Patents Examined by Suhan Ni
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Patent number: 11793078Abstract: An object is to provide a piezoelectric film that has excellent flexibility in a high temperature environment at higher than 50° C. and exhibits good flexibility even at room temperature, a laminated piezoelectric element in which the piezoelectric films are laminated, and an electroacoustic transducer using the piezoelectric film or the laminated piezoelectric element. The object is solved by the piezoelectric film including: a polymer-based piezoelectric composite material in which piezoelectric particles are dispersed in a matrix including a polymer material; and electrode layers provided on both surfaces of the polymer-based piezoelectric composite material, in which a loss tangent at a frequency of 1 Hz according to dynamic viscoelasticity measurement has a maximal value of greater than or equal to 0.1 existing in a temperature range of higher than 50° C. and lower than or equal to 150° C., and has a value of greater than or equal to 0.08 at 50° C.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Tetsu Miyoshi
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Patent number: 11785398Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hearing aid having at least two wireless interfaces, where the operation of one wireless risk introducing noise into the at least second wireless interface. The first wireless interface being configured so that it does not, or at least to a limited degree, introduce noise into the second wireless interface.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Oticon A/SInventors: Morten Vinding, Henrik Damborg Hald
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Patent number: 11785374Abstract: An acoustic device (1), comprises: a container (2); a passive resonator, including a suspension (3) connected to the container (2) and a radiator (4) connected to the suspension (3), where the suspension (3) is configured to allow the radiator (4) to vibrate relative to the container (2), a structure (5) having at least a first connecting point (51), where it is connected to the radiator (4), and a second connecting point (52), where it is connected to the container (2), the structure (5) being movable alternately between a first position and a second position, responsive to a vibration of the radiator (4); one or more masses (61, 62), spaced from the radiator (4) and associated with the vibrating structure (5).Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: POWERSOFT S.P.A.Inventor: Claudio Lastrucci
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Patent number: 11785402Abstract: A bone conduction device is configured to classify received sound signals (sounds) into one or more sound categories/classes (i.e., determine the input signal type). The bone conduction device is configured to dynamically set a maximum force output (MFO) of the bone conduction device at least based on the sound class of the sound signals.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventor: Kristian Gunnar Asnes
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Patent number: 11778391Abstract: A hearing device cable including a body portion is described herein. The body portion may extend between a first end region and a second end region along a tube centerline. The body portion may include a first radial portion proximate the first end region and second radial portion proximate the second end region. The first radial portion may define a radius of curvature that is greater than or equal to a radius of curvature defined by the second radial portion. The tube centerline may lie along an x-y plane between the first and second end regions. In one or more embodiments, the body portion may define a passageway extending between the first and second end regions. Further, the hearing device cable may include a superelastic wire within the passageway extending between the first and second end regions.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Sidney A. Higgins, David Tourtelotte
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Patent number: 11770663Abstract: An earpiece of hearing device for insertion into an ear canal of a user and having a longitudinal axis, the earpiece includes an earpiece housing having a distal end, a proximal end, and an outer surface connecting the distal end to the proximal end, a receiver comprising a receiver housing, the receiver located within the earpiece housing, and a vent mechanism arranged in the earpiece housing, wherein the vent mechanism is arranged distal to the receiver.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2021Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: GN HEARING A/SInventors: Jan Johansen, Timea Denisa Merca, Maria Chantziara
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Patent number: 11765509Abstract: Provided is an MEMS device, including: a substrate having back cavity passing thererthrough; a diaphragm connected to the substrate and covers the back cavity, the diaphragm includes first and second membranes, and accommodating space formed therebetween; a counter electrode; and support loop members arranged concentrically. Opposite ends of the support loop member are connected to the first and second membranes. The support loop members are arranged at intervals. Each support loop member has first sections concentrically arranged as a loop member at intervals. A first notch is formed between two adjacent first sections. In at least one support loop member, the first section has second sections concentrically arranged as a loop member at intervals. A second notch is formed between two adjacent second sections. By a larger first section, distance between adjacent first sections is larger, the technical problem that large number of slots required for counter electrode is solved.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: AAC Acoustic Technologies (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.Inventor: Euan James Boyd
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Patent number: 11765497Abstract: Provided are an earhole-wearable sound collection device, a signal processing device, and a sound collection method for sound collection at a high S/N ratio, with noise influence being reduced not by a noise reduction process. In the earhole-wearable sound collection 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.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2021Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATIONInventors: Kohei Asada, Shinpei Tsuchiya, Daizen Kobayashi, Koji Nageno
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Patent number: 11765522Abstract: A system (20) includes a plurality of microphones (22), configured to generate different respective signals in response to acoustic waves (36) arriving at the microphones, and a processor (34). The processor is configured to receive the signals, to combine the signals into multiple channels, which correspond to different respective directions relative to the microphones by virtue of each channel representing any portion of the acoustic waves arriving from the corresponding direction with greater weight, relative to others of the directions, to calculate respective energy measures of the channels, to select one of the directions, in response to the energy measure for the channel corresponding to the selected direction passing one or more energy thresholds, and to output a combined signal representing the selected direction with greater weight, relative to others of the directions. Other embodiments are also described.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2020Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: NUANCE HEARING LTD.Inventors: Yehonatan Hertzberg, Yaniv Zonis, Stanislav Berlin, Ori Goren
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Patent number: 11758320Abstract: A venturi expander is mounted on a speaker enclosure to receive the rearward-propagated sound waves and to extend the propagation path. The venturi expander's reflective sides direct the rearward sound to the sides or top or bottom of the speaker enclosure to produce a reflected sound surrounding the speaker enclosure and producing sound to the sides of the speaker substantially as projected from the front of the speaker.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Inventor: Ronald K. Taylor
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Patent number: 11743661Abstract: A hearing aid includes at least two microphones, providing respective at least two electric input signals representing sound around the user; a filter bank converting the electric input signals into signals as a function of time and frequency; a directional system connected to the microphones and being configured to provide a filtered signal in dependence of the electric input signals and fixed or adaptively updated beamformer weights. At least one direction to a target sound source is defined as a target direction. For each frequency band, one of the microphones is selected as a reference microphone, thereby providing a reference input signal for each frequency band. The reference microphone may be selected in dependence of directional data related to directional characteristics of the microphones. The reference microphone may be different for at least two frequency bands. The reference microphone may be adaptively selected based on a logic criterion.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2022Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Oticon A/SInventors: Michael Syskind Pedersen, Jesper Jensen, Christian Asp Mogensen
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Patent number: 11743658Abstract: An electrostatic acoustic wave generating device and an electrostatic speaker making entries of dust, water, moisture, etc. into the device and the speaker, allowing reduction in power. A plate-like fixed electrode has a through hole penetrating the thickness of the fixed electrode. A vibrating body and a vibrating electrode each having a plate-like shape are arranged closer to one surface and closer to the other surface of the fixed electrode respectively, and are movable in the respective thickness directions thereof. A connection member connects the vibrating body and the vibrating electrode to each other through the through hole of the fixed electrode to cause the vibrating body and the vibrating electrode to move toward the same direction. Voice signal input is capable of applying a voltage to the fixed electrode, the vibrating body, and the vibrating electrode to move the vibrating body between the fixed electrode and the vibrating body.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2021Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: TOHOKU UNIVERSITYInventors: Joerg Froemel, Shuji Tanaka, Koichi Ohtaka
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Patent number: 11743623Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a wearable audio device, such as an earbud. The earbud may be configured to detect input using various sensors and structures. For example, the earbud may be configured to detect gestures, physical manipulations, and so forth performed along or on the earbud. In response to the detected inputs, the earbud may be configured to change various outputs, such as an audio output or a haptic output of the device. The earbud may also include a microphone to register voice commands. In some cases, the microphone may be used to control the earbud using the registered voice command in response to one or more detected gestures or physical manipulations.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2020Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Benjamin G. Jackson, Brenton A. Baugh, David H. Bloom, Gemma A. Roper, Karlin Y. Bark, Thomas S. Hulbert
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Patent number: 11743628Abstract: An audio system for providing content to a user. The system includes a first and a second transducer assembly of a plurality of transducer assemblies, an acoustic sensor, and a controller. The first transducer assembly couples to a portion of an auricle of the user's ear and vibrates over a first range of frequencies based on a first set of audio instructions. The vibration causes the portion of the ear to create a first range of acoustic pressure waves. The second transducer assembly is configured to vibrate over a second range of frequencies to produce a second range of acoustic pressure waves based on a second set of audio instructions. The acoustic sensor detects acoustic pressure waves at an entrance of the ear. The controller generates the audio instructions based on audio content to be provided to the user and the detected acoustic pressure waves from the acoustic sensor.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2022Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Ravish Mehra, Antonio John Miller, Morteza Khaleghimeybodi
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Patent number: 11729560Abstract: An illustrative hearing device may include a battery compartment located in a housing and including a microphone and a battery. The housing may include a casing forming the battery compartment and a lid member having a hinged end pivotally connected to the casing such that the lid member is configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position relative to the casing. The lid member may be formed to define an opening through the lid member that is configured to allow the microphone and the battery to be in air communication with ambient air when the lid member is in the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Sonova AGInventors: Daniel Probst, Andre Ochsenbein
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Patent number: 11729569Abstract: A semiconductor wafer has formed within it a plurality of piston tops of equal area. Each of the piston tops includes a thin flat region from which a majority of the thickness of the original semiconductor wafer may have been removed. A first one of the piston tops has a lower thickness than a second one of the piston tops. The second piston top has at least one hole in it, the volume of the hole corresponding to the difference in thickness between the first and second piston tops, such that the masses of the first and second piston tops differ by less than the variation in thickness between them.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2019Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Bose CorporationInventor: Mark A. Hayner
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Patent number: 11711656Abstract: 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: June 29, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: Oticon A/SInventors: Vijay Kumar Bhat, Poul Henriksen, Alberto Escolar Piedras
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Patent number: 11711643Abstract: Ear buds are provided that communicate wirelessly with an electronic device. To determine the current status of the ear buds and thereby take suitable action in controlling the operation of the electronic device and ear buds, the ear buds may be provided with sensor circuitry. The sensor circuitry may include proximity sensors. The ear buds may each have a housing with a main body portion that is configured to be inserted into the ear of the user and an elongated stem portion that extends from the main body portion. The proximity sensors may include sensors on the main body and sensors on the stem. The proximity sensors may be light-based sensors that emit light that passes through the housing.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ashley N. Saulsbury, Travis J. McQueen
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Patent number: 11700482Abstract: A speaker device for reproducing sound within a predetermined audio spectrum is provided. The speaker device comprises: a housing including a top, a bottom, and a side surface; at least one speaker disposed within the housing, the at least one speaker including a speaker flange facing towards the bottom; a waveguide including at least a first surface defining at least one sound channel for conducting a given sound produced by the at least one speaker, and the at least one channel includes a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone sequentially defined along a length thereof to provide for sound reproduction from 100 Hz to 20000 Hz.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2022Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: YANDEX EUROPE AGInventor: Maksim Viktorovich Chizhov
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Patent number: 11696082Abstract: A microphone assembly comprises a substrate. An acoustic transducer is disposed on the substrate and configured to generate an electrical signal responsive to an acoustic signal. An integrated circuit is disposed on the substrate and electrically coupled to the acoustic transducer. An enclosure is disposed on the substrate, and comprises a main body, and a sidewall projecting axially from outer edges of the main body towards the substrate and contacting the substrate such that an internal volume is defined between the enclosure and the substrate. An insulating layer is insert molded on an inner surface of the enclosure, or over molded on an outer surface of the enclosure such that the insulating layer is not disposed on a portion of the sidewall proximate to the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLCInventors: Norman Dennis Talag, Lili Borna, Tony K. Lim