| KNOWLES ELECTRONICS, LLC Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20120043629 | Surface Mount Silicon Condenser Microphone Package - The present invention relates to a surface mount package for a silicon condenser microphone. The inventive package uses a limited number of components which simplifies manufacturing and lowers costs, and features a substrate which performs functions for which multiple components were traditionally required, including providing an interior surface on which the silicon condenser die is mechanically attached, providing an interior surface for making electrical connections between the die and the package, and providing an exterior surface for making electrical connections between package and a user's printed circuit board. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20110210409 | Surface Mount Silicon Condenser Microphone Package - The present invention relates to a surface mount package for a silicon condenser microphone. The inventive package uses a limited number of components which simplifies manufacturing and lowers costs, and features a substrate which performs functions for which multiple components were traditionally required, including providing an interior surface on which the silicon condenser die is mechanically attached, providing an interior surface for making electrical connections between the die and the package, and providing an exterior surface for making electrical connections between package and a user's printed circuit board. In some embodiments, the acoustic port is located in the substrate directly under the silicon condenser die which decreases the thickness of the inventive package. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110129108 | Acoustic Valve Mechanisms - A valve for a personal auditory system is described. The auditory system is capable of converting between an acoustic signal and an electrical signal. The auditory system has an acoustic pathway through which an acoustic signal may travel between a first point exterior to the auditory system and a second point interior to the auditory system. The valve includes a free floating electrode and a second electrode adjacent to free floating electrode. An electric signal that is generated by the second electrode moves the free floating electrode to substantially open or close the acoustic pathway. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110079864 | Low Profile Human Interface Device - A human interface device is provided, having a substrate. A strain sensitive die is coupled to the substrate wherein the die is capable of providing an electrical signal indicative of a force applied to the strain sensitive die. A force transfer element is positioned adjacent to the strain sensitive die and coupled to the strain sensitive die. A translation element is mechanically coupled to the force transfer element. An elastic element is at least partially surrounding the translation element and the force transfer element, wherein the elastic element provides the mechanical coupling between the translation element and the force transfer element. A force applied to the translation element causes stretching of the elastic element, wherein the stretching of the elastic element causes a force to be applied to the force transfer element; and wherein the force applied to the force transfer element by the elastic element is then applied to the strain sensitive die. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20100172518 | MICROPHONE AND ORIENTATION SENSOR ASSEMBLY - A microphone and orientation sensor system includes a microphone and an orientation sensor. The microphone has a diaphragm. The orientation sensor includes an inertial load member having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The sensor also includes at least one electrode positioned adjacent to the inertial load member. The sensor further includes a beam. The inertial load member pivots about the beam, and the pivoting of the load member causes a change in a distance between the first end and the electrode resulting in a change in capacitance between the first end and the electrode. The diaphragm and electrode are formed from a common layer of material. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100098284 | Apparatus And Method For Reducing Crosstalk Within A Microphone - A microphone is provided. The microphone has a housing; a back plate positioned within the housing; a die positioned within the housing and coupled to a circuit board having conductive traces; and a conductive layer positioned between the die and the back plate, wherein the conductive layer mitigates coupling of an electrical signal between the conductive traces and the back plate. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100092020 | Microphone Having Multiple Transducer Elements - A microphone is provided. The microphone has a housing; an acoustic port located in the housing; a substrate coupled with the housing; an integrated circuit positioned onto the substrate; and two or more MEMS transducers mounted on the substrate wherein the transducers are connected in parallel. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100038733 | MICROELECTROMICHANICAL SYSTEM PACKAGE WITH STRAIN RELIEF BRIDGE - A strain absorption bridge for use in a MEMS package includes a first substrate that is configured to be attachable to a circuit board. A first elastically deformable element is coupled to the first substrate and the first elastically deformable element is configured to be attachable to a MEMS device. Alternatively, the MEMS device may be attached to the first substrate. The elastically deformable element at least partially absorbs and dissipates mechanical strain communicated from the circuit board before the mechanical strain can reach the MEMS device. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20090214068 | TRANSDUCER ASSEMBLY - A microphone includes a housing including a structure and a motor assembly. The housing includes an inner space and the motor assembly mounted in the housing divides the inner space into a front volume and a back volume. The structure formed as part of the housing includes a plurality of openings, e.g. notches in different dimensions. The openings may act as a time delay structure to modify the directivity characteristics of the microphone. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090097687 | Diaphragm for a Condenser Microphone - A microphone for transducing between an acoustical signal and an electrical signal, comprises a housing and a motor assembly disposed within the housing. The motor assembly includes a backplate and a diaphragm attached to the backplate via a spacer. The diaphragm comprising a ring and a film, the diaphragm vibrates in response to an acoustical signal, wherein the film is formed from an amorphous or semi-crystallized polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) and a metal layer is attached to the film. The film is completely covered by the metal layer and a portion of the metal is removed using a direct energy source, leaving a portion of the film directly exposed resulting in reducing the parasitic capacitances between the backplate and the diaphragm and increasing the sensitivity. Alternatively, the film is partially covered by the metal layer. At least one opening is formed on the microphone and acoustically/electrically coupled to an opening formed on a main printed circuit board of an electronic device, defining a surface mountable microphone. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090016561 | ARMATURE FOR A RECEIVER - An armature for a receiver comprising a first and a second leg portion each having a thickness and a width and connected to each other, and a connection portion in communication with the first and second leg portions. The connection portion has a width greater than the width of the first and second leg portions individually. The connection portion reduces the stiffness of the armature and minimizes magnetic reluctance of the connection between the first and second leg portions. According to one aspect of the invention, the first and second leg portions are integrally formed with the connection portion and the connection portion includes a least a portion having a thickness less than the thickness of the first and second leg portions individually to reduce the stiffness of the armature. According to another aspect of the invention, the first and second leg portions are separately formed and attached to the connection portion in a way that reduces the stiffness of the armature. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20080232631 | MICROPHONE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - An apparatus for transducing between an acoustical signal and an electrical signal, comprises a backplate assembly comprising a charged layer and a conductive layer and a diaphragm assembly positioned at a predetermined distance from the backplate assembly. The diaphragm assembly comprising a support structure and a diaphragm, the diaphragm vibrates in response to an acoustical signal, is monolithically formed on the support structure, wherein the support structure and the diaphragm are composed of a common material having a thermomechanical property. The apparatus further comprises a spacer, a printed circuit board (PCB), and a housing. The spacer is formed between the backplate assembly and the diaphragm assembly, collectively constituting a motor portion. The motor portion and the PCB are disposed in the housing. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080217766 | ACOUSTIC TRANSDUCER MODULE | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080217709 | MEMS PACKAGE HAVING AT LEAST ONE PORT AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - A plurality of individual MEMS packages are formed as a contiguous unit and each of the plurality of individual MEMS packages include at least one acoustic port. One or more separation boundaries from where to separate adjacent ones of the plurality of individual MEMS packages are determined. Each of the plurality of individual MEMS packages are subsequently separated from the others according to the one or more separation boundaries to provide separate and distinct individual MEMS packages. Each acoustic port disposed within each separate and distinct individual MEMS package is exposed due to the separating so as to allow sound energy to enter each separate and distinct individual MEMS package. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080199029 | System and Method for Engaging in Conversation while Using An Earphone - A listening device for presenting at least one audio signal to a user comprises a first ear piece and a second ear piece, each of the first ear piece and the second ear piece including at least one speaker and each being adapted to block substantially all external sounds from entering an ear of a user. The device further comprises a microphone for sensing a first audio signal and a differential amplifier coupled to the microphone for amplifying the first audio signal. The differential amplifier is coupled to a first electrical ground. A switching arrangement coupled to and receiving a second audio signal from an external audio source and the external audio source having a second electrical ground that is electrically distinct from the first electrical ground. The switching arrangement is further coupled to the differential amplifier, the first ear piece, and the second ear piece, the switching arrangement being adapted to select at least one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal for transmission to the first ear piece and at least one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal for transmission to the second ear piece. | 08-21-2008 |
