EP3624112A1 - In-ear anc earphone - Google Patents
In-ear anc earphone Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3624112A1 EP3624112A1 EP19195322.3A EP19195322A EP3624112A1 EP 3624112 A1 EP3624112 A1 EP 3624112A1 EP 19195322 A EP19195322 A EP 19195322A EP 3624112 A1 EP3624112 A1 EP 3624112A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- earphone
- volume
- speaker
- ear
- frontal
- 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.)
- Pending
Links
- 210000000613 ear canal Anatomy 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 15
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 15
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 15
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000002349 favourable effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000001965 increasing effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000005069 ears Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 238000004880 explosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001939 inductive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000750 progressive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006641 stabilisation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011105 stabilization Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10K—SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G10K11/00—Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound in general; Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general
- G10K11/16—Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general
- G10K11/175—Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general using interference effects; Masking sound
- G10K11/178—Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general using interference effects; Masking sound by electro-acoustically regenerating the original acoustic waves in anti-phase
- G10K11/1787—General system configurations
- G10K11/17875—General system configurations using an error signal without a reference signal, e.g. pure feedback
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10K—SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G10K11/00—Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound in general; Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general
- G10K11/16—Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general
- G10K11/175—Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general using interference effects; Masking sound
- G10K11/178—Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general using interference effects; Masking sound by electro-acoustically regenerating the original acoustic waves in anti-phase
- G10K11/1781—Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general using interference effects; Masking sound by electro-acoustically regenerating the original acoustic waves in anti-phase characterised by the analysis of input or output signals, e.g. frequency range, modes, transfer functions
- G10K11/17821—Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general using interference effects; Masking sound by electro-acoustically regenerating the original acoustic waves in anti-phase characterised by the analysis of input or output signals, e.g. frequency range, modes, transfer functions characterised by the analysis of the input signals only
-
- 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
- H04R1/1016—Earpieces of the intra-aural type
-
- 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
- H04R1/28—Transducer mountings or enclosures modified by provision of mechanical or acoustic impedances, e.g. resonator, damping means
- H04R1/2807—Enclosures comprising vibrating or resonating arrangements
- H04R1/2811—Enclosures comprising vibrating or resonating arrangements for loudspeaker transducers
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10K—SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G10K2210/00—Details of active noise control [ANC] covered by G10K11/178 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
- G10K2210/10—Applications
- G10K2210/108—Communication systems, e.g. where useful sound is kept and noise is cancelled
- G10K2210/1081—Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets
-
- 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
- H04R1/1083—Reduction of ambient noise
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R2410/00—Microphones
- H04R2410/05—Noise reduction with a separate noise microphone
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R2460/00—Details of hearing devices, i.e. of ear- or headphones covered by H04R1/10 or H04R5/033 but not provided for in any of their subgroups, or of hearing aids covered by H04R25/00 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
- H04R2460/01—Hearing devices using active noise cancellation
Definitions
- the invention relates to an in-ear ANC earphone, which is at least partially worn in the external auditory canal, and which, when leaking, is prone to the least possible amount of quality reduction, according to the preamble of Claim 1.
- EP 1 398 991 discloses a conventional ANC headphone with earpieces worn over the ears, requiring that the interior volume and the exterior volume of the earpiece communicate with each other via an acoustic resistance, and providing within the earpiece, separated by the driver and its membrane, a front cavity facing the ear and a rear cavity on the side facing away from the ear of the user wherein the front cavity has a much larger volume than the rear cavity.
- US Pat. No. 7,995,782 discloses in an in-ear hearing device in addition to the microphone and its acoustic channel the provision of a second channel connecting, when the hearing device is inserted, the auditory canal of the ear to the outside (the environment) in order to prevent the so-called "occlusion effect".
- in-ear ANC headphones are disclosed in US 2009/0080670 , EP 2 768 239 , GB 2 526 945 , and US 2014/0294182 , the last two documents forming part of the same patent family but putting forward differing aspects. All of these four documents disclose tubes extending from the tip, i.e. the ear-side or "inner" end of the in-ear earphone, into the area of the device located outside the ear canal and there extending to a microphone used for the provision of data or reference data for the ANC procedure.
- In-ear ANC earphones are, as previously mentioned, to be interpreted for different cases, in particular: If the earphone leaks when worn against the ear canal, thus causing a leak, the result is a bass drop up to the critical frequency of the leak opening.
- the differing geometries of the ear canals and thus the varying coupled ear volumes result in varying loads on the transducer, changing the critical frequency of the pressure chamber.
- the earphone is removed from the ear when it is still in operation and is thus operated in an open sound field. Since the earphone is not designed for this type of operation but for closed-volume operation, the secondary path frequency response (corresponding to the transfer function between speaker and microphone) is characterized by a large bass drop. The situation once again approaches that of the secondary path in the closed volume, but only for higher frequencies, where earphone output begins to act inductively.
- the object and goal of the invention is to appropriately solve these problems, and to provide for an in-Ear ANC earphone in which the ANC circuit remains stable even under varying wearing conditions, with the small available space having to be taken into consideration.
- the acoustic channel of the speaker, possibly the speaker itself as well, and a connecting acoustic channel (tube) are positioned adjacent to each other in the tip part to be inserted into the ear, the side of the speaker facing away from the ear is connected to the environment by means of a connecting opening; however, the connecting acoustic channel does not lead to the outside, but instead to an additional volume preferably arranged at a distance from the output in the vicinity of the speaker and possibly around the speaker.
- the additional channel and the speaker channel are to be routed next to each other for geometric reasons, preferably mutually sound-insulated.
- the task of the tip part is to connect both channels with the earphone, preferably sealed.
- a linearization of the secondary path in terms of wearing situation is de facto achieved; furthermore, through the measures according to the invention concerning the second channel, the connecting channel, stabilization for high frequencies above about 1 kHz was achieved for the predictable acoustic friction and the additional volume, since frequency components over 1 kHz in the secondary path generally affect stability, which is suppressed by the acoustic low-pass effect.
- the second tube can be designed to protect against deliberate blocking of the earphone output, so that in case of such a blockage the feedback loop is interrupted so that no instability can occur in this extreme case.
- Fig. 1 purely schematically, illustrates an in-ear earphone according to the invention, hereinafter often only referred to as "earphone".
- a speaker 1 in the outer part of the earphone is acoustically connected to Eartip 5 by means of a frontal volume 2 and a speaker channel 10, largely arranged in the tip part.
- a tube 7 extends from tip area 6 past speaker channel 10 and frontal volume 2, optionally also past speaker 1, to additional volume 3 occupying a noticeable to large part of the earphone.
- frontal volume 12 is significantly increased as compared to the prior art, resulting in the above-mentioned advantages of the invention.
- a horizontal route of the tube is assumed as intended orientation.
- Coupled volume 12 ( Figs. 2 and 4 ), corresponding to the ear volume of the user when used as intended, is schematically shown in Fig. 1 using dashed lines.
- tube 7 is simply shown as empty space, which may be employed just as much as the use of a "real" tube, which by no means must have a circular cross-section.
- tube 7 is preferably sound-insulated with respect to speaker channel 10, frontal volume 2, and speaker 1.
- microphone 11 of the ANC circuit is usually arranged in the area of Eartip 5 in tip area 6 or in standard frontal volume 2.
- microphone 11 is now arranged in the inner area of additional volume 3, for example at inner position 8, leading to surprisingly favourable results. This measure achieves results as if the microphone were arranged in the tip area, for example at virtual position 13.
- Fig. 2 illustrating the changes in the secondary path in an earphone according to Fig. 1 with microphone 11 schematically at the position of tip area according to the prior art in the area of eartip 5.
- the resulting Helmholtz resonator which results from tube 7 with additional volume 3, appears at the thin characteristic curves in the range of 400-1000 Hz.
- Fig. 3 shows the situation of Fig. 2 with the difference that in this case, microphone 11 is schematically positioned in additional volume 3 at an inner position 8.
- the description of the lines is the same as that of Fig. 2 .
- the abrupt improvement as compared to the basis of the invention shown in Fig. 2 which occurs completely unexpectedly, is also recognizable.
- Fig. 4 shows the equivalent circuit diagram, the reference numerals shown corresponding to 15 those of Fig. 1 .
- FIG. 5 shows the frequency response for the following situations: This illustration shows the secondary path differences between the construction with/without connecting microphone 11 at inner position 8 via tube 7. In other words: standard setup vs. setup with tubes, always with the same earphone volumes 3+2.
- the solid line shows the secondary path WITHOUT channel/tube for position inner area 8 of microphone 11, but direct connection to the lateral volume in which ANC microphone 11 is positioned, for the blocked case (output from earphone is blocked).
- the dashed line shows the secondary path for the wearing situation in the ear.
- the dashed-dotted line shows the secondary path WITHOUT channel/tube for position inner area 8 of microphone 11, but the direct connection to the lateral volume in which ANC microphone 11 is positioned.
- the earphone plays in an "open” manner, i.e. it is neither worn nor blocked.
- the dotted line shows the analogous situation to the dashed-dotted line, but with the significant difference that in this case the coupling according to the invention of microphone 11 (position inner area 8) positioned in additional volume 3 is implemented by means of tube 7.
- the position of the microphone is virtually shifted to the ear-side end of tube 7 (generally corresponding to tip area 6, depending on the design), of course with an upstream acoustic low-pass filter, which is of a mechano-acoustic nature.
- This virtual position in tip area 6 has the great advantage of generating additional level spacing for the ANC system for the open case.
- the additional level spacing is e.g. 16 dB in the range of 300-2000 Hz.
- Fig. 6 purely schematically illustrates an in-ear earphone according to the invention and according to Fig.1 , in which tube 7, however, does not continue from a continuous part but, subdivided by two segments, in this particular case earphone housing and sound channels (tube or channels), continues to tip area 6 as part of ear tips 5.
- the speaker is provided in an outer part of the earphone; progressive miniaturization already allows for bringing this into the area of the external auditory canal.
- the features according to the invention are to be used advantageously in this case as well, and in the knowledge of the invention, a person skilled in the art may readily do so.
- Frontal Volume 2 is the volume located front of speaker 1 in the direction of sound propagation (standard frontal volume 2 and speaker channel 10), with the respective ear volume of the user (coupling volume 12) and, depending on the design of the earphone, with or without additional volume 3 and tube 7 for coupling additional volume 3.
- the position Inner Area 8 is only indicated in principle; it may be located anywhere within additional volume 3 which begins at the tip-distal end of tube 7.
- “in the inner area” or “in the additional volume” of course denotes a wall of or wall within the additional volume in which or to which microphone 11 is mounted.
- Additional Volume 3 can occupy any area of the earphone without any particular restriction of its shape, insofar as the components housed therein allow it. It may also be located around vent 4; in any case, it is a part of the earphone, usually a part of the outer part.
- Speaker Channel 10 extends from speaker 1 or, in channel form, from frontal volume 2 to the outer end of tip area 6 and is to be acoustically insulated from tube 7.
- Tube 7 provided according to the invention extends from the ear-end of the earphone (output) to additional volume 3, for the aforementioned reasons, depending on the design, even at a small distance of a few millimetres thereof. It may be provided with a cross-sectional shape adapted to the interior of the earphone, which does not need to be constant over its length, neither in shape nor in area.
- the desired acoustic insulation with respect to the directly adjacent frontal volume 2, speaker channel 10, and speaker 1 itself is achieved, for example, by air-tight and preferably acoustically hard separation by means of suitable material thicknesses and high material densities.
- Tube 7 has only two end openings, one in the tip area, the other emptying into additional volume 3, with especially the shape of the latter opening possibly adapted to the geometry in this area as well as to the design of the transition.
- the jacket of tube 7, which optionally projects into additional volume 3, is formed outside of this additional volume without any opening.
- Eartip 5 itself may consist of two separate channel guides (or contain such), which, under the aforementioned conditions, receive the two-channel structure (tube 7 and speaker channel 10) of the earphone housing part as illustrated in Fig. 6 , and continue/extend into tip area 6. Therefore, in this last-mentioned embodiment, tube 7 does not merely consist of a continuous part, but is subdivided by two or more segments, in this special case earphone housing and sound guides (tubes or channels), in or as part of Eartip 5.
- Speaker Vent 4 as a rule is also acoustically insulated from additional volume 3 and moreover has in most cases in its interior acoustic friction, which a person skilled in the art with knowledge of the invention and the design of the earphone can readily ascertain.
- a possible embodiment producing a highly inductive connection between speaker vent 4 and additional volume 3, i.e. effective only for very low frequency signals ( ⁇ 20 Hz), is useful in some cases to ensure an isobaric pressure equalization between frontal volume and the exterior.
- the electronics for the operation of the speaker and the microphone are as in the prior art and, like the power supply and the wiring, need no further explanation; the same applies to the materials that may be used.
- the terms "front”, rear”, “top”, “bottom”, etc. are used in their common form and with reference to an item in its usual position of use. This means that for a weapon, the mouth of the barrel is in “front”, the shutter is moved to the "rear” by the explosion gases, etc.
- the direction of travel refers to the particular direction of the hanger, since the focus is the hanger and not the track(s); and transverse to it means essentially in a direction rotated by 90° and substantially horizontal.
- substantially means a deviation of up to 10% of the stated value, if this is physically possible, both downwards and upwards, otherwise only in the sensible direction; for degrees (of angle and temperature) ⁇ 10° is meant.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Otolaryngology (AREA)
- Headphones And Earphones (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The invention relates to an in-ear ANC earphone, which is at least partially worn in the external auditory canal, and which, when leaking, is prone to the least possible amount of quality reduction, according to the preamble of
Claim 1. - Several approaches to achieve this goal are known in the prior art. Reference is made to
EP 2 856 771 - Furthermore,
US 9,082,388 -
EP 1 398 991 -
US Pat. No. 7,995,782 discloses in an in-ear hearing device in addition to the microphone and its acoustic channel the provision of a second channel connecting, when the hearing device is inserted, the auditory canal of the ear to the outside (the environment) in order to prevent the so-called "occlusion effect". - Further in-ear ANC headphones are disclosed in
US 2009/0080670 ,EP 2 768 239GB 2 526 945US 2014/0294182 , the last two documents forming part of the same patent family but putting forward differing aspects. All of these four documents disclose tubes extending from the tip, i.e. the ear-side or "inner" end of the in-ear earphone, into the area of the device located outside the ear canal and there extending to a microphone used for the provision of data or reference data for the ANC procedure. - The content of the following documents is incorporated by reference into the content of the present application for all jurisdictions in which this is possible:
EP 2 856 771US 2009/0080670 US 9,082,388 B EP 2 768 239 EP 1 398 991GB 2 526 945US 7,995,782 US 2014/0294182 - In-ear ANC earphones are, as previously mentioned, to be interpreted for different cases, in particular:
If the earphone leaks when worn against the ear canal, thus causing a leak, the result is a bass drop up to the critical frequency of the leak opening. - When used by different wearers, the differing geometries of the ear canals and thus the varying coupled ear volumes result in varying loads on the transducer, changing the critical frequency of the pressure chamber.
- In many cases, the earphone is removed from the ear when it is still in operation and is thus operated in an open sound field. Since the earphone is not designed for this type of operation but for closed-volume operation, the secondary path frequency response (corresponding to the transfer function between speaker and microphone) is characterized by a large bass drop. The situation once again approaches that of the secondary path in the closed volume, but only for higher frequencies, where earphone output begins to act inductively.
- The object and goal of the invention is to appropriately solve these problems, and to provide for an in-Ear ANC earphone in which the ANC circuit remains stable even under varying wearing conditions, with the small available space having to be taken into consideration.
- According to the invention, this is accomplished by the features stated in the characterizing part of
Claim 1; in other words, the acoustic channel of the speaker, possibly the speaker itself as well, and a connecting acoustic channel (tube) are positioned adjacent to each other in the tip part to be inserted into the ear, the side of the speaker facing away from the ear is connected to the environment by means of a connecting opening; however, the connecting acoustic channel does not lead to the outside, but instead to an additional volume preferably arranged at a distance from the output in the vicinity of the speaker and possibly around the speaker. In the earphone as well as in the tip part, the additional channel and the speaker channel are to be routed next to each other for geometric reasons, preferably mutually sound-insulated. The task of the tip part is to connect both channels with the earphone, preferably sealed. - These measures result in the influence of unequal frontal volumes with different wearers being largely eliminated or at least markedly reduced as the additional volume relativizes these differences. Since non-sealed wearing de facto equals a change in the frontal volume (ear volume), a tendency reducing the impact occurs here as well. In addition, it is advantageously possible to provide the ANC microphone not in the area of the output of the earphone (Eartip end) but in the additional volume, where there is sufficient space, thus increasing the mechanical robustness and providing for a low-pass characteristic, improving the operational stability of the ANC system.
- Through the measures according to the invention, a linearization of the secondary path in terms of wearing situation is de facto achieved; furthermore, through the measures according to the invention concerning the second channel, the connecting channel, stabilization for high frequencies above about 1 kHz was achieved for the predictable acoustic friction and the additional volume, since frequency components over 1 kHz in the secondary path generally affect stability, which is suppressed by the acoustic low-pass effect.
- If the earphone output is blocked in front of the speaker, as in the case of conventional designs with small volumes, the resulting sound level and the effective range of the resulting pressure chamber increase in the now smaller frontal volume. In the case of an ANC system, this condition usually leads to instabilities that manifest through acoustic over modulation. In one embodiment of the invention, the second tube can be designed to protect against deliberate blocking of the earphone output, so that in case of such a blockage the feedback loop is interrupted so that no instability can occur in this extreme case.
- The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing, showing:
-
Fig. 1 , a purely schematic cross-section view of an in-ear ANC earphone according to the invention, -
Fig. 2 , examples of the frequency response change with or without additional volume according to the invention, -
Fig. 3 , a representation according toFig. 2 , with the microphone additionally positioned in the additional volume. -
Fig. 4 , an equivalent circuit diagram, -
Fig. 5 , frequency response for different situations for comparison, and -
Fig. 6 , a variant in a view similar to that ofFig. 1 . -
Fig. 1 purely schematically, illustrates an in-ear earphone according to the invention, hereinafter often only referred to as "earphone". In this case, aspeaker 1 in the outer part of the earphone is acoustically connected to Eartip 5 by means of afrontal volume 2 and aspeaker channel 10, largely arranged in the tip part. On its reverse side it is connected to the environment via vent 4. According to the invention, atube 7 extends fromtip area 6past speaker channel 10 andfrontal volume 2, optionally also pastspeaker 1, to additional volume 3 occupying a noticeable to large part of the earphone. Thus, through coupling to additional volume 3 viatube 7,frontal volume 12 is significantly increased as compared to the prior art, resulting in the above-mentioned advantages of the invention. A horizontal route of the tube is assumed as intended orientation. Coupled volume 12 (Figs. 2 and4 ), corresponding to the ear volume of the user when used as intended, is schematically shown inFig. 1 using dashed lines. - In
Fig. 1 ,tube 7 is simply shown as empty space, which may be employed just as much as the use of a "real" tube, which by no means must have a circular cross-section. In the case of a "real" tube, the geometric situation at the transition fromtube 7 to additional volume 3 would differ from the illustration ofFig. 1 . In any case, it is advantageous iftube 7 is preferably sound-insulated with respect tospeaker channel 10,frontal volume 2, andspeaker 1. - In the prior art,
microphone 11 of the ANC circuit is usually arranged in the area ofEartip 5 intip area 6 or in standardfrontal volume 2. In one embodiment of the invention,microphone 11 is now arranged in the inner area of additional volume 3, for example atinner position 8, leading to surprisingly favourable results. This measure achieves results as if the microphone were arranged in the tip area, for example atvirtual position 13. - For this purpose, reference is made to
Fig. 2 , illustrating the changes in the secondary path in an earphone according toFig. 1 withmicrophone 11 schematically at the position of tip area according to the prior art in the area ofeartip 5. In this case, the resulting Helmholtz resonator, which results fromtube 7 with additional volume 3, appears at the thin characteristic curves in the range of 400-1000 Hz. - The illustration showing (for simplicity, the reference numerals signify the term):
- Continuous line, bold: a small
Frontal Volume 2, without Coupling Volume 12 (blocked), - Continuous line, thin: a large
Frontal Volume 2+3, without Coupling Volume 12 (blocked), - Dashed line, bold: a small
Frontal Volume 2 attached to a small Coupling Volume 12 (1 cm3), - Dashed line, thin: a large
Frontal Volume 2+3 attached to a small Coupling Volume 12 (1 cm3), - Dotted line, bold: a small
Frontal Volume 2 attached to an average Coupling Volume 12 (2 cm3), - Dotted line, thin: a large
Frontal Volume 2+3 attached to an average Coupling Volume 12 (2 cm3), - Dashed-dotted line, bold: a small
Frontal Volume 2 attached to a large Coupling Volume 12 (3 cm3), and - Dashed-dotted line, thin: a large
Frontal Volume 2+3 attached to a large Coupling Volume 12 (3 cm3). - It can clearly be seen that the thin lines, representing versions with additional volume 3 according to the invention, take a favourable course.
-
Fig. 3 shows the situation ofFig. 2 with the difference that in this case,microphone 11 is schematically positioned in additional volume 3 at aninner position 8. The description of the lines is the same as that ofFig. 2 . Here, the abrupt improvement as compared to the basis of the invention shown inFig. 2 , which occurs completely unexpectedly, is also recognizable. -
Fig. 4 shows the equivalent circuit diagram, the reference numerals shown corresponding to 15 those ofFig. 1 . - Finally,
Fig. 5 shows the frequency response for the following situations: This illustration shows the secondary path differences between the construction with/without connectingmicrophone 11 atinner position 8 viatube 7. In other words: standard setup vs. setup with tubes, always with the same earphone volumes 3+2. - The solid line shows the secondary path WITHOUT channel/tube for position
inner area 8 ofmicrophone 11, but direct connection to the lateral volume in whichANC microphone 11 is positioned, for the blocked case (output from earphone is blocked). - For this situation (WITHOUT channel/tube), the dashed line shows the secondary path for the wearing situation in the ear.
- The dashed-dotted line shows the secondary path WITHOUT channel/tube for position
inner area 8 ofmicrophone 11, but the direct connection to the lateral volume in whichANC microphone 11 is positioned. In this case, the earphone plays in an "open" manner, i.e. it is neither worn nor blocked. - The dotted line shows the analogous situation to the dashed-dotted line, but with the significant difference that in this case the coupling according to the invention of microphone 11 (position inner area 8) positioned in additional volume 3 is implemented by means of
tube 7. As a result, the position of the microphone is virtually shifted to the ear-side end of tube 7 (generally corresponding to tiparea 6, depending on the design), of course with an upstream acoustic low-pass filter, which is of a mechano-acoustic nature. This virtual position intip area 6 has the great advantage of generating additional level spacing for the ANC system for the open case. In the present case, the additional level spacing is e.g. 16 dB in the range of 300-2000 Hz. -
Fig. 6 purely schematically illustrates an in-ear earphone according to the invention and according toFig.1 , in whichtube 7, however, does not continue from a continuous part but, subdivided by two segments, in this particular case earphone housing and sound channels (tube or channels), continues to tiparea 6 as part ofear tips 5. - In the illustrated and described embodiment, the speaker is provided in an outer part of the earphone; progressive miniaturization already allows for bringing this into the area of the external auditory canal. The features according to the invention are to be used advantageously in this case as well, and in the knowledge of the invention, a person skilled in the art may readily do so.
- A brief description of some of the terms used in the specification and claims follows, though most will be clear to those skilled in the art:
Frontal Volume 2 is the volume located front ofspeaker 1 in the direction of sound propagation (standardfrontal volume 2 and speaker channel 10), with the respective ear volume of the user (coupling volume 12) and, depending on the design of the earphone, with or without additional volume 3 andtube 7 for coupling additional volume 3. -
Tip Area 6 is, in general, the area at the ear end of the earphone (=output) (earphone housing including Eartip 5), including intip area 6 an additional 25% of the distance from the physical end (output) of the earphone to the membrane ofspeaker 1. - In
Fig. 1 , theposition Inner Area 8 is only indicated in principle; it may be located anywhere within additional volume 3 which begins at the tip-distal end oftube 7. In this case, "in the inner area" or "in the additional volume" of course denotes a wall of or wall within the additional volume in which or to whichmicrophone 11 is mounted. - Additional Volume 3 provided according to the invention can occupy any area of the earphone without any particular restriction of its shape, insofar as the components housed therein allow it. It may also be located around vent 4; in any case, it is a part of the earphone, usually a part of the outer part.
- "At least partially worn in the external auditory canal" and related explanations in the description and claims apply mutatis mutandis to earphones located entirely within the auditory canal; the term "outer part" of the earphone is then analogously the "outer part" of the earphone, etc., in which
speaker 1 and/or additional volume 3 are then preferably located.Speaker Channel 10 extends fromspeaker 1 or, in channel form, fromfrontal volume 2 to the outer end oftip area 6 and is to be acoustically insulated fromtube 7. - As indicated in
Fig. 1 ,Tube 7 provided according to the invention extends from the ear-end of the earphone (output) to additional volume 3, for the aforementioned reasons, depending on the design, even at a small distance of a few millimetres thereof. It may be provided with a cross-sectional shape adapted to the interior of the earphone, which does not need to be constant over its length, neither in shape nor in area. The desired acoustic insulation with respect to the directly adjacentfrontal volume 2,speaker channel 10, andspeaker 1 itself is achieved, for example, by air-tight and preferably acoustically hard separation by means of suitable material thicknesses and high material densities. -
Tube 7 has only two end openings, one in the tip area, the other emptying into additional volume 3, with especially the shape of the latter opening possibly adapted to the geometry in this area as well as to the design of the transition. The jacket oftube 7, which optionally projects into additional volume 3, is formed outside of this additional volume without any opening. - If the acoustically hard separation between
frontal volume 2 withspeaker channel 10 andtube 7 is not possible to tiparea 6,Eartip 5 itself may consist of two separate channel guides (or contain such), which, under the aforementioned conditions, receive the two-channel structure (tube 7 and speaker channel 10) of the earphone housing part as illustrated inFig. 6 , and continue/extend intotip area 6. Therefore, in this last-mentioned embodiment,tube 7 does not merely consist of a continuous part, but is subdivided by two or more segments, in this special case earphone housing and sound guides (tubes or channels), in or as part ofEartip 5. - Speaker Vent 4 as a rule is also acoustically insulated from additional volume 3 and moreover has in most cases in its interior acoustic friction, which a person skilled in the art with knowledge of the invention and the design of the earphone can readily ascertain. However, a possible embodiment producing a highly inductive connection between speaker vent 4 and additional volume 3, i.e. effective only for very low frequency signals (<20 Hz), is useful in some cases to ensure an isobaric pressure equalization between frontal volume and the exterior.
- The electronics for the operation of the speaker and the microphone are as in the prior art and, like the power supply and the wiring, need no further explanation; the same applies to the materials that may be used.
- In the description and Claims, the terms "front", rear", "top", "bottom", etc. are used in their common form and with reference to an item in its usual position of use. This means that for a weapon, the mouth of the barrel is in "front", the shutter is moved to the "rear" by the explosion gases, etc. For an overhead track, the direction of travel refers to the particular direction of the hanger, since the focus is the hanger and not the track(s); and transverse to it means essentially in a direction rotated by 90° and substantially horizontal.
- It should also be noted that in the description and claims, terms such as "lower part" of a hanger, reactor, filter, building, or device or, more generally, an object mean the lower half and in particular the lower quarter of the total height; "forefront" means the foremost quarter and, in particular, an even smaller part; while "midrange" means the middle third of the total height (width - length). All this information carries its usual meaning, applied to the intended position of the object under consideration.
- In the description and the claims, "substantially" means a deviation of up to 10% of the stated value, if this is physically possible, both downwards and upwards, otherwise only in the sensible direction; for degrees (of angle and temperature) ± 10° is meant.
- All quantities and proportions, in particular those for delimiting the invention, as far as they do not relate to the specific examples, are to be understood with ± 10% tolerance, thus, for example: 11% means: from 9.9% to 12.1%. For terms such as: "a microphone" the word "a" is not a numerical word but is to be regarded as the indefinite article or a pronoun, unless the context indicates otherwise.
- The term: "combination" or "combinations" means, unless otherwise stated, all types of combinations, from two of the constituents concerned to a large number or all of such constituents; the term: "containing" may also be substituted with "consisting of".
- The characteristics and variants specified in the individual embodiments and examples may be freely combined with those of the other examples and embodiments and may in particular be used to characterize the invention in the claims without necessarily entraining the other details of the respective embodiment or the respective example.
-
- 1: Speaker
- 2: Standard Frontal Volume ("Prior Art")
- 3: Additional Volume
- 4: Speaker Vent
- 5: Eartip
- 6: Tip Area
- 7: Tube for coupling the Additional Volume
- 8: Inner Area
- 9: Parameter Model
- 10: Speaker Channel
- 11: Microphone
- 12: Coupling Volume, Frontal Volume
- 13: Virtual Position
Claims (10)
- An active noise-cancelling earphone, comprising:an Eartip (5) configured to be worn at least partially within an external auditory canal, the Eartip (5) including a tip area (6) at an ear end of the Eartip (5);a speaker (1);a frontal volume (2) adjacent to the speaker (1) in a direction of sound propagation, where the frontal volume (2) couples to the tip area (6), or the frontal volume (2) couples to a speaker channel (10) that in turn couples to the tip area (6);a microphone (11) of an active noise cancelling circuit that is configured to output to the speaker (1), anda tube (7) leading from the tip area to an additional volume (3) defined within the earphone.
- The active noise-cancelling earphone according to claim 1, wherein the tube (7) is defined by a tube jacket that is acoustically insulated along its surface with respect to one or both of the frontal volume (2) and the speaker channel (10) when it is adjacent to the tube (7).
- The active noise-cancelling earphone according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the microphone (11) is disposed within the additional volume (3) defined within the earphone.
- The active noise-cancelling earphone according to any of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an outer part of the earphone, wherein the speaker (1) is arranged in the outer part of the earphone.
- The active noise-cancelling earphone according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising an outer part of the earphone, wherein the additional volume (3) defined within the earphone is disposed in the outer part of the earphone.
- An in-ear active noise-cancelling earphone, comprising:an inner Eartip configured to be worn at least partially within an external auditory canal;an outer earphone portion coupled to the inner Eartip;an additional volume (3) defined within the outer earphone portion;an active noise-cancelling circuit contained within the outer earphone portion that includes an input microphone (11) and an output speaker (1);a frontal speaker volume (2) adjacent to and on the inner side of the output speaker (1), the frontal speaker volume (2) being acoustically coupled to a first aperture defined by the inner Eartip; anda tube (7) connecting the additional volume to a second aperture defined by the inner Eartip.
- The in-ear active noise-cancelling earphone of claim 6, where the frontal speaker volume (2) is acoustically coupled to the first aperture by a speaker channel (10).
- The in-ear active noise-cancelling earphone of claim 6 or 7, where the tube (7) connecting the additional volume (3) to the second aperture is acoustically insulated from one or both of the frontal speaker volume (2) and the speaker channel (10).
- The in-ear active noise-cancelling earphone of any of claims 6 to 8, where at least an innermost portion of the speaker channel (10) and/or the tube (7) connecting the additional volume (3) to the second aperture is defined by the inner Eartip.
- The in-ear active noise-cancelling earphone of any of claims 6 to 9, where the input microphone (11) of the active noise-cancelling circuit is located within the additional volume (3) within the outer earphone portion.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP18193193.2A EP3644620A1 (en) | 2018-09-07 | 2018-09-07 | In-ear anc earphone |
ATA50518/2019A AT521588A2 (en) | 2018-09-07 | 2019-06-07 | In-ear ANC earphones |
US16/535,486 US11115749B2 (en) | 2018-09-07 | 2019-08-08 | In-ear active noise-cancelling earphone |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3624112A1 true EP3624112A1 (en) | 2020-03-18 |
Family
ID=67851013
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19195322.3A Pending EP3624112A1 (en) | 2018-09-07 | 2019-09-04 | In-ear anc earphone |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP3624112A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2584535B (en) * | 2019-04-02 | 2021-12-01 | Tymphany Acoustic Tech Huizhou Co Ltd | In-ear headphone device with active noise control |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1398991A2 (en) | 1997-04-17 | 2004-03-17 | Bose Corporation | Acoustic Noise Reducing |
US20090080670A1 (en) | 2007-09-24 | 2009-03-26 | Sound Innovations Inc. | In-Ear Digital Electronic Noise Cancelling and Communication Device |
US7995782B2 (en) | 2007-01-29 | 2011-08-09 | Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc. | Combined receiver and ear-canal microphone assembly for a hearing instrument |
EP2768239A1 (en) | 2013-02-13 | 2014-08-20 | Funai Electric Co., Ltd. | Earphone microphone |
US20140294182A1 (en) | 2013-03-28 | 2014-10-02 | Cirrus Logic, Inc. | Systems and methods for locating an error microphone to minimize or reduce obstruction of an acoustic transducer wave path |
EP2856771A1 (en) | 2012-05-25 | 2015-04-08 | Bose Corporation | In-ear active noise reduction earphone |
GB2526945A (en) | 2014-06-06 | 2015-12-09 | Cirrus Logic Inc | Noise cancellation microphones with shared back volume |
-
2019
- 2019-09-04 EP EP19195322.3A patent/EP3624112A1/en active Pending
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1398991A2 (en) | 1997-04-17 | 2004-03-17 | Bose Corporation | Acoustic Noise Reducing |
US7995782B2 (en) | 2007-01-29 | 2011-08-09 | Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc. | Combined receiver and ear-canal microphone assembly for a hearing instrument |
US20090080670A1 (en) | 2007-09-24 | 2009-03-26 | Sound Innovations Inc. | In-Ear Digital Electronic Noise Cancelling and Communication Device |
EP2856771A1 (en) | 2012-05-25 | 2015-04-08 | Bose Corporation | In-ear active noise reduction earphone |
US9082388B2 (en) | 2012-05-25 | 2015-07-14 | Bose Corporation | In-ear active noise reduction earphone |
EP2768239A1 (en) | 2013-02-13 | 2014-08-20 | Funai Electric Co., Ltd. | Earphone microphone |
US20140294182A1 (en) | 2013-03-28 | 2014-10-02 | Cirrus Logic, Inc. | Systems and methods for locating an error microphone to minimize or reduce obstruction of an acoustic transducer wave path |
GB2526945A (en) | 2014-06-06 | 2015-12-09 | Cirrus Logic Inc | Noise cancellation microphones with shared back volume |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2584535B (en) * | 2019-04-02 | 2021-12-01 | Tymphany Acoustic Tech Huizhou Co Ltd | In-ear headphone device with active noise control |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US11115749B2 (en) | In-ear active noise-cancelling earphone | |
US10206033B2 (en) | In-ear active noise reduction earphone | |
US9301040B2 (en) | Pressure equalization in earphones | |
US9269342B2 (en) | In-ear active noise reduction earphone | |
US10021478B2 (en) | In-the-ear automatic-noise-reduction devices, assemblies, components, and methods | |
US20110311070A1 (en) | Earpiece | |
EP2551846B1 (en) | Noise reducing sound reproduction | |
EP3503572B1 (en) | Noise cancellation enabled audio device and noise cancellation system | |
CN105049979A (en) | Method for increasing noise reduction of feedback-type active noise reduction earphones, and active noise reduction earphones | |
TWI599234B (en) | Ear plug and earphone using the same | |
EP3624112A1 (en) | In-ear anc earphone | |
CN108989926A (en) | For earphone, dynamic receiver with sympathetic response protector | |
US20080075310A1 (en) | Hearing aid device | |
US9628925B2 (en) | Ear canal earpiece and earmold unit for an earpiece | |
US11638081B2 (en) | Earphone port | |
WO2024039940A3 (en) | Custom electronic switchable hearing protection system | |
JP2019145964A (en) | earphone | |
CN210491147U (en) | Earphone with pipe pressure discharge | |
CN217283319U (en) | Earphone tone quality adjusting structure and in-ear earphone | |
JP2022073434A (en) | earphone | |
EP4397050A1 (en) | Earphone port | |
TWI455608B (en) | Headphone with acoustic regulating device |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: BA ME |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20200918 |
|
RAV | Requested validation state of the european patent: fee paid |
Extension state: MA Effective date: 20200918 Extension state: KH Effective date: 20200918 Extension state: TN Effective date: 20200918 Extension state: MD Effective date: 20200918 |
|
RAX | Requested extension states of the european patent have changed |
Extension state: ME Payment date: 20200918 Extension state: BA Payment date: 20200918 |
|
RBV | Designated contracting states (corrected) |
Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 20220919 |
|
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED |
|
INTG | Intention to grant announced |
Effective date: 20240212 |
|
GRAS | Grant fee paid |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED |