HK1163413B - Unitary ear interface of inear earpiece - Google Patents

Abstract

A positioning and retaining structure for an in-ear earpiece. An outer leg and an inner leg are attached to each other at an attachment end and attached to a body of the earpiece at the other end. The outer leg lies in a plane. The positioning and retaining structure have a stiffness that is greater when force is applied to the attachment end in a counterclockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg than when force is applied to the attachment end in a clockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg. The positioning and retaining structure position an earpiece associated with the earpiece in a users ear and retains the earpiece in its position.

Description

Integral ear connector of in-ear earphone

Technical Field

This specification describes a positioning and retaining device for a headset.

Disclosure of Invention

In one aspect, a headset includes an electronics module for wirelessly receiving an incoming audio signal from an external source. The electronics module includes a microphone for converting sound into an outgoing audio signal. The electronics module also includes circuitry for wirelessly transmitting the outgoing audio signal. The headset further comprises an audio module comprising an acoustic driver for transforming the received audio signal into sound energy. The earpiece further comprises an in-the-ear part. The in-the-ear portion comprises a body. The body includes an outlet section dimensioned and arranged to fit within an entrance of an ear canal of a user, a channel for conducting acoustic energy from the audio module to an opening in the outlet section, and a positioning and retaining means. The positioning and retaining means comprise at least an outer leg and an inner leg. Each of the outer and inner struts are attached to the main body at an attachment end and to each other at a junction end. The outer leg lies in a plane. The positioning and retaining means are substantially more rigid when a force is applied to the tip in one rotational direction in the plane of the outer strut than when a force is applied in the opposite rotational direction in the plane of the outer strut, one of the two struts contacting the antihelix at the rear of the concha in its intended position; the engagement end is below the antihelix, the flat portion of the body contacts the concha, and a portion of the body is below the antitragus. The plane of the outer leg may be inclined relative to the plane of the body. When the headset is inserted in the ear and the body is rotated in a clockwise direction, at least one of (1) the engagement end contacts the base of the helix or (2) the engagement end becomes wedged in the cymba concha region of the antihelix or (3) the inner post contacts the base of the helix may prevent further clockwise rotation. When the earpiece is in place, a reaction force may be applied that propels the outer post against the antihelix at the back of the outer ear. The body may include an outlet section and an inner section, and the inner section may include a harder material than the outlet section. The outlet segment may comprise a material having a hardness of about 16 shore a and the inner segment may comprise a material having a hardness of about 70 shore a. The acoustic module may comprise a nozzle for directing sound waves towards the outlet section. The orifice may be characterized by an outer diameter measured in one direction. The outlet section may be characterized by a diameter measured in this direction. The outer diameter of the nozzle may be smaller than the inner diameter of the outlet section. The outlet section and the spout may be substantially oval. The minor axis of the outlet section may be about 4.80mm and the minor axis of the spout may be about 4.05 mm. The audio module may be oriented such that a portion of the audio module is in the concha of the user's ear when the headset is in place. The stiffness when a force is applied in a direction perpendicular to the plane may be less than 0.01N/mm.

In another aspect, a headset includes an electronics module for wirelessly receiving an incoming audio signal from an external source. The electronics module includes a microphone for converting sound into an outgoing audio signal. The electronics module also includes circuitry for wirelessly transmitting the outgoing audio signal. The headset further comprises an audio module comprising an acoustic driver for transforming the received audio signal into sound energy. The earpiece further comprises an in-the-ear part. The in-the-ear portion comprises a body comprising an ear canal section dimensioned and arranged to fit within an ear canal of a user and a channel for conducting acoustic energy from the audio module to the ear canal of the user. The outer leg may lie in a plane. The positioning and retaining means may be significantly more rigid when a force is applied to the tip in one rotational direction in the plane of the outer post than when a force is applied in the opposite direction in the plane of the outer post. The stiffness when a force is applied in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the outer strut may be less than the stiffness when a force is applied in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction in the plane of the outer strut. The stiffness when a force is applied in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the outer strut may be less than 0.8 times the stiffness when a force is applied in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction in the plane of the outer strut. The stiffness when a force is applied in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the outer strut may be less than 0.01N/mm.

In another aspect, a headset includes an electronics module for wirelessly receiving an incoming audio signal from an external source. The electronics module includes a microphone for converting sound into an outgoing audio signal. The electronics module also includes circuitry for wirelessly transmitting the outgoing audio signal. The headset further comprises an audio module comprising an acoustic driver for transforming the received audio signal into sound energy. The earpiece further comprises an in-the-ear portion comprising a body. The body includes an outlet section dimensioned and arranged to fit within an ear canal of a user, a channel for conducting acoustic energy from the audio module to an opening in the outlet section, and a positioning device including an inner post and an outer post. The inner and outer legs are attached to the body at an attachment end and to each other at a junction end. The positioning means provides at least three modes for preventing the headset from rotating clockwise through the rotated position. The modes include the tip contacting the base of the helix, the tip becoming wedged under the antihelix in the cymba concha area, and the inner post contacting the base of the helix. The headset may further comprise a holding means. The retaining means may comprise an inner leg and an outer leg. The inner leg and the outer leg may be attached to the body at an attachment end and to each other at a junction end. The outer post may be urged against the antihelix at the back of the outer ear when the earpiece is in its intended position, and (1) the tip may be below the antihelix or (2) a portion of at least one of the body and the outer post may be below the antitragus or (3) at least one condition in which the body may abut in the ear canal.

In another aspect, a headset includes an electronics module for wirelessly receiving an incoming audio signal from an external source. The electronics module includes a microphone for converting sound into an outgoing audio signal. The electronics module also includes circuitry for wirelessly transmitting the outgoing audio signal. The headset further comprises an audio module comprising an acoustic driver for transforming the received audio signal into sound energy. The earpiece further comprises a body comprising an outlet section dimensioned and arranged to fit in the ear canal of the user. The body also includes a channel for conducting acoustic energy from the audio module to the opening in the outlet section. The body further includes a retention device including an inner leg and an outer leg. The inner leg and the outer leg may be attached to the body at an attachment end and to each other at a junction end. When the earpiece is in its set position, the outer post is urged against the antihelix at the back of the outer ear, the body abuts the ear canal, and at least one of (1) the tip is below the antihelix or (2) a portion of at least one of the body and the outer post is below the antitragus occurs.

In another aspect, a positioning and retaining device for an in-ear headphone includes an outer post and an inner post attached to each other at an attachment end and to a headphone body at another end. The outer leg lies in a plane. The positioning and retaining means has a greater stiffness when a force is applied to the attachment end in a counter-clockwise direction in the plane of the outer strut than when a force is applied to the attachment end in a clockwise direction in the plane of the outer strut. The stiffness when a force is applied in a counter-clockwise direction may be more than three times the stiffness when a force is applied in a clockwise direction. The stiffness when a force is applied in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the outer strut may be less than the stiffness when a force is applied in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction in the plane of the outer strut. The stiffness when a force is applied in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the outer strut may be less than 0.8 times the stiffness when a force is applied in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction in the plane of the outer strut. The stiffness when a force is applied in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the outer strut may be less than 0.01N/mm.

In another aspect, a positioning device for an in-ear headphone includes a first leg and a second leg attached to each other at an attachment end to form a tip and attached to a headphone body at another end. The positioning means provides at least three modes for preventing the headset from rotating clockwise through the rotated position. The pattern includes a base with a tip contacting the helix; the tip becomes wedged under the antihelix in the cymba concha area; the inner post contacts the base of the helix.

In another aspect, an in-ear headphone retention device includes an inner post and an outer post. The inner and outer legs are attached to the body at an attachment end and to each other at a junction end. When the earphone is at the set position, the earphone pushes against the antihelix at the back part of the outer ear to push the outer pillar, and the main body is butted with the auditory canal; and at least one of (1) the tip being below the antihelix or (2) a portion of at least one of the body and the outer leg being below the antitragus.

In another aspect, a positioning and retaining device for an in-ear headphone includes an inner leg and an outer leg attached to each other at an attachment end and to a headphone body at a second end. The inner leg and the outer leg are arranged to provide at least three modes for preventing clockwise rotation of the headset. The modes include the tip contacting the base of the helix, the tip becoming wedged under the antihelix, and the inner post contacting the base of the helix. The inner and outer legs are further arranged such that when the earpiece is in its intended position, the outer leg is urged against the antihelix at the rear of the outer ear, the body abutting the ear canal; and at least one of (1) the tip being below the antihelix or (2) a portion of at least one of the body and the outer leg being below the antitragus.

Other features, objects, and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

drawings

FIG. 1 is a side view of a human ear;

fig. 2 shows several views of a headset;

FIG. 3 shows several views of a portion of a headset;

FIG. 4 is a view of a human ear with the earphone in place;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view and a cross-sectional view of a portion of a headset;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic cross-section of a portion of an earphone;

7A-7D show views of portions of a headset;

fig. 8 is an exploded view of the headset;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view and a cross-sectional view of a portion of a headset; and

fig. 10 is an isometric view of the body of the headset with portions of the body removed.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows the human ear and cartesian coordinate system for the purpose of identifying terms used in this application. In the following description, "forward" or "front" will refer to the + direction along the X-axis, and "backward" or "rear" will refer to the-direction along the X-axis; "above" or "upward" will refer to the + direction of the Y axis, and "below" or "downward" will refer to the-direction along the Y axis; above and outward will refer to the + direction along the Z-axis (out of the page), while "after" or "under" or "inward" will refer to the-direction of the paper bag along the Z-axis (into the page).

The following description will be directed to, for example, an earphone fitted in the right ear. For a headset that fits in the left ear, some definitions or "+" and "-" directions may be reversed, while "clockwise" and "counterclockwise" may mean rotation in different directions relative to the ear or other element referred to in the description below. Some ears have additional features that are not shown in fig. 1. Some ears lack some of the features shown in fig. 1. Some features may be more or less pronounced than shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 2 shows several views of the in-ear headphone 10. The earphone 10 includes a body 12, an acoustic driver module 14 that may be mechanically coupled to an optional electronics module 16. The body 12 may have an outlet section 15 that fits into the ear canal. Other reference numbers will be identified below. The headset may be wireless, that is, may not have wires or cables that mechanically or electrically couple the headset to any other device. Some elements of the headset 10 may not be visible in some views.

The optional electronics module 16 may include a microphone at one end 11 of the electronics module 16. The optional electronics module 16 may also include electronic circuitry for wirelessly receiving radiated electronic signals; electronic circuitry for transmitting audio signals to the acoustic driver and controlling operation of the acoustic driver; a battery; and other circuits. The electronics module may be enclosed in a substantially box-shaped housing having flat walls.

It is desirable to place the in-ear headphone 10 into the ear so that it is properly oriented, so that it is stable (that is, it remains in the ear), and so that it is comfortable. Proper orientation may include positioning the body such that the electronics module, if present, is oriented such that the microphone is directed toward the user's mouth and such that the flat surface of the electronics module 16 is positioned near or against a side of the user's head to prevent excessive movement of the headset. The electronics module 16 (if present) and the possible wireless nature of the headset make the orientation and stability of the headset more complex than in a headset with a wire or cable without electronics module. The wiring tends to orient the headset so that the wiring or cable hangs down, so the absence of wiring or cable makes proper orientation more difficult to achieve. If the electronics module is not present, proper orientation may include orienting the body such that the outlet section 15 is properly oriented with respect to the ear canal. The electronics module 16 tends to be heavy relative to the other components of the headset such that it tends to move the center of mass (the point of no contact between the headset and the user's head) outward such that the headset tends to move down the Y-axis and rotate about the Z-axis and the X-axis.

Fig. 3 shows several views of the body 12. The body 12 comprises a channel 18 for conducting sound waves radiated by an acoustic driver in the acoustic driver module towards the ear canal. The body 12 has a substantially flat surface 13 resting substantially against the outer ear at one end. Extending from the body 12 is a locating and retaining means 20 which, together with the body 12, holds the headset in place without the use of ear hooks or so-called "click lock" tips which may be unstable (tend to fall out of the ear), uncomfortable (because they press against the ear) or poorly fitting (because they do not conform to the ear). The positioning and retaining device 20 includes at least one outer leg 22 and an inner leg 24 extending from the body. Other implementations may have additional struts, such as strut 23, shown in dashed lines. Each of the two struts is connected to the body at one end 26 and 28, respectively. The outer post is curved to generally follow the antihelix curve at the back of the outer ear. The second end of each strut is joined at point 30. The joined inner and outer struts may extend through the point 30 towards the topmost end 35 of the positioning and retaining device. In one implementation, the positioning and retaining device 20 is made of 16 shore a durometer silicones. The outer struts 22 lie in a plane.

The positioning and retaining device is significantly more rigid (less compliant) when a force is applied to apex-most point 35 in a counterclockwise direction (about the Z-axis) as shown by arrow 37 than when a force is applied to apex-most point 35 in a clockwise direction as shown by arrow 39 about the Z-axis. The difference in compliance may be obtained by the geometry of the two struts 22 and 24, the material of the two struts 22 and 24, and by pre-stressing one or both of the struts 22 and 24 or a combination of the geometry, material and pre-stressing. Compliance may also be controlled by adding more struts to struts 22 and 24. The positioning and retaining device is significantly more compliant when force is applied apically along the Z axis (indicated by arrow 33) than when force is applied about the Z axis (indicated by arrows 37 and 39).

In one measurement, the stiffness when force is applied in a counterclockwise direction (indicated by arrow 37) is approximated by holding the body 12 stationary, applying force along the X axis to the topmost end 35 in the-X direction, and measuring displacement in the-X direction; stiffness when force is applied in a clockwise direction (indicated by arrow 39) is approximated by holding the body 12 stationary and pulling the topmost end 35 along the Y-axis in the-Y direction. Depending on the dimensions of the main body 12 and the positioning and retaining device 20, the stiffness in the counter-clockwise direction ranges from 0.03N/mm (Newton per millimeter) to 0.06N/mm. Also depending on the size of the body 12 and the positioning and retaining means 20, the stiffness in the clockwise direction ranges from 0.010N/mm to 0.016N/mm. For an equal sized body and positioning and retaining device, the stiffness in the counter clockwise direction ranges from 3.0 to 4.3 times the stiffness in the clockwise direction. In one measurement, a force is applied along the Z-axis. Depending on the size of the body 12 and the positioning and retaining device 20, the stiffness ranges from 0.005N/mm to 0.008N/mm; typical stiffness ranges may be 0.001N/mm to 0.01N/mm. For an equal sized body and positioning and retaining device, the stiffness when force is applied along the Z-axis ranges from 0.43 to 0.80 times the stiffness when force is applied in the counter-clockwise direction.

Referring now to fig. 4, to place the headset in the ear, the body is placed in the ear and nudged inward and preferably rotated counterclockwise as shown by arrow 43. Pushing the body into the ear positions the body 12 and outer post 22 under the antitragus and the outlet section 15 of the post 12 into the ear canal. Rotating the body appropriately counter-clockwise orients the outer post 22 in the Z-direction for subsequent steps.

The body is then rotated clockwise as indicated by arrow 41 until a condition occurs in which the body cannot be rotated any further. These situations may include: the topmost end 35 may contact the base of the helix; the strut 24 may contact the base of the helix; or the topmost end 25 may become wedged behind the antihelix in the cymba concha area. Although the positioning and retaining device provides all three cases (hereinafter referred to as "modes"), not all three cases will occur for all users, but at least one mode will occur for most users. Which case occurs depends on the user's ear size and geometry.

Providing multiple modes for positioning the headset is advantageous because not every positioning mode works well for all ears. Providing multiple modes of positioning makes the positioning system more likely to work well with a wide variety of ear sizes and geometries.

Rotating the body 12 clockwise also causes the topmost and outer post to abut the cymba concha area and to be located below the antihelix. When the body and the positioning and retaining device 20 are in place, the positioning and retaining device and/or the body contact the ears of most people in at least two of several ways and for many people more of several ways: the length 40 of the outer post 22 in contact with the antihelix at the back of the outer ear; the topmost end 35 of the positioning and retaining device 20 is below the antihelix 42; portions of the outer post 22 or the body 12 or both are below the antitragus 44; and the body 12 contacts the ear canal at the entrance below the tragus. Two or more contact points hold the headset in place to provide greater stability. The distribution of forces and the compliance of the portions of the body and outer post that contact the ear reduces pressure on the ear to provide comfort.

Referring again to view E of fig. 2 and views B, C and D of fig. 3, the body 12 may have a slightly curved surface 13 against the outer ear. The periphery at which the slightly curved surfaces may be arranged is a plane, hereinafter referred to as the body plane. In one implementation, the projection of the outer struts 22 of the positioning and retaining device 20 onto the Y-Z plane may be angled relative to the intersection of the body plane 13 and the Y-Z plane, as shown by line 97 (the centerline of the struts 22) and line 99 (parallel to the body plane). In position, the body plane 13 is substantially parallel to the X-Y plane. In other words, the outer struts 22 are angled slightly outwardly.

The angling of the positioning and retaining device 20 has several characteristics. The device achieves a greater likelihood that the topmost end will still be located below the antihelix despite variations in ear size and geometry. The outward lean conforms better to the ear. The positioning and retaining means are biased inwardly, which allows more force to resist movement in the outward direction than to resist movement in the inward direction. These characteristics provide a significant improvement in comfort, fit and stability over earphones having positioning and retaining means that are not angled relative to the plane of the surface in contact with the outer ear.

If the angulation of the positioning and retaining means does not position the topmost end behind the antihelix, the compliance of the topmost end in the Z-direction allows the user to press the topmost end inwards so that it does lie behind the antihelix.

Providing the feature of preventing over-rotation of the body enables an orientation that is still relatively uniform for different users, regardless of differences in ear size and geometry. This is advantageous because a proper and uniform orientation of the headset enables a proper and uniform orientation of the microphone to the user's mouth.

Fig. 5 shows a cross-section of the body 12 and the positioning and retaining device 20 taken along line a-a. The cross-section is elliptical or "racetrack" shaped, with the dimension in the direction Z 'substantially parallel to the Z-axis being 2.0 to 1.0 times, preferably closer to 1.0 to 2.0 times, and in one example 1.15 times the dimension in the direction X' substantially parallel to the X-axis. In some examples, the dimension in the Z 'direction may be as low as 0.8 times the dimension in the X' direction. The cross section allows more surface of the outer post to contact the antihelix at the back of the concha to provide better stability and comfort. Furthermore, there are no corners or sharp edges in the portion of the pillar that contacts the ear, which eliminates the cause of discomfort.

As best shown in views B and E of fig. 2, the acoustic driver module is tilted inward and forward relative to the plane of the body 12. The inward tilt shifts the center of gravity relative to the acoustic driver module substantially parallel to the positioning and retaining device 20 or the electronics module 12 or both. The forward tilt combined with the inward tilt allows the acoustic driver module to fit more inside the concha of the ear to increase the stability of the earphone.

Fig. 6 shows a diagrammatic cross-section of the acoustic driver module 14 and the body 12. The first region 102 of the earphone 10 includes a rear chamber 112 and a front chamber 114 defined by shells 113 and 115, respectively, on either side of an acoustic driver 116. In some examples, a 15mm nominal diameter driver is used. The spout 126 extends through the body 12 from the anterior chamber 114 into the entrance to the ear canal and in some embodiments into the ear canal and may terminate at the optional acoustic resistance element 118. In some examples, the optional acoustic resistance element 118 is located within the orifice 126 rather than at the distal end as shown. The acoustically resistive element (if present) dissipates a proportion of the acoustic energy impinging upon it or passing through it. In some examples, antechamber 114 includes a constant Pressure (PEQ) orifice 120. The PEQ orifice 120 serves to relieve air pressure that may build up in the ear canal 12 and the front chamber 114 when the earphone 10 is inserted into the ear. The rear chamber 112 is sealed around the rear side of the acoustic driver 116 by a shell 113. In some examples, the back chamber 112 includes a resistive element such as a port (also referred to as a mass port) 122 and a resistive element that may also be formed as a port 124. U.S. patent 6,831,984 describes the use of parallel resistive and resistive ports in a headphone device and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Although a port is often referred to as resistive or resistive, in practice any port will have both resistive and resistive effects. The terminology used to describe a given port indicates which effect is dominant. In the example of fig. 6, the resistive port is defined by a space in the housing 113. A resistant port such as port 122 is, for example, a tubular opening in which a sealed acoustic chamber, in this case the back chamber 112, may otherwise be present. A resistive port such as port 124 is, for example, a small opening in a wall of an acoustic cell (such as a wire or fiber mesh) covered with a material that provides acoustic resistance, which allows some air and acoustic energy to pass through the wall of the cell. The mass port 122 and the reactive port 124 acoustically couple the back volume 112 with the surrounding environment. A mass port 122 and a resistive port 124 are schematically shown. The actual positions of the mass port 122 and the resistive port 124 will be shown in the figures and will be dimensioned in the description. Similarly, the actual location and size of the constant pressure orifice 120 will be shown below and specified in the specification.

Each of the body 12, cavities 112 and 114, driver 116, damper 118, aperture 120, and ports 122 and 124 have acoustic properties that may have an effect on the performance of the headphone 10. These properties can be adjusted to achieve a desired frequency response for the headset. Additional components such as active or passive equalization circuits may also be used to adjust the frequency response.

To increase low frequency response and sensitivity, spout 126 may extend front cavity 112 into the ear canal to help form a seal between body 12 and the ear canal. Sealing the front cavity 114 to the ear canal reduces the low frequency cut-off, as does surrounding the rear of the transducer 116 with a small cavity 112 that includes ports 122 and 124. The spout 126, together with the lower portion 110 of the cushion, provides a better seal for the ear canal rather than an earpiece that merely rests in the outer earAnd more consistent coupling with the ears of individual users. The tapered shape and flexibility of the cushion allows it to form a seal in ears of various shapes and sizes. In some examples, the rear chamber 112 has 0.26cm³Including the volume of the driver 116. Excluding the drive, the rear chamber 112 has a 0.05cm³The volume of (a).

The resistive port 122 resonates with the back chamber volume. In some examples, it has a diameter in the range of about 0.5mm to 2.0mm (e.g., 1.2mm) and a length in the range of about 0.8mm to 10.0mm (e.g., 2.5 mm). In some embodiments, the reactive port is tuned to resonate with the cavity volume around the low frequency cutoff of the earpiece. In some embodiments, the low frequency cut-off is about 100Hz (and may vary from person to person depending on the ear geometry). In some examples, the resistive port 122 and the resistive port 124 provide acoustic reactance and acoustic resistance in parallel, meaning that they each independently couple the rear chamber 112 to free space. In contrast, resistance and resistance may be provided in series in a single path, for example by placing a resistive element (such as a wire mesh screen) within the tube of the resistant port. In some examples, the parallel resistive port is covered by a 70x800 dutch twill Wire cloth available, for example, from Cleveland Wire, OH. Parallel resistive and resistive elements embodied as parallel resistive ports and resistive ports provide increased low frequency response compared to one embodiment using series resistive and resistive elements. The shunt resistance does not significantly attenuate the low frequency output but the series resistance does. The use of a small back cavity with parallel ports allows the headset to have a low frequency output and a desired balance between low and high frequency outputs.

The position of the PEQ hole 120 is such that it will not be obstructed in use. For example, the PEQ port 120 is not located in the portion of the body 12 that directly contacts the ear but is remote from the ear in the anterior chamber 114. The primary purpose of the aperture is to avoid an overpressure condition when the earphone 10 is inserted in the user's ear. In addition, the holes may be used to provide a fixed amount of leakage that acts in parallel with other leaks that may be present. This helps to standardize the responses of different individuals. In some examples, the PEQ holes 120 have a diameter of about 0.50 mm. Other dimensions may be used depending on factors such as the volume of the front chamber 114 and the desired frequency response of the earphone. The addition of the PEQ aperture achieves a compromise between some loss of low frequency output and more repeatable overall performance.

The body 12 is designed to comfortably couple the acoustic elements of the earphone to the physical structure of the wearer's ear. As shown in fig. 7A-7D, the body 12 has an upper portion 802 shaped to contact the tragus and antitragus of the ear and a lower portion 110 shaped to enter the ear canal 12 as mentioned above. In some examples, lower portion 110 is shaped to fit within ear canal 12, but does not apply a substantial amount of pressure to the flesh of ear canal 12. The lower portion 110 is not relied upon to provide retention of the earpiece in the ear, which allows it to seal to the ear canal with minimal pressure. A cavity 806 in the upper portion 820 receives an acoustic element (not shown) of the earpiece, with the spout 126 (of fig. 6) extending into the cavity 808 in the lower portion 110. In some examples, the body 12 may be removable from the earpiece 10, for example, the body 12 being formed of materials having different hardnesses (as shown in regions 810 and 812). Outer region 810 is formed of a soft material (e.g., a material having a hardness of 16 shore a) that provides good comfort due to its softness. Typical hardness ranges for this segment range from 2 shore a to 30 shore a. Inner region 812 is formed of a harder material, such as a material having a hardness of 70 shore a. This section provides the rigidity needed to hold the pad in place. Typical hardness ranges for this segment range from 30 shore a to 90 shore a. In some examples, the inner segment 812 includes an O-ring type retention collar 809 for retaining a gasket on the acoustic component. A more rigid inner portion 812 may also extend into the outer segment to increase the stiffness of the segment. In some examples, variable stiffness may be arranged in a single material.

In some examples, the two regions of the gasket are formed of silicone. The silicone can be made as a single part with a soft and harder durometer. In the double-shot fabrication process, two segments are built together with a strong adhesive between them. Silicone has the advantage of maintaining its properties over a wide temperature range and is known to be successfully used in applications where it is in permanent contact with human skin. The silicone may also be made in different colors, for example to identify different sized pads or to allow customization. In some examples, other materials, such as thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), may be used. TPEs are similar to silicones and can be lower in cost, but are less heat resistant. A combination of materials may be used with a soft silicone or TPE outer section 812 and a harder inner section 810 made of a material such as ABS, polycarbonate or nylon. In some examples, the entire pad may be made of silicone or TPE with a single durometer, which represents a compromise between the desired softness of the outer segment 812 and the desired durometer of the inner segment 810.

Fig. 8 shows an exploded view of electronics module 16, acoustic driver module 14, and body 12. The electronics module includes a plastic cover 402.

The cover (which may be multiple pieces) encloses electronic circuitry (not shown) for wirelessly receiving audio signals. The acoustic driver module 14 includes a housing 113, an acoustic driver 116, and a housing 115. The positions of the mass port 122 and the resistance port 124 in the housing 113 are shown. The location of the PEQ aperture 120 on the housing 115 is also shown. When the earphone 10 is assembled, the spout 126 fits into the outlet section 15 of the body 12. Referring again to FIG. 6, the outer diameter of the nozzle 126 may be approximately the same as the inner dimension of the outlet section 15 as indicated by arrows 702 and 704.

Fig. 9 shows a variation of the assembly of fig. 6. The implementation of fig. 9 is a mirror image of the implementation of fig. 6 to indicate that the headset may be configured for either ear. In the embodiment of fig. 9, the outer dimensions of the nozzle are smaller than the corresponding inner dimensions of the outlet section 15 as indicated by arrows 702 'and 704'. The difference in dimensions provides a space 706 between the spout and the outlet section 15 of the body 12. This space allows the lower portion of body 15 to better conform to the ear canal to provide additional comfort and stability. The rigidity of the spout gives the outlet section the ability to conform to the ear canal without significantly altering the shape or volume of the passage to the ear canal, so that the acoustic performance of the earphone is not significantly affected by changes in ear size or geometry. The smaller dimensions of the orifice may adversely affect the high frequencies (e.g., above 3 kHz). However, the circuitry enclosed in the electronics module 16 for wirelessly receiving audio signals may be limited to receiving audio signals up to only about 3kHz, so that the adversely affected high frequency performance is not detrimental to the overall performance of the headset. One way to allow the headphones to play louder is to overdrive the acoustic drivers. Overdriving of the acoustic driver tends to introduce distortion and adversely affect bandwidth.

Fig. 10 shows the body 12 with portions of the outlet section 15 and the nozzle 126 removed. Both the interior of the outlet section 15 and the exterior of the orifice 126 are oval. The minor axis of the exterior of the nozzle, represented by line 702', is 4.05 mm. The minor axis of the interior of the outlet section 15, represented by line 704', is 4.80 mm. The space 706 has a width of 0.75mm at its widest point.

One way to achieve good acoustic performance is to use larger drivers. Larger acoustic drivers (e.g., 15mm nominal diameter acoustic drivers) can be played back more loudly with less distortion and with better bandwidth and intelligibility than conventional smaller acoustic drivers. However, using larger acoustic drivers has some drawbacks. Acoustic drivers with a diameter (nominal diameter plus housing) greater than 11mm do not fit in the outer ear of many people. If the acoustic driver is positioned outside the outer ear, the center of mass may be significantly outside the ear making the earpiece unstable and prone to falling out of the ear. This problem is exacerbated by the presence of electronics modules that may be heavy relative to other components of the headset and move the center of mass farther away from the side of the head.

As best shown in views B and E of fig. 2, the acoustic driver module is tilted inward and forward relative to the plane of the positioning and holding device 20 and the plane of the electronics module 12. The inward tilt shifts the center of gravity relative to the acoustic driver module substantially parallel to the positioning and retaining device 20 or the electronics module 12 or both. The forward tilt combined with the inward tilt allows the acoustic driver module to fit more inside the concha of the ear to increase the stability of the earphone.

Claims (8)

1. An integral eartip for an in-ear headphone, comprising:

a body configured to fit within the concha of a user's ear, the body having an outlet section extending from the body, the outlet section sized and configured to fit within the ear canal entrance of the user's ear, the body further comprising a channel for conducting acoustic energy from an audio module to an opening in the outlet section; and

positioning and retaining device comprising:

an outer leg and an inner leg attached to each other at an attachment end and to the body at another end,

the outer leg lies in a plane and,

the positioning and retaining means has a greater stiffness when a force is applied to the attachment end in a rotational direction in the plane of the outer post than when a force is applied to the attachment end in an opposite rotational direction in the plane of the outer post;

wherein the positioning and retaining means is adapted to be configured to be positioned under the antihelix of the user's ear and to contact the base of the antihelix.

2. The monolithic earjoint of claim 1, wherein the stiffness when a force is applied in a counterclockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg is greater than three times the stiffness when a force is applied in a clockwise direction.

3. The integral earjoint of claim 1, wherein the stiffness is less when a force is applied in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the outer strut than when a force is applied in a rotational or counter-rotational direction.

4. The integral earjoint of claim 1, wherein the stiffness when a force is applied in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the outer post is less than 0.8 times the stiffness when a force is applied in a rotational or opposite rotational direction in the plane of the outer post.

5. The monolithic earjoint of claim 1, wherein the stiffness when a force is applied in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the outer strut is less than 0.01N/mm.

6. An integral eartip for an in-ear headphone, comprising:

a body configured to fit within the concha of a user's ear, the body having an outlet section extending from the body, the outlet section sized and configured to fit within the ear canal entrance of the user's ear, the body further comprising a channel for conducting acoustic energy from an audio module to an opening in the outlet section, and

positioning and retaining device comprising:

an inner leg and an outer leg attached to each other at an attachment end to form a tip and attached to the body at another end,

wherein the positioning device is adapted and configured to provide at least three modes for preventing the headset from rotating clockwise through a rotational position, the modes comprising:

the tip contacts a base of the helix;

the tip becomes wedged under the antihelix in the cymba concha area; and

the inner post contacts the base of the helix.

7. An integral eartip for an in-ear headphone, comprising:

a body configured to fit within the concha of a user's ear, the body having an outlet section extending from the body, the outlet section sized and configured to fit within the ear canal entrance of the user's ear, the body further comprising a channel for conducting acoustic energy from an audio module to an opening in the outlet section, and

positioning and retaining device comprising:

inner and outer struts attached to a body at an attachment end and to each other at a junction end to form a tip, wherein the outer strut is urged against an antihelix at the back of the outer ear when the earpiece is in a given position, the body abutting the ear canal; and

at least one of the following states:

the top end is below the antihelix; or

A portion of at least one of the body and the outer leg is below the antitragus;

wherein the positioning and retaining means is adapted to be configured to be positioned under the antihelix of the user's ear and to contact the base of the antihelix.

8. An integral eartip for an in-ear headphone, comprising:

a body configured to fit within the concha of a user's ear, the body having an outlet section extending from the body, the outlet section sized and configured to fit within the ear canal entrance of the user's ear, the body further comprising a channel for conducting acoustic energy from an audio module to an opening in the outlet section, and

positioning and retaining device comprising:

inner and outer struts attached to each other at an attachment end to form a tip and attached to the main body at a second end, the inner and outer struts being arranged to provide at least three modes for preventing clockwise rotation of the headset, the modes comprising:

the tip contacts a base of the helix;

the top end becomes wedge-shaped under the antihelix; and

the inner post contacts the base of the helix; the inner and outer legs are further arranged such that when the earpiece is in a given position, the outer leg is urged against an antihelix at the rear of the outer ear, the body abutting the ear canal; and

at least one of the following states:

the top end is below the antihelix; or

A portion of at least one of the body and the outer leg is below the antitragus.