Insert earphone using a moving coil driver

• US 8,107,665 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Etymotic Research Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Etymotic Research Incorporated
• Inventors: Haapapuro, Andrew J., Drambarean, Viorel, Killion, Mead C.
• Primary Examiner(s): NI, SUHAN
• Application Number:
  US11/699,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20070189569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,827 Days
• Field of Search: 381/322, 381/325, 381327-328, 381380-381, 379/430, 379443-444
• US Class Current: 381/380
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2842 for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2857 for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/288 for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/08 of electromagnetic transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/02 Details

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in an insert earphone assembly. The insert earphone assembly may comprise a housing and a transducer located in the housing. The transducer may be for converting electrical signals received into sound energy. The insert earphone apparatus may further comprise an insert element. The insert element may be at, least partially integrated within the housing. The insert element may also comprise a main sound channel for communicating the sound energy from the transducer to a user. In certain embodiments, one or more of the body and the insert element may comprise one or more auxiliary ducts and one or more auxiliary volume spaces. The one or more auxiliary ducts and one or more auxiliary volume spaces may be separated by one or more auxiliary dampers. In certain embodiments, a diameter, length and/or shape of the one or more auxiliary ducts or one or more auxiliary volume spaces may be adjusted so as to modify an insertion response characteristic of the insert earphone assembly.

Claims

1. An insert earphone assembly, comprising:

a body;

a transducer located in said body, said transducer for converting electrical signals received into sound energy;

an insert element, said insert element at least partially integrated within said body, said insert element comprising a main sound channel for communicating said sound energy from said transducer to a user,

wherein one or more of said body and said insert element comprise at least one auxiliary duct and at least one auxiliary volume space, wherein one or more of a diameter, a length and a shape of said at least one auxiliary duct or said at least one auxiliary volume space is adjustable so as to modify an insertion response characteristic of said insert earphone assembly.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one auxiliary duct and said at least one auxiliary volume space are separated by at least one auxiliary damper.

3. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising an eartip, wherein said eartip is received by at least a portion of said insert element.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said body and said insert element are integrated into a single body.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said insert element comprises a resonant duct extending from said main sound channel and one or more of a diameter, a length and a shape of said at least one resonant duct is adjustable so as to modify an insertion response characteristic of said insert earphone assembly.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said at least one resonant duct is tuned to a ¼

wave anti-resonance at a desired frequency.

7. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said at least one resonant ducts comprises four interconnected volume portions.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said four interconnected volume portions are connected at varying angles.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the transducer is at least one of:

a balanced armature driver, and

a moving coil driver.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said insert element is a slender form factor to allow deep insertion in the ear for achieving at least 20 dB external noise isolation.

11. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one of:

a passive electrical filter for varying a frequency response of the insert earphone, and

an electrical filter/bypass circuit for modifying a bass response.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said electrical filter/bypass circuit uses a modified Thuras tube.

13. An insert earphone apparatus comprising:

a main sound channel; and

at least one resonant duct, wherein said at least one resonant duct extends from said main sound channel, wherein one or more of a diameter, a length and a shape of said at least one resonant duct is adjustable so as to modify an insertion response of said insert earphone apparatus.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the at least one resonant duct is tuned to a ¼

wave anti-resonance at a desired frequency.

15. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the at least one resonant duct comprises four interconnected volume portions.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the four interconnected volume portions are connected at varying angles.

17. The assembly of claim 13 further comprising at least one auxiliary damper and at least one auxiliary volume for achieving an anti-resonance effect.