Dual coil floating mass transducers

• US 6,475,134 B1
• Filed: 01/14/1999
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate GmbH (MED-EL Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symphonix Devices, Inc. (MED-EL Corporation)
• Inventors: Ball, Geoffrey R., Dietz, Timothy G., Jaeger, Eric M., Katz, Bob H., Julian, Christopher A., Pombo, August C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US09/231,851
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 600/25, 296/05
• US Class Current: 600/25
• 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 2209/041 Voice coil arrangements comprising more than one voice coil unit on the same bobbin
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/75 Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49071 by winding or coiling

Abstract

A dual coil floating mass transducer for assisting a person'"'"'s hearing is provided. Inertial vibration of the housing of the floating mass transducer produces vibrations in the inner ear. A magnet is disposed within the housing biased by silicone springs so that friction is reduced between the magnet and the interior surface of the housing. Two coils reside within grooves in the exterior of the housing which cause the magnet to vibrate when an electrical signal is applied to the coils.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a hearing device, comprising:

providing a cylindrical housing;

placing a magnet within the housing;

biasing the magnet within the housing; and

wrapping at least one coil around an exterior of the housing.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the magnet is placed within the housing so that an electrical signal through the at least one coil causes the magnet to vibrate relative to the housing.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the magnet is biased to permit inertial vibration of the housing.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the at least one coil is a pair of coils, each coil wound around the housing in opposite directions.

5. A method as in claim 1, further comprising sealing the housing.

6. A method as in claim 1, further comprising cutting a groove into the housing for each of the at least one coil, each of the at least one coil being wound around a groove.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein the biasing comprises coupling a biasing mechanism to the magnet.

8. A method as in claims 7, wherein the biasing mechanism is coupled to the housing in order to restrict the magnet to linear movement within the housing.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the biasing comprises coupling a biasing mechanism which includes silicone.

10. A method for manufacturing a hearing device, comprising:

providing a housing having two ends;

coupling a pair of coils with an exterior of the housing; and

positioning a cylindrical magnet within the housing so that an electrical signal through the pair of coils causes the magnet to vibrate relative to the housing, the vibration of the magnet causing inertial vibration of the housing.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein the coupling comprises winding each coil of the pair of coils around the housing in opposite directions.

12. A method as in claim 10, wherein the housing includes two grooves on the exterior between the two ends, each coil being wound around a groove.

13. A method as in claim 10, wherein the housing is a sealed cylinder and at least one end is welded to seal the housing.

14. A method as in claim 10, wherein the positioning comprises coupling an end of the magnet to a pair of silicone biasing mechanisms, the biasing mechanisms biasing movement of the magnet within the housing.

15. A method as in claim 14, wherein each biasing mechanism is secured to the end of the magnet with an adhesive.

16. A method as in claim 14, wherein each end of the housing has an indentation on an interior of the housing so that each biasing mechanism is positioned partially within an indentation in order to restrict the magnet to linear movement within the housing.