Sound-modifying Means Patents (Class 181/175)
  • Patent number: 12102161
    Abstract: A helmet features a sound management mechanism within a hard exterior shell and an interior of expanded polystyrene foam. Ear cups embedded within the shell surround the ears, with a torus-shaped soft material forming a seal against the wearer's head. The helmet allows the transition of ear cups between engaged and disengaged positions. The engaged position is against the head. The disengaged position is away from the head, allowing easy placement and removing of the helmet. Positions may be transitioned using one hand. The helmet may include lateral adjustment of ear cups, and some versions incorporate electronic audio features like noise cancellation, communication capabilities, and wireless connectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Inventors: George Papadopoulos, John M. Adams
  • Patent number: 12031322
    Abstract: Described herein is an acoustic building panel comprising a body comprising inorganic fiber in an amount ranging from about 60.0 wt. % to about 90.0 wt. % based on the total weight of the body; and microfibrillated fiber in an amount ranging from about 0.5 wt. % to about 10 wt. % based on the total weight of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: AWI Licensing LLC
    Inventors: Charles G Krick, Bruce E Adams, Kimberly S Diffenbaugh
  • Patent number: 11886654
    Abstract: Various arrangements of electronic devices, such as assistant devices, are detailed herein. Such a device can include a housing and a microphone. A microphone aperture can be defined by the housing that directs sound from outside the housing to the microphone. A cover, which can be fabric, can be attached with the outside of the housing. An adhesive ring on the housing around the microphone aperture can be used to attach the cover to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Justin Richard Wodrich, Timothy Michael Vanderet, Daniel David Sachs, Jung Geun Tak, Laurie Kwan
  • Patent number: 11868033
    Abstract: A wavelength conversion element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a phosphor layer; a refrigerant; a refrigerant transport member; and a housing. The phosphor layer includes a plurality of phosphor particles. The phosphor layer has a gap therein. The refrigerant cools the phosphor layer. The refrigerant transport member is provided in contact with the phosphor layer. The refrigerant transport member circulates the refrigerant. The phosphor layer, the refrigerant, and the refrigerant transport member are encapsulated in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shota Nishi, Izushi Kobayashi, Yuki Maeda, Masahiro Ishige
  • Patent number: 11612250
    Abstract: An assembly has a chair with at least one arm. The arm has a cavity formed therein. The cavity has a bottom and a side wall. A cup is removably received in the cavity. The cup has a bottom surface and an outer wall. The cup is rotatable within the cavity. The cup has at least one projection extending upwardly from a bottom surface of the cup. This projection is adapted to support a phone thereagainst. The cup is movable between a first position in which the projection is exposed outwardly of the chair, a second position in which the projection is stowed in the cavity and a third position in which the cup is positioned beneath the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventor: Lawrence K. Lee
  • Patent number: 11369403
    Abstract: A handheld instrument for endoscope surgery includes a shaft, a jaw, a handle, a phased array ultrasonic sensor, and a signal wiring. The jaw is placed at one end of the shaft and has a holding function. The handle is placed at the other end of the shaft and includes an operation mechanism for operating the jaw. The phased array ultrasonic sensor is mounted on the jaw and has an imaging function. The signal wiring is provided to the shaft and connects the ultrasonic sensor and the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rui Morimoto, Kazuhiko Miyahara
  • Patent number: 11335311
    Abstract: A broadband ultrathin acoustic wave diffusion structure has a plurality of acoustic wave diffusion units. Each acoustic wave diffusion unit has at least one acoustic wave propagation section, and an acoustic wave focused section communicating with the acoustic wave propagation section is arranged according to needs. The acoustic wave focused section is formed by an acoustic wave focused cavity filled with acoustic material. The acoustic wave focused cavity is a variable-section cavity. The acoustic wave propagation section is formed by a simply connected acoustic wave propagation passage with a close end. Different acoustic wave diffusion units have different lengths of the simply connected acoustic wave propagation passages. The maximum length of the simply connected acoustic wave propagation passage may be dozens or even hundreds of times of the thickness of the acoustic wave diffusion structure, which can meet the diffusion requirements for low frequency acoustic waves to the maximum extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Dalian University of Technology
    Inventors: Yulin Mei, Xiaoming Wang, Yixuan Mei
  • Patent number: 11325094
    Abstract: Ultrasonic horns having improved longevity and simplified manufacturing approaches that can be more easily adapted to ultrasonic reactor chambers or batch processing containers. The ultrasonic horn designs increase the uniformity and intensity of acoustic energy radiated into a liquid medium and thus better correspond to the requirements of a particular sonochemical or sonomechanical process. The ultrasonic horns do not require a specific number of cylindrical sections and allow for various lengths and profiles of variable-diameter sections. The ultrasonic horns also reduce stress in the material of the ultrasonic horns and therefore extend longevity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Industrial Sonomechanics, LLC
    Inventor: Alexey S. Peshkovsky
  • Patent number: 11154904
    Abstract: An ultrasonic air data system (UADS) can include a body configured to mount to an aircraft, an acoustic signal shaping feature associated with the body, and an acoustic source operatively connected to the acoustic signal shaping feature, the acoustic source configured to emit a directional acoustic signal. The acoustic signal shaping feature can be configured to reshape the directional acoustic signal from the acoustic source into an at least partially reshaped signal. The system can include one or more acoustic receivers disposed on or at least partially within the body for receiving the reshaped signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Shannon, Karen A. Teerlinck, Joseph V. Mantese, Jaime Sly
  • Patent number: 11156488
    Abstract: A transducer is provided for emitting and receiving acoustic waves, a method for operating and a method for producing the same. The transducer comprises a casing that forms a cavity. The casing comprises an excitation surface and an emitting surface, which is arranged opposite to the excitation surface. A transducer element is provided at the excitation surface, and an acoustic diffuser is provided at the emitting surface of the casing, wherein a diffusing structure of the acoustic diffuser faces the cavity, and wherein the diffusing structure is provided by an array of columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: GWF MessSysteme AG
    Inventors: Thomas Werner Hies, Claus-Dieter Ohl, Trung Dung Luong
  • Patent number: 11109148
    Abstract: A waveguide (1) comprising a shell (11, 12) having an inlet opening (110, 120) intended to receive acoustic energy and an outlet opening (111, 121) for emitting acoustic energy; and a phase plug (13, 14) located into the shell (11, 12) so as to define therebetween a pathway (W) for the acoustic energy from the inlet opening (110, 120) to the outlet opening (111, 121). The acoustic pathway (W) has a longitudinal extension direction (D) between the openings (110, 120, 111, 121) and the directions of all longitudinal splines (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6) of the pathway (W) are perpendicular to the inlet opening (110, 120) at the inlet opening (110, 120) on one ideal longitudinal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: EAW NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Steven Desrosiers, Geoffrey Peter McKinnon, Zhao Zuo
  • Patent number: 10999660
    Abstract: The waterproof member of the present disclosure includes a waterproof membrane configured to prevent entry of water while permitting sound and/or gas to pass therethrough, and a support layer having air permeability in a thickness direction thereof. The waterproof member has a joining region where the waterproof membrane and the support layer are joined, and a non-joining region where the waterproof membrane and the support layer are spaced apart from each other. The non-joining region is surrounded by the joining region when viewed in a direction perpendicular to a main surface of the waterproof membrane. A thickness of the support layer in the non-joining region is 500 ?m or less. A spacing distance between the waterproof membrane and the support layer in the non-joining region is 150 ?m or less. An air resistance in an in-plane direction of the support layer is greater than 80,000 seconds/100 mL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tamao Fukushima, Bunta Hirai, Yosuke Sugaya, Yuichi Abe
  • Patent number: 10854185
    Abstract: A laminate having excellent sound absorbing performance in both of a low frequency range and a high frequency range, and is excellent in flexibility, includes a woven fabric layer and a nonwoven fabric layer. The woven fabric layer contains a fiber having a total fineness of 150 to 500 dtex in an amount of 40% by mass or more based on the woven fabric layer in total, a value obtained by dividing a difference between a weave density in a warp direction of the woven fabric layer and a weave density in a weft direction of the woven fabric layer by a smaller one of the weave density in the warp direction of the woven fabric layer and the weave density in the weft direction of the woven fabric layer is 0.5 to 3.5. The woven fabric layer has a basis weight of 100 to 400 g/m2, a thickness of 0.3 to 2.0 mm, and an air permeability of 15 to 40 cm3/cm2/s. The nonwoven fabric layer has a basis weight of 200 to 500 g/m2 and a thickness of 5 to 40 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kenichi Sakai, Hiroshi Kajiyama
  • Patent number: 10823814
    Abstract: Provided is a sound direction detection sensor capable of detecting a direction from which sound is coming by using a multi-resonator array. The disclosed sound direction detection sensor includes two resonator arrays, each including a plurality of resonators having different resonance frequencies. The two resonator arrays have different directivities. Each resonator array serves as an audio sensor, and the sound direction detection sensor detects a direction from which sound is incident, regardless of a distance between audio sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sungchan Kang, Cheheung Kim, Sangha Park, Yongseop Yoon, Choongho Rhee, Hyeokki Hong
  • Patent number: 10677919
    Abstract: The present invention provides a self-positioning system of a deepwater underwater robot of an irregular dam surface of a reservoir, including cross reflection metal plates arranged on the irregular dam surface, and an underwater robot provided with a control motherboard, a water level indicator and a sonar system, wherein the water level indicator and the sonar system are respectively connected with the control motherboard, and the control motherboard is connected with a computer via a cable. The cross reflection metal plate has known coordinates and has four quadrants. A sonar signal emitted by the sonar system is reflected by the cross reflection metal plate to generate sonar reflection signals of four quadrants, and the sonar signals in the effective quadrants correspond to known coordinate parameters of the cross reflection metal plate so as to obtain the horizontal distance between the underwater robot and the irregular dam surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: NANJING HYDRAULIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yan Xiang, Zhuo Li, Jinbao Sheng, Yunqing Tang, Chengdong Liu, Guangya Fan, Haifei Sha, Xiaolei Zhan, Kai Zhang, Guangze Shen
  • Patent number: 10655580
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to obtain a high pressure fuel supply pump capable of reducing pressure pulsation that occurs in a low pressure pipe, preventing damage to the low pressure pipe, or reducing noise due to vibrations of the low pressure pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Usui, Minoru Hashida, Masayuki Suganami, Hiroyuki Yamada, Atsushi Hohkita
  • Patent number: 10648604
    Abstract: A contoured branch fitting for reducing stress in a header pipe caused by acoustic induced vibration that includes a maximum width, a maximum length, a thickness that is greater along the maximum length and a constant radius between the branch connection and the header connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Bechtel Oil, Gas and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Ismat Eljaouhari, Yuqing Liu, Philip Diwakar, Dan Lin, Ajay Prakash
  • Patent number: 10648603
    Abstract: A contoured branch fitting for reducing stress in a header pipe caused by acoustic induced vibration that includes a maximum width, a maximum length, a thickness that is greater along the maximum length and a constant radius between the branch connection and the header connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Bechtel Oil, Gas and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Ismat Eljaouhari, Yuqing Liu, Philip Diwakar, Dan Lin, Ajay Prakash
  • Patent number: 10512795
    Abstract: In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to an ultrasonic surgical instrument that comprises a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency. In various embodiments, an ultrasonic blade extends along the longitudinal axis and is coupled to the transducer. In various embodiments, the ultrasonic blade includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is movable relative to the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Aaron C. Voegele, Scott A. Nield, Shan Wan
  • Patent number: 10484765
    Abstract: A method for reproducing an acoustic signal from a digital signal, the digital signal being formed of successive bit sequences each having bits representative of the amplitude of an acoustic signal at a time sample, the method including (i) providing a plurality of transducers configured to emit acoustic signals that are wave trains having each a duration lower or equal to the duration of one time sample and including at least one oscillation per time sample, and (ii) successively, for each bit sequence, having each bit associated to at least one of the transducers and independently govern, depending on its value, amplitudes of the acoustic signals emitted by its associated transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignees: UNIVERSITE DU MAINE, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE, CZECH TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY IN PRAGUE
    Inventors: Libor Husnik, Philippe Bequin, Pierrick Lotton
  • Patent number: 10480971
    Abstract: A transducer is provided for emitting and receiving acoustic waves, a method for operating and a method for producing the same. The transducer comprises a casing that forms a cavity. The casing comprises an excitation surface and an emitting surface, which is arranged opposite to the excitation surface. A transducer element is provided at the excitation surface, and an acoustic diffuser is provided at the emitting surface of the casing, wherein a diffusing structure of the acoustic diffuser faces the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: GWF MESSSYSTEME AG
    Inventors: Thomas Werner Hies, Claus-Dieter Ohl, Trung Dung Luong
  • Patent number: 10393104
    Abstract: A rail vehicle compressor system and method for controlling the same uses a compressor driven by an electrical machine via a drive shaft to produce compressed air for at least one compressed air tank, wherein the electrical machine can be activated at least indirectly via a control device for operating the electrical machine at at least one speed between a maximum speed and a minimum speed, wherein at least one pressure sensor determines the pressure for the control device and a final control element continuously influences the speed of the electrical machine, wherein activation of the final control element takes place via the control device in accordance with a sensor device, comprising at least one sensor element for sensing at least one external boundary condition of the rail vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FÜR SCHIENENFAHRZEUGE GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Kipp, Gert Assmann
  • Patent number: 10291983
    Abstract: A computationally implemented system and method that is designed to, but is not limited to: electronically providing audio output information to one or more portions of a portable electronic device to be outputted from said portable electronic device via one or more acoustic ultrasonic signals; and electronically outputting, said one or more acoustic ultrasonic signals to be demodulated into one or more acoustic audio signals containing one or more portions of said audio output information at one or more locations spaced from said portable electronic device based at least in part according to said one or more acoustic ultrasonic signals and based at least in part according to one or more portable electronic device ultrasonic emitter arrangements. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Michael H. Baym, William David Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Edward K. Y. Jung, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10258934
    Abstract: A waterproof member (20) includes a first adhesive layer (22), a second adhesive layer (24), and a porous layer (26). The porous layer (26) is disposed between the first adhesive layer (22) and the second adhesive layer (24). The first adhesive layer (22) and the second adhesive layer (24) each have a frame shape in plan view. When the first adhesive layer (22), the second adhesive layer (24), and the porous layer (26) are seen in plan view, the outer boundary of the porous layer (26) lies within the outer boundary of the first adhesive layer (22) and the outer boundary of the second adhesive layer (24). The first adhesive layer (22) is bonded directly to the second adhesive layer (24) in a region outside the outer boundary of the porous layer (26). The porous layer (26) has a peripheral surface that is shielded from outside by the first adhesive layer (22) and the second adhesive layer (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaaki Mori, Nobuharu Kuki, Kazuaki Mochida, Yuichi Abe, Masashi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10151105
    Abstract: An acoustic panel device includes a panel member and a mount. The panel member includes a porous material. The mount is arranged to captively support the panel member. The mount can be a frame that surrounds the panel member. The frame can define a channel, and a portion of the panel member is disposed in the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Stillpoints LLC
    Inventors: Alfonso E. Perez, Paul J. Wakeen, David R. Hallquist
  • Patent number: 10142725
    Abstract: A device for transmitting sounds for intra-auricular earpiece, comprising an entrance opening extending along an entrance axis, said entrance opening being able to receive a sound emission source, an exit opening able to be presented in an ear and a diffusion enclosure able to conduct the sound from upstream to downstream from said entrance opening to said exit opening, said diffusion enclosure comprising, opposite said entrance opening, a first vibration wall extending orthogonally to the entrance axis able to resonate following a sound emission along said entrance axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Inventors: Richard Chene, Alain Miklitarian, Dominique Delamour
  • Patent number: 10031032
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine including a hybrid waveguide for placement adjacent a flow path for hot combustion gases in the engine is presented. The waveguide includes first and second opposing ends and a first section formed of a first material extending from a transition region to the first end and a second section formed of a second material extending from the transition region to the second end. The first material is a metal or a ceramic and the second material is an electrically isolating material having a lower thermal conductivity than the material of the first section. A membrane may be used to isolate a cavity of the waveguide from combustion gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Upul P. DeSilva, Heiko Claussen
  • Patent number: 10028043
    Abstract: The waterproof sound-permeable membrane of the present disclosure is a waterproof sound-permeable membrane adapted to permit passage of sound and prevent ingress of water. The air permeability of the waterproof sound-permeable membrane, as expressed by Gurley number, is 20 seconds/100 mL or more. The water entry pressure of the waterproof sound-permeable membrane is 500 kPa or more. When a tensile strength at break of the waterproof sound-permeable membrane in a MD direction is denoted by T1 and a tensile strength at break of the waterproof sound-permeable membrane in a TD direction orthogonal to the MD direction is denoted by T2, a strength ratio (T1/T2) is in a range of 0.5 to 2.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuharu Kuki, Tamao Fukushima
  • Patent number: 10028050
    Abstract: A speaker device and an electronic device including the speaker device are provided. The electronic device includes a housing including an inner space and at least one through hole formed in a first direction, at least one speaker disposed in the inner space, directed toward the at least one through hole, a first structure disposed in the inner space, directed in a second direction different from the first direction, for vibrating along with vibration of the speaker generated when the speaker outputs first sound, and forming a first sound passage together with a part of the housing, and a second structure disposed in the inner space, directed in a third direction different from the first and second directions, for vibrating along with vibration of the speaker generated when the speaker outputs the first sound, and forming a second sound passage together with another part of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki-Wook Han
  • Patent number: 9973838
    Abstract: An acoustic device such as a microphone or speaker is positioned with and coupled to a housing to connect an acoustic port of the acoustic device with an external opening of the housing. A reservoir is connected to the external opening via a bleed channel. The bleed channel may be less resistive to liquid ingress than the acoustic port. As such, the reservoir and bleed channel may redirect liquid from the external opening away from the acoustic port. In some implementations, the reservoir and/or the bleed channel may be defined by one or more acoustically permeable barriers such as meshes that cover the acoustic port, compressible materials such as foams that form a perimeter around the acoustic port, and/or adhesive layers that couple the acoustic device, the housing, and/or one or more other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Qian, Edward Siahaan, Erik L. Wang, Esge B. Andersen
  • Patent number: 9949721
    Abstract: Acoustic diodes, devices incorporating such diodes and methods of using such devices are disclosed. An acoustic diode may include a periodic acoustic grating and a uniform plate. The periodic acoustic grating may include a plurality of gratings. The uniform plate may foe separated from the periodic acoustic grating by a resonant cavity. The acoustic diode may be configured to have a first transmission efficiency for acoustic waves incident on the periodic acoustic grating that is greater than a second transmission efficiency for acoustic waves incident on the uniform plate. The acoustic waves may have a wavelength within a range of wavelengths. Devices incorporating the acoustic diode may include medical imaging devices, such as ultrasound devices, and noise reduction devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Nanjing University
    Inventors: Juan Tu, Bin Liang, Jianchun Cheng, Dong Zhang, Yong Li, Xiasheng Guo
  • Patent number: 9846232
    Abstract: Use of sonar systems to collect dimensional and relational data for use in metrology, mapping, object and structure detection, survey and evaluation applications is disclosed. Systems and methods for collecting underwater data sets, using registration targets, for data registration of underwater acoustic data sets, as well as for data registration of underwater acoustic data sets with above-the-waterline data sets (e.g., laser-based data sets) are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Teledyne Reson A/S
    Inventors: Roger Lee Thompson, Jason Leonard Seawall, Scott Thomas Bachelor, Nicholas Lesnikowski
  • Patent number: 9841210
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a sound level in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system are disclosed. The system includes a refrigeration unit including a compressor, a condenser fan, a controller, and a sound controller. The sound controller is configured to maintain a sound level of the refrigeration unit within a sound level operating range. A method of controlling a refrigeration unit for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is described. The method includes determining, by a controller, a cooling requirement of a conditioned space. The controller also determines a sound level operating range for the refrigeration unit. The method further includes the controller applying a cooling setting based on the cooling requirement and the sound level operating range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Pavak Mehta, Sean Smith
  • Patent number: 9808751
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a complex filter and to a water purifier including a complex filter. By providing a complex filter for a water purifier including an antibacterial hollow fiber membrane, activated carbon fibers, ion-exchange fibers, and one or more activated carbon layers arranged in an optimized combination, the size of a water purifier can be reduced, and excellent water-purifying performance and an improved service life can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kyunghee Moon, Changho Lee, Hyunhwan Oh, Sangduck Lee, Jeayoul Joung, Jeongil Kye, Min-Joung Kim
  • Patent number: 9762996
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a sound system comprising at least one Digital Signal Processor control module, acting on a signal to the high-frequency transducer and on a signal to a mid-frequency transducer so as to apply, in a common frequency range, at least one magnitude parameter as well as at least one phase parameter so as to produce a directivity along the same angular sector as a directivity produced by the orientable shutters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: L-ACOUSTICS
    Inventors: Christophe Combet, Christian Heil
  • Patent number: 9723419
    Abstract: Provided are a system and method for evaluating sound system performance, comprising: representing an audience space is represented on a surface of a sphere. The sphere has a center that is substantially collocated with a center of a sound system. An efficiency of the sound system is calculated by determining an amount of energy produced by the sound system that reaches the audience space projected onto the sphere relative to a total amount of energy produced by the sound system. A metric is generated for a function by normalizing the efficiency by a ratio of an area of the audience space relative to a total area of the sphere to produce a score for the performance of the sound system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael Monks
  • Patent number: 9693134
    Abstract: A waterproof sound-transmitting member includes a waterproof sound-transmitting membrane and a support layer. The support layer includes a polyolefin-based resin foam. The support layer has a loss modulus of 1.0×107 Pa or less and a loss factor of 1.0×10?1 or more. The waterproof sound-transmitting membrane is, for example, a stretched porous polytetrafluoroethylene membrane. The waterproof sound-transmitting membrane may include an adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Karube, Tsuyoshi Kashima, Yuri Horie, Yuichi Abe
  • Patent number: 9607751
    Abstract: A ferrite sintered body includes a crystal grain of a Ni—Zn ferrite and a grain boundary thereof, in which Ti is unevenly distributed in an outer region of the crystal grain, the outer region extending from an interface of the crystal grain to a length of 20% of a major axis of the crystal grain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitomi Ochiai, Kenichi Furutachi, Hidehiro Takenoshita
  • Patent number: 9591417
    Abstract: The present invention is an extremely low frequency (ELF) microphone and acoustic measurement system capable of infrasound detection in a portable and easily deployable form factor. In one embodiment of the invention, an extremely low frequency electret microphone comprises a membrane, a backplate, and a backchamber. The backchamber is sealed to allow substantially no air exchange between the backchamber and outside the microphone. Compliance of the membrane may be less than ambient air compliance. The backplate may define a plurality of holes and a slot may be defined between an outer diameter of the backplate and an inner wall of the microphone. The locations and sizes of the holes, the size of the slot, and the volume of the backchamber may be selected such that membrane motion is substantially critically damped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
    Inventors: Qamar A. Shams, Allan J. Zuckerwar
  • Patent number: 9578402
    Abstract: A waterproof sound-transmitting membrane (1) of the present invention includes a porous membrane (11) containing polytetrafluoroethylene as a main component and a supporting member (12) that supports the porous membrane (11). The supporting member (12) is joined to the porous membrane (11) placed thereon and is not subjected to stretching after the porous membrane (11) is placed thereon. The supporting member (12) is a mesh or a net having a fiber diameter of 45 to 60 ?m and an opening size of 700 to 1100 ?m across the supporting member (12). The waterproof sound-transmitting membrane (1) has a water entry pressure of 20 kPa or more as measured according to the method B (high hydraulic pressure method) of JIS L 1092.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki Mori
  • Patent number: 9451356
    Abstract: A sound producing apparatus with multi-directivity has two or more speakers to produce music or other types of audio sounds. Each of the speakers can produce audio sounds in a certain direction and at least one speaker is steerable so that its sound propagation direction relative to the others can be changed. Furthermore, one or more speakers can produce audio sounds in an adjustable angular range. One or more of the speakers can be dual-mode speakers, each of which can be operated as a wide-angle speaker or a narrow-angle speaker. With multi-directivity, it is possible to play one type of music in one direction and another type of music in another direction to suit the interests of the audience. The apparatus can be a mobile phone, an audio player, a digital or analog recorder/player, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Liangfeng Xu, Xia S. Wang, Chenguang Cai, Jani K. Nurminen, Antti O. Salo, Limei Xu, Xuesheng Li, Yi Wang, Min Chen
  • Patent number: 9419054
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a phase-change device may include the following steps: preparing a substrate; preparing a first dielectric layer, which may be positioned on the substrate; preparing a first electrode, which may be positioned in the first dielectric layer; forming a phase-change material layer, which may overlap the first electrode; processing (e.g., etching) the phase-change material layer to form a phase-change member, which may be electrically connected to the first electrode; forming an etch-stop layer, which may overlap and/or cover the phase-change member; forming an intermediary layer, which may be positioned on the etch-stop layer; forming a second dielectric layer, which may be positioned on the intermediary layer; and forming a second electrode, which may extend through the second dielectric layer, the intermediary layer, and the etch-stop layer and may be electrically connected to the phase-change member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ying Li, Yipeng Chan, Lei Wang
  • Patent number: 9407983
    Abstract: A microphone device includes: a housing having an opening section in an upper face thereof; and a non-directional microphone unit incorporated in the housing and provided inside the opening section. The upper face of the housing has a shape in which a distance from an edge defined as a boundary between the upper face and a side face or a bottom face to the opening section throughout a whole circumference of the upper face changes in ½ or more of the whole circumference of the edge and an average value of the distance from the edge to the opening section is shorter than ½ of a wavelength of a sound wave in a frequency range in which an auditory sensitivity of humans is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiro Kumagai, Yasuo Shiozawa, Shuichi Esaki, Hirofumi Onitsuka, Kiyohiko Goto, Yoshiaki Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 9305538
    Abstract: A transmission obscuring cover device obscures video and audio transmissions from an electronic apparatus. The device includes a panel having a bottom surface. An adhesive is coupled to the bottom surface for being adhered to an electronic apparatus. The panel is a sound absorber wherein the panel is configured for being positioned over a microphone of the electronic apparatus to inhibit transmission of sound to the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventors: Alica Tyson, Michael Green
  • Patent number: 9171535
    Abstract: Provided is a waterproof sound-transmitting membrane 1 including: a solid resin film 2 having a plurality of through holes 21 formed therein; and a treatment layer 3 having water repellency and formed on at least one of two surfaces of the resin film 2 that are opposite to each other in the thickness direction. The treatment layer 3 has openings 31 at positions corresponding to the through holes 21. The air permeability of the waterproof sound-transmitting membrane 1 is 100 seconds/100 mL or less in terms of Gurley number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Abe, Yuki Karube, Satoru Furuyama
  • Patent number: 8944209
    Abstract: A sound amplifier is provided in the form of a sound amplification cone with a front panel opposite a rear panel and spaced apart by side panels. The side panels fold so that the front panel and rear panel can collapse together or be deployed apart. The sound amplification cone is hinged to a tab which is held at least partially within a case. The case also holds a smart device therein. A slot in the case allows for the tab and sound amplification cone to slide into and out of the case when the cone is collapsed. When the sound amplification cone is slid out of the case and deployed, a port of the sound amplification cone is located adjacent speakers of the smart device to amplify sound therefrom. Auxiliary speakers and a power source can also be provided within the tab or sound amplification cone for further sound amplification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Ty Fields
  • Publication number: 20150014088
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a waterproof sound-transmitting sheet having high sound transfer efficiency and excellent water proofing performance and a method for producing same. The waterproof sound-transmitting sheet includes: a sound-transmitting layer made of a polymer material and formed in the shape of a web having a plurality of pores; and a coating layer formed on at least one side of the sound-transmitting layer to block pores existing on the surface of the sound-transmitting layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Amogreentech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In-Yong Seo, Seung-Hoon Lee, Jun-Sik Hwang, Yong-Sik Jung, Kyung-Su Kim
  • Publication number: 20150014087
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device which is structured to direct the sound from the bottom of flat screen television sets to the listening audience. The device(s) is comprised of semi rigid black plastic resin and is of fire retardant grade. Adhesive tape is included for securing the article to the television.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Stanley Gail Coates
  • Publication number: 20140375169
    Abstract: A system for inspecting the surface of a curved object is provided. This system includes an object having a curved surface; at least one substantially flat interdigital transducer, wherein the interdigital transducer is operative to generate surface energy waves; and at least one coupling device disposed between the curved surface and the substantially flat interdigital transducer, wherein the coupling device is operative to conform to the curved surface, support the interdigital transducer, and provide a medium through which the surface energy waves can effectively travel from the interdigital transducer to the curved surface and across the curved surface in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Edison Welding Institute
    Inventors: Jeong NA, Sean Gleeson
  • Patent number: 8899375
    Abstract: A device is provided for damping hydrosound in liquid emitted from a sound-emitting body in the liquid. The device includes a plurality of envelope bodies distributed in the liquid in an area of the hydrosound-emitting body and at a distance from each other. A material, diameter and pressure of each envelope body is configured such that a natural frequency of the envelope body corresponds to an emitted frequency range of the hydrosound so as to dampen the hydrosound. The device also includes at least one mass body disposed in the liquid. The envelope bodies are connected to the mass bodies so as to prevent the envelope bodies from rising up in the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Elmer