Damping in contact hearing systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10492010-B2
Application number	US-201615385395-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2016
Priority date	Dec 30, 2015
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invent include a method of controlling unwanted vibration in a tympanic lens, wherein the tympanic lens comprises a perimeter platform connected to a microactuator through at least one biasing element, the method comprising the step of: damping the motion of the at least one biasing element. In embodiments of the invention, the at least one biasing element is a spring. In embodiments of the invention, the at least one bias spring is coated in a damping material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tympanic lens, comprising:
a chassis;
a perimeter platform connected to the chassis;
a microactuator connected to the chassis through at least one bias spring positioned at a proximal end of the microactuator;
a damper separate from and attached to the at least one bias spring;
an umbo platform attached to a distal end of the microactuator; and
a photodetector mounted on said chassis and electrically connected to the microactuator through at least one wire,
wherein the damper comprises a viscoelastic material in contact with the at least one bias spring, and
wherein the viscoelastic material is configured to become stiffer or more viscous as a vibration frequency of the tympanic lens increases.

2. A tympanic lens according to claim 1 , wherein the viscoelastic material comprises silicone.

3. A tympanic lens according to claim 1 , wherein the viscoelastic material comprises a silicone gel.

4. A tympanic lens according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one bias spring comprises a series of coils and the viscoelastic material fills the center of the coils.

5. A tympanic lens according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one wire passes through the center of the series of coils at a right angle to the series of coils.

6. A tympanic lens according to claim 1 , wherein the damper limits or prevents unwanted harmonic vibrations by damping motion of the at least one bias spring.

7. A tympanic lens according to claim 1 , wherein the damper stiffens the at least one bias spring.

8. A tympanic lens according to claim 1 , wherein the damper limits or prevents side to side motion of the microactuator with respect to the perimeter platform.

9. A method of controlling unwanted vibration in a tympanic lens, wherein the tympanic lens comprises a chassis, a perimeter platform connected to the chassis and a microactuator connected to the chassis through at least one bias spring, the method comprising the step of:
moving at least one element of the microactuator, wherein movement of the at least one element results in movement of the at least one bias spring;
damping the movement of the at least one bias spring with damping material of a damper separate from the at least one bias spring,
wherein the at least one bias spring is coated in the damping material.

10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the damping material is a silicone material.

11. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one bias spring comprises a series of coils and the damping material fills the center of the coils.

12. A method according to claim 9 , wherein damping the movement of the at least one bias spring comprises limiting or preventing unwanted harmonic vibrations.

13. A method according to claim 9 , wherein damping the movement of the at least one bias spring comprises stiffening the at least one bias spring.

14. A method according to claim 9 , wherein damping the movement of the at least one bias spring limiting or preventing side to side motion of the microactuator with respect to the chassis.

15. A tympanic lens, comprising:
a perimeter platform;
a microactuator connected to the perimeter platform through at least one biasing element positioned between the microactuator and the perimeter platform, wherein the at least one biasing element is a spring;
a damper separate from and attached to the at least one biasing element, wherein the damper comprises a viscoelastic material in contact with the at least one biasing element, and wherein the at least one bias spring comprises a series of coils and the viscoelastic material fills the center of the coils;
an umbo platform attached to a distal end of the microactuator; and
a photodetector mounted on said chassis and electrically connected to the microactuator through at least one wire.

16. A tympanic lens according to claim 15 , wherein the perimeter platform is connected to the microactuator at a proximal end of the microactuator.

17. A tympanic lens according to claim 15 , further including a chassis connected to the perimeter platform and the microactuator.

18. A tympanic lens according to claim 15 , wherein the viscoelastic material comprises silicone.

19. A tympanic lens according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one wire passes through the center of the series of coils at a right angle to the series of coils.

20. A tympanic lens according to claim 15 , wherein the damper is configured to limit or prevent unwanted harmonic vibrations by damping motion of the at least one biasing element.

21. A tympanic lens according to claim 15 , wherein the damper stiffens the at least one biasing element.

22. A tympanic lens according to claim 15 , wherein the damper limits or prevents side to side motion of the microactuator with respect to the perimeter platform.

23. A tympanic lens according to claim 15 , wherein the viscoelastic material is configured to become stiffer or more viscous as a vibration frequency of the tympanic lens increases.

24. A method of controlling unwanted vibration in a tympanic lens, wherein the tympanic lens comprises a perimeter platform connected to a microactuator through at least one biasing element, wherein the at least one biasing element is at least one spring, and wherein the at least one spring is coated in a damping material of the damper, the method comprising the step of:
moving at least one element of the microactuator, wherein movement of the at least one element results in movement of the at least one biasing element; and
damping the motion of the at least one biasing element with a damper separate from the at least one biasing element.

25. A method according to claim 24 , wherein the damping material is a silicone material.

26. A method according to claim 24 , wherein the at least one spring comprises a series of coils and the damping material fills the center of the coils.

27. A method according to claim 24 , wherein damping the movement of the at least one biasing element comprises limiting or preventing unwanted harmonic vibrations.

28. A method according to claim 24 , wherein damping the motion of the at least one biasing element comprises stiffening the at least one biasing element.

29. A method according to claim 24 , wherein damping the movement of the at least one bias spring limiting or preventing side to side motion of the microactuator with respect to the perimeter platform.

30. A tympanic lens, comprising:
a perimeter platform;
a microactuator connected to the perimeter platform through at least one biasing element positioned between the microactuator and the perimeter platform, wherein the at least one biasing element is a spring;
a damper separate from and attached to the at least one biasing element, wherein the damper comprises a viscoelastic material in contact with the at least one biasing element;
an umbo platform attached to a distal end of the microactuator; and
a photodetector mounted on said chassis and electrically connected to the microactuator through at least one wire,
wherein the viscoelastic material is configured to become stiffer or more viscous as a vibration frequency of the tympanic lens increases.

31. A tympanic lens according to claim 30 , wherein the perimeter platform is connected to the microactuator at a proximal end of the microactuator.

Assignees

• Earlens Corp

Inventors

• Rucker Paul
• Puria Sunil
• Wenzel Stuart
• Olsen Jake L
• Shaquer Cem
• Khaleghimeybodi Morteza
• Fay Jonathan
• Rosen Micha

Classifications

• H04R25/606 Primary

  acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window · CPC title

• H04R2225/67

  Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606 · CPC title

• H04R2225/31

  Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells · CPC title

• H04R2225/51

  Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids · CPC title