Patents Assigned to Adaptive Technologies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11237639
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting and using intentional gestures utilizing a six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) provides individuals with limited motor abilities the ability to control multiple devices. The system responds to small intentional gestures produced by any part of the user's body. Unlike existing game controllers and adapted mouse devices, the system has the ability to learn the unique kinematic characteristics of the user's gestures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Iowa Adaptive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander S Alvarado, Richard Ray Hurtig
  • Publication number: 20120321094
    Abstract: A personal noise monitoring system and method for operating the same. Sound pressure data from inside the ears of a user of hearing protection device (HPD) are acquired from microphones in the HPD and reported to a master control unit. Simultaneously, the master control unit receives sound pressure data from the ambient environment in which the user is located. The data are reported to a central server for processing. The central server may use the data to determine in near real time or real time whether the user of the HPD is at risk for exposure to excess sound levels and to take remedial action while the user is still in the ambient environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Adaptive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ean H. Schiller, Jonathan M. Hager
  • Patent number: 8285408
    Abstract: A method for designing an ear insert device using anatomical information relating to the ear. A user record is that includes anatomical information relating to an ear of a user is received. The anatomical information comprises at least one sub-dermal feature of an ear canal. The user record is processed to obtain an ear insert device design record. The ear insert device design record comprises a three dimensional representation of a bounding surface shape having surface boundaries that substantially conform to surface boundaries of the ear canal and the at least one sub-dermal feature of the ear canal. An ear insert device may be produced using the ear insert design record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Adaptive Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ean H. Schiller, William R. Saunders
  • Patent number: 8065250
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for predictive analytics generally comprise one or more artificial agents and an agent factory. An artificial agent may be responsive to at least one of an internal data set and an external data set. Further, an artificial agent may produce a correlation data set relating an outcome data set and at least one of the internal data set and the external data set. In addition, an artificial agent may produce a predictability value corresponding to the correlation data set. The agent factory may be responsive to the outcome data set. Also, the agent factory may produce the artificial agent in response to the outcome data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Adaptive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Christoper R. Stephens
  • Patent number: 7854294
    Abstract: An earmuff assembly with a double-shell structure is disclosed for use with a sound-attenuating circumaural headset. The earmuff assembly comprises a cup-shaped outer shell mounted on a resilient outer sealing ring and a cup-shaped inner shell mounted on a resilient inner sealing ring. By means of the two sealing rings the outer and the inner shells are brought into abutment with the head surface around an ear of a wearer. Both shells are structurally rigid. The sound attenuation performance is maximized by isolating the inner shell from the outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Adaptive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Du, Kenji Homma, Michael A. Vaudrey
  • Patent number: 7703572
    Abstract: An earmuff assembly with a double-shell structure is disclosed for use with a sound-attenuating circumaural headset. The earmuff assembly comprises a cup-shaped outer shell mounted on a resilient outer sealing ring and a cup-shaped inner shell mounted on a resilient inner sealing ring. By means of the two sealing rings the outer and the inner shells are brought into abutment with the head surface around an ear of a wearer. Both shells are structurally rigid. The sound attenuation performance is maximized by isolating the inner shell from the outer shell. The two sealing rings are interconnected through a thin skin layer of soft compliant materials, which acts as a vibration isolating/decoupling means between the outer shell and the inner shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Adaptive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Du, Kenji Homma, Michael A. Vaudrey
  • Patent number: 7457428
    Abstract: A double hearing protection system comprises a circumaural hearing protector that covers and encircles the pinnae and an earplug device that is inserted into the ear canal. The earplug portion of the system comprises a tether that is coupled to the interior of a circumaural hearing protector. The tether retracts into the earcup when both the earplug and circumaural hearing protector are worn, ensuring that the earseal against the head is not broken by the retractable tether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Adaptive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Vaudrey, William Saunders, Yu Du, Jonathan Hager
  • Patent number: 7308106
    Abstract: A tailored active noise control design method is presented that provides for improved noise attenuation performance for each individual user and improved hearing protection in a specified noise field as a function of a specified metric indicative of a noise reduction objection. Characteristics of individual users, behavior of the associated passive hearing protection, and the external noise environment are all concurrently accounted for in an automatic method for designing an active controller that limits the exposed noise level for a specific individual. The controller manufacturing process and implementation may be performed in-situ for each individual automatically. The design method may also account for actuator limitations and can be applied equally well to any passive/active noise control devices including headphones and earplugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Adaptive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Vaudrey, William R. Saunders, Andre Goldstein, William T. Baumann
  • Patent number: 7289636
    Abstract: An electronic earplug for wideband control of pressures at the tympanic membrane is presented. A unique methodology of determining effective component placement inside an earplug that provides acoustic isolation between the ambient noise and tympanic membrane is explained. Methods for providing accurate dosimetry and improved active control result from the unique earplug design process, leading to very wideband active noise reduction at the tympanic membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Adaptive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Saunders, Michael A. Vaudrey, Andre Goldstein
  • Patent number: 7248708
    Abstract: An improved noise canceling microphone is provided including robust design features and advanced noise control and speech discrimination convergence characteristics. Two adaptive controllers are used to ensure robust performance in quickly changing acoustic environments ensuring an acceptable minimum performance characteristic. Additionally, a new real-time spectral estimation procedure is applied to a noise canceling communications microphone platform that permits continued and optimal adaptation of non-voice bandwidth frequencies during speech transients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Adaptive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Vaudrey, William R. Saunders
  • Patent number: 7245726
    Abstract: A microphone housing improves the broadband noise canceling performance of an active noise canceling microphone system while also ensuring improved speech transmission through the system. First and second microphone elements are selected each having a diameter “d” and a thickness “t”. The two microphone elements are aligned axially with the back surfaces in contact and secured in an axially aligned cylindrical cavity within a cylindrically shaped housing. The cylindrically shaped housing has an outside diameter “D,” an interior cavity of diameter of “d,” and a height “2t”. The housing is exposed to an environment comprising both speech and noise. The first microphone element is adapted to receive a signal having both voice and noise components, while the second microphone element is adapted to receive a signal that is predominantly noise. A controller processes signals from the first microphone element and the second microphone element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Adaptive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Du, Michael A. Vaudrey
  • Patent number: 7206425
    Abstract: An actuator for use with active noise control (ANR). The present invention satisfies design goals commensurate with active noise reduction devices used in small enclosed volumes and moderate-to-high noise environments. An ANR voice coil speaker is cylindrical in shape, with a diaphragm to motor diameter less than unity and fits into the ear canal. The rear cavity volume is on the same order of magnitude as the volume of the front cavity defined by the space between the diaphragm and the eardrum. The relatively balanced front/back volume of the ANR speaker reduces the required force to achieve a specific displacement required for high sound pressure output. An ANR balanced armature actuator uses a modified cabinet design, and a segmented or stiffened diaphragm made of light materials, and a sheet-type coupling between the armature and the diaphragm to reduce or eliminate resonances and phase lag within a desired control band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Adaptive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Vaudrey, William R. Saunders, Andre Goldstein
  • Patent number: 7110551
    Abstract: An improved active noise reduction system which has a transducer, an electro-acoustic sensing means including adjacent to the transducer, an attenuation means with electro-acoustic sensing means to attenuate selected sound frequencies, said system utilizing both feed forward control means and feedback control means comprising a heteronomous electronic controller with algorithmic transfer function and said controller being individually operable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Adaptive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Richard Saunders, Michael Allen Vaudrey
  • Patent number: 7024010
    Abstract: An electronic earplug for wideband control of pressures at, the tympanic membrane is presented. A unique methodology of determining effective component placement inside an earplug that provides acoustic isolation between the ambient noise and tympanic membrane is explained. Methods for providing accurate dosimetry and improved active control result from the unique earplug design process, leading to very wideband active noise reduction at the tympanic membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Adaptive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Saunders, Michael A. Vaudrey, Andre Goldstein
  • Patent number: 6963649
    Abstract: An improved noise canceling microphone is provided including robust design features and advanced noise control and speech discrimination convergence characteristics. Two adaptive controllers are used to ensure robust performance in quickly changing acoustic environments ensuring an acceptable minimum performance characteristic. Additionally, a new real-time spectral estimation procedure is applied to a noise canceling communications microphone platform that permits continued and optimal adaptation of non-voice bandwidth frequencies during speech transients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Adaptive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Vaudrey, William R. Saunders
  • Patent number: 6898290
    Abstract: An improved personal noise attenuation system which attenuates both tonal and broadband sound and which includes a spatially adjustable acousto-electric sensor and attenuation means including both feedback and feed forward components so as to provide a heteronomous attenuation and more complete active noise attenuation and the adjustable acousto-electric sensor is moved to exploit the changing physical characteristics of spatial silent zones in different noise fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Adaptive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Richard Saunders, Michael Allen Vaudrey
  • Patent number: 5376798
    Abstract: A low voltage, compact measuring apparatus for measuring the weight of a material is disclosed which uses a PIN diode in conjunction with a low noise processing circuit to detect particle radiation emitted from a source, which source has its detection intensity affected by a material to be measured. A light blocking, particle radiation permeable material protects the PIN diode from detecting light radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Adaptive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Pettit
  • Patent number: 5199157
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for manufacturing formed, plated component parts in a continuous production run which includes component parts of alternate configurations by advancing a strip of material of indeterminate length, within which strip the component parts are carried, through a plating operation continuously while the forming operation is modified to accommodate the alternate configurations without interrupting the continuity of the plating operation so as to enable relatively long uninterrupted production runs which include, within the longer runs, shorter runs of each of the alternate configurations. In addition, the formed and plated component parts are severed from the strip by a severing operation which is modified to accommodate the alternate configurations to deliver individual formed, plated component parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Adaptive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur A. Kurz, Jeffrey McFadden
  • Patent number: 5099504
    Abstract: A low-voltage, compact measuring apparatus for measuring any one of thickness, density and denier of a material is disclosed which uses a PIN diode in conjunction with a low noise processing circuit to detect particle radiation emitted from a source, which source has its detection intensity affected by a material to be measured. A light blocking, particle radiation permeable material protects the PIN diode from detecting light radiation. A system for controlling the extrusion of a film using the measuring apparatus, and for correcting for erroneous measurement caused by web flutter, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Adaptive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Pettit