Patents Examined by Kuassi Ganmavo
  • Patent number: 10993018
    Abstract: Generation of a secondary sound source is inhibited, and a sound quality is improved. Included are a support fixed to a mount base, a speaker unit including a portion to be fixed, and a base casing holding the speaker unit, and the speaker unit is fixed to the support and the base casing with the portion to be fixed being sandwiched between the support and the base casing. With this configuration, the speaker unit will be held stably, a great oscillation from a diaphragm of the speaker unit is less transmitted to the parts other than the diaphragm of the speaker unit, to the member holding the speaker unit, or the like. Generation of a secondary sound source is inhibited, and a sound quality can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kohei Kikuchi, Yohei Fukuma, Nobukazu Suzuki, Kazuhiro Matsutani, Yoshio Ohashi, Yasuo Kawabata
  • Patent number: 10993015
    Abstract: The invention relates to a piece of ear jewelry having at least one ear part to be worn on each ear of a user, wherein each ear part has a jewelry body, to be worn in a predetermined wearing position on an outside of the ear, and a retaining device for retaining the jewelry body in the wearing position on the ear, wherein the auditory canal of the ear remains free. The piece of ear jewelry incorporates all of the following electrical components completely and so as to be invisible from the outside: a microphone device, a loudspeaker device and a communication unit for providing a bidirectional, wireless communication link to a portable terminal of the user, in order to use the communication link to transmit a microphone signal from the microphone device to the terminal and to receive a loudspeaker signal for the loudspeaker device from the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: NOVA PRODUCTS GMBH
    Inventor: Judith Gampe
  • Patent number: 10986458
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: an action recognition unit; an audio data selection unit; and an audio information generation unit, in which the action recognition unit is configured to recognize an action pattern of a user on the basis of sensor information. The audio data selection unit is configured to select audio data corresponding to the action pattern of the user recognized by the action recognition unit. The audio information generation unit generates, on the basis of the audio data selected by the audio data selection unit, multichannel audio information for localizing a sound image of a sound source in real space around the user. The information processing apparatus makes it possible to achieve augmented reality that follows a qualitative change in the action of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 10979843
    Abstract: In a particular aspect, an audio processing device includes a position predictor configured to determine predicted position data based on position data. The audio processing device further includes a processor configured to generate an output spatialized audio signal based on the predicted position data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventor: Shankar Thagadur Shivappa
  • Patent number: 10966014
    Abstract: From a first microphone, first microphone signals are received that represent first sound waves. From a second microphone, second microphone signals are received that represent second sound waves. In response to the first microphone signals, analog processing is performed to estimate noise in the first sound waves, and first analog signals are generated for cancelling at least some of the estimated noise in the first sound waves. In response to the second microphone signals, digital processing is performed to estimate noise in the second sound waves, and digital information is generated for cancelling at least some of the estimated noise in the second sound waves. The digital information is converted into second analog signals that represent the digital information. The first and second analog signals are combined into third analog signals for cancelling at least some of the estimated noise in the first and second sound waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Nitish K. Murthy, Edwin Randolph Cole
  • Patent number: 10959018
    Abstract: A system that performs wall detection, range estimation, and/or corner detection to determine a position of a device relative to acoustically reflective surfaces. The device generates output audio using a loudspeaker, generates microphone audio data using a microphone array, performs beamforming to generate directional audio data and then generates impulse response data for each of a plurality of directions. The device may detect a peak in the impulse response data and determine a distance and/or direction to a reflective surface based on the peak. Based on a number of reflected surfaces and/or direction(s) of the reflected surfaces detected by the device, the device may classify the different directions and estimate where it is in the room, such as whether the device is in a corner, along one wall, or in an open area. By knowing its position relative to the room surfaces, the device may improve sound equalization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Guangji Shi, Jan Aage Abildgaard Pedersen, Trausti Thor Kristjansson, Philip Ryan Hilmes
  • Patent number: 10939203
    Abstract: An audio forecasting algorithm that is adjusted (or trained), by machine learning, prior to a sports contest that will be broadcast. The audio forecasting algorithm is then used to position a set of mobile microphones on an ongoing basis during the sports contest. In some embodiments, a band forecasting algorithm is used in the audio forecasting algorithm. In some embodiments, a swarm based correlation algorithm is used in the audio forecasting algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron K. Baughman, Gary William Reiss, Eduardo Morales, Nancy Anne Greco, David Alvra Wood, III
  • Patent number: 10932063
    Abstract: A vibration transducer for sensing vibrations includes a first flexible triboelectric member, a second flexible triboelectric member, a plurality of attachment points, a first electrode and a second electrode. The first flexible triboelectric member includes a first triboelectric layer and a material being on a first position on a triboelectric series. A conductive layer is deposited on the second side thereof. The second flexible triboelectric member includes a second triboelectric layer and a material being on a second position on the triboelectric series that is different from the first position on the triboelectric series. The second triboelectric member is adjacent to the first flexible triboelectric member. When the first triboelectric member comes into and out of contact with the second triboelectric member as a result of the vibrations, a triboelectric potential difference having a variable intensity corresponding to the vibrations can be sensed between the first and second triboelectric members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Nivedita Arora, Gregory D. Abowd, Mohit Gupta, Diego Osorio, Seyedeh Fereshteh Shahmiri, Thad Eugene Starner, Yi-Cheng Wang, Zhengjun Wang, Zhong Lin Wang, Steven L Zhang, Peter McAughan, Qiuyue Xue, Dhruva Bansal, Ryan Bahr, Emmanouil Tentzeris
  • Patent number: 10924069
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a method includes amplifying a signal provided by a capacitive signal source to form an amplified signal, detecting a peak voltage of the amplified signal, and adjusting a controllable impedance coupled to an output of the capacitive signal source in response to detecting the peak voltage. The controllable impedance is adjusted to a value inversely proportional to the detected peak voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Michael Kropfitsch, Jose Luis Ceballos
  • Patent number: 10924874
    Abstract: Systems and processes for compensating for changes in a theatre sound system positioned in a theatre are described. A subsequent response of a loudspeaker to a test signal is captured and compared to a previously obtained signature response of the loudspeaker to the test signal. An audio signal can be processed based on the comparison to compensate for changes to loudspeaker performance, or otherwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: IMAX Corporation
    Inventors: Brian John Bonnick, Denis G. Tremblay
  • Patent number: 10924846
    Abstract: A system and method for generating a self-steering beamformer is provided. Embodiments may include receiving, at one or more microphones, a first audio signal and adapting one or more blocking filters based upon, at least in part, the first audio signal. Embodiments may also include generating, using the one or more blocking filters, one or more noise reference signals. Embodiments may further include providing the one or more noise reference signals to an adaptive interference canceller to reduce a beamformer output power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Tobias Wolff, Markus Buck
  • Patent number: 10901682
    Abstract: An electronic audio device has a microchip has embedded therein, circuitry for enhancing the sound outputted therefrom and which is associated, such as a radio, television, headphones, earbuds and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: AfterMaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence G. Ryckman, Sheldon G. Yakus
  • Patent number: 10897670
    Abstract: A system manages temperature and excursion effects on a loudspeaker. Data corresponding to a temperature of the loudspeaker and data corresponding to an excursion (i.e., displacement) of a membrane of the loudspeaker are determined. The dynamic ranges of the temperature and excursion data are compressed, combined, and smoothed. This smoothed data is multiplied with a delayed version of audio data; peak values of the result may be limited. This operation may be performed on multiple frequency bands of audio data. The final output data is combined to form a full-band signal and sent to a loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jun Yang
  • Patent number: 10893349
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a wireless microphone comprising a microphone body a plurality of antennas positioned at different locations of the microphone body. Each of the plurality of antennas is configured to wirelessly transmit data. The wireless microphone further comprises a sensor configured to detect an object within proximity of an antenna of the plurality of antennas that obstructs the antenna, and a controller configured to switch antenna operation of the wireless microphone from the antenna to another antenna of the plurality of antennas in response to the object detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Audio-Technica U.S., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert T. Green, III, Brian K. Fair, Jacquelynn A. Green
  • Patent number: 10893367
    Abstract: Loudspeaker unit with a membrane (2) and a plurality of drive units (5) driving the membrane (2). Each of the plurality of drive units (5) has n voice coils (3) and at least n+1 magnets (4), n being an integer larger than or equal to 1. The magnets (4) have an axial magnetization and are stacked in axial direction with similar pole parts of adjacent ones of the at least n+1 magnets facing each other. The at least n+1 magnets (4) are separated in the stack over a magnet separation distance (dm), the magnet separation distance (dm) being substantially equal to a width (ws) in the stack direction of the at least n voice coils (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Mayht Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Mattias Jeffrey Scheek, Timothy Ruben Scheek
  • Patent number: 10869154
    Abstract: Various implementations include wearable audio devices and related methods for controlling such devices. In some particular implementations, a computer-implemented method of controlling a wearable audio device configured to provide an audio output includes: receiving data indicating the wearable audio device is proximate a geographic location associated with a localized audio message; providing a prompt to initiate playback of the localized audio message to a user of the wearable audio device; and initiating playback of the localized audio message at the wearable audio device in response to actuation of the prompt by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ilissa Brooke Bruser, Maura Elston Cass, Eric Eugene Dolecki, Andrew D. Dominijanni, Shaun Fisher, Andrew Porter Hlynsky, Maya Antara Mukhopadhaya, Carrie Ann Olson, Naganagouda Patil, Jason Robinson, Daniel Winchell Tellier, Lindsey Turner, Erich Andrew Wiernasz
  • Patent number: 10863291
    Abstract: The present invention relates to recipient customization of a bone conducting hearing device. Customization of the bone conducting hearing device may include attaching the bone conducting hearing device to a recipient, establishing communication between the hearing device and an external device, generating at least one control setting with the external device, and storing the at least one control setting in a memory device in the hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Martin Evert Gustaf Hillbratt, Gunnar Kristian Asnes
  • Patent number: 10827246
    Abstract: A wearable audio device includes a body configured to be worn on or abutting an outer ear of a user. The body is configured to contact at least one of the outer ear and the portion of the head that abuts the outer ear. The body comprises at least at a first portion proximate the upper region of the outer ear helix and a second portion proximate the otobasion inferius. At least one of the first and second portions of the body are configured to change shape upon application of a predetermined stimulus. An acoustic module is carried by the body and is configured to locate a sound-emitting opening proximate the user's ear when the body is worn on or abutting the ear of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Binu Oommen, David Fustino, John Benton, Prateek Nath, Kai Gao
  • Patent number: 10824389
    Abstract: An acoustic system includes: a first terminal device including a first-terminal sound emitting unit, an earhole sound collecting unit configured to collect earhole echo sound, and a first-terminal control unit configured to perform authentication between the first terminal device and a user based on the echo sound collected by the earhole sound collecting unit; an onboard device including an onboard-device sound emitting unit and an onboard-device control unit configured to perform authentication between the onboard device and the user based on communication with the first terminal device; and a second terminal device includes a second-terminal control unit configured to set a destination of sound data to one of the first terminal device and the onboard device when the onboard-device control unit detects that a predetermined condition including a condition that the user has been authenticated is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Okada, Ryuta Atsumi, Daisuke Hiroki, Shinpei Asai
  • Patent number: 10827265
    Abstract: A method for processing audio data for output to a transducer may include receiving an audio signal, filtering the audio signal with a fixed filter having fixed filter coefficients to generate a filtered audio signal, and outputting the filtered audio signal to the transducer. The fixed filter coefficients of the fixed filter may be tuned by using a psychoacoustic model of the transducer to determine audibility masking thresholds for a plurality of frequency sub-bands, allocating compensation coefficients to the plurality of frequency sub-bands, and fitting the fixed filter coefficients with the compensation coefficients allocated to the plurality of sub-bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Ziad Hatab, Jie Su, Kaichow Lau