Knowles Electronics, Inc.

William J Ballad

Timothy K Wickstrom

Jen Nan Feng

Ying-Tzu Chan

Mei-Yu Lin

Elmer V Carlson

David M Schaefer

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.

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 tiny electret assembly for an electroacoustic hearing aid transducer, either a microphone or a sound reproducer, includes a thin, flexible, planar diaphragm and a planar backplate, the diaphragm and the backplate constituting the electret electrodes. One of the two electrodes is permanently charged to a given differential voltage relative to the other and the two electrodes are mounted, in the transducer, in fixed, spaced, substantially parallel relation to each other; the differential voltage between the electrodes pulls a central portion of the diaphragm toward the backplate, tensioning and stiffening the diaphragm. The mount for the diaphragm permits movement of the diaphragm rim in the plane of the diaphragm but precludes movement of the rim of the diaphragm perpendicular to the plane of the diaphragm (and the backplate) so that the diaphragm cannot buckle. Different rim mounts for the diaphragm are described.

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Buffalo Grove, IL, United States of America

William J Ballad