With Switching Patents (Class 381/81)
  • Patent number: 8467542
    Abstract: In order to facilitate the operation to select a directional microphone and a non-directional microphone, an IC recorder includes a directional microphone having directivity, a non-directional microphone not having directivity, a scene selection portion to select one of the four scenes of oral dictation, conference, lecture, and music, a first EEPROM for storing in advance a correspondence table that assigns either one of the directional microphone and the non-directional microphone to each of the four scenes, and a microphone switching portion to switch, between the directional microphone and the non-directional microphone, to the one assigned to the selected scene by the correspondence table in response to one of the four scenes being selected by the scene selection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 8452030
    Abstract: An external equipment controlling apparatus includes: a connecting unit, connected to an external equipment via an interface to input/receive data into/from the external equipment, the external equipment to which audio data is input and which performs an acoustic process to a sound corresponding to the audio data and causes a speaker to emit the sound; an audio data outputting unit, operable to generate the audio data, and operable to output the audio data to the external equipment; an identification information acquiring unit, configured to acquire identification information for specifying the external equipment from the external equipment; a program acquiring unit, configured to acquire a control program corresponding to the external equipment specified by the identification information from a server via a network; a video data outputting unit, operable to generate video data for displaying a setting screen for setting the acoustic process on a displaying unit, and operable to output the video data to the d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Kohara, Hisanori Itoga, Kazuhiko Honda
  • Patent number: 8452027
    Abstract: An audio conference system including a controller, a plurality of microphones, and an antenna that makes the controller and the microphones communicate via radio communication, in which the controller includes: an utterance permitting unit that, in response to utterance request instruction information received from any of the microphones, transmits utterance permission instruction information to the microphone; and an utterance inhibiting unit that, in response to utterance inhibition request instruction information received from any of the microphones, transmits utterance inhibition instruction information to the other microphones, and the microphones each include: an utterance requesting unit that transmits utterance request instruction information to the controller and transmits, to the controller, a speech signal input after receiving the utterance permission instruction information from the controller; and an utterance stopping unit that stops transmission of the speech signal to the controller upon rece
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica
    Inventor: Manami Katsuno
  • Patent number: 8437484
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an audio power amplifier used to output a left and a right channel audio signal, an earphone jack assembly, and a switching circuit automatically switching between a speaker mode and an earphone mode. The audio power amplifier includes a control pin enabling the audio power amplifier to be electrically connected to the speaker. The control pin activated at a low level and disabled at a high level. The switching circuit is capable of enabling the control pin to switch between the low level and the high level. The switching circuit includes a power supply, a first resistor, a second resistor, a third resistor, and a diode. The resistance of the third resistor far exceeds that of the first resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xing-Hua Tang
  • Patent number: 8433077
    Abstract: The invention provides a noise removal device and method capable of more proper interpolation on an input signal. The noise removal device is for removing noise in an input signal and includes: a noise detector detecting noise in an IF signal and outputting a noise detection signal; an interpolation controller determining a period and amount of interpolation for noise correction processing, based on the IF signal and the noise detection signal; and a noise gate processor performing the noise correction processing on the IF signal, based on the interpolation period and amount supplied from the interpolation controller. The interpolation controller sets a predetermined first interpolation period, based on a first noise detection signal inputted from the noise detector, and redefines a second interpolation period longer than the first interpolation period when a second noise detection signal is detected within the first interpolation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki Suezawa
  • Patent number: 8427478
    Abstract: Continually-incoming time series data is displayed in a visualization screen. In response to detecting that the visualization screen has become full with time series data, a first portion of the time series data is overwritten with additional incoming data such that the additional incoming data replaces the first portion of the time series data in the visualization screen. A second portion of the time series data is maintained unshifted even though the additional incoming data has been added to the visualization screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ming C. Hao, Umeshwar Dayal, Daniel A. Keim
  • Publication number: 20130089210
    Abstract: An end-of-branch (EOB) module system for an audio signal distribution system having a wired trunk and a plurality of wired branches extending communicatively from such trunk, the EOB module system including: a plurality of EOB modules including one EOB module electronically coupled at each distal end of each branch and trunk of the audio signal distribution system, where each EOB module of the plurality of EOB modules has a unique address together forming a plurality of unique addresses; a test system able to send a test carrier signal encoded with any one unique address of the plurality of unique addresses at a time onto the trunk; and a switch within each EOB module, responsive to its unique address to place an end-of-line (EOL) load on its respective branch or trunk, and where power for operation of each EOB module is provided by rectification of the test signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: MITEK CORP., INC.
    Inventors: Hardison G. Martin, Robert A. Ponto, John David Johnson, William Brown
  • Patent number: 8396509
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a central processing unit, a USB connector, a USB switch, and an audio path selector. The USB switch has a data transmission path and an audio signal transmission path for signal transmission between the central processing unit and the USB connector. The USB switch selects the data transmission path for data transmission according to a first selection signal from the central processing unit, and selects the audio signal transmission path for audio signal transmission according to a second selection signal from the central processing unit. The audio path selector interconnects the central processing unit and the USB switch, and has a first audio path for output of audio signals from the central processing unit to the audio signal transmission path, and a second audio path for output of audio signals from the audio signal transmission path to the central processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Shih-An Chen, Hsun-Wu Lee
  • Patent number: 8379873
    Abstract: A controller of a personal audio device, on multiple occasions, monitors a conductor by which it is able to be coupled to another device for the end to an instance of signal activity, and following the end of signal activity, injects a current into the conductor and measures the resulting voltage to calculate an adaptive threshold voltage and to compare the measured voltage to the adaptive threshold to determine at least whether or not the conductor of the personal audio device is coupled to another device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: Paul G. Yamkovoy
  • Patent number: 8379877
    Abstract: A sound collector includes a first microphone unit and a second microphone unit having a single directivity and being pivotally supported in a manner that directions of directional axes of the units are changeable in an identical flat plane and a switch to be controlled in conjunction with the rotations of the first and the second microphone units. Output signals of the first and the second microphone units are outputted with channels of the signals being exchanged or non-exchanged by the switch in accordance with an angle formed by the directional axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Eiichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8374357
    Abstract: An audio output device includes: a main unit including a terminal configured to connect an external speaker; a speaker unit configured to be detachably attached to the main unit while the terminal is covered with the speaker unit; and an amplification unit configured to amplify an audio signal so that the amplified audio signal is input to the terminal and the speaker unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Tooru Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8363844
    Abstract: Systems and methods for contextual audio switching for a USB controlled audio device coupled to a processor-based host are presented. Two or more USB audio endpoints associated with a singular output audio transducer or transducer set are declared at the USB controlled audio device. The two or more USB audio endpoints are monitored to identify an audio signal presence at the two or more USB audio endpoints. A priority audio signal may be determined responsive to identifying the audio signal presence at two or more USB audio endpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard M Winter
  • Patent number: 8335327
    Abstract: A configurable amplifier circuit for a karaoke player is described. In one embodiment, a karaoke player includes: a DVD/CD reader port for coupling to a DVD/CD reader, a microphone input to receive audio signals from an external microphone, an MPEG decoder coupled to the DVD/CD reader port and the microphone input, the MPEG decoder having first and second output terminals, a processor coupled to the MPEG decoder, the processor to control the MPEG decoder, and a configurable amplifier coupled to the first and second output terminals, wherein a first audio signal originating from the first output terminal is selectively amplified by the configurable amplifier circuit in accordance with a second signal originating from the second output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: CSR Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Gaile Lin, Hong Guan, Qun Zhong
  • Patent number: 8335320
    Abstract: An audio apparatus includes: a connector that supports a multipolar plug including a plurality of plug terminals, the connector having a plurality of connector terminals including an input terminal of an audio collection section and an output terminal that outputs a noise canceling signal; a signal amplification section that amplifies a combined signal generated by combining the noise canceling signal and a reproduction audio signal, the signal amplification section being provided on an audio signal line that connects the input terminal and the output terminal; a detection section that detects whether the multipolar plug is inserted or pulled out by detecting change of voltage of a voltage supply line connected to the audio signal line; and a suppression section that suppresses output from the signal amplification section when the multipolar plug is pulled out but does not suppress the output when the multipolar plug is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kensaku Abe, Ichiro Nakajima, Yoshitada Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20120300957
    Abstract: Proposed device relates to sound playback. Playback device is made in the shape of a polyhedron and is equipped with preferably gravity-controlled switch for operation modes and reception of input signals selection. The channel assigned is directly linked to the side the unit stands on as a base. When placed on front or back sides, the unit is turned off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventor: Mikhail LYUBACHEV
  • Publication number: 20120300958
    Abstract: A method of identifies an appropriate wireless communication channel in an audio receiving device, that comprises 1) a wireless receiver receiving an audio signal on a particular transmission channel selected among a predefined number of possible transmission channels, and 2) a microphone for picking up a sound in the environment of the audio receiving device. The method comprises a) selecting a channel as the receiving channel among a predefined number of possible transmission channels; b) analyzing the received signal received and the signal picked up by the microphone; c) determining whether a predefined criterion concerning the degree of similarity of the received signal and the signal picked up by the microphone is fulfilled; d) KEEPING the channel as the receiving channel, if the predefined criterion is fulfilled; and e) CHANGING the receiving channel to another channel if the predefined criterion is NOT fulfilled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventor: Bjarne KLEMMENSEN
  • Patent number: 8321041
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for content assembly is provided by which an automation playlist of media events is created, a relationship is defined between the media events, the media events are merged into a composite media event and published.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Clear Channel Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Jellison, Jr., Shawn Coffman, Dustin Bond
  • Patent number: 8315408
    Abstract: An electronic audio device with a digital audio output channel in which an amplifier output voltage is gradually ramped up and down to avoid causing a popping sound when the device is turned on and off. This is accomplished without employing any additional hardware, by incrementally changing a digital input word applied to a digital audio source, such as a DSP, so as to gradually change the amplifier output voltage between a minimum, such as zero volts, and a DC working voltage. On powering up, the amplifier is only turned on after the digital word is applied, but while it still results in a minimum amplifier output, and on powering down the amplifier is turned off after it's output has been ramped down, but before removing the digital input word. Sources and output channels can also be switched over by powering down, and then powering up, following the same method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Agere Systems LLC
    Inventors: Rupinder Judge, Tie Liu, Robert Peruzzi, Richard Verney
  • Patent number: 8311226
    Abstract: A method for assigning audio channels of audio data content to speakers, each of which is associated with a different one of N speaker nodes of a wireless network. The method is performed by a manager node of the wireless network. The method includes, for each of the N speaker nodes, obtaining a piece of orientation information for each of N?1 other speaker nodes different from the given speaker node, regarding an orientation of a reception antenna of the given speaker node when receiving data sent by each of the N?1 other speaker nodes through the wireless network. The method also includes assigning a different one of the audio channels to a different one of the speaker nodes, as a function of N?1 pieces of orientation information obtained for each of the N speaker nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mickaël Lorgeoux, Francois Thoumy
  • Patent number: 8300843
    Abstract: A sound effect circuit and processing method are disclosed. An input audio signal is input to a digital sound effect unit, an output signal is generated and output with a sound effect in accordance with an effect amount of a certain value from the input audio signal using the digital sound effect unit, the input audio signal is also input to a silence state detection unit, a silence detect signal is generated and output when detecting that the current state of the input audio signal is a silence state using the silence state detection unit, the output signal is input to a sound effect amount control unit, and an output audio signal is output using the sound effect amount control unit, wherein the sound effect amount control unit changes the effect amount to be smaller than the certain value when the silence detect signal is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouya Shimazaki, Naotaka Saito
  • Publication number: 20120269361
    Abstract: Methods and systems for network addressable loudspeakers and audio play are presented. One or more network addressable loudspeakers are registered at a server. An end user selects a network addressable loudspeaker to output audio, and an audio file is streamed from an audio source to the selected network addressable loudspeaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gunjan D. Bhow, John H. Hart
  • Patent number: 8290186
    Abstract: A method to control a portable audio device in a power-saving mode using a wireless headset includes transmitting a host wake-up signal (HOST_WAKEUP) according to a signal requesting reproduction of music transmitted from the wireless headset, transmitting a control signal corresponding to the host wake-up signal, and controlling the portable audio device according to the control signal to switch the portable audio device out of the power-saving mode and to supply power to at least one component in the portable audio device used to reproduce music.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ji-woon Jung
  • Patent number: 8290603
    Abstract: In general, user interfaces for controlling a plurality of multimedia players in groups are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a user interface is provided to allow a user to group some of the players according to a theme or scene, where each of the players is located in a zone. When the scene is activated, the players in the scene react in a synchronized manner. For example, the players in the scene are all caused to play a multimedia source or music in a playlist, wherein the multimedia source may be located anywhere on a network. The user interface is further configured to illustrate graphically a size of a group, the larger the group appears relatively, the more plays there are in the group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Lambourne
  • Publication number: 20120250877
    Abstract: A central audio hub, comprising an audio switch, a bus matrix, and an audio buffer, is triggered to read audio samples of an audio stream from the audio buffer. The central audio hub routes the audio samples via the bus matrix to one or more surrounding audio modules such as an audio codec and an audio interface communicatively coupled to the central audio hub. The audio stream may be directly from an external application processor or from an external DDR. With the audio stream from the DDR, a DMA controller may fetch the audio samples from the DDR in response to a request received from the audio buffer, and store the fetched audio samples into the audio buffer for routing. The audio switch may be triggered at a determined sampling rate to read the audio samples from the audio buffer utilizing a determined sample format, and to route the audio samples to the surrounding audio modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Taiyi Cheng, Hongwei Kong, Nelson Sollenberger, Mark Fullerton, Chin Sieh Lee, Timothy Pong, Yafang Feng, Claire Marie Suzanne Simeon, Michael Liu, Kenneth Ma, Chaoyang Zhao
  • Patent number: 8280539
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method and storage media for automatically segueing between a first audio track and a second audio track. The first audio track and the second audio track may be analyzed to determine a preferred transition window. Segueing from the first track to the second track may occur during the preferred transition window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: The Echo Nest Corporation
    Inventor: Tristan Jehan
  • Patent number: 8275160
    Abstract: A delay time calculation apparatus that enables all of speaker units constituting a speaker array to contribute to the formation of a combined wavefront directed to an area specified by a user. The delay time calculation apparatus includes a delay time calculation unit that calculates delay times of delayed audio signals supplied to the speaker units such that a ratio at which an evaluation object area is occupied by an area to which an acoustic wave output from each speaker unit reaches earlier than acoustic waves output from the other speaker units falls within a predetermined range. The evaluation object area is a target area to which a combined wavefront of acoustic waves output from the speaker units is directed, or is a perspective projection image of the target area onto a predetermined evaluation plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Kushida, Takashi Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 8270631
    Abstract: There is provided a multichannel audio amplification apparatus including a speaker detection circuit for detecting whether or not a speaker is connected to an arbitrary speaker terminal of speaker terminal groups TA and TB, and an operating circuit and a display circuit connected to a control circuit. Even in a case where one of two speaker groups of A and B types connected to the multichannel audio amplification apparatus cannot be connected with a surround speaker for reproducing only a surround sound, a listener is prevented, by indication, from carrying out on the operating circuit an erroneous operation or setting which otherwise might be liable to occur both in a case where the B-type speaker group including no surround speaker is connected to the multichannel audio amplification apparatus and in a case where the B-type speaker group is not connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Onkyo Corporation
    Inventor: Miwa Kusunoki
  • Patent number: 8265302
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a volume control with DC supervision in a voice evacuation system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a volume control comprising a first input interface for receiving an audio signal, a first output interface for forwarding said audio signal to at least one audio device, and a second input interface for receiving an alarm signal. The apparatus also comprises a switch having a plurality of nodes, wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes is an unlabeled node, wherein the switch is in communication with the first input interface and the first output interface for controlling a volume of the audio signal that is sent to the at least one audio device. The apparatus also comprises a filter that is coupled to the unlabeled node of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: David John Salgueiro, Victor E. Cappetta, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8254596
    Abstract: System and method for muting an output terminal of an electronic device. In one embodiment, the process for can include receiving one or more signals received by the controller over the first terminal, detecting a mute control signal from the controller and controlling the state of a switch coupled to the output terminal to ground the output terminal based on detecting the mute control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: CSR Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Gaile Lin, Hong Guan, Huitao Li
  • Patent number: 8243949
    Abstract: Methods and systems for network addressable loudspeakers and audio play are presented. One or more network addressable loudspeakers are registered at a server. An end user selects a network addressable loudspeaker to output audio, and an audio file is streamed from an audio source to the selected network addressable loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gunjan Bhow, John Hart
  • Patent number: 8243948
    Abstract: An amplifier device includes a plurality of input terminals for receiving input signals (e.g. audio signals), a main switch, which switches over the input terminals so as to select one input terminal, an analyzer, which analyzes the input signals at respective timings so as to determine whether or not each of the input signals corresponds to a playback signal, a storage for storing a plurality of determination results in connection with the input terminals, a controller for controlling the main switch to select the input terminal whose input signal is newly determined as the playback signal, and an amplifier for amplifying the input signal of the selected input terminal. The analyzer performs frequency analysis on the input signals so as to determine the input signal including a specific frequency component having a high intensity as noise not forming the playback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Kotaro Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 8244308
    Abstract: A helmet communication device is composed primarily of a first communication device, a second communication device and a switching circuit device, such that when a motorcycle driver is driving the motorcycle, the driver can choose to use the first communication device to answer a cellular phone with a wired or blue-tooth technology, or to converse with a back seat passenger through the second communication device, by a control of the switching circuit device, so as to improve driving safety and to improve convenience in answering the cellular phone or dialoging with the back seat passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Inventors: Jian-Ming Chen, Mei-Ling Kuo
  • Patent number: 8213630
    Abstract: Practical speaker connection is identified using a device having a sound channel of a 5.1 channel or 7.1 channel, and a device is provided that can easily reproduce the optimum multiple channels. Actual speaker arrangement can be identified by, for example, measuring the impedance of a terminal at the side of an audio amplifier. If incorrect connection is found, a warning is issued. This information is transmitted to a signal source with an EDID and a signal with the optimum a number of sound channel is sent. The EDID is also used for the connection with a display unit and the speaker connection with which the display unit is provided uniquely. For example, a sound through the 7.1 channel is easily reproduced using the speaker of the display unit in the channel of the front speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Yoshizawa, Nobuaki Kabuto, Atsushi Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8208642
    Abstract: The present application provides method and apparatus for a binaural hearing assistance system using a monaural audio signal input. The system, in various examples, provides adjustable delay/phase adjustment and sound level adjustment. Different embodiments are provided for receiving the monaural signal and distributing it to a plurality of hearing assistance devices. Different relaying modes are provided. Special functions are supported, such as telecoil functions. The system also has examples that account for a head-related transfer function in providing advanced sound processing for the wearer. Other examples are provided that are described in the detailed description.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Brent Edwards
  • Patent number: 8208654
    Abstract: A wireless audio distribution system may have a wireless transmitter, responsive to a plurality of audio input channels, for transmitting signals carrying the audio, a receiver, responsive to the transmitted signals for selecting one or more of the audio input channels to be reproduced in accordance with local setting selectors at the receiver. Speaker audio channel anti-noise signals can be subtracted from the head audio channel to cancel the noise related to the playing of the speaker audio on the speakers while the headset audio is played on the headset. Analog anti-noise signals can be produced by use of a microphone associated with the headset and later subtracted from the headset audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Unwired Technology LLC
    Inventors: Roy S. Coutinho, Lawrence Richenstein
  • Publication number: 20120121105
    Abstract: A system to automate networked routing of audio in a live sound system includes a computing device having a processor and memory and in which the live sound system is configurable for a venue. The memory includes instructions executable by the processor to route audio signals over a network based on user selection of source audio signals from at least one transmitting audio device and on logical grouping of loudspeakers by the user from within a graphical user interface. The processor, for each receiving audio device channel of the group of loudspeakers (such as bandpass inputs), identifies power amplifiers and/or digital signal processors (DSPs) (which may be integrated within a powered loudspeaker) through which to route the selected source audio signals; and then routes the selected source audio signals from the selected transmitting audio device over the network to the receiving audio device channels through channels of the identified power amplifiers and/or DSPs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Adam Holladay, Richard A. Kreifeldt, Brian Pickowitz, Paul Bauman
  • Patent number: 8175289
    Abstract: A digital audio distribution network includes a plurality of nodes and at least one transmission line that interconnects the nodes to form the digital audio distribution network. A first node in the plurality of nodes receives a user command, encodes the user command, and sends the encoded user command and digital audio over the transmission line. A second node in the plurality of nodes receives the encoded user command and the digital audio over the transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Inventors: Raymond L. Gordon, Kent L. Deines
  • Patent number: 8175281
    Abstract: The present application provides method and apparatus for a binaural hearing assistance system using a monaural audio signal input. The system, in various examples, provides adjustable delay/phase adjustment and sound level adjustment. Different embodiments are provided for receiving the monaural signal and distributing it to a plurality of hearing assistance devices. Different relaying modes are provided. Special functions are supported, such as telecoil functions. The system also has examples that account for a head-related transfer function in providing advanced sound processing for the wearer. Other examples are provided that are described in the detailed description.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc
    Inventor: Brent Edwards
  • Patent number: 8165315
    Abstract: An audio system responsive to a source of audio programming. The audio system comprising a master amplifier connected to the source of audio programming, the master amplifier providing channelized amplified audio signals at each one of a plurality of channel output connectors and a signal splitter connected to at least one of the plurality of channel output connectors for splitting the channelized amplified audio signal at a selected one of the plurality of channel output connectors into an audio channel signal and a power signal. The audio system further comprising a channel transmit module responsive to the audio channel signal and the power signal for transmitting the audio channel signal, a channel receiver responsive to an intended audio channel signal, a channel amplifier connected to an associated channel receiver for amplifying the intended audio channel signal and a sound reproducing device connected to the channel amplifier for aurally reproducing the intended audio channel signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sky Cross Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Tornatta, Frank M. Caimi
  • Publication number: 20120095749
    Abstract: Audiovisual presentation methods, systems and apparatus for improving and enhancing the listening experience of attendees of audiovisual presentations. An exemplary audiovisual presentation system includes an audio processing and distribution unit (APDU) configured to generate and broadcast a wireless audio service containing audio of an audiovisual presentation (e.g., soundtrack and dialogue audio of a movie, in the case of a movie presentation) throughout an audiovisual presentation room or space (e.g., a movie theater, in the case of a movie presentation). The wireless audio service is received by mobile receiving devices (MRDs) having or comprising headsets, headphones or earbuds, through which MRD users listen to the audio of the audiovisual presentation provided by the wireless audio service while viewing images of the audiovisual presentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventor: Antonio Capretta
  • Patent number: 8155326
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the operation of one or more devices is provided. The system includes a microphone acoustically coupled to one the monitored device. An analog-to-digital-converter samples the microphone and a processor examines the resultant digital signal for the occurrence of an abnormal event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, David E. Whitehead, Timothy M. Minteer
  • Patent number: 8150060
    Abstract: A surround sound outputting device includes a receiving portion which receives signals on a plurality of channels, a storing portion which stores measuring sound data representing a sound, an outputting portion which outputs a sound produced based on the signals on the plurality of channels or the measuring sound data in a controlled direction and in a beam shape, a controlling portion which controls a direction of the sound output from the outputting portion, a sound collecting portion which picks up the sound output from the outputting portion to produce picked-up sound data representing the picked-up sound, an impulse response specifying portion which specifies impulse responses in respective directions from respective sound data, a path characteristic specifying portion which specifies path distances of the paths through which the sounds output in the respective directions arrive at the sound collecting portion from the outputting portion and levels of the impulse responses based on the impulse responses
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Suzuki, Kunihiro Kumagai, Susumu Takumai
  • Patent number: 8139789
    Abstract: A plurality of main amplifiers amplifies input audio signals with an adjustable gain. A first selector selects any of the input audio signals. An auxiliary amplifier receives an output of the first selector and amplifies this output with an adjustable gain. A second selector receives n outputs from the main amplifiers and selects any of the outputs. A soft switching circuit receives an output of the second selector at a first input terminal, receives an output of the auxiliary amplifier at a second input terminal, and makes the output transition gradually from one of the input terminals to the other of the input terminals. Output switches are respectively provided for the main amplifiers, an output of a corresponding main amplifier is received at a first input terminal, an output of the soft switching circuit is received at a second input terminal, and one of the outputs is selected to be outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuteru Sakai, Yosuke Sato
  • Patent number: 8103016
    Abstract: An audio network system that performs transport of audio signals among nodes by cascading a plurality of nodes each including two sets of transmission I/Fs and reception I/Fs, and circulating among the nodes in each fixed period an audio transport frame generated by a master node, is configured such that the master node generates the audio transport frame in an S-th period based on the audio transport frame in an (S?k)-th period, and each of the other nodes delays the audio signals written by another node after the audio transport frame is generated by the master node until the audio transport frame is transmitted to the self node, by k period(s) with respect to the other audio signals, for use in signal processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Kei Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8098840
    Abstract: A multi-channel output device for a multimedia device includes a plurality of reception ends, an amplifier having an input end and an output end, a plurality of sound output devices for outputting sound, a first switching unit coupled between the plurality of reception ends and the input end of the amplifier for coupling a reception end of the plurality of reception ends to the input end of the amplifier according to a control signal, a second switching unit coupled between the output end of the amplifier and the plurality of sound output devices for coupling the output end of the amplifier to a sound output device of the plurality of sound output devices according to the control signal, and a control unit coupled to the first switching unit and the second switching unit for outputting the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Anpec Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Chiung-Ching Ku
  • Patent number: 8094830
    Abstract: A television set includes: an internal speaker which outputs sound; a memory which holds information; a remote controller receiver which receives an instruction from the outside of the television set; a microcomputer which causes, based on a mode specifying instruction for specifying a sound output mode received by the remote controller receiver, the memory to hold any one of (a) information that indicates a first sound output mode in which sound is outputted from the internal speaker and (b) information that indicates a second sound output mode in which sound is outputted from an external speaker that is a speaker outside the television set; and an HDMI/CEC communication unit which outputs the information that indicates the sound output mode and that is held by the memory, to an amplifier which controls to operate or not operate the speaker outside the television set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Sako Asayama, Hiroshi Kase, Mitsuteru Kataoka, Akihiro Mitani, Toshiki Murakami, Masahiko Mizoguchi, Masazumi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8081778
    Abstract: A VOX interface is provided that interfaces with at least two communication paths to two separate devices. One communication path may be to a first electronic device, such as a central monitoring station remote from the VOX interface, and another communication path may be to one or more remote devices, such as to one or more patient devices remote from the VOX interface. The VOX interface may determine which of the communication paths is sending a signal (such as an audio signal), and configure the VOX interface (via one or more switches) to pass the signal through. Specifically, the VOX interface may sense signals indicating the presence of audio from a central station audio bus and the patient station bus, may do some background noise filtering on the signals, and may pass these filtered values through a differentiator circuit to determine which bus presented the audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: SimplexGrinnell LP
    Inventor: Joseph D. Farley
  • Patent number: 8081781
    Abstract: For achieving an audio reproduction with high sound quality, in a multi-channel A/V amplifier, front speakers are driven with a parallel-drive bi-amplifier arrangement upon stereo reproduction. In the case of the multi-channel reproduction mode, the switching circuit allows an output signal of each channel of the decoder to be sent to speakers via amplifiers for each channel in one-to-one correspondence. On the other hand, in the case of the 2-channel stereo reproduction mode, the switching circuit allows at least two amplifiers among the plurality of amplifiers to be connected in parallel between the output signal for each of the channels L and R of the decoder and the speakers for each of the channels L and R, and also allows the timing of the output signals of the respective amplifiers to be varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Atsuo Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20110291833
    Abstract: An intercom exchange is connected to multiple terminals, and includes multiple communication paths, a digital switch circuit for switching connections between the terminals and the communication paths, and a CPU that controls the DSPs and the switch circuit. The CPU performs control for preferentially allocating a communication path to the first terminal, and the allocated DSP determines whether a sound from the first terminal that has been received as input via the switch circuit is an abnormal sound. Upon determining that the sound is an abnormal sound, the allocated DSP notifies the CPU, and upon receiving the notification, the CPU determines an alert destination based on the notification and performs alert processing for sending an alert to the alert destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: TOA Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8064615
    Abstract: An audio signal processing apparatus comprising: an audio data generation part for generating third audio data from first audio data and second audio data, the first audio data including first L-channel data and first R-channel data which are alternately and serially arranged in a word unit, the second audio data including second L-channel data and second R-channel data which are alternately and serially arranged in the word unit, and the third audio data including the first L-channel data and the second L-channel data which are alternately and serially arranged in the word unit; a DA conversion part for dividing the third audio data into the first L-channel data and the second L-channel data and converting the first L-channel data and the second L-channel data into a first analog signal and a second analog signal, respectively; and a combining part for combining the first analog signal with the second analog signal to form a third analog signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Onkyo Corporation
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Murakami