Electronic earplug windscreen

• US 9,232,292 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2014
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Etymotic Research Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Etymotic Research Incorporated
• Inventors: Haapapuro, Andrew J., Julstrom, Stephen D., Drambarean, Viorel, Monroe, Timothy Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Ensey, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dang, Julie X
• Application Number:
  US14/189,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20140254852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 381/68, 381/72, 381/28, 381/322, 381/313, 381/355, 381/157, 381/369, 381/359
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/086 Protective screens, e.g. all weather or wind screens
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/652 Ear tips; Ear moulds hybrid ear moulds or post-processing thereof for their customisation H04R25/659

Abstract

Certain embodiments provide an in-the-ear device. The in-the-ear device includes a housing including a microphone inlet. The in-the-ear device also includes a microphone and a windscreen. The microphone is disposed within the housing adjacent to the microphone inlet. The windscreen includes a porous screen and an attachment mechanism coupled to the porous screen. The attachment mechanism is configured to detachably couple to the housing surrounding a perimeter of the microphone inlet such that an acoustic seal is formed between the windscreen and the housing.

Claims

1. An in-the ear device comprising:

a housing of the in-the ear device comprising a microphone inlet;

a microphone disposed within the housing adjacent the microphone inlet; and

a windscreen comprising;

a porous screen, and

an attachment mechanism coupled to the porous screen, the attachment mechanism configured to detachably couple to the housing surrounding a perimeter of the microphone inlet such that an acoustic seal is formed between the windscreen and the housing.

2. The in-the ear device according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a windscreen reception mechanism at least partially surrounding a perimeter of the microphone inlet.

3. The in-the ear device according to claim 2, wherein the windscreen reception mechanism comprises at least one ridged groove, and wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a flange that slidably inserts into the at least one ridged groove.

4. The in-the ear device according to claim 2, wherein the attachment mechanism is a male or female portion of a screw, and wherein the windscreen reception mechanism is an opposite corresponding portion of the screw.

5. The in-the ear device according to claim 2, wherein the attachment mechanism is a male or female portion of a snap, and wherein the windscreen reception mechanism is an opposite corresponding portion of the snap.

6. The in-the ear device according to claim 1, wherein the porous screen is at least one of a soft foam, a sintered plastic, a sintered metal, and a mesh shell.

7. The in-the ear device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism is coupled to the porous screen by at least one of silicon adhesive, heat stake, ultrasonic welding, and solvent bonding.

8. The in-the ear device according to claim 1, wherein the porous screen is at least one of dome-shaped, bullet-shaped, and spherical.

9. The in-the ear device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises an outer perimeter, and wherein the porous screen comprises a wire frame that supports the porous screen and attaches to the outer perimeter of the attachment mechanism.

10. The in-the ear device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a central channel configured to align with the microphone inlet, and wherein the central channel comprises an acoustic inlet.

11. The in-the ear device according to claim 10, wherein the porous screen comprises an outer surface and a hollow portion, and wherein at least a portion of the hollow portion is aligned with the acoustic inlet of the central channel.

12. The in-the ear device according to claim 11, wherein a distance from a center of the acoustic inlet to a nearest surface of the outer surface is greater than or equal to two millimeters.

13. The in-the ear device according to claim 11, wherein a distance from a center of the acoustic inlet to a nearest surface of the outer surface is between two millimeters and four millimeters.

14. The in-the ear device according to claim 11, wherein a distance from a center of the acoustic inlet to a nearest surface of the outer surface is between six millimeters and nine millimeters.

15. The in-the ear device according to claim 11, wherein the porous screen comprises acoustic paths from the outer surface of the porous screen to the acoustic inlet of the central channel, and wherein the acoustic paths are substantially free of obstruction by acoustically opaque structures over substantially a full hemisphere centered at the acoustic inlet.

16. The in-the ear device according to claim 1, wherein:

the porous screen comprises a base,

the attachment mechanism comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, and

the attachment mechanism is coupled to the base on the outer surface and is configured to detachably couple with the housing on the inner surface.

17. The in-the ear device according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises sides, and wherein the attachment mechanism is a resilient band configured to wrap around the sides of the housing.

18. The in-the ear device according to claim 1, wherein the porous screen comprises a hollow portion configured to receive a portion of the housing when the attachment mechanism is detachably coupled to the housing, and wherein the attachment mechanism is at least partially disposed within the hollow portion.

19. The in-the ear device according to claim 1, wherein the porous screen comprises an outer surface, and wherein a distance from a center of the microphone inlet to a nearest surface of the outer surface when the attachment mechanism is detachably coupled to the housing is greater than or equal to two millimeters.

20. The in-the ear device according to claim 1, wherein the porous screen comprises an outer surface, and wherein a distance from a center of the microphone inlet to a nearest surface of the outer surface when the attachment mechanism is detachably coupled to the housing is between two millimeters and four millimeters.

21. The in-the ear device according to claim 1, wherein the porous screen comprises an outer surface, and wherein a distance from a center of the microphone inlet to a nearest surface of the outer surface when the attachment mechanism is detachably coupled to the housing is between six millimeters and nine millimeters.