Electrodynamic acoustic transducer with magnetic gap sealing

• US 6,208,743 B1
• Filed: 03/18/1997
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Wiggers, Rainer, Marten, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Application Number:
  US08/820,487
• Time in Patent Office: 1,470 Days
• Field of Search: 381/397, 381/396, 381/398, 381/400, 381/412, 381/411, 381/413, 381/414, 381/415, 381/423, 381/424, 381/430, 381/432
• US Class Current: 381/415
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/60 Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles ear wax retarders, e.g. mounting thereof H04R25/654
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/027 Air gaps using a magnetic fluid

Abstract

An electrodynamic acoustic transducer with a coil which projects into an air gap subject to an electromagnetic field, wherein an acoustic short circuit is prevented. The electrodynamic transducer has a membrane comprising two differently profiled portions, an acoustically effective central portion with a convexity in form of a spherical cap, and a ring-shaped bead which borders the central portion and serves to elastically support the membrane. The ring-shaped bead is arranged beneath the central portion and extends radially inwards starting from a coil seat of the coil. The air gap is sealed by means of a liquid or solid medium, such as ferrofluid, such that an acoustic short circuit between the front volume and the rear volume of the transducer is prevented.

Claims

1. Electrodynamic acoustic transducer comprising:

a coil which projects into an air gap formed between an inner surface of a cup and a surface of a pole flange, the coil being subject to an electromagnetic field, wherein the electrodynamic transducer has a membrane including two differently profiled portions, namely an acoustically effective central portion with a convexity in form of a spherical cap, and a ring-shaped bead which borders the central portion and serves to elastically support the membrane, the membrane defining a front volume in front of the membrane and a rear volume behind the membrane, wherein the ring-shaped bead is arranged beneath the central portion and extends radially inwards starting from a coil seat of the coil, wherein the air gap is sealed by a liquid or solid medium disposed between an outer surface of the coil and an inner surface of the cup, the liquid or solid medium isolating the front volume from the rear volume of the transducer, and wherein an acoustic short circuit between the front volume and the rear volume of the transducer is prevented.

2. Electrodynamic acoustic transducer according to claim 1, wherein the coil, by projecting into the air gap, forms an inner and an outer air gap, and that the sealing medium seals either both air gaps or only the outer air gap.

3. Electrodynamic acoustic transducer according to claim 1, wherein the air gap is sealed by a ferrofluid.

4. Electrodynamic acoustic transducer according to claim 3, wherein the connection of the ring portion to the coil body is situated beneath the connection of the central portion to the coiled body.

5. Electrodynamic acoustic transducer according to claim 1, wherein the connection of the ring portion and the connection of the central portion are separated by the coil.

6. Electrodynamic acoustic transducer according to claim 1, wherein the central portion has at the perimeter a protruding edge which encircles the coil on the exterior side.

7. Electrodynamic acoustic transducer according to claim 3, wherein the ring portion is fastened to the coil on the inner side of the coil and/or on the underside of the coil.

8. Hearing aid with an electrodynamic acoustic transducer comprising:

a coil which projects into an air gap formed between an inner surface of a cup and a surface of a pole flange, the coil being subject to an electromagnetic field, wherein the electrodynamic transducer has a membrane including two differently profiled portions, namely an acoustically effective central portion with a convexity in form of a spherical caps and a ring-shaped bead which borders the central portion and serves to elastically support the membrane, the membrane defining a front volume in front of the membrane and a rear volume behind the membrane, wherein the ring-shaped bead is arranged beneath the central portion and extends radially inwards starting from a coil seat of the coil, wherein the air gap is sealed by a liquid or solid medium disposed between an outer surface of the coil and an inner surface of the cup, the liquid or solid medium isolating the front volume from the rear volume of the transducer, and wherein an acoustic short circuit between the front volume and the rear volume of the transducer is prevented.

9. Hearing aid according to claim 8, wherein the hearing aid has a moveable ear tube for fitting to the human auditory passage.

10. Headphones with an electrodynamic acoustic transducer comprising:

a coil which projects into an air gap subject to an electromagnetic field, wherein the electrodynamic transducer has a membrane comprising two differently profiled portions, namely an acoustically effective central portion with a convexity in form of a spherical cap, and a ring-shaped bead which borders the central portion and serves to elastically support the membrane, wherein the ring-shaped bead is arranged beneath the central portion and extends radially inwards starting from a coil seat of the coil, and wherein the air gap is sealed by means of a liquid or solid medium, such that an acoustic short circuit between the front volume and the rear volume of the transducer is prevented.