Patents Examined by Katherine A Faley
  • Patent number: 10271141
    Abstract: A speaker assembly may include a first woofer speaker electronically coupled to a first electronic circuit including high-Q filter configured to provide first audio signals having frequencies between 200-2000 Hz to the first woofer speaker. The speaker assembly may further include at least one second woofer speaker electronically coupled to a second electronic circuit configured to provide second audio signals having frequencies between 20-200 Hz to the second woofer speaker, wherein the first woofer speaker is identical to the second woofer speaker and is configured to operate as a mid-range speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Mark Glazer
  • Patent number: 10257602
    Abstract: An earbud includes an infrared light transmitter, an infrared light detector, and a controller configured to provide an indication of insertion of the earbud into an ear of a user responsive to detection of a pattern of signals from the transmitter at the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Igor Kofman
  • Patent number: 10235985
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system is provided that includes a loudspeaker that is arranged in a baffle between a passenger compartment of a vehicle and the outside of the passenger compartment. The loudspeaker is configured to radiate an acoustical signal to the passenger compartment. The loudspeaker system further includes active noise control system wherein a microphone is acoustically coupled to the loudspeaker via a secondary path, and the loudspeaker is electrically coupled to the microphone via an active noise control filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Christoph, Andreas Pfeffer
  • Patent number: 10231046
    Abstract: An audio system includes a transducer assembly, an audio sensor, and a controller. The transducer assembly is coupled to a back of an auricle of an ear of the user. The transducer assembly vibrates the auricle over a frequency range to cause the auricle to create an acoustic pressure wave in accordance with vibration instructions. The acoustic sensor detects the acoustic pressure wave at an entrance of the ear of the user. The controller dynamically adjusts a frequency response model based in part on the detected acoustic pressure wave, updates the vibration instructions using the adjusted frequency response model, and provides the updated vibration instructions to the transducer assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Antonio John Miller, Ravish Mehra
  • Patent number: 10187726
    Abstract: An audio accessory and an audio output method are provided. The audio accessory includes a connector configured to be connected to an external device, an audio output unit configured to output a sound, and a switching unit configured to select a signal path according to whether the sound output through the audio output unit is in a balanced mode or an unbalanced mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Ju-Hee Chang, Je-Ok Lee, Seon-Mi Kim, Jun-Tai Kim, Ho-Chul Hwang
  • Patent number: 10176795
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of noise reduction including the steps of filtering reference signals and representing noise by an adaptive filter comprising adaptive filter coefficients to obtain actuator driving signals, outputting the actuator driving signals by loudspeakers to obtain loudspeaker signals. The method further includes detecting the loudspeaker signals by microphones and filtering the reference signals by estimated transfer functions representing the transfer of the loudspeaker signals output by the loudspeakers to the microphones to obtain filtered reference signals. The method further includes updating the filter coefficients of the adaptive filter based on the filtered reference signals and based on the previously updated filter coefficients of the adaptive filter multiplied by leakage factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Markus E. Christoph, Juergen Heinrich Zollner
  • Patent number: 10163452
    Abstract: An electronic device including a voice obtaining microphone configured to receive a voice signal including a noise at a first level; a noise obtaining microphone configured to receive a voice signal including a noise at a second level higher than the first level; and a controller configured to estimate the noise at the second level from the voice signal received by the noise obtaining microphone, remove the noise at the first level from the voice signal received by the voice obtaining microphone based on the estimated noise, and perform an operation corresponding to the voice signal having the noise at the first level eliminated therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Byounggi Lee, Hyejeong Jeon
  • Patent number: 10123140
    Abstract: Technologies pertaining to calibration of filters of an audio system are described herein. A mobile computing device is configured to compute values for respective filters, such as equalizer filters, and transmit the values to a receiver device in the audio system. The receiver device causes audio to be emitted from a speaker based upon the values for the filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Desney S. Tan, Daniel Morris, Andrew D. Wilson, Yong Rui, Nikunj Raghuvanshi, Jeannette M. Wing
  • Patent number: 10123142
    Abstract: Sound output devices, output systems and methods are provided. The sound output device includes a speaker; a communicator configured to perform communication with an external speaker and a content source that provides sound content to the external speaker; and a processor configured to recognize the external speaker in response to the device entering into a predetermined range from the external speaker, to perform pairing with the external speaker, to receive information about the content source from the external speaker, to receive the sound content from the content source based on the information about the content source, and to output the received sound content through the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ho-sun Lee, Yong-jin Kang, Nam-gon Kim, Ju-han Bae
  • Patent number: 10112029
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a therapeutic method applicable to learning, attention, cognitive and developmental disorders. This method combines auditory, visual and vestibular stimuli into a systematic method which can be customized to address individual learning, attention and processing disorders. This method may be wirelessly implemented in a group setting. A device for providing vestibular and somatosensory stimulation through bone conduction of sound waves to skeletal bones is provided in the form of a pad that is applied to or wrapped around the individual in treatment, which is comfortable in use and may contain particulate filler material capable of providing bone conduction stimulation adjacent to the location of a bone conduction transducer and expand the sound conduction site over a larger area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: INTEGRATED LISTENING SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Randall Redfield, Kate O'Brien Minson
  • Patent number: 10117020
    Abstract: A system may include control circuitry for detecting a plosive event associated with a microphone transducer and in response to the plosive event, causing restoration of acoustic sense operation of the microphone transducer and a processing circuit associated with the microphone transducer. A system for configuring a filter having at least two frequency response configurations to achieve an effective frequency response configuration intermediate to the at least two frequency response configurations may include control circuitry for rapidly switching between the at least two frequency response configurations such that a weighted average frequency response of the filter corresponds to the effective frequency response configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaimin Mehta, James Thomas Deas, Stephen T. Hodapp, Brian Parker Chesney
  • Patent number: 10091596
    Abstract: Sound output devices, output systems and methods are provided. The sound output device includes a speaker; a communicator configured to perform communication with an external speaker and a content source that provides sound content to the external speaker; and a processor configured to recognize the external speaker in response to the device entering into a predetermined range from the external speaker, to perform pairing with the external speaker, to receive information about the content source from the external speaker, to receive the sound content from the content source based on the information about the content source, and to output the received sound content through the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ho-sun Lee, Yong-jin Kang, Nam-gon Kim, Ju-han Bae
  • Patent number: 10063249
    Abstract: A D/A converter converts digital audio data DIN into analog differential audio signals VP and VN. A differential to single-ended conversion circuit converts the differential audio signals VP and VN into a single-ended audio signal VSE. A volume circuit receives the single-ended audio signal VSE, and amplifies the single-ended audio signal VSE with a gain that corresponds to a volume value. A reference voltage source generates a reference voltage VREF commonly referred by the differential to single-ended conversion circuit and the volume circuit. In a calibration operation, a calibration circuit controls the D/A converter so as to shift at least one from among the differential audio signals VP and VN such that the difference between the output voltage VSE of the differential to single-ended conversion circuit and the reference voltage VREF approaches zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsuteru Sakai
  • Patent number: 10045124
    Abstract: This application describes methods and apparatus for mitigating the effects of crosstalk in multichannel audio. An audio driver circuit (200) for driving first and second audio loads (103) having a common return path (RC), has first and second signal paths (Left and Right). A crosstalk compensation block (205) is configured to add a first compensation signal to the first signal path and add a second compensation signal to the second signal path. The first compensation signal is generated based on the second audio signal and a first compensation function and the second compensation signal is generated based on the first audio signal and a second compensation function. Each of the first and second compensation functions is based on a predetermined impedance value for at least part of the common return path (RH1) and is also based on a determined DC impedance value (ZL, ZR) for one of the first and second audio loads which is modified by a band correction factor (?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: John Paul Lesso, Toru Ido
  • Patent number: 10034085
    Abstract: A class-D amplifier includes an error amplification circuit, a duty signal generator, a level selection circuit, a driver and control block and an output stage. The class-D amplifier divides peal levels of an error signal into multi-level and changes a scheme for modulating the error signal when the error signal crosses each level boundary of the multi-level thereby to have an effect such as the error signal is folded. Therefore, the class-D amplifier drives output nodes with multi-level and thus the class-D amplifier may increasing efficiency while reducing EMI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Gyu-Hyeong Cho, Ji-Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 10026391
    Abstract: A microphone device including a first sound receiving module, a second sound receiving module and a sound collecting trough is provided. The first sound receiving module receives a sound signal to output a first electronic signal. The second sound receiving module receives the sound signal to output a second electronic signal. The first sound receiving module is coupled to the second sound receiving module, and the phase of the first electronic signal and the phase of the second electronic signal are inverse to each other. A distance between the first sound receiving module and the sound collecting trough is smaller than a distance between the second sound receiving module and the sound collecting trough, and another sound signal is transferred to the first sound receiving module through the sound collecting trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Merry Electronics(Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Chung Lin, Chao-Kuan Chiang, Chien-An Lai
  • Patent number: 10015593
    Abstract: Digital filters for processing an input audio signal for extending the audio capabilities and reducing distortion of a loudspeaker. Such extension may include a general sound pressure level (SPL) extension or a more targeted low frequency (LF) extension. This may be accomplished by modifying an original frequency response of the loudspeaker to achieve a particular extension, and applying a digital linear filter based on the modified frequency response to the audio signal. A nonlinear digital filter may also be applied to the audio signal reduce nonlinear distortions of the loudspeaker. The nonlinear digital filter may be based on an inverse of an electro-mechanical model of the loudspeaker. In this manner, a loudspeaker may be driven close to its maximum theoretical power capability without increasing distortion in the loudspeaker output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: University of Utah
    Inventors: Ajay Iyer, Jeffrey Hutchings, Richard Allen Kreifeldt, V. John Mathews, Shreyas Srikanth Payal
  • Patent number: 10003879
    Abstract: An earphone apparatus includes at least one sound broadcasting device. Each of the sound broadcasting device includes a main shell, a plurality of first electrodes, a speaker device and an expanding speaker device. The main shell has a first connector. The speaker device is disposed in the main shell, and receives a sound signal through a signal transmitting wire coupled to the first electrodes. The expanding speaker device has a second connector, and the expanding speaker device is detachably connected to the first connector through the second connector. When the second connector is connected to the first connector, the expanding speaker device is electronically connected to the first electrodes, and receives the sound signal transmitted by the signal transmitting wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventor: Hsiu-Po Yang
  • Patent number: 9980023
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for recording high output power levels of sound at low sound pressure levels. For example, an apparatus comprises an enclosure, a speaker disposed within the enclosure, a microphone disposed within the enclosure, and an evacuation port. The evacuation port is configured to connect to a system that reduces a pressure level within the enclosure to a level that is less than an ambient air pressure level outside the enclosure. The enclosure is sealed or otherwise configured to provide a sealed enclosure, to maintain the reduced air pressure within the enclosure. The speaker can be driven by an amplifier at high output power levels to generate a distorted sound of an amplified electric musical instrument for recording purposes, while the reduced pressure level within the enclosure serves to attenuate the sound pressure level and perceived loudness which emanates from the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Inventor: James J. Fallon
  • Patent number: 9967666
    Abstract: Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to audio content rendering. A method of rendering audio content is disclosed, which includes determining a priority level for an audio object in the audio content, selecting a rendering mode from a plurality of rendering modes for the audio object based on the determined priority level and rendering the audio object in accordance with the selected rendering mode, the rendering mode indicating an accuracy of the rendered audio object. Corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Christof Fersch, Freddie Sanchez