WO2018129372A1

WO2018129372A1 - Dual mid diaphragm canalphone

Info

Publication number: WO2018129372A1
Application number: PCT/US2018/012657
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jerry HARVEY
Original assignee: Harvey Jerry
Priority date: 2017-01-07
Filing date: 2018-01-05
Publication date: 2018-07-12

Abstract

A canalphone system may include a canalphone housing, a low frequency armature driver carried by the canalphone housing, and a high frequency armature driver carried by the canalphone housing. The system may also include a pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers carried by the canalphone housing and each mid-frequency diaphragm driver includes an acoustic outlet. The system may further include a chamber positioning the pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers where one acoustic outlet faces the other acoustic outlet. The system may additionally include a mid-sound bore carried by the chamber that transmits a mid frequency acoustic signal from the pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers to the canalphones' exterior. The system may also include a cavity between the pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers' acoustic outlets, and the frequency response of the pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers is tuned acoustically proper by the cavity.

Description

DUAL MID DIAPHRAGM CANALPHONE

BACKGROUND

[ 0001 ] The embodiments relate to the field of

canalphones .

[ 0002 ] There are many different types of personal listening devices such as headphones, earbuds,

canalphones, and/or the like. Headphones are personal listening devices that are held in close proximately to the ear by some support system. Earbuds are small personal listening devices that are positioned directly in front of the ear canal and are substantially smaller than a person's outer ear. Similarly, canalphones are personal listening devices that are substantially smaller than a person's outer ear, but they differ from earbuds in that they are placed directly in one end of the ear canal. Both earbuds and canalphones are held in

positioned by friction between the ear and the device rather than the support system found in most headphones.

[ 0003 ] Canalphones are also referred to as in-ear monitors due to how the canalphone is worn by a listener. In other words, a canalphone housing is worn in the ear of the user and not over and/or around the ear of the user . Some canalphones also serve as earplugs due to the way the canalphone limits noise external to the

canalphone from entering the ear canal.

[ 0004 ] Personal listening devices generate sound through an audio driver as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art. Similarly, car audio systems, home audio systems, and/or the like also generate sound through audio drivers as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art.

SUMMARY [0005] According to an embodiment, a canalphone system may include a canalphone housing, a low frequency armature driver carried by the canalphone housing, and a high frequency armature driver carried by the canalphone housing. The system may also include a pair of mid- frequency diaphragm drivers carried by the canalphone housing and each mid-frequency diaphragm driver includes an acoustic outlet. The system may further include a chamber positioning the pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers where one acoustic outlet faces the other acoustic outlet. The system may additionally include a mid-sound bore carried by the chamber that transmits a mid frequency acoustic signal from the pair of mid- frequency diaphragm drivers to the canalphones' exterior. The system may also include a cavity between the pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers' acoustic outlets, and the frequency response of the pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers is tuned acoustically proper by the cavity.

[0006] In one embodiment, the cavity is between .0012 cubic millimeters to .002 cubic millimeters. In another embodiment, the mid-sound bore's volume is included in the cavity's volume calculation.

[0007] In one embodiment, the chamber provides an acoustic low-pass filter of a mid frequency acoustic signal that transmits through the mid-sound bore. In another embodiment, controlling the cavity's volume enables shaping of the mid frequency acoustic signal.

[0008] In one embodiment, the system further includes a second pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers with each having an acoustic outlet that faces the opposing acoustic outlet as positioned by the chamber, and the second pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers are positioned perpendicular to the pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers by the chamber.

[ 0009] In one embodiment, the system further includes a low-sound bore that transmits a low frequency acoustic signal from the low frequency armature driver to the canalphones' exterior, a high-sound bore that transmits a high frequency acoustic signal from the high frequency armature driver to the canalphones' exterior, and the low frequency acoustic signal range is 20-200 hertz, the mid frequency acoustic signal range is 200-5000 hertz, and the high frequency acoustic signal range is 5-18

kilohertz .

[ 0010 ] In one embodiment, each mid-frequency diaphragm drivers comprises a 4.9 millimeter speaker. In another embodiment, the mid-frequency diaphragm drivers tuning is done in front of the drivers rather than the rear of the drivers .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF the DRAWINGS

[ 0011 ] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a system in accordance with the embodiments.

[ 0012 ] FIG. 2 is an exemplary pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers unit of the system of FIG. 1.

[ 0013 ] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the pair of mid- frequency diaphragm drivers unit of the system of FIG. 1.

[ 0014 ] FIG. 4 is a different angle view of the pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers unit of FIG. 3.

[ 0015 ] Fig. 5 is a picture of a pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers unit of the system of FIG. 1.

[ 0016 ] Fig. 6 is a picture of an exemplary quad mid- frequency diaphragm drivers' unit design of the system of FIG. 1.

[ 0017 ] Fig. 7 is an exemplary wiring diagram of the system of FIG. 1. [ 0018 ] Fig. 8 illustrates audio trace results of exemplary pairs of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers unit of the system of FIG. 1 on an analyzer.

[ 0019] FIG. 9 are engineering drawings of the chamber 22 and cavity 26 of the system of Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[ 0020 ] Embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments are shown. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout

[ 0021 ] With reference now to Figs. 1-4, a canalphone system 10 is initially described. In one embodiment, the system 10 includes a canalphone housing 12, a low frequency armature driver 14 carried by the canalphone housing, and a high frequency armature driver 16 carried by the canalphone housing. The system 10 also includes a pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers 18 carried by the canalphone housing and each mid-frequency diaphragm driver includes an acoustic outlet 20. The system further includes a chamber 22 positioning the pair of mid- frequency diaphragm drivers 18 where one acoustic outlet 20 faces the other acoustic outlet. The system 10 additionally includes a mid-sound bore 24 carried by the chamber 22 that transmits a mid frequency acoustic signal from the pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers 18 to the canalphone housing's 12 exterior. The system also includes a cavity 26 between the pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers '18 acoustic outlets 20, and the frequency response of the pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers is tuned acoustically proper by the cavity as later discussed with regards to FIG. 8.

[ 0022 ] In one embodiment, an audio source 32 provides an audio signal over wires 34 to the system 10 to drive the low frequency armature driver 14, the high frequency armature driver 16, and the pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers 18.

[ 0023 ] In one embodiment, the cavity 26 is between .0012 cubic millimeters to .002 cubic millimeters. In another embodiment, the mid-sound bore's 24 volume is included in the cavity's 26 volume calculation. In another embodiment, .0016 cubic millimeters is the volume of the cavity 26.

[ 0024 ] In one embodiment, the chamber 22 provides an acoustic low-pass filter of a mid frequency acoustic signal that transmits through the mid-sound bore 24. In another embodiment, controlling the cavity's 26 volume enables shaping of the mid frequency acoustic signal.

[ 0025 ] In one embodiment, the system 10 further includes a second pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers 18 with each having an acoustic outlet 20 that faces the opposing acoustic outlet as positioned by the chamber 22, and the second pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers are positioned perpendicular to the pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers by the chamber as shown in FIG. 6.

[ 0026 ] In one embodiment, the system 10 further includes a low-sound bore 28 that transmits a low frequency acoustic signal from the low frequency armature driver 14 to the canalphone housing's 12 exterior, a high-sound bore 30 that transmits a high frequency acoustic signal from the high frequency armature driver 16 to the canalphone housing's exterior, and the low frequency acoustic signal range is 20-200 hertz, the mid frequency acoustic signal range is 200-5000 hertz, and the high frequency acoustic signal range is 5-18

kilohertz . [ 0027 ] In one embodiment, each mid-frequency diaphragm drivers 18 comprises a 4.9 millimeter speaker. In another embodiment, the mid-frequency diaphragm drivers 18 tuning is done in front of the mid-frequency diaphragm drivers rather than the rear of the mid-frequency diaphragm drivers .

[ 0028 ] Fig. 5 is an exemplary pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers 18, chamber 22, and mid-sound bore 24 being tested as evidenced by the long clear tube attached to the mid-sound bore 24. The testing is done with an analyzer, e.g. spectrum analyzer, wave analyzer, audio frequency analyzer, FFT audio analysis, and/or the like and generates traces like those of FIG. 8, which shows the traces of an acoustically proper tuned chamber 22 contrasted with a chamber 22 that is not acoustically proper.

[ 0029] Fig. 6 is a picture embodiment of quad mid- frequency diaphragm drivers 18 installed in a one chamber 22 design for use in the system of FIG. 1. In all of the photographic pictures, the bare copper wires are ground wires .

[ 0030 ] FIG.7 illustrates that there can be more than one low frequency armature driver 14 in the system 10, and that there can be more than one high frequency armature driver 16 in the system 10. In this particular figure, there are four high frequency armature drivers 16 packaged together. Cable 36 is connected to audio source 32 to provide an audio signal over wires 34. In one embodiment, the red wires 34 are low audio signals and the yellow wire 34 is a high audio signal. In another embodiment, the red wires 34 and the yellow wire 34 carried the same audio signal. The green lines are ground wires . [ 0031 ] In another embodiment of FIG. 7, the length of the sound bores 24, 28, and 30 are indicated for various styles of sound bores. In addition, some exemplary discrete components, e.g. capacitors, resistors, values are given and these discrete components are used for filtering the audio signal. Other discrete components such as dampers, inductors, and/or the like can be used.

[ 0032 ] Fig. 8 illustrates audio trace analyzer results of exemplary pairs of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers 18 units of the system of FIG. 1. The yellow trace is an acoustically proper tuned chamber 22 contrasted with the pink trace of a chamber 22 that is not acoustically proper.

[ 0033 ] In one embodiment, the engineering drawings FIG. 9 include the chamber 22, mid-sound bore 24, and cavity 26 of the system of Fig. 1. In another embodiment, the mid-sound bore 24 stands alone while in the different embodiments of FIGS. 2-4, the mid-sound bore includes an extension piece.

[ 0034 ] The advantage of system 10 includes improved tonality for a user of the canalphone . For example, the pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers 18 in the geometry described in this application provides better tonality to the vocals and/or upper register of a bass guitar heard through system 10 compared to a similar system that uses armature drivers for the mids or mid diaphragm drivers in a different geometry.

[ 0035 ] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly

indicates otherwise . It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,

operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[ 0036 ] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as

specifically claimed. The description of the embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the embodiments. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the embodiments and the practical

application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

[ 0037 ] While the preferred embodiment has been described, it will be understood that those skilled in the art, both now and in the future, may make various improvements and enhancements which fall within the scope of the claims which follow. These claims should be construed to maintain the proper protection for the embodiments first described.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is : 1. A system comprising:

a canalphone housing;

a low frequency armature driver carried by the canalphone housing;

a high frequency armature driver carried by the canalphone housing;

a pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers carried by the canalphone housing and each mid-frequency diaphragm driver includes an acoustic outlet;

a chamber positioning the pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers where one acoustic outlet faces the other acoustic outlet;

a mid-sound bore carried by the chamber that transmits a mid frequency acoustic signal from the pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers to the canalphone housing's exterior; and

a cavity between the pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers' acoustic outlets, and the frequency response of the pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers is tuned acoustically proper by the cavity.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the cavity is between .0012 cubic millimeters to .002 cubic

millimeters.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the mid-sound bore's volume is included in the cavity's volume

calculation.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the chamber provides an acoustic low-pass filter of a mid frequency acoustic signal that transmits through the mid-sound bore .

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising second pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers with each having an acoustic outlet that faces the opposing acoustic outlet as positioned by the chamber, and the second pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers are positioned perpendicular to the pair of mid-frequency diaphragm drivers by the chamber.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a low-sound bore that transmits a low frequency acoustic signal from the low frequency armature driver to the canalphone housing's exterior;

a high-sound bore that transmits a high frequency acoustic signal from the high frequency armature driver to the canalphone housing's exterior; and wherein the low frequency acoustic signal range is 20-200 hertz, the mid frequency acoustic signal range is 200-5000 hertz, and the high frequency acoustic signal range is 5-18 kilohertz .

7. The system of claim 1 wherein each mid- frequency diaphragm drivers comprises a 4.9 millimeter speaker.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the mid- frequency diaphragm drivers tuning is done in front of the mid-frequency diaphragm drivers rather than the rear of the mid-frequency diaphragm drivers .

9. The system of claim 4 wherein controlling the cavity's volume enables shaping of the mid frequency acoustic signal.