Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080235621 | Method and Device for Touchless Media Searching - A method and device for media searching based on touchless finger signs ( | 09-25-2008 |
20080252595 | Method and Device for Virtual Navigation and Voice Processing - An apparatus for virtual navigation and voice processing is provided. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computer readable storage medium having computer instructions for processing voice signals captured from a microphone array, detecting a location of an object in a touchless sensory field of the microphone array, and receiving information from a user interface in accordance with the location and voice signals. | 10-16-2008 |
20080284726 | System and Method for Sensory Based Media Control - An apparatus for sensory based media control is provided. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media device having a controller element to receive from a media controller a first instruction to select an object in accordance with a physical handling of the media controller, and a second instruction to control the identified object or perform a search on the object in accordance with touchless finger movements. Additional embodiments are disclosed. | 11-20-2008 |
20090034765 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR IN EAR CANAL ECHO SUPPRESSION - An earpiece ( | 02-05-2009 |
20090147966 | Method and Apparatus for In-Ear Canal Sound Suppression - An earpiece ( | 06-11-2009 |
20090240497 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MESSAGE ALERT AND DELIVERY USING AN EARPIECE - A method for an earpiece to manage a delivery of a message can include receiving a notice that a message is available at a communication device, parsing the notice for header information that identifies at least a portion of the message, and requesting a subsequent delivery of at least a portion of the message from the communication device if at least one keyword in the header information is in an acceptance list. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 09-24-2009 |
20090264161 | Method and Earpiece for Visual Operational Status Indication - An earpiece can include an Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM), an Ear Canal Receiver (ECR), a transceiver, an illumination element, and a processor to provide visual operational mode indication via the illumination element. The operational mode can correspond to an active phone call, an incoming phone call, a terminated phone, a caller-on-hold condition, a recording mode, a voice mail mode, a mute mode, an audible transparency mode or an ear-plug mode. The intensity, frequency, amplitude, color or duration of the lighting can be adjusted according to the operational mode. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 10-22-2009 |
20090290721 | Method and System for Automatic Level Reduction - A method to automatically adjust listening levels to safe listening levels is provided. The method can include the steps of monitoring an audio content level, monitoring a sound pressure level within an the ear canal, and gradually reducing over time a volume of the audio content responsive to detecting intermittent manual volume increases of the audio content. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 11-26-2009 |
20100135502 | SPL Dose Data Logger System - A method for using an earpiece ( | 06-03-2010 |
20100142715 | Sound Library and Method - At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a website configured to collect sound signatures from around the world and beyond. A communication device automatically stores acoustic information received by a microphone of the communication device. The acoustic information is analyzed for a trigger event. The trigger event stores the acoustic information, attaches metadata, creates a Gaussian Mixture Model, and measures sound pressure level. The communication device automatically sends the sound signature to a database when a communication path is opened to communication device. Each sound signature has associated metadata including a time stamp and geocode. Automatically collecting sounds using a communication device adapted for the process enables a database that captures sounds globally on a continuous basis. | 06-10-2010 |
20100142725 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SOUND MONITORING OVER A NETWORK - A mobile communication ( | 06-10-2010 |
20100204575 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENHANCING ACCURACY IN ULTRASONIC ALIGNMENT - A method for short range alignment using ultrasonic sensing is provided. The method includes shaping an ultrasonic pulse on a first device to produce a pulse shaped signal and transmitting the pulse shaped signal from the first device to a second device, receiving the pulse shaped signal and determining an arrival time of the pulse shaped, identifying a relative phase of the pulse shaped signal with respect to a previously received pulse shaped signal, identifying a pointing location of the first device from the arrival time and the relative phase, determining positional information of the pointing location of the first device, and reporting an alignment of three or more points in three-dimensional space. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 08-12-2010 |
20100204955 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR POSITIONAL MEASUREMENT USING ULTRASONIC SENSING - A method for determining position and alignment is provided. The method includes monitoring a first and second sequence of ultrasonic signals transmitted from the first device to a second device, estimating a location of the first device from Time of Flight measurements of the ultrasonic signals at respective microphones on the second device, calculating a set of phase differences, weighting a difference of an expected location and estimated location of the first device with the set of phase differences to produce a relative displacement, and reporting a position of the first device based on the relative displacement. | 08-12-2010 |
20100231509 | Sterile Networked Interface for Medical Systems - One embodiment of a sterile networked interface system is provided comprising a hand-held surgical tool and a data processing system. The surgical tool includes a sensor for sensing a physical variable related to the surgery, a wireless communication unit to transmit the physical variable to the data processing system, and a battery for powering the hand-held surgical tool. The surgical tool sends the physical variable and orientation information responsive to a touchless gesture control and predetermined orientation of the surgical tool. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 09-16-2010 |
20110029913 | Navigation System and User Interface For Directing a Control Action - A navigation system is provided to direct control of a user interface work-flow during a procedure. Such a need can arise in sterile environments were touchless interaction is preferable over physical contact. The system includes a wand and receiver for controlling a pagination and parameter entry of the work-flow, a processor to compare wand movement profiles, a clock for limiting a time window between the comparison, and a controller for activating a user interface control in the workflow when a wand movement profile or gesture is recognized. The comparison can be based on the wand's direction, orientation and movement to and from various locations. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 02-03-2011 |
20110032184 | ORTHOPEDIC METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MAPPING AN ANATOMICAL PIVOT POINT - A system and method of touchless interaction is provided for resolving a pivot point of an object where direct placement of a sensor at the pivot point is not practical. It applies to situations where the pivot point of a rigid object is inaccessible but remains stationary, while the other end is free to move and is accessible. The system maps the object's pivot point by way of an external sensor that detects constrained motion of the rigid object within a hemispherical banded boundary. It can also detect a geometric pattern and acceleration during the constrained motion to compensate for higher order rotations about the pivot point. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 02-10-2011 |
20110041100 | Method and Device for Touchless Signing and Recognition - A touchless sensor device ( | 02-17-2011 |
20110060220 | VIRTUAL MAPPING OF AN ANATOMICAL PIVOT POINT AND ALIGNMENT THEREWITH - A system and method is provided for resolving a pivot point via touchless interaction. It applies to situations where one end of a rigid object is inaccessible but remains stationary at a pivot point, while the other end is free to move and is accessible to an input pointing device. As an example, the rigid object can be a leg bone where the proximal end is at the hip joint and the distal end is at the knee. The system comprises a wand and a receiver that are spatially configurable to touchlessly locate the pivot point without contact. The receiver tracks a relative displacement of the wand and geometrically resolves the location of the pivot point by a spherical mapping. The system can use a combination of ultrasonic sensing and/or accelerometer measurements. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 03-10-2011 |
20110096036 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AN ACOUSTIC SENSOR SWITCH - An acoustical sensor can include a fabricated surface that produces an acoustical sound signature responsive to a finger tapping on the fabricated surface, and a microphone within proximity of the fabricated surface to analyze and associate the acoustical sound signature with a user interface control for operating a mobile device or earpiece, for example, to adjust a volume, media selection, or user interface control. The microphone can include an ultra-low analog circuit to set a capacitance and establish a frequency response, the analog circuit programmable to identify a direction of a directional touch or localized touch on the fabricated surface. The analog circuit by way of a floating gate can control a real delay between a front and back diaphragm to control microphone directivity. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 04-28-2011 |
20110160572 | DISPOSABLE WAND AND SENSOR FOR ORTHOPEDIC ALIGNMENT - A disposable tool suitable for use in orthopedic alignment comprises a sensor ( | 06-30-2011 |
20110160583 | Orthopedic Navigation System with Sensorized Devices - A low-cost and compact electronic device toolset is provided for orthopedic assisted navigation. The toolset comprises wireless sensorized devices that communicate directly with one another. A computer workstation is an optional component for further visualization. The sensorized devices are constructed with low-cost transducers and are self-powered. The toolset is disposable and incurs less hospital maintenance and overhead. As one example, the toolset reports anatomical alignment during a surgical workflow procedure. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 06-30-2011 |
20120035868 | Method and System For Media Presentation During Operative Workflow - A portable measurement system is provided comprising a probe, two trackers, a receiver and a pod. A user interface control captures a location and position of the probe in a three-dimensional sensing space with respect to a coordinate system of the receiver from time of flight waveform analysis. The system suppresses a ringing portion of the received ultrasonic and minimizes distortion associated with ultrasonic transducer ring-down during high-resolution position tracking of the probe and the two trackers. Media is presented according to a customized use of the probe and two trackers during an operation workflow. | 02-09-2012 |
20120209117 | Surgical Measurement Apparatus and System - A portable measurement system is provided including a probe, a user interface control and a receiver. The probe includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducers that emit ultrasonic waveforms for creating a three-dimensional sensing space. The user interface control captures a location and position of the probe in the three-dimensional sensing space. The receiver includes a plurality of microphones to capture the ultrasonic waveforms transmitted from the probe to produce captured ultrasonic waveforms and a digital signal processor that digitally samples the captured ultrasonic waveforms and tracks a relative location and movement of the probe with respect to the receiver in the three-dimensional ultrasonic sensing space from time of flight waveform analysis. Embodiments are demonstrated with respect to hip replacement surgery, but other embodiments are contemplated. | 08-16-2012 |
20120232834 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASSESSING ORTHOPEDIC ALIGNMENT USING TRACKING SENSORS - A method for determining orthopedic alignment is provided. The method includes monitoring a first and second sequence of signals transmitted from the first device to a second device, estimating a location of the first device from sensory measurements of the signals at respective sensors on the second device, calculating a set of phase differences, weighting a difference of an expected location and estimated location of the first device with the set of phase differences to produce a relative displacement, and reporting a position of an orthopedic instrument coupled to the first device based on the relative displacement. | 09-13-2012 |
20120330367 | Orthopedic Check and Balance System - A configurable check and balance system is provided to assess and report orthopedic measurements, including bone cut angles, trial inserts, extension gaps and prosthetic fit. The system can be configured for cut-check, trial-check, alignment and balance, dynamic distraction, and prosthetic trial fit. The measurements can be provided with respect to an anatomical coordinate system defined according to a positioning of a sensorized mechanical plate with respect to one or more referenced anatomical landmarks. In one example, the cut-check provides measurement of varus/valgus angle and anterior/posterior slope for distal femur cuts and proximal tibia cuts. The cut-check permits a surgeon to check bone cuts made by mechanical jigs, guides or patient specific implants (PSI). It also provides distance measurements. Other embodiments are also disclosed. | 12-27-2012 |
20130079679 | System And Method For Vertebral Load And Location Sensing - A load balance and alignment system is provided to assess load forces on the vertebra in conjunction with overall spinal alignment. The system includes a spine instrument having an electronic assembly and a sensorized head. The sensorized head can be inserted between vertebra and report vertebral conditions such as force, pressure, orientation and edge loading. A GUI is therewith provided to show where the spine instrument is positioned relative to vertebral bodies as the instrument is placed in the inter-vertebral space. The system can report optimal prosthetic size and placement in view of the sensed load and location parameters including optional orientation, rotation and insertion angle along a determined insert trajectory. | 03-28-2013 |
20130079680 | Spinal Distraction Tool For Load And Position Measurement - A spine alignment system is provided to assess load forces on the vertebra in conjunction with overall spinal alignment. The system includes a spine instrument having an electronic assembly and a sensorized head. The sensorized head can be inserted between vertebra and report vertebral conditions such as force, pressure, orientation and edge loading. A GUI is therewith provided to show where the spine instrument is positioned relative to vertebral bodies as the instrument is placed in the inter-vetebral space. The system can distract vertebrae to a first height and measure the load applied by the spine region. The GUI can indicate that the load is outside a predetermined range. The spine region can be distracted to a second height where the load is measured within the predetermined load range. | 03-28-2013 |
20130225982 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SENSORIZED USER INTERFACE - A system and method for is provided for operation of an orthopedic system. The system includes a load sensor for converting an applied pressure associated with a force load on an anatomical joint, and an ultrasonic device for creating a low-power short-range ultrasonic sensing field within proximity of the load sensing unit for assessing alignment. The system can adjust a strength and range of the ultrasonic sensing field according to position. It can report audible and visual information associated with the force load and alignment. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 08-29-2013 |
20130279703 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SOUND MONITORING OVER A NETWORK - A mobile communication environment ( | 10-24-2013 |
20140081644 | Method and Device for Voice Operated Control - At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a method and device for voice operated control. The method can include measuring a first sound received from a first microphone, measuring a second sound received from a second microphone, detecting a spoken voice based on an analysis of measurements taken at the first and second microphone, mixing the first sound and the second sound to produce a mixed signal, and controlling the production of the mixed signal based on one or more aspects of the spoken voice. | 03-20-2014 |
20140095157 | Method and Device for Voice Operated Control - At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a method and device for voice operated control with learning. The method can include measuring a first sound received from a first microphone, measuring a second sound received from a second microphone, detecting a spoken voice based on an analysis of measurements taken at the first and second microphone, learning from the analysis when the user is speaking and a speaking level in noisy environments, training a decision unit from the learning to be robust to a detection of the spoken voice in the noisy environments, mixing the first sound and the second sound to produce a mixed signal, and controlling the production of the mixed signal based on the learning of one or more aspects of the spoken voice and ambient sounds in the noisy environments. | 04-03-2014 |
20140126748 | Method and Device for Voice Operated Control - Methods and devices for wearable sound processing and voice operated control are provided. The method can include monitoring a sound pressure level between a first received sound and a second received sound, identifying a voicing level from a comparison of the sound pressure level, determining if a wearer is speaking based on the comparison and the voicing level, and transmitting a decision that the wearer's spoken voice is present to at least one among a cell phone, a media player, and a portable computing device. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 05-08-2014 |