Balanced armature devices and methods for hearing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device to transmit an audio signal to a user, the user having an ear comprising an eardrum, the device comprising:
- a transducer; and
a support configured for placement at least partially against an outer portion of the eardrum without penetrating the outer portion, the transducer coupled to the support at a first location and a second location to drive the eardrum when the support is placed at least partially against the eardrum, wherein the first location of the support is configured to be placed over a first eardrum portion and the second location of the support is configured to be placed over a second eardrum portion,wherein the first location of the support is configured to align with at least a portion of the malleus of the ear and wherein the second location of the support is configured to align with a location away from the first location such that the first location is separated from the second location by distance of at least 1 mm,wherein the transducer is coupled to the support to support the transducer at the first location and the second location, andwherein the transducer comprises an input element and a movable structure coupled to the support at the first location and configured to drive the eardrum at the first location in response to movement of the movable structure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device to transmit an audio signal to a user comprises a transducer and a support. The support is configured for placement on the eardrum to drive the eardrum. The transducer is coupled to the support at a first outer location to decrease occlusion and a second inner location to drive the eardrum. The transducer may comprise one or more of an electromagnetic balanced armature transducer, a piezoelectric transducer, a magnetostrictive transducer, a photostrictive transducer, or a coil and magnet. The device may find use with open canal hearing aids.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. A device to transmit an audio signal to a user, the user having an ear comprising an eardrum, the device comprising:
- a transducer; and
a support configured for placement at least partially against an outer portion of the eardrum without penetrating the outer portion, the transducer coupled to the support at a first location and a second location to drive the eardrum when the support is placed at least partially against the eardrum, wherein the first location of the support is configured to be placed over a first eardrum portion and the second location of the support is configured to be placed over a second eardrum portion,wherein the first location of the support is configured to align with at least a portion of the malleus of the ear and wherein the second location of the support is configured to align with a location away from the first location such that the first location is separated from the second location by distance of at least 1 mm, wherein the transducer is coupled to the support to support the transducer at the first location and the second location, and wherein the transducer comprises an input element and a movable structure coupled to the support at the first location and configured to drive the eardrum at the first location in response to movement of the movable structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
- a transducer; and
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40. A device to transmit an audio signal to a user, the user having an ear comprising an eardrum, the device comprising:
- a transducer; and
a support configured for placement at least partially against an outer portion of the eardrum without penetrating the outer portion, the transducer coupled to the support at a first location and a second location to drive the eardrum when the support is placed at least partially against the eardrum, wherein the first location of the support is configured to be placed over a first eardrum portion and the second location of the support is configured to be placed over a second eardrum portion,wherein the first location of the support is configured to align with at least a portion of the malleus of the ear and wherein the second location of the support is configured to align with a location away from the first location such that the first location is separated from the second location by distance of at least 1 mm, and wherein the second location of the support is configured to align with corresponds to the bony part of the external ear canal and wherein the transducer comprises an elongate dimension extending between the first location and the second location and wherein the elongate dimension of the transducer is within a range from about 4 mm to about 10 mm. - View Dependent Claims (41)
- a transducer; and
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42. A device to transmit an audio signal to a user, the user having an ear comprising an eardrum, the device comprising:
- a transducer; and
a support configured for placement at least partially against an outer portion of the eardrum without penetrating the outer portion, the transducer coupled to the support at a first location and a second location to drive the eardrum when the support is placed at least partially against the eardrum, wherein the first location of the support is configured to be placed over a first eardrum portion and the second location of the support is configured to be placed over a second eardrum portion,wherein the first location of the support is configured to align with at least a portion of the malleus of the ear and wherein the second location of the support is configured to align with a location away from the first location such that the first location is separated from the second location by distance of at least 1 mm, and wherein a second movement at the second location is less than a first movement at the first location when the transducer drives the eardrum. - View Dependent Claims (43)
- a transducer; and
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44. A device to transmit an audio signal to a user, the user having an ear comprising an eardrum, the device comprising:
- a transducer; and
a support configured for placement at least partially against an outer portion of the eardrum without penetrating the outer portion, the transducer coupled to the support at a first location and a second location to drive the eardrum when the support is placed at least partially against the eardrum, wherein the first location of the support is configured to be placed over a first eardrum portion and the second location of the support is configured to be placed over a second eardrum portion,wherein the first location of the support is configured to align with at least a portion of the malleus of the ear and wherein the second location of the support is configured to align with a location away from the first location such that the first location is separated from the second location by distance of at least 1 mm, and further comprising a first attachment structure affixed to the support at the first location and wherein the first attachment structure is coupled to an elongate movable structure of the transducer. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
- a transducer; and
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57. A device to transmit an audio signal to a user, the user having an ear comprising an eardrum, the device comprising:
- a transducer; and
a support configured for placement at least partially against an outer portion of the eardrum without penetrating the outer portion, the transducer coupled to the support at a first location and a second location to drive the eardrum when the support is placed at least partially against the eardrum, wherein the first location of the support is configured to be placed over a first eardrum portion and the second location of the support is configured to be placed over a second eardrum portion,further comprising;
at least one photodetector coupled to the transducer, the at least one photodetector comprising an output impedance and wherein the transducer comprises a balanced armature transducer comprising an input impedance and wherein the output impedance of the photodetector matches the input impedance of the balanced armature transducer. - View Dependent Claims (58)
- a transducer; and
Specification