Ear radio

• US 4,539,708 A
• Filed: 07/01/1983
• Issued: 09/03/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: American Technology Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: American Technology Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Norris, Elwood G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bookbinder, Marc E.
• Application Number:
  US06/511,360
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 455/351, 455/100, 455/41, 455/232, 455/49, 455/39, 455/89, 455/95, 455/200, 179/107 E, 179/182 R, 179/108 A, 179/156 R
• US Class Current: 455/500
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/088 with parts of the receiver detachable or collapsible

Abstract

A self-contained, fully operational radio device adapted in size and configuration for implacement and retention at the entrance to an ear canal, said device being fully self-supported by surrounding ear cartilage, thereby eliminating any need for connecting wires or other radio circuitry. The device includes a casement having an outward and an inward housing for containing the respective radio circuitry and speaker means for the radio device. A battery is also contained within the outward housing for powering the radio system. The maximum outside dimensions of the radio device and enclosed radio circuitry are less than 3/4 of an inch in diameter and one inch in length. Various functional controls are provided for convenient operation of on/off, frequency selection, and volume level.

Claims

1. A self-contained, fully operational radio receiving device adapted in size and configuration for implacement and retention at the entrance to an ear canal, said device being self-supported by surrounding ear cartilage which defines a casement support chamber, said device further comprising:

a casement having an outward and an inward housing as viewed in relation to casement position at the ear canal;

radio circuitry contained within the outward housing and positioned on an integrated circuit chip, said circuitry including (i) signal receiving means comprising a cylindrical antenna core positioned for axial orientation toward the ear canal for receiving radio transmissions, (ii) demodulating circuitry including an rf resonant circuit for selecting a desired transmission frequency and (iii) amplifying and filtering circuitry for producing a clear radio signal;

a power source coupled to the circuitry for powering circuit operation; and

speaker means contained within the inward housing of the casement and coupled directly to the amplification circuitry for receiving and converting said audio signals to audible sound, said speaker means being structured for directional orientation toward the ear canal;

said casement having maximum outside width dimensions smaller than the greatest distance across the casement support chamber at the ear canal entrance and no greater than approximately 3/4 inch, said casement having a length from distal sides of the inward to outward housing of less than approximately one inch.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the rf resonant circuit comprises a crystal oscillator set at a preselected frequency for single-station reception.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the rf resonant circuit comprises an LC oscillator which can be tuned for multiple-station reception.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the size and geometric configuration of the casement include a cylindrical shape forming the outward housing which converges to a cylindrical shape of smaller radial lengths to form the inward housing, the cylindrical shape of the inward housing being configured to conform to the opening size of the ear canal.

5. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising an annular, deformable retaining means attached at the casement around the inward housing, said retaining means being adapted to fill void spaces occurring between the support chamber at the ear canal and the inward housing, and retaining means being adapted to increase resistance of the casement against slipping from its secured position at the ear canal.

6. A device as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for directly coupling the speaker means with the amplification circuitry wherein said coupling means comprises at least one spring-biased lead having a fixed position with respect to the casement and at least one contact also having a fixed position with respect to the casement, said lead and contact being separately and directly coupled to the circuitry and speaker means, and being properly oriented for direct contact to close the circuit between the circuitry and speaker means when the casement is in a closed, operational configuration with a second contact and lead completing the closed circuit.

7. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein the casement is separable at its outer housing into at least two parts to permit access for replacement of a battery power source.

8. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein the LC tunable rf resonant circuit is coupled to and controlled by a touch-activated circuit contained within the outer housing, said touch circuit being coupled to a touch tab mounted at an extreme exterior location of the casement relative to the ear canal, said tab being responsive to finger contact for selection of a specific radio frequency.

9. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the amplification circuitry includes a touch-activated control volume circuit which is coupled to and controlled by a touch circuit contained within the outer housing, said touch circuit being coupled to a two-position touch tab mounted at an extreme exterior location of the casement relative to the ear canal, said tab being responsive to finger contact for variable raising or lowering of volume.

10. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the amplification circuitry includes a touch-activated control on-off circuit which is coupled to and controlled by a touch circuit contained within the outer housing, said touch circuit being coupled to a touch tab mounted at an extreme exterior location of the casement relative to the ear canal, said tab being responsive to finger contact for closing connecting circuitry between the circuitry and the power source.

11. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising an rf transmitter including means to emit a program signal superimposed on a carrier frequency, said rf resonant circuit being preset to receive the carrier frequency and accompanying program signal, said radio device including filter circuitry for filtering out the carrier frequency to thereby retain the program signal for transmission.

12. A device as defined in claim 11, further comprising an additional radio device having a second preset rf circuit adapted to receive a second carrier frequency transmitted from the transmitting device, thereby enabling reception of stereo transmissions.

13. A radio device as defined in claim 1, further comprising an additional radio device adapted for implacement in the other ear of a user, the rf resonant circuits of the respective devices being adapted to receive respective frequencies of a stereo transmission.

14. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a primary transmitter station which forms part of a communication network for enabling unidirectional transmission of information to preselected users of the subject device.

15. A device as defined in claim 14 wherein the rf resonant circuitry is tuned to a frequency selected from the IR, VHF or UHF frequency band.