WO2021207332A1 - Embouts auriculaires - Google Patents

Embouts auriculaires Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2021207332A1
WO2021207332A1 PCT/US2021/026138 US2021026138W WO2021207332A1 WO 2021207332 A1 WO2021207332 A1 WO 2021207332A1 US 2021026138 W US2021026138 W US 2021026138W WO 2021207332 A1 WO2021207332 A1 WO 2021207332A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
ear
conductive elastomer
electrically conductive
electrical contact
partially
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2021/026138
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Alexander Irwin
Robert James KNOX
Ethan Colburn
Original Assignee
Bose Corporation
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 Bose Corporation filed Critical Bose Corporation
Publication of WO2021207332A1 publication Critical patent/WO2021207332A1/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
    • H04R1/1058—Manufacture or assembly
    • 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

Definitions

  • This disclosure generally relates to configurations for ear tips for use with earpieces such as audio earbuds or other applications.
  • aspects and examples are directed to ear tips having components that accommodate one or more electrodes to be in contact with a wearer’s skin.
  • the electrodes enable capturing of bioeleetrical signals and/or providing stimulation of nerves through application of electricity.
  • an ear tip includes an electrically conductive elastomer including a first electrical contact formed to be at least partially in contact with a user's ear when in use, and a non-conductive elastomer coupled to the electrically conductive elastomer and formed to be at least partially in contact with the user’s ear when in use.
  • the electrically conductive elastomer includes an exposed portion defining a second electrical contact to an external electrode when the ear tip is at least partially fitted onto the external electrode or when the external electrode is at least partially fitted into the ear tip.
  • tire electrically conductive elastomer includes an electrical conductor that electrically couples the first electrical contact to the second electrical contact.
  • non-conductive elastomer is at least partially formed around the electrically conductive elastomer.
  • non-conductive elastomer is conjoined with the electrically conduct! ve elastomer.
  • one or more of tire electrically conductive elastomer and the non-conductive elastomer is a silicone elastomer.
  • a portion of the ear tip may be structured to rest in at least one of a concha or partially in an ear canal of the user, such that the electrically conductive elastomer may be in contact with the at least one of the concha or the ear canal when worn.
  • an ear piece headphone includes an ear bud and an ear tip in accord with any of the preceding ear tips described.
  • the electrically conductive elastomer includes an exposed portion allowing electrical contact to the ear bud.
  • a second ear bud and a second ear' tip in accord with any of the preceding ear tips may be included, e.g., to form a left and right stereo pair of ear piece headphones.
  • a method of forming an ear tip includes molding an electrically conductive elastomer in a form that includes a first electrical contact to be at least partially in contact with a user's ear when in use, and molding a non -conductive elastomer to the electrically conductive elastomer, the non-conductive elastomer formed to be at least partially in contact with the user's ear when in use, wherein the combination of the electrically conductive elastomer and the electrically non-conductive elastomer forms an ear tip.
  • the electrically conductive elastomer includes an exposed portion defining a second electrical contact to an external electrode when the ear tip is at least partially fitted onto the external electrode or when the external electrode is at least partially fitted into the ear tip.
  • the electrically conductive elastomer may be molded to include an electrical conductor that electrically couples the first electrical contact to the second electrical contact.
  • non-conductive elastomer is at least partially formed around the electrically conductive elastomer.
  • non-conductive elastomer is conjoined with the electrically conductive elastomer.
  • one or more of the electrically conductive elastomer and the non-conductive elastomer is a silicone elastomer.
  • a portion of the ear tip may be structured to rest in at least one of a concha or partially in an ear canal of the user, the electrically conductive elastomer being in contact with the at least one of the concha or the ear canal when worn.
  • Various examples include mating the molded electrically conductive elastomer and the molded electrically non-conductive elastomer to an ear bud.
  • mating to the ear bud may include forming electrical contact between the ear bud and the electrically conduct! v e elastomer. Still other aspects, examples, and advantages of these exemplary aspects and examples are discussed in detail below.
  • Examples disclosed herein may he combined with other examples in any manner consistent with at least one of the principles disclosed herein, and references to “an example,” “some examples,” “an alternate example,” “various examples,” “one example” or the like are not necessarily mutually exclusive and are intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described may be included in at least one example. The appearances of such terms herein are not necessarily all referring to the same example.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic cross-sectional view of an example ear tip
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the example ear tip of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another portion of the example ear tip of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another portion of the example ear tip of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 5 is an alternate perspective schematic cross-sectional view of the example ear tip of FIG. 1.
  • aspects of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods to provide electrodes in an ear tip for fitting a user’s ear and providing electrical coupling to a portion of the user’s skin, and to provide electrical conductivity to external electronics.
  • Systems and methods disclosed herein are directed to ear tips having a combination of conductive elastomers and non-conductive elastomers.
  • the elastomers may be silicone based elastomers in some examples, but any suitable material may be used.
  • the conductive elastomers may provide electrical conductivity in a manner integral to an overall elastomeric shape.
  • systems and methods of the present disclosure form an ear tip from a combination of conductive and non-conductive elastomers such that the conductive components are integrally formed in the ear tip.
  • a conductive elastomer may be first molded and secondarily inserted in a subsequent mold in which a non-conductive elastomer may be over-molded with the conductive elastomer at least partially inside or encompassed by at least a portion of the non-conductive elastomer.
  • conductive portions may be formed of conductive polymers.
  • the ear ioop 110 of FIG.l includes a first portion 120 formed of an electrically conductive material and a second portion 130 fotmed of a non-conducti ve material.
  • Each of these materials may be soft or pliable, e.g., elastomers, and either or both may be formed of silicone based elastomers in some examples.
  • the first and second portions 120, 130 may be formed of different materials and may have varying hardness.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates the electrically conductive first portion 120 in a more detailed example.
  • the first electrical contact 122 is positioned to be exposed, e.g., not encompassed by the non-conductive second portion 130, such that it may be placed in contact with a user’s skin.
  • the electrical conductor 124 is formed of a smaller cross section, in some examples, and is configured to be protected and electrically insulated from the exterior by portions of the non-conductive second portion 130.
  • the second electrical contact 126 is positioned and formed to provide an external electrical contact when the overmoided non- conductive second portion 130 is formed.
  • Various examples may have varying arrangements of the components of the electrically conductive first portion 120 and those shown in the figures are merely an example.
  • Various examples provide electrical connectivity to a user’s skin from an external circuit via the conductive first portion 120, and any of various shapes and arrangements may provide the suitable connectivity.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates the ear loop 110 in a more detailed example.
  • the electrically conductive first portion 120 is illustrated, and in this case the overmoided non- conductive second portion 130 is also illustrated.
  • the exposed first electrical contact 122 is visible in the figure while the exposed second electrical contact 126 exists but is obscured by the main body 150.
  • an ear bud or other device and/or circuitry may be inserted in the main body 150 of the ear tip 100 and may include contacts positioned to align with and provide electrical connectivity to the second electrical contact 126.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates an example umbrella 160 that may also be formed of a combination of electrically conductive and non-conductive materials. Each of these materials may be soft or pliable, e.g., elastomers, and either or both may be formed of silicone based elastomers in some examples.
  • the umbrella 160 may be formed separately from the ear loop 110 and/or the body 150. In other examples, the umbrella 160 may be integrally formed with either or both of the ear loop 110 and the body 150. in some examples, the umbrella 160 may include two conductive portions 162, 164 conjoined with a non-conductive portion 166, though other numbers of conductive and non-conductive portions may he included in other examples.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates the ear tip 100 with the umbrella 160 provided and further illustrates an example electrical contact to a conductive portion of the umbrella 160 via a pogo pin 170.
  • an ear bud or other device and/or circuitry may be inserted in the main body 150 of the ear tip 100 and may include contacts positioned to align with tire pogo pin 170 and thereby provide electrical connectivity to the user’s skin through the pogo pin 170 and the umbrella 160.
  • an ear bud or other device and/or circuitry may be inserted in the main body 150 of the ear tip 100 and may include contacts positioned to align with and directly contact one or more conductive portions of the umbrella 160, without a pogo pin 170.
  • electrically conductive portions intended to provide contact with a user’s skin when in use may he coated with additional materials to enhance electrical connectivity and conductivity to the user’s skin.
  • Some examples may include an ionic conductive coating.
  • Certain examples may include a coating of ionic silver chloride.
  • each of the first electrical contact 122 and the front sides of the conductive portions 162, 164 of the umbrella 160 may be coated with such ionic conductive coalings.
  • While the example ear tips disclosed herein include electrically conductive materials to provide multiple contact surfaces with the user’s skin, such as on the ear loop 110 and on the umbrella 160, various examples may provide any number of electrically conductive contact surfaces. Some examples may include a single electrical contact surface as a component of the ear loop 110 and a single electrical contact surface as a component of the umbrella 160. Other examples may provide only one or the other of these electrical contact surfaces, e.g., an ear loop contact without an umbrella contact or an umbrella contact without an ear loop contact. Some examples may include any number of umbrella contacts, ear loop contacts, or other contacts positioned to contact other portions of the user’s ear, such as differently shaped ear tips that may contact other portions of the ear anatomy, including behind the ear in some examples.
  • references to “or” may be construed as inclusive so that any terms described using “or” may indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms. Any references to front and back, left and right, top and bottom, upper and lower, and vertical and horizontal are intended for convenience of description, not to limit the present systems and methods or their components to any one positional or spatial orientation, unless the context reasonably implies otherwise.

Landscapes

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

Abstract

L'invention concerne des embouts auriculaires et des procédés d'obtention d'embouts auriculaires ayant des contacts électriquement conducteurs. Un élastomère électroconducteur est moulé sous une forme qui comprend un premier contact électrique configuré pour être en contact avec l'oreille d'un utilisateur lorsqu'il est porté. Un élastomère électriquement non conducteur est moulé sur l'élastomère électriquement conducteur pour former un embout auriculaire.
PCT/US2021/026138 2020-04-07 2021-04-07 Embouts auriculaires WO2021207332A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US202063006392P 2020-04-07 2020-04-07
US63/006,392 2020-04-07

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2021207332A1 true WO2021207332A1 (fr) 2021-10-14

Family

ID=75747066

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2021/026138 WO2021207332A1 (fr) 2020-04-07 2021-04-07 Embouts auriculaires

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2021207332A1 (fr)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110007929A1 (en) * 2009-07-08 2011-01-13 Stanley Rabu Earbuds with electrostatic discharge protection
US20190111261A1 (en) * 2017-10-16 2019-04-18 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Electrodes for hearing devices and related methods
US20190351230A1 (en) * 2014-06-13 2019-11-21 Neuvana, Llc Transcutaneous electrostimulator and methods for electric stimulation

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110007929A1 (en) * 2009-07-08 2011-01-13 Stanley Rabu Earbuds with electrostatic discharge protection
US20190351230A1 (en) * 2014-06-13 2019-11-21 Neuvana, Llc Transcutaneous electrostimulator and methods for electric stimulation
US20190111261A1 (en) * 2017-10-16 2019-04-18 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Electrodes for hearing devices and related methods

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