EP4038898A1 - Earphone comprising an ear-attachment support and a piezoelectric audio transducer attached to the support - Google Patents
Earphone comprising an ear-attachment support and a piezoelectric audio transducer attached to the supportInfo
- Publication number
- EP4038898A1 EP4038898A1 EP20767559.6A EP20767559A EP4038898A1 EP 4038898 A1 EP4038898 A1 EP 4038898A1 EP 20767559 A EP20767559 A EP 20767559A EP 4038898 A1 EP4038898 A1 EP 4038898A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- ear
- rod
- pinna
- earpiece
- distal end
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 238000004873 anchoring Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 210000003128 head Anatomy 0.000 description 9
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 210000000613 ear canal Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 239000002033 PVDF binder Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920002981 polyvinylidene fluoride Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229910001369 Brass Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000010951 brass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000013078 crystal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002035 prolonged effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001739 rebound effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/10—Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones
- H04R1/105—Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R17/00—Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R2460/00—Details of hearing devices, i.e. of ear- or headphones covered by H04R1/10 or H04R5/033 but not provided for in any of their subgroups, or of hearing aids covered by H04R25/00 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
- H04R2460/13—Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R5/00—Stereophonic arrangements
- H04R5/033—Headphones for stereophonic communication
- H04R5/0335—Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests
Definitions
- TITLE Earphone including an ear mounting bracket and a piezoelectric audio transducer attached to the bracket
- the present invention relates to an earphone comprising an ear mounting bracket and a piezoelectric audio transducer attached to the mounting bracket, said earphone being adapted to be attached to the ear in a position of use in which the bracket is attached to the auricle of the ear. ear and in which the transducer comes into contact with the internal face of the pinna, the piezoelectric transducer being adapted to flex to vibrate the pinna in response to the application of an electrical voltage, the vibration of the pinna in return producing acoustic waves.
- This type of earphone is not designed to be inserted into the ear canal but to be attached to the pinna using the attachment bracket, so it is an extra-auricular earphone.
- Document US2013 / 0136279 describes in this regard an earphone comprising a piezoelectric audio transducer fixed lengthwise between two side walls of a fixing support.
- the mounting bracket is also designed to orient the piezoelectric transducer behind the ear, against the inner side of the pinna, when the speaker is in the use position. The transducer can thus vibrate the pinna of the ear to create sound waves without obstructing the user's ear canal.
- the user of the earpiece can therefore hear both the sounds produced by the pinna of the ear as well as the surrounding sounds such as the noises of cars, the noises of voices, etc.
- the low and medium frequencies are not or only slightly reproduced due to the low deflection amplitude of the piezoelectric transducer.
- the piezoelectric transducer is used here flat against the inner face of the ear since the maximum deflection of the piezoelectric transducer is located at the center of the piezoelectric between the side walls of the mounting bracket.
- the aim of the invention is therefore to provide an earphone which solves the aforementioned problems.
- the invention relates to an earphone comprising an ear attachment support and a piezoelectric audio transducer attached to the attachment support, said earpiece being designed to be attached to the ear in a position of use in which the support is attached to the pinna and in which the transducer comes into contact with the inner surface of the pinna, the transducer piezoelectric being adapted to flex to vibrate the pinna in response to the application of an electrical voltage, the vibration of the pinna in return producing acoustic waves, characterized in that the piezoelectric transducer is present in the form of a rod comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the rod being fixed to the support by its proximal end and extends in the extension of the support from its proximal end to the distal end left free, and in that the rod is oriented so as to present only its distal end in contact with the internal face of the pinna of the ear when the earpiece is in the position of use.
- the idea at the basis of the invention consists in using only the distal end of the rod left free in order to have a restricted point of contact with the internal face of the pinna of the ear.
- the invention also consists in using the distal end of the rod left free in order to obtain a greater amplitude of deflection than with a transducer fixed by two attachment points.
- This distal end left free is also particularly well suited to come into contact with areas of the inner face of the pinna that are difficult to access but optimal for the transmission of vibrations, such as the hollow of the groove from the helix to the ear. opposite of the helix root.
- the rod that extends the mounting bracket provides a more ergonomic and discreet earpiece for pleasant use over time.
- the fixing support comprises an anchoring head designed to be fixed to the pinna of the ear and a connecting branch which extends between the anchoring head and the proximal end of the rod;
- the connecting branch is arranged to rest on the ear when the earpiece is in the position of use in the manner of a lever arm so as to tilt the rod against the internal face of the pinna of the ear to bring the distal end of the rod into contact with the ear;
- the distal end of the rod includes a weight adapted to increase the rocking effect of the rod;
- the connecting branch is elastic so as to bring the distal end of the rod back into contact with the ear when the earpiece is in the position of use;
- the distal end of the rod comprises a substantially rounded projection which is arranged to be in contact with the internal face of the ear when the earpiece is in the position of use;
- the mounting bracket and the transducer form an earring ring.
- the invention also extends to an audio kit comprising two headphones as described above with an arch connecting the connecting branches of the headphones at the level of the proximal ends so that the arch extends behind the head when the headphones. are in the position of use.
- Figure la is a schematic representation of an earphone according to the invention when the transducer is not turned on;
- FIG.lb Figure lb shows schematically an earphone according to the invention when the transducer is deflected;
- FIG.le the figure schematically shows an earphone according to the invention when the transducer is deflected;
- FIG. 2a is a schematic representation of an earphone in the position of use according to the invention seen on the external face of the pinna of the ear;
- FIG. 2b is a schematic representation of an earphone in the use position according to the invention seen on the internal face of the pinna of the ear;
- FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of an earphone in the position of use according to the invention seen on the external face of the pinna of the ear, the internal face of the pinna and the part of the earpiece positioned in internal face of the flag being shown in dotted lines;
- FIG. 4a is a schematic representation of an ear-loop type earpiece in the position of use according to the invention seen on the external face of the pinna of the ear;
- FIG. 4b is a schematic representation of an ear-loop-type earpiece in the position of use according to the invention seen on the internal face of the pinna of the ear;
- FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of an ear-loop type earpiece according to the invention.
- FIG.6 Figure 6 shows a pair of headphones according to the invention. Description of the embodiment
- FIGS. 1 to 5 represent an earphone 1 according to the invention of the extra-auricular type, also called supra-auricular, because the earpiece is not inserted into the ear canal but is attached to the pinna 2 of the ear.
- the earpiece 1 is designed to vibrate the pinna 2 of the ear and produce acoustic waves in return.
- the earpiece 1 comprises in particular an ear fixing support 3 and a piezoelectric audio transducer 4 fixed to the fixing support 3 so that the earpiece 1 can be fixed to the ear in a position of use visible in FIGS. 2a, 2b, 3, 4a, 4b and 5, in which the support is fixed to the pinna 2 of the ear, here in the external face 2a of the pinna, visible in Figure 2a and in which the transducer 4 is in contact of the internal face 2b of the pinna 2 of the ear, visible in FIG. 2b.
- the piezoelectric transducer 4 here takes the form of a rod extending between a proximal end 4a and a distal end 4b.
- the rod is fixed to the fixation support by the proximal end 4a and extends in the extension of the fixation support 3, the distal end 4b of the stem being left free, that is to say not fixed to the support of the fixing 3 so that the rod is fixed by a single fixing point.
- the rod thus extends in the extension of the fixing support 3 from its proximal end 4a to the distal end 4b left free.
- the rod is also oriented so as to present only its distal end 4b in contact with the internal face 2b of the pinna of the ear when the earpiece 1 is in the position of use.
- the rod is particularly well suited to present only its distal end 4b in contact with the hollow of the CS1 groove of the helix on the inside of the pinna located opposite the root of the helix on the outside of the pinna, visible in figures 4b and 5.
- the rod in response to the application of an electrical voltage, the rod flexed to vibrate the internal face 2b of the pinna 2 of the ear.
- the repeated deflections, also called flexions, of the rod against the ear create vibrations that travel through the ear to produce sound waves.
- the rod assumes an arcuate shape, the curvature of which extends over the entire length of the rod, from the proximal end 4a fixed to the fixing support 3 to the distal end 4b left free.
- the distal end 4b of the rod has a rounded projection 4c, here a hemisphere perpendicular to the rod, which is arranged to be in contact with the internal face 2b of the pinna 2 of the ear when the earpiece 1 is in the use position.
- the projection 4c here makes it possible to reduce the points of contact between the rod and the ear and to bring the distal end 4b of the pinna 2 of the ear closer to the proximal end 4a.
- the transducer 4 also comprises a piezoelectric bimetallic strip shown in Figures la, lb le and 5, 1, formed of a blade 5 of deformable material, here made of brass, and a piezoelectric material 6 of crystal, the length of which is between 30mm and 120mm.
- a bimetallic strip 80mm long, 10mm wide and 1.5mm thick the maximum deflection amplitude will be of the order of 1mm, which is sufficient amplitude to produce sounds in the midrange and midrange / bass. .
- the bimetallic strip will for example comprise several superposed layers of a piezoelectric material 6.
- a curved ear loop transducer makes it possible to lengthen the length of the piezoelectric material and thus ultimately to increase the amplitude of deflection of the rod.
- PVDF Polyvinylidene Fluoride
- MEMS Piezoelectric Microelectromechanical Systems
- the fixing support 3 is for its part designed to be fixed to the ear in the position of use, visible in Figures 2a, 2b, 3, 4a and 4b, in which it positions the transducer behind the ear, against the inner face 2a of the pinna 2 of the ear.
- the fixing support 3 comprises in particular an anchoring head 7 designed to be fixed to the pinna of the ear, here on the outer face 2a of the pinna 2 of the ear.
- the anchoring head 7 is for example in the form of a deformable foam capable of being compressed in one of the cavities of the pinna of the ear such as the Concha cavity 8a or the Cymba cavity 8b, or else in the form of a suitable pliers to come pinch the root of the helix 8c or even in the form of an elastic branch capable of being wedged by deformation in the gutter of the helix 8d of the pinna 2 of the ear called Scapha.
- the anchoring head 7 can also include a weight 9, visible in FIG. 5, the weight of which is here at least equal to the weight of the transducer 4.
- the weight 9 makes it possible to give inertia to the transducer 4 in order to best restore the vibrations which it transmits to the internal face 2a of the pinna 2 of the ear and to stabilize the earpiece 1 in the position of use.
- the fixing support 3 also comprises a connecting branch 10 which extends between the anchoring head 7 and the proximal end 4a of the rod 4.
- the connecting branch 10 is arranged to bear on the ear, at the level of a bearing point PA in the manner of a lever arm, visible in dotted lines in FIG. 2a when the earpiece 1 is in position. of use, so as to tilt the rod against the inner face 2b of the pinna to bring the distal end 4b of the rod into contact with the ear.
- Another weight 11 may be provided at the distal end of the rod, for example in the projection 4c, in order to increase the tilting effect of the rod.
- the connecting branch 10 may also be elastic so as to bring the distal end of the rod into contact with the ear when the earphone is in the position of use.
- the connecting branch 10 could also be in the form of a spring, visible in FIG. 5.
- the invention also relates to an audio kit comprising a pair of headphones 1 according to the invention, visible in FIG. 6, comprises a hoop 12 connecting the connecting branches of the headphones at the level of the proximal ends so that the headband extends behind the head when the headphones are in the use position.
- the arch 12 will play here a role equivalent to that of the weight 11 by increasing the tilting effect of the distal ends 4b of the rods against the internal face of the pinna of the ear.
- the arch 12 will also stabilize the earphones in the position of use.
- the user places the fixing support 3 in the position of use, for example by compressing the foam of the anchoring head 7 in the Concha cavity 8a of the pinna 2 of the ear.
- the distal end 4b flexed to vibrate the internal face 2b of the pinna which in return produces acoustic waves.
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Otolaryngology (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Headphones And Earphones (AREA)
- Piezo-Electric Transducers For Audible Bands (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR1910827A FR3101505B1 (en) | 2019-09-30 | 2019-09-30 | Earphone comprising an ear-mount bracket and a piezoelectric audio transducer attached to the bracket |
PCT/EP2020/075229 WO2021063643A1 (en) | 2019-09-30 | 2020-09-09 | Earphone comprising an ear-attachment support and a piezoelectric audio transducer attached to the support |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP4038898A1 true EP4038898A1 (en) | 2022-08-10 |
Family
ID=69375462
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP20767559.6A Pending EP4038898A1 (en) | 2019-09-30 | 2020-09-09 | Earphone comprising an ear-attachment support and a piezoelectric audio transducer attached to the support |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP4038898A1 (en) |
FR (1) | FR3101505B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2021063643A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP3556151B2 (en) * | 2000-05-09 | 2004-08-18 | 株式会社テムコジャパン | Transmitter / receiver using bone conduction speaker |
GB0321617D0 (en) * | 2003-09-10 | 2003-10-15 | New Transducers Ltd | Audio apparatus |
CA2807808A1 (en) | 2010-08-09 | 2012-02-16 | #3248362 Nova Scotia Limited | Personal listening device |
CN108496345B (en) * | 2016-01-19 | 2021-02-26 | 株式会社精好 | Pen type calling-in and calling-out communication device |
EP3422733A4 (en) * | 2016-02-23 | 2019-02-27 | Sony Corporation | Wearable device |
-
2019
- 2019-09-30 FR FR1910827A patent/FR3101505B1/en active Active
-
2020
- 2020-09-09 WO PCT/EP2020/075229 patent/WO2021063643A1/en unknown
- 2020-09-09 EP EP20767559.6A patent/EP4038898A1/en active Pending
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2021063643A1 (en) | 2021-04-08 |
FR3101505B1 (en) | 2022-07-01 |
FR3101505A1 (en) | 2021-04-02 |
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