Patents Examined by Joshua Kaufman
  • Patent number: 9949012
    Abstract: A line control device of an earphone includes an upper cover; a middle cover being detachably and fixedly connected to the upper cover, wherein, an arranging space for arranging a control panel is enclosed between the upper cover and the middle cover; and a lower cover being fixedly connected to the middle cover, wherein, shielding parts are formed on the edges at both sides of the middle cover, and the shielding parts are used for sealing the gaps between the upper cover and the lower cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventors: Wentuan Zheng, Xiu Liu, Jiangtao Xu
  • Patent number: 9949004
    Abstract: An apparatus capable of transmitting sound and vibrations to a user is described. The apparatus may also generate an electromagnetic field sufficient to stimulate the user's energy system. The apparatus includes a support structure configured to support at least a part of the user's body; a transducer coupled to the frame of the support structure in a manner which allows the transducer to move in relation to the frame; and an audio signal source for transmitting audio signals to the transducer. The transducer is capable of receiving and responding to audio signals having a wide range of audio frequencies when the apparatus is in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Daniel E. Cohen
  • Patent number: 9942664
    Abstract: A speaker includes a frame having an accommodation space; a magnetic circuit system accommodated in the accommodation space; and a vibration system accommodated in the accommodation space for generating sound. The vibration system includes a diaphragm and a voice coil. The diaphragm includes a first part fixed with the frame and a second part arranged between the first part and the frame. One end of the second part is connected with the first part. The accommodation space is divided by the second part into a first accommodation space for accommodating the magnetic circuit system and a second accommodation space for accommodating the voice coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: AAC TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Lubin Mao, Hongxing Wang, Shun Guo, Rongguan Zhou
  • Patent number: 9942667
    Abstract: A mobile communication device (50) receives an audio stream as input and delivers a processed audio stream as output. The mobile communication device has a data connection providing access to the Internet, and a short range data connection for delivering a processed audio stream as output to a specific hearing aid (10). The mobile communication device acquires a data set containing hearing aid settings for said specific hearing aid from a remote server (71), and adjusts the emulation software application by means of the data set containing hearing aid settings for said specific hearing aid (10). The mobile communication device transmits the control signals and a processed audio stream to the specific hearing aid via said short range data connection and the specific hearing aid outputs the audio signal to the user without additional amplification. The invention also provides a method of signal processing in a mobile communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: WIDEX A/S
    Inventors: Michael Ungstrup, Mike Lind Rank
  • Patent number: 9936314
    Abstract: An insert for a hearing device is disclosed. The insert member is a flexible sealing part configured to be inserted into the ear canal of a hearing device user. The insert member comprises at least one through-going hole permeable for sound generated by the hearing device, the sound being transmitted through the insert member to an eardrum of the hearing device user or the at least one through-going hole being configured to allow an acoustically active part of the hearing device to be releasably fastened thereto. The insert member comprises a bag structure containing a non-hardened shapeable material and wherein an opening for receiving a hardening member is provided in the bag structure. The non-hardened shapeable material is configured to be hardened by means of a temperature increment and/or electromagnetic radiation, such as UV radiation or a chemical reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Karsten Bo Rasmussen, Bent Severin
  • Patent number: 9930453
    Abstract: The present invention provides a silicon microphone with a high-aspect-ratio corrugated diaphragm and a microphone package including the same. The microphone comprises the corrugated diaphragm on which at least one ring-shaped corrugation is formed in the vicinity of the edge of the diaphragm which is fixed to the substrate, the corrugated diaphragm is flexible, wherein the ratio of the depth of the corrugation to the thickness of the diaphragm is larger than 5:1, preferably 20:1, and the walls of the corrugation are inclined to the surface of the diaphragm at an angle in the range of 80° to 100°. The microphone with the high-aspect-ratio corrugated diaphragm can achieve a consistent and optimal sensitivity and greatly reduce impact applied thereto in a drop test so that the performances, the reproducibility, the reliability and the yield can be improved. The microphone package of the present invention further provides a simplified processing, an improved sensitivity and an improved SNR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventors: Quanbo Zou, Zhe Wang
  • Patent number: 9924265
    Abstract: A voice capture system worn by a user senses vibrations through the nose of the user when the user speaks. The voice capture system generates an electronic signal based on the sensed vibration and generate voice data based on the electronic signal. In this manner, the system may capture a user's voice while also screening out external noise (e.g., based on the sound dampening properties of the human skull). In one example, a voice capture system may include a wearable frame (e.g., eyeglass frame) on which is mounted at least one sensor and a device. The at least one sensor senses vibration in the nose of a user and generates the electronic signal based on the vibration. The device receives the electronic signal from the at least one sensor and generates voice data based on the electronic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paulo Lopez Meyer, Hector A. Cordourier Maruri, Julio C. Zamora Esquivel, Alejandro Ibarra Von Borstel, Jose R. Camacho Perez
  • Patent number: 9923535
    Abstract: A noise control method and device are provided that relate to the field of noise control. The noise control method includes: acquiring noise information of an ambient environment; judging whether the noise information satisfies a predetermined condition, and if yes, acquiring a first message from a first device; and judging, according to the first message, whether the noise information is related to the first device, and if yes, sending a second message to the first device, the second message being used to notify the first device to adjust a volume. The noise control method and device in the embodiments of the present application may easily and quickly realize noise control over a specific device, thereby improving user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: BEIJING ZHIGU RUI TUO TECH CO., LTD
    Inventor: Jia Liu
  • Patent number: 9921806
    Abstract: A method for switching an audio output device includes after a predetermined event is captured on the information output interface, detecting whether a voice interface object representing a voice message is currently displayed on the information output interface. The method further includes detecting whether an external audio output device is currently connected to the mobile electronic apparatus. If it is detected that a voice interface object is currently displayed, and it is not detected that an external audio output device is connected to the mobile electronic apparatus, displaying an interface switching object on the information output interface, to correspondingly switch an audio output device of the mobile electronic apparatus according to an input operation of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited
    Inventors: Yu Ding, Peng Zhang, Yecheng Xian, Kui Fang, Peiqiu Wu
  • Patent number: 9913024
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an enclosure capable of receiving a transducer for converting electrical signals into audible signals. The apparatus also includes one or more structures within the enclosure defining one or more channels, each channel having one end located within the enclosure and another end that is external to the enclosure. The apparatus also includes an acoustic resistive element located in the one of the one or more structures, the acoustic resistive element being capable of changing the acoustic characteristics of at least one of the one or more channels within the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Antonio M. Lage, Said Boluriaan, Eric C. Mitchell, Ray Scott Wakeland, John H. Wendell
  • Patent number: 9906855
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an enclosure capable of receiving an array of transducers for converting electrical signals into steered audible signals. The apparatus also includes one or more structures within the enclosure defining a port having one end located within the enclosure and another end that is external to the enclosure. The apparatus also includes an acoustic resistive element located in the one of the one or more structures, the acoustic resistive element being capable of reducing effects of the acoustic characteristics of the port for audible signals being produced by the array of transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Antonio M. Lage, Said Boluriaan, Eric C. Mitchell, Ray Scott Wakeland
  • Patent number: 9900702
    Abstract: A speaker is provided in the present disclosure. The speaker includes a magnetic circuit system for providing magnetic field, a diaphragm, a suspension, a drive mechanism and a horizontal former, which is retained on the surface of the diaphragm directly facing the magnetic circuit system. The diaphragm is suspended above the magnetic circuit system for generating sound by vibrating. The suspension is used to suspend the diaphragm above the magnetic circuit system. The drive mechanism is disposed under the diaphragm and can interact with the magnetic circuit system so as to drive the diaphragm to vibrate in order to generate sound. The horizontal former is retained on the surface of the diaphragm directly facing the magnetic circuit system, wherein the horizontal former is provided with a communication space which communicates the space under the diaphragm and the space under the suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: AAC TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Jing Ma, Long Zhang
  • Patent number: 9900704
    Abstract: A speaker is provided in the present disclosure. The speaker includes a magnetic circuit system, a vibration system and an auxiliary system suspending the vibration system above the magnetic circuit system. The magnetic circuit system comprises a yoke, permanent magnets assembled on the yoke, and a magnetic gap near the permanent magnets. The yoke comprises an upper surface for assembling the permanent magnets, a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, side surfaces connecting the upper surface and the lower surface, and communication conduits extending through the upper surface and the side surface to communicate the magnetic gap and the space outside the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: AAC ACOUSTIC TECHNOLOGIES (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jing Ma, Long Zhang
  • Patent number: 9894448
    Abstract: A hearing aid device configured to be inserted into the ear canal of a hearing aid user. The hearing aid includes a receiver, a hearing instrument body, and a connection member extending between the hearing instrument body and the receiver. The connection member is a permanent part of the hearing aid device and the connection member has a stiffness that allows the receiver to be inserted into the ear canal by moving the hearing instrument body towards the eardrum. The connection member achieves a first stiffness sufficiently large to insert the hearing aid device into the ear canal and achieves a second significantly reduced stiffness which makes the hearing aid device comfortable to wear for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Karsten Bo Rasmussen, Povl Koch
  • Patent number: 9888323
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus comprises: an exterior exposed to the outside; a piezoelectric vibrating element being transparent and being located inside the exterior; a vibration unit being transparent and including a surface on which the piezoelectric vibrating element is located, the vibration unit being configured to vibrate by the piezoelectric vibrating element to generate a voice; and a display located inside the exterior and overlapping the piezoelectric vibrating element in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhito Kanemaki, Masahiko Hirose
  • Patent number: 9883281
    Abstract: An earbud includes a housing that includes a driver assembly positioned within the housing forming a front volume in front of the driver and a back volume behind the driver. An acoustic insert is positioned behind the driver assembly and attached to an interior surface of the housing such that it forms a bass channel that is routed from the back volume to a vent in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Arun D. Chawan, Kurt Stiehl, Benjamin A. Cousins, Jonathan S. Aase, Yacine Azmi, Paul Choiniere, Scott W. Slabaugh
  • Patent number: 9883272
    Abstract: A case for an earbud includes a receiving cavity sized and shaped to accept the earbud within the receiving cavity. The case includes one or more housing magnetic components configured to magnetically attract and secure the earbud within the receiving cavity. The one or more housing magnetic components can be configured to form a Halbach array to increase the magnetic force of the one or more housing magnetic components. The earbud includes a speaker magnet and a separate magnetic element that are arranged to be attracted to the one or more housing magnetic components such that the earbud is attracted into the receiving cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Arun D. Chawan, Rico L. Zörkendörfer, Kurt Stiehl, Lee M. Panecki, Shannon X. Yang, Daniel Max Strongwater, Marcus Albonico, Benjamin A. Cousins, Eric S. Jol, Daniel C. Wagman
  • Patent number: 9883274
    Abstract: A case for a pair of earbuds includes a housing having cavities to receive the pair of earbuds and charging circuitry that is configured to initiate charging of the pair of earbuds when an earbud detector detects that the earbuds are inserted within the cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James L. McPeak, Chandrahas Aralaguppe Chandramohan, Rico L. Zörkendörfer, Lee M. Panecki, Darshan R. Kasar, Daniel C. Wagman, Zachary C. Rich
  • Patent number: 9872101
    Abstract: A system for sound capture and generation via nasal vibration is described. In embodiments the system includes eyeglasses that include at least a frame that is wearable by a user. Sensing circuitry is mounted to the frame, and a device is incorporated into the frame. The sensing circuitry includes at least one sensor, wherein the sensor can passively sense voice vibration induced in the user's nose, and/or which may actively induce audio vibration in the user's nose based on audio data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hector A. Cordourier Maruri, Paulo Lopez Meyer, Willem M. Beltman, Jose R. Camacho Perez, Julio C. Zamora Esquivel, Alejandro Ibarra Von Borstel
  • Patent number: 9866934
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an elastic member which includes a through hole and a peripheral region surrounding the through hole, a microphone as an acoustic component which covers the through hole and is pressed against the elastic member while the microphone is in contact with the peripheral region, a support member which supports the microphone on a side of the microphone opposite to the elastic member, and a first member which presses the microphone against the elastic member with the support member being interposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Takahashi