Patents by Inventor Adrianus Maria Lafort

Adrianus Maria Lafort has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240088839
    Abstract: An amplifier for a dual backplate MEMS microphone comprising at least a first source follower which has a gate for connection to a first backplate of the dual backplate MEMS microphone, and a load circuit connected to a source of the first source follower which provides an output signal of the filter, which filter comprises a second source follower connected to a second backplate of the dual backplate MEMS microphone, and a distortion detection circuit which is connected to the source of the first source follower and to the source of the second source follower for measuring distortion of the output signal at the source of the first source follower, wherein said distortion detection circuit is connected to a correctional circuit that drives at least a first bias current source for the first source follower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventor: Adrianus Maria LAFORT
  • Publication number: 20240022858
    Abstract: The invention relates to a moveable element for a transducer, said moveable element being arranged to be moved indirectly or directly by a driving means of said transducer, said moveable element being arranged for outputting acoustic energy or for moving an outputting means for outputting said acoustic energy that is operatively coupled to said moveable element, wherein said moveable element comprises at least one sensor for sensing at least one parameter of the moveable element and/or of a volume defined by a housing of the transducer. The invention further relates to a transducer comprising such a moveable element and an in-ear device comprising such a transducer. The invention further relates to a method for determining the occurrence of a condition in such a transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: SONION NEDERLAND BV
    Inventors: Dion Ivo DE ROO, Michele COLLOCA, Adrianus Maria LAFORT
  • Publication number: 20220169499
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a micro-electromechanical transducer comprising a pressure detecting arrangement adapted to detect generated pressure variations, and provide an output signal in response to the detected pressure variations, wherein the pressure detecting arrangement comprises a microphone cartridge and a signal processing unit; a pressure generating arrangement adapted to generate pressure variations in response to vibrations thereof; and a volume separating element comprising one or more openings, wherein the microphone cartridge is at least partly arranged in a first opening of the volume separating element in order to reduce the overall height of the micro-electromechanical transducer. The present invention further relates to a hearing device comprising a micro-electromechanical transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicant: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Adrianus Maria LAFORT, Rasmus VOSS
  • Patent number: 11051107
    Abstract: A miniature receiver including a first moveable diaphragm being acoustically connected to an intermediate volume, and a second moveable diaphragm being acoustically connected to the intermediate volume and a rear volume. The acoustic compliance of the intermediate volume is smaller than the acoustic compliances of the respective first and second moveable diaphragms. An associated method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Adrianus Maria Lafort, Rasmus Voss, Dennis Jacobus Mattheus Mocking
  • Patent number: 10951169
    Abstract: An amplifier with two parallel coupled amplifier units with inverse characteristics and in particular to the parallel coupling of a sourcing limited amplifier unit and a sinking limited amplifier unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventor: Adrianus Maria Lafort
  • Patent number: 10904671
    Abstract: A miniature speaker having at least a first and a second resonance in its frequency response. The miniature speaker includes a diaphragm for generating sound pressure waves in response to electrical drive signals, one or more sound channels at least partly surrounding a total air volume forming an acoustical mass, and one or more intermediate air volumes being acoustically connected to the one or more sound channels. The acoustical mass provides that the second resonance in the frequency response of the miniature speaker is positioned within an audible range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Adrianus Maria Lafort, Rasmus Voss, Dennis Jacobus Mattheus Mocking
  • Patent number: 10887705
    Abstract: A method for controlling a controllable acoustic valve of a hearing device. The valve includes a moveable valve element adapted to be positioned in one of at least two essentially stable states. The moveable valve element is configured to be maintained in each of the essentially stable states by a retention force. A neutral point with essentially cancelling retention forces exists between the least two essentially stable states. The method includes providing a first drive signal to the controllable acoustic valve to overcome a retention force of a first essentially stable state in order to initiate movement of the moveable valve element from the first essentially stable state to a second essentially stable state. The provided first drive signal is capable of bringing the moveable valve element from the first essentially stable state and beyond a neutral point between the first and second essentially stable states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: SONION NEDERLAND B.V.
    Inventors: Adrianus Maria Lafort, Caspar Titus Bolsman, René Maas, Theodorus Geradus Maria Brouwer, Yang Gao
  • Patent number: 10656006
    Abstract: A sensing system with an AC feedback to the non-signal and non-biased terminal of the transducer. An impedance element, such as two anti-parallel diodes, are provided at the amplifier input, and the amplifier gain is negative and has a size sufficient to ensure that the input on the one terminal does not exceed the forward voltage of the diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventor: Adrianus Maria Lafort
  • Publication number: 20200028470
    Abstract: An amplifier with two parallel coupled amplifier units with inverse characteristics and in particular to the parallel coupling of a sourcing limited amplifier unit and a sinking limited amplifier unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventor: Adrianus Maria Lafort
  • Publication number: 20190379978
    Abstract: A miniature receiver including a first moveable diaphragm being acoustically connected to an intermediate volume, and a second moveable diaphragm being acoustically connected to the intermediate volume and a rear volume. The acoustic compliance of the intermediate volume is smaller than the acoustic compliances of the respective first and second moveable diaphragms. An associated method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Adrianus Maria Lafort, Rasmus Voss, Dennis Jacobus Mattheus Mocking
  • Publication number: 20190268701
    Abstract: A miniature speaker having at least a first and a second resonance in its frequency response. The miniature speaker includes a diaphragm for generating sound pressure waves in response to electrical drive signals, one or more sound channels at least partly surrounding a total air volume forming an acoustical mass, and one or more intermediate air volumes being acoustically connected to the one or more sound channels. The acoustical mass provides that the second resonance in the frequency response of the miniature speaker is positioned within an audible range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Adrianus Maria Lafort, Rasmus Voss, Dennis Jacobus Mattheus Mocking
  • Publication number: 20190246219
    Abstract: A method for controlling a controllable acoustic valve of a hearing device. The valve includes a moveable valve element adapted to be positioned in one of at least two essentially stable states. The moveable valve element is configured to be maintained in each of the essentially stable states by a retention force. A neutral point with essentially cancelling retention forces exists between the least two essentially stable states. The method includes providing a first drive signal to the controllable acoustic valve to overcome a retention force of a first essentially stable state in order to initiate movement of the moveable valve element from the first essentially stable state to a second essentially stable state. The provided first drive signal is capable of bringing the moveable valve element from the first essentially stable state and beyond a neutral point between the first and second essentially stable states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Adrianus Maria Lafort, Caspar Titus Bolsman, René Maas, Theodorus Geradus Maria Brouwer, Yang Gao
  • Patent number: 10349170
    Abstract: Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors and related bias voltage techniques are described. Exemplary MEMS sensors, such as exemplary MEMS acoustic sensors or microphones described herein can employ one or more bias voltage generators and single-ended or differential amplifier arrangements. Various embodiments are described that can effectively increase the bias voltage available to the sensor element without resorting to high breakdown voltage semiconductor processes. In addition, control of the one or more bias voltage generators in various operating modes is described, based on consideration of a number of factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventors: Kieran Harney, Adrianus Maria Lafort, Brian Moss, Dion Ivo De Roo
  • Patent number: 10327072
    Abstract: A phase correcting system for connection with a transducer. The phase correction may take place before amplifying the output of the transducer. The phase correction system comprises a circuit configured to low-pass filter an input and feed the output to the non-signal terminal of the transducer. This circuit may comprise a transconductance amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Adrianus Maria Lafort, Dion Ivo de Roo
  • Patent number: 10264361
    Abstract: An assembly including a transducer, such as a capacitive transducer, a vibration sensor or a microphone, and an amplifier for receiving and amplifying an output of the transducer, where the amplifier is supplied with a voltage being at least 60% of a voltage corresponding to an electrical field between two elements of the transducer. When the transducer is a biased transducer, the amplifier is supplied with a voltage being at least 60% of a biasing voltage of the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Adrianus Maria Lafort, Aart Zeger van Halteren
  • Patent number: 10243521
    Abstract: A system including a transducer and an amplifier as well as a circuit which always has a high impedance at low voltages. In addition, at high voltages, the circuit has a high impedance at high frequencies but a low impedance at low frequencies. In biased transducers, this circuit may be used between the charge pump and the transducer. In general, the circuit may be provided in a signal path between the transducer and the amplifier. The circuit has as an advantage that at startup, low frequency signals at high intensities may overload the amplifier, whereas at operation, higher frequency signals are desired fed to the amplifier at the same intensity. This is facilitated by the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Adrianus Maria Lafort, Michiel van Nieuwkerk
  • Patent number: 10206047
    Abstract: Improving noise rejection of a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) microphone by utilizing a membrane sandwiched between oppositely biased backplates is presented herein. The MEMS microphone can comprise a diaphragm that converts an acoustic pressure into an electrical signal; a first backplate capacitively coupled to a first side of the diaphragm—the first backplate biased at a first direct current (DC) voltage; a second backplate capacitively coupled to a second side of the diaphragm—the second backplate biased at a second DC voltage; and an electronic amplifier that buffers the electrical signal to generate a buffered output signal representing the acoustic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventors: Kieran Harney, Adrianus Maria Lafort, Brian Moss, Dion Ivo De Roo
  • Publication number: 20180332390
    Abstract: Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors and related bias voltage techniques are described. Exemplary MEMS sensors, such as exemplary MEMS acoustic sensors or microphones described herein can employ one or more bias voltage generators and single-ended or differential amplifier arrangements. Various embodiments are described that can effectively increase the bias voltage available to the sensor element without resorting to high breakdown voltage semiconductor processes. In addition, control of the one or more bias voltage generators in various operating modes is described, based on consideration of a number of factors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Kieran Harney, Adrianus Maria Lafort, Brian Moss, Dion Ivo De Roo
  • Patent number: 10045121
    Abstract: Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors and related bias voltage techniques are described. Exemplary MEMS sensors, such as exemplary MEMS acoustic sensors or microphones described herein can employ one or more bias voltage generators and single-ended or differential amplifier arrangements. Various embodiments are described that can effectively increase the bias voltage available to the sensor element without resorting to high breakdown voltage semiconductor processes. In addition, control of the one or more bias voltage generators in various operating modes is described, based on consideration of a number of factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Invensense, Inc.
    Inventors: Kieran Harney, Adrianus Maria Lafort, Brian Moss, Dion Ivo De Roo
  • Patent number: 10009693
    Abstract: A receiver including a housing defining a chamber, and a motor assembly that includes a magnet assembly and an armature. The receiver includes a diaphragm operationally attached to the armature. The motor assembly is attached to the housing by a movable suspension structure. A method of reducing vibrations includes providing a housing defining a chamber, providing a motor assembly including a magnet assembly and an armature, providing a diaphragm, providing a movable suspension structure, attaching the diaphragm to the armature, and attaching the motor assembly to an inner wall of the housing by the movable suspension structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Aart Zeger van Halteren, Adrianus Maria Lafort, Rasmus Voss, Caspar Titus Bolsman, Andreas Tiefenau, Paul Christiaan van Hal