Sound Conducting Tube Patents (Class 381/382)
  • Patent number: 11722812
    Abstract: A head-worn sound reproduction device is provided in the form of left and right earphones, which can either be clipped to each ear or mounted on other headgear. The earphones deliver high fidelity audio to a user's eardrums from near-ear range, in a lightweight form factor that is fully “non-blocking” (allows coupling in and natural hearing of ambient sound). Each earphone has a woofer component that produces bass frequencies, and a tweeter component that produces treble frequencies. The woofer outputs the bass frequencies from a position close to the ear canal, while the tweeter outputs treble frequencies from a position that is either close to the ear canal or further away. In certain embodiments, the tweeter is significantly further from the ear canal than the woofer, leading to a more expansive perceived “sound stage”, but still with a “pure” listening experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Lloyd Schmidt, David Thomas Roach, Michael Z. Land, Richard D. Herr
  • Patent number: 11240581
    Abstract: In an earpiece 10 of the present invention, mainly, a plug section 15 is fitted into a sound channel space 13A of a central tube section 13, and the plug section 15 is formed with a sound channel long hole 15B penetrating in a longitudinal direction thereof and sound channel short holes 15G penetrating in lateral directions thereof. With this structure, a very small part of sound transmitted from a stem section 12 is directly transmitted to the eardrum through an aperture 15A, but most of the sound transmitted from the stem section 12 is directly transmitted via an internal space 20 to the eardrum. Then, the user perceives the sound having detoured as indirect sound that comes from the front of himself/herself with a time difference, and thereby can feel out-of-head sound localization and sound spread, thereby experiencing a sense of direction from the front and realistic sensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Inventor: Hideaki Sampei
  • Patent number: 10645478
    Abstract: An earbud headphone includes a housing and an acoustic driver disposed within the housing between a front chamber and a rear chamber. The front chamber is defined between a front surface of the acoustic driver and a front wall of the housing, and the rear chamber is defined between a rear surface of the acoustic driver and a rear wall of the housing. The headphone further includes a sound guide tube configured to guide acoustic energy from the rear chamber to an ear canal of a user of the earbud headphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Skullcandy, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Pierce
  • Patent number: 10028058
    Abstract: A Closed Loop Headphone Apparatus with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or more built-in speakers and 2 Ear Openings, which go around the head of the user and imparting real surround sound emitted from each ear opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Inventor: Yul Lavauno Anderson
  • Patent number: 9900687
    Abstract: An earphone device (1) to be worn in the ear, which earphone device (1) comprising a main body (18) to be arranged in the concha (19) of the outer ear (14) of a user and an optical sensor (35), which optical sensor (35) comprises a light emitter (16) and a light detector (17). The earphone device (1) comprises window means (8, 9) through which light emitted by the light emitter (16) can be transmitted. The window means (8, 9) comprises an end face (31) adapted to abut a conchal wall (37) at a sensing position (36). The main body (18) comprises a speaker protrusion (26) to be inserted into to ear canal (15). The distance between the speaker protrusion (26) and the end face (31) is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: GN NETCOM A/S
    Inventor: Michael Sørensen
  • Patent number: 9807521
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a “smart earplug” capable of selectively adjusting the output of an array of acoustic wave generation elements or speakers within a user's ear canal in response to input signals, wherein at least one of the input signals has been at least partially attenuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventors: Alan J. Werner, Jr., Malcolm Bugler
  • Patent number: 9769555
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Decibullz LLC
    Inventor: Kyle J Kirkpatrick
  • Patent number: 9699545
    Abstract: A method includes comparing a voltage level detected by a detection circuit to a set of threshold voltages to determine a type of a headphone, determining the headphone to be a first type when a first signal travels through the first path to ground, and determining the headphone to be a second type when a second signal travels through the second path. The detection circuit includes a first path, a second path, and a bias capacitor. The headphone of the second type includes a plug that has a microphone connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Kapil Jain, Sriharsha Annadore
  • Patent number: 9532127
    Abstract: An earphone or adapter for attaching to an earphone includes an ear portion including a tubular sidewall. In one embodiment, the tubular sidewall includes an inner surface defining an air channel extending through the sidewall. The air channel redirects sound at an angle to the speaker axis, and may have a smooth contour to maintain sound quality. In one embodiment, the inner surface has a twin cone shape including a converging cone portion extending from the first end and a diverging cone portion extending from the converging cone portion to the second end. The outer surface of the tubular portion may include a plurality of outwardly extending fins In one embodiment, the tubular portion includes both a plurality of fins, and a twin cone air channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Burton Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John E. Burton
  • Patent number: 9036851
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventor: Yan-Ru Peng
  • Patent number: 9020168
    Abstract: An apparatus including an air-conduction transducer and a bone conduction transducer. The air-conduction transducer is configured to convert a first frequency band component of an electrical audio signal into acoustic energy to be delivered to an ear canal of a user. The bone conduction transducer is configured to convert a second, at least partially different, frequency band component of the electrical audio signal into mechanical energy to be delivered to a skull of the user. The apparatus is configured to deliver both forms of the energies to the user at a substantially same time to provide a combined audio delivery result to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Leo Karkkainen, Lance Williams, Peng Xie
  • Patent number: 9020181
    Abstract: An earphone device includes a housing having a driver unit, and a sound guide tube mounted on a front surface of the housing to protrude from the front surface, in which the sound guide tube is disposed at a position deviated from a center position of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Matsuo, Takashi Ohta, Koji Nageno, Tomohiro Ito
  • Patent number: 9014410
    Abstract: An earphone device includes a housing having a driver unit, and a sound guide tube mounted on a front surface of the housing to protrude from the front surface, in which the sound guide tube is disposed at a position deviated from a center position of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Matsuo, Takashi Ohta, Koji Nageno, Tomohiro Ito
  • Patent number: 8942406
    Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a canal-type receiver capable of reproducing sound fields spanning front-to-rear and/or top-to-bottom. Thus, an ear piece of the canal-type receiver has a substantially cylindrical shape and includes a cylindrical portion including a sound guiding tube emitting a sound wave, radiated from a sound-emission unit in a receiver, to the inside of the external auditory canal, the sound guiding tube is configured so that a directional sound wave radiation axis of the sound wave faces a predetermined position of a wall of the external auditory canal in such a state that a cylindrical portion of the ear piece is mounted at a predetermined position in the external auditory canal, whereby the sound wave radiated from the sound guiding tube is reflected by a portion of the external auditory canal wall to arrive at the eardrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Inventor: Isamu Koizumi
  • Patent number: 8913772
    Abstract: The ear speaker device includes a mount section that is provided with ear-hook sections, and rotation sections that rotate speaker movable sections with respect to the mount section. Tubular ducts are positioned more inside than the ear-hook sections in a natural state. When the ear speaker device is mounted, the speaker movable sections are rotated to the most outside positions. Then, the ear-hook sections are brought into contact with auricle base upper sections, respectively, and the speaker movable sections are rotated inwardly. In this manner, the tubular ducts can be positioned in the vicinity of the external acoustic meatus openings, respectively, of the listener without interfering with auricles and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yukimasa Yamaguchi, Makoto Yamagishi, Satoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8908895
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventor: Claus Würfel
  • Patent number: 8885866
    Abstract: Included are a loudspeaker unit for generating sound waves, a sound conduit tube connected to the loudspeaker unit, and an ear tip connected to the sound conduit tube and having a shape having at least one opening. The sound conduit tube has a shape having: a sound hole having a first opening through which the sound waves generated by the loudspeaker unit enter, and a second opening from which the sound waves are released and to which the ear tip is connected; and a vent hole formed independently of the sound hole, and having a third opening through which a portion of the sound waves released from the second opening enters and a fourth opening from which the portion of the sound waves is released. The second opening of the sound hole and the third opening of the vent hole are connected to an identical opening of the ear tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Sakaguchi, Shuji Saiki
  • Patent number: 8879768
    Abstract: An earpiece is disclosed. The earpiece includes a housing forming a volume therein, a number of sound holes arranged in the front end and rear end of the housing, a sound generator accommodated in the volume, an ear gel attached to a front end of the housing, a wire electrically connected to the sound generator, wherein a adjusting module is assembled to the housing, a plurality of front vents are disposed on the front end of the housing, and the amount of the front vents communicating with the volume is mechanically altered by the adjusting module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignees: AAC Acoustic Technologies (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., AAC Technologies Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Podoloff
  • Patent number: 8818013
    Abstract: This application relates to a wearable speaker system with a passive radiator and an active driver speaker that are connected by a flexible tube. Acoustic energy from the active driver speaker is projected through the flexible tube to the passive radiator, causing the passive radiator to vibrate and resonate in response to the acoustic energy to project the desired audible sounds to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Plastoform Industries Limited
    Inventors: Kin Man Tse, Chi Hung Matthew Chan
  • Patent number: 8798303
    Abstract: A horn amplifier comprises a horn and at least one speaker member with at least one spherical sound source; wherein the horn has one throat portion and one voice port opened from the throat portion toward outside, the bottom surface of the inner side of the throat portion of the horn has an open, the spherical sound source of the speaker member connects with the open, the inner side of the throat portion has at least one S-type sound-guide board, the sound-guide board is made as a plurality of paths in order to let spherical sound waves from the spherical sound source of the speaker member enter into the paths, then the spherical sound waves are transformed into plane sound waves, the plane sound waves are delivered to outside through the inner structure of the horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Jazz Hipster Corporation
    Inventors: Yueh-Hua Hsu Huang, Yuji Itabashi
  • Patent number: 8755551
    Abstract: A hearing apparatus has a housing, a receiver in the housing, and a sound conductor through which sound from the receiver is conducted out of the housing. In order to render the device as small as possible, the hearing apparatus has a cover piece which is inserted into the housing in such a way that a sound channel is formed. The sound channel is thereby delimited at the sides by the housing and the cover piece. A special sound-conducting tube can therefore be dispensed with.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hartmut Ritter, Michael Sattler
  • Patent number: 8699736
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a microphone on a proximal side of a device housing and a loudspeaker which via a transmission channel is in open communication with a sound-emitting opening of the device. A sound processing device serves to generate sound received by the microphone to the loudspeaker in amplified form. The device housing is provided on a distal side with an optionally sealed battery chamber for receiving a battery therein. The transmission channel is at least almost wholly separated from the microphone acoustically in order to prevent acoustic feedback. The battery chamber includes ventilation elements for the purpose of increasing the lifespan of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: ExSilent Research B.V.
    Inventors: Aeldrik Pander, Michel Martin Marie Havenith, Marcus Johannes Aloysius Kaal
  • Patent number: 8649546
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide an insert earphone assembly. The insert earphone assembly may include a transducer adapted to convert electrical signals into sound energy. The insert earphone assembly may also include a main sound channel adapted for communicating the sound energy to a user. The insert earphone assembly may also include a plurality of one or more damping elements, one or more auxiliary volumes, and one or more auxiliary ducts. The plurality of the one or more damping elements, the one or more auxiliary volumes, and the one or more auxiliary ducts may be adapted to absorb sound from the main sound channel to modify at least one insertion response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Etymotic Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Haapapuro, Viorel Drambarean, Mead C. Killion
  • Patent number: 8638970
    Abstract: An adapter for attaching to an earphone includes a sleeve capable attaching the adapter to the earphone and an ear portion including a tubular sidewall having a first end attached to the sleeve and a second end opposite the first end. In one embodiment, the tubular sidewall includes an outer surface and a plurality of fins extending outwardly from the outer surface. In another embodiment, the tubular sidewall has an inner surface defining an air channel extending through the sidewall, and the inner surface has a twin cone shape including a converging cone portion extending from the first end and a diverging cone portion extending from the converging cone portion to the second end. In one embodiment, the adapter includes both a plurality of fins, and a twin cone air channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Burton Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John E. Burton
  • Patent number: 8620392
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device capable of continuing a telephone call, even in a case in which power is received from a battery charger while the telephone call is made. The electronic device includes a power receiving unit and a speaker unit. The power receiving unit receives power from the battery charger by electromagnetic waves. The speaker unit outputs sound in a first mode or a second mode. The first mode is a sound output mode when the electronic device is made proximate to a user's ear. The second mode is a sound output mode when the electronic device is separated from the user's ear. In a case in which the power receiving unit is receiving power, the speaker unit outputs sound in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Kensaku Tanaka, Daisuke Shimada
  • Patent number: 8587934
    Abstract: A waterproof structure for an electronic device is provided that includes a speaker, a housing, and a cover. The housing holds the speaker and includes at least one through-hole to transmit sound produced by the speaker. The cover includes a first sheet and a second sheet laminated to the first sheet. The stiffness of the second sheet is greater than the stiffness of the first sheet, and the cover is fixed to the housing to seal the at least one through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Aihara
  • Patent number: 8565466
    Abstract: There is provided an auditory canal earphone comprising a housing (120) for receiving an electroacoustic transducer and a sound guide unit (130) on the housing (120) for feeding audio signals produced by the sound transducer into an auditory canal of a user of the auditory canal earphone. The sound guide unit (130) has an outside (136). The auditory canal further has at least one ear adaptor (200) with an inside wall (220) for at least partial placement over the sound guide unit (130) and an outside wall (210) for sealing off the auditory canal. The auditory canal earphone further has a tube (400) between the outside (136) of the sound guide unit (130) and the inside wall (220) of the ear adaptor (200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Markus Kuhr
  • Patent number: 8538056
    Abstract: A hearing aid (100) comprises a body case (2) that is worn behind an ear (1), a sound conductor (3) that is linked at one end to the body case (2) and is linked at the other end to an earpiece (6), and an engaging component (8) for holding the earpiece linked to the other end of the sound conductor in the external auditory canal (7) of the ear (1). The engaging component (8) is made up of a first arc part (8a) disposed on the earpiece (6) side, a second arc part (8b) that is larger than the first arc part (8a) and is disposed opposite the first arc part (8a), a first linking part (8c) that links one end of the first arc part (8a) and one end of the second arc part (8b), and a second linking part (8d) that links the other end of the first arc part (8a) and the other end of the second arc part (8b). The second linking part (8d) has a shape such that its center part protrudes toward the first linking part (8c). This constitution allows the hearing aid (100) to be put on more easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Ishibashi, Yosimasa Simogochi, Takeshi Umeda, Takashi Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 8538059
    Abstract: An ear speaker device includes an electroacoustic transducer including a housing mounted at a predetermined position of listener's head, a speaker unit mounted on one surface in the housing, and positioned away from an entrance of the listener's external acoustic meatus for a predetermined distance when the housing is mounted on the listener's head, and a tubular duct extended so as to allow a sound generated by the housing in the inner space thereof to reach the vicinity of the entrance of the listener's external acoustic meatus, and a hole for emitting sound of the duct is oriented to the opposite direction with respect to the entrance of the external acoustic meatus; and a mounting part used for mounting the electroacoustic transducer on the listener's head in a manner that the predetermined distance is provided between the speaker unit and the entrance of the listener's external acoustic meatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Yamagishi, Hideki Seki, Noriyuki Hiyama, Yukimasa Yamaguchi, Takeshi Hara
  • Patent number: 8532325
    Abstract: An earphone device with a bass adjusting function is provided. The earphone device includes an accommodating portion and an extension segment. The accommodating portion has an inner chamber for accommodating a speaker. The extension segment which is hollow-shaped and has a first space and a second space therein, and the first space is in communication with the inner chamber of the accommodating portion, and when a portion of the extension segment is adjusted from a first position to a second position, the first space, the second space, and the inner chamber of the accommodating portion are in communication, so as to increase a volume of the back chamber of the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Merry Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiu-Yun Tung, Fang-Chang Hsieh, Yuan-Hsing Wu, Chung-Yi Huang
  • Patent number: 8488831
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Logitech Europe, S.A.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Saggio, Jr., Medford Alan Dyer
  • Patent number: 8457343
    Abstract: A safe in-ear earphone for radiation protection comprises earplug heads, sound cavities, acoustic wave transmission channels, a main body, a conductor and a plug. The channels are set between the sound cavities and loudspeakers. The acoustic wave concentrated orifices are between the loudspeakers and the acoustic wave transmission channels. The assembly of the loudspeakers, the acoustic wave concentrated orifices and the acoustic wave transmission channels are sealed to form a sealed small boxes in the main body. The shape of acoustic wave concentrated orifices is inverse loudhailer. The acoustic wave is transmitted to the two acoustic wave channels via the acoustic wave concentrated orifices and then is provided to the ears plugged by two earplugs to listen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Inventor: Aidao Zhu
  • Patent number: 8434493
    Abstract: The adjustable mouth shield device provides an adjustably fitted mouth shield with adjustable headband for secure fit. The adjustable headband is fastened to the padded earpiece. The straight first extension from the earpiece is angled downwardly and forwardly to terminate in a swivel joint providing almost 360 degrees of swivel. The second extension is arced both downwardly and forwardly. The u-shaped mouthpiece is fitted to the adjustable spring mount for horizontal pivot of the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece may, by virtue of the swivel joint and the spring mount, be moved completely away from a user's mouth and, in turn, pivoted and swiveled to be directly in front of the user's mouth. The inward curves at the distal end of the mouthpiece aid in sliding on the disposable pads that shield a user from objects, foods and other materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Inventors: Eric McGhie, Darrell Harvey
  • Patent number: 8411893
    Abstract: There is provided a headphone including: a housing that accommodates a driver unit; a sound guiding tube that protrudes from the housing in a predetermined direction and guides a sound generated from the driver unit to an external auditory canal; and a hanger that rotatably supports the housing via a supporting shaft provided in approximately the same direction as a depth direction of the external auditory canal and in a direction inclined to a protruding direction of the sound guiding tube. According to this structure, by rotating the housing with respect to the hanger via the supporting shaft, the protruding direction of the sound guiding tube with respect to the hanger can be adjusted. Thus, by adjusting the protruding direction of the sound guiding tube according to the inclined angle of the external auditory canal of a user, wearability of a headphone can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ito, Tomohiro Matsuo
  • Patent number: 8406448
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: You-ruei Lin, Chun-hung Chen, Mu-tsun Tseng
  • Patent number: 8396238
    Abstract: An In-The-Ear (ITE) device is disclosed. This ITE is adapted for connection to a cable from a Behind-The-Ear (BTE) device, the ITE device including a releasable mechanical retention device for the cable, such that the cable may be customized in length and may be attached to the retention device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Slobodan Ilic, Phillip Stallard, Thomas Hunkeler, Olivier Blättler
  • Patent number: 8391536
    Abstract: An earphone device includes a case main body, a sound conduit, and an ear tip. The sound conduit is formed in a substantially tubular shape and protrudes from the case main body. The sound conduit has a flange disposed at the end on the opposite side from the case main body, and a first restrictor disposed between the flange and the case main body. The ear tip has a ring part formed of a resilient material and configured to be engaged to the sound conduit. The ear tip is configured to be in a first state in which movement in the direction of removal from the sound conduit is restricted by the flange, and is configured to be in a second state in which movement in the direction of removal from the sound conduit is restricted by the first restrictor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8385577
    Abstract: A thin hearing tube is to be fastened in a hearing apparatus such that it can be easily exchanged again. To this end, the end of the sound tube is melted, so that its diameter is enlarged. The sound tube can then be drawn into the bore, the inner diameter of which is smaller than the enlarged outer diameter of the end of the sound tube, until the extended end of the sound tube rests closely against one side of the bore. By cutting the sound tube end or by cutting through the tube at another point, it can be removed from the bore without any problem, so that a new tube can be fastened there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Fickweiler, Robert Kasanmascheff
  • Patent number: 8374370
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a hearing assistance device housing for use in real ear measurements. The methods and apparatus for configuration of a hearing assistance device using an apparatus including an opening to receive a sound tube for real ear measurements and providing an opening for connection of a sound hook to a housing of the hearing assistance device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Zhang, Brian Fideler
  • Patent number: 8363874
    Abstract: There is provided an earphone having at least one housing (10) and at least one electroacoustic transducer (20) having a first and a second surface (21, 22). The earphone further has a first volume (100) defined by the first surface (21) of the electroacoustic transducer (20) and by a first end (12) of the housing (10), and a second volume (200) defined by the second surface (22) of the electroacoustic transducer (20) and by a second end (11) of the housing (10). An opening (300) is provided between the first and second volumes (100, 200). A closing unit (30) serves to at least partially close the opening (300).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Axel Grell, Markus Kuhr, Axel Bergmeier
  • Patent number: 8333260
    Abstract: A deep insertion vented earpiece system is described including resilient earpieces shaped to a wearer's ear canal for a conformal fit. A receptacle is provided within the outer surface of each earpiece for releasably receiving an audio plug. The audio plugs include a miniature loudspeaker and a pair of external ribs for mating with a corresponding pair of grooves formed along the periphery of the receptacle. This rib and groove feature provides for a secure retention of the audio plugs while enabling a simple removal operation. Each earpiece includes an audio passage to conduct the audio signal from the loudspeaker and a vent passage to enable continuous venting of the wearer's ear to atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventors: John A. Hall, Karl Cartwright, Kris Cartwright
  • Patent number: 8322222
    Abstract: A noise dosimeter with capability to rapidly predict noise exposure over an extended time period based on a measurement of short duration. Either an acoustic or an electrical earphone adapter provides a convenient means to connect the noise dosimeter to an external sound source. A direct input jack operable to receive at least one audio signal provides a signal to an RMS detector, which provides a DC signal to a two-stage amplifier circuit. The outputs of the amplifiers are provided to a processor having multiple A/D channels. The processor calculates accumulated noise doses and drives a display, which in one embodiment includes a panel of light-emitting diodes. In one embodiment, the dosimeter includes functionality for control of external devices such as sound boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Etymotic Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Goldberg, Gregory A. Flamme, Dana S. Helmink, Mead C. Killion
  • Patent number: 8325962
    Abstract: There is provided headphones that include a pair of left and right earcups, an audio signal processing unit contained in the earcups, a headband connecting the left and right earcups respectively through a hanger, and a cord to supply a signal to the audio signal processing unit. In the headphones, a connection portion between the hanger and the headband is configured as an extension and contraction unit having a multistage structure including a small-diameter hollow member able to be taken in and out of a large-diameter hollow member, a part of the cord contained in the extension and contraction unit is spirally wound so as to be extended and contracted, nodes are placed respectively between the headband and the extension and contraction unit and between the hanger and the extension and contraction unit, and the respective nodes have a through-hole allowing penetration of the cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ishida, Naotaka Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 8306237
    Abstract: This invention is a wearable device that masks and/or cancels annoying ambient sounds to help a person sleep. It includes a soft and stretchable member, such as a headband or hat, that contains one or more sound-conducting tubes. Sound that is emitted from the one or more tubes helps to mask and/or cancel annoying ambient sounds. Advantages of this device over prior art include: no speakers or other rigid components over a person's ears that can be uncomfortable or unsafe when the person sleeps on their side; a relatively wide sound-emitting area to accommodate different size and shape heads; and a stretchable wearable member that gently clings to the person's head to avoid having sound-emitting areas shift away from the person's ears as they toss and turn in their sleep.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Medibotics
    Inventor: Robert A. Connor
  • Patent number: 8284974
    Abstract: A hearing aid comprises a microphone on a proximal side of a device housing and a loudspeaker which via a transmission channel is in open communication with a sound-emitting opening of the device. A sound processing device serves to generate sound received by the microphone to the loudspeaker in amplified form. The device housing is provided on a distal side with an optionally sealed battery chamber for receiving a battery therein. The transmission channel is at least almost wholly separated from the microphone acoustically in order to prevent acoustic feedback. The battery chamber comprises ventilation means for the purpose of increasing the lifespan of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Exsilent Research B.V.
    Inventors: Aeldrik Pander, Michel Martin Marie Havenith, Marcus Johannes Aloysius Kaal
  • Patent number: 8279591
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a first body, a second body, a first pivot, an audio module, a second pivot, a cam, a follower, a latch, and an elastic element. The first pivot pivotally connects the first body with the second body. The second pivot pivotally connects the audio module with the second body. The cam is coupled with the first pivot. The follower contacts the cam. The latch is fastened to the audio module and connected with the follower. The elastic element includes two ends, one is against the second body, and the other one is against the audio module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
    Inventor: Hsien-Cheng Chiu
  • Patent number: 8280093
    Abstract: A removable component for use with an earphone is disclosed. As an example, the removable component can be an ear tip. According to one aspect, an improved ear tip can be provided for use with a headphone. The ear tip is suitable for in-ear operation and can have a cosmetic deformable outer member. The deformable outer member can enable the ear tip to readily conform to a user's ear. The ear tip can also include an inner member to structurally support the outer member and to facilitate attachment to a headphone. Methods for forming such ear tips are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Siahaan, Kurt Stiehl, Victor Tiscareno, Wey-Jiun Lin, Cameron Frazier, Christopher Prest, Jeffrey Hayashida
  • Patent number: 8275164
    Abstract: A transmission line speaker enclosure featuring a main enclosure, a speaker driver and an exit port in the main enclosure, exit port walls extend from the exit port into the main enclosure; and an inner sub enclosure in the main enclosure having a curved vertex facing the speaker driver and walls extending from ends of the vertex, the vertex has an angle between about 40 to 80 degrees, the vertex is either attached or separated from the magnet of the speaker driver by a gap, the vertex functions to divert sounds exiting the speaker driver between walls of the inner sub enclosure wall the main enclosure, then between the walls of the inner sub enclosure and the exit port and further out of the exit port, wherein back waves generated by the speaker driver can have total travelling distance of about ¼ wavelength of a tuned frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Inventor: Thach T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8270656
    Abstract: An earphone or a removable component for use with an earphone are disclosed. As an example, the removable component can be an ear tip. According to one aspect, an improved ear tip can be provided for use with a headphone. The ear tip is suitable for in-ear operation and has a deformable outer member. The deformable outer member enables the ear tip to readily conform to a user's ear. The ear tip can also include an inner member to structurally support the outer member and to facilitate attachment to a headphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Stiehl, Victor Tiscareno, Wey-jiun Lin
  • Patent number: RE43595
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are disclosed for a headset that may be used in an audio system used in a magnetic field. In one aspect, the system includes an inner set portion adapted to fit into an ear canal. A pneumatic port is disposed in the hole to couple audible sounds to the ear canal. The system may include a non-magnetic transducer coupled to the pneumatic port. The system also may include a fiber-optic microphone to couple sound from a user of the headset. Other techniques provide a stethoscope-type yoke to couple the pneumatic port and the fiber-optic antenna to the non-magnetic transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventor: Wayne Lederer