Patents Examined by Fan Tsang
  • Patent number: 10009069
    Abstract: An electromagnetic induction wireless transceiver system including: a magnetic antenna; an electric antenna including first and second plates, the first plate being connectable to a body; and a power driver configured to produce a modulating signal used to drive the magnetic antenna and the electric antenna to produce electromagnetic induction fields, wherein the transceiver when connected to a body in a first location is configured to transmit power to a second electromagnetic induction wireless transceiver connected to a second location a distance from the first location, wherein the first and second locations are connected through magnetic and electric near-field coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Anthony Kerselaers, Liesbeth Gommë, Steven Thoen, Johan Van Ginderdeuren
  • Patent number: 10009680
    Abstract: The subject technology can be embodied in a retaining structure which is configured to engage with external structures to hold an earpiece in position. The retaining structure includes a first portion forming a loop and having an upper end and a lower end. The upper end of the first portion is coupled to a top surface of a body of the earpiece and the lower end of the first portion is coupled to a bottom surface of the earpiece. The retaining structure also includes a second portion having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end of the second portion is coupled to the loop formed by the first portion, and the upper end of the second portion extends from the earpiece. The top and bottom surfaces are located on substantially opposite sides of the body in a direction along a plane of the retaining structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Drew Briggs, Ryan C. Silvestri, Michael Ting
  • Patent number: 9998836
    Abstract: According to an aspect, an electronic device includes: a piezoelectric element; a first sound generating unit that is vibrated by the piezoelectric element and generates a vibration sound transmitted by vibrating a part of a human body; and a second sound generating unit that generates an air conduction sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidekatsu Yamada, Junichi Kondou, Junya Yano, Yoshitaka Tokuyama, Takaaki Watanabe, Shuichi Kutsuzawa
  • Patent number: 9998828
    Abstract: A concept is provided which permits the implementation of MEMS microphone elements having a very good SNR, high microphone sensitivity and a large frequency bandwidth. The microphone structure of the MEMS element is implemented in a layer structure and includes at least one sound pressure-sensitive diaphragm (210), an acoustically permeable counter element (220) and a capacitor system for detecting the diaphragm deflections, the diaphragm (210) and the counter element (220) being situated on top of each other and a distance apart from one another in the layer structure and each bring equipped with at least one electrode of the capacitor system. According to the invention, the layer structure of the diaphragm (210) includes at least one thin closed layer (1) and at least one thick structured layer (2), a grid structure (100) covering the entire diaphragm area being provided in the thick layer (2), which determines the stiffness of the diaphragm (210).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Rolf Scheben
  • Patent number: 9990935
    Abstract: The present document relates to the design of anti-aliasing and/or anti-imaging filters for resamplers using rational resampling factors. In particular, the present document relates to a method for implementing such anti-aliasing and/or anti-imaging filters with reduced computational complexity. In addition, the present document relates to further aspects of an audio encoding and decoding system, such as the phase relation between the channels of a multi-channel audio signal and/or the structure of the bitstream of an encoded audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Alexander Groeschel, Jens Popp, Martin Wolters, Jeffrey Riedmiller, Michael Ward, Karl Jonas Roeden, Holger Hoerich, Karsten Linzmeier, Tobias Friedrich
  • Patent number: 9992577
    Abstract: Embodiments for a speaker basket of a speaker assembly are provided. A speaker basket may include a central opening through which a speaker sub-assembly may be mounted and a conductive material that includes: (i) a central portion molded within the speaker basket, (ii) an input portion configured to be coupled to an output of an audio source, and (iii) an output portion configured to be coupled to an input of the speaker sub-assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Popken, Anthony Ferraro, Richard Warren Little, Brandon Holley
  • Patent number: 9986334
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention disclose a bone-conduction sound transmission device and method. The device comprises a signal output module for providing a digital audio signal, a signal conversion and emission module for converting the digital audio signal into a vibration signal and emitting the vibration signal, a signal detection module, for detecting the vibration signal for at least one position in the transmission path from the signal conversion and emission module to a receiving end, and a signal feedback module which is configured to calculate an attenuation coefficient of the vibration signal at each of the positions, determine a compensation signal based on the attenuation coefficient and compensate for the vibration signal generated from the signal conversion and emission module with the compensation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD
    Inventors: Junyuan Ren, Jinglu Bai, Xuewen LV
  • Patent number: 9986353
    Abstract: An electronic device may be coupled to an accessory such as a pair of earphones. The earphones may have ear presence sensor structures that determine whether or not the ears of a user are present in the vicinity of the earphones. The earphones may contain first and second speakers. When both the first and second speakers are located in the ears of the user, the electronic device may perform functions such as playing audio content. When one of the speakers has been removed from the ears of the user while the other of the speakers remains in the ears of the user, the electronic device can take actions such as pausing the playback of audio content, switching from stereo to monophonic playback, or stopping the playback of content. Suitable actions such as increasing audio drive strength may be taken when both speakers have been removed from the ears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Paul G. Puskarich
  • Patent number: 9959344
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods and devices for improving audio processing and playing multiple sounds using fewer resources. Various implementations may create audio files, in some cases from a single sample of a type of sound, where the files represent specific quantities of that type of sound, such as 10 footsteps or 1000 claps. Given a desired target number of sounds to play, various implementations determine an appropriate combination of the employable audio files to represent the desired number of sounds, and play or render the combination as an approximation of the desired target number of sounds. By using single audio files that represent and sound like multiple instances of a specified type of sound, the various implementations use significantly fewer computing and audio resources than playing an equivalent number of audio files each of which contains a single instance of the specified type of sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc
    Inventor: Isaac Jeremy Shepard
  • Patent number: 9960815
    Abstract: An electromagnetic induction wireless transceiver system including: a magnetic antenna; an electric antenna including first and second plates, the first plate being connectable to a body; and a power driver configured to produce a modulating signal used to drive the magnetic antenna and the electric antenna to produce electromagnetic induction fields, wherein the transceiver when connected to a body in a first location is configured to transmit power to a second electromagnetic induction wireless transceiver connected to a second location a distance from the first location, wherein the first and second locations are connected through magnetic and electric near-field coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Anthony Kerselaers, Liesbeth Gommë, Steven Thoen, Johan Van Ginderdeuren
  • Patent number: 9959089
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobile audio player, comprising memory means adapted to store music data and non-music data, input means adapted to receive a user input with user preferences, radio program generating means adapted to generate, without a connection to an external entity, an individualized radio program from stored music data and non-music data depending on user preferences input via the input means, and audio output means adapted to output audio signals representing a generated radio program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Fritz Hohl, Shin Saito
  • Patent number: 9952825
    Abstract: Examples described herein involve determining an audio processing algorithm for a playback device to apply when playing audio content in a playback zone. Determining the audio processing algorithm may involve causing the playback device to play a first audio signal in the playback zone, receiving data indicating a second audio signal detected by a microphone of the playback device. Based on the second audio signal and a characteristic of the playback device, an audio processing algorithm may be determined. The audio processing algorithm may be calculated, or identified in a database based on an acoustic characteristic of the playback zone. The acoustic characteristic of the playback zone may be determined based on the second audio signal and the characteristic of the playback device. The audio processing algorithm may then be applied by the playback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Patent number: 9955249
    Abstract: The subject technology can be embodied in an earpiece that includes a body, a retaining structure, and a movable joint structure. The body includes an acoustic passage for conducting sound waves. The retaining structure is configured to engage with external structural features to hold the body in position, and the movable joint structure is configured to couple the body to the retaining structure. The movable joint structure is also configured to allow angular motion of the body with respect to the retaining structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Ellen I. Searl, Michael O Connell
  • Patent number: 9947364
    Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for identifying that a first audio stream includes first, second, and third sources of audio. A computing system identifies that a second audio stream includes the first, second, and third sources of audio. The computing system determines that the first and second sources of audio are part of a first conversation. The computing system generates a third audio stream that combines the first source of audio from the first audio stream, the first source of audio from the second audio stream, the second source of audio from the first audio stream, and the second source of audio from the second audio stream, and diminishes the third source of audio from the first audio stream, and the third source of audio from the second audio stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Dimitri Kanevsky, Golan Pundak
  • Patent number: 9949023
    Abstract: Circuitry for biasing a MEMS transducer and associated signal processing circuitry. A reference voltage generator is configured to generate a reference voltage at a reference voltage node. Control circuitry generates a drive signal to control a first current source which is operable to supply a current to the reference voltage generator in response to the drive signal. A switched DC-DC converter, such as a charge pump has a voltage input connected to the reference voltage node and a voltage output for providing a bias voltage for the MEMS transducer. The DC-DC converter cyclically switches in a sequence of states including at least a first state where a first converter capacitance is disconnected from the voltage input followed by a second state where the first converter capacitance is connected to the voltage input. A second current source is operable to supply a bias current in response to a voltage at a bias control node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Santosh Astgimath, Jean Pierre Lasseuguette, John Laurence Pennock
  • Patent number: 9942646
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provided herein are configured to desirably distribute and thus withstand forces that are applied to an audio device assembly during regular use. The configurations discussed herein can be used to prevent the various device related components from becoming damaged during use. The application of these forces can cause immediate failure of the electrical connections in extreme cases, or more typically cause eventual failure of the electrical connections and device due to repetitive application of the applied force. Therefore, it is desirable to minimize the stress applied to the various electrical connection points during use, such as the electrical connection points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Logitech Europe S.A.
    Inventors: Steve McGarry, William Christopher Carmichael, Alexander Samuel Danielson, Jeffrey Anderson
  • Patent number: 9922646
    Abstract: Techniques for identifying a location of a voice-controlled device within an environment. After identifying a location of the device, the device may receive a voice command from a user within the environment and may determine a response to the command based in part on the location, may determine how to output a response based in part on the location or may determine how to interact with the user based in part on the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott I. Blanksteen
  • Patent number: 9924274
    Abstract: An inertial electroacoustic transducer unit has a first exciter and a second exciter, the second exciter is disposed in overturned position on the first exciter. In a first configuration, the bases of the two cups face each other, or in a second configuration the cavities of the two cups face each other. The two exciters are fixed together or to a plane intended to be put into vibration in such manner that the axes of the cylindrical supports of the coils coincide. The ends of the coils of the two exciters are connected in counter-phase in such manner to obtain a consistent movement in the same direction as the magnetic units of the two exciters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: ASK INDUSTRIES SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Carlo Sancisi, Marco Fava
  • Patent number: 9913052
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for solderless assembly for hearing assistance devices. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method of manufacturing a hearing assistance device. According to various embodiments, the method includes providing a molded interconnect device (MID) housing and inserting a flexible circuit module having conductive surface traces into the MID housing. One or more hearing assistance electronic modules are connected to the MID housing using direct compression without the use of wires or solder, according to various embodiments. In one embodiment, the MID housing includes a laser-direct structuring (LDS) housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: John Dzarnoski, Susie Krzmarzick, Douglas F. Link, David Prchal
  • Patent number: 9913012
    Abstract: An acoustic device includes an acoustic assembly that defines a first acoustic volume. The acoustic assembly includes at least one passive radiator in acoustic communication with the first acoustic volume. A first electro-acoustic driver is configured to acoustically energize the first acoustic volume so as to drive the piston in oscillatory motion. The acoustic device also includes a housing within which the acoustic assembly is disposed. The housing has a curved inner surface. The passive radiator has a curvature which conforms to the curvature of the curved inner surface of the housing so as to reduce unused space between the at least one passive radiator and the curved inner surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Chester Smith Williams, Brandon Westley, Roman N. Litovsky