Patents Examined by Suhan Ni
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Patent number: 11109134Abstract: A microphone assembly includes a shaft element that is configured to be received in an opening defined by a base substrate layer of a headliner. The shaft element defines an air path. The microphone assembly includes a microphone element mounted on a circuit board within a housing. The microphone element is aligned with the air path such that the air path directs sound from the cabin to the microphone element. A vehicle cabin side of the headliner is covered by an acoustically transparent layer such that the microphone assembly is not visible within the vehicle cabin.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2019Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbHInventors: Marco Salvatore Riemann, Darin Krajewski, Marian Avram, Viktor Dobos
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Patent number: 11102562Abstract: The invention discloses a microphone encapsulation structure having a plurality of transducers, comprising: a housing; a circuit base plate, wherein the circuit base plate and the housing form an acoustic cavity, and a first acoustic through-hole is provided on the circuit base plate; a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) substrate disposed at a top of the circuit base plate, wherein the PCB substrate is provided with a plurality of second acoustic through-holes and the PCB substrate is provided with: a plurality of acoustic transducers each disposed directly above one of the plurality of second acoustic through-holes; and a plurality of ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) chips each connected to one of the plurality of acoustic transducers via gold wire.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2020Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Inventor: Jinghua Ye
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Patent number: 11102582Abstract: The invention relates to audio transducers, such as loudspeaker, microphones and the like, and includes improvements in or relating to hinge systems for rotational action audio transducers. The hinge systems of the invention being configured to operatively support a diaphragm in use, and comprising a hinge assembly having one or more hinge joints, wherein each hinge joint comprises a hinge element and a contact member. The contact member comprises a contact surface and the configuration is such that during operation each hinge joint is configured to allow the hinge element to move relative to the associated contact member, while maintaining a substantially consistent physical contact with the contact surface. The hinge assembly biases the hinge element towards the contact surface. Preferably the hinge assembly is configured to apply a biasing force to the hinge element of each joint toward the associated contact surface, compliantly.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2019Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: WING ACOUSTICS LIMITEDInventors: David John Palmer, Michael Ian Palmer
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Patent number: 11102585Abstract: One embodiment provides a slim acoustic transducer with a diaphragm including a hole that is substantially centered on a vertical axis of the diaphragm. The hole has a first horizontal width. A voice coil has a ring shape that is disposed at least partially within the hole and substantially centered on the vertical axis. The ring shape has an outer and inner horizontal width. The outer horizontal width is smaller than or equal to the first horizontal width of the hole. A column structure is disposed at least partially within the ring shape and substantially centered on the vertical axis. The column structure has a second horizontal width that is smaller than or equal to the inner horizontal width of the ring shape. The column structure includes an upper magnet, a middle plate disposed below the upper magnet and a lower magnet disposed below the middle plate.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Allan Devantier, Felix C. Kochendoerfer, Andri Bezzola
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Patent number: 11095965Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing wind noise in an electronic hearing protector are provided. The electronic hearing protector includes a housing and a windscreen. The housing includes a cut-out portion having at least one acoustic inlet. The windscreen covers the cut-out portion and includes an outer surface. An acoustic path within the cut-out portion from an effective center of the acoustic inlet(s) to the windscreen is at least 100 degrees. A minimum distance from the effective center of the acoustic inlet(s) to the outer surface of the windscreen is at least 2.5 millimeters. In various embodiments, the electronic hearing protector may include a high-level limiter disposed in the housing. The high-level limiter selectively attenuates a frequency below a voice range more than a frequency in the voice range of a microphone input signal to provide a signal output with noise reduction at frequencies outside of the voice range.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2020Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: ETYMOTIC RESEARCH, INC.Inventors: Stephen D. Julstrom, Tim Monroe, Charles Aldous
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Patent number: 11082778Abstract: In one aspect, a low frequency driver is provided having a diaphragm operable to produce sound, a front volume, and an outlet that receives sound from the front volume and directs sound out from the low frequency driver. The low frequency driver further includes a low-pass filter chamber in communication with the front volume.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2016Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLCInventor: Erik Wiederholtz
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Patent number: 11082776Abstract: The disclosure presents a method and an amplifier system for minimizing variation in an acoustical signal caused by variation in gain of an amplifier, comprising a battery for providing a supply voltage to the amplifier, a digital signal processor for providing the acoustical signal to the amplifier, a controller unit receiving an enablement signal when the supply voltage is in an offset mode, and based on the enablement signal requesting a measured voltage during a time period, and a first analog-to-digital converter configured for measuring the supply voltage to the amplifier when receiving the request from the controller unit or the first analog-to-digital converter is configured for measuring the supply voltage to the amplifier continuously, and where variations in the measured voltage relates to variations in the supply voltage during the time period. Furthermore, the controller unit is configured to predict offset modes (i.e.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2019Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Oticon A/SInventors: Vijay Kumar Bhat, Poul Henriksen, Alberto Escolar Piedras
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Patent number: 11076239Abstract: The invention discloses a sound generator having a voice coil. The most outer layer of the voice coil is defined as a tailend layer (last layer), which is wound obliquely from a top of the penult layer adjacent to the diaphragm in a direction away from the diaphragm, so that the high frequency pit of the sound generator is improved. The most outer layer of the voice coil is not completely wound such that the most outer layer reduces the contacting area between the dome and the voice coil, which reduces the split vibration of the dome at high frequency and improves the high frequency-resonance performance.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2019Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.Inventor: Huanbin Liao
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Patent number: 11070923Abstract: A method performs directional signal processing for a hearing aid. First and second input transducers of the hearing aid generate first and second input signals, respectively, from a sound signal. A first calibration directional signal which has a relative attenuation in the direction of a first useful signal source is generated from the first and second input signals, and a second calibration directional signal which has a relative attenuation in the direction of a second useful signal source is generated from the first and second input signals. A relative gain parameter is determined from the first and second calibration directional signals. First and second processing directional signals are generated from both the first and second input signals. A source-sensitive directional signal is generated from the first and second processing directional signals and the relative gain parameter. An output signal of the hearing aid is generated from the source-sensitive directional signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2020Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: Svantos Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Stefan Petrausch, Tobias Daniel Rosenkranz
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Patent number: 11070910Abstract: The present technique relates to a processing device and a processing method for realizing sound collection at a high S/N ratio, with noise influence being reduced not by a noise reduction process. In the processing device, a microphone that collects emitted speech voice is provided in a space that is substantially sealed off from outside and connects to an ear canal of the wearer (the speaker). With the microphone being located in the space sealed off from outside, emitted speech voice that propagates through the ear canal of the wearer is collected. In a sound collection signal obtained through the ear canal, the emitted speech voice component is dominant over the noise component particularly at low frequencies Further, an equalizing process for reducing muffled sound that is generated when sound is collected through the ear canal is performed on the sound collection signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2018Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Kohei Asada, Shinpei Tsuchiya, Daizen Kobayashi, Koji Nageno
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Patent number: 11057699Abstract: A speaker device includes a speaker that outputs sound, a horn that emits sound output from the speaker, and a slit opening that is formed on a front surface of the horn, a vertical side of the slit opening being longer than a horizontal side of the slit opening. It is possible to prevent reflection of unnecessary sound in a vertical direction and enhance sound reproduction performance in a horizontal direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2020Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICAInventors: Atsushi Sakaguchi, Toshiyuki Matsumura
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Patent number: 11057722Abstract: A hearing aid is provided for use with a user having a first and second ears disposed on first and second body sides. The hearing aid apparatus is configured for enabling the user to hear sounds that originate from a plurality of directions and includes a first hearing aid member placeable on a user's first body side. The first hearing aid member includes a first transducer for receiving sounds that would be received by the user's first ear and converting those received sounds into first transmittable electrical signals. A second hearing aid member is placeable on the user's second body side and is preferably a cochlear implant device including an electrode array positionable within a cochlea of a user.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2020Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: Ear Tech, LLCInventor: Michael H Fritsch
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Patent number: 11051093Abstract: The invention discloses a microphone structure with an improved substrate, comprising: a L-shaped substrate having an L-shaped normal cross section; an encapsulation shell, wherein the encapsulation shell and the L-shaped substrate form an acoustic cavity; the acoustic cavity is provided with: an acoustic transducer; an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) chip, electrically connected to the acoustic transducer; and an acoustic through-hole disposed on the L-shaped substrate or the encapsulation shell. The present invention has the beneficial effects that, an L-shaped ceramic substrate is provided, a plurality of bonding pads are arranged on a vertical surface of the L-shaped substrate, so that electronic devices may be welded to the vertical surface of the L-shaped substrate, so that the problem of an excessive large area of the substrate being occupied by the electronic devices due to the presence of an excessive number of the electronic devices on the substrate may be avoided.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2020Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Inventor: Jinghua Ye
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Patent number: 11044541Abstract: A loudspeaker with a mounting assembly is ideally suited for attachment to a wakeboard tower. The mounting assembly includes a clamp assembly for attaching to the tower and a swivel assembly attached to the speaker enclosure. The base of the clamp assembly defines a docking channel that extends generally, and an electrical terminal is positioned at the blind end of the docking channel. The swivel assembly includes a bracket for attaching to the speaker housing and a terminal block that is rotatably mounted on top of the bracket. In this way, once the clamp assembly is attached to the tower bar, the terminal block can be guided into the docking channel by holding the speaker housing. The need to manage wires while mounting the speaker is eliminated by the pin and socket electrical terminals, and the swivel-mounted terminal block aligns itself as it is inserted into the docking channel.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2019Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: Stillwater Designs and Audio, Inc.Inventors: Kyle A. Ambrose, Chanc L. Bergbower, James E. Sharp
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Patent number: 11044561Abstract: An acoustic panel assembly has only one acoustic panel with a back surface, a frame that peripherally surrounds the acoustic panel, a support integral with the frame, only one magnetic unit fixed to said support, only a voice coil fixed to the acoustic panel, a supporting structure integral with the frame, and a plurality of springs connected to the supporting structure. The springs are connected in different points of the back surface of the acoustic panel in such a way to elastically support the acoustic panel.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2019Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Inventor: Carlo Sancisi
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Patent number: 11026027Abstract: An ear-worn electronic device is configured to be worn by a wearer and comprises a housing configured to be supported by, at, in or on an ear of the wearer. Electronic circuitry is disposed in the housing and comprises a radio frequency transceiver and a power source. An antenna is disposed in, on, or extending from the housing and operably coupled to the transceiver. A non-Foster circuit is operably connected to the antenna and coupled to the power source. The non-Foster circuit is configured to actively load the antenna and provide a negative reactance that offsets a reactance of the antenna.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: STARKEY LABORATORIES, INC.Inventors: Paul Anders Shriner, Ezdeen Elgahannai
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Patent number: 11012770Abstract: Embodiments describe an eartip including an eartip body having an attachment end and an interfacing end opposite from the attachment end, and including an inner eartip body and an outer eartip body. The inner eartip body has a sidewall that extends between the interfacing end and the attachment end, and includes a groove formed in an outer surface of the sidewall. The outer eartip body is sized and shaped to be inserted into an ear canal and extends from the interfacing end toward the attachment end of the eartip.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2019Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Dustin A. Hatfield, Shota Aoyagi, Timothy E. Emmott, Ethan L. Huwe, Mitchell R. Lerner, Sean T. McIntosh, Yi-Fang D. Tsai, Jason C. Della Rosa, Patrick W. Sheppard, Samuel G. Parker, David J. Feathers, Brian R. Twehues, Daniel Strongwater
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Patent number: 11012789Abstract: A MEMS microphone includes a substrate, a lower membrane supported on the substrate, an upper membrane suspended above the lower membrane, a first electrode supported on the lower membrane, and a second electrode supported on the upper membrane. The lower membrane and the upper membrane enclose a cavity in which the first electrode and the second electrode are located. The lower membrane and the upper membrane are each formed of silicon carbonitride (SiCN). The first electrode and the second electrode are each formed of polysilicon.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2018Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignees: Akustica, Inc., Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Christoph Hermes, Bernhard Gehl, Arnim Hoechst, Daniel Meisel, Andrew Doller, Yujie Zhang, Gokhan Hatipoglu
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Patent number: 11012793Abstract: A computing system comprising one or more electronic computing devices receives data from a hearing-assistance device. The computing system determines, based on the data received from the hearing-assistance device, a cognitive benefit measure for a wearer of the hearing-assistance device. The cognitive benefit measure being an indication of a change of a cognitive benefit of the wearer of the hearing-assistance device attributable to use of the hearing-assistance device by the wearer of the hearing-assistance device. The computing device outputs an indication of the cognitive benefit measure.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2020Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Kyle Walsh, Thomas Scheller, Christopher L. Howes, David A. Fabry
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Patent number: 11006209Abstract: A rectangular microspeaker according to the present invention transfers vibration sound through the front surface or side surface of a diaphragm. In order to maximize an effective vibration area and to expand a volume, all parts including a frame are fabricated in a rectangular shape. The present invention is applied to a P type, an F type, and a composite type. The vibration sound generated on the bottom of the diaphragm as well as the vibration sound generated on the top of the diaphragm may be discharged through the side surface. A magnetic field part may be insert-molded separately or along with the frame.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: BUJEON CO., LTD.Inventors: Minkoo Park, Seungwoo Chun, Minkyeom Kim, Junho Yun, Halim Kim