Timothy J Monroe

US Patent:

6567526, May 20, 2003

Filed:

Oct 13, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/687931

Inventors:

Mead C. Killion - Elk Grove Village IL
Jonathan Stewart - Bloomingdale IL
Don Wilson - Barrington IL
Matthew J. Roberts - Palatine IL
Steve Iseberg - Rolling Meadows IL
Timothy S. Monroe - Schaumburg IL

Assignee:

Etymotic Research, Inc. - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

H04R 2500

US Classification:

381313, 381356, 381328

Abstract:

A microphone capsule for an in-the-ear hearing aid is disclosed. The capsule can include a top plate having first and second spaced openings defining front and rear sound inlets, and a directional microphone cartridge enclosing a diaphragm. The diaphragm is oriented generally perpendicular to the top plate and divides the directional microphone cartridge housing into a front chamber and a rear chamber. A front sound passage communicates between the front sound inlet and the front chamber, and a rear sound passage communicates between the rear sound inlet and the rear chamber. Front and rear acoustic damping resistors are associated with the front and rear sound passages. The acoustic resistor pair provides a selected time delay, such as about 4 microseconds, between the front and rear sound passages. The use of two acoustic resistors instead of one levels the frequency response, compared to the frequency response provided by a rear acoustic damping resistor alone.

US Patent:

6798890, Sep 28, 2004

Filed:

Oct 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/973078

Inventors:

Mead C. Killion - Elk Grove Village IL
Robert B. Schulein - Schaumburg IL
Timothy S. Monroe - Schaumburg IL
Viorel Drambarean - Skokie IL
Andrew J. Haapapuro - Schaumburg IL
John S. French - Arlington Heights IL

Assignee:

Etymotic Research, Inc. - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

H04R 2500

US Classification:

381313, 381387, 381369

Abstract:

A directional microphone assembly for a hearing aid is disclosed. The hearing aid has one or more microphone cartridge(s), and first and second sound passages. Inlets to the sound passages, or the sound passages themselves, are spaced apart such that the shortest distance between them is less than or approximately equal to the length of the microphone cartridge(s). A sound duct and at least one surface of a microphone cartridge may form each sound passage, where the sound duct is mounted with the microphone cartridge. Alternatively, each sound duct may be formed as an integral part of a microphone cartridge.

US Patent:

6831987, Dec 14, 2004

Filed:

May 19, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/441544

Inventors:

Mead C. Killion - Elk Grove Village IL
Jonathan Stewart - Bloomingdale IL
Don Wilson - Barrington IL
Matthew J. Roberts - Palatine IL
Steve Iseberg - Rolling Meadows IL
Timothy S. Monroe - Schaumburg IL

Assignee:

Etymotic Research, Inc. - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

H04R 2500

US Classification:

381313, 381356, 381357

Abstract:

A microphone capsule for an in-the-ear hearing aid is disclosed. The capsule can include a top plate having first and second spaced openings defining front and rear sound inlets, and a directional microphone cartridge enclosing a diaphragm. The diaphragm is oriented generally perpendicular to the top plate and divides the directional microphone cartridge housing into a front chamber and a rear chamber. A front sound passage communicates between the front sound inlet and the front chamber, and a rear sound passage communicates between the rear sound inlet and the rear chamber. Front and rear acoustic damping resistors are associated with the front and rear sound passages. The acoustic resistor pair provides a selected time delay, such as about 4 microseconds, between the front and rear sound passages. The use of two acoustic resistors instead of one levels the frequency response, compared to the frequency response provided by a rear acoustic damping resistor alone.

US Patent:

7286677, Oct 23, 2007

Filed:

Jul 12, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/889420

Inventors:

Mead C. Killion - Elk Grove Village IL, US
Robert B. Schulein - Schaumburg IL, US
Timothy S. Monroe - Schaumburg IL, US
Viorel Drambarean - Skokie IL, US
Andrew J. Haapapuro - Schaumburg IL, US
John S. French - Arlington Heights IL, US

Assignee:

Etymotic Research, Inc. - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

H04R 25/00

US Classification:

381313, 381387, 381369

Abstract:

A directional microphone assembly for a hearing aid is disclosed. The hearing aid has one or more microphone cartridge(s), and first and second sound passages. Inlets to the sound passages, or the sound passages themselves, are spaced apart such that the shortest distance between them is less than or approximately equal to the length of the microphone cartridge(s). A sound duct and at least one surface of a microphone cartridge may form each sound passage, where the sound duct is mounted with the microphone cartridge. Alternatively, each sound duct may be formed as an integral part of a microphone cartridge.

US Patent:

7697705, Apr 13, 2010

Filed:

Oct 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/271266

Inventors:

Mead C. Killion - Elk Grove Village IL, US
John S. French - Arlington IL, US
Steven Viranyi - Palatine IL, US
Timothy Monroe - Schaumburg IL, US
David Preves - Chanhassen MN, US
Norman Matzen - Campbell CA, US
Gail Gudmundsen - Elk Grove Village IL, US

Assignee:

Etymotic Research, Inc. - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

H04R 25/00

US Classification:

381316, 381312

Abstract:

A programmable digital hearing aid circuit and method for operating and programming same are disclosed. The device provides a flexible means to compensate for undesirable frequency response distortion normally due to the electro-acoustical characteristics of the microphone, receiver, and sound coupling mechanisms employed in hearing aid design. Parameters of the programmable hearing aid circuit may also be set to tailor the hearing aid response characteristics for the frequency-dependent hearing loss of an individual hearing aid user. The device is intended to make available a significant improvement in audio fidelity to users of hearing aid devices.

US Patent:

7832080, Nov 16, 2010

Filed:

Oct 11, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/870518

Inventors:

Mead C. Killion - Elk Grove Village IL, US
Robert B. Schulein - Schaumburg IL, US
Timothy S. Monroe - Schaumburg IL, US
Viorel Drambarean - Skokie IL, US
Andrew J. Haapapuro - Schaumburg IL, US
John S. French - Arlington Heights IL, US

Assignee:

Etymotic Research, Inc. - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

H04R 31/00

US Classification:

29594, 29609, 296091, 257704, 257723, 257724, 257729, 257730, 381170, 381313, 381355, 381356, 381358

Abstract:

A directional microphone assembly for a hearing aid, and methods of assembling a directional microphone, are provided. The hearing aid has one or more microphone cartridge(s), and first and second sound passages. Inlets to the sound passages, or the sound passages themselves, are spaced apart such that the shortest distance between them is less than or approximately equal to the length of the microphone cartridge(s). A sound duct and at least one surface of a microphone cartridge may form each sound passage, where the sound duct is mounted with the microphone cartridge. Alternatively, each sound duct may be formed as an integral part of a microphone cartridge.

US Patent:

7881486, Feb 1, 2011

Filed:

May 5, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/565262

Inventors:

Mead C. Killion - Elk Grove Village IL, US
Robert B. Schulein - Evanston IL, US
Timothy S. Monroe - Schaumburg IL, US
Viorel Drambarean - Skokie IL, US
Andrew J. Haapapuro - Schaumburg IL, US
John S. French - Arlington Heights IL, US

Assignee:

Etymotic Research, Inc. - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

H04R 25/00

US Classification:

381313, 381355

Abstract:

A microphone capsule for an in-the-ear hearing aid is disclosed. The capsule can include a top plate having first and second spaced openings defining front and rear sound inlets, and a directional microphone cartridge enclosing a diaphragm. The diaphragm is oriented generally perpendicular to the top plate and divides the directional microphone cartridge housing into a front chamber and a rear chamber. A front sound passage communicates between the front sound inlet and the front chamber, and a rear sound passage communicates between the rear sound inlet and the rear chamber. Front and rear acoustic damping resistors having selected resistance values are associated with the front and rear sound passages. The acoustic resistor pair provides a selected time delay, such as about 4 microseconds, between the front and rear sound passages. The use of two acoustic resistors instead of one levels the frequency response, compared to the frequency response provided by a rear acoustic damping resistor alone.

US Patent:

8649540, Feb 11, 2014

Filed:

Oct 28, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/914314

Inventors:

Mead C. Killion - Elk Grove Village IL, US
Stephen Drake Julstrom - Chicago IL, US
Timothy Scott Monroe - Schaumburg IL, US
Viorel Drambarean - Skokie IL, US

Assignee:

Etymotic Research, Inc. - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

H04R 25/00

US Classification:

381321

Abstract:

Electronic earplugs, methods of enhancing and/or attenuating sound using electronic earplugs, and kits including electronic earplugs are provided. Certain electronic earplugs provided can deliver sound to a user's ear canal at levels below, equal to, and/or above ambient sound levels for specified ambient sound level ranges. Certain electronic earplugs provided can be switched between first and second settings with different sound level delivery settings. Certain electronic earplugs provided can be coupled with or integrated into two-way communication devices. Certain of such two-way communication devices can use induction to receive and transmit audio signals. Certain electronic earplugs provided can include a receive coil configured to allow remote radio signals to be received. Certain electronic earplugs provided can block at least about 35 dB of ambient sound when fully inserted into a user's ear canal. Kits that include electronic earplugs and accessories for use with electronic earplugs are also provided.