Patents Examined by Ryan Robinson
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Patent number: 11661336Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electroacoustic transducer includes a frame; an element moveable with respect to the frame, the moveable element including a membrane and a structure for rigidifying the membrane; a first transmission arm, the moveable element being coupled to an end of the first transmission arm; wherein a shield is used to protect the rigidification structure during a step of etching a substrate, the etching of the substrate making it possible to delimit the first transmission arm and to lighten the moveable element.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESInventor: Loïc Joet
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Patent number: 11665485Abstract: A MEMS acoustic sensor includes a substrate, a back plate, a diaphragm, a dielectric layer and a connecting portion. The diaphragm is disposed between the substrate and the back plate and includes a vibration portion. The dielectric layer is formed between the substrate and the diaphragm and has a cavity corresponding to the vibrating portion. The connecting portion is located in the cavity and connects the vibrating portion and the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: UPBEAT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTDInventor: Hsien-Lung Ho
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Patent number: 11665489Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hearing aid and detachable speaker unit assembly. The detachable speaker unit assembly comprises a fastening structure to provide an enhanced removal force and stable insertion into the ear canal of the user.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Oticon A/SInventors: Bjarne Laursen, Bozhidar Kuzhuharov
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Patent number: 11659342Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hearing device, comprising at least one electronic component and at least two parts of a housing, at least one of them configured as a molded interconnect device comprising at least one electrically conductive trace and at least one pin seat, the molded interconnect device mechanically connected to another one of the parts of the housing or to a frame by at least one assembly pin held in the at least one pin seat, wherein the at least one assembly pin also directly or indirectly electrically connects the at least one electrically conductive trace to the at least one electronic component.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2021Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: Sonova AGInventors: Natasha Thumm, Markus Müller
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Patent number: 11653143Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a housing having an external-device interface and a sound port to an interior to the housing. A transducer and an electrical circuit are disposed within the housing. The transducer is acoustically coupled to the sound port while the electrical circuit is electrically coupled to the transducer and the external-device interface. A cavity is formed in a portion of the sensor assembly. In some embodiments, the portion is a base of the housing of the sensor assembly. In other embodiments, the portion is a sound port adapter coupled to the sensor assembly. In any case, the cavity is acoustically coupled to the interior of the housing via the sound port and includes a wall portion structured to modify an acoustic property of the sensor assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: KNOWLES ELECTRONICS, LLCInventors: Christopher Bradt, Usha Murthy, Ben Vondersaar
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Patent number: 11653156Abstract: Hearing device, accessory device, and a method of operating a hearing system comprising a hearing device and an accessory device is disclosed, the method comprising obtaining, in the accessory device, an audio input signal representative of audio from one or more audio sources; obtaining image data with a camera of the accessory device; identifying one or more audio sources including a first audio source based on the image data; determining a first model comprising first model coefficients, wherein the first model is based on image data of the first audio source and the audio input signal; and transmitting a hearing device signal to the hearing device, wherein the hearing device signal is based on the first model.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2021Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: GN HEARING A/SInventor: Andreas Tiefenau
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Patent number: 11647348Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for preparing an earpiece for its customization, the device including an energy release unit comprising a receiving chamber for receiving the earpiece and configured to release energy into the receiving chamber. The disclosure further relates to a system for customizing an earpiece comprising the earpiece and the preparing device.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2018Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Sonova AGInventors: Konstantin Silberzahn, Julia Lonsky
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Patent number: 11641555Abstract: A processing device is interfaced with an auditory region of the brain of a subject that is responsible for auditory perception. The processing device receives signals associated with nerve impulses that are transmitted to the auditory region of the brain of the subject in response to sound collected by an ear of the subject. The processing device processes the received signals and generates at least one audio signal that is representative of the auditory perception, by the subject, of the sound collected by the ear. In certain embodiments, the processing device processes at least one audio signal that is representative of at least one sound to convert the at least one audio signal to a sequence of nerve impulses, and selectively provides the sequence of nerve impulses to the auditory region of the brain of the subject such that the subject audially perceives the at least one sound.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2022Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Inventor: Moshe Ofer
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Patent number: 11638106Abstract: A hearing aid system configured to compensate for a hearing impairment of a use comprises A) a wearable device adapted for being worn by the user and comprising a1) an input stage comprising at least one input transducer for converting sound around the user to at least one electric input signal representing said sound, and a2) an input stage for providing stimuli representative of a processed version of said least one electric input signal to said user, said stimuli being perceivable by said user as sound; and B) a non-wearable device comprising b1) a processor, and b2) a power supply interface for providing power to the processor. The wearable device and the non-wearable device comprise respective transceiver circuitry for establishing a low latency wireless audio communication link between them.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: Oticon A/SInventors: Lars Riemer, Martin Bergmann, Christian Veng, David Thorn Blix
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Patent number: 11638081Abstract: A port tube for an earphone, wherein the port tube is configured to acoustically couple a rear acoustic cavity of the earphone to an external environment, includes a first section that is proximate the rear cavity and defines a first cross-sectional area, a second, transitional, section that is coupled to the first section and defines a gradually increasing cross-sectional area, a third, curved and banked, section that is coupled to the second section and defines a second cross-sectional area that is greater than the first cross-sectional area, a fourth, transitional, section that is coupled to the third section and defines a gradually decreasing cross-sectional area, and a fifth section that is coupled to the fourth section and defines a third cross-sectional area that it less than the second cross-sectional area.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: BOSE CORPORATIONInventors: Cedrik Bacon, Mark McCauley, Donna M. Sullivan
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Patent number: 11638080Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hearing device assembly comprising a behind-the-ear base unit and an in-the-ear transducer module, which communicate via a communication interface and wherein the base unit is configured to detect whether the transducer module comprises a microcontroller.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: GN HEARING A/SInventor: Flemming Schmidt
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Patent number: 11627417Abstract: An interactive system can utilize microtechnology (e.g., a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS)), such as miniaturized microphone (e.g., a bone-conducting microphone), audio output device, microprocessor, and signal conversion and propagation means to create a personal area network (PAN) for a user. The system can include a voice input device (e.g., worn on one or more teeth of the user) that outputs a near-field magnetic induction (NFMI) signal based on a whisper input by the user. The NFMI signal is either detected by the user's mobile device, or converted into a wireless signal (e.g., a Bluetooth RF signal) detectable by the user's mobile device, for receiving voice commands (e.g., to provide personal assistant services) via a designated application running on the mobile device.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2021Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: Expensify, Inc.Inventors: David M. Barrett, Robert Chen
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Patent number: 11622214Abstract: An eartip includes a compliant portion that forms at least a portion of a sound channel, and a wax guard that is supported in the compliant portion and is disposed within the sound channel. The wax guard includes a porous, planar body that permits the passage of acoustic energy but inhibits the passage of cerumen therethrough, and a retention member. The retention member is arranged along an outer edge of the planar body and in direct contact with the compliant portion. The retention member includes a plurality of openings. A compliant material that forms the compliant portion permeates the openings in the retention member to assist in retaining the wax guard in the compliant portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: BOSE CORPORATIONInventors: Andrew D. Dominijanni, Christopher R. Paetsch, Ryan Joseph Wexler, Richard Lionel Lanoue
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Patent number: 11617049Abstract: A receiver is provided in the present invention. The receiver includes: a housing having a hollow inner cavity; a diaphragm mechanism disposed in the hollow inner cavity and configured for partitioning the hollow inner cavity into a first cavity and a second cavity, the diaphragm mechanism including a vibration plate, a fixed end of the vibration plate being fixed to an inner wall of the housing, and a free end of the vibration plate being suspended in the hollow inner cavity; an electromagnetic driving mechanism disposed in the hollow inner cavity and including at least one coil assembly and at least one magnetic field assembly, each magnetic field assembly being disposed in the first cavity or the second cavity and being close to the free end of the vibration plate, and each coil assembly being disposed in the first cavity or the second cavity and being close to the fixed end of the vibration plate.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2019Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: SUZHOU SENSORFUN ELECTRONICS CO., LTDInventor: Jianguang Wen
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Patent number: 11606637Abstract: A portable listening device comprising: a device housing defining an internal cavity; an acoustic port formed through the device housing; an audio driver disposed within the device housing and aligned to emit sound through the acoustic port; a multifunction input button coupled to the device housing, the multifunction input button having a distal end and a proximate end, a centerline between the distal and proximate ends and an axis of rotation located between the center line and the proximate end; an electronic circuit disposed within the device housing that requires power to operate and is configured to detect activation of the button; and a battery disposed within the device housing and operable to provide power to the electronic circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2021Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Duy P. Le, Ryan Ott, Robert A. Boyd, Christina J. Smiechowski, Kjell F. Ekman, Yufan Liao, Wenjie Zhuang
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Patent number: 11606649Abstract: In embodiments of the invention, the present invention is directed to a contact hearing system, the contact hearing system including: an ear tip, the ear tip including a transmit coil wherein the transmit coil is wound around a core including, at least in part, a ferromagnetic material; and a contact hearing device including a receive coil wherein the receive coil is wound around a core including, at least in part, a non-ferromagnetic material.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2021Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Earlens CorporationInventors: Stuart W. Wenzel, Daniel K. Hallock
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Patent number: 11600285Abstract: A method for speech equalization, comprising the steps of receiving an input audio signal, processing said input audio signal in dependence on frequency and to providing an equalized electric audio signal according to an equalization function, wherein said equalization function comprises at least an actuator part configured to dynamically applying a compensation filter to the received input signal and dynamically applying a transparent filter to the received input signal, and further transmitting an output signal perceivable by a user as sound representative of said electric acoustic input signal or a processed version thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2021Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: EPOS Group A/SInventors: Anders Røser Hansen, Poul Peder Hestbek, Svend Feldt, Casper Fynsk
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Patent number: 11601745Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ear tip having a flange made of silicone foam, the ear tip including a central core and a flange surrounding the core. The flange is made of silicone foam, and the core is made of a material harder than the silicone foam. Before the silicone is molded, attachable films or tapes may be attached to the top and bottom surfaces of the mesh, thereby preventing burrs generated during the molding of silicone from adhering to the mesh.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2021Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: BUJEON CO., LTD.Inventors: Donghyun Seo, Kyoungsik Lee, Minkoo Park, Jeongsun In
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Patent number: 11601762Abstract: A sound transducer and a method for operating a sound transducer are disclosed. In an embodiment a sound transducer includes a first piezoelectric element having first external electrodes configured to generate an acoustic signal from an electrical signal or vice versa, and at least one second external electrode, wherein the second external electrode is separately controllable from the first external electrodes in order to set electro-acoustic properties of the sound transducer.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2019Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: TDK ELECTRONICS AGInventors: Michael Gebhart, Peter Lukan, Michael Krenn
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Patent number: 11595754Abstract: Audio processing for a headworn device can include obtaining ear geometry of a user. A frequency response or transfer function can be determined, based on the ear geometry of the user and a model of the headworn device, where the frequency response or transfer function characterizes an effect of a path between a speaker of the headworn device and an ear canal entrance of the user on sound. An equalization filter profile can be generated based on the based on the frequency response or transfer function. The equalization filter profile can be applied to an audio signal, and the audio signal can be used to drive the speaker of the headworn device.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2020Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Darius A. Satongar, Antti J. Vanne, Tomi A. Huttunen