Patents by Inventor A. Z. van Halteren

A. Z. van Halteren has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8280082
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a microphone that includes a housing and a diaphragm and backplate located with the housing. The housing has a sound port for receiving the sound. The diaphragm undergoes movement relative to the backplate, which it opposes, in response to the incoming sound. The backplate has a charged layer with a first surface that is exposed to the diaphragm and a second surface opposite the first surface. The backplate further includes a conductor for transmitting a signal from the backplate to electronics in the housing. The conductor faces the second surface of the charged layer. To minimize the charge degradation created by contact with or infiltration of foreign materials, the first surface, the second surface, or both surfaces of the charged layer includes a protective layer thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Aart Z. van Halteren, Roelof A. Marissen, Michel Bosman, Dion I. de Roo, Raymond Mögelin, Michel de Nooij
  • Patent number: 7970161
    Abstract: A transducer for a hearing aid includes a housing, a relatively thin membrane having a free end suspended in the housing for vibration in response to a motor. The motor has a coil and a magnet assembly, the coil being mounted in the housing beneath the membrane; the magnet assembly being mounted in the housing coaxially with the coil and to one edge of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventor: Aart Z. van Halteren
  • Patent number: 7792315
    Abstract: A silicon-based transducer assembly coupled to a movable structure in a hearing instrument. The transducer assembly includes at least one microphone chip and an ASIC having multiple integrated components such as any combination of a DSP, an A/D converter, an amplifier, a filter, or a wireless interface. The movable structure may be a battery access door, a volume dial, a switch, or a touch pad. A protection strip can be disposed across the battery access door to prevent debris from clogging the silicon-based transducer assembly. The transducer assembly may also include an array of microphone chips to achieve adaptive beam steering or directionality. When equipped with a wireless interface, the hearing instrument wirelessly communicates with another hearing instrument or with a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Epcos AG
    Inventors: Matthias Müllenborn, Aart Z. van Halteren
  • Publication number: 20100172521
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a microphone that includes a housing and a diaphragm and backplate located with the housing. The housing has a sound port for receiving the sound. The diaphragm undergoes movement relative to the backplate, which it opposes, in response to the incoming sound. The backplate has a charged layer with a first surface that is exposed to the diaphragm and a second surface opposite the first surface. The backplate further includes a conductor for transmitting a signal from the backplate to electronics in the housing. The conductor faces the second surface of the charged layer. To minimize the charge degradation created by contact with or infiltration of foreign materials, the first surface, the second surface, or both surfaces of the charged layer includes a protective layer thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Aart Z. van Halteren, Roelof A. Marissen, Michel Bosman, Dion I. de Roo, Raymond Mögelin, Michel de Nooij
  • Patent number: 7684575
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a microphone that includes a housing and a diaphragm and backplate located with the housing. The housing has a sound port for receiving the sound. The diaphragm undergoes movement relative to the backplate, which it opposes, in response to the incoming sound. The backplate has a charged layer with a first surface that is exposed to the diaphragm and a second surface opposite the first surface. The backplate further includes a conductor for transmitting a signal from the backplate to electronics in the housing. The conductor faces the second surface of the charged layer. To minimize the charge degradation created by contact with or infiltration of foreign materials, the first surface, the second surface, or both surfaces of the charged layer includes a protective layer thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Aart Z. van Halteren, Roelof A. Marissen, Michel Bosman, Dion I. de Roo, Raymond Mögelin, Michel de Nooij
  • Patent number: 7190803
    Abstract: A transducer for a hearing aid includes a housing, a relatively thin membrane having a free end suspended in the housing for vibration in response to a motor. The motor has a coil and a magnet assembly, the coil being mounted in the housing beneath the membrane; the magnet assembly being mounted in the housing coaxially with the coil and to one edge of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland BV
    Inventor: Aart Z. van Halteren
  • Patent number: 7142682
    Abstract: A silicon-based transducer assembly coupled to a movable structure in a hearing instrument. The transducer assembly includes at least one microphone chip and an ASIC having multiple integrated components such as any combination of a DSP, an A/D converter, an amplifier, a filter, or a wireless interface. The movable structure may be a battery access door, a volume dial, a switch, or a touch pad. A protection strip can be disposed across the battery access door to prevent debris from clogging the silicon-based transducer assembly. The transducer assembly may also include an array of microphone chips to achieve adaptive beam steering or directionality. When equipped with a wireless interface, the hearing instrument wirelessly communicates with another hearing instrument or with a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Sonion Mems A/S
    Inventors: Matthias Müllenborn, Aart Z. van Halteren
  • Patent number: 7136496
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a microphone that includes a housing and a diaphragm and backplate located with the housing. The housing has a sound port for receiving the sound. The diaphragm undergoes movement relative to the backplate, which it opposes, in response to the incoming sound. The backplate has a charged layer with a first surface that is exposed to the diaphragm and a second surface opposite the first surface. The backplate further includes a conductor for transmitting a signal from the backplate to electronics in the housing. The conductor faces the second surface of the charged layer. To minimize the charge degradation created by contact with or infiltration of foreign materials, the first surface, the second surface, or both surfaces of the charged layer includes a protective layer thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Aart Z. van Halteren, Roelof A. Marissen, Michel Bosman, Dion I. de Roo, Raymond Mögelin, Michel de Nooij
  • Publication number: 20040120540
    Abstract: A silicon-based transducer assembly coupled to a movable structure in a hearing instrument. The transducer assembly includes at least one microphone chip and an ASIC having multiple integrated components such as any combination of a DSP, an A/D converter, an amplifier, a filter, or a wireless interface. The movable structure may be a battery access door, a volume dial, a switch, or a touch pad. A protection strip can be disposed across the battery access door to prevent debris from clogging the silicon-based transducer assembly. The transducer assembly may also include an array of microphone chips to achieve adaptive beam steering or directionality. When equipped with a wireless interface, the hearing instrument wirelessly communicates with another hearing instrument or with a network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Matthias Mullenborn, Aart Z. van Halteren
  • Patent number: 6741713
    Abstract: A hearing device comprising at least two microphones, a processor and an output for further processing in a reproducer, the microphones being electrically coupled to the processor, and the output for further processing in a reproducer being connected to the processor. The processor comprises: a summer providing a sum signal of the microphone signals, and to which summer a proportional amplifier is connected, and a summer for providing a difference signal of the microphone signals, to which summer an integrator is connected, and that the proportional amplifier and the integrator are coupled on the output side to a third summer providing a sum signal of the proportional amplifier and the integrator, and that the third summer forms the output for further processing in a reproducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Sonionmicrotronic Nederlan B.V.
    Inventors: M. M. Boone, I. L. D. M. Merks, A. Z. van Halteren
  • Publication number: 20030190053
    Abstract: A transducer for a hearing aid includes a housing, a relatively thin membrane having a free end suspended in the housing for vibration in response to a motor. The motor has a coil and a magnet assembly, the coil being mounted in the housing beneath the membrane; the magnet assembly being mounted in the housing coaxially with the coil and to one edge of the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventor: Aart Z. van Halteren
  • Publication number: 20030076970
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a microphone that includes a housing and a diaphragm and backplate located with the housing. The housing has a sound port for receiving the sound. The diaphragm undergoes movement relative to the backplate, which it opposes, in response to the incoming sound. The backplate has a charged layer with a first surface that is exposed to the diaphragm and a second surface opposite the first surface. The backplate further includes a conductor for transmitting a signal from the backplate to electronics in the housing. The conductor faces the second surface of the charged layer. To minimize the charge degradation created by contact with or infiltration of foreign materials, the first surface, the second surface, or both surfaces of the charged layer includes a protective layer thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Aart Z. van Halteren, Roelof A. Marissen, Michel Bosman, Dion I. de Roo, Raymond Mogelin, Michel de Nooij
  • Patent number: 6169810
    Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer of the electret type, having a backplate situated above a diaphragm, with the backplate being provided with spacers. The diaphragm is clamped on a frame-shaped carrier located at an underside of the diaphragm. The carrier is provided with supporting portions which are vertically aligned with the spacers. In one embodiment, supporting posts are formed on the supporting portions to allow the carrier to rest on a case bottom. The resulting electroacoustic transducer can be easily assembled with a reduced risk of damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Microtronic Nederland, B.V.
    Inventors: A. Z. van Halteren, E. Wilmink, M. de Blok, O. Geschiere, J. M. van Doorn
  • Patent number: 5757947
    Abstract: A transducer, in particular suitable for hearing aids, comprising a coil, two spaced magnet elements, a membrane, and an E-shaped armature, a middle leg of the E-shaped armature extending through the coil and the two magnet elements and being coupled with the membrane by means of a connecting element, limiting means being provided for limiting the maximum deflection of the middle leg of the E-shaped armature, which limiting means cooperate with the end of the middle leg of the E-shaped armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Microtronic Nederland, B.V.
    Inventors: A. Z. Van Halteren, Onno Geschiere
  • Patent number: 5255246
    Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer of the electret type, comprising a case (101) having an opening (102) via which the interior of the case communicates with the surroundings; a backplate (105) and a diaphragm (107) arranged opposite the backplate in the case, the surface of the backplate being provided at least partly with an electret material (106) and at least a part of the surface of the diaphragm being provided with an electrically conductive layer (110); and an annular element (109) for securing the circumference of the diaphragm to the inside wall of the case. According to the invention, the parasitic capacity between the backplate (105) and the annular element (109) is eliminated in that the backplate and the annular element are both electrically connected with the case and thereby have the same potential as the case. This also provides production-technical advantages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Siemens Nederland N.V.
    Inventor: Aart Z. van Halteren
  • Patent number: 4567382
    Abstract: An electret transducer and a method for making same. A multiple support between a diaphragm plate and a backplate is provided by a plurality of relatively small spacing disks made of an electrically insulating material and which as separate posts are fixedly attached on the upper surface of the backplate. Such spacing disks are conveniently and accurately punched from a foil of dielectric material which is held opposite and above the backplate, whereafter the spacing disks thus formed are attached on the backplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Assignee: Microtel B.V.
    Inventor: Aart Z. van Halteren