Patents Examined by Con P. Tran
  • Patent number: 10425759
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring and calibrating a time-synchronized network of loudspeaker participants. Each loudspeaker participant has a plurality of microphone arrays. The system and method generates a stimulus signal at each network participant and records precise sensor data including start and end timestamps of the stimulus signal. The sensor data is compiled to estimate locations of loudspeaker participants within the time-synchronized network to establish a global frame of reference for all of the loudspeaker components in the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Levi Gene Pearson
  • Patent number: 10412532
    Abstract: A method for creating a model of reflective surfaces in a listening environment that may be applied to noise cancellation for a network of AVB/TSN loudspeaker components. A coordinator determines co-planarity and estimates orientation of all echoes of a stimulus by using recorded precise times of arrival, determined angles of arrival and the known, or estimated, locations of each loudspeaker component. The coordinator groups reflection points into planar regions based on co-planarity and estimated orientations to determine a location of each reflective surface in the listening environment thereby creating a model of all of the reflective surfaces in the listening environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Levi Gene Pearson
  • Patent number: 10410618
    Abstract: An in-vehicle noise control system is provided. The system includes speakers that output navigation guidance sound and audio content reproduced at a head unit of a vehicle. An audio module receives the navigation guidance sound and an audio content signal to generate an opposite waveform with respect to the navigation guidance sound and output noise offset waveforms in which tuning functions are calculated based on positions of the speakers to the opposite waveform. An amplifier is connected between the audio module and the speakers. The audio module outputs the navigation guidance sound and the audio content signal to one of the speakers located at a driver's seat and outputs the noise offset waveforms and the audio content signal to the remaining speakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Seong Kue Kang
  • Patent number: 10402151
    Abstract: A system for enhancing audio including a computer and an output device. The computer includes a sensor configured to determine a user location relative to the computer. The sensor is also configured to gather environment data corresponding to an environment of the computer. The computer also includes a processor in communication with the sensor and configured to process the user location and the environment data and adjust at least one of an audio output or a video output. The output device is in communication with the processor and is configured to output at least one of the audio output or the video output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aleksandar Pance, Brett Bilbrey, Darbey E. Hadley, Martin E. Johnson, Ronald Nadim Isaac
  • Patent number: 10396740
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a microphone driving device and a digital microphone including the same. A microphone driving device according to an embodiment of the inventive concept includes a voltage-to-current converter, a current-to-voltage converter, an analog-to-digital converter, a digital amplification unit, and a gain controller. The voltage-to-current converter converts an acoustic signal to an output current signal based on a gain control signal. The current-to-voltage converter converts the output current signal to an amplified voltage signal. The analog-to-digital converter converts the amplified voltage signal to a digital signal. The digital amplification unit amplifies the digital signal to an amplified digital signal based on the gain control signal. The gain controller generates a gain control signal. The microphone driving device and the digital microphone including the same according to the inventive concept may have a wide dynamic range and reduce the influence of noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS & TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yi-Gyeong Kim, Woo Seok Yang, Min-Hyung Cho
  • Patent number: 10397701
    Abstract: A system includes a class D amplifier and a current steering digital-to-analog converter (DAC) directly connected to the class D amplifier. The system also includes a common mode servo circuit coupled to a node interconnecting the current steering DAC to the class D amplifier. The common servo circuit amplifies a difference between a common mode signal determined from the node and a reference voltage and generates a feedback current to the node based on the amplified difference. A feed-forward common-mode compensation circuit is included to reduce an alternating current (AC) ripple from the class D amplifier. The feed-forward common-mode compensation circuit includes first and second resistors coupled to respective outputs of the class D amplifier. A current mirror is coupled to the first and second resistors and is configured to sink a current from the node to ground that approximates a common mode feedback current of the class D amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Lars Risbo, Ryan Erik Lind, Jasjot Singh Chadha
  • Patent number: 10353509
    Abstract: Controlling an audio volume is disclosed. 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. The audio volume is controlled based at least in part on the indicator identifying the force intensity of the touch input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Sentons Inc.
    Inventors: Lapoe E. Lynn, Samuel W. Sheng, Shih-Ming Shih, Yenyu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 10334381
    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: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: SOUNDFI SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Chris T. Anastas
  • Patent number: 10311894
    Abstract: In a system for locating a mobile noise source, a sound sensing device catches a sound wave of a mobile noise source within a specified area for a specified time period, and outputs a characteristic information corresponding to the sound wave. An audio comparing device in communication with the sound sensing device compares the characteristic information with a set of standard data, and outputs an activating signal in response to a specific compared result. An image pickup device in communication with the audio comparing device performs an image pickup operation to catch an image of the mobile noise source in response to the activating signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: OTOCON INC.
    Inventors: Jen-Fang Yu, Tung-Hung Sun, Yen-Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 10271155
    Abstract: An audio playing system has a first channel output device, a first equalizer, and a controller. The first equalizer is configured to adjust a received first channel audio signal with a set of first parameters of frequency response and output the adjusted first channel audio signal to the first channel output device in a first mode, and to adjust the received first channel audio signal with the a of second parameters of frequency response and output the adjusted first channel audio signal to the first channel output device in a second mode. In a test mode, the controller is configured to send a set of test audio signals to the first channel output device and to adjust the set of first parameters of frequency response and the set of second parameters of frequency response based on a plurality of pieces of received first confirmation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: GEMTEK TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Wen Chen, Chih-Hsu Yen, Fu-Ming Tien
  • Patent number: 10244317
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a sound apparatus comprising a plurality of driver units arranged linearly in an end-fire array, and for each driver unit, a corresponding digital filter for individual digital signal processing of signals received by the driver unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Adrian Celestinos, Allan Devantier, Andri Bezzola, Pascal M. Brunet
  • Patent number: 10237664
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for discontinuously recording audio input representative of an audio environment. The audio environment can be an environment of a recipient of a hearing prosthesis and the discontinuously recorded audio input can be used to characterize the audio environment of the recipient, to control settings of the hearing prosthesis, or to provide some other application. Discontinuously recording the audio input can provide a recording that characterizes the audio environment of the recipient while protecting the privacy of individuals speaking nearby the recipient. Discontinuously recording the audio input may include recording discontinuous time segments of the audio input such that the semantic content of speech within the audio input, the identity of speakers in the audio input, or other private information present in the audio input is masked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Zachary Mark Smith, Harish Krishnamoorthi
  • Patent number: 10237672
    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: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Kulavik
  • Patent number: 10206037
    Abstract: A class-D amplifier includes measurement of speaker current via the low-side drive transistors of the amplifier. In one embodiment, a class-D amplifier includes two high-side transistors, two low-side transistors, a first sense resistor, a second sense resistor, and a sigma delta analog to digital converter (?? ADC). The two high-side transistors and two low-side transistors are connected as a bridge to drive a bridge tied speaker. The first sense resistor is connected between a first of the low-side transistors and a low-side reference voltage. The second sense resistor is connected between a second of the low-side transistors and the low-side reference voltage. The ?? ADC is coupled to the bridge to measure voltage across the first sense resistor and the second sense resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Mohit Chawla
  • Patent number: 10206047
    Abstract: Improving noise rejection of a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) microphone by utilizing a membrane sandwiched between oppositely biased backplates is presented herein. The MEMS microphone can comprise a diaphragm that converts an acoustic pressure into an electrical signal; a first backplate capacitively coupled to a first side of the diaphragm—the first backplate biased at a first direct current (DC) voltage; a second backplate capacitively coupled to a second side of the diaphragm—the second backplate biased at a second DC voltage; and an electronic amplifier that buffers the electrical signal to generate a buffered output signal representing the acoustic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventors: Kieran Harney, Adrianus Maria Lafort, Brian Moss, Dion Ivo De Roo
  • Patent number: 10206052
    Abstract: A system, method and wireless earpieces for determining a status of the wireless earpiece. Sensor measurements are made utilizing sensors of the wireless earpieces at a first location. The sensor measurements are analyzed. Data is extrapolated for one or more other locations utilizing the sensor measurements from the first location within the wireless earpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Inventor: Vlad Perianu
  • Patent number: 10200000
    Abstract: A handheld electronic, a sound produce system and control method of sound producing thereof are provided. The sound produce system includes a speaker, a feedback unit, a gain unit and a compensation unit. The speaker generates audible sound according to an output audio signal. The feedback unit generates a first detected parameter, wherein the first detected parameter represents a detected excursion. The gain unit receives an input audio signal, and amplifies the input audio signal to generate a gained audio signal according to a gain value. The compensation unit receives the gained audio signal and the first detected parameter, and predicts an excursion of the speaker corresponding to the gained audio signal to generate a predicted excursion parameter, and compensates the gained audio signal to generate the output audio signal according to the first detected parameter and the predicted excursion parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Chiang Cheng, Chun-Min Lee, Hann-Shi Tong, Lei Chen, Che-Yi Hsiao, Chin-Kuo Huang
  • Patent number: 10200780
    Abstract: A system includes a left earpiece comprising a left earpiece housing and a right earpiece comprising a right earpiece housing and a radio transceiver disposed within at least one of the left earpiece and the right earpiece, and a software application executable on a computing device in operative communication with the radio transceiver; wherein the software application provides a visual representation of the left earpiece and a visual representation of the right earpiece and wherein the visual representation of the left earpiece indicates a remaining charge for the left earpiece and wherein the visual representation of the right earpiece indicates a remaining charge for the right earpiece. A method for displaying battery life is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: BRAGI GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Steiner
  • Patent number: 10200772
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display panel which displays an image and a vibration member attached to a surface of the display panel, where the vibration member receives a sound signal, generates a vibration in response to the sound signal, and transfers the vibration to the display panel to allow the display panel to output a sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi Joon Ahn, Yongchang Park, WonSang Park, Jongin Baek, Yong-Suk Yeo, Taehee Lee
  • Patent number: 10194032
    Abstract: A method and system of conferencing can include the steps of initiating a conference call at a communication device with two or more communication devices and selecting to suppress a voice communication of at least one communication device on the conference call where a modified electronic signal is generated with the selected at least one communication device so that the voice communication from the selected at least one communication device is inaudible. The method or system further includes sending the modified electronic signal to at least one other communication device on the conference call. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Staton Techiya, LLC
    Inventors: Jason McIntosh, Marc Boillot, John Usher, Steven Goldstein