Patents by Inventor Peter L. Chu

Peter L. Chu 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).

  • Publication number: 20220262336
    Abstract: A method for hybrid noise suppression involves receiving a first processed audio signal and a second processed audio signal from an audio device. The first processed audio signal results from a comprehensive audio processing including a noise spectrum estimate-based noise suppression performed on a noisy audio input signal obtained by the audio device. The second processed signal results from a partial audio processing excluding the noise spectrum estimate-based noise suppression performed on the noisy audio input signal. The method further involves temporally aligning the second processed audio signal with the first processed audio signal, predicting a noise suppression parameter using a neural network model operating on the second processed audio signal after the temporal alignment, generating a noise-suppressed audio output signal from the first processed audio signal after the temporal alignment using the noise suppression parameter, and outputting the noise-suppressed audio output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kwan Kin Truong, Jacob T. Meyberg Guzman, Peter L. Chu
  • Patent number: 11343469
    Abstract: A videoconferencing system has a videoconferencing unit that use portable devices as peripherals for the system. The portable devices obtain near-end audio and send the audio to the videoconferencing unit via a wireless connection. In turn, the videoconferencing unit sends the near-end audio from the loudest portable device along with near-end video to the far-end. The portable devices can control the videoconferencing unit and can initially establish the videoconference by connecting with the far-end and then transferring operations to the videoconferencing unit. To deal with acoustic coupling between the unit's loudspeaker and the portable device's microphone, the unit uses an echo canceller that is compensated for differences in the clocks used in the A/D and D/A converters of the loudspeaker and microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Chu, Yibo Liu
  • Patent number: 11228834
    Abstract: The amount of far-field noise transmitted by a primary communication device in an open-plan office environment is reduced by defining an acoustic perimeter of reference microphones around the primary device. Reference microphones generate a reference audio input including far-field noise in the proximity of the primary device. The primary device generates a main audio input including the voice of the primary speaker as well as background noise. Reference audio input is compared to main audio input to identify the background noise portion of the main audio signal. A noise reduction algorithm suppresses the identified background noise in the main audio signal. The one or more reference microphones defining the acoustic perimeter may be included in separate microphone devices placed in proximity to the main desktop phone, microphones within other nearby desktop telephone devices, or a combination of both types of devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Kwan K. Truong, Peter L. Chu, Steven L. Potts, Eric Elias
  • Patent number: 11153531
    Abstract: A videoconferencing system has a videoconferencing unit that use portable devices as peripherals for the system. The portable devices obtain near-end audio and send the audio to the videoconferencing unit via a wireless connection. In turn, the videoconferencing unit sends the near-end audio from the loudest portable device along with near-end video to the far-end. The portable devices can control the videoconferencing unit and can initially establish the videoconference by connecting with the far-end and then transferring operations to the videoconferencing unit. To deal with acoustic coupling between the unit's loudspeaker and the portable device's microphone, the unit uses an echo canceller that is compensated for differences in the clocks used in the A/D and D/A converters of the loudspeaker and microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Chu, Yibo Liu
  • Publication number: 20210136490
    Abstract: The amount of far-field noise transmitted by a primary communication device in an open-plan office environment is reduced by defining an acoustic perimeter of reference microphones around the primary device. Reference microphones generate a reference audio input including far-field noise in the proximity of the primary device. The primary device generates a main audio input including the voice of the primary speaker as well as background noise. Reference audio input is compared to main audio input to identify the background noise portion of the main audio signal. A noise reduction algorithm suppresses the identified background noise in the main audio signal. The one or more reference microphones defining the acoustic perimeter may be included in separate microphone devices placed in proximity to the main desktop phone, microphones within other nearby desktop telephone devices, or a combination of both types of devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Kwan K. Truong, Peter L. Chu, Steven L. Potts, Eric Elias
  • Publication number: 20210112334
    Abstract: An audio device including a housing having a side facing outwardly of the housing, the housing further having a first mounting position disposed on the side. The side has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion opposite the second portion relative to the first mounting position. The audio device also includes a first omnidirectional microphone disposed on the first portion. The audio device also includes a second microphone disposed on the first mounting position. The second microphone may be a second-order microphone. The second-order microphone has a first-order microphone disposed within a first platform mounted a distance from the first mounting position. The audio device also includes a first speaker disposed on the second portion. The first speaker is further disposed such that an audio output of the first speaker falls within a null of the second microphone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter L. Chu
  • Publication number: 20210110840
    Abstract: A method for hybrid noise suppression. The method involves obtaining a noisy audio input signal, generating a noise-suppressed audio output signal by performing a combination of a noise spectrum estimate-based noise suppression and a machine learning-based noise suppression, and outputting the noise-suppressed audio output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Chu, Kwan Kin Truong
  • Patent number: 10938992
    Abstract: Traditional audio feedback elimination systems may attempt to reduce the effect of the audio feedback by simply scaling down the audio volume of the signal frequencies that are prone to howling. Other traditional feedback elimination systems may also employ adaptive notch filtering to detect and “notch” the so-called “singing” or “howling” frequencies as they occur in real-time. Such devices may typically have several knobs and buttons needing tuning, for example: the number of adaptive parametric equalizers (PEQs) versus fixed PEQs; attack and decay timers; and/or PEQ bandwidth. Rather than removing the singing frequencies with PEQs, the devices described herein attempt to holistically model the feedback audio and then remove the entire feedback signal. Two advantages of the devices described herein are: 1.) the system can operate at a much larger loop-gain (and hence with a much higher loudspeaker volume); and 2) setup is greatly simplified (i.e., no tuning knobs or buttons).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Kwan Truong, Peter L. Chu
  • Publication number: 20210051300
    Abstract: A videoconferencing system has a videoconferencing unit that use portable devices as peripherals for the system. The portable devices obtain near-end audio and send the audio to the videoconferencing unit via a wireless connection. In turn, the videoconferencing unit sends the near-end audio from the loudest portable device along with near-end video to the far-end. The portable devices can control the videoconferencing unit and can initially establish the videoconference by connecting with the far-end and then transferring operations to the videoconferencing unit. To deal with acoustic coupling between the unit's loudspeaker and the portable device's microphone, the unit uses an echo canceller that is compensated for differences in the clocks used in the A/D and D/A converters of the loudspeaker and microphone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Peter L. Chu, Yibo Liu
  • Publication number: 20210037210
    Abstract: A videoconferencing system has a videoconferencing unit that use portable devices as peripherals for the system. The portable devices obtain near-end audio and send the audio to the videoconferencing unit via a wireless connection. In turn, the videoconferencing unit sends the near-end audio from the loudest portable device along with near-end video to the far-end. The portable devices can control the videoconferencing unit and can initially establish the videoconference by connecting with the far-end and then transferring operations to the videoconferencing unit. To deal with acoustic coupling between the unit's loudspeaker and the portable device's microphone, the unit uses an echo canceller that is compensated for differences in the clocks used in the A/D and D/A converters of the loudspeaker and microphone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Peter L. Chu, Yibo Liu
  • Patent number: 10904657
    Abstract: An audio device including a housing having a side facing outwardly of the housing, the housing further having a first mounting position disposed on the side. The side has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion opposite the second portion relative to the first mounting position. The audio device also includes a first omnidirectional microphone disposed on the first portion. The audio device also includes a second microphone disposed on the first mounting position. The second microphone may be a second-order microphone. The second-order microphone has a first-order microphone disposed within a first platform mounted a distance from the first mounting position. The audio device also includes a first speaker disposed on the second portion. The first speaker is further disposed such that an audio output of the first speaker falls within a null of the second microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter L. Chu
  • Patent number: 10856077
    Abstract: The amount of far-field noise transmitted by a primary communication device in an open-plan office environment is reduced by defining an acoustic perimeter of reference microphones around the primary device. Reference microphones generate a reference audio input including far-field noise in the proximity of the primary device. The primary device generates a main audio input including the voice of the primary speaker as well as background noise. Reference audio input is compared to main audio input to identify the background noise portion of the main audio signal. A noise reduction algorithm suppresses the identified background noise in the main audio signal. The one or more reference microphones defining the acoustic perimeter may be included in separate microphone devices placed in proximity to the main desktop phone, microphones within other nearby desktop telephone devices, or a combination of both types of devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Kwan K. Truong, Peter L. Chu, Steven L. Potts, Eric Elias
  • Publication number: 20200344546
    Abstract: The amount of far-field noise transmitted by a primary communication device in an open-plan office environment is reduced by defining an acoustic perimeter of reference microphones around the primary device. Reference microphones generate a reference audio input including far-field noise in the proximity of the primary device. The primary device generates a main audio input including the voice of the primary speaker as well as background noise. Reference audio input is compared to main audio input to identify the background noise portion of the main audio signal. A noise reduction algorithm suppresses the identified background noise in the main audio signal. The one or more reference microphones defining the acoustic perimeter may be included in separate microphone devices placed in proximity to the main desktop phone, microphones within other nearby desktop telephone devices, or a combination of both types of devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Kwan K. Truong, Peter L. Chu, Steven L. Potts, Eric Elias
  • Patent number: 10819857
    Abstract: An endpoint receives audio from a remote endpoint. A first signal corresponding to the audio is received at an adaptive filter, and a filtered signal is generated. First audio is emitted at a loudspeaker based on the first signal. A microphone collects second audio which is based on the first audio. The microphone signal emits a signal based on the second audio. The filtered signal is subtracted from microphone signal to generate an adapted signal, the adapted signal having an energy level. The adapted signal is then transmitted to a double-talk detector, the double-talk detector configured to allow transmission of the adapted signal to the remote endpoint when the energy level of the adapted signal exceeds an energy threshold. The degree of cross-correlation between the first signal and the adapted signal is determined (iteratively). If the cross-correlation exceeds a cross-correlation threshold, the energy threshold of the double-talk detector is raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter L. Chu
  • Patent number: 10757364
    Abstract: A videoconferencing system has a videoconferencing unit that use portable devices as peripherals for the system. The portable devices obtain near-end audio and send the audio to the videoconferencing unit via a wireless connection. In turn, the videoconferencing unit sends the near-end audio from the loudest portable device along with near-end video to the far-end. The portable devices can control the videoconferencing unit and can initially establish the videoconference by connecting with the far-end and then transferring operations to the videoconferencing unit. To deal with acoustic coupling between the unit's loudspeaker and the portable device's microphone, the unit uses an echo canceller that is compensated for differences in the clocks used in the A/D and D/A converters of the loudspeaker and microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Chu, Yibo Liu
  • Patent number: 10750282
    Abstract: The amount of far-field noise transmitted by a primary communication device in an open-plan office environment is reduced by defining an acoustic perimeter of reference microphones around the primary device. Reference microphones generate a reference audio input including far-field noise in the proximity of the primary device. The primary device generates a main audio input including the voice of the primary speaker as well as background noise. Reference audio input is compared to main audio input to identify the background noise portion of the main audio signal. A noise reduction algorithm suppresses the identified background noise in the main audio signal. The one or more reference microphones defining the acoustic perimeter may be included in separate microphone devices placed in proximity to the main desktop phone, microphones within other nearby desktop telephone devices, or a combination of both types of devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Kwan K. Truong, Peter L. Chu, Steven L. Potts, Eric Elias
  • Publication number: 20200204911
    Abstract: The amount of far-field noise transmitted by a primary communication device in an open-plan office environment is reduced by defining an acoustic perimeter of reference microphones around the primary device. Reference microphones generate a reference audio input including far-field noise in the proximity of the primary device. The primary device generates a main audio input including the voice of the primary speaker as well as background noise. Reference audio input is compared to main audio input to identify the background noise portion of the main audio signal. A noise reduction algorithm suppresses the identified background noise in the main audio signal. The one or more reference microphones defining the acoustic perimeter may be included in separate microphone devices placed in proximity to the main desktop phone, microphones within other nearby desktop telephone devices, or a combination of both types of devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Kwan K. Truong, Peter L. Chu, Steven L. Potts, Eric Elias
  • Patent number: 10567875
    Abstract: The amount of far-field noise transmitted by a primary communication device in an open-plan office environment is reduced by defining an acoustic perimeter of reference microphones around the primary device. Reference microphones generate a reference audio input including far-field noise in the proximity of the primary device. The primary device generates a main audio input including the voice of the primary speaker as well as background noise. Reference audio input is compared to main audio input to identify the background noise portion of the main audio signal. A noise reduction algorithm suppresses the identified background noise in the main audio signal. The one or more reference microphones defining the acoustic perimeter may be included in separate microphone devices placed in proximity to the main desktop phone, microphones within other nearby desktop telephone devices, or a combination of both types of devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Kwan K. Truong, Peter L. Chu, Steven L. Potts, Eric Elias
  • Patent number: 10555080
    Abstract: The amount of far-field noise transmitted by a primary communication device in an open-plan office environment is reduced by defining an acoustic perimeter of reference microphones around the primary device. Reference microphones generate a reference audio input including far-field noise in the proximity of the primary device. The primary device generates a main audio input including the voice of the primary speaker as well as background noise. Reference audio input is compared to main audio input to identify the background noise portion of the main audio signal. A noise reduction algorithm suppresses the identified background noise in the main audio signal. The one or more reference microphones defining the acoustic perimeter may be included in separate microphone devices placed in proximity to the main desktop phone, microphones within other nearby desktop telephone devices, or a combination of both types of devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Kwan K. Truong, Peter L. Chu, Steven L. Potts, Eric Elias
  • Publication number: 20200029154
    Abstract: The amount of far-field noise transmitted by a primary communication device in an open-plan office environment is reduced by defining an acoustic perimeter of reference microphones around the primary device. Reference microphones generate a reference audio input including far-field noise in the proximity of the primary device. The primary device generates a main audio input including the voice of the primary speaker as well as background noise. Reference audio input is compared to main audio input to identify the background noise portion of the main audio signal. A noise reduction algorithm suppresses the identified background noise in the main audio signal. The one or more reference microphones defining the acoustic perimeter may be included in separate microphone devices placed in proximity to the main desktop phone, microphones within other nearby desktop telephone devices, or a combination of both types of devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Kwan K. Truong, Peter L. Chu, Steven L. Potts, Eric Elias