IP Library Granted Patent US 12,538,069
Granted Patent B2
US 12,538,069 · App. 18/433,780 · Granted Jan 27, 2026

Earphone

Inventors: Koichi Irii (Tokyo, JP); Yusuke Sano (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Audio-Technica Corporation
H04R1/2834H04R1/1016H04R1/2803H04R2460/11
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,538,069
App. No.
18/433,780
Granted
Jan 27, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An earphone includes a housing that is connected with a nozzle for emitting sound to the outside, a fixed pole that is fixed inside the housing, a diaphragm that is provided so as to divide a space inside the housing into two, and vibrates in accordance with a potential difference generated between the diaphragm and the fixed pole facing each other, a support part that supports the diaphragm such that a portion of the diaphragm is in contact with the fixed pole, and an adjustment hole that is formed so as to penetrate a wall of the housing on a side opposite to the one having the nozzle, from the perspective of the diaphragm, and adjusts a pressure inside the housing. A through-membrane hole penetrating the diaphragm is formed in the portion of the diaphragm.

Claims (34)

1 . An earphone comprising:

a housing that is connected with a nozzle for emitting sound to the outside;

a fixed pole that is fixed inside the housing;

a diaphragm that is provided so as to divide a space inside the housing into two, and vibrates in accordance with a potential difference generated between the diaphragm and the fixed pole facing each other;

a support part that supports the diaphragm such that a portion of the diaphragm is in contact with the fixed pole; and

an adjustment hole that is formed so as to penetrate a wall of the housing on a side opposite to the one having the nozzle, from the perspective of the diaphragm, and adjusts a pressure inside the housing, wherein

a through-membrane hole penetrating the diaphragm is formed in the portion of the diaphragm.

2 . The earphone according to claim 1 , wherein

the support part covers the portion of the diaphragm on a side opposite to a side which is in contact with the fixed pole, and the support part is made of an elastic material having air permeability that allows air to pass through its inside.

3 . The earphone according to claim 2 , wherein

the elastic material is a sponge.

4 . The earphone according to claim 1 , wherein

the support part supports the diaphragm whose central portion is in contact with the fixed pole,

the through-membrane hole is formed in the central portion of the diaphragm, and

the support part covers the through-membrane hole.

5 . The earphone according to claim 1 , wherein

the support part covers the portion of the diaphragm on a side opposite to a side which is in contact with the fixed pole,

one or more of the through-membrane holes are formed in the diaphragm, and

a portion of the support part that faces at least one of the through-membrane holes is a notch portion.

6 . The earphone according to claim 5 , wherein

the notch portion is notched along an axial direction so as to form a U shape when the support part, having a cylindrical shape, is viewed in a planar view.

7 . The earphone according to claim 5 , wherein

the notch portion is a groove portion formed in an upper surface of the support part, having a cylindrical shape, which is in contact with the diaphragm, and

the groove portion is formed along a radial direction passing through a center of the support part facing the through-membrane hole.

8 . The earphone according to claim 1 , wherein

the support part having elasticity is provided to be in contact with the diaphragm and the housing to be deformable due to displacement of the diaphragm.

9 . The earphone according to claim 1 , wherein

the housing includes a first housing to which the nozzle is connected and a second housing that, along with the first housing, surrounds the space, and

the adjustment hole is provided only in the second housing, among the first housing and the second housing.

10 . The earphone according to claim 1 , wherein

a through hole is formed in a portion of the fixed pole which is in contact with the portion of the diaphragm, wherein

the earphone further comprises:

a terminal that is provided on a side opposite the one with the diaphragm, from the perspective of the fixed pole, and is for supplying an electric signal to the fixed pole; and

a conductive member that is provided between the fixed pole and the terminal so as to cover the through hole and has air permeability that allows air to pass through its inside.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2024
From: IRII, KOICHI; SANO, YUSUKE
To: AUDIO-TECHNICA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066577/0293 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-128394 · Aug 10, 2022 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2023025906 · Jul 13, 2023
Related Publication 20240214719A1 · Jun 27, 2024
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