Earphone device with optical sensor

• US 9,900,687 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2013
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GN Netcom A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Original Assignee: GN Netcom A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: Srensen, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhu, Qin
• Application Number:
  US15/027,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20160249133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/721 using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1033 Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1058 Manufacture or assembly
• 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 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

An earphone device (1) to be worn in the ear, which earphone device (1) comprising a main body (18) to be arranged in the concha (19) of the outer ear (14) of a user and an optical sensor (35), which optical sensor (35) comprises a light emitter (16) and a light detector (17). The earphone device (1) comprises window means (8, 9) through which light emitted by the light emitter (16) can be transmitted. The window means (8, 9) comprises an end face (31) adapted to abut a conchal wall (37) at a sensing position (36). The main body (18) comprises a speaker protrusion (26) to be inserted into to ear canal (15). The distance between the speaker protrusion (26) and the end face (31) is adjustable.

Claims

1. An earphone device to be worn in the ear, comprising:

a main body to be placed in the concha of the outer ear of a user and a movable sensor, which includes an emitter and a detector capable of transmitting a signal between said emitter and detector, and a window through which the signal can be transmitted,

the window including an end face abutting a conchal wall at a sensing position,

wherein the earphone device is positioned in the outer ear, so that the end face is abutting the conchal wall in the lower end of the concha adjacent the antitragus, and

wherein the end face is adjustable so that the main body, which includes a speaker protrusion, can be inserted into an ear canal, and that the distance between the speaker protrusion and the sensor position is adjustable to bring the sensor in closer proximity with the user'"'"'s ear.

2. An earphone device according to claim 1, wherein the earphone device furthermore comprises a fitting member detachably attached to the outer side of the main body, and wherein the fitting member includes the window.

3. An earphone device according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the speaker protrusion and the end face is adjustable.

4. An earphone device according to claim 2, wherein the end face is provided at the end of a protruding sensor protrusion with a certain length.

5. An earphone device according to claim 2, wherein the fitting member comprises a first window for transmitting light emitted from the light emitter to the skin of the ear and a second window for transmitting light from the skin of the ear to the light detector.

6. An earphone device according to claim 5, wherein the first window and second window are divided by a wall of material, which is non-transparent for the light emitted by the light emitter.

7. An earphone device according to claim 2, wherein the fitting member comprises a protruding conchal wall stabilizer which engages the conchal wall at a second position at the crus of helix.

8. A headphone comprising an earphone device according to claim 2 comprising a plurality of replaceable fitting members of different sizes, whereby the distance between the speaker protrusion and the end face can be adjusted by replacing one of the fitting members with another fitting member.

9. An earphone device according to claim 1, wherein the end face is provided at the end of an adjustable telescopic end face member.

10. An earphone device according to claim 1, comprising a resilient earbud detachably attached to the speaker protrusion.

11. An earphone device according to claim 1, wherein the main body and the speaker protrusion are embodied as a unitary non-resilient body.