EP2277321B1 - Écouteur intra-auriculaire à deux éléments haut-parleurs ajustables - Google Patents

Écouteur intra-auriculaire à deux éléments haut-parleurs ajustables Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2277321B1
EP2277321B1 EP09751283.4A EP09751283A EP2277321B1 EP 2277321 B1 EP2277321 B1 EP 2277321B1 EP 09751283 A EP09751283 A EP 09751283A EP 2277321 B1 EP2277321 B1 EP 2277321B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
speaker element
bridge
earphone
hanger bar
listener
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.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP09751283.4A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2277321A4 (fr
EP2277321A1 (fr
Inventor
Michael J. Pelland
Ronaldo J. Santiago
James J. Potter
Mandy Johnson
Allan Mlodzikowski
Michael J. Koss
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Koss Corp
Original Assignee
Koss Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Koss Corp filed Critical Koss Corp
Priority claimed from PCT/US2009/044340 external-priority patent/WO2009143055A1/fr
Publication of EP2277321A1 publication Critical patent/EP2277321A1/fr
Publication of EP2277321A4 publication Critical patent/EP2277321A4/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2277321B1 publication Critical patent/EP2277321B1/fr
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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
    • H04R1/10—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
    • H04R1/20—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
    • H04R1/105—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.
  • US2007/0104345 discloses an in-ear type earphone with an ear hanger.
  • an earphone is provided.
  • the earphone can comprise a first speaker element and a second speaker element extending from the first speaker element, wherein the second speaker element is sized and configured to fit at least partially into a cavum concha of a listener's ear, and wherein the second speaker element is connected to the first speaker element by a pivotable joint; a bridge comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first 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.
  • the first end of the bridge defines a first axis, wherein the first speaker element may rotate about the first axis.
  • the second end of the bridge defines a second axis.
  • the first portion of the hanger bar is threadingly connected to the second end of the bridge such that the hanger bar may rotate about the second axis.
  • an earphone can comprise a first speaker element and a second speaker element extending from the first 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.
  • the second portion of the hanger bar is configured to rest upon a part of the listener's ear when worn by the listener.
  • a method of wearing an earphone can include the steps of providing an earphone comprising a first speaker element and a second speaker element extending from the first speaker element, a bridge comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first 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 first speaker element relative to the bridge, and placing the hanger bar on a part of a listener's ear such that the first 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.
  • the first cavity, the second cavity, and the first sound openings define a sound path for the first sound produced by the first transducer such that the first sound travels through the sound path and emanates through the first sound openings but not through the second sound openings.
  • an earphone can comprise a second 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.
  • Various embodiments are directed to an adjustable, dual speaker element earphone, wherein one of the speaker elements (the smaller one) is sized to fit into the cavum concha of the listener's ear and the other element (the larger one) is not.
  • 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 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 crizol 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, 110 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 in 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, 110 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 110 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 in ).
  • 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 in 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 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 110 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".
  • 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. According to other embodiments, 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.

Claims (19)

  1. Ecouteur (10) comprenant :
    un premier élément de haut-parleur (20) et un second élément de haut-parleur (22) s'étendant à partir du premier élément de haut-parleur (20), dans lequel le second élément de haut-parleur (22) est dimensionné et configuré pour s'adapter au moins partiellement dans une cavité auriculaire de l'oreille (12) d'une personne qui écoute, et dans lequel le second élément de haut-parleur (22) est raccordé au premier élément de haut-parleur (20) par une articulation pivotante ;
    un pont (26) comprenant une première extrémité et une seconde extrémité, dans lequel le premier élément de haut parleur est raccordé de manière pivotante à la première extrémité du pont ; et
    une barre de suspension (24) comprenant une première partie (30) et une seconde partie (32), dans lequel la première partie (30) est raccordée par filetage à la seconde extrémité du pont, dans lequel la seconde partie (32) de la barre de suspension (24) est configurée pour s'appuyer sur une partie de l'oreille (12) de la personne qui écoute lorsque l'écouteur (10) est porté par la personne qui écoute (14) ;
    la première extrémité du pont définissant un premier axe, dans lequel le premier élément de haut-parleur (20) peut tourner autour du premier axe, dans lequel la seconde extrémité du pont définit un second axe, et dans lequel la première partie de la barre de suspension (24) est raccordée, par filetage, à la seconde extrémité du pont (26) de sorte que la barre de suspension (24) peut tourner autour du second axe.
  2. Ecouteur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le pont (26) comprend en outre un bouton rotatif (48) qui est accessible à la personne qui écoute (14), dans lequel le bouton (48) met en prise, par filetage, la première partie (30) de la barre de suspension (24) de sorte que la rotation du bouton (48) amène la seconde partie (32) de la barre de suspension (24) à effectuer au moins un mouvement de translation par rapport au pont (26).
  3. Ecouteur selon la revendication 2, dans lequel la seconde partie (32) de la barre de suspension (24) et le pont (26) sont séparés par une distance (H) et dans lequel le bouton rotatif (48) est configuré de sorte que la rotation du bouton (48) provoque le changement de la distance (H).
  4. Ecouteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'articulation pivotante est configurée pour fournir trois degrés de liberté de rotation au second élément de haut-parleur (22) par rapport au premier élément de haut-parleur (20).
  5. Ecouteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'articulation pivotante est une articulation sphérique.
  6. Ecouteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le premier élément de haut-parleur (20) est configuré pour produire un premier son dans une première direction prédéterminée et le second élément de haut-parleur (22) est configuré pour produire un second son dans une seconde direction prédéterminée, dans lequel la première direction prédéterminée est transversale par rapport à la seconde direction prédéterminée.
  7. Ecouteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le premier élément de haut-parleur (20) est raccordé de manière pivotante à la première extrémité du pont (26) par une articulation sphérique.
  8. Ecouteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans lequel le premier élément de haut-parleur (20) est raccordé de manière pivotante à la première extrémité du point (26) par un joint articulé.
  9. Ecouteur selon la revendication 8, dans lequel le joint articulé définit ledit premier axe, le premier élément de haut-parleur (20) peut tourner uniquement autour du premier axe et la barre de suspension (4) peut uniquement tourner autour du second axe.
  10. Ecouteur selon la revendication 9 dépendant de la revendication 2 ou de la revendication 3, dans lequel le joint articulé définit ledit premier axe, dans lequel le premier élément de haut-parleur (20) peut uniquement tourner autour du premier axe, dans lequel le bouton rotatif (48) définit ledit second axe, et dans lequel la barre de suspension (24) est mise en prise, de manière opérationnelle, par rapport au bouton rotatif (48) de sorte que la barre de suspension (24) ne peut tourner qu'autour du second axe.
  11. Ecouteur selon la revendication 2, dans lequel le bouton rotatif (48) définit ledit second axe, et dans lequel la barre de suspension (24) est mise en prise, de manière opérationnelle par rapport au bouton rotatif (48) de sorte que la barre de suspension (24) peut tourner autour du second axe.
  12. Ecouteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ledit premier axe et ledit second axe sont sensiblement parallèles.
  13. Ecouteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ledit premier axe et ledit second axe ne sont pas colinéaires.
  14. Ecouteur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la première partie (30) de la barre de suspension (24) comprend des filetages de sorte que la rotation relative de la seconde partie (32) de la barre de suspension (24) par rapport au pont (26) amène la seconde partie (32) de la barre de suspension (24) à effectuer au moins un mouvement de translation par rapport au pont (26).
  15. Ecouteur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le pont (26) est configuré pour s'appuyer de manière adjacente à un tragus de l'oreille (12) de la personne qui écoute lorsque l'écouteur (10) est porté par la personne qui écoute (12).
  16. Ecouteur selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre un joint torique (39) disposé à l'intérieur du pont (26), dans lequel la première partie (30) de la barre de suspension (24) passe à travers le joint torique (29), dans lequel le joint torique (39) est dimensionné et configuré pour fournir la friction rotative à la première partie (30) de la barre de suspension (24) passant à travers ce dernier.
  17. Procédé pour porter un écouteur, le procédé comprenant les étapes consistant à :
    prévoir un écouteur (10) comprenant :
    un premier élément de haut-parleur (20) et un second élément de haut-parleur (22) s'étendant à partir du premier élément de haut-parleur (20), dans lequel le second élément de haut-parleur (22) est dimensionné et configuré pour s'adapter au moins partiellement dans une cavité auriculaire de l'oreille (12) d'une personne qui écoute ;
    un pont (26) comprenant une première extrémité et une seconde extrémité, dans lequel l'élément de haut-parleur (20) est raccordé de manière pivotante à la première extrémité du pont (26), et
    dans lequel la seconde extrémité comprend un bouton rotatif (48) ; et
    une barre de suspension (24) comprenant une première partie (30) et une seconde partie (32), dans lequel la première partie (30) est mise en prise de manière opérationnelle par rapport au bouton rotatif (48) de sorte que la rotation du bouton (48) amène la seconde partie (32) de la barre de suspension (24) à effectuer au moins un mouvement de translation par rapport au pont (26) ;
    faire tourner le bouton (48) pour ajuster une distance (H) entre la seconde partie (32) de la barre de suspension (24) et le pont (26) ;
    faire tourner l'élément de haut-parleur (20) par rapport au pont (26) ;
    appuyer la barre de suspension (24) sur une partie de l'oreille (12) de la personne qui écoute, de sorte que l'élément de haut-parleur (20) est aligné avec la cavité auriculaire de l'oreille (12) de la personne qui écoute ; et
    placer le second élément de haut-parleur (22) au moins partiellement dans la cavité auriculaire de l'oreille (12) de la personne qui écoute.
  18. Procédé selon la revendication 17, dans lequel l'étape d'appui comprend en outre l'étape consistant à appuyer la barre de suspension (24) sur une partie de l'oreille (12) de la personne qui écoute de sorte que le pont (26) est installé de manière adjacente au tragus de l'oreille (12) de la personne qui écoute.
  19. Procédé selon la revendication 17, comprenant en outre l'étape consistant à faire tourner la seconde partie (32) de la barre de suspension (24) par rapport au pont (26).
EP09751283.4A 2008-05-19 2009-05-18 Écouteur intra-auriculaire à deux éléments haut-parleurs ajustables Not-in-force EP2277321B1 (fr)

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 (fr) 2008-05-19 2009-05-18 Écouteur intra-auriculaire à deux éléments haut-parleurs ajustables

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EP2277321A1 EP2277321A1 (fr) 2011-01-26
EP2277321A4 EP2277321A4 (fr) 2013-01-09
EP2277321B1 true EP2277321B1 (fr) 2015-08-26

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EP (1) EP2277321B1 (fr)
KR (1) KR101521320B1 (fr)
DK (1) DK2277321T3 (fr)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE538540C2 (sv) 2015-05-15 2016-09-13 Zound Ind Int Ab An ear support audio listening arrangement
SE1550627A1 (en) * 2015-05-15 2016-09-13 Zound Ind Int Ab A headset with a pair of listening devices and a behind the head resilient cord

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0379678U (fr) * 1989-12-08 1991-08-14
JP3079678B2 (ja) 1991-09-20 2000-08-21 住友化学工業株式会社 オクタヒドロクマリン類の製造方法
US5333206A (en) * 1992-03-18 1994-07-26 Koss Corporation Dual element headphone
CA2194641C (fr) * 1996-12-28 2005-05-03 Bill Yang Ecouteur interne avec crochet d'oreille
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
TWI282246B (en) * 2005-11-09 2007-06-01 Cotron Corp In-ear type earphone having an ear hanger
US7613292B2 (en) * 2006-09-29 2009-11-03 Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab Adjustable earpiece

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Title
"Introduction to the Design and Behavior of Bolted Joints, Fourth Edition Non-Gasketed Joints", 30 December 2007, CRC PRESS, ISBN: 978-0-84-938176-8, article JOHN H. BICKFORD: "Threads and Their Strength", XP055147864 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2277321A4 (fr) 2013-01-09
DK2277321T3 (en) 2015-10-26
KR20110021868A (ko) 2011-03-04
EP2277321A1 (fr) 2011-01-26
KR101521320B1 (ko) 2015-06-16

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