Patent ID: 12212919

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and therefore may not be drawn to scale and may not include well-known features, that the order of occurrence of actions or steps may be different than the order described or that some or all of the actions or steps may be performed concurrently unless specified otherwise, and that the terms and expressions used herein have meanings understood by those of ordinary skill in the art except where different meanings are attributed to them herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure relates generally to ear-worn hearing devices and more particularly to ear-worn hearing devices comprising multiple acoustic transducers, as wells as to acoustic transducer assemblies configured for hearing devices with space constraints. Representative ear-worn hearing devices include, but are not limited to, Receiver-in-Canal (RIC), In-the-Ear (ITE), In-the Canal (ITC), Completely-in-the Canal (CIC), and Speaker-in-Concha (SIC) devices, among others. In the present specification, “ear-worn hearing device” means a hearing device (also referred to herein as a “unit”) that is worn in the ear canal, partially in the ear canal, or on the ear facing the ear canal.

The ear-worn hearing device generally comprises a hearing device housing including a sound passage terminating at a sound port located to face the user's ear canal during use. The hearing device housing can be a substantially enclosed housing that fully contains multiple acoustic transducers. A substantially enclosed hearing device housing includes a sound port and possibly microphone ports and vents. Alternatively, the housing can enclose fewer than all transducers. For example, the housing can be a housing portion that caps as little as an end portion of one of the acoustic transducers, wherein the remaining acoustic transducers extend outside of the hearing device housing.

InFIG.1, the hearing device100is configured as a RIC unit comprising a RIC housing110defining a sound passage112terminating at a sound port114on an end portion116of the RIC housing. The housing end portion116is configured to support a removable ear-dome120and to protrude toward a user's ear canal during use. The ear-dome can be formed of a silicone or other pliable biocompatible material that is at least partially insertable into the user's ear canal. In ITE, ITC and other ear-worn hearing devices however the hearing device housing is configured for wear without an ear-dome. These and other ear-worn hearing devices may include a housing sized or custom-molded to fit the unique anatomy of the user's ear.

InFIG.1, the RIC unit comprises a substantially enclosed RIC housing110. In other implementations, RIC housing can have an open end opposite the end portion116, wherein a portion of one or more acoustic receivers are exposed. Other ear-worn hearing devices also comprise a substantially enclosed hearing device housing. Representative ear-worn hearing devices comprising a substantially enclosed hearing device housing include, but are not limited to, ITE, ITC, CIC and SIC units, among others.

InFIG.1, a cable assembly130is mechanically coupled to the RIC housing110. The cable assembly is also mechanically connected or connectable to a BTE unit (not shown) configured for wear on or behind the user's ear. More generally, the cable assembly connects the RIC unit to a base unit that can be worn on some other part of the user's body. The base unit typically comprises one or more batteries, electrical circuits (e.g., an audio signal processor, audio amplifier, etc.), and one or more microphones. The base unit can also comprise a physiological sensor and a wireless transceiver among other components. The cable assembly comprises electrical conductors132electrically connecting the acoustic transducers of the RIC unit to the electrical circuit of the base unit as described further herein.

Other ear-worn hearing devices are stand-alone devices devoid of a cable assembly and a base unit. InFIG.2, a standalone hearing device200comprises a hearing device housing210resembling an ITC unit. Alternatively, the hearing device housing can be configured as an ITE, CIC and SIC unit, among others. In these and other ear-worn units, multiple transducers212,213, batteries214, electrical circuits216, microphones218and other components are contained within the hearing device housing. The stand-alone ear-worn unit can also comprise a physiological sensor and a wireless transceiver among other components.

Generally, the ear-worn hearing device comprises two or more (multiple) acoustic transducers assembled with the hearing device housing individually or as a transducer subassembly. The transducer generally comprises a transducer housing having an electrical terminal and a sound outlet. The multiple transducers are arranged end-to-end along a common lengthwise dimension. The lengthwise configuration permits integration of the multiple acoustic transducer assembly in hearing devices with space constraints dictated by the ear canal and other considerations, wherein such space constraints may not accommodate a side-by-side arrangement of the transducers.

The one or more acoustic transducers can have a cube, or rectangular cuboid, or cylindrical shape, among others, attributed to the transducer housing. Multiple acoustic transducers within a particular ear-worn unit can have the same shape or different shapes. Some transducers comprise a longitudinal dimension between opposite ends. The longitudinal dimension of a rectangular cuboid is between opposite ends separated by the longest dimension of the hearing device housing. The longitudinal dimension of a cylindrical transducer is along its axis of symmetry. Alignment of the longest dimension of the transducers along the common lengthwise dimension of the end-to-end arrangement can minimize the cross-sectional area occupied by the transducers. In other implementations, it is unnecessary to align the longest dimension of the transducers along the lengthwise dimension of the end-to-end arrangement of acoustic transducers.

In some implementations, the multiple acoustic transducers are arranged and mechanically coupled as a subassembly prior to assembly with the hearing device housing of the ear-worn hearing device. The coupling can be direct or indirect. Direct coupling can be achieved by a weld, adhesive, or by fabricating more than one acoustic transducer in a common transducer housing, wherein the first and second transducer housings constitute the common housing. An indirect coupling can be achieved with intermediate structure interconnecting the transducers. In other implementations, the first and second transducers are not coupled prior to assembly with the housing of the ear-worn hearing device. In the latter case, the multiple transducers are arranged end-to-end when assembled with the hearing device housing. In either case, the hearing device housing can be structured with receptacles to accommodate individual transducers, or a subassembly of multiple transducers, arranged in an end-to-end configuration.

In one implementation, the multiple acoustic transducers are balanced armature receivers. Such receivers are also known in the art as moving iron speakers or receivers. InFIG.3, a representative balanced armature receiver300comprises a transducer housing310having an interior separated by a diaphragm320into a back volume312and a front volume314coupled to a sound port302. A motor330located in the back volume comprises a coil332electromagnetically coupled to an armature334having one end fixed to a yoke336and a free end335balanced between magnets338retained by the yoke. The armature is coupled to a movable portion of the diaphragm by a drive rod or other link340. A magnetic field induced by an electrical audio signal applied to terminal contacts342connected to the coil moves the armature and diaphragm. Deflection of the diaphragm emits sound from the sound port302. InFIG.3, the armature has a U-shape, but other armatures can have an E-shape or M-shape, among others. Other balanced armature receivers can have different architectures than the representative receiver ofFIG.3. Other acoustic transducers like dynamic speakers can also be arranged in an end-to-end configuration as described herein. One or more dynamic speakers can also be arranged end-to-end with one or more receivers.

In the acoustic transducer subassembly400ofFIG.4, a first acoustic transducer comprises a first transducer housing410including a first sound outlet412coupled to a first front volume414of the first transducer housing. The first front volume is partially defined by an end416of the first transducer housing. The first sound outlet412is located on a transducer housing sidewall that partially defines the first front volume. A second acoustic transducer comprises a second transducer housing420including a second sound outlet422coupled to a second front volume424of the second transducer housing. The second sound outlet is located on an end426of the second transducer housing. The end416of the first transducer housing410is coupled to the end426of the second transducer housing, wherein the second sound outlet422is acoustically ported into the first front volume414and out the first sound outlet412. Thus configured, sounds from both the first and second transducers are emitted from the first sound outlet412of the first acoustic transducer. Mechanically coupling the first and second acoustic transducers prior to assembly with the hearing device housing can ensure proper alignment and sealing between the first and second front volumes. Such a coupling can be direct or indirect as described herein.

In the acoustic transducer subassembly500ofFIG.5, a first acoustic transducer comprises a first transducer housing510including a first sound outlet512coupled to a first front volume514of the first transducer housing. The first sound outlet512is located on a housing sidewall that partially defines the first front volume. Alternatively, the first sound outlet513can be located on an end515of the first transducer housing. A second acoustic transducer comprises a second transducer housing520including a second sound outlet522coupled to a second front volume524of the second transducer housing. The second sound outlet is located on a transducer housing sidewall that partially defines the second front volume. An end516of the first transducer housing510is adjacent to an end526of the second transducer housing. Thus configured, sounds from both the first and second transducers can be emitted into a sound passage of an ear-worn hearing device as shown inFIGS.1and2. InFIG.5, sound emitted from sound port512and sound port522or523travels to the sound passage via space in the hearing device housing. Sound emitted from sound port513travels more directly to the sound passage. Alternatively, sound emitted from the second transducer520can be ported to the first front volume514via a conduit (not shown) from the second sound output, whereby sound from both the first and second transducers are emitted from the first sound outlet512. Mechanically coupling the first and second acoustic transducers can ease integration of the transducer subassembly with the hearing device housing.

In some implementations, each of the multiple acoustic transducers of the acoustic transducer subassembly are electrically connected to one or more conductors connected or connectable to electrical circuits of the ear-worn hearing device. InFIG.6, first and second transducers610and620of an acoustic transducer subassembly are connected or connectable to an electrical circuit (not shown inFIG.6) of the ear-worn hearing device by corresponding conductive wires602and604connected to terminal contacts612and622of the corresponding acoustic transducers. More generally, multiple wires can be connected to corresponding terminal contacts of each acoustic transducer. Also, in some implementations, the multiple acoustic transducers can be connected in parallel by the conductors. The conductive wires can be connected to conductors of a cable assembly or to an electrical circuit co-located in the hearing device housing with the acoustic transducers.

InFIG.7, first and second transducers710and720of an acoustic transducer subassembly are connected or connectable to an electrical circuit (not shown inFIG.7) of the ear-worn hearing device by one or more conductors of a flex circuit730. The flex circuit can be connected (e.g., by soldering) to corresponding terminal contacts of the acoustic transducers. The flex circuit can also comprise one or more contacts732connectable to corresponding conductors of a cable assembly of a RIC unit. InFIG.1, one or more conductors132of the cable assembly are electrically connected to corresponding conductors of a flex circuit134. In some ear-worn hearing devices, components (e.g., integrated circuits . . . ) of an electrical circuit can be connected directly to the flex circuit. More generally, multiple wires can be connected to corresponding terminal contacts of each acoustic transducer. In some implementations, the flex circuit can also connect the multiple acoustic transducers in parallel.

In one implementation, an ear-worn hearing device comprises a housing including a sound passage terminating at a sound port on a portion of the housing configured to protrude toward a user's ear canal. A first acoustic transducer is coupled to the hearing device housing and comprises a first transducer housing having a first sound outlet acoustically coupled to the sound port via the sound passage. A second acoustic transducer comprises a second transducer housing including a second sound outlet acoustically coupled to the sound port via the sound passage. Representative hearing devices are shown schematically inFIGS.1and2.

The first acoustic transducer is arranged end-to-end with the second acoustic transducer, wherein the first acoustic transducer is located between the second acoustic transducer and the sound port of the hearing device housing. InFIG.1, the first transducer is located between the second transducer142and the sound port114of the hearing device. InFIG.2, similarly, a first transducer212is located between the second transducer213and a sound port220of the ear-worn unit200.

In some implementations, the first acoustic transducer comprises a first audio band frequency response, and the second acoustic transducer comprises a second audio band frequency response, wherein predominant frequencies of the first audio band frequency response are higher than predominant frequencies of the second audio band frequency response. InFIG.1, for example, the first transducer140can have a higher frequency response than the second transducer142. Locating the transducer with the highest frequency response nearest the sound port of the hearing device and locating the transducer with the lowest frequency response farthest from the sound port may provide an optimal acoustic output. But the arrangement of the higher and lower frequency transducers relative to the sound port may be different on other implementations.

InFIG.1, the first sound outlet144of the first transducer140is coupled to the sound port114via space in the hearing device housing110and the sound passage112. The second sound outlet (not shown) is located on an end141of the second transducer142facing the first transducer, wherein the second sound outlet is acoustically coupled to the front volume of the first transducer140, as shown inFIG.4and described herein. Thus configured, the second sound outlet of the second transducer142is acoustically coupled to the sound port114via the first front volume of the first transducer. InFIG.2, the first sound outlet (not shown) is located on an end of the first transducer212proximate the sound port and is directly coupled to the sound port220via the sound passage112. InFIG.5, such a sound outlet is shown at513and described hereinabove. InFIG.2, the second sound outlet215of the second transducer213is acoustically coupled to transducer140sound port220via space217in the hearing device housing210and the sound passage.

While the disclosure and what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof has been described in a manner establishing possession and enabling those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the same, it will be understood and appreciated that there are many equivalents to the representative embodiments described herein and that myriad modifications and variations may be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is to be limited not by the embodiments described but by the appended claims and their equivalents.