Abstract: A positioning and retaining structure for an in-ear earpiece. An outer leg and an inner leg are attached to each other at an attachment end and attached to a body of the earpiece at the other end. The outer leg lies in a plane. The positioning and retaining structure have a stiffness that is greater when force is applied to the attachment end in a counterclockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg than when force is applied to the attachment end in a clockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg. The positioning and retaining structure position an earpiece associated with the earpiece in a users ear and retains the earpiece in its position.

Abstract: An earphone includes a loudspeaker, a signal process, an audio signal input port, and a driving port. The loudspeaker includes a thermoacoustic device disposed in a housing. The signal processor is electrically connected to the loudspeaker to provide signal to the loudspeaker. The audio input port is electrically connected to the signal processor to provide audio signal. The power supply device is electrically connected to the signal processor to provide driving current. The thermoacoustic device includes a substrate, and the substrate defines a plurality of grooves, a sound wave generator is suspended on the plurality of grooves.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a headphone device that is equipped with an ear pad to be inserted into an ear, is electrically connected to a player device via a cable and outputs an audio signal which is output from the player device, with which it is possible to improve in-ear wearability and prevent a pain from being caused inside the ear. [Solution] The headphone device is equipped with: a driver unit that is fixed to a housing and has a diaphragm for emitting a sound of an audio signal; and a nozzle section that is fixed to the housing at one end, holds an ear pad at the other end, has a hollow interior, and is formed so as to slope from the part where the nozzle is fixed to the housing toward the tip of the nozzle section at a predetermined angle with respect to the housing.

Abstract: An earphone device includes a housing having a driver unit, and a sound guide tube mounted on a front surface of the housing to protrude from the front surface, in which the sound guide tube is disposed at a position deviated from a center position of the housing.

Abstract: A transcutaneous bone conduction system comprising a bone conduction device configured to vibrate in response to received sound. The system also comprises a totally implantable support apparatus positionable under a recipient's skin, comprising: a fixture configured to be implanted in the skull, and a substantially rigid cradle. The cradle has opposing, spaced plates connected by a bridge member, wherein a first of the plates is configured to be secured to the fixture and wherein the space between the plates is sufficient to receive the bone conduction device, and wherein the plates are configured to retain the bone conduction device against the skin proximate to the first plate.

Abstract: An earphone includes a loudspeaker, a signal process, an audio signal input port, and a driving port. The loudspeaker includes a thermoacoustic device disposed in a housing. The signal processor is electrically connected to the loudspeaker to provide signal to the loudspeaker. The audio input port is electrically connected to the signal processor to provide audio signal. The power supply device is electrically connected to the signal processor to provide driving current. The thermoacoustic device includes a substrate, and the substrate defines a plurality of grooves, a sound wave generator is suspended on the plurality of grooves.

Abstract: The present invention provides a double earphone structure and an electronic device. The double earphone structure comprises a primary earphone assembly having a primary earphone rod, and a secondary earphone assembly having a secondary earphone rod which can be in snapping connection with the primary earphone rod. When desired in use, the secondary earphone rod is detached from the primary earphone rod, and the primary earphone receiver and the secondary earphone receiver can be used simultaneously so as to obtain dual-channel, stereo effect. When not in use, the secondary earphone rod is connected with the primary earphone rod via a snapping structure, so it is convenient to retract the double earphone structure into an earphone cable retracting means.

Abstract: An earphone includes a loudspeaker, a signal process, an audio signal input port, and a driving port. The loudspeaker includes a thermoacoustic device disposed in a housing. The signal processor is electrically connected to the loudspeaker to provide signal to the loudspeaker. The audio input port is electrically connected to the signal processor to provide audio signal. The driving port is electrically connected to the signal processor to provide driving signal. The thermoacoustic device includes a substrate, and the substrate defines a number of grooves, a sound wave generator is suspended on the grooves.

Abstract: Corded devices, such as headphones and power suppliers, can be stored in a case that reduces the tendency of their cords to tangle without the need for wrapping or winding.

Abstract: The ear speaker device includes a mount section that is provided with ear-hook sections, and rotation sections that rotate speaker movable sections with respect to the mount section. Tubular ducts are positioned more inside than the ear-hook sections in a natural state. When the ear speaker device is mounted, the speaker movable sections are rotated to the most outside positions. Then, the ear-hook sections are brought into contact with auricle base upper sections, respectively, and the speaker movable sections are rotated inwardly. In this manner, the tubular ducts can be positioned in the vicinity of the external acoustic meatus openings, respectively, of the listener without interfering with auricles and the like.

Abstract: An earphone includes a first acoustic chamber with one or more of a reactive element and a resistive element for acoustically coupling the first acoustic chamber with an environment external to the earphone. The earphone includes an acoustic transducer and a second acoustic chamber separated from the first acoustic chamber by the acoustic transducer. A housing supports the earphone from the concha of a wearer's ear and extends the second acoustic chamber at least to an entrance of an ear canal of the wearer's ear. A port acoustically couples the first and second acoustic chambers.

Abstract: An illustrative method for transferring data to a device includes identifying the data that is to be transferred to the device, modulating the data with a signal, providing the signal to a contact microphone that is in physical contact with an individual, and transmitting the signal through a body of the individual to the device using the contact microphone. An illustrative method for authenticating the individual includes transmitting a signal through a body of the individual in response to the individual physically contacting an authentication device, receiving a modified signal including the signal as modified by the body of the individual, removing the signal from the modified signal to identify a unique body signature of the individual, comparing the unique body signature to a database to determine if the database includes the unique body signature, and selectively authenticating the individual based upon whether the database includes the unique body signature.

Abstract: The invention regards an ear canal device and a retainer strip, whereby the ear canal device has a distal part for extending into the ear canal and facing the tympanic membrane and a proximal part extending towards the ear canal opening, wherein the proximal part of the ear canal device comprises an opening extending transversely through the ear canal device, and where a retaining strip is arranged with a first end thereof arranged to be fastened in the opening and a second end arranged to lie resiliently against the inside of the concha for exerting a retaining force on the ear canal device.

Abstract: An earphone includes a housing and a thermoacoustic device. The housing has a hollow structure. The thermoacoustic device is disposed in the housing. The thermoacoustic device includes a substrate, a sound wave generator, a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode are spaced from each other and electrically connected to the sound wave generator. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first surface defines a number of recesses parallel with and spaced from each other. A depth of each of the recesses ranges from about 100 micrometers to about 200 micrometers. The sound wave generator is located on the first surface of the substrate. The sound wave generator includes a carbon nanotube structure that is suspended over the recesses.

Abstract: A docking earpiece may be provided. The docking ear piece may include a body, an earpiece plug on the body, and a first bladder in the earpiece plug. The earpiece plug may be provided in a first state and a second state. The earpiece plug may control the earpiece plug to be in the first state and to control the earpiece plug to be in a second state.

Abstract: An apparatus for imparting low amplitude vibrations to at least one tooth in a human head having a cochlea to facilitate hearing via a dental bone conduction pathway includes an extraoral transmitter, a band at least substantially surrounding and adhesively secured to at least one tooth, and a receiver assembly. The transmitter is configured to detect ambient sounds, and to generate and wirelessly transmit audio signals corresponding to the detected ambient sounds. The receiver assembly is removably coupleable to the band and configured to receive the audio signals from the transmitter, and to transduce the audio signals into vibrations that are conducted to the cochlea via the dental bone conduction pathway.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plug earphone with a front portion and a rear portion, wherein a flexible plug can be placed on the front portion which includes an outer portion and an inner portion. An electroacoustic transducer is arranged in the rear portion, wherein the front portion is positioned on the electroacoustic transducer and on an opening of the rear portion produced in this area. To achieve a reliable acoustic friction piece which is easy to manufacture, the front portion, and optionally an inner portion and an outer portion, together with a front wall of the rear portion, forms at least one radial channel leading from the interior of the front portion to the outside, and an acoustic friction piece is optionally arranged in the radial channel.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide an eartip. The eartip includes a flexible body, a sound channel, and a retention base. The flexible body is bendable at curves of an ear canal of a wearer. The sound channel is disposed within the flexible body. The sound channel includes a first end inlet and a second end outlet. The sound channel is generally parallel with the flexible body. The retention base includes a retention base inlet, one or more retention cavities, and at least one protrusion. The one or more retention cavities extend from the retention base inlet to the first end inlet of the sound channel. The one or more retention cavities are configured to receive a hearing device. The at least one protrusion is configured to detachably secure the hearing device within the one or more retention cavities.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a canal type earphone with a pressure equilibrium means, capable of eliminating a pressure difference between a user's external auditory meatus and an outside during wearing of the canal type earphone. A pressure equilibrium means includes a side air passage through which air within a tube or air within a speaker unit in the canal type earphone is discharged to a side surface of a gasket or a side surface of the speaker unit, and a rear air passage through which air in the side surface of the speaker unit is discharged to the rear of the speaker unit.

Abstract: A canalphone system may include a canalphone housing, and a first high frequency driver carried within the canalphone housing. The system may also include a second high frequency driver carried within the canalphone housing where the second high frequency driver is tuned with the first high frequency driver to deliver lower distortion than a standard canalphone high frequency driver and/or lower distortion than two standard canalphone high frequency drivers that are not tuned with each other.

Abstract: There is provided an in-ear earphone having a housing (50) for receiving an electroacoustic transducer and an expansion adaptor unit (20) which is coupled to the housing (50) of the in-ear earphone. The expansion adaptor unit (20) has an expansion unit (20) with an upper portion (26) having a curvature for fitting into a crus inferius anthelicis, an anti-helix and/or a concha of an ear of a user. The expansion adaptor unit further has at least one coupling element for coupling the upper portion (26) to the housing (50) of the in-ear earphone, wherein the expansion unit (20) has at least two flexible legs (22, 25) as coupling elements, wherein one leg (22) is coupled to a first end (28) of the upper portion (26) and a second leg (25) is coupled to a second end (29) of the upper portion (26).

Abstract: An earphone includes a cylindrical portion having an opening in one end and an audio output unit which outputs sound from one face. The audio output unit is fixed to the cylindrical portion such that another face is in contact with an end face of the one end of the cylindrical portion. The audio output unit and the cylindrical portion are insertable at least partially in the external auditory canal of a human being. The earphone further includes a thin-wall part provided in the cylindrical portion and a ring, made of a material of a greater specific gravity than the cylindrical portion, which is fixed to the inner surface. The ring is fixed in a position such that the ring overlaps in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion with respect to the thin-wall part.

Abstract: A passive transcutaneous bone conduction device configured to deliver externally-generated mechanical vibrations to a bone of a recipient's head, the device comprising: an implantable magnetic coupler configured to be rigidly attached to the bone; and an external vibrator including an actuator having a movable magnetic mass; wherein the movable magnetic mass and the magnetic coupler form a transcutaneous magnetic coupling sufficient to retain the vibrator against soft tissue covering the bone with sufficient force to facilitate delivery of mechanical vibrations from the vibrator to the bone.

Abstract: Included are a loudspeaker unit for generating sound waves, a sound conduit tube connected to the loudspeaker unit, and an ear tip connected to the sound conduit tube and having a shape having at least one opening. The sound conduit tube has a shape having: a sound hole having a first opening through which the sound waves generated by the loudspeaker unit enter, and a second opening from which the sound waves are released and to which the ear tip is connected; and a vent hole formed independently of the sound hole, and having a third opening through which a portion of the sound waves released from the second opening enters and a fourth opening from which the portion of the sound waves is released. The second opening of the sound hole and the third opening of the vent hole are connected to an identical opening of the ear tip.

Abstract: An earpiece that substantially lacks a lower lobe is disclosed. The earpiece has a generally arcuate rib having upper and lower ends. A generally vertical rib extends substantially between the upper and lower ends of the generally arcuate rib. A lobe is formed at the upper end of the arcuate rib. No lobe is similarly formed at the lower end of the arcuate rib. Eliminating the lower lobe mitigates discomfort during use and also reduces the likelihood of tissue damage and infection.

Abstract: An earpiece is disclosed. The earpiece includes a housing forming a volume therein, a number of sound holes arranged in the front end and rear end of the housing, a sound generator accommodated in the volume, an ear gel attached to a front end of the housing, a wire electrically connected to the sound generator, wherein a adjusting module is assembled to the housing, a plurality of front vents are disposed on the front end of the housing, and the amount of the front vents communicating with the volume is mechanically altered by the adjusting module.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for signal transmission via body conduction are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a bearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device which can enhance and/or optimize received data and/or audio signals for vibrational conduction to the user. Data and/or audio signals may be encoded and transmitted or received along or through the user's body to an oral appliance contained within or along the user's mouth. Alternatively, information may be transmitted between various other devices over the user's body aside from an oral appliance. The encoded signals may be decoded and the auditory signals may be transmitted via vibrational conductance to the user.

Abstract: An ear pad to be attached to an earphone device including a speaker includes: a main body including a sound hole through which a sound from the speaker comes out; a protrusion which is made of the same material as the main body and protrudes outwardly from a side surface of the main body; and a surrounding part which is made of the same material as the main body and is formed at an outer end portion of the protrusion to surround the main body, the outer end portion being positionally opposite to an end portion of the protrusion that is located on the side surface of the main body.

Abstract: A behind-the-ear hearing aid (1) comprises a housing (4), an ear piece (3) and a custom earplug (2), the custom earplug being adapted to fit the ear canal of an individual hearing aid user, the ear piece having a connector for connecting with the custom earplug, the connector and the earpiece having means for snap fitting engagement and means for defining the mutual rotational orientation. The invention further provides a custom earpiece for a hearing aid.

Abstract: An earphone receiving assembly for receiving an earphone includes a main body surrounding an accommodating space for receiving the earphone and defining an opening communicating with the accommodating space, a cover releasably locked in the opening, and a releasing assembly. The releasing assembly includes a fastening member secured to the main body and a rotating member rotatably assembled to the fastening member. The cover is slidably assembled to the rotating member. When the cover is released from being locked within the opening, the rotating member rotates and lifts the cover from the opening to expose the earphone.

Abstract: An apparatus and system to play audio signals from an audio source is disclosed. The apparatus is positionable within a fistula defining a channel extending through a pinna of an ear of a user from a first surface of the pinna to a second surface of the pinna such that the channel extends through an entire width of the pinna. The apparatus includes a housing, a speaker, and an audio signal receiving member. The housing is positionable within the channel in the ear of the user and includes an enclosure defining a speaker receiving space. The speaker is positioned within the speaker receiving space. In an engaged position, at least a portion of the speaker is positioned within the channel in the ear of the user. The audio signal receiving member is electrically coupled to the speaker and is communicably coupleable with the audio source.

Abstract: An ear pad that is an elastic member and fitted over a protrusion on an earphone device includes a main body having a hollow in which the protrusion fits, wherein the main body has, at an end, a surface having an opening communicating with the hollow, and the surface has a recess formed in a radial direction from a center of the surface toward an outside of the main body.

Abstract: An earphone including a housing, a speaker unit, and a gasket is provided. The speaker unit is disposed inside the housing and having a front cover. The gasket is attached between the front cover and the housing. A space inside the housing is divided into a front chamber and a rear chamber by the gasket and the speaker unit together. The front cover has a sound-output opening and a sound-leakage opening. The sound-output opening communicates the front chamber and a space inside the speaker unit. The sound-leakage opening communicates the rear chamber and a space inside the speaker unit.

Abstract: An earpiece for providing an audio signal to two ears of a user, includes an audio interface for providing the audio signal, a bone conduction speaker coupled to the audio interface for outputting an output signal, an adaptive filter with an adjustable impulse response to provide a filtered signal that once played to the second ear of a user, by an in-ear speaker, reduces an audio effect of the leakage signal on the second ear of the user, an in-ear speaker coupled to the audio interface for providing an in-ear audio signal to the second ear of the user, in response to the filtered signal and the second input signal, an in-ear microphone for sensing a sensed audio signal, and a processor for updating an impulse response of the adaptive filter in order to reduce a contribution of the leakage signal to the sensed audio signal.

Abstract: An earphone including a housing, a speaker, a tuning mechanism and an acoustic damper is provided. The housing has a sound-output opening. The speaker is disposed at the sound-output opening. The speaker and the housing together define a compartment. The speaker has an inner chamber and a through hole for communicating the inner chamber and the compartment. The tuning mechanism is movably disposed at the housing and extended into the compartment. The acoustic damper is disposed between the tuning mechanism and the speaker, and located at the through hole. The tuning mechanism is configured to move to compress or release the acoustic damper for adjusting the air permeability of the acoustic damper.

Abstract: Disclosed is an earphone including: an earplug that is a rigid pipe; a soft cap that is an elastic sheath, wherein the soft cap includes a body and a top end, the body being in the form of a hole, the top end covering one end of the body, an inner wall of the body matching an outer wall of the earplug, and one end of the earplug being positioned in the body. The earphone not only may reduce noise but also enables useful information to be heard, as well as ensuring that foreign matter cannot enter the earphone and the soft cap may be detachably fixed to the earplug so as to guarantee sanitary use.

Abstract: An earphone is provided that includes a generally conical housing having generally circular front face adapted to be seated in the concha of the user's ear. The housing tapers away from the front face toward the rear of the housing. A wire guide extends from the rear of the housing, generally transversely to the axis of the housing. A speaker is disposed in the housing. A first resilient portion is disposed on the sidewall of the housing, opposite from the wire guide forming a first contact surface. A second resilient portion is disposed on the sidewall of the housing, opposite from the first resilient portion. The second resilient portion extends sufficiently circumferentially around the housing to form first and second contact surfaces disposed on opposite sides of the wire guide. The first, second, and third contact surfaces allowing the housing to be grasped between the thumb and two fingers of the user to facilitate insertion of the front portion of the housing into the user's ear.

Abstract: A vibrator is provided with a spring having a first end and a second end and, a frame immovably attached to the second end where the frame is carrying a movable armature and at the second end of the spring a coupling with an armature plate is immovably attached. The armature plate and the movable armature are provided in close proximity with an air gap there between and a permanent magnet is associated with one or both of the armature plate and/or the movable armature and an electrical coil is associated with one or both of the armature plate and/or the movable armature. An adjustment screw is provided to displace the movable armature towards or away from the armature plate, wherein the screw is inserted in a bore.

Abstract: A tunable earphone includes a speaker for making sound, a shell receiving the speaker and defining a resonance cavity therein, and a tunable element rotatably and removably mounted on the shell. The shell has a top thereof recessed downward to form a receiving cavity. A supporting plate is formed at a bottom of the receiving cavity. A damping vent is opened in the supporting plate to connect the resonance cavity with the receiving cavity. The tunable element defines a through hole passing therethrough and aligned with the damping vent of the shell. A damping plate is integrally molded on a bottom of the tunable element. The damping plate is located in the receiving cavity and against the supporting plate to separate between the damping vent and the through hole for smoothening the frequency response of the sound pressure level in the resonance cavity while the speaker making sound.

Abstract: A flexible membrane of piezoelectric material sized to be supported by and to conform to the eardrum. Electrodes on the membrane allow the membrane to function as an audio transducer stimulating the eardrum with an audio signal or detecting audio signals at the eardrum. Applications may include detecting a variety of pathophysiological and biomechanical features of the tissues of the tympanic membrane and regional integrated anatomy, detecting audio, physical and biological signals, and/or delivery a variety of therapeutic modalities.

Abstract: A tunable earphone includes a body, a front cavity, a rear cavity and a decorating plat. The body includes a small air hole and a large air hole. The front cavity and the rear cavity are respectively disposed on the body. The decorating plate covers the rear cavity and includes a receiving groove, a shielding member and a channel. The shielding member and the channel are disposed in the receiving groove. When the decorating plate is rotated to a first position, the shielding member shields the large air hole, the channel corresponds to the small air hole, so that the front cavity communicates with the rear cavity through the channel. When the decorating plate is rotated to a second position, the shielding member shields the small air hole, the channel corresponds to the large air hole, so that the front cavity communicates with the rear cavity through the channel.

Abstract: An earpiece with structure for positioning and retaining the earpiece and with structure for sealing against the entrance to the ear canal to provide passive noise attenuation. The positioning and retaining structure engages features of the lateral surface of the ear. The structure for sealing against the entrance to the ear canal includes a conical structure.

Abstract: A headphone includes an acoustic transducer having a sound-radiating surface that moves along a first axis, a housing enclosing the acoustic transducer, a first acoustic chamber defined by a first side of the acoustic transducer and a first portion of the housing, the first acoustic chamber including a first reactive port in a serial configuration with an acoustic resistance to couple the first acoustic chamber with space outside the headphone, a second acoustic chamber defined by a second side of the acoustic transducer and a second portion of the housing, the second acoustic chamber separated from the first acoustic chamber by the acoustic transducer, and an opening coupling the second acoustic chamber to the wearer's ear canal along a second axis that is not parallel to the first axis.

Abstract: An earphone including a housing, a speaker, a plurality of porous materials and a tuning mechanism is provided. The housing has a containing space, a sound-output opening and a plurality of tuning holes, wherein the containing space communicates with outside of the housing through the tuning holes. Areas of the tuning holes are substantially the same. The speaker is disposed at the sound-output opening and located in the containing space. The air permeability of each porous material are different, and the porous materials cover the tuning holes correspondingly. The tuning mechanism is disposed at the housing and shields at least one of the tuning holes selectively.

Abstract: A headset comprising a communications device, a sensor coupled to the communications device and operative to detect the proximity of a user's body to the sensor, a detachable ear cushion coupled to the communications device; and wherein the detachable ear cushion comprises a conductive ear cushion flange to be interposed between the sensor and the user's body for extending the detection range of the sensor.

Abstract: A securing mechanism comprising a plurality of outwardly projecting members having a plurality of contact points that are configured to contact a surface of an opening when disposed on a space access device that is inserted in the opening, the securing mechanism being configured to apply a pressure to a contact surface within the opening less than approximately 10000 kPa.

Abstract: A system for securing headphone transducers is provided. In one aspect of the present invention, the system comprises a first transducer device having a first mechanical housing, which has an outer surface and an inner surface. A first coupling device is affixed to the outer surface of the first mechanical housing of the first transducer device. A second transducer device has a second mechanical housing, which has an outer surface and an inner surface. A second coupling device is affixed to the outer surface of the second mechanical housing of the second transducer device. The first coupling device is coupled to the second coupling device when in close proximity to each other, such that the inner surfaces of the first and second mechanical devices are opposed to each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to an earphone that can be worn so that the cord attached to the earphone can be worn either over the wearer's ear or under the wearer's ear because of an angled earphone tip and angled strain relief. The angled earphone tip and angled strain relief serve to provide a customizable secure fit that maximizes the sound coming through the earphones and minimizes discomfort from wearing the earphone.

Abstract: There is provided an earphone system comprising an earphone and at least two acoustic dampers (24), the earphone comprising a speaker unit (10) and an earpiece (12, 12A, 12B), the speaker unit comprising a sound driver (18), a wiring connector (14) for providing audio signals to the sound driver and a case (16) housing the sound driver, the earpiece comprising a sound outlet opening (28) and being designed for being worn in a user's ear canal and/or concha, the sound driver having a frequency response having a maximum within the range of 2000 Hz to 4000 Hz, wherein the speaker unit is for being inserted into the earpiece, wherein each of the acoustic dampers (24) is for being inserted into the earpiece or the speaker unit in an exchangeable manner and wherein each of the acoustic dampers, when used with the earphone, has a frequency response different from that of the other acoustic damper(s).

Abstract: A first driver housing and a second driver housing are positioned inside an earbud cup. The first driver housing has a rear side, a front side, a top face a bottom face, and a sound output tube extending from the front side. The second driver housing has a top side, a bottom side, a front face, a rear face, and a sound output opening formed in the front face of the second housing with essentially no tube extending therefrom. The rear face of the second housing is disposed a) adjacent to the front side of the first housing, and b) behind an exit of the sound output tube of the first housing. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.