CA2062796A1 - Electrodynamic sound generator for hearing aid - Google Patents
Electrodynamic sound generator for hearing aidInfo
- Publication number
- CA2062796A1 CA2062796A1 CA002062796A CA2062796A CA2062796A1 CA 2062796 A1 CA2062796 A1 CA 2062796A1 CA 002062796 A CA002062796 A CA 002062796A CA 2062796 A CA2062796 A CA 2062796A CA 2062796 A1 CA2062796 A1 CA 2062796A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- sound generator
- magnet
- yoke
- diaphragm
- volume
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 230000013707 sensory perception of sound Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 29
- 230000005520 electrodynamics Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 12
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000011554 ferrofluid Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004753 textile Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 abstract description 5
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 abstract description 3
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000003321 amplification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000003199 nucleic acid amplification method Methods 0.000 description 2
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical group [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 102000010410 Nogo Proteins Human genes 0.000 description 1
- 108010077641 Nogo Proteins Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000013016 damping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001627 detrimental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000002768 hair cell Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 101150004875 hri1 gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000008447 perception Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004417 polycarbonate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000515 polycarbonate Polymers 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
- H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
- H04R25/48—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using constructional means for obtaining a desired frequency response
-
- 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
- H04R1/20—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics
- H04R1/22—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics for obtaining desired frequency characteristic only
- H04R1/225—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics for obtaining desired frequency characteristic only for telephonic receivers
-
- 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
- H04R2460/11—Aspects relating to vents, e.g. shape, orientation, acoustic properties in ear tips of hearing devices to prevent occlusion
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
- H04R25/60—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles
- H04R25/604—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of acoustic or vibrational transducers
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R7/00—Diaphragms for electromechanical transducers; Cones
- H04R7/02—Diaphragms for electromechanical transducers; Cones characterised by the construction
- H04R7/12—Non-planar diaphragms or cones
- H04R7/127—Non-planar diaphragms or cones dome-shaped
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R7/00—Diaphragms for electromechanical transducers; Cones
- H04R7/26—Damping by means acting directly on free portion of diaphragm or cone
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R9/00—Transducers of moving-coil, moving-strip, or moving-wire type
- H04R9/06—Loudspeakers
Abstract
2062796 9101075 PCTABS00003 A miniaturized electrodynamic sound generator comprises a diaphragm, a permanent magnet with pole pieces, a magnet yoke and a coil. The yoke is designed such it constitutes a housing or a cabinet of the sound generator. The permanent magnet and the pole pieces are provided in a recess in the cabinet or the yoke and surrounded by the coil which is connected to the diaphragm at a peripheral area thereof. The diaphragm is provided above the magnet system of the recess and fastened to the outside of the cabinet. The dynamic response of the sound generator is determined by the magnetic, electrical, mechanical and acoustic parameters which are used in the design of the sound generator. By varying some of these parameters, the frequency and amplitude of a resonance may be chosen such that the sound generator may reconstruct the natural acoustic transfer function in the range 2-4 kHz in the human meatus. This makes the sound generator particularly suitable for use in hearing aids.
Description
WV 9t/0107~ 2 0 ~ 2 7 n 6 Pcr/Noso/0o111 Elect~odY~am~C SQUn~ ~ene~at~Qr ~or a hear aid.
The present invention concerns a miniaturized, electrodynamic sound generator, especially for hearing aids and with a diaphragm essentially formed as a spherical cup segment, a permanent magnet with pole pieces, a magnet yoke and a coil.
An open electrodynamic sound ~enerator with small dimensions, suitable for use in head or ear phones e.g. for music reproduction, is known from US-PS 4 742 887. By the sound generator disclosed in this patent the damping of resonance in the range 3-5 kHz is especially emphasized for in this way to achieve a better quality of sound reproduction. Another electrodynamic sound generator, particularly in form of a small loudspeaker for use in headphones or a microphone is known from DE-OS 30 48 779 and discloses a magnet system which concentrically surrounds an air gap, wherein a oscillating coil is provided, attached to the diaphragm. A miniaturized electro-dynamic sound generator for hearing aids is shown in US-PS 4 380 689. The miniaturization is hereby achieved in that the mag~et does not surround the iron core, but is provided at its side around the same axis as the core. A miniaturized electrodynamic sound generator for use in hearing aids has also been developed by the firm Westra Electronic GmbH of Germany.
This sound generator has a ~requency range from 20 to 20 000 Hz and very small dimensions, viz. a diameter of 5,5 mm and a lenght of 5,5 mm, in order that it easily may be located in the human meatus.
It is known that the meatus of humans was an acoustic resonance which generates a peak in the frequency response for the acoustic amplification of the sound pressure from the ear opening and to the tympanus. The fre~uency and amplitude of the resonance peak varies individually, but usually it is located within the r~nge of ~ kHz to ~ X.Hz anu has an ar,plitude of 10-15 dB. Such an increase of the amplification in this range is very important for how the sound is perc0ived and the individuals perception of sound quality. If the meatus ls ' . ' W091/01075 ~ 7 9 ~ PCT/NO90/00111 closed by a hearing aid plug, the individual who wears the hearing aid looses the resonance in this important fre~uency range.
Vsually electrical filtering of the input signal to the sound generator in a hearing aid is used in order to restore the desired frequency response. Using electrical filtering is however connected with a number of disadvantages, as the necessary electrical components need a lot of space, consumes electrical power and adds up to a expensive addition. The need ~or space and the consumption of power are especially detrimental for hearing aids which shall have small dimensions and are powered by a small battery.
. .
The object of the present invention is to provide an electrodynamic sound generator of very small dimensions in order that it can be located in the meatus near the tympanus and is designed such that its main resonance falls in the frequency range of interest, e.g. 2-4 kHz, and which further has such an acoustic attentuation that the desired resonance may be recreated. Another obiect of the sound generator according to the invention is that it shall be employed in a hearing aid which does not close the meatus in order that a possible residual hearing at low frequencies are taken care of.
Yet another object o~ the sound generator accordlng to the invention is that i~ shall replace prior used electrical reconstruction filters in that it substantially filters out the two uppermost octaves o~ the auditory range.
~, These objects are achieved with an electrodynamic sound generator according to the present invention a~d with ~eatures disclosed by the appended claims.
.
The electrodynamic ound generator according to the inventiorl will be described in more details below in connection with an exemplifying embodiment and with reference to the accompanyins drawing.
.
.. . .
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The present invention concerns a miniaturized, electrodynamic sound generator, especially for hearing aids and with a diaphragm essentially formed as a spherical cup segment, a permanent magnet with pole pieces, a magnet yoke and a coil.
An open electrodynamic sound ~enerator with small dimensions, suitable for use in head or ear phones e.g. for music reproduction, is known from US-PS 4 742 887. By the sound generator disclosed in this patent the damping of resonance in the range 3-5 kHz is especially emphasized for in this way to achieve a better quality of sound reproduction. Another electrodynamic sound generator, particularly in form of a small loudspeaker for use in headphones or a microphone is known from DE-OS 30 48 779 and discloses a magnet system which concentrically surrounds an air gap, wherein a oscillating coil is provided, attached to the diaphragm. A miniaturized electro-dynamic sound generator for hearing aids is shown in US-PS 4 380 689. The miniaturization is hereby achieved in that the mag~et does not surround the iron core, but is provided at its side around the same axis as the core. A miniaturized electrodynamic sound generator for use in hearing aids has also been developed by the firm Westra Electronic GmbH of Germany.
This sound generator has a ~requency range from 20 to 20 000 Hz and very small dimensions, viz. a diameter of 5,5 mm and a lenght of 5,5 mm, in order that it easily may be located in the human meatus.
It is known that the meatus of humans was an acoustic resonance which generates a peak in the frequency response for the acoustic amplification of the sound pressure from the ear opening and to the tympanus. The fre~uency and amplitude of the resonance peak varies individually, but usually it is located within the r~nge of ~ kHz to ~ X.Hz anu has an ar,plitude of 10-15 dB. Such an increase of the amplification in this range is very important for how the sound is perc0ived and the individuals perception of sound quality. If the meatus ls ' . ' W091/01075 ~ 7 9 ~ PCT/NO90/00111 closed by a hearing aid plug, the individual who wears the hearing aid looses the resonance in this important fre~uency range.
Vsually electrical filtering of the input signal to the sound generator in a hearing aid is used in order to restore the desired frequency response. Using electrical filtering is however connected with a number of disadvantages, as the necessary electrical components need a lot of space, consumes electrical power and adds up to a expensive addition. The need ~or space and the consumption of power are especially detrimental for hearing aids which shall have small dimensions and are powered by a small battery.
. .
The object of the present invention is to provide an electrodynamic sound generator of very small dimensions in order that it can be located in the meatus near the tympanus and is designed such that its main resonance falls in the frequency range of interest, e.g. 2-4 kHz, and which further has such an acoustic attentuation that the desired resonance may be recreated. Another obiect of the sound generator according to the invention is that it shall be employed in a hearing aid which does not close the meatus in order that a possible residual hearing at low frequencies are taken care of.
Yet another object o~ the sound generator accordlng to the invention is that i~ shall replace prior used electrical reconstruction filters in that it substantially filters out the two uppermost octaves o~ the auditory range.
~, These objects are achieved with an electrodynamic sound generator according to the present invention a~d with ~eatures disclosed by the appended claims.
.
The electrodynamic ound generator according to the inventiorl will be described in more details below in connection with an exemplifying embodiment and with reference to the accompanyins drawing.
.
.. . .
' .: '. . ' '
2~ 2 7 ~ ~ PCT/Nogo/00111 Fig. l shows an electrodynamic sound generator according the invention.
Fig. 2a shows a diagrammatical plan view of the cabinet or the yoke of the sound generator of fig. l, seen from below.
Fig. 2b shows a diametrial section 1:hrough the cabinet or the yoke.
Fig. 3 shows the graph of the fre~lency response of the sound generator.
Fig. 4 and 5 show diagrammatically different possibilities for lmplementing the sound generator in an acoustic filter in the meatus.
Fig. l shows a sound generator with a permanent magnet of I'Vacodym 335 HRI1. The magnet has been placed in a cabinet or a housing of l'Vacofer S2" which provides the yoke of the magnet.
The yoke is here designed as a sylindrical box and the magnet located centrically in a cylindrical recess in this box. The recess has greater diameter than that of the magnet such that a concentric clearance is formed between the magnet and the wall of the recess, which in its turn is a part of the side wall of the box or yoke. The bottom of the recess and hence the yoke constitute a first pole piece of the magnet, whereas on the op~osite side of the magnet another pole piece of "Vacofer S2"
with the same diam~ter as the magnet is provided. The permanent magnet has typically a dlameter of 2,9 mm and a length of 1,5 mm. In the upper part o~ clearance and around the second pole piece and possibly ~he upper part of the magnet another coil is provided, for instance of 35 micrometer copper wire with a length of about 0,87 m and a total of 85 turns distributed in four layers of 21 turns. The diameter of the coll is 3,2 mm and the length 1 mm, while the thickness of the coil is about 0,2 mm. It is thus provided in the upper portion of the clearance between the magnet system and the recess wall.
The coil whose resistance is 17n i3 conl.ected electrically ~y wires not shown. Further th~ coil is attached to the margin of a diaphragm which above the second pole piece forms an approximate spherical cap segment, such ~hat between the second ., .
WO91/01075 2 ~ 2 7 9 ~ PCT/NO90/00111 pole piece and the diaphra~m an approximately semispherical volume V1 is enclosed. The diaphragm has been manufactured by hot air forming of a 40 micrometer thick film or polycarbonate and is thinnest near the margin and at top of the cap where the thickness is about 20 micrometers. The cap-like portion of the diaphragm is attached to the coil on the ~op of the clearing and on the outside of the coil the diaphragm has been bent upwards and above a upper end side of the yoke wall to for~ a circular channel with approximately semicircular section over ~he side surface of the yoke wall. On the outside of the yoke the diaphragm is bent down and attached to the outer wall of the yoke. As shown in fig. 2a the recess is connected to the bottom side of the cabinet or the yoke by in this case 6 throughgoing openings in form of holes with a circular section.
on the bottom side or as one may prefer, ~he backside of the cabine~ or the yoke, it may be assigned the sound generator a back volume V4 which in a strict structural sense is not a part of the sound generator, but provided in this way yet becomes a part of the sound generator acoustic design. This back volume V4 may most s:Lmply be created when the sound generator is located in a hearing aid for insertion in the meatus, as the connection between other portions of the hearing aid and the sound generator is made in such a way that a back volume of the disclosed'type, for instance with a volume of 56 mm3, is formed. The holes whlch ventilates the clearance V3 under the coil, has a diameter of 0,4 mm.
According to the invention the resonance of the sound generator is determined by the effective mass of the coil, the effective mass of the magnet, the sti~fness of the diaphragm suspension, the free volume R1 of the clearance between the coil and the inside of the recess wall and the free volume R2 of the clearance between the coil and the second pole piece respectively the magnet, the volume R3 of the holes, the volume V1 below the diaphrasm cap, th~ volume ~2 OL the channel which the membrane forms above the upper end surface of the yoke wall, the volume V3 of the cavity or the clearance below the coil and the volume V4 of the possible back volume. By WO9l/01075 PCT/NO90/00111 ~27~
adjusting the values for these parameters mutually it is possible to keep the resonance within for instance the desired fre~uency range between 2 kHz and 4 kHz. Fig. 3 shows the frequency response of the sound generator in fig. 1 measured in a tight coupler with a volume of 430 mm3. As seen from fig. 3 the sound generator has a practically straight frequency response from below 10 Hz and up to 1 kHz. The sensivity at 1 kHz was 26 dB re 1 Pa/V and the maximum sound pressure at 1 kHz was more than 115 dB SPL. The total harmonic distortion was less than 1% at a sound pressure of 100 d3. The sound generator had a resonance peak at 2,6 kHz, that is in the range most advantageous for the hearing. The theore~ical resonance amplitude was in the present case closer to 25 dB, but was by the measurement acoustically dampened to a more suitable level of i3 dB.
From the response curve in fig. 3 it is seen that after the resonance peak of 2,6 kHz there is a large roll-off for the response with increasing frequency. From ~ig. 3 it is thus seen that the sound generator acts as a low pass filter with a edge slope in the fre~enc~ range ~ust above the resonance peak of ~4 dB/octave. The maximum sound pressure level around the resonance peak may be estimated to about 128 dB for a RMS
voltage of 1,0 V.
As can be seen from fig. 3 and mentioned above, the sound generator functions as a low pass filter, i.e. it mainly eliminates the frequency components in the range from 3-~ kHz and upwards. As the formant frequenciPs in speech essentially lies in the middle frequency range and below 3 kHz, this has small consequence for the hearing perception when used in a hearing aid. On the contrary most persons who are in need of a hearing aid will be elderly people and these have an age related, natural loss of the hearing ability of higher frequencies. The ear's own amplifying mechanism furthe~more detoriates as the number of active hair cells are reduced with age, but of course also as a consequence of being exposed to noise in adolescence.
7`~ 6~ 6 As mentioned it is desired to attentuate the resonance peak somewhat and this is in the present invention achieved by providing a cloth of fine meshed nylon above the openings of the underside of the sound generator. It is, however, also possible to achieve a corresponding dampening of the resonance peak by for instance providing ferrofluid in the air gap of the magnet, i.e. the volumes Rl and R2 or applying monodisperse particles ("Ugelstad spheres") in the cavity Vl and V3 and/or V4. As monodisperse particles of this kind have exactly the same dimension, a certain number of particles provided in a given geometrical configuration may give a exactly specifiable and reproducible acoustic dampening.
The sound generator according to the invention has in the example of the embodiment a diameter of 4,5 mm and will hence not close the meatus which has an effective diametex of about 7 ~n. In fig. 4 the sound generator is shown provided in e.g. a hearing aid and inserted in ~he meatus about lO mm from the tympanus which is located to the right. The hearing aid does not close the meatus, but is ventilated by an opening to the t~npanus of for instance an equivalent diameter of 3 ~n, something whlch is possible due to the small diameter of the sound generator. Accordingly it is possible to apply the sound generator in a hearing aid which exploits a possible low frequency hearing residue of the user. In the configuration of fig. 4 the sound generator in connection with the opening through the hearing aid and the vol~ne at the tympanus functions simultaneously as a combined trancducer and acoustic filter in the meatus.
Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically the sound generator according to the invention located for lnstance in a hearing aid in the meatus close to the tympanus in the same way as in fig. 4, but implemented in a second order acoustic filter.
It is to be understood that the described instance of an e~bodiment in no way limits the scope and frame of the invention, but that the sound generator according to the i' , . . .
.,., ~ , ':' W091/01075 2 ~ 2 7~ 6 PCT/NO90/00111 invention may be designed with other materials than those specified here and similarily being adapted such that the response curve may have a different course than the one shown here.
Persons skilled in the art will easily recognize that a miniaturized sound generator of this kind also may be employed for different purposes than in hearing aids and possibly with a more or less attentuated resonance amplitude, while the resonance determining parameters actually also may be chosen such that the resonance peak has another frequency than the one - being most relevant when the sound generator only is to be used in a hearing aid.
Finally it may be remarked that the natural meatus response has a fre~uency and an amplitude which varies from person to person. When the sound generator is to be used in a hearing aid it is hence of course an advantage that the sound frequency response of the sound generator to the largest degree possible is adapted to the natural acoustic transfer function of the user's meatus. It is, however, no absolute demand that the sound generator must be completely individually tuned, as it has been shown sufficient that it has a fre~uency response which only approximately must correspond to the natural transfer function of the meatus. It is of course nothing against that a number of a series of the sound generator may be manufactured ~ith somewhat varying response characteristics, but for persons skilled in the art it will also be possible to conceive di~ferent methods of implementing some form or other of resonance tuning. It is here only pointed to the possibility of controlling or adjusting the suspension stiffness of the diaphragm or for instance adjusting the dimension of one or more of the volumes V1, V3 or V4.
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Fig. 2a shows a diagrammatical plan view of the cabinet or the yoke of the sound generator of fig. l, seen from below.
Fig. 2b shows a diametrial section 1:hrough the cabinet or the yoke.
Fig. 3 shows the graph of the fre~lency response of the sound generator.
Fig. 4 and 5 show diagrammatically different possibilities for lmplementing the sound generator in an acoustic filter in the meatus.
Fig. l shows a sound generator with a permanent magnet of I'Vacodym 335 HRI1. The magnet has been placed in a cabinet or a housing of l'Vacofer S2" which provides the yoke of the magnet.
The yoke is here designed as a sylindrical box and the magnet located centrically in a cylindrical recess in this box. The recess has greater diameter than that of the magnet such that a concentric clearance is formed between the magnet and the wall of the recess, which in its turn is a part of the side wall of the box or yoke. The bottom of the recess and hence the yoke constitute a first pole piece of the magnet, whereas on the op~osite side of the magnet another pole piece of "Vacofer S2"
with the same diam~ter as the magnet is provided. The permanent magnet has typically a dlameter of 2,9 mm and a length of 1,5 mm. In the upper part o~ clearance and around the second pole piece and possibly ~he upper part of the magnet another coil is provided, for instance of 35 micrometer copper wire with a length of about 0,87 m and a total of 85 turns distributed in four layers of 21 turns. The diameter of the coll is 3,2 mm and the length 1 mm, while the thickness of the coil is about 0,2 mm. It is thus provided in the upper portion of the clearance between the magnet system and the recess wall.
The coil whose resistance is 17n i3 conl.ected electrically ~y wires not shown. Further th~ coil is attached to the margin of a diaphragm which above the second pole piece forms an approximate spherical cap segment, such ~hat between the second ., .
WO91/01075 2 ~ 2 7 9 ~ PCT/NO90/00111 pole piece and the diaphra~m an approximately semispherical volume V1 is enclosed. The diaphragm has been manufactured by hot air forming of a 40 micrometer thick film or polycarbonate and is thinnest near the margin and at top of the cap where the thickness is about 20 micrometers. The cap-like portion of the diaphragm is attached to the coil on the ~op of the clearing and on the outside of the coil the diaphragm has been bent upwards and above a upper end side of the yoke wall to for~ a circular channel with approximately semicircular section over ~he side surface of the yoke wall. On the outside of the yoke the diaphragm is bent down and attached to the outer wall of the yoke. As shown in fig. 2a the recess is connected to the bottom side of the cabinet or the yoke by in this case 6 throughgoing openings in form of holes with a circular section.
on the bottom side or as one may prefer, ~he backside of the cabine~ or the yoke, it may be assigned the sound generator a back volume V4 which in a strict structural sense is not a part of the sound generator, but provided in this way yet becomes a part of the sound generator acoustic design. This back volume V4 may most s:Lmply be created when the sound generator is located in a hearing aid for insertion in the meatus, as the connection between other portions of the hearing aid and the sound generator is made in such a way that a back volume of the disclosed'type, for instance with a volume of 56 mm3, is formed. The holes whlch ventilates the clearance V3 under the coil, has a diameter of 0,4 mm.
According to the invention the resonance of the sound generator is determined by the effective mass of the coil, the effective mass of the magnet, the sti~fness of the diaphragm suspension, the free volume R1 of the clearance between the coil and the inside of the recess wall and the free volume R2 of the clearance between the coil and the second pole piece respectively the magnet, the volume R3 of the holes, the volume V1 below the diaphrasm cap, th~ volume ~2 OL the channel which the membrane forms above the upper end surface of the yoke wall, the volume V3 of the cavity or the clearance below the coil and the volume V4 of the possible back volume. By WO9l/01075 PCT/NO90/00111 ~27~
adjusting the values for these parameters mutually it is possible to keep the resonance within for instance the desired fre~uency range between 2 kHz and 4 kHz. Fig. 3 shows the frequency response of the sound generator in fig. 1 measured in a tight coupler with a volume of 430 mm3. As seen from fig. 3 the sound generator has a practically straight frequency response from below 10 Hz and up to 1 kHz. The sensivity at 1 kHz was 26 dB re 1 Pa/V and the maximum sound pressure at 1 kHz was more than 115 dB SPL. The total harmonic distortion was less than 1% at a sound pressure of 100 d3. The sound generator had a resonance peak at 2,6 kHz, that is in the range most advantageous for the hearing. The theore~ical resonance amplitude was in the present case closer to 25 dB, but was by the measurement acoustically dampened to a more suitable level of i3 dB.
From the response curve in fig. 3 it is seen that after the resonance peak of 2,6 kHz there is a large roll-off for the response with increasing frequency. From ~ig. 3 it is thus seen that the sound generator acts as a low pass filter with a edge slope in the fre~enc~ range ~ust above the resonance peak of ~4 dB/octave. The maximum sound pressure level around the resonance peak may be estimated to about 128 dB for a RMS
voltage of 1,0 V.
As can be seen from fig. 3 and mentioned above, the sound generator functions as a low pass filter, i.e. it mainly eliminates the frequency components in the range from 3-~ kHz and upwards. As the formant frequenciPs in speech essentially lies in the middle frequency range and below 3 kHz, this has small consequence for the hearing perception when used in a hearing aid. On the contrary most persons who are in need of a hearing aid will be elderly people and these have an age related, natural loss of the hearing ability of higher frequencies. The ear's own amplifying mechanism furthe~more detoriates as the number of active hair cells are reduced with age, but of course also as a consequence of being exposed to noise in adolescence.
7`~ 6~ 6 As mentioned it is desired to attentuate the resonance peak somewhat and this is in the present invention achieved by providing a cloth of fine meshed nylon above the openings of the underside of the sound generator. It is, however, also possible to achieve a corresponding dampening of the resonance peak by for instance providing ferrofluid in the air gap of the magnet, i.e. the volumes Rl and R2 or applying monodisperse particles ("Ugelstad spheres") in the cavity Vl and V3 and/or V4. As monodisperse particles of this kind have exactly the same dimension, a certain number of particles provided in a given geometrical configuration may give a exactly specifiable and reproducible acoustic dampening.
The sound generator according to the invention has in the example of the embodiment a diameter of 4,5 mm and will hence not close the meatus which has an effective diametex of about 7 ~n. In fig. 4 the sound generator is shown provided in e.g. a hearing aid and inserted in ~he meatus about lO mm from the tympanus which is located to the right. The hearing aid does not close the meatus, but is ventilated by an opening to the t~npanus of for instance an equivalent diameter of 3 ~n, something whlch is possible due to the small diameter of the sound generator. Accordingly it is possible to apply the sound generator in a hearing aid which exploits a possible low frequency hearing residue of the user. In the configuration of fig. 4 the sound generator in connection with the opening through the hearing aid and the vol~ne at the tympanus functions simultaneously as a combined trancducer and acoustic filter in the meatus.
Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically the sound generator according to the invention located for lnstance in a hearing aid in the meatus close to the tympanus in the same way as in fig. 4, but implemented in a second order acoustic filter.
It is to be understood that the described instance of an e~bodiment in no way limits the scope and frame of the invention, but that the sound generator according to the i' , . . .
.,., ~ , ':' W091/01075 2 ~ 2 7~ 6 PCT/NO90/00111 invention may be designed with other materials than those specified here and similarily being adapted such that the response curve may have a different course than the one shown here.
Persons skilled in the art will easily recognize that a miniaturized sound generator of this kind also may be employed for different purposes than in hearing aids and possibly with a more or less attentuated resonance amplitude, while the resonance determining parameters actually also may be chosen such that the resonance peak has another frequency than the one - being most relevant when the sound generator only is to be used in a hearing aid.
Finally it may be remarked that the natural meatus response has a fre~uency and an amplitude which varies from person to person. When the sound generator is to be used in a hearing aid it is hence of course an advantage that the sound frequency response of the sound generator to the largest degree possible is adapted to the natural acoustic transfer function of the user's meatus. It is, however, no absolute demand that the sound generator must be completely individually tuned, as it has been shown sufficient that it has a fre~uency response which only approximately must correspond to the natural transfer function of the meatus. It is of course nothing against that a number of a series of the sound generator may be manufactured ~ith somewhat varying response characteristics, but for persons skilled in the art it will also be possible to conceive di~ferent methods of implementing some form or other of resonance tuning. It is here only pointed to the possibility of controlling or adjusting the suspension stiffness of the diaphragm or for instance adjusting the dimension of one or more of the volumes V1, V3 or V4.
:
' . . .
,, . ~ .
Claims (6)
1. Miniaturized electrodynamic sound generator, particularly for hearing aids and with a diaphragm substantially formed as a spherical cup segment, a permanent magnet with pole pieces, a magnet yoke and a coil, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that below the caplike diaphragm a permanent magnet is provided in a yoke, that the yoke is being formed as a preferably cylindrical cabinet with a cylindrical recess for locating the magnet, the bottom of the recess forming a first pole piece on a bottom side of the magnet and the recess having a diameter which is greater than that of the magnet, forming a concentric clearance between and around the magnet and the recess wall, that a second pole piece is provided on the top side of the magnet and between the magnet and the diaphragm cap and surrounded by the coil which is located in an upper portion of the clearance and attached to the diaphragm around the margin of the cap, that the membrane is extended further above the clearance and bent over an upper end surface of the recess wall to be supported on the outer surface of the yoke such that the diaphragm forms a concentric channel around the cap and with an approximately semicircular section of said upper end surface, that between the clearance and a bottom side of the yoke is provided at least one throughgoing opening is provided, the opening or the openings providing a free passage between the clearance and a on the bottom side of the yoke preferably provided back space or volume, that the sound generator has a resonance which chiefly are determined by the values of the following parameters:
a) effective mass of the coil, b) effective mass of the diaphragm, c) the stiffness of the diaphragm suspension, d) a free volume R1 of the clearance between the coil and the inside of the recess wall and a free volume R2 of the clearance between the coil and the second pole piece respectively the magnet, R1 and R2 constituting the air gap of the magnet, e) a volume R3 of the opening or the openings between the clearance and the bottom side of the yoke, f) the volume V1 between the second pole piece and the diaphragm cup, the volume V2 in the channel which the diaphragm forms over the upper end surface of the recess wall, the volume V3 of the clearance under the coil and the volume V4 of the possible back volume, these parameters preferably having such values that the resonance falls between 2 kHz and 4 kHz.
a) effective mass of the coil, b) effective mass of the diaphragm, c) the stiffness of the diaphragm suspension, d) a free volume R1 of the clearance between the coil and the inside of the recess wall and a free volume R2 of the clearance between the coil and the second pole piece respectively the magnet, R1 and R2 constituting the air gap of the magnet, e) a volume R3 of the opening or the openings between the clearance and the bottom side of the yoke, f) the volume V1 between the second pole piece and the diaphragm cup, the volume V2 in the channel which the diaphragm forms over the upper end surface of the recess wall, the volume V3 of the clearance under the coil and the volume V4 of the possible back volume, these parameters preferably having such values that the resonance falls between 2 kHz and 4 kHz.
2. Sound generator according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the above the opening or the openings between the clearance and the bottom side of the yoke a fine meshed cloth of textile is provided.
3. Sound generator according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that a ferrofluid is provided on both sides of the coil.
4. Sound generator according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that monodisperse particles are provided in the volumes V1 and V3 and possibly the back volume V4.
5. Sound generator according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that it is further implemented as an acoustic low pass filter with a cut-off frequency of about one octave above the resonance frequency and a slope of about -12 dB/octave or more in the range beyond the resonance peak.
6. Sound generator according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the diameter at most is 4,5 mm and the length exclusive of the possible back volume at most is 4,75 mm.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| NO892811A NO169210C (en) | 1989-07-06 | 1989-07-06 | ELECTRODYNAMIC AUDIO FOR HEARING DEVICE. |
| NO892811 | 1989-07-06 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2062796A1 true CA2062796A1 (en) | 1991-01-07 |
Family
ID=19892218
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002062796A Abandoned CA2062796A1 (en) | 1989-07-06 | 1990-07-05 | Electrodynamic sound generator for hearing aid |
Country Status (10)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5243662A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0483185A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH05500438A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU637384B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR9007508A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2062796A1 (en) |
| FI (1) | FI920025A0 (en) |
| HU (1) | HU206580B (en) |
| NO (1) | NO169210C (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1991001075A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (15)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1994016536A1 (en) * | 1993-01-06 | 1994-07-21 | Velodyne Acoustics, Inc. | Speaker containing dual coil |
| DE19610997B4 (en) * | 1996-03-21 | 2006-07-13 | Sennheiser Electronic Gmbh & Co. Kg | Electrodynamic transducer with magnetic gap sealing and hearing aid |
| US5757946A (en) * | 1996-09-23 | 1998-05-26 | Northern Telecom Limited | Magnetic fluid loudspeaker assembly with ported enclosure |
| US6041131A (en) * | 1997-07-09 | 2000-03-21 | Knowles Electronics, Inc. | Shock resistant electroacoustic transducer |
| GB2337890A (en) * | 1998-05-29 | 1999-12-01 | Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd | Housing arrangement for a loudspeaker in a telephone |
| US7010136B1 (en) * | 1999-02-17 | 2006-03-07 | Micro Ear Technology, Inc. | Resonant response matching circuit for hearing aid |
| US6868167B2 (en) | 2002-04-11 | 2005-03-15 | Ferrotec Corporation | Audio speaker and method for assembling an audio speaker |
| US6804368B2 (en) * | 2002-04-11 | 2004-10-12 | Ferrotec Corporation | Micro-speaker and method for assembling a micro-speaker |
| EP1525774A1 (en) * | 2002-07-26 | 2005-04-27 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Sound transducer comprising a small rear volume chamber |
| US20100104115A1 (en) * | 2008-10-29 | 2010-04-29 | Seagate Technology Llc | Micro magnetic speaker device with balanced membrane |
| EP3289780A1 (en) * | 2015-04-30 | 2018-03-07 | Ole Wolff Elektronik A/S | Deep-drawn foil-based miniature diaphragm assembly |
| DE102018124261B4 (en) | 2018-10-01 | 2020-06-04 | Grawe & Schneider GdbR (vertretungsberechtigte Gesellschafter: Thomas Grawe, 83088 Kiefersfelden und Gerd-Peter Schneider, 84032 Landshut) | Planar speakers |
| CN114270874A (en) * | 2019-08-21 | 2022-04-01 | 伯斯有限公司 | Highly compliant electroacoustic miniature transducer |
| US11297412B2 (en) | 2020-02-24 | 2022-04-05 | Bose Corporation | Miniature moving coil loudspeaker with ferrofluid |
| US20230076171A1 (en) * | 2021-09-03 | 2023-03-09 | Bose Corporation | Hearing assistance devices and methods of generating a resonance within a hearing assistance device |
Family Cites Families (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2551447A (en) * | 1948-05-20 | 1951-05-01 | Operadio Mfg Co | Electrodynamic speaker |
| NL6700283A (en) * | 1967-01-07 | 1968-07-08 | ||
| DE2900427B1 (en) * | 1979-01-08 | 1979-08-02 | Licentia Gmbh | Dynamic transducer with a voice coil in an air gap filled with a magnetic fluid |
| DE2913644B2 (en) * | 1979-04-05 | 1981-05-07 | Horst L. Prof. Dr.med. 8700 Würzburg Wullstein | Electric hearing aid |
| IT1117418B (en) * | 1979-08-01 | 1986-02-17 | Marcon Srl | IMPROVEMENT IN SOUND RE-PRODUCTION CAPSULES FOR HEARING AIDS |
| JPS6028200B2 (en) * | 1979-12-31 | 1985-07-03 | ソニー株式会社 | electroacoustic transducer |
| JPS6076897A (en) * | 1983-10-03 | 1985-05-01 | Pioneer Electronic Corp | Speaker |
| US4752963A (en) * | 1985-06-12 | 1988-06-21 | Kabushiki Kaisha Kenwood | Electroacoustic converter having a recessed step on the center pole |
| JPH0450718Y2 (en) * | 1986-02-28 | 1992-11-30 |
-
1989
- 1989-07-06 NO NO892811A patent/NO169210C/en unknown
-
1990
- 1990-07-05 US US07/781,149 patent/US5243662A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1990-07-05 JP JP2510058A patent/JPH05500438A/en active Pending
- 1990-07-05 BR BR909007508A patent/BR9007508A/en unknown
- 1990-07-05 WO PCT/NO1990/000111 patent/WO1991001075A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1990-07-05 HU HU9231A patent/HU206580B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1990-07-05 CA CA002062796A patent/CA2062796A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1990-07-05 EP EP90910525A patent/EP0483185A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1990-07-05 AU AU59596/90A patent/AU637384B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1992
- 1992-01-03 FI FI920025A patent/FI920025A0/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| NO892811D0 (en) | 1989-07-06 |
| HU206580B (en) | 1992-11-30 |
| BR9007508A (en) | 1992-05-19 |
| AU5959690A (en) | 1991-02-06 |
| NO169210C (en) | 1992-05-20 |
| HUT59784A (en) | 1992-06-29 |
| WO1991001075A1 (en) | 1991-01-24 |
| FI920025A0 (en) | 1992-01-03 |
| US5243662A (en) | 1993-09-07 |
| HU9200031D0 (en) | 1992-04-28 |
| EP0483185A1 (en) | 1992-05-06 |
| JPH05500438A (en) | 1993-01-28 |
| NO169210B (en) | 1992-02-10 |
| NO892811L (en) | 1991-01-07 |
| AU637384B2 (en) | 1993-05-27 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |