Personal listening device

• US 7,680,292 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2007
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Knowles Electronics Llc (Knowles Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Knowles Electronics Llc (Knowles Corporation)
• Inventors: King, Charles Bender, LoPresti, Janice L., Massingill, Gwendolyn P., Miller, Thomas Edward, Warren, Daniel Max
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Huyen D
• Application Number:
  US11/755,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20080031481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/315, 381/322, 381324-328, 381/330, 381/380, 381/418, 600/25, 607/56, 607/57, 181/129, 181/130, 181/135
• US Class Current: 381/322
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/658 Manufacture of housing parts

Abstract

A receiver module for a personal listening device to be fitted in the ear, on the ear, near the ear, or behind the ear, the receiver module having a movable armature, the receiver module comprises a motor assembly and a housing defining a chamber, the housing is made from a material that is corrosion resistant and is biocompatible to human skin contact. The receiver module further comprises at least one motor assembly directly disposed in the chamber. Optionally a communication link adapted to couple or decouple with the motor assembly. At least a portion of the communication link is disposed in the housing.

Claims

1. A receiver module for a personal listening device to be removably fitted in the ear canal, the receiver module having a movable armature, the receiver module comprising:

a motor assembly;

a housing defining a chamber, the housing being at least partially constructed of a biocompatible material, wherein the motor assembly is directly disposed and exposed to the chamber without the obstruction of any intervening structure and at least a portion of the housing of the receiver module is allowed to be in direct contact with the skin of the ear canal;

an acoustic assembly communicating with the ear canal through an outlet in the chamber;

wherein the chamber is divided into a front volume and a back volume.

2. The receiver module of claim 1, wherein the housing is entirely constructed of biocompatible material.

3. The receiver module of claim 1, wherein the housing has an inner surface, at least a portion of the inner surface being provided with a non-biocompatible thin film.

4. The receiver module of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of layers, at least one layer comprising a non-biocompatible material and wherein an inner layer of the housing in proximity to the motor assembly is a biocompatible material.

5. The receiver module of claim 3 or 4, wherein the thin film for enhancing electromagnetic, adhesive characteristics, corrosion characteristics, and environmental protection is selected from a group consisting of copper, gold, epoxy, primers, or sealant.

6. The receiver module of claim 1, wherein the biocompatible material is selected from the group consisting of plastic, liquid crystal polymer, Acetal Copolymer, Homopolymer, Acrylic, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, Cellulose Acetate, Polyamide, Polyimide, Polycarbonate, Polyethylene Terephthalate, Polyetherimide, Polyetheretherketone, Polyethylene, Polyphenylene Oxide, Polyphenylene Sulphide, Polypropylene, Polystyrene, Polyvinyl Chloride, Styrene Acrylonitrile, Polyphtalamide, Polysulphone, Polyphenylsulfone, Polybutylene Terephthalate, Polyphthalamide, Fluoropolymers, Polyarylate, or Silicone.

7. The receiver module of claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, further comprising one or more motor assemblies being disposed in the housing.

8. The receiver module of claim 7, further comprising one or more structures selected from a group comprising an acoustic structure and an electrical structure for providing one or more of an acoustic compliance, an acoustic resistance, an acoustic inertance, a damping, an acoustical filter, a tube, a port, a vent, and an electrical filter being disposed in the housing.

9. The receiver module of claim 8, further comprising one or more diaphragms coupled to one or more of the motor assembly, the acoustic structure, and the electrical structure enclosed in the housing.

10. The receiver module of claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein one or more module is being provided, capable of transducing signals is selected from the group consisting of a micro-electromechanical machined system (MEMS) silicon-based receiver, a balanced armature receiver, a moving coil receiver, a bone-conduction receiver, a MEMS silicon-based condenser microphone, an electret microphone, an omni-directional microphone, a directional microphone, a dynamic microphone, a monitor microphone, or combination thereof.

11. The receiver module of claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, further comprising a connector assembly that is adapted to couple and decouple to a signal source.

12. The receiver module of claim 11, wherein the signal source is one of a hearing aid, a communication device, a gaming device, an audio device, an electronic device, or combination thereof.

13. The receiver module of claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein a communication link is coupled between a signal source and the receiver module, wherein the communication link is one of a wireless connection or a wired connection.

14. The receiver module of claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein at least a portion of the module is coupled to one of an ear tip, an ear dome, an ear tube, an ear mold, an ear bud, an ear cone, an ear plug, or an open canal support of varying sizes and shapes.

15. The receiver module of claim 14, wherein one of the ear tip, the ear dome, the ear tube, the ear mold, the ear bud, the ear cone, or the ear plug is being detachably coupled from the module.

16. The receiver module of claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the motor assembly comprising a coil, a magnetic yoke, and a magnet.

17. A receiver module for a personal listening device comprising at least one motor assembly;

a housing defining a chamber, the housing comprising an inner surface, wherein the inner surface in proximity to the motor assembly is constructed from a biocompatible material wherein the motor assembly is exposed to the inner surface of the chamber without the obstruction of any intervening structure and at least a portion of the housing of the receiver module is allowed to be in direct contact with the skin of the ear canal;

an acoustic assembly communicating with the ear canal through an outlet in the chamber;

wherein the chamber is divided into a front volume and a back volume.

18. The receiver module of claim 17, wherein a connector assembly is adapted to couple and decouple the device from a signal source.

19. The receiver module of claim 17, wherein a communication link is coupled between a signal source and the receiver module, wherein the communication link is one of a wireless connection or a wired connection.

20. The receiver module of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the module is coupled to one of an ear tip, an ear dome, an ear tube, an ear mold, an ear bud, an ear cone, an ear plug, or an open canal support of varying sizes and shapes.

21. A receiver module for a personal listening device to be fitted on or near the ear with provision to attach an acoustic tube to conduct the sound to the ear, the device comprising:

at least one motor assembly comprising an armature, a coil a magnetic yoke, and a magnet;

a housing defining a chamber, the housing being entirely constructed of a biocompatible material and the motor assembly being disposed in the chamber and being exposed to the chamber without the obstruction of any intervening structure and at least a portion of the housing of the receiver module is allowed to be in direct contact with the skin of the ear canal;

an acoustic assembly communicating with the ear canal through an outlet in the chamber;

wherein the chamber is divided into a front volume and a back volume.

22. A receiver module for a personal listening device to be fitted removably in the ear canal comprising:

a motor assembly;

a housing defining a chamber, the housing being constructed of biocompatible material at least partially coated with a non-biocompatible thin coating, wherein the motor assembly is disposed in the chamber and is exposed to the chamber without the obstruction of any intervening structure and at least a portion of the housing of the receiver module is allowed to be in direct contact with the skin of the ear canal;

an acoustic assembly communicating with the ear canal through an outlet in the chamber;

wherein the chamber is divided into a front volume and a back volume.

23. A receiver module for a personal listening device to be fitted removably in the ear canal comprising:

a motor assembly;

a housing having a chamber, the housing being constructed of layers of material, an innermost layer is made of biocompatible material, wherein the motor assembly is disposed in the chamber and is exposed to the chamber without the obstruction of any intervening structure and at least a portion of the housing of the receiver module is allowed to be in direct contact with the skin of the ear canal;

an acoustic assembly communicating with the ear canal through an outlet in the chamber;

wherein the chamber is divided into a front volume and a back volume.

24. A receiver module for a personal listening device to be fitted removably in the ear canal comprising:

a motor assembly;

a housing having a chamber, the housing being constructed of layers of material, an innermost layer being made of biocompatible material at least partially coated with a non-biocompatible thin coating, wherein the motor assembly is disposed in the chamber and is exposed to the chamber without the obstruction of any intervening structure and at least a portion of the housing of the receiver module is allowed to be in direct contact with the skin of the ear canal;

an acoustic assembly communicating with the ear canal through an outlet in the chamber;

wherein the chamber is divided into a front volume and a back volume.