Patents Assigned to Knowles Electronics, LLC
  • Patent number: 11562724
    Abstract: A system and method can provide nose, such as wind noise, mitigation and/or microphone blending. Some methods may include sampling a sound signal from a plurality of microphones to generate a frame comprising a plurality of time-frequency tiles of the sound signal, each time-frequency tile including respective values of at least one feature from the plurality of microphones, comparing the respective values of the at least one feature to determine whether each time-frequency tile satisfies a similarity threshold, and flagging each time-frequency tile as noise if it fails to satisfy the similarity threshold, grouping the plurality of time-frequency tiles into sets of frequency-adjacent time-frequency tiles, and for each set of frequency-adjacent time-frequency tiles in the frame: counting a number of flagged time-frequency tiles, and attenuating all of the time-frequency tiles in the each set if the number exceeds a noise bin count threshold to thereby reduce noise in the sound signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew D. Unruh, Thomas E. Miller, Aidan Meacham
  • Patent number: 11564041
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit connectable to a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) transducer. The MEMS transducer is configured to generate a transducer audio signal in response to sound. The integrated circuit comprises a digital scrambling circuit coupled to a data communication interface. The digital scrambling circuit is configured to convert a digital audio stream, representative of the transducer audio signal, into a corresponding scrambled data stream. The integrated circuit additionally comprises a data bus interface coupled to the digital scrambling circuit and configured to output the scrambled data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Andrzej Pawlowski, Henrik Thomsen, Rene Rye Larsen
  • Patent number: 11560303
    Abstract: An implementation of a MEMS device includes a constrained diaphragm comprising a surface, the diaphragm having a net compressive stress; and a backplate comprising a surface facing the surface of the diaphragm, the surface of the backplate having a center, and a post extending from the surface of the backplate, wherein the post is located at or near a center of the surface and limits a maximum deflection of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Peter V. Loeppert
  • Patent number: 11564039
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a balanced armature receiver diaphragm including a paddle (202) flexibly coupled to a frame (204) and spaced apart therefrom by a gap (206). The paddle comprises a material having a specific modulus kg/m3) in at least one direction and density selected to increase stiffness and reduce mass. In one implementation, at least the paddle includes a carbon fiber material. The resulting paddle has improved acoustic performance including improved frequency response and less resonance in the audio band, among other benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Miller, Christopher Monti
  • Patent number: 11554951
    Abstract: A MEMS device can include a first support layer, a second support layer, and a solid dielectric suspended between the first support layer and the second support layer. The solid dielectric can move relative to the first support layer and the second support layer and can include a plurality of apertures. The MEMS device can include a first plurality of electrodes coupled to the first support layer and the second support layer and extending through a first subset of the plurality of apertures. The MEMS device can include a second plurality of electrodes coupled to the first support layer and extending partially into a second subset of the plurality of apertures. The MEMS device can include a third plurality of electrodes coupled to the second support layer and extending partially into a third subset of the plurality of apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Peter V. Loeppert, Michael Pedersen
  • Patent number: 11554953
    Abstract: A first electrode of a MEMS device can be oriented lengthwise along and parallel to an axis, and can have a first end and a second end. A second electrode can be oriented lengthwise along and parallel to the axis and can have a first end and a second end. A third electrode can be oriented lengthwise along and parallel to the axis and can have a first end and a second end. The first, second, and third electrodes can each be located at least partially within an aperture of a plurality of apertures of a solid dielectric that can surround the second electrode second end and the third electrode first end. The second electrode first end and the third electrode second end can be located outside of the solid dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Peter V. Loeppert, Michael Pedersen
  • Patent number: 11553283
    Abstract: The disclosure describes devices and methods of providing a DC bias voltage in a microphone assembly. Particularly, one implementation of such a device may be implemented on an integrated circuit that includes a direct current (DC) bias circuit. The DC bias circuit may be coupled to a transducer and configured to supply a DC bias signal to the transducer. The DC bias circuit includes a multi-stage charge pump and a low pass filter (LUFF) circuit. The multi-stage charge pump includes transistors that are fabricated with deep trench isolation (DTI).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Jakob Toft, Mohammad Shajaan, Mohsin Nawaz, Michael Pedersen
  • Patent number: 11536757
    Abstract: A sensor assembly including a capacitive sensor, like a microelectromechanical (MEMS) microphone, and an electrical circuit therefor are disclosed. The electrical circuit includes a first transistor having an input gate connectable to the capacitive sensor, a second transistor having an input gate coupled to an output of the first transistor, a feedforward circuit interconnecting a back-gate of the second transistor and the output of the first transistor, and a filter circuit interconnecting the output of the first transistor and the input gate of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Jennings, Dean Badillo
  • Patent number: 11523198
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for programming one-time programmable fuses of microphone assemblies. One microphone assembly includes a housing, a transducer, a filter circuit, and an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit has a fuse block having a one-time programmable (OTP) fuse configurable in a programming mode of operation during which a voltage applied to the supply voltage contact is increased relative to a voltage applied to a supply voltage contact in a normal mode of operation. The microphone assembly further includes a protection circuit configured to regulate a voltage at the voltage input terminal of the integrated circuit during the programming mode of operation based on a comparison of a voltage at the voltage input terminal with a reference voltage. The voltage on the voltage input terminal of the integrated circuit tracks the reference voltage during the programming mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Fabrizio Conso, Tore Sejr Jørgensen
  • Patent number: 11516597
    Abstract: A force feedback actuator includes a pair of electrodes and a dielectric member. The pair of electrodes are spaced apart from one another to form a gap. The dielectric member is disposed at least partially within the gap. The dielectric member includes a first portion having a first permittivity and a second portion having a second permittivity that is different from the first permittivity. The dielectric member and the pair of electrodes are configured for movement relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Mohsin Nawaz, Stephen C. Thompson, Michael Pedersen, Peter V. Loeppert, Zouhair Sbiaa
  • Patent number: 11516594
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement is provided, including a first capacitive sensor and a second capacitive sensor. A charge pump is coupled to the first capacitive sensor and to the second capacitive sensor, the charge pump being operable to deliver a positive bias voltage. A differential output has a first terminal coupled to the first capacitive sensor and a second terminal coupled to the second capacitive sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Niederberger
  • Patent number: 11509980
    Abstract: A MEMS transducer includes a transducer substrate, a counter electrode, and a diaphragm. The counter electrode is coupled to the transducer substrate. The diaphragm is oriented substantially parallel to the counter electrode and is spaced apart from the counter electrode to form a gap. A back volume of the MEMS transducer is an enclosed volume positioned between the counter electrode and the diaphragm. A height of the gap between the counter electrode and the diaphragm is less than two times the thermal boundary layer thickness within the back volume at an upper limit of the audio frequency band of the MEMS transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Vahid Naderyan, Michael Pedersen, Peter V. Loeppert
  • Patent number: 11503412
    Abstract: An acoustic sensor assembly that produces an electrical signal representative of an acoustic signal, includes an acoustic transduction element disposed in a housing and acoustically, a heat source causing air pressure variations within the housing when energized, and an electrical circuit electrically coupled to the acoustic transduction element and to contacts on an external-device interface of the housing, wherein the electrical circuit is configured to energize the heat source and determine a non-acoustic condition or change therein based on an amplitude of air pressure variations detected by the acoustic transduction element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Shandor Dektor, Stephen Cradock, Michael Pedersen
  • Publication number: 20220348458
    Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to microphone and vibration sensor assemblies (100) having a transducer (102), like a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device, and an electrical circuit (103) disposed in a housing (110) configured for integration with a host device. The electrical circuit includes an output driver circuit, a low drop out (LDO) regulator circuit, and an over-voltage protection circuit with improved capacity and response time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Deepak Bharadwaj, Payel Mukherjee, Balabrahmachari Matcha, Gururaj Ghorpade
  • Patent number: 11483656
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to digital microphone and other sensor assemblies including a transduction element and a successive-approximation (SA) quantizer configured to reuse a digital code generated for a prior sample period for a current sample period when a reuse condition is satisfied. The SA quantizer does not regenerate a new digital code for the current sample period when the digital code generated for the prior sample period is used thereby reducing power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Mohammad Sadegh Mohammadi
  • Patent number: 11483645
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer comprises a transducer substrate, and an aperture having a non-circular perimetral shape defined through the transducer substrate. A diaphragm is disposed on the transducer substrate and coupled to a surface of the transducer substrate via at least one diaphragm anchor such that a gap is defined between the diaphragm and the transducer substrate, and an outer periphery of the diaphragm extends radially outwards of a rim of the aperture such that a portion of the diaphragm overhangs the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Johnson, Yenhao Chen
  • Publication number: 20220337243
    Abstract: A digital microphone or other sensor assembly includes a transducer and an electrical circuit including a slew-rate controlled output buffer configured to reduce propagation delay and maintain output rise and fall time independent of PVT variation and load capacitance. In some embodiments, the portions of the output buffer are selectably disabled to reduce power consumption without adversely substantially increasing propagation delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Satya Sai Evani, Sudheer Gutta, Sreenath Pariyarath, Gururaj Ghorpade, Sruthi Panangavil
  • Patent number: 11477555
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer comprises a transducer substrate having an aperture defined therethrough. At least one diaphragm is disposed on the transducer substrate over the aperture. A back plate is disposed on the transducer substrate and axially spaced apart from the at least one diaphragm. A perimetral support structure is disposed circumferentially between the at least one diaphragm and the back plate at a radially outer perimeter of the back plate. A plurality of perimetral release holes are defined circumferentially through at least one of the at least one diaphragm or the back plate proximate to and radially inwards of the perimetral support structure, at least a portion of the plurality of perimetral release holes defining a non-circular shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Kuntzman, Sung B. Lee, Vahid Naderyan, Yunfei Ma, Bing Yu
  • Patent number: 11438702
    Abstract: Sound-producing acoustic receivers are disclosed. The acoustic receiver includes a housing, a first diaphragm, and a motor. The housing has an internal volume separated by the first diaphragm into a first front volume and a first back volume such that the first front volume has a first sound outlet. The first diaphragm includes a first paddle movable about a first hinge. The motor is disposed in the housing and includes an armature mechanically coupled to the first paddle. The first hinge is located between opposite ends of the first paddle such that actuation of the armature pivots both ends of the first paddle about the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Kalyan Nadella, Thomas Miller, Shehab Albahri, Yahui Zhang
  • Patent number: 11399235
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a balanced armature receiver (100) including a housing having a diaphragm comprising a movable paddle (116) disposed in the housing and separating the housing into a back volume (112) and a front volume (110) defined partly by space between a ceiling of the housing and the diaphragm, wherein the paddle is oriented non-parallel to the ceiling. A sound port (142) in the housing acoustically couples the front volume to an exterior of the housing, wherein the sound port is located on an end wall between the diaphragm and the ceiling. A motor disposed in the back volume includes a coil magnetically coupled to an armature having an end portion movably disposed between magnets retained by a yoke and coupled to the paddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Miller, Paul C Dayton