IEC 60318-4:2010

Electroacoustics - Simulators of human head and ear - Part 4: Occluded-ear simulator for the measurement of earphones coupled to the ear by means of ear inserts

IEC 60318-4:2010 describes an occluded-ear simulator intended for the measurement of insert earphones in the frequency range from 100 Hz to 10 000 Hz. It is suitable for air conduction hearing aids and earphones, coupled to the ear by means of ear inserts e.g. ear moulds or similar devices. The occluded-ear simulator is also suitable as the basis for an extension intended to simulate the complete ear canal and the outer ear (for instance in head simulators). The occluded-ear simulator simulates the acoustic transfer impedance for the occluded normal adult human ear. However, it does not simulate the leakage between an earmould and a human ear canal; therefore, the results obtained with the occluded-ear simulator may deviate from the performance of an insert earphone on a real ear, especially at low frequencies. Moreover, large performance variations among individual ears will occur which should be considered when using the ear simulator. Above 10 kHz the device does not simulate a human ear, but can be used as an acoustic coupler at additional frequencies up to 16 kHz. Below 100 Hz, the device has not been verified to simulate a human ear, but can be used as an acoustic coupler at additional frequencies down to 20 Hz. IEC 60318-4:2010 cancels and replaces IEC 60711, published in 1981 and constitutes a technical revision. The main changes with respect to the previous edition are listed below:
- extension of the usable frequency range to 100 Hz - 16 000 Hz;
- addition of values of maximum permitted expanded uncertainties to all tolerances.

Electroacoustique - Simulateurs de tête et d'oreille humaines - Partie 4: Simulateur d'oreille occluse pour la mesure des écouteurs couplés à l'oreille par des embouts

La CEI 60318-4:2010 décrit un simulateur d'oreille occluse, destiné à la mesure des écouteurs internes, dans la plage de fréquences comprise entre 100 Hz et 10 000 Hz. Ce simulateur est adapté aux appareils de correction auditive et écouteurs en conduction aérienne, couplés à l'oreille au moyen d'embouts, par exemple embouts moulés ou dispositifs similaires. Le simulateur d'oreille occluse peut aussi être utilisé comme appareil destiné à simuler le canal auditif complet et l'oreille externe (par exemple, dans les simulateurs de tête). Le simulateur d'oreille occluse simule l'impédance acoustique de transfert pour l'oreille occluse humaine normale d'adulte. Il ne simule cependant pas la fuite entre l'embout moulé et le canal auditif humain; par conséquent, les résultats obtenus avec le simulateur d'oreille occluse peuvent s'écarter des résultats fournis par un écouteur interne couplé à une oreille réelle, particulièrement aux fréquences basses. De plus, de grandes variations des résultats existent pour différentes oreilles, ce qu'il convient de prendre en compte lors de l'utilisation du simulateur d'oreille. Au-delà d'une fréquence de 10 kHz, le dispositif ne simule pas l'oreille humaine, mais peut en revanche être utilisé comme coupleur acoustique à des fréquences supplémentaires jusqu'à 16 kHz. En dessous d'une fréquence de 100 Hz, il n'a pas été vérifié que le dispositif simule l'oreille humaine, ce dernier pouvant en revanche être utilisé comme coupleur acoustique à des fréquences supplémentaires jusqu'à 20 Hz. La CEI 60318-4:2010 annule et remplace la CEI 60711, parue en 1981, dont elle constitue une révision technique. La liste des principales modifications par rapport à l'édition précédente est la suivante:
- élargissement du domaine de fréquence utile de 100 Hz à 16 000 Hz;
- ajout des valeurs d'incertitude élargie maximale admise à toutes les tolérances.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 20-Jan-2010
• ICS: 01 - GENERALITIES. TERMINOLOGY. STANDARDIZATION. DOCUMENTATION
• ICS: 17.140.50 - Electroacoustics
• Technical Committee: TC 29 - Electroacoustics
• Drafting Committee: WG 21 - TC 29/WG 21
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 30-Apr-2010
• Completion Date: 21-Jan-2010

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 60318-4 ®
Edition 1.0 2010-01
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Electroacoustics – Simulators of human head and ear –
Part 4: Occluded-ear simulator for the measurement of earphones coupled to
the ear by means of ear inserts

Électroacoustique – Simulateurs de tête et d’oreille humaines –
Partie 4: Simulateur d'oreille occluse pour la mesure des écouteurs couplés à
l'oreille par des embouts
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IEC 60318-4 ®
Edition 1.0 2010-01
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Electroacoustics – Simulators of human head and ear –
Part 4: Occluded-ear simulator for the measurement of earphones coupled to
the ear by means of ear inserts

Électroacoustique – Simulateurs de tête et d’oreille humaines –
Partie 4: Simulateur d'oreille occluse pour la mesure des écouteurs couplés à
l'oreille par des embouts
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
R
CODE PRIX
ICS 17.140.50 ISBN 978-2-88910-121-4
– 2 – 60318-4 © IEC:2010
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.3
1 Scope.5
2 Normative references .5
3 Terms and definitions .5
4 Construction .7
4.1 General .7
4.2 Principal cavity dimensions .7
4.3 Calibrated pressure-type microphone .7
4.4 Pressure equalization.8
4.5 Acoustic transfer impedance level .8
4.6 Example of design.8
5 Calibration.9
5.1 Atmospheric reference conditions.9
5.2 Calibration method .9
6 Coupling of earphones and hearing aids to the occluded-ear simulator.9
6.1 Audiometers with insert earphones.9
6.2 In-the-ear hearing aids (custom made) .9
6.3 Hearing aids with insert earphone .10
6.4 Behind-the-ear and spectacle hearing aids.11
6.5 Modular in-the-ear hearing aids.12
7 Maximum permitted expanded uncertainty of measurements .14
Annex A (informative) Example of one specific design of occluded-ear simulator .16
Annex B (informative) Principle of calibration for the occluded-ear simulator.17
Bibliography.19

Figure 1 – Connection of an in-the-ear hearing aid to the occluded-ear simulator .10
Figure 2 – Connection of an insert earphone to the occluded-ear simulator .11
Figure 3 – Connection of a behind-the-ear hearing aid to the occluded-ear simulator.13
Figure 4 – Connection of an in-the-ear hearing aid (modular type) to the occluded-ear
simulator.14
Figure A.1 – Example of one specific design of occluded-ear simulator.16

Table 1 – Level of the acoustic transfer impedance modulus and associated tolerances .8
Table 2 – Values of maximum permitted expanded uncertainty U for basic type
max
approval measurements.15
Table B.1 – Sound pressure level relative to that at the reference frequency 500 Hz
(L (f)– L (500)) for the nominal effective volume (1 260 mm ) of the occluded-ear
p p
simulator, and associated tolerances .18

60318-4 © IEC:2010 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
ELECTROACOUSTICS –
SIMULATORS OF HUMAN HEAD AND EAR –

Part 4: Occluded-ear simulator for the measurement
of earphones coupled to the ear by means of ear inserts

FOREWORD
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9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 60318-4 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 29:
Electroacoustics.
This first edition of IEC 60318-4 cancels and replaces IEC 60711, published in 1981 and
constitutes a technical revision.
The main changes with respect to the previous edition are listed below:
– extension of the usable frequency range to 100 Hz – 16 000 Hz;
– addition of values of maximum permitted expanded uncertainties to all tolerances.

– 4 – 60318-4 © IEC:2010
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
Enquiry draft Report on voting
29/662/CDV 29/685/RVC
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all parts of the IEC 60318 series can be found on the IEC website under the title:
Electroacoustics – Simulators of human head and ear.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until

the maintenance result date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the
data related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
60318-4 © IEC:2010 – 5 –
ELECTROACOUSTICS –
SIMULATORS OF HUMAN HEAD AND EAR
...