Phonic Ear Inc.

Plantronics, Inc.

3com Corporation

Mperpetuo, Inc.

Astounding Technologies (m) Sdn. Bhd.

Robert F Young

Gene Michael Strohallen

Vladimir Kraz

Madan M Sharma

David G Gaffney

Eran Steinberg

Stephen D Fantone

Peter H Muller

Paul L Regen

Eugene M Feinberg

Larry R Linville

Christine Burris

Robert L Harris

Ashwini Choudhary

Charles G Scott

Wayne A Yankee

Wayne R Stade

Jack D Robinson

Jeff M Wimsatt

Edward B Endejan

Hideaki Oshima

Clifton M Schor

Victor Kolough

A digital camera includes an optical assembly and image sensor for capturing still and/or video images and displaying the images on a screen. The camera includes three or more spaced apart microphones aligned with the optical assembly for capturing audio during image capture. At least two pairs of microphones are spaced apart along orthogonal directional axes for capturing left-right stereo sound in any camera orientation.

Audio system for a digital camera

A microphone connector assembly includes a housing enclosing a resilient damping grommet. The grommet includes an opening for receiving and orienting a microphone fitted in the grommet opening so that the face of the microphone forms a plane substantially perpendicular to the top side of the circuit board on which it is placed. The connector may alternatively include an inner portion connected to an outer portion by at least one narrow web portion. The inner portion includes an opening for receiving the microphone.

Microphone connector assembly and method

A speaker-phone assembly includes a speaker assembly, a microphone and an outer shell. The speaker assembly includes an upper lid, a bottom cup, and a speaker. A gasket may be positioned between the lid and cup, a C-shaped gasket may be positioned around the rim of the speaker to isolate the speaker from the lid. A plurality of brackets including gaskets extend from the cup and are received by posts extending from an interior portion of the outer shell to isolate the speaker assembly from the outer shell. A microphone stand having an inner region connected to an outer region by at least one web portion isolates the microphone. The microphone is positioned upright and in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane which includes a rim of the speaker.

Speaker-phone assembly and method

A short range magnetically coupled wireless communication system employs time variant modulation of a high repetition rate pulse stream and magnetic coupling between a transmission magnetic element and a receiving magnetic element. The pulse stream is modulated by an input audio frequency signal in the time domain, for example, through pulse position modulation, pulse width modulation or pulse symmetry modulation. The receiving magnetic element is coupled to a demodulator circuit which detects the transmitted pulses induced in the receiving magnetic element and reproduces the audio frequency signal. Transmission over short range is thus efficiently accomplished through magnetic coupling in a simple, low cost, low power consumption communication system.

Hearing assist system employing time variant modulation transmission to

A cordless headset, requiring very low power using Time Variant Modulation (TVM) for reception of a magnetic signal and TVM of RF or infrared as the transmitter. The headset area or zone of operations is defined by the magnetic field that the headset operates within and uses a handshake protocol that takes advantage of the TVM fixed clock period. The headset communicates with a base station that includes a TVM transmitter and loop for transmitting a TVM signal to the cordless headset, and a RF or infrared receiver capable of receiving TVM signals from the headset. The base station also contains the headset protocol logic for controlling the headset transmission. The headset and base station receiver can both be fixed, mobile or portable and vary with respect to orientation and distance from each other. The receiver circuits in both base station and headset automatically adjust to the variance in signal strength.

Low power wireless communication system employing magnetic control zones

A video headset is worn comfortably on the head of a user, supported by a pair of spaced apart straps extending over the top of the head and across the lower back of the head. The rear strap may be counterweighted. A pair of headphone type speakers are supported on pivoted arms from a frame of the headset, so as to be swingably adjustable to accommodate ear position. In a preferred embodiment, a pair of LCD video displays are positioned above the level of the user's eyes, each with a beam splitter positioned in front of the eyes to reflect a portion of the light from the video screens to the user. The partially transmissive beam splitters allow the user to see through to the ambient scene beyond, increasing the comfort of the user in viewing the video. A transparent shield preferably is positioned forward of the video optics, with an adjustment under the control of the user for controlling the brightness of the ambient light. The video screens and optics preferably set the user's convergence angle at about eight feet, for optimum comfort.

Video headset

Short range inductively coupled communication system employing time

Very low power cordless headset system

An apparatus 10 controls the two-way communication between the microphone 12 and speaker 36 of a telephone headset and a telephone base. A transmit channel 15 includes an expander 18 that controllably attenuates the transmitted communication signal when the user is not speaking into the microphone 12. Conversely, a receive channel 30 includes a compressor 34 that controllably attenuates the received communication signal to prevent over driving the speaker 36.

Voice communication link interface

Apparatus is provided for interfacing a voice communication instrument, e.g. headset, to a communication link, e.g. a telephone line. The interface includes a transmit channel having amplification, frequency shaping and voice switching to suppress background noise. The interface includes a receive channel having compression limiting as a function of the received signal amplitude and frequency. The interface further includes a power-down circuit and a low battery indicator.

Voice communication link interface apparatus

A miniaturized headset for two-way voice communication is supported and positioned by the notch in the concha portion of a wearer's ear. The headset is reversible and may be worn on either the left or right ear. The earpiece includes sound output ports located therein to provide for alignment of a port with the auditory canal of either of the headset wearer's ears. The earpiece is disposed within the concha of the wearer's ear and outside the auditory canal.

Miniaturized headset for two-way voice communication

Growing community of inventors

Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America

Robert F Young