Patents Examined by Davetta W. Goins
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Patent number: 11019418Abstract: An electronic device with a display is paired with a set of wireless audio output devices, including a first wireless audio output device for outputting audio to a right ear of a user and a second wireless audio output device for outputting audio to a left ear of the user. In response to a request to display status information about the set of wireless audio output devices, the electronic device displays a status user interface, including concurrently displaying a first battery status indicator for the first wireless audio output device with an indication that battery status indicator relates to the device for outputting audio to the right ear of the user and a second battery status indicator for the second wireless audio output device with an indication that battery status indicator relates to the device for outputting audio to the left ear of the user.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2017Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Christopher Brian Fleizach, Edwin W. Foo, Ian M. Fisch, Eric Taylor Seymour
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Patent number: 11017785Abstract: The application relates to audio encoder and decoder systems. An embodiment of the encoder system comprises a downmix stage for generating a downmix signal and a residual signal based on a stereo signal. In addition, the encoder system comprises a parameter determining stage for determining parametric stereo parameters such as an inter-channel intensity difference and an inter-channel cross-correlation. Preferably, the parametric stereo parameters are time- and frequency-variant. Moreover, the encoder system comprises a transform stage. The transform stage generates a pseudo left/right stereo signal by performing a transform based on the downmix signal and the residual signal. The pseudo stereo signal is processed by a perceptual stereo encoder. For stereo encoding, left/right encoding or mid/side encoding is selectable. Preferably, the selection between left/right stereo encoding and mid/side stereo encoding is time- and frequency-variant.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2019Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Dolby International ABInventors: Heiko Purnhagen, Pontus Carlsson, Kristofer Kjoerling
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Patent number: 11012776Abstract: Controlling the volume of a Virtual Personal Assistant (VPA) by receiving radio frequency (RF) data associated with a user, identifying a location of a user relative to the VPA, creating a volume adjustment model using the data and VPA data, tracking movement of the user based on the data, and adjusting a volume of the VPA according to the volume adjustment model.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2019Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Vijai Kalathur, Gregory Ecock, Megan B. Capobianco, Christopher Potter, Daniela Regier
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Patent number: 11012736Abstract: To enable multichannel audio data to be transmitted favorably. Multichannel audio data of a predetermined number of channels is acquired. The multichannel audio data has a sampling frequency corresponding to the predetermined number of channels. Audio data of the respective channels configuring the multichannel audio data are sequentially transmitted to a reception side via a predetermined transmission channel for each unit audio data. Information indicating the sampling frequency is added to the transmission audio data.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2015Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Gen Ichimura
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Patent number: 10993015Abstract: The invention relates to a piece of ear jewelry having at least one ear part to be worn on each ear of a user, wherein each ear part has a jewelry body, to be worn in a predetermined wearing position on an outside of the ear, and a retaining device for retaining the jewelry body in the wearing position on the ear, wherein the auditory canal of the ear remains free. The piece of ear jewelry incorporates all of the following electrical components completely and so as to be invisible from the outside: a microphone device, a loudspeaker device and a communication unit for providing a bidirectional, wireless communication link to a portable terminal of the user, in order to use the communication link to transmit a microphone signal from the microphone device to the terminal and to receive a loudspeaker signal for the loudspeaker device from the terminal.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2017Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: NOVA PRODUCTS GMBHInventor: Judith Gampe
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Patent number: 10993018Abstract: Generation of a secondary sound source is inhibited, and a sound quality is improved. Included are a support fixed to a mount base, a speaker unit including a portion to be fixed, and a base casing holding the speaker unit, and the speaker unit is fixed to the support and the base casing with the portion to be fixed being sandwiched between the support and the base casing. With this configuration, the speaker unit will be held stably, a great oscillation from a diaphragm of the speaker unit is less transmitted to the parts other than the diaphragm of the speaker unit, to the member holding the speaker unit, or the like. Generation of a secondary sound source is inhibited, and a sound quality can be improved.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2015Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Kohei Kikuchi, Yohei Fukuma, Nobukazu Suzuki, Kazuhiro Matsutani, Yoshio Ohashi, Yasuo Kawabata
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Patent number: 10986458Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: an action recognition unit; an audio data selection unit; and an audio information generation unit, in which the action recognition unit is configured to recognize an action pattern of a user on the basis of sensor information. The audio data selection unit is configured to select audio data corresponding to the action pattern of the user recognized by the action recognition unit. The audio information generation unit generates, on the basis of the audio data selected by the audio data selection unit, multichannel audio information for localizing a sound image of a sound source in real space around the user. The information processing apparatus makes it possible to achieve augmented reality that follows a qualitative change in the action of the user.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2017Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventor: Daisuke Mochizuki
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Patent number: 10986456Abstract: In general, techniques are described by which to perform spatial relation coding using virtual higher order ambisonic coefficients. A device comprising a memory and a processor may perform the techniques. The memory may be configured to store audio data, the audio data representative of zero-ordered higher order ambisonic (HOA) coefficient, and one or more greater-than-zero-ordered HOA coefficients. The processor may be configured to obtain, based on the one or more greater-than-zero-ordered HOA coefficients, a virtual zero-ordered HOA coefficient. The processor may also be configured to obtain, based on the virtual HOA coefficient, one or more parameters from which to synthesize the one or more greater-than-zero-ordered HOA coefficients. The processor may further be configured to generate a bitstream that includes a first indication representative of the zero-ordered HOA coefficients, and a second indication representative of the one or more parameters.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2018Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Qualcomm IncorporatedInventors: Jeongook Song, Dipanjan Sen
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Patent number: 10981516Abstract: To a hinge pillar including a hinge pillar inner and a hinge pillar outer that form a closed cross-section extending vertically, a speaker box configured to hold and house a speaker therein is joined and fixed. As necessary, the speaker box includes a box part formed of a sheet metal member including a bottom and side walls that form a housing space housing the speaker, together with the bottom. The box part is arranged in the opening, with the bottom located in the closed cross-section and with the housing space open inside a vehicle cabin, and is joined to an edge of the opening.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2018Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Yuki Kataoka, Hidenori Matsuoka, Takeshi Nakamura, Kiyoshi Mutsura, Akihiro Fujiwara, Yoshihiro Teshima, Koji Wakamatsu, Hiroshi Yamanaka
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Patent number: 10979843Abstract: In a particular aspect, an audio processing device includes a position predictor configured to determine predicted position data based on position data. The audio processing device further includes a processor configured to generate an output spatialized audio signal based on the predicted position data.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2016Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Qualcomm IncorporatedInventor: Shankar Thagadur Shivappa
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Patent number: 10972851Abstract: In general, techniques are described by which to perform spatial relation coding of higher order ambisonic coefficients using expanded parameters. A device comprising a memory and a processor may perform the techniques. The memory may be configured to store at least a portion of a bitstream, the bitstream including a first indication representative of an HOA coefficient associated with the spherical basis function having an order of zero, and a second indication representative of one or more parameters. The processor may be configured to perform parameter expansion with respect to the one or more parameters to obtain one or more expanded parameters, and synthesize, based on the one or more expanded parameters and the HOA coefficient associated with the spherical basis function having the order of zero, one or more HOA coefficients associated with one or more spherical basis functions having an order greater than zero.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Qualcomm IncorporatedInventors: Jeongook Song, Dipanjan Sen
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Patent number: 10966014Abstract: From a first microphone, first microphone signals are received that represent first sound waves. From a second microphone, second microphone signals are received that represent second sound waves. In response to the first microphone signals, analog processing is performed to estimate noise in the first sound waves, and first analog signals are generated for cancelling at least some of the estimated noise in the first sound waves. In response to the second microphone signals, digital processing is performed to estimate noise in the second sound waves, and digital information is generated for cancelling at least some of the estimated noise in the second sound waves. The digital information is converted into second analog signals that represent the digital information. The first and second analog signals are combined into third analog signals for cancelling at least some of the estimated noise in the first and second sound waves.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2012Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Nitish K. Murthy, Edwin Randolph Cole
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Patent number: 10959018Abstract: A system that performs wall detection, range estimation, and/or corner detection to determine a position of a device relative to acoustically reflective surfaces. The device generates output audio using a loudspeaker, generates microphone audio data using a microphone array, performs beamforming to generate directional audio data and then generates impulse response data for each of a plurality of directions. The device may detect a peak in the impulse response data and determine a distance and/or direction to a reflective surface based on the peak. Based on a number of reflected surfaces and/or direction(s) of the reflected surfaces detected by the device, the device may classify the different directions and estimate where it is in the room, such as whether the device is in a corner, along one wall, or in an open area. By knowing its position relative to the room surfaces, the device may improve sound equalization.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2019Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Guangji Shi, Jan Aage Abildgaard Pedersen, Trausti Thor Kristjansson, Philip Ryan Hilmes
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Patent number: 10952000Abstract: Systems and processes are provided to detect an balanced audio signal and generation of an unbalanced audio signal including a first audio input for receiving a first audio signal, a second audio input for receiving a second audio signal, a processor for determining a first root mean square value for the first audio signal, a second root mean square value for the second audio signal and a combined root mean square value for a sum of the first audio signal and the second audio signal, the processor being further operative to generate an unbalanced audio signal in response to the first root mean square value exceeding a first threshold value, the second root mean square value exceeding the first threshold value and the combined root mean square value being less than a second threshold value, and an audio decoder operative to decode the unbalanced audio signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2019Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: SLING MEDIA PVT LTDInventors: Nishit Dabi, Abhiroop Boggavarapu, Deepak Poongundran, Narayana Rao
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Patent number: 10939199Abstract: The present invention is invented for reproducing the sound more faithfully by newly adding elements related to resistance and friction when calculating a power change signal for driving a speaker. In the signal generated by a signal generator, a rise of the signal is sharp when moving from the static state. Consequently, a diaphragm of the speaker can start to move in accordance with the original sound reproduction method.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2017Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Inventor: Kota Takahashi
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Patent number: 10939203Abstract: An audio forecasting algorithm that is adjusted (or trained), by machine learning, prior to a sports contest that will be broadcast. The audio forecasting algorithm is then used to position a set of mobile microphones on an ongoing basis during the sports contest. In some embodiments, a band forecasting algorithm is used in the audio forecasting algorithm. In some embodiments, a swarm based correlation algorithm is used in the audio forecasting algorithm.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2019Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Aaron K. Baughman, Gary William Reiss, Eduardo Morales, Nancy Anne Greco, David Alvra Wood, III
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Patent number: 10938363Abstract: A D/A converter coverts a digital audio signal into an analog audio signal. An analog volume circuit receives an output of the D/A converter. A controller controls the analog volume circuit. The controller shortens transition time at each step in the analog volume circuit further as gain is lower.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2018Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.Inventor: Mitsuteru Sakai
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Patent number: 10932079Abstract: A smart speaker device for acoustical listening area mapping and frequency correction includes a non-transitory storage configured to maintain a listening area response map indicating filter settings corresponding to each of a plurality of locations within a listening area, a microphone array, a loudspeaker; and a controller. The controller is programmed to execute a frequency correcting application to identify a current location of a mobile device in the listening area based on ultrasonic audio received to the microphone array from the mobile device, access the listening area response map to retrieve filter settings corresponding to the current location, and apply the filter settings to an audio stream to be output to the loudspeaker to correct for frequency response of the loudspeaker at the current location of the mobile device.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2019Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Harman International Industries, IncorporatedInventor: Todd S. Welti
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Patent number: 10932063Abstract: A vibration transducer for sensing vibrations includes a first flexible triboelectric member, a second flexible triboelectric member, a plurality of attachment points, a first electrode and a second electrode. The first flexible triboelectric member includes a first triboelectric layer and a material being on a first position on a triboelectric series. A conductive layer is deposited on the second side thereof. The second flexible triboelectric member includes a second triboelectric layer and a material being on a second position on the triboelectric series that is different from the first position on the triboelectric series. The second triboelectric member is adjacent to the first flexible triboelectric member. When the first triboelectric member comes into and out of contact with the second triboelectric member as a result of the vibrations, a triboelectric potential difference having a variable intensity corresponding to the vibrations can be sensed between the first and second triboelectric members.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2019Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Georgia Tech Research CorporationInventors: Nivedita Arora, Gregory D. Abowd, Mohit Gupta, Diego Osorio, Seyedeh Fereshteh Shahmiri, Thad Eugene Starner, Yi-Cheng Wang, Zhengjun Wang, Zhong Lin Wang, Steven L Zhang, Peter McAughan, Qiuyue Xue, Dhruva Bansal, Ryan Bahr, Emmanouil Tentzeris
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Patent number: 10924069Abstract: According to an embodiment, a method includes amplifying a signal provided by a capacitive signal source to form an amplified signal, detecting a peak voltage of the amplified signal, and adjusting a controllable impedance coupled to an output of the capacitive signal source in response to detecting the peak voltage. The controllable impedance is adjusted to a value inversely proportional to the detected peak voltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2018Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AGInventors: Michael Kropfitsch, Jose Luis Ceballos