Patents Examined by Julie X Dang
  • Patent number: 10798494
    Abstract: A method of operating a hearing apparatus and hearing apparatus having at least one of a first microphone or a second microphone which generate a first microphone signal and a second microphone signal respectively, the first microphone and the second microphone being arranged in at least one of a first hearing device and a second hearing device, a third microphone which generates a third microphone signal, the third microphone being arranged in an external device, and a signal processing unit, wherein in the signal processing unit the third microphone signal and at least one of the first microphone signal or the second microphone signal are processed together thereby producing an output signal with an enhanced signal to noise ratio compared to the first microphone signal and/or the second microphone signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Henning Puder, Dianna Yee
  • Patent number: 10785576
    Abstract: A MEMS package has a MEMS chip, a package substrate, a dammed-seal part. The MEMS chip has an element substrate which a movable element is formed, the package substrate has a sound hole. The dammed-seal part has an annular dam-member which is formed on the element substrate so as to surround the movable element, and a gel member. The MEMS chip is mounted on the package substrate so that the movable element opposes to the sound hole. The gel member is formed by hardening of gel which is applied on the annular dam-member from outside so as to surround the annular dam-member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Nakao, Masashi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 10766763
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a microphone. In some embodiments, the microphone may comprise a substrate, a diaphragm, a backplate, and a sidewall stopper. The substrate has an opening disposed through the substrate. The diaphragm is disposed over the substrate and facing the opening of the substrate. The diaphragm has a venting hole overlying the opening of the substrate. A backplate is disposed over and spaced apart from the diaphragm. A sidewall stopper is disposed along a sidewall of the venting hole of the diaphragm and thus is not limited by a distance between the movable part and the stable part. Also, the sidewall stopper does not alternate the shape of movable part, and thus will less likely introduce crack to the movable part. In some embodiments, the sidewall stopper may be formed like a sidewall stopper by a self-alignment process, such that no extra mask is needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Wei Lin, Chang-Ming Wu, Ting-Jung Chen
  • Patent number: 10764686
    Abstract: Provided is a speaker, including a holder, a vibration unit and a magnetic circuit unit fixedly held at the holder, and a bayonet portion penetrating through the holder. The vibration unit includes a diaphragm, a voice coil located at a side of the diaphragm and driving the diaphragm to vibrate and emit sound, and a flexible printed circuit board located at a side of the voice coil facing away from the diaphragm and connected to the voice coil. The flexible printed circuit board includes a body portion supporting the voice coil, an extension portion extending from body portion towards bayonet portion and passing through the bayonet portion, and a connecting portion bent and extending from a distal end of the extension portion along an outer side of the holder. The connecting portion is fitted to outer side of holder and used for electrical connection with an external circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Guqing Zhang
  • Patent number: 10764688
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a speaker, including a holder, a magnetic circuit unit, a vibration unit, and an electrical connection member. The vibration unit includes a diaphragm and a voice coil. The electrical connection member is electrically connected to the voice coil. The magnetic circuit unit includes a yoke. A pad fixed to the holder is formed at an end of the electrical connection member facing away from the voice coil. The yoke includes a bottom plate exposed out of the holder, and a recess is formed at a side of the bottom plate facing away from the diaphragm. The speaker further includes a printed circuit board connected to the pad. The printed circuit board electrically connects the electrical connection member with an external circuit, and the printed circuit board is received in the recess and extends to the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Guqing Zhang
  • Patent number: 10750292
    Abstract: Provided are a MEMS microphone chip and an MEMS microphone. The MEMS microphone chip comprises a substrate, a backplate and a vibration diaphragm, the backplate and the vibration diaphragm constituting two electrodes of a capacitor respectively, the backplate and the vibration diaphragm being suspended above the substrate, the backplate being located between the substrate and the vibration diaphragm, and the substrate being provided with a back chamber and a support column, the support column being connected to a side wall of the back chamber via a connection portion, a through hole or a notch being formed in the connection portion through its thickness direction, to allow spaces at opposite sides of the connection portion to communicate with each other; and the support column being configured to support the backplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Goertek, Inc.
    Inventors: Junkai Zhan, Jianglong Li, Mengjin Cai
  • Patent number: 10750300
    Abstract: A mounting assembly for arranging a bone conducting hearing device to a skin surface over the skull of a user is disclosed. The mounting assembly comprises an attachment element configured to be attached to a corresponding vibrator attachment element of a vibrator assembly, the attachment element and the vibrator attachment element being adapted to operationally couple with each other; a plate member configured to be arranged over the skin surface; one or more removably arranged mounting structures arranged outside the skull for attaching the mounting assembly to the skin surface over the skull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: OTICON MEDICAL A/S
    Inventors: Bengt Bern, Hanna Simonsson, Martin Johansson, Troels Böwadt Arnved, Martin Thomsen, Rasmus Funk, Mads Madsen, Line Topholm Janum
  • Patent number: 10750289
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a speaker, including a holder, a vibration unit, a magnetic circuit unit, and an electrical connection member. The vibration unit includes a diaphragm and a voice coil located at one side of the diaphragm and driving the diaphragm to vibrate and emit sound. The electrical connection member is electrically connected to the voice coil and elastically supporting the voice coil. The electrical connection member includes a support portion supporting an end of the voice coil facing away from the diaphragm, an elastic arm arranged spaced apart from the support portion, and opposite ends of the elastic arm along a side of the voice coil respectively a joint extending from the support portion. The voice coil is sandwiched and fixed between the first extension arm and the second extension arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Guqing Zhang
  • Patent number: 10750299
    Abstract: Among other things, in general, a piezoelectric actuator for use in a piezoelectric inertial hearing aid is disclosed. The actuator includes at least one bimorph having a top piezoelectric plate, a bottom piezoelectric plate, and a shim with holed ends that extends beyond the length of the plates for securing to bone across, e.g., the mastoid cavity. Actuators having two or morph bimorphs and kits containing the same are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: DAXSONICS ULTRASOUND INC.
    Inventors: Akhelish Kotiya, Robert B. A. Adamson, Manohar Bance, Jeremy A. Brown
  • Patent number: 10735867
    Abstract: A MEMS microphone includes a substrate having a cavity, a back plate being disposed over the substrate and having a plurality of acoustic holes, a diaphragm disposed between the substrate and the back plate, the diaphragm being spaced apart from the substrate and the back plate, covering the cavity to form an air gap between the back plate, and being configured to generate a displacement in response to an acoustic pressure and a plurality of anchors extending from an end portion of the diaphragm to be integrally formed with the diaphragm, the anchors being arranged along a circumference of the diaphragm to be spaced apart from each other, and having lower surfaces making contact with an upper surface of the substrate to support the diaphragm. Thus, the MEMS microphone may have improved rigidity and flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: DB HITEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dae Young Kim, Jong Won Sun
  • Patent number: 10735866
    Abstract: A MEMS microphone includes a substrate having a cylindrical cavity, a back plate disposed over the substrate and having a plurality of acoustic holes defined therethrough, a diaphragm disposed between the substrate and the back plate, the diaphragm spaced apart from the substrate and the back plate, covering the cavity to form an air gap between the back plate, and being configured to generate a displacement with responding to an acoustic pressure and an anchor extending from an end portion of the diaphragm and extending along a circumference of the diaphragm, and the anchor including a lower surface in contact with an upper surface of the substrate to support the diaphragm, and a connecting portion, which is connected to the diaphragm, presenting a stepped cross section. Thus, the MEMS microphone may have improved flexibility and improved total harmonic distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: DB HITEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jong Won Sun
  • Patent number: 10735876
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for determining hearing device features which are useful to an individual user of a hearing device (1). According to the proposed method a received input sound signal is automatically classified according to N sound classes. An overall usage quantity is then determined for each sound class from logged usage quantities of each sound class. Useful hearing device features are then determined, which are suitable for processing an input sound signal associated with sound classes having an overall usage quantity that exceeds a minimum overall usage quantity. Subsequently, providing the determined useful hearing device features in the hearing device (1) is suggested to the fitter and/or user of the hearing device (1). In a further aspect of the present invention a hearing device (1) with a classifier (7) and a logging unit (10) adapted to log usage quantities for identified sound classes is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Raymond Ngai, Betty Rule, Galen Dunning
  • Patent number: 10701471
    Abstract: An ear tip for an earpiece including a body having first and second ends, an inner wall extending between the first and second ends to define a hollow passage to conduct sound waves, and an outer wall connected to the inner wall of the body at the first end and tapering away from the inner wall toward the second end. The ear tip further includes one or more protrusions arranged on an inner surface of the outer wall, wherein the one or more protrusions has a varying thickness between the first and second ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Caitlin Hanson, Shawn Prevoir, Natalie Zucker
  • Patent number: 10674274
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a speaker having a magnetic yoke with a receiving space, a magnet coupled to the magnetic yoke, a diaphragm located above the magnetic yoke, and a coil assembly for driving the diaphragm. The magnetic yoke includes a bottom for carrying a first magnet, and a supporting portion extending from the bottom. The magnet includes a first magnet on the bottom and a second magnet mounted on the supporting portion. The speaker further includes a suspension accommodated in the receiving space. The suspension is used for supporting the coil assembly for providing balanced vibration to the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte, Ltd.
    Inventor: Wei Song
  • Patent number: 10674276
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a speaker assembly, including an upper cover and a lower cover forming an accommodation space, and a speaker fixed in the accommodation space. The upper cover includes a side wall, and the speaker divides the accommodation space into a front chamber and a rear chamber. The speaker assembly further includes an insertion plate located in the rear chamber. The speaker assembly includes a first limit structure, and one end of the insertion plate is inserted in the first limit structure for forming a sound absorbing chamber filled with sound absorbing material. The insertion plate includes a first part from the first limit structure and a second part. The speaker assembly is equipped with an insertion plate to enlarge the area of the sound absorption channel and further to improve the performance of the speaker assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhichen Chen, Jianwei Chen
  • Patent number: 10667039
    Abstract: An acoustic device includes first and second acoustic cavities which are air tight. A first passive radiator includes a first passive radiator diaphragm that has a rear surface which is exposed to the first acoustic cavity. A second passive radiator includes a first passive radiator diaphragm having a front surface which is exposed to the first acoustic cavity, and a rear surface which is exposed to the second acoustic cavity. A first electro-acoustic transducer is supported on the second passive radiator diaphragm. The first electro-acoustic transducer is arranged such that a first radiating surface of the first electro-acoustic transducer radiates acoustic energy into the first acoustic chamber and a second radiating surface of the first electro-acoustic transducer radiates acoustic energy into the second acoustic chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Roman N. Litovsky, Chester Smith Williams, Michael Tiene
  • Patent number: 10659891
    Abstract: A hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, comprises a forward path for processing an electric signal representing sound including a) an input unit for receiving or providing an electric input signal representing sound, b) a signal processing unit, c) an output transducer for generating stimuli perceivable as sound to a user, d) a feedback detection unit configured to detect feedback or evaluate a risk of feedback via an acoustic or mechanical or electrical feedback path from said output transducer to said input unit and comprising d1) a magnitude and phase analysis unit for repeatedly determining magnitude, Mag, and phase, Phase, of said electric input signal and further parameters based thereon, and d2) a feedback conditions and detection unit configured to check criteria for magnitude and phase feedback condition, respectively, based on said values, and to provide a feedback detection signal indicative of feedback or a risk of feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Martin Kuriger, Bernhard Kuenzle, Meng Guo
  • Patent number: 10631109
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to an ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer. The device comprises an enclosure configured to be supported by or in an ear of the wearer. Electronic circuitry is disposed in the enclosure and comprises a wireless transceiver. An antenna is situated in or on the enclosure and coupled to the wireless transceiver. The antenna comprises a first antenna element, a second antenna element, and a strap comprising a reactive component connected to the first and second antenna elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Ezdeen Elghannai, Nikhil Nilakantan, Aaron Anderson, Greg Haubrich
  • Patent number: 10631105
    Abstract: A method of operating a hearing aid system (100) based on a classification of the current sound environment and a hearing aid system (100) for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventor: Jakob Nielsen
  • Patent number: 10631100
    Abstract: A device includes: a first sidewall including a first opening extending through the first sidewall; a first sensor attached to an interior surface of the first sidewall, wherein the first sensor is aligned to at least partially cover the first opening; a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall; a third sidewall attaching the first sidewall to the second sidewall; and a first contact pad disposed on an exterior surface of the third sidewall, wherein the first contact pad is configured to provide at least one of a power connection or a signal connection for the first sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Chau Fatt Chiang, Kok Yau Chua