Damping in contact hearing systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tympanic lens, comprising:
- a chassis;
a perimeter platform connected to the chassis;
a microactuator connected to the chassis through at least one bias spring positioned at a proximal end of the microactuator;
a damper separate from and attached to the at least one bias spring;
an umbo platform attached to a distal end of the microactuator; and
a current source mounted on said chassis and electrically connected to the microactuator through at least one wire,wherein the damper comprises a viscoelastic material in contact with the at least one bias spring, andwherein the viscoelastic material is configured to become stiffer or more viscous as a vibration frequency of the tympanic lens increases.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invent include a method of controlling unwanted vibration in a tympanic lens, wherein the tympanic lens comprises a perimeter platform connected to a microactuator through at least one biasing element, the method comprising the step of: damping the motion of the at least one biasing element. In embodiments of the invention, the at least one biasing element is a spring. In embodiments of the invention, the at least one bias spring is coated in a damping material.
708 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A tympanic lens, comprising:
-
a chassis; a perimeter platform connected to the chassis; a microactuator connected to the chassis through at least one bias spring positioned at a proximal end of the microactuator; a damper separate from and attached to the at least one bias spring; an umbo platform attached to a distal end of the microactuator; and a current source mounted on said chassis and electrically connected to the microactuator through at least one wire, wherein the damper comprises a viscoelastic material in contact with the at least one bias spring, and wherein the viscoelastic material is configured to become stiffer or more viscous as a vibration frequency of the tympanic lens increases. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A tympanic lens, comprising:
-
a perimeter platform; a microactuator connected to the perimeter platform through at least one biasing element positioned between the microactuator and the perimeter platform, wherein the at least one biasing element is a spring; a damper separate from and attached to the at least one biasing element, wherein the damper comprises a viscoelastic material in contact with the at least one biasing element, and wherein the at least one bias spring comprises a series of coils and the viscoelastic material fills the center of the coils; an umbo platform attached to a distal end of the microactuator; and a current source mounted on said chassis and electrically connected to the microactuator through at least one wire. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A tympanic lens, comprising:
-
a perimeter platform; a microactuator connected to the perimeter platform through at least one biasing element positioned between the microactuator and the perimeter platform, wherein the at least one biasing element is a spring; a damper separate from and attached to the at least one biasing element, wherein the damper comprises a viscoelastic material in contact with the at least one biasing element; an umbo platform attached to a distal end of the microactuator; and a current source mounted on said chassis and electrically connected to the microactuator through at least one wire, wherein the viscoelastic material is configured to become stiffer or more viscous as a vibration frequency of the tympanic lens increases. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification