Including Coupler (e.g., Inductive) Patents (Class 379/443)
  • Patent number: 11606649
    Abstract: In embodiments of the invention, the present invention is directed to a contact hearing system, the contact hearing system including: an ear tip, the ear tip including a transmit coil wherein the transmit coil is wound around a core including, at least in part, a ferromagnetic material; and a contact hearing device including a receive coil wherein the receive coil is wound around a core including, at least in part, a non-ferromagnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Earlens Corporation
    Inventors: Stuart W. Wenzel, Daniel K. Hallock
  • Patent number: 11012777
    Abstract: An audio adjustment method for an electronic device having an audio playback function includes: acquiring an interference parameter, the interference parameter characterizing an impact of an interference surface on the audio playback function of the electronic device; determining a first audio parameter that corresponds to the interference parameter; and adjusting audio playback of the electronic device according to the first audio parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: LENOVO (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haifeng Xu, Yonglian Zhou
  • Patent number: 10721360
    Abstract: There is described a gateway system comprising: a local-call device for receiving and sending phone call signals from and to a telephone device located in a same telecommunication zone; a VoIP device, distinct from the local-call device, for receiving and sending VoIP call signals from and to a remote and distinct VoIP device located in another distinct telecommunication zone; and a voice transmission apparatus comprises a set of two acoustically distinct chambers. Those comprise a first chamber comprising a first microphone and a second speaker; and a second chamber comprising a second microphone and a first speaker. The first microphone and the first speaker are in communication with the local-call device only and the second microphone and the second speaker are in communication with the VoIP device of the gateway system only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Inventor: Idriss Yousfi
  • Patent number: 10008888
    Abstract: Provided is a wireless power transmission system. The wireless power transmission system includes a power supply unit generating amplified power; a wireless power transmission unit receiving and converting the amplified power into wireless power; a wireless power reception unit receiving and converting the wireless power into charging power; and a charging unit receiving the charging power, wherein the charging unit includes a battery to store the charging power and the power supply unit includes a power detection unit identifies the charged state of the battery based on the amplified voltage and amplified current of the amplified power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: WooSub Youm, Sung Q Lee, Gunn Hwang
  • Patent number: 9445168
    Abstract: An electronic device and a direction switching method are described. The electronic device includes a housing having a first end and a second end, an audio input unit and an audio output unit. The electronic device has at least a first working direction and a second working direction, the direction from said first end to said second end is a reference direction when the electronic device is in the first working direction; and the direction from the second end to the first end is the reference direction when the electronic device is in the second working direction, wherein the audio input unit in a working state is located at the second end when the electronic device is in the first working direction; and the audio input unit in the working state is located at the first end when the electronic device is in the second working direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: LENOVO (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tao Li, Dejun Wang, Yifei Song, Shaoping Peng, Shunyong Yang
  • Patent number: 9281603
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a plug that can be fit into network ports. The plug features a flexible extrusion that fits into a aperture in the back of the plug. The when the flexible extrusion is linked into the aperture, it creates a loop that can hold a hang tag. The hang tag can be used to label the plug. The loop created by the plug can be tightened, so that it fits around a cable, in order to label the cable, once the plug has been removed from the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Inventor: Mitchell J Cullins
  • Patent number: 8755505
    Abstract: A communication wall panel includes an interior panel member to be attached to a room as an interior wall material thereof; an information obtaining part provided in the interior panel member and configured to obtain information associated with a person in the room; a notification part provided in the interior panel member and configured to notify the person in the room of information; a communication part provided in the interior panel member and configured to perform communication with a server installed in a location other than the room; and a control part provided in the interior panel member and configured to control the information obtaining part and the notification part. The communication part is configured to transmit information obtained from the information obtaining part to the server and to output information transmitted from the server to the notification part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: University of Tsukuba
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Sankai
  • Patent number: 8620013
    Abstract: A communication system has a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver. The transmitter is built into a hearing device to be worn at one or both ears of an individual. The hearing device has an input acoustical-to-electrical converter unit and an output electrical-to-mechanical converter unit. The wireless transmitter is operationally connectable to the output of the input converter unit. The receiver is remote from the hearing device by a distance larger than any distance between two areas at one single individual. The transmitter and receiver form a wireless communication link at least for audio representing signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Hans-Ueli Roeck
  • Patent number: 8410751
    Abstract: A device housing a battery (50) includes a receiving coil (51), and a charging pad (10) includes a transmitting coil (11) that magnetically couples with, and supplies charging power to the receiving coil. The device further includes a modulator circuit (61) that changes the impedance of the receiving coil according to internal battery data. The charging pad further includes a detection circuit (17) that detects receiving coil impedance changes to detect the battery data. The modulator circuit has a load circuit (62) connected in parallel with the receiving coil and has a series-connected switching device (64) and impedance modulating capacitor (63), and a control circuit (65) that switches the load circuit switching device ON and OFF according to the battery data. The modulator circuit switches the switching device 64 ON and OFF to transmit battery data to the charging pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyozo Terao, Shoichi Toya
  • Patent number: 8406823
    Abstract: A power transmission control device is provided in a contactless power transmission system that supplies electric power to a load of a power reception device such that a primary coil and a secondary coil are electromagnetically coupled to each other so as to transmit the electric power to the power reception device from the power transmission device. The power transmission control device includes a controller that controls the power transmission control device, and a storage section that stores information about a power transmitting side coil. The controller performs a collation process for collating the information about the power transmitting side coil with information about a power receiving side coil received from the power reception device, and determines whether or not the information about the power transmitting side coil is compatible with the information about the power receiving side coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Kondo, Takahiro Kamijo, Kota Onishi, Masayuki Kamiyama, Nobutaka Shiozaki
  • Patent number: 8395352
    Abstract: There is provided a power transmission control device provided in a power transmission device included in a contactless power transmission system in which power is transmitted from the power transmission device to a power receiving device by electromagnetically coupling an elementary coil and a secondary coil and the power is supplied to a load of the power receiving device. The power transmission control device includes a load state detection circuit that detects a load state of the power receiving device on the basis of a first signal from a first end of a resonance capacitor forming a resonant circuit with the elementary coil and a second signal from a second end of the resonance capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Aoyama, Masakazu Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 8369905
    Abstract: A power transmission control device provided in a power transmission device included in a contactless power transmission system in which power is transmitted from the power transmission device to a power receiving device by electromagnetically coupling a primary coil and a secondary coil and the power is supplied to a load of the power receiving device includes a controller controlling the power transmission control device. The controller includes a communication condition setting section setting, by exchanging information with the power receiving device, a communication condition that is at least one of a communication method between the power transmission device and the power receiving device and a communication parameter, and a communication processing section performing a communication processing between the power transmission device and the power receiving device by using the set communication condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Haruhiko Sogabe, Yoichiro Kondo, Kota Onishi, Masayuki Kamiyama, Nobutaka Shiozaki, Takahiro Kamijo
  • Patent number: 8359073
    Abstract: There is provided a power transmission control device included in a power transmission device in a contactless power transmission system that transmits power from the power transmission device to a power receiving device by electromagnetically coupling a primary coil to a secondary coil to supply the power to a load of the power receiving device. The power transmission control device includes a controller controlling the power transmission control device, a host interface communicating with a power transmission-side host, and a register section accessible from the power transmission-side host via the host interface. The controller shifts into a communication mode that executes communication between the power transmission-side host and a power receiving-side host, when the power transmission-side host writes, via the host interface, a communication request command that requests the communication between the hosts in the register section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Kamiyama, Kota Onishi, Nobutaka Shiozaki, Kentaro Yoda, Takahiro Kamijo
  • Patent number: 8339096
    Abstract: To provide a wireless power receiving device and an electronic device having the wireless power receiving device whose production costs do not increase even when frequency of electromagnetic waves received for power supply varies. Further, to provide a wireless power receiving device capable of power transmission without disconnection or poor connection when a load supplied with electricity and a battery connected to an antenna are manufactured in different steps. A power transmitter and receiver portion having first and second antenna circuits and a battery portion and a load portion having a third antenna circuit are provided to charge a battery of the battery portion with a first radio signal received at the first antenna circuit and transmit electricity stored in the battery portion as a second radio signal from the second antenna circuit to the third antenna circuit so that the third antenna circuit supplies electricity to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Osada
  • Patent number: 8340336
    Abstract: A speaker assembly, a method for manufacturing a speaker assembly and a wireless device are provided. Such a speaker assembly may include a diaphragm for generating sound, a transducer for causing the diaphragm to generate sound and an integrated inductive element that is electrically connected to the transducer. The diaphragm, transducer and integrated inductive element are contained within the speaker assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Melvin Duane Frerking, George O'Quinn Hirvela
  • Patent number: 8222860
    Abstract: A power transmission control device included in a contactless power transmission system in which power is transmitted from a power transmission device to a power receiving device by electromagnetically coupling a primary coil and a secondary coil and the power is supplied to a load of the power receiving device, includes a controller controlling the power transmission control device, and a load condition detection circuit detecting a load condition on a power receiving side. The controller determines the load condition on the power receiving side based on threshold information received from the power receiving device and load condition detection information from the load condition detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Kamijo, Yoichiro Kondo, Kota Onishi, Masayuki Kamiyama, Nobutaka Shiozaki
  • Patent number: 8208624
    Abstract: A device such as a mobile phone includes a device to be hearing aid compatible. The device may include a first speaker for private listening operation and a second speaker that provides both speakerphone operation and hearing aid (e.g. telecoil) operation. The device may include a first use position for normal listening and a second, substantially different, use position for telecoil operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: James Samuel Bowen
  • Patent number: 8111041
    Abstract: A power reception device transmits authentication information (e.g., start code, manufacturer ID, product ID, rated power information, and resonance characteristic information) to a power transmission device before starting normal power transmission by a non-contact power transmission system. The power transmission device performs instrument authentication based on the received authentication information, and regulates the maximum transmission power is regulated to conform to a power-reception-device side rated power. The power transmission device then performs normal power transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Japan, Inc.
    Inventors: Kota Onishi, Kentaro Yoda, Haruhiko Sogabe, Takahiro Kamijo, Kuniharu Suzuki, Hiroshi Kato, Katsuya Suzuki, Manabu Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8054036
    Abstract: A power transmission device performs power-saving power transmission that transmits a small amount of power as compared with normal power transmission when the power transmission device has detected that a battery of a load has been fully charged so that the operation of a charge control device (charge control IC) of the load is maintained, thereby enabling recharging due to a charge management function of the charge control device. Since the load state of a power reception device increases when recharging has started, the power transmission device detects an increase in the load state and changes power transmission from power-saving power transmission to normal power transmission. When the power reception device has been removed during power-saving power transmission, the power transmission device detects that the power reception device has been removed, and stops continuous power transmission so that unnecessary power consumption does not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Japan, Inc.
    Inventors: Kota Onishi, Kentaro Yoda, Takahiro Kamijo, Haruhiko Sogabe, Kuniharu Suzuki, Hiroshi Kato, Katsuya Suzuki, Manabu Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7978867
    Abstract: An audio signal system is provided having, in one embodiment, a magnetostrictive core of varying shapes, sizes, and permeability. The core is wound with a wire, thereby forming an inductor for producing a magnetic field when current is passed through the wire. A speaker, or other audio output device, is positioned in parallel or series with the inductor. In operation, an audio signal is received and transmitted to the speaker or other audio output device, wherein a replication of the received signal is produced. An output of the magnetostrictive inductor couples with the replicated audio signal to modify and enhance the quality of the projected signal. In yet another embodiment, digital signal processing may be used to modify the received signal as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Able Planet, Incorporated
    Inventors: Joan Phillips Waldron, Joan Billger Burleigh, Brett William Jelkin
  • Patent number: 7933402
    Abstract: An integrated adapter and fax device using the integrated adapter are provided. The power supply converting unit and line interface unit, each of which has a first section and a second section that are isolated from each other, are configured separately in the integrated adapter. Thus, product liability and safety standards are fundamentally satisfied, material costs of an external case of the fax device can be reduced, the external case can be more freely designed, and a power supply line and telephone line can be easily connected by a modular jack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Cheol-Min Jeon
  • Patent number: 7657049
    Abstract: An improved telephone handset for hearing-impaired persons. A passive device, in the form of an inductor wound about a highly magnetostrictive core, is connected with the speaker in the handset. The device has been found to improve intelligibility of speech delivered by the handset, when perceived by persons afflicted with certain types of hearing impairment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Able Planet, Incorporated
    Inventors: Joan Phillips Waldron, Brett William Jelkin, Joan Billger Burleigh
  • Patent number: 7584010
    Abstract: An improved telephone handset for hearing-impaired persons. A passive device, in the form of an inductor wound about a highly magnetostrictive core, is connected with the speaker in the handset. The device has been found to improve intelligibility of speech delivered by the handset, when perceived by persons afflicted with certain types of hearing impairment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Able Planet, Incorporated
    Inventors: Joan Phillips Waldron, Brett William Jelkin
  • Patent number: 7426279
    Abstract: An electromagnetic field signal communications system (100) is based on a specially configured sending transducer (30), having electrical conductors (32) wound onto a generally circular core (33) including an air gap (34) from which its electromagnetic fields (40) are generated when excited with input electrical audio or data (20) signals. The transducer (30) transmits by projecting these electromagnetic fields (40) onto adjacent signal receiving transducers (51/56) that transform the electromagnetic field (40) into proportional electrical signals. The electromagnetic fields (40) are transformed by a receiving transducer (51) located in an adjacent hearing aid device (50) such that input audio electrical input signals, which are processed by circuitry (53), bypass the hearing aid microphone (52) and are routed to the eardrum speaker (55).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Inventors: James L. Cochran, Marilyn Valdez-Campbell
  • Publication number: 20080130867
    Abstract: A device such as a mobile phone includes a device to be hearing aid compatible. The device may include a first speaker for private listening operation and a second speaker that provides both speakerphone operation and hearing aid (e.g. telecoil) operation. The device may include a first use position for normal listening and a second, substantially different, use position for telecoil operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventor: James Samuel Bowen
  • Patent number: 7099468
    Abstract: A telephone handset restraining and release mechanism comprises a cup-shaped enclosure for receiving and restraining the transmitter end of a telephone handset. This cup-shaped enclosure is mounted to the top surface of a housing that also supports a receiver end restraining mechanism. The receiving end restraining mechanism comprises a roller mounted to a slidable bracket biased into a telephone handset restraining position by means of cushioning spring pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Steven W. Shuniak, Jeff T. Pound
  • Patent number: 7003317
    Abstract: Motorcycle helmet communications cables connecting substantially all models of cellular telephones to a “CHATTERBOX” HJC-GMRS X1 rider-to-rider motorcycle helmet communication system. A length of audio cable is provided with a 3.5 mm stereo plug at one end designed to engage the auxiliary input jack of the motorcycle helmet communication system. At the second end of the cable a 2.5 mm stereo plug is provided for engagement with the hands-free outlet of any cellular telephone. The first plug includes four co-axial contacts for engaging contacts within the auxiliary-input jack of the communication system. The second plug has only three co-axial contacts for engaging contacts in the hands-free jack of most cellular telephones. The internal wire connections between the contacts of the first plug and the contacts of the second plug are selected to enable most cellular phones with hands-free jacks to operate with the HJC-GMRS X1 rider-to-rider motorcycle helmet communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Inventors: Willie S. Belcher, Michael A. Belcher, Cartaveta R. Belcher
  • Patent number: 6965672
    Abstract: An electronic switching system, comprising a common source of voltage to a plurality of user stations connected in parallel, an electronic means of connection to electrically connect a chosen user station to the common source of voltage, and a means of disconnection command with an optical coupler to control automatically the electronic disconnection of other user stations to the common source of voltage. A default user station is normally the chosen user station. There are means of separation of grounds for the chosen user station and the other user stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Inventor: Loubaris Mohamed Faiçal
  • Patent number: 6925179
    Abstract: An audio coupler device for communication with a T-coil in a hearing aid is described to fit inside the receiver section of a handset as defined. The coupler device is so mounted inside the receiver section as to provide strong inductive coupling with a T-coil inside the hearing aid to deliver audio signals from the handset to the person wearing the hearing aid. The coupler device has a coil and a magnetic core that is preferably formed of a ferromagnetic material and a capacitor is placed in series with the coil. The coupler device in turn is connected in series with the speaker so as to reduce loading of circuitry inside the handset and driving the speaker. The coupler device can be mounted in many different handset devices and is preferably mounted to concentrate an audio inductive field at the T-coil in a hearing aid worn by a person using the handset device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: New World Sounds, Inc.
    Inventors: Joan Phillips Waldron, Grace M. Scire′, Jacob Segovia
  • Publication number: 20040252855
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a first microphone, a second microphone and a telephone coil for alternatively providing an electrical signal representative of a received acoustic signal, a magnetic switch and a plurality of programs for configuring the output from the microphones and the telephone coil. The hearing aid can further include a magnetic switch and a manual switch for selecting between inputs and programs. Upon detecting the presence of a magnetic field, the magnetic switch can automatically switch from the microphones to the telephone coil and change the program configuring the input. When the magnetic field is no longer present, the magnetic switch can automatically switch back to the microphone from the telephone coil and change the program configuring the input back to the program used before the exposure of the magnetic switch to the magnetic field. The manual switch can switch between the plurality of programs and between the microphones and telephone coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Remir Vasserman, Hans-Herbert Tuerk, Jan Philipp Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6668042
    Abstract: A modular telephone handset (100) comprises an earpiece (102), a mouthpiece (104), and a handle (106) detachably attached at one end to the earpiece and at the other end to the mouthpiece. Attachment and detachment is effected by snap or twist joints (108,110). This allows one of the earpiece and the mouthpiece when detached to be used by a human user for listening or talking on a telephone call while simultaneously allowing the other of the earpiece and the mouthpiece to be used for receiving or transmitting data with an acoustic coupler (202) of a TDD device (200), thereby facilitating mixed-mode TDD-and-voice communication at any telephone that is equipped with the modular handset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Avaya Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Paul Roller Michaelis
  • Patent number: 6584196
    Abstract: In an electronic inductor circuit, an operational amplifier drives the base of the electronic inductor transistor, and receives negative feedback from the emitter of the transistor. The transistor and operational amplifier combine to form a voltage-controlled current source (VCCS) with respect to the loop current. A voltage divider connected across the rectified Tip and Ring voltage (or another node of the circuit at an equivalent voltage) provides a DC reference to the positive input of the operational amplifier, so that the line current automatically increases with an increase in line voltage. A capacitor couples the transmit signal driver to the positive input of the operational amplifier. This electronic inductor circuit can be driven using a low voltage supply and provides sufficient linearity for high-speed modem applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Sacca, Raphael Rahamim
  • Patent number: 6584182
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for the communication of data over telephone lines. A handset orientation tolerant bi-directional acoustic modem according to the invention includes a first transducer operable as a receiving unit under a first condition and as a transmitting unit under a second condition, a second transducer operable as a transmitting unit under the first condition and as a receiving unit under the second condition, and a controller capable of determining the presence of one of the first and the second condition. The presence of the first condition or second condition depends on how the microphone and the speaker of a telephone handset are aligned with respect to the two transducers. The acoustic modem determines the alignment by listening for a detectable dial tone, and then under the first or the second condition, the acoustic modem automatically transmits data to a central site for analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Brodnick
  • Patent number: 6539073
    Abstract: Water rod segments are provided in a nuclear fuel bundle and releasably connected one to the other at joints within openings through the spacers. A lowermost water rod segment passes through a number of the spacers, with water rods segments above the lowermost segment being screwthreaded one to the other forming joints therebetween within the spacer openings. Capture flanges are provided immediately above and below the spacers on each of the segments such that the spacer is captured between adjoining segments. Interior passages through the segments communicate water along the water rod to an upper region of the fuel bundle. Swirler vanes are disposed about the water rod segments and terminal ends of the swirler vanes may form the capture flanges, retaining the spacer between adjacent segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David G. Smith, William C. Peters
  • Patent number: 6233336
    Abstract: An inductive coupling interface couples a first electronic device to an inductive coupling link of a second electronic device. The second device link is in a coupling zone adjacent the interface. A separation plane separates the coupling zone from the interface. The interface includes a pair of coils arranged on one side of the separation plane opposite the coupling zone. The coils are coupled in series to receive an input signal from the first device and generate flux based thereon. Each coil is wound in a coil plane in a winding direction, and has a first flux face as defined by the winding direction and a coil plane axis residing within the coil plane. The first flux faces of the coils respectively face toward and away from the separation plane. The coil plane axes are parallel to one another and the separation plane, and the same distance from the separation plane. Each coil has inner and outer sides parallel to the coil plane axis and respectively closer to and farther from the other coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Gai-Tronics Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Croft, Ian Cash
  • Patent number: 6134321
    Abstract: A telephone line monitoring circuit uses an optoisolator to convert the telephone line current to a voltage which is applied to the input of an AID converter. The A/D values are coarse values representing telephone line current. The A/D is sampled at a predetermined interval to identify changes introduced by the telephone company central office, and to take those changes into account when deciding if an extension telephone has gone off-hook. When a customer causes an extension telephone to go off-hook, the line current divides between the extension telephone and the IRD modem, and such change is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Thomas Licensing S.A.
    Inventor: Robert Alan Pitsch
  • Patent number: 6104707
    Abstract: An apparatus for electrical line communication includes a transmitter, a receiver, a modem, and a coupler at each of two or more locations along an electrical line. The couplers have capacitive circuits serially connected with an air-core transformer. The capacitive circuits resonate with the air-core transformer at a preselected frequency. A novel phase linear coupler eliminates noise and is matched resistively to the characteristic impedance of the line at the preselected frequency, which linearizes communication on the line and allows high speed data and voice communication over long distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Videocom, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Abraham
  • Patent number: 5999400
    Abstract: A modular plug which has an insulative housing comprising a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of lateral walls which are perpendicularly interposed between the top two bottom walls. There are a plurality of front longitudinal terminal receiving slots in the top wall adjacent the front wall. There is also a cable receiving cavity in the rear wall. A plurality of rear longitudinal terminal contact receiving slots are in the top wall and between the front longitudinal terminal contact receiving slots and the rear wall. A medial component housing cavity is interposed between the front longitudinal terminal contact receiving slots and the rear longitudinal terminal contact receiving slots. There is also a first plurality of conductors, each of which extends from the rear wall of the jack to adjacent a different one of said rear longitudinal contact terminal receiving slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yakov Belopolsky, Joseph E. Shingara
  • Patent number: 5937334
    Abstract: A phone patch 26 for interfacing between a radio 12 and a telephone network 32 includes means for electrically coupling audio signals between the radio 12 and the telephone network 32. A monitoring means is operationally coupled to the coupling means and may adjust the audio signals through operator controls 42. The monitoring means allows an operator to communicate with both the radio and telephone user and modify the audio signals to provide sufficient volume without overmodulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Fred Peterson
    Inventors: Fred Peterson, Bradley Albing
  • Patent number: 5802148
    Abstract: A system for generating aural announcements of incoming calls within a premises has a premises phone connected within a premises phone line that forms first and second communication channels. The first communication channel is adapted for connection and communication to a phone network. An announcement controller is connected within the phone line and generates aural announcement signals along the second communication channel to a speaker which plays corresponding aural announcements. A switch may be operatively connected between the premises phone and announcement controller and switches the announcement controller into the second communication channel for transmitting aural announcement signals to a premises phone via the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore Sizer, II
  • Patent number: 5740257
    Abstract: Active noise control for use by individuals using magnetically coupled hearing aids is realized by generating a true representation of the handset input signal, which is employed to drive a separate external field coil. The external field coil is positioned between the handset receiver and the handset acoustic output ports so that it is in close proximity to a user's ear cavity and, hence, to the magnetically coupled hearing aid. Also, in some embodiments of the invention, a magnetic shield is employed between the handset receiver and the external field coil to inhibit the magnetic leakage field from the receiver element from mixing with the magnetic field from the external field coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Larry Allen Marcus
  • Patent number: 5561710
    Abstract: An interactive voice communication terminal (10) provides alpha and numeric characters transmitted from a DTMF generator (36) to access a database by interfacing with the mouthpiece (24) of a telephone handset (26) via a transducer (22). A keypad (14) is operable to allow selection of one of multiple characters associated with alpha characters and numeric characters. A table of DTMF strings associated with each key is stored in a memory (34). In response to depression of a key on the keypad (14), a centralized controller (32) controls the DTMF generator (36) to output the sequence associated with the depressed key that was stored in the memory (34) to transducer (22) via a driver (38). The tables in the memory (34) can be a combination of DTMF sequences for alpha characters and single number sequences for numerical sequences or they can be fixed-length sequences for all numerical and alpha characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Inventor: Ramon E. Helms
  • Patent number: 5557673
    Abstract: An auditory assistance apparatus and method for use with a sound signal source which also produces a magnetic field propagated along a magnetic field axis to increase the signal-to-noise ratio with respect to ambient noise. A pair of magnetic pickup coils of substantially the same electrical and magnetic parameters, but of opposite polarity, are located close to the sound signal source and oriented symmetrically with respect to the geometrical axis of the auditory assistance apparatus with the magnetic axes of the pickup coils substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the magnetic field axis of the sound signal source and the geometrical axis of the auditory assistance apparatus; and an amplifier which adds and amplifies the outputs of the serially-connected pickup coils and feeds same to an audio transducer for conversion to sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: AVR Communications, Ltd.
    Inventor: Boris Ginzburg
  • Patent number: 5555300
    Abstract: A system for automatically adjusting the level of a telephone instrument microphone input signal in response to the level of the telephone instrument sidetone signal. The system may provide a test signal to the handset microphone input and receive the sidetone signal that corresponds to the test signal from the handset speaker output. A signal processor may then measure the amount of distortion present in the sidetone. If the amount of distortion is below a predetermined threshold, the level of the test signal is increased by a predetermined increment by adjusting an attenuation or amplification factor, and the amount of distortion in the sidetone is again measured. These steps are repeated until the measured distortion exceeds the threshold. The level of the test signal is then decreased by a predetermined amount. The final test signal thus has a level that maximizes the microphone input signal level with an acceptable minimum of distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Inventor: Howard A. Gutzmer
  • Patent number: 5291541
    Abstract: Coupling apparatus for a telephone handset comprises a handset-coupling cradle having a dome at one end thereof for locating the earpiece (receiver) of the handset, and sound ports at the other end of the cradle in the region where the mouthpiece (microphone) of the handset resides. The handset-coupling cradle is shaped to accommodate a variety of different handset styles. An inductive sensor is mounted within the dome and it responds to electromagnetic fields generated by the handset receiver. Such a sensor eliminates the need to closely couple the receiver to the apparatus. A low acoustic impedance loudspeaker is mounted beneath the sound ports for acoustically coupling signals to the handset's microphone. Such a loudspeaker eliminates the need to closely couple the microphone to the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: Clinton D. Gibler, Larry A. Marcus, Frederick A. Rosebrock, Perry K. White
  • Patent number: 5265145
    Abstract: An alphanumeric caller identification telephone is disclosed which has several advantages and novelties. Among them are that when certain predetermined incoming calls including a number or name are received, this apparatus can display not only the received number, but can also spell, speak or display the name of the caller. In addition, this apparatus can be set to ring, alert or even activate a plurality of control outputs when certain incoming calls including a number or name are received. The activation of alarm(s) and control output(s) can also be set during a predetermined time interval only. Furthermore, this phone has an infrared transmission system, which can transmit recorded data between units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Inventor: Boon C. Lim
  • Patent number: 5239580
    Abstract: Coupling device for the connection of a Data Circuit Terminating Equipment DCE to a given Public Switched Telephone Network PSTN and to a local telephone set. The coupler includes means for providing said local telephone set with DC current whereby the microphone and the headphone of the telephone can be used respectively for transmitting and receiving vocal messages from the a DTE which is connected to said DCE. The invention also provides a DCE for the connection of a DTE to a a PSTN and to a local telephone set including a coupler circuit having the electronic components matching the electric requirements of a given PSTN. The coupler further includes means for providing the telephone set with DC current whereby vocal messages can be transmitted and received from the DTE to the telephone set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andre Bruno, Jacques Fieschi, Jean Martin, Remi Vautier
  • Patent number: 5134649
    Abstract: A data coupler is disclosed for use in connecting a high speed data modem to a typical telephone handset in a high ambient acoustic noise field. The data coupler features a method for conserving, through a magnetic detection process, the high signal to noise ratio (HSNR) available at the telephone line during the acoustic coupling process. The use of magnetic detection prevents the deterioration of acoustic SNR normally expected in a high ambient acoustic noise field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Inventor: Howard A. Gutzmer
  • Patent number: RE39406
    Abstract: The telephone line coupler circuit has a single transmit opto-coupler whose output includes a DC bias component connected to a gate of a line seize switch for connecting a DC line seize load across the ring and tip contacts of the telephone line. The line seize switch is saturated by the transmit opto-coupler bias output and the AC component of the transmit opto-coupler output is sent over the telephone lines. The receive opto-coupler is used both for receiving communications signal and for detecting the ring signal. The band pass filter connected to the output of the receive opto-coupler may be switched to pass a ring signal frequency band or a communications frequency band. The circuit operates using two opto-coupler devices while conventional circuits require four opto-coupler devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Inventor: Pinhas Shpater
  • Patent number: RE42590
    Abstract: The telephone line coupler circuit has a single transmit opto-coupler whose output includes a DC bias component connected to a gate of a line seize switch for connecting a DC line seize load across the ring and tip contacts of the telephone line. The line seize switch is saturated by the transmit opto-coupler bias output and the AC component of the transmit opto-coupler output is sent over the telephone lines. The receive opto-coupler is used both for receiving communications signal and for detecting the ring signal. The band pass filter connected to the output of the receive opto-coupler may be switched to pass a ring signal frequency band or a communications frequency band. The circuit operates using two opto-coupler devices while conventional circuits require four opto-coupler devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Inventor: Pinhas Shpater