Patents by Inventor Kevin J. Bastyr

Kevin J. Bastyr has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10741162
    Abstract: An active noise cancellation (ANC) system may include provisions for validating the accuracy of a modeled transfer characteristic stored in secondary path filters, which provides an estimate of the secondary path (i.e., the transfer function between a speaker and an error microphone). Using estimated anti-noise or music signals to adjust an error signal from the error microphone, a signal analysis controller may detect ANC instability or noise boosting. Such noise boosting may indicate the stored transfer characteristic in the secondary path filter does not accurately represent the actual secondary path. According, upon detection of noise boosting, the stored transfer characteristic of the secondary path filters may be modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Kevin J. Bastyr
  • Publication number: 20200175956
    Abstract: A road noise cancellation (RNC) system may include a signal analysis controller for detecting non-stationary, transient events based on sensor signals having a spectral or temporal character significantly different from steady-state road or cabin noise. Upon detection of such non-stationary events, the RNC system may modify the sensor signals to mask the non-stationary event, thereby preventing the RNC system's adaptive filters from mis-adapting because of transient, non-stationary events. Alternatively, the RNC system may pause or slow or pause adaptation of its controllable filters for the duration of a frame that includes the non-stationary event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventor: Kevin J. BASTYR
  • Patent number: 10672378
    Abstract: An active noise cancellation (ANC) system may include an adaptive filter divergence detector for detecting divergence of the one or more controllable filters as they adapt, based on dynamically adapted thresholds. Upon detection of a controllable filter divergence, the ANC system may be deactivated, or certain speakers may be muted. Alternatively, the ANC system may modify the diverged controllable filters to restore proper operation of the noise cancelling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kevin J. Bastyr, James May, David Trumpy
  • Publication number: 20200101896
    Abstract: A vehicle sound synthesis system is provided with a loudspeaker and a controller. The loudspeaker projects sound indicative of synthesized engine noise (SEN) within a cabin of a vehicle in response to receiving a SEN signal. The controller is programmed to generate the SEN signal; and receive a first input indicative of an engine start command. The controller is further programmed to, modulate a characteristic of the SEN signal to align with a corresponding engine operating characteristic during starting conditions in response to the engine start command; and provide an adjusted SEN signal including the modulated characteristic to the loudspeaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Kevin J. BASTYR
  • Patent number: 10593317
    Abstract: A road noise cancellation (RNC) system may include a controller and attenuator for reducing the audibility of the noise floor caused by the system's vibration sensors. A level of anti-noise at a location in a passenger cabin that may be attributed to the sensor noise floor may be estimated. An actual sound level in the passenger cabin may be measured or estimated, with the sensor noise floor component algorithmically removed. The difference in levels may be compared to a predetermined threshold to determine an amount of attenuation, if any, to be applied to an anti-noise signal to reduce audibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kevin J. Bastyr, James May
  • Patent number: 10580399
    Abstract: A road noise cancellation (RNC) system may include a signal analysis controller for detecting non-stationary, transient events based on sensor signals having a spectral or temporal character significantly different from steady-state road or cabin noise. Upon detection of such non-stationary events, the RNC system may modify the sensor signals to mask the non-stationary event, thereby preventing the RNC system's adaptive filters from mis-adapting because of transient, non-stationary events. Alternatively, the RNC system may pause or slow or pause adaptation of its controllable filters for the duration of a frame that includes the non-stationary event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Kevin J. Bastyr
  • Publication number: 20190379988
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a request to output audio at a speaker of an electronic device, determining whether the speaker of the electronic device is facing substantially towards or away from a support surface, identifying, based on whether the speaker of the electronic device is facing substantially towards or away from the support surface, an equalization setting, and providing, for output at the speaker of the electronic device, an audio signal with the equalization setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Adrian M. Schuster, Kevin J. Bastyr, Prabhu Anabathula, Andrew K. Wells, Wen Hao Zhang
  • Publication number: 20190311705
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for active sound management for vehicles. In one embodiment, a process for active sound management for a vehicle includes determining vehicle operation state and powertrain operation for the vehicle, and detecting sound generated by the powertrain operation of the vehicle. A synthesized sound may be determined for output based on selection of at least one frequency of the sound generated by the powertrain to drive a frequency of a sine-wave generator, synthesizing an output wave file with pitch shifting of frequency based on powertrain operation, and blending sine-wave generator output with the synthesized wave file to cancel unwanted powertrain noise and generate desired sounds for vehicles. Output of the synthesized sound may be controlled to provide simultaneous cancellation and synthesis in at least one same frequency range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: David TRUMPY, Divya Sishtla Venkata, Santosh Adari, Kevin J. Bastyr, Jens Dembinski, Nicolas Pelle, Prashanth Udumula
  • Publication number: 20190270350
    Abstract: A sensor is configured to infer a rotational speed of a tire of a vehicle. A frequency generator is configured to synthesize frequencies of a tire cavity resonance according to the rotational speed of the tire to generate a sense signal. An active noise control filter is configured to generate an antinoise signal from the sense signal. A loudspeaker configured to convert the antinoise signal into antinoise and to radiate the antinoise to a listening position. The antinoise signal is configured so that the antinoise reduces sound of the tire cavity resonance at the listening position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin J. BASTYR, James MAY
  • Patent number: 10405113
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for equalizing audio data for output by a speaker of an electronic device based on a local position or orientation of the electronic device. According to certain aspects, the electronic device can determine (858, 868) its local position based on various sensor data, and identify (870, 872) an appropriate equalization setting. In some cases, the electronic device can modify (876, 880) the equalization setting based on acoustic and/or optical data. The electronic device can apply (882) the modified or unmodified equalization setting to an audio signal and cause the speaker to output (886) the audio signal with the applied equalization setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Adrian M. Schuster, Kevin J. Bastyr, Prabhu Anabathula, Andrew K. Wells, Wen Hao Zhang
  • Patent number: 10347236
    Abstract: A system and method for applying a set of road noise cancellation parameters to a road noise cancellation system in a vehicle traveling from a first road surface type to a second road surface type, the set being associated with a vehicle type, a tire type, a road surface type, or a vehicle location. The system and method collects and compares data with the set of road noise cancellation parameters in a database to identify when the vehicle has traveled from a first road surface type to a second road surface type and, upon identifying the vehicle has traveled from a first road surface type to a second road surface type, applies the adjusted set of road noise cancellation parameters in the database that optimize the road noise cancellation system for the second road surface type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Kevin J Bastyr, Dylan M Stafford, Tingli Cai, Aditya Kumar
  • Publication number: 20190208344
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for receiving a request to output audio at a first speaker and a second speaker of an electronic device, determining that the electronic device is oriented in a portrait orientation or a landscape orientation, identifying, based on the determined orientation, a first equalization setting for the first speaker and a second equalization setting for the second speaker, providing, for output at the first speaker, a first audio signal with the first equalization setting, and providing, for output at the second speaker, a second audio signal with the second equalization setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Adrian M. Schuster, Kevin J. Bastyr, Prabhu Anabathula, Andrew K. Wells, Wen Hao Zhang
  • Patent number: 10332504
    Abstract: A road noise cancellation (RNC) system may include a noise controller for detecting non-stationary events, such as objects striking vibration sensors, based on sensor signals having a spectral character significantly different from steady-state road noise. Upon detection of an object strike, the RNC system may be deactivated or certain speakers may be muted. Alternatively, the RNC system may modify the sensor signals to mask the non-stationary event, thereby preventing the RNC system from generating anti-noise based on the object strike.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Kevin J. Bastyr
  • Patent number: 10229697
    Abstract: One method of operation includes beamforming a plurality of microphone outputs to obtain a plurality of virtual microphone audio channels. Each virtual microphone audio channel corresponds to a beamform. The virtual microphone audio channels include at least one voice channel and at least one noise channel. The method includes performing voice activity detection on the at least one voice channel and adjusting a corresponding voice beamform until voice activity detection indicates that voice is present on the at least one voice channel. Another method beamforms the plurality of microphone outputs to obtain a plurality of virtual microphone audio channels, where each virtual microphone audio channel corresponds to a beamform, and with at least one voice channel and at least one noise channel. The method performs voice recognition on the at least one voice channel and adjusts the corresponding voice beamform to improve a voice recognition confidence metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Kevin J. Bastyr, Giles T Davis, Plamen A Ivanov, Rivanaldo S Oliveira, Tenkasi V Ramabadran, Snehitha Singaraju
  • Publication number: 20180268811
    Abstract: A disclosed method includes monitoring an audio signal energy level while having a plurality of signal processing components deactivated and activating at least one signal processing component in response to a detected change in the audio signal energy level. The method may include activating and running a voice activity detector on the audio signal in response to the detected change where the voice activity detector is the at least one signal processing component. The method may further include activating and running the noise suppressor only if a noise estimator determines that noise suppression is required. The method may activate and runs a noise type classifier to determine the noise type based on information received from the noise estimator and may select a noise suppressor algorithm, from a group of available noise suppressor algorithms, where the selected noise suppressor algorithm is the most power consumption efficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Plamen A. Ivanov, Kevin J. Bastyr, Joel A. Clark, Mark A. Jasiuk, Tenkasi V. Ramabadran, Jincheng Wu
  • Patent number: 10067738
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a portable electronic communication device use device operational context to provide user trigger or command input. When user input is received from a user of the device, a set of user input options is selected based on an operational context of the device, including an identification of at least one running application. Each user input option is associated with a device action, and the received user input is mapped to a matching user input option within the selected set of user input options. The device action associated with the matching user input option is then executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Plamen A Ivanov, Kevin J Bastyr, Mark A Jasiuk, Seungyoon Lee, John Ross Meloney, Snehitha Singaraju
  • Patent number: 10065561
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for generating masking sounds in a vehicle, such as an at least partially electric vehicle. An example sound generation system in a vehicle includes a speaker, a processor, and a storage device holding instructions executable by the processor to modulate a sound characteristic of a first frequency range of a synthetic sound to generate a modulated synthetic sound portion while maintaining the sound characteristic of a second frequency range of the synthetic sound that is lower than the first frequency range to generate an unmodulated synthetic sound portion. The instructions are further executable to output a combined synthetic sound including both the modulated synthetic sound portion and the unmodulated synthetic sound portion. The sound characteristic of the first frequency range may be modulated as a function of a vehicle operating parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Kevin J. Bastyr, Antonio Gomez
  • Patent number: 9942658
    Abstract: A method and apparatus increase audio output of a device. A mode of audio output operation of a device can be determined. Audio output can operate in a determined first mode of audio output operation that powers at least one first speaker at a first bandwidth and at a first output level below a first output level threshold. The audio output can operate in a determined second mode of audio output operation. The second mode of audio output operation can power the at least one first speaker at a high pass filtered second bandwidth that filters out low frequencies of the first bandwidth. The second mode of audio output operation can power the at least one first speaker at a second output level below a second output level threshold. The second output level threshold can be higher than the first output level threshold. The second output level can exceed the first output level threshold at least once.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Robert Zurek, Kevin J Bastyr, Joel Clark, Giles T Davis, Adrian M Schuster
  • Publication number: 20180098166
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for equalizing audio data for output by a speaker of an electronic device based on a local position or orientation of the electronic device. According to certain aspects, the electronic device can determine (858, 868) its local position based on various sensor data, and identify (870, 872) an appropriate equalization setting. In some cases, the electronic device can modify (876, 880) the equalization setting based on acoustic and/or optical data. The electronic device can apply (882) the modified or unmodified equalization setting to an audio signal and cause the speaker to output (886) the audio signal with the applied equalization setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Adrian M. Schuster, Kevin J. Bastyr, Prabhu Anabathula, Andrew K. Wells, Wen Hao Zhang
  • Patent number: 9854374
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for equalizing audio data for output by a speaker of an electronic device based on a local position or orientation of the electronic device. According to certain aspects, the electronic device can determine (858, 868) its local position based on various sensor data, and identify (870, 872) an appropriate equalization setting. In some cases, the electronic device can modify (876, 880) the equalization setting based on acoustic and/or optical data. The electronic device can apply (882) the modified or unmodified equalization setting to an audio signal and cause the speaker to output (886) the audio signal with the applied equalization setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Adrian M. Schuster, Kevin J. Bastyr, Prabhu Annabathula, Andrew K. Wells, Wen Hao Zhang