Patents Examined by Con P. Tran
  • Patent number: 10755688
    Abstract: A microphone unit in which a microphone body is built in a housing is provided. The microphone body detects a sound entering the housing via a sound hole of the housing. An optical detector that detects light entering the housing via the sound hole is disposed in the housing. Therefore, a detection can be made that the sound hole is blocked by monitoring a detection level of the optical detector, based on a change in the detection level of the optical detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10750272
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hearing device that comprises a flexible electric connection between device components that are pivotably connected to each other. The electric connection comprises an originally flat flexible circuit comprising one or more electric conductors embedded in a flexible substrate. The flexible circuit comprises a centre portion that is curved in its original, flat state and that in its mounted stage is bent to form a turn such that two curved sections of the curved centre portion emerge that are arranged opposite to each other in two spaced apart planes that essentially are parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SENNHEISER COMMUNICATIONS A/S
    Inventors: Henrik Roed, Torben Kristensen, Brian Spidsbjerg, Arne Lindbjerg Pedersen, Martin Feilberg Hansen, Peter Bauerlund
  • Patent number: 10743123
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a system for delivery of binaural audio to a consumer including a computing device with a processor, a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored instructions that when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations for delivery of the binaural audio to the consumer through the consumer device. The operations can enable a delivery server to associate the consumer device with a binaural audio file associated with the event attended by the consumer. The operations can enable the consumer device to retrieve and download a binaural audio file from the delivery server, and to receive synchronization information associated with the event and the binaural audio file. The operations can also include processing the binaural audio file and delivering audio through an audio emitting device coupled to the consumer device, where the delivered audio is synchronized with the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: SOUNDFI SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Chris T. Anastas
  • Patent number: 10732755
    Abstract: An indicator identifying a force intensity of a touch input provided on a touch input surface is received. It is determined that the touch input is associated with an audio volume control. An audio volume is controlled based at least in part on the indicator identifying the force intensity of the touch input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Sentons Inc.
    Inventors: Lapoe E. Lynn, Samuel W. Sheng, Shih-Ming Shih, Yenyu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 10726863
    Abstract: In a system and a method for locating a mobile noise source, a sound sensing device catches a sound wave of the mobile noise source, and generates and stores a current sound characteristic information corresponding to the sound wave. An image pickup device catches an image of the mobile noise source, and generates and stores an entry of current image data corresponding to the mobile noise source. A spectrogram and image database stores entries of default spectrogram data and entries of default image data. An information processing unit compares the current sound characteristic information with the entries of default spectrogram data, and stores and associates the current sound characteristic information with the mobile noise source in the spectrogram and image database if no similarity between the current sound characteristic information and the entries of default spectrogram data reaches a preset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: OTOCON INC.
    Inventors: Jen-Fang Yu, Tung-Hung Sun, Yen-Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 10728649
    Abstract: An apparatus for delivering audio signals to a user includes an air-conduction transducer and a bone-conduction transducer. The air-conduction transducer is configured to convert a component of the audio signals to air vibrations detectable by an ear of the user. The bone-conduction transducer is configured to convert another component of the audio signals to vibrations in a cranial bone of the user via direct contact with the user. The apparatus employs one or more filters to separate input audio signals to produce a high-frequency component, a mid-frequency component, and a low-frequency component. The mid- and low-frequency components are processed using compressors to reduce the dynamic range of the components, and then combined to produce a combined component. The combined component is delivered to the user through the bone-conduction transducer, and the high-frequency component is delivered to the user through the air-conduction transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Tomlinson Holman
  • Patent number: 10721556
    Abstract: Audio mix information is received from a plurality of users. Mix rules are determined from the audio mix information from the plurality of users, wherein the mix rules include a first mix rule associated with a first audio item. The first mix rule relates to an overlap of the first audio item with another audio item. The first mix rule is made available to one or more clients. After making the first mix rule available, an indication, from a respective client device, that the first audio item is to be mixed with a second audio item at the respective client device in accordance with the first mix rule is received. In response to the indication, a specification of the first mix rule is transmitted to the respective client device to be applied by the respective client device to generate a transition between the first audio item and the second item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Spotify AB
    Inventors: Par Mikael Bohrarper, Sten Garmark, Niklas Martin Gustavsson, John Fredrik Wilhelm Noren, Gustav Söderström, Babar Zafar
  • Patent number: 10681447
    Abstract: Fibers may be intertwined to form structures for electronic devices and other parts. Fibers may be intertwined using computer-controlled braiding, weaving, and knitting equipment. Binder materials may be selectively incorporated into the intertwined fibers. By controlling the properties of the intertwined fibers and the patterns of incorporated binder, structures can be formed that include antenna windows, sound-transparent and sound-blocking structures, structures that have integral rigid and flexible portions, and tubes with seamless forked portions. Fiber-based structures such as these may be used to form cables and other parts of headphones or other electronic device accessories, housings for electronic devices such as housings for portable computers, and other structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Bibl, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clarke
  • Patent number: 10679599
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a sensor module configured for receiving sensed information indicative of a sensed signal. The sensed signal includes a source signal component and a source noise component. The apparatus also includes a reference module configured for reference information indicative of a reference signal. The reference signal also includes a reference noise component. The apparatus also includes a filter module configured as a fixed lag Kalman smoother. The filter module is configured for adaptively filtering the reference signal to generate an estimate of the source noise component. The apparatus also includes a processing module configured for calculating an output signal based on the sensed signal and the estimate of the source noise component. The apparatus also includes an interface module configured for transmitting an indication of the output signal. The filter module is further configured for, based on the output signal, tuning the Kalman smoother.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Empatica Srl
    Inventors: Ivan Cenci, Simone Tognetti
  • Patent number: 10674256
    Abstract: A camera system with image and audio capture capabilities is configured to protect the internal audio components from the external environment. The camera system includes an internal audio assembly with a microphone and an audio circuit board. The audio circuit board is structured such that a gap exists within the board that allows transmission of sound waves from external the environment to the microphone. The audio assembly also includes a compressible annulus, a support annulus, and a waterproof membrane coupled by a support structure. The waterproof membrane protects the internal components from moisture while still allowing transmission of sound waves. The support structure, compressible annulus, support annulus, and audio circuit board are structured such that a gap exists above the microphone and underneath the waterproof membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventor: Joshua Randall Clyne
  • Patent number: 10667067
    Abstract: A monitoring system can include an earpiece, a database with stored earpiece characteristics data, and a microphone to receive a plurality of signals where each signal of the plurality of signals can represents a respective sound pressure level of sound pressure values over a time duration. The system can also include a processor and a memory coupled processor, the memory having computer instructions which when executed by the processor causes the processor to perform the operations. The operations can include determining exposure time duration when a signal of the plurality of signals exceeds a sound pressure level threshold value, retrieving a subset of data of the stored earpiece characteristics data, and modifying an acoustic output of the earpiece in accordance with the subset of data of the stored earpiece characteristics data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Staton Techiya, LLC
    Inventor: Steven Wayne Goldstein
  • Patent number: 10659870
    Abstract: An audio device includes a jack slot detachably connectable with an audio jack; a detection and monitor unit constantly supplying a first voltage and a second voltage to the jack slot and detecting whether a conductive material is attached to the jack slot depending on changes in the first and second voltages, in a first detection mode; and a determination unit determining whether the conductive material is the audio jack depending on a change in at least one of the first and second voltages in response to detecting attachment of the conductive material. In response to determination by the determination unit that the conductive material is not the audio jack, the detection and monitor unit in a second detection mode monitors a change in the at least one of the first and second voltages while periodically supplying the first and second voltages to the jack slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Changseob Shin, Jonghwa Won
  • Patent number: 10652682
    Abstract: An audio headset may receive a plurality of audio signals corresponding to plurality of surround sound channels. The headset may determine, via its audio processing circuitry, context and content of the audio signals. The audio processing circuitry may process the audio signals to generate a pair of stereo signals carrying one or more virtual surround channels, wherein the processing comprises automatically controlling, based on the context and the content of the audio signals, a simulated acoustic environment of the virtual surround channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Kulavik
  • Patent number: 10652398
    Abstract: In applications where assisted listening headphones are worn inside of a theater, phase cancellation effects cause the headset wearer to perceive the audio as reduced in volume and distorted. These undesirable phase cancellation effects may be disrupted through preprocessing or real time processing of the headset audio track by summing acoustical noise with the original headset audio track and providing this altered audio track to the headset. The acoustical noise is modulated such that it is imperceptible to the headset wearer while at the same time disrupting undesirable phase cancellation effects, which would otherwise occur if the headset audio track was provided unaltered. Thus, the preprocessing of the headset audio preserves the integrity of the intended headset audio, as perceived by the headset wearer, in headsets worn in a theater environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: THEATER EARS, LLC
    Inventor: Chris Sutton
  • Patent number: 10645507
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for providing sound level information for a particular location are provided. In some embodiments, the method comprises: receiving, from a user device, a request for sound level indications associated with a geographic region; in response to receiving the request, identifying a plurality of locations associated with the geographic region; identifying, for each location in the plurality of locations, at least one sound level reading corresponding to the location; generating, for each location in the plurality of locations, sound level indications based on the at least one sound level reading corresponding to the location; and transmitting at least one of the sound level indications and an identifier of at least one location in the plurality of locations corresponding to the at least one of the sound level indications to the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: SoundPrint LLC
    Inventor: Gregory Farber
  • Patent number: 10637421
    Abstract: An audio playback device that includes an audio receiver module, a loudspeaker module and an audio control circuit is provided. The audio control circuit includes an interface and a gain adjusting module. The interface receives an audio signal from an audio source. Under a first operation mode, the audio signal is transmitted only to the audio receiver module to be playback. Under a second operation mode, the audio signal is transmitted to the audio receiver module and to the loudspeaker module to be playback. The gain adjusting module includes a temperature sensing circuit to sense a temperature of the audio receiver module and a gain adjusting circuit electrically coupled between the audio interface and the audio receiver module to adjust a gain of the audio signal according to the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cheng-Pin Chang, Tsung-Peng Chuang
  • Patent number: 10615816
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for cancelling echo by an electronic device. Here, a method of operating an electronic device includes converting a first digital signal related to a sound to be output through a plurality of speakers into a first analog signal; outputting the converted first analog signal as a sound using at least a part of the plurality of speakers; filtering at least a part of the converted first analog signal and/or the output sound and then generating a second analog signal; and outputting the second analog signal as another sound using at least another part of the plurality of speakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Sung-Woon Jang, Sang-Wook Shin
  • Patent number: 10609478
    Abstract: A device for the acquisition and conditioning of a sound signal generated by a source of an internal combustion engine and comprising a box-shaped support body having a first measuring assembly and a second measuring assembly; wherein the first measuring assembly is provided with at least two first microphones which lie on a first plane and are configured for the detection of a first acoustic signal generated by the source along a first provenance direction; and wherein the second measuring assembly is provided with at least a second microphone arranged on a second plane configured for the detection of a second acoustic signal generated by the source along a second provenance direction different from the first provenance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNETI MARELLI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Matteo De Cesare, Federico Covassin, Antonio Barbuto, Federico Monti
  • Patent number: 10609481
    Abstract: One general aspect includes a method for electric overcurrent protection, the method including: calculating, via a controller, a system electric current sum; receiving, via the controller, audio production electric current data; comparing, via the controller, the system electric current sum and audio production electric current data; and when the audio production electric current data exceeds the system electric current sum, invoke a fail-soft action configured to prevent electric overcurrent from being delivered to an audio speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ian R. Singer, Richard A. Close, Runhong Deng
  • Patent number: 10607628
    Abstract: An audio processing method including: generating a plurality of frequency spectra by transforming a plurality of audio signals inputted to a plurality of input devices respectively, comparing an amplitude of each of frequency components of a specific frequency spectrum included in the plurality of frequency spectra with an amplitude of each of frequency components of one or a more other frequency spectra different from the specific frequency spectrum included in the plurality of frequency spectra, for each of the frequency components, extracting, from the frequency components, a frequency component in which an amplitude of the specific frequency spectrum is larger than an amplitude of the one or more other frequency spectra, and controlling an output corresponding to the plurality of audio signal inputted to each of the plurality of input devices based on a proportion of the extracted frequency component in the frequency components whose amplitudes has been compared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Sayuri Nakayama, Taro Togawa, Takeshi Otani