Transducer devices and methods for hearing
First Claim
1. A device configured for non-surgical placement through an ear canal to transmit an audio signal to a user, the user having an ear comprising an eardrum, the device comprising:
- a mass;
a piezoelectric transducer; and
a support configured and shaped to;
1) be positioned along at least a portion of a lateral surface of the eardrum, and
2) support the mass and the piezoelectric transducer with the eardrum, the piezoelectric transducer configured for placement over the lateral surface of the eardrum spaced away from an umbo of the eardrum to face the ear canal and to drive the support and the eardrum with a first force and the mass with a second force, the second force opposite the first force.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device to transmit an audio signal to a user may comprise a mass, a piezoelectric transducer, and a support to support the mass and the piezoelectric transducer with the eardrum. The piezoelectric transducer can be configured to drive the support and the eardrum with a first force and the mass with a second force opposite the first force. The device may comprise circuitry configured to receive wireless power and wireless transmission of an audio signal, and the circuitry can be supported with the eardrum to drive the transducer in response to the audio signal, such that vibration between the circuitry and the transducer can be decreased. The transducer can be positioned away from the umbo of the ear to drive the eardrum, for example on the lateral process of the malleus.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. A device configured for non-surgical placement through an ear canal to transmit an audio signal to a user, the user having an ear comprising an eardrum, the device comprising:
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a mass; a piezoelectric transducer; and a support configured and shaped to;
1) be positioned along at least a portion of a lateral surface of the eardrum, and
2) support the mass and the piezoelectric transducer with the eardrum, the piezoelectric transducer configured for placement over the lateral surface of the eardrum spaced away from an umbo of the eardrum to face the ear canal and to drive the support and the eardrum with a first force and the mass with a second force, the second force opposite the first force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A device to transmit an audio signal to a user, the user having an ear comprising an eardrum, the device comprising:
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a transducer; circuitry coupled to the transducer, the circuitry configured to receive at least one of wireless power or wireless transmission of the audio signal to drive the transducer in response to the audio signal; and a support having a length, the length of the support configured to be positioned along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the eardrum, wherein the transducer is configured to be supported on the support in a general direction of the length of the support and along the lateral surface of the eardrum to face the ear canal, and wherein the transducer is configured to drive the support and the eardrum with a first force and drive the circuitry with a second force, wherein the second force is opposite the first force, and wherein driving the first force and the second force causes a rotational or twisting movement of one or more of the support or the eardrum. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A device to transmit an audio signal to a user, the user having an ear comprising an eardrum and a malleus connected to the ear drum at an umbo, the device comprising:
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a transducer; and a support having a length, the length of the support configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a lateral surface of the eardrum, the transducer configured to drive the eardrum and wherein the transducer is supported on the support in a general direction of the length of the support and along the lateral surface of the eardrum spaced away from the umbo of the eardrum to face the ear canal when the support is placed on the outer surface of the eardrum, wherein the transducer is positioned on the support so as to decrease a movement of the transducer relative to a movement of the umbo when the eardrum vibrates and to amplify the movement of the umbo relative to the movement of the transducer when the transducer vibrates. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A device configured for non-surgical placement through an ear canal to transmit an audio signal to a user, the user having an ear comprising an eardrum, the device comprising:
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a first transducer; a second transducer; and a support configured and shaped to;
1) be positioned along at least a portion of a lateral surface of the eardrum, and
2) support the first transducer and the second transducer along the lateral surface of the eardrum to face the ear canal when the support is placed along and against the lateral surface of the eardrum, the first transducer positioned on the support to align with a first side of the malleus, the second transducer positioned on the support to align with a second side of the malleus. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification