Patents by Inventor Joan Phillips Waldron

Joan Phillips Waldron 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: 9301066
    Abstract: Disclosed is an auditory comprehension and audibility device that assists users in hearing and comprehending auditory signals. The auditory comprehension and audibility device includes a magnetostrictive pad and a multi-turn coil that is disposed on the magnetostrictive pad. The multi-turn coil is electrically isolated from other devices, such as a speaker. An optional permanent magnet can also be placed on the magnetostrictive pad, which may help increase audibility of said auditory signals. The auditory comprehension and audibility device can be used in mobile phone covers, head phones, hearing aids and other devices that are used for hearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Brain Basket, LLC
    Inventors: Joan Billger Burleigh, Joan Phillips Waldron
  • Patent number: 8923535
    Abstract: Disclosed is hearing device that uses magnetostrictive materials to assist a user in hearing and comprehending sounds. Conductive coils are made with a magnetostrictive covering that can comprise a film or other coating. In addition, printed circuit boards can be used with traces that form a coil to generate a magnetic field that activates a magnetostrictive film disposed over the coil traces on the printed circuit board. Enhanced effects are achieved using these systems. Delays in the signal processing can also be introduced by varying the thickness of the magnetostrictive coverings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Brain Basket, LLC
    Inventors: Joan Billger Burleigh, Joan Phillips Waldron
  • Patent number: 8363862
    Abstract: Disclosed is hearing device that uses magnetostrictive materials to assist a user in hearing and comprehending sounds. Conductive coils are made with a magnetostrictive covering that can comprise a film or other coating. In addition, printed circuit boards can be used with traces that form a coil to generate a magnetic field that activates a magnetostrictive film disposed over the coil traces on the printed circuit board. Enhanced effects are achieved using these systems. Delays in the signal processing can also be introduced by varying the thickness of the magnetostrictive coverings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Brain Basket, LLC
    Inventors: Joan Billger Burleigh, Joan Phillips Waldron
  • Publication number: 20120099747
    Abstract: An audio signal system is provided having, in one embodiment, a magnetostrictive core of varying shapes, sizes, and permeability. The core is wound with a wire, thereby forming an inductor for producing a magnetic field when current is passed through the wire. A speaker, or other audio output device, is positioned in parallel or series with the inductor. In operation, an audio signal is received and transmitted to the speaker or other audio output device, wherein a replication of the received signal is produced. An output of the magnetostrictive inductor couples with the replicated audio signal to modify and enhance the quality of the projected signal. In yet another embodiment, digital signal processing may be used to modify the received signal as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Joan Phillips Waldron, Joan Billger Burleigh, Brett William Jelkin
  • Patent number: 8014552
    Abstract: An improved communication coupling device having a coupler coil with about 125 turns of wire about a bar-shaped core for use with a hearing aid having a hearing aid coil to accommodate individuals with various degrees of hearing loss to use a sound generation device such as a telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Able Blanet, Incorporated
    Inventor: Joan Phillips Waldron
  • Patent number: 7978867
    Abstract: An audio signal system is provided having, in one embodiment, a magnetostrictive core of varying shapes, sizes, and permeability. The core is wound with a wire, thereby forming an inductor for producing a magnetic field when current is passed through the wire. A speaker, or other audio output device, is positioned in parallel or series with the inductor. In operation, an audio signal is received and transmitted to the speaker or other audio output device, wherein a replication of the received signal is produced. An output of the magnetostrictive inductor couples with the replicated audio signal to modify and enhance the quality of the projected signal. In yet another embodiment, digital signal processing may be used to modify the received signal as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Able Planet, Incorporated
    Inventors: Joan Phillips Waldron, Joan Billger Burleigh, Brett William Jelkin
  • Patent number: 7657049
    Abstract: An improved telephone handset for hearing-impaired persons. A passive device, in the form of an inductor wound about a highly magnetostrictive core, is connected with the speaker in the handset. The device has been found to improve intelligibility of speech delivered by the handset, when perceived by persons afflicted with certain types of hearing impairment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Able Planet, Incorporated
    Inventors: Joan Phillips Waldron, Brett William Jelkin, Joan Billger Burleigh
  • Publication number: 20100008524
    Abstract: Disclosed is hearing device that uses magnetostrictive materials to assist a user in hearing and comprehending sounds. Conductive coils are made with a magnetostrictive covering that can comprise a film or other coating. In addition, printed circuit boards can be used with traces that form a coil to generate a magnetic field that activates a magnetostrictive film disposed over the coil traces on the printed circuit board. Enhanced effects are achieved using these systems. Delays in the signal processing can also be introduced by varying the thickness of the magnetostrictive coverings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: Brain Basket, LLC
    Inventors: Joan Billger Burleigh, Joan Phillips Waldron
  • Patent number: 7584010
    Abstract: An improved telephone handset for hearing-impaired persons. A passive device, in the form of an inductor wound about a highly magnetostrictive core, is connected with the speaker in the handset. The device has been found to improve intelligibility of speech delivered by the handset, when perceived by persons afflicted with certain types of hearing impairment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Able Planet, Incorporated
    Inventors: Joan Phillips Waldron, Brett William Jelkin
  • Publication number: 20080056521
    Abstract: An improved communication coupling device having a coupler coil with about 125 turns of wire about a bar-shaped core for use with a hearing aid having a hearing aid coil to accommodate individuals with various degrees of hearing loss to use a sound generation device such as a telephone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventor: Joan Phillips Waldron
  • Patent number: 7317807
    Abstract: An improved communication coupling device having a coupler coil with about 125 turns of wire about a core having a hole for use with a hearing aid having a hearing aid coil to accommodate individuals with various degrees of hearing loss to use a sound generation device such as a telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Able Planet, Inc.
    Inventor: Joan Phillips Waldron
  • Patent number: 6925179
    Abstract: An audio coupler device for communication with a T-coil in a hearing aid is described to fit inside the receiver section of a handset as defined. The coupler device is so mounted inside the receiver section as to provide strong inductive coupling with a T-coil inside the hearing aid to deliver audio signals from the handset to the person wearing the hearing aid. The coupler device has a coil and a magnetic core that is preferably formed of a ferromagnetic material and a capacitor is placed in series with the coil. The coupler device in turn is connected in series with the speaker so as to reduce loading of circuitry inside the handset and driving the speaker. The coupler device can be mounted in many different handset devices and is preferably mounted to concentrate an audio inductive field at the T-coil in a hearing aid worn by a person using the handset device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: New World Sounds, Inc.
    Inventors: Joan Phillips Waldron, Grace M. Scireā€², Jacob Segovia
  • Publication number: 20040252812
    Abstract: An improved telephone handset for hearing-impaired persons. A passive device, in the form of an inductor wound about a highly magnetostrictive core, is connected with the speaker in the handset. The device has been found to improve intelligibility of speech delivered by the handset, when perceived by persons afflicted with certain types of hearing impairment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Joan Phillips Waldron, Brett William Jelkin
  • Publication number: 20010055386
    Abstract: An audio coupler device for communication with a T-coil in a hearing aid is described to fit inside the receiver section of a handset as defined. The coupler device is so mounted inside the receiver section as to provide strong inductive coupling with a T-coil inside the hearing aid to deliver audio signals from the handset to the person wearing the hearing aid. The coupler device has a coil and a magnetic core that is preferably formed of a ferromagnetic material and a capacitor is placed in series with the coil. The coupler device in turn is connected in series with the speaker so as to reduce loading of circuitry inside the handset and driving the speaker. The coupler device can be mounted in many different handset devices and is preferably mounted to concentrate an audio inductive field at the T-coil in a hearing aid worn by a person using the handset device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventors: Joan Phillips Waldron, Grace M. Scire', Jacob Segovia
  • Patent number: 6320959
    Abstract: A hearing aid telephone interconnect system for permitting hearing impaired persons to use conventional telephone instruments employs a T-coupler adapted to hook over the ear of a user of a conventional behind-the-hear, in-the-ear, or eyeglass hearing aid of the type employing an input T-coil. The T-coupler, as well as the telephone base unit and the telephone receiver, are connected to an adaptor box that permits switching the telephone receiver signal between the telephone receiver and the T-coupler to permit use of the telephone by persons with and without hearing impairment. When interfacing the T-coupler to cellular telephones and princess style landline telephones in which the touchtone keypad and receiver form an integrated unit, the adaptor box may be eliminated because switching of the receiver signal is not necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventors: Shirley Aline Crouch, James D. Potter, Joan Phillips Waldron
  • Patent number: 5796821
    Abstract: A hearing aid telephone interconnect system for permitting hearing impaired persons to use conventional telephone instruments employs a T-coupler adapted to hook over the ear of a user of a conventional behind-the-hear, in-the-ear, or eyeglass hearing aid of the type employing an input T-coil. The T-coupler, as well as the telephone base unit and the telephone receiver, are connected to an adaptor box that permits switching the telephone receiver signal between the telephone receiver and the T-coupler to permit use of the telephone by persons with and without hearing impairment. When interfacing the T-coupler to cellular telephones and princess style landline telephones in which the touchtone keypad and receiver form an integrated unit, the adaptor box may be eliminated because switching of the receiver signal is not necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Inventors: Shirley Aline Crouch, James D. Potter, Joan Phillips Waldron