Patents Examined by Brenda Bernardi
  • Patent number: 9515627
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided for audio volume adjustment. For example, a noise volume level of current ambient noise and a first volume level of a first current audio signal of a first application are acquired using a sound collecting device. The first volume level and the noise volume level are compared using one or more data processors to obtain a first comparison result. The first volume level is adjusted based on at least information associated with the first comparison result and a reference volume level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited
    Inventor: Cheng Li
  • Patent number: 9514767
    Abstract: A device for producing a frequency-shifted audio signal based on an audio input signal is provided. The device has an interface and a frequency-shifting unit. The interface is configured for receiving the audio input signal. The frequency-shifting unit is configured for producing the frequency-shifted audio signal. The frequency-shifting unit is additionally configured to produce one of the second subband values based on one of the first subband values such that the second phase angle of this second subband value differs from the first phase angle of this first subband value by a phase angle difference, the phase angle difference being dependent on frequency information indicating by which frequency difference the audio input signal is to be shifted in order to obtain the frequency-shifted audio signal, and the phase angle difference being dependent on a frequency bandwidth of one of the first subbands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Frederik Nagel, Michael Schnabel, Christian Neukam, Gerald Schuller
  • Patent number: 9510108
    Abstract: A circuit module for a silicon condenser microphone of the present disclosure includes a transducer, a charge pump, an isolator, a first amplifier, a second amplifier, a reaction circuit, a first bias circuit, and a second bias circuit. The charge pump electrically connects to an input port of the transducer, and an output port of the transducer electrically connects to an input port of the first amplifier via the isolator. An output port of the first amplifier electrically connects to an input port of the second amplifier. The reaction circuit is arranged between the output port of the first amplifier and the input port of the transducer. The isolator isolates the direct-current components of the first electrical signal, and therefore, the oscillations of the direct-current components will not affect the performance of the first amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Han, Chua TiongKee, Roger Tay, Tan Siew Seong
  • Patent number: 9510094
    Abstract: A mobile device uses externals microphone signals to improve the estimate of background noise that it computes. In order to improve voice quality in a first signal that is produced by an internal microphone, the mobile device identifies an external microphone device within proximity of the mobile device. The mobile device establishes a wireless connection with the external microphone device. The mobile device receives a second signal from the external microphone device through the wireless connection. The second signal is produced by a microphone of the external microphone device. The mobile device generates a noise profile based on the second signal, and then suppresses background/ambient noise from the first signal based on the noise profile. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Baptiste P. Paquier, Bryan J. James, Aram M. Lindahl
  • Patent number: 9510084
    Abstract: An in-ear monitor that can be customized for particular applications and individuals includes a housing formed from a body and a cover. A dynamic driver is mounted in a cavity in the housing on an angled mounting flange. The dynamic driver is acoustically coupled to a trumpet-shaped sound collector. The trumpet-shaped sound collector is coupled to a main sound bore that exits an opening in a nozzle portion of the body that is inserted into the ear canal of a user. An ambient sound port collects ambient sound and couples it to the sound bore. An additional bass port increases the bass response of the monitor. Ear impressions are used to customize the body of the monitor to the ear of a user and the location of the bass and ambient sound ports can be altered for different applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: Phillip Dale Lott
  • Patent number: 9510078
    Abstract: A wireless earpiece may include a local memory for storing audio files that can be played back by the user. The wireless earpiece may fit entirely within the user's ear canal. Audio files, for example music files, may be loaded on the wireless earpiece by docking the wireless earpiece with a mobile device, which includes a larger memory storing the user's library of music files. The stored audio files may be received from a mobile device that were automatically selected from a library of music files by the mobile device without intervention from the user. To provide stereo sound, two wireless earpieces may be worn by the user and docked separately with the mobile device. Each of the two wireless earpieces may store a single channel of an audio file, which is separated by the mobile device during synchronization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric J. Swanson
  • Patent number: 9503813
    Abstract: A system and method for dynamic residual noise shaping configured to reduce hiss noise in an audio signal. The system and method may detect an amount and type of hiss noise. The system and method may limit calculated noise suppression gains responsive to the detected amount and type of hiss noise. The limited noise suppression gains may be applied to the audio signal and may reduce the hiss noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: 2236008 Ontario Inc.
    Inventors: Xueman Li, Phillip Alan Hetherington
  • Patent number: 9503808
    Abstract: A boundary microphone that can reduce the change in its directional property caused by change of a sound collection axis of a microphone unit is provided. The boundary microphone includes a unidirectional microphone unit, a cylindrical unit holding member having a unit accommodating pocket in its peripheral surface to accommodate the unidirectional microphone unit, and a boundary plate to which top face the unit holding member is attached so as to rotate about its axis. When the unidirectional microphone unit is held in the unit holding member, a front acoustic terminal is positioned to face the outside of the peripheral surface of the unit holding member, the sound collection axis intersects the axis of a hollow of the unit holding member, and a rear acoustic terminal communicates with the outside at both side ends of the hollow via the hollow of the unit holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA AUDIO-TECHNICA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Akino
  • Patent number: 9503796
    Abstract: In one aspect, a speaker kit includes a first portion of a speaker housing, and an electroacoustic driver that can be secured to the housing first portion. The kit has one or more additional portions of the speaker housing. One of the one or more additional housing portions has at least one electrical component secured thereto. The kit also has one or more mechanisms that can be used to hold the housing portions together such that the housing portions form an acoustic seal that encompasses an acoustic volume. The one or more mechanisms are removable from the housing portions such that the housing portions can be moved away from each other without damage to the housing portions or the one or more mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Lee Zamir, Michael Andrew Zalisk, Darius Darayes Mobed, Daniel D. Najemy
  • Patent number: 9497546
    Abstract: The stereo boundary microphone includes a boundary plate, a case body attached to the boundary plate and having an elongate shape including left and right grooves provided in opposite sides and extending along the longitudinal direction, first and second side walls covering the grooves included in the case body by predetermined distances to form left and right acoustic passages, and first and second microphones contained in tail end portions of the acoustic passages so as directional axes of the first and second microphones to be parallel. An opening communicating with the tail end portion of the case body is provided and services as a rear acoustic terminal to be used by both the first and second microphones. Front ends of the acoustic passages formed by the side walls serve as left and right front acoustic terminals of the first and second microphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA AUDIO-TECHNICA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Akino
  • Patent number: 9486823
    Abstract: In a personal listening device, an ANC system can benefit from a mechanism to detect an off-ear condition, which may be a situation in which the user of the personal listening device has moved an earphone or handset housing away from her ear. A detector may detect such a condition using signals from a touch sensor and/or a vibration sensor that are integrated in the earphone or handset housing, and in response power down the ANC system, or in the case of an adaptive ANC system slow down, or even freeze, the adaptation of one or more adaptive filters. The detector may operate during for example a phone call or during media file playback. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Esge B. Andersen, Andre L. Goldstein
  • Patent number: 9491547
    Abstract: An audio playing method is applied to at least one wireless speaker, at least one mobile terminal, and a cloud server. The method includes sending a wireless signal within a coverage area of the wireless speaker, the wireless signal being detected by the speaker when the speaker is in proximity to the mobile terminal. The first identification information of the wireless speaker and second identification information of the mobile terminal are obtained, and control signals indicating the first and the second identification information is transmitted to the cloud server. Audio files corresponding to the second identification information are decoded into an audio stream and the audio stream is transmitted to the one or more wireless speakers which correspond to the first identification information included in the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Cheng Lin, Chang-Da Ho, Ting-Yi Liao, Jen-Tsorng Chang
  • Patent number: 9485570
    Abstract: This specification discloses an improved voice transmission system for a protective mask. The voice transmission system comprises a speaker assembly and a radio transmitter assembly. The speaker assembly comprises speaker components comprised of a first microphone, an amplifier, a batter and a speaker. The radio transmitter assembly comprises radio transmitter assembly components comprised of a radio transmitter microphone selected from the group consisting of the first microphone of the speaker assembly or an optional second microphone, a radio transmitter switch and a radio transmitter. The improvement comprises a radio transmitter communication connection from the radio transmitter switch to at least one device selected from the speaker assembly components which prevents the speaker assembly from emitting a sound from the speaker when the radio transmitter switch allows the radio transmitter to transmit an electronic signal converted from a signal originating from the radio transmitter microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Advanced Basic Communication
    Inventor: Michael Krnc
  • Patent number: 9485598
    Abstract: A method and a device for determining an amplitude noise and/or phase noise contained within a signal performs a quadrature mixing of the signal containing the amplitude noise and/or the phase noise into the baseband or intermediate-frequency band and an amplitude demodulation downstream of the quadrature mixing in order to determine the amplitude noise contained within the signal and a phase demodulation downstream of the quadrature mixing in order to determine the phase noise contained within the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Roth, Thomas Bechteler
  • Patent number: 9479881
    Abstract: A wireless communication apparatus which communicates with a first microphone is disclosed, which includes an audio processor which acquires audio data from the first microphone, a controller which detects an instruction for audio recording from the first microphone, an audio recorder which starts recording the audio data and stops the recording after a defined period of time since detection of the instruction for audio recording, a timer which starts measuring time for the defined period of time, and a memory controller which creates a recorded audio file, wherein the recorded audio file is linked to log information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryosuke Kitago, Kenji Fukui, Hirotaka Fukutsuka, Motoshi Suzuki, Shouhei Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 9479129
    Abstract: An audio amplifier is disclosed. The audio amplifier for driving an electroacoustic transducer includes an H bridge circuit including a 1D-class amplifier connected to a (+) electrode terminal and a 2D-class amplifier connected to a (?) electrode terminal of the electroacoustic transducer; a pulse width modulator configured to receive an audio signal, generate a first and second pulse signal for each driving the 1D-class and the 2D-class amplifier, and adjust a phase difference between the first and the second pulse signal; a first driver driving the 1D-class amplifier depending on the first pulse signal; a second driver driving the 2D-class amplifier depending on the second pulse signal; a level detector detecting a level of the audio signal; a phase adjuster configured to set a phase difference between the first pulse signal and the second pulse signal of the pulse width modulator based on a detection result from the level detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Onodera
  • Patent number: 9470910
    Abstract: A transparent lens microphone comprises (a) a refractive eyeglass lens; (b) a sound sensitive coating on an outer surface of the refractive lens; and (c) electrical contacts connected to the sound sensitive coating so as to provide an electrical analog signal representative of an acoustic signal striking the outer surface of the transparent lens microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Acoustic Vision, LLC
    Inventors: Elvin Fenton, O. Wendell McCracken
  • Patent number: 9473851
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for speaker operation comprises sensing an input common mode signal of a driver, wherein the driver drives a speaker, and adjusting the input common mode signal of the driver based on a difference between the sensed input common mode signal and a reference signal. The method also comprises sensing a current of a coil of the speaker, and control an output volume of the speaker based at least in part on the sensed current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Sherif Galal, Xinwang Zhang
  • Patent number: 9473852
    Abstract: A method for pre-processing a channelized music signal to improve perception and appreciation for a hearing prosthesis recipient. In one example, the channelized music signal is a stereo input signal. A device, such as a handheld device, hearing prosthesis, or audio cable, for example, applies a mask to a stereo input signal to extract a center-mixed component from the stereo signal and outputs an output signal comprised of a weighted combination of the extracted center-mixed component and a residual signal comprising a non-extracted part of the stereo input signal. The center-mixed component may contain components, such as leading vocals and/or drums, preferred by hearing prosthesis recipients relative to other components, such as backing vocals or other instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Wim Buyens
  • Patent number: 9466312
    Abstract: A method for separating audio sources and an audio system using the same are provided. The method introduces the concept of a residual signal to separate a mixed audio signal into audio sources, and separates an audio signal corresponding to at least two of the audio sources as a residual signal and processes the audio signal separately. Therefore, audio separation performance can be improved. In addition, the method re-separates a separated residual signal and adds the separated residual signals to corresponding audio sources. Therefore, audio sources can be separated more safely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: KOREA ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Choong Sang Cho, Je Woo Kim, Byeong Ho Choi, Hwa Seon Shin