Etymotic Research, Inc.

Andrew J Haapapuro

Viorel Drambarean

Mead C Killion

Timothy Scott Monroe

Robert B Schulein

John Stuhr French

Stephen Drake Julstrom

Jerrold S Zdenek

Jonathan K Stewart

James Collins

William Frank Dunn

Russ Thoma

Mary Paulson

John S French

Certain embodiments provide an in-the-ear device. The in-the-ear device includes a housing including a microphone inlet. The in-the-ear device also includes a microphone and a windscreen. The microphone is disposed within the housing adjacent to the microphone inlet. The windscreen includes a porous screen and an attachment mechanism coupled to the porous screen. The attachment mechanism is configured to detachably couple to the housing surrounding a perimeter of the microphone inlet such that an acoustic seal is formed between the windscreen and the housing.

Electronic earplug windscreen

Systems and methods for providing communication and protection by an electronic earplug are provided. A communication and protection system includes an electronic earplug operable in a transmit mode and a receive mode. The electronic earplug includes an external microphone, an ear canal microphone, processing circuitry, and a receiver. In the receive mode, the external microphone is configured to transduce sound pressure levels received from exterior to an ear canal to electrical signals; the processing circuitry is configured to process the electrical signals from the external microphone to provide processed electrical signals; and, the receiver is configured to convert the processed electrical signal to sound. In the transmit mode, the ear canal microphone is configured to transduce sound pressure levels received from in the ear canal to electrical signals provided to a communication device; and, one or more of the external microphone, the processing circuitry, and the receiver is disabled.

Electronic earplug for providing communication and protection

Certain embodiments provide an insert earphone assembly. The insert earphone assembly may include a transducer adapted to convert electrical signals into sound energy. The insert earphone assembly may also include a main sound channel adapted for communicating the sound energy to a user. The insert earphone assembly may also include a plurality of one or more damping elements, one or more auxiliary volumes, and one or more auxiliary ducts. The plurality of the one or more damping elements, the one or more auxiliary volumes, and the one or more auxiliary ducts may be adapted to absorb sound from the main sound channel to modify at least one insertion response.

Insert earphone using a moving coil driver

Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in an insert earphone assembly. The insert earphone assembly may comprise a housing and a transducer located in the housing. The transducer may be for converting electrical signals received into sound energy. The insert earphone apparatus may further comprise an insert element. The insert element may be at, least partially integrated within the housing. The insert element may also comprise a main sound channel for communicating the sound energy from the transducer to a user. In certain embodiments, one or more of the body and the insert element may comprise one or more auxiliary ducts and one or more auxiliary volume spaces. The one or more auxiliary ducts and one or more auxiliary volume spaces may be separated by one or more auxiliary dampers. In certain embodiments, a diameter, length and/or shape of the one or more auxiliary ducts or one or more auxiliary volume spaces may be adjusted so as to modify an insertion response characteristic of the insert earphone assembly.

An acoustic resistor or damper and method of manufacturing the same is disclosed. The damper has mesh material and mounting material attached to the mesh material. The mounting material defines an open region for transmission of sound through the mesh material, and has a mounting surface for mounting the damper on a surface surrounding an acoustic port or tube. The mounting surface is located on a plane different from the mesh material, thereby shielding the mesh material from adhesive applied between the mounting surface and the surface surrounding the acoustic port or tube. The method of manufacturing an acoustic damper comprises a sheet of double-sided tape having at least one perforation applied to a mesh material. The double-sided tape and mesh material is cut in the shape surrounding the at least one perforation.

Acoustic resistor for hearing improvement and audiometric applications, and method of making same

A method and system for enhancing speech intelligibility using wireless communication in portable, battery-powered and entirely user-supportable devices. The devices may be talker devices and receiver devices, where the audio signals input into the talker devices may be transmitted to the receiver devices to provide better quality audio to person using the receiver devices. The receiver devices may initiate and terminate communications with the talker devices. Additionally, the receiver devices may indicate to the talker devices the gain level the talker devices need to apply to the audio signals before sending them to the receiver devices.

Companion microphone system and method

An insert high fidelity earphone is provided in which a hollow housing is connected to two tubes. A first tube is connected to the hollow housing on one side, and on the other side is inserted into an ear tip that ensures substantial sealing of the ear canal. A second tube is connected to hollow housing on one side and houses a cable that connects circuitry in the hollow housing to an audio source. The first tube comprises a damping assembly. The first tube comprises grooves on the inside wall that ensure that the damping assembly only fits in one orientation, which is the correct orientation. The damping assembly may be easily replaceable, without having to replace the entire earphone. The earphone may have a curved shape providing a comfortable and nearly invisible fit into the ear canal.

High fidelity noise-excluding earphones with ergonomically designed construction

A microphone capsule for an in-the-ear hearing aid is disclosed. The capsule can include a top plate having first and second spaced openings defining front and rear sound inlets, and a directional microphone cartridge enclosing a diaphragm. The diaphragm is oriented generally perpendicular to the top plate and divides the directional microphone cartridge housing into a front chamber and a rear chamber. A front sound passage communicates between the front sound inlet and the front chamber, and a rear sound passage communicates between the rear sound inlet and the rear chamber. Front and rear acoustic damping resistors having selected resistance values are associated with the front and rear sound passages. The acoustic resistor pair provides a selected time delay, such as about 4 microseconds, between the front and rear sound passages. The use of two acoustic resistors instead of one levels the frequency response, compared to the frequency response provided by a rear acoustic damping resistor alone.

Directional microphone assembly

A directional microphone assembly for a hearing aid, and methods of assembling a directional microphone, are provided. The hearing aid has one or more microphone cartridge(s), and first and second sound passages. Inlets to the sound passages, or the sound passages themselves, are spaced apart such that the shortest distance between them is less than or approximately equal to the length of the microphone cartridge(s). A sound duct and at least one surface of a microphone cartridge may form each sound passage, where the sound duct is mounted with the microphone cartridge. Alternatively, each sound duct may be formed as an integral part of a microphone cartridge.

A two-way voice communication device which provides a high-level of acoustic noise reduction is disclosed. A resilient ear tip provides acoustic isolation and secures the earphone within the ear canal of the user. The ability to rotate the earphone within the ear canal allows the user to easily position an attached microphone. The audio signals may be conveyed by an included radio frequency receiver and radio frequency transmitter, or the earphone may be connected to an electrical audio device using a multi-conductor cable. Audio signals may be conveyed to one or both ears of a user. A switch to mute the audio signal from the microphone, or for supporting a push-to-talk mode of operation, may be included in the earphone housing, or on the cable.

Two-way voice communication device having external acoustic noise reduction

Low profile microphone tip assembly

A directional microphone assembly for a hearing aid is disclosed. The hearing aid has one or more microphone cartridge(s), and first and second sound passages. Inlets to the sound passages, or the sound passages themselves, are spaced apart such that the shortest distance between them is less than or approximately equal to the length of the microphone cartridge(s). A sound duct and at least one surface of a microphone cartridge may form each sound passage, where the sound duct is mounted with the microphone cartridge. Alternatively, each sound duct may be formed as an integral part of a microphone cartridge.

Growing community of inventors

Arlington Heights, IL, United States of America

Andrew J Haapapuro