Ear Insert Or Bone Conduction Patents (Class 381/380)
-
Patent number: 11197080Abstract: An earphone includes a housing, a first eartip, and a second eartip. The housing defines a vent hole therein. The first eartip is configured to be mounted on the housing and cover the vent hole. The second eartip is configured to be mounted on the housing and exposing the vent hole. The housing selectively cooperates with one of the first eartip and the second eartip.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2020Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: SHENZHEN HEYTAP TECHNOLOGY CORP., LTD.Inventor: Bo Liu
-
Patent number: 11178496Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 8, 2019Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: SoundMed, LLCInventors: Amir Abolfathi, Vahid Saadat, Loc X. Phan
-
Patent number: 11172277Abstract: A speaker unit with microphone is provided. The speaker unit includes a housing, a cover, a vibration element and a microphone. The cover is assembled to the housing and forms a chamber with the housing. The cover has at least one audio hole. The vibration element is disposed in the chamber for generating sound toward the cover. The microphone is fixed on the cover and outside the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Cotron CorporationInventor: Bill Yang
-
Patent number: 11166119Abstract: An auditory wearable device management system for supporting effective use of an auditory wearable device shared by a collection of people (hereinafter abbreviated as an auditory device) is provided. An auditory wearable device management system for distributing audio information from one or more information sound sources to an auditory device worn by each wearer constituting a collection of people and acting collectively includes wearing information holding means that associates the wearer with a wearing status of the auditory device worn by the wearer as wearing information, audio information distribution control means that outputs distribution control information for designating the wearer, the wearer being a distribution destination of the audio information from each of the one or more information sound sources.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2020Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: NEC CORPORATIONInventor: Hiroaki Nagano
-
Patent number: 11166093Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to earphone device supports and earphone support cases. In embodiments described herein, an earphone support is configured to be securely positioned over an earphone device. The earphone support includes a main body with a supporting element extending therefrom. The supporting element has a curvature shaped to follow a contour of the earphone device such that it clips onto to the earphone device. In additional embodiments described herein, an earphone support case is configured to securely store the earphone supports and mate with an earphone device case. The earphone support case has a main body coupled to a lid by a hinge. The main body includes a plurality of earphone support mounts. Each of the earphone support mounts are configured to support one of a plurality of earphone supports such that each earphone support is securely positioned within the earphone support case.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2019Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: LOGITECH EUROPE S.A.Inventors: Navi Cohen, Jose Froilan P Lomotan, Jonathan Thuot
-
Patent number: 11153678Abstract: A method including establishing, at a first wireless audio device, a first communication channel with a second wireless audio device, receiving, at the first wireless audio device, audio data corresponding to a user utterance, determining that the audio data includes a wake word, transmitting at least a portion of the audio data from the first wireless audio device to a mobile device via a second communication channel, receiving an indication to establish a third communication channel with a second wireless audio device, and establishing the third communication channel with the second wireless audio device.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Milos Jorgovanovic, Hans Edward Birch-Jensen
-
Patent number: 11146880Abstract: Auricular attachments should be comfortable for long term wear. An auricular interface based on a skirt attachment is disclosed. By separating the uplifting force of the skirt from a separate downward force a more comfortable wearing is achieved. The skirt can optionally be pleated. The objective is achieved by a skirt structure having an outer surface that contacts least a part of an inner part of an outer boundary of a concha of a pinna, without the skirt touching the floor of the concha.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2020Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: SECTIO AUREA ASInventors: Vidar Sandanger, Johan Sundkvist, Henrik Myhre-Sandmark
-
Patent number: 11134329Abstract: A wireless earbud including an outer housing, an internal assembly, and an inner housing. The outer housing and the inner housing may couple together to form a water tight enclosure for the internal assembly. The internal assembly may include components that carry out a function of the wireless earbud, such as printed circuit boards, network interfaces, batteries, loudspeakers, and so forth. The outer housing may also include a proximity sensor for receiving touch and/or antenna(s) for communicatively coupling the wireless earbud to other electronic devices. Additionally, the inner housing may include a charging module for the wireless earbud.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2020Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jordan Pine, Josue Jean Rodriguez, Aashish Nataraja, Amita Pawar, Giovanni Mata Magana
-
Patent number: 11115749Abstract: In-ear active noise-cancelling (ANC) earphones for which the ANC circuit remains stable even under varying wearing conditions, the earphones being worn so that an eartip of the earphone is at least partially in the external auditory canal, with at least one speaker with a frontal volume leading to a tip area and/or speaker channel, and with at least one ANC microphone. To ensure that the ANC circuit remains stable even with a small available space, the earphones feature the connection of a frontal volume and/or a speaker channel with an additional volume via a tube ending in the tip area.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2019Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Inventors: Michael Perkmann, Daniel Wöhrer
-
Patent number: 11102563Abstract: Embodiments describe an attachment mechanism including a wire bent in various directions forming a spring compressible in lateral directions. The wire includes a first wireform feature and a second wireform feature extending from the first wireform feature, where the first wireform feature and the second wireform feature each include: an intermediate segment; a u-shaped segment extending from the intermediate segment; and an end segment extending from the u-shaped segment.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2019Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Craig M. Stanley, Sean T. McIntosh, Ethan L. Huwe, Brian R. Twehues, Mohammad Soroush Ghahri Sarabi
-
Patent number: 11095972Abstract: One or more sensors are configured to contextualize a series of user generated movements to control one or more electronic devices. For example, a set of earphones comprises one or more sensors for sensing a location of the earphones. The one or more sensors enable earphones such as a pair of bluetooth or earphones wirelessly coupled to a bluetooth enabled electronic device, the capability to understand the configuration of use of the earphones. Based on a location and use or non-use of the earphones, one or more contextual responses is able to be applied for a given action.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2020Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Snik LLCInventor: Rob Honeycutt
-
Patent number: 11095973Abstract: Aspects describe a nozzle including a first flexible portion and a second rigid portion. The rigid portion is less flexible than the flexible portion. When positioned in a user's ear, the flexible portion extends a section of the earbud housing towards an ear canal of a user and the rigid portion couples a removable sealing structure to the earbud housing. In aspects, the flexible portion provides comfort by allowing a sealing structure to flex and accommodate a wearer's ear and the rigid portion provides structure for the feedback microphone to be placed close to the user's ear canal for ANR.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2020Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: BOSE CORPORATIONInventors: Michael Andrew Zalisk, Caleb Drake, Ryan Joseph Wexler
-
Patent number: 11095968Abstract: An earphone (1) comprising housing (2), a speaker (3), a speaker protrusion (4) extending along a protrusion axis (Z) and comprising an inner protrusion surface (12) and an outer protrusion surface (6), a resilient eargel (5) comprising an inner eargel surface (10) and an outer eargel surface (13). The eargel (5) is detachably attached to the speaker protrusion (4), such that the outer protrusion surface (6) abuts an abutment part (17) of the inner eargel surface (10) in an abutment zone (27) extending along the protrusion axis (Z). The eargel (5) is adapted to be inserted into the outer ear of a user, such that it abuts the ear canal of a user, whereby a cavity (7) is provided between at least the speaker (3), the inner protrusion surface (12), the inner eargel surface (10) and the ear canal. The earphone (1) is provided with a vent channel (9) coupling the cavity (7) and the ambient, wherein the vent channel (9) comprises a groove (8) in the outer protrusion surface (6) or the inner eargel surface (10).Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2019Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: GN Audio A/SInventor: Ole Birch
-
Patent number: 11076247Abstract: An acoustic receiver employs one or more housing endplates recessed below an edge of a sidewall of the housing. In some implementations, a cured b-stage material is disposed in a recess along an interface between an endplate and a sidewall of the housing, wherein the cured b-stage material acoustically seals at least a portion of the housing. In some implementations, both a top housing endplate and a bottom housing endplate are recessed and have cured b-stage material disposed in respective recesses along an interface between the endplates and housing sidewalls wherein the cured b-stage material acoustically seals a top and bottom portion of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2019Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLCInventor: Shehab Albahri
-
Patent number: 11006196Abstract: Disclosed herein is an earphone having a nozzle-integrated structure with a DSF applied thereto. The earphone includes: a housing formed as a penetrated body, and configured such that a nozzle portion is provided therein; a retainer configured to be fastened inside the housing; a magnet configured to generate magnetic force; a yoke configured to concentrate magnetic force; a plate configured to collect magnetic force; a voice coil configured to generate a magnetic field and vibrate through the interaction with the magnet; and a diaphragm configured to vibrate and generate sound. A penetrated sleeve is provided inside the housing and forms a nozzle portion. A drum safety filter (DSF) hole is formed in one side of the edge of a seating surface and a mesh member is disposed below a portion of the retainer in which the DSF hole is formed.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2020Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: BUJEON CO., LTD.Inventors: Minkoo Park, Seungwoo Chun, Halim Kim
-
Patent number: 10945084Abstract: A personal hearing device with an outer housing and a sound path with a length of 1-24 mm, a diameter of 0.5-6 mm, a roll of frequency of at least 500 Hz and with a valve configured to open and close the sound path. The sound path has suitable acoustical properties to act as a sound passage for open/closed hearing aids or hearables. The valve is selected to have a small influence on the acoustical properties of the remaining portions of the sound path.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2018Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: SONION NEDERLAND B.V.Inventors: Nishant Lawand, Caspar Titus Bolsman, Laurens de Ruijter, Petrus Egbertus Henricus Hermsen, Erik Marinus Krom, Theodorus Geradus Maria Brouwer, René Maas
-
Patent number: 10932069Abstract: Acoustic valves include a housing having an acoustic inlet, an acoustic outlet, and an acoustic passage between the inlet and the outlet. An electrical coil is disposed in the housing and configured to generate a magnetic field when energized by an actuation signal. A spring is coupled to an armature movably disposed in the housing between a first surface and a second surface. The valve has a first stable state wherein the armature is positioned against one surface when the electrical coil is not energized, and the valve has a second stable state wherein the armature is positioned against the other surface when the electrical coil is not energized. The armature is movable between the first and second states when the electrical coil is energized, wherein the acoustic passage is more obstructed when the armature is in one state than when the armature is in the other state.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2019Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLCInventors: Christopher Jones, Christopher Monti, Shehab Albahri
-
Patent number: 10924839Abstract: An in-ear headphone includes a shell, a speaker, a circuit board, and a sensing structure. The shell has an accommodating space. The speaker is disposed in the accommodating space. The circuit board is disposed in the accommodating space, and the circuit board is electrically connected to the speaker. A sensing chip is disposed on the circuit board. The sensing structure includes a sensing sound tube and a transmission member. The sensing sound tube protrudes from a front end of the shell and has a conductor. The sensing sound tube is electrically connected to the sensing chip by the transmission member. A material of the sensing sound tube is different from a material of the shell.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2019Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Merry Electronics(Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hung-Uei Jou, Chung-Yi Huang
-
Patent number: 10869119Abstract: A sound channel with a side opening which may be opened or closed by an electromagnetic actuator. The sound channel may remain open and may thus be used as a spout of a sound generator for e.g. a hearing aid, where the side opening may be used as a vent.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2018Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: SONION NEDERLAND B.V.Inventors: Nishant Lawand, Caspar Titus Bolsman, Laurens de Ruijter, Petrus Egbertus Henricus Hermsen, Erik Marinus Krom, Theodorus Geradus Maria Brouwer, René Maas, Umut Tabak
-
Patent number: 10827252Abstract: An earbud design is disclosed that is configured to sit securely within an ear of a user. The earbud can be secured within the ear by an anchoring feature formed from an elastomeric material. The anchoring feature has a size and shape in accordance with an interior geometry of an ear of a user. Because the anchoring feature positions the earbud with respect to the ear, geometries of the earbud can be focused upon audio performance and/or device aesthetics. In some embodiments, the earbud housing can have a linear design which allows an audio driver within the earbud housing to be positioned close to an opening defined by the earbud housing. In this way, acoustic degradation associated with a long audio path from the audio driver to the opening can be avoided.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2019Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Glenn K. Trainer, Craig M. Stanley, Scott C. Grinker
-
Patent number: 10820085Abstract: Auricular attachments should be comfortable for long term wear. An auricular interface based on a skirt attachment is disclosed. By separating the uplifting force of the skirt from a separate downward force a more comfortable wearing is achieved. The skirt can optionally be pleated. The objective is achieved by a skirt structure having an outer surface that contacts least a part of an inner part of an outer boundary of a concha of a pinna, without the skirt touching the floor of the concha.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2019Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: SECTIO AUREA ASInventors: Vidar Sandanger, Johan Sundkvist, Henrik Myhre-Sandmark
-
Patent number: 10812890Abstract: An audio system includes a transducer assembly, an audio sensor, and a controller. The transducer assembly is coupled to a back of an auricle of an ear of the user. The transducer assembly vibrates the auricle over a frequency range to cause the auricle to create an acoustic pressure wave in accordance with vibration instructions. The acoustic sensor detects the acoustic pressure wave at an entrance of the ear of the user. The controller dynamically adjusts a frequency response model based in part on the detected acoustic pressure wave, updates the vibration instructions using the adjusted frequency response model, and provides the updated vibration instructions to the transducer assembly.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2019Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Antonio John Miller, Ravish Mehra
-
Patent number: 10798478Abstract: A system and method for a hybrid ring-radiator headphone driver, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2019Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc.Inventor: David Zepp
-
Patent number: 10791390Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a headphone apparatus including an earbud is provided. The earbud includes a housing, a flexible skirt, and a flexible tip portion. The housing includes a loudspeaker positioned therein and at least a portion of the housing being arranged to be received in a user's concha. The flexible skirt is removably coupled to at least a portion of the housing to be at least partially received in an ear canal of the user. The flexible tip portion extends from the housing and the flexible tip portion is configured to be received in at least an antihelix of the user. The flexible tip portion includes an outer wall and a rib intersecting with the outer wall such that the outer wall applies a force against the rib in response to contact with an anti-helical fold of the user's ear.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2019Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: Harman International Industries, IncorporatedInventors: Effrosini A. Karayiannis, Kim Hyo Jin, Derek Campbell
-
Patent number: 10779073Abstract: An earpiece including an external surface having a first fixed configuration disposable within the outer ear and having a passage adapted for retention of an in ear device, the earpiece heatable to achieve a moldable condition which allows reconfiguration of the external surface by engagement with the outer ear to dispose the external surface in a second fixed configuration in greater conformity to the outer ear.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Decibullz LLCInventor: Kyle J Kirkpatrick
-
Patent number: 10779072Abstract: A vent passage forming structure includes a penetration hole portion, a groove portion and a vent passage forming plate. The penetration hole portion is formed on a housing of an earphone. A space on one side of the housing communicates with a space on the other side of the housing through the penetration hole portion. The groove portion is formed on a surface of the housing on the one side thereof to be connected with the penetration hole portion. The vent passage forming plate covers the penetration hole portion and a part of the groove portion. A vent passage through which the space on the one side communicates with space on the other side, is formed by a hole space that is an inner space of the penetration hole portion, and a groove space that is surrounded by the groove portion and the vent passage forming plate.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: JVC KENWOOD CORPORATIONInventor: Shinji Kamimura
-
Patent number: 10715939Abstract: A transducer supported by the eardrum provides a piezoelectric material exchanging energy with the eardrum through a nanoscale membrane, the latter serving to boost the coupling between the piezoelectric material and the eardrum.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2018Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignees: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, University of HamburgInventors: Max Lagally, Abhishek Bhat, Frank Flack, Shelley Scott, Robert H. Blick
-
Patent number: 10715901Abstract: Audio reproduction devices, including without limitation headphones, universal in-ear monitors and custom in-ear monitors, are improved by electrical design that targets a flat electrical impedance across a predetermined frequency range such as the typical audible range of 20 Hz-20 kHz. Headphones and earphones having a flat or linear electrical impedance characteristic will have more consistent audio performance when driven by different sources.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2018Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: 1964 Ears, LLCInventor: Vitaliy Y. Gordeyev
-
Patent number: 10701471Abstract: An ear tip for an earpiece including a body having first and second ends, an inner wall extending between the first and second ends to define a hollow passage to conduct sound waves, and an outer wall connected to the inner wall of the body at the first end and tapering away from the inner wall toward the second end. The ear tip further includes one or more protrusions arranged on an inner surface of the outer wall, wherein the one or more protrusions has a varying thickness between the first and second ends.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2018Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Bose CorporationInventors: Caitlin Hanson, Shawn Prevoir, Natalie Zucker
-
Patent number: 10694282Abstract: An earphone comprising an earphone housing having a wall comprising (1) a front side that joins (2) an end portion in which a primary sound output opening is formed, which joins (3) a face portion in which a secondary output opening is formed, which joins (4) a back side which joins the front side and encloses a driver, wherein the primary output opening is dimensioned to output sound generated by a diaphragm of the driver contained within the earphone housing into the ear and the secondary output opening is dimensioned to vent the ear to a surrounding environment, and wherein the primary output opening and the secondary output opening face different directions.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2019Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael B. Howes, Yacine Azmi, Scott P. Porter, Jonathan S. Aase, Andrew P. Bright, Christopher R. Wilk
-
Patent number: 10649522Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for controlling a smart device based on a headphone are disclosed. The method includes: collecting, by the headphone, head motion feature data of a human body if a trigger condition of a collection task is satisfied; judging, according to the collected data, whether a target motion feature satisfying a predetermined motion feature is present in head motion feature of the human body; and if the target motion feature is present, acquiring information of an application currently running on the smart device, and generating an operation control instruction corresponding to the target motion feature according to the information of the currently running application and sending the operation control instruction to the smart device. According to the present application, control function may be enhanced for the smart device and control accuracy may be improved.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2017Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: SHENZHEN GOODIX TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Luming Zhou, Hexing Liu, Saiwen Lu, Ping Xu, Hongwu Li, Yicong Lin
-
Patent number: 10642572Abstract: Various embodiments provide for an audio system and methods for facilitating a group-listening user experience. A first audio device and a second audio device may each include at least one speaker. The first audio device and the second audio device may be selectively coupled to each other via one or more coupling devices. In such embodiments, the respective speaker or speakers of each of the first and second audio devices may be configured to direct sound into the at least partial acoustic chamber formed by the first and second audio devices. The at least partial acoustic chamber may be configured to have a shape that is suitable for mixing, combining, blending, acoustically amplifying, and/or directing the sound from the speakers of the first and second audio devices in a direction that is away from the audio system.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Human, IncorporatedInventors: Benjamin S. Willis, Joseph David Dieter, Gelmont Rios, Stephen John Minarsch, Kyle Marcolini, Adam Abraham Jossem, Eliza Arango Vargas
-
Patent number: 10616675Abstract: The present invention discloses an earphone. The earphone comprises: an earbud, wherein a cable comes out from an open end of a stem of the earbud; and a strain relief element mounted at the open end, the material of which is softer than that of the stem. The strain relief element contains a cable tube where the cable passes through and the inner wall of the cable tube fits the cable in a close manner. According to an embodiment of this invention, the present invention can provide a better strain relief effect.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2016Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: GOERTEK INC.Inventors: Morten Birkmose Sondergaard, Sune Lonbaek Olsen, Frederik Skovgaard, Andrew Paddock Bright, Rui Du
-
Patent number: 10582294Abstract: An earphone includes a housing, a speaker unit arranged in the housing, a sound guiding portion disposed on the housing, and a sound guiding tube disposed in the sound guiding portion such that an inner sound guiding channel and an outer sound guiding channel are formed in the sound guiding portion. The sound guiding portion has a sound output hole of the inner sound guiding channel and a sound output hole of the outer sound guiding channel. The sound output hole of the inner sound guiding channel protrudes from the sound output hole of the outer sound guiding channel. The sound waves in the inner sound guiding channel directly pass through the sound output hole of the inner sound guiding channel, and the sound waves in the outer sound guiding channel directly pass through the sound output hole of the outer sound guiding channel.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2018Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Inventor: I-Hung Tu
-
Patent number: 10516948Abstract: A loudspeaker arrangement for a plurality of MEMS loudspeakers for generating sound waves in the audible wavelength spectrum includes a housing, which has a sound conduction cavity and at least one sound outlet opening, and at least two MEMS loudspeakers, arranged in the interior of the housing opposite and spaced apart from each other by the sound conduction cavity. Each MEMS loudspeaker has a cavity in the region of their opposite faces. The loudspeaker arrangement includes a shielding wall for acoustically decoupling the two MEMS loudspeakers from each other. The shielding wall is arranged in the interior of the housing between the two MEMS loudspeakers such that the sound conduction cavity is subdivided into a first and a second a cavity region respectively associated with one of the two MEMS loudspeakers.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2018Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: USOUND GMBHInventors: Andrea Rusconi Clerici Beltrami, Ferruccio Bottoni
-
Patent number: 10482871Abstract: A method for processing signals, a terminal device, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium are provided. The method includes the following. A sound signal of external environment is recorded via a microphone of a headphone when the headphone is in a playing state. Feature audio in the sound signal is identified and reminding information corresponding to the feature audio is acquired. Inquire of a user whether recorded sound signal is critical according to the reminding information in response to the headphone being paused. An input operation of the user is detected and the sound signal is processed according to the input operation of the user.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2018Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd.Inventor: Bixiang Yan
-
Patent number: 10477330Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 15, 2018Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: SoundMed, LLCInventors: Amir Abolfathi, Vahid Saadat, Loc X. Phan
-
Patent number: 10477295Abstract: The present invention relates to a canal type earphone configured such that an outlet for a sound wave to be reproduced is inserted into an inlet of a user's ear canal. The earphone includes an electrodynamic speaker unit configured to electroacoustically convert an audio signal into a high-frequency sound wave containing a band component having a higher frequency than that of an audible band of a human being, thereby emitting the high-frequency sound wave; an electromagnetic speaker unit configured to electroacoustically convert the audio signal into a low-frequency sound wave containing more band components having a lower frequency than that of the high-frequency sound wave, thereby emitting the low-frequency sound wave; and a housing to the inside of which the electrodynamic speaker unit and the electromagnetic speaker unit are attached.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2019Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Onkyo CorporationInventors: Takashi Ouchi, Akira Tamadera, Masanori Ito, Naoki Imagawa
-
Patent number: 10448147Abstract: The inside of the housing of an acoustic device, such as an earphone, is divided into two or more spaces based on a driver. Diaphragms are disposed to cover a nozzle communicating with an ear of a user and a vent hole formed in the back of the housing. Optimum sound quality can be secured by adjusting the sizes of the spaces formed by the diaphragms and the housing and the locations where the diaphragms are disposed. When the housing is of a sealed type, low-band sound pressure can be effectively prevented from being lost.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2018Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: BUJEON CO., LTD.Inventors: Donghyeon Seo, Minkoo Park, Minkyeom Kim
-
Patent number: 10433045Abstract: An earbud design is disclosed that is configured to sit securely within an ear of a user. The earbud can be secured within the ear by an anchoring feature formed from an elastomeric material. The anchoring feature has a size and shape in accordance with an interior geometry of an ear of a user. Because the anchoring feature positions the earbud with respect to the ear, geometries of the earbud can be focused upon audio performance and/or device aesthetics. In some embodiments, the earbud housing can have a linear design which allows an audio driver within the earbud housing to be positioned close to an opening defined by the earbud housing. In this way, acoustic degradation associated with a long audio path from the audio driver to the opening can be avoided.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2016Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Glenn K. Trainer, Scott C. Grinker, Craig M. Stanley
-
Patent number: 10420911Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus for ascertaining a personal tinnitus frequency consisting of an audio signal generator unit and an associated audio signal earphone, which apparatus provides a first audio signal whose frequency is continuously adjustable. The invention is characterized in that compensating means are provided in order to eliminate ambient noise through active noise reduction.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2016Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: Resaphene Suisse AGInventor: Volker Merz
-
Patent number: 10419841Abstract: An active noise-reduction headphone arrangement has a housing bearing a loudspeaker having a first diaphragm surface coupled to a first volume of air bounded by and coupled to a user's ear, and a second diaphragm surface bounding a cavity within the housing assembly so as to define a second volume of air, rearward of the diaphragm; a conduit provided in the housing, the conduit being in fluid communication the ambient air via a first acoustic couple means having a first characteristic acoustic impedance, the conduit also being in fluid communication with said second volume of air via a second acoustic couple means having a second characteristic acoustic impedance; and a microphone having an inlet coupled acoustically to a predetermined location within the conduit.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2017Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: INCUS LABORATORIES LIMITEDInventors: Alastair Sibbald, Peter John McCutcheon, Robert Alcock
-
Patent number: 10397690Abstract: An earpiece includes an earpiece housing sized and shaped to block an external auditory canal of a user, at least one microphone positioned to sense ambient sound, a speaker, and a processor disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to each of the at least one microphone and the speaker, wherein the processor is configured to modify the ambient sound based on user preferences to produce modified ambient sound in a first mode of operation and to produce a second sound in response to a trigger condition. The second sound may be an unmodified version of the ambient sound. The second sound may be a modified version of the ambient sound which suppresses at least a portion of the ambient sound. The second sound may be a warning sound.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2018Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: BRAGI GmbHInventors: Peter Vincent Boesen, Darko Dragicevic
-
Patent number: 10386399Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide an improved material structure for a human body model. The human body model comprises (1) a first layer comprising a first material, (2) a second layer, comprising a second material, underneath the first layer, and (3) a third layer, comprising a third material, underneath the second layer. The dielectric constant of the second material is less than a dielectric constant of the first material and less than a dielectric constant of the third material. According to an aspect, the thickness of the first and/or second layer may represent the thickness of human skin and fat, respectively. The thickness of one or more layers may vary based on a location on the human body model.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2017Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: BOSE CORPORATIONInventor: Louis G. Chen
-
Patent number: 10368158Abstract: An earphone device comprises a casing, an earphone body and a switching unit. The casing includes an opening and an accommodating space, and the opening communicates with the accommodating space and an outside of the casing. The earphone body is disposed in the accommodating space. The switching unit is disposed on the casing. The switching unit can selectively seal or expose the opening to correspondingly switch the earphone device to an open-type earphone device or a closed-type earphone device.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2016Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: COOLER MASTER TECHNOLOGY INC.Inventors: Shih-Hsiung Hsiao, Shau-Jiun Huang
-
Patent number: 10362383Abstract: An ear hanging type music player includes a left ear hanger and a right ear hanger. The left ear hanger includes a first hanging main body and a first ear plug. The first hanging main body includes a first earplug receiving groove, the first ear plug is movably received in the first earplug receiving groove. The right ear hanger includes a second hanging main body and a second ear plug. The second hanging main body has a same structure as the first hanging main body, the second hanging main body includes a second earplug receiving groove, the second ear plug is movably received in the second earplug receiving groove.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2017Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.Inventor: Pan Yu
-
Patent number: 10362384Abstract: An earphone cover for an earphone includes an ear bud skin and an extension. The earphone includes an ear bud with a stem, and the earphone is inserted into a user's ear canal. The stem extends from the ear bud and a primary speaker outlet is formed on the ear bud. The ear bud skin substantially covers the ear bud of the earphone and increases friction between the ear bud and user's ear (provides an interface that increases friction between the ear bud and the user's ear) and the extension extends from the ear bud skin for more secure fit of the earphone to user's ear. The earphone cover is sufficiently flexible and elastic to accept insertion of the earphone therein along with being made of a material to provide a comfortable fit too.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2018Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: SPIGEN KOREA CO., LTD.Inventor: Sun Woo Yun
-
Patent number: 10334347Abstract: An earbud includes a capacitive sensor including at least one conductive trace and a controller configured to provide an indication of the earbud being inserted into an ear of a user responsive to detecting changes in capacitance of one of the at least one conductive trace relative to ground or different conductive traces relative to one another.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2017Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: BOSE CORPORATIONInventors: Igor Kofman, Jay Klemme
-
Patent number: 10334366Abstract: To provide an audio playback device which allows a novel listening experience for a listener by bone conduction from a prescribed position of the head area. [Solution] Provided is the audio playback device including at least one bone conduction device. The bone conduction device is provided at a position to be worn at a prescribed position of a head area of a listener. The prescribed position is a position allowing the listener to feel that a sound source moves from a position to which the bone conduction device is attached and to feel the sound source from another position.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2015Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Toshiyuki Nakagawa, Junya Suzuki
-
Patent number: 10299051Abstract: A bone conduction hearing aid system includes a hearing aid housing with a hearing aid vibrator. A skin interface has an interface connector offset on an outer interface surface and detachably connected to a housing connector. A skin adhesive connects to the skin of a patient user to transmit the sound vibrations through the skin to underlying skull bone for transmission by bone conduction to a hearing organ of the user. When the skin adhesive is pressed against the skin of the user, the skin is initially engaged during an initial engagement period with an initial adhesive force that promotes removal and relocation of the skin interface, and the skin is fully engaged after the initial engagement period with a full adhesive force greater than the initial adhesive force that promotes a fixed secure connection that resists removal of the skin interface.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2018Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbHInventor: Patrik Westerkull