IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,213,632
Granted Patent B2
US 8,213,632 · App. 11/910,321 · Granted Jul 3, 2012

Electroacoustic transducer and ear speaker device

Assignee: Sony Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,213,632
App. No.
11/910,321
Granted
Jul 3, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A reproduced sound of high quality is allowed to be listened to by a listener while natural sound image localization is provided. By providing a housing 4 L having internal space mounted at a predetermined position of the head of the listener, a speaker unit 7 L mounted on one surface of the housing 4 L and positioned away from an entrance of an external acoustic meatus of the listener for a predetermined distance when the housing 4 L is mounted on the head 100 of the listener, and a tubular duct 8 L extended so as to allow a sound generated by the housing 4 L to reach the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener, the sound generated by the housing 4 L can be directly reached to an eardrum 103 L in the inside of the external acoustic meatus from the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener via a tubular duct 8 L. In this manner, a sound at an sufficient level can be listened to by the listener while the natural sound image localization is provided as an open type.

Claims (74)

1. An electroacoustic transducer characterized by comprising:

a housing mounted at a predetermined position of the head of a listener;

a speaker unit that is mounted in the housing, and is positioned away from an entrance of an external acoustic meatus of the listener for a predetermined distance when the housing is mounted on the head of the listener; and

a tubular duct that is extended so as to allow a sound generated by the housing to reach the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener,

wherein the tubular duct is formed in a substantial U-shape such that the tubular duct extends from the housing to the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener and then returns to the housing again, and has a hole for emitting sound provided in the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener.

2. The electroacoustic transducer according to claim 1 , characterized in that

the tubular duct transmits vibration carried from the speaker unit via the housing to the listener mainly by conduction via skin.

3. The electroacoustic transducer according to claim 1 , characterized in that

the tubular duct has a protective part provided thereon for preventing an end part positioned in the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus from entering into the inside of the external acoustic meatus of the listener.

4. The electroacoustic transducer according to claim 1 , characterized in that

the housing orients a sound emitting surface of the speaker unit to a substantial direction of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener when the housing is mounted on the head of the listener.

5. An ear speaker device, characterized by comprising:

an electroacoustic transducer including a housing mounted at a predetermined position of the head of a listener, a speaker unit that is mounted in the housing, and is positioned away from an entrance of an external acoustic meatus of the listener for a predetermined distance when the housing is mounted on the head of the listener, and a tubular duct that is extended so as to allow a sound generated by the housing to reach the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener; and

a mounting part that is used for mounting the electroacoustic transducer on the head of the listener in a manner that the predetermined distance is provided between the speaker unit and the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener,

wherein the tubular duct is formed in a substantial U-shape such that the tubular duct extends from the housing to the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener and then returns to the housing again, and has a hole for emitting sound provided in the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener.

6. The ear speaker device according to claim 5 , characterized in that

the tubular duct transmits vibration carried from the speaker unit via the housing to the listener mainly by conduction via skin.

7. The ear speaker device according to claim 5 , characterized in that

the tubular duct has a protective part provided thereon for preventing an end part positioned in the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus from entering into the inside of the external acoustic meatus of the listener.

8. The ear speaker device according to claim 5 , characterized in that

the housing orients a sound emitting surface of the speaker unit to a substantial direction of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener when the housing is mounted on the head of the listener.

9. An electroacoustic transducer characterized by comprising:

a housing mounted at a predetermined position of the head of a listener;

a speaker unit that is mounted on one surface of the housing, and is positioned away from an entrance of an external acoustic meatus of the listener for a predetermined distance when the housing is mounted on the head of the listener; and

a tubular duct that is extended so as to allow a sound generated in inside space of the housing to reach the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener,

wherein the tubular duct is formed in a substantial U-shape such that the tubular duct extends from the housing to the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener and then returns to the housing again, and has a hole for emitting sound provided in the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener.

10. The electroacoustic transducer according to claim 9 , characterized in that

the tubular duct transmits vibration carried from the speaker unit via the housing to the listener mainly by conduction via skin.

11. The electroacoustic transducer according to claim 9 , characterized in that

the tubular duct acts as a duct of a bass reflex speaker.

12. The electroacoustic transducer according to claim 9 , characterized in that

the tubular duct has a protective part provided thereon for preventing an edge positioned in the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus from entering into the inside of the external acoustic meatus of the listener.

13. The electroacoustic transducer according to claim 9 , characterized in that

the housing orients a sound emitting surface of the speaker unit to a substantial direction of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener when the housing is mounted on the head of the listener.

14. An ear speaker device, characterized by comprising:

an electroacoustic transducer including a housing mounted at a predetermined position of the head of a listener, a speaker unit that is mounted on one surface of the housing, and is positioned away from an entrance of an external acoustic meatus of the listener for a predetermined distance when the housing is mounted on the head of the listener, and a tubular duct that is extended so as to allow a sound generated in inside space of the housing to reach the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener; and

a mounting part that is used for mounting the electroacoustic transducer on the head of the listener in a manner that the predetermined distance is provided between the speaker unit and the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener,

wherein the tubular duct is formed in a substantial U-shape such that the tubular duct extends from the housing to the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener and then returns to the housing again, and has a hole for emitting sound provided in the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener.

15. The ear speaker device according to claim 14 , characterized in that

the tubular duct transmits vibration carried from the speaker unit via the housing to the listener mainly by conduction via skin.

16. The ear speaker device according to claim 14 , characterized in that

the tubular duct acts as a duct of a bass reflex speaker.

17. The ear speaker device according to claim 14 , characterized in that

the tubular duct has a protective part provided thereon for preventing an end part positioned in the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus from entering into the inside of the external acoustic meatus of the listener.

18. The ear speaker device according to claim 14 , characterized in that

the housing orients a sound emitting surface of the speaker unit to a substantial direction of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener when the housing is mounted on the head of the listener.

19. The ear speaker device according to claim 14 , characterized in that

the mounting part positions the speaker unit closer to the front side than the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener when the electroacoustic transducer is mounted on the head of the listener, and also comprises a rear side housing provided with a predetermined rear side speaker unit that is to be positioned closer to the rear side than the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener.

20. The ear speaker device according to claim 14 , characterized in that

the mounting part comprises a predetermined vibrator mounted in the mounting part for generating vibration to the head of the listener, in addition to the housing.

21. An electroacoustic transducer characterized by comprising:

a housing mounted at a predetermined position of the head of a listener;

a speaker unit that is mounted on one surface of the housing, and is positioned away from an entrance of an external acoustic meatus of the listener for a predetermined distance when the housing is mounted on the head of the listener; and

a tubular duct that is extended so as to allow a sound generated by a front surface of the speaker unit to reach the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener,

wherein the tubular duct is formed in a substantial U-shape such that the tubular duct extends from the housing to the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener and then returns to the housing again, and has a hole for emitting sound provided in the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener.

22. The electroacoustic transducer according to claim 21 , characterized in that

the tubular duct transmits vibration carried from the speaker unit via the housing to the listener mainly by conduction via skin.

23. The electroacoustic transducer according to claim 21 , characterized in that

the tubular duct has a protective part provided. thereon for preventing an end part positioned in the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus from entering into the inside of the external acoustic meatus of the listener.

24. The electroacoustic transducer according to claim 21 , characterized in that

the housing orients a sound emitting surface of the speaker unit to a substantial direction of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener when the housing is mounted on the head of the listener.

25. An ear speaker device, characterized by comprising:

an electroacoustic transducer including a housing mounted at a predetermined position of the head of a listener, a speaker unit that is mounted on one surface of the housing, and is positioned away from an entrance of an external acoustic meatus of the listener for a predetermined distance when the housing is mounted on the head of the listener, and a tubular duct that is extended so as to allow a sound generated by the front surface of the speaker unit to reach the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener; and

a mounting part that is used for mounting the electroacoustic transducer on the head of the listener in a manner that the predetermined distance is provided between the speaker unit and the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener,

wherein the tubular duct is formed in a substantial U-shape such that the tubular duct extends from the housing to the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener and then returns to the housing again, and has a hole for emitting sound provided in the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener.

26. The ear speaker device according to claim 25 , characterized in that

the tubular duct transmits vibration carried from the speaker unit via the housing to the listener mainly by conduction via skin.

27. The ear speaker device according to claim 25 , characterized in that

the tubular duct has a protective part provided thereon for preventing an end part positioned in the vicinity of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus from entering into the inside of the external acoustic meatus of the listener.

28. The ear speaker device according to claim 25 , characterized in that

the housing orients a sound emitting surface of the speaker unit to a substantial direction of the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener when the housing is mounted on the head of the listener.

29. The ear speaker device according to claim 25 , characterized in that

the mounting part positions the speaker unit closer to the front side than the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener when the electroacoustic transducer is mounted on the head of the listener, and also comprises a rear side housing provided with a predetermined rear side speaker unit that is to be positioned closer to the rear side than the entrance of the external acoustic meatus of the listener.

30. The ear speaker device according to claim 25 , characterized in that the mounting part comprises a predetermined vibrator mounted in the mounting part for generating vibration to the head of the listener, in addition to the housing.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2007
From: YAMAGISHI, MAKOTO; SASAKI, TORU
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019903/0988 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2006-024957 · Feb 1, 2006 · national
JP 2006-328603 · Dec 5, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090154755A1 · Jun 18, 2009