IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,470,863
Granted Patent B2
US 12,470,863 · App. 19/069,239 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Wearable sound device and method for ventilation and acoustic tuning

Inventors: Jemm Yue Liang (Sunnyvale, CA); Robb Zimmerman (Sunnyvale, CA)
Assignee: xMEMS Labs, Inc.
H04R1/2803H04R1/023H04R1/2811H04R3/04H04R2460/11
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,470,863
App. No.
19/069,239
Granted
Nov 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wearable sound device includes a sound outlet, a side opening, an air pulse generating (APG) device, and an exchanger. The exchanger includes a first opening, a second opening, a third opening, and a fourth opening. The first opening and the second opening are on a first side of the exchanger facing a first chamber, and the third opening and the fourth opening are on a second side of the exchanger facing the sound outlet. The APG device produces a first airflow flowing through a first air pathway between an ambient and the third opening. A second airflow flows through a second air pathway between the fourth opening and the side opening. The first air pathway and the second air pathway are isolated from each other.

Claims (52)

1 . A wearable sound device, comprising:

a sound outlet and a side opening;

an air pulse generating (APG) device, configured to produce an audible sound via generating a plurality of air pulses; and

an exchanger;

wherein the APG device produces a first airflow flowing via a first air pathway through the exchanger between an ambient and the sound outlet;

wherein a second airflow flows via a second air pathway through the exchanger between the sound outlet and the side opening;

wherein the first air pathway and the second air pathway are isolated from each other.

2 . The wearable sound device of claim 1 ,

wherein the second airflow is isolated from the first airflow or a first chamber between the APG device and the exchanger.

3 . The wearable sound device of claim 1 , further comprising:

an air filter, for preventing contaminants from entering the wearable sound device.

4 . The wearable sound device of claim 1 , wherein a control signal for driving the APG device or a driver for the APG device comprises an alternating current (AC) signal or a direct current (DC) offset voltage, which is superimposed onto an audible audio signal.

5 . The wearable sound device of claim 1 ,

wherein the exchanger comprises a first opening, a second opening, a third opening and a fourth opening;

wherein the first opening and the second opening are on a first side of the exchanger facing a first chamber between the APG device and the exchanger within the wearable sound device, and the third opening and the fourth opening are on a second side of the exchanger facing the sound outlet of the wearable sound device;

wherein the first side is opposite to the second side;

wherein the first airflow produced by the APG device flows via the first air pathway through the first opening and the third opening;

wherein the second airflow flows via the second air pathway through the second opening, the fourth opening and the side opening.

6 . The wearable sound device of claim 5 , wherein the exchanger comprises:

a first channel connecting the first opening and the third opening; and

a second channel connecting the second opening and the fourth opening.

7 . The wearable sound device of claim 1 , wherein the first air pathway and the second air pathway twist around each other or are interleaved with each other.

8 . The wearable sound device of claim 1 , comprising:

a partition, configured to isolate the second air pathway from a first chamber between the APG device and the exchanger.

9 . The wearable sound device of claim 1 , wherein the APG device produces airflow pulses with an alternating current (AC) envelop, and a frequency of the AC envelop is less than a lowest audible frequency.

10 . The wearable sound device of claim 1 , wherein the APG device produces airflow pulses with a direct current (DC) envelop corresponding to a DC offset voltage.

11 . The wearable sound device of claim 1 , wherein the exchanger comprises:

a first channel, configured to guide the first airflow; and

a second channel, configured to guide the second airflow.

12 . The wearable sound device of claim 11 , wherein the first channel and the second channel within the exchanger are designed for acoustic tuning.

13 . The wearable sound device of claim 11 , wherein the first channel and the second channel within the exchanger are designed for occlusion relief to achieve a specific sound pressure level (SPL) for a specific spectrum.

14 . The wearable sound device of claim 11 , wherein the first channel and the second channel within the exchanger are designed for creating a resonance to enhance sound pressure level (SPL) for a specific spectrum.

15 . The wearable sound device of claim 11 , wherein the first channel or the second channel has a cross section with a circular shape, a cross section with a quadrilateral-like shape or a cross section with a triangular-like shape.

16 . The wearable sound device of claim 1 , wherein the first airflow and the second airflow flow in opposite directions.

17 . A ventilation method, for a wearable sound device, comprising:

directing a first airflow flowing via a first air pathway through an exchanger between an ambient and a sound outlet of the wearable sound device; and

directing a second airflow flowing via a second air pathway through the exchanger between the sound outlet and a side opening of the wearable sound device;

wherein the wearable sound device comprises the sound outlet, the side opening, an air pulse generating (APG) device, and the exchanger;

wherein the first airflow is produced by the APG device;

wherein the first air pathway and the second air pathway are isolated from each other.

18 . The ventilation method of claim 17 , comprising:

directing the first airflow flowing via the first air pathway through the exchanger between the ambient and a third opening; and

directing a second airflow flowing via the second air pathway through the exchanger between a fourth opening and the side opening;

wherein the exchanger comprises a first opening, a second opening, the third opening, and the fourth opening;

wherein the first opening and the second opening are on a first side of the exchanger facing a first chamber, and the third opening and the fourth opening are on a second side of the exchanger facing the sound outlet.

19 . An acoustic tuning method, for a wearable sound device, comprising:

directing a first airflow flowing via a first air pathway through an exchanger while directing a second airflow flowing via a second air pathway through the exchanger in a direction opposite to that of the first airflow;

wherein the wearable sound device comprises the exchanger;

wherein the first air pathway and the second air pathway are isolated from each other.

20 . The acoustic tuning method of claim 19 ,

wherein the exchanger comprises a first channel to guide the first airflow and a second channel to guide the second airflow;

wherein the first channel and the second channel within the exchanger are designed for creating a resonance to enhance sound pressure level (SPL) for a specific spectrum.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2025
From: LIANG, JEMM YUE; ZIMMERMAN, ROBB
To: XMEMS LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 070387/0884 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63562583 · Mar 7, 2024
Related Publication 20250287141A1 · Sep 11, 2025
References Cited (4)
US 11943585B2 · Liang · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20220103934A1 · Ilkorur · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20230260494A1 · Wargnier · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20230319460A1 · Zhang · 2023 [cited by examiner]