184results about "Ear moulds/tips acoustic seals" patented technology

A hearing aid body is provided that contains electronic hearing aid components and that is attachable to the user's body outside the ear canal. A conduit connects the hearing aid body to the flexible plug. The conduit enables sound emitted by the hearing aid to travel via the conduit to the flexible plug so that the user's able to hear a sound that is amplified by the hearing aid and received by the plug via the conduit. The conduit can be a flexible hollow tube or an electronic conduit that transmit electrical signals between the hearing aid and the plug. A stent embedded in the plug is provided, the stent having a first smaller diameter at a temperature below body temperature and being expandable to a second greater diameter when subjected to the user's body temperature, such as the temperature in the ear canal of a user.

A personal hearing control system includes a microphone located within a user's sealed ear canal, a speaker having a diaphragm which directs sound into the ear canal, and a controller which drives the speaker such that the system emulates the acoustics of the user's open ear canal. Also provided are a microphone located on the outer ear side of the sealed ear canal, which is coupled to a handheld interface unit having multiple inputs and operating modes. A user-selected input is processed by the interface unit, and the processed signal is coupled to the speaker. In one operating mode, the output of the outer ear mic is processed so as to cancel sound that leaks from the outer ear to the inner ear side of the seal.

A system for receiving multiple conversations or messages and for playing the multiple conversations or messages with a mobile device and wireless earpieces. The system may determine various presentation parameters based on various characteristics of the received messages and may play the messages such that audio appears at distinguishing locations around the user. The system may change how messages and / or conversations are played in response to recognize a change in the focus of the user based on detected user inputs, such as body movement gestures.

A method and apparatus for objectively assessing acoustical performance of an in-ear device having a passageway extending there through use a dual microphone probe that removably engages the passageway. The acoustical performance of the in-ear device is performed with the in-ear device inserted into the ear canal of the user and a reference sound source. A clip holding the probe in an acoustic near field of the sound source permits real time calibration thereof. The method and apparatus allow on-site and in-situ measurement of a predicted personal attenuation rating of the device, a subject-fit re-insertion test, an acoustic seal test, a rating test, a stability and reliability test, as well as a protection test of the device with an assessment of a filtered predicted exposure level at the ear for a specific noise exposure level. The apparatus may be simply housed along with the sound source for in-field evaluation tests.

An occluding hearing aid having anti-occlusion effect techniques combined with at least one improvement which, in the preferred embodiment, includes enhancement of acoustic output in the lower-midrange and bass frequency regions, typically between substantially 40 and 500 Hz, which regions are crucial for natural reproduction of multimedia sound and music but are not optimally processed, and generally not provided at all, in prior art hearing aids in order to avoid exacerbation of the occlusion effect. In specific embodiments, the hearing aid of the present invention includes primary or first microphone exposed to external sound plus a secondary or second microphone exposed to sound within an ear canal, in which a signal produced by the secondary microphone is applied as negative feedback to an input of a non-gain controlling signal process and amplifier driving a hearing aid receiver (transducer), whereby, it has been determined by the present inventor, the occlusion effect may be substantially canceled. The hearing aid further comprises at least one of ten combinational improvements each providing substantial performance benefits over known techniques and devices.

An connector assembly for use in, for example, a hearing aid, the assembly having a first connector and a second connector adapted to be detachably attached and being able to transport both sound and electric signals. The invention also relates to an assembly comprising the connector assembly and having a first part comprising an electrical input and a sound providing receiver as well as both an audio output and an electrical output. The two outputs are connected to a second element, normally for positioning inside an ear canal of a person, the second element having a receiver for receiving the electrical signal from the first elements and providing a corresponding sound which is mixed with the sound output by the second element, the mixed sound being output from the second element. The receiver of the first element may be a woofer, and the receiver of the second element may be a tweeter.

Changing batteries in hearing apparatuses worn in the auditory canal is to be designed in a more user-friendly manner. To this end, a hearing apparatus is provided with a first component which can be worn in the auditory canal, said component comprising a receiver unit for the wireless reception of signals. The hearing apparatus also exhibits a second component which is separated from the first component in terms of design, said second component likewise being able to be worn in the auditory canal and a transmitter unit for the wireless transmission of signals and / or energy to the receiver unit of the first component. The first component can be designed to be battery-less. The second component, which is positioned further outside in the auditory canal, can be easily removed from the auditory canal in order to change the battery.

The present invention is directed to a hearing aid which includes a lateral ear canal assembly and a medial ear canal assembly. In embodiments of the invention the medial ear canal assembly may include smart circuitry adapted to control parameters and outputs of the medial ear canal assembly. In embodiments of the invention various methods and circuitry are described, wherein the methods and circuitry are adapted to improve the performance and efficiency of the hearing aid.

The present invention is directed to a headphone or an earpiece that includes a cushion that advantageously allows for improved comfort, sound quality, and stability in the ear. The cushion includes an inner cavity, an ear-canal aperture and a tip portion, wherein the inner cavity of the cushion accommodates a nozzle portion of a housing within the cavity, and the axis of the inner cavity is substantially parallel to the first axis, and wherein the ear-canal aperture opens toward the ear canal of the user's ear when the headphone or the earpiece is worn by the user. A speaker element is positioned inside the nozzle portion of the housing, and the center of mass of the headphone is shifted close to a center plane of the cushion.

The risk of inadequate hearing device provision for the hearing-impaired is to be reduced. To this end provision is made to determine the correct fit of the hearing device or the hearing device component in an auditory canal. To this end an acoustic measurement signal is output into the auditory canal. The measurement signal influenced in the auditory canal by the hearing device or the hearing device component is received and compared with a reference signal. Information about the fit of the hearing device is determined from the comparison. This information is transmitted with a status report to an external unit. Objective information about the fit of the hearing device can thus be obtained, particularly in the case of provision for children.

Disclosed herein is a sound outputting apparatus, including: an electro-acoustic conversion section disposed in a housing and configured to acoustically reproduce a first sound signal; a sound collection section configured to collect sound outside said housing and output a second sound signal; a surrounding noise evaluation section configured to evaluate surrounding noise outside said housing based on the second electric signal; and a control section configured to perform predetermined control based on a result of the evaluation of said surrounding noise evaluation section.

At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to implementing personalized sound management applications. A module comprising hardware and software is provided to manufacturers to build a device. A process is architected for remote enabling of a device with personalized sound management applications. Consumers select applications for managing their sound environment through purchased and subscription hardware and applications via a web environment. All products developed by manufacturers are tested and certified running the personalized sound management applications. Manufacturers and consumers may both be covered under for liability insurance. Users may remotely purchase may update, purchase hardware, add and download subscription based applications, and replace consumable through the web environment.

The invention relates to an earphone system with usage detection for controlling the routing of sound signals to an earphone or to a host device. The acoustic load on the earphone is detected and determines if the earphone is in a listening position at the ear of a user or not. The routing of the sound signals is based on the listening position of the earphone. If the earphone is in a listening position, the sounds are routed to the earphone, whereas if the earphone is not in a listening position, the sounds are routed to the host device.

The present invention is directed to a hearing aid which includes a lateral ear canal assembly and a medial ear canal assembly. In embodiments of the invention the medial ear canal assembly may include smart circuitry adapted to control parameters and outputs of the medial ear canal assembly. In embodiments of the invention various methods and circuitry are described, wherein the methods and circuitry are adapted to improve the performance and efficiency of the hearing aid.

At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to A SPL monitoring system comprising: an audio transducer, where the audio transducer is configured to receive sound pressure; a logic circuit, where the logic circuit calculates a safe time duration over which a user can receive current sound pressure values; and an indicator element, where the indicator element produces a notification when an indicator level occurs. Furthermore at least on further exemplary embodiment is directed to an SPL monitoring information system comprising: a database stored, where the database includes data, such as a list of earpiece devices and associated instrument response functions where the logic circuit compares the request with the data in the database and retrieves the subset of data and sends it to the output control unit, where the output control unit sends the subset of data to the sending unit.

Provided is a sound processing system and a sound processing device, which are capable of detecting attachment / detachment of an earphone microphone without adding a signal wire for detection. The sound processing system includes an earphone microphone and a sound processing device. The earphone microphone includes a speaker and a microphone. The speaker outputs an output sound. The microphone outputs a collected sound signal corresponding to collected sounds, and collects echo sound of the output sound echoed in an external acoustic meatus in a state where the earphone microphone is placed in the external acoustic meatus. The sound processing device includes an attachment determinator, which determines whether or not the earphone microphone is placed in the external acoustic meatus based on a variation of the collected sound signal.

This disclosure relates to a system and method for producing a personalized earphone unit forming a comfort fit with ears of a user. The system comprises a mobile application installed in an electronic communication device and / or a website accessible by any networkable device for capturing images and video of the ears of the user. The images and video may be examined automatically using the mobile application and / or the website, and the video and / or images are uploaded to a server. The server stores and processes the images and video and sends them to a three dimensional printer unit for generating the personalized earphone unit. Audio electronic components are added to the personalized earphone unit for creating a functional and custom fit personalized earphone unit for an individual user that fit well into the ears. The system allows sharing and marketing of a plurality of designs and products of the earphone unit.

At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a device that includes a membrane and a collapsible electroactive polymer element, where the element is in an expanded configuration without voltage application and is in a collapsed configuration with a voltage application, where the element is covered by the membrane.

A personal hearing control system includes a microphone located within a user's sealed ear canal, a speaker having a diaphragm which directs sound into the ear canal, and a controller which drives the speaker such that the system emulates the acoustics of the user's open ear canal. Also provided are a microphone located on the outer ear side of the sealed ear canal, which is coupled to a handheld interface unit having multiple inputs and operating modes. A user-selected input is processed by the interface unit, and the processed signal is coupled to the speaker. In one operating mode, the output of the outer ear mic is processed so as to cancel sound that leaks from the outer ear to the inner ear side of the seal.

The present invention provides a customizable ear insert for fitting within a user's outer ear or ear canal or both and methods therefor. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a customizable ear insert having: a body formed of photocurable polymer, the body having a first shape configured for insertion into the outer ear canal of a user; a light source, the light source positioned adjacent the body, and wherein the body can be cured into a second shape by application of light generated by the light source, the second shape snugly conforming to the interior surface of the user's outer ear or ear canal or both.

An earphone assembly for an in-ear listening device is disclosed. The earphone assembly has an inner housing comprising a nozzle, configured to receive a sleeve for placement into a user's ear, and a balanced armature motor assembly. The balanced armature motor assembly is mounted in the inner housing so as to form an acoustical seal between the inner housing and the balanced armature motor assembly. The earphone assembly also includes an outer housing configured to receive the inner housing. The inner housing can comprise a recess for receiving a paddle of the balanced armature motor assembly. Alternatively, the outer housing can be formed with a nozzle for receiving a sleeve for placement into a user's ear canal, and the inner housing can comprise a spout, which is received in a recess in the outer housing.

The present invention is directed to a hearing aid which includes a lateral ear canal assembly and a medial ear canal assembly. In embodiments of the invention the medial ear canal assembly may include smart circuitry adapted to control parameters and outputs of the medial ear canal assembly. In embodiments of the invention various methods and circuitry are described, wherein the methods and circuitry are adapted to improve the performance and efficiency of the hearing aid.

Occlusion devices, earpiece devices and methods of forming occlusion devices are provided. An occlusion device is configured to occlude an ear canal. The occlusion device includes an insertion element and at least one expandable element disposed on the insertion element. The expandable element is configured to receive a medium via the insertion element and is configured to expand, responsive to the medium, to contact the ear canal. Physical parameters of the occlusion device are selected to produce a predetermined sound attenuation characteristic over a frequency band, such that sound is attenuated more in a first frequency range of the frequency band than in a second frequency range of the frequency band.

The present invention provides a noise barrier apparatus for inhibiting external noise from causing the presence of noise in an audio chamber defined by a noise barrier device and including the user's ear canal. The noise barrier apparatus may be constituted by an in-ear noise barrier device or devices or an over-the-ear device or devices. An in-ear application of the present invention provides an in-ear-canal audio receiver comprising an in-ear-canal adapter body having a tapered ear plug portion that is inserted into the user's ear canal. The adapter body further has an opening in the plug portion, an exterior annular indent, and an inner chamber coupled to the opening of the plug portion. The inner chamber of the in-ear-canal adapter body holds a transducer assembly comprising a transducer housing and a transducer or speaker. The transducer is positioned in a passage extending through the transducer housing. A torus-shaped cushion is positioned in the annular indent of the in-ear-canal adapter body. The cushion provides comfort and establishes a good seal with the user's ear, and also provides mechanical damping to inhibit propagation of external acoustic pressure waves via the noise barrier device to an audio chamber including an interior of the noise barrier device and the user's ear canal. An over-the-ear application of the present invention provides an ear cup and has a torus-shaped cushion at an interface part thereof which bears against the side of the user's head at an area surrounding the user's ear. The cushion again provides comfort, establishes a good seal with the user's head and provides mechanical damping to inhibit propagation of external acoustic pressure waves via the noise barrier device to an audio chamber including an interior of the noise barrier device and the user's ear canal. The cushion is preferably formed of a material which is at least partially plastically deformable and provides a damping ratio greater than 0.75.

An earphone assembly for an in-ear listening device is disclosed. The earphone assembly has an inner housing comprising a nozzle, configured to receive a sleeve for placement into a user's ear, and a balanced armature motor assembly. The balanced armature motor assembly is mounted in the inner housing so as to form an acoustical seal between the inner housing and the balanced armature motor assembly. The earphone assembly also includes an outer housing configured to receive the inner housing. The inner housing can comprise a recess for receiving a paddle of the balanced armature motor assembly. Alternatively, the outer housing can be formed with a nozzle for receiving a sleeve for placement into a user's ear canal, and the inner housing can comprise a spout, which is received in a recess in the outer housing.

An apparatus comprising at least one earpiece suitable to be applied at an auditory opening of a user's ear and a signal processor is disclosed. The earpiece comprises a speaker enabled to be supplied with an audio signal for rendering, and a microphone arranged in vicinity of the speaker arranged to acquire a sound signal. The signal processor is arranged to determine whether the earpiece is applied at the user's ear by analysis of the acquired sound signal, wherein the analysis is based on the acoustic coupling of the audio signal to the microphone. A method and a computer program are also disclosed.

A hearing aid comprises at least one microphone, a signal processing means and an output transducer, the signal processing means being adaptive to receive an input signal from the microphone, wherein the signal processing means is adapted to apply a hearing aid gain to the input signal to produce an output signal to be output by the output transducer, and wherein the signal processing means further comprises means for adjusting the hearing aid gain if the hearing aid gain would be below a direct transmission gain calculated for the hearing aid.