals; and

a cantilevered assembly responsive to said oscillatory motion of said E-core assembly for developing said mechanical movement, said cantilevered assembly being mechanically connected to said E-core assembly.

8. The receiver system of claim 7, wherein said cantilevered assembly includes:

a low remanence high permeability keeper plate; and

a cantilevered arm assembly having a pair of spirally configured cantilevered arms for providing said mechanical movement in response to said moveable E-core assembly.

9. The receiver system of claim 8, wherein said cantilevered assembly further includes:

a pair of spacer washers disposed between said keeper plate and said cantilevered arm assembly;

a brass plate;

a fiber spacer disposed between said cantilevered arm assembly and said brass plate for providing mechanical clearance therebetween; and

said cantilevered assembly being fixedly bonded to said polymeric housing.

10. The receiver system of claim 4, wherein said polymeric housing is an epoxy resin system comprising:

a Bisphenol-A resin; and

an eutectic of M-phenylene diamine and methylene dianaline curing agent.

11. The receiver system of claim 4, wherein said electromechanical transducer means includes:

a moveable E-core assembly coupled to said output terminal of said amplifying means, said audio electrical signals from said audio amplifier, means causing said E-core assembly to have oscillatory motion which corresponds to the magnitude and polarity of said audio electrical signals;

a low remanence high permeability keeper plate;

a cantilevered arm assembly having a pair of spirally configured cantilevered arms for providing said mechanical movement in response to said oscillatory movement from said E-core assembly, said cantilevered arm assembly being mechanically connected to said moveable E-core assembly at the outer peripheries of said pair of spirally configured cantilevered arms;

a pair of spacer washers disposed between said keeper plate and said cantilevered arm assembly;

a brass plate;

a fiber spacer disposed between said cantilevered arm assembly and said brass plate for providing mechanical clearance therebetween; and

said brass plate being rigidly bonded to said polymeric housing whereby said mechanical movement is imparted to said polymeric housing by said electromechanical transducer means being mass-loaded to said polymeric housing.

12. The receiver system of claim 11, wherein said polymeric housing means includes:

a Bisphenol-A resin; and

an eutectic of M-phenylene diamine and methylene dianaline curing agent.

13. The receiver system of claim 4, wherein:

said amplifying means includes a miniature induction pickup coil for developing a driving signal in response to said varying electromagnetic field, and an audio amplifier responsive to said driving signal from said miniature induction pickup coil for developing audio electrical signals at an output terminal thereof; and

said electromechanical transducer means being responsive to said audio electrical signals from said audio amplifier for generating said mechanical movement.

14. The receiver system of claim 1, wherein said converting means is configured for placement in the back jaw area of a viable subject whereby said mechanical movement is coupled to the inner ear mechanism of said viable subject via the facial structure of said viable subject including bone conduction thereof.

15. In a receiver system for receiving audio electrical signals whereby a varying electromagnetic field is generated, a miniature receiver suitable to be mounted between the cheek, teeth and gums of a viable subject, said receiver including in combination:

power supply means for providing operating bias potential;

amplifier means for generating audio electrical signals in response to said varying electrical magnetic field, said amplifier means being coupled to said power supply means;

electromechanical transducer means for converting said audio electrical signals applied from said amplifying means to linear mechanical movement; and

polymeric housing means for encapsulating said amplifying means, said power supply means, and said electromechanical transducer means, said housing means being physically shaped to be removably disposed within the mouth of a viable subject whereby said linear mechanical movement developed by said electromechanical transducer is mechanically coupled through the facial system of said viable subject in such a manner that said viable subject perceives the message content of said audio electrical signals.

16. The miniature receiver of claim 15, wherein said polymeric housing is an epoxy resin system comprising:

a Bisphenol-A resin;

an eutectic of M-phenylene diamine and methylene dianiline curing agent.