Device for picking up bone-conducted sound in external auditory meatus and communication device using the same

• US 5,295,193 A
• Filed: 01/22/1992
• Issued: 03/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GENS Engineering Co. Ltd
• Original Assignee: Hiroshi Ono
• Inventors: Ono, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Isen, Forester W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Huyen D.
• Application Number:
  US07/824,104
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 381/151, 381/68.3, 381/68.7, 381/68.6, 381/188, 381/68, 381/183, 381/187
• US Class Current: 381/151
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/46 Special adaptations for use as contact microphones, e.g. on musical instrument, on stethoscope throat mountings H04R1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers

Abstract

A device for picking up bone-conducted sound in the external auditory meatus includes a fitting portion for accommodation in a navicular cavity formed between a tragus cartilage portion and an entrance portion of an external auditory meatus, and a bone conduction microphone unit for insertion into the external auditory meatus in such a manner as to be brought into contact with a wall of the external auditory meatus. The bone conduction microphone unit is held by the fitting portion via a resilient member in such a manner that at least a portion of the bone conduction microphone unit contacting the external auditory meatus is resiliently brought into contact with the wall of the external auditory meatus substantially orthogonally. Also disclosed is a communication device in which an earphone unit for transmitting sound from the outside is accommodated in the fitting portion of the device for picking up bone-conducted sound in the external auditory meatus, and a sound conductive tube of the earphone unit is open at a portion of the fitting portion facing the external auditory meatus.

Claims

1. A device for picking up bone-conducted sound in the external auditory meatus, comprising:

a fitting portion having an outer peripheral portion which is shaped and sized to be accommodated in use in a navicular cavity formed between a tragus cartilage portion and the entrance portion of the external auditory meatus, the outer peripheral portion in use contacting a wall of the navicular cavity to support the fitting portion in the navicular cavity;

a bone conduction microphone unit, having a contact portion which in use is brought into contact with a wall of the external auditory meatus for picking up bone-conducted sound; and

a resilient member between the bone conduction microphone unit and the fitting portion, by which the fitting portion holds said bone conduction microphone unit, said resilient member in use resiliently applying a force to the contact portion of the microphone unit to urge the contact portion into contact with the wall of the external auditory meatus substantially orthogonally to said wall, the contact portion contacting said wall along an arc comprising less than the entire circumference of the external auditory meatus.

2. A device for picking up bone-conducted sound in the external auditory meatus according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said bone conduction microphone unit excluding the portion thereof contacting the wall of the external auditory meatus is at least partially covered with a resilient member.

3. A communication device incorporating therein the device according to claim 1, wherein an earphone unit for transmitting sound from the outside is accommodated in said fitting portion of said device for picking up bone-conducted sound in the external auditory meatus, and a sound conductive tube of said earphone unit is open at a portion of said fitting portion facing the external auditory meatus.