Magnetically shielded electromagnetic acoustic transducer

• US 4,956,868 A
• Filed: 10/26/1989
• Issued: 09/11/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Knowles Electronics Llc (Knowles Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Industrial Research Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Carlson, Elmer V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Geary, III, M. Nelson
• Application Number:
  US07/426,999
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• Field of Search: 381/189, 381/194, 381/199, 381/200, 381/201, 381/195, 381/196, 381/197, 381/198, 307/91
• US Class Current: 381/189
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 11/00 Transducers of moving-armature or moving-core type acoustic diaphragm of magnetisable material directly coacting with electromagnet H04R13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/49 Reducing the effects of electromagnetic noise on the functioning of hearing aids, by, e.g. shielding, signal processing adaptation, selective (de)activation of electronic parts in hearing aid
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers

Abstract

An electromagnetic transducer including a diaphragm mechanically connected to an armature, a coil wound tranversely around the armature, a permanent magnet adjacent the armature, and one or more additional magnetic members completing a magnetic circuit having a plane of symmetry longitudinally bisecting the armature, has a magnetic shield formed by two high-permeability casing halves joined together along a joint plane substantially concident with the plane of symmetry.

Claims

1. A magnetically shielded electromagnetic acoustic transducer comprising:

an acoustic diaphragm;

a magnetic armature;

mechanical drive connection means interconnecting the armature and the diaphragm;

an electromagnetic coil disposed in encompassing relation to a portion of the armature;

magnetic connection means linking the electromagnet coil and the armature in a complete magnetic circit having a plane of symmetry across which no appreciable magnetic flux flows;

and a magnetic shield encompassing the diaphragm, the armature, the coil, and both connection means,

the magnetic shield comprising two generally cup-shaped casing halves of high magnetic permeability joined together along a joint plane closely adjacent to and parallel to said plane of symmetry.

2. A magnetically shielded electromagnetic acoustic transducer according to claim 1 in which the armature is an elongated, relatively flexible magnetic lever anchored at one end, the mechanical drive conection means is affixed to the other end of the armature, and the coil encompasses a medial portion of the armature.

3. A magnetically shielded electromagnetic acoustic transducer according to claim 1 and further comprising permanent magnet means, adjacent the armature, for inducing a constant magnetic flux in the armature, the permanent magnet means being included in said magnetic circuit.

4. A magnetically shielded electromagnetic acoustic transducer according to claim 3 in which the armature is an elongated, relatively flexible magnetic lever anchored at one end, the mechanical drive connection means is affixed to the other end of the armature, and the coil and the permanent magnet means each encompass a medial portion of the armature.

5. A magnetically shielded electromagnetic transducer according to claim 3 in which the magnetic connection means includes a plurality of magnetic laminations, transverse to the armature, encompassing the permanent magnet means and the armature.