Knowles Electronics, Inc.

Timothy K Wickstrom

William J Ballad

Jen Nan Feng

Ying-Tzu Chan

Mei-Yu Lin

Thomas E Miller

Shehab Albahri

Christopher Lane Monti

Charles William King

Christopher Jones

Erik Wiederholtz

Brenno Varanda

David M Schaefer

Ernest L Lenzini

A hearing device such as a hearing aid, ear pod, headphone, or other wearable is provided, whose components include the following: an acoustic transducer with a vent port operable to produce sound, a housing of the acoustic transducer with a sound opening, and an actuatable acoustic valve disposed in the housing, where the acoustic valve is actuatable to alter passage of sound through the acoustic vent to change the state of the hearing device between an open vent state and a closed vent state, so that actuation of the valve changes an acoustic characteristic of the hearing device.

Audio device with acoustic valve

An acoustic system includes a conduit, a microphone coupled to an end of the conduit, and a rigid moisture resistant barrier coupled to another end of the conduit to prevent moisture from traversing the length of the conduit towards the receiver. The moisture resistant barrier dampens an audio signal traversing the conduit. The moisture resistant barrier has a submersion rating at least equal to a 7 Ingress Protection rating.

Earphone assembly with moisture resistance

An acoustic system includes a receiver (or microphone), a tube, or a moisture resistant screen. The receiver is capable of outputting an audio signal, while the microphone receives an audio signal. The tube is in connection with the receiver (or microphone) and the audio signal travels along a length of the tube. The moisture resistant screen is fitted at an end of the tube. The moisture resistant screen prevents moisture from passing along the tube toward the receiver, and causes an amount of damping to the audio signal. The moisture resistant screen is configured to have a submersion rating greater than or equal to 7 IP.

A microphone assembly comprising includes a base, at least one side wall, and a cover. The side wall is disposed on the base. The cover is coupled to the at least one side wall. The base, the side wall, and the cover form a cavity and the cavity has a MEMS device disposed therein. A top port extends through the cover and a first channel extends through the side wall. The first channel is arranged so as to communicate with the top port. A bottom port extends through the base. The MEMS device is disposed over the bottom port. A second channel is formed and extends along a bottom surface of the base. The second channel extends between and communicates with the first channel and the bottom port. Sound received by the top port is received at the MEMS device.

Acoustic apparatus and method of manufacturing

An acoustic system includes a receiver or microphone, a tube, a barrier, and an equalization device. The receiver is capable of outputting an audio signal. The tube is in connection with the receiver and the audio signal travels along a length of the tube. The barrier is fitted along the tube and the barrier prevents moisture from passing along the tube toward the receiver. The barrier causes an amount of damping to the audio signal. The equalization device is in connection with the receiver and the equalization device counteracts the damping by the barrier. The barrier is configured to have a submersion rating greater than or equal to 7 IP.

An insert earphone comprises a housing and at least one transducer that is located in the housing. The transducer is adapted to receive electrical energy and to responsively convert the electrical energy into acoustic energy for presentation to an eardrum of a user. The transducer is positioned within the housing so as to be in close proximity to the eardrum of the user when the housing is inserted into the ear canal. At least one sealing member is coupled to the housing. The at least one sealing member is adapted to provide an acoustic seal within the ear canal of the user.

Isolating deep canal fitting earphone

A unidirectional microphone assembly for receiving sound within a range of sound frequencies is disclosed. The microphone assembly comprises a housing formed of a sound absorbing material. The housing has an outer surface, and a bore extending inwardly along a bore axis from the outer surface to form a chamber within the housing. The microphone assembly further comprises a directional microphone having an axis of maximum reception. The microphone is disposed within the chamber and positioned with its axis of maximum reception directed outwardly substantially along the bore axis.

Unidirectional microphone

An electret microphone assembly, such as for a hearing aid comprises an electret microphone having a diaphragm and a charged plate, a substrate spaced from the charged plate, and a wire loop having first and second ends and a mid-portion. The first and second ends are secured to the substrate and the mid-portion is pressed against the charged plate. An amplifier is disposed on the substrate and has an input terminal coupled to the wire loop. Alternatively, an impedance matching circuit can be disposed on the substrate and coupled to the wire loop. A conductive bond containing silver particles further secures the wire loop mid-portion and the charged plate. In an alternative configuration the loop is dimensioned such that its mid-portion passes close to the charged plate without touching it. The conductive bond serves not only to form a rigid structure, but also serves as an electrical bridge to complete the circuit between the two elements. The first and second ends are wedge-bonded to the substrate, and the wire loop forms an angle of substantially 90.degree. with the substrate. A conductive track disposed on the substrate coupling the first and second ends. A method of manufacturing the electret microphone assembly is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Des Plaines, IL, United States of America

Timothy K Wickstrom