In-ear headphones

Abstract

In-ear headphones, with an electroacoustic sound transducer (110), a sound guidance unit (120, 130, 140) with a first and second end for guiding the sound from the electroacoustic sound transducer (110) to a user's ear, a channel (160) with a first end (161) opening towards the ear canal and a second end (162) opening outwards, and a compliant membrane (170) located between the first end (161) and the second end (162) of the channel (160) and extending substantially over the entire cross-section of the channel (160), wherein the membrane (170) is designed as an embossed membrane with a dome and a groove.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an ear canal receiver.

[0002] Ear-canal earphones generally feature an acoustic transducer built into a housing that is inserted intra-aurally, i.e., into the ear canal. An ear cushion is often placed around the housing to make wearing the earphone more comfortable for the user and to ensure a tight seal. The housing contains an electrical connector for a cable that carries an electrical signal to the transducer.

[0003] To improve wearing comfort for the user and to achieve a greater seal of the receiver in the ear canal, the receivers can be incorporated into an earmold, also known as an ear-adapted ear canal receiver.

[0004] Furthermore, an ear-canal receiver can be attached to an earmold instead of an ear cushion. In this case, the earmold and receiver are not a single unit, but can be separated. This earmold is referred to as an earmold.

[0005] The advantages of an ear-fitting solution are a secure fit of the earpiece in the ear canal and better bass reproduction due to a better seal of the earpiece.

[0006] When an ear canal receiver is inserted into a user's ear canal, it essentially seals the ear canal airtight. The sound emitted by the transducer travels from the ear canal receiver through the ear canal to the user's eardrum. This can, however, result in the user only perceiving outside noises to a very low level. When listening to music on the street, for example, this can lead to the user not noticing approaching cars or other sources of danger. This can also lead to a musician on stage, for example, feeling isolated from the rest of the music. To avoid this, a so-called ambient channel can be provided, which connects the ear canal to the outside world.However, the provision of such a channel means that the ambient sound reaches the user only in very limited quality and also has a negative impact on the acoustic properties of the earpiece.

[0007] US 2011 / 0 096 948 A1 shows an ear canal receiver with an electroacoustic sound transducer and a sound conduction unit as well as a canal with one end open towards the ear canal and a second end open to the outside.

[0008] JP 2009 - 267 454 A shows an ear canal receiver with an electroacoustic sound transducer and a sound guide unit.

[0009] EP 2 405 674 A2 shows an ear canal receiver with an electroacoustic sound transducer and a sound guide unit.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to improve the sound quality of a listener, in particular to allow ambient sound to pass through to the eardrum with sufficient quality and at the same time to enable high sound quality.

[0011] This object is achieved by an ear canal earphone according to claim 1.

[0012] Thus, an ear-canal receiver is provided with an electroacoustic sound transducer and a sound guide unit with a first and second end for guiding the sound from the electroacoustic sound transducer to a user's ear. The ear-canal receiver has a channel with a first end open toward the ear canal and a second end open to the outside. A membrane is provided in the channel and extends, for example, with the membrane clamping, across the entire cross-section.

[0013] By providing the channel, an ambient function can be ensured. An ambient function refers to the transmission of outside noise to the user's ear despite the use of ear-canal earphones. Depending on the application, different requirements exist for the quality of the transmission. One measure of the quality is the channel's transfer function, i.e., the frequency response of the sound transmitted through the channel. By providing the membrane in the channel, the channel's transfer function can be improved and the negative effects on the listener's acoustics can be effectively limited.

[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, a first damping unit is provided in the region of the first end of the channel and / or a second damping unit is provided in the region of the second end of the channel.

[0015] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the first and / or second damping unit serves to influence the frequency response of the sound transmitted through the channel or as protection against contamination.

[0016] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the membrane is designed as a flat membrane, as a flat-tensioned membrane or as an embossed membrane with a dome and a bead.

[0017] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the channel may run at least partially parallel to the sound guiding unit.

[0018] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the cross-section of the channel is round, oval or rectangular or arbitrary.

[0019] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the cross-section of the channel is not constant over its length.

[0020] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the channel has a first portion which is delimited by an inner wall of a third sound guide portion of the sound guide unit.

[0021] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the channel has a (constricted) portion to accommodate a membrane support of the membrane and the membrane.

[0022] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the channel is designed in two parts and the membrane, optionally with its membrane suspension, is provided between the two parts of the channel.

[0023] Further developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

[0024] The embodiments and advantages of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of an ear canal earphone with ambient channel according to the prior art, Fig. 2 shows a transfer function of an open ear canal and a transfer function of an ambient channel according to the prior art, Fig. 3 shows a transfer function of an open ear canal and a transfer function of an ambient channel according to the prior art, Fig. Figure 4 shows a frequency response of the earpiece with the channel open or closed according to the prior art, Fig. 5A shows a schematic sectional view of an ear canal earphone according to a first embodiment, Fig. 5B shows a schematic sectional view of an ear canal earphone according to a second embodiment, Fig. 5C shows a schematic sectional view of an ear canal earphone according to a third embodiment, Fig. 6 shows a schematic sectional view of an ear canal earphone according to a fourth embodiment, Fig. 7A shows a frequency response of an ear canal earphone with open and closed canal according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 7B shows a transfer function of an ambient channel according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 8 shows a schematic sectional view of an ear canal earphone according to a fifth embodiment, Fig. 9 shows a schematic sectional view of an ear canal earphone according to the sixth embodiment, Fig. 10 shows a schematic sectional view of an ear canal earphone according to a seventh embodiment, Fig. 11 shows a frequency response of an ear canal earphone with an open and closed undamped channel according to the invention, Fig. 12A shows a frequency response of an ear canal earphone with an open and closed ambient channel according to the invention, Fig. 12B shows a transfer function of an ambient channel according to the invention, Fig. 13A shows a frequency response of an ear canal earphone according to the invention with modified compliance of the membrane in the ambient channel, Fig. 13B shows a transfer function of an ambient channel according to the invention with changed compliance of the membrane in the ambient channel, Fig. 14A shows a frequency response of an ear canal earphone according to the invention with changed mass of the membrane in the ambient channel, Fig. 14B shows a transfer function of an ambient channel according to the invention with changed mass of the membrane in the ambient channel, Fig. 15A shows a frequency response of an ear canal earphone according to the invention with a changed length of the canal, Fig. 15B shows a transfer function of an ambient channel with a changed length of the channel according to the invention, Fig. 16A shows a frequency response of an ear canal earphone according to the invention with change of attenuation towards the ear, Fig. 16B shows a transfer function of an ambient channel with variation of the attenuation towards the ear, Fig. 17A shows a frequency response of an ear canal earphone according to the invention with change of attenuation towards the outside, and Fig. Figure 17B shows a transfer function of an ambient channel with change in attenuation towards the outside.

[0025] The invention relates to so-called ear-canal earphones, namely earphones that are adapted to a user's ear canal, e.g., by means of an ear cushion, an earmold, or an earmold. The electroacoustic playback transducer can be an electrodynamic, electrostatic, or magnetic transducer. The sound is then guided from the transducer to the back of the user's ear canal.

[0026] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a prior art ear-canal earphone with an ambient channel. The earphone includes an electroacoustic reproduction transducer 110 and a sound guide unit 120. The earphone further includes a channel 160, which is open to the outside at one end and toward the ear at the other end.

[0027] The playback transducer, the sound guide unit and the canal can be installed in an earmold 130.

[0028] Fig. Figure 2 shows a transfer function of an open ear canal and a transfer function of an ambient channel of an ear canal earphone inserted into an ear canal. Fig. Figure 2 shows the transfer function 210 of an open ear canal. This frequency response is a measure of how sound travels from the outer ear to the eardrum. The transfer function of the ambient channel 220 is a measure of how sound travels through the ambient canal to the eardrum.

[0029] Out of Fig. 2 clearly shows that only the lowest frequencies reach the eardrum without significant attenuation. In particular, the frequency range between 1000 Hz and 5000 Hz is transmitted only with very strong attenuation. It should be noted that this range is particularly important for intelligibility.

[0030] Especially for musicians, it is important that frequencies above 5000 Hz are also passed through well.

[0031] In Fig. 3 is the difference between the transfer functions from Fig. 2 shown graphically highlighted.

[0032] Fig. Figure 4 shows the frequency response of a state-of-the-art ear-canal receiver with an open (420) and a closed (410) channel. The difference between these two curves (410 and 420) reveals that the frequency response below 200 Hz is reduced by more than 12 dB due to the ambient channel. This is unacceptable for many users and cannot be remedied by further adjustments to the ear-canal receiver.

[0033] The state of the art therefore has two serious disadvantages that are to be improved by the solution according to the invention: 1. The quality of the transfer function is unsatisfactory and 2. The frequency response of the listener is unduly negatively changed by the ambient channel.

[0034] Fig. Figure 5A shows a schematic sectional view of an ear-canal earpiece according to a first embodiment. The earpiece 100 comprises an electroacoustic reproduction transducer 110 and a sound guide unit 120. The sound guide section 120 is provided in the region of a volume in front of a diaphragm of the electroacoustic reproduction transducer 110.

[0035] The earpiece further comprises a channel 160 with a first end 161 open toward the eardrum and a second end 162 open to the outside. The earpiece comprises a housing 130 which, for example, surrounds the electroacoustic reproduction transducer 110. The second end 162 of the channel 160 can be provided in the housing wall. A membrane 170 is provided in the channel 160 and extends over the entire cross-section of the channel 160. Optionally, a first damping element 180 can be provided in the region of the first end 161 of the channel 160 and optionally a second damping element 190 can be provided in the region of the second end 162 of the channel 160. The first and / or second damping unit 180, 190 can be provided to influence the frequency response of the sound transmitted through the channel. Alternatively or additionally, the first and second damping units 180, 190 can serve as protection, in particular against contamination.

[0036] Fig. 5B shows a schematic sectional view of an ear canal earpiece according to a second exemplary embodiment. The earpiece 100 comprises an electroacoustic reproduction transducer 110 and a sound guide unit, optionally with a first sound guide section 120, a second sound guide section 130, and a third sound guide section 140. The first sound guide section 120 is provided in the region of a volume in front of a diaphragm of the electroacoustic reproduction transducer 110. The third sound guide section 140 can be configured as an ear mold or an earmold. Its outer contour is adapted to the inner contour of an ear canal. The second sound guide section 130 serves to extend the first sound guide section 120.

[0037] Optionally, the second sound guide section can be cylindrical. The length and diameter of the sound guide of the second sound guide unit 130 can be configured such that the acoustic mass of the first and second sound guide sections 120, 130, together with the volume in front of the diaphragm of the playback transducer 110, generate a resonant frequency that extends the frequency response by the desired components.

[0038] The earpiece further comprises a channel 160 with a first end 161, which is open in the direction of the third sound guide section 140, and a second end 162, which is open to the outside. The earpiece comprises a housing 101, which, for example, surrounds the electroacoustic reproduction transducer 110. The second end 162 of the channel 160 can be provided in the housing wall. A membrane 170 is provided in the channel 160, which extends over the entire cross-section of the channel 160. Optionally, a first damping element 180 can be provided in the region of the first end 161 of the channel 160 and optionally a second damping element 190 can be provided in the region of the second end 162 of the channel 160. The first and / or second damping unit 180, 190 can be provided to influence the frequency response of the sound transmitted through the channel. Alternatively orIn addition, the first and second damping units 180, 190 can serve as protection, in particular against contamination.

[0039] The first sound guide section 120 has a first end 121 and a second end 122. The second end 122 is located on the side facing the ear, while the first end 121 is located on the side facing away from the ear and can accommodate the electroacoustic reproduction transducer 110. The second sound guide section 130 has a first end 131 on the side facing away from the ear and a second end 132 on the side facing toward the ear. The third sound guide section has a first end 141 on the side facing away from the ear and a second end 142 on the side facing toward the ear.

[0040] The second sound guide section 130 optionally has a baffle 150 to provide a clearly defined acoustic seal. The baffle 150 can optionally be configured to be substantially acoustically sealed. The substantially acoustically sealed baffle 150 acoustically separates the front of the electroacoustic transducer from the rear of the transducer. The baffle 150 can also be configured as part of the third sound guide section 140 or as a separate part and be inserted into a first end 141 of the third sound guide section 140.

[0041] The baffle 150 and the first sound guide section 120 are provided in an internal volume 143 of the third sound guide unit 140, preferably in the region of the first end 141.

[0042] Optionally, the baffle 150 terminates with the first and second ends 131, 132 of the second sound guide section 130.

[0043] Optionally, the third sound guide section 140 has a cross section or inner diameter that is larger than the cross section or inner diameter of the second sound guide section 130.

[0044] The outer contour of the third sound guide section 140 is essentially adapted to the inner contour of the ear canal. The thickness of the third sound guide section 140 is designed to be as thin as possible. A compromise must be found between keeping the thickness of the third sound guide section 140 as small as possible with regard to acoustics, on the one hand, and a minimum wall thickness to ensure a certain degree of mechanical stability for the third sound guide section 140, on the other.

[0045] Optionally, the first, second and third sound guide sections can be designed as one part or as separate parts.

[0046] Preferably, the third sound guide unit 140 has no constriction with respect to the geometry of the ear canal.

[0047] The outer contour of the third sound guide section 140 largely follows the inner contour of the user's ear canal.

[0048] The second and third sound guide sections 130, 140 can be designed to be removable from the transducer 110 and the first sound guide section 120.

[0049] Fig. 5C shows a schematic sectional view of an ear canal earphone according to a third embodiment. The structure of the ear canal earphone according to Fig. 5C essentially corresponds to the structure of the ear canal receiver according to Fig. 5B, wherein the channel 160 is configured differently. While in the embodiment of Fig. 5B the channel has only a small diameter, the channel 160 according to the second embodiment is designed to be considerably wider and can extend from the inner diameter or the inner wall of the third sound guide section 140 to the baffle 150 in the region of the second sound guide section 130. Optionally, a first damping unit can be provided at the first end 161 of the channel 160 and / or a second damping unit 190 can be provided at the second end 162 of the channel 160. The channel 160 can have a first section 163 and a second section 164, wherein the first section 163 is defined between the baffle 150 and the inner wall of the third sound guide section 140. The second section 164 of the channel 160 can be separated from the remaining internal volume of the housing by a wall.

[0050] Thus, a channel 160 can be provided parallel to the second sound-guiding section 130, connecting a volume 143 formed by the third sound-guiding section 140 together with the ear canal to the outside. The channel can have a round, rectangular, or any desired cross-section. The cross-section of the channel can vary along the length of the canal.

[0051] A flexible membrane 170, for example, can be provided in the channel in such a way that it covers the entire cross-section of the channel.

[0052] Fig. 6 shows a schematic sectional view of an ear canal earphone according to a fourth embodiment. The structure of the ear canal earphone according to the fourth embodiment essentially corresponds to the structure of the ear canal earphone according to the third embodiment. The ear canal earphone also has a channel 160 with a first end 161, optionally with a first damping unit, and a second end 162, optionally with a second damping unit 190. In contrast to the ear canal earphone according to the second embodiment, the second section 164 of the channel is not separated from the further interior volume of the housing.

[0053] The diaphragm 170 according to one of the exemplary embodiments can be configured as a flat diaphragm, as a flat tensioned diaphragm, or as an embossed diaphragm, for example, with a dome and a bead. The diaphragm can also have a diaphragm clamp 171, with the diaphragm and the clamp extending across the entire cross-section of the channel 160. This results in the channel being acoustically divided by the diaphragm.

[0054] The membrane 170 can seal off the volume 143 for frequencies below its resonant frequency, the stiffer the membrane is, the better this is achieved. At the same time, the membrane 170 can direct the sound arriving from outside via the second opening 162, i.e. the ambient noise, through the opening 161 and through the third sound guide section 140 to the user's eardrum. The stiffer the membrane, the less sound reaches the eardrum. Thus, the requirements placed on the membrane for the least possible influence on the listener's frequency response and the most undamped transmission of external noise are in conflict. It should be noted here that it is generally not advisable to allow ambient sound to reach the eardrum unattenuated. For example, when listening to music, unattenuated ambient noise can significantly impair the enjoyment of the music.For example, in an in-ear monitoring system on a loud stage, the unattenuated transmission of ambient noise can be harmful to the ear. The invention thus offers a way to only slightly influence the earpiece frequency response while simultaneously transmitting sound with a frequency response adapted to the application and appropriately attenuated. The influence on the earpiece frequency response would be taken into account during the earpiece's development and compensated for using simple measures.

[0055] The first and second damping units 180, 190 can be used both to influence the frequency response and to prevent contamination.

[0056] Fig. Figure 7A shows a frequency response of an ear-canal earphone with an open and closed canal. Fig. Figure 7A shows a frequency response 710 for a receiver without a channel and a frequency response 720 for a receiver with a channel. In those areas where the compliance of the diaphragm 170 has an effect, the frequency response can be reduced by 2 dB. This occurs because the volume impacted by the receiver can be virtually increased by the diaphragm. Since the change in frequency response is relatively small, this change can be taken into account and compensated for when tuning the receiver.

[0057] Fig. Figure 7B shows a transfer function of an ambient channel according to the invention. Fig. 7B shows in particular which frequency component of the ambient sound can reach the user's eardrum through the ambient channel. Fig. 7B shows the attenuation of ambient sound at the eardrum.

[0058] The frequency response of the ambient function results from the acoustic interaction of the channel 160, the membrane 170, the damping elements 180, 190 and the sound guide 140. By appropriate design of these elements, a broadband frequency response can be achieved.

[0059] According to the invention, it can thus be achieved that those frequency ranges which are important for speech intelligibility, such as 4 kHz, are not subjected to attenuation.

[0060] Fig. Figures 8 to 10 each show a schematic sectional view of an ear-canal earphone according to a fifth, sixth, and seventh embodiment. In the ear-canal earphone according to this embodiment, the sound guide unit can be designed to be removable.

[0061] According to the fifth embodiment of Fig. 8, the sound guide unit is designed as an earpiece. The channel 160 can then be provided in the area between the baffle 150 and the inner wall of the third sound guide section 140. A membrane 170 is provided in the channel 160, and the first and second damping units 180, 190 can be provided at the ends 161, 162.

[0062] In Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, the sound guide unit is designed as an ear cushion. An elastic ear cushion 140 can be attached to the sound guide unit 130 and can thus seal the sound guide unit from the ear canal. The channel 160 can be arranged such that the opening 161 faces the eardrum and the opening 162 leads outward. According to Fig. 9 the channel is arranged parallel and outside the sound guide 130.

[0063] According to the embodiment of Fig. 10, the channel initially runs parallel and within the sound guide 130 and is then led through it to the outside.

[0064] Fig. 11 shows a frequency response of an ear canal earphone with an open and closed ambient channel according to the invention, wherein the channel is undamped.

[0065] Fig. 12A shows a frequency response of an ear canal earphone with an open and closed ambient channel according to the invention.

[0066] Fig. 12B shows a transfer function of an ambient channel according to the invention.

[0067] Fig. 13A shows a frequency response of an ear canal earphone according to the invention with modified compliance of the membrane of the ambient channel.

[0068] Fig. Figure 13B shows a transfer function of an ambient channel according to the invention, wherein the compliance of the membrane in the ambient channel is changed.

[0069] Fig. 14A shows a frequency response of an ear canal earphone according to the invention with changed mass of the membrane in the ambient channel.

[0070] Fig. Figure 14B shows a transfer function of an ambient channel with changed mass of the membrane in the ambient channel according to the invention.

[0071] Fig. 15A shows a frequency response of an ear canal earphone according to the invention with a changed length of the canal.

[0072] Fig. Figure 15B shows a transfer function of an ambient channel with changed channel length according to the invention.

[0073] Fig. 16A shows a frequency response of an ear canal earphone according to the invention with modified attenuation towards the ear.

[0074] Fig. Figure 16B shows a transfer function of an ambient channel with modified attenuation towards the ear according to the invention.

[0075] Fig. 17A shows a frequency response of an ear canal earphone according to the invention with modified attenuation towards the outside.

[0076] Fig. Figure 17B shows a transfer function of an ambient channel with modified attenuation towards the outside according to the invention.

[0077] According to the invention, the electroacoustic sound transducer can be designed as a dynamic or magnetic sound transducer.

[0078] The connection between the earpiece and the earmold can be designed as a permanent connection or as a connection that can be released by the user, e.g. by means of a snap-in connection.

[0079] According to the invention, the second and third sound guiding sections can be designed as part of the earpiece (e.g. as part of the earmold) or as an earmold (earmold unit).

[0080] According to the invention, the second sound guiding section can be designed as part of the ear cushion, wherein the third sound guiding section is formed by a part of the ear canal.

Claims

[1] Ear canal receiver, with an electroacoustic sound transducer (110), a sound guide unit (120, 130, 140) having a first and a second end for guiding the sound from the electroacoustic sound transducer (110) to an ear of a user, a channel (160) having a first end (161) open towards the ear canal and a second end (162) open towards the outside, and a resilient membrane (170) located between the first end (161) and the second end (162) of the channel (160) and extending substantially over the entire cross-section of the channel (160), wherein the membrane (170) is designed as an embossed membrane with a dome and a bead. [2] Ear canal earphone according to claim 1, further comprising a first damping unit (180) in the region of the first end (161) of the canal and / or a second damping unit (190) in the region of the second end (162) of the canal (160). [3] Ear canal earpiece according to claim 2, wherein the first and / or second damping unit (180, 190) serves to influence the frequency response of the sound transmitted through the canal (160) or as protection against contamination. [4] Ear canal earphone according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the membrane (170) is designed as a flat membrane or as a flat tensioned membrane. [5] Ear canal earphone according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the channel (160) runs at least partially parallel to the sound guide unit (120, 130, 140). [6] Ear canal earphone according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cross section of the channel (160) is round or rectangular. [7] Ear canal earpiece according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the channel (160) has a first portion (163) which is delimited by an inner wall of a sound guide portion (140). [8] An ear canal earpiece according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the channel (160) has a widened portion to accommodate a membrane support of the membrane and the membrane (170). [9] Ear canal earphone according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the channel (160) is designed in two parts and the membrane (170) with its membrane suspension is provided between the two parts of the channel (160). [10] An ear canal earpiece according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the sound guide unit comprises a first, second and third sound guide section (120, 130, 140), wherein the membrane seals a volume (143) formed by the user's ear canal and by the third sound guide section (140) for frequencies below its resonant frequency. [11] Ear canal receiver according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the sound guide unit comprises at least a first section (120) in the region of a volume (143) in front of the transducer (110), a middle second section (130) and a third section (140) designed as an otoplastic or earmold, wherein the first and second sections (120,130) generate a resonance frequency which extends the frequency response of the ear canal receiver by desired components.

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