Transportable Patents (Class 455/351)
  • Patent number: 11533818
    Abstract: Sensor assemblies are provided for use in modeling water systems. These sensor assemblies can be used as sensor fish. These assemblies can include a circuit board supporting processing circuitry components on either or both opposing component support surfaces of the circuit board and a housing above the circuit board and the components, with the housing being circular about the circuit board in at least one cross section, and wherein the supporting surfaces of the circuit board are substantially parallel with the plane of the housing in the one cross section. Methods for emulating interaction of entities within water systems are provided. The methods can include introducing a sensor assembly into a water system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Z. Daniel Deng, Jun Lu, Jayson J. Martinez, Aljon L. Salalila, Mitchell J. Myjak, Hongfei Hou
  • Patent number: 11316580
    Abstract: A communication system includes a communication device, a plurality of servers configured to communicate with the communication device, a plurality of communication lines corresponding to a plurality of servers, and a relay server. The relay server includes a communication acquisition part configured to acquire the device identification information for identifying the communication device, the communication content information representing the communication content of the communication device, and the line identification information for identifying a plurality of communication lines respectively; and a communication information output part configured to output the communication content information and the device identification information acquired by the communication acquisition part over a communication line corresponding to the line identification information acquired by the communication acquisition part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: KDDI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Shindou, Keisuke Tsuji, Junji Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 11146884
    Abstract: A transducer apparatus to provide high speech-intelligibility in a noisy environment. The transducer apparatus comprises a vibration-sensing transducer adapted to be placed on the non-honey and non-cartilaginous, i.e., fleshy, part of the head of the user—either on the all-flesh part of the cheek or all-flesh under chin. The vibrations sensed are vibrations arising from the user's voice in his mouth and conducted to the surface of the fleshy area of the users cheek or under-chin, and not by bone vibration. The embodiments of the invention include its application into headsets, earsets and helmets; and a switching means; and a means to realize a vibration transducer from an acoustical microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Audio Zoom Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Joseph Sylvester Chang, Chai Lung Lee, Yin Sun, MingJie Sebastian Chang, Tong Ge
  • Patent number: 11107480
    Abstract: A method for allowing at least one passenger, wearing a personal listening device broadcasting an audio signal, to hear an oral message uttered by an authorized person in a transport vehicle, the method including detecting, recording and encoding said oral message as a voice signal, configuring a “payload signal to noise” ratio in the perceived audio signal, in which the payload signal consists of the oral message and in which the noise consists of the audio signal and stray noise, at a value greater than a predetermined threshold, and broadcasting the voice signal on a wireless communication network, to a mobile terminal connected to the personal listening device or directly to the personal listening device in order to broadcast it to the at least one passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Boyer
  • Patent number: 10827316
    Abstract: A communications system may include a command communications device and mobile wireless communications devices responsive to the command communications device to be assigned into a push-to-talk mode workgroup and with subsets of the mobile wireless communications devices also to be assigned to respective different hands-free mode work subgroups. Each mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, at least one wireless transceiver carried by the portable housing operable in the push-to-talk mode and the hands-free mode, and a controller carried by the portable housing, coupled to the at least one wireless transceiver, and responsive to the command communications device to operate in the assigned push-to-talk mode workgroup and the assigned hands-free mode work subgroup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: EAGLE TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Keith J. Kripp, Andrew R. Thornton, Colin F. Funai
  • Patent number: 10798834
    Abstract: A communications interface system includes a housing and one or more removable components. The removable components can include one or more removable communications module configured to facilitate communication between the interface system and one or more other communications or control systems. A facepack can be removably coupled with the housing. The facepack can include one or more displays and/or user input structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Veloskey
  • Patent number: 10667731
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring oxygenation signals are presented. The method includes positioning an oxygenation measuring system over a side portion of a head of a user, wherein the oxygenation measuring system includes an outer shell, a gel seal coupled to the outer shell, a near-infrared spectroscopy sensor configured to measure oxygenation signals from a user, a printed circuit board coupled to the near-infrared spectroscopy sensor, and a bone conducting transducer. The method further includes measuring the oxygenation signals from the user using the near-infrared spectroscopy sensor, recording data pertaining to the measured oxygenation signals of the user, and comparing the data, using the printed circuit board, with known human performance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Inventors: Bradford R. Everman, Brian Scott Bradke
  • Patent number: 10517348
    Abstract: A cycling helmet capable of switching a sound production guidance mode based on a bone conduction earphone includes: a helmet body and the bone conduction earphone disposed on the helmet body. The bone conduction earphone includes a magnet, a coil and a bone conduction oscillator, and the bone conduction oscillator can contact the helmet body, so as to cause the helmet body to oscillate to form a sound cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignees: DONGGUANG YUANFENG TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., GUANGDONG YUANFENG ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eric Rong, Xin Zhong, Rijian Shi, Xiaochun Xiao, Donghong Wang
  • Patent number: 10182135
    Abstract: A helmet mounted communication system for use by teams includes a headset including any one of a speaker for projecting audio or a microphone for receiving audio, a mounting structure for mounting the headset in a helmet cavity of a helmet, and a biasing material between the headset and a cavity wall of the helmet cavity for floatably attaching the headset to the helmet in the helmet cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Inventor: Bruce Black
  • Patent number: 9824840
    Abstract: A circuit protection assembly (CPA) is disposed between a source of power and a circuit to be protected. The CPA comprises a mounting block having a bore extending therethrough and a recess cavity on a first surface of the mounting block. A post having a first end is disposed within the recess cavity and a body portion extends through the bore. The body portion configured to receive a terminal and the second end configured to receive a securing mechanism. A fuse having a centrally disposed aperture is configured to receive the body portion of the post and to receive the terminal for connection to a circuit to be protected. An insulator disposed on the terminal and disposed beneath the securing mechanism. The insulator configured to isolate the post from the terminal and the fuse while allowing the securing mechanism to apply an amount of torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Schwartz, Dana Scribner, Joe Thomas
  • Patent number: 9801442
    Abstract: A pouch for receiving a main body of a portable electronic device having a touch screen provided on a front surface thereof includes: a first part for receiving a rear surface of the main body; and a second part rotatably connected to the first part to close or open the touch screen, wherein the second part is formed to expose visual information of the touch screen to the outside in a state in which the touch screen is covered, and has conductivity allowing the touch screen to sense a touch input applied thereto in the closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jungin Oh, Sulyong Shin
  • Patent number: 9516435
    Abstract: An open fitted hearing aid adapter allows a user to quickly transition between an open fitted style hearing aid and a closed fitted style hearing aid. This allows the user to conveniently benefit from the different advantages offered by both styles of hearing aids, according to the user's current needs. The open fitted hearing aid adapter has a custom ear mold, at least one receiving surface channel 19, and a tube securing mechanism. The receiving surface channel 19 is the component in which the open hearing aid component(s) (e.g., tubing, wiring, speaker, and/or microphone) of an open fitted hearing aid is positioned. The open hearing aid component(s) is positioned within the receiving surface channel 19 through a tubing slit, rather than being threaded through the custom ear mold and generally affixed in a permanent manner. The tube securing mechanism acts to hold the open hearing aid component(s) in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: JOHNSON HEARING TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION, PLLC
    Inventor: Earl Edward Johnson
  • Patent number: 9414659
    Abstract: A protective case for a mobile electronic device includes a shell defining a cavity for receiving a portion of the mobile electronic device within the cavity. The shell includes a membrane disposed adjacent a location corresponding to a screen of the mobile electronic device such that at least some of the screen of the mobile electronic device is viewable through the membrane. The shell also includes a gate disposed adjacent a location corresponding to a port of the mobile electronic device. The gate includes elastomeric flaps and is operable to at least two states including: a) a port covering state in which ends of the elastomeric flaps converge at at least one seam to close the gate protecting the port from environment outside of the protective case, and b) a port accessing state in which the elastomeric flaps separate and fold in to open the gate providing a passageway for a connector to be connected to the port of the mobile electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Fellowes, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Kennard, Marc Vitantonio, Patrick Brown
  • Patent number: 9350409
    Abstract: There is disclosed a mobile terminal that is able to prevent failure in proper combination of elements that might be deformed when an external shock is applied to a corner of a mobile terminal, and an inner frame provided in a case of the mobile terminal and an inner frame provided in a case of the mobile terminal. A corner of the inner frame is exposed outside such that an external shock is applied to the corner of the mobile terminal can be delivered to the inner frame having a large rigidity to prevent deformation of the corner of the case. Accordingly, the deformation of the corner of the case may be reduced and durability and completeness of the mobile terminal can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Dongho Shin, Byunghwa Lee
  • Patent number: 9137088
    Abstract: A method and system for processing data packets is described within. The method executed by the system includes the steps of receiving a first data packet, determining if the first data packet is a first expected data packet, determining if the first data packet is a next expected date packet, storing the first data patent if the first data packet is the next expected data packet and waiting a period of time for a second data packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Edward Walter, Michael Raftelis
  • Patent number: 9068692
    Abstract: A stand device capable of providing different folding angles includes a base member, a sliding member disposed to the base member so that a linear reciprocal motion is possible, a stand member having a specific length and fastened to one end of the sliding member in a rotatable manner, and a link member, of which one end is hinge-connected to a proper place in the stand member and the other end is hinge-connected to the base member, for holding the stand member, wherein an opening angle of the stand member varies depending on a linear reciprocation level of the sliding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bum-Su Park
  • Patent number: 8867997
    Abstract: A short-range communication system includes a portable communication terminal and an in-vehicle apparatus communicatively connected to the portable communication terminal. When connection is established between the portable communication terminal and the in-vehicle apparatus, a content is executed in the in-vehicle apparatus. When the connection therebetween is released while the content is being executed in the in-vehicle apparatus, the portable communication terminal executes the content by taking over an application execution state of the in-vehicle apparatus which is transmitted from the in-vehicle apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Uefuji, Hiroki Ukai
  • Publication number: 20140293059
    Abstract: Assisted-GPS for a portable biometric monitoring device is provided. The portable biometric monitoring device may obtain updated ephemeris data from an associated secondary device via a short-range, low-power communication protocol. The secondary device may be a computing device such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Various rules may control when the ephemeris data is updated. The ephemeris data may be used in the calculation of the global position of the portable biometric monitoring device. Additionally, the portable biometric monitoring device may communicate downloaded position fixing data to the associated secondary device. The associated secondary device may then calculate the global position from the position fixing data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Patent number: 8717126
    Abstract: A stopper structure includes a wall defining an opening. A rotary electronic component has a rotational shaft extending through the opening. A channel stopper has a tubular body and an engagement projection. The tubular body is detachably mounted onto the rotational shaft and is inhibited from rotating relative thereto. The engagement projection extends from an end of the tubular body in an axial direction and a radial direction with respect to the rotational shaft. A rotary operation member is detachably mounted onto the rotational shaft and the tubular body and is inhibited from rotating relative thereto. The rotary operation member has an axial hole in which at least portions of the rotational shaft and the tubular body fit. A limiting portion provided on the wall is engageable with the engagement projection for limiting a range of rotation of the rotational shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kenwood
    Inventors: Tadahiro Yamada, Shoji Ota
  • Patent number: 8706175
    Abstract: A phone and tablet stand that includes a rotatable mounting head that attaches a tablet to the phone and tablet stand, attachment magnets that are evenly disposed on a rotatable mounting head to magnetically attach a tablet to the phone and tablet stand and an adjustable stand that includes a stem and a pair of adjustment knobs. The phone and tablet stand also includes a base that provides stability to the phone and tablet stand and a gel attachment interface that is in direct contact with a contact surface where the phone and tablet stand is removably secured. The phone and tablet stand can also include a protective casing that is placed around the back of a tablet and is magnetically attached to the phone and tablet stand and includes a metal disc disposed and centered on the front facing of the protective casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Inventor: Richard H Cho
  • Patent number: 8594597
    Abstract: A portable transmitter includes a circuit board having a button battery and an antenna; and a case accommodating the battery and the circuit board. The case includes first and second case members being engaged with each other. A concave portion is formed on the first or second case members to accommodate the button battery, and a lock portion is formed on the first or second case members to lock the circuit board. While the concave portion accommodates the button battery and the circuit board is locked by the lock portion, a surface of the circuit board and a surface of the button battery are attached, and the first case member and the second case member are engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Saito, Mitsuru Nakagawa, Tokio Shimura
  • Patent number: 8508948
    Abstract: A communication apparatus includes first and second housings connected to each other by a hinge mechanism. The first housing includes a first substrate having electronic components electrically connected to an antenna, a first hinge portion configuring a portion of the hinge mechanism, and a first conductive member provided in the first hinge portion. The second housing includes a second substrate having electronic components, a waterproofing partition wall surrounding the second substrate, a second hinge portion configuring a portion of the hinge mechanism, a second conductive member provided in the second hinge portion to be capacitively-coupled with the first conductive member, and a third conductive member insertion-molded therein. The third conductive member includes an inner portion positioned on an inner side of the partition wall, and an outer portion extending from the inner portion toward an outer side of the partition wall and capacitively-coupled with the second conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Naohiro Katou
  • Patent number: 8503711
    Abstract: A hat mounted music system includes a semi-rigid hatband and a flexible crown and hat bill mounted to the hatband. A retaining pocket is mounted to the hatband and is sized and shaped to hold a portable music player. First and second headphone mounts are located to align with the ears of a user. The mounts have first and second hinges. First portions of the hinges are attached to the hatband and second portions of the hinges are attached to the mounts. The hinges permit movement of the mounts from a first, open position to a second, listening position. First and second headphone modules are adapted to fit the headphone mounts. Connection wires connect the player to the headphone modules. The headphone mounts are spring-loaded and are retained in the second position by a latching mechanism. A release device allows the headphone mounts to return to the first, open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Inventor: Michael Flynn
  • Patent number: 8447251
    Abstract: An audio signal processing circuit comprising: a modulation circuit configured to output a modulated signal of a frequency corresponding to an input audio signal; a drive circuit configured to generate a driving current for driving the modulation circuit based on a control signal; an audio detection circuit configured to detect presence or absence of the audio signal input to the modulation circuit; and a control signal generation circuit configured to generate the control signal for generating the driving current in the drive circuit when the presence of the audio signal is detected and generate the control signal for stopping generation of the driving current in the drive circuit when the absence of the audio signal is detected for a predetermined period, based on a detection result of the audio detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignees: Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd., Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Toru Odajima, Masahiro Obuchi
  • Patent number: 8385850
    Abstract: A telecommunications enclosure for telecommunications equipment that includes an equipment housing with sealed openings to receive wiring. Each sealed opening having a removable blank so that the sealed opening can be utilized. There being at least two brackets mounted to the inside surface of the top of the equipment housing to receive and secure the telecommunications equipment. There being an enclosure door attached to the equipment housing to close off the open end of the equipment housing. The enclosure door being removable to allow access to the equipment housing. The enclosure door having perforations covering at least 30 percent of the enclosure door to allow airflow to flow in and out of the enclosure door when in a closed position on the equipment housing. The enclosure door having a depth such that a portion of the enclosure door with all of the perforations extends in the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Oberon, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott D. Thompson, Mike Askey, Rick Coklin
  • Patent number: 8355690
    Abstract: An electrical connector adaptor system for connecting a base media device having at least one integral electrical connector with one or more detachable second media devices. The integral connector is located within a mechanical adaptor for protecting a second media device from mechanical damage and/or to prevent lateral movement of the second media device. Each second media device has a connector that may differ from a connector of other second media devices, or the second media device may have a different form factor from other second media devices. The system includes a detachable electrical connector adaptor module which has a first electrical connector for mating with the base media device integral connector and a second electrical connector for mating with the second media device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Chestnut Hill Sound, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Krampf, Evan B. Ross, Trung Quoc Phung
  • Publication number: 20120329409
    Abstract: An intrinsically safe portable radio device (100) having a portable radio device housing (120). A first radio section (201) is an intrinsically safe circuit is (ISC) disposed within the housing and arranged to perform at least one function to facilitate operation of the portable radio device. A second radio section (202) ISC is disposed within the housing and arranged to perform at least a second function to facilitate operation of the portable radio device. Each of the first and second ISCs independently satisfy a defined standard for intrinsically safe devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paresh Chauhan, Jonathan Black, David Hinterberger, Brian Martens, David Grunert
  • Patent number: 8316467
    Abstract: A cap, hat or other head covering, with pockets for carrying an MP3 player or other portable audio device and the wires and other related accessories. One of the pockets is structured to secure an audio device and the other pocket is structured to secure the headphone wires therein. By disposing the pockets on the headgear, the audio device is in close proximity to the wearer's head, thereby minimizing the length of wire extended between the audio device and the headphones or earplugs and allowing the wearer to perform a desired activity without the wires getting in the way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Inventors: Karl Foust, Fabrizio Cabianca
  • Patent number: 8208978
    Abstract: A miniaturized attachment mechanism for attaching a lanyard to a cell phone, MP3 player or other portable device having a hole in its outer casing is disclosed. The miniaturized attachment mechanism can have one end permanently fastened to a lanyard, and can include a spring-loaded ball detent within a hollow shaft. The hollow shaft diameter can be about 3 millimeters or less, while the diameter of the ball within the hollow shaft can be about 2 millimeters or less. The hollow shaft can be inserted into the casing hole such that the ball detent secures the mechanism to the casing until a pin release is used. In another embodiment, the miniaturized attachment mechanism can include a 1 millimeter shaft having a groove at an insertable end, while the casing encloses a two hole E-ring mechanism adapted to lock onto the groove when the shaft is inserted into the casing hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Stiehl, Karen Cheng
  • Patent number: 8059854
    Abstract: An earphone includes a housing, a reel mechanism, a speaker, and a transmission wire. The reel mechanism is pivotally disposed in the housing and has an accommodating space defined therein for accommodating the speaker. The transmission wire is wound on the reel mechanism. When the transmission wire is pulled or released and thereby drives the reel mechanism to rotate, the speaker rotates coaxially together with the reel mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Merry Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yen-Shuh Wu
  • Patent number: 7937964
    Abstract: A mounting kit consisting of a top panel made from polyethylene plastic with designated areas cut out to accommodate a standard car stereo and four speakers along with optional support sides also made from polyethylene plastic to allow for installation within an ice chest (cooler) or other secure, durable container. An antenna, screws, power switch, charging receptacle and all mounting hardware are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Inventor: Anthony Joey Temple
  • Patent number: 7912509
    Abstract: A method for automatically switching an incoming call signal output mode in a mobile communication terminal is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining whether or not a present incoming call signal output mode is a vibration mode when receiving incoming call, driving a vibrator to output vibration if it is determined that the present incoming call signal output mode is set to the vibration mode, detecting an intensity of actual vibration of the terminal via a vibration detection sensor when the vibration is output, followed by calculating transfer energy using the intensity of the actual vibration on the terminal, and automatically switching the incoming call signal output mode from the vibration mode to a ringtone mode according to comparison of the calculated transfer energy with a reference value. With the method, a user can easily recognize the incoming call signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Hun Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 7894793
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a main body and a subsidiary casing. The main body includes a first side wall and a bottom wall. The first side wall defines at least one receptacle and at least one hole therein. The receptacle includes a cavity and a slot. The cavity spans from the bottom wall up into the main body. The slot is defined vertically in a part of the first side wall. The slot intercommunicates between the cavity and an exterior of the first side wall. The subsidiary casing includes a base and a cover. At least one latch and at least one connector are formed on the base. The latch is configured for being received in the receptacle and the connector is configured for being received in the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignees: Honf Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Hon HAi Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: You-Zhi Li, Xi-Ping Dai
  • Patent number: 7835772
    Abstract: A FM output portable audio player is provided for digitally coupling audio signals generated therein to be broadcast through a radio receiver system, such as an automobile radio. The audio player includes an audio signal source for generating digital audio output signals. Digital audio interface circuitry is coupled directly to the digital audio output signals and includes a digital FM stereo/RDS multiplexer for modulating the digital audio output signals on a RF carrier to produce a modulated audio signal. An internal antenna is coupled to the digital FM stereo/RDS multiplexer. The portable audio player is capable of wirelessly transmitting the modulated signal to the radio receiver system. The digital audio interface circuitry is formed of integrated circuit chips which provides for lower cost, a compact size, and a higher audio quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Melanson
  • Publication number: 20100062740
    Abstract: We have disclosed a modular personal network (MPN) that includes multiple devices that may be worn, carried, or used in close proximity to a user. The devices communicate wirelessly. Functions of the MPN may be modified by adding or removing components. The MPN may communicate with a personal computer. General purpose devices may include a control unit, a display, a user input, and an audio output. The MPN may provide a variety of functions, including time, communication, entertainment, organization, guidance, athletic, medical, travel, outdoors, identity, security, and military.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Michael Ellis, Caron Ellis
  • Patent number: 7630742
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wireless device including at least one locker structure. The locker structure includes a battery pack side coupling member (a first coupling member) protruding from the outer surface of a battery pack, the first coupling member having a hook formed at one side thereof and a structure tapered downward toward the battery pack (an incline structure) at the other side thereof, and a wireless device body side coupling member (a second coupling member) mounted in a body of the wireless device at the position corresponding to the first coupling member, the second coupling member including a coupling part which can be coupled with the hook, a member body having a rear protrusion formed at the position corresponding to the incline, and an elastic member mounted at the rear of the member body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jongho Park, Byoung-Nam Kim, Seunghyun Bang, Sung-Dae Kim
  • Patent number: 7551856
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a plurality of infrared devices (ICDs) is provided herein. A remote controller is used to generate an optical signal for controlling a plurality of ICDs. The optical signal generated by the remote controller is converted into an electrical signal by an infrared repeater device. An implementation of such a system includes a rotary mechanical switch to direct the electrical signal generated by the infrared repeater device to a light emitting diode (LED) located near one of the plurality of ICDs. The LED converts the electrical signal into an optical signal and re-transmits the optical signal to the one of the plurality of ICDs. The system allows controlling the plurality of ICDs located in a remote location without having the user commute closer to such ICDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Siu
  • Patent number: 7522937
    Abstract: Letter input rate of a conventional cell phone is low because only the thumb is used for inputting a letter. The inventive cell phone with one joystick, two shift keys and twenty six keys on the opposite side faces, is grasped by both hands and ten fingers are used. Any one of twenty six alphabetical letters can be inputted by a single push operation without switching the shift key and letters can be inputted at super-high rate by touch typing. The cell phone significantly enhances the convenience of letter input for users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Inventor: Katsuzo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7466974
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an improved audio equipment is employed. The audio equipment includes a housing, audio circuitry installed within the housing, and a first protective bar flexibly connected to the housing. The audio equipment may also include a handle attached to the first protective bar, a second protective bar flexibly connected to the housing, and/or a connector assembly flexibly connecting the first protective bar to the housing. The connector assembly may include a flexible gasket preferably disposed between the first protective bar and the housing. Also disclosed herein is a method for manufacturing an audio equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Roger Q. Smith
  • Patent number: 7457608
    Abstract: Sharing of wireless telephone services between a subscriber's personal wireless telephone and the subscriber's vehicular wireless telephone. The shared service may be a connectivity service, allowing the subscriber's personal wireless telephone to communicate directly with the subscriber's vehicular wireless telephone. Alternately, or additionally, the shared service may be one or more services provided for by the wireless service agreement plan of the subscriber's vehicular wireless telephone or the subscriber's personal wireless telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventor: Hitesh Shah
  • Patent number: 7433720
    Abstract: A portable wireless terminal with a main body having a main board, and a battery pack detachably mounted in the main body and used as power supply means for the terminal, wherein the battery pack includes an upper case frame; a lower case frame coupled with the upper case frame to provide a predetermined installation space therebetween; a battery cell having a conductive outer surface fixed on the installation space; and a radiator fixed to an inner surface of the upper case frame, and having a feed pin and a ground pin that are exposed on the lower case frame along a detour route around the battery cell. Since the radiator is not installed inside the main body but inside the battery pack, an antenna mounting space can be removed from the main body, which contributes to a slim profile and a lightweight feature of the wireless terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Dong-Beom Seol
  • Patent number: 7406339
    Abstract: An on-chip detection circuit automatically detects when an external switch has been activated. When the device is initialized, the detection circuit measures the operating current and coverts the information into an analog voltage. The analog voltage is then processed through an on-chip analog-to-digital converter and the digitized result is stored as a reference value. To sense the open and close action of the off-chip mechanical switch, the device then takes a sample of the operating current periodically, digitizes this information and compares the sampled value to the reference value. A change in value larger than some predetermined level indicates the external switch has been activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Seyfollah Bazarjani, Sean Wang, Vincenzo Peluso, Louis Dominic Oliveira
  • Patent number: 7383056
    Abstract: A processing apparatus is mounted on a to-be-equipped body, transmits/receives signals to/from a portable transmitter portably carried by a user, and activates one of functions provided in the to-be-equipped body in accordance with instruction information included in an instruction signal transmitted from the portable transmitter. The processing apparatus includes a receiving unit, a transmitting unit, a judgment unit, a control unit, and an adjustment unit. The receiving unit receives the instruction signal transmitted from the portable transmitter. The transmitting unit transmits a response signal. The judgment unit judges whether or not an acknowledgement signal has been received from the portable transmitter. The control unit activates a function to be activated by the instruction information when the judgment unit concludes that the acknowledgement signal has been received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventors: Manabu Matsubara, Akira Takee, Minoru Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20080125076
    Abstract: A mobile terminal apparatus includes a light source that emits light and a housing. The housing has: a box section with an opening section and the light source fitted in the opening; and a panel that is fitted to the box section and that covers a front of the light source. The panel also has a light diffusion transmission layer for diffusing and transmitting light, which is disposed on a surface of the panel facing the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Takashi SUZUKI, Tatsuhito ARAKI, Hidekatsu KOBAYASHI, Hiroaki MATSUDA, Manabu HONGO, Wataru MURATA
  • Patent number: 7379712
    Abstract: A wearable device comprises one or more circuit substrates comprising electrically conductive parts, a radio unit and a loop antenna coupled to the radio unit. The loop antenna comprises a conductor formed into a loop, wherein the electrically conductive parts of at least one of said one or more circuit substrates substantially act as a ground plane for the loop antenna. Said at least one circuit substrate is positioned substantially on the same plane with the loop and such that at least the electrically conductive parts of said at least one circuit substrate are within an area defined by the loop when said at least one circuit substrate and the loop are observed perpendicularly with respect to a plane of the loop in order to minimize the ground plane effect of the electrically conductive parts of said at least one circuit substrate on the loop antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Suunto Oy
    Inventor: Timo Saarnimo
  • Patent number: 7339349
    Abstract: A mobile device including a battery mechanism that maintains power to the device when an old battery is replaced by a new battery. The device includes at least first and second pins that engage selected recesses defined by the old battery to control mechanically the movement of the old battery at the time of its replacement with a new battery, and accordingly to prevent power interruption to the device, as the old battery is replaced. A method of replacing batteries of a mobile device without interrupting power to the device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Dallab Inc SDN BHD
    Inventor: Yeoh Sian Kok
  • Patent number: RE40116
    Abstract: A mobile client device, such as a wireless mobile or a palm sized personal digital assistant, is provided with a number of sensors and companion programming instructions/circuitry to generate a heart rate reading for a user holding the device. The sensors are used to sense blood flow rate of the user. The sensors are advantageously disposed in a distributed manner, in a number of locations of the mobile client device. The programming instructions/circuitry are used to infer a holding pattern of the device, and generate the heart rate reading, using a subset of the sensed data, based at least in part on the inferred holding pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Inventor: G. Eric Engstrom
  • Patent number: RE40970
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wireless communication device that attaches using magnetic force in whole or part to an article of manufacture, or other material having a magnetic surface portion. The wireless communication device contains a form of a magnet to provide magnetic force and attraction. A magnet can be a natural magnet, electromagnet or other type of material having magnetic properties. The wireless communication device may be detached from the article by altering the magnetic force created by its associated magnet. Altering is accomplished by using an external device or a device internal to the wireless communication device. The wireless communication device is also operable to receive and communicate information regarding the article to which it is attached remotely for identification, informative, and tracking purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Inventors: Ian J. Forster, Patrick F. King
  • Patent number: RE41256
    Abstract: An audio recording and reproducing apparatus includes a controller for controlling the entire behaviors, hard disc for write and read of audio data, audio compression/expansion circuit for expanding compressed audio data, and external I/O port. The audio recording and reproducing apparatus is connected to a network service center to obtain desired music data from storage of the network service center and to store it in the hard disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Ozawa, Nobuhiro Tone, Masahiro Asai
  • Patent number: RE44557
    Abstract: A tradesworker's radio has a weather and impact resistant features to enable a tradesworker to use the radio under adverse working conditions, such as construction or other work sites. Louvered grills covering moisture resistant loudspeakers are angled downward to protect the speakers from direct splash in case the radio is left outdoors in a heavy downpour. A layer of felt-like material is interspersed between the louvered grills and the loudspeaker cones to offer improved moisture resistance. A non-telescoping antenna of the rubber covered spring type material folds neatly into recess when not in use. The controls include waterproof pushbuttons for on/off, volume adjustment, a weather channel, AM/FM selection and tuning. Elastomeric blocks are bonded to the interior of the housing and the blocks have bonded threaded studs, which are used to shock mount the radio circuit board to the inside of the housing. This circuit board is treated with a conformal coating to improve its moisture resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Domes