IP Library Granted Patent US 10,356,231
Granted Patent B2
US 10,356,231 · App. 15/625,114 · Granted Jul 16, 2019

Cartilage conduction hearing device using an electromagnetic vibration unit, and electromagnetic vibration unit

Inventors: Hiroshi Hosoi (Osaka, JP); Yoji Hosoi (Osaka, JP); Masahide Tanaka (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: Finewell Co., Ltd.
H04M1/03H04M1/02H04R1/02H04R1/10H04R1/1008H04R1/1016H04R5/033H04R2460/13H04R2499/11
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,356,231
App. No.
15/625,114
Granted
Jul 16, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a portable telephone or an earphone or an electromagnetic-type vibration unit that comprises an electromagnetic-type vibrator including two mutually relatively moving portions supported via an elastic body, and that is configured to produce vibrations from at least one of the two portions for cartilage conduction. The elastic body provides a cartilage conduction portion to be contacted with the ear cartilage. The elastic body is disposed on or in the vicinity of an upper corner portion of a housing. One of the two portions is supported on a housing structure with the elastic body supported by the housing structure, and the other of the two portions is supported by the elastic body. Of the two portions, one with a greater weight is supported by the elastic body.

Claims (78)

1. A hearing device, comprising:

an electromagnetic vibrating element including two parts that move relative to each other; and

an elastic body, wherein

one of the two parts includes a voice coil bobbin around which a voice coil is wound,

the other of the two parts includes:

a yoke holding a magnet and a central magnetic pole, and

a top plate anchored to the magnet and the central magnetic pole,

the voice coil penetrates into a gap in the top plate without making contact with the top plate,

the other of the two parts is movable relative to the one of the two parts,

the elastic body is in contact with at least one of the voice coil bobbin and the yoke, and

vibration for cartilage conduction is extracted from at least one of the two parts.

2. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the elastic body is exposed.

3. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the hearing device is configured as a mobile telephone having a casing, and the elastic body is arranged in or near a corner part of a top part of the casing.

4. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein

the hearing device is configured as a mobile telephone having a casing,

one of the two parts is supported on the casing structure,

the elastic body is supported on the casing structure, and

the other of the two parts is supported on the elastic body.

5. The hearing device of claim 4 , wherein one of the two parts that is heavier is supported on the elastic body.

6. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein

one of the two parts or a part that connects thereto serves as a cartilage conduction unit that makes contact with the ear cartilage, and

the elastic body is interposed between the two parts.

7. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein

the hearing device is configured as a mobile telephone having a casing, and

the two parts and the elastic body are arranged inside the casing.

8. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein

the hearing device is configured as an earphone, and

the elastic body serves as a cartilage conduction unit that makes contact with an ear cartilage.

9. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein

the hearing device is configured as an earphone, and

vibration that conducts from both of the two parts to the elastic body is extracted.

10. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein

the hearing device is configured as an earphone, and

the two parts are supported respectively on opposite faces of a space inside the elastic body.

11. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein

the hearing device is configured as an earphone, and

one of the two parts is supported on one of opposite faces of a space inside the elastic body, with the elastic body interposed in between, and

the other of the two parts is supported on the other of the opposite faces.

12. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein

the two parts that move relative to each other and the elastic body are configured as an electromagnetic vibration unit, and

vibration for cartilage conduction is extracted at least one of the two parts.

13. An electromagnetic vibration unit, comprising:

an electromagnetic vibrating element including two parts that move relative to each other; and

an elastic body, wherein

one of the two parts includes a voice coil bobbin around which a voice coil is wound,

the other of the two parts includes:

a yoke holding a magnet and a central magnetic pole, and

a top plate anchored to the magnet and the central magnetic pole,

the voice coil penetrates into a gap in the top plate without making contact with the top plate,

the other of the two parts is movable relative to the one of the two parts,

the elastic body is in contact with at least one of the voice coil bobbin and the yoke, and

vibration for cartilage conduction is extracted from at least one of the two parts.

14. The electromagnetic vibration unit of claim 13 , further comprising:

a unit housing, wherein

one of the two parts is supported inside the unit housing, and

the other of the two parts is supported with the elastic body interposed in between.

15. The electromagnetic vibration unit of claim 13 , wherein

the elastic body is exposed.

16. The electromagnetic vibration unit of claim 13 , wherein the other of the two parts or a part that connects thereto serves as a cartilage conduction unit.

17. The electromagnetic vibration unit of claim 14 , wherein the unit housing is formed of an elastic body.

18. The electromagnetic vibration unit of claim 13 , further comprising:

a cartilage conduction unit that forms a corner part of a mobile telephone, wherein

vibration is conducted to the cartilage conduction unit from at least one of the two parts.

19. An electromagnetic vibration unit, comprising:

an elastic body in which a space having a pair of opposite faces is provided; and

two parts that move relative to each other, wherein

one of the two parts is supported on one of the pair of faces, and

the other of the two parts is supported on the other of the pair of faces, and wherein

the one of the two parts includes a voice coil bobbin around which a voice coil is wound,

the other of the two parts includes

a yoke holding a magnet and a central magnetic pole and

a top plate anchored to the magnet and the central magnetic pole,

the voice coil penetrates into a gap in the top plate without making contact with the top plate,

the other of the two parts is movable relative to the one of the two parts,

the elastic body is in contact with both of the voice coil bobbin and the yoke, and

vibration for cartilage conduction is extracted from the elastic body.

20. The electromagnetic vibration unit of claim 19 , wherein

the electromagnetic vibration unit is configured as an earphone in which the elastic body is exposed.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2018
From: ROHM CO., LTD.
To: FINEWELL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 047343/0367 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2017
From: HOSOI, HIROSHI; HOSOI, YOJI; TANAKA, MASAHIDE
To: ROHM CO., LTD.; FINEWELL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 042782/0089 →
Priority Claims (6)
JP 2014-256091 · Dec 18, 2014 · national
JP 2015-012282 · Jan 26, 2015 · national
JP 2015-082557 · Apr 14, 2015 · national
JP 2015-204396 · Oct 16, 2015 · national
JP 2015-224743 · Nov 17, 2015 · national
JP 2015-238764 · Dec 7, 2015 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part PCTJP2015085252 · Dec 16, 2015
Related Publication 20170295269A1 · Oct 12, 2017