Patents Examined by Thang V. Tran
  • Patent number: 12047730
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a loudspeaker apparatus. The loudspeaker may include: a support connector configured to contact a head of a human; at least one loudspeaker component including an earphone core and a housing for accommodating the earphone core, wherein the housing is fixedly connected to the support connector and has at least one key module; a control circuit or a battery that is contained in the support connection, wherein the earphones core is driven by the control circuit or the battery to vibrate to generate sound. The sound includes at least two resonance peaks. The loudspeaker apparatus may optimize the transmission efficiency of the sound, increase sound volume, and improve user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, Yongjian Li, Wenbing Zhou, Jinbo Zheng, Zhuyang Jiang
  • Patent number: 12035128
    Abstract: Provided is a signal processing device including: a reverberation sound signal generation unit that generates a reverberation sound signal according to a sound source position of a virtual sound source and a distance to a reference point; and a drive signal generation unit that generates a drive signal for a speaker array by a wavefront synthesis filter, in which the drive signal generation unit generates the drive signal on the basis of a signal obtained by performing wavefront synthesis filtering processing on a signal obtained by convolving the reverberation sound signal with a signal of the virtual sound source and/or a signal obtained by performing wavefront synthesis filtering processing on the reverberation sound signal to make the reverberation sound signal into a virtual sound source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichi Osako, Yuhki Mitsufuji, Masafumi Takahashi, Yukara Ikemiya
  • Patent number: 12022250
    Abstract: The application discloses a loudspeaker and an installation structure. The loudspeaker includes a front surface and a back surface. The loudspeaker includes an installation frame and a loudspeaker body installed on the installation frame. The installation frame is provided with a guiding hole passing through the front surface and the back surface. By opening a guiding hole passing through the front surface and the back surface on the installation frame, the sound generated by the back surface of the loudspeaker can be directed to the front surface of the loudspeaker through the conduction of the guiding hole. The sound of the front surface of loudspeaker is strengthened, which can greatly improve the loudness of the loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: AAC MICROTECH (CHANGZHOU) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tao Shao, Xudong Yan, Xiaojiang Gu
  • Patent number: 12010472
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing that defines an internal volume, an aperture defined by the housing, an electronic component disposed within the internal volume and occluding the aperture, and a mesh component disposed against the electronic component. One example of an electronic device can include a housing that defines an internal volume, a port defined by the housing, a speaker module disposed within the internal volume and oriented to move air through the port, and an acoustically transparent mesh covering the port. The mesh can include a raised portion extending at least partially through the port and a flange extending from the raised portion, the flange secured against an internal surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jiahui Liang, Andrew L. Doyle, Christopher S. Hyde, David M. Pelletier
  • Patent number: 12010475
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an acoustic output device. The acoustic output device may include an earphone core, a controller, a power source, and a flexible circuit board. The earphone core may include at least one low-frequency acoustic driver configured to output sounds from at least two first guiding holes and the at least one high-frequency acoustic driver configured to output sounds from at least two second guiding holes. The controller may be configured to direct the at least one low-frequency acoustic driver to output the sounds in a first frequency range and direct the at least one high-frequency acoustic driver to output the sounds in a second frequency range. The power source may be configured to provide power supply for the earphone core. The flexible circuit board may be configured to connect the earphone core with the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, Junjiang Fu, Bingyan Yan, Fengyun Liao, Xin Qi
  • Patent number: 12003916
    Abstract: A pair of headphones may include first and second ear cups that each contain one or more speakers. The speakers may emit audio through a sound-permeable warp knit spacer fabric that is coupled to each ear cup. The warp knit spacer fabric may include inner and outer fabric layers joined by a spacer layer. The outer fabric layer may have first and second regions with different fabric densities. The first region with the greater fabric density may be used to form a label such as an R-shape or L-shape to indicate which ear cup should cover the user's right ear and which ear cup should cover the user's left ear. The denser first region may have diamond-shaped openings of a first size and the less dense second region may have diamond-shaped openings of a second size that is greater than the first size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Shaffer, Yohji Hamada, Vincenzo Vuono, Eugene A. Whang, Christopher I. Wilson
  • Patent number: 12003943
    Abstract: Electroacoustic drivers that can be utilized in loudspeaker systems that utilize drivers having a magnetic negative spring (MNS) (such as reluctance assist drivers (RAD) and permanent magnet crown (PMC) drivers). The electroacoustic drivers can be used at all audio frequencies, including subwoofer frequencies. The magnetic negative springs of the electroacoustic drivers can cancel, or partially cancel, the large pressure forces on a sound panel (of an audio speaker) so that substantial subwoofer notes can be efficiently and cost effectively produced in small/portable speakers. The electroacoustic drivers can include a stabilizing/centering mechanism to overcome the destabilizing forces of a MNS that are too large for a voice coil alone to produce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Brane Audio, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph F. Pinkerton, David A. Badger, James A. Andrews, William Martin Lackowski, William Neil Everett
  • Patent number: 12003941
    Abstract: Electroacoustic drivers that can be utilized in loudspeaker systems that utilize drivers having a magnetic negative spring (MNS) (such as reluctance assist drivers (RAD) and permanent magnet crown (PMC) drivers). The electroacoustic drivers can be used at all audio frequencies, including subwoofer frequencies. The magnetic negative springs of the electroacoustic drivers can cancel, or partially cancel, the large pressure forces on a sound panel (of an audio speaker) so that substantial subwoofer notes can be efficiently and cost effectively produced in small/portable speakers. The electroacoustic drivers can include a stabilizing/centering mechanism to overcome the destabilizing forces of a MNS that are too large for a voice coil alone to produce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Brane Audio, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph F. Pinkerton, David A. Badger, James A. Andrews, William Martin Lackowski, William Neil Everett
  • Patent number: 12003917
    Abstract: The present invention provides a speaker, including: a housing body having an accommodation cavity with a first chamber and a second chamber; a first side wall and a second side wall enclosing the first chamber; a third side wall and a fourth side wall enclosing the second chamber; and a speaker unit including a connection part located in the first chamber and a sounding component connecting to the connection part. A distance between the first side wall and the second side wall is smaller than a distance between the third side wall and the fourth side wall. The speaker enables the connection part to be connected to the side wall of the housing body without the end of the connection part needing to exceed the end of the sounding component, which reduces the volume of the housing body and facilitates the miniaturized design of the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: AAC Microtech (Changzhou) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongjian Hu, Shuai Li
  • Patent number: 12003942
    Abstract: Electroacoustic drivers that can be utilized in loudspeaker systems that utilize drivers having a magnetic negative spring (MNS) (such as reluctance assist drivers (RAD) and permanent magnet crown (PMC) drivers). The electroacoustic drivers can be used at all audio frequencies, including subwoofer frequencies. The magnetic negative springs of the electroacoustic drivers can cancel, or partially cancel, the large pressure forces on a sound panel (of an audio speaker) so that substantial subwoofer notes can be efficiently and cost effectively produced in small/portable speakers. The electroacoustic drivers can include a stabilizing/centering mechanism to overcome the destabilizing forces of a MNS that are too large for a voice coil alone to produce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Brane Audio, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph F. Pinkerton, David A. Badger, James A. Andrews, William Martin Lackowski, William Neil Everett
  • Patent number: 12003930
    Abstract: A method and device for detecting acoustic feedback events with an artificial neural network in an in-ear earbud audio system that allows, by user interaction, playback of a recorded and processed signal from an environment-recording microphone by an in-ear speaker that faces or is at least acoustically coupled with the ear canal such that sound played by the speaker enters the ear canal. The audio system employs an acoustic seal that acoustically separates the speaker from the microphone, but due to external factors, the acoustical separation may not be adequate, thereby forming acoustic feedback paths. The neural network facilitates a binary classification of the time-wise segmented microphone signal, which is used to stop playback by the in-ear speaker if a feedback event is detected to protect the hearing of the user. Detection of a feedback event triggers an audible or wireless notification to be delivered to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas Damgaard, Pauline O'Callaghan
  • Patent number: 12003940
    Abstract: Electroacoustic drivers that can be utilized in loudspeaker systems that utilize drivers having a magnetic negative spring (MNS) (such as reluctance assist drivers (RAD) and permanent magnet crown (PMC) drivers). The electroacoustic drivers can be used at all audio frequencies, including subwoofer frequencies. The magnetic negative springs of the electroacoustic drivers can cancel, or partially cancel, the large pressure forces on a sound panel (of an audio speaker) so that substantial subwoofer notes can be efficiently and cost effectively produced in small/portable speakers. The electroacoustic drivers can include a stabilizing/centering mechanism to overcome the destabilizing forces of a MNS that are too large for a voice coil alone to produce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Brane Audio, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph F. Pinkerton, David A. Badger, James A. Andrews, William Martin Lackowski, William Neil Everett
  • Patent number: 11995242
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for detection of input to a wireless device, such as earbuds or other wearable devices, based on RF signals between the earbuds and/or between an earbud and other devices, such as a host device. For example, gestures may be detected using signal strength, such as by using a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), between two earbuds and/or between an earbud and a host device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Wenjing Su, Jiang Zhu
  • Patent number: 11991501
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for audio synchronization for hearing devices. An audio packet is received from a host device at a first hearing device configured to be worn in a first ear of a wearer, the audio packet compatible with a wireless low energy digital communication protocol, and the audio packet is received from the host device at a second hearing device configured to be worn in a second ear of the wearer. Upon one or more programmable conditions, a synchronization packet is sent from the first hearing device to the second hearing device. An acknowledgment packet is sent from the second hearing device to the first hearing device upon receipt of the synchronization packet, and a first transducer at the first hearing device and a second transducer at the second hearing device are unmuted to deliver synchronized audio to the first ear and to the second ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Chaitanya Jidge, Jacob Christian Kyro, Jeffrey Paul Solum
  • Patent number: 11979709
    Abstract: An earphone, including a sound production component; an ear-hook configured to place the sound production component near an ear canal without blocking an opening of the ear canal, at least a portion of the sound production component extends into a concha cavity; and a microphone assembly including a first microphone and a second microphone disposed in the sound production component or the ear hook, the sound production component or the ear hook includes a first sound hole and a second sound hole corresponding to the first microphone and the second microphone, respectively; wherein a projection of the first sound hole on a sagittal plane and a projection of the second sound hole on the sagittal plane have a first distance, a ratio of the first distance to a size of a projection of the sound production component on the sagittal plane along a major axis direction is 0.7-1.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, Peigeng Tong, Guolin Xie, Yongjian Li, Jiang Xu, Tao Zhao, Duoduo Wu, Ao Ji, Xin Qi
  • Patent number: 11978467
    Abstract: A speakerphone includes a processor, a memory device, a power management unit, a first microphone to receive audio waves, a second microphone to receive audio waves, and a third microphone to receive audio waves. The speakerphone may also include a digital signal processor (DSP) to detect a single-user mode activated at the speakerphone, process the audio waves received by the first microphone, second microphone, and third microphone to determine the wave phases of the audio waves received by the first microphone, second microphone, and third microphone, calculate a direction of a voice of a single user relative to the speakerphone; and process the voice of the single user and filter other voices detected by the first microphone, second microphone, and third microphone from the user's voice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: DELL PRODUCTS LP
    Inventors: Peng Lip Goh, Deeder M. Aurongzeb, Eng Kang Chng
  • Patent number: 11978427
    Abstract: A method for frequency tuning a set of plates of a watch. The plates are disposed one above the other forming a watch dial with a space defined between the plates. A mechanical shock to the set of plates is generated, and the vibration frequency of each plate is checked. The vibration frequency of at least one of the plates is matched if different from the other plate so as to obtain an identical vibration frequency for each plate in order to tune the plates at least according to the first vibration eigenmode so as to avoid any contact between the plates as a result of any mechanical shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Polychronis Nakis Karapatis, Younes Kadmiri
  • Patent number: 11979714
    Abstract: An integrated optical transducer for measuring displacement of a diaphragm comprises the diaphragm, a lens element and a substrate body having a waveguide structure and a coupling element. The diaphragm is arranged distant from the substrate body and substantially parallel to a main extension plane of the substrate body. The waveguide structure is configured to guide light from a light source to the coupling element and from the coupling element to a photodetector. The coupling element is configured to couple at least part of the light in the waveguide structure onto a light path between the coupling element and the diaphragm and to couple light reflected by a surface of the diaphragm from the light path into the waveguide structure. The lens element is arranged on the light path such that light on the light path passes through the lens element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Ronald Dekker, Rene Heideman, Arne Leinse, Catalin Lazar, Laurent Nevou, Colin Steele, Anderson Pires Singulani, Goran Stojanovic, Simon Mueller
  • Patent number: 11979701
    Abstract: Disclosed is an open earphone, comprising a sound production component and an ear hook. The ear hook may include a first portion and a second portion connected in sequence. The first portion may be hung between the auricle of a user and the head of the user, the second portion may extend toward a front outer side of the auricle and connect the sound production component, and the sound production component may be located close to the ear canal but not block the opening of the ear canal; wherein the sound production component and the auricle may have a first projection and a second projection on a sagittal plane, respectively, a centroid of the first projection may have a first distance from a highest point of the second projection in a vertical axis direction, a ratio of the first distance to a height of the second projection in the vertical axis direction may be within a range of 0.25-0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, Peigeng Tong, Guolin Xie, Yongjian Li, Jiang Xu, Tao Zhao, Duoduo Wu, Ao Ji, Xin Qi
  • Patent number: 11974092
    Abstract: A method for operating a bone conduction communication system can include establishing a communicable connection, operating a transducer in an input mode wherein the bone conduction transducers are configured to detect a vibration associated with a bone of the user; transmitting an audio signal over the communicable connection; and operating the transducers responsive to the audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Mobilus Labs Limited
    Inventor: Jordan McRae