Abstract: A communication device (200) for dual mode muting operation includes a user interface (208) and a controller (202). The controller (202) is programmed to: in response to a first user input to the user interface (208), enable a first muting mode; and in response to a second user input to the user interface (208), disable the first muting mode and enable a second muting mode. The first muting mode may be one of a full muting and a concealed muting, while the second muting mode may be the other one of a full muting and a concealed muting.

Abstract: An acoustic receiver comprises means for converting an input audio signal into an acoustic signal. The receiver has a housing having a plurality of sides that surround the converting means. One of the sides include an output port for broadcasting the acoustic signal. A jacket fits around the housing and has sections for engaging the sides. The sections are generally flat. The jacket may also form a gap with a corresponding side surface of the housing. A printed circuit board can be located within the gap. The printed circuit board including electronics for processing said input audio signal.

Abstract: An electro-acoustic transducer for driving a large surface is used to convert electrical signals into sound. The transducer has a housing with a cast aluminum bottom and a molded plastic top. The top and bottom are fastened together by screws with a gasket in between the contacting surfaces to form a housing for a high power electromagnetic voice coil driver mechanism. The top has an opening to allow the voice coil to be centered in its gap by a centering gauge during assembly of the driver. A cap closes the opening once the voice coil is fixed in place in the housing. The op is hexagonal and flat with circular rings in the top surface to allow the top to flex in a controlled manner while supporting the bottom which remains stationary.

Abstract: Ring magnets (5) are concentrically placed with certain spacings (6) on a magnetic frame (4). The magnetic members on the magnets (5) are removed, and the magnets are arranged so that the polarities of adjacent magnets (5)are alternately opposite to each other, thus forming a magnetic circuit. Ribs (7) are provided to a planar vibrating plate (1) and a voice coil (2) fabricated by vertically stacking conductive wires annularly is attached to the planar vibrating plate (1). The planar vibrating plate (1) is secured to a frame (4) through a gasket (3). The voice coil (2) is inserted into magnetic gaps of spacings (6). Since no magnetic body is placed over the magnets (5), the height of the magnetic circuit can be low, and an increase of the reactance due to provision of the magnetic body of the voice coil (2) does not occur. Since the rigidity of the planar vibrating plate (1) is high, it is unnecessary to secure the planar vibrating plate (1) to the frame (4) while applying a tension.

Abstract: A loudspeaker system designed for ceiling installation. The system includes a woofer, a midrange speaker and a tweeter commonly supported on a rotatable support member which in turn is supported on and is rotatable with respect to an annular rim that is designed to be fixed about an opening in the ceiling. The woofer is aligned at one acute angle and the midrange speaker and tweeter at another acute angle to the annular rim. The mid range speaker and tweeter are partially segregated from the woofer by a baffle.

Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer has an annular permanent magnet provided in a frame, and an annular top plate mounted on the permanent magnet. A ring is secured to the upper surface of the top plate. A diaphragm is secured to the ring.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic driver comprising a soft magnetic core in the form of an E with three legs and a back, an alternating field driver, magnetically coupled to the soft magnetic core, for generating an alternating magnetic field in the soft magnetic core, depending upon a sound signal, a constant field driver magnetically coupled to the soft magnetic core for generation of a constant magnetic field in the soft magnetic core, a soft magnetic element for coupling to the plate of the planar diaphragm loudspeaker, lying opposite the back and magnetically closing the legs across at least one small induction gap, whereby the constant field and the alternating field are asymmetrically superimposed such that a resulting force, or a resulting torque on the soft magnetic element, is proportional to the sound signal.

Abstract: A magnetic circuit of the present invention uses a yoke, wherein a thickness of a bottom portion 10b of the yoke 10 is thicker than a thickness of a cylindrical peripheral portion 10a of the yoke 10. The magnetic circuit of the present invention includes the yoke, a magnet 2 bonded to the bottom portion of the yoke, and a top plate 3 bonded to the magnet, the top plate forming a magnetic gap with the cylindrical peripheral portion in between. According to a configuration of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the magnetic saturation in the bottom portion of the yoke and to improve the efficiency of the magnetic circuit. As a result, the configuration contributes to improve the performance and efficiency of a loudspeaker using the magnetic circuit of the present invention.

Abstract: A flush mountable ceiling speaker (10) with individual coaxial waveguides (20, 22) for both the lower and high-frequency transducers (11, 12). The lower frequency radiation is combined with the sonic energy radiated by the high-frequency transducer (12) and shaped by the high-frequency waveguide (20) to create a coherent, uniformly controlled coverage pattern. The loudspeaker (10) creates a well defined sound dispersion pattern over a relatively large bandwidth, resulting in increased vocal intelligibility and more accurate reproduction of music at relatively great distances from the loudspeaker, as is particularly useful in association with high ceiling installations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microphone that includes a housing and a diaphragm and backplate located with the housing. The housing has a sound port for receiving the sound. The diaphragm undergoes movement relative to the backplate, which it opposes, in response to the incoming sound. The backplate has a charged layer with a first surface that is exposed to the diaphragm and a second surface opposite the first surface. The backplate further includes a conductor for transmitting a signal from the backplate to electronics in the housing. The conductor faces the second surface of the charged layer. To minimize the charge degradation created by contact with or infiltration of foreign materials, the first surface, the second surface, or both surfaces of the charged layer includes a protective layer thereon.

Abstract: An audio device has passive radiators that are driven by acoustic drivers. The passive radiators are arranged so that the net mechanical vibration is minimized.

Abstract: This invention regards a hearing aid for at least partial insertion into an ear canal. The hearing aid has a faceplate, a battery holder and a battery and a signal path comprising a microphone, a signal processor, and a receiver, where the microphone and the battery are arranged at the faceplate. Further there are provided one or more electrical contact elements for electrical communication with the signal processor, where the contact elements each has a first leg arranged to be contacted from the outside of the hearing aid and a second leg arranged to provide electrical contact with the signal processor, and an intermediate part embedded in the surrounding material and interconnecting the first and second legs. The first legs of the contact elements are arranged to extend along a first side of the microphone in the space between the microphone and the battery holder and the second legs of the contact elements are arranged at a second side of the microphone.

Abstract: A new type of diaphragm transducer comprising magnets to provide magnetic field strength in a planar region and a planar diaphragm located in the said planar region. The diaphragm has a plurality of conductors on its planar surface for inducing electromagnetic forces acting on theses conductors in said planar region when current flows through said conductors. The magnets are arranged in magnetic interaction with a magnetically conducting material, preferably soft iron, to conduct magnetic field from said magnets to said planar region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a condenser microphone whose body can be miniaturized while keeping a property and a sound quality comparable to those of a conventional condenser microphone. The condenser microphone includes a cylindrical body, a plurality of vibration plates which are formed into the shapes of squares and placed in parallel to a body axis line within the body, acoustic holes formed on a body side wall in a direction vertical to the vibration plates and back pole plates which are placed on a side opposite to the acoustic holes with the vibration plate between and face on the respective vibration plates at an interval of a micro gap. A potential of the back pole plate is varied according to a vibration of the vibration plate.

Abstract: A one-size-fits-all uni-hearing aid is described which is adapted to fit into either ear of an ear canal of a user to a depth proximal to the tympanic membrane. The hearing aid is comprised of two half shells joined together to house the hearing aid components. The joined shells secure a flexible tip at the distal end of the shell.

Abstract: The present invention is a receiver that includes electronics for converting an input audio signal to an output acoustic signal. The receiver has a housing for containing at least a portion of the electronics. The housing includes a port for broadcasting the output acoustic signal. A suspension system is coupled to the housing for dampening vibrations of the housing. In one preferred embodiment, the suspension system includes three resilient contact structures for contacting a surrounding structure in which the receiver is placed. The contact structures are positioned at specific locations to provide variable dampening levels. In another embodiment, the dampening is provided by a low-viscosity, gel-like material positioned between the housing and the surrounding structure.

Abstract: An electromagnetic sound producing device has a yoke, a coil, a permanent magnet, and a diaphragm provided in a case. The permanent magnet is made of SmFeN-base isotropy plastic magnetic material.

Abstract: A rechargeable hearing aid comprises a battery charger and a hearing aid body. The battery charger presents an easily carried case, which is provided with a receiving groove and a battery chamber, which contains a dry battery for power supply. The receiving groove can receive the hearing aid body and is provided with connection terminals at two sides of the inner groove for flexibly locking the hearing aid body. A cover covers on the receiving groove and is pivotally connected to the bather charger by a hinge element, which is further connected to a switch, such that when the cover is in the position of OFF, the battery can start recharging right away, and be quickly completed with micro-voltage.

Abstract: A method of improving the modal resonance frequency distribution of a panel (2) for a distribution resonant mode bending wave acoustic device involves analysing the distribution of the modal resonance frequencies of the panel, identifying a modal resonance frequency that is non-uniformly spaced relative to adjacent modal resonance frequencies, identifying a location on said panel that exhibits anti-nodal behaviour at said modal resonance frequency and changing the local impedance to bending wave vibration at said location (6). The method has particular application to distributed mode loudspeakers (1).

Abstract: A hearing instrument and method of assembly are disclosed. The hearing instrument comprises an electronic assembly for providing received sound to the ear canal of a hearing instrument user. The electronic assembly is placed within a chamber in a housing sized to fit within the ear of the hearing instrument user. The chamber includes an internal guide channel and mounting surface for locating and positioning the electronic assembly. A volume encompassed within a hearing aid housing may be analyzed, such as with computer software, to identify a location within the chamber to position the electronic assembly, and then the electronic assembly may be incorporated into the housing using a guide channel and mounting surface of the housing for locating and positioning the electronic assembly in the identified location.