Specified Casing Or Housing Patents (Class 381/322)
  • Patent number: 10771878
    Abstract: Embodiments (e.g., of the system, etc.) can include a wireless in-ear utility device (e.g., miniature form factor Bluetooth device) with improved form factor in order to fit the small to extra small ear concha bowls and inner ear canals of one or more users. In embodiments, the improved wireless in-ear utility device can include tri-ear buds to be closer the users eardrum for higher sound quality performance and comfort in the user's ear when then in-ear utility device is worn, and allows for a higher level of comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Acouva, Inc.
    Inventor: Victor Manuel Valenzuela
  • Patent number: 10735875
    Abstract: An earpiece configured to be worn in an ear canal of a user is disclosed. The earpiece includes an adaptor having an interface configured to receive at least a part of a speaker unit and hereby be attached to the speaker unit. The earpiece includes an adaptable part, preferably a part made of a foam material or a gel material shapeable to fit the ear canal of the user. The adaptable part at least partly surrounds the adaptor. The adaptor has a sound outlet channel and at least one vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Kenneth Rueskov Møller, Svend Oscar Petersen, Anders Thule, Troels Holm Pedersen
  • Patent number: 10728648
    Abstract: An earpiece including an intra-auricular support positionable in an auricle of an ear, a portion of the intra-auricular support configured as an intra-auricular support base securable to an earphone housing of an earphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Decibullz LLC
    Inventor: Kyle J Kirkpatrick
  • Patent number: 10721573
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a plate structure of a non-surgical bone conductive device, configured to be attached to a part of the skin of the skull of a hearing impaired person. The non-surgical bone conductive device is designed such that an optimized vibration transfer is achieved, while at the same time allowing a sufficient leverage of the weight of the sound processor when the sound processor is connected to the plate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: OTICON MEDICAL A/S
    Inventors: Hanna Peters, Magdalena Eriksson, Hanna Stenhamre, Marianne Philipsson, Christina Wassard, Bengt Bern
  • Patent number: 10678502
    Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for systems and methods for in-ear control of remote devices are presented. One disclosed method includes receiving, by a microphone of an in-ear device, audio signals from an audio source, the in-ear device inserted into a wearer's ear; determining a command based on the audio signals using a speech recognition technique; performing a voice recognition technique to determine an identity of the audio source; authenticating the command based on the identity of the audio source; and transmitting a signal to a remote electronic device, the signal configured to cause the remote electronic device to execute the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventor: Leonid Sheynblat
  • Patent number: 10659884
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a speaker, including a frame, a magnetic circuit system and a vibration system accommodated in the frame; the frame includes a main body defining an accommodating space and a mounting portion extending from the main body toward the vibrating diaphragm; the vibrating diaphragm is fixed at the mounting portion; the main body and the mounting portion are integrally formed through double-shot molding by using two kinds of plastics, where the main body is made of PPA, and the mounting portion is made of LCP. According to the speaker provided in the present disclosure, a glued surface between the vibrating diaphragm and the mounting portion has good flatness, which helps to improve waterproof performance and performance yield of the speaker, and firmness of gluing the magnetic circuit system with the main body is high, which helps to improve reliability of the product when the product falls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Chengming Cao, Bo Xiao
  • Patent number: 10645497
    Abstract: A method of treating a silicone component for an electro-acoustic driver, the method including: forming a body of an elastomeric material having a polymeric backbone, where a portion of the polymeric backbone includes alternating silicon and oxygen atoms without carbon atoms, the body having a front surface and a back surface where the front surface and the back surface have a first level of surface tack; and forming an outermost layer on or within at least one part of the front surface or the back surface, the outermost layer having a second level of surface tack that is less than the first level of surface tack. The outermost layer includes a permanent silicone coating applied on the front or back surface or an altered surface chemistry within the front or back surface generated using ultraviolent/ozone treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Kai Gao, Shawn Prevoir, Alexander Irwin
  • Patent number: 10645503
    Abstract: A method for producing a housing part of a hearing device. The housing part serves to receive electronic components of the hearing device in a housing interior. Fibers are used to build up a fiber skeleton for a wall of the housing part at least partially surrounding the housing interior. A mechanical property of the wall is varied in a predefined manner along a reference direction of the housing part by way of the fibers. The fiber skeleton is then infiltrated, at least over part of its longitudinal extent, with a matrix material. There is also described a housing part of a hearing device and a hearing device with a housing part formed with fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Bjoern Freels, Daniela Beck
  • Patent number: 10631112
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for a user interface control to allow control of multiple parameters from a single control for a hearing assistance device. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to hearing assistance device for a wearer, including a housing, hearing assistance electronics housed in the housing, and a tinnitus therapy generator housed in the housing. A user interface control is connected to the electronics and the generator, and the control is configured to sense input from the wearer and provide for selection and adjustment of operational parameters for the electronics and the generator based on the sensed input. Other aspects are provided without departing from the scope of the present subject matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: John Andrew Dundas
  • Patent number: 10616680
    Abstract: A receiver assembly including a receiver and an assembly housing. The receiver includes a sound outlet configured to outlet sound from the receiver. Furthermore, the receiver includes at least a first and a second outer surface and is arranged at least partly within the assembly housing. The assembly housing includes an assembly sound outlet arranged in communication with the sound outlet for outlet of sound from the receiver via the assembly outlet. The receiver assembly further includes a suspension structure having at least one suspension element, the suspension structure suspending the receiver in the assembly housing. The suspension element connects the receiver and the assembly housing, and the suspension element is formed by a sheet material and is an elongated element extending in an longitudinal direction and is configured to dampen vibration of the receiver by deflection of the suspension element in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Caspar Titus Bolsman, Raymond Mögelin, Rasmus Voss, Patrick Linthorst, Andreas Tiefenau, Nicolaas Maria Jozef Stoffels, Peter Rietman, Gerardus Johannes Franciscus Theodorus van der Beek, Viktor Klymko, Tomasz Grzeczynski
  • Patent number: 10595107
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing having an opening comprising an audio port and a speaker assembly carried by the device housing. The speaker assembly includes a water ejection system having a diaphragm coupled to a magnetic driver and a mesh that covers the audio port where the diaphragm and the mesh together define an acoustic volume. When a water ejection signal is received at the magnetic driver, the magnetic driver is caused to move the diaphragm in a manner that ejects water contained within the acoustic volume out of the acoustic volume and through the mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nikolas T. Vitt, David M. Pelletier, Miodrag Pejin, Christopher Wilk, Mark A. Murphy, Brad G. Boozer
  • Patent number: 10595138
    Abstract: A hearing aid has an assembly, the assembly comprising: a microphone for reception of sound and conversion of the received sound into a corresponding first audio signal; a signal processor for processing the first audio signal into a second audio signal compensating a hearing loss of a user of the hearing aid; a wireless communication unit configured for wireless communication; and an antenna system comprising a first feeding structure and a radiating segment; wherein the first feeding structure is connected or coupled to the wireless communication unit, and wherein the radiating segment is galvanic disconnected from at least a part of the first feeding structure; and wherein the at least a part of the first feeding structure is galvanic disconnected from the radiating segment if a capacitive coupling between the at least a part of the first feeding structure and the radiating segment is between 0.5 pF and 20 pF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: GN Hearing A/S
    Inventor: Alexandre Pinto
  • Patent number: 10595112
    Abstract: Seamless earbud structures and methods for making the same are disclosed. Seamless earbud structures can be constructed using an insert molding construction method, which overmolds a cosmetic material over two sub-enclosures that are mated together. The two sub-enclosures form a housing that can encompass a driver assembly (e.g., woofer and tweeter), a conductor bundle, and provide one or more acoustic volumes. The housing has a non-occluding member and a neck member, and has a seamless or nearly seamless construction. The cosmetic material is insert molded around the housing to provide a smooth and seamless surface disposed around the periphery of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan S. Aase
  • Patent number: 10587942
    Abstract: A liquid-resistant microphone assembly includes a substrate defining a sound-entry region and a microphone transducer coupled with the substrate. The transducer has a sound-responsive region acoustically coupled with the sound-entry opening defined by the substrate. A liquid-resistant port membrane spans across the sound-entry opening defined by the substrate. The membrane is gas-permeable. An adhesive layer is positioned between the substrate and the liquid-resistant port membrane, coupling the liquid-resistant port membrane with the substrate and spacing the liquid-resistant port membrane from the substrate to form a gap between the membrane and the substrate. The adhesive layer defines an aperture having a periphery extending around and positioned outward of the sound-entry region. Modules and electronic devices incorporating such a microphone transducer also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Minervini, David S. Wilkes, Jr., Nikolas T. Vitt, Peter C. Hrudey, Ruchir M. Dave, Amin M. Younes
  • Patent number: 10582319
    Abstract: A hearing assistance device comprises a system in package (SIP) disposed within an enclosure. The SIP module comprises a first substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, the first substrate supporting a first subsystem configured to perform a first function. A second substrate has a first surface and an opposing second surface, the second substrate supporting a second subsystem configured to perform a second function. The second surfaces face each other and at least one of the second surfaces supports one or more components. An interconnect layer is separate from and bonded to and between the first and second substrates. The interconnect layer comprises a window and a region peripheral to the window. The window is sized to accommodate the one or more components and the peripheral region comprising electrical pathways for electrically connecting the first subsystem and the second subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Ay Vang, Douglas F. Link, Shawn Mahon, Kevin Lammi
  • Patent number: 10582320
    Abstract: A hearing device sizer apparatus including a medial sizer, with a medial core portion and a medial seal secured to the medial core portion, and a lateral sizer, with a lateral core portion and a lateral seal secured to the lateral core portion, that are configured to be releasably engaged with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Paul Wagner, Michael Au, Barjinder Chana, Shilpi Banerjee, Erdal Karamuk
  • Patent number: 10582279
    Abstract: Disclosed is a loudspeaker module, comprising a module housing and a single loudspeaker; a module inner cavity configured to receive the single loudspeaker is formed in the module housing; and the module housing comprises a module upper housing and a module lower housing, the module upper housing is arranged at the outer side of a front cover of the single loudspeaker, the module upper housing is provided with a metal sheet in an injection molding manner, and a grounding terminal configured to be in grounding connection with an application terminal of the loudspeaker module is led out from the metal sheet. The loudspeaker module of the present invention not only is aiding in thinning, but also can ensure the matching stability between a loudspeaker and an application terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Goertek Inc.
    Inventors: Yun Yang, Dan Han
  • Patent number: 10582281
    Abstract: Sound quality is improved. A speaker device includes: a frame which functions as a housing; a diaphragm which vibrates when sound is outputted; a magnetic circuit which vibrates the diaphragm; and a speaker grille which is attached to the frame, in which the speaker grille is provided with a frame-shaped portion formed into an annular shape and a crosspiece portion positioned at an inner side of the frame-shaped portion and partly continuous with the frame-shaped portion, and the crosspiece portion is formed into a non-concentric shape as well as at least partly formed as a curved portion with a curved shape. Thus, since the crosspiece portion is constituted with the structure having the curved portion in a state in which the constitution with a concentric shape is not present, dips, in particular, hardly occur in the frequency characteristics, and a good output state of sound can be secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Horikiri, Shunsuke Shiomi, Shogo Yashiro
  • Patent number: 10575082
    Abstract: An audio device for insertion into an ear canal of a user that includes an adjustable ear tip. The ear tip is formed by a sleeve disposed on a body of the audio device with a first end of the sleeve coupled to an output end of the body. An opposite second end of the sleeve is coupled to a collar that encircles and threadably engages the body. In a retracted state, the sleeve lies alongside an exterior surface of the body. Rotation of the collar relative to the body moves the collar axially along the body and flexes the sleeve radially outward away from the body. An extent of rotation of the collar is selectable to provide a radial dimension of the sleeve and thus the ear tip that provides a suitable fit of the audio device with a user's ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Piearcings, LLC
    Inventors: Barrett Prelogar, Patsy Nigh
  • Patent number: 10566002
    Abstract: A method for phoneme identification. The method includes receiving an audio signal from a speaker, performing initial processing comprising filtering the audio signal to remove audio features, the initial processing resulting in a modified audio signal, transmitting the modified audio signal to a phoneme identification method and a phoneme replacement method to further process the modified audio signal, and transmitting the modified audio signal to a speaker. Also, a system for identifying and processing audio signals. The system includes at least one speaker, at least one microphone, and at least one processor, wherein the processor processes audio signals received using a method for phoneme replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Derek G. Kane
  • Patent number: 10560767
    Abstract: A sound generator including a housing having a first wall portion with a housing opening, a shielding element covering at least a portion of the first wall portion and having a shield opening, where the shielding element covers a portion of the first wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Tomasz Grzeczynski, Michele Colloca, Lars Wijsman
  • Patent number: 10555067
    Abstract: Custom in-ear monitors (headsets, headphones, earbuds, hearing aids) having improved audio fidelity characteristics and improved manufacturability are constructed by designing a virtual three-dimensional model housing including sound and vent tubes, and equipment mounting receptacles and clips; and fabricating the housing substantially simultaneously or all-in-one-go using, e.g., a 3D printer. The sound and vent tubes comprise features such as inflection points and profile variations that are impossible to construct using traditional subtractive manufacturing processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: 1964 Ears LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Ogut, Vitaliy Y. Belonozhko, Bogdan Belonozhko
  • Patent number: 10524036
    Abstract: Provided is a wearable device that is worn on a human ear and mainly outputs or inputs sound. The outer casing 110 is formed into an elongated shape so as to fit the cymba conchae 306 formed between the antihelix inferior crus 302b and the crus helicis 309. The sound generating unit 120 includes a vibration element 121 and a weight 122. The vibration element 121 has an elongated shape along the longitudinal direction of the outer casing 110, and has one end fixed to the inner wall of the outer casing 110, and the other end to which a weight 122 is attached, the other hand being an open end. By applying an alternating electric field to the vibration element 121, vibration corresponding to audio is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Go Igarashi, Kohei Asada, Koji Nageno
  • Patent number: 10516951
    Abstract: An ear tip apparatus for use with a hearing device is provided and comprises a malleable structure. The malleable structure is sized and configured for placement in an ear canal of a user. The malleable structure is deformable to allow an adjustable venting of the ear canal, thereby minimizing the occlusion effect. Methodology for adjusting a degree of venting of the ear canal is also provided, including the automatic adjustments. Adjusting the degree of venting may be done in response to one or more of detected feedback or an environmental cue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Earlens Corporation
    Inventor: Stuart W. Wenzel
  • Patent number: 10506320
    Abstract: An earphone can employ a dynamic tip to seal the ear canal of a user. At least one audio transducing driver may be positioned within a housing that is attached to a dynamic tip. The tip can have a first chamber separated from a second chamber by a constriction ring with sealing material occupying portions of the first chamber and the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Inventor: Phillip Dale Lott
  • Patent number: 10506354
    Abstract: A replaceable filter member for a hearing aid device is disclosed. The filter member comprising an unit with a housing configured to be inserted into the ear canal of a user of the hearing aid device. The filter member is configured to prevent ear wax from entering an opening in the housing. The filter member is a one-piece body that is configured to cover several openings in the unit while being attached to the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Svend Oscar Petersen, Morten Friis Karlsen, Martin Lindebjerg
  • Patent number: 10478934
    Abstract: A tool post of a machine tool, in which the tool post is capable of receiving a cutting insert for machining a component, is provided. The tool post includes at least one sensor capable of determining a parameter representative of a cutting action between a component to be machined and a cutting insert; and a support housing which is electrically connected to the sensor and includes a battery and a printed circuit board supplied with current by the battery. The printed circuit board supports, at least partially, a radio transmission unit. The housing includes a base and a cover which can be detached from one another. The battery is supported by the cover and the printed circuit board by the base or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: CENTRE TECHNIQUE DES INDUSTRIES MECHANIQUES ET DU DECOLLETAGE
    Inventors: Roger Busi, Patrice Laurent, Cyril Jayr
  • Patent number: 10462549
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a headphone or an earpiece that includes a cushion that advantageously allows for improved comfort, sound quality, and stability in the ear. The cushion includes an inner cavity, an ear-canal aperture and a tip portion, wherein the inner cavity of the cushion accommodates a nozzle portion of a housing within the cavity, and the axis of the inner cavity is substantially parallel to the first axis, wherein the ear-canal aperture opens toward the ear canal of the user's ear when the headphone or the earpiece is worn by the user, and wherein the tip portion engages the concha of the user's ear when the headphone or the earpiece is worn by the user, and the axis of the tip portion is not parallel to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Kingston Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Peter Leekuo Chou, Baron King Lee, Wei-Min Liang, Pen Hao Ma
  • Patent number: 10455311
    Abstract: An in-the-ear device such as a binaural microphone and an earphone is provided. An in-the-ear device 300 is used while being inserted into a human ear (external auditory canal), examples of which include the microphone and the earphone. This in-the-ear device 300 includes an in-the-ear device main body unit 310 substantially round column-shaped and a cylindrical inner side insertion unit 320 provided to protrude from an end surface of the in-the-ear device main stomach body unit 310 on an inner side. The in-the-ear device main body unit 310 is inserted closer to the inside than a first curve of the external auditory canal. As will be described later, an end surface of the in-the-ear device main body unit 310 on an outer side forms a surface substantially same as that of a cavum conchae while being worn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsu Magariyachi, Toru Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10448141
    Abstract: An earphone capable of making it easy to remove foreign substances that have accumulated on a nozzle portion and easy to control sound characteristics thereof is provided. The earphone includes a driver, a housing defining an electrical component mount on which the driver is mounted, a nozzle portion provided at one end of the housing and defining therein a nozzle hole communicating with the electrical component mount, a nozzle cap detachably coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the nozzle portion, and a nozzle mesh provided at the nozzle cap so as to cover the nozzle hole, wherein the nozzle cap serves to decrease output in a second peak region in a graph of output over frequency for the earphone and to increase a fourth peak region or expand a bandwidth of the fourth peak region in the graph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yonghyuk Na, Jungyoun Kang, Jaeyoung Lee, Taehoon Yoo, Shin Han
  • Patent number: 10440484
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for improved microphone protection for hearing assistance devices. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a hearing assistance device, such as a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) type hearing aid, that includes a battery door with a microphone slit and a battery contact including a microphone port. In various embodiments, the microphone slit and the microphone port are configured to create a nonlinear acoustic path to a microphone of the hearing assistance device. In various embodiments, the acoustic path is configured to prevent earwax from blocking and/or damaging the microphone, such as during insertion, removal or cleaning of the hearing assistance device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Sidney A. Higgins, Gary Zajicek, Toto Saykeo, Jerome C. Ruzicka, Janet Richardson
  • Patent number: 10433077
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an augmented hearing device comprising a receiver of a first type being adapted to generate sound signals in a first and in a second frequency range, a receiver of a second type being adapted to generate sound signals in a third frequency range, said third frequency range being between the first and second frequency ranges, and an input port for receiving signals to be reproduced as sound signals via at least one of the receivers. The input port may be arranged to receive wireless input signal, such as Bluetooth input signals. The present invention further relates to a method for operating a hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Morten Kjeldsen Andersen, Hamidreza Taghavi
  • Patent number: 10429421
    Abstract: A method of operating a hearing aid system, comprising a hearing aid (200), adapted for detection of congestion of a sound output of the hearing aid. The invention also relates to hearing aid systems capable of carrying out such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: WIDEX A/S
    Inventors: Jorgen Cederberg, Klaus Krogsgaard, Kristian Timm Andersen, Villy Jensen
  • Patent number: 10425714
    Abstract: An ear bud or cone having multiple protruding, convex and soft elements which are configured to be deformed during insertion, extraction and operation in the ear canal of a person. The soft elements are cushion shaped and thus able to adapt to any shape of the ear canal without exerting excessive force to portions of the ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Nishant Lawand, Peter Rietman, Theodorus Geradus Maria Brouwer, René Maas, Robert Bakuwel, Ricardo Timothy Jonathan Muijtjens, Sally van der Most
  • Patent number: 10396842
    Abstract: A casing for an electronic device includes a frame having first electrical port arranged to receive a removable solar panel member, and a power storage module arranged for storing energy for use by the electrical device; wherein the power storage module is arranged to receive energy from the solar panel member when the solar panel member is connected to the first electrical port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: ADMIRAL TRADING LIMITED
    Inventor: William Harold Pike, II
  • Patent number: 10397714
    Abstract: A method is a described for constructing a hearing aid shell that comprises a combination of hard and soft materials. In one embodiment, 3D printing is combined with conventional mold/casting methods so that a first shell portion made of a hard material and a mold for a second shell portion are 3D printed. The mold is then filled with a soft material which is allowed to set to form the second shell portion, and the first and second shell portions are adhesively attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Karl Sacha, Jay Stewart, Wes Gentry, Craig Feldsien
  • Patent number: 10356516
    Abstract: A bone conduction microphone device that registers speech signals from a user. The microphone device includes a housing having an abutment or contact part, which has a central axis substantially parallel to a predetermined distal direction and a predetermined proximal direction. The abutment, during use, abuts against and is in vibratory contact with tissue of a head or neck of the user, and receives, during use, vibrations, representing a speech signal and propagating through at least a part of the user's tissue or bone structures in the head or neck when the user is speaking. The housing further includes or is connected to at least one sealing element, which substantially or at least partly encircles the abutment or contact part about the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Nextlink IPR AB
    Inventors: Jan Larsen, Dennis Normann Andersen
  • Patent number: 10334356
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a microphone unit arranged in a hearing aid housing. The microphone unit is oriented in the housing relative to a microphone inlet element to cause a pressure equalization that allows acoustic cancellation of vibrations in the microphone unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Martin Larsen, Jesper Pedersen, Rasmus Andersson, Morten Fuglsang-Philip, Gorm Dannesboe, Mario Stoll
  • Patent number: 10334375
    Abstract: A standard attachment for a standard earpiece insertable into an ear canal in a direction of insertion, by which, compared to customary attachments, an improved adaptation of the corresponding standard earpiece to an ear canal is achieved, and therefore improved audio perception, and also improved wearing comfort of the respective hearing aid is ensured. The standard attachment contains a headpiece at one end and, adjoining the latter, a wing portion. The outer contour of the headpiece is configured to allow the headpiece to bear on the wall of the ear canal at several points or on several lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas Naether, Mareike Schulten
  • Patent number: 10327079
    Abstract: A hearing aid device configured to communicate wirelessly with an external device is disclosed. The hearing aid device comprises a housing with a microphone, an amplifier, where the hearing aid device comprises an antenna and either: a) a tube configured to deliver sound acoustically from a receiver in the housing to an ear mould or a dome or electrically to a receiver in an ear mould or a dome or b) a hook configured to deliver sound acoustically from a receiver in the housing to an ear mould or a dome. The antenna extends along at least a portion of the tube or the hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Oliver Sundberg, Jens Troelsen, Bjarne Kielsholm-Ribalaygua
  • Patent number: 10321216
    Abstract: To provide a wearable device a part of which directly comes in contact with the skin of a living body includes silicone foam and which is excellent in durability and comfortability. An earpiece 150 includes a core 152 that is attached to a sound conduit 140, and an ear canal attachment section 156 that is attached to an outer side of the core 152 and comes into contact with an ear canal inner wall of a wearer. The ear canal attachment section 156 over the entire exterior of which soft silicone foam, which is a foamed material, is disposed, can keep close contact with an ear canal and comfortable wearability, while the core 152 made from silicone rubber allows a tip portion of the sound conduit 140 to have a shape to be easily wound, which prevents a sound path from being blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsunori Murozaki
  • Patent number: 10306354
    Abstract: A loudspeaker module comprises a housing and a loudspeaker unit. A cavity for accommodating and fixing the loudspeaker unit is provided in the housing. The loudspeaker unit divides the cavity into a front and rear sound cavity. A sound hole is provided on the housing, which is connected to the front sound cavity by a sound channel, and the loudspeaker unit has a square structure. The sound channel comprises an inner end close to the loudspeaker unit and an outer end communicated with the sound hole. The width of the inner end is longer than three fifths of the length of a side, corresponding to the inner end, of the loudspeaker unit. The loudspeaker module of the present invention has the advantage of good acoustic performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventors: Shuzhi Zhou, Jun Zhang
  • Patent number: 10306384
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to detachable speaker units for hearing aid devices, and the hearing aid devices having detachable speaker units. The detachable speaker unit have at least an output transducer for providing a signal perceivable as sound to a user. The detachable speaker unit includes a memory unit storing information relating to characteristics of the output capabilities of the detachable speaker unit, such as transfer function of output transducer and/or transfer function of the entire, or parts of, assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Jan Thor Lunddahl Larsen, Franz Treue, Bent Severin
  • Patent number: 10284976
    Abstract: A hearing device configured to be worn in an ear canal, wherein the hearing device comprises a housing, a receiver, one or more microphones and a battery. The receiver is arranged in the housing in a manner in which the receiver at least partly extends outside of the housing, and a sealing element is configured to be arranged in the bony region of the ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Karsten Bo Rasmussen, Dennis Presutti, Troels Holm Pedersen, Lars Steen Christensen, Kenneth Rueskov Møller
  • Patent number: 10284977
    Abstract: Securing mechanisms for space access devices, such as an audio signal transmitting device, include a plurality of flattened members that are configured to transition from a relaxed state to a securing state when the space access device is inserted into an internal space or opening that has an inside diameter smaller than an outside diameter of the flattened members in the relaxed state. The flattened members securely engage a surface of the internal space and conform to the shape and size of the internal space. An amount of force applied by the flattened members to the surface of the internal space can be tuned by changing a stiffness of a rib supporting the flattened member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Eargo, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Shen, Michael Barrett, Raphael Michel, Florent Michel
  • Patent number: 10264365
    Abstract: A system for configuring a hearing device comprises an in-ear listening device; a plurality of customization components for use with the in-ear listening device, each customization component when in combination with the listening device cooperating with the listening device to define a controlled amount of venting; and a self-fitting assistance processing device in communication with the in-ear listening device, which adjusts a gain of the in-ear listening device according to the amount of venting provided by a selected one of the customization components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jahn Dmitri Eichfeld, Ryan Termeulen, Ryan Silvestri
  • Patent number: 10264370
    Abstract: The application relates to a hearing device configured to be placed in the ear canal of a user, the hearing device comprising a forward path adapted for processing an input sound and providing an output sound representative of the input sound, the hearing device comprising an assembly comprising first and second modules adapted for being in mechanical contact with each other when the hearing device is operationally assembled to form a functional unit. The object of the present application is to provide a user friendly hearing device adapted for being located in an ear canal of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Thor Højlund Olsen, Povl Koch, Søren Stranne, Troels Holm Pedersen, Kåre Tais Christensen, Lars Lund Jørgensen, Jan Frantzen, Karsten Bo Rasmussen, Bent Severin
  • Patent number: 10264373
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a hearing aid is disclosed. The hearing aid includes a first functional unit and a second functional unit. The second functional unit is configured to removably couple with the first functional unit. The coupling provides at least a mechanical connection between the first functional unit and the second functional unit. The first functional unit includes a moveable element that is configured to move between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the moveable element is contained entirely within the first functional unit. In the second position, a part of the moveable element is configured to protrude out of the first functional unit. The second functional unit includes a recess configured to receive the part of the moveable element that protrudes out of the first functional unit such that the first functional unit and the second functional unit are immovably locked with respect to each other in response to the moveable element is received in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: OTICON MEDICAL A/S
    Inventors: Morten Friis Karlsen, Claus Tipsmark
  • Patent number: 10256529
    Abstract: A hearing device adapted to be worn by a wearer comprises a shell configured for placement on an exterior surface of an ear of the wearer. The shell comprises a first end, a second end, a bottom, a top, and opposing sides, wherein the bottom, top, and opposing sides extend between the first and second ends. Circuitry is provided within the shell comprising at least a microphone, signal processing circuitry, radio circuitry, and a power source. A folded antenna is coupled to the radio circuitry and extends longitudinally along one of the bottom and the top and along the opposing sides between the first and second ends. The folded antenna encompasses at least some of the circuitry and forms an elongated gap between the opposing sides. The elongated gap faces the other of the bottom and the top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenchao Yang, Deepak Hosadurga, Karl Hilde, Beau Jay Polinske
  • Patent number: 10257627
    Abstract: The invention regards a communication device which is adapted for placement in a users ear. The communication device comprises a shell part enclosing an input transducer for receiving an input signal, a signal processing device and an output N transducer for providing a signal perceivable as sound, a battery located at a surface part of the shell which is facing away from the head of the user, a transmission and reception circuit for transmission and/or reception of electromagnetic energy. According to the invention an antenna for radiating and/or receiving electromagnetic energy is provided such that it has a first surface turned towards the surroundings and a second surface located in close proximity of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Kare Tais Christensen, Ove Knudsen