Receiver-in-canal assembly comprising a diaphragm and a cable connection

Abstract

A receiver-in-canal (RIC) assembly for positioning in or at an ear canal of a user. The RIC assembly includes a housing having an opening between an exterior space outside the housing and an internal space inside the housing, and a cable connection located in the housing and facilitating connection of a cable to the RIC assembly. Furthermore, the RIC assembly includes a first diaphragm extending in a first plane in the housing, and a first motor electrically connected to the cable connection and operatively connected to the first diaphragm. The cable connection is located relative to the first diaphragm such that at least a part of it can be projected onto a movable part of the first diaphragm in a direction perpendicular to the first plane and where the cable connection means is located in continuation of the first motor in a plane parallel to the first plane.

Claims

1. A receiver-in-canal assembly for positioning in or at an ear canal of a user, the receiver-in-canal assembly comprising; a housing having an opening between an exterior space outside the housing and an internal space inside the housing; a component in the housing; a first diaphragm extending in a first plane in the housing, a drive pin, and a first motor operatively connected to the first diaphragm, the first motor distinct from the component, wherein the component is located relative to the first diaphragm such that at least a part of the component is projected onto a movable part of the first diaphragm in a direction perpendicular to the first plane, and wherein the component is one of a printed circuit broad, a microphone, a receiver identification resistor, or a telecoil.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first motor is electrically connected to a cable connection means, and wherein the component is further located in continuation of the first motor in a plane parallel to the first plane.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the component is a printed circuit board.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the component is a microphone located below the first diaphragm.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the component is an acoustic element.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the component is a receiver identification resistor.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the component is a telecoil.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the component and the first diaphragm are located in an internal shell in the housing, wherein the internal shell forms a protrusion to create a compartment under the protrusion in the housing, and wherein the component is located in a compartment below the protrusion formed by internal shell.

9. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second diaphragm, and wherein the component is located in a space between the first and second diaphragms.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first motor is operatively connected to the first diaphragm by the drive pin.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the invention will now be further described with reference to the drawings, in which:

(2) FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate prior art receiver-in-canal assemblies,

(3) FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 illustrate different embodiments of receiver-in-canal assemblies according to the invention,

(4) FIG. 5 illustrates a further embodiment of a receiver-in-canal assembly according to the invention, where the receiver-in-canal assembly comprises two motors,

(5) FIG. 6 illustrates an even further embodiment of a receiver-in-canal assembly according to the invention,

(6) FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an embodiment of a receiver-in-canal assembly according to the invention,

(7) FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of a receiver-in-canal assembly according to the invention, and

(8) FIGS. 10a and 10b illustrate output in relation to venting openings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(9) It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

(10) FIG. 1A illustrates a prior art receiver-in-canal assembly 1 configured to be positioned in or at an ear canal of a user (not shown). The receiver-in-canal assembly 1 comprises a housing 2 having an inner space 3 and an opening 4 between an exterior space outside the housing 2 and the inner space 3.

(11) Furthermore, the receiver-in-canal assembly 1 comprises a cable connection means 5 located in the housing 3 and facilitating connection of a cable 6 to the receiver-in-canal assembly 1, and a first diaphragm 7 which extends in a first plane in the housing 3. The receiver-in-canal assembly 1 additionally comprises a motor 8 which is electrically connected to the cable connection means and operatively connected to the first diaphragm 7. The electric connection between the motor 8 and the cable connection means 5 is not illustrated.

(12) The motor 8 is operationally connected to the diaphragm by means of a drive pin 9.

(13) The housing 2 comprises an elongated sound channel 10 provided in a spout member 11 terminating in a sound output 12 through which the receiver-in-canal assembly 1 can output sound. The sound channel 10 is arranged at the opposite end of the housing 2 relative to the opening 4 through which the cable 6 extends.

(14) The diaphragm 7 divides the housing 3 into a first chamber 13 and a second chamber 14.

(15) FIG. 1B illustrates a similar prior art receiver-in-canal assembly 101 configured to be positioned in or at an ear canal of a user (not shown). The receiver-in-canal assembly 1 comprises a housing 2 having an inner space 3 and an opening 4 between an exterior space outside the housing 2 and the inner space 3.

(16) In the receiver-in-canal assembly 101 the separation of the housing 3 into a first and a second chamber (not shown) is done at the edges of the diaphragm 7 whereby the functionality of the housing 3 and the housing 2 can be combined.

(17) FIG. 2 illustrates a receiver-in-canal assembly 201 according to the invention. The receiver-in-canal assembly is configured to be positioned in or at an ear canal of a user (not shown). The receiver-in-canal assembly 201 comprises a housing 2 having an inner space 3 and an opening 4 between an exterior space outside the housing 2 and the inner space 3.

(18) Furthermore, the receiver-in-canal assembly 201 comprises a cable connection means 5 located in the housing 3 and facilitating connection of a cable 6 to the receiver-in-canal assembly 201, and a first diaphragm 7 which extends in a first plane in the housing 3. The receiver-in-canal assembly 201 additionally comprises a first motor 8 which is electrically connected to the cable connection means and operatively connected to the first diaphragm 7. The electric connection between the first motor 8 and the cable connection means 5 is not illustrated.

(19) To provide a shorter receiver-in-canal assembly 201 and/or a receiver-in-canal assembly 201 capable of providing more output compared to a receiver-in-canal assembly 1/101 of the same length, the cable connection means 5 is located at least partly under the first diaphragm 7 so that the first diaphragm 7 and the cable connection means 5 overlap in a direction perpendicular to the first diaphragm 7. I.e. the cable connection means 5 is located relative to the first diaphragm 7 such that at least a part of it can be projected onto a movable part of the first diaphragm 7 in a direction perpendicular to the first plane.

(20) The motor 8 is operationally connected to the diaphragm by means of a drive pin 9.

(21) The housing 2 comprises an elongated sound channel 10 provided in a spout member 11 terminating in a sound output 12 through which the receiver-in-canal assembly 201 can output sound. The sound channel 10 is arranged at the opposite end of the housing 2 relative to the opening 4 through which the cable 6 extends.

(22) FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate respectively a receiver-in-canal assembly 301, 401 according to the invention. The receiver-in-canal assemblies 301, 401 are configured to be positioned in or at an ear canal of a user (not shown). The receiver-in-canal assemblies 301, 401 each comprise a housing 2 having an inner space 3 and an opening 4 between an exterior space outside the housing 2 and the inner space 3.

(23) Furthermore, the receiver-in-canal assemblies 301, 401 comprise a cable connection means 5 located in the housing 3 and facilitating connection of a cable 6 to the receiver-in-canal assembly 301, 401, and a first diaphragm 7 which extends in a first plane in the housing 3. The receiver-in-canal assembly 301, 401 additionally comprises a first motor 8 which is electrically connected to the cable connection means 5 and operatively connected to the first diaphragm 7. The electric connection between the first motor 8 and the cable connection means 5 is not illustrated.

(24) To provide a shorter receiver-in-canal assembly 301, 401 and/or a receiver-in-canal assembly 301, 401 capable of providing more output compared to a receiver-in-canal assembly 1/101 of the same length, the cable connection means 5 is located at least partly under the first diaphragm 7 so that the first diaphragm 7 and the cable connection means 5 overlap in a direction perpendicular to the first diaphragm 7. I.e. the cable connection means 5 is located relative to the first diaphragm 7 such that at least a part of it can be projected onto a movable part of the first diaphragm 7 in a direction perpendicular to the first plane.

(25) The motor 8 is operationally connected to the diaphragm 7 by means of a drive pin 9. The diaphragm 7 divides the housing 3 into a first chamber 13 and a second chamber 14.

(26) The housing 2 comprises an elongated sound channel 10 provided in a spout member 11 terminating in a sound output 12 through which the receiver-in-canal assembly 301, 401 can output sound. The sound channel 10 is arranged at the opposite end of the housing 2 relative to the opening 4 through which the cable 6 extends.

(27) In FIG. 3, the cable connection means 5 is located substantially in the centre of the wall having the opening for the cable 6, i.e. in an area being located in the circumference of the centre at the wall of the housing 2 where the opening 4 for the cable 6 is located.

(28) In FIG. 4, the cable connection means 5 is arranged with a larger distance to the first diaphragm 7, i.e. closer to the bottom part of the housing. By providing this larger distance, more space is created for movement of the first diaphragm 7, whereby a large output can be achieved for a diaphragm of a specific length.

(29) In FIGS. 3 and 4, the motor 8 and the diaphragm 7 are located in an internal shell 25 in the housing. The internal shell 25 forms a protrusion 26 thereby creating a compartment 27 under the protrusion in the housing 2. The cable connection means 5 are located relative to the protrusion 26 such that at least a part of it can be projected onto the protrusion 28 in a direction perpendicular to the first plane.

(30) Furthermore, the internal shell 25 comprises a venting opening 28 to allow venting of the space defined inside the internal shell 25.

(31) FIG. 5 illustrates a receiver-in-canal assembly 501 according to the invention. The receiver-in-canal assembly is configured to be positioned in or at an ear canal of a user (not shown). The receiver-in-canal assembly 501 comprises a housing 2 having an inner space 3 and an opening 4 between an exterior space outside the housing 2 and the inner space 3.

(32) Furthermore, the receiver-in-canal assembly 501 comprises a cable connection means 5 located in the housing 3 and facilitating connection of a cable 6 to the receiver-in-canal assembly 501, and a first diaphragm 7 which extends in a first plane in the housing 3. The receiver-in-canal assembly 501 additionally comprises a first motor 8 which is electrically connected to the cable connection means 5 and operatively connected to the first diaphragm 7. The electric connection between the first motor 8 and the cable connection means 5 is not illustrated.

(33) The receiver-in-canal assembly 501 additionally comprises a second diaphragm 15 which extends in a second plane in the housing 3, and a second motor 16 which is electrically connected to the cable connection means 5 and operatively connected to the second diaphragm 15. The electric connection between the second motor 16 and the cable connection means 5 is not illustrated.

(34) To provide a shorter receiver-in-canal assembly 501 and/or a receiver-in-canal assembly 501 capable of providing more output compared to a receiver-in-canal assembly 1/101 of the same length, the cable connection means 5 is located at least partly between the first diaphragm 7 and the second diaphragm 15 so that the first diaphragm 7 and the cable connection means 5 overlap in a direction perpendicular to the first diaphragm 7, and so that the second diaphragm 15 and the cable connection means 5 overlap in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. I.e. the cable connection means 5 is located relative to the first diaphragm 7 and the second diaphragm 15 such that at least a part of it can be projected onto a movable part of the first diaphragm 7 and onto the second diaphragm 15 in a direction perpendicular to the first plane. The first and second diaphragms 7, 15 extend substantially parallel to each other.

(35) The first motor 8 is operationally connected to the first diaphragm by means of a drive pin 9. Whereas the second motor 16 is operationally connected to the second diaphragm 15 by means of a second drive pin 17.

(36) The housing 2 comprises an elongated common sound channel 10 provided in a spout member 11 terminating in a sound output 12 through which the receiver-in-canal assembly 501 can output sound. The sound channel 10 is arranged at the opposite end of the housing 2 relative to the opening 4 through which the cable 6 extends.

(37) FIG. 6 illustrates a receiver-in-canal assembly 601 being similar to the assembly 401 of FIG. 4. The receiver-in-canal assembly 601 comprises a housing 2 having an inner space 3 and an opening 4 between an exterior space outside the housing 2 and the inner space 3.

(38) Furthermore, the receiver-in-canal assembly 601 comprises a cable connection means 5 facilitating connection of a cable 6 to the receiver-in-canal assembly 601, a first diaphragm 7 which extends in a first plane in the housing 3, and a first motor 8 which is electrically connected to the cable connection means 5 and operatively connected to the first diaphragm 7. The electric connection between the first motor 8 and the cable connection means 5 is not illustrated.

(39) The cable connection means 5 is located at least partly under the first diaphragm 7 so that the first diaphragm 7 and the cable connection means 5 overlap in a direction perpendicular to the first diaphragm 7. I.e. the cable connection means 5 is located relative to the first diaphragm 7 such that at least a part of it can be projected onto a movable part of the first diaphragm 7 in a direction perpendicular to the first plane. A part of the cable connection means 5a is located outside the housing 2. By providing a part of the cable connection means 5 in the housing and a part of the cable connection 5a outside the housing, the cable connection means 5, 5a locks the cable to the housing 2 and ensure that the cable 6 cannot be pulled out of the housing 2 nor can it be pushed into the inner space 3 of the housing.

(40) The motor 8 is operationally connected to the diaphragm 7 by means of a drive pin 9. The diaphragm 7 divides the housing 3 into a first chamber 13 and a second chamber 14.

(41) The housing 2 comprises an elongated sound channel 10 provided in a spout member 11 terminating in a sound output 12 through which the receiver-in-canal assembly 601 can output sound. The sound channel 10 is arranged at the opposite end of the housing 2 relative to the opening 4 through which the cable 6 extends.

(42) In FIG. 6, the motor 8 and the diaphragm 7 are located in an internal shell 25 in the housing. The internal shell 25 forms a protrusion 26 thereby creating a compartment 27 under the protrusion in the housing 2. The cable connection means 5 are located relative to the protrusion 26 such that at least a part of it can be projected onto the protrusion 28 in a direction perpendicular to the first plane.

(43) Furthermore, the internal shell 25 comprises a venting opening 28 to allow venting of the space defined inside the internal shell 25.

(44) FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate cross-sections through a receiver-in-canal assembly 701, where the cross-section in FIG. 7 is along the first plane, and the cross-section in FIG. 8 is perpendicular to the first plane. The receiver-in-canal assembly 701 is configured to be positioned in or at an ear canal of a user (not shown). The receiver-in-canal assembly 701 comprises a housing 2 having an inner space 3 and an opening 4 between an exterior space outside the housing 2 and the inner space 3.

(45) Furthermore, the receiver-in-canal assembly 701 comprises a cable connection means 5 located in the housing 3 and facilitating connection of a cable (not shown) to the receiver-in-canal assembly 701, and a first diaphragm 7 which extends in a first plane in the housing 3. The receiver-in-canal assembly 701 additionally comprises a first motor 8 which is electrically connected to the cable connection means and operatively connected to the first diaphragm 7. The electric connection between the first motor 8 and the cable connection means 5 is illustrated by the wire 18.

(46) The cable connection means 5 is located at least partly under the first diaphragm 7 so that the first diaphragm 7 and the cable connection means 5 overlap in a direction perpendicular to the first diaphragm 7. I.e. the cable connection means 5 is located relative to the first diaphragm 7 such that at least a part of it can be projected onto a movable part of the first diaphragm 7 in a direction perpendicular to the first plane.

(47) The motor 8 is operationally connected to the diaphragm by means of a drive pin 9.

(48) The housing 2 comprises an elongated sound channel 10 provided in a spout member 11 terminating in a sound output (not shown) through which the receiver-in-canal assembly 701 can output sound. The sound channel 10 is arranged at the opposite end of the housing 2 relative to the opening 4 through which the cable extends.

(49) The diaphragm 7 comprises as each end a protrusion 7a, 7b having a size and shape matching an indentation 19 formed in opposite wall sections 20a, 20b of the housing 2 to facilitate positioning and support of the diaphragm 7 in the internal space 3. The diaphragm 7 is kept in place by use of an adhesive 21.

(50) FIG. 9 illustrates a receiver-in-canal assembly 801 where the print board 21 is located under the diaphragm 7 so that the diaphragm and the print board overlap in a direction perpendicular to the first diaphragm 7. The receiver-in-canal assembly 801 comprises a housing 2 having an inner space 3 and an opening 4 between an exterior space outside the housing 2 and the inner space 3.

(51) Furthermore, the receiver-in-canal assembly 701 comprises a cable connection means 5 located in the housing 3 and facilitating connection of a cable 6 to the receiver-in-canal assembly 801. The cable 6 comprises a litz wire 6a for connection to the cable connection means. The receiver-in-canal assembly 801 additionally comprises a first diaphragm 7 which extends in a first plane in the housing 3 and a first motor (not shown) which is electrically connected to the cable connection means and operatively connected to the first diaphragm 7. The motor 8 is operationally connected to the diaphragm by means of a drive pin 9.

(52) The cable connection means 5 is located at least partly under the first diaphragm 7 so that the first diaphragm 7 and the cable connection means 5 overlap in a direction perpendicular to the first diaphragm 7. I.e. the cable connection means 5 is located relative to the first diaphragm 7 such that at least a part of it can be projected onto a movable part of the first diaphragm 7 in a direction perpendicular to the first plane.

(53) The housing 2 comprises an elongated sound channel 10 provided in a spout member 11 terminating in a sound output (not shown) through which the receiver-in-canal assembly 801 can output sound. The sound channel 10 is arranged at the opposite end of the housing 2 relative to the opening 4 through which the cable 6 extends.

(54) The cable 6 is fixed to the housing 2 by use of a grommet 22 arranged on the outside of the housing and by the blunt 23 which terminates the isolation of the cable 6 inside the housing.

(55) FIG. 10a illustrates the SPL Output in relation frequency response measured with constant nominal voltage drive for receiver-in-canal assemblies comprising a venting opening of different size compared to a receiver-in-canal assembly without a venting opening.

(56) FIG. 10b illustrates the SPL Output and frequency in relation the size of a venting opening.