Patents Examined by Amir Etesam
  • Patent number: 10104481
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to hearing devices having a battery drawer. The present disclosure further relates to hearing devices having a battery drawer for a rechargeable battery or at least the capability to hold a rechargeable battery, however, other types of batteries may also be stored in the battery drawer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Bernafon AG
    Inventors: Ben Crook, Pascal Johner, Roland Margot, Wilfried Schild
  • Patent number: 10097916
    Abstract: A passive radiator includes an elastomeric member and mass. The elastomeric member defines a suspension structure that has an inner peripheral boarder and an outer peripheral boarder and a first snap-attach feature that is arranged along the outer peripheral boarder of the suspension structure. The first snap-attach feature enables the elastomeric member to be coupled to a mating feature. The mass is supported along the inner peripheral boarder of the suspension structure and is configured for pistonic movement, relative to the first snap-attach feature, along a motion axis of the passive radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: Nathan A. Jeffery
  • Patent number: 10097926
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a voice coil bobbin for an electroacoustic driver. The bobbin has a plurality of cutouts for venting an interior of the bobbin. The bobbin includes a plurality of integral flanges at the end of the bobbin which can be used to secure a diaphragm to the end of the bobbin. Each of the flanges extends from the bobbin at an angle that is no more than about thirty nine degrees relative to a plane that is substantially perpendicular to an intended direction of travel of the bobbin during operation of the driver. An electrically conductive voice coil is wound around the bobbin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: Mark A. Pircaro
  • Patent number: 10091571
    Abstract: An earpiece including an external surface having a first fixed configuration disposable within the outer ear and having a passage adapted for retention of an in ear device, the earpiece heatable to achieve a moldable condition which allows reconfiguration of the external surface by engagement with the outer ear to dispose the external surface in a second fixed configuration in greater conformity to the outer ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Decibullz LLC
    Inventor: Kyle J Kirkpatrick
  • Patent number: 10080087
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides is a speaker, including a frame, a vibrating system accommodated in the frame and a magnet portion driving the vibrating system, the vibrating system includes a diaphragm and a voice coil, the diaphragm includes a first fixing portion, a second fixing portion and a vibrating portion connected therebetween, the vibrating portion includes a vibrating main portion, a first suspension and a second suspension, the first fixing portion is fixed on the magnet portion, the second fixing portion is fixed on the frame, the vibrating main portion vibrates at a side of the magnet portion under driving of the voice coil. Comparing with the related art, vibration of the speaker diaphragm provided by the present disclosure is not limited by the magnet portion, thickness of the speaker can be made thin, which meets requirements of portable mobile electronic products on lighter and thinner components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: AAC TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Shun Guo, Lubin Mao, Hongxing Wang
  • Patent number: 10070232
    Abstract: A hearing device for augmenting the hearing of a user. The hearing device comprises an antenna unit having a slot is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Rune Sø, Jens Troelsen
  • Patent number: 10070235
    Abstract: This invention relates to an impression-taking pad (10) for taking an impression (20) of an ear canal (30) by an impression-taking material, having a lateral end (el) to be arranged away from a tympanic membrane (35) in said ear canal (30); and a medial end (em) to be arranged proximate to said tympanic membrane (35). The impression-taking pad (10) comprises an outer body (2) tapering from said lateral end (el) to said medial end (em). The impression-taking pad (10) further comprises an inner body (3) for releasable engagement with a tool (11, 12) for visual inspection of the ear canal (30), the inner body (3) being configured to support insertion of the impression-taking pad (10) in the ear canal (30) by the tool (11, 12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Jana-Kosima Schwarzlos-Sooprayen, Erdal Karamuk, Daniel Probst, Natasha Thumm
  • Patent number: 10063948
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system includes a first flexible panel, a first line array of electro-acoustic drivers, and at least one mechanically adjustable point. The first line array of electro-acoustic drivers are mounted on the first flexible panel and linked to each other by flexible joints in the first flexible panel. The at least one mechanically adjustable point enables articulation of the first flexible panel at the flexible joints to produce one or more of a substantially straight and an arcuate configuration of the first line array of electro-acoustic drivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph J. Kutil, Paul F. Fidlin, Peter C. Santoro, Robert A. Warden, Kenneth D. Jacob
  • Patent number: 10057697
    Abstract: A hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, having a protection system is disclosed. The device includes an input unit for receiving an acoustic signal from a user's surroundings and providing a corresponding audio signal, and an output unit receiving said audio signal and providing an audible signal to the user, where the hearing device further includes a barrier element for protecting elements of the hearing device. Furthermore, the disclosure relates to a hearing device inlet system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Michael Frydendal Larssen, Michael Frank Petersen, Troels Holm Pedersen, Brian Spidsbjerg, Lars Monroy, Lars Persson, Jesper Pedersen, Sune Heibing, Mikael Andersen, Henning Bjerregaard, Niels Erik Holm Christensen, Preben Kvist
  • Patent number: 10057685
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a speaker, including a vibrating system and a magnetic circuit system driving the vibrating system to vibrate and sound, the magnetic circuit system includes a main magnet assembly, the main magnet assembly includes a first main magnet, a magnetic conductive piece and a second magnet which are arranged by stacking, poles of the first main magnet and the second main magnet having a same polarity are opposite to each other, the magnetic conductive piece includes a body portion clamped between the first main magnet and the second main magnet, and a clamping portion bending and extending from the body portion, the clamping portion includes a first clamping portion for fixing the first main magnet and a second clamping portion for fixing the second main magnet. The speaker provided by the present disclosure improves acoustic performance through providing the clamping portion on the magnetic conductive piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: AAC TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Lubin Mao, Shun Guo
  • Patent number: 10051380
    Abstract: The present disclosure provide a speaker, including a vibrating system and a magnet portion driving the vibrating system, the vibrating system includes a diaphragm and a voice coil driving the diaphragm to vibrate, the diaphragm includes a first fixing portion, a second fixing portion and a vibrating portion connected between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion, the first fixing portion is fixed on the magnet portion, the second fixing portion is fixed on the frame, the vibrating portion includes a vibrating main portion and a first suspension and a second suspension provided at two ends of the vibrating main portion, the vibrating main portion vibrates at a side of the magnet portion under driving of the voice coil, the magnet portion is provided with an avoiding step at a position corresponding to the first suspension so as to avoid vibration of the first suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: AAC TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Lubin Mao, Shun Guo, Fei Hou, Hongxing Wang
  • Patent number: 10034105
    Abstract: Articles and related devices and methods for fitting in-situ include a flexible sleeve, a housing assembly fixed to the flexible sleeve, a light source disposed within the flexible sleeve, and a photocurable resin contained within the flexible sleeve. The flexible sleeve may be elastomeric. A transducer may be disposed in the housing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Sidney A. Higgins, David Tourtelotte, Beau Jay Polinske
  • Patent number: 10034107
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a shell for accommodation of a signal processor for processing an audio signal into a processed audio signal, and a receiver that is connected to an output of the signal processor for converting the processed audio signal into an acoustic sound signal, and a flexible elongated member with a first end attached to the shell, and a second free end, wherein the flexible elongated member comprises a lumen for housing a wire that is for providing current to an electronic device, the flexible elongated member having a shape for stabilizing the shell relative to a user's ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: GN Hearing A/S
    Inventors: Henrik Nielsen, Vince Maye, Goran Hall, Kevin Mikes, Brian Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 10034098
    Abstract: A MEMS speaker that includes a control unit and multiple MEMS elements that include a membrane positioned in a first plane, a blind that is positioned in a second plane and a shutter that is positioned in a third plane. The control unit is configured to control the multiple MEMS elements to operate in an audio output mode or an ultrasonic output mode. The MEMS speaker is configured, when operating in the ultrasonic output mode, to oscillate at least one of the membrane, blind and shutter thereby generating an ultrasonic signal without audio-modulating the ultrasonic signal. The MEMS speaker is configured, when operating in the audio output mode, to oscillate the membrane thereby generating the ultrasonic signal and oscillate at least one of the shutter and the blind thereby modulating the ultrasonic acoustic signal to generate an audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: DSP GROUP LTD.
    Inventors: Haim Kupershmidt, Lior Blanka
  • Patent number: 10028048
    Abstract: A headphone includes a baffle plate, a driver unit attached to the baffle plate, a housing forming a back cavity at a front side of the baffle plate and the driver unit, and an ear pad attached to a peripheral edge portion of the baffle plate at a front side and forming the front cavity at the front side of the baffle plate, and the baffle plate includes at least one through hole that allows the back cavity and the front cavity to acoustically communicate with each other. The sound wave emitted from the driver unit to the back cavity passes through the through hole and cancels a low-frequency range sound wave of a sound wave emitted from the driver unit to the front cavity, so that sound quality in a low-frequency range is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: AUDIO-TECHNICA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiromichi Ozawa
  • Patent number: 10028063
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a free-form speaker. In an embodiment, an array type electrostatic speaker is provided. In anther embodiment, a passive element that is separate from an object including an electrode is provided. The free-form speakers are lightweight and flexible, making the speakers suitable for use in a variety of unconventional implementations. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshio Ishiguro, Alexander Rothera, Ali Israr, Eric Brockmeyer
  • Patent number: 10021490
    Abstract: A microphone with a stable electromagnetic shield includes a microphone case having a shape of a hollow cylinder with a bottom end, the microphone case having an opening, an inner circumferential surface, an exterior and an interior, a microphone unit accommodated in the microphone case, a cord bush through which a microphone cord outputting audio signals from the microphone unit passes, the cord bush being fit to the opening of the microphone case, a sound transmission material accommodated in the microphone case, and a communication path establishing communication between the exterior and the interior of the microphone case. The cord defines a part or a whole of the communication path. The communication path is covered by the sound transmission material from the front of the communication path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: AUDIO-TECHNICA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Akino
  • Patent number: 10021470
    Abstract: A microphone has a sensing element; a casing surrounds the microphone with an opening that admits sound to the sensing element in a first direction. A spark director includes a first portion spaced away from the casing in a direction opposite the first direction, and a second portion extending from the first portion towards the casing and terminating in a tip separated from the casing by an air gap. An electric charge in the first portion of the spark director will be discharged by the second portion of the spark director through the air gap into the casing at a location other than at the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan C. Silvestri, Adam Christopher Broders, Rebecca Kowalczyk
  • Patent number: 10003897
    Abstract: A hearing device interface for a wired connection between a hearing device and an external device is disclosed. In particular an interface for a hearing aid. The interface comprises a first group of electrically conducting contact pins extending parallel to each other and being configured to engage with a corresponding plug of the external device provided with plug slots, wherein the interface further comprises a second electrically conducting contact pin extending parallel to the first group of electrically conducting contact pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Brian Spidsbjerg, Michael Frank Petersen, Lars Monroy, Lars Persson, Troels Holm Pedersen
  • Patent number: 10003889
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a MEMS transducer includes a stator, a rotor spaced apart from the stator, and a multi-electrode structure including electrodes with different polarities. The multi-electrode structure is formed on one of the rotor and the stator and is configured to generate a repulsive electrostatic force between the stator and the rotor. Other embodiments include corresponding systems and apparatus, each configured to perform corresponding embodiment methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventor: Stefan Barzen