US 11,750,988 B2
Tympanic lens for hearing device with reduced fluid ingress
Bryan Flaherty, Mountain View, CA (US); Daniel Hallock, Redwood City, CA (US); James Silver, Palo Alto, CA (US); Kyle Imatani, Mountain View, CA (US); Eduardo Sager, Milpitas, CA (US); Ketan Muni, San Jose, CA (US); and Ohnmar Khin, Newark, CA (US)
Assigned to Earlens Corporation, Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed by Earlens Corporation, Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/412,850.
Application 17/412,850 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2019/019877, filed on Feb. 27, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0392449 A1, Dec. 16, 2021
Int. Cl. H04R 17/00 (2006.01); H04R 25/00 (2006.01)
CPC H04R 25/658 (2013.01) [H04R 2225/77 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of preventing fluid ingress into a microactuator, wherein an ingress membrane, comprising a mounting ring and an ingress membrane reed opening, is affixed to an open end of the microactuator, a microactuator reed extending through the ingress membrane reed opening, the method comprising the steps of:
affixing the ingress membrane to an ingress membrane mounting surface at the open end of the microactuator using an ingress membrane mounting ring adhesive positioned on the ingress membrane mounting surface;
encapsulating an interface between the ingress membrane and the ingress membrane mounting ring adhesive in an encapsulation shield;
affixing the microactuator reed to the ingress membrane at the ingress membrane reed opening using a first reed adhesive;
covering the first reed adhesive with a second reed adhesive, the second reed adhesive:
covering an interface between the first reed adhesive and the ingress membrane; and
covering an interface between the first reed adhesive and the reed.
 
8. A method of preventing fluid ingress into a microactuator, wherein an ingress membrane, the ingress membrane comprising a mounting ring and an ingress membrane reed opening, is affixed to an open end of the microactuator, a microactuator reed extending through the ingress membrane reed opening, the method comprising the steps of:
affixing the ingress membrane to an ingress membrane mounting surface at the open end of the microactuator using an ingress membrane mounting ring adhesive positioned on the ingress mounting surface, wherein the ingress mounting ring adhesive comprises an epoxy adhesive;
encapsulating an interface between the ingress membrane and the ingress membrane mounting ring adhesive in an encapsulation shield, the encapsulation shield comprising a flexible adhesive comprising a cyanoacrylate;
affixing the microactuator reed to the ingress membrane at the ingress membrane reed opening using a first reed adhesive, wherein the first reed adhesive comprises an epoxy adhesive;
covering the first reed adhesive with a second reed adhesive, the second reed adhesive comprising a flexible material comprising a cyanoacrylate, the second reed adhesive:
covering an interface between the first reed adhesive and the ingress membrane; and
covering an interface between the first reed adhesive and the reed.
 
9. A microactuator comprising:
an outer shell, the outer shell including a microactuator reed opening at a distal end thereof;
a microactuator reed extending from an interior of the outer shell though the microactuator reed opening;
an ingress membrane mounting surface connected to the outer shell and surrounding the microactuator reed opening;
an ingress membrane mounting ring adhesive positioned on the ingress membrane mounting surface;
an ingress membrane, the ingress membrane comprising a mounting ring and a central section, wherein the mounting ring surrounds the central section, the mounting ring being positioned on the ingress membrane mounting ring adhesive;
an ingress membrane reed opening in the central portion of the ingress membrane, wherein the microactuator reed extends through the ingress membrane reed opening;
an encapsulation shield, the encapsulation shield extending over the ingress membrane mounting ring;
a first reed adhesive connecting the ingress membrane to the microactuator reed at the ingress membrane reed opening;
a second reed adhesive positioned on and covering the first reed adhesive, the second reed adhesive:
covering an interface between the first reed adhesive and the ingress membrane; and
covering an interface between the first reed adhesive and the reed.
 
23. A microactuator comprising:
an outer shell, the outer shell including a microactuator reed opening at a distal end thereof, the outer shell being constructed of a ferrous material;
a microactuator reed extending from an interior of the outer shell though the microactuator reed opening;
an ingress membrane mounting surface connected to the outer shell and surrounding the microactuator reed opening;
an end ring positioned on the microactuator at a distal end of the outer shell, the end ring comprising stainless steel, the end ring including the ingress membrane mounting surface at a distal end thereof;
an ingress membrane mounting ring adhesive positioned on the ingress membrane mounting surface, wherein the ingress membrane mounting ring adhesive comprises an epoxy adhesive;
an ingress membrane, including a mounting ring and a central section, wherein the mounting ring surrounds the central section, the ingress membrane comprising either polyurethane, or polyetherurethane, the mounting ring being positioned on the ingress membrane mounting ring adhesive;
an ingress membrane reed opening in the central portion of the ingress membrane, wherein the microactuator reed extends through the ingress membrane reed opening;
an encapsulation shield, the encapsulation shield being mounted on the support band and extending over the ingress membrane mounting ring, the encapsulation shield comprising a flexible material, the encapsulation shield comprising cyanoacrylate;
a first reed adhesive connecting the ingress membrane to the microactuator reed at the ingress membrane reed opening, wherein the first reed adhesive comprises an epoxy adhesive;
a second reed adhesive positioned on and covering the first reed adhesive, the second reed adhesive:
covering an interface between the first reed adhesive and the ingress membrane;
covering an interface between the first reed adhesive and the reed;
extending from the ingress membrane to the microactuator reed;
comprising a flexible material; and
comprising cyanoacrylate.