Patents Assigned to Softmax, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7983907
    Abstract: A headset is constructed to generate an acoustically distinct speech signal in a noisy acoustic environment. The headset positions a pair of spaced-apart microphones near a user's mouth. The microphones each receive the user's speech, and also receive acoustic environmental noise. The microphone signals, which have both a noise and information component, are received into a separation process. The separation process generates a speech signal that has a substantial reduced noise component. The speech signal is then processed for transmission. In one example, the transmission process includes sending the speech signal to a local control module using a Bluetooth radio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignees: Softmax, Inc., The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Erik Visser, Jeremy Toman, Tom Davis, Brian Momeyer
  • Publication number: 20080201138
    Abstract: A headset is constructed to generate an acoustically distinct speech signal in a noisy acoustic environment. The headset positions a pair of spaced-apart microphones near a user's mouth. The microphones each receive the user s speech, and also receive acoustic environmental noise. The microphone signals, which have both a noise and information component, are received into a separation process. The separation process generates a speech signal that has a substantial reduced noise component. The speech signal is then processed for transmission. In one example, the transmission process includes sending the speech signal to a local control module using a Bluetooth radio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: SoftMax, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Visser, Jeremy Toman, Tom Davis, Brian Momeyer
  • Patent number: 7383178
    Abstract: A system and method for separating a mixture of audio signal into desired audio signals (430) (e.g., speech) and a noise sign (440) is disclosed. Microphones (310, 320) are positioned to receive the mixed audio signals, and an independent component analysis (ICA) processes (212) the sound mixture using stability constraints. The ICA process (508) uses predefined characteristics of the desired speech signal to identify and isolate a target sound signal (430). Filter coefficients are adapted with a learning rule and filter weight update dynamics are stabilized to assist convergence to a stable separated ICA signal result. The separated signals may be peripherally-processed to further reduce noise effects using post-processing (214) and pre-processing (220, 230) techniques and information. The proposed system is designed and easily adaptable for implementation on DSP units or CPUs in audio communication hardware environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: SoftMax, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Visser, Te-Won Lee
  • Patent number: 7366662
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for separating a good quality information signal from a noisy acoustic environment. The separation process uses a set of at least two spaced-apart transducers to capture noise and information components. The transducer signals, which have both a noise and information component, are received into a separation process. The separation process generates one channel that is substantially only noise, and another channel that is a combination of noise and information. An identification process is used to identify which channel has the information component. The noise signal is then used to set process characteristics that are applied to the combination signal to efficiently reduce or eliminate the noise component. In this way, the noise is effectively removed from the combination signal to generate a good qualify information signal. The information signal may be, for example, a speech signal, a seismic signal, a sonar signal, or other acoustic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: SoftMax, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Visser, Te-Won Lee
  • Patent number: 7099821
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for separating a good quality information signal from a noisy acoustic environment. The separation process uses a set of at least two spaced-apart transducers to capture noise and information components. The transducer signals, which have both a noise and information component, are received into a separation process. The separation process generates one channel that is substantially only noise, and another channel that is a combination of noise and information. An identification process is used to identify which channel has the information component. The noise signal is then used to set process characteristics that are applied to the combination signal to efficiently reduce or eliminate the noise component. In this way, the noise is effectively removed from the combination signal to generate a good qualify information signal. The information signal may be, for example, a speech signal, a seismic signal, a sonar signal, or other acoustic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Softmax, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Visser, Te-Won Lee