Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering spatial audio in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a spatial audio system, including a primary network connected speaker, including a plurality of sets of drivers, where each set of drivers is oriented in a different direction, a processor system, memory containing an audio player application, wherein the audio player application configures the processor system to obtain an audio source stream from an audio source via the network interface, spatially encode the audio source, decode the spatially encoded audio source to obtain driver inputs for the individual drivers in the plurality of sets of drivers, where the driver inputs cause the drivers to generate directional audio.

Abstract: Systems and methods for clock synchronization in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a clock synchronization system includes a reference device including a clock circuitry, and a transmitter configured to transmit a synchronization signal based on a clock signal using the clock circuitry, and a receiving device including a processor configured to operate by a general-purpose operating system (GPOS), a coprocessor configured to operate by a real-time operating system (RTOS), a memory utilized by the processor, where the coprocessor has direct memory access to the memory, and a receiver configured to receive the signal, where the RTOS directs the coprocessor to trigger an interrupt upon reception of the signal, sample a GPOS clock time stored in the memory in response to the interrupt, generate a clock time based on the signal and the sampled GPOS clock time, and provide the GPOS with the clock time.

Abstract: In a device or method for rendering a sound program for headphones, a location is received for placing the sound program with respect to first and second ear pieces. If the location is between the first ear piece and the second ear piece, the sound program is filtered to produce low-frequency and high-frequency portions. The high-frequency portion is panned according to the location to produce first and second high-frequency signals. The low-frequency portion and the first high-frequency signal are combined to produce a first headphone driver signal to drive the first ear piece. A second headphone driver signal is similarly produced. The sound program may be a stereo sound program. The device or method may also provide for a location that is between the first ear piece and a near-field boundary. Other aspects are also described.

Abstract: A binaural sound reproduction system, and methods of using the binaural sound reproduction system to dynamically re-center a frame of reference for a virtual sound source, are described. The binaural sound reproduction system may include a reference device, e.g., a mobile device, having a reference sensor to provide reference orientation data corresponding to a direction of the reference device, and a head-mounted device, e.g., headphones, having a device sensor to provide device orientation data corresponding to a direction of the head-mounted device. The system may use the reference orientation data to determine whether the head-mounted device is being used in a static or dynamic use case, and may adjust an audio output to render the virtual sound source in an adjusted source direction based on the determined use case. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors and memory, and in communication with a display and an audio system presents, under control of the electronic device, via the audio system, a first audio output, the first audio output having a volume and an audio property other than volume (e.g., a reverberation time, a low-pass filter cutoff, or a stereo balance). While the audio system presents a first audio output, the device receives an input that corresponds to a request to present a second audio output, and in response, the device concurrently presents, via the audio system, an adjusted version of the first audio output in which the audio property other than volume of the first audio output has been adjusted and the second audio output.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering spatial audio in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a spatial audio system, including a primary network connected speaker, including a plurality of sets of drivers, where each set of drivers is oriented in a different direction, a processor system, memory containing an audio player application, wherein the audio player application configures the processor system to obtain an audio source stream from an audio source via the network interface, spatially encode the audio source, decode the spatially encoded audio source to obtain driver inputs for the individual drivers in the plurality of sets of drivers, where the driver inputs cause the drivers to generate directional audio.

Abstract: An electronic device detects a first input directed to a first affordance in a set of one or more affordances displayed on a display. In response to detecting the first input, the electronic device initiates presentation of a first audio output having a first audio profile. The electronic device later detects a second input directed to a second affordance in the set. In response to detecting the second input and if audio alteration criteria are satisfied, the electronic device causes: (i) presentation of altered first audio output having an altered audio profile and (ii) presentation of a second audio output having a second audio profile. In response to detecting the second input and if the audio alteration criteria are not satisfied, the electronic device causes: (i) continued presentation of the first audio output and (ii) presentation of a third audio output having a third audio profile.

Abstract: An audio system that adjusts one or more beam patterns emitted by one or more loudspeaker arrays based on the preferences of users/listeners is described. The audio system includes an audio receiver that contains a listener location estimator, a listener identifier, and a voice command processor. Inputs from the listener location estimator, the listener identifier, and the voice command processor are fed into an array processor. The array processor drives the one or more loudspeaker arrays to emit beam patterns into the listening area based on inputs from each of these devices. By examining the location, preferred usage settings, and voice commands from listeners, the generated beam patterns are customized to the explicit and implicit preferences of the listeners with minimal direct input. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A directivity adjustment device that maintains a constant direct-to-reverberant ratio based on the detected location of a listener in relation to the speaker array is described. The directivity adjustment device may include a distance estimator, a directivity compensator, and an array processor. The distance estimator detects the distance between the speaker array and the listener. Based on this detected distance, the directivity compensator calculates a directivity index form a beam produced by the speaker array that maintains a predefined direct-to-reverberant sound energy ratio. The array processor receives the calculated directivity index and processes each channel of a piece of sound program content to produce a set of audio signals that drive one or more of the transducers in the speaker array to generate a beam pattern with the calculated directivity index.

Abstract: In a device or method for rendering a sound program for headphones, a location is received for placing the sound program with respect to first and second ear pieces. If the location is between the first ear piece and the second ear piece, the sound program is filtered to produce low-frequency and high-frequency portions. The high-frequency portion is panned according to the location to produce first and second high-frequency signals. The low-frequency portion and the first high-frequency signal are combined to produce a first headphone driver signal to drive the first ear piece. A second headphone driver signal is similarly produced. The sound program may be a stereo sound program. The device or method may also provide for a location that is between the first ear piece and a near-field boundary. Other aspects are also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods for clock synchronization in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a clock synchronization system includes a reference device including a clock circuitry, and a transmitter configured to transmit a synchronization signal based on a clock signal using the clock circuitry, and a receiving device including a processor configured to operate by a general-purpose operating system (GPOS), a coprocessor configured to operate by a real-time operating system (RTOS), a memory utilized by the processor, where the coprocessor has direct memory access to the memory, and a receiver configured to receive the signal, where the RTOS directs the coprocessor to trigger an interrupt upon reception of the signal, sample a GPOS clock time stored in the memory in response to the interrupt, generate a clock time based on the signal and the sampled GPOS clock time, and provide the GPOS with the clock time.

Abstract: Devices and methods for audio signal transmission from HDMI to USB-C in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) to Universal Serial Bus Type C (USB-C) audio transmission cable, including, an HDMI connector, a USB-C connector, and a processing component, where the processing component is communicatively coupled to the HDMI connector and the USB-C connector, the processing component including a pattern generator, and an HDMI to USB-C signal converter, where the processing component is configured to: transmit a video pattern generated by the pattern generator via the HDMI connector, receive an HDMI audio signal via the HDMI connector over an Audio Return Channel (ARC) in response to the transmission of the video pattern, convert the HDMI audio signal into a USB-C audio signal using the HDMI to USB-C signal converter, and transmit the USB-C audio signal using the USB-C connector.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fabricating loudspeaker diaphragms with embedded visual elements in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a loudspeaker diaphragm including a first transparent layer, a plurality of opaque layers, one or more inserts, where the one or more inserts are embedded in gaps in the plurality of opaque layers such that the one or more inserts are visible through the first transparent layer, and a second transparent layer, where the plurality of opaque layers is bonded between the first and second transparent layers.

Abstract: A binaural sound reproduction system, and methods of using the binaural sound reproduction system to dynamically re-center a frame of reference for a virtual sound source, are described. The binaural sound reproduction system may include a reference device, e.g., a mobile device, having a reference sensor to provide reference orientation data corresponding to a direction of the reference device, and a head-mounted device, e.g., headphones, having a device sensor to provide device orientation data corresponding to a direction of the head-mounted device. The system may use the reference orientation data to determine whether the head-mounted device is being used in a static or dynamic use case, and may adjust an audio output to render the virtual sound source in an adjusted source direction based on the determined use case. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering spatial audio in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a spatial audio system, including a primary network connected speaker, including a plurality of sets of drivers, where each set of drivers is oriented in a different direction, a processor system, memory containing an audio player application, wherein the audio player application configures the processor system to obtain an audio source stream from an audio source via the network interface, spatially encode the audio source, decode the spatially encoded audio source to obtain driver inputs for the individual drivers in the plurality of sets of drivers, where the driver inputs cause the drivers to generate directional audio.

Abstract: In a device or method for rendering a sound program for headphones, a location is received for placing the sound program with respect to first and second ear pieces. If the location is between the first ear piece and the second ear piece, the sound program is filtered to produce low-frequency and high-frequency portions. The high-frequency portion is panned according to the location to produce first and second high-frequency signals. The low-frequency portion and the first high-frequency signal are combined to produce a first headphone driver signal to drive the first ear piece. A second headphone driver signal is similarly produced. The sound program may be a stereo sound program. The device or method may also provide for a location that is between the first ear piece and a near-field boundary. Other aspects are also described.

Abstract: An audio system is described that includes one or more speaker arrays that emit sound corresponding to one or more pieces of sound program content into associated zones within a listening area. Using parameters of the audio system (e.g., locations of the speaker arrays and the audio sources), the zones, the users, the pieces of sound program content, and the listening area, one or more beam pattern attributes may be generated. The beam pattern attributes define a set of beams that are used to generate audio beams for channels of sound program content to be played in each zone. The beam pattern attributes may be updated as changes are detected within the listening environment. By adapting to these changing conditions, the audio system is capable of reproducing sound that accurately represents each piece of sound program content in various zones.

Abstract: A binaural sound reproduction system, and methods of using the binaural sound reproduction system to dynamically re-center a frame of reference for a virtual sound source, are described. The binaural sound reproduction system may include a reference device, e.g., a mobile device, having a reference sensor to provide reference orientation data corresponding to a direction of the reference device, and a head-mounted device, e.g., headphones, having a device sensor to provide device orientation data corresponding to a direction of the head-mounted device. The system may use the reference orientation data to determine whether the head-mounted device is being used in a static or dynamic use case, and may adjust an audio output to render the virtual sound source in an adjusted source direction based on the determined use case. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering spatial audio in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a spatial audio system, including a primary network connected speaker, including a plurality of sets of drivers, where each set of drivers is oriented in a different direction, a processor system, memory containing an audio player application, wherein the audio player application configures the processor system to obtain an audio source stream from an audio source via the network interface, spatially encode the audio source, decode the spatially encoded audio source to obtain driver inputs for the individual drivers in the plurality of sets of drivers, where the driver inputs cause the drivers to generate directional audio.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering spatial audio in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a spatial audio system, including a primary network connected speaker, including a plurality of sets of drivers, where each set of drivers is oriented in a different direction, a processor system, memory containing an audio player application, wherein the audio player application configures the processor system to obtain an audio source stream from an audio source via the network interface, spatially encode the audio source, decode the spatially encoded audio source to obtain driver inputs for the individual drivers in the plurality of sets of drivers, where the driver inputs cause the drivers to generate directional audio.