Acoustic headset

• US 8,488,814 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2008
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Electronics & Defense
• Original Assignee: Elno Societe Nouvelle
• Inventors: Robuchon, Patrick, Mitte, Monique, Cavelier, Jean-Franois
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni, Suhan
• Application Number:
  US12/682,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20110051960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,741 Days
• Field of Search: 381/326, 381/151, 381370-372, 381375-380
• US Class Current: 381/151
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1066 Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support earpiece support for monophonic headphones H04R1/105; earpiece support for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

This acoustic headset (2) comprises:

• • two lateral acoustic modules (4, 6) comprising a mechanical bone excitation transducer (20, 22) which is capable of transmitting the sound signal to the auditory nerve by bone conduction,
  • a flexible upper curved member (8) and a rigid rear curved member (10) for connecting the acoustic modules (4, 6).

Each acoustic module (4, 6) comprises:

• • a plate (16, 18) for lateral abutment against the sides of the skull,
  • an articulation (24, 26) between the abutment plate (16, 18) and the transducer (20, 22),
  • a spring for return movement, in terms of rotation about the axis of articulation (24, 26), of the transducer (20, 22) relative to the plate (16, 18) towards a rest position.

Claims

1. Acoustic headset (2) comprising:

two lateral acoustic modules (4, 6) comprising a mechanical bone excitation transducer (20, 22) which is capable of transmitting the sound signal to the auditory nerve by bone conduction,

at least one curved member (8, 10) for connecting the acoustic modules (4, 6), characterised in that each acoustic module (4, 6) comprises;

a plate (16, 18) for lateral abutment against the sides of the skull,

an articulation (24, 26) between the abutment plate (16, 18) and the transducer (20, 22),

a spring (28) for return movement, in terms of rotation about the axis of articulation (24, 26), of the transducer (20, 22) relative to the plate (16, 18) towards a rest position.

2. Acoustic headset (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the maximum angle of rotation of the articulation (24, 26) about the axis thereof is a minimum of 60°

.

3. Acoustic headset (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the return movement applied by each spring (28) of a module (4, 6) is directed from the module (4, 6) towards the other module (4, 6).

4. Acoustic headset (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the transducer (20, 22) has at least one additional degree of freedom in terms of rotation about an axis which is angularly displaced from the axis of articulation (24, 26).

5. Acoustic headset (2) according to claim 4, characterised in that the articulation (24, 26) comprises a shaft (80) for articulation (24, 26) which connects the transducer (20, 22) to the plate (16, 18), and in that the component among the plate (16, 18) and the transducer (20, 22) which is capable of rotating about the shaft (80) for articulation (24, 26) comprises through-holes (86) for the shaft (80), the holes (86) having a diameter greater than the diameter of the shaft (80).

6. Acoustic headset (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises an upper curved member (8) which is for connecting the acoustic modules (4, 6) and which is capable of moving into abutment against the upper portion of the head and a rear curved member (10) which is for connecting the acoustic modules (4, 6) and which is capable of moving into abutment against the rear of the head.

7. Acoustic headset (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the or each curved member (8, 10) has an adjustable length.

8. Acoustic headset (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises an electroacoustic microphone (12) which is connected to an acoustic module (4, 6), in particular to the transducer (20, 22) of the acoustic module (4, 6).

9. Acoustic headset (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that it is, owing to its dimensions, capable of being used with a heavy helmet for infantrymen or with a nuclear bacteriological chemical mask.

10. Piece of head gear for infantrymen comprising a heavy helmet and an acoustic headset (2) of the type according to claim 1.