US3909556A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Directionally variable hearing aid
Assignee: AUDIVOX Inc
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Filing: 1974-08-08
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1994-08-08
Abstract
Abstract A hearing aid in which the sound reception characteristics are selectable by a user to provide non-directional or directional reception, as desired. The hearing aid employs a differential transducer having two sound receiving ports and operative to convert sound information into an electrical output and to which sound energy can be directed in one of two modes. In one mode of operation, for providing non-directional reception, sound is received from a front aperture of the hearing aid and directed to first and second input ports of the transducer, the sound being directed to the second port via an acoustic filter. In a second mode of operation, for providing directional reception, the second input port of the transducer is coupled to a rear aperture of the hearing aid and the first input port remains coupled to the front aperture. Sound energy received from the rear of the hearing aid is substantially minimized by action of the transducer without affecting energy from the front of the hearing aid. The acoustic filter in the second transducer port path during non-directional operation is used to match the frequency and phase characteristics of the non-directional mode response to the frequency and phase characteristics of the directional mode frontal response so that switching from one mode to another does not materially alter the quality of sound reception from the front direction of the hearing aid.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald L Johanson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:12
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R25/00; H04R25/40; H04R25/402; H04R1/00; H04R1/20; H04R1/32; H04R1/34; H04R1/38; H04R2225/00; H04R2225/61; H04R25/60; H04R25/603
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A hearing aid comprising: a differential transducer having first and second sound receiving ports; a housing having a forwardly facing sound receiving aperture and a rearwardly facing sound receiving aperture; a first sound receiving path between said forwardly facing aperture and said first transducer port; a second sound receiving path distinct from said first sound receiving path for selectively coupling said second receiving port to said first or second sound receiving apertures and including control valve means operative in a first position to couple sound energy received by said rearwardly facing aperture to said second sound receiving port, and in a second position to couple sound energy received by said forwardly facing aperture to said second sound receiving port; acoustic filter means in said second sound receiving path only when said valve means is in said second position; electronic circuitry for amplifying and processing sound information received by said transducer; and an earpiece coupled to said circuitry and adapted to the ear of a user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A hearing aid comprising: a differential transducer having first and second sound receiving ports; a housing having a forwardly facing sound receiving aperture and a rearwardly facing sound receiving aperture; a first sound receiving path between said forwardly facing aperture and said first transducer port; a second sound receiving path distinct from said first sound receiving path for selectively coupling said second receiving port to said first or second sound receiving apertures and including control valve means operative in a first position to couple sound energy received by said rearwardly facing aperture to said second sound receiving port, and in a second position to couple sound energy received by said forwardly facing aperture to said second sound receiving port; acoustic filter means in said second sound receiving path only when said valve means is in said second position; electronic circuitry for amplifying and processing sound information received by said transducer; and an earpiece coupled to said circuitry and adapted to the ear of a user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
114 words
A hearing aid according to claim 1 wherein said first sound receiving path includes a first passage between said forwardly facing aperture and said valve means, and a second passage between said first passage and said first transducer port; and said second sound receiving path includes said first passage and a third passage between said rearwardly faciNg aperture and said valve means, and a fourth passage between said valve means and said second transducer port; said valve means being operative in its first position to provide a sound receiving path through said third and fourth passages, and operative in its second position to provide a sound receiving path through said first and fourth passages.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
A hearing aid according to claim 2 wherein said valve means includes a rotatable member disposed at the juncture of said first, third and fourth passages and having an opening therethrough for coupling said third and fourth passages in said first position, and for coupling said first and fourth passages in said second position; and a manually actuable control knob attached to said rotatable member and operative to rotate said member between said first and second positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A hearing aid according to claim 3 wherein said filter means is in said rotatable valve member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
155 words
In a hearing aid having a predetermined directional mode response and a selectably operable predetermined non-directional mode response and including: a housing having a forwardly facing sound receiving aperture and a rearwardly facing sound receiving aperture; a differential transducer in the housing having first and second sound receiving ports; a network of sound conducting passages in the housing connecting the apertures to the ports; and a valve means for selectably coupling the rear transducer port to either the front or rear aperture; the improvement comprising: a sound conducting passage containing an acoustic filter for selectively varying the frequency and phase characteristics of received sound only when said rear transducer port is coupled by said valve means to said front aperture of said housing; whereby the frequency and phase characteristics of sound energy emanating from the front of the wearer are not materially altered when the aid is switched from one mode to to the other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
155 words
In a hearing aid having a predetermined directional mode response and a selectably operable predetermined non-directional mode response and including: a housing having a forwardly facing sound receiving aperture and a rearwardly facing sound receiving aperture; a differential transducer in the housing having first and second sound receiving ports; a network of sound conducting passages in the housing connecting the apertures to the ports; and a valve means for selectably coupling the rear transducer port to either the front or rear aperture; the improvement comprising: a sound conducting passage containing an acoustic filter for selectively varying the frequency and phase characteristics of received sound only when said rear transducer port is coupled by said valve means to said front aperture of said housing; whereby the frequency and phase characteristics of sound energy emanating from the front of the wearer are not materially altered when the aid is switched from one mode to to the other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
150 words
A hearing aid comprising: a housing; a differential transducer within said housing having first and second sound receiving ports; a channel in said housing extending between a front sound aperture and a rear sound aperture; a first sound passage coupled from said channel to said first port of the transducer; a second sound passage coupled from said channel to said second port of the transducer; valve means at the intersection of said channel and said second passage operative in a first position to couple said second port of said transducer to said rear aperture and operable in a second position to couple said second port of the transducer to said front aperture; an acoustic filter disposed in said channel between said first and second passages; means operative in response to the signal output of said transducer for providing an output signal suitable for coupling to the ear of a user.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
150 words
A hearing aid comprising: a housing; a differential transducer within said housing having first and second sound receiving ports; a channel in said housing extending between a front sound aperture and a rear sound aperture; a first sound passage coupled from said channel to said first port of the transducer; a second sound passage coupled from said channel to said second port of the transducer; valve means at the intersection of said channel and said second passage operative in a first position to couple said second port of said transducer to said rear aperture and operable in a second position to couple said second port of the transducer to said front aperture; an acoustic filter disposed in said channel between said first and second passages; means operative in response to the signal output of said transducer for providing an output signal suitable for coupling to the ear of a user.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
202 words
A hearing aid adapted to be disposed in the temple of an eyeglass frame and comprising: a differential transducer having first and second sound receiving ports; a first receiving aperture in the temple of said eyeglass frame forward of the ear position of a user; a second sound receiving aperture in said temple of said eyeglass frame forward of the ear position of a user and rearward of the first sound receiving aperture; a first physically distinct sound receiving path between said forward aperture and said first transducer port; a second physically distinct sound receiving path for selectively coupling said second receiving port to said first or second sound receiving apertures and including control valve means operative in a first position to couple sound energy received by said rearward aperture to said second sound receiving port, and in a second position to couple sound energy received by said forward aperture to said second sound receiving port; acoustic filter means coupled to said second receiving path only when the valve means is in saId second position; electronic circuitry for amplifying and processing sound information received by said transducer; and an earpiece coupled to said circuitry and adapted to the ear of a user.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
202 words
A hearing aid adapted to be disposed in the temple of an eyeglass frame and comprising: a differential transducer having first and second sound receiving ports; a first receiving aperture in the temple of said eyeglass frame forward of the ear position of a user; a second sound receiving aperture in said temple of said eyeglass frame forward of the ear position of a user and rearward of the first sound receiving aperture; a first physically distinct sound receiving path between said forward aperture and said first transducer port; a second physically distinct sound receiving path for selectively coupling said second receiving port to said first or second sound receiving apertures and including control valve means operative in a first position to couple sound energy received by said rearward aperture to said second sound receiving port, and in a second position to couple sound energy received by said forward aperture to said second sound receiving port; acoustic filter means coupled to said second receiving path only when the valve means is in saId second position; electronic circuitry for amplifying and processing sound information received by said transducer; and an earpiece coupled to said circuitry and adapted to the ear of a user.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3836732A
Cited
US3835263A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |