Auditory Canal Insert Patents (Class 181/130)
  • Patent number: 9813807
    Abstract: An ear-canal earpiece having an electroacoustic sound transducer, a sound guide unit having a first and a second end for guiding the sound from the electroacoustic sound transducer to an ear of a user and at least one portion. The ear canal earpiece has a canal having a first end open towards the ear canal and a second outwardly open end. A diaphragm is provided in the canal and extends over the entire cross-section of the canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Heinz Epping
  • Patent number: 9794675
    Abstract: A circuit assembly (600) includes a printed circuit board assembly (100). The printed circuit board assembly includes a first circuit board (101), a second circuit board (102), and a first flexible substrate (103) interposed between, and continuous with, the first circuit board and the second circuit board. A second flexible substrate (108) extends from, and is continuous with, the second circuit board. One or more electronic circuits comprising electronic components (301,302,303,304,305) are disposed along one or more of the first circuit board or the second circuit board. The printed circuit board assembly is folded about a battery (601), with the first circuit board adjacent to the first major face, the second circuit board adjacent to the second major face, and the first flexible substrate spanning the one or more side faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Ryan P. Rye, Christopher B. Houghton, Hae Rim Jeong, Peter Nanni, Peter M. Pavlov, Martin H. Ramsden
  • Patent number: 9788094
    Abstract: A wireless earpiece may include a local memory for storing audio files that can be played back by the user. The wireless earpiece may fit entirely within the user's ear canal. Audio files, for example music files, may be loaded on the wireless earpiece by docking the wireless earpiece with a mobile device, which includes a larger memory storing the user's library of music files. The stored audio files may be received from a mobile device that were automatically selected from a library of music files by the mobile device without intervention from the user. To provide stereo sound, two wireless earpieces may be worn by the user and docked separately with the mobile device. Each of the two wireless earpieces may store a single channel of an audio file, which is separated by the mobile device during synchronization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric J. Swanson
  • Patent number: 9724241
    Abstract: A novel hearing aid allowing the user to clearly hear necessary sounds while cutting off noises is provided. The hearing aid includes a cylindrical body to be inserted into the external auditory meatus. The body has an outer surface of such a shape that when the body is inserted into the external auditory meatus, the outer surface substantially sticks firmly to the inner wall of the external auditory meatus. The body has an opening on its insertion end and another opening on its end opposite to the insertion end, both openings communicating without a substantially tapered portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Inventor: Moritaka Ogura
  • Patent number: 9661426
    Abstract: A hearing aid having a hearing aid housing, includes: a microphone; a processing unit configured to process an audio signal for compensating a hearing loss of a user; a battery provided closer to a second end of the hearing aid housing than to a first end of the hearing aid housing; one or more wireless communication units for wireless communication; at least a part of a first antenna for electromagnetic field emission and/or electromagnetic field reception, the at least a part of the first antenna being interconnected with one of the one or more wireless communication units; and a second antenna for electromagnetic field emission and/or electromagnetic field reception, the second antenna being interconnected with one of the one or more wireless communication units; wherein the second antenna is between a center axis of the battery and the second end of the hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: GN Hearing A/S
    Inventor: Sinasi Ozden
  • Patent number: 9629575
    Abstract: A filter device for a hearing test probe and a method of manufacturing a filter device are disclosed. The filter device extends along a center axis in a first direction from a first end to a second end. The filter device comprising: a first part having a first filter structure, a second part having a second filter structure, a first channel extending along the center axis. The first part and second part are joined together, and the first filter structure and the second filter structure define a filter element with a first set of filter openings for the first channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Natus Medical Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas Geertsen
  • Patent number: 9628895
    Abstract: An animal headphone apparatus is a modified headphone device specifically suited for use with dogs, so that an owner may allow their dog or other pet to listen to music, or the owner may use the headphones to command, train or monitor their pet. A first earpiece and a second earpiece are oriented inward and downward to account for the substantially vertical structure of a canine ear canal. A chipset and a power source provide capability for several features, including an integrated music player, at least one camera, a microphone, a vibration producing device, a global positioning system device, and at least one digital display for video viewing by the dog or other pet. A wireless communication device allows a user to control the various features through a smart phone or remote control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Inventor: Lalkrushna Malaviya
  • Patent number: 9566023
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an earphone apparatus adapted for use in audiometry examinations. The earphone apparatus comprises a housing and a receiver having an acoustic output adapted to connect with an audio signal source. The earphone apparatus can also include a circuit board with an electrical equalization network connected to the receiver. A coupling can be connected to the acoustic output of the receiver. A sound tube can be connected to the acoustic output and extends out from the housing to an ear piece. The earphone also includes a resonance cancellation assembly comprising a damping chamber and a tubing section acoustically connecting the damping chamber to the coupling. The damping chamber can provide an acoustic compliance to the sound delivered by the receiver. The earphone can also comprise an electrical connector with a protector that is adapted to connect with a female connector delivering electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: ETYMOTIC RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Mead C. Killion, Charles J. Aldous, Viorel Drambarean, Donald Wilson, Jonathan K. Stewart
  • Patent number: 9555243
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of calibrating a cochlea implant and present disclosure relates to a cochlea implant. Further, the present disclosure relates to use of cochlea implants and use of calibration method for cochlea implants. The methods, uses, and implants of the present disclosure provides improved auditory experience for the users of cochlea implants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: OTICON MEDICAL A/S
    Inventors: Niels Henrik Pontoppidan, Morten Eduard Hartvig, Filip Marchman Rønne
  • Patent number: 9538281
    Abstract: An earbud adapter or in-ear monitor includes an Ear Interface that fits the human ear and further permits the wearer of these devices to adjust parameters of the fit. In additional aspects, the Ear Interface portion of these devices permits the user to adjust the transmission of ambient sound. The Ear Interface portion also allows the user to change ornamentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Seth D. Burgett, Richard J. Daniels, Melvin Joshua Leedle
  • Patent number: 9538272
    Abstract: An acoustically permeable material is disposed within an aperture of an electronic device to provide aesthetic appeal for the electronic device and protection for an acoustic device mounted within the electronic device. A stiffener is used in conjunction with the acoustically permeable material to improve its ability to resist permanent mechanical deformation from external forces. In some embodiments the stiffener may have multiple cavities enabling improved isolation between multiple acoustic devices within the same aperture. Other methods of employing acoustically permeable materials are disclosed that improve the aesthetic appeal, acoustic performance and/or manufacturability of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Martin J. Auclair, Jared M. Kole, Ashutosh Y. Shukla, Scott A. Myers, David A. Pakula, Marwan Rammah
  • Patent number: 9491533
    Abstract: An earphone device includes a housing having a driver unit, and a sound guide tube mounted on a front surface of the housing to protrude from the front surface, in which the sound guide tube is disposed at a position deviated from a center position of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Matsuo, Takashi Ohta, Koji Nageno, Tomohiro Ito
  • Patent number: 9462366
    Abstract: Among other things, an ear tip for an earpiece is described. The ear tip comprises a body and two flexible flaps extending from the body. The two flexible flaps together form a generally frusto-conical shape around the body and at least part of the body is partially enclosed by the two flexible flaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan C. Silvestri, Michael D. Ting
  • Patent number: 9344819
    Abstract: A securing mechanism comprising a plurality of outwardly projecting members having a plurality of contact points that are configured to contact a surface of an opening when disposed on a space access device that is inserted in the opening, the securing mechanism being configured to apply a pressure to a contact surface within the opening less than approximately 10000 kPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Eargo, Inc.
    Inventors: Florent Michel, Raphael Michel, Daniel Shen, Michael Perry
  • Patent number: 9301067
    Abstract: A miniature speaker and speaker cabinet are provided, wherein the speaker is enclosed in an oblong capsule with a sound output opening at one end and leads passing from a speaker coil inside the capsule to connection points externally on the capsule, and where the cabinet encloses the capsule and at one end thereof comprise a lead input opening with leads passing there through to the connection points on the capsule, and where the cabinet further comprise a sound exit opening opposite the lead input opening, which is in fluid communication with the sound output opening of the capsule, wherein the cabinet has an internal space surpassing external measures of the capsule in all directions defining a gap between the capsule and cabinet wherein the thus defined gap is filled out with a hardening silicone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Kenneth Rueskov Møller, Lars Steen Christensen
  • Patent number: 9282390
    Abstract: A multi-piece dual mode headphone, including: a molded elongated member, a rear molded insert member and an intermediate member all together forming a headphone with a channel extending through the interior of the headphone. A small speaker for transmitting sound energy is positioned in the headphone to direct the sound energy through the channel to the eardrum. The molded rear insert member includes a cap member and with positioning of the cap member providing for the headphone being in a first mode of operation where the channel extending through the interior of the headphone is open and a second mode of operation where the channel extending through the interior of the headphone is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: MOLDEX-METRIC, INC.
    Inventor: Crest Turdjian
  • Patent number: 9216114
    Abstract: A head-mounted support device for carrying at least one un-inflated inflatable or expandable inner portion of an in-ear device thereon includes a main body adjustably mountable on a user's head, with at least one settable compound delivery device mounted thereon, and a at least one receptacle to receive an inflatable in-ear device inner portion. The invention also refers to a head-mounted settable compound delivery system kit, along with the earphone wire assembly that receives the customized in-ear device inner portions thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: SONOMAX TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Jérémie Voix, Michael C. Turcot, Katrin Braun, Steve Boa, Lawrence Yane
  • Patent number: 9210522
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a receiver with a receiver housing, the receiver having a sound port opening, and being configured to be placed at least partly in an ear canal of a user, and a sound tube acoustically connected to the sound port opening of the receiver, the sound tube having a longitudinal extension in at least two directions, wherein the sound tube has a total length of at least 16 mm. A hearing aid includes a behind the ear (BTE) unit configured to process sound and generate an electrical signal, an earpiece, and a signal conductor configured to communicate the electrical signal to the earpiece, wherein the earpiece comprises a receiver that is configured to convert the electrical signal into a sound signal, and wherein the earpiece further comprises a sound tube that is coupled to a sound port opening at the receiver, the sound tube having a longitudinal extension in at least two directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: GN RESOUND A/S
    Inventors: Gojko Obradovic, Henrik Nielsen, Poul Rosenkilde Kristensen
  • Patent number: 9161114
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to an apparatus for retaining an earpiece in the ear during physical movement and exercise. In various instances, the apparatus may include a thinned region a posterior arch and ribs to allow deformation of the earmold and facilitate securing of the earmold in the concha bowl of the ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: TREEFROG DEVELOPMENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian C. Bone, Nicholas J. Murrells, Feng Feng
  • Patent number: 9138353
    Abstract: An earplug is provided. The earplug includes at least a partially flexible distal end; an inflatable element; and a flexible anti-distal end. The anti-distal end has at least one portion that is deformable. The inflatable element is operatively attached to the distal end by an inflation channel. When the at least one portion is deformed the inflatable element expands to an adjustable pressure. At least one portion of the anti-distal end provides a pressurizing force to maintain the expansion of the inflatable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Personics Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: John P. Keady
  • Patent number: 9131308
    Abstract: There is disclosed a passive acoustical filter including two or more filter elements coupled between an ambient and a listener's ear, each of the filter elements selected from the group consisting of a low pass filter element, a high pass filter element, a band reject filter element, and a band pass filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Dopler Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Noah Kraft, Richard Fritz Lanman, Dan Wiggins, Jonathan Oswaks, Nils Jacob Palmborg
  • Patent number: 9124989
    Abstract: A hearing aid sleeve is made from a pliable and flexible rubber material. The sleeve is configured to minimize acoustic feedback in an ear canal by restricting movement of a hearing aid relative to the ear canal. The hearing aid sleeve includes a pliable rubber body configured to flex to the contours of an ear canal, the rubber body having an outer surface. The opposing ends of the sleeve form a tapered contour. An aperture passes from a first end to a second end. The aperture is configured to accept contact with the hearing aid. The outer surface of the body is configured to flex to the contour of the ear canal and grip the surface of the ear canal, thereby increasing the compressive forces around the hearing aid sufficient to minimize acoustic feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Inventor: Abraham Medina
  • Patent number: 9094760
    Abstract: Solution Means: Earphone 10 possesses an outer ear canal insertion member for which at least a portion can be inserted into the outer ear canal, housing 11 onto which the outer ear canal insertion member can be installed and removed, and driver unit 41 which is disposed within housing 11 and which generates sound, and driver unit 41 is maintained within the interior space of the support member by the rigid support member being installed within housing 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Tomonari Kaneko, Yoshimi Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 9042585
    Abstract: There is provided a method for optimizing performance of a multi-transducer earpiece, where the multi-transducer earpiece includes a perpendicular flange that partitions the cross sectional area of the acoustic delivery channel in a manner where mixing of signals from both the high frequency transducer and the mid/low frequency transducer is carried out in the ear canal of a user during reproduction of audio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Thean Kuie Christopher Chang, Hui Ying Alexa Phua
  • Patent number: 9028429
    Abstract: An acoustic sensor is configured to provide accurate and robust measurement of bodily sounds under a variety of conditions, such as in noisy environments or in situations in which stress, strain, or movement may be imparted onto a sensor with respect to a patient. Embodiments of the sensor provide a conformable electrical shielding, as well as improved acoustic and mechanical coupling between the sensor and the measurement site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Masimo Corporation
    Inventors: Valery G. Telfort, Predrag Pudar, Dimitar Dimitrov, Phi Trang, Ammar Al-Ali
  • Patent number: 9013701
    Abstract: The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain dynamic three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
  • Patent number: 9004223
    Abstract: An ear canal tip for a hearing instrument comprises a series of slits in the ear canal tip surface to allow the ear canal tip to conform to the shape of the ear canal when the ear canal tip is inserted into the ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Oleg Saltykov
  • Patent number: 8955519
    Abstract: An earplug insertion device can include a housing that is configured to hold a first earplug and a second earplug. The device can also include an ejection mechanism that can be configured to respond to a first user force by ejecting the first earplug from the device in a first ejection motion. The ejection mechanism can also being configured to respond to a second user force by ejecting the second earplug from the device in a second ejection motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: J3 Group, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn Matthew Johnson, John Matthew Johnson, Joshua Ingvald Kenneth Johnson
  • Patent number: 8942406
    Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a canal-type receiver capable of reproducing sound fields spanning front-to-rear and/or top-to-bottom. Thus, an ear piece of the canal-type receiver has a substantially cylindrical shape and includes a cylindrical portion including a sound guiding tube emitting a sound wave, radiated from a sound-emission unit in a receiver, to the inside of the external auditory canal, the sound guiding tube is configured so that a directional sound wave radiation axis of the sound wave faces a predetermined position of a wall of the external auditory canal in such a state that a cylindrical portion of the ear piece is mounted at a predetermined position in the external auditory canal, whereby the sound wave radiated from the sound guiding tube is reflected by a portion of the external auditory canal wall to arrive at the eardrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Inventor: Isamu Koizumi
  • Patent number: 8908895
    Abstract: The invention regards an ear canal device and a retainer strip, whereby the ear canal device has a distal part for extending into the ear canal and facing the tympanic membrane and a proximal part extending towards the ear canal opening, wherein the proximal part of the ear canal device comprises an opening extending transversely through the ear canal device, and where a retaining strip is arranged with a first end thereof arranged to be fastened in the opening and a second end arranged to lie resiliently against the inside of the concha for exerting a retaining force on the ear canal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventor: Claus Würfel
  • Patent number: 8798301
    Abstract: A removal tool for removing canal hearing devices from the ear canal, examples of which may include a hand piece and a removal loop having a wide section for placing over a knob handle structure incorporated within the canal hearing device, and a narrow section for interlocking with the knob handle to remove the hearing device from the ear. The removal loop is generally configured in the shape of keyhole to guide and transition of the knob and shaft of the knob handle into the narrow section for capture and interlocking therewithin. The removal tool may provide ease of use, particularly for individuals with poor dexterity and/or poor vision. In a preferred embodiment, the removal loop is made of a single formed wire for improved durability, lower cost of fabrication, and safe operation that minimizes contact with the walls of the ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Ihear Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Adnan Shennib, Victor Valenzuela, Patrick Contioso
  • Patent number: 8776801
    Abstract: The in-ear device is shaped to fit a wearer's ear morphology. The device includes a main body having at least three generally convex sides, an innermost face and an outermost face. A first side is shaped to fit the tragus of a wearer's ear, and a second side is shaped to fit an antitragus of a wearer's ear. At least three tips, generally rounded, join respective two adjacent sides. The main body is within an outer ear plane substantially perpendicular to an entrance of an ear canal of a wearer's ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Sonomax Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Ian McIntosh
  • Patent number: 8771204
    Abstract: An acoustic sensor is configured to provide accurate and robust measurement of bodily sounds under a variety of conditions, such as in noisy environments or in situations in which stress, strain, or movement may be imparted onto a sensor with respect to a patient. Embodiments of the sensor provide a conformable electrical shielding, as well as improved acoustic and mechanical coupling between the sensor and the measurement site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Masimo Corporation
    Inventors: Valery G. Telfort, Predrag Pudar, Dimitar Dimitrov, Phi Trang, Ammar Al-Ali
  • Patent number: 8770338
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to devices, systems, and methods for modifying received and/or perceived sound. For example, a device for altering sound received at a subject's ear may comprise an elongated earpiece having a proximal portion and a distal portion and defining a longitudinal axis (e.g., together defining a longitudinal axis). A proximal portion may comprise an insert configured for at least partial insertion in the canal of the subject's ear. A distal end may comprise a handle configured to guide insertion of the insert in the subject's ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Syzygy Memory Plastics
    Inventors: Phillip Brent Duncan, Michael Robert Moussa, James C. Amato
  • Patent number: 8739798
    Abstract: In a hearing protection earplug made of foamed material, provision is made in order to attain a defined attenuation and avoid annoyances caused by self-generated sounds, that the surface of the hearing protection earplug has hollows in the area of the inner end face. The hearing protection earplug includes a main body having a central center longitudinal axis and in the direction of this central center longitudinal axis an axially inner end face and an axially outer end face. In the area of the inner end face, surface area enlarging inner hollows are provided, one of which, in the form of an inner central longitudinal hollow, extends inward longitudinally relative to the center longitudinal axis, starting from the inner end face. Also provided is an outer central longitudinal hollow that extends inward longitudinally relative to the center longitudinal axis, starting from the outer end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Uvex Arbeitsschutz GmbH
    Inventors: Göran Berg, Jörgen Hakannson
  • Patent number: 8740816
    Abstract: An acoustic sensor is configured to provide accurate and robust measurement of bodily sounds under a variety of conditions, such as in noisy environments or in situations in which stress, strain, or movement may be imparted onto a sensor with respect to a patient. Embodiments of the sensor provide a conformable electrical shielding, as well as improved acoustic and mechanical coupling between the sensor and the measurement site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Masimo Corporation
    Inventors: Valery G. Telfort, Predrag Pudar, Dimitar Dimitrov, Phi Trang, Ammar Al-Ali
  • Patent number: 8712087
    Abstract: The earphone includes a driver unit; a housing accommodating the driver unit, the housing having a front face serving as a sound emitting surface and a bowl shaped rear face; a hollow casing provided separately from the housing, the casing being configured to increase an internal volume adjacent to the rear side of a vibrating plate and to reduce the back pressure of the vibrating plate; and a connecting channel connecting the rear face of the housing and the casing such that the housing is in communication with the internal space of the casing, in which the housing includes a sound emitting tube protruding from the front face thereof so as to be fitted into an external auditory meatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica
    Inventor: Hiromichi Ozawa
  • Patent number: 8705787
    Abstract: A custom in-ear headset. The headset includes a housing having a proximate housing portion and a distant housing portion. The distant housing portion is shaped and sized to fit inside an ear canal of a user. The headset includes a miniature speaker that is acoustically coupled to a sound outlet in the distant portion of the housing for conveying sound pressure to an ear canal of the user. The headset further includes any one or more of: (a) a microphone with a sound inlet in the proximate housing portion, (b) a bone conduction microphone arranged in the distant housing portion, or (c) a microphone with a sound inlet in the distant housing portion. The headset further includes at least one ridge projecting from and circumscribing the distant housing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Nextlink IPR AB
    Inventors: Jan Larsen, Jon Hjersing Sparre, Steen Iversen
  • Patent number: 8682016
    Abstract: Hearing devices configured to fit within the bony portion of the ear canal and batteries that may be used with same. Such hearing devices may have a hearing device core, which includes a battery and an acoustic assembly with a microphone and receiver positioned such that the lateral end of the receiver substantially abuts the medial end of the microphone, and a seal apparatus on the hearing device core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: InSound Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Wagner, Stuart Wenzel, Michael Au, Igal Ladabaum
  • Patent number: 8679607
    Abstract: A foamable article is disclosed. The article includes a substrate and an outer layer covering at least a portion of the substrate and including an unactivated expandable sphere foaming agent and an unactivated chemical foaming agent. The unactivated foaming agents may be activated to increase the volume of the outer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Hamer, Alan R. Seville, Kenneth F. Teeters
  • Patent number: 8675884
    Abstract: A system for processing sound, the system including: (a) a processor, configured to process a first input signal that is detected by a first microphone at a detection moment, a second input signal that is detected by a second microphone at the detection moment, and a third input signal that is detected by a bone-conduction microphone at the detection moment, to generate a corrected signal that is responsive to the first, second, and third input signals; and (b) a communication interface, configured to provide the corrected signal to an external system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: DSP Group
    Inventors: Uri Yehuday, Arie Heiman
  • Patent number: 8666085
    Abstract: An active noise reduction (ANR) component for provision in an earphone housing is disclosed. The device includes a driver and a sensing microphone, the driver and sensing microphone being housed in a component housing. The earphone housing has an outlet passageway from the ANR component to an auditory canal. The ANR component is adapted for use with a controller to provide active noise reduction to the auditory canal over a predetermined range of physical dimensions or acoustic parameters of the housing outlet passageway. The ANR component can thus be used with different housings which simplifies the design process for producing ANR earphone products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Phitek Systems Limited
    Inventors: Mark Donaldson, Andre Steyn, Pierre Victor Manuel Guiu, Damien Oliver Givernet, William James Sim
  • Patent number: 8657064
    Abstract: Earphone devices with a sealing section for acoustically sealing the meatus of a human ear are provided. An earphone device includes an inner ear canal speaker and an inner ear canal microphone, each connected to a logic circuit which can include a digital signal processor (DSP). A sealant element is operatively attached to an outer section of the earphone and acoustically seals the meatus of a human ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Personics Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Staab, John P. Keady
  • Patent number: 8636100
    Abstract: A novel method for producing an otoplastic device is described. In said method, a model of the auditory canal of an individual is made, then a thin film is placed over the model, and said thin film is used for making an accurate copy of the model in a deep drawing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Inventor: Beat Bleuer
  • Patent number: 8616213
    Abstract: An earplug insertion device can include a housing that is configured to hold a first earplug and a second earplug. The device can also include an ejection mechanism that can be configured to respond to a first user force by ejecting the first earplug from the device in a first ejection motion. The ejection mechanism can also being configured to respond to a second user force by ejecting the second earplug from the device in a second ejection motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: J3 Group, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn Matthew Johnson, John Matthew Johnson, Joshua Ingvald Kenneth Johnson
  • Patent number: 8590665
    Abstract: An ear piece for providing audio (e.g., from an electronic device) to the user is provided. The ear piece may include a compliant element operative to be inserted in the user's ear such that the compliant element deforms to retain the ear piece in the user's ear. The compliant element may include a connector portion coupling the compliant element to the ear piece housing, and an outer portion folded over the ear piece housing. To improve the user's comfort, the parting lines and other manufacturing defects may be hidden from view and from touch (e.g., the parting lines are then on the inner surface of the outer portion).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Stiehl, Emery Sanford
  • Patent number: 8573353
    Abstract: Embodiments typically relate to ear tips for sound transmission devices, designed to fit snuggly in the user's ear canal and block external noise from the environment while being sufficiently comfortable for long-wearing and/or deep insertion. Embodiments may comprise a stem and a foam body, with the hollow stem lying on the centerline of the foam body. The foam body may comprise a concave opening in its nose, a rear extension flange projecting rearward to extend its length without significantly impacting perceived comfort, and/or a plurality of indentations about the periphery of the nose of the foam body. The foam body may be formed of polyurethane foam, and the stem may be formed of elastomeric polyurethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: David B. Mulvey
  • Patent number: 8567555
    Abstract: A canalphone system may include a high frequency sound bore carried within a canalphone. The system may also include a low frequency sound bore adjacent to the high frequency sound bore to form a single unit, the low frequency sound bore and the high frequency sound bore being sized so that the low frequency sound bore and the high frequency sound bore each deliver sound with similar time and phase. The system may further include a high acoustical driver carried within the canalphone where the high acoustical driver delivers sound through the high frequency sound bore. The system may additionally include a low acoustical driver carried within the canalphone where the low acoustical driver delivers sound through the low frequency sound bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventor: Jerry Harvey
  • Patent number: 8565467
    Abstract: An earphone includes a front housing, a tuning element, a rear housing and a loudspeaker. The front housing has a hollow sound tube, a sealed cover and a sealed barrel. The sealed cover defines a tuning hole. The sealed barrel defines a leaking hole connecting between the tuning hole and an external space of the earphone. The tuning element rotatably mounted to the front housing has a tuning pillar inserted in the tuning hole. The tuning pillar defines a tuning fillister. The rear housing is assembled forward to the front housing for locating the loudspeaker between the front housing and the rear housing. A sound cavity is formed among the front housing, the rear housing and the loudspeaker, and is communicated with the tuning fillister. A relative position of the tuning fillister and the leaking hole is capable of being modulated by means of rotating the tuning element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mu-Tsun Tseng
  • Patent number: 8556024
    Abstract: A device (10) for hearing protection, comprising an elongated stem (11) and a grip part (12), wherein the stem (11) comprises a connecting portion (14) for connection with the grip part (12), an attachment portion (15) for attachment to an earplug (13) projecting radially to the stem (11) and being arranged for insertion into an ear canal (25), and an intermediate portion (16) arranged between the connecting portion (14) and the attachment portion (15). The stem (11) comprises a first curve (21) arranged between the connecting portion (14) and the intermediate portion (16) and a second curve (22) arranged between the attachment portion (15) and the intermediate portion (16), wherein the intermediate portion (16) is arranged in a first angle (?) to the connecting portion (14) and a second angle (?) to the attachment portion (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: SwedSafe AB
    Inventor: Jorgen Hakansson