Patents Examined by Ammar T Hamid
  • Patent number: 11675565
    Abstract: An audio switching device includes a housing, a first user interface, and a controller within the housing and in electronic communication with the first user interface. The controller is configured to connect a first audio source to the audio switching device, connect a first listening device to the audio switching device, such that an output from the first audio source is received at the first listening device, receive a first input from the first user interface, disconnect the first listening device in response to receiving the first input, and connect a second audio listening device to the audio switching device, such that an output from the first audio source is received at the second listening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: ACCO Brands Corporation
    Inventors: Ya-Hui Yang, Hsin Chih Lu
  • Patent number: 11665472
    Abstract: A speaker box includes a housing and a speaker unit accommodated in the housing. The speaker unit includes a diaphragm configured to vibrate and sound. The diaphragm is spaced from the housing to form a front sound cavity therebetween. The speaker box further includes a sound transmitting channel communicating the front sound cavity with outside. The front sound cavity and the sound transmitting channel cooperatively form a front cavity of the speaker box. A sound absorption layer is disposed at a portion of the housing facing the front cavity. The sound absorption layer includes a micro-porous structure. When the sound wave passes through the front cavity, the sound absorption layer is capable of absorbing the resonance vibration of the front cavity in high frequency, thus suppressing the amplification of the sound distortion due to the resonance vibration of the front cavity and improving the acoustic performance of the speaker box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhiqiang Qiu, Shasha Liu
  • Patent number: 11658632
    Abstract: Described herein is an audio device with a microphone which may adapt the audio output volume of a speaker by either increasing or decreasing output volume based on an audio input volume from a user and a distance from the user to the audio device. The audio device may also adapt its output volume to lower the audio output based on detecting one or more interruptions including occupancy and acoustic sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: Galen E. Knode
  • Patent number: 11653076
    Abstract: An internet protocol (IP)-based ceiling or wall-mounted speaker with optional IP-based camera and/or alarm indicator is provided. The IP-based speaker has a detachable add-on device for accommodating different types of interchangeable camera configurations and other components such as flush mount camera, camera providing angled view, night vision-type camera for different services and configurations. Multiple IP-based speakers are connected to an IP device to exchange audio data via an Ethernet connection for cost effective, flexible and convenient installations. The IP-based speaker has a speaker cone for talkback features, and relay for remote relay control of doors or gates for security applications as well as public address applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Reid, Roger Deihm, John J. Penny
  • Patent number: 11638100
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to providing a flexible patch and system for communicating through hard plastic masks such as CPAP/BiPAP® masks. Using electronic circuitry and novel designs, the present systems and methods can detect speech vibrations and output audible speech from hard plastic mask wearers. For example, in certain embodiments, the present systems and methods can recognize speech through a CPAP/BiPAP® mask, filter out non-human voice related noise, and output the resulting speech of the mask wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: ATAIA INC.
    Inventors: Tyler Andrew Register, Amber Nicole Jackson, Amy Lynn Foertsch, An-kwok Ian Wong
  • Patent number: 11630637
    Abstract: Various aspects include portable speakers and methods of controlling such speakers. In a particular implementation, a portable loudspeaker includes: a controller configured to control an audio output according to at least two distinct equalization profiles and in at least two distinct physical orientations, where the controller is configured to switch between two of the distinct equalization profiles in response to detecting a change in physical orientation of the portable loudspeaker between two of the distinct physical orientations, where the switch between the two distinct equalization profiles is either: a) modified by a hysteresis factor, or b) smoothed according to a predefined pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle Brian McNicholas, Nabin Sagar Sharma, Michael Stephen Danielson, Paul Larsen, Rebecca Kowalczyk, Meir Mechtinger
  • Patent number: 11632646
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for generating and presenting virtual audio for mixed reality systems. A method may include determining a collision between a first object and a second object, wherein the first object comprises a first virtual object. A memory storing one or more audio models can be accessed. It can be determined if the one or more audio models stored in the memory comprises an audio model corresponding to the first object. In accordance with a determination that the one or more audio models comprises an audio model corresponding to the first object, an audio signal can be synthesized, wherein the audio signal is based on the collision and the audio model corresponding to the first object, and the audio signal can be presented to a user via a speaker of a head-wearable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Colby Nelson Leider, Justin Dan Mathew, Michael Z. Land, Blaine Ivin Wood, Jung-Suk Lee, Anastasia Andreyevna Tajik, Jean-Marc Jot
  • Patent number: 11632470
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus assist listeners in distinguishing between electronically generated binaural sound and physical environment sound while the listener wears a wearable electronic device that provides the binaural sound to the listener. The wearable electronic device generates a visual alert or audio alert when the electronically generated binaural sound occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventors: Glen A. Norris, Philip Scott Lyren
  • Patent number: 11632618
    Abstract: An earphone module, including a housing, a circuit board, a feeding conductor, a first grounding conductor, and a second grounding conductor, is provided. The housing includes an insulating housing and a metal ring connected thereto. The metal ring serves as an antenna and includes a feeding end, a first ground end, a second ground end, and a slit that splits the metal ring. The slit is located between the feeding end and the first ground end. The second ground end is located between the feeding end and the slit. The circuit board is located in the insulating housing. A slot is formed between the circuit board and the metal ring. The feeding conductor is connected to the feeding end and the circuit board. The first grounding conductor is connected to the first ground end and the circuit board. The second grounding conductor is connected to the second ground end and the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Merry Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jui-Hsien Chien
  • Patent number: 11627414
    Abstract: A microphone system, comprises a first transducer, for generating a first acoustic signal, and a second transducer, for generating a second acoustic signal. A high-pass filter receives the first signal and generates a first filtered signal, and a low-pass filter receives the second signal and generates a second filtered signal. An adder forms an output signal of the microphone system as a sum of the first filtered signal and the second filtered signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Lesso, Thomas I. Harvey
  • Patent number: 11624800
    Abstract: The systems, devices, and processes described herein may identify a beam of a voice-controlled device that is directed toward a reflective surface, such as a wall. The beams may be created by a beamformer. An acoustic echo canceller (AEC) may create filter coefficients for a reference sound. The filter coefficients may be analyzed to identify beams that include multiple peaks. The multiple peaks may indicate presence of one or more reflective surfaces. Using the amplitude and the time delay between the peaks, the device may determine that it is close to a reflective surface in a direction of the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Folwell Barton, Kenneth Edgar Hild, II, Ramya Gopalan, Kavitha Velusamy, Amit Singh Chhetri
  • Patent number: 11627406
    Abstract: A wearable audio device includes a speaker, a wireless communications interface, an audio sensor configured to capture ambient noise in an environment occupied by a user wearing the wearable audio device, and memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including receiving, via the wireless communications interface, a first user input identifying a frequency range to be attenuated, generating an audio signal from the captured ambient noise, attenuating the audio signal to reduce an amplitude of one or more frequency components based on the frequency range, and causing the speaker to produce sound based on the attenuated audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Change Healthcare Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: David Alan Wright
  • Patent number: 11619970
    Abstract: A wearable device includes a body having fasteners and a frame coupled between two fasteners. The frame includes first and second sections. A first portion of the body includes the first section of the frame and one fastener and a second portion of the body includes the second section of the frame and the other fastener. A speaker and a microphone are connected to the first portion and another speaker and another microphone are connected to the second portion. The body also includes a processor, memory accessible to the processor, and programming in the memory for configuring the processor to selectively activate the speakers and microphones such that a first speaker emits an output sound signal while a first microphone and a second speaker are deactivated and a second microphone captures an input sound signal during the emission of the output sound signal by the first speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Douglas Patton, Jonathan M. Rodriguez, II, Julio Cesar Castañeda, Samuel Bryson Thompson
  • Patent number: 11620101
    Abstract: Methods and systems for performing automatic speed-based audio control. One method includes receiving, with an electronic control unit included in a vehicle, a speed of the vehicle and receiving, with the electronic control unit, an audio signal. The method also includes accessing, with the electronic control unit, a plurality of equalization curves based on the speed of the vehicle, each of the plurality of equalization curves associated with the speed of the vehicle and each of the plurality of equalization curves defining a gain adjustment for one of a plurality of frequencies, and, for each curve of the plurality of equalization curves, applying the gain adjustment defined by the curve to one of the plurality of frequencies of the audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Thieme, Thomas E. Strunsee, Jack Postuchow, Judson Riggins, Justin Zazzi, Erik Gundersen
  • Patent number: 11622192
    Abstract: The disclosed device may include an optical structure configured to house various sensors directed toward a user. The sensors may be configured to gather data through at least one layer of the optical structure. The device may also a vent bracket positioned between the optical structure and an outer covering of the device. The vent bracket may be positioned to provide an opening between the optical structure and the vent bracket, allowing air to flow through the opening. The device may also include various microphones positioned in recessed ports between the optical structure and the vent bracket. These openings may allow external sounds to reach the microphones in the device. Various other methods of manufacturing, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Jiang Ai
  • Patent number: 11611821
    Abstract: This invention provides an earphone with a low light transmittance and a non-porous sensor cover. Covering the sensing cover on the proximity sensing device can reduce the interference of most of the ambient light and improve measurement accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: LUXSENTEK MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chih-Wei Lin, Sheng-Cheng Lee, Wen-Sheng Lin, Chen-Hua Hsi
  • Patent number: 11606647
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to providing a flexible patch and system for communicating through hard plastic masks such as CPAP/BiPAP® masks. Using electronic circuitry and novel designs, the present systems and methods can detect speech vibrations and output audible speech from hard plastic mask wearers. For example, in certain embodiments, the present systems and methods can recognize speech through a CPAP/BiPAP® mask, filter out non-human voice related noise, and output the resulting speech of the mask wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: ATAIA INC.
    Inventors: Tyler Andrew Register, Amber Nicole Jackson, Amy Lynn Foertsch, An-kwok Ian Wong
  • Patent number: 11600289
    Abstract: The present document discloses a method for fading discontinued audio feeds for replay by a speaker. In particular, the method may first comprise receiving an input audio feed comprising a plurality of samples. The method may further comprise determining whether the input audio feed is discontinued. And, when discontinuity of the input audio feed is detected, the method may comprise generating an intermediate audio signal comprising a plurality of samples based on the discontinued input audio feed. In particular, the intermediate audio signal may be generated based on a last portion of the discontinued input audio feed that has been output for replay. In addition, the method may further comprise applying a fadeout function to the intermediate audio signal to generate a fadeout audio signal. Finally, the method may comprise outputting the fadeout audio signal for replay by the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Gael Lassure, Alexander Stahlmann
  • Patent number: 11599330
    Abstract: In some examples, a control audio management engine is configured to interact with guest audio services in respective guests that have different audio management capabilities. The control audio management engine receives an indication of a start of a first audio in a first guest of the guests, the indication comprising an audio stream. The control audio management engine sends, to a second guest of the guests, control information to affect playback of a second audio that is playing in the second guest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Darrin Kenneth John Fry
  • Patent number: 11570539
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention disclose a method for safeguarding an audio device by enabling the audio device to perform harm prevention and retrieval related task based on detecting a set of conditions within an operating environment of the audio device. The method includes one or more processors determining a freefall event of an audio device is occurring. The method further includes one or more processors determining an operating environment type of a surface the audio device contacts after the freefall event ends, wherein the operating environment type of the surface indicates liquid is present. The method further includes responsive to the indication that water is present one or more processors taking a liquid mitigation action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Raghuveer Prasad Nagar, Sarbajit K. Rakshit, Manjit Singh Sodhi, Manoj Kumar Goyal