Patents Examined by Angelica M McKinney
  • Patent number: 11985459
    Abstract: A mounting system for mounting a loudspeaker to a substrate includes a mounting assembly having an elongated screw, a support member received on and movable along the screw, and a mounting arm rotatably connected to the support member and having a resting position and a working position. A guide housing receives the mounting assembly with the screw extending longitudinally therethrough and includes a wall structure with an open front side and a cap at a top portion of the wall structure. In the resting position, the support member is positioned along the screw at least partially received within the cap and the mounting arm is substantially contained within the wall structure. In the working position, the support member is positioned along the screw to be outside of the cap and the mounting arm is spring-biased away from the screw and extends outwardly through the front side of the wall structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: An Duc Nguyen, Christian Manuel Garcia, Larry Paul Brown, Chris N. Hagen
  • Patent number: 11985462
    Abstract: This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that include earpad assemblies that improve acoustic isolation are discussed. User convenience features that include automatically detecting the orientation of the headphones on a user's head are also discussed. Various power-saving features, design features, sensor configurations and user comfort features are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Edward Siahaan, Daniel R. Bloom, Lee M. Panecki, Phillip Qian, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene A. Whang, David H. Narajowski, Scott Y. Oshita, Dustin A. Hatfield, Zachary G. Segraves, Sean J. Docherty
  • Patent number: 11985482
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for neural network-driven feedback cancellation for hearing assistance devices. Various embodiments include a method of signal processing an input signal in a hearing assistance device to mitigate entrainment, the hearing assistance device including a receiver and a microphone. The method includes performing neural network processing to identify acoustic features in a plurality of audio signals and predict target outputs for the plurality of audio signals, and using the trained neural network to control acoustic feedback cancellation of the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelly Fitz, Carlos Renato Calcada Nakagawa, Tao Zhang
  • Patent number: 11985492
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a speaker including a strong magnetic circuit and a method of manufacturing a speaker. To achieve the object, a speaker according to the present technology includes an outer magnet and an inner magnet. The outer magnet has a ring shape and is magnetized along an axial direction of the ring shape. The inner magnet has a circular outer shape when viewed from the axial direction of the outer magnet, is magnetized in a direction opposite to a direction of the outer magnet along the axial direction, and is disposed inside the outer magnet through a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Shinmen, Koya Nomoto, Go Igarashi, Takanari Okita
  • Patent number: 11979703
    Abstract: Embodiments describe an eartip including an eartip body having an attachment end and an interfacing end opposite from the attachment end. The eartip body can include an inner eartip body having a sidewall extending between the interfacing end and the attachment end, the sidewall defining a channel and having a first thickness near the attachment end and a second thickness different from the first thickness at the interfacing end. The eartip can also include an attachment structure coupled to the inner eartip body at the attachment end, the attachment structure having an inner surface and an outer surface. The attachment structure can include an upper region interfacing with the sidewall and defining discrete through-holes, a lower region below the upper region where the inner surface defines a plurality of recesses positioned around the lower region, and a mesh extending across the channel and into the upper region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Sean T. McIntosh, Jason C. Della Rosa, Samuel G. Parker, Benjamin A. Cousins, Ethan L. Huwe
  • Patent number: 11974099
    Abstract: Examples of this disclosure relate to an accessory device for a hearing instrument. The accessory device comprises a connector tip that comprises a first wire segment and a second wire segment. The first and second wire segments are electrically conductive and electrically insulated from each other. The connector tip also comprises a first set of bristles and a second set of bristles. The first and second sets of bristles are electrically conductive. The first set of bristles is electrically connected to the first wire segment and electrically insulated from the second wire segment. The second set of bristles is electrically connected to the second wire segment and electrically insulated from the first wire segment. The first set of bristles is spaced sufficiently far from the second set of bristles as to prevent a short circuit between the first and second sets of bristles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Sidney A. Higgins, David Tourtelotte, Kyle Olson
  • Patent number: 11968494
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a loudspeaker apparatus. The loudspeaker apparatus may include a circuit housing, an ear hook, a rear hook, a loudspeaker component, and a magnetic connector. The circuit housing may be configured to accommodate a control circuit or a battery component. The ear hook may be connected to one end of the circuit housing and at least partially covered by a first protective housing. The rear hook connected to another end of the circuit housing and at least partially covered by a second protective housing. The magnetic connector may be configured to absorb a charging interface of an external power source to establish an electrical connection so as to charge the loudspeaker apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yongjian Li, Haofeng Zhang, Fen You
  • Patent number: 11968497
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System MEMS) chip including a substrate with a back cavity; a capacitance system disposed on the substrate including a back plate, a membrane opposite to the back plate forming an inner cavity; a protruding portion accommodated in the inner cavity, fixed on one of the back plate and the membrane and spaced apart from the other along a vibration direction; a reinforce portion fixed to the membrane, having an area smaller than that of the membrane; a support system configured to support the capacitance system, including a first fixation portion suspending the membrane on the substrate, and a second fixation portion suspending the back plate on the substrate. The MEMS chip has higher sensitivity, higher resonance frequency and higher low frequency property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: AAC ACOUSTIC TECHNOLOGIES (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhengyu Shi, Linlin Wang, Rui Zhang
  • Patent number: 11968487
    Abstract: A microphone assembly can include a form-factor adapter housing including an interface opening and an external acoustic port, and an internal microphone assembly disposed at least partially within the adapter housing. The internal microphone assembly can include an internal housing having an internal acoustic port and electrical interface contacts, a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) motor disposed in the internal housing, and an integrated circuit disposed in the internal housing, the integrated circuit electrically coupled to the MEMS motor and to the electrical interface contacts. The assembly can include an adapter interface located at the interface opening and comprising external host device interface contacts electrically coupled to the electrical interface contacts, the external host device interface contacts exposed to an exterior of the microphone assembly. The internal acoustic port can be acoustically coupled to the external acoustic port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Janice LoPresti, Steve Kearey, Usha Murthy
  • Patent number: 11962961
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a rear shell of a display device, including a rear shell body. The rear shell body includes an accommodation cavity for accommodating a loudspeaker, the accommodation cavity has a first opening, the rear shell body further includes a cover plate for blocking the first opening, and the cover plate is provided with a sound outlet hole. The present disclosure further provides the display device. The loudspeaker is accommodated in the accommodation cavity of the rear shell rather than the whole machine, so as to prevent the occurrence of resonance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: Hefei BOE Vision-Electronic Technology Co., Ltd., BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hanqun Xu, Yanbiao Li, Shengren Dou, Yanxue Lin
  • Patent number: 11956612
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor for an electrodynamic loudspeaker, comprising a magnetic circuit assembly arranged about a motor axis. The magnetic circuit assembly comprises: an outer magnet, a magnetically permeable top plate, a magnetically permeable bottom plate, a center pole piece and an air gap for receipt of a voice coil. The air gap is formed by an inner axially extending wall of the magnetically permeable top plate facing an axially extending peripheral wall section of the center pole piece to define a width, a bottom, a top and height of the air gap. The magnetic circuit assembly additionally comprises outwardly projecting magnetically permeable member arranged above the top of the air gap. The center pole piece comprises a magnetic member extending axially from at least the bottom of the air gap to a magnetically permeable bottom member or to the magnetically permeable bottom plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: PURIFI APS
    Inventors: Lars Risbo, Carsten Tinggaard, Morten Halvorsen, Bruno Putzeys
  • Patent number: 11956579
    Abstract: In an embodiment a lid includes a top section and a side section arranged below the top section. A vertical height of the top section is calculated by ITS*HB, ITS being a first multiple integer and HB being a basic height, and a vertical height of the side section is calculated by Iss* HB, Iss being a second multiple integer and HB being the basic height HB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Wolfgang Pahl
  • Patent number: 11948549
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic actuator, which is designed to be connected to a backside of a plate like structure and which comprises an annular coil arrangement and a magnet system being designed to generate a magnetic field transverse to the annular coil arrangement. The annular coil arrangement and the magnet system are connected to each other by a plurality of springs, which are arranged inside of the annular coil arrangement. Furthermore, the invention relates to an output device, comprising a plate like structure and an electromagnetic actuator of the above kind connected to a backside of the plate like structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Sound Solutions International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Friedrich Reining, Christoph Schmauder, Gustav Otto, Michael Schoffmann
  • Patent number: 11943583
    Abstract: A speaker system includes a first acoustic transducer, a second acoustic transducer and a spreading structure. The first acoustic transducer is configured to generate a first acoustic wave. The second acoustic transducer is configured to generate a second acoustic wave. The spreading structure is disposed over the first acoustic transducer and configured to guide the first acoustic wave to propagate through a sound passage formed within the spreading structure. A directionality of the first acoustic wave is spread at a sound outlet of the spreading structure after the first acoustic wave propagates through the sound passage in the spreading structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: xMEMS Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Neal Edwin Breitbarth
  • Patent number: 11943584
    Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) microphone is provided. The MEMS microphone includes a substrate, a diaphragm, a backplate and a first protrusion. The substrate has an opening portion. The diaphragm is disposed on one side of the substrate and extends across the opening portion of the substrate. The backplate includes a plurality of acoustic holes. The backplate is disposed on one side of the diaphragm. An air gap is formed between the backplate and the diaphragm. The first protrusion extends from the backplate towards the air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: FORTEMEDIA, INC.
    Inventors: Chih-Yuan Chen, Jien-Ming Chen, Feng-Chia Hsu, Wen-Shan Lin, Nai-Hao Kuo
  • Patent number: 11924374
    Abstract: Real time, remote access to and adjustment of the hearing aid of a patient while the patient is located in a normal life environment that is remote from a hearing professional. A session request initiates a programming session. Adjustable settings from the patient's hearing aid are wirelessly streamed to the patient's mobile device and from the mobile device to a streaming cloud server. The settings are stored on the cloud, streamed from the cloud to a hearing professional's computer or mobile device and displayed. The hearing professional then changes at least one of the adjustable hearing aid settings and the changed settings are streamed to the cloud, stored on the cloud, streamed from the cloud to the patient's mobile device, wirelessly transmitted to the hearing aid and stored there. A telephonic voice connection between the hearing professional and the patient's mobile device is used to transmit the patient's evaluation of changed settings to the hearing professional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Deborah M. Manchester
  • Patent number: 11917354
    Abstract: An earphone includes a housing that defines a force input surface opposite a touch input surface. A spring member in the housing includes a first arm that biases a touch sensor toward the touch input surface. The spring member also includes a second arm that biases a first force electrode toward the housing and allows the first force electrode to move toward a second force electrode when a force is applied to the force input surface. A non-binary amount of the force is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode may be measured upon detecting a touch using the touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nahid Harjee, Brian R. Twehues, Teera Songatikamas
  • Patent number: 11917358
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a loudspeaker apparatus. The loudspeaker apparatus may include a circuit housing, an ear hook, a rear hook, a loudspeaker component, and a magnetic connector. The circuit housing may be configured to accommodate a control circuit or a battery component. The ear hook may be connected to one end of the circuit housing and at least partially covered by a first protective housing. The rear hook connected to another end of the circuit housing and at least partially covered by a second protective housing. The magnetic connector may be configured to absorb a charging interface of an external power source to establish an electrical connection so as to charge the loudspeaker apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yongjian Li, Haofeng Zhang, Fen You
  • Patent number: 11917355
    Abstract: An earphone includes a housing that defines a force input surface opposite a touch input surface. A spring member in the housing includes a first arm that biases a touch sensor toward the touch input surface. The spring member also includes a second arm that biases a first force electrode toward the housing and allows the first force electrode to move toward a second force electrode when a force is applied to the force input surface. A non-binary amount of the force is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode may be measured upon detecting a touch using the touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nahid Harjee, Brian R. Twehues, Teera Songatikamas
  • Patent number: 11910149
    Abstract: An earphone includes a speaker housing; a speaker positioned in the speaker housing; a stem extending from the speaker housing, the stem defining an input surface; a conductive object disposed within the stem; a flexible circuit positioned between the stem and the conductive object; a member positioned between the flexible circuit and the conductive object operable to allow the flexible circuit to move with respect to the stem; a force sensor electrode disposed within the flexible circuit; and a controller operable to determine an input to the earphone using a change in capacitance detected using the force sensor electrode, the change in capacitance corresponding to a non-binary amount of a force applied to the input surface. In some examples, the earphone further includes a touch sensor electrode disposed within the flexible circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nahid Harjee, Brian R. Twehues, Teera Songatikamas, Aonan Li, Travis N. Owens, Kyle J. Campiotti