Etymotic Research, Inc.

Jonathan K Stewart

Mead C Killion

Timothy Scott Monroe

Steve Iseberg

Matthew J Roberts

Don Wilson

Viorel Drambarean

Donald L Wilson

Gail Gudmundsen

Robert Nicolo Falco

Robert B Schulein

Andrew J Haapapuro

James B Compton

Steven J Iseberg

Norman P Matzen

Clyde M Brown, Jr

Charles Aldous

Elliott H Berger

William A Cole

Mary Paulson

The present technology relates to an earphone apparatus adapted for use in audiometry examinations. The earphone apparatus comprises a housing and a receiver having an acoustic output adapted to connect with an audio signal source. The earphone apparatus can also include a circuit board with an electrical equalization network connected to the receiver. A coupling can be connected to the acoustic output of the receiver. A sound tube can be connected to the acoustic output and extends out from the housing to an ear piece. The earphone also includes a resonance cancellation assembly comprising a damping chamber and a tubing section acoustically connecting the damping chamber to the coupling. The damping chamber can provide an acoustic compliance to the sound delivered by the receiver. The earphone can also comprise an electrical connector with a protector that is adapted to connect with a female connector delivering electrical power.

Audiometry earphone insert

A hearing-aid device comprising a housing and circuitry module, wherein the circuitry module comprises a battery, a microphone, and a receiver, and the circuit module is inserted in the hearing aid housing. The hearing aid device further comprises a retractable battery sleeve, wherein a battery slot is exposed when the battery sleeve is retracted, and a battery can be inserted into the battery slot from either side of the battery slot with either polarity. The hearing aid housing may comprise an ear-tip, wherein a microphone is mounted in the hearing aid housing near the ear-tip and the microphone receives sounds through at least one sound inlet located on a side surface of the hearing aid housing. The ear-tip additionally comprises three flanges decreasing in size toward the flange closest to the ear canal, and the hearing aid can be inserted into the ear canal in any orientation.

One-size-fits-most hearing aid

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

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 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 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 different 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.

A power supply circuit is set forth which overcomes the problems associated with incorrect battery insertion. The power supply circuit includes first and second battery terminals for electrical connection to the battery. The first and second battery terminals are connected to a first transistor switching circuit. The first transistor switching circuit is responsive to power from the battery to through-connect a negative polarity power signal therethrough irrespective of the polarity orientation of the battery. The first and second battery terminals are also connected to a second transistor switching circuit. The second switching circuit is responsive to power from the battery to through-connect a positive polarity power signal therethrough irrespective of polarity orientation of the battery. The negative and positive polarity power signals are available for connection to a load device, such as a hearing aid amplifier. The device is thereby provided with proper power polarity irrespective of the way in which the battery is inserted between the first and second battery terminals. The power supply circuit is implemented in an integrated circuit format and is mounted with a chip capacitor.

Mounting configuration for monolithic integrated circuit

A high fidelity hearing aid amplifier is operable at a very low battery voltage and includes a single integrated circuit chip which provides a variable gain amplifier and gain control circuitry operative at low signal levels to enhance gain at higher frequencies relative to gain at lower frequencies, such circuitry including a logarithmic rectifier arrangement and a peak detector in a compression ratio control circuit. Operation at a low battery voltage is enhanced through a compression ratio control circuit which provides a level shift between an AC output of the logarithmic rectifier arrangement and the peak detector. Current mirrors are provided to obtained balanced and stable operation, and an arrangement is provided for manual control by a user to obtain an optimum response characteristic.

High fidelity hearing aid amplifier

An earplug uses damping to render unimportant a Helmholtz resonance between the acoustic mass intrinsic to a sound channel thereof and the compliance of air in the earcanal, in combination with a readily manufacturable external structure coupled to the sound channel to increase response characteristics at higher frequencies in a predictable and well controlled manner in order to provide a highly desireable uniform frequency response.

Audibility earplug

A system for detecting and transmitting body electrical signals in the presence of ambient electrical interference that uses a transmiter circuit including an amplifier coupled to and in close proximity to two or more body electrodes, a light pulse generator that receives its input from that amplifier and provides a pulse-duration-modulated series of light pulses, and a remote receiver including a transducer which demodulates the transmitted light pulses into electrical pulses of corresponding duration and frequency and a demodulator which accepts those electrical pulses and produces an amplified replica of the original signal developed between the body electrodes, thereby effectively providing complete electrical isolation of the electrode amplifier from the remaining bioelectrical signal analysis equipment. A valuable additional feature of the invention is a complete electrostatic shield around the amplifier-transmitter as well as the electode leads, so that the small amount of residual capacitive coupling to the amplifier circuit itself is effectively shunted to the same average (body) potential as that of the electrodes.

Growing community of inventors

Bloomingdale, IL, United States of America

Jonathan K Stewart