Patents Examined by Matthew Eason
  • Patent number: 10212527
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system comprising a pipe that includes a first end and a second end. The pipe includes a plurality of sections coupled together. The system includes a loudspeaker that is a mouth simulator loudspeaker. The system includes an adapter that connects the loudspeaker to the first end. The system includes a receptacle positioned in the pipe a first distance from the first end and a second distance from the second end. The receptacle secures a plurality of microphones a third distance inside an inside surface of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Inventor: Gregory C. Burnett
  • Patent number: 10206048
    Abstract: The application relates to a hearing device comprising a) first and second input transducers for picking up sound signals from the environment and providing first and second electric input signals, b) a first and signal strength detectors for providing signal strength estimates of the first and second electric input signal, the first input transducer being located at or behind an ear of the user, and the second input transducer being located at or in an ear canal of the user. The hearing device further comprises c) a signal processing unit providing a processed signal based on the first and second electric input signals, and d) an output unit comprising an output transducer for converting the processed signal or a signal originating therefrom to a stimulus perceivable by said user as sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Svend Oscar Petersen, Anders Thule, Meng Guo
  • Patent number: 10194228
    Abstract: A system includes a first device comprising a housing, a battery disposed within the housing, an intelligent control disposed within the housing, a transceiver disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the intelligent control, and a plurality of sensors operatively connected to the intelligent control. The system further includes a second device comprising a housing, a battery disposed within the housing, an intelligent control disposed within the housing, a transceiver disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the intelligent control, and a plurality of sensors operatively connected to the intelligent control. The first device and the second device provide for balancing load by powering one or more of the biosensors in one of the first device or the second device and shifting functions to the other of the first device and the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Inventor: Eric Christian Hirsch
  • Patent number: 10194231
    Abstract: A circuit for detecting a button action on an earphone, including a first resistor, a comparator having with a first input end, a second input end, and an output end, with the first input end of the comparator connected to the first end of the first resistor, and the second input end of the comparator connected to the second end of the first resistor. A power supply us connected to the first resistor. The earphone includes a second resistor, and when the earphone is connected to the circuit, the second resistor is connected to the first resistor. The earphone further includes a microphone having a first end connected to the first end of the second resistor and a second end grounded, and a button having ends that are respectively connected the microphone and the second resistor. When the button is pressed, the ends of the button are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Su, Huogen Kuang
  • Patent number: 10187717
    Abstract: A terminal device, including a band and a headset, where the band includes a U-shaped band main body, and a first band end portion and a second band end portion that are separately located at two ends of the band main body; the headset includes a headset main body, and the headset main body includes a first headset end portion and a second headset end portion; the first band end portion is fixedly connected to the first headset end portion by using a rotation structure; when the headset is used, the second headset end portion rotates by using the rotation structure as a sphere center; when the headset is used, the band is used as an ear hook; and when the headset is not used, the headset and the band together form a closed ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Menglong Zhao, Bin Zhang, Guangsheng Liu
  • Patent number: 10187724
    Abstract: A directional sound playing system using ultrasonic sound sources, the ultrasonic sound sources being installed on a surface of a supporting body. The directional sound playing system includes a setting module, a first detecting module, and a driving control module. The setting module sets a distribution position of each of the ultrasonic sound sources on the surface of the supporting body according to the angle of output of each of the ultrasonic sound sources and a requirement angle of a listener. The first detecting module obtains location information of the listener. The driving control module selects and drives one or more ultrasonic sound sources to transmit and direct ultrasonic sound corresponding to the location information of the listener. A directional sound playing method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: NANNING FUGUI PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hsiao-Jen Tsai
  • Patent number: 10182298
    Abstract: The application relates to a hearing assistance device (HAD) comprising (a) an input transducer system comprising (a1) an audio input transducer (AIT), and (a2) a first supplementary input transducer (SIT1), (b) an output transducer (OT) for converting a processed output signal to a stimulus perceivable by said user as sound, and (c) a signal processing unit (SPU) operationally connected to said audio input transducer (AIT), to said first supplementary input transducer (SIT1), and to said output transducer (OT), said signal processing unit (SPU) being configured for processing said electric audio input signal, and said first supplementary electric input signal, and for providing said processed output signal. The audio input transducer (AIT) is adapted for being located in an ear of the user. In a NORMAL mode of operation, electric audio input signal is processed in the signal processing unit and the supplementary electric input signal(s) are used to control the processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: OTICFON A/S
    Inventors: Karsten Bo Rasmussen, Søren Stranne, Søren Laugesen
  • Patent number: 10178469
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure relate to vibration transducers. Such a transducer includes an electromagnet having a conductive coil. The conductive coil is configured to be driven by an electrical input signal to generate magnetic fields. The transducer further includes a magnetic diaphragm that is configured to mechanically vibrate in response to the generated magnetic fields. Additionally, the transducer includes a pair of cantilevered arms formed from damping steel. The cantilevered arms couple the magnetic diaphragm to a frame. The magnetic diaphragm vibrates with respect to the frame when the electromagnet is driven by the electrical input signal. Additionally, the pair of flexible support arms are connected to opposing sides of the magnetic diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Chad Seguin
  • Patent number: 10178455
    Abstract: An electronic device including a sound output module and a housing for the electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a front case including a display unit, a rear case coupled to the front case and including a mounting space of a battery, a speaker module configured to form at least one side wall of the mounting space of the battery, and a battery cover configured to cover at least the mounting space of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heecheul Moon, Jongchul Choi
  • Patent number: 10173243
    Abstract: A transducer has an input and produces a mechanical output, wherein the magnitude of the mechanical output of the transducer is dependent on the frequency and magnitude of current at the input. A driver for the transducer includes a device having a transfer function associated with the device, the device having a device input and a device output, the device output being connectable to the input of the transducer and the device input being connectable to a power source. The device attenuates the current output at a frequency that causes a peak in the magnitude of the mechanical output of the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Maurizio Granato, Giovanni Frattini, Roberto Massolini
  • Patent number: 10171921
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for performing a microphone matching of a hearing aid comprising a first microphone, a second microphone and a receiver in a predetermined spatial arrangement to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Michael Syskind Pedersen, Jan Thor Lunddahl Larsen
  • Patent number: 10165344
    Abstract: A headphone is provided. The headphone includes a housing and an speaker. The housing includes a first layer structure, a first receiving space, a first output path, a first trench and a sound output side. The speaker is located in the first receiving space, wherein the speaker includes a first speaker orientation, and the first speaker orientation corresponds to the first output path. The first output path includes the first trench, which is located at the first layer structure, extends around the speaker, and is connected to the sound output side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignees: SINTAI OPTICAL (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD., ASIA OPTICAL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Naofumi Imai, Takayuki Karasawa, Tomoya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10165352
    Abstract: A passive ambient in-ear monitor includes an interchangeable unidirectional sonic filter that allows ambient sound to pass through to the ear canal and be combined with sound generated by internal drivers. A sonic low pressure equalization device of a predetermined spatial volume links the sonic filter with the internal drivers to deliver to the user a mixture of generated and ambient sound without any substantial degradation to low frequency sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: WESTONE LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Karl Cartwright, Kris Cartwright
  • Patent number: 10165351
    Abstract: A headphone is provided. The headphone includes a housing, a first speaker and a second speaker. The housing includes a sound output side, a first layer structure, a first output path, a first trench, a first recess, and a second recess. The first speaker is disposed in the first recess, wherein the first speaker includes a first speaker orientation, and the first speaker orientation corresponds to the first output path. The second speaker is disposed in the second recess. The first output path includes the first trench, which is located at the first layer structure, that extends around the first speaker, and is connected to the sound output side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignees: SINTAI OPTICAL (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD., ASIA OPTICAL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Naofumi Imai, Takayuki Karasawa, Tomoya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10158936
    Abstract: A loudspeaker and a method of operation which allow for the production and emphasis of extremely low bass tones. The loudspeaker generally is formed from a loudspeaker driver cone of conventional type which is placed in a very small enclosure with two waveguides attached thereto. A smaller balance waveguide is positioned forward of the face of the cone and a larger tuning waveguide is positioned to the side of the cone. The cross-sectional area of the aperture connections of both waveguides to the enclosure are small compared to the cross-sectional area of the loudspeaker driver cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Inventor: William Eugene Wheeler
  • Patent number: 10158932
    Abstract: A passive ambient in-ear monitor includes a unidirectional sonic filter that allows ambient sound to pass through to the ear canal and be combined with sound generated by internal drivers. A sonic low pressure equalization device of a predetermined spatial volume links the sonic filter with the internal drivers to deliver to the user a mixture of generated and ambient sound without any substantial degradation to low frequency sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: WESTONE LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Karl Cartwright, Kris Cartwright
  • Patent number: 10149071
    Abstract: A bone conduction speaker includes a housing, a vibration board and a transducer. The transducer is located in the housing, and the vibration board is configured to contact with skin and pass vibration. At least one sound guiding hole is set on at least one portion of the housing to guide sound wave inside the housing to the outside of the housing. The guided wave and the leaked sound wave form interference so that the amplitude of the leaked sound wave is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: SHENZHEN VOXTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xin Qi, Fengyun Liao
  • Patent number: 10149044
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a movable section for sound generation; at least one actuator configured to actuate the movable section, the actuator being in communication with electronic circuitry and configured to generate an acoustic signal substantially from the movable section when the at least one actuator is driven by an audio signal; and a back cover coupled to the movable section and configured to limit the generation of sound from the back cover by attenuating vibrations that are caused when the movable section is actuated by the at least one actuator. The movable section and the at least one actuator define a panel speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Thorsten Behles, Pasi Tuomo Antero Kemppinen, Mikko Tapio Jyrkinen
  • Patent number: 10149039
    Abstract: An audio headphone to couple to a strap for a head-mounted display is disclosed. The audio headphone includes a headphone speaker, a strap connector, and a four-bar linkage coupled to the strap connector to provide movement of the headphone speaker with respect to a user's ear. The four-bar linkage comprises a first member coupled to the strap connector via a first joint, a second member coupled to the first member via a second joint, a third member coupled to the second member via a third joint, and a fourth member coupled to the third member. The fourth member has first and second sides that are coupled to the first member via a fourth joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jared I. Drinkwater, Blake Francis Andersen
  • Patent number: 10142742
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an audio system can replace a portion of an audio signal within a first range of frequencies, with an amplitude modulated noise signal comprising frequencies within the first range of frequencies and having a volume envelope corresponding to a volume envelope of the audio signal within a second range of frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Inventor: Dean Robert Gary Anderson