Speaker Mounting (i.e., Speaker Phone Feature) Patents (Class 379/433.02)
  • Patent number: 11943378
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jaehong Jung, Gyeongtae Kim, Yongseok Lee, Jinman Kim, Souksu Jang, Hyeyeong Choi, Jiwoo Lee
  • Patent number: 11917347
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device may include: a housing including a cover and at least one first opening; a first acoustic module comprising a speaker disposed in an internal space of the housing; and at least one path configured to guide sound signals generated by the first acoustic module to an outside, the at least one path including: a first space defined by the first acoustic module and at least a portion of the housing; a second space connecting the first space to the first opening and configured to guide a sound signal having a first frequency band toward the first opening; and a third space connecting the first space to a second opening at least partially provided between the housing and the cover and configured to guide a sound signal having a second frequency band lower than the first frequency band toward the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heecheul Moon, Sangyoup Seok, Kwonho Son, Jongchul Choi
  • Patent number: 11889262
    Abstract: Techniques are described for an in-ear audio system that delivers high quality sound into an ear canal of the user using two or more waveguides. Each of the waveguides may deliver sound output by individual drivers to a consolidation zone. The sound may be mixed at the consolidation zone and delivered to the ear canal of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Epix Audio, LLC
    Inventors: Rocky Lain Hardie, Hyeon Lee
  • Patent number: 11863922
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device may include: a housing including a cover and at least one first opening; a first acoustic module comprising a speaker disposed in an internal space of the housing; and at least one path configured to guide sound signals generated by the first acoustic module to an outside, the at least one path including: a first space defined by the first acoustic module and at least a portion of the housing; a second space connecting the first space to the first opening and configured to guide a sound signal having a first frequency band toward the first opening; and a third space connecting the first space to a second opening at least partially provided between the housing and the cover and configured to guide a sound signal having a second frequency band lower than the first frequency band toward the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heecheul Moon, Sangyoup Seok, Kwonho Son, Jongchul Choi
  • Patent number: 11825002
    Abstract: A method includes, at a computer system with a display and a housing, while a call is ongoing between the computer system and a remote device, detecting a coupling of a case to the computer system, and in response to detecting the coupling of the case to the computer system, in accordance with a determination that the computer system is operating in a first audio mode, continuing the call, and, in accordance with a determination that the computer system is operating in a second audio mode different than the first audio mode, terminating the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Woo Chang, Arian Behzadi, Deena Khattab, Robert Garcia, III, Lauren E. Tappana, Marcel Van Os, Alan C. Dye
  • Patent number: 11797260
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display module including a display panel configured to display an image, a supporting member on a rear surface of the display module, and a first vibration generating module including two or more vibration generating devices on the rear surface of the display module to output sounds of different sound bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: MinJin Lee, Taehyung Kim, YoungYoon You
  • Patent number: 11645987
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a vibration member and a first cover disposed at a rear surface of the vibration member. The apparatus also includes a first vibration apparatus disposed at a rear surface of the first cover and configured to vibrate the vibration member. The apparatus includes a first enclosure member disposed at the rear surface of the first cover and at the rear surface of the vibration member. The apparatus also includes a first rear vibration member disposed at the first enclosure member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: SeulKi Nam, Jeonggoo Kang, Taehyung Kim
  • Patent number: 11641415
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jaehong Jung, Gyeongtae Kim, Yongseok Lee, Jinman Kim, Souksu Jang, Hyeyeong Choi, Jiwoo Lee
  • Patent number: 11595755
    Abstract: Techniques are described for an in-ear audio system that delivers high quality sound into an ear canal of the user using two or more waveguides. Each of the waveguides may deliver sound output by individual drivers to a consolidation zone. The sound may be mixed at the consolidation zone and delivered to the ear canal of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Epix Audio, LLC
    Inventors: Rocky Lain Hardie, Hyeon Lee
  • Patent number: 11527231
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a headset system including a microphone including a microphone transducer configured to receive vocal sounds from a user of the headset system and to generate a voice audio signal representing the vocal sounds; a first earcup including a first housing, wherein the first housing further includes a voice canceling circuit, an inner speaker, and a first outer speaker; the voice canceling circuit configured to receive the voice audio signal and configured to generate a first voice canceling signal to cancel the voice of the user; and the first outer speaker including a first speaker transducer configured to generate and output sounds representing the first voice cancelling signal to cancel the vocal sounds of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Justin Dax Haslam, Donnette L. Moncrief Brown, Eric David Schroeder, Ravi Durairaj, Deborah Janette Schulz
  • Patent number: 11402641
    Abstract: A hybrid acoustic unit operates as an acoustic monopole for frequencies of audio output below a threshold frequency and as an acoustic quadrupole for frequencies above the threshold frequency. A first transducer provides the low frequencies below the threshold frequency while a second transducer provides the high frequencies above the threshold frequency. The low frequencies improve perceived loudness to a user while being masked from bystanders due to ambient noise. A region of an acoustic pattern produced by the acoustic quadrupole is directed towards an ear of the user. This improves audibility to the user while substantially reducing loudness of those high frequencies to bystanders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jianchun Dong, Zhen Sun
  • Patent number: 11399085
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jaehong Jung, Gyeongtae Kim, Yongseok Lee, Jinman Kim, Souksu Jang, Hyeyeong Choi, Jiwoo Lee
  • Patent number: 11343610
    Abstract: The present application discloses a sound-output device, a vibration speaker configured to generate a bone-conducted sound wave; and an air-conducted speaker configured to generate an air-conducted sound wave. The vibration speaker is coupled to the air-conducted speaker through a mechanical structure; and the bone-conducted sound wave is input to the air-conducted speaker at least in part as an input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Shenzhen Voxtech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, Junjiang Fu, Fengyun Liao, Xin Qi
  • Patent number: 11240576
    Abstract: A device with water drainage for a speaker is provided. The device comprises: a housing having a cavity; a speaker mounted in the cavity; a hydrophobic mesh over at least a portion of the cavity, the hydrophobic mesh being air-permeable; a hydrophilic grill adjacent the hydrophobic mesh at a speaker-facing side of the hydrophilic grill, the hydrophilic grill comprising apertures therethrough, the hydrophobic mesh located at least at the apertures; and a bezel covering the hydrophilic grill, one or more of the housing and the bezel including drainage features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kuang Eng Lim, Sze Yen Lim, Geng Xiang Lee, Ji Ying Choong
  • Patent number: 11232697
    Abstract: An apparatus attached or integrated into a cellular phone that will alert the phone user to objects generally in front of the user that are within a preselected distance. The invention can also include additional features such as an auxiliary power supply such as a battery or energy harvesting device, or a protective cover to prevent damage to the phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: Dave Ehnot
  • Patent number: 11050869
    Abstract: Systems and methods of implementing privacy-based user behavior modification in a mobile electronic communications device entail receiving a spoken user request at the mobile electronic communications device, determining a request privacy level and an environmental privacy level at the mobile electronic communications device, the environmental privacy level being one of private and non-private. The device then maintains communication privacy based on the request privacy level and the environmental privacy level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Rachid Alameh, Zhengping Ji
  • Patent number: 10993020
    Abstract: A speaker module for a mobile device is provided. The speaker module changes a shape of an opening surface of a duct to which a protection member for preventing a foreign substance from entering is attached. The speaker module includes a speaker for outputting a sound signal, a body in which the speaker is mounted, a duct connected to the body for forming a radiation path of a sound signal output from the speaker, and a protection member attached to an opening surface of the duct for preventing a foreign substance from entering the speaker module, wherein the opening surface has an area larger than that of a cross-sectional opening surface formed vertically with respect to a length direction of the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byounghee Lee, Kiwon Kim
  • Patent number: 10979799
    Abstract: The present invention provides a speaker box, which includes a housing with an accommodating space and a sound unit accommodated in the housing. The sound unit divides the accommodating space into a front cavity and a rear cavity. The housing is provided with a sound hole, the front cavity is communicated with the sound hole, the housing is provided with a baffle wall corresponding to the rear cavity, an air-permeable isolating member corresponding to the baffle wall is provided in the rear cavity, the baffle wall is matched with the air-permeable isolating member to separate a part from the rear cavity to form an independent cavity, and a sound absorbing material is filled in the independent cavity. The air-permeable isolating member is provided with a protrusion portion extending outwardly towards a direction away from the independent cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Yang Shi
  • Patent number: 10834495
    Abstract: According to various examples of the present invention, an electronic device including a speaker can comprise: a first housing; a second housing located in an inner space of the first housing and accommodating a speaker; a separation means for separating the inside of the second housing into a first space opened to the outside of the second housing in the front surface direction of the speaker and a second space in the rear surface direction of the speaker; and opening formed in the separation means and allowing the first space to communicate with the second space; and a separation member coupled to the opening, and having a sound blocking function between the first space and the second space while enabling air permeation between the first space and the second space. Other examples are possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byounghee Lee, Changshik Yoon, Sunyoung Lee, Joonrae Cho, Myoungsung Sim, Seongkwan Yang, Hochul Hwang
  • Patent number: 10728637
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a floating section which has a speaker part and a first box part provided with a first cavity portion functioning as a back chamber of the speaker part and is fixed to a main body chassis in a floatable state inside the main body chassis, a rigid section which has a second box part provided with a second cavity portion and which is rigidly fixed to the main body chassis inside the main body chassis and formed with an antenna on at least a part of the second box part, and a connecting pipe which connects the first box part and the second box part through a vibration buffer part and communicates the first cavity portion and the second cavity portion with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Ishihara, Shigekazu Hawaka
  • Patent number: 10629202
    Abstract: A voice interaction system includes: a speaker; a microphone having a microphone gain that is set at a low level while a sound is output from the speaker; a voice recognition unit that implements voice recognition processing on input sound data input from the microphone; a sound output unit that generates output sound data and outputs the generated output sound data through the speaker; and a non-audible sound output unit that, when a plurality of sounds are output with a time interval no greater than a threshold therebetween, outputs a non-audible sound through the speaker at least in the interim between output of the plurality of sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Ikeno, Satoshi Mizuma, Hayato Sakamoto, Hiroto Konno, Toshifumi Nishijima, Hiromi Tonegawa, Norihide Umeyama, Satoru Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10609479
    Abstract: A device for determining a sound source direction determines a direction in which a source of a reached sound exists, based on at least one of a sound pressure difference between a first sound pressure that is a sound pressure of a first frequency component of a first part of the reached sound acquired by a first microphone and a second sound pressure that is a sound pressure of the first frequency component of a second part of the reached sound acquired by a second microphone, and a phase difference between a first phase that is a phase of a second frequency component of the first part of the reached sound and a second phase that is a phase of the second frequency component of the second part of the reached sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Chisato Shioda, Nobuyuki Washio, Masanao Suzuki, Shunsuke Takeuchi, Yoshiteru Tsuchinaga
  • Patent number: 10531586
    Abstract: An electronic device and method are disclosed. The electronic device includes a housing comprising at least one electronic component disposed within the electronic device, a first separation member configured to separate a first cavity at least partially exposed to an exterior of the electronic device through the housing from a second cavity in which the at least one electronic component is disposed; and a driver disposed in a third cavity spatially coupled with the second cavity in an interior of the housing, the driver configured to generate an air pressure differential between the second cavity and the first cavity. The method operates the device responsive to detecting a water immersion condition by outputting a sound by a speaker device, detecting the outputted sound through a microphone device, determining whether the detected sound matches a predetermined reference value and if so, operating a driver device to discharge the residual water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Doosun Yoon, Joohyun Kim, Soo-Hyun Park, Seungbum Choi, Min-Woo Yoo, Jong-Chul Choi
  • Patent number: 10491989
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a body and a sound cavity assembly. The sound cavity assembly is coupled to the body and forms a sound cavity cooperatively with the body. The sound cavity includes a speaker and a cover. The cover is coupled to the body and at least partially protruding from the body to adjust a volume of the sound cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Chiun Mai Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Yuan-Min Cheng
  • Patent number: 10375469
    Abstract: A speaker box, includes a housing and a speaker unit accommodated in the housing. The speaker unit includes a diaphragm for forming a front sound cavity cooperatively with the housing. The box further includes a sound transmitting channel communicating the front sound cavity and outside, a front cavity of the speaker box formed by the front sound cavity and the sound transmitting channel, a through hole formed in the housing corresponding to the front cavity, and an elastic cover plate disposed on the housing and covering the through hole. A resonance frequency of the elastic cover plate is greater than a working frequency range of the speaker unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: AAC TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: Peng Qin
  • Patent number: 10264335
    Abstract: The present application discloses a speaker box. The speaker box includes an upper cover, a lower cover forming an accommodation space with the upper cover, and a speaker received in the accommodation space. The speaker includes a frame and a diaphragm positioned by the frame. The upper cover forms a supporting wall extending toward the lower cover for fixing the speaker. The speaker box further includes an elastic cushion arranged between the frame and the supporting wall. A method for assembling the speaker box is also provided. Due to the elastic cushion, the consistency of the speaker is ensured, and the acoustic performance of the speaker box is accordingly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: AAC TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Zhang Ren, YuGuo Zhang
  • Patent number: 10257334
    Abstract: Wireless device gesture detection and operational control comprises identifying a first position of the device based on a sensor reading of at least one sensor operating as part of the device. The method may also include identifying a change in the device's position to a second position that is different from the first position, and receiving a specific pattern of touch input data on a touch pad of the device, the specific pattern of touch input data identified as a predefined object which corresponds to dimensions of a human ear being pressed against the touch pad and changing a current operating state of the device to a different operating state based on a comparison and detection operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: OPEN INVENTION NETWORK LLC
    Inventor: David Gerard Ledet
  • Patent number: 10185366
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an acoustic component, a first housing component including the acoustic component in the inside and including a cut in a first surface located on an outer side, the cut allowing passage of sound toward the acoustic component or sound emitted from the acoustic component, and a second housing component which is removably attached to a side of the first surface of the first housing component and includes a projection introduced in the cut in a second surface opposed to the first surface. An elastic material is located to close at least a part between an inner surface of the cut and a surface of the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Junji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10141756
    Abstract: A modular recharging system includes an electronic device that includes an internal battery, and a removable battery pack that the electronic device can use to boost the power of its internal battery. Typically, the battery pack will have a larger battery than the internal battery of the device. Based on threshold charge levels for the internal battery, the electronic device turns on and off power from the battery pack so as to preserve the life of the battery pack. Processor interrupts generated in response to the threshold levels may also be selectively masked to reduce power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Vidhyananth Ramasamy Venkatasamy, Sandeep Chidambara Marathe, Haili Wang
  • Patent number: 10129378
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus is disclosed. An electronic apparatus comprises a panel, a case, a speaker, and a cover member. The panel comprises a first surface and a second surface located opposite to the first surface. The case supports the second surface. The speaker is located inside the case and outputs a sound. The cover member covers at least part of the first surface. The cover member comprises a first opening through which the sound output from the speaker is transmitted to the outside of the electronic apparatus. The first opening and part of the case overlap each other in a first direction along a thickness direction of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Nonaka, Atsuki Ooi
  • Patent number: 10111008
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the technical field of electroacoustic products. Disclosed is a miniature speaker. The miniature speaker comprises an upper housing and a lower housing combined together. A vibration system and a magnetic circuit system are accommodated in the space defined by the upper housing and the lower housing. The upper housing is disposed close to the vibration system. The miniature speaker also comprises a hearing-aid voice coil. The hearing-aid voice coil is fixed to the upper housing and is located at the inner side of the upper housing. The miniature speaker of the present invention solves the problem of poor acoustics caused by collision of a lead wire of a vibrating voice coil with a hearing-aid voice coil of a miniature speaker in the prior art, and the miniature speaker of the present invention has good acoustic performance and a better hearing-aid effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventors: Xiaodong Guo, Chao Jiang
  • Patent number: 10028044
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic device. In an embodiment, the electronic device may include a body, a display combined with the front of the body, and a speaker assembly embedded on at least one side of the body, wherein the speaker assembly may include a casing configured to form an external appearance and a speaker unit combined with the casing and configured to have at least part of an element of the speaker assembly exposed to an outside of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yongjun Je, Youngin Ko
  • Patent number: 9924333
    Abstract: A device provides a user interface that includes a list of push-to-talk contacts, and receives, via the user interface, a gesture indicating a request to establish a push-to-talk call with a particular contact in the list of push-to-talk contacts. The device initiates the push-to-talk call with another device associated with the particular contact, and the push-to-talk call is initiated with the other device based on the gesture and directly from within the user interface. The device provides for display a visual indicator associated with the push-to-talk call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Howard G. Hammer, Adam J. Simon, Nishanth Vontela
  • Patent number: 9883266
    Abstract: A loudspeaker module comprises a loudspeaker unit and a module housing. A front acoustic cavity and a rear acoustic cavity are formed between the module housing and the loudspeaker unit. The upper and lower ends of the front acoustic cavity and the rear acoustic cavity are open. The upper and lower end surfaces of the module housing are combined with a terminal electronic device through sealing cushions. An electronic device is also disclosed. The upper and lower surfaces of the module housing are combined with the circuit board or the device housing through sealing cushions. Such a structure fully utilizes the spaces of the loudspeaker module and the electronic device, expands the internal space of the loudspeaker module, increases the sizes of the loudspeaker unit and the sound cavities, and accordingly improves the acoustical performance of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventors: Zhigan Dai, Di Wu, Huiyu Li, Xinfeng Yang
  • Patent number: 9781497
    Abstract: An accessory device suitable for use with an electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device may include an audio assembly designed to generate acoustical energy. The audio assembly may use certain components of the accessory device to generate the acoustical energy. For example, the accessory device may include a shell, or rigid body, that provides structural support for the accessory device. The accessory device may also include a flexible layer, such as silicone, disposed over the shell. The audio assembly may use part of the shell and acoustically drive that part of the shell to generate the acoustical energy. Further, the audio assembly may use part of the flexible layer as a “surround” to allow part of the shell to move relative to other parts. The electronic device may electrically couple with the accessory device, thereby providing a means for providing an audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Rasmussen, Ian P. Colahan, Trevor M. Cardiff
  • Patent number: 9768820
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a clip-type mobile terminal which can be conveniently placed on various parts of the body and other objects. The clip-type mobile terminal comprises a case defining the exterior of the mobile terminal, a display panel disposed on the front surface part of the case, and a battery disposed on the rear surface part of the case. The case comprises a first frame supporting the display panel, a second frame supporting the battery, and a connection frame connecting one side of the first frame and one side of the second frame. Here, the first frame and the second frame may be spaced apart from each other by a certain gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Choonghwan Shin, Byunghwa Lee, Sungtaek Oh
  • Patent number: 9749749
    Abstract: A signal processing module is configured to receive left and right channels of stereo input audio data and generate first and second channels of output audio data for first and second loudspeakers where the first and second loudspeakers have different frequency responses to one another. The signal processing module comprises an impulse emphasis block configured to emphasize impulsive sounds in the received audio in at least one of the first and second channels of output audio data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas Ivan Harvey
  • Patent number: 9648236
    Abstract: A device with a front facing camera having two discrete focus positions is provided. The device comprises: a chassis comprising a front side; a display and a camera each at least partially located on the front side; the camera adjacent the display, the camera facing in a same direction as the display, the camera configured to: acquire video in a video mode; acquire an image in a camera mode; and, discretely step between a first and second focus position, the first position comprising a depth of field (“DOF”) at a hyperfocal distance and the second position comprising a DOF in a range of about 20 cm to about 1 meter; and, a processor configured to: when the camera is in the camera mode, automatically control the camera to the first position; and, when the camera is in the video mode, automatically control the camera to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yun Seok Choi, Sui Tong Tang, Thomas Guillaume Grandin, Arnett Ryan Weber
  • Patent number: 9577693
    Abstract: A wristwatch includes a watch body having a display part on an upper surface thereof and having a seating part at an outline part of the display part, and a Bluetooth headset including a sound output unit that outputs sound information received from a master terminal, having a shape corresponding to an outline part of the display part to surround the display part, seated in the seating part, and installed to be attached to and detached from the watch body, the Bluetooth headset being a slaver terminal of the master terminal that functions as a body case or a bezel of the watch body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Young Gwun OH
    Inventor: Young Gwun Oh
  • Patent number: 9386134
    Abstract: An apparatus including a sound transducer; and a housing having the sound transducer connected thereto. The housing forms a substantially sealed air space back cavity acoustically coupled to the sound transducer. The housing includes a housing member having a first dividing structure located in the back cavity to connect two adjacent air mass sections of the back cavity, where the dividing structure includes at least one aperture to permit travel of sound waves through the at lease one aperture between the air mass sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Benedict Slotte, Anders Johan Engberg
  • Patent number: 9258397
    Abstract: A protective case having a speaker sound amplification path and an electronic device including at least one speaker device are disclosed. The protective case includes a base surface placed adjacent to at least one side of the electronic device to protect the electronic device, at least one speaker sound amplification path formed in the base surface and having a specific depth including a first location corresponding to a speaker hole of the electronic device to output a speaker sound of the speaker device, and a speaker sound output hole at a second location extended from the speaker sound amplification path and formed to an outer side of the protective case in an open manner, wherein the speaker sound output from the speaker hole is amplified within the speaker sound amplification path and is then output through the speaker sound output hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byoung-Hee Lee, Ki-Won Kim, Sun-Young Lee
  • Patent number: 9209850
    Abstract: The present application is directed to a protective case for an electronic device including a first member and a second member operationally configured to house an electronic device therein; wherein the first member is operationally configured to direct sound waves to an inner surface of the second member; and wherein the second member is operationally configured to dictate travel of sound waves within the protective case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Inventor: David Chang
  • Patent number: 8971974
    Abstract: A cover for a hand-held device, which has a device body and a speaker, includes a cover body configured for covering a portion the device body and for covering the speaker and a channel for positioning adjacent the device body. The channel is configured to form a sound duct when mounted adjacent the back side of the device body and to be in communication with the speaker when the cover is mounted to the hand-held device for redirecting at least a portion of the sound waves emitted from the speaker to a location remote from the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: nflukz, llc
    Inventor: Robert B. Weaver, III
  • Patent number: 8929538
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for switching talking mode automatically applicable to electronic equipment, which includes an accelerometer, proximity sensor and video camera. The method includes acquiring gravity information from the accelerometer during conversation between the electronic equipment and the other side of the conversation, and judging whether the electronic equipment is in a vertical state according to the gravity information; activating the video camera to take a capturing action if the electronic equipment is not in a vertical state, and acquiring distance information and/or image information, the distance information used for indicating distance to the captured object, and the image information used for indicating the captured object; and switching the talking mode to speakerphone mode if distance indicated by the distance information is greater than a first threshold value, and/or resolution of the image indicated by the image information is greater than a second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Yinong Liu
  • Patent number: 8923929
    Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for processing a call on a mobile endpoint device in any orientation are disclosed. For example, the method receives an incoming call, detects a call answering signal, detects an audio signal within a time period after the call answering signal, determines an orientation of the mobile endpoint device and activates a microphone from a first speaker and microphone pair and a speaker from a second speaker and microphone pair based upon the orientation of the mobile endpoint device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Damian Kumor
  • Patent number: 8913738
    Abstract: Apparatus includes a housing, a substrate provided within the housing and including a first surface oppositely disposed to a second surface, an earpiece speaker module provided within the housing and including an air displacement component that is configured to move upon application of an electrical signal, the air displacement component having a front surface and a back surface, an acoustic cavity defined within the housing, and a front volume adjacent the front surface of the air moving component. The housing includes an earpiece aperture which is coupled to the earpiece speaker module by an acoustic channel, wherein the first surface of the substrate faces generally towards the earpiece aperture. The second surface of the substrate faces the back surface of the air displacement component. A rear volume is provided between the second surface of the substrate and the earpiece speaker module. The acoustic cavity is coupled via a coupling channel to the rear volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Yao Qingshan, Preben Kvist
  • Patent number: 8891806
    Abstract: A mobile terminal including a case forming an external appearance, a circuit board positioned in the case, an acoustic output unit, and a connector joined to the acoustic output unit and electrically connected to the circuit board is provided. The connector contacts one lateral surface of the circuit board and is elastically deformed through the contact. The connector may include a fixed end portion inserted into the acoustic output unit and a free end portion connected to the fixed end portion to be elastically displaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Minsu Jun, Leehyun You, Hongki Kim, Yongsu Jeon
  • Patent number: 8837764
    Abstract: A portable loudspeaker includes a base and a speaker cap opposing the base. The base and speaker cap are interposed by a movable resonance portion. The movable resonance portion is formed in a storing state and a releasing state. The base has a resonance reflection portion to receive reverse resonance sound waves generated by a speaker. The movable resonance portion includes a first transmission channel to transmit the reverse resonance sound waves to the resonance reflection portion and a second transmission channel to transmit base sound waves generated by the resonance reflection portion from the reverse resonance sound waves towards the speaker cap. The speaker cap has a second audio outlet to output the bass sound waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Topower Computer Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ching-Ling Chou
  • Patent number: 8817971
    Abstract: In a video teleconference device, a microphone and a speaker are arranged in a housing in such a manner that a voice input direction of the microphone and a voice output direction of the speaker are roughly orthogonal to each other. With that, the sound coming out of the speaker is not easily received as input by the microphone. Thus, with such a simple configuration, it becomes possible to effectively curb the echo effect and the howling effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Haruo Shida, Nobutake Hayashi, Satoshi Odanaka
  • Patent number: 8804947
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system which supports a dual-purpose aperture for an electronic device. This system includes a first component configured to perform an acoustic function through the aperture and a second component configured to perform a non-acoustic function through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael N. Rosenblatt, Michael M. Lee, Justin L. Gregg