Patents Examined by Friedrich W Fahnert
  • Patent number: 9986332
    Abstract: To improve, when area sound pick-up is performed to collect sounds from a sound source in a target area, the sound quality of the collected sounds. The present invention relates to a sound pick-up apparatus that performs area sound pick-up. The sound pick-up apparatus calculates a sound volume level of a mixing signal to mix with a target area sound on the basis of power of estimated noise obtained by estimating background noise included in an input signal input from a microphone array, and power of a non-target area sound, adjusts a sound volume level of the input signal, and a sound volume level of the estimated noise to mix with the mixing signal on the basis of the sound volume level of the calculated mixing signal, and generates and outputs a mixed target area sound with which the input signal that is adjusted to have the calculated sound volume level and the estimated noise that is adjusted to have the calculated sound volume level are mixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Katagiri
  • Patent number: 9984292
    Abstract: A speaker device with a processing unit and a storage device for controlling the operation of the speaker device also has a speaker unit and a connection module. The processing unit adjusts the speaker unit to operate in a first sound mode based on the first frequency characteristic of the speaker unit, and detects whether the connection module is communicatively coupled with a sound device having a second frequency characteristic. The processing unit switches the speaker unit from the first sound mode into a second sound mode based on the comparison between the first frequency characteristic and the second frequency characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: XIX INC.
    Inventors: Jung-Ya Hsieh, Yao-Tsung Yeh, Chun-Yen Yu, Shu-Ming Wei
  • Patent number: 9980028
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for user sound exposure limiting are disclosed. In one example, an accumulated sound dose exposure from a headset speaker is determined for a plurality of sequentially monitored time intervals during a current listening session, wherein the current listening session comprises a total session time. It is determined whether a predicted sound dose exposure for the total session time exceeds or falls below a permitted sound dose exposure limit, the predicted sound dose exposure determined from the accumulated sound dose exposure. A threshold intervention level at which a time-weighted-average limiter at a headset applies attenuation to an audio signal output at a headset speaker is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Iain McNeill, Kwangsee Allen Woo, John S Graham
  • Patent number: 9973852
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein that are capable of providing an updated acoustic response for a device based at least in part on a hinge angle. For instance, an angle of a hinge that is coupled between first and second members of a device may be determined. The angle is defined between first and second surfaces of the respective first and second members. A spectral signal has a frequency spectrum that includes multiple portions. An amplitude of each portion of the frequency spectrum is selectively modified to change an acoustic response of the device to an updated acoustic response based at least in part on the angle of the hinge. The acoustic response of the device is associated with a resonance chamber, which is defined by the first surface, the second surface, and a third surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: John B. Hesketh, Adolfo Hernandez Santisteban, Roger Sebastian Sylvan, Aaron M. Burns
  • Patent number: 9967647
    Abstract: A headphone detector including a headphone and a processor. The headphone has a microphone and a speaker, and the microphone is configured to generate an audio signal based on an output of the speaker. The processor is configured to receive the audio signal, determine a characteristic of the audio signal, and assess whether the headphone is on ear or off ear based on a comparison of the characteristic to a threshold. In another aspect, an off-ear detection (OED) system includes a headphone and an OED processor. The headphone has a speaker, a feedforward microphone, and a feedback microphone. The OED processor is configured to determine whether the headphone is off ear or on ear, based at least in part on a headphone audio signal, a feedforward microphone signal, and a feedback microphone signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Avnera Corporation
    Inventors: Amit Kumar, Eric Sorensen, Shankar Rathoud
  • Patent number: 9960739
    Abstract: A pulse modulator receives an analog voltage VIN, and generates a pulse signal that is modulated according to the analog voltage VIN. An output stage generates a switching signal at an output terminal according to the pulse signal. A semiconductor integrated circuit is switchable between (i) a normal mode in which a main signal VMAIN to be used in a normal operating mode is input as the analog voltage VIN to the pulse modulator, and (ii) a test mode in which at least one internal analog signal VAUX generated in the semiconductor integrated circuit is input as the analog voltage VIN to the pulse modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takenori Kato
  • Patent number: 9961461
    Abstract: An audio processing apparatus is configured to process audio signals from a plurality of sources. The audio processing apparatus may include a digital interface to receive status data indicating a status of at least one source, and an optical output device having a plurality of groups of graphics display areas which are respectively assigned to one of a plurality of audio channels of the audio processing apparatus. The audio processing apparatus may also include a control device configured to receive the status data, to determine at least one group of graphics display areas based on the received status data, and to control a graphics display area of the determined at least one group to display graphics generated based on the received status data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Harman International Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Andy Brown, Philipp Sonnleitner, Robert Huber, Björn Sörensen, Detlef Meier
  • Patent number: 9961375
    Abstract: A method of removing common mode noise in a vehicle includes: a radio frequency (RF) switch connecting a feeder cable ground to a common mode (CM) filter or a digital signal processor (DSP) according to a selection signal of an amplitude modulation (AM) broadcast or a frequency modulation (FM) broadcast selected by a user and the CM filter increasing impedance of the feeder cable ground to remove the common mode noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Kwang Woo Ryu, Jang Soon Han
  • Patent number: 9954505
    Abstract: Disclosed is an audio output control method and an electronic device supporting the same. The audio output control method includes determining an output of an audio processing unit decoding an audio source signal, and controlling generating of a reference signal to be supplied to an audio output unit in response to an output of the audio processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Han Ho Ko, Je Heon Park, Nam-Il Lee, Sang Phil Hong
  • Patent number: 9955260
    Abstract: A loudspeaker configured to provide asymmetrical beam coverage. A first group of drivers to outputs a first beam pattern. A second group of drivers, which is different from the first group of drivers, is configured to output a second beam pattern. A transmission line is adapted to output signals to the first driver group and the second driver group to provide an asymmetrical beam pattern. The first driver group outputs a beam pattern different than the second driver group. This can improve acoustic coverage, e.g., sound pressure levels, in the acoustic environment. In an example, the transmission line is separated into two distinct parts that feeds the first driver group and the second driver group respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Douglas J. Button
  • Patent number: 9942657
    Abstract: This application relates to methods and apparatus for loudspeaker protection. A loudspeaker protection system (100) receives a digital audio signal comprising a plurality of samples at an input node (IN). A delay block (15) delays the digital audio signal and a gain block (14) applies a controlled gain to the delayed digital audio signal. An excursion predictor (12) is configured to receive a version of the audio signal from the signal path upstream of the delay block and determine a predicted excursion for a loudspeaker based on the audio signal. A gain controller (23) controls a gain setting (g) of the gain block in response to the predicted excursion and a first loudspeaker impulse response model and a predetermined excursion limit. The gain controller (23) is configured to determine at least one gain setting {ga gi} to be applied to a set of samples {Va . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason William Lawrence, Roger David Serwy, Roberto Napoli
  • Patent number: 9930469
    Abstract: An audio processing system for enhancing a user's virtual audio height perception, comprising: a rebalancing module for receiving audio signals from a source, the audio signals including a low layer signal representing sounds for transmission directly towards a user, and a height signal representing sounds for transmission towards the user by reflecting off a predetermined location above the user; the rebalancing module for comparing the height signal and the lower layer signal, and adjusting an amplitude of the height signal based on said comparison; the low layer signal being transmitted to one or more speakers of a first speaker arrangement for transmitting sound represented by the lower layer signal directly towards the user; and the adjusted height signal being transmitted to one or more speakers of a second speaker arrangement for transmitting sound represented by the height signal towards the user by reflecting off the predetermined location above the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: GIBSON INNOVATIONS BELGIUM N.V.
    Inventor: Gerrit De Poortere
  • Patent number: 9928025
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for a dynamically equalizing receiver. An example disclosed system includes a mobile device and a vehicle. The example mobile device generates a sound profile based on media identifying information. The sound profile specifies equalizer settings for a receiver. The example vehicle includes the receiver. The receiver is communicatively coupled to the mobile device. The example receiver collects the media identifying information, and adjusts the equalizer settings of the receiver as specified by the sound profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Perry Robinson MacNeille, Oleg Yurievitch Gusikhin, Doug VanDagens, Omar Makke
  • Patent number: 9922636
    Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in a computer-implemented method that includes receiving a portion of a feedback signal of an active noise control (ANC) system, and processing the portion of the feedback signal using an adaptive line enhancer (ALE) filter to detect a tonal signature. The method also includes determining, by one or more processing devices, that the tonal signature represents an unstable condition, and responsive to determining that the tonal signature represents an unstable condition, generating one or more control signals for adjusting one or more parameters of the ANC system, to mitigate the unstable condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: Emery M. Ku
  • Patent number: 9921800
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for controlling audio output are provided. In some implementations, a method for controlling audio output is provided, the method comprising: receiving, by a computing device, audio content to be presented; determining that an output port of the computing device is connected to a corresponding connector; providing the audio content at the output port; recording a first portion of audio using a microphone; determining that the audio content is present in the first portion of audio; continuing to provide the audio content at the output port; recording a second portion of audio using the microphone; determining that the audio content is not present in the second portion of audio; and presenting the audio content using a speaker of the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Nima Lotfizadeh
  • Patent number: 9917656
    Abstract: A device to cancel noise in broadcast signal is disclosed. The device a first port to connect to a main antenna, a second port to connect to a noise antenna, a processor coupled to the first port and the second port to measure the broadcast signal received at the first port and a noise signal received at the second port to derive a first set of coefficients, a first adaptive filter coupled to the first port and the processor and a second adaptive filter coupled to the second port and the processor. The first adaptive filter and the second adaptive filters are configurable based on the first set of coefficients to remove the high energy parts of a frequency spectrum of signals received at the first port and the second ports respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Hendrik van der Ploeg, Erik Keukens
  • Patent number: 9910636
    Abstract: A control device for a portable digital media player is contained within a communications headset attached to a first ear of a user and complimented by an interpreter circuit adaptively paired with that media player. A microphone, located within the headset, is configured to receive vocal commands from the user and transmit those commands, via any wireless communication technology, to the interpreter interface removably inserted into a specialized port of the media player. The electronic circuitry within the adapter searches the input for recognizable phrases which have been pre-programmed to exert control over the media player. The adapter then converts the proper input into control signals for execution in the media player. The output of the media player is wirelessly transmitted back to the headset for the auditory enjoyment of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Inventor: Jeremy M. Chevalier
  • Patent number: 9911405
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling engine noise reflecting engine vibration and driving conditions includes a sound generator that generates reinforcement noise in order to reinforce non-linear engine noise. The apparatus includes a vibration sensor measuring engine vibration as a noise source of the engine, a signal processing controller receiving the signal of the vibration sensor in real time and controlling the sound generator so that the engine noise may maintain linearity, and an amplifier receiving and then amplifying a control signal of the signal processing controller to transfer the amplified control signal to the sound generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Dong-Chul Lee, In-Soo Jung
  • Patent number: 9905216
    Abstract: A noise cancelling headset includes first and second earpieces, each earpiece including a respective feedback microphone, a respective feed-forward microphone, and a respective output driver. A first feedback filter receives an input from at least the first feedback microphone and produces a first filtered feedback signal. A first feed-forward filter receives an input from at least the first feed-forward microphone and produces a first filtered feed-forward signal. A first summer combines the first filtered feedback signal and the first filtered feed-forward signal and produces a first output signal. An output interface provides the first output signal as an output from the headset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel M. Gauger, Jr., Jahn Dmitri Eichfeld, Steven H. Isabelle, John Allen Rule
  • Patent number: 9899018
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for addressing road noise are provided. The apparatus is configured to determine at least one from among a location of a vehicle and a noise feature of a road on which the vehicle is traveling, retrieve road noise cancellation information based on the determined at least one from among the location of the vehicle and the noise feature of the road on which the vehicle is traveling, and output a signal to cancel road noise based on the road noise cancellation information. The apparatus may be installed in vehicle to address road noise heard by occupants of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Frank C Valeri, Christophe A Stirlen, Scott M. Reilly