Patents Assigned to Red Tail Hawk Corporation
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Patent number: 10940044Abstract: An in-ear noise dosimeter in the form of an earplug which senses sound in the ear canal using an eartip which has a sound delivery channel that couples sound at the end closest to the eardrum to an earplug microphone. The earplug can communicate wirelessly with a remote data collection and processing system. A dock unit for storing the earplugs when not worn can compensate for differences in unoccluded-ear versus occluded-ear responses by an acoustic compensator. An electronic compensation filter can be modified by a proximity switch in the earplug which changes state when the earplug is worn in the ear versus stored in a dock unit. The dosimeter can also have a temperature sensor for sensing human body temperature and remotely-located wireless LEDs used to alert the user of high noise dosage. Data can also be downloaded from the earplug using a reader unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2019Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: Red Tail Hawk CorporationInventor: John W. Parkins
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Patent number: 10522903Abstract: A magnetic field transmitter, especially a transmitter used in conjunction with wireless communications earplugs. In one embodiment, a plate of magnetic material is used behind a coil of electrical conductor to improve the efficiency of the transmitter and to provide electrical and magnetic shielding. The specific dimensions and characteristics of the preferred embodiment of the transmitter described herein provide for efficient wireless communications.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2016Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Red Tail Hawk CorporationInventor: John W. Parkins
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Patent number: 10448143Abstract: A wireless communications headset system for double hearing protection systems that eliminates the problems associated with typical wireless communications systems. The system employs a magnetic-field coupled wireless link from a loop transmitter to a magnetic field receiver. Current through the transmitter wire loops generates magnetic flux which passes through a communications earplug. The earplug has a receiver for converting the magnetic flux to electrical voltage, and this voltage is used to drive a speaker within the earplug. The transmitter can be easily installed into aviation headsets. The loop transmitter has an open center sized so that it fits around the pinna of the human ear enabling a close position to the communications earplug. This close position is advantageous if an efficient system is desired.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2016Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: Red Tail Hawk CorporationInventor: John W. Parkins
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Patent number: 10448144Abstract: A magnetic field antenna that provides high efficiency and a compact form factor. Electromagnetic shielding of electrical components used in the antenna is provided, and one embodiment of the invention is a wireless battery-free communications earplug.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2016Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: Red Tail Hawk CorporationInventor: John W. Parkins
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Patent number: 10357403Abstract: An improved wireless communications earplug for use with a magnetic field transmitter. The wireless earplug has a receiver made of a coil of wire on a magnetic bobbin, mounted in close proximity or in contact with a magnetic case of a speaker. The magnetic case of the speaker serves to increase the magnetic flux through the receiver and improves the efficiency of the earplug. The speaker is acoustically coupled to an eartip, and the earplug may be molded into a custom earplug body.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2017Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Red Tail Hawk CorporationInventor: John W. Parkins
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Patent number: 10258509Abstract: An in-ear noise dosimeter in the form of an earplug which senses sound in the ear canal using an eartip which has a sound delivery channel that couples sound at the end closest to the eardrum to an earplug microphone. The earplug can communicate wirelessly with a remote data collection and processing system. A dock unit for storing the earplugs when not worn can compensate for differences in unoccluded-ear versus occluded-ear responses by an acoustic compensator. An electronic compensation filter can be modified by a proximity switch in the earplug which changes state when the earplug is worn in the ear versus stored in a dock unit. The dosimeter can also have a temperature sensor for sensing human body temperature and remotely-located wireless LEDs used to alert the user of high noise dosage. Data can also be downloaded from the earplug using a reader unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2017Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Red Tail Hawk CorporationInventor: John W. Parkins
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Patent number: 9924261Abstract: A hearing protection system with talk-through having a pair of rigid earcups enclosing a microphone, amplifier and speaker. A concha simulator, having a volume simulating that of the concha of a human ear, is acoustically coupled to the microphone, and also to the outside through an opening in the earcup. By coupling the microphone to the concha simulator, instead of directly to the outside, the acoustic response of the talk-through more accurately represents the hearing of a user.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Red Tail Hawk CorporationInventor: John W. Parkins
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Patent number: 9774946Abstract: An improved wireless communications earplug for use with a magnetic field transmitter. The wireless earplug has a receiver made of a coil of wire on a magnetic bobbin, mounted in close proximity or in contact with a magnetic case of a speaker. The magnetic case of the speaker serves to increase the magnetic flux through the receiver and improves the efficiency of the earplug. The speaker is acoustically coupled to an eartip, and the earplug may be molded into a custom earplug body.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2016Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: Red Tail Hawk CorporationInventor: John W. Parkins
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Patent number: 9609411Abstract: A device for protecting a microphone sensing surface, such as a diaphragm, from the detrimental effects of the ambient environment. The device incorporates a perforated surface to protect the microphone and in conjunction with a chamber volume creates an acoustic resonance in the 1 kHz to 20 kHz spectrum, which improves the microphone signal-to-noise ratio performance. The microphone is acoustically coupled to the chamber volume for sensing pressure of the ambient environment. There is no line of sight to the microphone sensing surface from the ambient environment, so that rain, wind and sand have no direct path to the microphone sensing surface. The perforations of the outer surface are small to prevent objects from contacting the microphone sensing surface via a direct path. Water drains from the chamber volume and does not become trapped if an embodiment of the invention is temporarily submerged so that the microphone returns to normal operation quickly.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Red Tail Hawk CorporationInventor: John W. Parkins
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Patent number: 9548537Abstract: A magnetic field transmitter, especially a transmitter used in conjunction with wireless communications earplugs. In one embodiment, a plate of magnetic material is used behind a coil of electrical conductor to improve the efficiency of the transmitter and to provide electrical and magnetic shielding. The specific dimensions and characteristics of the preferred embodiment of the transmitter described herein provide for efficient wireless communications.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2015Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Red Tail Hawk CorporationInventor: John W. Parkins
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Patent number: 9525930Abstract: A magnetic field antenna that provides high efficiency and a compact form factor. Electromagnetic shielding of electrical components used in the antenna is provided, and one embodiment of the invention is a wireless battery-free communications earplug.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2014Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: Red Tail Hawk CorporationInventor: John W. Parkins
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Patent number: 9516404Abstract: An improved wireless communications earplug for use with a magnetic field transmitter. The wireless earplug has a receiver made of a coil of wire on a magnetic bobbin, mounted in close proximity or in contact with a magnetic case of a speaker. The magnetic case of the speaker serves to increase the magnetic flux through the receiver and improves the efficiency of the earplug. The speaker is acoustically coupled to an eartip, and the earplug may be molded into a custom earplug body.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2014Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: Red Tail Hawk CorporationInventor: John W. Parkins
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Patent number: 9473846Abstract: A hearing protection system with talk-through having a pair of rigid earcups enclosing a microphone, amplifier and speaker. A concha simulator, having a volume simulating that of the concha of a human ear, is acoustically coupled to the microphone, and also to the outside through an opening in the earcup. By coupling the microphone to the concha simulator, instead of directly to the outside, the acoustic response of the talk-through more accurately represents the hearing of a user.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2013Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Red Tail Hawk CorporationInventor: John W. Parkins
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Patent number: 9084053Abstract: A device for protecting a microphone sensing surface, such as a diaphragm, from the detrimental effects of the ambient environment. The device incorporates a perforated surface to protect the microphone and in conjunction with a chamber volume creates an acoustic resonance in the 1 kHz to 20 kHz spectrum, which improves the microphone signal-to-noise ratio performance. The microphone is acoustically coupled to the chamber volume for sensing pressure of the ambient environment. There is no line of sight to the microphone sensing surface from the ambient environment, so that rain, wind and sand have no direct path to the microphone sensing surface. The perforations of the outer surface are small to prevent objects from contacting the microphone sensing surface via a direct path. Water drains from the chamber volume and does not become trapped if an embodiment of the invention is temporarily submerged so that the microphone returns to normal operation quickly.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Red Tail Hawk CorporationInventor: John W. Parkins
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Patent number: 9083388Abstract: A magnetic field transmitter, especially a transmitter used in conjunction with wireless communications earplugs. In one embodiment, a plate of magnetic material is used behind a coil of electrical conductor to improve the efficiency of the transmitter and to provide electrical and magnetic shielding. The specific dimensions and characteristics of the preferred embodiment of the transmitter described herein provide for efficient wireless communications.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Red Tail Hawk CorporationInventor: John W. Parkins
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Patent number: 8897458Abstract: An earplug which conforms to the concha of the ear and extends into the ear canal. The construction consists of a flexible outer skin with at least one filler material, preferably two or more materials of varying hardness, to form an essentially solid structure except for sound channels, or electronics packages, or other devices, parts and cavities that may be located within the flexible skin. The flexible skin can be fabricated using a rapid-prototyping printing process.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2012Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Red Tail Hawk CorporationInventors: John W. Parkins, Mark DeWilde
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Publication number: 20140301563Abstract: An improved wireless communications earplug for use with a magnetic field transmitter. The wireless earplug has a receiver made of a coil of wire on a magnetic bobbin, mounted in close proximity or in contact with a magnetic case of a speaker. The magnetic case of the speaker serves to increase the magnetic flux through the receiver and improves the efficiency of the earplug. The speaker is acoustically coupled to an eartip, and the earplug may be molded into a custom earplug body.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2014Publication date: October 9, 2014Applicant: Red Tail Hawk CorporationInventor: John W. Parkins
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Publication number: 20140294191Abstract: A sound monitoring control for controlling the sound pressure level (SPL) delivered to the ears of a user of a hearing protection device. The control employs a measurement of the actual sound heard by the user, using a microphone to control the sound level and to help prevent noise induced hearing loss. A measurement, using a dosimeter microphone, of the actual sound pressure levels heard by the user can be used in audio processing schemes to ensure that the user is only exposed to safe levels.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: Red Tail Hawk CorporationInventor: John W. Parkins
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Publication number: 20140294224Abstract: A hearing protection system with talk-through having a pair of rigid earcups enclosing a microphone, amplifier and speaker. A concha simulator, having a volume simulating that of the concha of a human ear, is acoustically coupled to the microphone, and also to the outside through an opening in the earcup. By coupling the microphone to the concha simulator, instead of directly to the outside, the acoustic response of the talk-through more accurately represents the hearing of a user.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2013Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: Red Tail Hawk CorporationInventor: John W. Parkins
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Publication number: 20140198932Abstract: A device for protecting a microphone sensing surface, such as a diaphragm, from the detrimental effects of the ambient environment. The device incorporates a perforated surface to protect the microphone and in conjunction with a chamber volume creates an acoustic resonance in the 1 kHz to 20 kHz spectrum, which improves the microphone signal-to-noise ratio performance. The microphone is acoustically coupled to the chamber volume for sensing pressure of the ambient environment. There is no line of sight to the microphone sensing surface from the ambient environment, so that rain, wind and sand have no direct path to the microphone sensing surface. The perforations of the outer surface are small to prevent objects from contacting the microphone sensing surface via a direct path. Water drains from the chamber volume and does not become trapped if an embodiment of the invention is temporarily submerged so that the microphone returns to normal operation quickly.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2013Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: RED TAIL HAWK CORPORATIONInventor: John W. Parkins