Abstract:
A shock resisting vibration damping mounting for an acoustic transducer includes a compliant first portion or boot coupled to a compliant second portion or tube. The first portion has an exterior surface and an interior surface with the interior surface defining a chamber for receiving the acoustic transducer. The second portion has an elongate portion having a first end and a second end and a passage extending within the elongate portion from the first end to the second end. The passage couples to the chamber such that with an acoustic transducer disposed within the chamber a port of the acoustic transducer is acoustically coupled to the passage.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This patent generally relates to transducers, and more particularly, to a receiver assembly with a suspension apparatus capable of dampening the vibrations caused by the receiver assembly and/or other components within listening devices and to further provide protection from shock loadings.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Hearing aid technology has progressed rapidly in recent years. Technology advancements in this field continue to improve the reception, wearing-comfort, life-span, and power efficiency of hearing aids. With these continual advances in performance of ear-worn acoustic devices, ever-increasing demands are placed upon improving the inherent performance of the miniature acoustic transducers that are utilized. There are several different hearing aid styles known in hearing aid industry: Behind-The-Ear (BTE), In-The-Ear or All-In-The-Ear (ITE), In-The-Canal (ITC), and Completely-In-The-Canal (CIC).  
         [0003]     Generally, a listening device, such as a hearing aid, includes a microphone portion, an amplification portion, and a receiver portion. The microphone portion receives sound waves in audible frequencies and generates an electronic signal representative of these sound waves. The amplification portion accepts the electronic signal, increases the electronic signal magnitude, and communicates the increased electronic signal (e.g. the processed signal) to the receiver portion. The receiver portion, in turn, converts the increased electronic signal into sound waves for transmission to a user.  
         [0004]     Typically, the sound waves produced by the receiver give rise to reaction forces which cause the receiver to vibrate. Such vibrations in the receiver may be detected by the microphone within the hearing aid, causing unwanted feedback and distortion which adversely affects the sound quality experienced by the hearing aid user. Also, shock loading, e.g. from the hearing aid being dropped, may easily damage the transducers within the hearing aid thereby reducing the performance of the hearing aid. Further, the receiver typically includes a spout adjacent to the sound outlet port to conduct the sound waves from the receiver to the user. The large dimension of the spout can be a problem because there is only very limited space within the hearing aid shell. In addition, mounting a spout to the receiver can be problematic in some types of hearing aids, such as CIC hearing aids because the spout must be aligned with and couple an output of the received to an output of the hearing aid to the environment. However, the position of the receiver in the hearing aid is often constrained. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     For a more complete understanding of the disclosure, reference should be made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a described embodiment of a receiver assembly;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the receiver assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another described embodiment of a receiver assembly having two acoustic apertures;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a conjoined microphone and receiver assembly;  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an embodiment of a receiver assembly incorporating a shock resistant and vibration absorber system;  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the receiver assembly of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a shock resisting and vibration absorbing system;  
         [0013]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a shock resisting and vibration absorbing system;  
         [0014]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a receiver assembly incorporating a shock resisting and vibration absorbing system; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the shock resisting and vibration absorbing system of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     While the present apparatus, devices, systems and methods described in this disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, certain embodiments are shown by way of example in the drawings and these embodiments will be described in detail herein. It will be understood, however, that this disclosure is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments or forms described, but to the contrary, the invention is intended to cover all modifications, alternatives, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.  
         [0017]     It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘______’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph.  
         [0018]      FIGS. 1-2  illustrate a transducer  100  that can be used in virtually any type of hearing aid, such as BTE, ITE, ITC, CIC, or the like type hearing aids. The transducer  100  may be adapted as either a microphone, a receiver or other such device, and may be useful in such devices as listening devices, hearing aids, headphones, and hearing protection devices. In the embodiment shown, the transducer  100  is a receiver assembly. The receiver assembly  100  includes a motor assembly  110 , a coupling assembly  120 , and an acoustic assembly  130  disposed within a housing  102 . The housing  102  may be rectangular and consist of at least one sound aperture  104  positioned adjacent to one corner of the housing  102  for broadcasting acoustic signals to the user. In alternate embodiments, the housing  100  can be manufactured in a variety of configurations, such as a cylindrical shape, a D-shape, a trapezoid shape, a roughly square shape, a tubular shape, or any other desired geometry. In addition, the scale and size of the housing may vary based on the intended application, operating conditions, required components, etc. Moreover, the housing  102  can be manufactured from a variety of materials, such as, for example stainless steel, nickel-iron alloy, alternating layers of conductive materials, or alternating layers of non-conductive layers (e.g. metal particle-coated plastics). The motor assembly  110  includes a drive magnet  112 , a magnetic yoke  114 , a coil  115 , an armature  116 , an electrical terminal  117 , and a lead  118  that couples the electrical terminal  117  and the coil  115 . The electrical terminal  118  may be affixed to the side wall of the housing  102  by bonding or any other suitable method of attachment. The acoustic assembly  130  includes at least one diaphragm  132  having a first layer, a second layer, and a flexible layer. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the diaphragm  132  may be of a different configuration such as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/719,809 and 60/665,700, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The coupling assembly  120  may be a drive rod, a linkage assembly, a plurality of linkage assemblies, or the like.  
         [0019]     The motor assembly  110  is connected to the acoustic assembly  130  via the coupling assembly  120  to drive the acoustic assembly  130 . The arrangement of the acoustic assembly  130  permits the transfer of electrical signal energy to acoustic sound wave energy, i.e. vibrational energy in the acoustic assembly  130  or to transfer vibrational energy in the acoustic assembly  130  into electrical signal energy. The transmission of the vibrational energy through the sound aperture  104  causes the entire receiver assembly  100  to vibrate. The vibration of the receiver assembly  100  is then picked up by the microphone (not shown), amplified, and provided to the input of the receiver assembly  100 , thus resulting in unwanted feedback and distortion. Furthermore, if the receiver assembly  100  comes into physical contact with the inner surface of the hearing aid (not shown) or other components within the hearing aid, such vibration may be transferred to the hearing aid. If the hearing aid is dropped and there is shock loading on the receiver assembly  100 , the motor assembly  110 , the coupling assembly  120 , and the acoustic assembly  130  within the housing  102 . These components may be deflected beyond their elastic limits as result of the shock loading causing plastic deformation of these components adversely affecting the performance of the hearing aid.  
         [0020]     The receiver assembly  100  incorporates a shock resisting and vibration isolating structure  140  that has substantial damping and compliance properties. The shock resisting and vibration isolating structure  140  includes a boot portion  142  and a tube portion  152  extending from the boot  142 . The boot portion  142  may be made of a an elastomer or synthetic elastomer such as a fluoroelastomer, commonly available under the trade name VITON and under other trade names, natural rubber, or similar materials capable of providing shock absorbing and vibration dampening. The boot portion  142  is designed to be tight fitted around the receiver assembly  100 . The boot portion  142  includes a sleeve  144  and at least one opening  146  formed in the sleeve  144 . The sleeve  144  will typically be shaped to correspond to the external configuration of the receiver housing  102 , but may be shaped in various ways and adapted to compliment the external configuration of the receiver housing. The boot portion  142  is fitted around the receiver assembly  100  to minimize mechanical vibration feedback. The opening  146  formed on the top wall of the sleeve  144  receives the receiver assembly  100 . In alternate embodiment, the opening  146  or a second opening (not shown) may be formed on the bottom wall of the boot portion  142  that serves the same purpose. For certain applications, an optional opening  147  may be formed on the rear wall of the sleeve  144  through which the electrical terminal  117  extends to receive electrical connection from the components within the hearing aid (not shown).  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates for the shock resisting and vibration isolating structure  140  optional protrusions  148 ,  150  formed on the side, walls of the sleeve  144  adjacent to the rear side of the receiver assembly  100 . While two protrusions  148  and  150  are depicted, fewer or more may be included. The protrusions  148  and  150  provide shock resistance and vibration isolation for the receiver assembly  100  to reduce vibration that is transmitted from the receiver to the hearing aid and the components within the hearing aid. The protrusions  148 ,  150  of the sleeve  144  further help to suspend the receiver assembly  100  within the hearing aid at a distance separated from the hearing aid shell to further reduce vibration transmission. In an alternate embodiment, the protrusion may be formed on the rear wall of the sleeve (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 5-6 ). The protrusions  148 ,  150  may be fabricated from the same material as the boot portion  142 , for example a fluoroelastomer. The protrusions may further be formed in a variety of shapes to accommodate different supporting members (not shown) within the hearing aid.  
         [0022]     The tube portion  152  can be formed integral with the boot portion  142  or separately and adhered to the boot portion  142 . The tube portion  152  includes a tubular segment  154  and at least one spline  156 . The tubular segment  154  includes an outer wall  158  and an interior recess  160  (see  FIG. 1 ). A passageway  162  extends within the outer wall and coupled to the interior recess  160 . The interior recess  160  is configured to be large enough to overlap with the sound aperture  104  of the receiver assembly  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the recess  160  is wider than the passageway  162  having a surface  164  formed at a predetermined angle adjacent to the sound aperture  104  of the receiver assembly  100 . In operation, the surface  164  serves to direct the acoustic sound waves emitted from the sound aperture  104  of the receiver assembly  100  into the passageway  162  of the tubular segment  154  so that the sound waves are transmitted from the receiver  100  along the passage  162  and out of the hearing aid. An annular flange (see  FIGS. 9-10 ) may be formed on the outer wall  158  of the tubular segment  154  to suspend the receiver assembly  100  within the hearing aid. The spline  156  is formed on the outer wall of the tubular segment  154  for anchoring the receiver assembly  100  in a predetermined position within the hearing aid. The spline  156  may further provide shock resistance and vibration isolation for the receiver assembly  100  and reduce vibration that is transmitted to the hearing aid and the components within the heading aid. The annular flange and the spline  156  may further restrict the motion of the receiver assembly  100  within the hearing aid when the hearing aid is subjected to shock loading.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  illustrates a receiver assembly  200  incorporating a shock resisting and vibration isolating system  240 . The embodiment  200  is similar to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2 . The receiver assembly  200  comprises two acoustic assemblies  230 ,  230 ′ and two sound apertures  204 ,  204 ′ formed on the housing  202  adjacent to the acoustic assemblies  230 ,  230 ′. Two in-phase acoustic assemblies  230 ,  230 ′ are coupled to the motor assembly (not shown) via the coupling assembly (not shown) to produce a greater acoustic sound wave that corresponds to an audio signal received at the electrical terminal  217  positioned on the external surface of the housing  202 .  
         [0024]     The shock resisting and vibration isolating system  240  has substantial resilience and compliance and includes a boot portion  242  and a tube portion  252  attached to the boot  242 . The tube portion  252  may be formed integral with the boot portion  242  and includes a tubular segment  254 , at least one spline (not shown), and an annular flange (not shown). The tubular segment  254  includes an outer wall  258  and an interior recess  260 . A passageway  262  extends within the outer wall  258  and couples to the interior recess  260 . The interior recess  260  is configured to be large enough to overlap with the sound apertures  204 ,  204 ′ of the receiver assembly  200 . As shown, the recess  260  is wider than the passageway  262  and has a first surface  264  arranged at a first predetermined angle and a second surface  264 ′ arranged at a second predetermined angle adjacent to the sound apertures  204 ,  204 ′, respectively, of the receiver assembly  200 . In operation, the first and second surfaces  264 ,  264 ′ serve to direct the acoustic sound waves emitted from the sound apertures  204 ,  204 ′ of the receiver assembly  200  into the passageway  262  of the tubular segment  254  so that the sound waves are transmitted out of the hearing aid.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  illustrates a conjoined assembly  300  partially encapsulated in a shock resisting and vibration isolating system  340 . The conjoined assembly  300  includes a receiver assembly  400  and a microphone assembly  422  mounted in back-to-back abutting relation. The back-to-back abutting arrangement allows the back value  410  of the receiver to be joined with a volume  412  of the microphone assembly  422  to increase the effective volume of the receiver assembly increasing its efficiency particularly at low frequencies. In alternate embodiments, the microphone assembly  422  and the receiver assembly  400  can be mounted in front-to-front alignment. A portion of the conjoined assembly  300  is partially encapsulated in the system  340  such that the receiver assembly  400  is substantially tightly fitted within the boot portion  342  of the system  340  and a portion of the microphone assembly  422  extends through the opening  346  of the boot  342 . A surface  364  is formed in the recess  360  at a predetermined angle  364  and is disposed adjacent to the sound aperture  304  for directing the acoustic sound waves emitted from the sound aperture  304  of the conjoined assembly  300  into the passageway  362  of the tubular segment  354  and from the hearing aid.  
         [0026]      FIGS. 5-6  illustrate a receiver assembly  500  encased in a shock resisting and vibration isolating system  540 . A protrusion  548  is formed on the rear wall of the boot portion  542  to provide shock resistance and vibration isolation for the receiver assembly  500  to reduce vibration transmitted to the hearing aid and the components within the heading aid. The protrusion  548  further helps to suspend the receiver assembly  500  within the hearing aid at a distance separated from the hearing aid shell to reduce vibration transmission. A tube portion  552  may be formed integral with the boot portion  542  and includes a tubular segment  554 , at least one spline  556 , and an annular flange (not shown). A surface  564  is formed at a predetermined angle within the recess  560  adjacent to the sound apertures (not shown) of the receiver assembly  500 . The surface  564  directs acoustic sound waves emitted from the sound aperture of the receiver assembly  500  into the passageway  562  of the tubular segment  554  so that the sound waves are transmitted out of the hearing aid. The interior recess  560  is configured to be large enough to overlap with the sound aperture of the receiver assembly  500  and the recess  560  is wider than the passageway  562 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  illustrates a shock resisting and vibration isolating system  640  that is similar to the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 . An annular protrusion  658  is formed on the sleeve  644  to provide shock resistance and vibration isolation for a receiver assembly (not shown) disposed within the boot portion  642 . The protrusion  658  further help to suspend the receiver assembly within the hearing aid at a distance separated from the hearing aid shell to reduce vibration transmission from the receiver to the hearing aid and its components. The tube portion  652  of the system  640  includes a tubular segment  654  and a spline (not shown). The tube portion  652  may be similar in construction to the tub portion  152  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  illustrates a shock resisting and vibration isolating system  740  that is similar in construction to the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1-7 . A plurality of annular flanges  766  is formed on the outer wall  758  of the tubular segment  754  to suspend the receiver assembly within the hearing aid. In an alternate embodiment, the flange  766  may be formed adjacent to the front side of the receiver assembly (see  FIG. 10 ) and communicates with the sound aperture of the receiver assembly. The annular flange  766  may further restrict the motion of the receiver assembly within the hearing aid when the hearing aid is subjected to shock loading. A spline (not shown) is formed on the outer wall of the tubular segment  754  for anchoring the receiver assembly in a predetermined position within the hearing aid.  
         [0029]      FIGS. 9-10  illustrates a receiver assembly  800  encased in a shock resisting and vibration isolating system  840 . The receiver assembly  800  is similar in construction to the assembly  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The system  840  includes at least two protrusions,  848 ,  850  and a tube portion  852 . The tube portion  852  includes an L-shaped side wall  867  and an outer wall  868  connecting to the side wall  867 . The side wall  867  is coupled to the receiver housing  802  by any suitable method of attachment, such as adhesive or glue. The tube portion  852  may further include a tubular segment  854  and the outer wall  868  may be integrally formed with the tubular segment  854 .  
         [0030]     The tubular segment  854  includes an outer wall  858  and an interior recess  860  (see  FIG. 9 ). A passageway  862  extends within the outer wall  858  and couples to the interior recess  860 . The interior recess  860  is configured to be large enough to overlap with the receiver sound aperture  804 . As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the recess  860  is wider than the passageway  862  and has a surface  864  formed on the upper surface of the recess  860  adjacent to the receiver sound aperture  804  and at a predetermined angle thereto. In operation, the surface  864  serves to direct the acoustic sound waves emitted from the receiver sound aperture  804  into the passageway  862  of the tubular segment  854  so that the sound waves are transmitted out of the hearing aid. An annular flange  866  may be formed on the outer wall  858  of the tubular segment  854  adjacent to the outer wall  868  and the receiver sound aperture  804  to suspend the receiver assembly  800  within the hearing aid. The annular flange  866  may further restrict the motion of the receiver assembly  800  within the hearing aid when the hearing aid is subjected to shock loading. A spline  856  is formed on the outer wall of the tubular segment  854  adjacent to the flange  866  for anchoring the receiver assembly  800  in a predetermined position within the hearing aid.  
         [0031]     In the embodiments described above, a system having substantial damping and compliance include a tube portion is used. Thus, the system compliance together the receiver mass formed a second-order mechanical filter to provide a highly compliant suspension means for maximum vibration isolation. A recess of the tube portion having a predetermined angle adjacent to the sound aperture of a spoutless receiver assembly serves to direct the acoustic sound waves broadcasted from the sound aperture so that the sound waves are transmitted out of the hearing aid for preventing any acoustic leakage.  
         [0032]     All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extend as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.  
         [0033]     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.  
         [0034]     Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.