IP Library Granted Patent US 11,375,321
Granted Patent B2
US 11,375,321 · App. 17/159,493 · Granted Jun 28, 2022

Eartip venting in a contact hearing system

Inventors: Lindsay M. Prusick (San Mateo, CA); Patricia H. Ho (Redwood City, CA); Drew Dundas (San Anselmo, CA); Paul Rucker (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Earlens Corporation
H04R25/456H01F27/24H01F38/14H02M3/08H02M7/10H04B5/0006H04R3/04H04R25/02H04R25/554H04R25/602H04R25/606H04R25/609H04R25/652H02J50/12H02M7/06H04R25/505H04R2225/021H04R2225/025H04R2225/0216H04R2225/33H04R2460/11H04R2460/13
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,375,321
App. No.
17/159,493
Granted
Jun 28, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to an ear tip having a proximal end and a distal end, the eartip including: a transmit coil, the transmit coil including a core of a ferromagnetic material, the ferromagnetic core having a central channel there through, a distal end of the ferromagnetic core positioned at a first opening in a distal end of the ear tip; a passage extending from an opening at a proximal end of the ear tip to the distal end of the ear tip, the passage ending at a second opening in the distal end of the ear tip, wherein a proximal end of the central channel is connected to the passage.

Claims (14)

1. An ear tip having a proximal end and a distal end, the eartip comprising:

a transmit coil, the transmit coil comprising a core of a ferromagnetic material, the ferromagnetic core having a central channel there through, a distal end of the ferromagnetic core positioned at a first opening in a distal end of the ear tip; and

a passage extending from an opening at a proximal end of the ear tip to the distal end of the ear tip, the passage ending at a second opening in the distal end of the ear tip, wherein a proximal end of the central channel is connected to the passage.

2. An ear tip according to claim 1 , wherein the combination of the central channel and the passage act as an acoustic vent, allowing air and sound to pass through the ear tip.

3. An ear tip according to claim 2 , wherein the acoustic vent has a predetermined acoustic mass.

4. An ear tip according to claim 3 , wherein the predetermined acoustic mass of the ear tip is less than 2000 kilograms per meter to the fourth power.

5. An ear tip according to claim 1 , wherein the transmit coil comprises a coil wound around the ferromagnetic material.

6. A method of acoustically connecting a proximal end of an ear tip to a distal end of an ear tip wherein the ear tip comprises a transmit coil wrapped around a core, the core having an central channel extending from a proximal end of the core to a distal end of the core, and the ear tip having a passage extending from a proximal end of the ear tip to a distal end of the ear tip, the method comprising the steps of:

passing an electrical current through the transmit coil;

passing acoustic signals through the central channel; and

passing acoustic signals through the passage,

wherein a proximal end of the central channel connects to the passage at a point within the ear tip, and

wherein a distal end of the central channel is connected to a first opening in the distal end of the ear tip and the distal end of the passage is connected to a second opening in the distal end of the ear tip.

7. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the acoustic signals comprise sound.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2021
From: EARLENS CORPORATION
To: CRG SERVICING LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 058544/0318 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2021
From: PRUSICK, LINDSAY M.; HO, PATRICIA H.; DUNDAS, DREW; RUCKER, PAUL
To: EARLENS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055049/0570 →
Continuity (9)
Continuation PCTUS2019042920 · Jul 23, 2019
Provisional Application 62831085 · Apr 8, 2019
Provisional Application 62831074 · Apr 8, 2019
Provisional Application 62712474 · Jul 31, 2018
Provisional Application 62712478 · Jul 31, 2018
Provisional Application 62712466 · Jul 31, 2018
Provisional Application 62712458 · Jul 31, 2018
Provisional Application 62712462 · Jul 31, 2018
Related Publication 20210152948A1 · May 20, 2021