WO2015101505A1 - Oreillette ouverte - Google Patents

Oreillette ouverte Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2015101505A1
WO2015101505A1 PCT/EP2014/078349 EP2014078349W WO2015101505A1 WO 2015101505 A1 WO2015101505 A1 WO 2015101505A1 EP 2014078349 W EP2014078349 W EP 2014078349W WO 2015101505 A1 WO2015101505 A1 WO 2015101505A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
disc
acoustic
ear piece
canal
ear
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2014/078349
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Thomas Vad
Jakob Jensen
Original Assignee
GN Store Nord A/S
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by GN Store Nord A/S filed Critical GN Store Nord A/S
Publication of WO2015101505A1 publication Critical patent/WO2015101505A1/fr

Links

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
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/65—Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • H04R25/652—Ear tips; Ear moulds
    • 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
    • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/61—Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
    • 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
    • H04R2460/11—Aspects relating to vents, e.g. shape, orientation, acoustic properties in ear tips of hearing devices to prevent occlusion
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/45—Prevention of acoustic reaction, i.e. acoustic oscillatory feedback
    • H04R25/456—Prevention of acoustic reaction, i.e. acoustic oscillatory feedback mechanically
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/60—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles
    • H04R25/603—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of 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
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/65—Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • H04R25/652—Ear tips; Ear moulds
    • H04R25/654—Ear wax retarders
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/65—Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • H04R25/652—Ear tips; Ear moulds
    • H04R25/656—Non-customized, universal ear tips, i.e. ear tips which are not specifically adapted to the size or shape of the ear or ear canal

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an ear piece configured for fitting into or covering an auditory canal of an ear and substantially blocking the auditory canal to acoustically separate the auditory canal in inside towards the ear drum and in the opposite direction of the ear drum an outside towards the outside or ambient side of the ear, which ear piece has an inner face for facing the ear drum and an outer face for facing the outside; which ear piece is configured with a sound source for directing or transmitting from a sound generator acoustic waves from the inner face towards the ear drum.
  • the ear piece may have an acoustic canal with an outer opening in the outer face and an inner opening in the inner face and being an opening for transmitting acoustic waves from the outside or ambient side to the inside and towards the ear drum, which acoustic canal is configured with an acoustic valve assembly configured for adjustably controlling the openness of the opening of the acoustic canal.
  • Acoustic ear pieces for insertion in the ear to deliver a desired sound are typically made to fit into an auditory canal of an ear in such a way that the ear piece effectively separates the auditory canal in an inner part towards the ear drum and an outer part towards the outside world.
  • the separation is done efficiently so that the ear piece effectively blocks ambient sounds or noise or at least attenuates the sound level to a minimum so that the sound level of the sound provided by the ear piece or via the ear piece as it is dominates the ambient sounds or noise.
  • Such sound generator may be a highly complex processing unit executing highly complex processing algorithms to generate a natural and audible sound.
  • Such sound generator may be a media player configured to playback some pre-recorded or to play some streaming audio.
  • the ear piece may be ear molds, ear domes, ear plugs, head sets for hearing aids, media players or other audio devices.
  • Such ear pieces exist and are continuously being refined in terms of providing processing power to provide as good as possible sound to the user whilst blocking out the ambient sounds from the outside.
  • An objective may be achieved by an ear piece configured for fitting into or covering an auditory canal of an ear and substantially filling out or blocking the auditory canal to acoustically separate the auditory canal in an inside towards the ear drum and in the opposite direction of the ear drum and? outside towards the outside or ambient side of the ear, which ear piece has an inner face for facing the ear drum and an outer face for facing the outside; which ear piece is configured with a sound source for directing or transmitting from a sound generator acoustic waves from the inner face towards the ear drum.
  • the ear piece may have an acoustic canal with an outer opening in the outer face and an inner opening in the inner face and being an opening for transmitting acoustic waves from the outside or ambient side to the inside and towards the ear drum, which acoustic canal is configured with an acoustic valve assembly configured for adjustably controlling the openness of the opening of the acoustic canal.
  • An ear piece may have a form factor for fitting into the auditory canal of an ear.
  • An ear piece may have a form factor for fitting onto an ear like a head set to cover the entry of an auditory canal.
  • the ear piece may therefore adjustably block, attenuate, reduce, open or close for acoustic waves to pass from the outside to the inside and allow the user to hear ambient sounds from the outside whilst at the same time having a earpiece that is configured to function as a means for delivering sounds from a sound source, which sound is typically a selected or processed sound.
  • the acoustical canal is a further canal configured to transmit acoustic waves that although attenuated are audible to a variety of ears having a hearing capacity that will be considered normal in terms of frequencies.
  • a person skilled in the art will depending on the form factor of a given ear piece body be able to form the dimensions of an acoustical canal not to filter away important frequencies exemplified by speech, alarm signals, ringing tones, and alike.
  • An opening of the acoustic canal may be defined at a certain cross section of the acoustic canal or the opening may be defined by an opening in an interface in the acoustic valve assembly into the acoustic canal.
  • the acoustic canal is an air canal.
  • the acoustic canal may at the same time serve to ventilate the inner part of the auditory canal.
  • the acoustic canal is configured with a membrane allowing acoustic waves to penetrate whilst blocking particulate matter and/or fluids to pass.
  • the ear piece may provide a weather shield or a shield to allow the ear piece to be used in dusty environments.
  • the membrane may even be water proof to allow the ear piece to be used under water whilst maintaining air as a carrier of acoustic waves and thus maintaining the capacity of the sound source to provide sounds as intended to the ear drum as was the ear piece used in air.
  • the acoustic valve assembly comprises at least a disc and at least a seat coupled to the acoustic canal and may be configured for adjustably controlling the openness of the opening of the acoustic canal.
  • the disc and the seat are configured to interact to that the disc can operate in the seat.
  • the seat may be configured to be part of the ear piece body or part of the acoustic canal.
  • the seat may have a seat face configured so that a disc face of the disc can make the disc operate in the seat to open or close the acoustic canal.
  • the seat face and disc face may form an interface that can control the openness of the opening.
  • One feature of the disc and the seat is that they as a starting point have complementary faces, which makes the disc movable in the seat and disc to be positioned in the seat in a desirable position.
  • the disc may be formed as a plate.
  • the disc may be essentially circular.
  • the disc may also be a piece with the same function as a disc and be formed in a ball-like shape.
  • a person skilled in the art will appreciate that the actual shape of the disc can be chosen according the desired form factor of the ear piece and the acoustic valve assembly in particular.
  • the disc or the seat may be configured with locks that will enable or disable the operation of the disc as intended.
  • At least one disc has at least one disc canal for transmitting acoustic waves from the outside to the inside.
  • Such disc canal or hole will allow for further configurations and positioning of the opening so that the openness may be controlled to a finer degree.
  • Disc canals may be implanted in patters or so that the positing of the disc in relation to the seat may enable for various acoustic canals to emerge for different positions.
  • At least one disc and at least one seat are configured for the least one disc to be movable in the least one seat so that at least part of the least one disc can be positioned at least partially across the acoustic canal to control the openness of the opening of the acoustic canal.
  • the arrangement and configuration may be so that a disc can slide in a seat thus forming a sliding or door or gate type of valve.
  • Such sliding type of configuration is particularly simple and may be implemented inside an acoustic canal.
  • the arrangement and configuration may be so that the disc can transverse essentially in the direction of the acoustic canal thus forming the acoustic valve assembly as a plug type of valve.
  • Such plug type configuration is a relatively simple configuration that may be operated easily from the outside.
  • the disc may have a handle or be connected to a handle so that it can be operated manually.
  • at least one seat and at least one disc are configured each with a seat face and a disc face forming an interface with an adjustable gap between the least one seat face and the least one disc face and configured for adjustably controlling the openness of the opening of the acoustic canal.
  • the interface may be tight or closed when the disc face and the seat face connect when complimentary shaped.
  • the interface may form a gap and some openness of an opening when the disc face and the seat face are apart.
  • the disc face may further be configured with holes or canals that can form part of the acoustic canal.
  • At least one disc is rotatably arranged in at least one seat for adjustably controlling the openness of the opening of the acoustic canal when rotating the least one disc.
  • the disc may be implemented on a screw type arrangement or a spindle like arrangement so that when turning the disc the distance to the seat changes and thereby changing the gap in an interface between a disc face dobbelt? facing a seat face.
  • a disc may have disc canals that when become aligned or misaligned with a seat face when the disc is turned or rotated.
  • each disc may be connected with part of a seat so that when connected or clipped on the parts of the seats form a single seat.
  • At least one disc is deformable and arranged in at least one seat for adjustably controlling the openness of the opening of the acoustic canal when deforming the least one disc.
  • a disc may be deformable by expanding or contraction to change the gap in an interface between the face of the disc and the face of the seat.
  • the deformable characteristics of the disc may be implemented as a balloon type valve.
  • Such balloon type valve may be able to precisely control the openness of an opening.
  • a compressed fluid may be stored to swift provide for a disc to expand.
  • At least one disc and at least one seat are magnetically coupled for positioning the least one disc in a position relative to the least one seat. Thereby ensuring that the disc can be positioned and remain positioned when moved to a certain position.
  • a further advantage is that the disc may easily be removed for cleaning or easily be replaced.
  • Another advantage is that different discs with different configurations of openness may provide for different predetermined openings according the configuration of each disc.
  • the acoustic valve assembly is a manual valve with a handle accessible from the outside and connected to at least one disc to manually positioning the least one disc in at least one seat to control the openness of the opening of the acoustic canal.
  • the handle makes the ear piece easy to operate manually.
  • the disc is simply positioned to either close or open the acoustic canal.
  • the acoustic valve assembly is an automatic valve with a valve actuator connected to at least one disc to positioning the least one disc in at least one seat to control the openness of the opening of the acoustic canal.
  • valve actuator is a spring loaded configuration where the spring actuates the disc.
  • the disc is actuated by being deformable depending on say temperature.
  • the disc may be shot released by releasing some stored pressure.
  • the valve actuator comprises means for providing a magnetic field engaging at least one disc so that the at least one disc is operated in at least one seat to control the openness of the opening of the acoustic canal.
  • the magnetically coupled disc and seat are coupled by electromagnets.
  • the seat may include a solenoid and the disc a magnetic material and arranged so that when a current flow in the solenoid a magnetic field is generated to act on the magnetic material in the disc and thus alter the position of the disc.
  • the disc-seat arrangement may be a sliding valve type. In another configuration the discseat arrangement may be a plug valve type.
  • valve actuator comprises a motor coupled to at least one disc so that when operating the motor, the at least one disc is operated in at least one seat to control the openness of the opening of the acoustic canal.
  • the motor may turn a spindle that will cause the disc to slide, a disc type plug to move, or a disc to rotate.
  • the ear piece may comprise a valve controller configured to control the valve actuator.
  • the controller may be a processor embedded in the ear piece or made available separate to the ear piece.
  • the controller may be a simple selector, a tabulated controller or an intelligent processor with underlying control algorithms.
  • the valve controller may be configured to receive an external control signal and to process such external control signal to operate the valve actuator to control the openness of the opening of the acoustic canal as a function of the external control signal.
  • a control signal may be generated by a meter as part of the ear piece or the control signal may be provide by a separate device by a communication interface.
  • the control signal may be generated by a user input or it may be generated by an algorithm or as a function of inputs that optionally may include user inputs.
  • valve controller is configured with a sensor to provide a sensor signal from the outside and process such sensor signal to operate the valve actuator to control the openness of the opening of the acoustic canal as a function of the sensor signal.
  • the sensor may be an air pressure sensor or a sound level sensor to regulate the openness of the opening according to the sound level of the ambient sounds.
  • the sensor may be embedded in the ear piece or the sensor may be in a separate device with a communication interface to provide a sensor signal to the valve controller.
  • the sensor may be a timer or light sensor to regulate the openness of the opening according to the time of the day.
  • an a sound generator configured to operate with an ear piece as disclosed.
  • the sound generator may be configured to control an ear piece as disclosed.
  • the sound generator may be configured as a portable device external to the ear piece.
  • An objective may be obtained by an embodiment of a kit of at least one ear piece as disclosed and a sound generator as disclosed.
  • the sound generator is at least partially embedded in at least on ear piece.
  • Fig. 1 depicts an ear piece in an auditory canal of an ear
  • Fig. 2 depicts an ear piece formed as an ear mold with an acoustic canal
  • Fig. 3 depicts an ear piece formed as an ear dome with an acoustic canal
  • Fig. 4 depicts earpieces with an external sound generator
  • Fig. 5 depicts an ear piece with a manual acoustic valve assembly - sliding type
  • Fig. 6 depicts an ear piece with a manual acoustic valve assembly - plug type
  • Fig. 7 depicts an ear piece with a manual acoustic valve assembly - rotational type
  • Fig. 8 depicts an ear piece with an automatic acoustic valve assembly - sliding type
  • Fig. 9 depicts an ear piece with an automatic acoustic valve assembly - plug type
  • Fig. 10 depicts an ear piece with a sensor for sensing external signals.
  • Figure 1 illustrates an ear 1 with an ear drum 2 at the end of an auditory canal 3.
  • the auditory canal 3 may be divided by an ear piece 10 separating the auditory canal 3 in an inside 5 between the ear drum 2 and the ear piece 10 and on the other side an outside 6 facing and an ambient side 7.
  • An ear piece 10 may be inserted in the ear 1 in an intended way and as such be described accordingly.
  • Figure 2 illustrates an ear piece 10 in the form of an ear mold configured as a receiver in the canal (RIC) or a Receiver in the Ear (RITE).
  • RIC receiver in the canal
  • RITE Receiver in the Ear
  • the ear piece 10 is an ear piece body 11 with an inner face 12 intended to face an ear drum 2 (not shown) and on the other side an outer face 14 that will face the outside when the ear piece 10 is placed in an ear.
  • the ear piece 10 has a sound source 20 in the sense that a sound generator 22 can be embedded in the ear piece 10.
  • the sound source 20 is the piece or part of the ear piece 10 that will be the part from which the sound will be directed towards the ear drum 2 (not shown) when the ear piece is used as intended.
  • the sound generator 22 may be a receiver.
  • the sound source may also be part of the ear piece 10 that will simply direct acoustic waves 23 generated elsewhere, but guided, amplified and processed by some technical means towards the ear drum 2.
  • the guidance may be by a tube. Or there may be a tube with wires that will guide electronic signals to be finally amplified and converted to acoustic waves 23.
  • acoustic waves 23 represent sounds made by the receiver or sound generator 22.
  • the ear piece 10 may be a hearing aid or an in the ear speaker.
  • a feature of such ear piece 10 is an acoustic canal 30 in the ear piece body 11.
  • the acoustic canal 30 has a inner opening 32 in the ear piece body 11, which inner opening 32 is on the inner face 12 and located so that acoustic waves 36 will be directed towards an ear drum 2 (not shown) when the ear piece 10 is placed in an auditory canal 2.
  • the acoustic canal 30 further has an outer opening 34 in the outer face 14 and configured for collecting sounds from the outside.
  • the acoustic canal 30 is configured for transmitting acoustic waves 36 trough the ear piece body 11 from the outside 6 to the inside 5 without significantly reducing the characteristics of the sound.
  • the transmitted acoustic waves 36 have not been processed by the receiver or sound generator 22, but are transmitted directly through the acoustic canal 30.
  • the acoustic canal 30 has an opening 37 through the ear piece body 11.
  • Figure 3 illustrates an ear piece 10 as an ear dome system in a receiver in the ear (RIE) configuration.
  • the ear piece 10 has a spout for ear dome attachment and where the ear dome is configured with a sound generator 22 or receiver in a housing with a tube configured with wires for a RIE-connector.
  • the ear piece 10 is an ear piece body 11 with an inner face 12 intended to face an ear drum 2 (not shown) and on the other side an outer face 14 that will face the outside when the ear piece 10 is placed in an ear.
  • the illustrated ear piece 10 has different shape to the ear piece illustrated in figure 2, the ear piece has an acoustic canal 30 with an inner opening 32 on the inner face 12 and an outer opening 34 on the outer face 14.
  • the ear piece 10 also has a sound source 20 in the sense that the sound generator 22 can be connected to the ear piece 10 by the spout so that acoustic waves 23 can be directed from the sound source 20 to an ear drum 2 when the ear piece is placed in its intended position in an ear 1.
  • the ear piece 10 shown, when connected with the dome, may be considered a variant of an ear piece 10.
  • Figure 4 illustrates in continuation of previous figures embodiments of behind the ear (BTE) configurations of ear pieces 10 as ear mold (A) and ear dome (B) configurations where the sound generator 22 is clearly separated from the ear piece and to be located externally of the ear 1, such as behind the ear, and acoustic waves are to be transmitted from the sound generator 22 to the sound source 20 and from the sound source 20 directed or guided towards the ear drum 2.
  • the acoustic waves 23 may be guided in a tube from the sound generator 22 to the sound source 20 in the ear piece 10.
  • Figure 5 illustrates features of an acoustic valve assembly 40 in an ear piece 10.
  • the acoustic valve assembly 40 is an example shown in an ear mold embodiment of the ear piece 10 similar to the ear piece illustrated in figure 2.
  • the ear piece may be any other ear piece configuration of the previously shown ear mold or ear dome types or form factors such as RIE or BTE.
  • the ear piece may be of those types or any other type of ear piece configuration, but having an acoustic valve assembly 40 with a disc 42 operating in a seat 44 in related to an acoustic canal 30 so that the disc 42 can at least partially close the acoustic canal 30.
  • the acoustic canal 30 is configured with an acoustic valve assembly 40 comprising at least a disc 42 and at least a seat 44 coupled to the acoustic canal 30 and configured for adjustably controlling the openness of the opening 37 of the acoustic canal 30.
  • the disc 42 may have a handle 46 that is configured to be manually operable from the outside 5, preferably by use fingers.
  • the seat 44 has a seat face 46 configured so that a disc face 47 of the disc 42 can make the disc 42 operate in the seat 44 to open or close the acoustic canal 30.
  • the seat face 46 and disc face 47 form an interface 49.
  • the seat 44 is formed so that the disc 44 can slide in front of the outer opening 34 on the outer side 14 of the ear piece 10 and thus being configured to control the openness of the acoustic canal 30.
  • the described embodiment is an manual valve 50 type and the interface 49 is configured to form a sliding valve 52 configuration.
  • This configuration benefits from being particularly simple and easy to use. A user can manually adjust the degree transmittance of sound from the outside 6 to the inside 5 by sliding the door.
  • Figure 6 illustrates features of an acoustic valve assembly 40 in an ear piece 10.
  • the acoustic canal 30 is configured with an acoustic valve assembly 40 comprising at least a disc 42 and at least a seat 44 coupled to the acoustic canal 30 and configured for adjustably controlling the openness of the opening 37 of the acoustic canal 30.
  • the disc 42 has a handle 46 that is configured to be manually operable from the outside 5, preferably by use fingers. In this configuration the handle 46 is separated from the disc 42 by an extension piece.
  • the seat 44 is a recess that is an expansion of the acoustic canal 30 forming part of the outer opening 34.
  • the seat face 47 forms an interface 49 with the disc face 48 so that a gap can be established between the seat face 47 and the disc face 48 allowing sound to penetrate from the outside 6 into the acoustic canal 30 towards the inside 5.
  • the disc 42 has a disc canal 43 that is configured to allow acoustic waves 36 to pass the disc 42 in the direction from the outside 6 to the inside 5.
  • the disc canal 43 is placed in the disc 42 so that when the disc face 48 is in contact with the seat face 47 there is no, or reduced or only via the disc material, acoustic connection from the outside 6 to the inside 5.
  • the seat 44 and the disc 42 are configured so that the disc 42 an transverse in the seat 42 essentially forming an acoustically tight sealing, apart from the disc canal 43, so that the gap of the interface 49 can be adjusted and thus configured for adjustably controlling the openness of the opening 37 of the acoustic canal 30.
  • a remaining part of the disc face 48 essentially blocks the opening 37 of the acoustic canal 30 thus forming a closed position of the acoustic valve assembly 40. This can be achieved by pushing the disc 42 into the seat 44.
  • the openness can be controlled by pulling the disc 42 outwardly.
  • This embodiment is a manual valve 50 of a plug valve 54 type.
  • a user can change between open and closed fitting in the ear mold by pressing the handle 46 and the disc 42 configured as a push button with a spring activated disc 42 thus forming an a pen like - principle not shown open/close configuration.
  • Figure 7 illustrates features of an acoustic valve assembly 40 in an ear piece 10.
  • the acoustic valve assembly 40 is an example shown in an in the ear dual dome embodiment of the ear piece 10.
  • the acoustic valve assembly 40 has a first or inner disc 42A formed with a first or inner part of a seat 44A to be rotationally operable in related another second or outer part of a seat 44B in a second or outer disc 42B.
  • Each disc 42A, 42B has an inner opening 32A, 32B, a disc canal 43A, 43B and an outer opening 34A, 34B.
  • the each disc canal 43A, 43B forms part of an acoustic canal 30A, 30B that together form an acoustic canal 30.
  • the inner seat 44A and the outer seat 44B are configured to fit into each other so that they can rotate relatively to each other.
  • the inner disc holes 43A in the inner disc 42A and the outer disc holes 43B in the outer disc 43B are located or positioned so that when the discs 42A, 43B are rotated relatively to each other the inner holes 43A and the outer holes 43B in a give position align to form an opening 37 in a an acoustic canal 30 thus acoustically connecting the outside 6 with the inside 5.
  • the disc holes may be positioned and configured so that for a certain position of the outer disc 43B relative to the inner disc 43A the acoustic canal 30 has a certain openness of the opening 371.
  • Other disc holes may constitute another openness of the opening 3711, and yet other degrees of openness of the opening 37111, ... may be made available by sets of disc canals 43AI, 43BI; 43AII, 43BII, and so forth.
  • the described embodiment is a manual valve 50 type and the seat 44 is configured to form a rotating valve 56 configuration.
  • the outer dome with a seat part and an outer disc is snapped to an inner dome with a seat part and an inner disc.
  • a user can manually change between open and closed fitting in the ear dome by rotating the outer dome.
  • holes or disc canals in an outer disc are aligned with holes or disc canals in an inner disc, the dome is open.
  • Figure 8 illustrates features of an acoustic valve assembly 40 in an ear piece 10.
  • the acoustic valve assembly 40 is an example shown in an ear mold embodiment of the ear piece 10 similar to the ear piece illustrated in figure 2.
  • the ear piece may be any other ear piece configuration of the previously shown ear mold or ear dome types or form factors such as RIE or BTE.
  • the ear piece may be of those types or any other type of ear piece configuration, but having an acoustic valve assembly 40 with a disc 42 operating in a seat 44 in related to an acoustic canal 30 so that the disc 42 can at least partially close the acoustic canal 30.
  • the acoustic canal 30 is configured with an acoustic valve assembly 40 comprising at least a disc 42 and at least a seat 44 coupled to the acoustic canal 30 and configured for adjustably controlling the openness of the opening 37 of the acoustic canal 30.
  • the disc 42 and the seat 44 is configured to form a sliding valve 52 configuration.
  • the seat 44 is configured as a valve actuator 62 coupled to the disc 42 so that the valve actuator 62 can control the position of the disc's 42 in the acoustic canal 30 and thus control the openness of the opening 37.
  • the valve actuator 62 comprises means for providing a magnetic field engaging the disc 42 so that the disc 42 is operated in the seat 44 to control the openness of the opening 37 of the acoustic canal 30.
  • the magnetic field may be provided electromagnetically by a solenoid.
  • Such solenoid configuration may be with or without a spring loaded valve plunger.
  • power for the valve actuator 62 may be present in the ear mold or provided from the exterior.
  • the described embodiment is an automatic valve 60 type and here the interface 49 is configured to form a sliding valve 52 configuration.
  • the user can change between open and closed fitting in the ear mold by activating or deactivating the solenoid. This may be controlled by a valve controller 64 provided by a control signal 66.
  • the control signal 66 may be provided wirelessly from an external device such as a Smartphone, or by an electrical switch or a knob.
  • the magnetic valve actuator 62 replaced by a motorized valve actuator 62 where the motor drives a spindle attached to the disc 42. Such embodiment will allow a more precise positioning of the disc 42 and thus more precisely control the openness of the opening 37.
  • Figure 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment with similar features as those illustrated in figure 8.
  • the acoustic valve assembly 40 with the valve actuator 62 is configured as a plug valve 54 type similarly to the type illustrated in figure 6.
  • the disc 42 operable by the valve actuator 62 for a movement and positioning along the direction of the acoustic canal 30 and the interface 49 between the disc face 48 and the seat face 47 forms an opening 37 in the acoustic canal 30 between the outside 6 and the inside 5.
  • the opening 37 may be formed by radial holes in solenoid plunger or tube extending into the seat 44.
  • the disc 42 is located at or towards the outer opening 34 and thus essentially forms part of the outer face 14.
  • a further advantage of such configuration is that the disc 42 also functions as a lid to the acoustic canal 30.
  • the user can change between open and closed fitting in the ear mold by activating or deactivating the solenoid.
  • This may be controlled by a valve controller 64 provided by a control signal 66.
  • the valve actuator 62 is illustrated without a spring. Again the valve actuator may be either electromagnetically operated by a solenoid or mechanically operated by a spindle arrangement.
  • the disc 42 may also function as a handle 46 and the acoustic valve assembly 40 configured as a manual valve 50 and may be operated manually by a user push-pressing the disc 42 from the outside 6.
  • Figure 10 illustrates a further feature implemented in a exemplary ear mold type form factor as a ear piece 10 with features from previous illustrations.
  • Such ear piece 10 may further be configured with a sensor 68 configured to sense conditions in the exterior and preferably sensing outwardly from the outer face 14 and to provide a sensor signal 69 to a valve controller 64 of an automatic valve 60 in an acoustic valve assembly 40 as previously disclosed.
  • the sensor may be sound level sensor type or a sensor determining the context of the user.
  • the sensor 68 may also be an external sensor located in a separate device such as a Smartphone, a remote or any other external device and the sensor signal 69 configured to be made available to the valve controller 64.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Headphones And Earphones (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention concerne une oreillette configurée pour se loger dans le conduit auditif d'une oreille, ou le couvrir, et bloquer sensiblement le conduit auditif afin de séparer acoustiquement le conduit auditif en une partie intérieure vers le tympan et une partie extérieure, du côté opposé au tympan, vers l'extérieur ou côté ambiant de l'oreille, laquelle oreillette comprend une face intérieure destinée à être orientée vers le tympan et une face extérieure destinée à être orientée vers l'extérieur ; laquelle oreillette est configurée avec une source sonore servant à diriger, ou transmettre à partir d'un générateur sonore, des ondes acoustiques de la face intérieure vers le tympan. L'oreillette peut comprendre un canal acoustique comportant un orifice extérieur dans la face extérieure et un orifice intérieur dans la face intérieure et qui est un orifice servant à transmettre des ondes acoustiques de l'extérieur ou côté ambiant à l'intérieur et vers le tympan, lequel canal acoustique est configuré avec un ensemble valve acoustique configuré pour commander de façon réglable l'ouverture de l'orifice du canal acoustique.
PCT/EP2014/078349 2013-12-30 2014-12-18 Oreillette ouverte WO2015101505A1 (fr)

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DKPA201370826 2013-12-30

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JP2018121285A (ja) * 2017-01-27 2018-08-02 株式会社Ｊｖｃケンウッド イヤホン
CN109756830A (zh) * 2018-02-06 2019-05-14 索尼昂荷兰有限公司 用于听力设备的电子电路和内耳件
CN111357300A (zh) * 2017-09-18 2020-06-30 索尼昂荷兰有限公司 包括声学密封件和排放开口的交流装置
WO2020236911A1 (fr) * 2019-05-21 2020-11-26 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Actionneur à solénoïde dans un dispositif auditif
US20210377643A1 (en) * 2018-12-14 2021-12-02 Sony Group Corporation Sound device and sound system
US11245973B2 (en) 2020-07-09 2022-02-08 Gn Hearing A/S Hearing device with active vent click compensation
US20230086021A1 (en) * 2021-09-17 2023-03-23 Apple Inc. Dynamic valve for an electronic device
US12081934B2 (en) * 2022-08-02 2024-09-03 Apple Inc. Dynamic valve for an electronic device

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US20120082335A1 (en) * 2009-06-02 2012-04-05 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Earphone arrangement and method of operation therefor
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WO2013123626A1 (fr) * 2012-02-21 2013-08-29 江苏贝泰福医疗科技有限公司 Ecouteur de musique

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US3702123A (en) * 1971-09-09 1972-11-07 John T Macken Vented hearing aid ear mold
DE4008982A1 (de) * 1990-03-21 1991-09-26 Bosch Gmbh Robert Im ohr zu tragendes hoergeraet oder otoplastik mit einem belueftungskanal
US6549635B1 (en) * 1999-09-07 2003-04-15 Siemens Audiologische Technik Gmbh Hearing aid with a ventilation channel that is adjustable in cross-section
EP2071872A1 (fr) * 2007-12-03 2009-06-17 Oticon A/S Dispositif auditif
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WO2013123626A1 (fr) * 2012-02-21 2013-08-29 江苏贝泰福医疗科技有限公司 Ecouteur de musique

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JP2018121285A (ja) * 2017-01-27 2018-08-02 株式会社Ｊｖｃケンウッド イヤホン
US11540041B2 (en) 2017-09-18 2022-12-27 Sonion Nederland B.V. Communication device comprising an acoustical seal and a vent opening
CN111357300B (zh) * 2017-09-18 2023-02-17 声扬荷兰有限公司 包括声学密封件和排放开口的交流装置
CN111357300A (zh) * 2017-09-18 2020-06-30 索尼昂荷兰有限公司 包括声学密封件和排放开口的交流装置
CN109756830B (zh) * 2018-02-06 2022-04-19 声扬荷兰有限公司 用于听力设备的电子电路和内耳件
US10887705B2 (en) 2018-02-06 2021-01-05 Sonion Nederland B.V. Electronic circuit and in-ear piece for a hearing device
EP3567873A1 (fr) * 2018-02-06 2019-11-13 Sonion Nederland B.V. Procede de commande d'une soupape acoustique d'un appareil auditif
CN109756830A (zh) * 2018-02-06 2019-05-14 索尼昂荷兰有限公司 用于听力设备的电子电路和内耳件
US20210377643A1 (en) * 2018-12-14 2021-12-02 Sony Group Corporation Sound device and sound system
US11743626B2 (en) * 2018-12-14 2023-08-29 Sony Group Corporation Sound device and sound system
WO2020236911A1 (fr) * 2019-05-21 2020-11-26 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Actionneur à solénoïde dans un dispositif auditif
US11863935B2 (en) 2019-05-21 2024-01-02 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Solenoid actuator in a hearing device
US11245973B2 (en) 2020-07-09 2022-02-08 Gn Hearing A/S Hearing device with active vent click compensation
US20230086021A1 (en) * 2021-09-17 2023-03-23 Apple Inc. Dynamic valve for an electronic device
US12081934B2 (en) * 2022-08-02 2024-09-03 Apple Inc. Dynamic valve for an electronic device

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