Patents Examined by Amir Etesam
  • Smart sensing bone conduction transducer
    Patent number: 8965012
    Abstract: Example methods and devices are provided related to bone conduction. A bone conducting transceiver (BCT) is provided. The BCT includes a metal spring, an anvil, a base, and at least one sensor. The metal spring has two ends. The anvil is mounted on an upper surface of the metal spring and is configured to move in conjunction with the metal spring based on an input signal. The base contacts a lower surface of the metal spring and supports at least one end of the two ends of the metal spring. The at least one sensor is configured to generate data regarding at least one characteristic of the BCT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventors: Jianchun Dong, Eliot Kim
  • Systems and methods for controlling airflow into an electronic device
    Patent number: 8953833
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling airflow into an electronic device are disclosed. An airflow control system may include an airflow impedance plate having one or more airflow impeding features. The airflow impedance plate may be a passive device that may be configured to impede forceful airflow therethrough and also allow sound to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sawyer Cohen, Scott Porter, Ruchir Dave
  • Audio speaker assembly including 360° speaker rod such as for incorporating into a watercraft and including portable support module with remote cloud storage and retrieval capabilities
    Patent number: 8948437
    Abstract: An audio speaker assembly for providing a 360° all around audio output. A speaker rod includes an upper audio output portion and a lower extending insertion tube portion. A holder includes a longitudinally extending inner passageway for receiving the rod in inserting fashion, with an electrical output signal representative of a succeeding audio output being communicated to the holder and rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Justin A. Paye
  • Sound source playing apparatus for compensating output sound source signal and method of compensating sound source signal output from sound source playing apparatus
    Patent number: 8938077
    Abstract: A method of selecting a compensation method to compensate a sound source signal output from a sound source playing apparatus includes; displaying a plurality of areas indicating each of a plurality of compensation methods with respect to a signal output from the sound source playing apparatus, outputting a test signal compensated by a compensation method of the plurality of compensation methods, the compensation method corresponding to at least one area of the plurality of areas, selecting any one of the plurality of areas based on a response of a user to the output test signal, and storing the compensation method corresponding to the selected area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-il Shon, Dong-wook Kim
  • Micro-speaker
    Patent number: 8938086
    Abstract: A micro-speaker includes a case having a cavity and a receiving hole, a magnetic circuit unit and a vibrating unit with a voice coil received in the cavity, a pair of needle seats embedded in the case for electrically connecting with the voice coil, a pair of pogo-pins arranged in the receiving hole for electrically connecting with the pair of needle seats. Each of the pogo-pins has a barrel unit, a first protrusion and a second protrusion extending from an outer surface of the barrel unit, at least one plunger extending from the barrel unit and projecting out of the receiving hole, a receiving space formed between the first protrusion and the second protrusion. A third protrusion extends from an inner surface of the receiving hole and accommodated in the receiving space for fixing the pogo-pin in the corresponding receiving hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignees: AAC Acoustic Technologies (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., AAC Microtech (Changzhou) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiong Zhang, San-You Wu
  • Speaker magnet assembly with included spider
    Patent number: 8934657
    Abstract: A magnet assembly for a audio speaker provides a gap through which a voice coil assembly passes. A magnetic member, a yoke, and a pole piece form a magnetic circuit that focuses magnetic energy in the gap. A spider movably supports the voice coil assembly. The spider is coupled to one of the magnetic member or the yoke by forming the one of the magnetic member or the yoke in two parts and joining the two parts with a portion of the spider between the two parts. The spider may be formed from a thin film thermoplastic, such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and may be less than 10 microns thick. The portion of the spider that is between the two parts may be shaped such that a portion of the two parts are in direct contact with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Wilk
  • Hearing aid and a method of detecting and attenuating transients
    Patent number: 8929574
    Abstract: A hearing aid has means (15) for detecting fast transients in the input signal and means (16, 12, 13) for attenuating the detected transients prior to presenting the signal with the attenuated transients to a user. Detection is performed by measuring the peak difference of the signal upstream of a band split filter bank (11) and comparing the peak difference against at least one peak difference limit. Then, if a transient is detected, a state machine (20) analyzes the peak level and the absolute average level of the signal and engages a gain calculator (12) to follow either the peak level or the absolute average level of the input signal for at least the duration of the transient in order to attenuate the transient. The engagement of the gain calculator (12) is performed in each frequency band dependent of the detected transient. The invention further provides a method for detecting fast transients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Jakob Nielsen, Peter Magnus Norgaard
  • Loudspeaker and electronic devices incorporating same
    Patent number: 8929578
    Abstract: The invention provides, in some aspects, electronic devices with improved radiators (or “passive drivers”) comprising an elastomerically mounted mass in order to improve sound reproduction fidelity. The mass comprises a component of the device not normally used for such purpose—e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Dr. G Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Godehard A. Guenther
  • Magnetostrictive auditory system
    Patent number: 8923535
    Abstract: Disclosed is hearing device that uses magnetostrictive materials to assist a user in hearing and comprehending sounds. Conductive coils are made with a magnetostrictive covering that can comprise a film or other coating. In addition, printed circuit boards can be used with traces that form a coil to generate a magnetic field that activates a magnetostrictive film disposed over the coil traces on the printed circuit board. Enhanced effects are achieved using these systems. Delays in the signal processing can also be introduced by varying the thickness of the magnetostrictive coverings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Brain Basket, LLC
    Inventors: Joan Billger Burleigh, Joan Phillips Waldron
  • Hearing aid-compatible apparatus for wireless communication devices
    Patent number: 8923528
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for wireless communications using a hearing aid, or other suitable receiver. According to one embodiment, a mobile phone device comprises an LCD display having a substantially planar top viewing surface, a transmitter for outputting an electromagnetic signal to an inductively-coupled hearing aid telecoil receiver, and a layer of austenitic stainless steel forming a support frame for the LCD display. A portion of the transmitter and the layer of austenitic stainless steel are positioned underneath the LCD display, thus providing a compact mobile phone design with negligible impact, or even improvement, of the output electromagnetic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Glenn S. Arche
  • Device for localizing acoustic sources and/or measuring their intensities
    Patent number: 8923521
    Abstract: Device for localizing acoustic sources and/or measuring their intensities, intended in particular to be used in confined spaces, the device including at least one acoustic antenna having a first series of microphones delimiting a first volume, and a second series of microphones delimiting a volume containing at least substantially the first series of microphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignees: MicroDB, Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Bernard Beguet, Lucille Lamotte, Charles Cariou
  • Acoustic transducers with perforated membranes
    Patent number: 8913766
    Abstract: A MEMS device, such as a microphone, uses a fixed perforated plate. The fixed plate comprises an array of holes across the plate area. At least a set of the holes adjacent the outer periphery comprises a plurality of rows of elongate holes, the rows at different distances from the periphery. This design improves the mechanical robustness of the membrane and can additionally allow tuning of the mechanical behavior of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: NXP, B.V.
    Inventors: Iris Bominaar-Silkens, Andres Felipe Vasquez Quintero, Klaus Reimann, Twan Van Lippen, Remco Henricus Wilhelmus Pijnenburg
  • Semi-permanent hearing aid
    Patent number: 8885859
    Abstract: A semi-permanent hearing device is adapted to be inserted completely into the ear canal of a user. The semi-permanent hearing device comprises a first part and a second part each of which comprises at least one of the following electrical components: a microphone, a sound processing unit, a receiver and a battery. The first part and the second part are detachably connected to each other. In an alternative aspect of the invention, a hearing device comprises a microphone and a wax filter arrangement arranged to cover at least one audio canal through which sound propagates from a position outside the hearing aid and into the microphone. The wax filter arrangement comprises a wax filter and the wax filter arrangement is adapted to allow different parts of the wax filter to cover the at least one audio canal at different points in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland BV
    Inventor: Aart Zeger van Halteren
  • High directivity boundary microphone
    Patent number: 8885855
    Abstract: A high directivity boundary microphone (10) is disclosed, build up of a normal unidirectional microphone element (12) with cardioid-directivity behavior. The microphone element (12) is placed on a holder plate (14), with a membrane (16) of the microphone element (12) facing a plane (18) where a holder (20), comprising the holder plate (14) and a holder feet (22), is placed upon. The holder (20) ensures that the microphone element (12) is aligned at an angle (24) of preferably 35° respective to the plane (18). In this position, the microphone element (12) can detect direct sound (26) in a defined speech area (28A, 28B) as well as delayed sound (30) that is reflected at the plane (18) beneath the microphone element (12). Outside the defined speech area (28A, 28B) the sensitivity is strongly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Aldo Van Dijk
  • Hearing aid with mechanical sound generating means for function selection
    Patent number: 8885864
    Abstract: A hearing aid (1) comprises a housing, two microphones (3, 4), signal processing means provided with user selectable settings, and a receiver. The housing is provided with mechanical sound generating means (5, 11). The sound generating means is capable of providing a specific sound when manipulated by a hearing aid user. The sound generating means is arranged such that the two signals (25), obtained from the specific sound being recorded by the two different microphones (3, 4) will have a negative correlation, making said specific sound identifiable by said signal processing means. The signal processing means are arranged for selecting a specific setting dependent on one or more sounds generated by the sound generating means (5, 11). The invention further provides a method for selecting a setting of a hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventor: Kristian Timm Andersen
  • Smart material actuator capable of operating in three dimensions
    Patent number: 8879775
    Abstract: A smart material actuator having more than two actuating arms, more than two mechanical webs, and being driven by a piezo or other smart material device within an enclosed compensator, and which may be adapted for use as an actuator, an energy capture device, or a sensor. In certain embodiments, the smart material actuator can also operate as the driver for an audio speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Viking AT, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery Moler, Aaron Dickey
  • Acoustic apparatus and method of manufacturing
    Patent number: 8879767
    Abstract: A microphone assembly comprising includes a base, at least one side wall, and a cover. The side wall is disposed on the base. The cover is coupled to the at least one side wall. The base, the side wall, and the cover form a cavity and the cavity has a MEMS device disposed therein. A top port extends through the cover and a first channel extends through the side wall. The first channel is arranged so as to communicate with the top port. A bottom port extends through the base. The MEMS device is disposed over the bottom port. A second channel is formed and extends along a bottom surface of the base. The second channel extends between and communicates with the first channel and the bottom port. Sound received by the top port is received at the MEMS device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy K. Wickstrom
  • Ultra-slim speaker unit capable of improving low-pitched sound characteristic and sound pressure and board equipped with the same
    Patent number: 8879778
    Abstract: A speaker used as a household appliance is provided. The speaker has an ultra-slim structure suitable for an ultra-slim TV and is applied to a woofer speaker representing a superior low-pitched sound characteristic. The speaker has the ultra-slim structure and improves the low-pitched sound characteristic and sound pressure by increasing the amplitude. Outer appearances of a damper and a frame are changed to enlarge a diameter of a voice coil in comparison with an outer diameter of the speaker, the damper has a two-step structure such that a longitudinal amplitude of an upper side of the damper is increased to improve the low-pitched sound characteristic in a state in which a lower side of the damper is put on the frame, and a size of a vibration plate is enlarged to improve the low-pitched sound characteristic and sound pressure. A flat plate is used as the vibration plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Inventor: Kang-Moon Yeom
  • Ergonomic earpiece
    Patent number: 8879769
    Abstract: An earpiece that substantially lacks a lower lobe is disclosed. The earpiece has a generally arcuate rib having upper and lower ends. A generally vertical rib extends substantially between the upper and lower ends of the generally arcuate rib. A lobe is formed at the upper end of the arcuate rib. No lobe is similarly formed at the lower end of the arcuate rib. Eliminating the lower lobe mitigates discomfort during use and also reduces the likelihood of tissue damage and infection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: SureFire, LLC
    Inventors: Richard C. Smith, Diann Y. Smith
  • Audio processing pipeline for auditory prosthesis having a common, and two or more stimulator-specific, frequency-analysis stages
    Patent number: 8873770
    Abstract: An audio processing pipeline, for an auditory prosthesis, includes: a common stage, including a common frequency analysis filter bank, configured to generate a common set of processed signals based on an input audio signal; and first and second stimulator-specific stages, responsive to the common set of signals and including first and second frequency-analysis filter banks, configured to generate first and second sets of processed signals adapted for the first and second hearing stimulators, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Michael Goorevich, Paul Holmberg, Adam Hersbach