Device for picking up bone-conducted sound in external auditory meatus and communication device using the same

Patent 5295193 Issued on March 15, 1994. Estimated Expiration Date:

January 22, 2012. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

3529102

Ear microphone Patent #: 4588867
Issued on: 05/13/1986
Inventor: Konomi

Inventor

Ono, Hiroshi

Application

No. 824104 filed on 01/22/1992

US Classes:

381/151, Body contact wave transfer (e.g., bone conduction earphone, larynx microphone)381/322, Specified casing or housing381/326Non-air-conducted sound delivery

Examiners

Primary: Isen, Forester W.
Assistant: Le, Huyen

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Wegner, Cantor, Mueller & Player

Foreign Patent References

4-096599 JP 03/13/1992

International Class

H04R 025/00

Abstract

A device for picking up bone-conducted sound in the external auditory meatus includes a fitting portion for accommodation in a navicular cavity formed between a tragus cartilage portion and an entrance portion of an external auditory meatus, and a bone conduction microphone unit for insertion into the external auditory meatus in such a manner as to be brought into contact with a wall of the external auditory meatus. The bone conduction microphone unit is held by the fitting portion via a resilient member in such a manner that at least a portion of the bone conduction microphone unit contacting the external auditory meatus is resiliently brought into contact with the wall of the external auditory meatus substantially orthogonally. Also disclosed is a communication device in which an earphone unit for transmitting sound from the outside is accommodated in the fitting portion of the device for picking up bone-conducted sound in the external auditory meatus, and a sound conductive tube of the earphone unit is open at a portion of the fitting portion facing the external auditory meatus.