(19)
(11) EP 1 968 347 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
09.11.2011 Bulletin 2011/45

(43) Date of publication A2:
10.09.2008 Bulletin 2008/37

(21) Application number: 08250706.2

(22) Date of filing: 29.02.2008
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
H04R 25/00(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA MK RS

(30) Priority: 02.03.2007 JP 2007052186
21.02.2008 JP 2008039517

(71) Applicants:
  • Rion Co., Ltd.
    Tokyo 185-8533 (JP)
  • Arai, Yasuko
    Tokyo 164-0002 (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • Iwakura, Takashi, c/o Rion Co., Ltd.
    Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo 185-8533 (JP)
  • Arai, Yasuko
    Tokyo 164-0002 (JP)

(74) Representative: Piésold, Alexander James 
Dehns St Bride's House 10 Salisbury Square
London EC4Y 8JD
London EC4Y 8JD (GB)

   


(54) Contact vibrator and hearing device using the same


(57) A contact vibrator 1 comprises a vibrator 5 for converting an electric signal to a mechanical vibration, a vibration transmitting section 6 for transmitting the mechanical vibration from the vibrator 5 to an eardrum 31, and a plug for transmitting the electric signal to the vibrator 5. The contact vibrator 1 is provided with a position adjusting means for adjusting a position of the vibration transmitting section 6 in the longitudinal direction by adjusting the distance between the vibrator 5 and the plug 7. An in-the-ear hearing aid 3 comprises such a contact vibrator 1, a receptacle 12 into which the plug 7 is fitted, a shell 2 for fixedly securing the receptacle to the inside thereof, an electric circuit section 23 for providing the receptacle 12 with a hearing-processed electric signal, and a microphone 21 for imparting an acoustic signal converted to an electric signal to the electric circuit section 23, wherein, when the plug 7 is fitted into the receptacle 12, both the plug 7 and the receptacle 12 are electrically connected with each other and a tip 11 of the vibration transmitting section 6 is adapted to come into contact with the eardrum 31 or an ear ossicle.







Search report