Patents Examined by Jasmine Pritchard
  • Patent number: 10341786
    Abstract: The present invention regards a hearing aid device at least one environment sound input, a wireless sound input, an output transducer, electric circuitry, a transmitter unit, and a dedicated beamformer-noise-reduction-system. The hearing aid device is configured to be worn in or at an ear of a user. The at least one environment sound input is configured to receive sound and to generate electrical sound signals representing sound. The wireless sound input is configured to receive wireless sound signals. The output transducer is configured to stimulate hearing of the hearing aid device user. The transmitter unit is configured to transmit signals representing sound and/or voice. The dedicated beamformer-noise-reduction-system is configured to retrieve a user voice signal representing the voice of a user from the electrical sound signals. The wireless sound input is configured to be wirelessly connected to a communication device and to receive wireless sound signals from the communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Michael Syskind Pedersen, Jesper Jensen, Jan Mark De Haan
  • Patent number: 10034086
    Abstract: A headset includes at least one ear cup having front and rear cavities separated by a driver. The cup includes a pressure equalization port coupling the front cavity to space outside the cup, the pressure equalization port having a cross-sectional area greater than 2 mm2 and being significantly longer than it is wide, providing a principally reactive acoustic impedance, such that the pressure response of the front cavity including the port to signals input via the driver may be effectively linear over a wide range of pressure levels within the front cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Roman Sapiejewski, Mark Bergeron, Mihir D. Shetye
  • Patent number: 10027298
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a system for amplifying a signal provided by a capacitive signal source includes an impedance converter having an input node configured to be coupled to a first terminal of the capacitive signal source, and an adjustable capacitive network having a first node configured to be coupled to a second terminal of the capacitive signal source and a second node coupled to an output node of the impedance converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Michael Kropfitsch, Andreas Wiesbauer
  • Patent number: 10003008
    Abstract: Membrane device comprising a support, a membrane suspended on the support, a first actuator in contact with the membrane designed to apply a force on the membrane, a second actuator in contact with the membrane designed to apply a force on the membrane, means of determining the position of the membrane relative to the support and control means of the first and second actuators, said control means applying a deformation signal to one of the first and second actuators to deform the membrane and applying a control signal to the other of the first and second actuators to control displacement of the membrane, application of the control signal being determined by the membrane position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Stephane Fanget, Remy DeJaeger, Philippe Robert
  • Patent number: 9838794
    Abstract: An audio system comprising an electro-acoustic transducer having two stacked voice coils mechanically linked to a membrane. The voice coils are oscillatingly suspended in the magnetic field of a permanent magnet focused by a pole plate and are mechanically arranged symmetrical to the pole plate while in a rest position. The audio system further comprises two driver circuits connected to the electro-acoustic transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Sound Solutions International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Friedrich Reining
  • Patent number: 9832572
    Abstract: An electroactive sound transducer foil includes a composite foil made up of at least one carrier foil, at least one first and one second electrode, and at least one piezoelectric layer including an electroactive polymer, the surface of the sound transducer foil including a structuring having different slopes, and the slope of the sound transducer foil surface changing the sign at least twice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Andre Gerlach
  • Patent number: 9781496
    Abstract: Systems and methods including a wireless device in communication with, controlling, and providing streaming media to a worksite audio device. The worksite audio device, such as a radio, includes a rugged structure enabling its use on construction sites. The worksite audio device is powerable via a power tool battery pack or AC source, and includes a charger circuit to charge an inserted power tool battery using power from the AC source. The worksite audio device is in communication with an external wireless device, such as a smart phone. The worksite audio device outputs to the smart phone battery status information, such as temperature and state of charge, as well as other information about the audio device. The smart phone displays the status information received from the audio device. Additionally, a user may control the audio device via a graphical user interface of the smart phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cole A. Conrad, Jason R. Crowe, Wade F. Burch
  • Patent number: 9763832
    Abstract: An earplug for blocking sound can be installed uniformly deep in a person's ear canal and can be easily withdrawn. The earplug includes a foam cylinder (12) and a string (14) extending in a loop from the rear of the cylinder, with opposite front ends (32, 34) of the string loop projecting into the body and held therein as by adhesive (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Inventor: Howard S. Leight
  • Patent number: 9738515
    Abstract: A packaged integrated device includes a package substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and the package substrate has a hole therethrough. The integrated device package also includes a first lid mounted on the first surface of the package substrate to define a first cavity, and a second lid mounted on the second surface of the package substrate to define a second cavity. A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) die can be mounted on the first surface of the package substrate inside the first cavity and over the hole. A port can be formed in the first lid or the second lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventors: David Bolognia, Kieran P. Harney
  • Patent number: 9736591
    Abstract: A loudspeaker having a first magnet configured to output a first magnetic field in a first magnet gap, an elongate armature extending through the first magnet gap, a first coil configured to generate a magnetic flux in the armature, a first diaphragm, a first element configured to transfer force and/or movement from the armature to the first diaphragm, a base and a first and a second support element, the first support element connecting the armature to the base at a first longitudinal position at a first side of a predetermined portion along the length of the armature, and the second support element connecting the armature to the base at a second longitudinal position at a second, opposite side of the predetermined portion. The base may flex between a U-shape and an inverted U-shape and may thus provide force to move the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Aart Zeger van Halteren, Adrianus Maria Lafort, Caspar Titus Bolsman
  • Patent number: 9723423
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer has a back plate having a fixed electrode, a diaphragm that is opposed to the back plate with a gap interposed therebetween and that serves as a movable electrode, and a stopper protruding from a face of the back plate or the diaphragm, which is on a side of the gap. The stopper includes a conductive section electrically isolated from the fixed electrode and the movable electrode. The conductive section comes in contact with a front face of the fixed electrode or the movable electrode opposed to the stopper through deformation of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Yuki Uchida
  • Patent number: 9674604
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microphone (10). A first (14a) and a second (14b) diaphragm are provided in a housing (12). A first chamber (24a) is delimited by a first side of the first diaphragm (14a) and an inner surface of the housing (12). A first opening (18a) extends from the first chamber (24a) to surroundings of the microphone (10). A second chamber (24b) is delimited by a first side of the second diaphragm (14b) and an inner surface of the housing (12). A second opening (18b) extends from the second chamber (24b) to the surroundings. A common chamber (22) is delimited by a second side of the first diaphragm (14a), a second side of the second diaphragm (14b) and an inner surface of the housing (12). A third opening (20) extends from the common chamber (22) to the surroundings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventor: Dion Ivo deRoo
  • Patent number: 9661267
    Abstract: System and method for discovering videoconferencing systems. A first videoconferencing system may contact a known second videoconferencing system. The first videoconferencing system may receive contact information of one or more other videoconferencing systems from the second videoconferencing system. The first videoconferencing system may send a request signal to a third videoconferencing system of the one or more other videoconferencing systems. The request signal may use the contact, wherein the first videoconferencing system sending the request signal uses the contact information of the third videoconferencing system. The first videoconferencing system may receive a response from the third videoconferencing system, and the response may include information regarding the third videoconferencing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Lifesize, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew K. Brandt
  • Patent number: 9653064
    Abstract: A blended acoustic folded horn and reflector provides for throughput of higher frequency bands without giving rise to standing waves. The horn includes a parabolic region intersected by a first direct radiant axis centered on the throat. The parabolic region is shaped and oriented to define a reflected radiant axis through the mouth for frequency components of the acoustic input above a cut-off frequency. The parabolic region operates to focus sound in the upper portion of the operational frequency range of the loudspeaker and to reflect the resulting focused sound beam along a second radiant axis through the mouth of the folded horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: 9654862
    Abstract: A combined fan and loudspeaker element, comprising a motor driven rotor provided with wings or blades, wherein the wings or blades are adjustable in pitch resulting together with a rotation of the rotor in an air transport flow, said wings or blades having superimposed thereon a sound-pitch modulation corresponding to a desired sound-pitch with the rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Inventor: Lars Strömbäck
  • Patent number: 9485586
    Abstract: A speaker driver with a high degree of symmetry for use in a loudspeaker is disclosed. The disclosed motor assembly may be symmetrical about its long and radial axes. A voice coil disclosed may be supported by opposing upper and lower suspensions on the voice coil upper and lower ends. The upper and lower voice coil suspensions may be adhered to a frame above and below the motor assembly, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Inventor: Jeffery K Permanian
  • Patent number: 9473837
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a sound transducer with a ventilation structure capable of securing a flow path of air introduced from within and outside of the sound transducer to the maximum. The sound transducer with a ventilation structure includes a frame, a magnetic circuit installed within the frame, a voice coil vibrating according to mutual electromagnetic force with the magnetic circuit upon receiving an electrical signal, a vibration plate vibrating according to vibrations of the voice coil to generate a sound, and a drain hole formed to be adjacent to the corner of the frame and allowing air to flow between the interior and exterior of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Em-Tech. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyu Dong Choi, Kil Dong Park, Ji Hoon Kim, Joong Hak Kwon
  • Patent number: 9467783
    Abstract: A low profile loudspeaker transducer is presented with an arrangement of placing the motor up near or into the inside concave portion of a convex dome or inverted convex cone diaphragm. In some preferred embodiments the low profile structure is facilitated by an inverted placement of the spider suspension above the plane of the surround suspension to stabilize the voice coil during excursion while supporting a low profile structure. Additionally, in numerous embodiments a coupling structure is utilized between the voice coil former and the diaphragm to create a broad surface area connection to the diaphragm to create a stiffer structure and minimizing breakup modes and creating a more robust mechanical structure to withstand greater output capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: TYMPHANY WORLDWIDE ENTERPRISES LIMITED
    Inventor: George Bullimore
  • Patent number: 9462369
    Abstract: An ambient and audio earphone system having a right-side earbud and a left-side earbud operatively connected to a detachable electronic clasp that is in communication with an electronic pendant for controlling the operation of the ambient and audio earphone system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Inventor: David Kalhok
  • Patent number: 9451367
    Abstract: A modular, cost effective customizable sound processing unit can provide enhanced audio from a displaced source to a user. The source can be wirelessly coupled to the unit via a short range transceiver. The processing unit can include circuitry and software to process incoming audio and to compensate for the loss of hearing due to the device been coupled to the user ear canal, making it acoustically transparent for sound sources picked by the on the unit microphone(s) and provide an enhanced audio experience for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: CONVERSION SOUND INC.
    Inventors: Stavros Basseas, Steven C. Hannibal