# US 10,455,311 B2 · In-the-ear device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,455,311 B2 - Document ID: US10455311B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/314,623 - Filed: 2015-04-01 - Published: 2017-07-06 - Granted: 2019-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-18 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Applicants: Sony Corporation - Inventors: Tetsu Magariyachi; Toru Nakagawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10455311B2 ## CPC - H04R 1/1016: {Earpieces of the intra-aural type} - H04R 1/1075: {Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones} - H04R 5/027: Spatial or constructional arrangements of microphones, e.g. in dummy heads - H04R 1/08: Mouthpieces; {Microphones;} Attachments therefor - H04R 25/55: {using an external connection, either wireless or wired} - H04R 25/65: {Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture} - H04R 2225/025: In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract An in-the-ear device such as a binaural microphone and an earphone is provided. An in-the-ear device 300 is used while being inserted into a human ear (external auditory canal), examples of which include the microphone and the earphone. This in-the-ear device 300 includes an in-the-ear device main body unit 310 substantially round column-shaped and a cylindrical inner side insertion unit 320 provided to protrude from an end surface of the in-the-ear device main stomach body unit 310 on an inner side. The in-the-ear device main body unit 310 is inserted closer to the inside than a first curve of the external auditory canal. As will be described later, an end surface of the in-the-ear device main body unit 310 on an outer side forms a surface substantially same as that of a cavum conchae while being worn. In addition, in the inner side insertion unit 320, the in-the-ear device main body unit 310 is provided to protrude closer to the inner side than the first curve of the external auditory canal in order to be along the external auditory canal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An in-the-ear device, comprising: a main body unit configured to be inserted closer to an inside of an external auditory canal than a curve of the external auditory canal, wherein the main body unit comprises a back surface that is substantially same as a surface of a cavum conchae; an external auditory canal insertion unit configured to protrude towards an inner section of the external auditory canal from a front surface of the main body unit; a shielding unit that protrudes from the back surface of the main body unit such that the shielding unit is larger than an entrance of the external auditory canal; a microphone unit comprising a sound receiving surface, wherein the microphone unit is configured to receive a first audio signal; and a cable configured to transmit the first audio signal to an outside of the external auditory canal, wherein the cable is inserted through an outlet hole, on the shielding unit, from an opposite side of the sound receiving surface, and the cable is discharged to the outside of the external auditory canal via one of an inside of the main body unit or a gap between the main body unit and the microphone unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The in-the-ear device according to claim 1, wherein the external auditory canal insertion unit is at one of a center of the front surface of the main body unit or a position offset from the center of the front surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The in-the-ear device according to claim 2, wherein the external auditory canal insertion unit is inclined by a specific angle of inclination with respect to a center of the main body unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The in-the-ear device according to claim 1, wherein the shielding unit is flush with the sound receiving surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The in-the-ear device according to claim 1, wherein the outlet hole, on the shielding unit, is lower than a center of the sound receiving surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The in-the-ear device according to claim 1, wherein the external auditory canal insertion unit includes a sound conduit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The in-the-ear device according to claim 1, further comprising a driver unit in the external auditory canal insertion unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The in-the-ear device according to claim 7, wherein the driver unit is at a tip end of the external auditory canal insertion unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The in-the-ear device according to claim 1, wherein the main body unit further comprises a driver unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The in-the-ear device according to claim 1, further comprising: a driver unit, wherein the microphone unit is further configured to receive a second audio signal, and the cable is further configured to transmit the second audio signal to the driver unit. ### Claim 11 A device, comprising: a main body unit configured to be inserted closer to an inside of an external auditory canal than a curve of the external auditory canal, wherein the main body unit comprises: a back surface that is substantially same as a surface of a cavum conchae; and a microphone unit configured to obtain an audio signal, a sound receiving surface of the microphone unit is in contact with an external world on a back side of the main body unit; an external auditory canal insertion unit configured to protrude towards an inner section of the external auditory canal from a front surface of the main body unit; a shielding unit, wherein at least a portion of the shielding unit sticks out from the back surface of the main body unit; and a cable configured to transmit the audio signal to an outside of the external auditory canal, wherein the cable is inserted through an outlet hole, on the shielding unit, from an opposite side of the sound receiving surface, and the cable is discharged to the outside of the external auditory canal via one of an inside of the main body unit, or a gap between the main body unit and the microphone unit.