Patent Abstract:
An earphone which fits into an ear is disclosed. The earphone includes an electroacoustic transducer for converting an audio signal into sound and a housing for holding the electroacoustic transducer. The housing includes a sound output unit for introducing the sound produced by the electroacoustic transducer into the ear canal of an ear when the housing is placed in the ear. The electroacoustic transducer is oriented so that it the sound in a direction which is transverse to the ear canal of the ear.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 2006-66130, filed on Jul. 14, 2006, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an earphone. More particularly, the present invention relates to an earphone which is used by placing it inside an ear. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are schematic views illustrating a conventional earphone such as the one disclosed in Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-1998-018579, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
         [0006]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a conventional earphone  1  includes a cover connected to and combined with an earphone cord  5  at its lower part, an electroacoustic transducer  10  located inside the cover  4 , a protection plate  2  combined with a front side of the cover  4  so that the electroacoustic transducer  10  is protected, and an ear piece  3  in a predetermined shape located outside the protection plate  2 . 
         [0007]    The electroacoustic transducer  10  for converting an audio signal to sound may be, for example, a moving coil type transducer. In this type of a transducer, a voice coil is wound around a bobbin  12 , and the bobbin  12  is integrally attached to a diaphragm  11 . The voice coil or diaphragm is inserted into a gap  14  in a magnetic circuit  13 . 
         [0008]    The protection plate  2  which opposes the diaphragm  11  is provided on a sound emanating side or front side of the transducer  10  and is made of a metal plate of substantially the same size as the diaphragm  11 . The protection plate  2  has a number of holes  21  through to allow sound waves emitted from the diaphragm  11  to pass through. 
         [0009]    The ear piece  3  covers the front side of the protection plate  2 . The ear piece  3  is located within a listener&#39;s ear when the earphone  1  is worn. The ear piece  3  has a protruding portion  30  that fits into an entrance of the external auditory meatus (i.e., the ear canal). The protruding portion  30  is made of a material having an appropriate elasticity, such as rubber or plastic. The tip of the protruding portion  30  has a number of sound emanating holes  31 . 
         [0010]    The cover  4  covers a rear face of the transducer  10 . The transducer  10  is connected to the earphone cord  5  through an introducing portion  40 , which is located at a lower part of the cover  4 . An air chamber  41  inside the cover  4  is open to the outside through a passage  42  of the introducing portion  40 . The cover  4  is provided with a number of holes  43  which are closed by an acoustic resistant material  44 . 
         [0011]    An air chamber  32  is formed in front of the transducer  10  by the ear piece  3 . The air chamber  32  is open to the outside through an opening  34  and a non-woven fabric  35  which are formed on the ear piece  3 . The opening  34  is located to the side of the central portion of the ear piece  3  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Thus, when the earphone  1  is put in the ear E such that the protruding portion  30  is inserted into the ear canal or the external auditory meatus, the opening  34  is located in the cavum concha F, thereby covering the skin of the cavum concha F. 
         [0012]    In the conventional earphone  1 , the whole earphone  1  including the protection plate  30  and the cover  4  is inserted into and supported by the cavum concha F, and the introducing portion  40  of the cover  4  is introduced into and supported by the intertragic notch. If a user wears the earphone for a long time, the pressure on the anti-tragus H and the tragus G, or the contact with a protruding portion of a helix K may cause discomfort. 
         [0013]    Furthermore, since the protruding portion  30  of the ear piece  3  is at the front of the transducer  10 , when the earphone  1  is inserted into the external auditory meatus, the transducer  10  is almost horizontal with respect to the cavum concha F. Accordingly, the opening  34  and the nonwoven fabric  35  contact the cavum concha F. When the opening  34  of the ear piece  3  is blocked by the cavum concha F, low frequency sounds (i.e., bass sounds) generated by the transducer  10  cannot be transmitted. Furthermore, the opening  34  of the ear piece  3  is adjacent to the protection plate  2 . Thus, there is only a small space created in the ear piece  3  where the opening  34  is provided, and bass sounds may be muted. 
         [0014]    Accordingly, there is a need for an improved earphone for insertion into the ear canal that provides increased comfort and better sound quality. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    An aspect of the present invention is to address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide an earphone which has an improved structure to improve the comport when wearing the earphone and the sound quality. 
         [0016]    In accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an earphone includes an electroacoustic transducer for converting an audio signal into sound and a housing for holding the electroacoustic transducer. The housing includes a sound output unit for introducing the sound produced by the electroacoustic transducer into the ear canal of an ear when the housing is placed in the ear. The electroacoustic transducer emits sound in a direction transverse to the ear canal of the ear. 
         [0017]    The sound emission direction of the electroacoustic transducer may be substantially parallel to a side of a cavum concha of the ear. 
         [0018]    The housing may includes a front housing that surrounds the front of the electroacoustic transducer and a rear housing, that is combined with the front housing and surrounds the rear of the electroacoustic transducer. 
         [0019]    The rear housing may include a rear wall that surrounds the rear of the electroacoustic transducer and a base wall that extends from the rear wall to the front of the electroacoustic transducer and forms the sound output unit, together with the front housing. 
         [0020]    The base wall may be adapted to contact the side of the cavum concha of the ear. 
         [0021]    The front housing may include a front wall located at an angle with respect to the front of the electroacoustic transducer and a protruding extension wall extending from the front wall and forming the sound output unit, together with the base wall. 
         [0022]    The housing may include a first space located in the rear of the electroacoustic transducer and a second space located in the front of the electroacoustic transducer. The second space is larger than the first space and is operatively connected to the sound output unit. 
         [0023]    The housing includes may include a rear opening operatively connecting the first space to the outside and a front opening adjacent to the front of the electroacoustic transducer and operatively connecting the second space to the outside. 
         [0024]    The rear opening may include a cover including a nonwoven fabric. 
         [0025]    A cover may cover a portion of the housing and contact the ear. The cover may include an exit corresponding to the sound output unit. 
         [0026]    The cover may be made of a flexible material, and the exit may be spaced apart from the sound output unit by a distance. The distance is controllable when the shaped of the cover is changed. 
         [0027]    A supporting protrusion may be located at a lower part of the outside of the housing, and the supporting protrusion may protrude outwardly with a shape that corresponds to the anti-tragus notch of the ear when the housing is placed in the ear. 
         [0028]    In accordance with another aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an earphone includes an electroacoustic transducer for converting an audio signal into sound and a housing for holding the electroacoustic transducer. The housing includes a sound output unit for introducing the sound produced by the electroacoustic transducer into the ear canal of an ear when the housing is placed in the ear, and wherein the electroacoustic transducer is at an angle of 90°±10° with respect to a side of the cavum concha when the housing is placed in the ear. 
         [0029]    The housing may include a substantially circular first body for holding the electroacoustic transducer, a second body that protrudes from the first body and extends from the front of the electroacoustic transducer to the ear canal of the ear, a third body that extends from the first body and extends substantially parallel to the electroacoustic transducer in parallel, and a cord connected to the electroacoustic transducer disposed in the third body. 
         [0030]    The sound output unit may be located at a protruding tip of the second body. 
         [0031]    The second body may include a base side which faces the side of the cavum concha so that it can be placed against the cavum concha. 
         [0032]    A supporting protrusion may be disposed on the second body so that it protrudes outwardly in a shape corresponding to the shape of the anti-tragus notch of the ear when the housing is placed in the ear. 
         [0033]    The housing may include a first space located in the rear of the electroacoustic transducer and a second space located in the front of the electroacoustic transducer. The second space is larger than the first space and is operatively connected to the sound output unit. 
         [0034]    The housing may include a rear opening operatively connecting the first space to the outside and a front opening adjacent to the front of the electroacoustic transducer and operatively connecting the second space to the outside. 
         [0035]    A bushing member may be combined with the housing. The bushing member supports a cord which is connected to the electroacoustic transducer to enter from the outside of the housing. 
         [0036]    The first space may be operatively connected to a cord hole of the bushing member. 
         [0037]    A cover may cover a portion of the housing that contacts the ear, and may include an exit corresponding to the sound output unit. 
         [0038]    In accordance with another aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an earphone includes a housing adapted to hold an electroacoustic transducer. The housing includes a sound output unit for introducing sound emitted by the electroacoustic transducer into an ear canal of an ear. The housing holds the electroacoustic transducer so that it emits sound in a direction transverse to the ear canal. 
         [0039]    The electroacoustic transducer may emit sound in a direction substantially parallel to the cavum concha. 
         [0040]    The housing may include a front housing disposed at the front of the electroacoustic transducer and a rear housing disposed at the rear of the electroacoustic transducer. 
         [0041]    The rear housing may form a first space located in the rear of the electroacoustic transducer and the front housing may form a second space located in the front of the electroacoustic transducer. 
         [0042]    The second space may be larger than the first space and may be operatively connected to the sound output unit. 
         [0043]    At least one opening may be provided to connect the first space to an exterior of the housing. The at least one opening controls the treble response of the sound emitted from the electroacoustic transducer. 
         [0044]    At least one opening may be provided to connect the second space to an exterior of the housing. The at least one opening controls the bass response of the sound emitted from the electroacoustic transducer. 
         [0045]    In accordance with another aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an earphone includes a front housing and a rear housing connected to the first housing to form an interior space. An electroacoustic transducer for emitting sound is disposed in the interior space formed by the front and rear housings. The electroacoustic transducer emits sound in a first direction. A sound output unit disposed on the front housing transmits sound emitted by the electroacoustic transducer into an ear canal of an ear in a second direction. The first and second directions are transverse to one another. 
         [0046]    The first and second directions may be at an angle in the range of approximately 80° to 100° with respect to one another. The first and second directions may be at an angle of approximately 90° with respect to one another. 
         [0047]    The interior space may include a first space between the electroacoustic transducer and the rear housing and a second space between the electroacoustic transducer and the front housing. 
         [0048]    At least one opening may be provided to connect the first space to an exterior of the housing. The at least one opening controls the treble response of the sound emitted from the electroacoustic transducer. 
         [0049]    At least one opening may be provided to connect the second space to an exterior of the housing. The at least one opening controls the bass response of the sound emitted from the electroacoustic transducer. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0050]    The above and other objects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0051]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a conventional earphone; 
           [0052]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the earphone of  FIG. 1  in an ear; 
           [0053]      FIG. 3  is a view of an external ear; 
           [0054]      FIG. 4A  is a left side view of an earphone in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0055]      FIG. 4B  is a sectional view taken along line  4 B- 4 B of  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0056]      FIG. 4C  is a sectional view taken along line  4 C- 4 C of  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0057]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the earphone of  FIGS. 4A-4C ; 
           [0058]      FIG. 6  is a right side view of the earphone of  FIGS. 4A-4C ; 
           [0059]      FIG. 7  is a view of the earphone of  FIGS. 4A-4C  while being worn in an ear; and 
           [0060]      FIG. 8  is a graph of sound pressure showing a comparison of the earphone of  FIGS. 4A-4C  in and a conventional earphone. 
       
    
    
       [0061]    Throughout the drawings, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0062]    The matters defined in the description such as a detailed construction and elements are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the invention and are merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the exemplary embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness. 
         [0063]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0064]      FIG. 3  illustrates a structure of an ear E. The ear has a cavum concha F, a tragus G, an anti-tragus H, an intertragic notch I between the tragus and the anti-tragus, a helix K, and the external auditory L. The entrance of the external auditory meatus L is located at a side of the cavum concha F and partially covered by the tragus G. 
         [0065]    The earphone in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is worn in the ear E. The earphone extends over the tragus G, the anti-tragus H and the intertragic notch I. When the earphone is placed adjacent and the side of the earphone is basically aligned with the cavum concha F, the earphone introduces sound into the external auditory meatus L. 
         [0066]    As shown in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C, the earphone  100  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises an electroacoustic transducer  110 , a housing  120 , and a cover  130 . The electroacoustic transducer  110  converts an audio signal into sound. The housing  120  receives the electroacoustic transducer  110  and is worn in a user&#39;s ear. The cover  130  is combined with the housing  120  and covers part of the housing  120 . 
         [0067]    The electroacoustic transducer  110  converts an audio signal transferred through a cord into a sound signal to be output. The structure of the electroacoustic transducer  110  may be same as that used for a typical, conventional earphone. That is, the electroacoustic transducer  110  may have the same structure as the conventional electroacoustic transducer  10  described with respect to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The electroacoustic transducer may also be any type of sound element known to those of skill in the relevant art. 
         [0068]    The housing  120  is divided into a first body  120   a , a second body  120   b , and a third body  120   c . The first body  120   a  covers the electroacoustic transducer  110  and has a shape corresponding to the electroacoustic transducer  110 . The second body  120   b  extends outwardly from the first body  120   a . The third body  120   c  extends downwardly from the first body  120   a.    
         [0069]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 4B and 5 , the housing  120  includes a sound output unit  120   d  that outputs the sound from the electroacoustic transducer  110  into the external auditory meatus L. The sound output unit  120   d  is located at a protruding tip of the second body  120   b . The second body  120   b  extends forward from the electroacoustic transducer  110  to form an internal space  122 . Sound is output into the external auditory meatus L through the sound output unit  120   d , as indicated by arrows in  FIG. 4B . When wearing the earphone in an ear, a base side S 1  of the second body  120   b  faces a side of the cavum concha F so that they contact each other. For this purpose, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4B and 5 , the sound output unit  120   d  is located at one side of the base side S 1 . With this construction, the electroacoustic transducer  110  is almost vertical, i.e., at an angle of 90±10°, with respect to the side of the cavum concha F. The direction that the sound is output from the electroacoustic transducer  110  is at an angle of about 90° with respect to the external auditory meatus L. As illustrated in  FIG. 4B , the direction of the sound output from the electroacoustic transducer  110  is changed, as indicated by the arrows, so that it transmitted to the entrance of the external auditory meatus L. 
         [0070]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4C , the third body  120   c  extends downwardly from the first body  120   a . A cord  140  is connected to the electroacoustic transducer  110  and passes through the inside of the third body  120   c . A bushing member  141  made of, for example, a rubber material, is disposed on the outside of the third body  120   c.    
         [0071]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 4B and 4C , a first space  121  and a second space  122  are provided within the housing  120 . The first space  121  is provided in the rear of the electroacoustic transducer  110 , and the second space  122  is provided in the front of electroacoustic transducer  110 . The second space  122  is larger than the first space  121  and transmits the sound output from the electroacoustic transducer  110  to the sound output unit  120   d.    
         [0072]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 4B and 6 , a rear opening  124   a  is located at the rear of the housing  120 . The rear opening  124   a  operatively connects the first space  121  to the outside. The rear opening  124   a  controls the treble response (i.e., higher frequencies) of the sound that is output from the electroacoustic transducer  110 . The treble characteristics may be changed by varying the number and size of the rear opening  124   a.    
         [0073]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , a front opening  123   a  is formed in the front of the housing  120 . The front opening  123   a  operatively connects the second space  122  to the outside. The front opening  123   a  controls the bass response (i.e., lower frequencies). The bass characteristics may be changed by varying the number and size of the front opening  123   a.    
         [0074]    A covering  151 , such as a nonwoven fabric, is provided at a portion corresponding to the rear opening  124   a  inside the first space  121  of the housing  120 . 
         [0075]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , a decorative plate  153  may be combined with a front outer side of the housing  120 . The decorative plate  153  includes holes  153   a  corresponding to the front opening  123   a.    
         [0076]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4C , the first space  121  of the housing  120  is formed to be operatively connected to a cord hole  141   a  of the bushing member  141 . Thus, the treble frequencies generated in the rear of the electroacoustic transducer  110  may be controlled by both the hole  141   a  of the bushing member  141  connected by the cord  140  and the rear opening  124   a , as discussed above. 
         [0077]    The cover  130  covers a part of the housing  120 , i.e., the protruding portion of the second body  120   b . The cover  130  may be made of a flexible material, for example, rubber, so that it is easily placed on or removed from the housing  130 . Accordingly, even though the cover  130  contacts a user&#39;s ear for a long time, it does not cause discomfort and prevents the earphone from sliding down. The cover  130  includes an exit  131  corresponding to the sound output unit  120   d . The exit  131  is spaced apart from the sound output unit  120   d , by a predetermined distance. The shape of the exit  131  for introducing the sound from the sound input unit  120   d  to the external auditory meatus L corresponds to the shape of the entrance of the external auditory meatus L. Since the cover  130  is made of the flexible material, the exit  131  will conform to the different shapes user&#39;s ears. As a result, even though the earphone is worn for a long time, a user experiences no discomfort. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , when the earphone  100  is worn in the ear E, the cover  130  is supported by the tragus G, the anti-tragus H and the intertragic notch I and also contacts the side of the cavum concha F. 
         [0078]    The housing  120  further includes a supporting protrusion  120   e  formed on the outside of the second body  120   b . The supporting protrusion  120   e  has a protruding shape that corresponds to the shape of the intertragic notch I. When the earphone  100  is worn in the ear E, the supporting protrusion  120   e  contacts the intertragic notch I so that the protrusion  120   e  is stably supported. 
         [0079]    In the above description, the housing  100  in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described with respect to the outer shape. The housing  100  may also be described with respect to other aspects, such as its construction. That is, as illustrated in  FIG. 4C , the housing  120  may be divided into a front housing  123  and a rear housing  124  between which the electroacoustic transducer  110  is located. When the housings  123  and  124  are connected together, they form the housing  120  having the previously described first, second and third bodies  120   a ,  120   b  and  120   c.    
         [0080]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4B , the front housing  123  includes a front wall  123   b  and a protruding extension wall  123   c . The front wall  123   b  is at a predetermined angle with respect to the front of the electroacoustic transducer  110 . The protruding extension wall  123   c  extends from the front wall  123   b  to the sound output unit  120   d . The protruding extension wall  123   c  forms the sound output unit  120   d  and the second body  120   b , together with a base wall  124   c  of the rear housing  124 , which will be described below. The front opening  123   a  is located on the front wall  123   b.    
         [0081]    The rear housing  124  includes a rear wall  124   b  and a base wall  124   c . The rear wall  124   b  surrounds the rear of the electroacoustic transducer  110 . The base wall  124   c  extends, in a predetermined shape, from the rear wall  124   b  and is combined with the protruding extension wall  123   c  of the front housing  123 . The base wall  124   c  is almost parallel to the side of the cavum concha F. The base wall  124   c  is at an angle of about 90±10° with the electroacoustic transducer  110 . Thus, the electroacoustic transducer  110  is placed at an angle of about 90±10°, preferably, at an angle of 90° with the side of the cavum concha F. The base wall  124   c  is secured against the side of the cavum concha F. 
         [0082]    When the earphone  100  in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which has the above-described constitution, is worn in the ear E, the electroacoustic transducer  110  is almost perpendicular to the side of the cavum concha F, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4B and 7 . Due to such a structure, the front opening  123   a  and the rear opening  124   a  are neither covered by nor contacted by the ear E even though the earphone  100  is worn in the ear E. Thus, it is possible to control excessive increases in bass tones generated by the electroacoustic transducer  110 . 
         [0083]    Further, the second space  122  may be designed to be larger than a corresponding space in conventional earphones, according to the position of the electroacoustic transducer  110 . Thus, since a sufficient resonance space is secured in the space from the electroacoustic transducer  110  to the sound output unit  120   d , the bass response is increased and improved. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the results of experimental testing using the earphone  100  in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the present invention show that the bass response of the earphone  100  is improved in comparison to a conventional earphone. 
         [0084]    Further, since the electroacoustic transducer  110  is substantially perpendicular to the side of the cavum concha F, the second space  122  is less restricted in space. Thus, it is possible to form the shape of the second space  122 , i.e., the second body  120   b , to correspond to the shape of the ear E, thereby improving the comfort when wearing the earphone. 
         [0085]    As described above, in accordance with the earphone of the present invention, when the earphone is worn in the ear, the electroacoustic transducer is substantially perpendicular to the side of the cavum concha. Consequently, the openings located at the front and rear of the earphone are not blocked by an ear, thereby effectively controlling the treble and bass frequency responses. 
         [0086]    Furthermore, the space between the electroacoustic transducer to the sound output unit which reaches the external auditory meatus is larger, compared to a conventional earphone. Consequently, the resonance space is improved, thereby improving the bass response and improving the sound quality. 
         [0087]    Furthermore, when the earphone is worn in the ear, a predetermined portion of the earphone, which reaches the external auditory meatus, is freely designed and formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the ear, thereby improving comfort when wearing the earphone and minimizing discomfort caused by wearing the earphone for a long time. 
         [0088]    While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7