Patents Examined by Phylesha L. Dabney
  • Patent number: 7369671
    Abstract: A hearing aid is provided with a a programmable, signal processing circuit electrically connecting an input system to an output system, a magnetic field sensor, and a selection circuit connected to the magnetic sensor. The selection circuit may be adapted to control at least one of the input system, output system, and the signal processing circuit, where the selection circuit in conjunction with the magnetic field is configured to select the system or circuit to control based a magnetic field strength received at the magnetic field sensor being one of at least three levels of magnetic field strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Starkey, Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike K. Sacha, Mark A. Bren, Timothy S. Peterson, Randall W. Roberts
  • Patent number: 7359506
    Abstract: Inclined plane is provided at the tip of rotor cam. On the other hand, inclined planes are also provided in specific positions of stator cam. Because of this structure, in the specific positions, the inclined planes are in resilient contact with each other. Thus, the load is increased only in the specific positions without an increase in the load of spring. This structure can provide an opening and closing device capable of securely holding only desired positions without affecting the feel of opening and closing operation of the entire device, and electronic equipment using the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiko Konja, Yasuchika Kudo, Katsuichi Minami, Koji Sakai, Katsumasa Yamaguchi, Masayuki Miki, Naomasa Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7340052
    Abstract: A device for providing telephone communication and data transfer includes a base unit with a display screen and means for retrieving and displaying Internet information via a DSL connection or USB line, for example. A mechanism for recognizing and verifying handwriting is included for allowing a user to sign his/her name to confirm or validate a sales transaction. A voice recognition mechanism converts and translates speech input to text wherein a hearing-impaired user can read real time text messaging. A mechanism for providing access to an electronic phone directory via a CD ROM drive is also provided. The present invention further includes a handset for allowing a user to communicate via a plain old telephone system. Advantageously, an infrared mechanism for communicating with a portable electronic device is provided wherein a variety of devices employing either infrared or fiber-optic communication technology can send and receive wireless signals to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Inventor: Mark L. West
  • Patent number: 7336782
    Abstract: A wiring device is used in a folding portable device including a hinge unit permitting an upper unit to fold/unfold and/or to rotate with regard to a lower unit. The wiring device comprises a rotative direction wound portion having a first central axis corresponding to a rotating axis of the hinge. A folding/unfolding direction wound portion has a second central axis corresponding to a folding/unfolding axis of the hinge. A FPC fixing member fixes a FPC holding member holding a predetermined part of a FPC to the hinge. The rotative direction wound portion is wound with a first part of a flexible printed cable that is continuous with one end of the predetermined part. The folding/unfolding direction wound portion is wound with a second part of the flexible printed cable that is continuous with the other end of the predetermined part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Watanabe, Masatomo Mizuta, Mitsuru Sendoda, Koji Matsunaga, Takeshi Komatsu
  • Patent number: 7336781
    Abstract: A latching assembly includes a removable panel (1), a knob (2), a sliding latch (3), and a base cover (5). The removable panel includes a mounting hole (12), a depression portion (13), and a plurality of catches (17). The knob includes a slanted protuberance (22), and the knob mates in the mounting hole. The sliding latch includes a head portion (32), a slanted portion (38), and a spring arm (34). The base cover includes a slot (51) matingly receiving the head portion, a plurality of catch slots (54) matingly receiving the catches, and a board (53). When the knob is pressed, the slanted protuberance engages with the slanted portion and the spring arm can move in the depression portion. As a result, the removable panel can be fixed on the base cover or released from the base cover easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industrial Co., Ltd., Sutech Trading Lilmited
    Inventors: Lin Hu, Chia-Hua Chen
  • Patent number: 7333607
    Abstract: A replaceable panel device (1) includes a panel (20) with a mounting portion (24), a locking subassembly (30), and a top cover (40) with a block (45). The mounting portion has at least one slideway (241), a recess (242), and two locating grooves (243). The locking subassembly is accommodated in the mounting portion of the panel. The locking subassembly has a button (31), an elastic rod (32), and a slider (33). The button has at least one rail (312), a hole (313) defined at top of the rail. The slider has at least one slot (331) and a rabbet (332). The slider is received in the recess. The rail is received through the slideway and the slot. The elastic rod is received through the hole. Ends of the elastic rod are located in the locating grooves. The rabbet engagingly receives the block of the top cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., Sutech Trading Limited
    Inventors: Shui Yuan Qin, Bao Jiang Chen, Jiang Yuan He, Ying Liang Tu
  • Patent number: 7327841
    Abstract: A holder for a mobile communication device comprises a receptacle for optimally reducing the SAR value of a mobile communication device secured within the receptacle. At least one material portion, a patch, causing electromagnetic losses may be placed within the receptacle to optimally reduce exposure to low level radio frequency energy to an individual carrying a mobile telephone secured within the receptacle. The patch formed of electromagnetic field reducing material may be placed in one or more particular areas of the receptacle to attenuate one or more corresponding regions of the mobile telephone in which the SAR value is substantially at a local maximum. This may allow a reduction of the SAR value of a mobile telephone while limiting the performance loss associated with the reduction of the SAR value of the mobile telephone when the mobile telephone is secured within the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Schreiber, Peter Nevermann
  • Patent number: 7324650
    Abstract: The correct recognition of the auditory situation “television” often poses a problem for hearing aid devices with automatic situation recognition, since a plurality of real situations are simulated by the television audio signal. To correctly recognize the situation “television”, the invention therefore provides to detect a line signal with a particular line signal frequency output by the television device, and given the existence of such a line signal to automatically implement the auditory situation “television”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Eghart Fischer, Volkmar Hamacher, Thomas Hies, Thomas Hopf, Frank Wagner
  • Patent number: 7319749
    Abstract: The hinge with orthogonal pivot axes can be used with a cellular phone having a cover and a base and has a tilt hinge, an offset hinge and a turning hinge. The tilt, offset and turning hinges respectively comprise a rotating positioning element and a stationary positioning element. The rotating positioning elements of the tilt and offset hinges have protrusions corresponding to and simultaneously engaging detents in the stationary positioning element when the tilt and offset hinges are closed and opened. The rotating positioning element of the turning hinge has protruding limits formed on the rotating positioning element selectively abutting the positive stop on the stationary positioning element of the turning hinge when the turning hinge is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Shin Zu Shing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sheng-Nan Lu, Hsiang-Chi Chien
  • Patent number: 7315620
    Abstract: A small-sized opening and closing device which relatively connects a first member and a second member with each other to open and close, and is composed of a shaft, a cam member attached to said shaft, a slider cam attached slidably to said shaft facing to said cam member; a compression spring wound around said shaft to push said slider cam toward said cam member side, and wherein said cam member and said cam slider each having two kinds of cam portions located on an axial core side and an outer circumferential side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Katoh Electrical Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Kato
  • Patent number: 7298857
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a continuous wear hearing device to be worn entirely within the ear canal, comprising a receiver assembly sized to be positioned in the bony portion of the canal, a battery assembly and a microphone assembly. The receiver assembly includes a receiver for supplying acoustic signals to the tympanic membrane. The battery assembly is coupled to the receiver assembly and includes a metal-air battery and a battery vent. The microphone assembly is coupled to the battery assembly and includes a microphone and a microphone sound port. The sound port faces a medial direction with respect to the canal. The orientation and position of the microphone in the canal are configured to reduce fouling of the port by cerumen. The positioning of the microphone assembly defines an air cavity disposed between the microphone assembly and the battery assembly with the port and the vent fluidically coupled to the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Insound Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Adnan Shennib, Ian Michael Day, Timothy Cuongdung Huynh, Alex Tilson
  • Patent number: 7298860
    Abstract: The invention provides a system for enabling the assembly and suspension of a plurality of loudspeakers in a line array where the splay angle between the adjacent speakers can be adjusted and rigidly maintained. The line array system utilizes rigging frames that allow for the coupling and supporting of the loudspeakers through the use of adjustable hinge bars. The rigging frames and adjustable hinge bars together form and rigidly maintain the splay angles between adjacent loudspeakers and correspondingly the curvature of the line array speaker assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark Engebretson, Yoshiyuki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7292704
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are disclosed for a headset that may be used in an audio system used in a magnetic field. In one aspect, the system includes an inner set portion adapted to fit into an ear canal. A pneumatic port is disposed in the hole to couple audible sounds to the ear canal. The system may include a non-magnetic transducer coupled to the pneumatic port. The system also may include a fiber-optic microphone to couple sound from a user of the headset. Other techniques provide a stethoscope-type yoke to couple the pneumatic port and the fiber-optic antenna to the non-magnetic transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Inventor: Wayne Lederer
  • Patent number: 7289627
    Abstract: In an opening/closing type portable terminal device having first and second box members that can be opened and closed and turned through a hinge, an object of the invention is to miniaturize the hinge and the device. A second turnable shaft (123) crosses a first turnable shaft (122) to turn together and is turnable with respect to the first turnable shaft (122). First and second guide members (126, 127) for controlling the turning angle of the second turnable shaft (123) are installed within the first turnable shaft (122). At a position across the first and second box members (101a, 101b), a flexible substrate (140) is interposed between the first turnable shat (122) and a first turnable shaft bearing (133) and is formed at one end thereof with a first winding (154a) to be wound on the outer periphery of the first turnable shaft bearing (133) and is turned together with the first turnable shaft (122).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Satoh, Fujio Arai
  • Patent number: 7289628
    Abstract: An ozone functions handset is to provide a sterilizer to a certain handset. Select a place inside the handset, best near the mouthpiece to install a small sized ozone gas producing unit, to start up the ozone gas producing unit by directly using the internal power supply of the phone, then the ozone gas emanates from the eyelets in the shell of the handset, as to sterilize and disinfect the nearby environment and the handset itself, and purify the atmosphere around.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Inventors: Yu-Yueh Lin, Kun-Jung Yang, Hai-Yau Ho
  • Patent number: 7206427
    Abstract: A surface loudspeaker array uses a plurality of sound sources, such as flat panel or planar magnetic transducers, that are mounted on either a flat or a curved surface to produce a substantially controlled sound dispersion in both the horizontal and vertical planes. The sound sources are mounted in rows and the rows are secured together to allow splaying in the vertical plane to a preset angle defined between rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: HPV Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Vahan Simidian, II, Dragoslav Colich
  • Patent number: 7184562
    Abstract: A loudspeaker apparatus in which sound from a loudspeaker is emitted from a top surface of a loudspeaker cabinet, wherein the top surface is slanted obliquely backward and in which a sound reflecting panel is mounted such that that the panel can swing on the rear plate of the loudspeaker cabinet, so that the emitted sound is reflected by the panel toward the listener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Seki, Makoto Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 7164777
    Abstract: A speaker driver has a detachable motor and basket to allow attachment or separation of the motor assembly from the basket assembly. Two embodiments are disclosed, a thread-on detachable motor and a bolt-on detachable motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: TC Sounds Inc.
    Inventor: Thilo Christian Stompler
  • Patent number: 7149321
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus for attaching a device like an electro-dynamic loudspeaker to a mounting location in an automobile or other vehicle. The mounting apparatus employs bracket hardware that is either affixed to or integral with the loudspeaker that is to be mounted. The mounting apparatus can position the loudspeaker in a fixed angular orientation, or enable the angular orientation of the loudspeaker to be variable, as desired, to achieve the optimum performance of the loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven W. Hutt, William Neal House
  • Patent number: 7123737
    Abstract: An ear clasp headset includes a speaker capsule for transmitting sound to a user's ear, wherein the speaker capsule is capable of contacting an inner recess of the user's ear, a headset body operably coupled to the speaker capsule, wherein the headset body is capable of contacting an outer portion of the user's ear, and a headset tail operably coupled to the headset body, wherein the headset tail comprises a curved structure capable of flexing open and close for contacting a lower portion of the user's ear. Advantageously, the apparatus and method of the present invention provide a headset with improved comfort, stability, and fit in the user's ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Soohyun Ham