Isolating deep canal fitting earphone

• US 7,477,756 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2006
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Knowles Electronics Llc (Knowles Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Knowles Electronics Llc (Knowles Corporation)
• Inventors: Schaefer, David M., Ballad, William J., Wickstrom, Timothy K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ensey; Brian
• Application Number:
  US11/366,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20070217642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 381/328, 381/370, 381/374, 381/380, 381/384, 381/395, 381/324, 381/325, 181/129, 181/135
• US Class Current: 381/380
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type

Abstract

An insert earphone comprises a housing and at least one transducer that is located in the housing. The transducer is adapted to receive electrical energy and to responsively convert the electrical energy into acoustic energy for presentation to an eardrum of a user. The transducer is positioned within the housing so as to be in close proximity to the eardrum of the user when the housing is inserted into the ear canal. At least one sealing member is coupled to the housing. The at least one sealing member is adapted to provide an acoustic seal within the ear canal of the user.

Claims

1. An earphone assembly comprising:

a damper plug;

a bushing member adjacent to and in connection with the damper plug;

a transducer adjacent to and in direct engagement with the bushing member; and

wherein the damper plug is configured to provide an acoustic resistance for the earphone assembly.

2. The earphone assembly of claim 1 wherein the damper plug is configured to be replaceable by a user.

3. The earphone assembly of claim 1 wherein the damper plug, bushing member, and transducer are disposed within the housing, and the housing is configured to being disposed within the ear canal of a user.

4. The earphone assembly of claim 3 further comprising at least one sealing member coupled to the housing, the at least one sealing member adapted to provide an acoustic seal within the ear canal of the user.

5. The earphone assembly of claim 1 wherein the transducer is an element selected from a group consisting of:

a receiver, a speaker, a conjoined receiver and microphone, and a dual receiver.

6. The earphone assembly of claim 1 wherein the transducer includes an input terminal for receiving an electrical signal and wherein the transducer is operable to generate an acoustic output signal as a function of the electrical signal.

7. The earphone assembly of claim 1 wherein the transducer includes a sound outlet tube and the damper plug is configured to be attached to the sound outlet tube.

8. A subassembly for an earphone comprising:

a damper plug;

a bushing member in connection with the damper plug;

a transducer in direct engagement with the bushing member;

wherein the damper plug is configured to provide an acoustic resistance for the earphone; and

wherein the transducer generates an acoustic signal and the bushing member and damper plug define a path and an acoustic impedance for the acoustic signal, the acoustic impedance being selectively modifiable according to the acoustic resistance of the damper plug.

9. The subassembly of claim 8 wherein the damper plug is configured to be replaceable by a user.

10. The subassembly of claim 8 wherein the transducer is an element selected from a group consisting of:

a receiver, a speaker, a conjoined receiver and microphone, and a dual receiver.

11. The subassembly of claim 8 wherein the transducer includes an input terminal for receiving an electrical signal and wherein the transducer is operable to generate an acoustic output signal as a function of the electrical signal.