Earphone and method for producing an earphone

Abstract

An earphone has a membrane mounted on a membrane carrier and arranged between a top space and a bottom space; a membrane actuator implemented to deflect the membrane in dependence on a control signal; a housing where the membrane carrier, the membrane and the membrane actuator are arranged, wherein the housing has a sound exit, wherein the membrane carrier has openings, and wherein the membrane has holes, and wherein the openings and the holes connect the top space and the bottom space to each another, such that gas can move through the openings and holes between the top space and the bottom space.

Claims

1. An earphone comprising: a membrane mounted on a membrane carrier and arranged between a top space and a bottom space; a membrane actuator implemented to deflect the membrane in dependence on a control signal; a housing, in which the membrane carrier, the membrane and the membrane actuator are arranged, wherein the housing comprises a sound exit, wherein the membrane carrier comprises a plurality of openings, and wherein the membrane comprises a plurality of holes, wherein the plurality of openings in the membrane carrier and the plurality of holes in the membrane connect the top space and the bottom space to each other, wherein the plurality of openings in the membrane carrier and the plurality of holes in the membrane are arranged in such a way that a first opening of the plurality of openings in the membrane carrier is placed adjacent to a first hole of the plurality of holes in the membrane and a second opening of the plurality of openings in the membrane carrier is placed adjacent to a second hole of the plurality of holes in the membrane, wherein by a cooperation between the first opening of the plurality of openings in the membrane carrier and the first hole of the plurality of holes in the membrane, a rotation of gas is generated by the deflection of the membrane in dependence on the control signal, and by a further cooperation between the second opening of the plurality of openings in the membrane carrier and the second hole of the plurality of holes in the membrane, a further rotation of gas is generated by the deflection of the membrane in dependence on the control signal, and wherein the earphone is configured to emit sound through the sound exit due to the rotation of gas and the further rotation of gas reaching the sound exit, wherein the membrane carrier is implemented to hold the membrane along a periphery of the membrane, wherein the first or the second opening of the plurality of openings in the membrane carrier is arranged between two holding portions, such that a portion of the membrane between the holding portions is not connected to the membrane carrier, wherein the first or second hole of the plurality of holes in the membrane is formed in the portion of the membrane and beside the first or second opening.

2. The earphone according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a top opening for connecting the top space to the sound exit and a bottom opening for connecting the bottom space to the sound exit.

3. The earphone according to claim 1, wherein the first opening or the second opening of the plurality of openings in the membrane carrier comprises a length or a diameter between 0.4 and 0.6 mm, or wherein the first hole or the second hole of the plurality of holes in the membrane comprises a length or a diameter between 0.05 and 0.15 mm.

4. The earphone according to claim 1, wherein a distance between two adjacent openings of the plurality of openings in the membrane carrier or between two adjacent holes of the plurality of holes in the membrane is between 0.4 and 0.6 mm.

5. The earphone according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of holes is arranged so that the holes of the plurality of holes are arranged evenly along the periphery of the membrane, and the plurality of openings is arranged so that the openings of the plurality of openings are arranged evenly along the periphery of the membrane carrier, wherein the plurality of holes in the membrane has at least five holes on each side of the membrane, and wherein the plurality of openings in the membrane carrier has at least two openings on each side of the membrane carrier.

6. The earphone according to claim 1, wherein at least two holes of the plurality of holes are arranged along one length of an opening between two holding portions of the membrane carrier beside first or the second the opening of the plurality of openings.

7. The earphone according to claim 1, wherein the housing is dimensioned such that the earphone can be introduced into a human auditory passage.

8. The earphone according to claim 1, wherein the membrane and the membrane actuator are implemented to generate frequencies above 50 kHz with amplitudes that are at least half the amount of amplitudes in a frequency range below 50 kHz.

9. The earphone according to claim 1, further comprising: a further membrane arranged at a further membrane carrier, wherein the further membrane comprises fewer holes than in the plurality of holes in the membrane or no holes, and further a further membrane actuator for actuating the further membrane, wherein the further membrane carrier comprises fewer openings than in the plurality of holes in the membrane carrier or no openings, and wherein the further membrane and the further membrane carrier and the further membrane actuator are also arranged in the housing.

10. The earphone according to claim 9, further comprising: a connecting cable comprising a plug or a socket or a wireless interface, wherein the connecting cable comprising the plug or the socket or the wireless interface is implemented to provide two separate and different control signals, wherein a first control signal of the two separate and different control signals is provided for the membrane actuator and for the membrane, and wherein a second control signal of the two separate and different control signals is provided for the further membrane actuator and for the further membrane.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the present invention will be discussed below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1a shows a schematic illustration of an earphone;

(3) FIG. 1b shows a schematic illustration of the membrane with membrane carrier for generating the gas rotation;

(4) FIG. 2a shows a detailed illustration of the membrane carrier and the membrane according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 2b shows a further detailed illustration of the earphone according to an embodiment with top and bottom openings;

(6) FIG. 3 shows a detailed illustration of an earphone according to a further embodiment of the present invention with two converter elements, one having a membrane with holes and another a membrane without holes;

(7) FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a recording/transmission/reproduction situation for the embodiment shown in FIG. 3;

(8) FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of the three components translation/rotation/vibration; and

(9) FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a known earphone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) FIG. 1a shows an earphone with a membrane 10 mounted on a membrane carrier 12 and arranged between a top space 14 and a bottom space 16.

(11) Further, a membrane actuator 18 shown schematically in FIG. 1a is arranged to deflect the membrane 10 in dependence on a control signal. The membrane actuator can be implemented in different ways, for example like the actuator of FIG. 7 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,706,561. Alternatively, the membrane actuator can be implemented in any known manner in order to deflect the membrane 10 between the top space and the bottom space.

(12) Further, a housing 20 is provided, in which the membrane carrier 12, the membrane 10 and the membrane actuator 18 are arranged, wherein the housing includes a sound exit 22.

(13) FIG. 1b shows a detailed illustration of the membrane 10 mounted on the membrane carrier 12. In particular, the membrane is mounted on carrier portions 24a, 24b, 24c, wherein the mounting can take place in any way. Free portions 26a, 26b, 26c where the membrane is not mounted on the membrane carrier lie in between. These free portions 26a-26c represent openings in the membrane carrier 12. Above that, the membrane 10 comprises holes 28a, 28b, 28c, wherein the holes 28a, 28b, 28c as well as the openings 26a, 26b, 26c in the membrane carrier 12 connect the top and the bottom to each other, i.e. the top space 14 and the bottom space 16, such that gas can move through the openings and holes between the top and the bottom. In particular by a cooperation of the free portion or the opening 26a, for example with the hole 28a in the membrane, which abut on each other or are arranged adjacent to each other, the gas, i.e. air, is rotated in the space where the membrane is located when the membrane is moved, as illustrated schematically by 30. A respective cooperation also exists between the hole 28b and the opening 26b or the hole 28c and the opening 26c, or between each hole and the adjacent opening portions of the carrier 12 that are not specifically indicated by reference numbers.

(14) As shown in FIG. 1b or also FIG. 2a, the membrane 10 is held by the membrane carrier along its periphery. Here, an opening, such as 26a in FIG. 1b, is arranged between two holding portions 24a, 24b, such that a portion of the membrane 10 between holding portions 24a, 24b is not connected to the membrane carrier 12, which is caused by the opening 26a. Further, as shown in FIG. 1b, a hole is formed in the portion of the membrane arranged beside the opening 26a.

(15) In an embodiment of the present invention, shown in detail in FIG. 2b, the housing does not only have the top opening 34 shown, for example, in the known earphone in FIG. 7, but also the bottom opening 36 such that not only the top space 14 can communicate with the sound exit 22, but that also the bottom space 16 communicates with the sound exit 22 via the bottom opening 36. Thus, more efficient transmission of rotation effected by the cooperation of holes and openings of the membrane or membrane carrier to the sound exit is obtained, compared to the situation where only the top opening 34 exists.

(16) In an embodiment of the present invention, an opening in the membrane carrier 12 has a length between 0.4 and 0.6 mm and is advantageously, as shown in FIG. 2a, 0.5 mm. Further, a hole in the membrane is dimensioned such that same has a length or a diameter between 0.05 and 0.15 mm, wherein 0.1 mm is of advantage.

(17) Above that, it is of advantage to implement the width of the membrane carrier or the openings, as shown in FIG. 2a, in a range between 0.05 and 0.1 mm and advantageously at 0.1 mm. Additionally, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2a, a distance between two adjacent openings in the membrane carrier is between 0.4 and 0.6 mm and advantageously 0.5 mm. This distance is advantageously of the same size as the distance between two adjacent holes in the membrane, which is also advantageously 0.05 mm and can be between 0.4 mm and 0.6 mm in other embodiments.

(18) Above that, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2a, it is obvious that at least two holes of the membrane oppose each opening, such that good rotation 30 can be excited, with high efficiency by two holes and one opening. On the other hand, the illustrated minimum distance of the holes ensures that the membrane does not become unstable due to the many gaps. Depending on the embodiment, a hole/opening combination can also only be provided on one side, for example on the side facing the sound exit 22, while the rest of the membrane suspension can be implemented in a common manner, i.e. without openings or holes, as illustrated, for example, in the known technology described based on FIG. 6.

(19) Alternatively or additionally, however, as illustrated in FIG. 2a, the holes can be arranged and distributed evenly along the circumference of the membrane, and the openings can also be arranged evenly along the periphery of the membrane carrier. The membrane can also comprise two or more parallel rows of holes, wherein the most efficient excitation of the rotation, however, is obtained with exactly one row as shown in the figures.

(20) Although FIG. 2a shows that two holes oppose one opening, this number can also be different, such that, for example, only a single hole in the membrane or three or more holes oppose one opening, depending on the dimensioning of the carrier and the membrane.

(21) As shown, for example in FIG. 2b or FIG. 1a, the earphone includes a tapering front portion 38 at the end of which the sound exit is located. This front portion is dimensioned such that the earphone can be introduced, for example, into a human auditory passage.

(22) Depending on the embodiment of the present invention, it is of advantage to significantly increase the frequency response of the sound converter for transmitting the translation/rotation compared to the known technology, wherein, for example the generation and transmission of frequencies above 50 kHz into the ear is performed. Advantageously, a frequency range up to 100 kHz is used. The frequency response is favorable when frequencies above 50 kHz are generated with an amplitude that is at least half the amount of the amplitude in the frequency range below 50 kHz, i.e. below 49.99 kHz. Thus, the 3 dB cutoff frequency of the frequency response can be at 50 kHz. Thus, at a frequency response of up to 100 kHz, the 3 dB cutoff frequency would again be at 100 kHz.

(23) As illustrated in FIG. 2b, the length of the earphone can be between 4 and 15 mm, depending on the intended purpose.

(24) FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of an alternative earphone, comprising, in addition to the membrane 10 with holes, as shown in FIG. 1a, 1b, 2a, a further membrane 40, for example, implemented in the same way but without or with fewer holes. Thus, there are two sound converters within the earphone which are controlled by different signals, wherein one sound converter, i.e. the membrane with holes, provides for rotation and the second sound converter, i.e. the membrane without holes, provides for translation and vibration. While not shown in FIG. 3, each membrane 10, 40 has its own actuator, membrane carrier and is provided with a separate signal supplied to the earphone via a cable 41 having a plug 42 or a socket or alternatively, for example, additionally via a wireless interface. Although FIG. 3 shows that the membrane 40 has no holes, improvement of translation/vibration compared to pure rotation is also obtained in that the membrane 40 has fewer holes than the membrane 10, or that the membrane holder for the membrane 40 has fewer openings than the membrane holder for the membrane 10. Both membranes with respective holder and respective actuator are arranged in the same housing 20.

(25) Instead of the plug 42, a socket can be attached to the cable 41. In any case, the cable 41 having a plug 42 or a socket or the wireless interface 43 are implemented to provide two separate control signals for the membrane actuator 18 and the further membrane actuator for the membrane 40.

(26) In the following, the generation of the different signals will be discussed with reference to FIG. 4.

(27) FIG. 4 shows different microphone sets 100, 102. Each microphone set 100, 102 advantageously includes a number of microphones, for example 10 or even more than 20 individual microphones. Thus, the first detection signal includes 10 or 20 or more individual microphone signals. This also applies for the second detection signal. These microphone signals are then typically mixed down within the mixers 104, 106 to obtain respectively mixed signals with a respective lower number of individual signals. When, for example, the first detection signal had 20 individual signals and the mixed signal has 5 individual signals, each mixer performs a downmix from 20 to 5. Above that, as shown in FIG. 4, a specific placement of the microphone sets 102, 100 with respect to an audio scene 124 is performed. The microphones are mainly placed above or on the side of the audio scene 124, as illustrated in 102 in order to detect the second detection signal with lower quality or lower directivity. On the other hand, the microphones of the first microphone set 100 are positioned in front of the audio scene 124 or between the audio scene 124 and a typical listener position in order to detect the directed sound energy emitted by the audio scene 124.

(28) The mixed signals are either stored separately, as illustrated at 108, or transmitted to a reproduction system via a transmission path 110, in order to be processed by processors 112, 114, wherein these processors are, for example, amplifiers, mixers and/or binaural processors in order to provide the signal to the first sound converter with the further membrane 40 of FIG. 3, which will typically be a stereo signal with two channels, and the signal to the second sound converter with the membrane 10 of FIG. 3, which will also be a stereo signal with two channels. As illustrated in FIG. 4 at 115, the processors 112, 114 can also perform reverberation, wherein this reverberation is particularly of advantage for the rotation signal, but advantageously not for the directed signal.

(29) Thus, the inventive earphone is implemented to generate all three transmission mechanisms translation, vibration and rotation or to transmit the same to the ear. For transmitting translation and vibration, standard sound converters having an extended high-frequency range, possibly up to 100 kHz, are of advantage. Also, several converters can be used for individual frequency ranges for transmitting the whole spectrum. For transmitting rotation, holes or openings or a separate sound converter with holes or openings are incorporated into the earphone.

(30) In a method for producing the earphone, a membrane carrier with openings is provided. Above that, a membrane with holes is provided. The membrane and the membrane carrier are both accommodated in one housing such that the openings and holes connect the top and the bottom to each other, so that gas, such as air, can move through the openings and holes between the top and the bottom.

(31) While above only a single converter is illustrated both for the membrane 10 of FIG. 1b or FIG. 3 and the membrane 40 of FIG. 3, it should be noted that also several converters can be used for individual frequency ranges for transmitting the whole spectrum, as long as they are accommodated together in the housing 20, so that the earphone is still small enough to be introduced into the ear.

(32) Above that, it should be noted that when only a single converter element having holes exists, as illustrated in FIG. 1b or 1a, the one membrane generates both translation and vibration as well as rotation. For that purpose, the two signals for rotation and vibration/translation, as recorded and processed separately in FIG. 4, can be mixed in order to control the single converter element. If, however, as has already been illustrated, separate implementation with two different actuators is carried out as in FIG. 3, the signals will be applied separately to the individual converters.

(33) While this invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents which will be apparent to others skilled in the art and which fall within the scope of this invention. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and compositions of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.