Patents Examined by Friedrich W Fahnert
  • Patent number: 10096312
    Abstract: An adaptive noise canceling system can include a noise cancellation processor having an audio input for receiving an input audio signal, a microphone input structured to receive one or more microphone signals from a monitored environment, and a filter processor structured to produce a filtering function based on one or more filter parameters. The system can also include an adaptivity processor structured to change the one or more filter parameters in the noise cancellation processor based on a changing operating environment of the adaptive noise canceling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: AVNERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amit Kumar, Wai Laing Lee, Jianping Wen
  • Patent number: 10063975
    Abstract: A mobile terminal including a first body; a first audio output unit provided in the first body and configured to output sound; an audio conversion unit provided in the first body and configured to convert a sound source signal into an audio signal; a second body detachably coupled to the first body; and a second audio output unit provided in the second body and configured to output sound, wherein the audio conversion unit converts the sound source signal into a default audio signal and transmits the converted signal to the first audio output unit, in a state where the second body is detached from the first body, and the audio conversion unit converts the sound source signal into a first audio signal and transmits the converted first audio signal to the first audio output unit, when the second body is coupled to the first body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Taehwan Jeon, Donghan Kang, Janghwan Shim, Byungkil Choi, Joontae Kim, Jungmin Song
  • Patent number: 10063968
    Abstract: A method for operating a distributed wireless audio system including several loudspeaker cabinets all of which can communicate with each other as part of a computer network. The method receives temperature data that is indicative of temperature of a first loudspeaker cabinet, which has a network master responsibility of obtaining an audio signal from an audio source and wirelessly transmitting some of the audio signal to a second loudspeaker cabinet of several loudspeaker cabinets, for playback by the second loudspeaker cabinet, while playing back some of the audio signal by the first loudspeaker cabinet. The method determines whether a thermal threshold of the first loudspeaker cabinet has been reached, based on the temperature data. The method, in response to the thermal threshold being reached, gives up the network master responsibility from the first loudspeaker cabinet to the second loudspeaker cabinet, where doing so reduces temperature in the first loudspeaker cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Afrooz Family, Daniel R. Borges, Daniel S. Naito, James M. Hollabaugh, Jay S. Nigen
  • Patent number: 10057706
    Abstract: An information processing device includes: a reflecting surface determining section configured to determine a reflecting surface as an object for reflecting a sound; a reflecting surface information obtaining section configured to obtain reflecting surface information indicating a reflection characteristic of the determined reflecting surface; and an output control portion configured to output a directional sound according to the obtained reflecting surface information to the determined reflecting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventor: Masaomi Nishidate
  • Patent number: 10057683
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for automatic fitting of all audio signals according to the ear in which a user is using to receive audio signals from a host device. The host device incorporates an audio signal fitting device, which may comprise an inquirer configured to query the host device for an in-use audio producing transducer; an electronic mechanism configured to identify an ear which a user is using to receive audio signals from a host device, based on the in-use audio producing transducer; and a notifier configured to instruct the host device, based on the identified ear, to output a channel of audio signals to the in-use audio producing transducer. The ear in use may be deduced from inertial data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: ACE Communications Limited
    Inventors: Pui Tong Paul Lee, Ka Kui Cheng
  • Patent number: 10051370
    Abstract: A method and an electronic device for outputting an audio signal in the electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a first speaker, a second speaker, and an audio processor that creates, from an audio signal, a first frequency audio signal corresponding to a first frequency band by using a low pass filter, synthesizes the created first frequency audio signal and the audio signal to create a synthetic audio signal, creates, from the synthetic audio signal, a second frequency audio signal corresponding to a second frequency band by using a high pass filter, outputs the created second frequency audio signal through the first speaker, and outputs the created synthetic audio signal through the second speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Taiyong Kim, Dongeon Kim, Seungsoo Nam, Juhee Jang, Jeok Lee, Jaehyun Kim, Hochul Hwang
  • Patent number: 10051368
    Abstract: A mobile apparatus and control method thereof are provided, which includes an audio data signal input unit arranged to receive an audio data signal. An audio output unit is arranged to output an audio signal according to the received audio data signal within a first reproduction frequency. A balanced armature is arranged to output an audio signal according to the received audio data signal within a second reproduction frequency band. The second reproduction frequency band is different from the first reproduction frequency band. An audio signal processor is arranged to adjust the first reproduction frequency band and the second reproduction frequency band such that a combination of the first reproduction frequency band and the second reproduction frequency band is wider than the first reproduction frequency band and the second reproduction frequency band individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jun-Tai Kim, Jung-Eun Han, Mi-Hyang Kim, Byoung-Hee Lee, Tae-Eon Kim, Sun-Young Lee
  • Patent number: 10045145
    Abstract: A method of non-causally shifting a channel includes estimating comparison values at an encoder. Each comparison value is indicative of an amount of temporal mismatch between a previously captured reference channel and a corresponding previously captured target channel. The method also includes smoothing the comparison values to generate smoothed comparison values based on historical comparison value data and a smoothing parameter. The method further includes estimating a tentative shift value based on the smoothed comparison values. The method also includes non-causally shifting a target channel by a non-causal shift value to generate an adjusted target channel that is temporally aligned with a reference channel. The non-causal shift value is based on the tentative shift value. The method further includes generating, based on reference channel and the adjusted target channel, at least one of a mid-band channel or a side-band channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Venkata Subrahmanyam Chandra Sekhar Chebiyyam, Venkatraman Atti
  • Patent number: 10045135
    Abstract: Embodiments herein enable fast and easy interconnectivity among multimedia accessories including mobile devices and other devices. There is only limited space on mobile devices yet there are numerous input connectors. The standard TRRS audio jack is one such input that has and remains common, primarily because it is the accepted standard for audio input; namely, headphones and earpieces for listening purposes. Embodiments herein describe an intelligent switch to that audio jack that permits for additional backward and forward compatibility. It transparently allows a user to insert analog or digital audio devices, such as earphones, without the need to manually reconfigure device settings. The device herein automatically converts between input connector types using the same input convention present on their existing mobile devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Staton Techiya, LLC
    Inventors: Koen Weijand, Steven W. Goldstein
  • Patent number: 10038947
    Abstract: An apparatus including a first speaker configured to output higher-frequency sound from among sound of a channel via at least one slit, and a second speaker configured to output lower-frequency sound from among the sound of the channel via at least one other slit. The at least one slit may have a thickness that is less than a wavelength of sound emitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong-bae Kim, Dae-joung Kim, Dong-kyu Park, Sung-ha Son, Gyeong-tae Lee, Joo-yeon Lee, Jong-in Jo, Sung-joo Kim, Dong-hyun Jung, Seon-ho Hwang, Dae-kyung Ahn, Sang-sung Woo, Sang-min Hyun
  • Patent number: 10034077
    Abstract: An earphone control method, an earphone control system and an earphone. The earphone control method includes: selecting a motion state judgement parameter of a wearer for controlling an earphone and setting an alert condition according to the selected motion state judgement parameter; real-timely monitoring and acquiring behavior data of the earphone wearer; calculating the motion state judgement parameter by using the acquired behavior data to obtain a motion state judgement parameter value; and judging whether or not the motion state judgement parameter value satisfies the alert condition; if the motion state judgement parameter value satisfies the alert condition, determining to enter an earphone alert state and controlling to perform corresponding alert operation on the earphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventors: Song Liu, Shasha Lou, Bo Li, Hui Qi
  • Patent number: 10031718
    Abstract: Methods and systems for augmenting an audio signal are provided for herein. In some embodiments, a method can be performed by a sound processing system of a computing device. In such embodiments, the sound processing system can receive a captured audio signal from a microphone coupled with the sound processing system. The sound processing system can then produce an augmented audio signal by selectively filtering the captured audio signal based on a physical location of the computing device. This resulting augmented audio signal can reflect an effect associated with the physical location of the computing device. The augmented audio signal can then be output, by the sound processing system, to a speaker coupled with the computing device to enable consumption of the augmented audio signal by a user of the computing device. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: James Dack, Jeffrey Kohler, Shawn Wright, Denise Ng
  • Patent number: 10023010
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a three-axis accelerometer attached to a door and in communication with a processor. A speaker is in communication with the processor. Operation of the door toward a closed position is measured by the accelerometer to define a corresponding door acceleration. The processor determines a corresponding door-operating event based on the corresponding door acceleration and the speaker delivers a corresponding audio signal in response to the corresponding door-operating event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard E. Newton, Jim Antime Marleau, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10019981
    Abstract: A method for using a loudspeaker array that is housed in a loudspeaker cabinet to present audio content to a listener in a room includes receiving (1) an audio channel that includes audio content and (2) acoustical characteristics of the room. The method also produces (1) a first beamformer input signal from the audio channel and (2) a second beamformer input signal and a third beamformer input signal by decorrelating the audio channel and adjusting the audio channel in accordance with the acoustical characteristics of the room. The second and third beamformer input signals are different de-correlated versions of the audio channel. The method also generates driver signals from the first, second, and third beamformer input signals to drive the loudspeaker array to produce a main beam, a first ambient beam, and a second ambient beam, respectively. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Simon K. Porter, Sylvain J. Choisel, John C. Stewart
  • Patent number: 10021477
    Abstract: A backward compatible system and method for using 4P audio jack in an electronic device to provide power and signal to headset with active noise cancellation (ANC) as well as accessories that require an external power are disclosed. The method involves automatically deciding at the electronic device accessory type after accessory insertion detected and choosing proper accessory communication mode based at least on the decided accessory type and accessory input signal. The accessory communication mode may be an accessory power mode or an accessory microphone mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Sang Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 10007484
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising a display unit operable under different operating modes based on a structure of the display unit, and first and second sound acquisition units that acquire sound in a first or second operating mode based on a first or second structure of the display unit. Also provided is a method for controlling an electronic device comprising steps of determining whether a display unit is in a first or second mode, where the display unit is in the first mode when all parts on the display unit are on a same plane, and in the second mode when at least two parts on the display unit are not on the same plane; controlling a first sound acquisition unit to work when the display unit is in the first mode; and controlling a second sound acquisition unit to work when the display unit is in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Beijing) Limited
    Inventors: Bin Li, Wenjing Shen
  • Patent number: 10009699
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing sealing properties of microphone and/or loudspeaker seals in an electronic device. Sealing properties of the microphone and/or loudspeaker seals are diagnosed by comparing a representation of a total impulse response signal associated with certain stimuli with a representation of a predetermined reference total impulse response signal associated with the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Mobile Communications Inc.
    Inventors: Claes Hovmalm, Georges Siotis, Henrik Antonsson
  • Patent number: 10002602
    Abstract: A noise-reducing fan system, comprising a motor, a fan body, a plurality of magnetic-inducing elements, a magnetic field generator and a noise-reducing sound source device, is provided. Here, the fan body is mounted on the motor. The fan body comprises a plurality of blades, on which the plurality of magnetic-inducing elements are disposed, respectively. The magnetic field generator, which may generate a magnetic field, is employed for driving the plurality of magnetic-inducing elements to vibrate the plurality of blades and generate a vibration sound, so that at least one portion of the noise emitted from the fan body as rotating may be counterbalanced. The noise-reducing sound source device is disposed on a predetermined position and may send out a noise-reducing sound, so that the noise-reducing sound may counterbalance at least the other portion of the noise emitted from the fan body as rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: CORETRONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shang-Hsuang Wu, Chih-Cheng Chou
  • Patent number: 10003893
    Abstract: In a method for operating a binaural hearing system having a first hearing aid and a second hearing, the first hearing aid generates a first reference signal from a sound signal by a first reference microphone and the second hearing aid generates a second reference signal from the sound signal by a second reference microphone. The first reference signal and the second reference signal are both used to derive a first binaural beamformer signal. For at least a number of frequency bands, the first reference signal is used to derive a first phase. For the number of frequency bands, a first output signal is derived from the first binaural beamformer signal and the first phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi
  • Patent number: 9992592
    Abstract: A method of assessing noise involves evacuating air from a vacuum chamber to a pressure less than about 1 Torr and stimulating a device positioned in the chamber by shaking it or by operating a component of the device. Measuring vibrations in a low pressure environment decreases or eliminates propagation of sound waves, thereby enabling isolation and identification of vibrations caused by mechanical noise. These measurements may be useful for more precise acoustic characterization of audio devices containing multiple components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mohammed Aftab Alam, Ramez Nachman, Vikram Srinivas, Donald Joseph Ashley, Ali-Reza Bahmandar