IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,792,669
Granted Patent B2
US 8,792,669 · App. 12/992,050 · Granted Jul 29, 2014

Earphone system and use of an earphone system

Inventor: Samuel Harsch (Ballaigues, CH)
Assignee: Phonak AG
H04R1/1016H04R1/1075
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,792,669
App. No.
12/992,050
Granted
Jul 29, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided an earphone system comprising an earphone and at least two acoustic dampers ( 24 ), the earphone comprising a speaker unit ( 10 ) and an earpiece ( 12, 12 A, 12 B), the speaker unit comprising a sound driver ( 18 ), a wiring connector ( 14 ) for providing audio signals to the sound driver and a case ( 16 ) housing the sound driver, the earpiece comprising a sound outlet opening ( 28 ) and being designed for being worn in a user's ear canal and/or concha, the sound driver having a frequency response having a maximum within the range of 2000 Hz to 4000 Hz, wherein the speaker unit is for being inserted into the earpiece, wherein each of the acoustic dampers ( 24 ) is for being inserted into the earpiece or the speaker unit in an exchangeable manner and wherein each of the acoustic dampers, when used with the earphone, has a frequency response different from that of the other acoustic damper(s).

Claims (13)

1. An earphone system comprising an earphone and at least two acoustic dampers, the earphone comprising a speaker unit and an earpiece the speaker unit comprising a sound driver, a wiring connector for providing audio signals to the sound driver and a case housing the sound driver, the earpiece comprising a sound outlet opening and being designed for being worn in at least one of a user's ear canal and a user's concha, the sound driver having a frequency response having a maximum within the range of 2000 Hz to 4000 Hz, wherein the speaker unit is for being inserted into the earpiece, wherein each of the acoustic dampers is for being inserted into the earpiece or the speaker unit in an exchangeable manner and wherein each of the acoustic dampers, when used with the earphone, has a frequency response different from that of each of the other acoustic dampers.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the earpiece comprises a hard shell having an outer surface individually shaped according to the measured inner shape of the user's ear canal and outer ear.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the earpiece comprises a resonator upstream of the sound outlet opening.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sound driver, the resonator and the damper are designed for imparting a frequency response to the earphone which restores a user's natural ear resonance when the earphone is worn by the user.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the sound driver has a frequency response having a global maximum within a range of 2000 Hz to 4000 Hz.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the resonator is designed for increasing a gain at frequencies above 10 kHz.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the resonator is a quarter-wave resonator or an expansion horn.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic damper is located upstream of the resonator.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sound driver includes an armature transducer or a dynamic diaphragm transducer.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sound driver includes a plurality of loudspeakers.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic damper is part of the speaker unit.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sound driver includes at least one non-exchangeable acoustic damper.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the earpiece comprises a soft shell having an outer surface of standard shape.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2018
From: SONOVA AG
To: SHURE ACQUISITION HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 045169/0670 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 24, 2015
From: PHONAK AG
To: SONOVA AG
Reel/Frame 036674/0492 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2010
From: HARSCH, SAMUEL
To: PHONAK AG
Reel/Frame 025540/0987 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110103610A1 · May 5, 2011