EP1929833A2

EP1929833A2 - In-ear headset and in-ear earphone

Info

Publication number: EP1929833A2
Application number: EP06792112A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jan Peter Kuhtz; Stefan Marten
Original assignee: Sennheiser Electronic GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Sennheiser Electronic GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2005-09-16
Filing date: 2006-09-16
Publication date: 2008-06-11
Also published as: US8111857B2; WO2007031340A2; DE102005044495A1; WO2007031340A3; US20080226113A1; DE102005044495B4

Abstract

The invention relates to a headset comprising at least one earphone (H) and a headset microphone (HM) for registering the voice signals of the headset wearer. The headset microphone (HM) is fixed to one of the earphones (H). The earphone comprises at least one electroacoustic transducer (W), a rear volume (RV) and a front volume (VV) that lies in front of the electroacoustic transducer (W). A first channel runs from the exterior through the receiver to the front volume (VV). In addition, the first channel (K) is equipped with at least one acoustic filter (AF) and/or a microphone (M) and a mechanical filter (MF), which protects against dirt and/or moisture.

Description

In-ear headset and in-ear headphones

The present application relates to an in-ear headset and an in-ear handset.

Typically, headsets have one or two handsets and a gooseneck microphone attached to one of the two handsets. The listeners can be configured as capsule listeners, as earaufliehren listeners or as in-ear listeners.

The listeners have one or more electro-acoustic transducers to reproduce audio signals accordingly. In addition to playing audio signals, listeners are sometimes used to passively attenuate environmental noise.

US 4,646,872, US 4,441,576 and US 4,922,542 represent a general state of the art. From DE 10 2004 056 053 A1, a headset is known, which has one or two earphones with a custom-made earmold and a gooseneck microphone. The custom earmold is attached to an ear of the user. A gooseneck microphone for recording audio signals is attached to one of the receivers. In the earmold, at least one acoustic channel can be provided for receiving an acoustic filter. Alternatively, at least one channel may be provided in the receiver for receiving at least one acoustic filter. Also shown is a hearing protector having standard earplugs with a channel extending through the earmuff, with an acoustic filter having noise level dependent attenuation characteristics disposed in the channel.

However, such headsets or such ear protection are not suitable for all applications, especially those with changing weather conditions.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a headset and an in-ear earphone, which can be used even in changing weather conditions.

This object is achieved by a headset according to claim 1 and by an in-ear earphone according to claim 11.

Thus, a headset is provided with at least one handset and a headset microphone, the microphone is attached to one of the handset. The listener has at least one electroacoustic transducer, a rear volume and a front volume in front of the transducer. At least one first channel extends from the outside through the earphone to the front volume, with an acoustic filter disposed in the first channel. Furthermore, a mechanical filter for protection against dirt and moisture in the first channel is arranged. Due to the mechanical closure of the channel, dirt can not penetrate through the outside-in acoustic channel.

The arrangement of the mechanical filter in the channel provides the filter without coupling to a rear volume of the listener. Thus, the filter is placed in a bypass.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the mechanical filter is configured to mechanically close the channel without affecting the acoustic properties of the channel. Thus, a mechanical closure is guaranteed without acoustic interference. Furthermore, the often mechanically sensitive filter can be protected from dirt and moisture.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the mechanical filter is configured as a fine mesh gauze, as a membrane and / or as a hydrophobic unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the mechanical filter is designed to be interchangeable. Thus, dirty or dirty mechanical filters can be easily replaced.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the listener has an enclosed rear earphone volume that is separate from the channel.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the channel is connected to the volume in front of the transducer.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, at least one microphone for active noise cancellation is located in the earphone.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the headset has a unit for receiving an eartip, wherein the unit has a continuous having a channel in which a mechanical filter for protection against dirt is arranged.

Hereinafter, the embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic cross section through a headset according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a cross section through a headset according to a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1 shows a handset H with a headset microphone HM fastened thereto. The listener has at least one elektroakusti- see converter W with an encapsulated rear volume RV and a front volume W in front of the converter. In the rearward volume RV, a board P is provided for receiving the electronics for the listener. The electronics can have an audio amplifier. Furthermore, a first channel or a bypass K is provided which leads from the outside to the front volume W in front of the transducer W. In the channel K at least one acoustic filter AF is provided. A mechanical filter MF closes the first channel K. Furthermore, the listener can have at least one microphone M. The microphone M may be arranged in or on the first channel K. Alternatively or additionally, the microphone M may be arranged in a region between the channel or the bypass K and the transducer W. This microphone can be used in conjunction with an active noise reduction unit for active noise reduction. The electronics for the active noise cancellation can also be arranged on the board P in the rear volume RV.

According to a second embodiment, an in-ear earphone is provided, which essentially corresponds to the earphone shown in FIG. 1, but no headset microphone HM is attached to the earpiece. Such a ausgestaltetes headset or in-ear headset and thus designed in-ear earphone can be produced in large quantities, since a custom-made Otoplast is not necessarily required. Thanks to the MF mechanical filter, the headset and the in-ear earphone can also be used where dirt and moisture are present. Due to the design of the encapsulated rearward receiver volume RV and the acoustic channel or the bypass K, a spatial separation of the receiver volume and the first channel K can be made possible so that acoustic and electrical functional areas (ie the circuit board P with corresponding electronics) are spatially separated from one another. which are separated. By simply replacing the mechanical filter, cleaning is easy to accomplish.

The mechanical filter MF is preferably made of a fine mesh gauze, an acoustically permeable membrane or other hydrophobic means. By the hydrophobic device, a water tightness can be achieved without affecting the acoustic properties of the channel. By separating the acoustic bypass or channel and the electronic devices (board P), the electronics are protected from penetrating water and dirt.

The rearward listener volume RV is designed completely encapsulated. By providing the acoustic first channel K, however, the front volume W in front of the transducer W can be connected to the environment to the rear or to the outside. Preferably, all surfaces that can come into contact with the ear, smooth designed to ensure easy cleaning.

Due to the arrangement of the microphones M within the housing of the listener, the microphones are protected against external influences and can still record the audio signals required for active noise cancellation. The electronics for the active noise cancellation can be arranged for example on the board P in the rear listener volume RV. Alternatively The electronics can also be arranged on the outside of the receiver or in a separate housing on a cable of the headset or the in-ear receiver.

The mechanical filters or protective filters described above can be a mass product in the hearing aid industry, so that they can be produced inexpensively.

As an alternative to a replaceable mechanical filter MF, the mechanical filter can also be designed by a permanently installed membrane. It should be ensured that the membrane can be cleaned in a simple manner.

Furthermore, the receiver can have a plug (not shown), by means of which the first channel or the bypass can be mechanically and / or acoustically sealed to the outside. This plug is designed to be removable, so that a user himself can remove or insert the plug. Thus, further protection against increased environmental noise level can be provided.

On the receiver H, a unit E is further provided, which protrudes outwards and has a second channel K1. The unit E serves to receive an ear tip T. The unit E has a continuous channel K1, in which a further filter F, preferably a mechanical filter, can be arranged. This second mechanical filter F serves to protect against dirt (eg, earwax) or moisture, which can penetrate through the channel K1. The ear tip T is preferably designed to be interchangeable, so that the earpiece can be adapted to different ear geometries. As an alternative to the ear tip, an ear mold, in particular a custom-made ear mold, may also be fastened to the unit E, so that the earpiece sits better against the ear of a user. On the board of the microphone amplifier and possibly an active noise compensation unit can be arranged. The circuit board P together with the electronics arranged thereon can be arranged in at least one of the receivers.

If an active noise compensation is to be provided, then a board with the appropriate electronics should be provided in both handsets.

Claims

claims

A headset comprising at least one earpiece (H) and a headset microphone (HM) for recording speech signals from a wearer of the headset, the headset microphone (HM) being attached to one of the earphones (H), the earpiece being at least an electroacoustic transducer (W), a rearward volume (RV) and a front volume (W) in front of the electroacoustic transducer (W), a first channel (K) from the outside through the earpiece (H) to the front volume (W) wherein at least a first acoustic filter (AF) and / or a microphone (M) in the channel (K) is arranged, wherein a first mechanical filter (MF) for protection against dirt and / or moisture in the first channel (K ) is arranged.

2. Headset according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical filter (MF) is designed such that it mechanically closes the first channel (K), without significantly affecting the acoustic properties of the first channel (K).

3. Headset according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mechanical filter (MF) is designed as a fine-meshed gauze, as a membrane and / or as a hydrophobic unit.

4. Headset according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the mechanical filter (MF) is configured exchangeable.

5. Headset according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the rear volume (RV) is encapsulated and is separated from the channel (K).

6. Headset according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one microphone (M) and an active noise compensation unit are arranged in the handset.

7. Headset according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a circuit board (P) in the rear volume (RV) is arranged.

8. Headset according to one of the preceding claims, with a mechanical closure for closing the first channel (K) to the outside, wherein the mechanical seal the first channel (K) acoustically seals.

9. Headset according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a unit (E) which projects outwardly, for receiving an ear tip (T), wherein the unit (E) has a second channel (K1) and wherein in the second channel ( K1) a mechanical filter (F) is arranged to protect against dirt.

10. In-ear earphones, with an electroacoustic transducer (W), a rear volume (RV) and a front volume (W) in front of the transducer, passing from outside through the listener (H) to the front volume (W) first channel (K), at least one in the first channel (K) arranged acoustic filter (AF) and in the first channel (K) arranged mechanical filter (MF) for protection against dirt and / or moisture.