Patents by Inventor Jack Van Doren Hough

Jack Van Doren Hough 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).

  • BONE CONDUCTING FLOATING MASS TRANSDUCERS
    Publication number: 20090253951
    Abstract: A floating mass transducer for assisting hearing in a person is provided. Inertial vibration in the floating mass transducer (100) produces vibrations in the inner ear. In an exemplary embodiment, the floating mass transducer comprises a magnet assembly (12) and a coil (14) secured inside a housing (10) which is attached to bone within the middle ear. The coil is more rigidly secured to the housing than the magnet. The magnet assembly and coil are configured such that conducting alternating electrical current through the coil results in vibration of the magnet assembly and coil relative to one another. The vibration is caused by the interaction of the magnetic fields of the magnet assembly and coil. Because the coil is more rigidly secured to the housing than the magnet assembly, the vibrations of the coil cause the housing to vibrate. The floating mass transducer may generate vibrations in the inner ear by being attached to the skull or through a mouthpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: VIBRANT MED-EL HEARING TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Geoffrey R. Ball, Kenneth J. Dormer, Jack Van Doren Hough, Gordon L. Richard, Christopher A. Julian
  • Bone conducting floating mass transducers
    Patent number: 5913815
    Abstract: A floating mass transducer for assisting hearing in a person is provided. Inertial vibration in the floating mass transducer (100) produces vibrations in the inner ear. In an exemplary embodiment, the floating mass transducer comprises a magnet assembly (12) and a coil (14) secured inside a housing (10) which is attached to bone within the middle ear. The coil is more rigidly secured to the housing than the magnet. The magnet assembly and coil are configured such that conducting alternating electrical current through the coil results in vibration of the magnet assembly and coil relative to one another. The vibration is caused by the interaction of the magnetic fields of the magnet assembly and coil. Because the coil is more rigidly secured to the housing than the magnet assembly, the vibrations of the coil cause the housing to vibrate. The floating mass transducer may generate vibrations in the inner ear by being attached to the skull or through a mouthpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Symphonix Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey R. Ball, Kenneth J. Dormer, Jack Van Doren Hough, Gordon L. Richard, Christopher A. Julian