Audio device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10462558-B2
Application number	US-201715647749-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2017
Priority date	Jul 12, 2017
Publication date	Oct 29, 2019
Grant date	Oct 29, 2019

Abstract

An audio device with an acoustic radiator that emits acoustic radiation from a first side, a housing that defines an acoustic cavity that receives the acoustic radiation emitted from the first side of the acoustic radiator, and first and second sound-emitting outlets in the housing and acoustically coupled to the acoustic cavity such that the outlets emit sound from the acoustic cavity. The second sound-emitting outlet has a greater equivalent acoustic impedance than the first sound-emitting outlet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An audio device, comprising:
an acoustic radiator that emits acoustic radiation from a first side;
a housing that defines an acoustic cavity that receives the acoustic radiation emitted from the first side of the acoustic radiator;
first and second sound-emitting outlets in the housing and acoustically coupled to the acoustic cavity such that the outlets emit sound from the acoustic cavity, wherein the first sound-emitting outlet emits sound generally along a first sound-emission axis and the second sound-emitting outlet emits sound generally along a second sound-emission axis, and wherein the first and second sound-emitting outlets are directly opposed to one another such that their sound-emission axes are generally parallel, wherein the second sound-emitting outlet has a greater equivalent acoustic impedance than the first sound-emitting outlet; and
a support structure that is adapted to be worn on a user's body, wherein the support structure holds the housing off of an ear of the user such that the first sound-emitting outlet emits sound directed toward the ear canal.

2. The audio device of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic radiator emits acoustic radiation generally along a transducer axis.

3. The audio device of claim 2 , wherein the first and second sound-emission axes are transverse to the transducer axis.

4. The audio device of claim 2 , wherein the first and second sound-emission axes are generally perpendicular to the transducer axis.

5. The audio device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sound-emitting outlets have approximately the same area.

6. The audio device of claim 5 , wherein the second sound-emitting outlet is covered by a resistive screen.

7. The audio device of claim 6 , wherein the resistive screen has an acoustic impedance of about 1000 mks rayl.

8. The audio device of claim 1 , wherein the support structure holds the acoustic radiator proximate but not covering any part of the ear.

9. The audio device of claim 1 , wherein the second sound-emitting outlet emits sound directed away from the ear.

10. The audio device of claim 1 , wherein the first sound-emitting outlet comprises a first slot in the housing, and the second sound-emitting outlet comprises a second slot in the housing.

11. The audio device of claim 10 , wherein the first slot emits sound generally along the first sound-emission axis and the second slot emits sound generally along the second sound-emission axis, and wherein the first and second slots are directly opposed to one another such that their sound-emission axes are generally parallel.

12. The audio device of claim 1 , wherein the housing is generally cylindrical.

13. The audio device of claim 12 , wherein the housing comprises a generally circular end wall that is spaced from and opposed to the acoustic radiator, and the acoustic radiator emits acoustic radiation generally along a transducer axis that is generally perpendicular to the end wall.

14. The audio device of claim 13 , wherein the housing further comprises a sidewall that meets the end wall, and wherein the first sound-emitting outlet comprises a first slot in the housing and the second sound-emitting outlet comprises a second slot in the housing, wherein the first and second slots are located generally in the sidewall proximate where it meets the end wall.

15. The audio device of claim 14 , wherein the first and second slots are diametrically opposed.

16. The audio device of claim 15 , wherein the first and second slots each extend around approximately 70 degrees of the periphery of the housing sidewall.

17. The audio device of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a maximum transducer volume displacement to a volume of the acoustic cavity is at least about 0.2.

18. An audio device, comprising:
an acoustic radiator that emits acoustic radiation from a first side;
a generally cylindrical housing that defines an acoustic cavity that receives the acoustic radiation emitted from the first side of the acoustic radiator, wherein the housing comprises an end wall that is spaced from and opposed to the acoustic radiator, and a sidewall that meets the end wall;
wherein the acoustic radiator emits acoustic radiation generally along a transducer axis that is generally perpendicular to the end wall;
first and second sound-emitting outlets in the housing and acoustically coupled to the acoustic cavity such that the outlets emit sound from the acoustic cavity;
wherein the first sound-emitting outlet comprises a first slot in the housing and the second sound-emitting outlet comprises a second slot in the housing, wherein the first and second slots are diametrically opposed and are located generally in the sidewall proximate where it meets the end wall; and
a support structure that is adapted to be worn on a user's body, wherein the support structure holds the housing off of an ear of the user such that the first sound-emitting outlet emits sound directed toward the ear canal.

19. The audio device of claim 18 , wherein the second sound-emitting outlet has a greater equivalent acoustic impedance than the first sound-emitting outlet.

20. The audio device of claim 19 , wherein the support structure comprises a headband that is adapted to be worn on a user's head, wherein the headband holds the acoustic radiator proximate but not covering any part of the ear of the user.

21. The audio device of claim 20 , wherein the second sound-emitting outlet emits sound directed away from the ear.

Assignees

• Bose Corp

Inventors

• Silver Jason
• Struzik Ryan C

Classifications

• H04R1/288

  for loudspeaker transducers · CPC title

• H04R1/225 Primary

  for telephonic receivers · CPC title

• H04R1/2811

  for loudspeaker transducers · CPC title

• H04R1/2888 Primary

  for loudspeaker transducers · CPC title

• H04R1/105

  Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks (for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335) · CPC title