Patents Examined by Regina N. Holder
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Patent number: 10412490Abstract: A method of processing a series of microphone inputs of an audio conference, the method including the steps of: (a) conducting a spatial analysis and feature extraction of the audio conference based on current audio activity; (b) aggregating historical information to obtain information about the approximate relative location of recent sound objects relative to the series of microphone inputs; (c) utilizing the relative location or distance of the sound objects from the series of microphone inputs to determine if beam forming should be utilized to enhance the audio reception from recent sound objects.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: David Gunawan, Glenn N. Dickins
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Patent number: 10412485Abstract: A duty-cycled acoustic sensor saves power, for example, by operating for relatively short periods of time in a repetitive manner. A sensor bias current provides operating power to the sensor. An output analog signal from the sensor carries the information induced by the sensor upon the bias signal. Capacitive coupling is employed to remove direct DC voltage from the output analog signal to generate an analog input signal for acoustic analysis. A capacitor for capacitive coupling is pre-charged to reduce the charging time of the capacitor as the sensor is being powered up. After the capacitor is sufficiently precharged, acoustic analysis is performed on the analog input signal. The sensor is powered down by substantially blocking current flow through the sensor, which saves power. Results of the acoustic analysis can be used, for example, to control parameters of the duty-cycling of the acoustic sensor.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Zhenyong Zhang, Wei Ma, Mikko Topi Loikkanen, Mark Kuhns
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Patent number: 10403258Abstract: A system for generating a silent zone at a listening position is provided. The system includes a loudspeaker, an error microphone, a microphone array, and a noise controller. The loudspeaker is configured to radiate sound that corresponds to a sound signal. The error microphone is configured to pick up noise radiated by a noise source and the sound radiated by the loudspeaker via a secondary path. The microphone array is configured to pick up noise radiated by a noise source and the sound from the loudspeaker. The microphone array is configured to generate corresponding array signals. The noise controller is configured to receive a noise signal representative of noise radiated by the noise source and to filter the noise signal with a controllable noise reduction transfer function. The noise controller is further configured to control the noise reduction transfer function based on the noise signal and a virtual error signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2017Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbHInventor: Nikos Zafeiropoulos
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Patent number: 10397689Abstract: A dual wireless earphones comprise two earphone bodies and a connecting cable assembly. The connecting cable assembly comprises a cable tube and two connectors fixedly connected to both ends of the cable tube respectively, one of the connectors is detachably connected to one of the earphone bodies, and the other connector is detachably connected to the other earphone body. In the dual wireless earphones according to the present disclosure, two earphone bodies are detachably connected by a connecting cable assembly, and when the dual wireless earphones are used, the two earphone bodies can be connected by the connecting cable assembly, thereby effectively avoiding the earphone bodies being dropped and lost when they are worn. Moreover, the user can choose whether to connect the two earphone bodies according to his preferences and usage scenarios, so the use of the dual wireless earphones is greatly facilitated.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2016Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: QINGDAO GOERTEK TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventor: Mingjun Tang
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Patent number: 10397692Abstract: The speaker system disclosed includes multiple closely spaced drivers in a column matrix format. Using signal processing and pairing of the drivers, the speaker system optimally combines acoustic output and maintains the benefits of a single column vertical array while achieving improved low frequency sound production by coupling speakers through spatial and frequency alignment. The full frequency range of an audio signal is provided to a first set of drivers while a low frequency band of the audio signal is provided to a second set of drivers. The horizontal centers of the two adjacent sets of drivers are such that the signal wavelength provided to the second set of drivers is at least twice the separation distance between transducer acoustic centers. By providing a continuous range of signal to at least one driver set, and proper frequency management of the second set, crossover artifacts are substantially minimized while the benefits of coupled drivers are optimized.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Inventor: Thomas A. Janes
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Patent number: 10387101Abstract: Disclosed is a control method for an electronic device. An electronic device according to an embodiment comprises: at least one speaker; and a processor. The processor may be configured to: obtain sound source data; obtain first sound source data, corresponding to a first designated frequency band, from the sound source data by using a filter; generate second sound source data by applying sound effect to at least a portion of sound source data corresponding to a second designated frequency band among the sound source data; generate synthesized sound source data corresponding to the sound source data by synthesizing the first sound source data and the second sound source data; and output the synthesized sound source data through the at least one speaker. Other embodiments may also be possible.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2016Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Byeong-Jun Kim, Jae-Hyun Kim, Jun-Soo Lee, Ho-Chul Hwang
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Patent number: 10387111Abstract: A method for adjusting the output of sound to allow for orientation and reorientation of a sound source device in relation to a listener comprises the control of sound generators in the device to output successive sounds to ambient environment and collect the sound echoes from listening surfaces of user to form a lookup history. Horizontal distance ? and an included angle ? between the electronic device and the ear cavities or other surfaces of user, and a vertical displacement d of the electronic device are calculated. Horizontal distance difference ?? and a Doppler factor D are further calculated. A gas generator is controlled to input gas into deformable areas of platform which holds the sound generators to allow for instant particular orientations. A shape deformation factor S of the deformable areas is determined. Original factory settings of the device can be adjusted according to instant calculations and lookup history.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2018Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: NANNING FUGUI PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Wen-Hsin Chang, Chang-Te Wu
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Patent number: 10390132Abstract: An electronic device comprising: a microphone array including at least three microphones; and at least one processor configured to: identify a kind of an application that is executed; activate one or more of the microphones in the array based on each microphone's respective position within the electronic device and the type of the application; and capture audio using the activated microphones.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2017Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jong Mo Keum, Min Ho Bae, Jung Yeol An, Gang Youl Kim, Jun Tai Kim, Jae Mo Yang, Nam Il Lee, Ho Chul Hwang
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Patent number: 10390137Abstract: An example non-transitory computer-readable medium includes instructions. When executed by a processor, the instructions cause the processor to remove nondominant frequencies from a low frequency portion of an audio signal. The instructions also cause the processor to apply non-linear processing to a remainder of the low frequency portion to generate a plurality of harmonics. The instructions cause the processor to insert the plurality of harmonics into an audio output corresponding to a high frequency portion of the audio signal. The audio output is to be provided to an audio output device.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2016Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Dvelopment Company, L.P.Inventor: Sunil Bharitkar
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Patent number: 10362424Abstract: A method for performing DRC on a HOA signal comprises transforming the HOA signal to the spatial domain, analyzing the transformed HOA signal, and obtaining, from results of said analyzing, gain factors that are usable for dynamic compression. The gain factors can be transmitted together with the HOA signal. When applying the DRC, the HOA signal is transformed to the spatial domain, the gain factors are extracted and multiplied with the transformed HOA signal in the spatial domain, wherein a gain compensated transformed HOA signal is obtained. The gain compensated transformed HOA signal is transformed back into the HOA domain, wherein a gain compensated HOA signal is obtained. The DRC may be applied in the QMF-filter bank domain.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2018Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Johannes Boehm, Florian Keiler
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Patent number: 10362430Abstract: An electronic device may comprise: a sensing unit for acquiring image data and sensing an object and a user; an output unit for outputting audio; and a processor for receiving image data from the sensing unit, rendering information on a space from the image data to generate space information, recognizing the object in the space and mapping the object to the space information, recognizing the user in the space, and controlling the output unit on the basis of position information of the object and the user when a notification associated with the object occurs.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2016Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., LtdInventors: Dong-Il Son, Chi-Hyun Cho, Chang-Ryong Heo, Ji-Ho Chang, Hee-Yeon Jeong, Jung-Su Ha, Mi-Jeong Song
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Patent number: 10360924Abstract: A system for removing noise from an audio signal is described. For example, noise caused by content playing in the background during a voice command or phone call may be removed from the audio signal representing the voice command or phone call. By removing noise, the signal to noise ratio of the audio signal may be improved.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2017Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLCInventor: George Thomas Des Jardins
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Patent number: 10359991Abstract: Media content systems and methods are operable to detect sound using one or more microphones during presentation of a media content event. The audio content output is changed by a remedial action that is performed if the audio content detected by the microphones does not correspond to the intended audio content of the presented media content event.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2018Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: DISH TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.Inventors: David Innes, Jeremy Mickelsen
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Patent number: 10356520Abstract: A sound source localization unit determines a localized sound source direction that is a direction to a sound source on the basis of acoustic signals of a plurality of channels acquired from M (M is an integer equal to or greater than 3) sound pickup units being at different positions, and a sound source position estimation unit determines an intersection of straight lines to an estimated sound source direction, which is a direction from the sound pickup unit to an estimated sound source position of the sound source for each set of the two sound pickup units, classifies a distribution of intersections into a plurality of clusters, and updates the estimated sound source positions so that an estimation probability that is a probability of the estimated sound source positions being classified into clusters corresponding to the sound sources becomes high.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2018Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuhiro Nakadai, Daniel Patryk Gabriel, Ryosuke Kojima
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Patent number: 10354634Abstract: Method and system for use with multimedia signals that analyzes the signals into time-frequency frames over first and second time periods. Estimates of the noise and/or reverberation are derived from the frames. Gains are derived from the estimates and raised to a power to create modified gains. The modified gains are applied to the frame in the appropriate time periods. Modified multimedia signals are output after being processed by the modified gains.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2017Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: ACCUSONUS, INC.Inventors: Alexandros Tsilfidis, Elias Kokkinis
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Patent number: 10348326Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a digital microphone interface circuit includes a delta-sigma analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having an input configured to be coupled to a microphone, a digital lowpass filter coupled to an output of the delta-sigma ADC, and a digital sigma-delta modulator coupled to an output of the digital lowpass filter. The delta-sigma ADC, the digital lowpass filter, and the digital sigma-delta modulator are configured to operate at different sampling frequencies.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Elmar Bach, Dietmar Straeussnigg, Luca Valli
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Patent number: 10349173Abstract: A nonlinear control system and a loudspeaker protection system. In particular, a nonlinear control system including a controller, an audio system, and a model is disclosed. The controller is configured to accept one or more input signals, and one or more estimated states produced by the model to produce one or more control signals. The audio system includes one or more transducers configured to accept the control signals to produce a rendered audio stream therefrom. An active loudspeaker with an integrated amplifier is disclosed. A loudspeaker protection system and a quality control system are disclosed. More particularly, a system for clamping the input to a loudspeaker dependent upon a bank of representative models is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: CIRRUS LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Pär Gunnars Risberg, Erik Lindahl, Marcus Arvidsson, Daniel Stahre, Landy Toth
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Patent number: 10349191Abstract: The present disclosure regards a binaural hearing system configured to receive sound signals from the environment having two hearing instruments to be worn on respective sides of the head of a user and to generate a binaural signal using the received sound signals of both hearing instruments.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Oticon A/SInventor: Pauli Minnaar
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Patent number: 10341793Abstract: A system and method for providing user location-based multi-zone media. As a non-limiting example, various aspects of this disclosure provide a system and method that flexibly presents media content (e.g., audio content) to a user as the user moves throughout a premises. As a non-limiting example, various aspects of this disclosure provide a system and method that flexibly presents media content (e.g., audio content) to a user as the user moves throughout a premises.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2017Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Sound United, LLC.Inventors: Bradley M. Starobin, Matthew Lyons, Stuart W. Lumsden, Michael DiTullo, Paul O'Connor
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Patent number: 10334382Abstract: A method for compressing a HOA signal being an input HOA representation with input time frames (C(k)) of HOA coefficient sequences comprises spatial HOA encoding of the input time frames and subsequent perceptual encoding and source encoding. Each input time frame is decomposed (802) into a frame of predominant sound signals (XPS(k?1)) and a frame of an ambient HOA component ({tilde over (C)}AMB(k?1)). The ambient HOA component ({tilde over (C)}AMB(k?1)) comprises, in a layered mode, first HOA coefficient sequences of the input HOA representation (cn(k?1)) in lower positions and second HOA coefficient sequences (cAMB,n(k?1)) in remaining higher positions. The second HOA coefficient sequences are part of an HOA representation of a residual between the input HOA representation and the HOA representation of the predominant sound signals.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2018Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Sven Kordon, Alexander Krueger, Oliver Wuebbolt