Human-ear-wearable apparatus, system, and method of operation
US10129634B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 19, 2017 |
| Grant date | Nov 13, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 19, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R2225/025
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Described is a human-ear-wearable apparatus having a housing, which contains electronic and auditory components for conveying sound into a human hear. An inflatable mounting system is configured to secure the housing to the human ear. The mounting system includes an elastomeric bladder configured to inflate into a customizable counterpart shape of portions of the user's Concha and Meatus areas of a particular user's ear. A pump, coupled to the housing, is configured to pass air through an opening in the housing to the elastomeric bladder. Inflation of the bladder, via the pump, is controllable by a user to form a customized fit of the mounting system's bladder to the Concha and Meatus areas of the user's ear. One or more speakers may be encased in the elastomeric bladder. For example, a dual-hybrid speaker arrangement is described with a cone speaker and a balanced-armature driver embedded in the bladder.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.