Directional, Directible, Or Movable Patents (Class 381/387)
  • Patent number: 11979734
    Abstract: A system and method is described for determining whether a loudspeaker device has relocated, tilted, rotated, or changed environment such that one or more parameters for driving the loudspeaker may be modified and/or a complete reconfiguration of the loudspeaker system may be performed. In one embodiment, the system may include a set of sensors. The sensors provide readings that are analyzed to determine 1) whether the loudspeaker has moved since a previous analysis and/or 2) a distance of movement and/or a degree change in orientation of the loudspeaker since the previous analysis. Upon determining the level of movement is below a threshold value, the system adjusts previous parameters used to drive one or more of the loudspeakers. By adjusting previous parameters instead of performing a complete recalibration, the system provides a more efficient technique for ensuring that the loudspeakers continue to produce accurate sound for the listener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce C. Po, Richard M. Powell, Aram M. Lindahl, Baptiste P. Paquier, Phillip A. Kamp
  • Patent number: 11979722
    Abstract: This application discloses a device to project sound to a specific person while keeping the sound away from others nearby. The device has various parametric speakers arranged in a pattern to project sounds in a narrow field while preventing dispersion of sounds to nearby areas. The device can be connected to other electronic equipment by wires or wirelessly, and can be removed and used in different settings. This device has particular application in delivering sounds to infants and toddlers to sooth them while the same sounds are not heard by adults nearby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Mozo, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Ostrup, Matthew Ostrup
  • Patent number: 11974101
    Abstract: A reproduction device is provided with a sound-signal interface that inputs a sound signal, a signal processor that applies acoustic correction to the sound signal using a predetermined correction parameter, a sound emitter that emits a sound based on the sound signal subjected to the acoustic correction, an acceleration sensor, and a controller that configured: to update predetermined correction parameter; detect movement of the reproduction device based on the acceleration sensor; and stop the updating of the predetermined correction parameter upon the controller detecting movement of the reproduction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsuro Yamaji
  • Patent number: 11956624
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for visualizing sound coverage in a venue. An embodiment operates by receiving audio content from an audio source, determining audio signal properties of the audio content, where the audio signal properties comprise one or more spectral, temporal, spatial components (e.g., energy, spectrum or directivity), receiving an audio system configuration of loudspeakers or sound beams of a venue, visualizing the audio signal based on a mapping of an intersection of a unique volumetric beam of colored light, representing the spectral, temporal, spatial components, with a portion of the venue and displaying the visualized audio signal as a virtual representation of sound coverage of the portion of the venue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MSG Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Yuan-Yi Fan, Neil Andrew Wakefield
  • Patent number: 11924620
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a speaker and a terminal device. The speaker includes a speaker housing and a speaker body, where the speaker body is disposed in the speaker housing, the speaker body and the speaker housing form a speaker front cavity and a speaker rear cavity, the speaker housing is provided with a sound output channel, the sound output channel communicates with the speaker front cavity, the speaker rear cavity includes a first sub-cavity, the speaker housing includes a first spacer disposed in the first sub-cavity, the first spacer splits the first sub-cavity into a resonance tube and a resonance cavity, the resonance tube communicates with the resonance cavity, a first connecting hole is provided in a side wall of the speaker front cavity, and the speaker front cavity communicates with the resonance tube through the first connecting hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Vivo Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guozhu Jiang, Lifeng Long
  • Patent number: 11917365
    Abstract: Systems and methods of audio processing and control for improved audibility and performance in a parametric loudspeaker system. The parametric loudspeaker system includes a parametric loudspeaker providing a capacitive load, an output stage having a plurality of switches interconnected in a bridge configuration and connected to the capacitive load of the parametric loudspeaker, and a controller operative to generate a series of pulse width modulation (PWM) pulses, and to generate a plurality of control signals synchronized with the series of PWM pulses for switchingly controlling the plurality of switches in the bridge configuration, thereby driving the capacitive load of the parametric loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Inventor: Frank Joseph Pompei
  • Patent number: 11913598
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fall arrester device (20) for a carrier system (10) for preferably movably holding at least one medical equipment, comprising at least one carrier device which has at least one critical point (12), and comprising at least one elongate securing part (22), wherein the carrier device has a first through-opening (24) in a first region (14) which is spaced apart from the critical point (12), and a second through-opening (26) in a second region (16) which is opposite to the first region with respect to the critical point (12) and is spaced apart from the critical point, wherein the securing part (22) is routed through both through-openings (24, 26), and the fall arrester device (20) comprises a first blocking element (28) which is fastened to a first end of the securing part (22), and a second blocking element (30) which is fastened to a second end of the securing part (22) which is opposite to the first end of the securing part (22), wherein the two blocking elements (28, 30) are arrange
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Ondal Medical Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Muratidi, Stefan Perplies
  • Patent number: 11882391
    Abstract: A device is configured to be mounted to a planar mounting panel, including, for example, a wall or ceiling of a home or other building. The device includes a housing, a fastener, a dogleg tab and a friction inducing member. The housing is configured to be received in an aperture in the mounting panel and includes a housing aperture. The fastener is disposed in the housing aperture. The dogleg tab is operatively coupled to one end of the fastener. The dogleg tab is configured to be disposed in a retracted position and to be disposed in an engagement position, in which engagement position the dogleg tab is disposed to engage an inside surface of the mounting panel. The friction inducing member is fixedly attached to the housing adjacent the housing aperture and friction-fit to the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Nortek Security & Control LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Lee Merklin
  • Patent number: 11872185
    Abstract: Provided herein is a massage device having a sound output module. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a sound output module including a sound generating part configured to generate sound, a sound emitting member configured to emit transmitted sound to the outside, an actuator configured to provide a driving force to allow movement of the sound emitting member, and an external driven member configured to receive the driving force from the actuator and move linearly, wherein the sound emitting member is seated on the external driven member and allowed to protrude outward due to linear movement of the external driven member. There is also provided a massage device including the sound output module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: BODYFRIEND CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Woong Chul Kang, Ju Song Hur, Ho Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 11856349
    Abstract: A mobile terminal includes a first terminal portion disposed with a first sound output hole and a second terminal portion disposed with a second sound output hole and a receiver. The second terminal portion can move between a first position and a second position relative to the first terminal portion. At the first position, the first sound output hole is connected to the second sound output hole, and at the second position, the second sound output hole is staggered from the first terminal portion. A baffle is disposed on the second terminal portion. The second terminal portion is located at the second position relative to the first terminal portion, and the baffle covers the second sound output hole. The second terminal portion is located at the first position relative to the first terminal portion, the baffle is removed away from the second sound output hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Vivo Mobile Communication Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Liwen You, Junhui Chen
  • Patent number: 11839394
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a reflector for an acoustic shock or pressure wave head, wherein the reflector comprises an acoustically reflective surface formed by a body of rotation, said body of rotation being formed by rotation of an elliptical segment about a rotation axis which extends through a focal point of the ellipse and encloses an angle ? between 0.1° and 30° with the main axis of the ellipse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignees: Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Heart Regeneration Technologies GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Dorfmüller, Johannes Holfeld, Michael Grimm
  • Patent number: 11838741
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an in-vehicle independent sound zone control method, a system and a related device, applied to a vehicle. The method includes the following steps: presetting a control area and a non-control area; arranging a speaker array behind a front seat of the vehicle for generating a first acoustic response, and arranging a headrest speaker at a headrest on a rear seat of the vehicle for generating a second acoustic response; fitting a virtual target speaker, wherein the virtual target speaker is configured to generate a target acoustic response within the control area; and controlling a sound quality of the in-vehicle independent sound zone through an audio algorithm processing on the target acoustic response, the first acoustic response and the second acoustic response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: AAC Microtech (Changzhou) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuyuan Sun, Yiming Meng, Hao Yin, Henglizi Zhang
  • Patent number: 11778367
    Abstract: A portable electronic device comprising: an enclosure having an enclosure wall that forms an interior chamber and a sound output port to an ambient environment; a speaker positioned within the interior chamber, the speaker having a front volume chamber coupling a sound output surface of the speaker to the sound output port and a back volume chamber acoustically coupled to the interior chamber by an aperiodic vent; and a valve operable to open and close the aperiodic vent in response to a pressure change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Onur I. Ilkorur, Christopher Wilk, Matthew A. Donarski, Pablo Seoane Vieites, Anthony P. Grazian
  • Patent number: 11627405
    Abstract: A speaker device includes an electroacoustic transducer configured to convert an audio signal into a set of sound waves and a transmitter configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal that carries the audio signal for receipt at distances limited to an audibility range of the set of sound waves. The audibility range of the set of sound waves corresponds to a distance at which the set of sound waves is estimated to be below a predetermined sound level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventor: Karl Stahl
  • Patent number: 11582553
    Abstract: An electronic module is provided. The electronic module includes a first transducer and a second transducer. The first transducer is configured to radiate a first ultrasonic wave. The second transducer is configured to radiate a second ultrasonic wave. The first transducer and the second transducer are disposed on noncoplanar surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Chih Lung Lin, Kuei-Hao Tseng, Kai Hung Wang
  • Patent number: 11454982
    Abstract: Directed audio-encoded data emissions systems and methods may include one or more sensors, one or more audio transmitters, and a controller configured to cause emission of directed audio-encoded data toward various objects, such as vehicles, user devices, audio input/output devices, or others. For example, responsive to detecting a potential safety situation and/or a potential intended communication situation associated with one or more detected objects, audio-encoded data having selected audio characteristics may be emitted toward the detected objects using selected audio transmitters. The audio characteristics may be selected to encode one or more instructions to be executed by the detected objects, and the instructions may cause emission of audio, visual, or haptic notifications and/or initiation of various functions or operations by the objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gur Kimchi, Brian Beckman, Pragyana K. Mishra
  • Patent number: 11457305
    Abstract: A receiver module and a terminal device are provided. The receiver module includes a housing, a receiver, a drive assembly and a soundproofing assembly, where the housing is internally provided with an accommodating space, the receiver is arranged in the accommodating space, and the housing and the receiver fit together to form a sound cavity, a sound-emitting side of the receiver facing towards the sound cavity; the housing is provided with a first sound-emitting hole and a second sound-emitting hole; the drive assembly and the soundproofing assembly are connected, and the drive assembly is configured to drive the soundproofing assembly to be in a first state or a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: VIVO MOBILE COMMUNICATION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daoquan Deng, Fengliang Li
  • Patent number: 11425493
    Abstract: A remote-assist system programmed for vehicle parking assist or other remote vehicle operation features includes a selective ultrasonic beamforming Amplitude Modulated (AM) system configured and/or programmed to transmit audible alerts to a primary user via ultrasonic beamforming AM. The system localizes a mobile device that is being used by the primary user to initiate the system. The system localizes the primary user, and others in the vicinity, and determines others that may be associated with the vehicle and primary user. The system defines and reshapes a target zone to include only those associated with the primary user and the vehicle. The system electronically or mechanically steers a transducer array to steer an ultrasonic beam with an AM audio alert to the target zone, where the message is audible only to those within the target zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Hassani, Erick Michael Lavoie, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Thomas Joseph Hermann, Michael Hrecznyj
  • Patent number: 11425492
    Abstract: In some examples, a system for angle modification of audio output devices includes a receiver engine to receive an input to modify an angle of the audio output device relative to an axis of a computing device that includes the audio output device, and a modify engine to modify the angle of the audio output device relative to the axis of the computing device based on the input via an electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Roberto Lalinde, Chi So, Ben A. Knight, Robert C. Brooks, Stanley Wang
  • Patent number: 11413739
    Abstract: Disclosed is a communication robot including a support body disposed at the lower side, a main body supported by the support body so as to be rotatable about a first spin rotation axis in the leftward-rightward direction, the main body being configured such that the upper part of the main body performs an inclining operation relative to the lower part of the main body, and a display body supported by the main body so as to be rotatable about a second spin rotation axis in the leftward-rightward direction, the display body being configured to output an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Younghwan Lee, Daekee Shin, Seungwoo Maeng, Taesu Park, Yoonho Shin, Seihyun Cho, Hyunjung Cho
  • Patent number: 11343602
    Abstract: An auto-orienting loudspeaker assembly for a vehicle seat includes a housing arranged to be received within a rear side of the vehicle seat, an enclosure rotatably mounted to the housing, the enclosure having a nonuniform weight distribution, and a loudspeaker disposed within the enclosure and having an initial orientation. A change in an angular position of the vehicle seat results in a passive rotation of the enclosure with respect to the housing to substantially maintain the initial orientation of the loudspeaker as the angular position of the vehicle seat changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Riley Winton, Adam Michael Sachs
  • Patent number: 11336978
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to loudspeaker devices and configurations. In at least one embodiment, a loudspeaker includes a housing structure having a multi-sided cross-sectional profile, a first speaker configuration coupled to a first face of the housing structure, and a second speaker configuration coupled to a second face of the housing structure. The first face of the housing structure and the second face of the housing structure may be adjacent to each other, and the first face of the housing structure and the second face of the housing structure may be substantially planar, in one or more examples. The loudspeaker may further comprise a controller configured to rotate the housing structure. For example, the housing structure may be rotated about a central axis of the housing structure. Further, the housing may be an elongated triangular structure in at least one example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Riley Winton, David Mossington, Chris Ludwig, Christopher Michael Trestain
  • Patent number: 11292121
    Abstract: A robot includes a spin body, and a drive motor, a spin motor, and a PCB connected electrically to the spin motor and the drive motor mounted on the spin body. Accordingly, the spin motor, the driving motor, and the PCB are rotated together with the spin body, so that relative movement does not occur between the PCB and the respective motors, and tangling or twisting of the connection member electrically connecting the respective motors and the PCB does not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Moonchan Kim
  • Patent number: 11132812
    Abstract: An output control device includes a determination unit configured to determine whether or not a person is a specific person, a processing unit configured to acquire position information of the person, and an output control unit configured to cause a first output device located in the vicinity of the person to output information according to the person on the basis of personal information about the person determined to be the specific person by the determination unit and the position information acquired by the processing unit, wherein the output control unit is configured to cause a second output device to output the information output by the first output device in continuation with the output of the first output device if the person has moved from the vicinity of the first output device to the vicinity of the second output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigetsu Saito, Jun Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11026021
    Abstract: An audio converter system is provided. The system comprises an audio input configured to receive a source audio, an audio output configured to couple to a hybrid speaker comprising at least two nondirectional speakers and a directional speaker, and a processor configured to generate an output audio for the hybrid speaker based on the source audio by: identifying a specific sound in the source audio, isolating the specific sound from the source audio, generating a directional speaker output for the directional speaker of the hybrid speaker based on the specific sound, and generating at least two channels of nondirectional speaker output for the at least two nondirectional speakers of the hybrid speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Takeo Matsukawa, Jaekwon Yoo
  • Patent number: 11006194
    Abstract: A grille and an acoustic device having a superior exterior design without impairment of acoustic efficiency are provided. The grille includes: a through hole-provided region having a plurality of through holes; and a non-through hole-provided region having a plurality of non-through holes each with a bottom, and provided adjacent to the through hole-provided region. The through holes and the non-through holes entirely provide a plurality of openings on an exterior surface of the grille. In the non-through hole-provided region, a depth of the non-through holes on a side close to the through hole-provided region is greater than a depth of the non-through holes on a side distant from the through hole-provided region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hitoshi Nakatsukasa
  • Patent number: 10993067
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to use captured spatial audio content captured by a rotatable spatial audio capture microphone array, the captured spatial audio content defining the three-dimensional arrangement of the audio in the scene, an orientation of the aural scene defined relative to the microphone array at the time of audio capture, and use captured direction data representative of the direction of a reference direction of said microphone array relative to the scene over a time during which said spatial audio content was captured; to generate modified spatial audio content in which the aural scene is decoupled from any rotation of the rotatable spatial audio capture microphone array that occurred during capture of the spatial audio content for presentation to the recipient user relative to a space in which the recipient user is located by virtue of modification of the orientation of the aural scene using the captured direction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Lasse Juhani Laaksonen, Anssi Rämö, Arto Lehtiniemi, Jussi Leppänen
  • Patent number: 10951979
    Abstract: A robot includes an enclosure of a speaker that is formed as an arc or annular shape along a circumferential direction of a body. In addition, a display and the speaker are positioned to one side of a rotation axis of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Moonchan Kim
  • Patent number: 10939218
    Abstract: A method for detecting wrong positioning of an earphone, and an electronic device and storage medium therefor are provided. The electronic device includes a speaker positioned on surface of a housing; and at least one processor configured to determine a positioning state of an earphone detachably connectable to the electronic device based on a difference between a first audio signal received through at least one microphone positioned in a first body of the earphone and a second audio signal received through at least one microphone positioned in a second body of the earphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gun-Woo Lee, Jung-Yeol An, Jong-Mo Kum, Gang-Youl Kim, Byeong-Jun Kim, Jae-Hyun Kim, Nam-Il Lee, Jun-Soo Lee, Chul-Min Choi
  • Patent number: 10548510
    Abstract: A computer implemented system and method for performing a quantitative balance assessment on a subject are described. The method comprises instructing the subject to perform an assessment task with at least a first kinematic sensor mounted on the subject's head; collecting kinematic sensor measurements, comparing the measurements to a threshold value; summing the total number of kinematic sensor measurements that exceed the threshold value to generate a numerical score indicative of the subject's postural stability. The system makes use of only kinematic data collected from the wireless sensors to quantify BESS, and generate a BESS score, without any other physiological variables such as forward sway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Inventors: Harrison James Brown, Jean-Sebastien Blouin, Gunter P. Siegmund, Kees Van Den Doel
  • Patent number: 10327067
    Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a stereophonic sound reproduction apparatus includes: an input unit for receiving an acoustic signal; a control unit for acquiring an output acoustic signal for generating a virtual sound source for the received acoustic signal; and an output unit for outputting the acquired output acoustic signal by using a front speaker and a side speaker, wherein the control unit generates an attenuation signal that is a signal for attenuating or cancelling an inflow acoustic signal to be directly transferred to an audience in the output acoustic signal output from the side speaker, and the generated output acoustic signal includes the attenuation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ji-ho Chang, Dong-hyun Jung, Dong-kyu Park, Hae-kwang Park, Yoon-jae Lee, Dong-hyun Lim, Jae-youn Cho
  • Patent number: 10291999
    Abstract: A method comprising: receiving a reference time delay between a first reference signal emitted by a first speaker and a second reference signal emitted by a second speaker, each recorded by a microphone having a target position; using the microphone positioned at an actual position, recording a first sound signal emitted by the first speaker and a second sound signal emitted by the second speaker; determining an actual time delay between the first and second sound signals; comparing the actual time delay to the reference time delay; determining a match or a mismatch between the actual position and the target position for the given microphone; and outputting an indication of the match/mismatch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: CAE INC.
    Inventor: Maxime Ayotte
  • Patent number: 10200781
    Abstract: A sound output apparatus is provided, which includes an outer case having an upper portion with an opening formed upward, and a lower portion with sound holes formed therethrough, a first sound output unit provided at an upper side within the outer case and capable of outputting sounds of a first frequency band, a second sound output unit provided at a lower side within the outer case and capable of outputting sounds of a second frequency band, and a conveying device provided below the first sound output unit and capable of moving the first sound output unit up and down, wherein the conveying device allows the first sound output unit to protrude upwardly such that sounds are output between the outer case and the first sound output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyunsun Yoo, Seungjong Park, Sangwoo Seo
  • Patent number: 10111002
    Abstract: An environment detection node supports dynamic audio optimization by receiving data from sensors and analyzing the received data to detect objects such as furniture and/or humans within an environment. Based on locations within the environment of the detected objects, the environment detection node determines an optimized target location and adjusts audio output to be optimized when heard at the target location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Navid Poulad
  • Patent number: 9763021
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein that may be implemented to use multiple light sources to visually display non-graphics positional audio information based on multi-channel audio information produced by a computer application executing on a processor of an information handling system. The multiple light sources may be operated separately and independently from a user's computer display device, and the non-graphics positional audio information may be separate and different from any visual graphics data that is generated by the computer application or information handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Doug J. Peeler, Mark A. Casparian, Joe A. Olmsted
  • Patent number: 9615156
    Abstract: An engaging structure is used for installation of a loudspeaker into an installation hole of a partition. The installation hole extends through first and second faces of the partition. The engaging structure includes a receiving portion and a plurality of clamping units. The receiving portion has a receiving hole for receiving the loudspeaker. The clamping units are coupled with the receiving portion and surround the receiving hole. Each clamping unit includes first and second clamping members. The first clamping member includes a first end connected to a first end of the second clamping member, and a second end connected to a first wheel. The first wheel abuts with an inner periphery of the partition. The second clamping member includes a second end connected to a second wheel, and the second wheel abuts with one of the first and second faces of the partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Inventor: Tzu-Chung Chang
  • Patent number: 9363590
    Abstract: A playback device including: a housing: an attachment portion to a first position on an attachment surface; a speaker that plays back sound in a predetermined direction in accordance with a first audio signal having a first band; and a vibration portion that vibrates in accordance with a second audio signal having a second band that is lower than the first band, the vibration portion having an abutment surface that abuts at a second position on the attachment surface. The attachment member, the speaker, and the vibration portion are attached to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukio Hiramoto, Yousuke Tsukumori
  • Patent number: 9320641
    Abstract: An articulating speaker assembly includes a first member including a first driver and a second member including second driver. The first member and the second member are pivotally connected for selectively changing the profile of the speaker assembly. A central housing member is pivotally connected to each of the first member and the second member, wherein the central housing member supports a third driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Inventor: Dennis A Tracy
  • Patent number: 9258651
    Abstract: A transparent ultrasonic audio speaker includes an emitter and a driver. The emitter can include first and second transparent conductive sheets. The conductive sheets can comprise a base layer and a conductive layer, and can be transparent. The transparent ultrasonic audio speaker can be configured to be positioned on or in place of the display screen of a content device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Turtle Beach Corporation
    Inventors: Elwood Grant Norris, Brian Alan Kappus
  • Patent number: 9106987
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a micro speaker assembly that has two drivers, each having a separate yoke, set of magnets, voice coil, and acoustic diaphragms. One driver may produce high frequency (HF) sound while the other produces low frequency (LF) sound. The two drivers may be packaged, side-by-side, within the same micro speaker acoustic enclosure. The drivers may have their respective magnet systems physically connected to each other, in order to enhance heat transfer from one to the other. In particular, a thermally conductive portion or bridge may be used to directly join or thermally connect adjacent edges of the yoke portions of the two magnet systems, in order to enhance heat transfer between the first and second micro speaker drivers. Thus, the assembly can handle more power without overheating. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Scott P. Porter, Christopher Wilk, Ruchir M. Dave
  • Patent number: 9036856
    Abstract: Provided is a sound reproduction device including: a first loudspeaker having directionality utilizing a parametric effect; a second loudspeaker having directionality broader than that of the first loudspeaker; an orientation adjustment unit configured to change an orientation of the first loudspeaker; an information obtaining device configured to obtain positional information of a listener; and a drive controller electrically connected to the first loudspeaker, the second loudspeaker, the orientation adjustment unit, and the information obtaining device, and configured to control the orientation of the first loudspeaker based on the positional information of the listener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsu Takeda, Fumiyasu Konno, Kazuhisa Kotegawa
  • Publication number: 20150131842
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic machine that is provided with a speaker and that enables a direction of the speaker to be appropriately and arbitrarily changed. The electronic machine includes a speaker unit, housings, and a rotating device. The speaker unit is supported by the housing. The rotating device includes a first rotating device configured to rotate the speaker unit with respect to the housings about a direction intersecting with an axis of the housings serving as a rotational axis, and a second rotating device configured to rotate the speaker unit with respect to the housings about the axis of the housings serving as a rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicants: TOHOKU PIONEER CORPORATION, PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Watanabe, Nobuyuki Sato, Takeru Miki, Toshiya Kosaka, Eitaro Unno, Takahiro Kudo, Yoshihiko Takeda
  • Patent number: 9031263
    Abstract: A loudspeaker includes a base, a sound-reflecting member located at a side of the base, a sound generator mounted to the sound-reflecting member, an adjusting member including a number of magnetic pieces and located at an opposite side of the base, a connecting member connected between the sound-reflecting member and the adjusting member, a supporting member, and a controlling apparatus. The supporting member includes a number of first electromagnets mounted to the magnetic pieces. The controlling apparatus is electrically coupled to the first electromagnets. The controlling apparatus controls the first electromagnets to attract the magnetic pieces, to allow the adjusting member to swing, and the adjusting member drives the connecting member to rotate, thereby swinging the sound-reflecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Zhongshan Innocloud Intellectual Property Services Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chih-Hua Chen
  • Patent number: 9008343
    Abstract: An annular diaphragm compression driver for electro-acoustic conversion has an annular diaphragm, which bears a moving coil, and a compression driver housing with a closed housing base. Opposite the housing base is a sound wave routing element having a sound discharge channel. The compression driver also has an annular magnet system unit, which has an annular magnet gap (M) and a compression chamber, adjoining the magnet gap (M), for the annular diaphragm. The open exit end of the sound discharge channel is in slot form and its entry start is annular. The sound path between the compression chamber and the entry start contains an annular collecting space. The collecting space and the sound discharge channel contain a central sound guidance body having a portion which merges to match the slot-like exit end. The sound discharge channel is formed between the sound guidance body and the sound wave routing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: BMS Speakers GmbH
    Inventor: Dimitar Kirilov Dimitrov
  • Patent number: 9007758
    Abstract: A protective case for housing a wireless communication device is provided. The protective case may include integral wireless communication circuitry independent of the wireless communication device. The wireless communication circuitry may be configured to enable communication between the protective case and one or more remote communication devices via a short range network. The protective case may further include an integral speaker configured to reproduce audio signals received by the integral wireless communication circuitry and an integral power source configured to provide power to at least the integral wireless communication circuitry and the integral speaker. The integral wireless communication circuitry and the integral speaker may be capable of functioning independently of the wireless communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Wimo Labs LLC
    Inventors: Scott H. Wilson, Dennis M. Puhalla, Kevin G. Brennan
  • Patent number: 9008337
    Abstract: An articulating speaker assembly includes a first member pivotally connected to a second member for selectively changing the profile of the speaker assembly. A central driver is positioned between the first member and the second member. The first member includes a first enclosure with a cavity shaped and dimensioned for receiving a first driver, the first driver being secured within the first enclosure. The second member includes a second enclosure with a cavity shaped and dimensioned for receiving a second driver, the second driver being secured within the second enclosure. Each of the first member and the second member includes a central driver aperture and the central driver is mounted within the central driver apertures of the first member and the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventor: Dennis A Tracy
  • Patent number: 8971563
    Abstract: A docking station includes a main body, a supporting arm projecting from the main body, and a rotating member rotatably coupled to the supporting arm and retaining the electronic device. The rotating member is capable of rotating from a first position to a second position different from the first position, when the rotating member rotates to the first position, the electronic device is supported in a first orientation, and when the rotating member rotates to the second position, the electronic device is supported in a second orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cong-Bing Zhou, Chia-Te Yu, Lin-Lin Pan, Quan-Chang Cheng
  • Publication number: 20150049898
    Abstract: A loudspeaker mounting assembly includes a frame, a sleeve, and a tilt-angle adjustment mechanism. The frame may include an outer frame, an inner frame rotatable about a frame axis relative to the outer frame, and a frame wall extending away from a rear side. The sleeve is coupled to the inner frame at a pivot axis and is tiltable to a plurality of tilt angles relative to the inner frame. The tilt-angle adjustment mechanism is engageable with the sleeve to enable selection of a desired tilt angle. A loudspeaker may be mounted to the sleeve such that the loudspeaker may be swiveled about the frame axis and tilted about the pivot axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventor: Charles M. SPRINKLE
  • Patent number: 8958593
    Abstract: A speaker comprises a housing that defines an internal cavity and includes a front panel, a first side, a second side, and a third side. The speaker also includes a controller, an actuator, and a sound generating member that are disposed within the internal cavity. The controller is in communication with the actuator, and the actuator is configured for causing the sound generating member to vibrate, and thereby generate sound waves, as instructed by the controller. The front panel is configured to transmit the sound waves. The speaker has a center of mass that is affected by a position of the controller and the actuator, and the controller and the actuator are arranged and positioned so that the center of mass of the speaker is positioned along an axis that extends from, and is perpendicular to, the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Di Tao, Brian Dennis Paschke, Aaron Michael Szymanski
  • Patent number: 8948438
    Abstract: A speaker cabinet pole mount includes a socket body and an attachment element. The socket body defines a pole socket comprising a first socket part and a second socket part extending generally from one end of the first socket part. The first socket part has a first diameter and the second socket part having a second, smaller diameter. The second socket part has an internal wall which is provided with at least one coupling element adapted to engage with a threaded pole. The attachment element is coupled to the socket body generally at the other end of the first socket part, the attachment element being adapted for connection to a wall of a speaker cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Penn Elcom Limited
    Inventors: James Hatton, Roger Willems