EP2277321A1 - Adjustable, dual speaker element in-ear phone - Google Patents
Adjustable, dual speaker element in-ear phoneInfo
- Publication number
- EP2277321A1 EP2277321A1 EP09751283A EP09751283A EP2277321A1 EP 2277321 A1 EP2277321 A1 EP 2277321A1 EP 09751283 A EP09751283 A EP 09751283A EP 09751283 A EP09751283 A EP 09751283A EP 2277321 A1 EP2277321 A1 EP 2277321A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- speaker element
- earphone
- bridge
- listener
- hanger bar
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 title abstract description 11
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 241001088162 Primula auricula Species 0.000 claims description 7
- 235000006894 Primula auricula Nutrition 0.000 claims description 7
- 241000746998 Tragus Species 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 claims 3
- 241001125879 Gobio Species 0.000 description 15
- 210000000613 ear canal Anatomy 0.000 description 10
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 10
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 description 7
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 7
- 210000003128 head Anatomy 0.000 description 6
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000006978 adaptation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 2
- 210000005069 ears Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 238000009429 electrical wiring Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002991 molded plastic Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004513 sizing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000006467 substitution reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/20—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics
- H04R1/22—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics for obtaining desired frequency characteristic only
- H04R1/26—Spatial arrangements of separate transducers responsive to two or more frequency ranges
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/10—Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones
- H04R1/1041—Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/10—Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones
- H04R1/105—Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/10—Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones
- H04R1/1058—Manufacture or assembly
- H04R1/1075—Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones
Definitions
- the present disclosure generally relates to earphones for sound reproduction with high fidelity and more particularly to adjustable dual element in-ear earphones having one transducer for each ear directed to reproducing higher frequencies and one transducer for each ear directed to reproducing lower frequencies.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,333,206, titled “DUAL ELEMENT HEADPHONE,” discloses a dual element headphone including (a) one transducer that is substantially larger than the cavum concha of a typical human ear and (b) one smaller transducer that fits into the cavum concha. Other than the curvature of the headband, however, the headphones disclosed in this patent are not adjustable.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,729,615, titled "IN-EAR TYPE EARPHONE HAVING AN EAR HANGER,” discloses an earphone having one in-ear speaker element connected to a shaft.
- the speaker element is pivotably rotatable with respect to the shaft.
- the shaft is slidably movable along its axis.
- the position of the earphone can be raised or lowered vertically by sliding the shaft.
- the earphone can be rotated in the roll direction, but in the roll direction only. Therefore, while the earphone disclosed in this patent discloses some mechanisms for adjusting the position and orientation of the earphone, the permitted adjustments are limited.
- the earphone of this patent only has one speaker element.
- an earphone in various embodiments, can comprise at least one speaker element, a bridge comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the speaker element is pivotably connected to the first end of the bridge, and a hanger bar comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is threadingly connected to the second end of the bridge.
- the second portion of the hanger bar is configured to rest upon a part of a listener's ear when worn by the listener.
- an earphone can comprise at least one speaker element, a bridge comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the speaker element is pivotably connected to the first end of the bridge, and a hanger bar comprising a first portion and a second portion.
- the second end of the bridge comprises a rotatable knob that is accessible to a listener when the earphone is worn by the listener.
- the first portion of the hanger bar is operably engaged to the rotatable knob such that rotation of the knob causes the second portion to at least translate relative to the bridge.
- a method of wearing an earphone can include the steps of providing an earphone comprising at least one speaker element, a bridge comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the speaker element is pivotably connected to the first end of the bridge and wherein the second end comprises a rotatable knob, and a hanger bar comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is operably engaged to the rotatable knob such that rotation of the knob causes the second portion of the hanger bar to at least translate relative to the bridge.
- the method further comprises the steps of rotating the knob to adjust a distance between the second portion of the hanger bar and the bridge, rotating the speaker element relative to the bridge, and placing the hanger bar on a part of a listener's ear such that the speaker element is aligned with the cavum concha of the listener's ear.
- an earphone can comprise a first speaker element and a second speaker element extending from the first speaker element.
- the first speaker element can comprise an enclosure having a wall, a first transducer disposed within the enclosure, the first transducer configured to produce a first sound, and a first cavity defined between the wall of the enclosure and the first transducer.
- the second speaker element can comprise a housing sized and configured to fit at least partially into a cavum concha of a listener's ear, the housing having a backing and a sound emanating surface, wherein the sound emanating surface includes first sound openings and second sound openings defined therein, a second transducer disposed within the housing, the second transducer configured to produce a second sound that emanates through the second sound openings but not through the first sound openings, and a second cavity defined between the backing of the housing and the second transducer.
- an earphone can comprise at least one speaker element configured to fit at least partially into a cavum concha of a listener's ear and a hanger bar operably connected to the speaker element.
- the hanger bar is configured to rest upon an upper external curvature of a listener's ear and behind an upper portion of an auricula of the listener's ear.
- the hanger bar has a shape configured to cause the speaker element to exert a force on the listener's ear, independent of gravity.
- Figure 1 depicts a non-limiting embodiment of an earphone being worn by a listener
- Figure 2 is a side view of the earphone of Figure 1 ;
- Figure 3 is a front view of the earphone of Figure 1 ;
- Figure 4 is a top view of the earphone of Figure 1 ;
- Figures 5-7 shows aspects of a horrl bridge of the earphone of Figure 1 ;
- Figure 8 is an exploded view of the earphone of Figure 1 ;
- Figure 9 is an exploded view of a non-limiting embodiment of an earphone;
- Figure 10 is a perspective view of a non-limiting embodiment of an earphone
- Figure 1 1 is a front view view of the earphone of Figure 10;
- Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of speaker elements of the earphone of Figure 10, taken along line 12-12 in Figure 1 1 (any electrical wiring has been omitted for clarity); and
- Figure 13 is an exploded view of the speaker elements of the earphone of Figure 10 (any electrical wiring has been omitted for clarity).
- Figure 14 is a top view of a force diagram showing the forces acting on and exerted by the earphone of Figure 10 with respect to a listener's ear.
- the positioning of the speaker elements may be adjustable so that the user can adjust the positioning of the speaker elements for increased comfort.
- the larger speaker element may be rotated about a vertical axis of the hinged joint so that the larger speaker element can be rotated towards or away from the listener's ear.
- the smaller speaker element may be adjusted relative to the larger speaker element.
- the smaller speaker element may be connected to the larger speaker element by a knuckle-ball joint, a ball joint, or some other similar pivotable joint, that provides multiple degrees of rotational freedom but limits or prevents translational movement for the smaller speaker element relative to the larger speaker element.
- the earphone may comprise a hanger bar that the listener uses to position the earphone on the listener's ear.
- the hanger bar may comprise a horizontal section that rests upon the upper external curvature of the listener's ear behind the upper portion of the auricula (or pinna).
- the earphone may comprise a knurled knob that allows the user to adjust finely the distance between the horizontal section of the hanger bar and the speaker elements, thereby providing, in such embodiments, another measure of adjustability for the user.
- an adjustable, dual speaker element earphone wherein one of the speaker elements is sized to fit into the cavum concha of the listener's ear.
- Figures 1 through 4 illustrate one embodiment of the earphone 10.
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the earphone 10 being worn on the ear 12 of a human listener 14;
- Figure 2 is a side view of the earphone 10;
- Figure 3 is a front view of the the earphone 10;
- Figure 4 is a top view of the earphone 10.
- the earphone 10 comprises, among other elements, a first speaker element 20, a second, in-ear speaker element 22, a hanger bar 24, and a horrl bridge 26.
- proximal and distal are used herein with reference to the listener's head. Accordingly, the proximal components of the earphone 10 are toward the listener's nose, and the distal components are torward the rear of the listener's head. Also, the spatial terms “vertical” and horizontal” are used herein with respect to the drawings. These terms are not intended to be limiting or absolute.
- the first speaker element 20 may be generally circular, as shown in the figures, and may be sized large enough that it does not fit into the cavum concha of the vast majority of human listeners 14.
- the second speaker element 22 also may be generally circular in shape, and may be extend outwardly from an inner portion 28 of the first speaker element 20.
- the second speaker element 22 may be rigidly fixed to the inner surface 28 of the first speaker element 20 so that there is no relative movement between the first and second speaker elements.
- the second speaker element 22 may be connected to the first speaker element 20 by an arm 23 such that the second speaker element 20 extends generally perpendicularly from the first speaker element 20.
- the inner surface 28 of the first speaker element 20, the arm 23, and the backing 25 of the second speaker element 22 may be made from a single piece of injection molded plastic so that their positions are fixed.
- the hanger bar 24, as shown in the figures, may be substantially L- shaped, having (i) a first, proximal portion 30 that extends generally vertically from the tragel bridge 26, and (ii) a second, distal portion 32, generally perpendicular to the first portion 30, that extends horizontally away from the first portion 30 and is designed to rest upon the upper external curvature of the ear 12 behind the upper portion 13 of the auricula (or pinna).
- the hanger bar 24 may have a circular cross-section, and may be made out of plastic, metal, or any other suitable material.
- the tragel bridge 26 includes a vertically oriented, distal gudgeon 34 fixedly connected to the first speaker element 20 at a proximal edge of the first speaker element 20.
- the gudgeon 34 and the tragel bridge 26 may be generally tangential to a proximal edge of the circular first speaker element 20.
- a slotted retaining bolt or pintle 36 is inserted through the opening defined by the gudgeon 34 to connect hingedly the first speaker element 20 to the tragel bridge 26. That way, the first speaker element 20 can be rotated about the vertical axis of the gudgeon 34 so that the first speaker element 20 can be rotated toward or away from the listener's ear 12.
- the gudgeon 34 may be made from metal or plastic, for example.
- an outer peripheral backing 42 of the first speaker element 20 and the gudgeon 34 may be made from an integrated piece of injection-molded plastic.
- the height of the tragel bridge 26 may be less than the diameter of the first speaker element 20.
- the height of the tragel bridge 26 may be approximately one-half the diameter of the first speaker element 20.
- tragel bridge 126 may be larger than one-half the diameter of first speaker element 120, but less than the diameter of the first speaker element 120.
- cylindrical knurled knob 148 may be larger than knob 48, described above, such that a listener may have a larger surface area with which to contact and rotate knob 148 to adjust hanger bar 124.
- Figures 5-7 show aspects of the tragel bridge 26 according to various embodiments.
- Figure 5 is a section view of the tragel bridge 26 showing the gudgeon 34 and the pintle 36.
- the tragel bridge 26 is omitted so that other components in the tragel bridge 26 can be viewed.
- a plastic friction O-ring 38 may be disposed between the head 40 of the pintle 36 and the upper portion of the gudgeon 34.
- the O-ring 38 may reside inside the tragel bridge 26 so that it cannot normally be seen.
- the purpose of the O-ring 38 is to provide friction between the gudgeon 34 and the pintle 36 such that rotation of the first speaker element 20 relative to the tragel bridge 26 is resisted and a relative position may be maintained between the first speak element 20 and the tragel bridge 26.
- the tragel bridge 26 has upper and lower flanges 42, 44 above and below the gudgeon 34, respectively.
- the pintle 36 is inserted through the upper flange 42, the gudgeon 34, and the lower flange 44, to thereby hingedly connect the gudgeon 34 to the tragel bridge 26.
- the pintle 36 may include a lower slot through which a speaker wire 46 may be feed into the tragel bridge 26 and to the first and second speaker elements 20, 22.
- the tragel bridge 26 may also include a cylindrical knurled knob 48 vertically oriented at a proximal end of the tragel bridge 26.
- the knurled knob 48 may define a vertical opening therethrough, with threads on the interior of the knurled knob 48 around the opening.
- the lower end of the first portion 30 of the hanger bar 24 may have corresponding threads, as shown in Figure 5, which mate with the threads of the knurled knob 48. Rotation of the knurled knob 48 about its vertical axis thereby causes the horizontal portion 32 of the hanger bar 24 to be adjusted vertically with respect to the tragel bridge 26 (and hence the speaker elements 20, 22).
- the threads of the hanger bar 24 and the knurled knob 48 may be relatively fine, to provide fine adjustment for the user.
- the threads of the hanger bar 24 and the knurled knob 48 may be relatively coarse, to provide coarse adjustment for the user.
- the knurled knob 48 may be made from plastic or metal, for example.
- the knob 48 may be rotated relative to the hanger bar 24 to the point where the threads of the hanger bar 24 disengage from the knurled knob 48.
- the hanger bar 24 may be rotated relative to the knob 48 such that the threads of hanger bar 24 disengage from the knob 48.
- another hanger bar (not shown), having different dimensions of a first portion 30 and/or a second portion 32, may then be inserted into the horrl bridge 26 at knob 48. Accordingly, different sized hanger bars may be provided to fit a variety of people having different sized ears.
- the threads of the lower portion of the first portion of the hanger bar 24 may also pass into an opening in a strain relief member 50 that is adjacent to a lower portion of the horrl bridge 26 at its proximal side.
- the speaker wire 46 may thread up through the strain relief member, through the tragel bridge 26, and through the slot in the pintle 36 to the speaker elements 20, 22, as shown in Figure 5.
- the strain relief member 50 may be made from plastic, for example.
- hanger bar 24 may be operably connected to the speaker elements 20, 22 by crizl bridge 26. Accordingly, when the earphone 10 is correctly positioned on the listener's ear 12, the tragel bridge 26 usually will be adjacent to the tragus of the listener's ear 12, as shown in Figure 1 .
- the tragel bridge 26 may be generally rectangular in shape, as shown in Figures 1 -2, having the gudgeon 34 at its distal end and the knurled knob 48 at is proximal end.
- the tragel bridge 26 may be made of plastic or any other suitable material.
- the hanger bar 24, 124 when earphone 10, 1 10 is correctly position on the listener's ear 12, the hanger bar 24, 124, as mentioned above, is configured to rest upon the upper external curvature of the listener's ear 12 and behind the upper portion 13 of the auricula of the listener's ear 12.
- the hanger bar 24, 124 may have a shape and size such that the hanger bar 24, 124 is configured to cause the first speaker element 20, 120 and/or the second speaker element 22, 122 to exert a force (F 1n shown in Figure 14) on the listeners ear.
- the shape of the hanger bar may be described as follows.
- the first portion 30, 130 of the hanger bar 24, 124 may be generally vertical with respect to the second speaker element 22, 122 and/or the listener when the earphone 10, 1 10 is properly positioned on and/or in the listener's ear.
- the second portion 32, 132 may be generally horizontal likewise with respect to the second speaker element 22, 122 and/or the listener.
- the second portion 32, 132 may also slope or curve downward, back toward second speaker element 22, 122 as the second portion 32, 132 extends away from first portion 30, 130.
- the second portion 32, 132 may also slope or curve horizontally inward, toward second speaker element 22, 122 as the second portion 32, 132 extends away from the first portion 30, 130.
- the second portion 132 may connect to the first portion 130 by an intermediate portion 131 of hanger bar 124.
- Intermediate portion 131 may slope or curve toward second speaker element 122 as intermediate portion 131 transitions from the generally vertical first portion 130 to the generally horizontal second portion 132.
- the intermediate portion 131 serves to offset the first portion 130 from the second portion 132 such that the primary longitudinal axis for the first portion 130 does not intersect the primary longitudinal axis for the second portion 132.
- FIG 14 a top view is shown depicting the forces acting on and exerted by the earphone 1 10 when the earphone is worn on the listener's ear 12.
- the hanger bar 124 and second speaker element 122 may be adjusted relative to each other (as discussed above) such that the hanger bar 124 causes the second speaker element 122 to exert a force toward and/or on the cavum concha 15 and/or the ear canal 16 of the listener's ear 12 (F 1n ).
- the hanger bar 124 is sized and configured such that hanger bar 124 acts as a lever and is forced, by the listeners head 17, generally about fulcrum 18 (defined by a contact point between the second portion 132 of hanger bar 124 and the upper portion 13 of the auricula of the listener's ear 12), to cause the second speaker element 122 to exerts a force F 1n toward and/or on at least a portion of the listener's ear 12.
- the force exerted by the second speaker element 122 on the listener's ear [F 1n ) may be customizable to each listener such that people having different sized ears experience an appropriate amount of force to hold the speaker elements 120, 122 properly in place, independent of gravity and/or any force caused by gravity.
- an in-ear speaker element may be sized and configured such that the element is held in place by forming a snug fit against the walls of the ear canal.
- the second speaker element 122 may be sized such that the speaker element 122 is larger than the ear canal 122. In such embodiments, the second speaker element 122 may resist insertion into the ear canal and thus may be forced out away from the ear canal and/or the cavum concha by the internal walls of the listener's ear.
- the ability of the earphone 1 10 to supply an appropriate amount of force toward the listener's ear may be of further importance in order to maintain the proper position of the first and/or second speaker elements 120, 122 with respect to the listener's cavum concha and/or ear canal.
- Figure 8 is an exploded view of the earphone 10 according to various embodiments.
- the tragel bridge 26 may comprise front and back pieces 52, 54, connected together by a screw 56, for example.
- other means of connecting the front and back pieces 52, 54 may be utilized, such as a snap fit.
- the tragel bridge 26 may comprise fewer or greater than two separate pieces.
- a tragel bridge may comprise upper and lower pieces 64, 66, as shown in Figure 9, which shows an exploded view of a horrl bridge according to another embodiment.
- the back piece 54 of the tragel bridge 26 may comprise the flanges 42, 44 that are above and below, respectively, the gudgeon 34.
- the tragel bridge 26 may also comprise, upper and lower proximal flanges 58, 60 that are above and below, respectively, the knurled knob 48.
- the upper proximal flange 58 comprises two pieces, one piece 58a on the front piece 52 of the tragel bridge 26 and one piece 58b on the back piece 54 of the tragel bridge 26.
- a plastic friction O-ring 39 may be disposed between the two pieces 58a, 58b of the upper proximal flange 58.
- the O-ring 39 may reside inside the tragel bridge 26 so that it cannot normally be seen.
- the purpose of the O-ring 39 is to provide friction between the first portion 30 of hanger bar 24 and the flange 58 of the tragel bridge 26 such that rotation of the hanger bar 24 relative to the tragel bridge 26 is resisted and a relative position may be maintained between the hanger bar 24 and the tragel bridge 26.
- the O- ring 39 may provide a resistive biasing force such that the second speaker element 22 is biased toward the listener's ear after the hanger bar 24 is rotated away from tragel bridge 26.
- the second portion 32 of hanger bar 24 may be rotated away from tragel bridge 26 and toward a listener's ear.
- the O-ring 39 may store resistive rotational energy such that the second portion 32 of the hanger bar 24 is biased back towards the tragel bridge 26. Accordingly, the second portion 32 of the hanger bar 24 and the second speaker element 22 may be biased toward each other when worn on a listener's ear.
- the O-ring 39 may be omitted.
- the upper proximal flange 58 may be sized and configured to directly provide rotational friction to the movement of the hanger bar passing therethrough.
- the knob 48 may also comprise a retaining nut 62 on the lower side of the gudgeon 34 that retains the pintle 36 in position.
- Each of the first and second speaker elements 20, 22 may include respective acoustic transducers with dynamic drivers for producing sound waves in the audible range.
- the transducers may produce sound energy having different (although potentially overlapping) frequency ranges.
- the first speaker element 20, being larger than the second speaker element 22 may produce low to mid frequencies in the audible range, and the second speaker element 22 may produce mid to high frequencies.
- the first speaker element 20 may comprise a transducer that is approximately 20mm in diameter, and the second speaker element 22 may be approximately 12mm in diameter.
- the first speaker element 20 may be approximately 20.0mm in diameter and the second speaker element 22 may be approximately 13.5mm in diameter.
- the first speaker element 20 may comprise a low frequency transducer enclosure (LFTE) 70 on its inner portion 28 (i.e., the portion facing the ear 12) that may act as low pass acoustical filter for the first speaker element 20, effectively removing the high frequency component from the output of the driver for the first speaker element 20.
- LFTE low frequency transducer enclosure
- the sound may emanate from the proximal surface 72 of the second speaker element 22.
- the openings of the second speaker element 22 may be concentrated on the inner portion of the second speaker element 22 that extends furthest into cavum concha of the listener's ear 12. More details regarding dual element speakers are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,418,248 and 5,333,206, both titled "DUAL ELEMENT HEADPHONE,” which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
- a sound path may be provided which delivers sound produced by a first transducer 120a of first speaker element 120 into the listener's concha and/or ear canal through second speaker element 122, for example.
- the sound produced by the first transducer 120a may be initially directed into a first cavity 120b defined between an inner wall 170a of LFTE 170 and first transducer 120a. Then, the sound may pass through a channel 123a defined within arm 123 into second cavity 122c, which is defined behind second transducer 122d and in front of backing 125 of the second speaker element 122.
- the sound produced by the first transducer 120a may emanate from the proximal surface 172 of the second speaker element 122 via first sound openings 122a.
- Sound produced by the second transducer 122d may likewise emanate from the proximal surface 172 of the second speaker element 122 via second sound openings 122b.
- the lower frequency sound produced by the first transducer 120a is mixed with the higher frequency sound produced by the second transducer 122d outside the earphone, but within the listener's ear, within his or her concha and/or ear canal, for example.
- the second transducer is dampened from the lower frequency sound waves by sealing the second transducer within the housing of second speaker element 122, generally between cavity 122c and proximal surface 172. Accordingly, the sound path may also be configured to prevent the lower frequency sound wave energy from disturbing the second transducer 122d as the second transducer 122d modulates and creates the higher frequency sounds.
- the first cavity 120b, the channel 123a, the second cavity 122c, and/or the first sound openings 122a may be sized and configured with respect to the first transducer 120a such that they define a sound path that acts as a low pass acoustical filter for the first transducer 120a, effectively removing the high frequency component from the output of the driver for the first transducer 120a. Therefore, because the sound path is selected such that it functions as an acoustical filter, in at least one embodiment, the electrical signal delivered to the first transducer 120a, and the signal delivered to the second transducer 122d, may not require an electronic filter.
- the earphone's electronic components may be subsequently simplified by removing the necessity for an electronic chip or other electronic parts or circuitry that provide signal filtering for the drivers of the transducers.
- This simplification is in-part due to sizing and configuring the path for the sound produced by the first transducer such that the sound path itself, and its defining surfaces, act as a low pass acoustical filter.
- the second speaker element 22 may be connected fixedly to the first speaker element 20.
- the second speaker element 22 may be connected hingedly to the first speaker element 20 so that the second speaker element 22 can be rotated pivotably about a vertical axis of the hinge connecting the first and second speaker elements. That is, according to one embodiment, the second speaker element 22 may be rotated relative to the first speaker element 20 along curve C shown in Figure 4.
- the second speaker element 22 may be connected to the first speaker element 20 by a pivotable joint with multiple degrees of rotational freedom, such as a knuckle-ball joint or a ball joint.
- the second speaker element 22 may be rotated about any of three perpendicular axes, e.g. allowing for relative pitch, yaw, and/or roll motions, with respect to the first speaker element 20.
- the second speaker element 22 could also be rotated about its horizontal axis (i.e., along curve D in Figure 3) and rotated about a horizontal axis at the joint between the first speaker element 20 and the second speaker element 22 (i.e., along curve E in Figure 3).
- Such multiple degrees of movement give the user more flexibility to adjust the relative positioning of the speaker elements 20, 22 for increased comfort.
- the first speaker element 20 may be connected to the tragel bridge 26 by a joint, such as a knuckle-ball joint or a ball joint, that allows multiple degrees of rotational freedom but limits or prevents translational movement.
- the first speaker element 20 may be rotated about any of three perpendicular axes, e.g. allowing for relative pitch, yaw, and/or roll motions, with respect to the tragel bridge 26. That way, the user may adjust the rotational orientation of the first speaker element 20 to enhance further the comfort of the earphone 10.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Otolaryngology (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Headphones And Earphones (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US5423808P | 2008-05-19 | 2008-05-19 | |
US33494209A | 2009-04-06 | 2009-04-06 | |
PCT/US2009/044340 WO2009143055A1 (en) | 2008-05-19 | 2009-05-18 | Adjustable, dual speaker element in-ear phone |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2277321A1 true EP2277321A1 (en) | 2011-01-26 |
EP2277321A4 EP2277321A4 (en) | 2013-01-09 |
EP2277321B1 EP2277321B1 (en) | 2015-08-26 |
Family
ID=43384481
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP09751283.4A Not-in-force EP2277321B1 (en) | 2008-05-19 | 2009-05-18 | Adjustable, dual speaker element in-ear phone |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2277321B1 (en) |
KR (1) | KR101521320B1 (en) |
DK (1) | DK2277321T3 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP3094107A1 (en) * | 2015-05-15 | 2016-11-16 | Zound Industries International AB | An audio listening arrangement |
US10257604B2 (en) | 2015-05-15 | 2019-04-09 | Zound Industries International Ab | Headset with ear support |
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US5333206A (en) * | 1992-03-18 | 1994-07-26 | Koss Corporation | Dual element headphone |
US20040125976A1 (en) * | 2002-12-30 | 2004-07-01 | Reneker Brian Scott | Headphones or earmuffs with a user operated mechanical device that controls the volume of exterior sound entering the ear of the user |
US20070104345A1 (en) * | 2005-11-09 | 2007-05-10 | Bill Yang | In-ear type earphone with an ear hanger |
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JPH0379678U (en) * | 1989-12-08 | 1991-08-14 | ||
JP3079678B2 (en) | 1991-09-20 | 2000-08-21 | 住友化学工業株式会社 | Process for producing octahydrocoumarins |
CA2194641C (en) * | 1996-12-28 | 2005-05-03 | Bill Yang | In-ear type earphone having an ear hanger |
US7613292B2 (en) * | 2006-09-29 | 2009-11-03 | Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab | Adjustable earpiece |
-
2009
- 2009-05-18 DK DK09751283.4T patent/DK2277321T3/en active
- 2009-05-18 KR KR1020107027688A patent/KR101521320B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2009-05-18 EP EP09751283.4A patent/EP2277321B1/en not_active Not-in-force
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US5333206A (en) * | 1992-03-18 | 1994-07-26 | Koss Corporation | Dual element headphone |
US20040125976A1 (en) * | 2002-12-30 | 2004-07-01 | Reneker Brian Scott | Headphones or earmuffs with a user operated mechanical device that controls the volume of exterior sound entering the ear of the user |
US20070104345A1 (en) * | 2005-11-09 | 2007-05-10 | Bill Yang | In-ear type earphone with an ear hanger |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
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See also references of WO2009143055A1 * |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP3094107A1 (en) * | 2015-05-15 | 2016-11-16 | Zound Industries International AB | An audio listening arrangement |
CN106162402A (en) * | 2015-05-15 | 2016-11-23 | 宗德工业国际有限公司 | Voice reception is arranged |
US10149040B2 (en) | 2015-05-15 | 2018-12-04 | Zound Industries International Ab | Audio listening arrangement |
US10257604B2 (en) | 2015-05-15 | 2019-04-09 | Zound Industries International Ab | Headset with ear support |
RU2716170C2 (en) * | 2015-05-15 | 2020-03-06 | Саунд Индастриз Интернэшнл Аб | Audio listening device |
CN106162402B (en) * | 2015-05-15 | 2021-07-06 | 宗德工业国际有限公司 | Sound listening arrangement |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP2277321B1 (en) | 2015-08-26 |
DK2277321T3 (en) | 2015-10-26 |
KR20110021868A (en) | 2011-03-04 |
KR101521320B1 (en) | 2015-06-16 |
EP2277321A4 (en) | 2013-01-09 |
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