39 results about "In-ear monitor" patented technology

A system and method that reduces the perceptual effect resulting from ear occlusion is disclosed. It comprises of an electro-acoustic feedback network that produces phase cancelling sounds in the ear, where a receiver and a microphone are located. A novel control mechanism is disclosed that controls the response of the feedback network to minimise distortion in the ear while maintaining a desired frequency response for external signals. Devices producing the external signal include hearing aids, personal sound devices, in ear monitors, communications headsets and hearing protectors. The integration of the present invention with these devices improves the user's perception of their own voice.

A multi-driver in-ear monitor for use with either a recorded or a live audio source is provided. If a pair of drivers is used, each driver has an individual sound delivery tube. If three drivers are used, the outputs from two of the drivers are merged into a single sound delivery tube while the output from the third driver is maintained in a separate, discrete sound tube. The sound delivery tubes remain separate throughout the end portion of the earpiece. The earpiece tip is configured to be fitted with any of a variety of sleeves (e.g., foam sleeves, flanged sleeves, etc.), thus allowing the in-ear monitor to be easily tailored to comfortably fit within any of a variety of ear canals. Due to the size constraints of such an earpiece, the sound delivery tubes include a transition region. Acoustic filters (i.e., dampers) can be interposed between one or both driver outputs and the earpiece output.

An in-ear monitor system facilitates stereo depth perception using microphones at each ear, minimizes occlusion effects, and provides a digital platform for both audio digital signal processing and wireless transmission.

A headset with an active crossover network is provided. The headset is coupled to an audio source using either a wired connection or a wireless connection. The active crossover network, utilizing either analog or digital filtering, divides each channel of the incoming audio signal from the audio source into multiple frequency regions sufficient for the number of drivers contained within each in-ear monitor of the headset. The output from the network's filters is amplified using either single channel or multi-channel amplifies. Preferably, gain control circuitry is used to control the gain of the amplifier(s) and thus the volume produced by the drivers. More preferably, the gain of the gain control circuitry is adjustable. The headset includes a power source that is coupled to the amplifier(s) and, if necessary, the network's filters. The power source can be included within some portion of the headset or included within the wireless interface. Alternately, an external power source can be used, for example one associated with the audio source.

An in-ear monitor assembly includes an internal microphone to facilitate a bidirectional voice communication channel.

A headset with a digital signal processor is provided. The headset is coupleable to at least one audio source using either a wired connection or a wireless connection. The digital signal processor divides each channel of the incoming audio signal into a plurality of frequency bands. Monitors (e.g., in-ear monitors or headphones), each comprising a plurality of drivers, are coupled to the output of the digital signal processor.

An audio monitor system that includes a pair of in-ear monitors, each of which includes a connector and a corresponding detachable cable, is provided. Each connector may include a two pin jack assembly and each detachable cable may include a corresponding two pin plug assembly. Preferably, each plug assembly of each detachable cable includes a hooded member. More preferably, a portion of the hooded member covers a portion of the corresponding connector, thus effectively sealing the plug/connector assembly from contamination. Even more preferably, interlocking members are included on each hooded member and each corresponding connector, the interlocking members preventing accidental decoupling of the cable from the connector. The plug and connector assemblies may include means for insuring that a desired pin polarity is maintained during cable coupling.

An in-ear monitor for use with either a recorded or a live audio source is provided. The disclosed in-ear monitor combines a pair of diaphragm drivers and a single armature driver within a single earpiece, thereby taking advantage of the capabilities of both types of driver. Preferably, the diaphragm is used to reproduce the lower frequencies while the higher frequencies are accurately reproduced by the armature driver. Such a hybrid design offers improved fidelity across the desired frequency spectrum and does so at a reduced cost in comparison to multiple armature designs. In addition to the two drivers, the disclosed in-ear monitor includes means for splitting the incoming signal into separate inputs for each driver. Typically this function is performed by a passive crossover circuit although an active crossover circuit can also be used. In at least one embodiment, acoustic dampers are interposed between at least one driver output and the eartip.

An in-ear monitor that can be customized for particular applications and individuals includes a housing formed from a body and a cover. A dynamic driver is mounted in a cavity in the housing on an angled mounting flange. The dynamic driver is acoustically coupled to a trumpet-shaped sound collector. The trumpet-shaped sound collector is coupled to a main sound bore that exits an opening in a nozzle portion of the body that is inserted into the ear canal of a user. An ambient sound port collects ambient sound and couples it to the sound bore. An additional bass post increases the bass response of the monitor. Ear impressions are used to customize the body of the monitor to the ear of a user and the location of the bass and ambient sound ports can be altered for different applications.

The present disclosure generally provides an apparatus and method of forming an audio speaker that has an improved sound quality over conventional audio speaker designs and has a low manufacturing cost. In an effort to overcome the shortcomings of conventional sealed speaker designs that typically have diaphragms that generate undesirable levels of distortion, one or more of the embodiments of the disclosure provided herein include a speaker diaphragm that is formed from a mode damped diaphragm design. In general, a mode damped diaphragm is configured to damp the various mode shapes generated during the delivery of an acoustic output from the speaker assembly. It is believed that one or more of the embodiments of the disclosure provided herein could be used in any audio speaker application, but may provide additional advantages when used in various headphone, headset, earphone or in-ear monitor type applications.

The present disclosure generally provides a method of manufacture of a custom fit in-ear module, including capturing an anatomical representation of a body part at a first location; transferring the stored data to a second electronic device positioned at a second location; forming a three-dimensional digital model from the stored data using the second electronic device; transforming the three-dimensional digital model, wherein the transforming comprises forming a cavity within the three-dimensional digital model, wherein the cavity is sized to receive an acoustic output member and one or more drivers; transferring the transformed three dimensional model to a third electronic device positioned at a third location; forming a body of an in-ear monitor using the transformed three dimensional model; and positioning the acoustic output member and one or more drivers within the formed body, wherein the acoustic output member and one or more drivers reside at least partially within the cavity.

A headset with an active crossover network is provided. The headset is coupleable to a first audio source using a wired connection and to a second audio source using a wireless connection. A controller is used to determine whether the first, or second, audio source is coupled to the active crossover network which, utilizing either analog or digital filtering, divides each channel of the incoming audio signal into multiple frequency regions sufficient for the number of drivers contained within the in-ear monitors of the headset. The output from the network's filters is amplified using either single channel or multi-channel amplifies. Preferably, gain control circuitry is used to control the gain of the amplifier(s) and thus the volume produced by the drivers. More preferably, the gain of the gain control circuitry is adjustable. The headset includes a power source that is coupled to the amplifier(s) and, if necessary, the network's filters. The power source can be included within some portion of the headset or included within the wireless interface. Alternately, an external power source can be used, for example one associated with the audio source.

An in-ear monitor for use with either a recorded or a live audio source is provided. The disclosed in-ear monitor combines a single diaphragm driver and a single armature driver within a single earpiece, thereby taking advantage of the capabilities of each type of driver. Preferably, the diaphragm is used to reproduce the lower frequencies while the higher frequencies are accurately reproduced by the armature driver. Such a hybrid design offers improved fidelity across the desired frequency spectrum and does so at a reduced cost in comparison to multiple armature designs. In addition to the two drivers, the disclosed in-ear monitor includes means for splitting the incoming signal into separate inputs for each driver. Typically this function is performed by a passive crossover circuit although an active crossover circuit can also be used. In at least one embodiment, acoustic dampers are interposed between one or both driver outputs and the eartip.

A custom-fit in-ear-monitor (IEM) is provided that utilizes a plurality of drivers and a single piece driver module that significantly simplifies fabrication while insuring that the completed IEM achieves the desired acoustic performance. The driver module, which is fit within a custom-fit ear mold shell, includes a plurality of driver ports to which the drivers are coupled. The driver module also includes an acoustic output member that includes one or more sound bores that acoustically couple the acoustic output surface of the custom-fit ear mold shell to the plurality of driver ports via a plurality of sound ducts within the driver module.

An audio monitor/microphone combination coupled to a four contact plug connector is provided. Exemplary audio monitors include ear buds, in ear monitors, over-the-head headsets, over-the-ear headsets, clip-on headsets, and behind-the-neck headsets. Exemplary microphones include boom-mounted microphones, earphone integrated microphones, microphones located on (or integrated within) the headset cable, and lanyard mounted microphones. The plug connector is configured such that the tip contact region corresponds to the left-hand speaker channel input, the second contact region adjacent to the tip contact region corresponds to the right-hand speaker channel input, the third contact region adjacent to the second contact region corresponds to the microphone output, and the fourth contact region adjacent to the third contact region corresponds to both the speaker ground and the microphone ground. Insulating rings are interposed between each pair of contact regions. Preferably an adaptor is included with the audio monitor/microphone combination as part of an accessory kit.