earpiece aperture

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a earpiece including an electro-acoustic transducer and a housing. The housing supports the electro-acoustic transducer such that the housing and the electro-acoustic transducer together define a first acoustic volume and a second acoustic volume. The electro-acoustic transducer is arranged such that a first radiating surface of the transducer radiates acoustic energy into the front acoustic volume and such that a second radiating surface of the transducer radiates acoustic energy into the second acoustic volume. A front port couples the first acoustic volume to a space outside of the housing, and a rear port couples the second acoustic volume to a space outside of the housing. Respective exit ends of the front port and the rear port combine before exiting the housing via a combined exit volume and exit.

Description

Background Technology

[0001] This disclosure relates to a stethoscope opening. Summary of the Invention

[0002] All examples and features mentioned below can be combined in any technically possible way.

[0003] In one aspect, the handset includes an electroacoustic transducer and a housing. The housing supports the electroacoustic transducer such that the housing and the electroacoustic transducer together define a first acoustic volume and a second acoustic volume. The electroacoustic transducer is arranged such that a first radiating surface of the transducer radiates acoustic energy into the front acoustic volume, and a second radiating surface of the transducer radiates acoustic energy into the second acoustic volume. A front aperture connects the first acoustic volume to a space outside the housing, and a rear aperture connects the second acoustic volume to a space outside the housing. The respective outlet ends of the front and rear apertures are combined before exiting the housing via a combined outlet volume and outlet.

[0004] Specific implementations may include one of the following features, or any combination thereof.

[0005] In some implementations, the housing defines the sound outlet, and the first acoustic volume is acoustically connected to an acoustic channel in the sound outlet, such that when the handset is worn, the electroacoustic transducer is acoustically connected to the user's ear canal.

[0006] In some implementations, the earpiece includes an earplug supported on the mouthpiece and configured to form a tight acoustic seal with the user's ear canal when the earpiece is worn.

[0007] In some cases, the housing includes jacks for receiving wiring that powers the electroacoustic transducer.

[0008] In some cases, the outlet is covered with a mesh along the outer surface of the casing.

[0009] In some examples, the outlet includes a pipe.

[0010] In some examples, the outlet end of the pipe is covered with a mesh.

[0011] In some specific implementations, the front opening is integrally formed with the outer shell.

[0012] In some specific implementations, when the outlet is sealed, the maximum pressure in the first acoustic volume is between 100 dB SPL and 120 dB SPL.

[0013] In some cases, when the outlet is sealed, the maximum pressure in the first acoustic volume does not exceed 132 dB SPL.

[0014] In some cases, hearing aids include a receiver, a housing, and wiring that connects the housing to the receiver. The housing is configured to sit behind the user's ear when worn.

[0015] In some examples, hearing aids include a battery, microphone, and sound processor housed in a casing.

[0016] In some examples, the hearing aid also includes electronics housed within a housing and a microphone supported by the housing, with wiring electrically connecting the microphone to the electronics.

[0017] In some implementations, the wiring includes flexible printed circuits.

[0018] In some implementations, wiring connects the electroacoustic transducer to the electronic device.

[0019] In some cases, the microphone is a feedback microphone, which is positioned to pick up audio in the user's ear canal.

[0020] In some cases, the microphone is a feedforward microphone, which is positioned to pick up ambient noise in areas outside the housing for feedforward noise cancellation.

[0021] In some examples, the electronics are configured to perform active noise cancellation algorithms that use input from a microphone.

[0022] In some examples, the earpiece includes a battery, microphone, and sound processor housed within a casing.

[0023] In some specific implementations, the electroacoustic transducer includes a diaphragm defining a first radiating surface and a second radiating surface, wherein the diaphragm has a diameter of less than 6 mm.

[0024] In some specific implementations, the electroacoustic transducer is a moving-coil transducer.

[0025] In some cases, a hearing aid includes a battery; a first microphone; a sound processor; a transceiver; a second microphone; and wiring. The battery, the first microphone, the sound processor, and the transceiver are housed within a housing. The second microphone is supported by the housing, and wiring extends between the housing and the housing, electrically connecting the second microphone to the sound processor.

[0026] In some examples, the sound processor is configured to perform an active noise cancellation algorithm that uses input from a second microphone.

[0027] In another aspect, a handset includes an electroacoustic transducer and a housing supporting the electroacoustic transducer. The housing and the electroacoustic transducer together define a first acoustic volume and a second acoustic volume. The electroacoustic transducer is arranged such that a first radiating surface of the transducer radiates acoustic energy into a front acoustic volume, and a second radiating surface of the transducer radiates acoustic energy into a rear acoustic volume. A front orifice connects the first acoustic volume to a space outside the housing, and a rear orifice connects the second acoustic volume to a space outside the housing. Valves are disposed above the front and rear orifices and are arranged such that if the valve is closed, the valve independently closes both the front and rear orifices.

[0028] Specific implementations may include one of the features described above and / or below, or any combination thereof.

[0029] Another feature is a hearing aid that includes an electroacoustic transducer, a microphone, and a housing that supports the electroacoustic transducer and microphone and is sized to be at least partially located within the user's ear canal. The hearing aid also includes electronics, a housing that supports the electronics and is configured to be located behind the user's auricle when worn, and wiring that extends between the housing and the outer shell and electrically connects the electronics to the electroacoustic transducer and microphone.

[0030] Specific implementations may include one of the features described above and / or below, or any combination thereof.

[0031] In some implementations, the electronics are configured to execute an active noise cancellation algorithm to generate a signal that causes an electroacoustic transducer to generate acoustic energy to cancel noise based on input from a microphone.

[0032] Another aspect provides a hearing aid including an electroacoustic transducer and a housing that supports the electroacoustic transducer and is sized to be at least partially located within a user's ear canal. The hearing aid also includes electronics, a shell supporting the electronics and configured to be located behind the user's auricle when worn, wiring extending between the shell and housing and electrically connecting the electronics to the electroacoustic transducer, and a microphone supported by the shell. The electronics are configured to perform an active noise cancellation algorithm to generate a signal that causes the electroacoustic transducer to generate acoustic energy to cancel noise based on input from the microphone.

[0033] Specific implementations may include one of the features described above and / or below, or any combination thereof.

[0034] In some specific implementations, the electroacoustic transducer is a full-frequency transducer.

[0035] In some specific implementations, the electroacoustic transducer is a moving-coil transducer.

[0036] In some cases, electronic devices include transceivers that support high-fidelity audio transmission.

[0037] In some cases, the microphone is supported by a housing, and wiring connects the microphone electrically to the electronics.

[0038] In some examples, the microphone is a feedback microphone, which is positioned to pick up audio at the user's ear canal.

[0039] In some examples, the microphone is a feedforward microphone, which is arranged acoustically to be connected to the air close to the user's ear for feedforward noise cancellation.

[0040] In some implementations, the hearing aid also includes a second microphone supported by the housing.

[0041] In some implementations, the second microphone includes a microphone array.

[0042] In some cases, hearing aids are integrated into systems that also include computing devices. The computing devices are communicatively connected to the hearing aids and configured to execute software programs that allow users to adjust one or more features of the hearing aids.

[0043] In some cases, the software program allows users to adjust the signal processing parameters of the hearing aid.

[0044] In some examples, the signal processing parameters include filter coefficients for active noise cancellation algorithms.

[0045] Specific implementation can provide one or more of the following beneficial effects.

[0046] Specific implementations allow devices (such as earpieces) to be designed with low occlusion and a flat low-frequency output, which avoids unintentionally generating excessive low-frequency stress due to the obstruction of its acoustic aperture. Some implementations allow for greater consistency in the earpiece's output regardless of aperture obstruction. In the case of hearing aids, certain implementations described herein allow for testing the device according to standardized tests without undue stress.

[0047] Details of one or more specific embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the following description. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the specification, drawings, and claims. Attached Figure Description

[0048] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a typical in-canal receiver (RIC) hearing aid.

[0049] Figure 2A A front view of a closed dome-shaped earplug used in a hearing aid.

[0050] Figure 2B A front view of an open dome-shaped earpiece used in hearing aids.

[0051] Figure 3A This is a perspective view of the earpiece from an exemplary RIC-type hearing aid.

[0052] Figure 3B for Figure 3A A schematic cross-sectional side view of the earpiece.

[0053] Figure 4 To show the basis Figure 3A A graph showing the difference in sound pressure level between the sealed and unsealed front openings in the constructed earpiece.

[0054] Figure 5A This is a schematic cross-sectional side view of another exemplary earpiece configured according to this disclosure.

[0055] Figures 5B to 5D A schematic cross-sectional side view illustrating an alternative specific embodiment of the earpiece configured according to this disclosure.

[0056] Figure 6 To show the basis Figure 5A A graph showing the difference in sound pressure level between the sealed and unsealed front openings in the constructed earpiece.

[0057] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary hearing aid configured according to this disclosure.

[0058] Figure 8A This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary system configured according to this disclosure.

[0059] Figure 8B For from Figure 8A A schematic diagram of an exemplary computing device for a system.

[0060] Figure 9 , Figure 10 , Figure 11A and Figure 11B A schematic cross-sectional side view illustrating an alternative specific embodiment of the earpiece configured according to this disclosure.

[0061] Figure 12 This is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the earmuffs configured according to this disclosure.

[0062] Figure 13 In order to combine Figure 12 A diagram of a pair of headphones with earcups.

[0063] It should be noted that the accompanying drawings for various specific embodiments are not necessarily drawn to scale. The drawings are intended only to illustrate typical aspects of this disclosure and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, similar numbers denote similar elements between figures. Detailed Implementation

[0064] refer to Figure 1 A typical in-the-ear (RIC) hearing aid 100 includes a behind-the-ear portion 102 that houses a battery, microphone, and sound processor within a housing 104 designed to be located behind the user's ear (auricle). The behind-the-ear portion 102 of the hearing aid 100 has a small wire 106 designed to extend around the user's ear and into a receiver 108 designed to be located within the user's ear canal. The receiver 108 carries a speaker, also referred to as a "receiver" or "driver."

[0065] Conventional RIC hearing aids typically include a conformal earpiece on the earpiece to engage with the user's ear canal, which helps to keep the earpiece properly positioned within the user's ear canal. These earpieces, or "domes," are typically one of the following: i) closed, forming a tight acoustic seal with the user's ear canal (see [link to relevant documentation]). Figure 2A (i) a closed dome 200; or ii) an open dome 204 having multiple large openings 204 that allow sound energy to move into and out of the user's ear canal (see Figure 2B The Open Dome 2020.

[0066] The closed dome configuration is affected by the so-called occlusion effect. Due to the acoustic blockage of the ear canal, the occlusion effect amplifies the lower frequency components of the user's own speech. Vibrations generated by the user's speech travel through the head and into the ear canal. When the ear is not blocked, associated pressure escapes from the ear; when the ear is blocked and pressure cannot escape, the low-frequency components are amplified significantly inside the user's ear. Blocking the ear leads to the additional problem that the blockage of the ear canal prevents the higher frequency components of the user's speech from traveling around the head and back into the ear. These two problems result in an undesirable quality of one's own speech, often perceived as "muddy" or "deep." By "one's own speech," we mean the user's perception of their own voice while speaking.

[0067] Open dome (also known as “low occlusion”) configurations mitigate this occlusion effect, but they raise another problem. Low occlusion in-ear devices typically have a leakage path from the ear canal to the device and the outside of the ear canal. This leakage reduces the low-frequency pressure that the product can generate when it reaches the ear. To achieve a flat response in such a configuration, the device must generate excessive air compression at low frequencies compared to a more occluded device. For many possible configurations, this leakage path can become blocked or sealed, for example, by poor fit, earwax, or foreign objects. This can cause the device to generate higher pressure in the ear canal than intended. These higher pressures may exceed regulatory or safety limits. This disclosure is based at least in part on the understanding that the earpiece architecture can be designed such that these failure conditions result in a smaller increase in the pressure potentially generated by the device.

[0068] Figure 3A and Figure 3B An exemplary earpiece 300 for a RIC-type hearing aid is shown. The earpiece 300 includes an earpiece 302 and an earplug 304. The earpiece 302 includes a housing 306 that supports an electroacoustic transducer 308 (also referred to as a speaker or driver). The housing 306 and the electroacoustic transducer 308 together define a first (front) acoustic volume 310 and a second (rear) acoustic volume 312. The electroacoustic transducer 308 is arranged such that a first (front) radiating surface of the transducer 308 radiates acoustic energy into the front acoustic volume 310, and a second (rear) radiating surface of the transducer 308 radiates acoustic energy into the rear acoustic volume 312.

[0069] The housing 306 also defines a sound outlet 314 configured to connect to the earpiece 304. The front acoustic volume 310 is acoustically connected to an acoustic channel 316 in the sound outlet 314, for example, so that the electroacoustic transducer 308 can be acoustically connected to the user's ear canal when the earpiece 300 is worn. The housing 306 also defines a jack 318 for receiving wiring that powers the electroacoustic transducer 308.

[0070] The earpiece 304 is supported on the mouthpiece 314 and includes a pair of front openings; namely, a first front opening 320a and a second front opening 320b, respectively. The housing 306 also defines a third front opening 322 that acoustically connects the front acoustic volume 310 to an area outside the housing 306. Although three front openings are shown and described, fewer or more openings may be present. These openings may consist of open cavities, mesh-covered cavities, or any other configuration that produces the desired acoustic performance. In some configurations, the third front opening 322 provides small acoustic leakage, while the first front openings 320a and the second front openings 320b provide relatively large acoustic leakage. The earpiece 300 also includes a rear opening 324 that connects the rear acoustic volume 312 to a space outside the housing 306. The rear port 324 is mainly used to reduce the effective stiffness of the rear volume on the driver and prevent overpressure due to environmental changes, while the front ports 320a, 320b, and 322 prevent excessive low-frequency pressure in the ear canal and reduce blockage.

[0071] exist Figure 3A and Figure 3B In the earpiece 300 shown, if the first front orifice 320a and the second front orifice 320b are sealed, for example, by improper fit, earwax, or foreign matter, high pressure may be generated at the tympanic membrane. It should also be noted that certain testing procedures may dictate that these orifices be sealed during testing. If the system has significant leakage due to its front orifices and has a large actuator output to compensate for this leakage, doing so will result in artificially high pressure during these tests.

[0072] Figure 4 It shows the target according to Figure 3A An exemplary comparison of the sealed and unsealed front orifices 320a, 320b, 322 in the constructed earpiece. Curve 400 illustrates the difference in pressure per volt generated when the current orifices 320a, 320b, 422 are opened when they are sealed. Figure 4 As shown, when orifices 302a, 320b and 322 are sealed, the sound pressure level increases significantly, especially at frequencies below 700 Hz.

[0073] Figure 5A Another exemplary earpiece 500 constructed according to this disclosure is shown. Figure 5A One objective of the configuration shown is to help ensure that, for any given blockage of the device's acoustic orifice, the change in device performance does not result in an unintentionally high SPL. A second beneficial effect is that the device of the present invention does not generate unrepresentatively high pressures during standardized testing.

[0074] The earpiece 500 includes an earpiece 502 and an earplug 504. The earpiece 502 includes a housing 506 that supports an electroacoustic transducer 508 (also referred to as a loudspeaker or driver). The electroacoustic transducer 508 may be a moving-coil transducer. The electroacoustic transducer 508 may be a full-range micro-driver (e.g., having a diaphragm with a diameter less than 6 mm, such as between 3 mm and 5.5 mm, such as 4.3 mm to 5.4 mm), such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 9,942,662, published April 10, 2018, entitled “Electro-acoustic driver having compliant diaphragm with stiffening element” and / or U.S. Patent No. 10,609,489, published March 31, 2020, entitled “Fabricating an integrated loudspeaker piston and suspension,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. As used in this article, “full-range” is intended to mean capable of producing frequencies from approximately 20 Hz to approximately 20 kHz.

[0075] The housing 506 and the electroacoustic transducer 508 together define a first (front) acoustic volume 510 and a second (rear) acoustic volume 512. The electroacoustic transducer 508 is arranged such that the first (front) radiating surface of the transducer 508 generates acoustic energy in the front acoustic volume 510, and the second (rear) radiating surface of the transducer 508 generates acoustic energy in the rear acoustic volume 512.

[0076] The housing 506 also defines a sound outlet 514 configured to connect to the earpiece 504. A front acoustic volume 510 is acoustically coupled to an acoustic channel 516 in the sound outlet 514, for example, such that when the earpiece 500 is worn, the electroacoustic transducer 508 can be acoustically coupled to the user's ear canal. The housing 506 also defines a jack 518 for receiving wiring for powering the electroacoustic transducer 508. The housing 506 may be formed of (e.g., in molded form) a rigid plastic such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polycarbonate / acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (PCB / ABS), polyetherimide (PEI), or stereolithography (SLA) resin.

[0077] In the illustrated example, the earplug 504 is shaped like a hollow cylinder with a hollow channel 520 configured to receive the sound outlet 514 of the earphone 502. The earplug 504 is configured to at least partially fit within a person's ear canal. The earplug 504 includes a body 522 configured to receive and / or be mounted onto the earphone 502. The body 522 includes a first end 524 and a second end 526 opposite to the first end 524. The body 522 also includes an inner wall 528 extending between the first end 524 and the second end 526. The inner wall 528 defines and surrounds the hollow channel 520, which can be configured to conduct sound waves. The body 522 also includes an outer wall 530 connected at the first end 524 to the inner wall 528. The outer wall 530 extends away from the inner wall 528 toward the second end 526. In the illustrated example, the outer wall 530 is dome-shaped; however, other shapes, such as a truncated cone, are also conceivable. Additionally, a specific embodiment is envisioned in which the earpiece is supported by the housing 506 without including the sound outlet 514. Figure 5A In the example shown, earplug 504 is a closed type without openings or vents, ensuring a tight acoustic seal with the user's ear canal. Figure 5A In the example shown, earplug 504 is a closed type without openings or holes, which allows for a tight acoustic seal with the user's ear canal.

[0078] Although the earplug 504, which is in the shape of a hollow cylinder, has been shown and described, the earplug 504 is not limited to any particular shape and other shapes can be envisioned.

[0079] The body 522 can be made of any suitable soft and flexible material, including, for example, silicone, polyurethane, polynorbornene (e.g., available from D-NOV GmbH in Vienna, Austria). Materials, thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), and / or fluoropolymers. In some embodiments, the inner wall 528 and outer wall 530 may be formed from different materials, for example, in additive manufacturing or two-shot molding processes. In some cases, the inner wall 528 may be formed from a material of higher hardness, for example, to ensure a good connection with the mouthpiece 514, and the outer wall 530 may be formed from a material of lower hardness, for example, for compliance (to ensure a good acoustic seal) and comfort. Alternatively or otherwise, one or more components of the earpiece may be custom-molded from a substantially rigid material to fit an individual's ear. Furthermore, some embodiments may not include an earpiece. In such cases, one or more components of the earpiece may be custom-molded, for example, from a substantially rigid material to fit an individual's ear.

[0080] The earpiece 500 includes a front port 532 that connects the front acoustic volume 510 to a space outside the housing 506, and a rear port 534 that connects the rear acoustic volume 512 to a space outside the housing 506. The rear port 534 is primarily used to reduce the effective stiffness of the rear volume on the driver and to prevent overpressure due to environmental changes, while the front port 532 prevents excessive low-frequency pressure in the ear canal and reduces blockage.

[0081] In some examples, the front orifice may be implemented in the form of a tube. The front orifice tube may be integrally formed with the housing 306. Alternatively or otherwise, the front orifice tube may be made of metal (e.g., stainless steel). The front orifice tube may comprise a metal tube located within the wall of the front acoustic volume 310. The housing 306 may be made of plastic, and the front orifice tube may be thermally riveted to the plastic. The tube may be substantially straight or may be curved along its length. As used herein, “diameter” is intended to encompass the diameter of a circle with a circular cross-section and the equivalent diameter with respect to a non-circular cross-section (e.g., a square cross-section, a rectangular cross-section, or a substantially semi-circular cross-section). Alternatively, the front orifice may be in the form of a cavity, such as an open cavity or a cavity covered by a mesh.

[0082] In some cases, the rear orifice 534 may be implemented in the form of a tube. The tube may be integrally formed with the housing 506. Alternatively or otherwise, the tube may be made of metal (e.g., stainless steel). The tube may comprise a metal tube located within the wall of the rear acoustic volume 512. The housing 506 may be made of plastic, and the tube may be thermally riveted to the plastic. Alternatively, the rear orifice may be implemented in the form of a cavity (e.g., an open cavity or a cavity covered with wire mesh). The tube may be substantially straight or may be curved along its length. As used herein, “diameter” is intended to encompass the diameter of a circle with respect to a circular cross-section and the equivalent diameter with respect to a non-circular cross-section (e.g., a square cross-section, a rectangular cross-section, or a substantially semi-circular cross-section).

[0083] It is worth noting that the inlet end of the front orifice 532 is inside the earpiece 500, making it impossible to block it from the outside of the earpiece 500 unless the outlet 514 of the earpiece 500 is blocked. This is desirable because blocking the outlet 514 prevents any artificially high sound pressure from the product from entering the ear. It should also be noted that the corresponding outlet ends of the rear orifice 534 and the front orifice 532 are combined before leaving the product via the combined outlet volume 536 and outlet 538. This means that neither can be blocked without blocking the other. Under blocked conditions, the outlet impedance will increase, which will acoustically short-circuit the front acoustic volume 510 and the rear acoustic volume 512, reducing the pressure at the ear relative to the pressure that would occur if only the front orifice 532 were blocked. This can also be designed to achieve a reduced maximum pressure. In some specific implementations, the maximum pressure in the front acoustic volume 510 is between 100 dB SPL and 120 dB SPL when outlet 538 is sealed (blocked). In some cases, when outlet 538 is sealed, the maximum pressure in the front acoustic volume 510 is no greater than 132 dB SPL.

[0084] Export 538 can take various forms, such as cavities 540 covered by a mesh (e.g., wire mesh). Figure 5A ), open cavity 542 ( Figure 5B ), pipe 544 ( Figure 5C ) or multiple openings (e.g., multiple openings covered by mesh or open openings 546) Figure 5D )). Figure 5C The outlet end of tube 544 may or may not be covered with a mesh. The outlet size and outlet impedance can be adjusted to provide the desired performance under both open and sealed conditions. Furthermore, although a single outlet is shown, the outlet may include multiple openings.

[0085] Figure 6 It shows according to Figure 5A An exemplary comparison (difference curve) of sealed and unsealed outlet 538 in the constructed handset. Curve 600 shows the difference in pressure per volt when outlet 538 is sealed versus when outlet 538 is open. Note the difference relative to... Figure 4 The diagram illustrates the slight differences between the sealed and unsealed conditions.

[0086] Figure 7 An exemplary hearing aid 700 is shown, which includes Figure 5AThe device includes a handset 500 and a back-ear portion 702 designed to be located behind the user's ear (auricle). The back-ear portion 702 includes a housing 704 that houses electronics 706 including a sound processor 708, a battery 710 for powering the electronics 708, and a microphone 712. In some cases, the microphone 712 may include multiple microphones that can be configured as an array. The sound processor 708 receives signals from the microphone 712 and performs one or more processing operations, including beam steering, null formation, gain adjustment, compression, and / or active noise cancellation (e.g., feedforward active noise cancellation).

[0087] Electronic device 706 may also include transceiver circuitry 714. Transceiver circuitry 714 can transmit and receive wireless signals, including receiving streaming audio (e.g., high-fidelity audio) for power acoustic transducer 508 rendering. Transceiver circuitry 714 can wirelessly communicate with a data source (such as a smartphone or any other suitable digital audio playback device (such as a laptop or personal computer)) that stores and / or plays digital audio files. Alternatively or additionally, transceiver circuitry 714 can be configured to communicate with a second companion hearing aid, for example, for transmitting digital audio content between the two hearing aids, such as for stereo playback or beamforming. Transceiver circuitry 714 can communicate with, for example, a data source or a second companion hearing aid using any suitable wireless communication protocol (including Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi-Fi (e.g., IEEE 802.11 alb / g / n), WiMAX (IEEE 802.16), Zigbee, UWB, NFMI, or any other suitable wireless communication protocol).

[0088] The transceiver circuit 714 can also enable communication with a software application running on a computing device (e.g., a smartphone). The software application can be used for self-tuning to allow the user to adjust the DSP filter to tune the audio (either high-fidelity audio from an audio data source or audio delivered from the microphone 712 (e.g., a microphone array)).

[0089] Electronic device 706 may also include an audio amplifier, an analog-to-digital (A / D) converter (e.g., for converting analog microphone signals into digital form), a digital-to-analog (D / A) converter (e.g., for converting digital audio signals into analog form for transducing the acoustic transducer 508), and a microcontroller (for controlling the operation of various electronic components).

[0090] The behind-the-ear portion 702 of the hearing aid 700 includes wiring 718 designed to extend around the user's ear and into the earpiece 500. Wiring 718 may include multiple wires carried in a common conduit (e.g., a sheath or tube) extending between the earpiece and the behind-the-ear portion. Wiring 718 powers an electroacoustic transducer 508. Wiring 718 may also be used to connect electronics 706 to a microphone 720 (e.g., a feedback microphone) supported within the housing 506 of the earpiece 500. Wiring 718 may include flexible printed circuitry; that is, one or more flexible printed circuits and / or wiring 718 may be connected to one or more flexible printed circuits within the housing 506.

[0091] A microphone 720 is positioned to pick up audio at the user's ear canal. Input from the microphone 720 can be fed back to a sound processor 708 for feedback active noise cancellation. The microphone 720 may be supported by an electroacoustic transducer 508, such as that described in U.S. Patent No. 10015581, published July 3, 2018, entitled "Feedback microphone adaptor for noisecanceling headphone," the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0092] In some embodiments, alternatively or additionally, the hearing aid 700 may include a microphone 722 (e.g., a feedforward microphone) supported by (e.g., supported on or within) the housing 506 of the earpiece 500 and arranged acoustically connected to air close to the user's auricle. Input from the microphone 722 may be fed back to the sound processor 708 via wiring 718 for feedforward active noise cancellation.

[0093] Figure 8A It shows including Figure 7 A system 800 comprising a hearing aid 700 and a computing device 802 (e.g., a smartphone). The hearing aid 700 and the computing device 802 can communicate wirelessly via a wireless network 804a through respective transceivers. As described above, the computing device 802 can be configured to provide audio to the hearing aid 700. The computing device 802 can also be used to select audio content for playback, transmission control (e.g., play / pause), and / or volume or equalization control. In some embodiments, the computing device 802 can execute software programs that allow users to adjust signal processing parameters for the hearing aid, such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 9,131,321, entitled “Hearing assistance device control,” published September 8, 2015.

[0094] In some cases, system 800 may include a second companion hearing aid 700'. Computing device 802 may be configured to communicate wirelessly with the second hearing aid 700' directly (e.g., via wireless network 804b) or via the (first) hearing aid 700. Furthermore, hearing aids 700, 700' may be configured to communicate wirelessly with each other, for example, to share audio data or control information via wireless network 804c.

[0095] refer to Figure 8B The computing device 802 includes a processor 852, a memory 864, input / output devices such as a display 854, a communication interface 866 and a transceiver 868, and other components. The device 802 may also be provided with storage devices, such as microdrives or other devices, to provide additional storage. Each of the components 802, 852, 864, 854, 866, and 868 is interconnected using various buses, and some of the components may be mounted on a common motherboard or otherwise suitably mounted.

[0096] Processor 852 can execute instructions within computing device 802, including instructions stored in memory 864. The processor can be implemented as a chipset comprising multiple independent analog and digital processors. The processor can provide coordination for, for example, other components of device 802, such as control of the user interface, applications running by device 802, and wireless communication by device 802.

[0097] Processor 852 can communicate with the user via control interface 858 and display interface 856 connected to display 854. Display 854 can be, for example, a TFT LCD (Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display) or OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display or other suitable display technology. Display interface 856 can include appropriate circuitry for driving display 854 to present graphical and other information to the user. Control interface 858 can receive commands from the user and translate them for submission to processor 852. Furthermore, external interface 862 can communicate with processor 852 to enable near-field communication between device 802 and other devices. External interface 862 can provide wired communication in some embodiments, or wireless communication in others, and multiple interfaces can be used.

[0098] Memory 864 stores information within computing device 802. Memory 864 may be implemented as one or more computer-readable media, one or more volatile memory cells, or one or more non-volatile memory cells. Extended memory 874 may also be provided and connected to device 802 via an extended interface 872, which may include, for example, a SIMM (Single In-line Memory Module) card interface. Such extended memory 874 may provide additional storage space for device 802, or may also store applications or other information specific to device 802. Specifically, extended memory 874 may include instructions for performing or supplementing the above-described processes, and may also include security information. Thus, for example, extended memory 874 may be provided as a security module for device 802 and may be programmed using instructions that allow secure use of device 802. Furthermore, secure applications and additional information, such as placing identification information on the SIMM card in an unhackable manner, may be provided via a SIMM card.

[0099] The memory may include, for example, flash memory and / or NVRAM memory, as discussed below. In one embodiment, the computer program product is tangibly embodied in an information carrier. The computer program product contains instructions that, when executed, perform one or more methods, such as those described above. The information carrier is a computer-readable or machine-readable medium, such as memory 864, extended memory 874, memory on processor 852, or a propagated signal that can be received, for example, via transceiver 868 or external interface 862.

[0100] Device 802 can communicate wirelessly via communication interface 866, which may include digital signal processing circuitry if necessary. Communication interface 866 can provide communication under various modes or protocols, such as GSM voice calls, SMS, EMS or MMS messaging, CDMA, TDMA, PDC, WCDMA, CDMA2000, or GPRS, etc. Such communication may occur, for example, via radio frequency transceiver 868. Additionally, short-range communication may occur, such as using Bluetooth, WiFi, or other such transceivers (not shown). Furthermore, GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver module 870 can provide device 802 with additional navigation-related and location-related wireless data, which can be appropriately used by applications running on device 802.

[0101] Device 802 can also communicate audibly using audio codec 860, which can receive spoken information from a user and convert it into usable digital information. Audio codec 860 can similarly produce audible sound to the user, such as through a speaker (e.g., in the handheld device of device 802). This sound may include sounds from voice telephone calls, recorded sounds (e.g., voice messages, music files, etc.), and sounds generated by applications operating on device 802.

[0102] The computing device 802 can be implemented in a variety of different forms, as shown in the figure. For example, it can be implemented as a cellular phone 880. It can also be implemented as part of a smartphone 882, a personal digital assistant, a tablet computer, or other similar mobile devices.

[0103] Other specific implementations

[0104] In the example above, relative to Figure 5A The earplug 504 is a closed type without openings or apertures, ensuring a tight acoustic seal with the user's ear canal. However, in some implementations, the earplug may include pressure equalization openings or apertures, provided that any opening in the earplug is much smaller than the pressure equalization opening in the housing.

[0105] While specific implementations have been described including a single rear port and a single front port connected to a common exit, some implementations may include multiple pairs of rear and front ports, such as each pair connected to a corresponding exit. For example, Figure 9 A handset 900 is shown, comprising a first front port 532 and a first rear port 534, and a second front port 902 and a second rear port 904. The outlets of the first front and first rear ports are combined in a first outlet volume 536 before exiting the handset 900 via a first outlet 538, and the outlets of the second front and second rear ports are combined in a second outlet volume 906 before exiting the handset 900 via a second outlet 908. The front ports 532, 902 acoustically connect the front acoustic volume 510 to an area outside the housing 506, and the rear ports 534, 904 acoustically connect the rear acoustic volume 512 to an area outside the housing 506. As in the specific embodiment described above, the outlets 538, 908 may or may not be covered with a mesh and may or may not include a tube. Using multiple outlets reduces the likelihood of a complete seal, but if any or both of the outlets are sealed, it still helps to mitigate pressure build-up. It can also have multiple front orifices and / or multiple rear orifices combined into the same outlet volume. When using multiple orifice paths, they can be the same or different in terms of size / acoustic impedance.

[0106] The earpiece 900 may also include a microphone 720 (e.g., a feedback microphone) acoustically coupled to the first acoustic volume 510 for picking up audio in the user's ear canal. Alternatively or additionally, the earpiece 900 may include a microphone 722 (e.g., a feedforward microphone) supported by the housing 506 of the earpiece 500 for picking up ambient noise for use in feedforward noise cancellation.

[0107] refer to Figure 10 In another specific embodiment, the earpiece 1000 can be made by eliminating the outlet volume and having a valve 1002 above the front orifice 532 and the rear orifice 534, such that if the valve 1002 is closed, it individually closes the front orifice 532 and the rear orifice 534. In this case, the front acoustic volume 510 and the rear acoustic volume 512 will not be acoustically short-circuited. Instead, sealing the mass orifice 534 will increase the stiffness of the system, such that the sound pressure in the ear or in the 2cm^3 coupler will be relative to... Figure 4 The sealing condition shown is reduced, but not as good as... Figure 6 The degree of sealing is as shown in the example. The earpiece 1000 may include a microphone 720 (e.g., a feedback microphone) acoustically coupled to the first acoustic volume 510 for picking up audio in the user's ear canal. Alternatively or additionally, the earpiece 1000 may include a microphone 722 (e.g., a feedforward microphone) supported by the housing 506 of the earpiece 500 for picking up ambient noise for feedforward noise cancellation.

[0108] While specific implementations using a moving-coil electroacoustic transducer have been described, some implementations may utilize a balanced armature driver. For example, some implementations may utilize a vented balanced armature driver that delivers acoustic output radiated from a first side of the diaphragm through a mouthpiece coupled to a first acoustic volume of the earpiece, and discharges acoustic energy radiated from a second side of the diaphragm into a second acoustic volume of the earpiece.

[0109] Some specific implementations may include multiple balanced armatures. One example includes two (2) balanced armatures in a single housing, each having a diaphragm. The respective front sides of the diaphragms are joined inside the housing and acoustically coupled to a front acoustic volume via an opening or outlet. The rear sides of the diaphragms are separated within the housing and open into a rear acoustic volume, respectively.

[0110] Although specific implementations of the earpiece for RIC-type hearing aids have been shown and described above, the connection of the rear and front ports can be beneficial for other applications including earpieces for: in-ear hearing aids, such as fully in-canal (CIC), in-canal (ITC), or in-ear (ITE) hearing aids; and headphones, such as wired or wireless headphones and in-ear or over-ear headphone types.

[0111] Furthermore, although a specific implementation of the earpiece, including the earphone and the earplug connected to the earphone, has been described, Figure 11A Another embodiment of the earpiece 1100 is shown, which includes an earpiece 1102 without an earplug. The earpiece 1102 is configured to directly engage with a user's ear canal to form an acoustic seal therebetween. The earpiece 1102 includes a housing 1106 that supports an electroacoustic transducer 1108 (also referred to as a speaker or driver). The housing 1106 and the electroacoustic transducer 1108 together define a first (front) acoustic volume 1110 and a second (rear) acoustic volume 1112. The electroacoustic transducer 1108 is arranged such that a first (front) radiating surface of the transducer 1108 radiates acoustic energy into the front acoustic volume 1110, and a second (rear) radiating surface of the transducer 1108 radiates acoustic energy into the rear acoustic volume 1112.

[0112] The housing 1106 also defines a mouthpiece 1114 configured to directly engage with a user's ear canal to form an acoustic seal therebetween. A front acoustic volume 1110 is acoustically coupled to an acoustic channel 1116 in the mouthpiece 1114, for example, such that when the handset 1100 is worn, the electroacoustic transducer 1108 can be acoustically coupled to the user's ear canal. The housing 1106 may also define a jack (not shown) for receiving wiring powering the electroacoustic transducer 1108. In some cases, the housing 1106 may also support a microphone, battery, and / or sound processor.

[0113] The earpiece 1100 includes a front opening 1132 that connects the front acoustic volume 1110 to a space outside the housing 1106, and a rear opening 1134 that connects the rear acoustic volume 1112 to a space outside the housing 1106. As described above relative to... Figure 5A In the specific implementation described, the respective outlet ends of the rear orifice 1134 and the front orifice 1132 are combined before exiting the product via the combined outlet volume 1136 and outlet 1138. Outlet 1138 can take various forms, such as tubes, meshes, or cavities. The earpiece 1100 may include a microphone 720 (e.g., a feedback microphone) acoustically coupled to the first acoustic volume 510 for picking up audio in the user's ear canal. Alternatively or additionally, the earpiece 1000 may include a microphone 722 (e.g., a feedforward microphone) supported by the housing 506 of the earpiece 500 for picking up ambient noise for feedforward noise cancellation.

[0114] Figure 11A The configuration that can be used for in-ear hearing aids is shown. Figure 11B An alternative arrangement of the earpiece 1100', which is advantageous for placement within or completely within the ear canal, is shown. In this respect, Figure 11BThe configuration will allow outlet 1138 to exit from housing 1106 adjacent to sound outlet 1114 (e.g. Figure 11A The surface shown is repositioned to the surface of the housing 1106 opposite to the mouthpiece 1114.

[0115] Figure 12 A handset 1200 for over-ear headphones is shown. The handset 1200 includes an earcup 1202 and an ear pad 1204. The earcup 1202 includes a housing 1206 that supports an electroacoustic transducer 1208 (also referred to as a speaker or driver). The housing 1206 and the electroacoustic transducer 1208 together define a first (front) acoustic volume 1210 and a second (rear) acoustic volume 1212. The electroacoustic transducer 1208 is arranged such that a first (front) radiating surface of the transducer 1208 radiates acoustic energy into the front acoustic volume 1210, and a second (rear) radiating surface of the transducer 1208 radiates acoustic energy into the rear acoustic volume 1212. The housing 1206 may be formed of a rigid material, such as plastic, for example, ABS plastic. The ear pads 1204 are configured to surround the user's ears circumferentially and provide an acoustic seal between the front acoustic volume 1210 and the user's head when the device is worn. The ear pads 1204 may be formed of foam.

[0116] The earpiece 1200 includes a front port 1232 connecting a front acoustic volume 1210 to a space outside the housing 1206 and a rear port 1234 connecting a rear acoustic volume 1212 to a space outside the housing 1206. As in the specific embodiment described above, the respective outlet ends of the rear port 1234 and the front port 1232 can be combined together before leaving the product via a combined outlet volume 1236 and an outlet 1238.

[0117] Figure 13 The combination is shown Figure 12 A pair of exemplary headphones 1300 with earcups 1200. Headphones 1300 include, according to... Figure 12 The device comprises a pair of earpieces 1200 and a strap 1302 that mechanically connects the two earpieces 1200 together. The earpieces 1200 (two are shown) can be attached to the strap via a bracket 1304, which allows the earpieces 1200 to be hinged relative to the strap 1302.

[0118] Several specific embodiments have been described. However, it should be understood that additional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the inventive concept described herein, and therefore, other specific embodiments fall within the scope of the following claims and other claims that the applicant may be entitled to.

[0119] While various examples have been described and illustrated herein, those skilled in the art will readily conceive of a variety of other devices and / or structures for performing the functions described herein and / or obtaining one or more of the results and / or advantages described herein, and each of such variations and / or modifications is considered to be within the scope of the examples described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily understand that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are intended to be exemplary, and actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and / or configurations will depend on one or more specific applications using the teachings of this invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to determine, many equivalents of the specific examples described herein using only conventional experimentation. Therefore, it should be understood that the above embodiments are presented by way of example only, and that the examples may be practiced in ways other than those specifically described and claimed within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. The examples of this disclosure relate to each individual feature, system, article of manufacture, material, tooling kit, and / or method described herein. Furthermore, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles of manufacture, materials, tooling kits, and / or methods is included within the scope of this disclosure if such features, systems, articles of manufacture, materials, tooling kits, and / or methods do not contradict each other.

Claims

1. A handset, comprising: Electroacoustic transducer; A housing that supports the electroacoustic transducer, such that the housing and the electroacoustic transducer together define a first acoustic volume and a second acoustic volume, the electroacoustic transducer being arranged such that a first radiating surface of the transducer radiates acoustic energy into the first acoustic volume, and a second radiating surface of the transducer radiates acoustic energy into the second acoustic volume. A front opening that connects the first acoustic volume to a space outside the housing; and A rear opening that connects the second acoustic volume to the space outside the housing. The respective outlet ends of the rear orifice and the front orifice are combined before exiting the housing via a combined outlet volume and outlet.

2. The earpiece of claim 1, wherein the housing defines a sound outlet, and wherein the first acoustic volume is acoustically coupled to an acoustic channel in the sound outlet such that, when the earpiece is worn, the electroacoustic transducer is acoustically coupled to the user's ear canal.

3. The earpiece of claim 2 further includes an earplug supported on the sound outlet and configured to form a tight acoustic seal with the user's ear canal when the earpiece is worn.

4. The earpiece of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a jack for receiving wiring supplying power to the electroacoustic transducer.

5. The earpiece according to claim 1, wherein the outlet is covered with a mesh along the outer surface of the housing.

6. The earpiece according to claim 1, wherein the outlet comprises a tube.

7. The earpiece according to claim 6, wherein the outlet end of the tube is covered with a mesh.

8. The earpiece according to claim 1, wherein the front opening is integrally formed with the outer casing.

9. The earpiece of claim 1, wherein when the outlet is sealed, the maximum pressure in the first acoustic volume is between 100 dB SPL and 120 dB SPL.

10. The earpiece of claim 1, wherein when the outlet is sealed, the maximum pressure in the first acoustic volume is not greater than 132 dB SPL.

11. A hearing aid comprising the earpiece according to claim 1, the hearing aid further comprising: A housing configured to be positioned behind the user's ear when worn; and Wiring that connects the housing to the earpiece.

12. The hearing aid according to claim 11, further comprising: The battery, microphone, and sound processor are housed within the casing.

13. The hearing aid according to claim 11, further comprising: Electronic devices, which are housed within the housing; and A microphone, which is supported by the housing. The wiring therein electrically connects the microphone to the electronics.

14. The hearing aid of claim 13, wherein the wiring comprises flexible printed circuitry.

15. The hearing aid of claim 13, wherein the wiring electrically connects the electroacoustic transducer to the electronic device.

16. The hearing aid of claim 13, wherein the microphone is a feedback microphone arranged to pick up audio at the user's ear canal.

17. The hearing aid of claim 13, wherein the microphone is a feedforward microphone arranged to pick up ambient noise in a region outside the housing for feedforward noise cancellation.

18. The hearing aid of claim 13, wherein the electronics are configured to perform an active noise cancellation algorithm using input from the microphone.

19. The hearing aid according to claim 11, further comprising: The battery, microphone, and sound processor are supported within the housing.

20. The hearing aid of claim 11, wherein the electroacoustic transducer includes a diaphragm defining the first radiating surface and the second radiating surface, and wherein the diaphragm has a diameter of less than 6 mm.

21. The hearing aid according to claim 20, wherein the electroacoustic transducer is a moving coil transducer.

22. The hearing aid according to claim 11, further comprising: Battery; First microphone; Sound processor; transceiver; Second microphone; and wiring, The battery, the first microphone, the sound processor, and the transceiver are housed within the housing. The second microphone is supported by the housing; and The wiring extends between the housing and the casing and electrically connects the second microphone to the sound processor.

23. The hearing aid of claim 11, wherein the sound processor is configured to perform an active noise cancellation algorithm using input from the second microphone.

24. A handset, comprising: Electroacoustic transducer; A housing supporting the electroacoustic transducer, the housing and the electroacoustic transducer together defining a first acoustic volume and a second acoustic volume, the electroacoustic transducer being arranged such that a first radiating surface of the transducer radiates acoustic energy into the first acoustic volume, and a second radiating surface of the transducer radiates acoustic energy into the second acoustic volume. A front opening that connects the first acoustic volume to a space outside the housing; A rear opening that connects the second acoustic volume to the space outside the housing; and A valve located above the front orifice and the rear orifice, and arranged such that if the valve is closed, the valve closes the front orifice and the rear orifice separately.

25. A hearing aid, comprising: Electroacoustic transducer; microphone; A housing supporting the electroacoustic transducer and the microphone, and sized to be at least partially located within the user's ear canal, such that the housing and the electroacoustic transducer together define a first acoustic volume and a second acoustic volume, the electroacoustic transducer being arranged such that a first radiating surface of the transducer radiates acoustic energy into the first acoustic volume, and a second radiating surface of the transducer radiates acoustic energy into the second acoustic volume; A front opening that connects the first acoustic volume to a space outside the housing; A rear opening that connects the second acoustic volume to the space outside the housing; Electronic devices; A housing that supports the electronic device and is configured to be positioned behind the user's ear when worn; and Wiring that extends between the housing and the outer casing and electrically connects the electronics to the electroacoustic transducer and the microphone.

26. The hearing aid of claim 25, wherein the electronics are configured to perform an active noise cancellation algorithm to generate a signal that causes the electroacoustic transducer to generate acoustic energy to cancel noise based on input from the microphone.

27. A hearing aid, comprising: Electroacoustic transducer; A housing that supports the electroacoustic transducer and is sized to be located at least partially within the user's ear canal, such that the housing and the electroacoustic transducer together define a first acoustic volume and a second acoustic volume, the electroacoustic transducer being arranged such that a first radiating surface of the transducer radiates acoustic energy into the first acoustic volume, and a second radiating surface of the transducer radiates acoustic energy into the second acoustic volume; A front opening that connects the first acoustic volume to a space outside the housing; A rear opening that connects the second acoustic volume to the space outside the housing; Electronic devices; A housing that supports the electronic device and is configured to be positioned behind the user's ear when worn; Wiring that extends between the housing and the outer casing and electrically connects the electronic components to the electroacoustic transducer; and A microphone, supported by the housing, wherein the electronics are configured to execute an active noise cancellation algorithm to generate a signal that causes the electroacoustic transducer to generate acoustic energy to cancel noise based on input from the microphone.

28. The hearing aid according to claim 27, wherein the electroacoustic transducer is a full-range transducer.

29. The hearing aid according to claim 28, wherein the electroacoustic transducer is a moving coil transducer.

30. The hearing aid of claim 27, wherein the electronics include a transceiver supporting high-fidelity audio transmission.

31. The hearing aid of claim 27, wherein the microphone is supported by the housing, and wherein the wiring electrically connects the microphone to the electronics.

32. The hearing aid of claim 31, wherein the microphone is a feedback microphone arranged to pick up audio at the user's ear canal.

33. The hearing aid of claim 31, wherein the microphone is a feedforward microphone arranged acoustically to be connected to air near the user's auricle for feedforward noise cancellation.

34. The hearing aid of claim 33 further includes a second microphone supported by the housing.

35. The hearing aid of claim 34, wherein the second microphone comprises a microphone array.

36. A hearing aid system, comprising: The hearing aid according to claim 27; and A computing device communicatively connected to the hearing aid and configured to execute a software program that allows the user to adjust one or more features of the hearing aid.

37. The hearing aid system of claim 36, wherein the software program allows a user to adjust the signal processing parameters of the hearing aid.

38. The hearing aid system of claim 37, wherein the signal processing parameters include the filter coefficients of the active noise cancellation algorithm.

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