Ear Insert Or Bone Conduction Patents (Class 381/380)
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Patent number: 8194911Abstract: An integrated eartip (501) that utilizes a one-piece, rather than a multi-piece, design is provided. The one-piece design is comprised of a first portion that includes at least one, or at least two, sound delivery tubes (513/515) and a second portion that is comprised of a compressible region. The integrated eartip also includes means for releasably attaching the eartip to an earphone in general, and a coupling member (503) in particular, thus allowing the eartip to be replaced as desired. When attached, the sound delivery tube, or tubes, of the integrated eartip are aligned with the acoustic port, or ports, of the earphone/coupling member. The first and second portions of the integrated eartip may exhibit different rigidity and/or compressibility characteristics. The integrated eartip can be fabricated from a single material such as a natural or synthetic elastomer.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2007Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Logitech International, S.A.Inventors: Medford Alan Dyer, Simon Andre Sollberger
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Publication number: 20120134524Abstract: Electrical signals corresponding to sound are received at a wire, and sound is generated at a speaker connected to the wire. The sound is resonated in a cavity of a shell housing the speaker, and then passed along a transmission tube toward a pinna of a user's ear without directing the sound directly toward the user's ear canal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2012Publication date: May 31, 2012Inventor: Yan-Ru PENG
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Patent number: 8189846Abstract: A vented tip for in-the-ear headphones has a core portion to be mounted to a sound output tube of an in-the-ear earphone and a flange portion extending outward from and surrounding the core portion. The vented tip has a) an outer portion formed in the flange portion that is to be in contact with, and thereby form a seal with, a user's ear canal, and b) an inner portion spaced inwards from the outer portion to thereby not form the seal with the user's ear canal. The inner portion has a calibrated perforation or hole formed therein. Other embodiments that may help reduce bone conduction effects are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2008Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Victor M. Tiscareno, Kurt R. Stiehl
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Patent number: 8189843Abstract: A system for securing headphone transducers is provided. In one aspect of the present invention, the system comprises a first transducer device having a first mechanical housing, which has an outer surface and an inner surface. A first coupling device is affixed to the outer surface of the first mechanical housing of the first transducer device. A second transducer device has a second mechanical housing, which has an outer surface and an inner surface. A second coupling device is affixed to the outer surface of the second mechanical housing of the second transducer device. The first coupling device is coupled to the second coupling device when in close proximity to each other, such that the inner surfaces of the first and second mechanical devices are opposed to each other.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2010Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Inventor: Patrick Sean Harper
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Patent number: 8189847Abstract: A dual-frequency coaxial earphone has a shared magnet, which is interposed between a top board of a outer yoke and an outer disk of a inner yoke, wherein the outer yoke and the inner yoke each has a different polarity. A low-frequency voice coil of a low-frequency speaker part extends axially into and between an annular wall of the outer yoke and the outer disk of the inner yoke. An inner sleeve of the inner yoke extends into a first central opening of the outer yoke. Therefore, a high frequency of the high-frequency speaker part can pass through the inner sleeve so as to energize a central diaphragm of the low-frequency speaker part and to form a same phase as, and to output frequency synchronously with, the low-frequency speaker part. As such, the problem of intermodulation of distortion for the high and low acoustic frequencies can be solved, and that dimension of the earphone can be minimized.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2009Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Jetvox Acoustic Corp.Inventor: Fred Huang
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Patent number: 8189845Abstract: An earbud coupling has a rear portion forming an earbud mount (14) that easily attaches to a hemispherical earbud (12), and has a front portion forming an in-ear mount (16) that can be pressed into a person's ear canal to hold the coupling to the person while blocking environmental noise. The earbud mount includes a tapered elastomeric sleeve (50) with an internal groove (62) at its rear end. The earbud mount rear end can be expanded to fit around the periphery of the earbud front end to securely attach to the earbud. A plurality of different in-ear mounts or tips can be provided that each can be attached to the front end of the earbud mount, including an in-ear mount (100) that consists of a single integral elastomeric member with at least one flange (205). The earbud mount and in-ear mount can be connected by a shaft (130) with pair of projections (132) on one of the mounts that is inserted into a hole (136) with slots (140) of the other one and turned.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2006Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Sperian Hearing Protection, LLCInventor: David Mulvey
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Patent number: 8189831Abstract: The invention relates to a hearing aid having an audio signal unit which is operatively connected to a sound generator and generates an audio signal which has at least two audio signal sections immediately succeeding one another in time. The audio signal sections each have an audio signal section duration and the audio signal has at least one frequency that is audible to the human ear. The audio signal sections succeed one another in such a way that an audio signal section succeeding a previous audio signal section in time begins before the previous audio signal section has terminated, with the result that the previous and the succeeding audio signal section overlap one another with an overlapping time period, the overlapping time period being shorter than the audio signal section duration of the previous audio signal section.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2007Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbHInventor: Wolfgang Sörgel
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Publication number: 20120128192Abstract: An earbud adapter or in-ear monitor includes an Ear Interface that fits the human ear and further permits the wearer of these devices to adjust parameters of the fit. In additional aspects, the Ear Interface portion of these devices permits the user to adjust the transmission of ambient sound. The Ear Interface portion also allows the user to change ornamentation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2011Publication date: May 24, 2012Inventors: Seth Burgett, Richard J. Daniels, Melvin Joshua Leedle
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Patent number: 8184841Abstract: The invention regards an ear canal device and a retainer strip, whereby the ear canal device has a distal part for extending into the ear canal and facing the tympanic membrane and a proximal part extending towards the ear canal opening, wherein the proximal part of the ear canal device comprises an opening extending transversely through the ear canal device, and where a retaining strip is arranged with a first end thereof arranged to be fastened in the opening and a second end arranged to lie resiliently against the inside of the concha for exerting a retaining force on the ear canal device.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2007Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Oticon A/SInventor: Claus Würfel
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Patent number: 8184821Abstract: A noise attenuation device comprising a first tube for receiving an acoustic signal, a first housing defining a first cavity between a first surface and a second surface, the first tube being coupled to the first housing at the first surface for conducting the acoustic signal into the first cavity, wherein one end of the first tube contacts the first surface at a first region with a first area, a second housing defining a second cavity between a first surface and a second surface, and a second tube coupled between the second surface of the first housing and the first surface of the second housing for conducting the acoustic signal between the first cavity and the second cavity, wherein one end of the second tube contacts the second surface of the first housing at a second region with a second area, wherein the first tube, the first housing and the second tube form a filter structure and the area of the first surface of the first housing is greater than the first area and the area of the second surface of theType: GrantFiled: January 28, 2008Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventor: Po-Hsun Sung
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Patent number: 8184842Abstract: Methods, tools, and methods of manufacturing said tools are provided for inserting a hearing device deeply into the ear canal of a user and adjusting its medial-lateral position therein. The provided tools comprise a shaft. A distal end of the shaft can be coupled to the hearing device. The shaft is flexible to facilitate its insertion into the tortuous ear canal and minimize injurious contact with the ear canal. The length of the shaft can be adjusted to adjust the depth of insertion of the shaft into the ear canal, customizing the tool for an individual user. Medial advancement of the shaft into the ear canal is limited by a base, side extension, or mold coupled to a proximal portion of the shaft or other proximal part of the tool.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2009Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: InSound Medical, Inc.Inventors: Robert Howard, Evelyne Chaubert, Gretchen Anderson, Jonathan Paul Downing, Nicholas Hausman, Janet Karen Hwu, Ricardo Penate
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Publication number: 20120121119Abstract: A in-ear monitor is provided that is coupleable to an external audio source and that may be configured as a custom fit IEM or configured to accept a removable eartip, the in-ear monitor including at least two drivers and at least two concentric sound delivery tubes that acoustically couple the audio output from each of the drivers to the acoustic output surface of the in-ear monitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2012Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: LOGITECH EUROPE, S.A.Inventors: Joseph A. Saggio, JR., Medford Alan Dyer
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Patent number: 8180094Abstract: An acoustically tuned earpiece is provided. Venting is performed by boring a control port, separate from the output port, into the driver. The diameter of the control port must be sufficiently small to restrict the flow of air into and out of the driver, thus isolating the acoustic performance of the driver from the volume and/or the sealing capabilities of the earpiece enclosure. The exact size of the venting port is selected to achieve the desired acoustic performance. In all cases, the control port has a cross-sectional area that is less than 25 percent of the cross-sectional area of the driver's output port. In order to optimize the size of the control port, an iterative process is preferably used in which the cross-sectional area of the control port is gradually increased while monitoring the performance of the driver compared to a target response.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2008Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Logitech International, S.A.Inventor: Jerry J. Harvey
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Publication number: 20120114161Abstract: An earbud (10) for carrying sound from a source (16) to a person's ear canal, includes a soft foam body (20) and a sleeve (26) of stiffer material lying within the body. The body is molded around the sleeve and is chemically bonded to the sleeve without an adhesive between them. The earbud is molded around the sleeve by placing the sleeve on a mandrel pin (42) within a mold cavity (32) placing foamable material in the mold and closing the mold. The mold has shoulders with one mold shoulder (52) that abuts one end (46) of the sleeve and another mold shoulder (60) that lies within 0.1 millimeter of the other sleeve end (62), to prevent foaming material from leaking into the space (64) between the mandrel pin and the sleeve passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2011Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Jim Tiemens, Stephen D. Gilder
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Publication number: 20120116231Abstract: An earplug-type earphone is disclosed including: an earplug (10) for producing sound and an elastic support (30). The earplug (10) includes a front housing (200) and a rear housing (500) connected in that order. The elastic support (30) is positioned on an outer side of the rear housing (500). When the earplug (10) is inserted in the external auditory canal, the elastic support (30) is pressed and deformed and then applies resilience to the helix, by which the earplug can be stably positioned in the external auditory canal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2009Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: Perception Digital LimitedInventors: Guoqiang Liao, Ming Yip Wong, Chor Tin Ma
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Publication number: 20120114160Abstract: Provided is a tunable earphone, including an earphone shell, a sound generation device and a tuning device. The earphone shell disposes a pivot hole and a number of tuning holes. The sound generation device is located in the earphone shell. The tuning device includes a tuning member and a damping body. The tuning member includes a covering body being adjustable for covering all or part of the tuning holes and a connecting rod. One end of the connecting rod is fixedly connected to the covering body, and the other end of the connecting rod extends out of the earphone shell. The damping body is placed into the corresponding tuning hole for auxiliary adjusting the pressure of the low sound inner cavity, so that the present tunable earphone can generate the different sound effect of the low frequency to satisfy the different users' needs.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2010Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., LTD.Inventor: YOU-RUEI LIN
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Patent number: 8174569Abstract: An image display apparatus, which is mounted on a head or face of a wearer attachably and detachably and allows the wearer to view an image and hear sound, includes a long formed temple supported by a temporal region of head or an ear when the wearer is wearing the image display apparatus; a speaker that generates sound, a sound generating face thereof being insertable into the ear at a vicinity of an opening of the ear; and a position adjusting mechanism that holds the speaker, attachably to and detachably from the temple, and movably at least substantially along a surface of the temporal region of the head.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2007Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Yasushi Tanijiri, Sei Mitsui, Hiroshi Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 8170219Abstract: One or more embodiments may provide for a size adjustable earphone that may include a foldable sleeve attached to an earphone housing. A first end of the foldable sleeve may embrace the earphone housing, where an opposite second end of the foldable sleeve may be adapted to be folded. The foldable sleeve may be adapted to be kept in a first unfolded position, providing the earphone housing including the foldable sleeve with a first diametrical size, and in a second folded position, providing the earphone housing including the foldable sleeve with a second diametrical size. The second diametrical size may be larger than the first diametrical size.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2008Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications ABInventor: Karin Sandberg
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Publication number: 20120099755Abstract: An earphone mounting structure includes an earphone consisting of a flat base frame shell, a speaker, a cover frame shell capped and a detachable decorative cap shell, and a mounting device adapted for securing the earphone to a cap for the head of a person. The mounting device can be formed of a snap fastener, a clamping device, or pads of hook and loop materials, enabling the earphone to be conveniently and detachably fastened to the user's cap.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2010Publication date: April 26, 2012Inventor: CHIU-YUEH HU
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Patent number: 8165332Abstract: A receiver of a hearing apparatus, especially of a hearing device, is proposed. The receiver is sufficiently centered in an auditory canal with an earpiece. The earpiece for inserting into the auditory canal has a first hollow-cylindrical body and a second hollow-cylindrical body that is arranged coaxially with the first body and surrounds the first body, as well as one or more bars that connect the two bodies to each other. On the one hand the bars ensure sufficient stability and on the other certain pliability and in addition they allow ventilation of the space in front of the eardrum.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2009Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Ulrich Giese, Maja Serman
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Publication number: 20120093351Abstract: A combined headphone set including a speaker assembly. The headphone set includes a headband having a speaker headphone on opposing ends of the headband. Each of the speaker headphones includes an exterior speaker for public listening and an interior speaker for personal listening by the user. One of the speaker headphones includes switching means for listening to the interior speaker or to the exterior speaker or to the interior and exterior speakers simultaneously from each of the speaker headphones. Each of the speaker headphones includes an audio signal wire connected from an output jack of an audio device to the speaker headphones.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2011Publication date: April 19, 2012Inventor: Allan AMSEL
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Publication number: 20120093331Abstract: Provided is an earphone, including an earphone body and an earphone cap. The earphone body includes an earphone shell forming a sound cavity and disposing a sound-guiding pipe. The sound-guiding pipe disposes at least one through hole. The earphone cap is rotatably mounted on the earphone body and includes a main body and a barrel. The barrel is located on the inside of the main body and arranged to encompass the sound-guiding pipe. The barrel disposes at least one opening, which is arranged to be aligned or misaligned with the part or whole of the through hole. The earphone of the present invention can make the opening be aligned or misaligned with and the part or whole of the through hole by rotating the earphone cap, thereby varying the pressure of the sound cavity to attain the object of adjusting sound effect.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2010Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicant: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., LTD.Inventors: YOU-RUEI LIN, Chun-hung Chen, Mu-tsun Tseng
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Patent number: 8160279Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a dental patch are disclosed herein. The patch assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded intra-orally on a tooth or oral tissue. 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: GrantFiled: May 2, 2008Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.Inventor: Amir Abolfathi
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Patent number: 8160288Abstract: An in-ear canal earphone includes a torus-shaped cushioning member defining an aperture therethrough. An audio housing is connected to the cushioning member such that the cushioning member is movable between a first position, in which the housing extends generally away from the cushioning member, and a second position, in which a portion of the housing extends through the aperture for insertion into an ear canal.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2008Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications ABInventor: Per Emil Axelsson
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Publication number: 20120087532Abstract: An earphone including a housing, a bracket, a first speaker unit and a second speaker unit is provided. The bracket disposed inside the housing includes a front plate, a first tube portion, a second tube portion and at least one connecting portion. The first tube portion is connected to the front plate. The second tube portion is separated from the first tube portion. The first tube portion is between the front plate and the second tube portion. The connecting portion connects the first tube portion and the second tube portion. The front plate has a central hole and surrounding holes. The second accommodating space is communicated to a main audio-output path of the housing through the surrounding holes. The first speaker unit is disposed in a first accommodating space of the first tube portion. The second speaker unit is disposed in a second accommodating space of the second tube portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2011Publication date: April 12, 2012Applicant: COTRON CORPORATIONInventor: Bill Yang
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Publication number: 20120087533Abstract: An earphone includes an earphone casing inside which a sound path that guides sound to a sound discharging hole is formed, and an acoustic transducer disposed inside the earphone casing. The acoustic transducer includes an accommodation casing having accommodated therein a yoke on which paired magnets disposed so as to face each other are mounted, a coil to which a driving current is supplied, an armature provided with a vibrating part vibrating when the driving current is supplied to the coil, the vibrating part being disposed between the paired magnets, and a diaphragm coupled to the vibrating part of the armature, a sound output hole is formed on a surface that faces a vibration surface of the diaphragm in the accommodation casing, and the acoustic transducer has the sound output hole disposed in the earphone casing so that the sound output hole is acoustically coupled to the sound path.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2011Publication date: April 12, 2012Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Koji Nageno, Takahiro Suzuki, Takeshi Hara
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Publication number: 20120087534Abstract: An adjustable, dual speaker element earphone. One of the speaker elements is sized to fit into the cavum concha of the listeners ear and the other element (is not. A hinged joint may allow the larger speaker element may be rotated about a vertical axis of the hinged joint so that the larger speaker element can be rotated towards or away from the listener's ear. The speaker elements may be connected such that sounds produced by both speaker elements emanate from different respective sound openings defined in a surface of the smaller speaker element. Also, one or both of the speaker elements may be operably connected to a hanger bar that is sized and configured to rest on an upper portion of the listener's ear.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2011Publication date: April 12, 2012Applicant: Koss CorporationInventors: Michael J. Pelland, Ronaldo J. Santiago, James J. Potter, Mandy M. Johnson, Allan Mlodzikowski, Michael J. Koss
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Publication number: 20120082336Abstract: An apparatus for blocking materials from entering the sound port of an earphone, while simultaneously allowing sound to pass through unaffected is disclosed. In an earphone having an elongated nozzle with a central opening adapted to transmit sound, a removable or replaceable a sleeve assembly having a wax guard or barrier is formed integral with the ear sleeve assembly. The barrier is mounted in a stem and is adapted to prevent materials from entering the central opening of the earphone nozzle. The stem is also adapted to receive the sleeve over its body. The sleeve can be cylindrical or tapered in shape, and the sleeve can be adapted to aid in blocking ambient noise. The barrier, the stem, and the sleeve can all be formed as an integral one-piece assembly, and the entire one-piece assembly can be adapted to be changed by the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2010Publication date: April 5, 2012Applicant: SHURE ACQUISITION HOLDINGS, INC.Inventors: John James Wubker, Blake Anthony Lanciloti, Kyle Patrick Glavan
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Patent number: 8147270Abstract: A sleeve for storing a Y-shaped cord without tangling and a method of managing a Y-shaped cord by grouping a plurality of the cord loose ends in the sleeve, each into a separate portion, forming a closed loop. The sleeve is triangular-shaped, having a conical sidewall with an open top end and an open bottom end. Inside the sleeve, the ends of the cord are separated by at least one fastener. The closed loop makes it less likely that the cord will tangle with other objects or with itself. If the cord does tangle when in the closed loop, the topology of the closed loop makes untangling the cord simpler and quicker than if the ends were loose. When using the Y-cord, the sleeve remains on the cord, not interfering with the cord functioning and not easily lost.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2010Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Inventor: Jeffrey Wescott
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Patent number: 8150075Abstract: 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 without contacting the occlusal surfaces of the one or more teeth.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2009Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.Inventors: Amir Abolfathi, John Spiridigliozzi
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Patent number: 8150084Abstract: A hearing aid (1) includes a housing (2), at least a first microphone for receiving ambient sound, processing circuitry for processing a signal from the first microphone (6, 7) and an output transducer. At least one further microphone (8) is disposed in the hearing housing at a location, which, during normal use of the hearing aid, is sheltered against wind influences.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2005Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Widex A/SInventors: Anders Holm Jessen, Preben Kidmose
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Publication number: 20120076341Abstract: The earphone includes a driver unit; a housing accommodating the driver unit, the housing having a front face serving as a sound emitting surface and a bowl shaped rear face; a hollow casing provided separately from the housing, the casing being configured to increase an internal volume adjacent to the rear side of a vibrating plate and to reduce the back pressure of the vibrating plate; and a connecting channel connecting the rear face of the housing and the casing such that the housing is in communication with the internal space of the casing, in which the housing includes a sound emitting tube protruding from the front face thereof so as to be fitted into an external auditory meatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2010Publication date: March 29, 2012Inventor: Hiromichi Ozawa
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Publication number: 20120070028Abstract: An earphone system, apparatus, and method enables a user to simultaneously receive auditory stimuli from an earphone-based source and at least one secondary source thereby enhancing a user's personal safety while listening to earphone-based auditory stimuli. At least one primary earphone device having a loudspeaker is positioned adjacent the user's ear so as to allow aural perception of other, non-earphone-based auditory information or stimuli. In a preferred embodiment, an earphone device is both removably fastened and adjustable relative to underlying support structure so as to more properly direct earphone-based auditory stimuli toward the user's ear.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2010Publication date: March 22, 2012Inventor: Steve Margulies
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Patent number: 8139806Abstract: An earphone which fits into an ear is disclosed. The earphone includes an electroacoustic transducer for converting an audio signal into sound and a housing for holding the electroacoustic transducer. The housing includes a sound output unit for introducing the sound produced by the electroacoustic transducer into the ear canal of an ear when the housing is placed in the ear. The electroacoustic transducer is oriented so that it the sound in a direction which is transverse to the ear canal of the ear.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2007Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akihiko Hosaka, Hyeon-goo Yoon
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Publication number: 20120063625Abstract: An apparatus includes a frame having an opening, a gate mechanism partially bounding the opening, at least one tool receiving section, and a power source. The apparatus includes at least one electronic device configured to be received in the at least one tool receiving section. The frame is configured to provide electrical power to the electronic device via the power source when the electronic device is received in the at least one tool receiving section, and the gate mechanism comprises a gate coupled to the frame, the gate being movable relative to the frame to permit access to the opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2011Publication date: March 15, 2012Inventors: Launce R. Barber, Thomas R. Stokes
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Publication number: 20120057740Abstract: A security and protection device for an ear-mounted audio amplifier or telecommunication instrument. The device includes a resilient water-pervious hollow sleeve sized and shaped to snugly conform to the shape of an audio amplifier or telecommunication instrument having an earpiece insertable in to the ear of a user when the sleeve is slid over the instrument. The sleeve has a top opening at a top end of the sleeve and a bottom opening at an opposite bottom end of the sleeve. The bottom opening is sized to snugly receive the instrument into the hollow sleeve so as to substantially completely cover the instrument when journalled in the sleeve. The top opening is sized to snugly receive through the top opening a corresponding upper end of the instrument. The upper end of the instrument is connected to the instrument earpiece.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2011Publication date: March 8, 2012Inventor: Mark Bryan Rosal
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Publication number: 20120057739Abstract: An earpiece that substantially lacks a lower lobe is disclosed. In one example, the earpiece can have a generally arcuate rib having upper and lower ends. A lobe can be formed at the upper end of the arcuate rib. No lobe is formed at the lower end of the arcuate rib. An extension can extend from the earpiece and can be configured to extend into the ear canal. Eliminating the lower lobe mitigates discomfort during use and also reduces the likelihood of tissue damage and infection. The extension can enhance communication of desired sound, e.g., from a two-way radio, to an eardrum while mitigating communication of undesirable ambient noise to the eardrum. Other implementations and related methods are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2011Publication date: March 8, 2012Inventors: Richard C. Smith, Diann Y. Smith
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Patent number: 8130942Abstract: A light weight and comfortable ear mount for a personal audio-set is disclosed. The ear mount conforms with the antihelix of a wearer's ear, thereby operating substantially as a compression spring between the wearer's antihelix and tragus, to operably secure the personal audio-set in place. In a preferred embodiment, the ear-mount is substantially kidney-shaped and includes an opening to prevent the total occlusion of the ear canal by the personal audio-set. Alternatively, the ear-mount includes a loop of material sized to operably engage the antihelix of the wearer's ear. The ear-mount is preferably reversible to allow it to be placed in either the wearer's left or right ear.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2009Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Logitech Europe S.A.Inventors: Michael Howes, Dominic Amae, Raymond Weikel, Robert Jacobson, Omer Kotzer
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Patent number: 8130984Abstract: An acoustic vibration sensor, also referred to as a speech sensing device, is provided. The acoustic vibration sensor receives speech signals of a human talker and, in response, generates electrical signals representative of human speech. The acoustic vibration sensor includes at least one diaphragm positioned adjacent to a front port and at least one coupler. The coupler couples a first set of signals to the diaphragm while isolating the diaphragm from the second set of signals. The coupler includes at least one material with acoustic impedance matched to the acoustic impedance of human skin.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2008Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: AliphCom, Inc.Inventors: Alexander Asseily, Andrew E. Einaudi
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Patent number: 8130985Abstract: An ear cup with a bone conduction function comprising a cup (1), a sealing ring (3) and a microphone capsule (5). The cup (1) has an edge (2) on which the sealing ring (3) is disposed. The microphone capsule (5) is disposed in a retainer body (4). The retainer body (4) has an anchorage portion (6) with which the retainer body (4) and its anchorage portion (6) are secured interiorly in the cup. The retainer body (4) has a substantially planar surface for abutment and sealing against the wearer's head in the position of use. In the position of use, the retainer body (4) is located between the sealing ring (3) and the wearer's head, and the retainer body (4) is wholly or partly pressed into the sealing ring (3).Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2007Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Niklas Emilsson
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Patent number: 8130995Abstract: An earpiece device includes a housing having a sound output portion, a speaker and a microphone. The speaker disposed in the housing includes a diaphragm and a sound transmitting hole. The diaphragm is located between the sound output portion and the sound transmitting hole. The microphone is disposed in the housing and covers the sound transmitting hole. A sound wave generated within an ear canal would be received by the speaker and delivered through the sound transmitting hole to the microphone for pickup.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2007Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Merry Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hong-Ching Her, Hung-Yue Chang, Ton-Kun Ho
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Publication number: 20120051578Abstract: An eartip made of a resilient body with an eartip core inside the open center of the body, and a tether attached to the eartip core at an attachment region along the length of the core. A free end of the tether extends outward from the eartip, allowing a wearer to remove the eartip from their ear by pulling on the tether.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: RED TAIL HAWK CORPORATIONInventors: John W. Parkins, Mark DeWilde
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Publication number: 20120051577Abstract: The application relates to a miniature listening device (20) comprising a housing (200) for enclosing an energy source (23) and a number of functional (21, 22, 24, 60, 70) and/or electronic (251) components of the listening device. The application further relates to the use of such listening device, to a listening system and to a method of electrically connecting a listening device to an external device. The object of the present application is to provide a scheme for electrically connecting a miniature listening device to an external device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: OTICON A/SInventors: Niels E. H. CHRISTENSEN, Kenneth Rueskov Møller, Jan T. L. Larsen
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Publication number: 20120051574Abstract: An in-ear headphone has a shell, a loudspeaker accommodated in a space of the shell for making sound, an ear cushion fixed on a supporting portion of the shell. A through channel passes the whole supporting portion for connecting the space with outside to transmit the sound produced by the loudspeaker. The ear cushion has a through hole passing through the whole ear cushion. A top of the through hole is enlarged to form a first receiving cavity for receiving a first damper. The first damper can seal against the outside region preventing the particles into the in-ear headphone and damaging the loudspeaker. Also, the first damper adjusts the sound effect of the in-ear headphone. Moreover, the first damper can be taken off the first receiving cavity easily and replaced by another one. So, the user can experience varies sound effect by changing the first damper.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: CHENG UEI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventor: You-Ruei Lin
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Publication number: 20120045083Abstract: An electronic device includes a host and an earphone. The host includes a application module, the earphone includes at least one speaker, and at least one vibrator. The host generates a first vibration signal according to an original audio signal from the application module, and sends the original audio signal and the first vibration signal to the earphone. The earphone generates a second vibration signal according to the original audio signal, sends the first vibration signal and the second vibration signal to the at least one vibrator, and sends the original audio signal to the at least one earphone speaker. The electronic device may also generate audio signals according to an original vibration signal from the application module.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2010Publication date: February 23, 2012Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventor: WEI-CHENG LIN
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Patent number: 8121334Abstract: A Bluetooth earphone having a semi-automatic receiving function includes a housing, an earphone, a first flexible portion, a button, and a fastening mechanism. The housing has a receiving slot. The earphone is pivoted with the housing and received in the receiving slot that can be rotated to the outside of the housing. The first flexible portion located between the housing and the earphone provides a force to eject the earphone. The button is located on the housing and connected with the earphone. The fastening mechanism is located between the button and the housing to fasten the earphone in the receiving slot. The user presses the button to eject the earphone by utilizing the flexible force of the first flexible portion. Thereby, the earphone can be received in the housing to prevent the earphone from being broken due to the impacts of external forces.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2007Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company LimitedInventor: Tse-Ming Tsai
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Publication number: 20120039501Abstract: The earpiece includes an electronics module for wirelessly receiving incoming audio signals from an external source. The earpiece further includes a positioning and retaining structure comprising at least an outer leg and an inner leg, each of the outer leg and inner leg being attached at an attachment end to the body and attached at a joined end to each other. The outer leg lies in a plane. The positioning and retaining structure is substantially stiffer in one direction than in another.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Inventors: Ryan C. Silvestri, Eric M. Wallace, Kevin P. Annunziato, Ian M. Collier, Michael Monahan
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Publication number: 20120039500Abstract: A positioning and retaining structure for an in-ear earpiece. An outer leg and an inner leg are attached to each other at an attachment end and attached to a body of the earpiece at the other end. The outer leg lies in a plane. The positioning and retaining structure have a stiffness that is greater when force is applied to the attachment end in a counterclockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg than when force is applied to the attachment end in a clockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg. The positioning and retaining structure position an earpiece associated with the earpiece in a users ear and retains the earpiece in its position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Inventors: Ryan C. Silvestri, Eric M. Wallace, Kevin P. Annunziato, Ian M. Collier, Michael Monahan
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Publication number: 20120039502Abstract: A film-type audio output apparatus includes an audio output device, at least one speaker unit, and at least one film. The at least one speaker unit is positioned at any side of the audio output device. The speaker unit can be an embedded speaker unit. The at least one film can be positioned at any or more places of an inner side and an outer side of the audio output device. When the speaker unit of the audio output device releases sound, the film positioned on the audio output device can get vibration of the sound so that the inside of the audio output device can generate resonance. Thus, the audio output apparatus can generate softer undertone and wider diapason.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2011Publication date: February 16, 2012Inventor: Liang-Tan TSAI
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Patent number: 8116501Abstract: A headset comprising a body portion including a microphone section, a receiver section, a battery section and a wireless communication section, all provided in a case having a substantially flat surface, and a projecting portion projecting from the substantially flat surface, is arranged such that the ear pad of the receiver section attached to the tip of the projecting portion is inserted into the external auditory meatus. A portion coming into resilient contact with the inner wall of the cavity of the concha on the inside of a tragus and an antitragus is provided at the projecting portion closer to the body portion side than the ear pad, wherein the ear pad is of an earplug type deformable elastically to ensure a close contact with the inner wall of the external auditory meatus.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2007Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Hosiden CorporationInventors: Daisuke Kusuda, Yoshito Fujimoto, Hiroyoshi Shinozuka