CN-122029835-A - In-ear-canal receiver assembly

Abstract

The invention provides an in-canal receiver assembly comprising a receiver housing defining a channel extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein a first sound opening is arranged at a first end, and wherein a receiver is arranged in the channel. The dome is attached to the receiver housing at a first end. The dome portion includes a circumferential member circumferentially arranged around the receiver housing and having a second sound opening at a front end portion. The extension extends from the inner surface of the circumferential member toward the channel. The extension forms a space in which the first protective element and the second protective element are arranged longitudinally offset from each other. The extension extends into the channel, wherein an inner surface portion of the receiver housing forms an inner contact surface for contacting an outer contact surface of the extension. The receiver housing comprises a first engagement structure and the dome comprises a second engagement structure, wherein the first and second engagement structures are configured for engagement with each other to releasably lock the dome to the receiver housing.

Inventors

• D. R. Debari
• P. E.H. Hermson
• A. M. Katyn
• P C chip
• L. M.A. Van der Vaart

Assignees

• 声扬荷兰有限公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20241011

Priority Date

20231011

Claims (17)

1. 1. An in-ear canal receiver assembly comprising: -a receiver housing defining a channel extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the channel forms a channel wall at the first end, the channel wall ending in a first end face surrounding a first sound opening arranged at the first end, the first sound opening being configured for letting through sound; -a receiver arranged in said channel, and -A dome releasably attached to the receiver housing at the first end, the dome comprising: A circumferential member arranged circumferentially around the receiver housing and extending in the longitudinal direction between a front end and a rear end, wherein a second sound opening is arranged at the front end, the second sound opening being configured for letting through sound, An extension terminating at a free end and extending in the longitudinal direction from an inner surface of the circumferential member towards the channel, the extension forming a space, and -A first protective element and a second protective element extending transversely to the longitudinal direction and being arranged longitudinally offset from each other in the space; Wherein the extension extends into the channel, and wherein an inner surface portion of the receiver housing forms an inner contact surface for contacting an outer contact surface of the extension, and Wherein the receiver housing comprises a first engagement structure and the dome comprises a second engagement structure, the first engagement structure and the second engagement structure being configured for engagement with each other to releasably lock the dome to the receiver housing.
2. 2. The in-canal receiver assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second protective element is arranged closer to the first sound opening than the first protective element, and wherein the permeability of the first protective element is greater than the permeability of the second protective element.
3. 3. An in-canal receiver assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said extension forms a wall section ending in a second end, said wall section enclosing said space, and wherein said circumferential member forms a groove, said second end ending in said groove.
4. 4. An in-canal receiver assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first protective element is integrally formed with said extension.
5. 5. The in-canal receiver assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said first protective element is integrally formed with said circumferential member.
6. 6. The in-canal receiver assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first engagement structure comprises an indentation on said inner contact surface transverse to said longitudinal direction, wherein said second engagement structure comprises a protrusion on said outer contact surface transverse to said longitudinal direction, and wherein a shape of said protrusion matches a shape of said indentation.
7. 7. The in-canal receiver assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said first engagement structure comprises a thread on said inner contact surface, and wherein said second engagement structure comprises a corresponding external thread on said outer contact surface of said extension.
8. 8. The in-canal receiver assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said extension forms a first release pattern at said free end, said first release pattern comprising at least one recess and at least one protruding portion, and wherein said channel wall forms a second release pattern comprising at least one recess and at least one protruding portion arranged along an inner circumference of said channel wall, wherein said first and second release patterns are configured for releasing said dome portion from said receiver housing upon rotational movement of said dome portion and said receiver housing relative to each other.
9. 9. The in-ear speaker assembly of claim 8 wherein the shape of the first release pattern matches the shape of the second release pattern.
10. 10. The in-canal receiver assembly as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein the first release pattern and the second release pattern each comprise a plurality of recesses and a plurality of protruding portions.
11. 11. The in-canal receiver assembly as claimed in any one of claims 8-10, wherein each of said first release pattern and said second release pattern forms a saw-tooth like pattern.
12. 12. The in-canal receiver assembly as claimed in any one of claims 8-11, wherein said first and second release patterns each comprise a contact surface inclined with respect to said longitudinal direction, wherein the removal of said protruding portion from said recess upon rotational movement of said dome portion and said receiver housing with respect to each other is performed by sliding the respective inclined contact surfaces along each other.
13. 13. The in-canal receiver assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said receiver housing is formed of a first material, said circumferential member is formed of a second material, said second material being more flexible than said first material.
14. 14. The in-canal receiver assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein said circumferential member comprises an edge portion abutting an attachment edge of said receiver housing, said edge portion being elastically deformable and forming a seal along said attachment edge.
15. 15. The in-canal receiver assembly as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein said extension is formed of a third material having a lower flexibility than said second material.
16. 16. An in-canal receiver assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a cavity is formed in the longitudinal direction along at least a portion of the outer surface of the receiver housing and at least a portion of the inner surface of the circumferential member.
17. 17. A dome for an in-ear receiver assembly comprising a receiver housing defining a channel extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the channel forms a channel wall at the first end, the channel wall terminating in a first end face surrounding a first sound opening arranged at the first end, the first sound opening being configured for passage of sound, and a receiver arranged in the channel, the dome comprising: A circumferential member configured for being arranged circumferentially around the receiver housing and extending in the longitudinal direction between a front end and a rear end, wherein a second sound opening is arranged at the front end, the second sound opening being configured for letting through sound, An extension terminating in a free end and extending from an inner surface of the circumferential member for engagement with the channel, the extension forming a space, and -A first protective element and a second protective element extending transversely to the longitudinal direction and being arranged longitudinally offset from each other in the space; wherein the dome portion comprises a second engagement structure configured for engagement with the first engagement structure of the receiver housing to releasably lock the dome portion to the receiver housing.

Description

In-ear-canal receiver assembly Technical Field The present invention relates to an in-canal receiver assembly comprising a receiver housing defining a channel, a receiver arranged in the channel, and a dome portion arranged circumferentially around the receiver housing and attached to the receiver housing, and to a dome portion for an in-canal receiver assembly. Background Debris such as cerumen and moisture may accumulate on the receiver causing various problems such as clogging of sound openings or corrosion of parts. The parts and features of the receiver need to be protected from any adverse effects of such debris. Traditionally, barriers have been used to protect in-the-canal receiver components from debris entering through the sound port. However, a problem with these barriers is that they eventually also get dirty, which affects sound transmission. Existing solutions require cleaning or replacement of the barrier, but this process is often too complex due to size or tool requirements. Incorrect servicing may exacerbate this situation, bringing contaminants to locations where other components of the in-the-canal receiver assembly are damaged, which may be even more difficult to service. Disclosure of Invention It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide an improved dome for an in-the-canal receiver assembly. It is a further object of the invention to provide an in-the-canal receiver assembly comprising an improved dome portion. The present invention provides an in-canal receiver assembly according to claim 1 and a dome for an in-canal receiver assembly according to claim 17. Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention provides an in-ear canal receiver assembly comprising: -a receiver housing defining a channel extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the channel forms a channel wall at the first end, the channel wall ending in a first end face surrounding a first sound opening arranged at the first end, the first sound opening being configured for letting through sound; A receiver arranged in the channel, and -A dome releasably attached to the receiver housing at a first end, the dome comprising: -a circumferential member arranged circumferentially around the receiver housing and extending in the longitudinal direction between a front end and a rear end, wherein a second sound opening is arranged at the front end, the second sound opening being configured for letting through sound; an extension terminating at a free end and extending in a longitudinal direction from an inner surface of the circumferential member towards the channel, the extension forming a space, and A first protective element and a second protective element extending transversely to the longitudinal direction and being arranged longitudinally offset from each other in the space, Wherein the extension extends into the channel, and wherein the inner surface portion of the receiver housing forms an inner contact surface for contacting an outer contact surface of the extension, and Wherein the receiver housing comprises a first engagement structure and the dome comprises a second engagement structure, the first engagement structure and the second engagement structure being configured for engagement with each other to releasably lock the dome to the receiver housing. The "in-the-canal receiver assembly" may be used as part of a hearing aid. However, the in-canal receiver assembly or parts thereof (e.g., dome portions) may also be used as part of an audible headphone (hearables), such as a consumer accessory. The in-canal receiver assembly comprises a receiver (speaker) and may further comprise a microphone. The receiver and microphone may be integrated in a single unit. Sound may be directed from or to the in-ear microphone assembly. Thus, the in-the-canal receiver assembly can produce sound via the receiver. The receiver housing defines a channel extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the first sound opening is arranged at the first end. At the first end, the channel forms a channel wall, which ends in a first end face surrounding a first sound opening arranged at the first end. The first sound opening is configured for passing sound. The receiver is arranged in the channel, whereby the first sound opening may be configured for letting through sound from the receiver. Sound may be directed from the receiver to the ear canal of the user via the first sound opening. In the context of the present invention, the term "longitudinal direction" is understood to mean the direction in which the receiver housing is longest. In order to facilitate insertion of at least a portion of the in-canal receiver assembly into the ear canal, the longitudinal direction may substantially coincide with the insertion direction of the in-canal receiver assembly into the ear canal. The receiver housing may be substantially tub