# US 8,787,606 B2 · Electronically compensated micro-speakers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,787,606 B2 - Document ID: US8787606B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/506,661 - Filed: 2012-05-08 - Published: 2012-11-01 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-04-15 - Applicants: Garth William Gobeli; Stephen Mills - Inventors: Garth William Gobeli; Stephen Mills - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8787606B2 ## CPC - H04R 25/00: Electric hearing aids - H04R 3/04: for correcting frequency response - 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 Electronics for altering the audio frequency response of a micro-speaker without modifying the micro-speaker itself are used to provide a selected frequency response of the micro-speaker. The micro-speaker has a resonant peak region, from which the response declines for both higher and lower frequencies. In one embodiment the electronics includes a first circuit for modifying the frequency response curve up to the resonant peak region, and a second circuit for modifying the frequency response curve for audio frequencies higher than this region. Each filter yields an integer multiple of 6 dB per octave slope. In the described embodiment, for approximately correcting presbyacusis (age related hearing loss), a set of high pass filters, low pass filters, and/or high order filters are connected to the micro-speaker to progressively attenuate the frequency response curve as the frequency decreases from 10000 Hz to 100 Hz. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for correcting presbycusis hearing loss comprising: (a) two micro-speakers small enough to fit into the ear canals of a user; (b) connecting the micro-speakers to electronic circuits; (c) tailoring the electronic circuits to compensate for the presbycusis hearing loss; (d) providing microphones capable of receiving sound in the range of 10 Hz to 8000 Hz; (e) providing a power source of sufficient capacity and voltage to enable the device to function for at least 48 hours and to be of sufficiently small size as to fit into a pocket of the user; (f) providing a power source of a rechargeable battery of at least 3 volts; (g) such that the user will be able to hear all frequencies in the range of 10 Hz to 8000 Hz; (h) one of two micro-speakers having a resonant peak region that generally increases in slope (representing an increase in decibels) as the audio frequency increases up to the resonant peak region; (i) the one of two micro-speakers further having a frequency response curve that generally decreases in slope (representing a decrease in decibels) as the audio frequency increases beyond the resonant peak region; (j) a circuit to modify the one of two micro-speakers including a first circuit for modifying the frequency response curve up to the resonant peak region; and (k) a circuit to modify the one of two micro-speakers also including a second circuit for modifying the frequency response curve for audio frequencies higher than the resonant peak region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An apparatus for correcting presbycusis hearing loss as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first circuit includes one or more of the group consisting of: a high pass filter, a low pass filter, and a high order filter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An apparatus for correcting presbycusis hearing loss as set forth in claim 1, wherein a first filter yields an integer multiple of 6 dB per octave slope. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An apparatus for correcting presbycusis hearing loss as set forth in claim 1, wherein a second filter has first and second transition regions defining the range of frequencies over which the audio frequency response curve is modified. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An apparatus for correcting presbycusis hearing loss as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: (a) a low pass filter for modifying the slope of the frequency response curve at frequencies up to the resonant peak region, the low pass filter including a first transition region where the attenuation changes from 0 dB per octave to an integer multiple of 6 dB per octave and a second transition region where the attenuation changes from an integer multiple of 6 dB per octave to 0 dB per octave; (b) setting a first transition region at a frequency below the resonant peak area; and (c) setting a second transition region at a frequency in the resonant peak region. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An apparatus for correcting presbycusis hearing loss as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: (a) a high pass filter for attenuating the slope of the frequency response curve at frequencies above the resonant peak region, the high pass filter including a first transition region where the attenuation changes from 0 dB per octave to an integer multiple of 6 dB per octave to a second transition region where the attenuation changes from an integer multiple of 6 dB per octave to 0 dB per octave; (b) setting a first transition region of the high pass filter at a frequency in the resonant peak region; and (c) setting a second transition region of the high pass filter at a frequency above the resonant peak region; and thus modifying the frequency response curve between the peak resonant region and the frequency set for the second transition region of the high pass filter.