Patents Examined by Vivian Chin
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Patent number: 9998082Abstract: In an example embodiment, an audio device is provided with one or more processors and a computer-readable tangible medium with instructions stored thereon that, when executed, direct the one or more processors to access a target audio file and access a set of evaluated levels associated with one or more preset frequency bands in the target audio file. The computer-readable tangible medium also has instructions that direct the processor to create a set of comparatively balanced levels by comparatively balancing a set of actual levels associated with the one or more preset frequency bands in the target audio file to at least approximate a set of reference levels associated with the one or more preset frequency bands. The computer-readable tangible medium further has instructions that direct the processor to play the target audio file with the set of comparatively balanced levels.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2017Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Gibson Brands, Inc.Inventor: Craig Anderton
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Patent number: 9998823Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a control circuit may be configured to, responsive to an indication to switch between gain modes of a signal path having an analog path portion and a digital signal path portion, switch a selectable analog gain of the analog path portion between a first analog gain and a second analog gain, switch a selectable digital gain of the digital signal path portion between a first digital gain and a second digital gain, wherein the product of the first analog gain and the first digital gain is approximately equal to the product of the second analog gain and the second digital gain, and control an analog response of the signal path to reduce the occurrence of audio artifacts present in the output signal as a result of the switch between gain modes of the signal path. A signal path may have an analog path portion and a digital signal path portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2014Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Ku He, Tejasvi Das, John L. Melanson, Anniruddha Satoskar
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Patent number: 9998610Abstract: The surrounding environment where an electronic apparatus is placed is detected according to external sounds, and therefore it is difficult to accurately switch the output of a ring-tone. A control apparatus controls the sound generated by the electronic device. The control apparatus includes a sound producing section that outputs a sound output signal causing a sound output section to generate the sound, a sound acquiring section that acquires a sound input signal generated from external sound, and an adjusting section that adjusts the sound output signal or the output of an output device according to the sound input signal acquired in a state where the sound is being generated.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2014Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microdevices CorporationInventor: Haizhen Li
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Patent number: 9998606Abstract: Methods and apparatus assist listeners in distinguishing between electronically generated binaural sound and physical environment sound while the listener wears a wearable electronic device that provides the binaural sound to the listener. The wearable electronic device generates a visual alert or audio alert when the electronically generated binaural sound occurs.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2017Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Inventors: Glen A. Norris, Philip Scott Lyren
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Patent number: 9992573Abstract: A filter for correcting phase distortion produced at low frequencies in a loudspeaker system is created by inverting the phase response of the determined complex-valued frequency response of a loudspeaker system. The inverted phase response is obtained by taking the complex conjugate of the phase response. The impulse response for the inverted phase response is obtained by means of an inverse Fourier transform of the inverted phase response. The impulse response provides a linear phase FIR filter having a long filter length. The linear phase FIR filter is applied to the audio signal input to the loudspeaker system. Prior to inverting the phase response, the determined complex-valued frequency response of a loudspeaker system can be subjected to high frequency blanking and polynomial smoothing. Also, the linear phase FIR filter can be subjected to a window function prior to applying the filter to the audio signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2014Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: Meyer Sound Laboratories, IncorporatedInventors: Perrin Meyer, John D. Meyer
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Patent number: 9992593Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium for an audio processing system which compensates for environment parameters to enhance audio inputs and outputs of an information handling system. More specifically, in certain embodiments, the audio processing system accounts for environmental characteristics including some or all of shape, size, materials, occupant, quantity, location and occlusions.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2014Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: Rocco Ancona, Roman J. Pacheco, Douglas J. Peeler, Christophe Daguet, Richard W. Schuckle
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Patent number: 9992568Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one earpiece, at least one hands-free speaker, and a sound reproduction system. The sound reproduction system includes the at least one earpiece and the at least one hands-free speaker. The sound reproduction system is configured to provide a downlink audio signal to the at least one earpiece and a corresponding audio signal associated with the downlink audio signal to the at least one hands-free speaker.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2013Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: Nokia Technologies OyInventor: Thomas Benedict Slotte
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Patent number: 9990927Abstract: A method of encoding a multi-channel 3-dimensional (3D) audio signal mixed with a multi-channel 3D object signal is provided. The method includes: obtaining a location parameter indicating a virtual location of the multi-channel 3D object signal on a multi-channel speaker layout based on a gain value of the multi-channel 3D object signal for each channel; and encoding the multi-channel 3D audio signal and the location parameter.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2017Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Young-woo Lee, Sun-min Kim, Hwan Shim, Nam-suk Lee, Hyun-wook Kim, Jong-hoon Jeong
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Patent number: 9992592Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 3, 2014Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Mohammed Aftab Alam, Ramez Nachman, Vikram Srinivas, Donald Joseph Ashley, Ali-Reza Bahmandar
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Patent number: 9992600Abstract: Multiple virtual source locations may be defined for a volume within which audio objects can move. A set-up process for rendering audio data may involve receiving reproduction speaker location data and pre-computing gain values for each of the virtual sources according to the reproduction speaker location data and each virtual source location. The gain values may be stored and used during “run time,” during which audio reproduction data are rendered for the speakers of the reproduction environment. During run time, for each audio object, contributions from virtual source locations within an area or volume defined by the audio object position data and the audio object size data may be computed. A set of gain values for each output channel of the reproduction environment may be computed based, at least in part, on the computed contributions. Each output channel may correspond to at least one reproduction speaker of the reproduction environment.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2017Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, Dolby International ABInventors: Antonio Mateos Sole, Nicolas R. Tsingos
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Patent number: 9984701Abstract: Systems and techniques for removing non-stationary and/or colored noise can include one or more of the three following innovative aspects: (1) detection of an unwanted target signal, or component thereof, within an observed signal; (2) removal of the target (component) from the observed signal; and (3) filling of a gap in the observed signal generated by removal of the unwanted target (component). Removal regions, frequency bands, and/or regions of the observed signal used to train the gap filler can be adapted in correspondence with local characteristics of the observed signal and/or the target signal (component). Related aspects also are described. For example, disclosed noise detection and/or removal methods can include converting an incoming acoustic signal to a corresponding machine-readable form. And, a corrected signal in machine-readable form can be converted to a human-perceivable form, and/or to a modulated signal form conveyed over a communication connection.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2016Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Harvey D. Thornburg, Hyung-Suk Kim, Peter A. Raffensperger
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Patent number: 9984292Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 8, 2016Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: XIX INC.Inventors: Jung-Ya Hsieh, Yao-Tsung Yeh, Chun-Yen Yu, Shu-Ming Wei
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Patent number: 9986082Abstract: An interface device and method between an electronic device and an external device using an ear jack of a smart device are disclosed in order to implement an interface that is capable of automatically recognizing an ear jack insertion type appcessory. The interface device includes: an electronic device including an ear jack including a plurality of audio signal input and output terminals; an external device including an interface unit including a connector unit configured to be inserted into the ear jack, the connector unit including a plurality of terminals that correspond to the plurality of audio signal input and output terminals provided in the ear jack of the electronic device, respectively; and a recognizing unit on the connector unit of the interface unit configured to recognize whether the external device is connected to the ear jack of the electronic device through a plurality of detections.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2016Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Changsu Lee, Sungsoo Moon, Kemsuk Seo, Bongjae Rhee, Sangmoon Lee
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Patent number: 9985518Abstract: A circuit includes: a signal processing unit which is configured to perform signal processing; an amplifying unit which is configured to amplify a signal output from the signal processing unit; a first power supplying path which is extended from a battery to the signal processing unit; a second power supplying path which is branched from the first power supplying path, and which is extended to the amplifying unit; a power limiting unit which is provided in the second power supplying path, and which is configured to limit power flowing in the second power supplying path; and a capacitor which is connected to the second power supplying path, and which is configured to supplement power to be supplied to the amplifying unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2017Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATIONInventors: Jun Ishii, Satsuki Kawahashi, Takeshi Kono, Yoshiyuki Harada
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Patent number: 9986332Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 13, 2016Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventor: Kazuhiro Katagiri
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Patent number: 9980028Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 22, 2016Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.Inventors: Iain McNeill, Kwangsee Allen Woo, John S Graham
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Patent number: 9973850Abstract: A speaker control device in one embodiment includes an oscillator connected in parallel with a drive circuit for driving a speaker, the oscillator changing an oscillation frequency according to a voltage, and a control circuit detecting a variation in the oscillation frequency of the oscillator, and adjusting an amount of current supplied to the speaker by the drive circuit in the case where a variation in the voltage exceeds an allowable value.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2016Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: TRIGENCE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.Inventors: Akira Yasuda, Jun-ichi Okamura
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Patent number: 9973848Abstract: An augmented reality environment allows interaction between virtual and real objects. Beamforming techniques are applied to signals acquired by an array of microphones to allow for simultaneous spatial tracking and signal acquisition from multiple users. Localization information such as from other sensors in the environment may be used to select a particular set of beamformer coefficients and resulting beampattern focused on a signal source. Alternately, a series of beampatterns may be used iteratively to localize the signal source in a computationally efficient fashion. The beamformer coefficients may be pre-computed.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2011Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Amit S. Chhetri, Kavitha Velusamy, Edward Dietz Crump
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Patent number: 9972296Abstract: An acoustic-to-electronic bass drum conversion kit describes the parts needed to convert an acoustic bass drum into an electronic bass drum trigger and amplification device. My invention includes a front panel assembly which has at least one loudspeaker mounted on a panel which fits over the front of a bass drum shell, and a rear panel assembly which has an amplifier and an impact sensitive kick pad mounted on a rear panel. After discarding the front and rear drum heads and hoops, the front and rear panel assemblies are attached to the bass drum shell using conventional lug, tension rod and claw bracket technology. My invention provides the desired look of an acoustic bass drum for drummers who desire an electronic drum amplification system.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2017Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Inventor: Mark David Steele
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Patent number: 9967677Abstract: A system and method for a sensor-supported microphone includes an amplifier having an input configured to be coupled to a transducer, and an output coupled to an analog interface to output a transduced electrical signal from the transducer, a data bus configured to be coupled to an environmental sensor, a calibration parameter storage circuit coupled to the data bus, the calibration parameter storage circuit comprising calibration data relating sensitivity of the transducer with environmental measurements provided by the environmental sensor, and a digital interface coupled to the data bus and configured to output the calibration data and the environmental measurements.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2015Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AGInventors: Andreas Wiesbauer, Marc Fueldner, Elmar Bach