Patents Examined by Phan Le
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Patent number: 8831232Abstract: An anti-noise earmuff device includes an audio signal processor unit, a Bluetooth module, an audio mixer unit and an amplifier unit. The audio signal processor unit is arranged in the earmuffs for control audio signal output, protecting the user's eardrums against noise of high-decibel level. The Bluetooth module receives or communicates with a mobile communication device through an antenna, allowing the user to listen to the music and to communicate with people outside without needing taking off the earmuff device.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2011Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Inventor: Ching Kuo Chuang
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Patent number: 8831251Abstract: A method of controlling driving of the pop-up tweeter speaker which includes (a) determining whether or not an opening of the tweeter speaker is normally completed and popping-down the tweeter speaker if it is determined that the opening is not normally completed, while popping-up the tweeter speaker based on a speaker control condition under an ON condition of an accessory (ACC) condition, (b) determining whether or not a close of the tweeter speaker is normally completed and popping-up the tweeter speaker if it is determined that the close is not normally completed, while popping-down the tweeter speaker based on an OFF condition of one of the speaker control condition and the ACC condition, and (c) maintaining a position state of the tweeter speaker until the speaker control condition or the ACC condition becomes an OFF condition when popping-down the tweeter speaker in (a) or popping-up the tweeter speaker in (b).Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2011Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventor: Se Min Oh
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Patent number: 8824724Abstract: An audio transducer for use in a loudspeaker system. The transducer includes a pair of flexible, curved diaphragms, with each diaphragm having a distal end and a proximal end. The curved diaphragms form hemi-cylindrical lobes being substantially tangent to one another at their proximal ends and are attached to energy absorbent dampers at their distal ends. The transducers can be employed in a line array as part of the loudspeaker system as well as some of the transducers facing forward while others rearward and, in doing so, their amplitudes and phases can be adjusted for fine tailoring the geometric coverage of acoustic energy radiating from the loudspeaker system.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2010Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
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Patent number: 8824725Abstract: A speaker diaphragm includes a fabric layer in which impregnated thermosetting resin is thermally cured, and a paper layer integrated on a rear face of this fabric layer. Fluffs of the paper layer filling stitches of the fabric layer are entangled with threads of the fabric layer from a surface of the fabric layer, and are firmly fixed by thermosetting resin. This integrates the layers in the state that the paper layer is filled in the stitches of the fabric layer. Accordingly, internal loss and Young's modulus of the speaker diaphragm can be increased. As a result, the speaker sound quality can be improved.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2009Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Osamu Funahashi
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Patent number: 8798278Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for deriving a signal-to-noise ratio based at least in part on a measured level of a signal carrying far-end speech, and a measured level of a signal carrying ambient acoustic noise; determining a target gain adjustment based at least in part on the derived signal-to-noise ratio; applying the target gain adjustment to the signal carrying far-end speech to produce a gain-adjusted signal; and providing the gain-adjusted signal for audio output from a communications device.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2011Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Bose CorporationInventors: Steven H. Isabelle, Vasu Iyengar
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Patent number: 8781141Abstract: The present subject matter relates to an improved connection assembly for hearing assistance devices. The improved connection assembly provides a connection system that is reliable, straightforward to manufacture, and easy to use. The present connection assembly provides a rapid replacement option for the cable and/or the receiver or other electronics connected to the cable. The present subject matter provides for a connection assembly that can be extended to provide connections for a variety of applications which are not limited to a speaker (receiver) in the ear. Sensors and new configurations of component placement are supported using the present assembly, including, but not limited to telecoils, and GMR or TMR sensors. Various electromagnetic interference issues are addressed. In some examples a shielded set of wires are included. In some examples a twisted pair of wires is included. Various combinations of wires for different applications are supported with the present connector system.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2009Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Sidney A. Higgins, James R. Newton
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Patent number: 8774444Abstract: A vented tip for in-the-ear headphones has a core portion to be mounted to a sound output tube of an in-the-ear earphone and a flange portion extending outward from and surrounding the core portion. The vented tip has a) an outer portion formed in the flange portion that is to be in contact with, and thereby form a seal with, a user's ear canal, and b) an inner portion spaced inwards from the outer portion to thereby not form the seal with the user's ear canal. The inner portion has a calibrated perforation or hole formed therein. Other embodiments that may help reduce bone conduction effects are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2012Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Victor M. Tiscareno, Kurt R. Stiehl
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Patent number: 8767971Abstract: Provided is a sound pickup apparatus that increase the flexibility in installation of microphones, while enabling sound from a sound source to be picked up in stereo without using the information on the current positions of the microphones.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2010Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Shinichi Yuzuriha
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Patent number: 8767977Abstract: According to one embodiment, an acoustic characteristic correction coefficient calculation apparatus includes a frequency converter, a smoother, a frequency inverter, a cutter, and a calculator. The frequency converter is configured to convert a first impulse response corresponding to an input acoustic signal to a frequency domain. The smoother is configured to smooth amplitude and phase corresponding to the frequency domain converted by the frequency converter. The frequency inverter is configured to convert a frequency characteristic smoothed by the smoother to a time domain. The cutter is configured to cut out a second impulse response configured by the time domain obtained by converting the frequency characteristic by use of the frequency inverter by a preset tap number. The calculator is configured to calculate a correction coefficient used to correct an acoustic characteristic based on a result cut out by the cutter.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Takashi Fukuda, Toshifumi Yamamoto, Yasuhiro Kanishima
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Patent number: 8755552Abstract: A speaker system (10) with codirectional multichannels comprises a first diaphragm (11) associated with a first frequency range and a. second diaphragm (12) associated with a second frequency range, higher than the first frequency range. The first diaphragm (11) is disposed in an enclosure (13) and the second diaphragm (12) is disposed in front of the enclosure (13). The enclosure (13) comprises at least one vent (18) in an enclosure portion (15). The speaker system (10) comprises filtering means comprising a high-pass filter associated with a second frequency range, the cutoff frequency of the high-pass filter being higher than the natural frequency of the resonant cavity (19) created in the enclosure (13) provided with at least one vent (18).Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2009Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Sébastien Lasserre
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Patent number: 8744098Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a technique for inductively charging an electronic device. This technique involves winding an audio cable for the electronic device around a charging mechanism multiple times so that one or more conductors in the audio cable form an inductive receiving coil. Next, a magnetic field is created through the charging mechanism to induce a current in the inductive receiving coil. Finally, the induced current in the inductive receiving coil is used to charge a rechargeable battery for the electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2010Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Stephen Brian Lynch
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Patent number: 8744110Abstract: A unidirectional dynamic microphone includes a grip housing, a microphone unit supported at a first end of the grip housing, a plug assembly attached to a second end of the grip housing and connected to the microphone unit through a lead line, and an air room serving as a part of an acoustic circuit of the microphone unit in the grip housing. The grip housing has a fitting part for the plug assembly and an expanded portion. The plug assembly fitted in the fitting part is fixed within the grip housing by an elastic ring and a pressure ring fitted in the expanded portion. The elastic ring seals a space between the grip housing and the plug assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2012Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-TechnicaInventor: Hiroshi Akino
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Patent number: 8737631Abstract: A method for adjusting a hearing system to the hearing preferences of a user of said hearing system is disclosed, wherein said hearing system is capable of carrying out frequency transposition of audio signals, which frequency transposition depends on at least one parameter. The method comprises the steps of A) carrying out a distinction test for examining said user's ability to distinguish between two stimulus signals which differ in their frequency contents; B) adjusting said at least one parameter in dependence of the result of said distinction test. The distinction test comprises the steps a2) consecutively playing said two stimulus signals to said user; b2) receiving from said user information indicative of whether said user perceived said two stimulus signals as two times the same sound or as two different sounds; c2) deriving a value from said information received from said user; wherein said result of said distinction test is dependent on said value.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2007Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Michael Boretzki, Rene Buergin, Hugh McDermott
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Patent number: 8737660Abstract: An electric horn (1) has a coil bobbin (4) in a casing (2). A fixed iron core (3) is fixed in a hole (4f) in the coil bobbin (4) and is magnetized to define an exciting coil (C). A moving iron core (10) is at the center of a diaphragm (9) at the open end of the casing (2) and faces the fixed iron core (3). The moving iron core (10) is displaced relative to the fixed iron core (3) by a power supply of the exciting coil (C); thus beeping an alarm. The moving iron core (10) has an end face toward the fixed iron core (3) that strides over a reference position (N) within the amplitude (W) of the moving iron core (10). The end portion on the moving iron core (10) side of the wound portion (4e) of the exciting coil (C) is the reference position (N).Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2008Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Mitsuba CorporationInventors: Hidefumi Takahashi, Toshio Takahashi, Yoshihiro Murakoshi
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Patent number: 8718299Abstract: An audio output device includes two digital microphone units that, upon receiving sound, convert the sound to PDM digital audio signals in which a state is represented by 1 or 0 in each predetermined period. The audio output device generates half-period digital audio signals, which are signals of a half period of the predetermined period, by using first digital audio signals and second digital audio signals that are the digital audio signals converted by the two digital microphones, where the states of the first digital audio signals are each reflected in one of two half periods corresponding to the predetermined period and states of the second audio signals are each reflected in the other half period. The audio output device then converts the half-period digital audio signals, which are generated by the generator, to analog audio signals and outputs the analog audio signals.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2011Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Hideki Nishimura, Junichi Watanabe
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Patent number: 8699737Abstract: A loudspeaker having a vented enclosure with at least one tuning port includes a fan inside the vented enclosure, which is positioned to produce airflow for cooling the magnetic assembly of the loudspeaker's transducer. Airflow within said vented enclosure is produced such that air within the enclosure is exchanged with outside air through the at least one tuning port. Typically, the vented enclosure will have two tuning ports wherein outside air drawn into the enclosure through one of the tuning ports is circulated out through the other tuning port. Preferably, the outside air drawn in through one tuning port is circulated directly around the transducer magnetic assembly for greatest heat dissipation.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2007Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Meyer Sound Laboratories, IncorporatedInventor: Jean-Pierre Mamin
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Patent number: 8699745Abstract: A speaker and the like, which is capable of wideband reproduction by improving the bass characteristic, and which is suitable for size reduction, is provided. A housing (110) includes one main surface (111) having a polygonal shape, and an opening portion (112) in the one main surface. A diaphragm (120) is disposed in the opening portion so as to cover the one main surface, except for corner regions (115a, 115b, 115c, and 115d) which are areas in the vicinity of respective vertices of a polygonal shape of the one main surface. A driving unit (130) causes the diaphragm to vibrate so as to generate a sound corresponding to a signal inputted from an outside. A plurality of movable supports (140a, 140b, 140c, and 140d) is disposed in the respective corner regions, for supporting the diaphragm by joining the housing and the diaphragm such that the diaphragm is vibratable.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2010Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Shuji Saiki
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Patent number: 8675897Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a headset for performing simultaneous two-way communication or alternate two-way communication, which has excellent sound insulating properties such that external noise is not possibly mixed even when used under high noise conditions. A pair of bowl-shaped housings 1 each having an annular pad 2 attached to the rim of an opening portion are connected together through a headband 3, an acoustic speaker 5 supported by a buffer material 4 is arranged in at least one of the housings 1, and a bone conduction microphone 6 supported by the buffer material 4 such that the distal end is brought into abutment against the ear or the portion around the ear when a user wears the headset is arranged in at least one of the housings 1.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2009Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Temco Japan Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mikio Fukuda, Tomoya Atsumi, Shouji Fujino
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Patent number: 8655001Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing the performance of an in-the-canal hearing aid by temporarily increasing the adaptation speed of an adaptive feedback cancellation filter in response to sudden changes in the acoustic feedback path. The hearing aid employs a sound producing transducer (e.g., a speaker) mounted in a user's open ear canal along with a sound responsive transducer (e.g., a microphone) and a second sound responsive transducer also mounted in the ear canal and spaced a fixed distance from the first sound responsive transducer. The output signals from the first and second sound responsive transducers are applied to a digital processor which compares the respective output signals to detect impedance changes in the audio feedback path. The detected occurrence of an impedance change is then used to influence the adaptation speed of the adaptive feedback cancellation filter.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2010Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Advanced Bionics AGInventor: Andre L. Goldstein
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Patent number: 8649537Abstract: There is provided a drive device capable of driving a capacitive load with efficiency and with low power consumption while keeping quality input reproducibility for output signal. A switching drive circuit 10f repeatedly performs operations in the order of VCP charging phase PH_VCP_CH, VCP discharging phase PH_VCP_dCH, VCN charging phase PH_VCN_CH, and VCN discharging phase PH_VCN_dCH. A switching amplifier 10 allows a charging phase per cycle for an input signal VIN that is a reference for operation to be either a phase in which the slope of the input signal VIN is positive from a reference voltage REFL or greater until a maximum voltage, or a phase in which the slope of the input signal VIN is negative from a reference voltage REFH or less until a minimum voltage.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2010Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microdevices CorporationInventors: Toshio Kaiho, Hidenobu Takeshita