U.S. patent number 9,774,941 [Application Number 15/000,994] was granted by the patent office on 2017-09-26 for in-ear speaker hybrid audio transparency system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to APPLE INC.. The grantee listed for this patent is Apple Inc.. Invention is credited to Scott C. Grinker.
United States Patent |
9,774,941 |
Grinker |
September 26, 2017 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
In-ear speaker hybrid audio transparency system
Abstract
A user content audio signal is converted into sound that is
delivered into an ear canal of a wearer of an in-ear speaker, while
the in-ear speaker is sealing off the ear canal against ambient
sound leakage. An acoustic or venting valve in the in-ear speaker
is automatically signaled to open, so that sound inside the ear
canal is allowed to travel out into an ambient environment through
the valve, while activating conversion of an ambient content audio
signal into sound for delivery into the ear canal. Both user
content and ambient content are heard by the wearer. The ambient
content audio signal is digitally processed so that certain
frequency components have been gain adjusted, based on an
equalization profile, so as to compensate for some of the insertion
loss that is due to the in-ear speaker blocking the ear canal.
Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
Inventors: |
Grinker; Scott C. (Cupertino,
CA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Apple Inc. |
Cupertino |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
APPLE INC. (Cupertino,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
59314872 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/000,994 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20170208382 A1 |
Jul 20, 2017 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04R
3/04 (20130101); G10K 11/1785 (20180101); H04R
11/02 (20130101); H04R 1/1016 (20130101); G10K
11/17837 (20180101); H04R 1/1083 (20130101); G10K
11/17885 (20180101); G10K 11/17873 (20180101); H04R
1/1041 (20130101); G10K 11/17881 (20180101); H04R
2460/11 (20130101); G10K 2210/1081 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04R
1/10 (20060101); H04R 3/04 (20060101); G10K
11/178 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
Borges, Renata C. , et al., "An Adaptive Occlusion Canceller for
Hearing Aids", Universidade Federal de Santa
Catarina--Florianpolis, Brazil, EUSIPCO, 2013, (2013), 5. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Edun; Muhammad N
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Blakely Sokoloff Taylor &
Zafman LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An insertable in-ear speaker configured as a hybrid transparency
system, the insertable in-ear speaker comprising: a user content
sound system to receive a user content audio signal, being a
recorded audio program signal or a downlink audio signal of a phone
call, and convert the user content audio signal into sound for
delivery into an ear canal that is sealed by the in-ear speaker; an
ambient sound augmentation system having an external microphone
which is configured to pick up sound in the ambient environment of
the in-ear speaker, as a microphone output ambient content audio
signal, wherein the system can be configured to be i) activated to
process the microphone output ambient content audio signal to
increase gains of a plurality of frequency components therein,
respectively, by amounts that compensate some of the insertion loss
that occurs due to the in-ear speaker blocking the ear canal,
before converting the microphone output ambient content audio
signal into sound for delivery into the ear canal that is sealed by
the in-ear speaker, and ii) deactivated to not convert the
microphone output ambient content signal into sound; an active,
venting or acoustic pass valve that can be configured between i) an
open state in which it allows sound inside the ear canal to travel
out into the ambient environment and ii) a closed state in which it
restricts the sound inside the ear canal from traveling out into
the ambient environment; and logic to signal the valve into the
open state and activate the sound augmentation system, and then
signal the valve into the closed state and deactivate the sound
augmentation system.
2. The insertable in-ear speaker of claim 1, wherein the logic is
to activate the ambient sound augmentation system in response to
signaling the valve into the open state, and to then deactivate the
ambient sound augmentation system when signaling the valve into the
closed state.
3. The insertable in-ear speaker of claim 1, further comprising: an
active noise control (ANC) system that is activated to produce
anti-noise in the ear canal, when the valve is in the closed state,
so as to reduce an undesirable portion of sound in the ear canal
via acoustic cancellation, and deactivated when the valve is in the
open state.
4. The insertable in-ear speaker of claim 1, wherein the sound
augmentation system is to increase the gain of the plurality of
frequency components of the microphone output, ambient content
audio signal in accordance with an equalization profile being a
plurality of acoustic characteristics associated with the ear
canal.
5. The insertable in-ear speaker of claim 4, wherein the plurality
of acoustic characteristics includes two or more of the following:
a sound pressure associated with the ear canal; a particle velocity
associated with the ear canal; a particle displacement associated
with the ear canal; an acoustic intensity associated with the ear
canal; an acoustic power associated with the ear canal; a sound
energy associated with the ear canal; a sound energy density
associated with the ear canal; a sound exposure associated with the
ear canal; an acoustic impedance associated with the ear canal; an
audio frequency associated with the ear canal; or a transmission
loss associated with the ear canal.
6. The insertable in-ear speaker of claim 4, further comprising an
active noise control (ANC) system that is activated when the valve
is in the closed state so as to reduce an undesirable portion of
sound in the ear canal via acoustic cancellation, wherein the one
or more acoustic properties are determined based on a test signal
provided to the ANC system or the external microphone.
7. The insertable in-ear speaker of claim 1, wherein each of the
plurality of acoustic characteristics has been previously
determined in a laboratory based on an average of a plurality of
acoustic properties associated with a plurality of different ear
canals.
8. The insertable in-ear speaker of claim 1, wherein the ambient
sound augmentation system includes an electro-acoustic transducer
or speaker driver that is shared by the user content sound system,
to simultaneously convert both the microphone output, ambient
content audio signal and the user content audio signal.
9. The insertable in-ear speaker of claim 8, in combination with an
external audio source device that is communicatively coupled to a
housing of the in-ear speaker to provide the user content audio
signal.
10. The insertable in-ear speaker of claim 1, wherein the external
microphone is located in a concha next to the ear canal.
11. A method for operating an insertable in-ear speaker as a hybrid
transparency system, comprising: converting a user content audio
signal into sound that is delivered into an ear canal of a wearer
of the in-ear speaker, while the in-ear speaker is sealing off the
ear canal against ambient sound leakage; signaling an acoustic or
venting valve in the in-ear speaker to open, so that sound inside
the ear canal is allowed to travel out into an ambient environment
through the valve, while activating conversion of an ambient
content audio signal into sound for delivery into the ear canal,
wherein the ambient content audio signal contains pickup of sound
in the ambient environment surrounding the in-ear speaker so that
both user content and ambient content can be heard by the wearer;
and digitally processing the ambient content audio signal so that a
plurality of its frequency components are gain boosted so as to
compensate for some of the insertion loss that is due to the in-ear
speaker blocking the ear canal.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein activation of the conversion of
the ambient content audio signal into sound is signaled in response
to signaling the valve to open.
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising deactivating the
conversion of the ambient content audio signal simultaneously with
signaling the valve to close.
14. The method of claim 11 further comprising deactivating the
conversion of the ambient content audio signal simultaneously with
i) signaling the valve to close and ii) activating an acoustic
noise cancellation (ANC) system to produce an anti-noise or
anti-phase sound field within the ear canal.
15. The method of claim 11 wherein the ambient content audio signal
is digitally processed in accordance with an equalization profile
being a plurality of acoustic characteristics associated with the
ear canal and that includes two or more of the following: a sound
pressure associated with the ear canal; a particle velocity
associated with the ear canal; a particle displacement associated
with the ear canal; an acoustic intensity associated with the ear
canal; an acoustic power associated with the ear canal; a sound
energy associated with the ear canal; a sound energy density
associated with the ear canal; a sound exposure associated with the
ear canal; an acoustic impedance associated with the ear canal; an
audio frequency associated with the ear canal; or a transmission
loss associated with the ear canal.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising: producing an audio
test signal that is picked up by a microphone of the ANC system;
and determining one or more of the acoustic characteristics based
on the test signal.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein each of the plurality of
acoustic characteristics has been previously determined in a
laboratory based on an average of a plurality of acoustic
properties associated with a plurality of different ear canals.
18. The method of claim 11, wherein converting the user content
audio signal into sound and converting the ambient content audio
signal into sound are performed using a shared, electro-acoustic
transducer or speaker driver in the in-ear speaker.
19. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating, by an
external audio source device that is communicatively coupled to a
housing of the in-ear speaker, the user content audio signal.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising generating, by a
microphone whose primary acoustic input port is facing outward into
the ambient environment and is located in a concha next to the ear
canal, the ambient content audio signal.
Description
FIELD
Embodiments described herein relate to an in-ear speaker (e.g., an
earbud). More particularly, the embodiments described herein relate
to an insertable in-ear speaker that is configured as a hybrid,
audio transparency system. Other embodiments are also
described.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Wired or wireless in-ear speakers (e.g., earbuds) deliver sounds to
one or more ears of a user (also referred to here as a listener or
wearer) of such an in-ear speaker. One type of in-ear speaker is
designed to be closely coupled to a user's ear canal, referred to
as an "insertable in-ear speaker". This type in-ear speaker can be
placed inside a concha at the entrance of the user's ear canal or
can be inserted into the ear canal to block its entrance.
Generally there are two mutually exclusive types of insertable
in-ear speakers, which are as follows: (i) an insertable in-ear
speaker that fully seals an ear canal (hereinafter "sealable
insertable in-ear speakers"); and (ii) an insertable in-ear speaker
that is intentionally designed to allow some sounds from the
ambient environment to leak into the user's ear canal during use
(hereinafter "leaky insertable in-ear speakers"). Leaky insertable
in-ear speakers provide better audio transparency than sealable
insertable in-ear speakers. Nevertheless, sounds from the ambient
environment may be unwanted to a user. To avoid this scenario,
sealable insertable in-ear speakers may be used by the user.
Sealable insertable in-ear speakers have some shortcomings. Users
of these types of in-ear speakers can be subjected to unwanted
sounds resulting from an occlusion effect (OE) during use (e.g.,
during telephone calls, while running, etc.). Also, a sealable
insertable in-ear speaker can prevent its user from perceiving
sounds from the ambient environment.
SUMMARY
Embodiments of an insertable in-ear speaker that is configured as a
hybrid transparency system are described. Such an in-ear speaker
can assist with at least one of: (i) improving a user's isolation
from sounds from the ambient environment by preventing those sounds
from entering the ear canal; or (ii) improving a user's perception
of audio transparency by enabling delivery of sounds from the
ambient environment to the ear canal.
An insertable in-ear speaker is configured as a hybrid transparency
system that combines the use of an active, venting or acoustic pass
valve, with an ambient sound pickup and production (also referred
to here as ambient sound augmentation) system. A user content sound
system, e.g., having an electro-acoustic transducer (speaker
driver) that is integrated within a housing of the in-ear speaker,
generates user content sound, in accordance with a first audio
signal, e.g., containing user content such as an on-going telephone
conversation between the wearer of the in-ear speaker and a far end
user, music playback, or playback of another audio-containing work.
The user content sound is produced for delivery into an ear canal
of a wearer of the in-ear speaker. The in-ear speaker may be a
sealing type, which seals the ear canal. The in-ear speaker housing
also contains the venting or acoustic pass valve which can be
configured (alternately) into a state in which it enables sound
waves inside the ear canal to travel to an ambient environment, and
into another state in which it restricts the sound waves from
traveling to the ambient environment. An external microphone is
configured to produce a second audio signal (ambient content
signal) from sound waves in the ambient environment. The external
microphone may also be integrated into the in-ear speaker housing,
in such a way that it becomes positioned in a concha, close to the
ear canal, when the in-ear speaker is worn; it is referred to as
"external" since its primary acoustic input port may be facing
outward into the ambient environment. There is also logic
circuitry, e.g., as part of a programmed processor, which may or
may not be installed within the in-ear speaker housing, that is
configured to implement an equalizer (e.g., a spectral shaping
digital filter) that adjusts a frequency component of the second
audio signal (representing the ambient sound as picked up by the
external microphone). The adjustment can be based on an
equalization profile of the ear canal. After the adjustment, the
second audio signal can be delivered to the ear canal by being
converted into sound waves, e.g., by being combined with the second
audio signal and then converted into sound using the user content
sound system, or the same electro-acoustic transducer that is being
used to convert the user content into sound.
The equalization profile may be a collection of one or more
acoustic characteristics or properties, associated with the ear
canal. These may include, but are not limited to, a sound pressure
associated with the ear canal; a particle velocity associated with
the ear canal; a particle displacement associated with the ear
canal; an acoustic intensity associated with the ear canal; an
acoustic power associated with the ear canal; a sound energy
associated with the ear canal; a sound energy density associated
with the ear canal; a sound exposure associated with the ear canal;
an acoustic impedance associated with the ear canal; an audio
frequency associated with the ear canal; or a transmission loss
associated with the ear canal. For one embodiment, the one or more
acoustic properties are determined by an ear canal identification
module, based on an acoustic test signal picked up by a microphone
of the in-ear speaker, while the in-ear speaker is being worn by
its end user. In another embodiment, the one or more acoustic
properties are computed based on an average of multiple acoustic
properties associated with multiple ear canals, e.g., as determined
in a laboratory setting.
For one embodiment, the logic is further configured to activate or
trigger operation of an ambient sound augmentation system that uses
the external microphone, only when the valve is enabling sound
waves of the first audio signal inside the ear canal to travel to
the ambient environment, e.g., the valve is in its open state. In
one embodiment, the in-ear speaker that is configured as a hybrid
transparency system also operates as part of an active noise
control (ANC) system that performs acoustic noise cancellation upon
any unwanted sound in the ear canal. The ANC system may also be
used to compute one or more acoustic properties of the ear canal
that are part of the equalization profile (which is used to
configure the spectral shaping function of the equalizer.)
For one embodiment, a computer implemented method of using an
insertable in-ear speaker as a hybrid transparency system is as
follows. One or more user content audio signals are converted into
sound that is delivered into an ear canal of the wearer by the
in-ear speaker, while the in-ear speaker is sealing off the ear
canal against ambient sound leakage. During this playback, the
sound inside the ear canal (including the playback of the user
content audio signal) is either allowed to travel to an ambient
environment or is restricted, by an active, venting/acoustic pass
valve. When the valve is open, an ambient content audio signal that
contains pickup of sound in the ambient environment surrounding the
in-ear speaker is generated and converted into sound, that is also
delivered into the ear canal, so that both user content and ambient
content can be heard by the wearer. While doing so, a frequency
component of the ambient content audio signal is adjusted based on
an equalization profile of the ear canal. This hybrid approach of
opening a venting/acoustic pass valve combined with ambient sound
augmentation aims to improve transparency of the in-ear speaker, so
that the wearer can more comfortably perceive the ambient sound
content over a broader frequency range (despite wearing the in-ear
speaker.) The ambient sound augmentation may be deactivated, and
acoustic noise cancellation (ANC) is activated, when the valve is
closed (while there may or may not be simultaneous playback of the
user content). The ANC in that case aims to produce an anti-noise
or anti-phase sound field within the ear canal that is designed to
destructively interfere with unwanted sounds that may be generated
within the ear canal such as due to walking or physical activity of
the wearer.
The above summary does not include an exhaustive list of all
aspects of the present invention. It is contemplated that the
invention includes all systems and methods that can be practiced
from all suitable combinations of the various aspects summarized
above, as well as those disclosed in the Detailed Description below
and particularly pointed out in the claims filed with the
application. Such combinations have particular advantages not
specifically recited in the above summary.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example
and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying
drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It
should be noted that references to "an" or "one" embodiment of the
invention in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same
embodiment, and they mean at least one. Also, in the interest of
conciseness and reducing the total number of figures, a given
figure may be used to illustrate the features of more than one
embodiment of the invention, and not all elements in the figure may
be required for a given embodiment.
FIGS. 1A-1B are illustrations of occlusion and isolation effects in
an ear canal.
FIG. 2 is an illustration of an in-ear speaker that contains a
venting or acoustic pass valve.
FIGS. 3A-3C are charts illustrating sound levels in an ear canal
based on FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2, respectively.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view illustration of an exemplary
acoustic driver that is presently utilized.
FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional side view illustration of one
embodiment of a balance armature based (BA based) valve.
FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional side view illustration of another
embodiment of a BA based valve.
FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional top view illustration of one
embodiment of a membrane or diaphragm (hereinafter "membrane") that
is included in at least one of the BA based valves illustrated in
FIGS. 5A-5B.
FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional side view illustration of the membrane
illustrated in FIG. 6A.
FIG. 7A is a block diagram side view illustration of one embodiment
of a bi-stable operation of at least one of the BA based valves
illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5B.
FIG. 7B is a block diagram side view illustration of one embodiment
of another bi-stable operation of at least one of the BA based
valves illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5B.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view illustration of one
embodiment of a driver assembly that includes the BA based valve
illustrated in FIG. 5A.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view illustration of one
embodiment of a driver assembly that includes the BA based valve
illustrated in FIG. 5B.
FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional side view illustration of yet another
embodiment of a BA based valve.
FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional side view illustration of one
additional embodiment of a BA based valve.
FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional top view illustration of one
embodiment of a membrane that is included in at least one of the BA
based valves illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10B.
FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional side view illustration of the
membrane illustrated in FIG. 11A.
FIG. 12A is a block diagram side view illustration of one
embodiment of a bi-stable operation of at least one of the BA based
valves illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10B.
FIG. 12B is a block diagram side view illustration of one
embodiment of another bi-stable operation of at least one of the BA
based valves illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10B.
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side view illustration of one
embodiment of a driver assembly that includes the BA based valve
illustrated in FIG. 10A.
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional side view illustration of one
embodiment of a driver assembly that includes the BA based valve
illustrated in FIG. 10B.
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional side view illustration of yet another
embodiment of a driver assembly that includes the BA based valve
illustrated in FIG. 5A.
FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional side view illustration of another
embodiment of a driver assembly that includes the BA based valve
illustrated in FIG. 10A.
FIG. 17 is an illustration of an in-ear speaker in use, and a model
of associated acoustic impedances.
FIG. 18 is an illustration of an in-ear speaker that is configured
as a hybrid transparency system in accordance with one
embodiment.
FIG. 19 is a chart illustrating how the in-ear speaker illustrated
in FIG. 18 can be used to adjust a characteristic of an audio
signal that reflects the sound content from an ambient environment
of the in-ear speaker of FIG. 18.
FIG. 20 is a block diagram of the in-ear speaker configured as a
hybrid transparency system
FIG. 21 is a process of using an insertable in-ear speaker as a
hybrid transparency system in accordance with one embodiment.
FIGS. 22A-B are charts illustrating at least one benefit of an
in-ear speaker that includes at least one of a BA based valve or a
sound augmentation system in accordance with one embodiment.
FIG. 23 illustrates an exemplary data processing system according
to one or more of the embodiments described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments of an insertable in-ear speaker that is configured as a
hybrid transparency system are described. Such an in-ear speaker
can assist with at least one of: (i) improving a user's isolation
from sounds from the ambient environment by preventing those sounds
from entering the ear canal; or (ii) improving a user's perception
of audio transparency by enabling delivery of sounds from the
ambient environment to the ear canal.
Description of at least one of the embodiments set forth herein is
made with reference to figures. However, certain embodiments may be
practiced without one or more of these specific details, or in
combination with other known methods and configurations. In the
following description, numerous specific details are set forth,
such as specific configurations, dimensions and processes, etc., in
order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. In
other instances, well-known processes and manufacturing techniques
have not been described in particular detail in order to not
unnecessarily obscure the embodiments. Reference throughout this
specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "another
embodiment," "other embodiments," "some embodiments," and their
variations means that a particular feature, structure,
configuration, or characteristic described in connection with the
embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the
appearances of the phrase "for one embodiment," "for an
embodiment," "for another embodiment," "in other embodiments," "in
some embodiments," or their variations in various places throughout
this specification are not necessarily referring to the same
embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures,
configurations, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable
manner in one or more embodiments.
The terms "over," "to," "between," and "on" as used herein may
refer to a relative position of one layer with respect to other
layers. One layer "over" or "on" another layer or bonded "to" or in
"contact" with another layer may be directly in contact with the
other layer or may have one or more intervening layers. One layer
"between" layers may be directly in contact with the layers or may
have one or more intervening layers.
For one embodiment, a "valve," and its variations refer to a
bi-stable electrical device or system that includes a motor or
actuator, e.g., a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) actuator,
or an electro-dynamic actuator having a coil assembly and a
magnetic system, such as a balanced armature (BA) system. The valve
may be part of an "active vent system" and its variations, which
refer to an acoustic system that acoustically couples a sealed ear
canal volume to a volume representing an external ambient
environment (outside of an ear or outside of an electronic device)
using a venting or acoustic pathway. For one embodiment, a
"pathway" and its variations refer to a simple network of volumes
connected to the valve. For example, and for one embodiment, an
active vent system requires a minimal amount of pathways (i.e.,
volumes) to connect a sealed ear canal volume with a volume
representing an external ambient environment (outside of an ear or
an electronic device).
For one embodiment, a "volume" and its variations refer to a
dynamic air pressure confined within a specified three-dimensional
space, wherein the volume may be represented as an acoustic
impedance. Depending on a geometry of the volume, the volume's
acoustic impedance can behave like a compliance, inertance, (also
known as "acoustic mass"), or combination of both. The specified
three dimensional space can be expressed in a tangible form as a
tubular structure, a cylindrical structure, or any other type of
structure with a defined boundary.
For one embodiment, an "in-ear speaker" and its variations refer to
electronic devices for providing sound to a user's ear. In-ear
speakers are aimed into an ear canal of the user's ear and may or
may not be inserted into the ear canal. An in-ear speaker may
include acoustic drivers, microphones and other electronic devices.
In-ear speakers may be wired or wireless (for purposes of receiving
a user content audio signal from an external device). In-ear
speakers include, but are not limited to, earphones, earbuds,
hearing aids, hearing instruments, in-ear headphones, in-ear
monitors, canalphones, personal sound amplifiers (PSAPs), and
headsets.
For one embodiment, an "insertable in-ear speaker" and its
variations refer to an in-ear speaker that is inserted into an ear
canal. This can be achieved via a specified three dimensional space
(e.g., a tubular structure, a cylindrical structure, any other type
of structure known for facilitating insertion into an ear canal,
etc.).
For one embodiment, a "sealable insertable in-ear speaker" and its
variations refer to an insertable in-ear speaker that fully seals
an ear canal. Sealable insertable in-ear speakers prevent sounds
from an ambient environment from leaking into an ear canal during
use in an ear canal. Sealable insertable in-ear speakers can also
result in an occlusion effect during use in an ear canal.
For one embodiment, a "leaky insertable in-ear speaker" and its
variations refer to insertable in-ear speaker that is intentionally
designed to allow some sounds from the ambient environment to leak
into the user's ear canal during use. Leaky insertable in-ear
speakers provide better natural audio transparency than sealable
insertable in-ear speakers.
For one embodiment, "audio transparency" and its variations refer
to a phenomenon that occurs when a user can hear all of the sounds
around him including sounds from the ambient environment, as well
as any user content sound that may or may not be produced and
delivered into his ear canal (by a user content sound system of the
in-ear speaker.)
For one embodiment, an "acoustic driver" and its variations refer
to a device including one or more transducers for converting
electrical signals into sound. Acoustic drivers include, and are
not limited to, a moving coil driver/receiver, a balanced armature
(BA) receiver, an electrostatic driver/receiver, an electret
driver/receiver, and an orthodynamic driver/receiver. Acoustic
drivers can be included in the in-ear speaker, as part of the user
content sound system.
For one embodiment, a "hybrid transparency system" and its
variations refer to a system that assists with enabling a user of
such a system to achieve at least one of (i) isolation from sounds
from the ambient environment by preventing those sounds from
entering the user's ear canal; or (ii) perception of audio
transparency by enabling delivery of sounds from the ambient
environment to the ear canal. A hybrid transparency system can
include at least one processor that is configured (e.g.,
programmed) to perform one or more computational functions of the
hybrid transparency system. A hybrid transparency system can be
implemented as an in-ear speaker, which may be in combination with
a personal communication device such as a smartphone, or which may
be part of any portable electronic device that converts between
electric signals and sound such as a headset or other head worn
device.
In one aspect, the hybrid transparency system includes at least one
of the embodiments of the balanced armature (BA) based valve
described herein. In one aspect, at least one of the embodiments of
a BA based valve as described herein are incorporated into a driver
assembly comprised of one or more acoustic drivers (which form the
user content sound system). In one aspect, the driver assembly
includes at least one embodiment of a BA based valve as described
herein and at least one of (i) one or more BA receivers known in
the art; or (ii) one or more acoustic drivers that are not BA
receivers (e.g., one or more acoustic drivers that are of the
electrodynamic type, etc.) For example, one embodiment of a BA
based valve as described herein is included in a driver assembly,
such as one of the driver assemblies described in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/746,900 (filed Jan. 22, 2013), which was
published on Jul. 24, 2014 as U.S. Patent Application Publication
No. 20140205131 A1.
For one embodiment, the valve and the acoustic driver included in
the driver assembly are housed in a single housing of the driver
assembly. For one embodiment, a first spout is formed on or coupled
to a housing of the driver assembly and is shared by the valve and
the acoustic driver. For one embodiment, the first spout is to
deliver sound that is output or generated by the acoustic driver
housed in the driver assembly, to an ear canal. The driver assembly
includes a second spout that is formed on the housing of the driver
assembly and is primarily used by the valve described herein. For
one embodiment, the second spout is to deliver sound from an ear
canal into an ambient environment. For one embodiment, the second
spout assists with delivering unwanted sound created by an
occlusion effect, into the ambient environment that is outside of
the ear canal. For one embodiment, the second spout assists with
manipulation of the listener or wearer's perceived audio
transparency. For one embodiment, the second spout assists with
regulation of ear pressure caused by pressure differences in the
listener's ear.
At least one of the aspects described above enables a single
electric signal input (that corresponds to the desired sound) to be
fed into one or multiple acoustic drivers in a driver assembly.
Furthermore, the single electric signal input can be electrically
filtered using different filters (e.g., a high-pass filter, a
low-pass filter, a band-pass filter, etc.) and each of the
different types of signals can be fed to the one or more
corresponding multiple acoustic drivers in the driver assembly
(e.g., tweeters, woofers, super woofers, etc.). The filtering can
be performed using a crossover circuit that filters the signal
input and feeds the different types of signals to the one or more
corresponding multiple acoustic drivers in the driver assembly.
Moreover, a driver assembly that includes at least one of the
embodiments of a valve described herein can assist with reduction
or elimination of amplified or echo-like sounds created by an
occlusion effect, as well as, manipulation of perceived audio
transparency.
FIGS. 1A-1B are illustrations of occlusion and isolation effects
100 in an ear canal 104 of a listener's ear 102. The in-ear speaker
106 can be sealable insertable in-ear speaker or a leaky insertable
in-ear speaker that includes at least one acoustic driver--e.g., a
BA receiver, a moving coil driver/receiver, an electrostatic
driver/receiver, an electret driver/receiver, an orthodynamic
driver/receiver, etc.
With regard to FIG. 1A, the occlusion and isolation effects 100
occur when an in-ear speaker 106 seals the ear canal 104. In order
to deliver a desired sound that is produced by the in-ear speaker
106 to a listener's eardrum 112, the in-ear speaker 106 can
partially or fully seal the ear canal 104. In other words, the
in-ear speaker 106 fills at least some portion of the ear canal 104
to prevent one or more sounds from escaping outside the ear 102.
The sealing of the ear canal 104 can be beneficial for preventing
loss of low frequency sounds, whose absence can affect the quality
of the desired sound being delivered to the ear. Nevertheless,
consequences of a sealed ear condition include occlusion and
isolation effects 100, which can interfere with a listener's
ability to enjoy or perceive the desired audio.
With regard to an occlusion effect 100, the sealing of the ear
canal 104 causes the listener to perceive amplified or echo-like
sounds 110 of the listener's own voice (e.g., when the listener is
talking, etc.) or amplified or echo-like sounds 110 created in the
listener's mouth (e.g., sounds created by chewing food, sounds
created due to a movement of a listener's body, etc.).
Specifically, the occlusion effect 100 is primarily caused by bone
and tissue-conducted sound vibrations 108 reverberating off the
in-ear speaker 106 filling the ear canal 102. The amplified sounds
110 are caused by the volume of air between the tympanic membrane
and the in-ear speaker 106 filling the ear canal 104 becoming
excited from bone and tissue conduction.
In addition, the sealing of the ear canal 104 creates an isolation
effect 100 that prevents one or more sounds from the ambient
environment from entering into the listener's ear canal 104 and
reaching the ear drum 112. This isolation effect 100 can be
unwanted, especially in situations where the listeners wants to
receive sounds generated by the in-ear speaker 106 and also receive
one or more sounds from the ambient environment outside the ear
102.
Generally, and as shown in FIG. 1B, the occlusion and isolation
effects 100 are not noticeable to most listeners. Specifically, the
occlusion effect 100 is not noticeable when listeners are talking
or engaged in an activity because the vibrations 108 that cause
amplified sounds 110, normally escape through the open ear canal
104 into the ambient environment. Nevertheless, and as shown in
FIG. 1A, when the ear canal 104 is sealed by the in-ear speaker
106, the vibrations 108 cannot exit the ear canal 104, and as a
result, the sounds 110 become amplified or echo-like because they
are reflected back toward the eardrum 112 in the ear 102. Compared
to the completely open ear canal 104 in FIG. 1B, the occlusion
effect 100 can boost low frequency sound pressure (usually below
500 Hz) in the ear canal 100 by 20 dB or more, as described below
in connection with FIGS. 3A-3C. The open ear canal 104 also enables
one or more sounds from an ambient environment to perceived by
listeners, which in turn reduces or eliminates the isolation effect
100.
Some users of in-ear speakers, such as the in-ear speaker 106, may
find the amplified or echo-like sounds created by the occlusion
effect 100 or the inability to perceive sound(s) from the ambient
environment that results from the isolation effect to be annoying
and distracting when they are listening to sound delivered by such
in-ear speakers.
Thus, several ways to mitigate or eliminate the occurrence of
occlusion and isolation effects are presently utilized. One way to
reduce or eliminate the occurrence of an occlusion effect includes
combining the in-ear speaker 106 in FIGS. 1A-1B with an active
noise control or acoustic noise cancellation ("ANC") digital
processor and its associated, error microphone, both of which are
not shown in FIGS. 1A-1B. The error microphone can be used to pick
up the amplified sounds 110 created by the occlusion effect 100,
which are then converted to digital audio signals and processed by
the ANC processor into an anti-phase estimate of the unwanted
sounds 110; the anti-phase estimate is then converted into a sound
field by an acoustic driver of the in-ear speaker 106, in hopes of
destructively interfering with and therefore reducing the unwanted
sounds 110 created by the occlusion effect 100. Nevertheless, this
way of reducing the occlusion effect 100 requires the use of
digital signal processing ("DSP"), which can result in a level of
power consumption that is not ideal for some types of in-ear
speakers (e.g., a size-critical in-ear speaker, a wireless in-ear
speaker, etc.).
With regard to isolation effects, one way of reducing these effects
includes use of a leaky insertable in-ear speaker (as opposed to
sealable insertable in-ear speakers). Leaky insertable in-ear
speakers provide better audio transparency than sealable insertable
in-ear speakers. Nevertheless, sounds from the ambient environment
may be unwanted to a user. To avoid this scenario, sealable
insertable in-ear speakers may be used by the user. Thus, the user
may have to gain access to both sealable insertable in-ear speakers
and leaky insertable in-ear speakers in order to avoid the
shortcomings of both.
FIG. 2 is an illustration of an in-ear speaker 206 including one
embodiment of a venting or acoustic pass valve 210 that can assist
with mitigating or eliminating an occlusion effect 200 in an ear
canal 104. FIG. 2 is a modification of FIGS. 1A-1B, which are
described above. In contrast with the in-ear speaker 106 of FIG.
1A, the in-ear speaker 206 includes a venting or acoustic pass
valve 210 that acts as a switching valve that can be signaled
(switched) open, in order to allow some of the amplified or
echo-like sounds 110 to escape (vent or pass) into the ambient
environment, instead of being reflected onto eardrum 112. The
escaped sounds 212 consequently reduce (or even eliminate) the
amplified or echo-like sounds 110 that are perceived by the
listener. In this way, the occlusion effect 200 can be reduced or
eliminated. The in-ear speaker 206 can include the valve 210 and at
least one acoustic driver--e.g., a BA receiver, a moving coil
driver/receiver, an electrostatic driver/receiver, an electret
driver/receiver, an orthodynamic driver/receiver, etc.
In addition, the valve 210 can be used to improve an isolation
effect. The valve 210 can be signaled (switched) closed, to prevent
sounds from the ambient environment from entering into the ear
canal 104.
For one embodiment, the valve 210 is a bi-stable electrical device
or system that consumes a minimal amount of power, when compared
with the DSP-based system described above having an ANC processor
and an error microphone. Specifically, and for one embodiment, a
motor of the BA based valve 210 is designed to be bi-stable, so
that the power consumption of the valve 210 occurs only when the
valve 210 is moving between its two states, as an open valve or a
closed valve. For this embodiment, power is not needed when the
valve 210 is not changing from a closed position to an open
position and vice versa. In this way, the valve 210 can be used to
reduce or eliminate the occlusion effect in an in-ear speaker 206,
without the increased levels of power consumption associated with
an ANC processor and an error microphone. Additional details about
the bi-stable operation of one embodiment of a valve 210 that is
BA-based are described below in connection with FIGS. 5A-7B. The
valve 210 illustrated in FIG. 2 can be similar to or the same as at
least one of the BA based valves described below in connection with
at least one of FIGS. 5A-17.
FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are charts illustrating sound levels in a
listener's ear canal based on the occlusion effects described above
in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2, respectively. With regard to FIGS. 3A and
3B, a comparison of curve 302 with curve 304 shows that low
frequency sounds between 100 Hz and 1000 Hz that would normally
escape from a completely open ear canal 104 become amplified when
the occlusion effect 100 is caused by a sealing of the ear canal
104 by the in-ear speaker 106. Specifically, curve 302 shows that
low frequency sounds between 100 Hz and 1000 Hz are amplified by as
little as 10 dB SPL (sound pressure level) to as much as 25 dB
SPL.
With regard to FIG. 3C, curve 306 represents the level of sound
amplification attributable to the occlusion effect 200 that is
caused when one embodiment of the in-ear speaker 206 seals the ear
canal 104. A comparison of curve 306 with curve 304 shows that the
low frequency sounds between 100 Hz and 1000 Hz are amplified less
severely when the in-ear speaker 206 seals the ear canal 104 than
when the in-ear speaker 106 seals the ear canal 104. For one
embodiment, the cause of the less severe amplification is due to
the BA based valve 210 acting as a switching valve within the
in-ear speaker 206.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view illustration of an exemplary
acoustic driver 400 that is presently utilized. The in-ear speaker
may contain the acoustic driver 400, thereby enabling its wearer to
hear user content such as a telephone call conversation or a
musical work (reflected in an audio signal at the input of the
acoustic driver 400). The specific type of acoustic driver 400 that
is illustrated in FIG. 4 is a balanced armature (BA) receiver. The
acoustic driver 400, however, is not so limited. This acoustic
driver 400 can be any type of acoustic driver--e.g., a BA receiver,
a moving coil driver/receiver, an electrostatic driver/receiver, an
electret driver/receiver, an orthodynamic driver/receiver, etc.
The acoustic driver 400 includes a housing 402 that holds, encases,
or is attached to one or more of the components of the acoustic
driver 400. Furthermore, and for one embodiment, the housing 402
includes a top side, a bottom side, a front side, and a rear side.
For one embodiment, the front side of the housing 402 is
substantially parallel to the rear side of the housing 402, while
the top side of the housing 402 is substantially parallel to the
bottom side of the housing 402. When the acoustic driver 400 is
part of an in-ear speaker that is placed in a user's ear, the rear
side of the housing 402 is further away from the user's ear canal
than the front side of the housing 402 and the rear side of the
housing 402 is closer to an ambient environment than the front side
of the housing 402.
In the illustrated example of the acoustic driver 400, a spout 404A
is formed on or attached to the front side of housing 402; a
terminal 418 is formed on or attached to the rear side of housing
402; the spout 404A is closer to the top side of housing 502; and
the spout 404A is farther from the bottom side of housing 402. The
spout 404 is formed on or welded to housing 402 to enable one or
more sound waves converted from one or more electrical signals by
acoustic driver 400 to be delivered or emitted into an ear of a
listener (e.g., ear 102 of FIGS. 1A-2) or an ambient environment.
The acoustic driver 400 outputs the sound waves using a membrane or
diaphragm (hereinafter "membrane") 406, a drive pin 412, a coil
assembly 414, an armature or a reed (hereinafter "armature") 416, a
terminal 418, and a magnetic system. The magnetic system of the
acoustic driver 400 includes an upper magnet 422A, a lower magnet
422B, a pole piece 424, and an air gap 430. The acoustic driver 400
also includes an electrical cable or connector 428 between the
terminal 418 and the coil assembly 428. The terminal 418 is
electrically connected to a flex circuit (not shown) that provides
an input electrical signal to the acoustic driver 400. The flex
circuit (not shown) is used to provide one or more electrical input
signals from a crossover circuit (not shown) to the acoustic driver
400. The crossover circuit is electrically connected to one or more
external devices that generate the one or more electrical input
signals. It is to be appreciated that the crossover circuit is not
always necessary, especially when the electrical input signal is
not being filtered.
Operation of the acoustic driver 400 begins when the one or more
electrical input audio signals are received at the terminal 418 and
passed on to the coil assembly 414, via the connector 428. In
response to receiving the electrical input audio signal, the coil
assembly 414 produces electromagnetic forces that trigger a
movement of the armature 416 in the directions 426A and 426B in the
air gap 430. Generally, the magnetic system of the acoustic driver
400 (which includes the upper magnet 422A, the lower magnet 422B,
the pole piece 424, and the air gap 430) is tuned to prevent the
armature 416 from being in contact with either of the magnets
422A-B. In this way, the armature 416 oscillates between the
magnets 422A-B while produces the sound waves. The drive pin 412,
which is connected to the armature 416 and the membrane 406, moves
in proportion to the oscillating movements of the armature 416. The
movements of the drive pin 412 cause vibrations or movements of the
membrane 406, which create sound waves in the air above the
membrane 406, as per the variation in the coil current of the coil
assembly 428 dictated by the audio signal.
The coil assembly 414 can, for example, be a coil winding that is
wrapped around a bobbin or any other type of coil assembly known in
the art. The armature can be placed through the coil assembly 414.
The armature 416 can be optimized based on its shape or
configuration to enable production of a broad band of sound
frequencies (e.g., low, mid-range, high frequencies, etc.).
Furthermore, the drive pin 412 can be connected to the membrane 406
using an adhesive or any other coupling mechanism known in the
art.
FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional side view illustration of one
embodiment of a BA based valve 500. The BA based valve 500 is a
modification of the acoustic driver 400 of FIG. 4. For the sake of
brevity, only the differences between the acoustic driver 400
(which is described above in connection with FIG. 4) and the BA
based valve 500 will be described below in connection with FIG.
5.
Some differences between the example of the acoustic driver 400
depicted in FIG. 4 and the BA based valve 500 relate to the
presence of two spouts 504A-B, a membrane 506 (including a valve
flap 508 and a hinge 510), an armature 516, a coil assembly 514,
two magnets 522A-B, a pole piece 524, and an air gap 530 in the BA
based valve 500. For a first example, and for one embodiment, the
valve flap 508 of the membrane 506 of the BA based valve 500 can be
in an open position 508A or a closed position 508B, while the
membrane 406 of the acoustic driver 400 lacks any valve flap or
other mechanism capable of being opened or closed. For a second
example, and for one embodiment, the membrane 506 of the BA based
valve 500 does not vibrate to create sound, while the membrane 406
of the acoustic driver 400 vibrates to create sound.
For one embodiment, the BA based valve 500 includes two spouts 504A
and 504B, which may be formed on or coupled to the housing 502 as
is known in the art. For the illustrated embodiment of the BA based
valve 500, the spout 504A is formed on or coupled to the front side
of the housing 502; the spout 504B and a terminal 518 are formed on
or attached to the rear side of the housing 502; the spout 504A is
closer to the top side of the housing 502; the spout 504A is
farther from the bottom side of the housing 502; and the spout 504B
is closer to the bottom side of the housing 502.
For one embodiment, the spout 504A is similar to or the same as the
spout 404, which is described above in FIG. 4. For one embodiment,
the spout 504A works in combination with the spout 504B to diffuse
amplified or echo-like sounds that are created by an occlusion
effect, outward into an ambient environment or away from a
listener's ear canal, so as to mitigate or eliminate the unwanted
sounds. For one embodiment, the spout 504B is similar to the spout
404 (which is described above in FIG. 4); however, the spout 504B
does not face the ear canal of the listener. For this embodiment,
spout 504B faces outward or opens to the ambient environment to
enable amplified sound waves created by an occlusion effect to be
delivered or emitted into the ambient environment away from the ear
canal of the listener.
For one embodiment, the amplified or echo-like sound created by an
occlusion effect is diverted into the ambient environment when the
valve flap 508 is open. For one embodiment, the sound from the
ambient environment is restricted from entering the ear canal when
the valve flap 508 is closed. The valve flap 508 of the membrane
506 is open at the position 508A and closed at the position 508B.
For one embodiment, the hinge 510 is created as part of the
membrane 506 to enable the opening and closing of the valve flap
508. For one embodiment, when the valve flap 508 is in the open
position 508A, the spouts 504A-B work together to divert some or
all of the amplified or echo-like sounds created by an occlusion
effect out away from a listener's ear canal. In this way, the BA
based valve 500 can enable a listener to reduce an occlusion
effect, when desired.
For one embodiment, an in-ear speaker that includes the BA based
valve 500 can enable manipulation of a listener's perceived audio
transparency, based on the opening or closing of the valve flap
508. For one embodiment of an in-ear speaker that includes the BA
based valve 500, when the valve flap 508 is in the open position
508A, a listener can made aware of auditory stimuli in his
surroundings because sound waves from the ambient environment can
travel through the housing 502 generally along a sound transmission
path 520 that connects the two spouts 504A-B. For this embodiment,
the listener is still receiving ambient sounds, and as a result,
his perception of audio transparency is enhanced. For one
embodiment of an in-ear speaker that includes the BA based valve
500, when the valve flap 508 is in the closed position 508B, the BA
based valve 500 acts as an ambient noise blocker, for a listener
that does not want to perceive auditory stimuli from his
surroundings. For this embodiment, the listener will receive only
the sounds that are being actively generated or produced by an
acoustic driver of the in-ear speaker, which can be beneficial in
certain situations. In this way, the BA based valve 500 can enable
a listener to reduce an occlusion effect when desired, become aware
of sounds in the ambient environment when desired, or prevent
sounds from the ambient environment from reaching the listener's
ear canal when desired.
For one embodiment, an in-ear speaker that includes the BA based
valve 500 can assist with regulation of ear pressure caused by
pressure differences in a listener's ear. The pressure differences
can result from pressure changes in the ambient environment, e.g.,
as the listener using an in ear-speaker moves--such as in an
aircraft's cabin--from a lower elevation with one level of pressure
to a higher elevation that has a different level of pressure, etc.
When wearing an in-ear speaker, such ambient pressure changes can
be uncomfortable or even painful. For one embodiment, an in-ear
speaker that includes the BA based valve 500 can regulate the
pressure differences in the listener's ear when he is using the
in-ear speaker. For one embodiment of an in-ear speaker that
includes the BA based valve 500, when the valve flap 508 is in the
closed position 508B, the listener's ear is isolated from ambient
pressure changes. The isolation from ambient pressure changes is
achieved because air flow from the ambient environment is prevented
from traveling through the housing 502, between the two spouts
504A-B. The air pressure above the diaphragm of the in-ear speaker
is thus isolated from the air pressure in the ambient environment,
and as a result, the listener's inner ear is sealed off from
ambient pressure change. When the valve flap 508 is actuated into
the open position 508A, however, the listener's ear is no longer
isolated from changes in ambient pressure. In this way, the BA
based valve 500 can enable a listener to regulate changes in ear
pressure that result from ambient pressure changes when desired,
reduce an occlusion effect when desired, become aware of sounds in
the ambient environment when desired, or prevent sounds from the
ambient environment from reaching the listener's ear canal when
desired.
For one embodiment, one or more of the control signals that cause
the opening or closing of the valve flap 508 can be based on one or
more measurements by one or more sensors (not shown) and based on
an operating state of an external electronic device (e.g., a
smartphone, a computer, a wearable computer system, or other sound
source.) The external electronic device may be the source of a user
content audio signal that is being delivered using a wired or a
wireless link or connection between the external electronic device
and the in-ear speaker. For one embodiment, the one or more sensors
can include at least one of an accelerometer, a sound sensor, a
barometric sensor, an image sensor, a proximity sensor, an ambient
light sensor, a vibration sensor, a gyroscopic sensor, a compass, a
barometer, a magnetometer, or any other sensor which may be
installed within a housing of the in-ear speaker or within a
housing of the external electronic device. A purpose of the sensor
is to detect a characteristic of one or more environs. For one
embodiment, one or more control signals are applied to the coil
assembly 514 of the valve that are based on one or more
measurements by the one or more sensors. For one embodiment, the
one or more sensors are included as part of the BA based valve 500,
as part of an in-ear speaker that includes the BA based valve 500
(e.g., within the external housing of the in-ear speaker--not
shown), or they may be part of the external electronic device
(e.g., a smartphone, a computer, a wearable computer system, etc.)
In the latter case, the control signal may be provided from outside
of the housing 502, to the BA based valve 500, via the terminal
518.
For one embodiment, the one or more sensors are coupled to logic
that determines, based on one or more measurements by the one or
more sensors, when one or more of the control signals that cause
the opening or closing of the valve flap 508 are to be applied to
the coil assembly 514 (or to another valve actuator). The logic
circuitry can be included in the housing 502 of the BA based valve
500, in the housing of an in-ear speaker in which the BA based
valve 500 is contained, or in the housing of an external electronic
device (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet computer, a wearable computer
system, etc.) that provides the user content electrical audio
signals that are converted to sound for a listener (by the in-ear
speaker).
In a first example, and for one embodiment, the one or more sensors
include a sound sensor (e.g., a microphone, etc.). In this first
example, the BA based valve 500 is included in an in-ear speaker
that is connected to an external electronic device that can play
audio/video media files and conduct telephony (e.g., a smartphone,
a computer, a wearable computer system, etc.). In this first
example, the sound sensor may be included inside the housing 502 of
the BA based valve 500, or it may be in the housing of the in-ear
speaker that includes the BA based valve 500, or in the housing of
the external electronic device (e.g., a smartphone, a computer, a
wearable computer system, etc.). In this first example, the logic
for determining whether the valve flap 508 is to be opened is
included in at least one of the BA based valve 500, the in-ear
speaker that includes the BA based valve 500, or the external
electronic device (e.g., a smartphone, a computer, a wearable
computer system, etc.). In this first example, the listener is
listening to audio from the external electronic device (e.g., a
smartphone, a computer, a wearable computer system, etc.) using an
acoustic driver that is in the in-ear speaker. When the sound
sensor detects the listener's voice for a threshold amount of time,
the logic determines that the listener (with the in-ear speaker in
his/her ear) may be engaged in a phone/video call or a conversation
with another human. In this first example, the logic provides the
one or more control signals that cause the valve flap 508 to be
opened, in response to the determination that the listener is on a
phone/video call or in a conversation with another human. In this
way, the sound sensor, the logic, and the BA based valve 500 assist
with a reduction of an occlusion effect that can occur when the
listener (with the in-ear speaker in his/her ear) is engaged in a
phone/video call or a conversation with another physical human.
In a second example, a software component running on the external
electronic device (e.g., a smartphone, a computer, a wearable
computer system, etc.) can determine an operating state of a
software application (e.g., a media player application, a cellular
telephony application, etc.) that is also running in the external
device and that may be producing the user content audio signal.
Based on this operating state, the software component can determine
whether to open or close the valve flap 508 and will then signal
the valve actuator (e.g., the coil assembly 514) accordingly. For
one embodiment, the software component on the external electronic
device can also use data from the one or more sensors (e.g., the
sound sensor, an accelerometer, etc.) in addition to the operating
state of the software application, to determine whether to open or
close the valve flap 508. In this second example, and for one
embodiment, the sound sensor initially detects no sound from the
listener (e.g., the listener is not talking but is listening to
audio from the in-ear speaker) and the software component
determines one or more operating states of an application on the
external electronic device. In this second example, and for one
embodiment, one determined operating state is that a media player
application is being used to generate the user content audio signal
(that is being converted into sound by the acoustic driver in the
in-ear speaker) as the listener is listening to audio; and another
determined operating state is that a cellular telephony application
is not being used, because no phone/video call has been placed or
received. In this case, the software component can, based on the
operating state of the applications and the data from the sound
sensor, cause one or more control signals to be sent to a valve
actuator (e.g., the coil assembly 514) to close the valve flap 508.
Shortly after this, the operating state of an application on the
external electronic device may change because a phone call begins
(e.g., a call is placed or received using the cellular telephony
application, etc.), and the sound sensor detects that the listener
is speaking. In this further case, based on the change in the
operating state of the application and the based on data from the
sound sensor, the software component causes a control signal to be
sent to the valve actuator to open the valve flap 508.
In a third example, and for one embodiment, the one or more sensors
include a sound sensor and an accelerometer. In this third example,
as in the second example given above, an acoustic driver of the
in-ear speaker is connected to receive a user content audio signal
from an external electronic device that can play audio/video media
and act as a telecommunications device (e.g., a smartphone, a
computer, a wearable computer system, etc.). The sound sensor is
included in at least one of the valve 210 (e.g., the BA based valve
500), the in-ear speaker that includes the BA based valve 500, or
the external electronic device (e.g., a smartphone, a computer, a
wearable computer system, etc.). In this third example, the
accelerometer is included in at least one of the BA based valve
500, the in-ear speaker that includes the BA based valve 500, or
the external electronic device (e.g., a smartphone, a computer, a
wearable computer system, etc.). In this third example, the logic
for determining whether the valve flap 508 is to be opened can be
included in at least one of the BA based valve 500, the in-ear
speaker that includes the BA based valve 500, or the external
electronic device (e.g., a smartphone, a computer, a wearable
computer system, etc.). In this third example, the listener is
watching a video and/or listening to audio from the external
electronic device (e.g., a smartphone, a computer, a wearable
computer system, etc.) using the in-ear speaker that includes the
BA based valve 500. In this third example, the sound sensor does
not detect the listener's voice for a threshold period of time, and
the logic determines that the listener is not engaged in a
phone/video call on the external electronic device and is not
engaged in a conversation with another physical person. In
addition, and in this third example, the accelerometer detects that
the listener has been moving for a threshold period of time, and as
a result, the logic determines that the listener is engaged in a
physical activity (e.g., walking, running, lifting, etc.). In this
second example, the logic in response to detecting physical
activity by the listener provides one or more control signals to
the terminal 518 that cause the valve flap 508 to open, in response
to the determination that the listener is engaged in a physical
activity even though the listener is not engaged in a conversation
with a physical human and not engaged in a phone/video call. In
this way, the sound sensor, the accelerometer, the logic, and the
BA based valve 500 assist with manipulation of audio transparency
even when the listener (with the in-ear speaker in his/her ear) is
not engaged in a phone/video call or a conversation with a physical
human.
In a fourth example, and for one embodiment, the one or more
sensors include a barometric sensor. In this fourth example, the BA
based valve 500 is included in an in-ear speaker that is connected
to an external electronic device (e.g., a smartphone, a computer, a
wearable computer system, etc.). In this fourth example, the
barometric sensor is included in at least one of the BA based valve
500, the in-ear speaker that includes the BA based valve 500, or
the external electronic device (e.g., a smartphone, a computer, a
wearable computer system, etc.). In this fourth example, logic for
determining whether the valve flap 508 is to be opened or closed
can be included in at least one of the BA based valve 500, the
in-ear speaker that includes the BA based valve 500, or the
external electronic device (e.g., a smartphone, a computer, a
wearable computer system, etc.). In this fourth example, and for
one embodiment, the listener is using the in-ear speaker that
includes the BA based valve 500 with the external electronic device
to perform an activity (e.g., watching a video, listening to audio,
browsing the internet, etc.). In this fourth example, the
barometric sensor detects a change in the ambient air pressure by a
threshold amount and/or for a threshold period of time. In this
fourth example, in response to measurements of the barometric
sensor, the logic determines that the pressure changes in the
listener's ear could be uncomfortable or painful for the listener.
In this fourth example, the logic provides one or more of the
signals that cause the closing of the valve flap 508 in order to
assist with isolating the listener's ear pressure from the ambient
pressure changes. For one embodiment, the logic provides the one or
more signals to the terminal 518 in response to the determination
that that the pressure changes in the listener's ear may be
uncomfortable or painful for the listener. In this way, the
barometric sensor, the logic, and the BA based valve 500 assist
with regulation of pressure changes in a listener's ear.
For one embodiment, a programmed processor, or a software component
being executed by a processor on the external electronic device
(e.g., a smartphone, a computer, a wearable computer system, etc.),
can analyze and/or gather data provided to or received by one or
more software applications (e.g., an atmospheric pressure
monitoring application, a weather monitoring application, etc.)
that are running on the external electronic device. For one
embodiment, based on the analyzed and/or gathered data, the
software component determines whether to open or close the valve
flap 508 and then sends an appropriate control signal to the coil
assembly 514 (that controls the drive pin 512). In a fifth example,
and for one embodiment, data is analyzed and/or gathered from a
weather monitoring application that is receiving measurements of
the atmospheric pressure in the listener's ambient environment from
a network. In this fifth example, the software component determines
that there has been a change in the atmospheric pressure for a
threshold period of time and/or by a threshold amount based on the
analyzed and/or gathered data. In this case, the software component
can, based on the analyzed and/or gathered data, cause one or more
control signals to be sent to the coil assembly 514 to close the
valve flap 508. Now, shortly after this, assume that the analyzed
and/or gathered data changes (e.g., the software component
determines, using data from the weather monitoring application,
that the atmospheric pressure has remained stable for a threshold
amount of time). In this further case, based on the change in the
analyzed and/or gathered data, the software component causes one or
more control signals to be sent to the coil assembly to open the
valve flap 508. In this way, the logic, the software component of
the external electronic device, and the BA based valve 500 assist
with regulation of pressure changes in a listener's ear.
Other examples and/or embodiments are also possible. It is to be
appreciated that the immediately preceding examples are merely for
illustration and are not intended to be limiting. This is because
there are numerous types of sensors that cannot be listed or
described herein; and because there are numerous ways in which the
numerous types of sensors can be used and/or combined to trigger an
opening or closing of the valve 210 (e.g., using the valve flap 508
in the case of the BA based valve 500.) It is also to be
appreciated that one or more of the examples and/or embodiments
described above can be combined or practiced without all of the
details set forth in the examples and/or embodiments described
above.
For one embodiment, the logic that determines, based on one or more
measurements of the one or more sensors, when one or more of the
signals that cause the opening or closing of the valve flap 508 are
applied to the coil assembly 514 can be manually overridden by the
listener, to open or close the valve flap 508 when the listener
chooses. For example, and for one embodiment, an external
electronic device (which is electrically connected to an in-ear
speaker that includes the BA based valve 500) can include one or
more input devices that enable a listener to provided one or more
direct inputs that cause the logic to directly provide one or more
control signals that cause the coil assembly 514 to open or close
the valve flap 508 (as indicated by the direct inputs from the
listener). For this embodiment, the logic is forced to provide the
control signal to the valve actuator based one or more direct
inputs that are provided to the external electronic device
(containing the logic.) For one embodiment, the external electronic
device includes, but is not limited to, the in-ear speaker that
includes the BA based valve 500, a smartphone, a computer, and a
wearable computer system.
For one embodiment of the BA based valve 500, as depicted in FIG.
5A for example, each of the membrane 506, the valve flap 508, the
hinge 510, the armature 516, and the magnetic assembly (which
includes the coil assembly 514, the two magnets 522A-B, the pole
piece 524, and the air gap 530) is specially designed so that the
armature 516 (and by extension, the drive pin 512) is operable in a
bi-stable manner. For one embodiment, the bi-stable operation of
the armature 516 results from an application of one or more
electrical input or control signals, from a low power current
source to the coil assembly 514, which in turn creates a magnetic
flux that causes the armature to move upward 526A towards the upper
magnet 522A or downwards 526B towards the magnet 522B. The magnets
522A-B are of sufficient magnetic strength to cause the armature
516 to make contact with the magnets 522A-B, and this causes the
drive pin 512 to either actuate valve 508 into the open position
508A or the closed position 508B. To achieve this bi-stable
operation, each of the membrane 506, the valve flap 508, the hinge
510, the armature 516, and the magnetic assembly of the BA based
valve 500 are made from materials that result in an opening or a
closing of the valve flap based on the low power current provided
to the coil assembly 514, via the terminal 518. Additional details
about the opening or the closing of the valve flap 508 based on a
low power current are described below in connection with FIGS.
7A-7B.
For one embodiment, the membrane 506 has a substantially
rectangular shape, is between the top and bottom sides of housing
502, and is approximately parallel or substantially parallel to the
top and bottom sides of housing 502. Furthermore, and for one
embodiment, each of the coil assembly 514, the armature 516, and
the magnetic system of BA based valve 500 are between the membrane
506 and the bottom side of housing 502. For one embodiment, the
membrane 506 is approximately 7.5 mm by 3.9 mm. For one embodiment,
the membrane 506 is a multi-part assembly comprising a main part of
the membrane 506, the valve flap 508, and the hinge 510. For one
embodiment, the main part of the membrane 506 is made of one or
more materials that do not move or vibrate in response to the
movement of the drive pin 512. For this embodiment, the valve flap
508 of the membrane 506 is made of one or more materials that move
in compliance with the movement of the drive pin 512. Furthermore,
and for this embodiment, the hinge 510 can be at least as immovable
as the main part of the membrane 506 to facilitate with the
movement of the valve flap 508 by the drive pin 512. In a first
example, the main part of the membrane 506 and the hinge 510 are
made of at least one of nickel or aluminum; and multi-layered with
copper to immobilize those parts of the membrane 506. In this first
example, the valve flap 508 is not immobilized with copper. In a
second example, the main part of the membrane 506 and the hinge 510
are made of at least one of nickel or aluminum; and a frame of
copper is used to encase the main part of the membrane 506 and the
hinge 510 so as to immobilize those parts of the membrane 506. In
this second example, the valve flap 508 is not encased in copper,
and as a result, the valve flap 508 not immobilized. In the two
preceding examples, the valve flap is not immobilized to enable its
compliance with the movements of the drive pin 512.
For one embodiment, the main part of the membrane 506 is made from
at least one of Biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate
(hereinafter "BoPET"), aluminum, copper, nickel, or any other
suitable material or alloy known in the art. For one embodiment,
the valve flap 508 is made from BoPET, aluminum, copper, nickel, or
any other suitable material or alloy known in the art. For one
embodiment, the hinge 510 is made from BoPET, aluminum, copper,
nickel, or any other suitable material or alloy known in the art.
For one embodiment, each of the main part of the membrane 506 and
the hinge 510 is formed using a metal forming process, e.g.,
electroforming, electroplating, etc. For one embodiment, the valve
flap 508 is formed on the membrane 506 using an etching process,
e.g. laser marking, mechanical engraving, chemical etching,
etc.
For one embodiment, the valve flap 508 dictates the size of the
membrane 506, which includes the size of the main part of membrane
506 and the size of the hinge 510. For one embodiment, the valve
flap has a diameter that is between 1.5 mm and 2 mm. For one
embodiment, the valve flap 508 is a substantially rectangular or
oblong shape with a length of 4 mm and a width of 6 mm. For a first
example, and for one embodiment, the valve flap has a
cross-sectional area between 1 mm.sup.2 and 3 mm.sup.2. For a
second example, and for one embodiment, the valve flap 508 has a
cross-sectional area between 1.75 mm.sup.2 and 3.1 mm.sup.2. For
one embodiment, the size of the valve flap 508 can affect the level
of reduction of an occlusion effect and the ability of a listener
to manipulate perceived audio transparency. For a first example,
and for one embodiment, a valve flap 508 with a size of 1.75
mm.sup.2 can assist with improved occlusion reduction. For a second
example, and for one embodiment, a valve flap 508 with a size of
3.1 mm.sup.2 minimum can assist with improved perception of audio
transparency because the opened valve flap 508A enables the BA
based valve 500 to match open ear behavior, which occurs at sound
frequencies that are approximately less than or equal to 1.0 kHz.
For one embodiment, the shape of the valve flap 508 matches the
cross sectional area of the connecting pathways to a listener's ear
in a medial location and to the ambient environment in a lateral
location to minimize acoustic reflections in the transmission line
520. For one embodiment, the shape of the valve flap 508 can be
substantially rectangular, substantially circular, substantially
oblong, or any variation or combination thereof. For a further
embodiment, the shape of the valve flap 508 is dictated by one or
more design constraints. For example, the design constraints
described herein, the design constraints associated with
manufacturing processes, etc.
For one embodiment, the armature 516 is a U-shaped armature or an
E-shaped armature, as is known in the art. For one embodiment, the
armature 516 is modified U-shaped armature with a crimp or a dimple
(hereinafter "dimple") 532, which is illustrated in FIG. 5A. The
dimple 532 converts an arm of the armature 516 that is between the
magnets 522A-B into a movable arm of the armature 516. As a result,
the movable arm of the armature 516 can assist with the bi-stable
operation of the armature 516 because the movable arm can move in
compliance with one or more forces created by the coil assembly 514
and the magnets 522A-B. For one embodiment, the dimple 532 is
located anywhere on the movable arm of the armature 516 that is
between the following two points: (i) a tangent point located at or
near the beginning of the curved portion of the movable arm of the
armature 516; and (ii) a point on the movable arm of the armature
516 that is closer to the drive pin 512 than the tangent point. For
a first example, and for one embodiment, the dimple 532 is located
anywhere within a portion 533 of the movable arm of the armature
516, as illustrated in FIG. 5A. For a second example, and for one
embodiment, the dimple 532 is located within the first twenty-five
percent (25%) of the length of the movable arm, as measured from
the tangent point located at or near the beginning of the curved
portion of the movable arm of the armature 516. For this
embodiment, the dimple 532 can assist with reduction in a stiffness
of the armature 516 so that the magnets 522A-B can attract or repel
the armature 516 easily. For one embodiment, the dimple 532 can be
included in any type of U-shaped armature that is used in any of
the embodiments of a BA based valve as described herein--e.g., any
of the BA based valves described in connection with FIGS. 5A-16.
The dimple 532 can also be included in any type of U-shaped
armature that is used in any known acoustic driver--e.g., the
acoustic driver 400 described above in connection with FIG. 4.
For one embodiment, the armature 516 is an E-shaped armature. For
this embodiment, the E-shaped armature 516 can assist with
mechanically centering the armature 516 between the magnets 522A-B,
which can enable bi-stable operation of the armature 516.
For one embodiment, the thickness, material, and formation process
of the armature 516 will be defined to meet an excursion range for
which the armature 516 will travel in the air gap 530 so as to move
or collapse the armature 516 to either one of magnets 522A-B
without causing damage or deformation to the armature 516. For one
embodiment, the excursion range is between +0.006 inches and -0.006
inches, i.e., the total excursion range is 0.012 inches. For one
embodiment, the excursion range is between +0.008 inches and -0.008
inches, i.e., the total excursion range is 0.016 inches. For one
embodiment, the total excursion range is at least 0.012 inches. For
one embodiment, the total excursion range is at most 0.016 inches.
For one embodiment, the air gap 530 is at least approximately 0.020
inches. For one embodiment, the air gap 530 is at most
approximately 0.020 inches. For one embodiment, the thickness of
the armature 516 is at least 0.004 inches. For one embodiment, the
thickness of the armature 516 is at most 0.008 inches. For one
embodiment, the armature 516 is formed from a material that is
magnetically permeable, such as a soft magnetic material. For
example, and for one embodiment, the armature 516 is formed from at
least one of nickel, iron, or any other magnetically permeable
material known in the art. For one embodiment, the armature 516
includes multiple layers of magnetically permeable materials. For
one embodiment, the armature 516 is formed by at least one of
stamping or annealing.
For one embodiment, at least one of the components of the magnetic
assembly of BA based valve 500 (which includes the coil assembly
514, the two magnets 522A-B, the pole piece 524, and the air gap
530) is formed from a material that is magnetically permeable, such
as a soft magnetic material. For example, and for one embodiment,
the pole piece 524 is formed from at least one of nickel, iron, or
any other magnetically permeable material known in the art. For one
embodiment, the pole piece is a multi-layer pole piece that has at
least two layers of magnetically permeable materials. For one
embodiment, at least part of the pole piece is formed by at least
one of stamping, annealing, or metal injection molding.
For one embodiment, each of the magnets 522A-B includes at least
one of aluminum, nickel, cobalt, copper, titanium, or a rare earth
magnet (e.g., a samarium-cobalt magnet, a neodymium magnet, etc.).
For one embodiment, each of the magnets 522A-B is designed to
exhibit a low coercive force. For one embodiment, each of the
magnets 522A-B is designed to be easily demagnetized to balance the
armature 516 between the magnets 522A-B when necessary. For one
embodiment, each of the magnets 522A-B is designed according to
standards developed by the Magnetic Materials Producers Association
(hereinafter "MMPA") and any other organizations that replaced or
superseded the MMPA. Standards developed by the MMPA include, but
are not limited to, the MMPA standard for Permanent Magnet
Materials (MMPA 0100-00) and the MMPA Permanent Magnet Guidelines
(MMPA PMG-88). For one embodiment, each of the magnets 522A-B
includes at least one of aluminum, nickel, or cobalt. For one
embodiment, each of the magnets 522A-B is an Alnico magnet. In a
first example, and for one embodiment, each of the magnets 522A-B
is an Alnico 5-7 magnet, which is defined in the MMPA 0100-00 or
the MMPA PMG-88. In a second example, and for one embodiment, each
of the magnets 522A-B is an Alnico 8 magnet, which is defined in
the MMPA 0100-00 or the MMPA PMG-88. One advantage of the magnets
522A-B being Alnico 5-7 magnets is that the magnets 522A-B can be
used for low reluctance circuits. One advantage of the magnets
522A-B being Alnico 8 magnets is that the magnets 522A-B can be
used for high reluctance circuits.
For one embodiment, each of the terminal 518 and the connector 528
are formed from materials that enable electrical connections, as is
known in the art. For one embodiment, the BA based valve 500 is
included in an in-ear speaker.
FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional side view illustration of another
embodiment of a BA based valve 525. The BA based valve 525 is a
modification of the BA based valve 500 of FIG. 5B (which is
described above in connection with FIG. 5A). For the sake of
brevity, only the differences between the BA based valve 525 and
the BA based valve 500 (which is described above in connection with
FIG. 5A) are described below in connection with FIG. 5B.
One difference between the BA based valve 525 and the BA based
valve 500 relates to the placement of the spout 504C. In FIG. 5A,
the spout 504B is located on the rear side of housing 502. In
contrast, spout 504C of FIG. 5B is located on the bottom side of
housing 502. For one embodiment, the spout that is used for
assisting with a reduction of an occlusion effect or manipulation
of perceived audio transparency (e.g., the spout 504B of FIG. 5A,
the spout 504C of FIG. 5B, etc.) can be located anywhere on the
rear and bottom sides of housing 502.
For one embodiment, the two spouts of the BA based valves 500 and
525 can be located anywhere on the housing 502. For this
embodiment, the membrane is substantially parallel to the top and
bottom sides of the housing 502 and the two spouts are separated by
the membrane 506. For a first example, and for one embodiment, the
spout 504 A of FIGS. 5A and 5B is located anywhere on the housing
502 between the membrane 506 and the top side of the housing 502.
In this example, and for this embodiment, the spout 504 B of FIG.
5A or the spout 504C of FIG. 5B is located anywhere on the housing
502 between the membrane 506 and the bottom side of the housing
502. In this way, the valve flap 508 can be enabled to assist with
mitigation of an occlusion effect or with manipulation of perceived
audio transparency. For one embodiment, the BA based valve 525 is
included in an in-ear speaker.
FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional top view illustration of one
embodiment of a membrane 600 that is included the BA receivers
illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5B. For one embodiment, the membrane 600 is
similar to or the same as membrane 506, which is described above in
connection with FIGS. 5A-5B. In the illustrated embodiment, the
membrane 600 includes the valve flap 508 in the open position 508A
and the closed position 508B, the drive pin 512, a primary membrane
604, a membrane frame 606, and an adhesive 602 that is used to
secure the drive pin 512 to the valve flap 508. For one embodiment,
the primary membrane 604 comprises the main part of the membrane
600 and the hinge (not shown), as described above in connection
with FIGS. 5A-5B. For one embodiment, each of the valve flap 508,
the primary membrane 604, and the membrane frame 606 is formed in
accordance with the description provided above in connection at
least one of FIGS. 5A-5B. For example, and for one embodiment, each
of the valve flap 508 and the primary membrane 604 are made of at
least one of nickel or aluminum. In this example, the primary
membrane 604 is multi-layered with copper to immobilize the primary
membrane 604, while the membrane frame 606 is formed from copper
and used to encase the primary membrane 604 so as to further
immobilize the primary membrane 604. Furthermore, and in this
example, the valve flap 508 is not immobilized with copper, as
described above in at least one of FIGS. 5A-5B.
FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional side view illustration of the membrane
illustrated in FIG. 6A. For one embodiment, the adhesive 602 is
used to secure the drive pin 512 to the valve flap 508. For one
embodiment, the adhesive 602 is a polymer material, e.g., a
compressed polymer material. For one embodiment, the adhesive 602
secures the drive pin 512 to the valve flap 508 by bonding or other
processes known in the art. For one embodiment, a hole is formed in
the valve flap 508 to enable the drive pin 512 to be secured to the
valve flap 508 using the adhesive 602 or other securing mechanisms
known in the art. It is to be appreciated that use of the adhesive
602 to secure the drive pin 512 to the valve flap 508 is merely
exemplary. It is to be appreciated that other securing techniques
(as known in the art) that are not disclosed herein can be used to
secure the drive pin 512 to the valve flap 508.
FIG. 7A is a block diagram side view illustration of one embodiment
of a bi-stable state 700 of at least one of the BA based valves 500
and 525 illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, respectively. In some
embodiments of the BA based valves 500 and 525, an electrical input
signal 702 is applied (in the form of a positive current, e.g.,
between +1 mA and +3 mA) to the coil assembly 514. For one
embodiment, the coil assembly 514 creates a magnetic flux in
response to the applied current and the magnetic flux moves the
armature 516 upwards towards upper magnet 522A. For one embodiment,
the upper magnet 522A has a magnetic field strength that attracts
the upward moving armature 516 and causes the armature 516 to
remain in direct contact with the upper magnet 522A. For this
embodiment, the drive pin 512 actuates the valve flap 508 into the
open position 508A as the armature 516 moves into direct contact
with the upper magnet 522A. At this point, the current (electrical
input signal 702) through the coil assembly 514 can now be reduced,
e.g., down to zero, by a control circuit (not shown) that may be
incorporated into the BA based valve 500, 525. In one embodiment,
the control circuit accepts a continuous, low power logic control
signal via the terminal 518 and connector 528, where the signal may
have two stable states, one that commands an open state for the
valve flap 508, and another that commands a closed state for the
valve flap 508; this logic control signal may originate from an
external electronic device (e.g., a smartphone, a computer, a
wearable computer system, etc.) The control circuit converts the
logic control signal into a short current pulse (electrical input
signal 702) having the correct polarity as described below, to
operate the coil assembly 514. For one embodiment, the control
circuit can also include logic for receiving one or more input
signals from the one or more sensors, as described above in
connection with at least one of FIGS. 5A-5B.
FIG. 7B is a block diagram side view illustration of one embodiment
of another bi-stable state 725 of at least one of the BA based
valves 500 and 525 illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, respectively.
For some embodiments of the BA based valves 500 and 525, an
electrical input signal 704 is applied (in the form of a negative
current, e.g., between -1 mA and -3 mA) to the coil assembly 514.
For one embodiment, the coil assembly 514 creates a magnetic flux
in response to the applied current and the magnetic flux moves the
armature 516 downwards towards the lower magnet 522B. For one
embodiment, the lower magnet 522B has a magnetic field strength
that attracts the downward moving armature 516 and causes the
armature 516 to remain in direct contact with the lower magnet
522B. For this embodiment, the drive pin 512 actuates the valve
flap 508 into the closed position 508B as the armature 516 moves
into direct contact with the lower magnet 522B. At this point, the
coil current (electrical input signal 704) can be reduced from its
activation level, down to for example zero, by the control circuit
that is incorporated into the BA based valves 500 and 525, as
described above in connection with FIG. 7A.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view illustration of one
embodiment of a driver assembly 800 of the in-ear speaker, that
includes the BA based valve 500 described above in connection with
FIG. 5A, and the acoustic driver 400 described above in connection
with FIG. 4. The illustrated embodiment of the driver assembly 800
is a combination of the BA based valve 500 and the acoustic driver
400 within a housing 802; however other embodiments are not so
limited. For example, and for one embodiment, the driver assembly
800 includes at least one BA based valve 500 and at least one of
(i) one or more BA receivers known in the art; or (ii) one or more
acoustic drivers that are not BA receivers. For one embodiment, the
housing 802 includes a first spout 804A that is to deliver sound
that is output/generated by the acoustic drivers of the driver
assembly 800 to an ear canal or to an ambient environment. For one
embodiment, the housing 802 includes at least one second spout 504B
that is to deliver unwanted sound created by an occlusion effect
away from an ear canal, as described above in connection with FIG.
5A. For the sake of brevity, only those features, components, or
characteristics that have not been described above in connection
with FIGS. 1A-7B will be described below in connection with FIG.
8.
The driver assembly 800 includes a housing 802. For one embodiment,
the housing 802 holds, encases, or is attached to one or more of
the components of the BA receivers in the driver assembly 800.
Furthermore, and for one embodiment, the housing 802 includes a top
side, a bottom side, a front side, and a rear side. For one
embodiment, the front side of the housing 802 is substantially
parallel to the rear side of the housing 802. For one embodiment,
the top side of the housing 802 is substantially parallel to the
bottom side of the housing 802. When the driver assembly 800 is
part of an in-ear speaker that is placed in a user's ear, the rear
side of the housing 802 is further away from the user's ear canal
than the front side of the housing 802 and the rear side of the
housing 802 is closer to an ambient environment than the front side
of the housing 802.
For one embodiment, the driver assembly 800 includes two spouts
804A and 504B, which may be formed on or coupled to the housing 802
as is known in the art. For one embodiment, the spout 804A performs
the functions of the spout 504A of the BA based valve 500 and the
functions of the spout 404 of the acoustic driver 400. The spouts
504A-504B are described above in connection with FIGS. 5A-5B. The
spout 404 is described above in connection with FIG. 4.
In the illustrated embodiment of the driver assembly 800, the spout
804A is formed on or coupled to the front side of the housing 802;
the spout 504B, a terminal 418, a terminal 518 are formed on or
attached to the rear side of the housing 802; the spout 804A is
equally close to the top and bottom sides of the housing 802; the
spout 504B is farther from the top side of the housing 802; the
spout 504B is closer to the bottom side of the housing 802; and the
terminal 418 is closer to the top side of the housing 802.
For one embodiment, the driver assembly 800 combines an ability of
the acoustic driver 400 to create sounds that are delivered to a
listener's ear with an ability of the BA based valve 500 to reduce
an occlusion effect and an ability of the BA based valve 500 to
enable manipulation of perceived audio transparency. For one
embodiment, the membrane 406 creates sounds based on an audio
signal input or provided as coil current, to the coil assembly 414,
as described above in connection with FIG. 4. For one embodiment,
the sounds created by the membrane 406 are emitted through the
spout 804A into an ear of a listener or an ambient environment. For
one embodiment, the valve flap 508 of the membrane 506, the spout
804A, and the spout 504B are used to release at least some of the
amplified or echo-like sounds that result from an occlusion effect
in the listener's ear, as described above in at least one of FIGS.
5A-7B. For one embodiment, the valve flap 508 of the membrane 506,
the spout 804A, and the spout 504B are used to enable manipulation
of perceived audio transparency, as described above in at least one
of FIGS. 5A-7B. The spout 804A is thus shared as both a primary
sound output port for an acoustic driver (producing sound in
accordance with an audio signal received at terminal 418) and as a
release port for releasing (inteo the ambient environment through
the spout 504B) the pressure of the amplified or echo-like sounds
in the ear canal. For one embodiment, the reduction of the
occlusion effect and the manipulation of the perceived audio
transparency is based on one or more sensors, e.g., the sensors
described above in at least one or FIGS. 5A-7B. For one embodiment,
the driver assembly 800 is included in an in-ear speaker.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view illustration of one
embodiment of a driver assembly 900 that includes the BA based
valve 525 described above in connection with FIG. 5B and the
acoustic driver 400 described above in connection with FIG. 4. For
one embodiment, the driver assembly 900 is a modification of the
driver assembly 800 described above in FIG. 8. The illustrated
embodiment of driver assembly 900 is a combination of the BA based
valve 525 and the acoustic driver 400 in the housing 802; however
other embodiments are not so limited. For example, and for one
embodiment, the driver assembly 900 includes at least one BA based
valve 525 and at least one of (i) one or more BA receivers known in
the art; or (ii) one or more acoustic drivers that are not BA
receivers. For the illustrated embodiment, the housing 802 includes
a first spout 804A and a second spout 504C. The spout 804A is
described above in connection with FIG. 8 and the spout 504C is
described above in connection with FIG. 5B. For one embodiment, the
driver assembly 900 is included in an in-ear speaker. For the sake
of brevity, reference is made to the descriptions provided above in
connection with at least one of FIG. 4, 5A-5B, or 8.
FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional side view illustration of yet another
embodiment of the venting or acoustic pass valve 210, as a BA based
valve 1000. BA based valve 1000 is a modification of the BA based
valve 500 (which is described above in connection with FIG. 5A).
For the sake of brevity, only the differences between the BA based
valve 1000 and the BA based valve 500 (which is described above)
will be described below in connection with FIG. 10A.
One difference between the BA based valve 1000 and the BA based
valve 500 relates to the presence of the membrane 1006 including a
detachable valve flap 1008 and without the hinge 510. For one
embodiment, the detachable valve flap 1008 of FIG. 10A differs from
the valve flap 508 of FIG. 5A because at least one end of the valve
flap 508 of FIG. 5A remains coupled to the membrane 506 of FIG. 5A,
while the other end of the valve flap 508 is lifted by the driver
pin 512 to open the valve flap 508. In contrast, the entirety of
the detachable valve flap 1008 of FIG. 10A is lifted by the drive
pin 512 so that the valve flap 1008 is completely detached from the
membrane 1006. Furthermore, there is no hinge 510 in the membrane
1006, which can reduce the number of components used to make the
membrane. For one embodiment, the detachable valve flap 1008 of
membrane 1006 is completely detached from the membrane 1006 into an
open position 1008A and re-attached to the membrane 1006 into a
closed position (not shown) based on a movement of the drive pin
512. For one embodiment, the BA based valve 1000 is included in an
in-ear speaker.
FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional side view illustration of one
additional embodiment of the valve 210, as a BA based valve 1025.
BA based valve 1025 is a modification of BA based valve 525 (which
is described above in connection with FIG. 5B). For the sake of
brevity, only the differences between the BA based valve 1025 and
the BA based valve 525 (which is described above) will be described
below in connection with FIG. 10B.
One difference between the BA based valve 1025 and the BA based
valve 525 relates to the presence of the membrane 1006 (including
detachable valve flap 1008 without a hinge 510). The differences
between the membrane 1006 and the membrane 506 are described above
in connection with FIG. 10A. For one embodiment, the BA based valve
1025 is included in an in-ear speaker.
FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional top view illustration of one
embodiment of a membrane 1100 that is included in at least one of
the BA based valves 1000 and 1025 illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B,
respectively. For one embodiment, the membrane 1100 is a
modification of membrane 600 described above in connection with
FIG. 6A. One difference between the membrane 1100 and the membrane
600 relates to the presence of the detachable valve flap 1008
without the hinge 510. The differences between the membrane 1006
and the membrane 506 are described above in connection with FIG.
10A. For one embodiment, membrane 1100 is similar to or the same as
membrane 1006, which is described above in connection with FIGS.
10A-10B. For the illustrated embodiment, the membrane 1100 includes
the detachable valve flap 1008 in the open position 1008A, the
drive pin 512, a primary membrane 604, a membrane frame 606, and an
adhesive 602 that is used to secure the drive pin 512 to the
detachable valve flap 1008. Each of these components is described
above in connection with at least one of FIGS. 6A-10B. For one
embodiment, the primary membrane 604 comprises the main part of the
membrane without a hinge. For one embodiment, each of the valve
flap 508, the primary membrane 604, and the membrane frame 606 is
formed in accordance with the description provided above in
connection FIGS. 5A-5B except that there is no hinge.
FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional side view illustration of the
membrane illustrated in FIG. 11A. The membrane illustrated by FIG.
11B is a modification of the membrane described above in connection
with FIG. 6B. One difference between the membrane illustrated by
FIG. 11B and the membrane described above in connection with FIG.
6B relates to the presence of the detachable valve flap 1008
without the hinge 510. The differences between the membrane 1006
and the membrane 506 are described above in connection with FIG.
10A. For the sake of brevity, reference is made to the descriptions
provided above in connection with at least one of FIGS. 6B and
10A-11A.
FIG. 12A is a block diagram side view illustration of one
embodiment of a bi-stable operation 1200 of at least one of the BA
based valves 1000 and 1025 illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B,
respectively. The bi-stable operation 1200 is a modification of the
bi-stable operation 700 described above in connection with FIG. 7A.
One difference between the bi-stable operation 1200 and the
bi-stable operation 700 described above in connection with FIG. 7A
relates to the presence of the detachable valve flap 1008 without a
hinge 510. The differences between the detachable valve flap 1008
and the valve flap 508 are described above in connection with FIG.
10A. For the sake of brevity, reference is made to the descriptions
above in connection with FIGS. 7A and 10A-11B.
FIG. 12B is a block diagram side view illustration of one
embodiment of another bi-stable operation 1225 of at least one of
the BA based valves 1000 and 1025 illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B,
respectively. The bi-stable operation 1225 is a modification of the
bi-stable operation 725 described above in connection with FIG. 7B.
One difference between the bi-stable operation 1225 and the
bi-stable operation 725 described above in connection with FIG. 7B
relates to the presence of the detachable valve flap 1008 without a
hinge 510. The differences between the detachable valve flap 1008
and the valve flap 508 are described above in connection with FIG.
10A. For the sake of brevity, reference is made to the descriptions
above in connection with FIGS. 7B and 10A-11B.
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side view illustration of one
embodiment of a driver assembly 1300 that includes the BA based
valve 1000 described above in connection with in FIG. 10A and the
acoustic driver 400 described above in connection with FIG. 4. For
one embodiment, the driver assembly 1300 is a modification of the
driver assembly 800, which is described above in connection with
FIG. 8. One difference between the driver assembly 1300 and the
driver assembly 800 described above in connection with FIG. 8
relates to the presence of the detachable valve flap 1008 without a
hinge 510. The differences between the detachable valve flap 1008
and the valve flap 508 are described above in connection with FIG.
10A. The illustrated embodiment of driver assembly 1300 is a
combination of one embodiment of the BA based valve 1000 and the
acoustic driver 400 in the housing 802; however other embodiments
are not so limited. For example, and for one embodiment, the driver
assembly 1300 includes at least one BA based valve 1000 and at
least one of (i) one or more BA receivers known in the art; or (ii)
one or more acoustic drivers that are not BA receivers. For one
embodiment, the driver assembly 1300 is included in an in-ear
speaker. For the sake of brevity, reference is made to the
descriptions provided above in connection with at least one of FIG.
8 or 10A-12B.
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional side view illustration of one
embodiment of a driver assembly 1400 that includes the BA based
valve 1025 described above in connection with FIG. 10B and the
acoustic driver 400 described above in connection with FIG. 4. For
one embodiment, the driver assembly 1400 is a modification of the
driver assembly 900 described above in connection with FIG. 9. One
difference between the driver assembly 1400 and the driver assembly
900 described above in connection with FIG. 9 relates to the
presence of the detachable valve flap 1008 without a hinge 510. The
differences between the detachable valve flap 1008 and the valve
flap 508 are described above in connection with FIG. 10A. The
illustrated embodiment of driver assembly 1400 is a combination of
one embodiment of the BA based valve 1025 and the acoustic driver
400 in the housing 802; however other embodiments are not so
limited. For example, and for one embodiment, the driver assembly
1400 includes at least one BA based valve 1025 and at least one of
(i) one or more BA receivers known in the art; or (ii) one or more
acoustic drivers that are not BA receivers. For one embodiment, the
driver assembly 1400 is included in an in-ear speaker. For the sake
of brevity, reference is made to the descriptions provided above in
connection with at least of FIG. 4, 10B, or 13.
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional side view illustration of yet another
embodiment of a driver assembly 1500 that includes the BA based
valve 500 described above in connection with in FIG. 5A and the
acoustic driver 400 described above in connection with FIG. 4. For
one embodiment, the driver assembly 1500 is a modification of the
driver assembly 800, which is described above in connection with
FIG. 8. One difference between the driver assembly 1500 and the
driver assembly 800 (which is described above) is that, in the
housing 1502 of the driver assembly 1500, the BA based valve 500
and the acoustic driver 400 are adjacently next to each other in an
x-direction or a y-direction. This embodiment of the driver
assembly 1600 can enable formation of driver assemblies with
predetermined or specified z-heights. Accordingly, for one
embodiment, the use of the housing 1502 to create the driver
assembly 1500 may allow for an overall reduction of the z-height in
size-critical applications.
The illustrated embodiment of the driver assembly 1500 is a
combination of the BA based valve 500 and the acoustic driver 400
within a housing 1502; however other embodiments are not so
limited. For example, and for one embodiment, the driver assembly
1500 includes at least one BA based valve that is described herein
(e.g., BA based valve 500 or 525) and at least one of (i) one or
more BA receivers known in the art; or (ii) one or more acoustic
drivers that are not BA receivers. For one embodiment, the housing
1502 includes a first spout 1504A that is to deliver sound that is
output/generated by the acoustic drivers of the driver assembly
1500 to an ear canal or to an ambient environment. For one
embodiment, the first spout 1504A is similar to or the same as the
spout 804A, which is described above in connection with FIG. 8. For
one embodiment, the housing 1502 includes at least one second spout
1504B that is to deliver unwanted sound created by an occlusion
effect away from a listener's ear. For one embodiment, the second
spout 1504B is similar to or the same as the spout 504B, which is
described above in connection with FIG. 5A. For one embodiment, the
driver assembly 1500 is included in an in-ear speaker.
FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional side view illustration of another
embodiment of a driver assembly 1600 that includes the BA based
valve 1000 described above in connection with in FIG. 10A and the
acoustic driver 400 described above in connection with FIG. 4. For
one embodiment, the driver assembly 1600 is a modification of the
driver assembly 1300, which is described above in connection with
FIG. 13. One difference between the driver assembly 1600 and the
driver assembly 1300 (which is described above) is that, in the
housing 1502 of the driver assembly 1600, the BA based valve 1000
and the acoustic driver 400 are adjacently next to each other in an
x-direction or a y-direction. This embodiment of the driver
assembly 1600 can enable formation of driver assemblies with
predetermined or specified z-heights. Accordingly, for one
embodiment, the use of the housing 1502 to create the driver
assembly 1600 may allow for an overall reduction of the z-height in
applications that are size-critical.
The illustrated embodiment of the driver assembly 1600 is a
combination of the BA based valve 1000 and the acoustic driver 400
within a housing 1502; however other embodiments are not so
limited. For example, and for one embodiment, the driver assembly
1600 includes at least one BA based valve that is described herein
(e.g., BA based valve 1000 or 1025) and at least one of (i) one or
more BA receivers known in the art; or (ii) one or more acoustic
drivers that are not BA receivers. For one embodiment, the housing
1502 of the driver assembly 1600 includes a first spout 1504A that
is to deliver sound that is output/generated by the acoustic
drivers of the driver assembly 1500 to an ear canal or to an
ambient environment. For one embodiment, the first spout 1504A is
similar to or the same as the spout 804A, which is described above
in connection with FIG. 8. For one embodiment, the housing 1502 of
the driver assembly 1600 includes at least one second spout 1504B
that is to deliver unwanted sound created by an occlusion effect
away from a listener's ear. For one embodiment, the second spout
1504B is similar to or the same as the spout 504B, which is
described above in connection with FIG. 5A. For one embodiment, the
driver assembly 1600 is included in an in-ear speaker.
Additional Features for an Active Vent System
FIG. 17 illustrates how at least one embodiment of the venting or
acoustic pass valve 210 described above in connection with at least
one of FIGS. 2 and 5A-16 can be used as part of an active vent
system 1700 in accordance with one embodiment. The active vent
system 1700 includes the in-ear speaker 206 which contains the
valve 210, different embodiments of which were described above in
connection with FIGS. 2, 5A-16. For the sake of brevity, only the
differences between the features of FIG. 2 and FIG. 17 will be
described below in connection with FIG. 17.
As explained above in connection with at least one of FIGS. 2 and
5A-16, at least one embodiment of the BA based valve 210 includes
at least two spouts, a membrane (including a valve flap and a
hinge), an armature, a coil assembly, two magnets, a pole piece,
and an air gap. For example, and for one embodiment, the valve flap
of the membrane can be in an open position or a closed position to
assist with reduction or elimination of amplified or echo-like
sounds created by an occlusion effect, as well as, manipulation of
perceived audio transparency.
For one embodiment, the active vent system 1700 is an acoustic
system that couples an otherwise sealed ear canal to an external
ambient environment (outside of an ear or an electronic device)
using a pathway 1701. For one embodiment, the pathway 1701 is a
network of volumes that include the BA based valve 210. For
example, and for one embodiment, the active vent system 1700
requires a minimal pathway 1701 (i.e., a minimal amount of volumes
that make up the pathway 1701) that includes a sealed ear canal
volume, the BA based valve 210, and a volume representing the
external ambient environment outside of an ear or an electronic
device.
For one embodiment, a volume of the pathway 1701 is a dynamic air
pressure confined within a specified three dimensional space, where
this volume is represented as an acoustic impedance. Depending on
the geometry of the volume, this acoustic impedance can behave like
a compliance, inertance, (also known as "acoustic mass"), or a
combination of both. The specified three dimensional space can be
expressed in a tangible form as a tubular structure, a cylindrical
structure, or any other type of structure with a defined
boundary.
For one embodiment, the geometry of the pathway 1701 determines an
overall effectiveness of the ability of the system 1700 to assist
with reduction or elimination of amplified or echo-like sounds
created by an occlusion effect, as well as, manipulation of
perceived audio transparency. For example, the pathway 1701 can
have a predetermined geometry that assists with reducing an
occlusion effect and also with reducing any unwanted energy that
builds up in the ear canal due to activity (e.g. running,
footfalls, chewing, etc.) Each volume can be designed with a
constant cross section and can resemble a structure of various
cross section shapes. For one embodiment, the pathway 1701 includes
at least three volumes 1703, 1705, and 1707. The first volume 1703
can be embodied in a tubular structure, a cylindrical structure, or
any other structure with a defined boundary (not shown) that
connects the BA based valve 210 of the in-ear speaker 206 to the
ambient environment outside the ear 102. The second volume 1705 can
be embodied in a tubular structure, a cylindrical structure, or any
other structure with a defined boundary (not shown) that connects
the BA based valve 210 of the in-ear speaker 206 to the ear canal
104 inside the ear 102. The third volume 1707 can be embodied as
the BA based valve 210 itself.
For an embodiment, the centerline of the pathway 1701 could be
circuitous, rectilinear, or any combination of having a simple or
complex direction. Furthermore, the BA based valve 210 of the
in-ear speaker 206 can be placed anywhere along the pathway 1701,
either closer to the ear canal 104 or closer to the ambient
environment outside the ear 102. For a specific embodiment, the
valve flap of the BA based valve 210 is placed along the centerline
of the pathway 1701.
For one embodiment, each of the volumes 1703, 1705, and 1707 of the
pathway 1701 is quantified in terms of that specific volume's
acoustic impedance (also known as acoustic mass). In this way, the
entire pathway 1701 can be quantified using an overall acoustic
impedance (Z.sub.TOTAL). The use of acoustic impedance to describe
each of the volumes 1703, 1705, and 1707 of the pathway 1701 is due
to the fact that the presence or absence of acoustic impedance
dominates the behavior and effectiveness of the active vent system
1700. The volume 1703 (which can be embodied in a structure that is
not shown in FIG. 17) is quantified by its acoustic impedance
Z.sub.AMB, which represents the acoustic impedance of the structure
connecting the BA based valve 210 to the ambient environment
outside the ear 102. The volume 1705 (which can be embodied in a
structure that is not shown in FIG. 17) is quantified by its
acoustic impedance Z.sub.EAR, which represents the acoustic
impedance of the structure connecting the BA based valve 210 to the
ear canal 104 inside the ear 102. The volume 1707 is quantified by
its acoustic impedance Z.sub.BA, which represents the acoustic
impedance in the BA based valve 210 itself. For some embodiments,
Z.sub.BA is considered to be negligible. For other embodiments,
Z.sub.BA is a factor in the overall acoustic impedance
(Z.sub.TOTAL).
For one embodiment, and with regard to the pathway 1701, the
formula for overall acoustic impedance (Z.sub.TOTAL) is as follows:
Z.sub.TOTAL=Z.sub.AMB+Z.sub.BA+Z.sub.EAR
For one embodiment, the overall acoustic impedance (Z.sub.TOTAL) is
at least 500 Kg/m.sup.4. For one embodiment, the overall acoustic
impedance (Z.sub.TOTAL) is at most 800,000 Kg/m.sup.4. The concept
of acoustic impedance or acoustic mass is well known to those
skilled in the art, so a derivation and calculations for the ranges
are not provided here.
A Hybrid Transparency System
FIG. 18 is an illustration of an in-ear speaker 1806, which is
configured as a hybrid audio transparency system in accordance with
one embodiment. For one embodiment, the in-ear speaker 1806 assists
with enabling a user of the in-ear speaker 1806 to achieve (i)
isolation from sounds 214 in the ambient environment, by preventing
those sounds 214 from entering the user's ear canal 104 using the
combination of passive ear canal sealing and closing of the valve
210; and (ii) perception of audio transparency by enabling delivery
of the sounds 214 from the ambient environment to the ear canal 104
even while the ear canal is sealed, via the combination of the
opening of the valve 210 and activation of an ambient sound
augmentation system 1801. In this way, the in-ear speaker 1806 is a
hybrid audio transparency system. It should be noted that the
description refers to the valve 210 generically, in that venting or
acoustic pass valves other than BA based valves can be used,
including for example micro electromechanical system (MEMS)-based
valves.
The in-ear speaker 1806 includes a user content sound system to
receive a user content audio signal, being a recorded audio program
signal or a downlink audio signal of a phone call, and convert the
user content audio signal into sound for delivery into an ear canal
that is sealed by the in-ear speaker. In a simple form, the user
content sound system may consist of an electro-acoustic transducer
(speaker driver) installed within the housing of the in-ear
speaker, with a wired audio connection to an external device from
which the user content audio signal is received and that directly
drives the signal input of the speaker driver. In other
embodiments, the user content sound system may include an audio
amplifier within the housing of the in-ear speaker 1806, digital
audio signal processing (enhancement) capability, and a wireless
digital communication interface through which the user content
audio signal may be wirelessly received from some external
device.
The in-ear speaker 1806 also includes the valve 210 which may be
similar to or the same as any of the valves 210 described above in
connection with FIGS. 1-17. A processor 1803 can trigger an opening
or closing of the valve 210. Processor 1803 may represent a single
microprocessor or multiple microprocessors. Processor 1803, which
may be a low power multi-core processor such as an ultra-low
voltage processor, may act as a main processing unit and central
hub for communication with the various components of the in-ear
speaker 1806 (including the user content audio system.) Processor
1803 is to execute instructions stored in memory (or is
programmed), for performing the operations discussed herein in
connection with at least one of FIGS. 18-22. The processor 1803 may
be configured to control or coordinate a functioning of the in-ear
speaker 1806, including a functioning of the in-ear speaker 1806 as
a hybrid audio transparency system. For one embodiment, the
processor 1803 is located outside of the housing of the in-ear
speaker, as part of an external data processing system (not shown)
that is communicatively coupled to the in-ear speaker 1806 via a
wired or a wireless digital communication interface, such as one
that is shared by the user content sound system introduced above.
For one embodiment, this external data processing system can be
part of an external electronic device as described above in
connection with at least FIG. 5A.
The in-speaker 1806 also has a sound augmentation system 1801. The
sound augmentation system 1801 includes an external microphone
1802, whose output signal is coupled to the processor 1803. The
term "external" is used here to differentiate between the
microphone 1802 and another microphone 2002, where the latter as
described below is designed to pick up sound within the ear canal.
The sound augmentation system 1801 uses the external microphone
1802 to electrically pick up sound 214 from the ambient environment
(not from the ear canal). This ambient sound is then reproduced
into the ear canal 104 for absorption by the eardrum 112, using an
acoustic (speaker) driver in the in-ear speaker 1806 (e.g., one
that is shared with the user content sound system). The sound 214
is picked up by the external microphone 1802, converted into an
electrical audio signal, processed by the processor 1803, and then
converted back into acoustic form as delivered into the ear canal
104. For one embodiment, the processor 1803 also implements an
equalizer to digitally adjust a frequency component of the sound
that has been picked up by the external microphone 1802. For one
embodiment, these adjustments are made to provide the reproduced
version of the sound 214 with characteristics that assist with
enabling a user of the in-ear speaker to perceive the sound 214 as
if there was no in-ear speaker 1806 sealing the ear 102 (the
concept of audio transparency).
Referring briefly to FIG. 19, a chart 1900 is illustrated to show
in part how the sound augmentation system works. The processor 1803
adjusts (1903) the audio signal picked up by the external
microphone (ambient sound signal) in order to provide the audio
signal (that will be converted into sound) with one or more
characteristics that assist with enabling a user of the in-ear
speaker to perceive the sound 214 as if there was no in-ear speaker
1806 sealing the ear 102. As shown in FIG. 19, the curve 1901
represents the sound pressure losses in decibels (dB) associated
with sealing the ear canal (hereinafter "insertion losses"), as a
function of frequency. The curve 1902 represents the sound pressure
in an unsealed ear canal that enables a user of the in-ear speaker
1806 to perceive the sounds 214 comfortably. For one embodiment,
the processor 1803 implements an equalizer that adjusts 1903 the
frequency components (gains) of the sound 214 that is picked up by
the microphone 1802. As shown in FIG. 19, the equalizer adjusts
1903 the gains at certain frequencies of the ambient audio signal,
to compensate for the insertion losses, so as to give the
processed, ambient audio signal effectively a zero decibel (dB)
insertion loss.
For one embodiment, the processor 1803 can activate the sound
augmentation system 1801 (to reproduce the sounds 214 of the
ambient environment as the processed, ambient audio signal) in
response to or whenever the valve 210 is being opened to promote a
hybrid, audio transparency approach; it may then deactivate the
sound augmentation system when the valve 210 is being closed to
achieve isolation from the sounds 214 in the ambient
environment.
For one embodiment, one or more of the control signals that cause
the opening or closing of the valve 210 can be based on one or more
measurements of one or more sensors (not shown) and based on an
operating state of an external electronic device (e.g., a
smartphone, a computer, a wearable computer system, etc.) that is
using or electrically connected to the in-ear speaker 1806 to
generate user content sound. For example, and for one embodiment,
the one or more sensors can include at least one of an
accelerometer, a sound sensor, a barometric sensor, an image
sensor, a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor, a vibration
sensor, a gyroscopic sensor, a compass, a barometer, a
magnetometer, or any other sensor whose purpose is to detect a
characteristic of one or more environs. For one embodiment, the one
or more control signals are applied to the coil assembly 514 and
are based on one or more measurements of the one or more sensors.
The one or more sensors may be included as part of the valve 210,
as part of the in-ear speaker 1806 that includes the valve 210, or
within the housing of an external electronic device (e.g., a
smartphone, a computer, a wearable computer system, etc.) that is
communicatively coupled to the in-ear speaker 1806 and provides the
input user content audio signal to the in-ear speaker 1806.
For one embodiment, the one or more sensors are coupled to logic
(not shown) that determines, based on one or more measurements of
the one or more sensors, when to activate the control signals that
cause the opening or closing of the valve 210. Furthermore, in
response to the logic's determination that the valve 210 should be
opened, the processor 1803 activates or operates the sound
augmentation system 1801 as described above in connection with FIG.
18.
For one embodiment, a software component on an external electronic
device (e.g., a smartphone, a computer, a wearable computer system,
etc.) that is communicatively coupled to the in-ear speaker 1806
can analyze and/or gather data provided to or received by one or
more software applications (e.g., an atmospheric pressure
monitoring application, a weather monitoring application, etc.)
that are running on the external electronic device. For one
embodiment, based on the analyzed and/or gathered data, the
software component determines whether to open or close the valve
210. In response to the opening of the valve 210, the processor
1803 can activate or operate the sound augmentation system 1801 as
described above in connection with FIG. 18.
For one embodiment, the processor 1803 operates, in conjunction
with the examples and embodiments described above in connection
with FIG. 5A, to combine use of the valve 210 with the sound
augmentation system 1801. In each of those examples and/or
embodiments, the processor 1803 operates the sound augmentation
system 1801 as described above in connection with FIG. 18 in
response to the valve 210 being opened. Other examples and/or
embodiments are also possible. It is to be appreciated that the
immediately preceding examples are merely for illustration and are
not intended to be limiting. This is because there are numerous
types of sensors and ways in which the numerous types of sensors
can be used and/or combined to operate the sound augmentation
system 1801 (in response to an opening or closing of the valve
210.) It is also to be appreciated that one or more of the examples
and/or embodiments described above can be combined or practiced
without all of the details set forth in the examples and/or
embodiments described above.
For one embodiment, the logic that determines, based on one or more
measurements of the one or more sensors, when one or more of the
control signals that cause the opening or closing of the valve 210
are activated, can be manually overridden by the listener, to open
or close the valve 210 when the listener chooses. For this
embodiment, and in response to the opening of the valve 210 when
there is a listener override, the processor 1803 activates the
sound augmentation system 1801 as described above in connection
with FIG. 18. In one embodiment, an external electronic device
(which is electrically, that is wirelessly or via a wire link,
connected to the in-ear speaker 1806 that includes the valve 210)
can include one or more input devices that enable a listener to
provide an input (as an override by the listener) that causes the
logic to provide the control signal that causes the valve 210 to
open. For this example, the processor 1803 also responds by
operating the sound augmentation system 1801 as described above in
connection with FIG. 18 (in response to the valve 210 being
opened.) For one embodiment, the external electronic device may be
include, but is not limited to, the in-ear speaker 1806 that
includes the valve 210, but it may alternatively be a smartphone, a
tablet computer, or a wearable computer system.
The use of the combination of the valve 210 and the sound
augmentation system 1801 can assist in enabling the listener
(wearer) of the in-ear speaker 1806 to improve his perception of
audio transparency, by enabling effectively a delivery of the sound
214 from the ambient environment to the ear canal 104 via a
combination of both the valve 210 and the sound augmentation system
1801.
For one embodiment, the in-ear speaker 1806 can also include an
active noise control or acoustic noise cancellation (ANC) system
(not shown) comprised of an acoustic driver, an error microphone
(not shown) and the processor 1803, that work together to perform
acoustic noise cancellation in order to reduce the occlusion effect
(as explained earlier). The use of a processor and an error
microphone for ANC is known so it is not discussed in detail, but
in one embodiment, the ANC system can, via the error microphone,
assist with controlling the adaptation of anti-noise (or
anti-phase) that is acoustically combined with unwanted sound
inside the ear canal, to cancel out any unwanted sounds (e.g.,
sounds from the ambient environment that may have leaked into the
ear canal, or occlusion effect sounds produced in the ear canal.).
In this way, the ANC system can assist--in combination with the
valve 210 and the sound augmentation system 1801--with improving
isolation from the sounds 214 in the ambient environment, by
preventing those sounds 214 that have leaked into the user's ear
canal 104 from being perceived by the user. For one embodiment, the
ANC system is activated or operated to reduce the occlusion effect
(as explained above), only in response to a closing of the valve
210; in one embodiment, the ANC system is then deactivated upon the
valve 210 being opened.
FIG. 20 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the in-ear speaker
1806 that is configured as an audio transparency system in
accordance with one embodiment. As shown in FIG. 20, the in-ear
speaker 1806 is inserted into the ear canal 104 and may form a seal
against the wall of the ear canal 104. The in-ear speaker 1806 can
be designed as a sealable insertable in-ear speaker or a leaky
insertable in-ear speaker, as defined herein. For one embodiment,
the processor 1803 may be programmed in accordance with or include
a transparency adjustment module 2003 and an ear canal
identification module 2004. The transparency adjustment module 2003
may be a variable, spectral shaping filter or equalizer. The ear
canal identification module 2004 may serve to determine an
equalization profile, based on which it may configure the digital
filter coefficients of the spectral shaping filter in the
transparency adjustment module 2003. The valve 210 can be opened
and closed as described above in connection with at least one of
FIGS. 1-17, under control of a program that may be executed by the
processor 1803, e.g., during audio playback or during a phone call,
that controls at a higher level the audio transparency of the
in-ear speaker. Ambient environment sound is picked up by the
microphone 1802, which converts the sound into an electrical audio
signal that is provided to the processor 1803 for further
processing.
For one embodiment, the processor 1803 adjusts the spectrum of the
electrical audio signal from the microphone 1802, to compensate for
any insertion losses that are due to the in-speaker 1806 being
installed in the wearer's ear and therefore at least partially
blocking the ear canal and that affect the ambient sound that leaks
past the in-ear speaker housing and may be perceived the wearer.
For one embodiment, the adjustment is based on an equalization
profile of the ear canal. For one embodiment, the profile is a
collection of one or more acoustic characteristics associated with
the specific ear canal 104 of the wearer. Acoustic characteristics
include, but are not limited to, a sound pressure associated with
the ear canal; a particle velocity associated with the ear canal; a
particle displacement associated with the ear canal; an acoustic
intensity associated with the ear canal; an acoustic power
associated with the ear canal; a sound energy associated with the
ear canal; a sound energy density associated with the ear canal; a
sound exposure associated with the ear canal; an acoustic impedance
associated with the ear canal; an audio frequency associated with
the ear canal; and a transmission loss associated with the ear
canal.
Referring back to FIG. 19, the chart 1900 shows an example of how
the processor 1803 can adjust 1903 the sounds 214 from the ambient
environment that are picked up by the external microphone 1802 in
order to provide those sounds with one or more characteristics that
assist with enabling a user of the in-ear speaker 1806 to perceive
the sounds 214 as if there was no in-ear speaker 1806 sealing the
ear 102. As shown in FIG. 19, the curve 1901 represents the sound
pressure losses in decibels (dB) associated with sealing the ear
canal (hereinafter "insertion losses"). As a specific example, the
curve 1901 can be used to represent the insertion losses due to
either a sealable or a leaky insertable in-ear speaker 1806, when
those sound pressure losses are measured at (or estimated for) the
ear drum of a user of the in-ear speaker 1806. The curve 1902
represents the sound pressure in an unsealed ear canal that enables
a user of the in-ear speaker 1806 to perceive the sounds 214
comfortably. For one embodiment, the processor 1803 implements an
equalizer or spectral shaping filter (transparency adjustment
module 2003) that adjusts 1903 the frequency components of the
sound 214 that is picked up by the microphone 1802. As shown in
FIG. 19, the equalizer of the processor 1803 adjusts (here, boosts)
1903 the gain at certain frequency components of the sound 214, to
compensate for the insertion losses, so as to give the sounds 214 a
zero decibel (dB) insertion loss.
The adjustments 1903 that are intended to bring the curve 1901
closer to the curve 1902 may be realized by the spectral shaping
filter that is part of the transparency adjustment module 2003. The
spectral shaping filter (e.g., its digital filter coefficients) may
be defined based on the equalization (EQ) profile of the ear canal
104. For one embodiment, the EQ profile is unique to a specific ear
canal 104 of the wearer and no other ear canal 104--i.e., each user
or wearer has a unique EQ profile, because each user's actual ear
canal is unique. The goal of the EQ profile is to define the
recovery of any insertion losses attributable to the presence of
the in-ear speaker (e.g., insertion losses due to the in-ear
speaker 1806 when sound pressure losses are measured or estimated
at the ear drum of a user of the in-ear speaker 1806) to a unity
match, which is illustrated in FIG. 19 in the form of the curve
1902 as a flat target. Curve 1902, however, is not so limited. For
example, the curve 1902 can be measured as a response to an
external sound, at the ear drum of a user of the in-ear speaker
1806, when that user's ear canal is not sealed by the in-ear
speaker 1806. For this example, the curve 1902 is not flat but
includes resonances and other variations due to the ear canal
geometry. Various forms of representing the curve 1902 to indicate
the sound pressure within an unsealed ear canal are known in the
art so they are not discussed in detail.
When the EQ profile is to be unique to each user, the EQ profile
can be ascertained using one or more audio test signals that
generated by the processor 1803 and used to measure the one or more
acoustic properties of the ear canal 104. The test signal is
converted into sound, e.g., by an acoustic driver or transducer
2001 of the in-ear speaker 1806, or by another acoustic driver (not
shown), that can be picked up by the error microphone 2002 or by
the external microphone 1802. The ear canal identification module
2004 can the compute the EQ profile based on those microphone
signals and based on other data received from outside of the in-ear
speaker, e.g., from the external audio source device, and then on
that basis computes the digital filter coefficients of the spectral
shaping filter in the transparency adjustment module 2003.
In another embodiment, the equalization profile is not unique to
the ear canal 104 of the wearer. For this embodiment, the
equalization profile is based on an average of multiple acoustic
properties associated with multiple ear canals (e.g., a statistical
measure across a number of wearers). In this way, the processor
1803 and in particular the transparency adjustment module 2003
(equalizer filter or spectral shaping filter) can be pre-programmed
in accordance with the equalization profile of an "average" ear
canal 104; in that case, the ear canal identification module 2004
may not be needed to compute the equalization profile, but may
simply retrieve or receive the EQ profile, e.g., from the external
source device. For this embodiment, the processor 1803 might not
even have to actually compute the digital filter coefficients of
the spectral shaping filter, as those could be retrieved from the
external source device, which can assist with reducing costs
associated with the processing operations performed by the
processor 1803.
For one embodiment, the processor 1803 (and in particular the
transparency adjustment module 2003) adjusts the frequencies of the
ambient sounds detected in the curve 1902 (described above in
connection with FIG. 19 that is determined) based on the
equalization profile. Specifically, the processor 1803 adjusts the
frequencies of the ambient sounds until those sounds exhibits zero
decibel insertion losses, as shown in the curve 1902 described
above in connection with FIG. 19.
For one embodiment, the adjusted audio signal is converted into
sound (after being amplified by a power amplifier, PA) and
delivered by the output transducer 2001, to the ear canal 104. The
output transducer 2001 can be any kind of transducer capable of
converting electrical audio signals into acoustic signals that can
be perceived by a user's ear drum. For one embodiment, the output
transducer 2001 is also an acoustic driver of the in-ear speaker
1806 that receives as input a user content audio signal produced by
an external electronic audio source device (e.g., a smartphone, a
portable media player), for delivering user content sounds to the
ear canal 104. The in-ear speaker may have a communications
interface 2005 (e.g., a wire or cable interface, or a wireless
interface such as a Bluetooth transceiver) through with the user
content audio signal is received. The processor 1803 may include an
audio mixer that combines the user content audio signal with the
processed (adjusted) ambient content audio signal (from the
transparency adjustment module 2003) into a single signal, before
the conversion into sound by the transducer 2001.
FIG. 21 is a flow diagram of a process for sound augmentation in an
in-ear speaker as a hybrid transparency system in accordance with
one embodiment. The process can be performed by the electronic and
transducer components of an insertable in-ear speaker, such as the
in-ear speakers described above in connection with FIGS. 18-20. The
process may begin when one or more sounds from the ambient
environment are being picked up and converted into one or more
electrical audio signals, by an external microphone of the in-ear
speaker (operation 2104). In operation 2106, the electrical audio
signals are processed to adjust one or more frequency components of
sounds, to compensate for the insertion loss. For one embodiment,
operation 2106 is performed in accordance with the description
provided above in connection with at least one of FIGS. 18-20. When
a decision has been made (e.g., by the processor 1803) that audio
transparency is needed, the process continues with operation 2108
in which the ambient content audio signal as it has been adjusted
to compensate for insertion loss, is converted into sound that is
delivered to the wearer's ear canal, and operation 2107 in which
the valve 210 (see FIG. 20) is signaled by the processor 1803 to
open. The sound augmentation path (from the microphone 1802 to the
transducer 2001) may be particularly effective in improving the
wearer's ability to hear the ambient content that is above 1 kHz,
and more particularly above 1500 Hz, while the valve 210, which is
simultaneously open, improves the wearer's ability to hear the
ambient content that is below 1 kHz, and more particularly below
1500 Hz.
FIGS. 22A-B are charts illustrating at least one benefit of an
in-ear speaker that includes the valve 210 and the sound
augmentation system in accordance with one embodiment. Referring to
FIG. 22A, the chart 2300 illustrates a curve 2301, a curve 2302,
and a region 2303 created by an overlap of the curves 2301 and
2302. The curve 2301 represents unwanted energy in an occluded ear
canal that is produced due to footfalls (e.g., running, walking,
etc.) The curve 2302 represents energy in an open ear canal that is
produced due to footfalls (e.g., running, walking, etc.). The
energy represented by the curve 2302 is at a level that is
comfortable for a user's perception of audio inside his ear canal.
The energy in region 2303 represents the energy that should be
mitigated or removed from an occluded ear that is sealed by any of
in-ear speakers described above in connection with FIGS. 5A-21. For
one embodiment, an in-ear speaker that includes the valve 210 and
the sound augmentation system described above in connection with
FIGS. 5A-21 can assist with mitigating the energy represented by
the curve 2301 to be closer to the energy represented by the curve
2302, by reducing the unwanted energy represented by the region
2303.
Referring now to FIG. 22B, a chart 2399 illustrates how an in-ear
speaker that includes the valve 210 and the sound augmentation
system (e.g., any one of the in-ear speakers described above in
connection with FIGS. 18-21) contributes to reducing an occlusion
effect and to improving audio transparency experienced by a user of
such an in-ear speaker. The chart 2399 includes a curve 2350, a
curve 2351, and a curve 2352. The curve 2350 represents energy
within an open ear that is not occluded or sealed. The curve 2351
represents energy within a sealed ear when the valve 210 (e.g., any
one of the BA based valves described above in connection with FIGS.
5A-21) is functioning and is open but while the sound augmentation
is inactive. The ear is sealed with an in-ear speaker that includes
the valve 210 and a sound augmentation system (e.g., any one of the
in-ear speakers described above in connection with FIGS. 18-21).
The curve 2352 represents energy within the sealed ear when the
sound augmentation system is active and the valve is closed. As can
be recognized from FIG. 22B, the valve 210 by itself can assist
with mitigating unwanted energy from a sealed ear, at frequencies
that are approximately below 1500 Hz but not at frequencies above
1500 Hz. At frequencies above 1500 Hz, the sound augmentation
system can assist with increasing the desired energy in the sealed
ear, while the valve 210 is open. In this way, the in-ear speaker
is a hybrid transparency system that includes both the valve 210
and the sound augmentation system working simultaneously to assist
with reducing occlusion effects and improving audio
transparency.
Each of FIGS. 22A-B are illustrative charts used to show at least
one benefit of an in-ear speaker that includes an acoustic pass
valve and a sound augmentation system. It is to be appreciated that
the values in the charts are approximate or ideal values (not exact
or real values).
Returning to the flow diagram of FIG. 21, the process may continue
with the processor 1803 deciding at some point that audio
transparency is not needed. In that case, the process continues
with operation 2110 in which conversion of the ambient audio signal
into sound is halted, by the processor 1803 (the sound augmentation
system is deactivated), and simultaneously the valve 210 is
signaled to close (operation 2109). This returns the in-ear speaker
to its state in which it aims to prevent the ambient sounds from
being heard by the wearer of the in-ear speaker.
FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a data
processing system 2200 that may be used with one embodiment. For a
first example, system 2200 may represent any of data processing
systems described above performing any of the processes or methods
described above. For a second example, system 2200 may represent
any of data processing systems used to generate music that is
provided to any one of the embodiments of an in-ear speaker as
described above in connection with at least one of FIGS. 1-21. For
a third example, system 2200 may represent any of in-ear speakers
used to deliver music to an ear canal as described above in
connection with at least one of FIGS. 1-21.
System 2200 can include many different components. These components
can be implemented as integrated circuits (ICs), portions thereof,
discrete electronic devices, or other modules adapted to a circuit
board such as a motherboard or add-in card of the computer system,
or as components otherwise incorporated within a chassis of the
computer system. Note also that system 2200 is intended to show a
high-level view of many components of the computer system.
Nevertheless, it is to be understood that additional components may
be present in certain implementations and furthermore, different
arrangement of the components shown may occur in other
implementations. System 2200 may represent a desktop, a laptop, a
tablet, a server, a mobile phone, a media player, a personal
digital assistant (PDA), a personal communicator, a gaming device,
a network router or hub, a wireless access point (AP) or repeater,
a set-top box, an in-ear speaker, or a combination thereof.
Further, while only a single machine or system is illustrated, the
term "machine" or "system" shall also be taken to include any
collection of machines or systems that individually or jointly
execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one
or more of the methodologies discussed herein.
In one embodiment, system 2200 includes processor 2201, memory
2203, and devices 2205-1508 via a bus or an interconnect 2210.
Processor 2201 can be programmed to execute instructions for
performing any of the digital processing operations described
above. System 2200 may further include a graphics interface that
communicates with optional graphics subsystem 2204, which may
include a display controller, a graphics processor, and/or a
display device. Processor 2201 may communicate with memory 2203,
which in one embodiment can be implemented via multiple memory
devices to provide for a given amount of system memory. System 2200
may further include 10 devices such as devices 2205-1508, including
network interface device(s) 2205, optional input device(s) 2206,
and other optional 10 device(s) 2207. Network interface device 2205
may include a wireless transceiver and/or a network interface card
(NIC). The wireless transceiver may be a WiFi transceiver, an
infrared transceiver, or a Bluetooth transceiver (e.g. used to
communicate with the in-ear speaker.) Input device(s) 2206 may
include a mouse, a touch pad, a touch sensitive screen (which may
be integrated with display device 2204), a pointer device such as a
stylus, and/or a keyboard (e.g., physical keyboard or a virtual
keyboard displayed as part of a touch sensitive screen). IO devices
2207 may include an audio device. An audio device may include a
speaker and/or a microphone to facilitate voice-enabled functions,
such as voice recognition, digital recording, telephony functions
and for producing test sounds. Other IO devices 2207 may include
universal serial bus (USB) port(s), sensor(s) (e.g., a motion
sensor such as an accelerometer, gyroscope, a magnetometer, a light
sensor, compass, a proximity sensor, etc.), or a combination
thereof. Devices 2207 may further include an imaging processing
subsystem (e.g., a camera), which may include an optical sensor,
such as a charged coupled device (CCD) or a complementary
metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) optical sensor, utilized to
facilitate camera functions. Certain sensors may be coupled to
interconnect 2210 via a sensor hub (not shown), while other devices
such as a keyboard or thermal sensor may be controlled by an
embedded controller (not shown), dependent upon the specific
configuration or design of system 2200.
Note that while system 2200 is illustrated with various components
of a data processing system, it is not intended to represent any
particular architecture or manner of interconnecting the
components; such details may not be germane to embodiments of the
present invention. It will also be appreciated that network
computers, handheld computers, mobile phones, servers, and/or other
data processing systems, which have fewer components or perhaps
more components, may also be used with embodiments of the
invention.
Some portions of the preceding detailed descriptions have been
presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of
operations on data bits within a computer memory. These algorithmic
descriptions and representations are the ways used by those skilled
in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the
substance of their work to others skilled in the art. An algorithm
is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence
of operations leading to a desired result. The operations are those
requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities.
It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar
terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities
and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities.
Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the above
discussion, it is appreciated that throughout the description,
discussions utilizing terms such as those set forth in the claims
below, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or
similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and
transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities
within the computer system's registers and memories into other data
similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer
system memories or registers or other such information storage,
transmission or display devices.
Embodiments of the invention also relate to an apparatus for
performing the operations herein. Such a computer program is stored
in a non-transitory computer readable medium. A machine-readable
medium includes any mechanism for storing information in a form
readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). For example, a
machine-readable (e.g., computer-readable) medium includes a
machine (e.g., a computer) readable storage medium (e.g., read only
memory ("ROM"), random access memory ("RAM"), magnetic disk storage
media, optical storage media, flash memory devices).
The processes or methods depicted in the preceding figures may be
performed by logic or logic circuitry (also referred to as
processing logic) that comprises hardware (e.g. circuitry,
dedicated logic, etc.), software (e.g., stored or embodied on a
non-transitory computer readable medium), or a combination of both.
Although the processes or methods are described above in terms of
some sequential operations, it should be appreciated that some of
the operations described may be performed in a different order.
Moreover, some operations may be performed in parallel rather than
sequentially.
In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the invention have
been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments
thereof. It will be evident that various modifications may be made
thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the
invention as set forth in the following claims. Also, it is to be
appreciated that each of the devices, components, or objects
illustrated in FIGS. 1-23 are not necessarily drawn to scale and
that the sizes of these components are not necessarily identical.
For example, the coil assembly 414 illustrated in FIG. 8 may or may
not be identical in size and/or shape to the coil assembly 514
illustrated in FIG. 8.
The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in
an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense.
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