Body Contact Wave Transfer (e.g., Bone Conduction Earphone, Larynx Microphone) Patents (Class 381/151)
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Publication number: 20130236035Abstract: An intra-oral appliance for transmitting sound via bone conduction and optimized for comfort, safety, speech intelligibility, eating and drinking and extended wear by the user including an actuator to provide hone conduction sound transmission:, a transceiver coupled to the actuator to cause the actuator to generate sound; and a first chamber containing, the actuator and the transceiver, said first chamber adapted to be coupled to one or more teeth of the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2013Publication date: September 12, 2013Applicant: Sonitus Medical, Inc.Inventor: Amir A. ABOLFATHI
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Patent number: 8532322Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining whether signals to be applied by a bone conduction device would be masked by signals arriving at the good ear of a single sided deaf patient. The bone conduction device then applies stimulation for frequency components of the sound received by the bone conduction device that would not be masked by sound received by the patient's good ear. In applying the stimulation, the bone conduction device may apply a gain to compensate for the head shadow effect. This gain may be determined by inverting at least a portion of a curve for the head shadow effect.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2009Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventor: John Parker
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Patent number: 8526641Abstract: A bone conduction device, comprising: a sound input element configured to receive an acoustic sound signal; an electronics module configured generate an electrical signal representing said acoustic sound signal; and a transducer configured to generate motion of a mass component based on said electrical signal so as to generate one or more mechanical forces resulting in one or more of motion and vibration of a recipient's skull thereby causing sound perception, wherein one or more of the size and shape of said mass component is selectable at least partially based on a desired mechanical force to be generated by said transducer.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2008Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventors: John L. Parker, Derek Ian Darley
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Patent number: 8520866Abstract: Apparatus, methods and computer program products are provided to produce tactile feedback from sound. The apparatus is a sound cavity apparatus for a portable communication device and includes: at least one loudspeaker; and at least one cavity. At least one surface of the at least one cavity is configured to vibrate. The sound cavity apparatus is attached to the portable communication device and the sound cavity apparatus is configured to transmit vibration to the portable communication device.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2006Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Nokia CorporationInventor: Jukka Linjama
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Patent number: 8520867Abstract: Provided is a high-accuracy embedded audiphone. A transducer (34) made of a giant magnetostrictive element is provided in an intracorporeal unit (3) that is embedded in a skull (5). An audible sound modulation transmission signal (S1), which is amplitude-modulated by a sound collection signal generated in an extracorporeal unit (2), is transmitted from an extracorporeal transmitter coil (31) to an intracorporeal receiver coil (32) provided in the intracorporeal unit (3) with the help of a transmission magnetic flux (33). Moreover, because of an induced electromotive force of the intracorporeal receiver coil (32), the transducer (34) expands and contracts. Therefore, it is possible to highly accurately conduct an audible sound signal through bone with no power source or demodulation circuit provided in the intracorporeal unit (3).Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2009Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignees: The University of Electro-Communications, Ehime UniversityInventors: Takuji Koike, Naohito Hato, Kensei Yamamoto
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Patent number: 8509467Abstract: There are provided a human body sound transmission system and a method. The human body sound transmission system according to an aspect of the present invention directly or indirectly contacts a human body to apply coupled signals of high frequency sound signals with high frequency signals, which recover sound signals from the high frequency sound signals, to the human body and transmit the sound signals using the human body as a transmission medium, wherein a magnitude of the sound signals recovered around a human's ear is increased in proportion to the number of signals transmitted through the human body by transmitting the plurality of signals including the same sound signals through the human body.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2010Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research InstituteInventors: Sung-Eun Kim, Jung Hwan Hwang, Tae Wook Kang, Sung Weon Kang, Tae Young Kang, Kyung-Soo Kim, Jung Bum Kim, Jin Kyung Kim, Kyung Hwan Park, Hyung Il Park, In Gi Lim, Byoung Gun Choi, Chang Hee Hyoung, Seok Bong Hyun
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Patent number: 8509461Abstract: A bone conduction device, comprising: a sound input element configured to receive an acoustic sound signal; an electronics module configured generate an electrical signal representing said acoustic sound signal; and a transducer, comprising a mass configured to move in a rotational direction, configured to generate a vibrational force in a tangential direction with respect to a recipient's bone.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2010Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventor: John L. Parker
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Publication number: 20130202135Abstract: A communications headset includes bone vibrating transducers supported over the temporal bones of a wearer in front of each ear and an earpiece. The earpieces, when not in use, are magnetically couplable to a transducer housing. Radio signals received by a wearer or vehicular mounted radio are processed by and distributed through a communications interface to both the transducers and the earpiece speakers. Ambient or external noises picked up by one or more microphones on each earpiece are processed to reduce ambient noises above a certain level.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2013Publication date: August 8, 2013Applicant: ATLANTIC SIGNAL, LLCInventor: Atlantic Signal, LLC
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Publication number: 20130202134Abstract: The systems and methods described herein relate to, among other things, a transducer capable of producing acoustic and tactile stimulation. The transducer includes a rigid mass element disposed on the diaphragm of a speaker. The mass element may optionally be removable and may have a mass selected such that the resonant frequency of the transducer falls within the range of frequencies present in an input electrical audio signal. The systems and methods advantageously benefits from both the fidelity and audio performance of a full-range speaker while simultaneously producing high-fidelity, adjustable and palpable haptic vibrations.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2012Publication date: August 8, 2013Applicant: IMMERZ, INC.Inventor: Immerz, Inc.
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Publication number: 20130188080Abstract: An electronic device includes a band configured to be worn on the head of a user. The band has a central portion and first and second temple portions extending therefrom. The central portion is configured to contact a portion of the face of a user, and the temple portions are configured to contact portions of the head of the user near ears thereof. An operational unit having a display element is affixed to the first temple portion and includes a housing having an arm defining a longitudinal axis. The housing also includes an elbow portion defining a display end that supports the display element such that it extends along a display axis angled with respect to the longitudinal axis and such that the display element is positionable over an eye of the user. Image generating means are disposed within the housing for generating an image presentable on the display element.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2012Publication date: July 25, 2013Applicant: GOOGLE INC.Inventors: Maj Isabelle Olsson, Mitchell Joseph Heinrich, Sebastian Thrun, Sergey Brin
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Publication number: 20130180033Abstract: A headset for a helmet transmits audio signals using bone conduction, and transmits audio signals even when not using bone conduction. A headset for a helmet for transmitting audio signals to a user wearing a helmet includes: a bone conduction oscillator which receives the audio signals and emits audio oscillations; an arm part which has the bone conduction oscillator on the leading end side thereof; and an attachment part which attaches the base end side of the arm part on the outer side of the crown of the helmet in a rotatable manner. The bone conduction oscillator is brought into contact with either the head portion of the user or the outer side of the crown, depending on the angle of rotation a of the arm part. The audio signals are thus transmitted to the user when bone conduction is not used by using sounds emitted by the crown.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2011Publication date: July 18, 2013Applicants: GOLDENDANCE CO., LTD., WEST NIPPON EXPRESSWAY MAINTENANCE KANSAI CO., LTDInventors: Seiji Uemoto, Akiko Nakatani
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Patent number: 8488814Abstract: This acoustic headset (2) comprises: two lateral acoustic modules (4, 6) comprising a mechanical bone excitation transducer (20, 22) which is capable of transmitting the sound signal to the auditory nerve by bone conduction, a flexible upper curved member (8) and a rigid rear curved member (10) for connecting the acoustic modules (4, 6). Each acoustic module (4, 6) comprises: a plate (16, 18) for lateral abutment against the sides of the skull, an articulation (24, 26) between the abutment plate (16, 18) and the transducer (20, 22), a spring for return movement, in terms of rotation about the axis of articulation (24, 26), of the transducer (20, 22) relative to the plate (16, 18) towards a rest position.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2008Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Elno Societe NouvelleInventors: Patrick Robuchon, Jean-François Cavelier, Monique Mitte
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Publication number: 20130169513Abstract: A wearable computing device includes a bone conduction transducer, an extension arm, a light pass hole, and a flexible touch pad input circuit. When a user wears the device, the transducer contacts the user's head. A display is attached to a free end of an extension arm. The extension arm is pivotable such that a distance between the display and the user's eye is adjustable to provide the display at an optimum position. The light pass hole may include a light emitting diode and a flash. The touch pad input circuit may be adhered to at least one side arm such that parting lines are not provided between edges of the circuit and the side arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2012Publication date: July 4, 2013Applicant: GOOGLE INC.Inventors: Mitchell Joseph Heinrich, Maj Isabelle Olsson, John Lapetina, Joseph John Hebenstreit, Jianchun Dong, Harvey Ho
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Publication number: 20130163791Abstract: The present invention relates to a bone conduction speaker and its compound vibration device. The compound vibration device comprises a vibration conductive plate and a vibration board, the vibration conductive plate is set to be the first torus, where at least two first rods inside it converge to its center; the vibration board is set as the second torus, where at least two second rods inside it converge to its center. The vibration conductive plate is fixed with the vibration board; the first torus is fixed on a magnetic system, and the second torus comprises a fixed voice coil, which is driven by the magnetic system. The bone conduction speaker in the present invention and its compound vibration device adopt the fixed vibration conductive plate and vibration board, making the technique simpler with a lower cost; because the two adjustable parts in the compound vibration device can adjust both low frequency and high frequency area, the frequency response obtained is flatter and the sound is broader.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2012Publication date: June 27, 2013Inventors: XIN QI, YE YU
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Publication number: 20130156233Abstract: A mobile terminal includes a body having a front surface and a rear surface; a display unit formed on the front surface of the body; a frame disposed between the front surface and the rear surface, and configured to support the display unit; and a sound output device configured to transmit sound using bone conduction vibrations, and connected to the frame so as to transmit the vibration to the display unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2012Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventor: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
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Publication number: 20130142363Abstract: An illustrative method for transferring data to a device includes identifying the data that is to be transferred to the device, modulating the data with a signal, providing the signal to a contact microphone that is in physical contact with an individual, and transmitting the signal through a body of the individual to the device using the contact microphone. An illustrative method for authenticating the individual includes transmitting a signal through a body of the individual in response to the individual physically contacting an authentication device, receiving a modified signal including the signal as modified by the body of the individual, removing the signal from the modified signal to identify a unique body signature of the individual, comparing the unique body signature to a database to determine if the database includes the unique body signature, and selectively authenticating the individual based upon whether the database includes the unique body signature.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2011Publication date: June 6, 2013Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.Inventors: Brian Amento, Kevin Ansia Li, Kermit Hal Purdy, Larry Stead
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Publication number: 20130136279Abstract: Among other things, an audio device for transmission of sound information to a user's pinna is disclosed, the device having an actuator and a rigid backing attached to the actuator so as to form a gap without walls between the actuator and the backing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2011Publication date: May 30, 2013Inventors: Jeremy A Brown, Robert B.A. Adamson, Manohar Bance
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Patent number: 8447051Abstract: A communication headset is disclosed. The headset comprises two earpieces: a first earpiece, having a first arm, positionable in front of a wearer's ear and a second arm, positionable behind a wearer's ear, with a first bone conduction speaker carried on the second arm; and a second earpiece, having a first arm, positionable in front of a wearer's ear and a second arm, positionable behind a wearer's other ear, with a second bone conduction speaker carried on the second arm. A first microphone is carried on the first earpiece, and is adapted to detect ambient sound from at least a first direction. A second microphone is carried on the second earpiece, and is adapted to detect ambient sound from at least a second direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2011Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Niklas D. B. Emilsson
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Publication number: 20130121513Abstract: An opening type bone conduction earphone which eliminates headband and has a compact and simple structure comprising a magnetic body, which has an aeration hole, which is able to communicate with the outside world when wearing, at the center part of the axial direction, at least one or more dampers provided at the outer circumference of the magnetic body, and a coil bobbin, which is provided at the outer circumference of the magnetic body, accommodates the damper within a trunk part, and in which a coil is wound at the outer circumference of the trunk part, is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2011Publication date: May 16, 2013Inventor: Yoshio Adachi
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Patent number: 8442249Abstract: A human body sound transmission apparatus and method for minimizing a signal loss are disclosed. The human body sound transmission apparatus includes: an audio signal transmission unit modulating an audio signal desired to be transmitted, and transmitting the modulated audio signal to the vicinity of a user's ear through the human body (i.e., a user's body); and a carrier wave signal transmission unit transmitting a carrier wave signal for demodulating the modulated audio signal to the vicinity of the user's ear through the air.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2010Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research InstituteInventors: Jung Hwan Hwang, Tae Wook Kang, Sung Eun Kim, Sung Weon Kang, Kyung Soo Kim, Jung Bum Kim, Hyung Il Park, Chang Hee Hyoung, Jin Kyung Kim, In Gi Lim, Kyung Hwan Park, Byoung Gun Choi, Tae Young Kang, Seok Bong Hyun
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Publication number: 20130114834Abstract: A listening device having an ear hook adapted for carrying the device behind the ear of a user and magnetically operated compression parts including a subcutaneous part and a device part is provided, where further a vibrator is provided and adapted to vibrationally energize a skin portion through an output coupler, wherein the hook carries the weight of the listening device and the magnetic compression parts ensures compression between the output coupler and the skin portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2012Publication date: May 9, 2013Applicant: OTICON MEDICAL A/SInventor: OTICON MEDICAL A/S
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Patent number: 8433083Abstract: An intra-oral hearing appliance includes an actuator to provide bone conduction sound transmission; a transceiver coupled to the actuator to cause the actuator to generate sound; and a first chamber containing the actuator and the transceiver, said first chamber adapted to be coupled to one or more teeth.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2011Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.Inventors: Amir A. Abolfathi, John Spiridigliozzi
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Patent number: 8433080Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting an audio signal through a bone of a user includes receiving an audio signal from a first microphone positioned at an entrance or in a first ear canal; and vibrating a first transducer to audibly transmit the audio signal through the bone. A second microphone can be positioned in a second ear canal and the two microphones preserve and deliver inter-aural sound level and phase differences that naturally occur so that the user can perceive directionality.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2007Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.Inventors: Richard Scott Rader, Amir Abolfathi
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Patent number: 8433082Abstract: An intra-oral appliance for transmitting sound via bone conduction and optimized for comfort, safety, speech intelligibility, eating and drinking and extended wear by the user including an actuator to provide bone conduction sound transmission; a transceiver coupled to the actuator to cause the actuator to generate sound; and a first chamber containing the actuator and the transceiver, said first chamber adapted to be coupled to one or more teeth of the user.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2010Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.Inventor: Amir Abolfathi
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Patent number: 8433081Abstract: A bone conduction device, comprising: a sound input element configured to receive an acoustic sound signal; an electronics module configured generate an electrical signal representing said acoustic sound signal; and a transducer, comprising a mass configured to move in a rotational direction, configured to generate a vibrational force in a tangential direction with respect to a recipient's bone.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2009Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventor: John L. Parker
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Patent number: 8406443Abstract: The invention relates to a bone anchored bone conductive hearing aid which has a bone implantable screw (3) with an implant axis (25) intended to be generally perpendicular to a bone surface at an implant point and a skin penetrating abutment (5) which is connected to the implantable screw (3) through a contact surface (16) at a contra-lateral end thereof where the abutment (5) at a lateral end thereof has a coupling surface (15) whereto a hearing aid is detachably coupled along a hearing aid coupling axis (20) the implant axis (25) and the hearing aid coupling axis (20) are arranged at an angle ? with respect to each other.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2010Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Oticon Medical A/SInventors: Patrik Westerkull, Lars Jinton
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Patent number: 8391516Abstract: A method of using an audio device (2) for improving a user's (1) listening experience. The audio device has a transducer (12) for producing output sound and the method comprises the steps of driving the transducer to produce an output sound and placing the audio device against the body of the user so that the user experiences a physical response to the sound while simultaneously listening to the audio device. The audio device may be arranged to produce a resonance in a part of the user's body. Preferably the audio device is positioned on the user's chest to produce a resonance in the chest cavity of the user's body. The audio device may comprise a sum and difference speaker system.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2008Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Airsound LLPInventor: Edward Stuart Fletcher
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Publication number: 20130051594Abstract: An in-the-ear technology delivery, positioning and sound management system includes a body portion that provides support for a conformable fitting element to be positioned in the user's ear canal and is structured and arranged to anchor sound management technologies and medical instrumentalities at selected positions in the canal for the delivery and control of sound or for the performance of medical procedures. A sound tube is provided to deliver sound in close proximity to the ear drum and a method for selectively fitting the system to the wearer's personal comfort level is provided. An apparatus and a method for a fitting pressure to be automatically applied along the device or aided by a fitting element that facilitates placement and a secure fit in the ear canal are presented. A coating element manages, acoustically alters, or occludes sound properties and sound at selected depths within the ear canal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2012Publication date: February 28, 2013Inventor: Kevin Semcken
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Publication number: 20130051585Abstract: An apparatus including an air-conduction transducer and a bone conduction transducer. The air-conduction transducer is configured to convert a first frequency band component of an electrical audio signal into acoustic energy to be delivered to an ear canal of a user. The bone conduction transducer is configured to convert a second, at least partially different, frequency band component of the electrical audio signal into mechanical energy to be delivered to a skull of the user. The apparatus is configured to deliver both forms of the energies to the user at a substantially same time to provide a combined audio delivery result to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2011Publication date: February 28, 2013Inventors: Leo Karkkainen, Lance Williams, Peng Xie
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Patent number: 8383925Abstract: A music station is connected through a communication network to another music station, and pieces of music data expressing an exhibition performance on a automatic player piano and pieces of voice data expressing tutor's explanation are transmitted from the music station to the other music station through different communication channels; and a close-talking microphone and a bone conduction microphone are incorporated in a sound collector on the music station, and a vibration signal from the bone conduction microphone is examined to see whether or not the cord of tutor vibrates; when the answer is given affirmative, a voice signal from the close-talking microphone is relayed to a transmitter module so that the sound collector does not permit the transmitter module to transmit the voice signal expressing noises such as the tones; whereby the music performance system prevents the trainee from tones reproduced from a headphone.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2007Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventors: Haruki Uehara, Kenji Matahira
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Patent number: 8385576Abstract: A communications headset includes bone vibrating transducers supported over the temporal bones of a wearer in front of each ear and an earpiece. The earpieces, when not in use, are selectively securable in a holster formed on each transducer housing. Radio signals received by a wearer or vehicular mounted radio are processed by and distributed through a communications interface to both the transducers and the earpiece speakers. Ambient or external noises picked up by one or more microphones on each earpiece are processed to reduce ambient noises above a certain level.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2010Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Atlantic Signal, LLCInventors: Randall Hedrick, Darrell W. Goodnow, David J. Bondarenko
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Publication number: 20130044903Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a bone conduction communication apparatus with a housing having a shape which is conformable to at least a portion of at least one tooth of a user; a transceiver mounted in the housing; and a transducer disposed within or upon the housing and in vibratory communication with a surface of the at least one tooth to transmit sound through the at least one tooth. A positioning system is provided to transmit positional information to the transceiver to be delivered to the transducer: and a communication device links the transceiver with a second person. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2012Publication date: February 21, 2013Applicant: SONITUS MEDICAL, INC.Inventors: Amir ABOLFATHI, Reza KASSAYAN
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Patent number: 8376967Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring and recording skull vibration in situ comprising a receiving means, a dental material capable of filling any gaps between the receiving means and the at least one tooth, the material capable of transmitting mechanical vibration within the dental bone conduction pathway to the receiving means; a transducer mounted into or unto the receiving means said transducer capable of transducing mechanical vibration within the dental bone conduction pathway into electrical signals; an extra-orally recordation hardware and software capable of receiving and processing said electrical signals from said transducer.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2010Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Audiodontics, LLCInventor: Barry L. Mersky
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Publication number: 20130022220Abstract: Exemplary wearable computing systems may include a head-mounted display that is configured to provide indirect bone-conduction audio. For example, an exemplary head-mounted display may include at least one vibration transducer that is configured to vibrate at least a portion of the head-mounted display based on the audio signal. The vibration transducer is configured such that when the head-mounted display is worn, the vibration transducer vibrates the head-mounted display without directly vibrating a wearer. However, the head-mounted display structure vibrationally couples to a bone structure of the wearer, such that vibrations from the vibration transducer may be indirectly transferred to the wearer's bone structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2011Publication date: January 24, 2013Applicant: GOOGLE INC.Inventors: Jianchun Dong, Liang-Yu Tom Chi, Mitchell Heinrich, Leng Ooi
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Patent number: 8358792Abstract: Actuator systems for oral-based appliances utilizing transducers which are attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a dental or oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such oral appliances may be a custom-made device which receives incoming sounds and transmits the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element. The transducer element may utilize electromagnetic or piezoelectric transducer mechanisms and may be positioned directly along the dentition or along an oral appliance housing in various configurations.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2009Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Amir Abolfathi
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Publication number: 20130010987Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a tooth or teeth are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2012Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: SONITUS MEDICAL, INC.Inventors: Amir ABOLFATHI, Vahid SAADAT, Loc X. PHAN
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Publication number: 20130010988Abstract: An implantable microphone comprises a hermetically-sealed, enclosed volume and an electret member and back plate disposed with a space therebetween and capacitively coupleable to provide an output signal indicative of acoustic signals incident upon at least one of the electret member and back plate. The back plate may be disposed to define a peripheral portion of the enclosed volume, e.g., the back plate may be defined as part of a flexible diaphragm that receives external acoustic signals. Vents may be provided to fluidly interconnect first and second portions of the enclosed volume that are located on first and second sides of the electret member. In another embodiment, the electret member may be flexible and spaced relative to a flexible outer diaphragm.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2012Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: OTOLOGICS, LLCInventors: Scott Allan Miller, III, Travis Rian Andrews, Robert Edwin Schneider, David L. Basinger, James R. Easter
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Publication number: 20130003996Abstract: Actuator systems for oral-based appliances utilizing transducers which are attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a dental or oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such oral appliances may be a custom-made device which receives incoming sounds and transmits the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element. The transducer element may utilize electromagnetic or piezoelectric transducer mechanisms and may be positioned directly along the dentition or along an oral appliance housing in various configurations.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: SONITUS MEDICAL, INC.Inventors: Christoph MENZEL, Amir ABOLFATHI
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Publication number: 20130003997Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for capturing sound for communication by mounting one or more intra-oral microphones to capture sound; and mounting a mouth wearable communicator in the oral cavity to communicate sound with a remote unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: SONITUS MEDICAL, INC.Inventors: Reza KASSAYAN, John SPIRIDIGLIOZZI
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Patent number: 8345915Abstract: A multi-functional subminiature speaker, namely a bone conduction speaker, which can generate vibration for a bone conduction function, bodily sensation of vibration, speaker attachment, and the vibration modes over the housing unit, without any projections, and which has an acoustic portion unit detachably mounted. The bone conduction is performed without the projections because the vibration can be generated over the whole surface of the multi-functional subminiature speaker, such that loss of the magnetic force transmitted to the vibration coil is minimized by disposing the magnets on both inner and outer sides with respect to the vibration coil.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2006Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Inventors: Kwangshik Shin, Sanghack Ko
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Patent number: 8344689Abstract: A hearing aid with a rechargeable energy storage unit used as a power supply and an antenna used for wireless transmission and reception of electromagnetic signals is provided. The hearing aid also includes an energy charging unit which is arranged between the antenna and the energy storage unit, with the energy transmitted electromagnetically in a charging mode to the antenna being fed electrically via the energy charging unit into the energy storage unit. An energy charger and an energy storage method are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2009Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.Inventor: Mihail Boguslavskij
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Publication number: 20120328131Abstract: A system and method of driving a floating mass transducer with an analog input signal uIN(t), uIN(t) being between ground and VCC, is provided. The method includes converting uIN(t) to a binary rectangular signal uR(t) with two levels VCC and GND. A switching network is driven with uR(t) so as to switch nodes N1 and N2 between VCC and ground. The floating mass transducer is coupled between nodes N1 and N2 to a capacitor C in parallel, and further to a coil L in series.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2011Publication date: December 27, 2012Applicant: MED-EL ELEKTROMEDIZINISCHE GERAETE GMBHInventor: Clemens M. Zierhofer
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Publication number: 20120321109Abstract: A digital audio player device can be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance or other oral device to form an intraoral MP3 player. In another embodiment, the device provide's an electronic and transducer device that can be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance or other oral device to form a DAP. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device fabricated from a thermal forming process utilizing a replicate model of a dental structure obtained by conventional dental impression methods. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2012Publication date: December 20, 2012Applicant: SONITUS MEDICAL, INC.Inventors: Amir A. ABOLFATHI, Jason R. SHELTON, Reza KASSAYAN
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Patent number: 8333203Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or actuator assembly through a custom-fitted dental appliance are disclosed herein. The customized fitting is done by the user. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded intra-orally on a tooth or oral tissue. The electronic and actuator assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating actuator element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2008Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.Inventors: John Spiridigliozzi, Amir Abolfathi, Emir Deljkich
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Patent number: 8331597Abstract: In order to connect a hearing device to a carrying hook, a connecting element is used, which has to satisfy high demands with regards to its precision and stability. To ensure this, the connecting element is designed as a powder injection molded part, in particular as a ceramic injection molded part or metal part, which is manufactured in a ceramic injection molding process or a metal injection molding process.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2008Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Werner Fickweiler, Björn Freels, Holger Kral, Joseph Sauer
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Patent number: 8325963Abstract: A bone-conduction microphone built-in headset comprises: an ear pad; an ear cup capable of covering an ear; a piezoelectric element composing a bone-conduction microphone; a buffer material forming the ear pad; a baffle board provided between the ear pad and the ear cup; a wire laid from the piezoelectric element, in which the ear pad is provided on an opening end side of the ear cup, the piezoelectric element is provided inside the ear pad and supported by the buffer material to be pressed against a skin around the ear, the ear pad is detachably attached to the baffle board, and the baffle board has a connecter to which the wire is connected.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2009Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-TechnicaInventor: Tominori Kimura
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Patent number: 8325964Abstract: A wearable surround sound system, that includes: (a) a processor, adapted to receive input signals representative of requested audio signals to be heard by the user and in response to generate multiple output signals; and (b) multiple bone conduction speakers, coupled to the processor, adapted to convey the multiple output signals to at least one bone of a user; wherein the bone conduction speakers are arrayed so as to stimulate an encompassing sound perception of the use. A wearable ambient sound reduction system, that includes: (a) a microphone, adapted to detect an ambient sound signal; (b) a processor adapted to generate an output signal in response to the ambient sound signal; wherein the output signal, when conveyed to a bone of the user, reduces an affect that an ambient sound signal has upon the user; wherein the microphone is coupled to the processor; and (c) a bone conduction speaker, coupled to the processor, adapted to convey the output signal to a bone of a user.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2007Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: DSP Group Ltd.Inventor: David Weisman
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Publication number: 20120302822Abstract: A bone conduction device, including a bone fixture adapted to be fixed to bone, a vibratory element adapted to be attached to the bone fixture and configured to vibrate in response to sound signals, and a vibration isolator adapted to be disposed between the vibratory element and the bone.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Inventors: Carl Van Himbeeck, Marcus Andersson, David N. Morris, Kristian Åsnes
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Patent number: 8317734Abstract: A device for providing vestibular and somatosensory stimulation through bone conduction of sound waves to skeletal bones is provided in the form of a pad that is applied to or wrapped around the individual in treatment, which is comfortable in use and may contain particulate filler material capable of providing bone conduction stimulation adjacent to the location of a bone conduction transducer and expand the sound conduction site over a larger area.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2009Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Integrated Listening Systems, LLCInventor: Randall Redfield
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Publication number: 20120243714Abstract: Microphone placement for oral applications are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device which can enhance and/or optimize received audio signals for vibrational conduction to the user. Received audio signals may be processed to cancel acoustic echo such that undesired sounds received by one or more intra-buccal and/or extra-buccal microphones are eliminated or mitigated. Multiple microphones may be positioned throughout the user's mouth to enhance reception of audio signals from outside sources as well as from the user's own voice. For instance, one or more microphones may be placed in contact with the inner surface of the user's cheeks to detect outside audio signals as well as in direct contact with the user's tooth or teeth to receive the user's voice through vibrational detection.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2009Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicant: SONITUS MEDICAL, INC.Inventors: Amir ABOLFATHI, Reza KASSAYAN