IP Library Granted Patent US 8,737,657
Granted Patent B2
US 8,737,657 · App. 12/944,520 · Granted May 27, 2014

Suspension for a hearing device receiver, and a method of producing a hearing device, and a hearing device

Inventors: Morten Birkmose Søndergaard (Hillerød, DK); Jan Johansen (Køge, DK)
Assignee: GN Resound A/S
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,737,657
App. No.
12/944,520
Granted
May 27, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A suspension for a hearing device having a receiver includes a first part, a second part, and a vibration isolator positioned between the first and the second parts, and mechanically coupled to the first and second parts, wherein the first part is configured to at least partly enclose the receiver, wherein the second part is configured to at least partly enclose a sound outlet of the hearing device, wherein the vibration isolator comprises an acoustic passage part and a damping part enclosing the acoustic passage, wherein the acoustic passage part provides an acoustic passage between the first and second parts, wherein the damping part of the vibration isolator is asymmetrical along a longitudinal, a transverse axis, or both the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis, of the vibration isolator, and wherein the vibration isolator is freely suspended between the first and second parts.

Claims (50)

1. A suspension for a hearing device having a receiver, comprising:

a first part, a second part, and a vibration isolator positioned between the first and the second parts, and mechanically coupled to the first and second parts;

wherein the first part is configured to at least partly enclose the receiver;

wherein the second part is configured to at least partly enclose a sound outlet of the hearing device;

wherein the vibration isolator comprises an acoustic passage part and a damping part enclosing the acoustic passage;

wherein the acoustic passage part provides an acoustic passage between the first and second parts;

wherein the damping part of the vibration isolator is asymmetrical at least along a longitudinal axis of the vibration isolator; and

wherein at least a part of the vibration isolator located between the first and second parts, and is configured to direct a vibration generated by the receiver away from the sound outlet in one or more directions; is moveable relative to the first and second parts.

2. The suspension according to claim 1 , wherein a material thickness of the damping part varies along the longitudinal, along the transverse axis, or along both the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis, of the vibration isolator to thereby provide the asymmetry of the damping part.

3. A suspension for a hearing device having a receiver, comprising:

a first part, a second part, and a vibration isolator positioned between the first and the second parts, and mechanically coupled to the first and second parts;

wherein the first part is configured to at least partly enclose the receiver;

wherein the second part is configured to at least partly enclose a sound outlet of the hearing device;

wherein the vibration isolator comprises an acoustic passage part and a damping part enclosing the acoustic passage;

wherein the acoustic passage part provides an acoustic passage between the first and second parts;

wherein the damping part of the vibration isolator is asymmetrical along a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, or both the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis, of the vibration isolator; and

wherein at least a part of the vibration isolator located between the first and second parts is moveable relative to the first and second parts;

wherein the damping part further comprises a flexible part and a rigid part positioned between the first and second parts;

wherein the flexible part is more flexible than the rigid part; and

wherein the vibration isolator is configured to direct a vibration generated by the receiver away from the sound outlet in one or more directions.

4. The suspension according to claim 3 , wherein the flexible part is positioned between the second part and the rigid part.

5. The suspension according to claim 1 , wherein the damping part is asymmetric in at least two planes.

6. The suspension according to claim 5 , wherein the two planes comprise a X-Z plane and a Y-Z plane.

7. The suspension according to claim 6 , wherein the damping part is symmetric in a X-Y plane.

8. The suspension according to claim 3 , wherein the flexible part comprises a transverse material thickness smaller than a transverse thickness of the rigid part.

9. The suspension according to claim 1 , wherein a material thickness of the damping part varies asymmetrically along the longitudinal, along the transverse axis, or along both the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis, of the vibration isolator.

10. The suspension according to claim 1 , wherein the acoustic passage part comprises a tubular structure.

11. The suspension according to claim 10 , wherein a first transverse dimension of the tubular structure in proximity to the first part is smaller than a second transverse dimension of the acoustic passage in proximity to the second part such that the acoustic passage can provide sufficient contact between the suspension and the receiver.

12. A hearing device having the suspension according to claim 1 , wherein the hearing device further comprises:

the receiver; and

the sound outlet;

wherein the receiver is mechanically coupled to the first part of the suspension, and the sound outlet is mechanically coupled to the second part of the suspension.

13. A suspension for a hearing device having a receiver, comprising:

a first part, a second part, and a vibration isolator positioned between the first and the second parts, and mechanically coupled to the first and second parts;

wherein the first part is configured to at least partly enclose the receiver;

wherein the second part is configured to at least partly enclose a sound outlet of the hearing device;

wherein the vibration isolator comprises an acoustic passage part and a damping part enclosing the acoustic passage;

wherein the damping part of the vibration isolator is asymmetrical at least along a longitudinal axis of the vibration isolator; and

wherein the vibration isolator is configured to direct a vibration generated by the receiver away from the sound outlet in one or more directions.

14. The suspension of claim 13 , wherein the acoustic passage part provides an acoustic passage between the first and second parts; and

wherein the vibration isolator is freely suspended between the first and second parts.

15. The suspension of claim 13 , wherein the damping part of the vibration isolator is asymmetrical along a longitudinal, a transverse axis, or both the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis, of the vibration isolator.

16. The suspension of claim 13 , wherein the damping part further comprises a flexible part and a rigid part positioned between the first and second parts; and

wherein the flexible part is more flexible than the rigid part.

17. The suspension of claim 16 , wherein the flexible part is positioned between the second part and the rigid part.

18. The suspension of claim 13 , wherein the damping part is asymmetric in at least two planes.

19. A hearing device having the suspension according to claim 13 , wherein the hearing device further comprises:

the receiver; and

the sound outlet;

wherein the receiver is mechanically coupled to the first part of the suspension, and the sound outlet is mechanically coupled to the second part of the suspension.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EXECUTION DATE FROM 01-06-2024 TO 01-06-2025 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED UNDER REEL AND FRAME 069859/0113. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST. Recorded Jul 15, 2025
From: NATUS MEDICAL INCORPORATED
To: NATUS ACQUISITION II, LLC
Reel/Frame 071943/0858 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 14, 2025
From: NATUS ACQUISITION II LLC
To: MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071119/0458 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 14, 2025
From: NATUS MEDICAL INCORPORATED
To: NATUS ACQUISITION II, LLC
Reel/Frame 069859/0113 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2011
From: SONDERGAARD, MORTEN BIRKMOSE; JOHANSEN, JAN
To: GN RESOUND A/S
Reel/Frame 025717/0952 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120121116A1 · May 17, 2012