Patents Examined by Oyesola C Ojo
  • Patent number: 11245975
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide an apparatus. The apparatus comprises a support structure comprising at least one microphone sensor, and a first material layer disposed adjacent to the support structure, wherein a first layer of air is formed between the first material layer and the support structure, the first layer of air being adjacent to the microphone sensor. In certain aspects, multiple material layers may be used, each of the material layers forming a layer of air. For instance, the apparatus may also include a second material layer disposed adjacent to the first material layer, wherein a second layer of air is formed between the first material layer and the second material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Said Boluriaan, Joseph A. Coffey, Jr., Eric Carl Mitchell, Zachary David Provost
  • Patent number: 11240579
    Abstract: A sensing system comprising a hand-held sensing device with a vibracoustic sensor module (VSM). The VSM comprises a voice coil component comprising a coil holder supporting wire windings; a magnet component comprising a magnet supported by a frame, a magnet gap configured to receive at least a portion of the voice coil component in a spaced and moveable manner; a connector connecting the voice coil component to the magnet component, the connector being compliant and permitting relative movement of the voice coil component and the magnet component; a diaphragm configured to induce a movement of the voice coil component in the magnet gap responsive to incident acoustic waves; a housing for retaining the vibroacoustic sensor module having a handle end and a sensor end, the sensor end having an opening, the VSM positioned such that at least a portion of the diaphragm extends across the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: LEVEL 42 AI
    Inventors: Nelson L. Jumbe, Andreas Schuh, Peter Rexelius, Michael Morimoto, Dimosthenis Katsis, Nikola Knezevic, Steve Krawczyk, Kevin Hammond, Krzysztof Krawiec, Gregory A. Kirkos
  • Patent number: 11234070
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cartilage conduction audio device is disclosed. A manufacturing system receives data describing a three-dimensional shape of an ear (e.g., the outer ear, behind the ear, the concha bowel, etc.) of a user. The system identifies one or more locations for one or more transducers along a back of an auricle of the ear for the user that vibrate the auricle over a frequency range causing the auricle to create an acoustic pressure wave at an entrance of the ear canal. The system then generates a design for a cartilage conduction audio device for the user based on the one or more identified locations of the transducers at which acoustic pressure waves generated by the one or more transducers satisfy a threshold performance metric for the user. The design may then be used to fabricate the cartilage conduction audio device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Morteza Khaleghimeybodi, Antonio John Miller, Ravish Mehra
  • Patent number: 11233490
    Abstract: A method includes detecting an input that triggers a virtual assistance (VA) on an electronic downdevice (ED) to perform a task that includes outputting audio content through a speaker associated with the ED. The method includes identifying a type of the audio content to be outputted through the speaker. The method includes determining whether a registered user of the ED is present in proximity to the ED. Each registered user is associated with a unique user identifier. The method includes, in response to determining that no registered user is present in proximity to the ED, outputting the audio content via the speaker at a current volume level of the ED. The method includes in response to determining that a registered user is in proximity to the ED, outputting the audio content at a selected, preferred volume level based on pre-determined or pre-established volume preference settings of the registered user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Wendel Malta De Assis, Amit Kumar Agrawal, Lucie Corinne Evelyne Papelier
  • Patent number: 11231905
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for implementing a vehicle with an external speaker and microphone are described herein. A system includes an audio processor to receive audio data, the audio data sensed by a microphone array installed on the vehicle, the audio data generated by a source outside of the vehicle; an audio classification circuit to analyze the audio data using a machine learning technique to determine a sound event; and a vehicle interface to transmit a message to a vehicle control system, the message based on the sound event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Hector Alfonso Cordourier Maruri, Sandra Coello Chavarin, Diego Mauricio Cortés Hernández, Rosa Jacqueline Sanchez Mesa, Lizbeth De la Mora Hernandez, Miquel Tlaxcalteco Matus
  • Patent number: 11218791
    Abstract: A headphone includes: a headband; a sound emitter having a sound-emitting unit therein; and a connector connecting the sound emitter to the headband. The connector includes: a support for supporting the sound emitter so that the sound emitter is rotatable in a predetermined rotation range including a reference position; a restoring portion for applying a restoring force on the sound emitter for urging the sound emitter to return to the reference position; and a switcher for switching a state in which the restoring force acts on the sound emitter and a state in which the restoring force does not act on the sound emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: ALPHATHETA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryuichi Kato
  • Patent number: 11218790
    Abstract: A method and system for a headset with internal gimbal, where the headset comprises a headband, a headband, and ear cups coupled to the headband, wherein each ear cup may be coupled to the headband utilizing an internal gimbal. The internal gimbal may comprise a tip that is wider than its base. The tip may be rounded. The headband may comprise headband endcaps at each end of the headband. A headband slide may be coupled to each headband endcap. The headband ear cups may be coupled to the headband via the headband slides. Each headband slide may be coupled to a headband endcap via a headband pivot. The headband pivot may provide rotational motion of the ear cups with respect to the headband. The force on ears of a user of the headset may be spread evenly by the internal gimbals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc.
    Inventors: Scot Cochran, Tim Wiley, Andy Logan
  • Patent number: 11202144
    Abstract: An acoustic wavefront shaping device for altering the propagation of emergency siren sounds is provided. The device includes an enclosed framework containing sound channels mounted before a siren horn. The sound channels are positioned to partition the spherical wavefronts emitted by the siren and transmit each wavelet from the channel's entrance to exit into free space. The interior space of the sound channels contain acoustic macroscopic metamaterial structures that direct wavelet acoustic energy on meandering paths, which extend the transmission duration. Channels higher up in the framework, and away from the center, have straighter paths that transmit acoustic energy more quickly than other channels. The wavelets exit the channels at different times and reconfigure to form a wavefront that is squat and narrow, compared to spherical wavefronts. This wavefront expands into free space staying closer to the ground and closer to the center of the road than spherical wavefront expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Inventor: Brian Michael Coyle
  • Patent number: 11202139
    Abstract: A speaker unit includes a magnet, an upper plate fixed to a top surface of the magnet, a voice coil disposed to surround outer circumferences of the magnet and the upper plate, a vibration plate to which the voice coil is fixed, a fixing ring on which an edge of the vibration plate is mounted, and a frame having an open top and configured to accommodate the magnet, the upper plate, and the voice coil. Here, a pipe conduit is formed in the frame along a circumferential direction. A first hole configured to come into contact and communicates with a 1_1 space disposed in front of the speaker unit and to allow a 1_2 space disposed on a side of the speaker unit to communicate with the pipe conduit is formed in at least one first position of a side surface of the frame in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: ALMUS CORP.
    Inventors: Ju Heon Ko, Byung Il Min, Yun Uk Ha, Jeong Kwon Park, Yeong Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 11200021
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display panel configured to display an image, a supporting member configured to support the display panel, at least one sound generating device in the display panel, to the at least one sound generating device being configured to vibrate the display panel to generate sound, and a connection member at a lower portion of the supporting member to correspond to a center of the at least one sound generating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Sungtae Lee, KwanHo Park, YeongRak Choi, Kwangho Kim
  • Patent number: 11197087
    Abstract: A system and method for determining assigned frequencies for wireless microphone systems (WMSs) at a venue. Each WMS comprises a transmitter and a receiver. Each transmitter may comprise an IoT device connected to the transmitters and a server via a network. A first input for requesting the assigned frequencies is received at a transmitter which sends the request to the server via the network. The server determines intermodulation free frequencies based on chained stages and predefined data describing the WMSs at the venue and transmits the intermodulation free frequencies to one or more transmitters at the venue. Each WMS receives an intermodulation free frequency as an assigned frequency. A second input for requesting validation of an assigned frequency is received at a transmitter which sends the request to the server. The server determines and sends a validation status of the assigned frequency to the transmitter which displays the validation status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Praveen Raghuvanshi, Manoj Sakhare
  • Patent number: 11190890
    Abstract: An acoustic testing apparatus may include connections for multiple devices under test (DUTs) to support simultaneous testing of two or more miniature electroacoustic devices. The acoustic testing apparatus may allow the testing of multiple DUTs with a ratio of less than one reference microphone per DUT. Thus, the speed of testing DUTs may be increased without adding significant cost through additional reference microphones. For example, a single reference microphone may be used to test two or four DUTs coupled together through an acoustic test cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Aleksey Khenkin, Kevin Stoddart, Gordon Cowan, Keith Getz
  • Patent number: 11184694
    Abstract: An integrated microphone device is provided. The integrated microphone device includes a substrate, a plate, and a membrane. The substrate includes an aperture allowing acoustic pressure to pass through. The plate is disposed on a side of the substrate. The membrane is disposed between the substrate and the plate and movable relative to the plate as acoustic pressure strikes the membrane. The membrane includes a vent valve having an open area that is variable in response to a change in acoustic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Chun-Wen Cheng, Chia-Hua Chu, Chun-Yin Tsai, Tzu-Heng Wu, Wen-Cheng Kuo
  • Patent number: 11184695
    Abstract: This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that reduce the size of headphones and allow for small form-factor storage configurations are discussed. User convenience features that include synchronizing earpiece stem positions and automatically detecting the orientation of the headphones on a user's head are also discussed. Various power-saving features, design features, sensor configurations and user comfort features are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Bloom
  • Patent number: 11183762
    Abstract: A magnetic-inductive antenna for a hearing instrument includes two antenna surfaces which are formed from magnetic, flexible foil, and a base which is wound with an antenna winding. The antenna surfaces are formed from magnetic foil blanks which are separated from one another. The base has, at each of its end sides, a respective opening into which a respective one of the foil blanks is inserted. A hearing instrument and a method for producing a magnetic-inductive antenna for a hearing instrument are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Johannes Kuhn, Peter Nikles
  • Patent number: 11172277
    Abstract: A speaker unit with microphone is provided. The speaker unit includes a housing, a cover, a vibration element and a microphone. The cover is assembled to the housing and forms a chamber with the housing. The cover has at least one audio hole. The vibration element is disposed in the chamber for generating sound toward the cover. The microphone is fixed on the cover and outside the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Cotron Corporation
    Inventor: Bill Yang
  • Patent number: 11166090
    Abstract: A loudspeaker in which a plurality of speaker drivers is jointly tasked with reproducing sounds. The plurality of speaker drivers is arranged on the loudspeaker so as to achieve a desired sound effect at a listening position. The plurality of speaker drivers is arranged in an arcuate arrangement or in a sinusoidal arrangement. The desired sound effect may be facilitated or enhanced by modifying the timing of sounds emanated from each of the plurality of speaker drivers. Alternatively, sounds may be sent to each of the plurality of speaker drivers substantially simultaneously. The sound effect achieved may be a time-alignment effect such that the sound arriving at the listening position is time-aligned to maximize constructive interference between the various speaker drivers of the plurality of speaker drivers. Alternatively, the sound effect achieved by other implementations may be a progressive kick in sound waves moving along the arcuate or sinusoidal arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Inventor: Eric Jay Alexander
  • Patent number: 11166112
    Abstract: A hearing aid system according to some examples includes a hearing aid which includes a microphone, amplifier, speaker, and a telecoil. In some examples, the hearing aid may include a battery or a capacitor for storing power wirelessly received from a distance separated wireless power transfer unit. The telecoil may be configured to receive audio signals and couple the audio signals to audio processing circuitry of the hearing aid. The telecoil may be further configured to receive power signals from the base unit and couple the power signals to power supply circuitry of the hearing aid, for example for charging the battery of the hearing aid. Examples of transmitter and receiver coils, and of distance and orientation optimization are described. Examples of wireless charging systems that may be used with hearing aids or other medical assistance devices are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Pogotec, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Blum, William Kokonaski, Stefan Bauer, Jean-Noel Fehr, Amitava Gupta, Richard Clompus
  • Patent number: 11159893
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a MEMS sound transducer. The sound transducer includes: a substrate having a back cavity; a stator, the stator having a central portion suspending on the back cavity and at least two fixed arms extending from the center portion to the substrate and fixed on the substrate; a movable cantilever, mounted to the substrate, at least partially facing the back cavity and disposed between two adjacent fixed arms; wherein, the movable cantilever has a fixed end mounted to the substrate and a free edge facing the fixed arms with space; the free edge has a plurality of moving comb-fingers formed thereon; the stator has a plurality of fixed comb-fingers formed on the fixed arms; the moving comb-fingers and the fixed comb-fingers fit to each other to form a capacitor with an overlap area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: AAC ACOUSTIC TECHNOLOGIES (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yannick Kervran
  • Patent number: 11142451
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device includes at least one substrate, a lid, a MEMS component, a sensor, and a power supply. The lid is coupled to the substrate so that the substrate and the lid cooperatively define an interior cavity. The MEMS component is disposed within the interior cavity. The sensor is disposed within the interior cavity and is arranged to detect a parameter of the interior cavity. The power supply provides current to the sensor. The power supply is configured to control current during a ramp-up transition of the current and a ramp-down transition of the current such that the ramp-up transition and the ramp-down transition have attenuated high-frequency components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: KNOWLES ELECTRONICS, LLC
    Inventors: Claus Fürst, Venkataraman Chandrasekaran