Ear canal signal converting method, ear canal transducer and headset

• US 8,005,249 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Karkkainen, Leo, Wirola, Lauri
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Huyen D
• Application Number:
  US11/305,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20060159297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,076 Days
• Field of Search: 381/326, 381/328, 381/380, 381/151, 381/173, 381/190, 379/430, 379/420.02, 379/420.03, 600/25, 607/56, 607/57
• US Class Current: 381/326
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type

Abstract

A method of converting electrical signals into mechanical vibration by means of a transducer in the human ear, an ear canal transducer and a headset wherein a sensation of hearing is achieved by exciting the tissue of the ear canal directly with said transducer, whereby the vibrations propagate to the tympanic membrane and into the human sound sensing organs.

Claims

1. A method of converting electrical signals into mechanical vibration by means of a curved transducer in an outer ear canal, wherein the curved transducer comprises a curved inner member, a curved outer member, and at least one transducer element between the curved inner member and the curved outer member, characterised in that a sensation of hearing is achieved by exciting the tissue of the outer ear canal directly with said transducer, whereby the vibrations propagate from the outer ear canal to the tympanic membrane and into the human sound sensing organs.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the excitation is electrostrictive, magnetostrictive, inductive or electrodynamic.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the excitation is performed by a transducer being insertable into the outer ear canal and touching the outer ear canal tissue, wherein the at least one transducer element comprises a plurality of transducer elements configured to generate a radial vibration operation on the outer ear canal tissue.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein the at least one transducer element is configured to produce a radial vibration, and wherein the at least one transducer element is located proximate an outer perimeter of the curved transducer.

5. An apparatus comprising an ear canal transducer configured to convert electrical signals into mechanical vibration in the human ear, the ear canal transducer having a form of an earpiece adapted for insertion into the outer ear canal, characterised in that in order to transmit sound and achieve a sensation of hearing the transducer excites the tissue of the outer ear canal, whereby the vibrations propagate from the outer ear canal to the tympanic membrane and into the human sound sensing organs, wherein the ear canal transducer comprises a frame member and a transducer element, and wherein the transducer element is disposed on an outer curved surface of the frame member.

6. An ear canal transducer according to claim 5, wherein the transducer has a curved outer body of elastic material adapted for elastic fitting in the outer ear canal without any specific attaching means.

7. An ear canal transducer according to claim 5, wherein the transducer element further comprises a plurality of piezoelectric transducer film elements arranged on the outer curved surface of the frame member in such an arrangement that they are able to generate a radial, axial and/or angular vibration operation.

8. An ear canal transducer according to claim 5, wherein the transducer has an opening in the centre in order to be made transparent to the ambient sound.

9. An ear canal transducer according to claim 5, wherein the transducer is closed.

10. An ear canal transducer according to claim 5, wherein the transducer elements are of piezoelectric type, magnetic type, electret condenser type, IC type, semi-conductor type or inductive type.

11. An apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the frame member comprises an annular shape with an opening extending therethrough, wherein the transducer further comprises an outer member having an annular shape, and wherein a plurality of transducer elements are disposed between the outer curved surface of the frame member and an inner curved surface of the outer member.

12. An apparatus comprising electronic circuitry configured for signal processing, and a power source, wherein the apparatus is configured to be connected to an electronic device, the apparatus further comprising,

an ear canal transducer configured to convert electrical signals into mechanical vibration in the human ear, the ear canal transducer having a form of an earpiece adapted for insertion into the outer ear canal, characterised in that in order to transmit sound and achieve a sensation of hearing the transducer excites the tissue of the outer ear canal, whereby the vibrations propagate from the outer ear canal to the tympanic membrane and into the human sound sensing organs, wherein the ear canal transducer comprises transducer elements substantially circumferentially spaced about an opening of the ear canal transducer, wherein the transducer elements are configured to be controlled by the electronic circuitry to produce the mechanical vibrations corresponding to electric signals from the electronic circuitry.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus is headset for an electronic device.

14. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises an amplifier, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), and a connection to the electronic device.