Patents by Inventor Engbert Wilmink

Engbert Wilmink 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).

  • Patent number: 11804205
    Abstract: An injection moulded acoustic filter comprising a foil piece or filter structure having a plurality of micro-slits configured to act as acoustic channels through the foil piece for filtering sound waves impinging the foil piece. The micro-slits have a maximum slit width across a surface of the foil piece of less than one hundred micrometres and a combined slit length along the surface of the foil piece of at least five millimetres. An earplug comprising the acoustic filter. A method and mould for manufacturing the acoustic filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Pieter Gerard Van 'T Hof, Engbert Wilmink
  • Publication number: 20220349490
    Abstract: An acoustic device may include a housing; an acoustic channel for passing sound through the housing; a valve seat arranged in the acoustic channel; a valve member configured to control the passing of sound through the channel depending on a configuration of the valve member with respect to the valve seat; an actuator comprising a first SMA wire section and a second SMA wire section configured to actuate the valve member and to change a configuration of the valve member with respect to the valve seat from an open configuration to a closed configuration and vice versa, respectively, when activated; and a retention mechanism which is configured to provide a retention force for retaining the valve member in the closed configuration, wherein the retention force is configured to be overcome by the actuator such that the valve member is released from the closed configuration upon activation of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Anna Glazer, Krisztián Képíró, Engbert Wilmink, Nishant Shankar Lawand
  • Patent number: 11463803
    Abstract: An acoustic device is described that comprises an acoustic channel extending through its housing and an acoustic valve disposed in the acoustic channel. The acoustic valve is configured to determine a passage of sound through the housing via the acoustic channel. The acoustic valve comprises a deformable shape forming a deformable perimeter of the acoustic channel, and an actuating mechanism configured to exert an actuating force deforming the deformable shape causing the deformable perimeter to move and change the passage of sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Engbert Wilmink, Nishant Shankar Lawand, Krisztian Kepiro
  • Patent number: 11438709
    Abstract: An acoustic filter (100) comprises a filter housing (10) with an acoustic channel (11) and acoustic valve (20) in the channel. The acoustic valve (20) can be moved to along a trajectory (S) between positions (P1, P2). An actuator (30) is configured to actuate the acoustic valve (20) along the trajectory (S). The actuator (30) comprises one or more mechanical elements (31,32). The mechanical elements can move the acoustic valve (20) along at least an initial part of the trajectory. The actuator (30) comprises one or more magnetic elements (41, 42) with a magnetic field (M1,M2) configured to exert a magnetic force (Fm) on the acoustic valve (20). This may help to move the acoustic valve (20) to the second position (P2) along a final part of the trajectory and keep the acoustic valve (20) at the second position (P2). Accordingly the stroke of the valve can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Adrian Lara-Quintanilla, Pieter Gerard Van 'T Hof, Engbert Wilmink
  • Patent number: 11273076
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns an acoustic valve (10) for hearing protection. The valve (10) comprises a housing (1) that is placeable or integrated in an ear plug (100). The housing (1) comprises a sound passage (2) extending through the housing (1) for allowing at least partial transmission of sound from the external surroundings (11) into the auditory canal (13). The housing comprises an impulse filter (3) comprising a rigid plate (4). The rigid plate (4) forms an enclosed volume (12) within the sound passage (2) of the valve. The rigid plate (4) comprises at least one perforation (5) for passing part of the sound from the external surroundings (11) via the perforation (5) into the enclosed volume (12). The housing further comprises an acoustic filter (6) comprising a mesh (7) arranged in the sound passage (2) between the rigid plate (4) and the auditory canal (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Pieter Gerard van't Hof, Engbert Wilmink
  • Patent number: 11266532
    Abstract: An acoustic filter including a valve system with acoustic valves arranged in a sound passage for controlling the acoustic resistance of respective apertures based on a control signal for selecting an attenuation of a sound pressure level of transmitted sound compared to that of received sound. The acoustic filter is adapted to provide the selection of the attenuation from a sequence of predetermined attenuations based on a selection of the control signal. Each attenuation in the sequence corresponds to acoustic valves providing the apertures with a respective predetermined acoustic resistance, wherein the acoustic resistances of subsequent attenuations in the sequence are adapted to correspond with a linear increase or decrease in the attenuation of the sound in decibels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Pieter Gerard Van 'T Hof, Adrián Lara-Quintanilla, Engbert Wilmink
  • Publication number: 20210409874
    Abstract: An acoustic filter (100) comprises a filter housing (10) with an acoustic channel (11) and acoustic valve (20) in the channel The acoustic valve (20) can be moved to along a trajectory (S) between positions (P1, P2). An actuator (30) is configured to actuate the acoustic valve (20) along the trajectory (S). The actuator (30) comprises one or more mechanical elements (31,32). The mechanical elements can move the acoustic valve (20) along at least an initial part of the trajectory. The actuator (30) comprises one or more magnetic elements (41, 42) with a magnetic field (M1,M2) configured to exert a magnetic force (Fm) on the acoustic valve (20). This may help to move the acoustic valve (20) to the second position (P2) along a final part of the trajectory and keep the acoustic valve (20) at the second position (P2). Accordingly the stroke of the valve can be enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Adrian LARA-QUINTANILLA, Pieter Gerard VAN 'T HOF, Engbert WILMINK
  • Publication number: 20210227315
    Abstract: An acoustic device is described that comprises an acoustic channel extending through its housing and an acoustic valve disposed in the acoustic channel. The acoustic valve is configured to determine a passage of sound through the housing via the acoustic channel. The acoustic valve comprises a deformable shape forming a deformable perimeter of the acoustic channel, and an actuating mechanism configured to exert an actuating force deforming the deformable shape causing the deformable perimeter to move and change the passage of sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Engbert WILMINK, Nishant Shankar LAWAND, Krisztian KEPIRO
  • Publication number: 20200352788
    Abstract: An acoustic filter including a valve system with acoustic valves arranged in a sound passage for controlling the acoustic resistance of respective apertures based on a control signal for selecting an attenuation of a sound pressure level of transmitted sound compared to that of received sound. The acoustic filter is adapted to provide the selection of the attenuation from a sequence of predetermined attenuations based on a selection of the control signal. Each attenuation in the sequence corresponds to acoustic valves providing the apertures with a respective predetermined acoustic resistance, wherein the acoustic resistances of subsequent attenuations in the sequence are adapted to correspond with a linear increase or decrease in the attenuation of the sound in decibels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Pieter Gerard VAN 'T HOF, Adrián LARA-QUINTANILLA, Engbert WILMINK
  • Publication number: 20180277087
    Abstract: An injection moulded acoustic filter comprising a foil piece or filter structure having a plurality of micro-slits configured to act as acoustic channels through the foil piece for filtering sound waves impinging the foil piece. The micro-slits have a maximum slit width across a surface of the foil piece of less than one hundred micrometres and a combined slit length along the surface of the foil piece of at least five millimetres. An earplug comprising the acoustic filter. A method and mould for manufacturing the acoustic filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Pieter Gerard VAN 'T HOF, Engbert WILMINK
  • Patent number: 9930454
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a method for determining a mold shape quality (Q) of an ear mold (2) customized to an ear canal (31) of a user by means of a mold testing system (100). The mold testing system (100) comprises an acoustic generator (3) and a microphone (4) arranged in a test housing (1) with an open end (1c) that is connectable to an inner passage (2c) of the custom ear mold (2). The method comprises inserting the ear mold (2) into the ear canal (31); connecting the test housing (1) to the ear mold (2); generating an acoustic signal (Sg) into the ear canal (31) via the inner passage (2c); measuring the acoustic signal (Sr) from the ear canal (31); comparing the measured signal (Sm) with a reference signal (Se); and providing a feedback signal (Sf) based on the said comparison. The feedback signal (Sf) is a measure for the mold shape quality (Q) of the custom ear mold (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: DYNAMIC EAR COMPANY B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Gerard van't Hof, Engbert Wilmink
  • Publication number: 20170202710
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns an acoustic valve (10) for hearing protection. The valve (10) comprises a housing (1) that is placeable or integrated in an ear plug (100). The housing (1) comprises a sound passage (2) extending through the housing (1) for allowing at least partial transmission of sound from the external surroundings (11) into the auditory canal (13). The housing comprises an impulse filter (3) comprising a rigid plate (4). The rigid plate (4) forms an enclosed volume (12) within the sound passage (2) of the valve. The rigid plate (4) comprises at least one perforation (5) for passing part of the sound from the external surroundings (11) via the perforation (5) into the enclosed volume (12). The housing further comprises an acoustic filter (6) comprising a mesh (7) arranged in the sound passage (2) between the rigid plate (4) and the auditory canal (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Pieter Gerard van 't Hof, Engbert Wilmink
  • Publication number: 20160241967
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a method for determining a mould shape quality (Q) of an ear mould (2) customized to an ear canal (31) of a user by means of a mould testing system (100). The mould testing system (100) comprises an acoustic generator (3) and a microphone (4) arranged in a test housing (1) with an open end (1c) that is connectable to an inner passage (2c) of the custom ear mould (2). The method comprises inserting the ear mould (2) into the ear canal (31); connecting the test housing (1) to the ear mould (2); generating an acoustic signal (Sg) into the ear canal (31) via the inner passage (2c); measuring the acoustic signal (Sr) from the ear canal (31); comparing the measured signal (Sm) with a reference signal (Se); and providing a feedback signal (Sf) based on the said comparison. The feedback signal (Sf) is a measure for the mould shape quality (Q) of the custom ear mould (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Pieter Gerard van 't Hof, Engbert Wilmink
  • Patent number: 8689931
    Abstract: An ear protector (1) with a sound damping filter (3), comprises a membrane (5). The membrane is composed of a material that permits the transmission of air and water vapor with respect to the ear from the into the outside of the ear protector, the membrane is pre stressed mounted in the filter, enabling a bigger surface and hence bigger air and water transport at same sound attenuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Dynamic Ear Company B.V.
    Inventor: Engbert Wilmink
  • Publication number: 20130126262
    Abstract: An ear protector (1) with a sound damping filter (3), comprises a membrane (5). The membrane is composed of a material that permits the transmission of air and water vapour with respect to the ear from the into the outside of the ear protector, the membrane is pre stressed mounted in the filter, enabling a bigger surface and hence bigger air and water transport at same sound attenuation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: DYNAMIC EAR COMPANY B.V.
    Inventor: Engbert Wilmink
  • Patent number: 8155338
    Abstract: An earplug is described for insertion in an auditory duct. The earplug includes a loudspeaker for connection to a playback device. When inserted in a user's ear, the loudspeaker is in acoustic communication with the ear's canal. A transmitter is provided that transmits ambient sound to the ear canal with an adjustable damping level. A regulating unit regulates a damping level depending on detection of control signals to the loudspeaker. When the user does not listen to, for instance, music of the playback device, the user can simply observe ambient sounds without removing the earplug from the ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Dynamic Ear Company B.V.
    Inventor: Engbert Wilmink
  • Patent number: 7783056
    Abstract: Earplug comprising a plug member for blocking a man's ear canal, said plug member comprising at least one acoustic channel for channeling incoming acoustic energy to said man's ear. According to the invention, a detector for detecting an acoustic energy level or for detecting a control signal that is indicative for an acoustic energy level to be received, an acoustic valve positioned in said channel, and a control unit that, in response to said detector, controls said valve so as to attenuate the acoustic energy channeled through said acoustic channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventor: Engbert Wilmink
  • Patent number: 7706561
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for manufacturing an electroacoustic transducer for, for instance, a hearing aid, with a diaphragm arranged in a housing. The diaphragm is attached onto a film or punched from a sheet of material, such that along the circumferential edge of the diaphragm, a free strip of film or a strip of material remains present, in a capillary space between the circumferential edge of the film and the inner wall of the housing, or in a capillary space between the diaphragm and the strip of material, a polymer of a low viscosity is provided to connect to diaphragm with the housing wall. Through the method, the production of the transducer is greatly simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Engbert Wilmink, Aart Zeger van Halteren, Hendrik Dolleman, Paul Christiaan van Hal
  • Publication number: 20090220103
    Abstract: An earplug is described for insertion in an auditory duct. The earplug includes a loudspeaker for connection to a playback device. When inserted in a user's ear, the loudspeaker is in acoustic communication with the ear's canal. A transmitter is provided that transmits ambient sound to the ear canal with an adjustable damping level. A regulating unit regulates a damping level depending on detection of control signals to the loudspeaker. When the user does not listen to, for instance, music of the playback device, the user can simply observe ambient sounds without removing the earplug from the ear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: DYNAMIC EAR COMPANY B.V.
    Inventor: Engbert Wilmink
  • Publication number: 20070086599
    Abstract: Earplug comprising a plug member for blocking a man's ear canal, said plug member comprising at least one acoustic channel for channeling incoming acoustic energy to said man's ear. According to the invention, a detector for detecting an acoustic energy level or for detecting a control signal that is indicative for an acoustic energy level to be received, an acoustic valve positioned in said channel, and a control unit that, in response to said detector, controls said valve so as to attenuate the acoustic energy channeled through said acoustic channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Applicant: Nederlandse Organisatic voortoegepastnatuurweten- schappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventor: Engbert Wilmink