Patents by Inventor Shawn O'Connor
Shawn O'Connor 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).
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Publication number: 20240149148Abstract: Attaching a mobile game controller to a computing device brings to life an entirely new gaming player device and gaming environment. A combination of a user input device, platform operating service, cloud service, screen, and mobile operating system allows the system to take advantage of a plethora of synergies and offers entirely new experiences. The embodiments described herein can provide a sophisticated and highly-extensible gaming experience that is vastly more than the sum of the parts.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2023Publication date: May 9, 2024Applicant: Backbone Labs, Inc.Inventors: Shawn O'Connor, Maneet Khaira, Andrew Sibert
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Publication number: 20240149163Abstract: Attaching a mobile game controller to a computing device brings to life an entirely new gaming player device and gaming environment. A combination of a user input device, platform operating service, cloud service, screen, and mobile operating system allows the system to take advantage of a plethora of synergies and offers entirely new experiences. The embodiments described herein can provide a sophisticated and highly-extensible gaming experience that is vastly more than the sum of the parts.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2023Publication date: May 9, 2024Applicant: Backbone Labs, Inc.Inventors: Shawn O'Connor, Maneet Khaira, Andrew Sibert, Kauhi Kukulukahalelaupilionaali’i Hookano, Casey Chow, Joshua Donlan
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Patent number: 11614916Abstract: Many headsets include automatic noise cancellation (ANC) which dramatically reduces perceived background noise and improves user listening experience. Unfortunately, the voice microphones in these devices often capture ambient noise that the headsets output during phone calls or other communication sessions to other users. In response, many headsets and communication devices provide manual muting circuitry, but users frequently forget to turn the muting on and/or off creating further problems as they communicate. To address this, the present inventors devised, among other things, an exemplary headset that detects the absence or presence of user speech, automatically muting and unmuting the voice microphone without user intervention. Some embodiments leverage relationships between feedback and feedforward signals in ANC circuitry to detect user speech, avoiding the addition of extra hardware to the headset.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2019Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: AVNERA CORPORATIONInventors: Jiajin An, Michael Jon Wurtz, David Wurtz, Manpreet Khaira, Amit Kumar, Shawn O'Connor, Shankar Rathoud, James Scanlan, Eric Sorensen
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Patent number: 11366633Abstract: An apparatus can include an audio playback device configured to provide an audio output to a user, and a controller configured to: receive an initial playback position within the audio output; determine that an off-ear event has occurred; identify a time corresponding to the off-ear event; instruct the audio playback device to pause the audio output at the identified time; and calculate a new playback position within the audio output based at least in part on the identified time.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2018Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: AVNERA CORPORATIONInventors: Shawn O'Connor, Eric Sorensen, Manpreet S. Khaira, Sydney Newton
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Publication number: 20210154584Abstract: A device for editing video gameplay, comprising a display, an interface configured to receive one or more outputs from a game controller concurrently with the video game displayed; and one or more processors. The one or more processors are configure to record a video of the video game displayed on the display; store the one or more outputs from the game controller received concurrently with the video game displayed; determine based on the one or more outputs from the game controller time series data indicating an amount of user activity; and align the time series data with the video of the video game.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2019Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: Shawn O'Connor, Maneet Khaira
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Publication number: 20200348901Abstract: Many headsets include automatic noise cancellation (ANC) which dramatically reduces perceived background noise and improves user listening experience. Unfortunately, the voice microphones in these devices often capture ambient noise that the headsets output during phone calls or other communication sessions to other users. In response, many headsets and communication devices provide manual muting circuitry, but users frequently forget to turn the muting on and/or off creating further problems as they communicate. To address this, the present inventors devised, among other things, an exemplary headset that detects the absence or presence of user speech, automatically muting and unmuting the voice microphone without user intervention. Some embodiments leverage relationships between feedback and feedforward signals in ANC circuitry to detect user speech, avoiding the addition of extra hardware to the headset.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2019Publication date: November 5, 2020Inventors: Jiajin AN, Michael Jon WURTZ, David WURTZ, Manpreet KHAIRA, Amit KUMAR, Shawn O'CONNOR, Shankar RATHOUD, James SCANLAN, Eric SORENSEN
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Patent number: 10564925Abstract: Many headsets include automatic noise cancellation (ANC) which dramatically reduces perceived background noise and improves user listening experience. Unfortunately, the voice microphones in these devices often capture ambient noise that the headsets output during phone calls or other communication sessions to other users. In response, many headsets and communication devices provide manual muting circuitry, but users frequently forget to turn the muting on and/or off, creating further problems as they communicate. To address this, the present inventors devised, among other things, an exemplary headset that detects the absence or presence of user speech, automatically muting and unmuting the voice microphone without user intervention. Some embodiments leverage relationships between feedback and feedforward signals in ANC circuitry to detect user speech, avoiding the addition of extra hardware to the headset.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Inventors: Jiajin An, Michael Jon Wurtz, David Wurtz, Manpreet Khaira, Amit Kumar, Shawn O'Connor, Shankar Rathoud, James Scanlan, Eric Sorensen
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Patent number: 10474420Abstract: A speaker system includes a case, an audio input, speakers, an accelerometer, and a computer processor. The audio input is structured to receive a program audio signal from an audio device. The speakers are configured to play an audio output based on the program audio signal, the audio output causing a vibration of the case. The accelerometer is configured to detect the vibration of the case as well as a user tap on the case. The computer processor is configured to identify a user gesture that includes the tap on the case, to identify the tap apart from the case vibration by processing the detected vibration of the case and the detected user tap on the case based on information from the program audio signal to separate the detected user tap from the detected vibration, and to commence a particular function associated with the user gesture.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2018Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Avnera CorporationInventors: Manpreet S. Khaira, Shawn O'Connor, Frank Prestrelski, Patrick Allen Quinn, Richard Andrew Sorensen, Eric Sorensen
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Patent number: 10403279Abstract: A system for detecting and capturing voice commands, the system comprising a voice-activity detector (VAD) configured to receive a VAD-received digital-audio signal; determine the amplitude of the VAD-received digital-audio signal; compare the amplitude of the VAD-received digital-audio signal to a first threshold and to a second threshold; withhold a VAD interrupt signal when the amplitude of the VAD-received digital-audio signal does not exceed the first threshold or the second threshold; generate the VAD interrupt signal when the amplitude of the VAD-received digital-audio signal exceeds the first threshold and the second threshold; and perform spectral analysis of the VAD-received digital-audio signal when the amplitude of the VAD-received digital-audio signal is between the first threshold and the second threshold.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2017Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: Avnera CorporationInventors: Xudong Zhao, Alexander C. Stange, Shawn O'Connor, Ali Hadiashar
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Publication number: 20190146746Abstract: A speaker system includes a case, an audio input, speakers, an accelerometer, and a computer processor. The audio input is structured to receive a program audio signal from an audio device. The speakers are configured to play an audio output based on the program audio signal, the audio output causing a vibration of the case. The accelerometer is configured to detect the vibration of the case as well as a user tap on the case. The computer processor is configured to identify a user gesture that includes the tap on the case, to identify the tap apart from the case vibration by processing the detected vibration of the case and the detected user tap on the case based on information from the program audio signal to separate the detected user tap from the detected vibration, and to commence a particular function associated with the user gesture.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2018Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: Manpreet S. Khaira, Shawn O'Connor, Frank Prestrelski, Patrick Allen Quinn, Richard Andrew Sorensen, Eric Sorensen
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Patent number: 10198239Abstract: A speaker system includes a case, an audio input, speakers, an accelerometer, and a computer processor. The audio input is structured to receive a program audio signal from an audio device. The speakers are configured to play an audio output based on the program audio signal, the audio output causing a vibration of the case. The accelerometer is configured to detect the vibration of the case as well as a user tap on the case. The computer processor is configured to identify a user gesture that includes the tap on the case, to identify the tap apart from the case vibration by processing the detected vibration of the case and the detected user tap on the case based on information from the program audio signal to separate the detected user tap from the detected vibration, and to commence a particular function associated with the user gesture.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2017Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Avnera CorporationInventors: Manpreet S. Khaira, Shawn O'Connor, Frank Prestrelski, Patrick Allen Quinn, Richard Andrew Sorensen, Eric Sorensen
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Publication number: 20190012135Abstract: An apparatus can include an audio playback device configured to provide an audio output to a user, and a controller configured to: receive an initial playback position within the audio output; determine that an off-ear event has occurred; identify a time corresponding to the off-ear event; instruct the audio playback device to pause the audio output at the identified time; and calculate a new playback position within the audio output based at least in part on the identified time.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2018Publication date: January 10, 2019Inventors: Shawn O'Connor, Eric Sorensen, Manpreet S. Khaira, Sydney Newton
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Publication number: 20180225082Abstract: Many headsets include automatic noise cancellation (ANC) which dramatically reduces perceived background noise and improves user listening experience. Unfortunately, the voice microphones in these devices often capture ambient noise that the headsets output during phone calls or other communication sessions to other users. In response, many headsets and communication devices provide manual muting circuitry, but users frequently forget to turn the muting on and/or off, creating further problems as they communicate. To address this, the present inventors devised, among other things, an exemplary headset that detects the absence or presence of user speech, automatically muting and unmuting the voice microphone without user intervention. Some embodiments leverage relationships between feedback and feedforward signals in ANC circuitry to detect user speech, avoiding the addition of extra hardware to the headset.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2017Publication date: August 9, 2018Inventors: Jiajin An, MIchael Jon Wurtz, David Wurtz, Manpreet Khaira, Amit Kumar, Shawn O'Connor, Shankar Rathoud, James Scanlan, Eric Sorensen
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Publication number: 20180174583Abstract: A system for detecting and capturing voice commands, the system comprising a voice-activity detector (VAD) configured to receive a VAD-received digital-audio signal; determine the amplitude of the VAD-received digital-audio signal; compare the amplitude of the VAD-received digital-audio signal to a first threshold and to a second threshold; withhold a VAD interrupt signal when the amplitude of the VAD-received digital-audio signal does not exceed the first threshold or the second threshold; generate the VAD interrupt signal when the amplitude of the VAD-received digital-audio signal exceeds the first threshold and the second threshold; and perform spectral analysis of the VAD-received digital-audio signal when the amplitude of the VAD-received digital-audio signal is between the first threshold and the second threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2017Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Xudong Zhao, Alexander C. Stange, Shawn O'Connor, Ali Hadiashar
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Publication number: 20170199716Abstract: A speaker system includes a case, an audio input, speakers, an accelerometer, and a computer processor. The audio input is structured to receive a program audio signal from an audio device. The speakers are configured to play an audio output based on the program audio signal, the audio output causing a vibration of the case. The accelerometer is configured to detect the vibration of the case as well as a user tap on the case. The computer processor is configured to identify a user gesture that includes the tap on the case, to identify the tap apart from the case vibration by processing the detected vibration of the case and the detected user tap on the case based on information from the program audio signal to separate the detected user tap from the detected vibration, and to commence a particular function associated with the user gesture.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2017Publication date: July 13, 2017Inventors: MANPREET S. KHAIRA, SHAWN O'CONNOR, FRANK PRESTRELSKI, PATRICK ALLEN QUINN, RICHARD ANDREW SORENSEN, ERIC SORENSEN
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Patent number: 9645786Abstract: A tabletop speaker system includes an amplifier, proximity and acceleration detectors, and a processor. The processor is operatively coupled to receive signals from the proximity and accelerometer detectors, and in response to the proximity and acceleration signals, activate various functions local to the tabletop speaker system to operate and control various behaviors or features of the tabletop speaker system. In this way, the tabletop speaker system can respond to user gestures for a very natural control interface.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2014Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: AVNERA CORPORATIONInventors: Manpreet S. Khaira, Shawn O'Connor, Frank Prestrelski, Patrick Allen Quinn, Richard Andrew Sorensen, Eric Sorensen
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Publication number: 20150193193Abstract: A tabletop speaker system includes an amplifier, proximity and acceleration detectors, and a processor. The processor is operatively coupled to receive signals from the proximity and accelerometer detectors, and in response to the proximity and acceleration signals, activate various functions local to the tabletop speaker system to operate and control various behaviors or features of the tabletop speaker system. In this way, the tabletop speaker system can respond to user gestures for a very natural control interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2014Publication date: July 9, 2015Applicant: Avnera CorporationInventors: Manpreet S. Khaira, Shawn O'Connor, Frank Prestrelski, Patrick Allen Quinn, Richard Andrew Sorensen, Eric Sorensen
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Publication number: 20140308475Abstract: A camouflage device includes a plurality of threads connected together to form a plurality of strips. The plurality of strips are connected to a hunting device using an attachment device. The strips are attached to the hunting device in overlapping rows to substantially cover the hunting device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2014Publication date: October 16, 2014Inventor: Shawn O'Connor
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Publication number: 20060131744Abstract: A BGA (Ball Grid Array Structure) having improved drop test performance by increasing the area of the solder bond at the corner of the array using existing assembling machinery.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2004Publication date: June 22, 2006Inventors: Shawn O'Connor, Mark Gerber, Wyatt Huddleston