Abstract: Actuator systems for oral-based appliances utilizing transducers which are attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a dental or oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such oral appliances may be a custom-made device which receives incoming sounds and transmits the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element. The transducer element may utilize electromagnetic or piezoelectric transducer mechanisms and may be positioned directly along the dentition or along an oral appliance housing in various configurations.

Abstract: Method and devices for testing a headphone with increased sensation are provided. The headphone can filter and amplify low frequency audio signals, which are then sent to a haptic device in the headphone. The haptic device can cause bass sensations at the top of the skull and at both ear cups. The testing system can evaluate the haptic and acoustic sensations produced by the headphone to evaluate if they have been properly assembled and calibrate the headphones if necessary.

Abstract: An illustrative method for transferring data to a device includes identifying the data that is to be transferred to the device, modulating the data with a signal, providing the signal to a contact microphone that is in physical contact with an individual, and transmitting the signal through a body of the individual to the device using the contact microphone. An illustrative method for authenticating the individual includes transmitting a signal through a body of the individual in response to the individual physically contacting an authentication device, receiving a modified signal including the signal as modified by the body of the individual, removing the signal from the modified signal to identify a unique body signature of the individual, comparing the unique body signature to a database to determine if the database includes the unique body signature, and selectively authenticating the individual based upon whether the database includes the unique body signature.

Abstract: A wearable communication device includes an annular shell, a processing module, a first piezoelectric unit, and a driving unit. A cavity is formed at a part of the annular shell. The processing module processes communication data. The first piezoelectric unit is disposed in the cavity. The driving unit is used to receive the communication data and drive the first piezoelectric unit according to the communication data to make the first piezoelectric unit vibrate and trigger a corresponding audio signal. The wearable communication device can be wirelessly connected to an electronic device without physical wires to improve the convenience greatly.

Abstract: Disclosed are an earset that may correct a frequency band of a voice coming from a user's ears into a frequency band of a voice coming from the user's mouth, and a control method for the same. According to an embodiment, the control method for the earset including a first earphone unit that is inserted into ears of a user while including a first microphone and a first speaker, and a main body in which a second microphone is disposed, the control method includes: determining whether a voice correction function is activated; and correcting a frequency band of a voice input to the first microphone into a frequency band of a voice input to the second microphone, when the voice correction function is activated.

Abstract: Frequency characteristics of an air conduction sound and a human body vibration sound are adjusted. An electronic apparatus 1 according to the present invention includes a panel 10, a piezoelectric element 30, a housing 60 for mounting the panel 10, and a member 80 attached to the piezoelectric element 30, wherein the member 80 and the panel 10 deform due to deformation of the piezoelectric element 30 and thus deliver the air conduction sound and the human body vibration sound to an object in contact with the panel 10 that is deforming, and the member 80 adjusts the frequency characteristics of the air conduction sound and the human body vibration sound.

Abstract: Provided is an audio device, including: a vibrator 10 that includes a piezoelectric element 101 configured to undergo flexure and a panel 102 configured to be bent directly by the piezoelectric element 101 to vibrate; and a holder 60 that includes a behind-the-ear portion 602 to be hooked over a helix of a user's ear and that holds the vibrator 10 in a position that allows the vibrator 10 to abut against the user's ear, wherein sound is heard by a user.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatuses for the transmission of audio information from a bone-conduction headset to a user. The bone-conduction headset may be mounted on a glasses-style support structure. The bone-conduction transducer may be mounted near where the glasses-style support structure approach a wearer's ears. In one embodiment, an apparatus has a bone-conduction transducer with a diaphragm configured to vibrate based on a magnetic field. The magnetic field being based off an applied electric field. The apparatus may also have an anvil coupled to the diaphragm. The anvil may be configured to conduct the vibration from the bone-conduction transducer. Additionally, the anvil may be coupled to a metallic component. The metallic component may be configured to couple to a magnetic field created by the bone-conduction transducer.

Abstract: A system includes a sensor configured to sense an input at a skin surface, a processor configured to receive an output signal from the sensor and generate a haptic control signal based on the output signal, and a haptic output device configured to generate a haptic effect based on the haptic control signal.

Abstract: An electronic speech aid device to be worn by a wearer, includes an ear plug, a micro-microphone, a processing module and a micro-speaker. The ear plug is to be inserted into an acoustic meatus of the wearer. The micro-microphone is disposed on the ear plug for receiving a larynx sound, which results from attempt by the wearer to speak, from a larynx of the wearer through the acoustic meatus and for converting the larynx sound into a larynx-sound signal. The processing module is electrically connected to the micro-microphone for receiving and processing the larynx-sound signal to output a voice signal. The micro-speaker is electrically coupled to the processing module for receiving and outputting the voice signal.

Abstract: An audio device includes a housing having first and second support surfaces for supporting the device at different orientations relative to the surface on which the device is placed, a driver to output sound in a radiating pattern associated with a first axis of the driver, and an orientation sensor to detect a direction of a force of gravity. A control circuit coupled to the driver and the orientation sensor determines the direction of the force of gravity relative to the first axis and whether the first axis is oriented to one of a first angle of elevation associated with physically supporting the device by the first surface and a second angle of elevation associated with physically supporting the device by the second surface. The circuit can alters the output by the driver based on the first axis being oriented to the first or second angles of elevation.

Abstract: Provided is a bone conduction speaker unit which can sufficiently prevent generation of sound leakage at non-calling. The bone conduction speaker unit includes a bone conduction speaker main body, being incorporated in a housing with an elastic base being interposed, an elastic cover being mounted on a top face of the housing. Bonding between a rear face of the bone conduction speaker main body and a top face of the elastic base, and/or bonding between the elastic base and an inner bottom face of the housing are partially made; upon the elastic cover having been mounted on the housing, a gap is held between an internal top face of the elastic cover and a top face of the bone conduction speaker main body; and with the elastic cover being pressed in use, the internal top face thereof is abutted against the top face of the bone conduction speaker main body.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention determine whether speaker earbuds of a headset are positioned in a user's ears. The headset may be a “Y” shaped headset with two earbuds having speakers and a plug for insertion into a jack of the audio device. Multiple microphones are located on wired lengths to the earbuds and a common wire between the lengths and the plug, to receive speech from the user's mouth. Each earbud may have a front and rear microphone, and an accelerometer. Embodiments can detect user speech vibrations at one or more of the microphones, and in the accelerometers in the earbuds. Based on these detections, it can be determined whether one or both of the earbuds are in user's ears. To provide more accurate beamforming, when only one of the earbuds is in the user's ears, only the microphones leading to that earbud are selected for beamforming input.

Abstract: An illustrative method for transferring data to a device includes identifying the data that is to be transferred to the device, modulating the data with a signal, providing the signal to a contact microphone that is in physical contact with an individual, and transmitting the signal through a body of the individual to the device using the contact microphone. An illustrative method for authenticating the individual includes transmitting a signal through a body of the individual in response to the individual physically contacting an authentication device, receiving a modified signal including the signal as modified by the body of the individual, removing the signal from the modified signal to identify a unique body signature of the individual, comparing the unique body signature to a database to determine if the database includes the unique body signature, and selectively authenticating the individual based upon whether the database includes the unique body signature.

Abstract: The present invention provides a speech enhancing method for communication earphone including two parts: sending end noise reduction processing and receiving end noise reduction processing, wherein the sending end noise reduction processing part includes: determining a wearing condition of the earphone by comparing energy difference of sound signals picked up by microphones of the communication earphone; if the earphone is normally worn, subjecting the sound signal first to multi-microphone noise reduction and then to single channel noise reduction to further suppress residuary stationary noise; otherwise suppressing stationary noise in the sound signal by single channel noise reduction directly.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatuses for the transmission of audio information from a bone-conduction headset to a user. The bone-conduction headset may be mounted on a glasses-style support structure. The bone-conduction transducer may be mounted near where the glasses-style support structure approach a wearer's ears. In one embodiment, an apparatus has a bone-conduction transducer with a diaphragm configured to vibrate based on a magnetic field. The magnetic field being based off an applied electric field. The apparatus may also have an anvil coupled to the diaphragm. The anvil may be configured to conduct the vibration from the bone-conduction transducer. Additionally, the anvil may be anvil may include at least one passage configured to enable the anvil to be physically coupled to the diaphragm. Thus, the anvil may be coupled to the diaphragm after the anvil is positioned on the diaphragm.

Abstract: A bone-conduction speaker unit including a resilient metallic voice screen having a plurality of substantially equally spaced locking elements around a periphery thereof, coupling with a yoke supporting a centered magnet within a magnetic ring, the voice screen and yoke being above a metal cover of a housing to which a bone-conduction speaker so formed is affixed.

Abstract: A basal end cover having a cable entry portion, and an earphone case which accommodates a bone conduction microphone and a bone conduction speaker, being assembled to the basal end cover, with the earphone case including a rigid resin ear plug having a microphone accommodating space in which the bone conduction microphone to be disposed on the distal end side is accommodated, and a speaker accommodating space in which the bone conduction speaker to be disposed on the basal end side is accommodated, and a sensing cover formed of a material softer than that of the ear plug defining the microphone accommodating space, and a bone-conducted sound is picked up by the bone conduction microphone through the sensing cover is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of visual and/or acoustic privacy features. For example, exemplary embodiments are disclosed that include visual and/or acoustic privacy features for furniture (e.g., office chair, desk, table, cubicle, etc.). The visual and/or acoustic privacy features are movable relative to the user and/or furniture between at least a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the visual and/or acoustic privacy features may be configured such that they do not inhibit the user from interacting with others. In the second configuration, the visual and/or acoustic privacy features may be configured to provide the user with at least some visual and/or acoustic privacy and isolation from others.

Abstract: Embodiments of apparatus and system for generating user detectable audio and mechanical vibration signals. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatuses for the transmission of audio information from a bone-conduction headset to a user. The bone-conduction headset may be mounted on a glasses-style support structure. The bone-conduction transducer may be mounted near where the glasses-style support structure approach a wearer's ears. In one embodiment, an apparatus has a bone-conduction transducer with a diaphragm configured to vibrate based on a magnetic field. The magnetic field being based off an applied electric field. The apparatus may also have an anvil coupled to the diaphragm. The anvil may be configured to conduct the vibration from the bone-conduction transducer. Additionally, the anvil may be anvil may include at least one component configured to change properties to enable the bone-conduction headset to couple to the head of a user with greater than a threshold amount of force.

Abstract: There is provided a body-sensitive vibration headphone for suppressing resonance that occurs when a vibrator that generates body-sensitive vibration vibrates. The body-sensitive vibration headphone includes electroacoustic transducer (50) that converts an input signal into an acoustic wave, housing (20) that accommodates electroacoustic transducer (50), vibrator (31) that converts the input signal into vibration, and ear pad (40) attached to housing (20). Vibrator (31) is attached to ear pad (40), and a structure between vibrator (31) and ear pad (40) is formed such that conduction of the vibration from the vibrator (31) is impeded.

Abstract: An electronic audio device for use with at least one earpiece or a pair of earpieces, or a pair of earpieces in a headphone, each earpiece having a microphone and a speaker located therein, including circuitry operatively coupled to the microphone and speaker, and a processor operatively coupled to evaluate a seal quality of the earpiece to a user's ear based on seal quality measurements made while driving or exciting a signal into the speaker located in the earpiece and then to adjust the circuitry coupled to the microphone and speaker according to the evaluated seal quality.

Abstract: In a first example of “Body-Area Networking” (“BAN”), a user wishing to access his electronic device ingests a small pill carrying a transmitter. The transmitter's signal carries an identification code that traverses the user's BAN and is read by the device. If the device recognizes that identification code as authenticate, then the device grants the user the desired access. In another example, the user again swallows a transmitter. When the user shakes hands with another person, the signal originating at the ingested transmitter is carried across the BAN of the first user, travels across the handshake to the BAN of the second user, then traverses the second user's BAN to her device. In a third example, a media player transmits audio information across the BAN to a headset worn by the user. The headset receives the signal, demodulates it, and renders the audio to the user.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer suitable for use in ultrasonic metering of fluids at extreme temperatures. The ultrasonic transducer includes a piezoelectric crystal, low-density epoxy encasing the piezoelectric crystal, and a cylindrical reinforcing sleeve embedded in the low-density epoxy. The sleeve includes fiber mesh, and surrounds the piezoelectric crystal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatuses for the transmission of audio information from a bone-conduction headset to a user. The bone-conduction headset may be mounted on a glasses-style support structure. The bone-conduction transducer may be mounted near where the glasses-style support structure approach a wearer's ears. In one embodiment, an apparatus has a bone-conduction transducer with a diaphragm configured to vibrate based on a magnetic field. The magnetic field being based off an applied electric field. The apparatus may also have an anvil coupled to the diaphragm. The anvil may be configured to conduct the vibration from the bone-conduction transducer. Additionally, the anvil may be coupled to a metallic component. The metallic component may be configured to couple to a magnetic field created by the bone-conduction transducer.

Abstract: Problem: To provide a bone conduction speaker unit which can sufficiently prevent generation of sound leakage at the time of non-calling, and can be easily incorporated in a main body casing of mobile phones, and the like. Solution: A bone conduction speaker unit, being configured by incorporating a bone conduction speaker main body 2 in a housing 1, wherein an elastic plate 21 is fixed on a top face of a plate yoke 17 of the bone conduction speaker main body 2; an elastic base 22 is disposed on a rear face of a yoke 11; and an elastic cover 3 for holding a contact 5 which, upon a pressing force having been applied thereto in use, is abutted against the plate yoke 17 through the elastic plate 21 is loaded on the housing 1 with a gap “a” being held between a bottom face of the contact 5 and a top face of the elastic plate 21.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for capturing sound for communication by mounting one or more intra-oral microphones to capture sound; and mounting a mouth wearable communicator in the oral cavity to communicate sound with a remote unit.

Abstract: An earphone device includes a housing having a driver unit, and a sound guide tube mounted on a front surface of the housing to protrude from the front surface, in which the sound guide tube is disposed at a position deviated from a center position of the housing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a communication terminal having a bone conduction function. To this end, the present invention provides a communication terminal having a bone conduction function equipped with a bone conduction vibration receiver/speaker (300) for converting a sound signal (electric signal) into a vibration, so as to enable sound reception from the entire front surface of the communication terminal when the communication terminal closely contacts the face, and having at least one thereof attached to the rear surface of an inner liquid crystal screen (401) or liquid crystal panel (402) of the communication terminal (example: smartphone, Galaxy Tab, Galaxy Phone, cellular phone, PDA, MP3, iPhone, iPad, walkie-talkie, et cetera) (400).

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, devices, components, and methods are disclosed for mechanically coupling a bone conduction hearing aid, or a spacer or other device for a bone conduction hearing aid, to an abutment of a bone screw affixed to a patient's skull. Some embodiments of abutment attachment mechanisms employ axially-directed forces to secure a hearing aid to an abutment of a bone screw, while others employ radially directed forces to secure a hearing aid to an abutment of a bone screw.

Abstract: A bone conduction hearing aid system for generating bone conduction vibrations is disclosed. The bone conduction hearing aid system has a hearing aid with a vibrator. The hearing aid system includes an interconnection unit to connect the hearing aid to the user. There is a coupling between the interconnection unit and the hearing aid to connect and disconnect the hearing aid to and from the interconnection unit. The interconnection unit has connection portion and contact plate portion. The connection portion and the contact plate portion are designed in one integral piece of continuous polymer material. The interconnection unit has a concave or planar adhesive surface that can be adhered to the skin on the head of the user without applying any specific pressure against the skin. The sound vibrations are transmitted from the vibrator to the hearing organ as bone conduction sound vibrations.

Abstract: Provided is an electronic device including: a piezoelectric element; a vibration plate to which the piezoelectric element is joined for vibration; and a housing to which the vibration plate is joined. Vibration sound, which is transmitted by vibrating a part of a human body, is generated by the vibration plate. The vibration plate includes, in a plan view thereof, a first area including a joining portion with the piezoelectric element and a second area located further away from the joining portion than the first area is, and rigidity in a first area is lower than rigidity in the second area. With the above configuration, sound leakage or the like is reduced, and usability of the electronic device is improved.

Abstract: Provided is an electronic device 1, including: a piezoelectric element 30; a panel 10 configured to support the piezoelectric element 30; and a housing 60 configured to hold the panel 10 and conduct a vibration through the panel 10, the panel 10 generating air-conduction sound and vibration sound that is transmitted by vibrating a part of a human body. The housing 60 includes a first housing portion 62 and a second housing portion 61 located inward of the first housing portion 62, and rigidity-reinforcing portions (63, 150; 64, 160; 65, 66, 170) are disposed between the first housing portion 62 and the second housing portion 61 for improving rigidity of the housing 60.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a tooth or teeth are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.

Abstract: A platform that is configured to be removably placed symmetrically on or about a user's head has at least a first transducer configured to capture vibration of the user's skull or facial movement generated by the user's voice activity and to detect the user's speaking activity. This first transducer converts the vibration or facial movement into a first electrical audio signal. The electrical audio signal from the first transducer is processed by circuitry or embodied software as voiced frames and/or as unvoiced frames, in which the voiced frames and/or the unvoiced frames are defined based at least on the first electrical audio signal. Multiple embodiments follow from this: where the first transducer is a vibration sensor; where voice is captured by an air microphone and filtering adaptation differs for the voiced versus unvoiced frames as defined by the first transducer, and another with at least three air microphones.

Abstract: Briefly, as an example, embodiments of methods, apparatuses, systems or the like are disclosed to be used for multimedia auditory augmentation.

Abstract: A piezoelectric sounder for transmitting a signal by using a sound comprises a piezoelectric diaphragm constructed by attaching a piezoelectric element to a metal sheet, a ease containing the piezoelectric diaphragm and having a resonance space defined therewithin and adapted to resonate as the piezoelectric diaphragm vibrates, a pair of terminals electrically connected to the metal sheet and piezoelectric element of the piezoelectric diaphragm, while the piezoelectric sounder has no resonance points fr, fa in a frequency range of the signal. Thus removing the resonance points fr, fa from the frequency band of the signal to be transmitted prevents the signal transmission distance from shortening at the resonance points, thereby improving the stability in communications.

Abstract: There is provided a body-sensitive vibration headphone for suppressing resonance that occurs when a vibrator that generates body-sensitive vibration vibrates. The body-sensitive vibration headphone includes electroacoustic transducer (50) that converts an input signal into an acoustic wave, housing (20) that accommodates electroacoustic transducer (50), vibrator (31) that converts the input signal into vibration, and ear pad (40) attached to housing (20). Vibrator (31) is attached to ear pad (40), and a structure between vibrator (31) and ear pad (40) is formed such that conduction of the vibration from the vibrator (31) is impeded.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus that generates a vibration sound by vibrating a panel and may operate in an excellent manner is provided. An electronic apparatus 1 according to the present invention includes a housing 60, a first piezoelectric element 30, a second piezoelectric element 31, and a panel 10 that is vibrated by the first piezoelectric element 30 and the second piezoelectric element 31 and generates the vibration sound to be transmitted through a part of a human body.

Abstract: A smart portable stethoscope is formed of a smart mobile device and a casing assembly for the mobile device. The casing assembly comprises a casing member, a diaphragm holder member configured to securely and effectively retain a diaphragm, and a vibrator-transducer member. The casing member includes a diaphragm connector part configured to securely fasten the diaphragm holder member to the casing member. The vibrator-transducer member is configured to be securely fastened to diaphragm holder member or casing member in such a manner that its vibrator is disposed to interconnect with the diaphragm and effectively duplicate vibrations captured by the diaphragm so as to deliver medical-grade auscultation electronic signal based on the duplicated vibrations to the mobile device through an audio plug plugged into a microphone jack thereof.

Abstract: A smart helmet includes a helmet shell, a visor, and a projector mounted on the helmet shell. The helmet shell defines an internal cavity and a passage communicating with the internal cavity. The internal cavity is configured to receive an user's head. The visor is rotatably coupled to the helmet shell, and is configured to expose or cover the passage. The projector is configured to introduce content for display onto the visor.

Abstract: There is provided an electronic device 1 that allows a user to listen to vibration sound that is transmitted when a vibrator 10 held in a housing 60 is pressed against the user's body and a part of the use's body is vibrated. The electronic device 1 has a microphone 7 and vibrates the vibrator 10 based on ambient sound collected by the microphone 7.

Abstract: Provided are bone conducting hearing devices having a normal force that secures the device to a user. A removable adhesive anchor secures an external component of the bone conducting hearing device to the user and provides reliable connecting that is comfortable, such as by a substantially uniform force generation over the contact area between the device and the user. Because the adhesive anchor is removable, a user can readily and reliably remove the device or connect the device, as desired. Also provide are methods of connecting any of the bone conducting hearing devices provided herein to a user, including the mastoid process of the user.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a method for controlling a portable device connected to an earphone having a coil includes detecting removal of one of left and right units of the earphone worn by a user, generating an electromagnetic pattern corresponding to an Identifier(ID) of the portable device at the removed unit of the earphone, and receiving data from the external device in correspondence with the ID of the portable device. According to an embodiment, a method for controlling a display device includes displaying a Graphic User Interface on a display unit, sensing an earphone within a detection area of the display unit, sensing an electromagnetic pattern of the earphone within a detection area of the display unit, acquiring an ID of an external device connected to the earphone from the sensed electromagnetic pattern, and transmitting data to the external device identified by the acquired ID of the external device.

Abstract: An opening type bone conduction earphone which eliminates headband and has a compact and simple structure comprising a magnetic body, which has an aeration hole, which is able to communicate with the outside world when wearing, at the center part of the axial direction, at least one or more dampers provided at the outer circumference of the magnetic body, and a coil bobbin, which is provided at the outer circumference of the magnetic body, accommodates the damper within a trunk part, and in which a coil is wound at the outer circumference of the trunk part, is provided.

Abstract: Provided is an electronic device that generates, by vibrating a vibration body, vibration sound by the vibration. The electronic device executes a side tone function by using sound collected by a microphone 7 during the vibration of the vibration body. When an open/close detector 100 detects a closed state, the electronic device also stops the side tone, improving usability of the electronic device.

Abstract: The hearing system comprises a finger ring and a hearing device body. The finger ring includes: a first short-distance wireless communication portion; a vibration output portion disposed at a position that contacts a finger to convert a voice signal, which is received by the first short-distance wireless communication portion, into a cartilage conduction vibration and outputs it; and a first power source portion that supplies power to the first short-distance wireless communication portion and the vibration output portion.

Abstract: An apparatus including an air-conduction transducer and a bone conduction transducer. The air-conduction transducer is configured to convert a first frequency band component of an electrical audio signal into acoustic energy to be delivered to an ear canal of a user. The bone conduction transducer is configured to convert a second, at least partially different, frequency band component of the electrical audio signal into mechanical energy to be delivered to a skull of the user. The apparatus is configured to deliver both forms of the energies to the user at a substantially same time to provide a combined audio delivery result to the user.

Abstract: A throat microphone includes a cantilevered piezoelectric device 1 having a fixed end 11 supported by a base 3 and a free end with an anchor 4 fixed thereto. The piezoelectric device 1 vibrates to output audio signals in response to vibrations of a throat. The fixed end is attached to the base 3 such that the piezoelectric device 1 vibrates parallel to the surface of the base 3. A gap is defined between the anchor 4 and the base 3. The gap is provided with a vibration absorber 5.