Patents Examined by Davetta W. Goins
  • Patent number: 10156455
    Abstract: A context-aware voice guidance method is provided that interacts with other voice services of a user device. The voice guidance does not provide audible guidance while the user is making a verbal request to any of the voice-activated services. Instead, the voice guidance transcribes its output on the screen while the verbal requests from the user are received. In some embodiments, the voice guidance only provides a short warning sound to get the user's attention while the user is speaking on a phone call or another voice-activated service is providing audible response to the user's inquires. The voice guidance in some embodiments distinguishes between music that can be ducked and spoken words, for example from an audiobook, that the user wants to pause instead of being skipped. The voice guidance ducks music but pauses spoken words of an audio book in order to provide voice guidance to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Bennett, Stephen O. Lemay, Marcel van Os, Scott Forstall, Bradford A. Moore, Emanuele Vulcano, Seejo K. Pylappan
  • Patent number: 10154344
    Abstract: Examples described herein include surround sound systems for vertically-oriented displays and televisions that may leverage existing audio formats, recording techniques and audio authoring tools specifically for vertical display applications. Audio speakers and the vertically-oriented display may all be arranged on a single vertical plane to deliver visual image and spatial audio sound and sound effects on the vertical (e.g. top and bottom) and horizontal (e.g. left and right) axes in relation to the user. Speakers can be positioned separate from the vertically-oriented display as a method or integrated with the display using a frame system or within the housing of a display or television device itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas Mitchell Dair
  • Patent number: 10154347
    Abstract: A loudspeaker includes an acoustic diaphragm, an oscillatory force source, a lever coupling the oscillatory force source to the acoustic diaphragm, and a pivot coupled to the lever such that the lever moves in an arcuate path about the pivot when the oscillatory force source applies a force to the lever. The pivot includes at least one torsion bushing. The at least one torsion bushing includes a first member, a second member coupled to the lever and movable relative to the first member, and an elastomeric member coupling the first member to the second member. Either the first member or the second member is coupled to and moves with the lever. An outer surface of the elastomeric member is coupled to the second member via mechanical compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Brian M. Lucas, Weidong Zhu, Binu K. Oommen, Brock N. Jacobites, Thomas A. Froeschle, Joseph A. Stabile, Christopher A. Pare, Wit Bushko
  • Patent number: 10149054
    Abstract: An operable membrane device is provided, including a plate, a plurality of membranes suspended from the plate and being a seat of residual mechanical constraints, at least a first actuator configured to deform the plate outside its plane, second actuators, each second actuator being configured to deform a membrane outside its plane, and control electronics configured to generate second control signals at the second actuators in order to vibrate the membranes and configured to generate first control signals at the first actuator to cause a deformation of the plate so that the plate is found in the deformed state, wherein a mechanical constraint is applied to the membranes that at least reduces the residual constraints of the membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
    Inventor: Fabrice Casset
  • Patent number: 10149034
    Abstract: An earphone includes a first driver units reproducing sound waves in a high-frequency range, a second driver units reproducing sound waves other than the high-frequency range of the first driver units, and a unit case for housing the respective driver units and a sound delivery tube for leading sound waves from the driver units to a user's ear canal, the sound delivery tube being formed to communicate with the unit case. A sound emission axis of the first driver units and a sound emission axis of the second driver units are disposed in parallel to each other, and the sound emission axis of the first driver unit passes through in an opening of the sound delivery tube. This construction, including multiple driver units for producing different frequency ranges, allows to provide an earphone in which attenuation of high-frequency components in particular is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: AUDIO-TECHNICA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kodai Tsubone
  • Patent number: 10136238
    Abstract: An audio system and method using indoor response estimation are disclosed. An acoustic feature prediction method of the audio system may include generating a detection signal based on an input signal and a modulation code; generating an acoustic signal based on the detection signal and outputting the acoustic signal to a plurality of speakers; measuring acoustic signals output from the speakers where the speakers are installed; and predicting acoustic features related to the speakers based on the measured acoustic signals and the modulation code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jeong Il Seo, Tae Jin Park, Jae Hyoun Yoo, Yong Ju Lee, Jung Woo Choi
  • Patent number: 10136202
    Abstract: The present disclosure proposes an electronic apparatus including an attenuation element, a passive infrared (PIR) sensor, and a control circuit. The attenuation element attenuates a first infrared signal as a second infrared signal. The PIR includes a filtering element and a receiving sensor. The filtering element filters the second infrared signal as a third infrared signal, wherein a wavelength thereof ranges between 9 and 10 micrometer. When a distance between the attenuation element and a source emitting the first infrared signal is not larger than a predetermined distance, the receiving sensor outputs a first electrical signal in response to the third infrared signal, otherwise the receiving sensor outputs a second electrical signal in response to the third infrared signal. The control circuit activates the electronic apparatus according to the first electrical signal or deactivates the electronic apparatus according to the second electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: MERRY ELECTRONICS(SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hung-Yuan Li
  • Patent number: 10123104
    Abstract: A mobile device includes a device body and a wireless earphone. A back of the device body has an accommodating recess. The device body includes a first processing unit, a first wireless communication unit and a first electrical connector. The first electrical connector is disposed in the accommodating recess. The wireless earphone includes a second processing unit, a second wireless communication unit and a second electrical connector. The wireless earphone is configured to be detachably accommodated in the accommodating recess of the device body. When the wireless earphone is detached from the accommodating recess, the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are separated from each other, the first processing unit switches on the first wireless communication unit, and the second processing unit switches on the second wireless communication unit, such that the first wireless communication unit and the second wireless communication unit are paired with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Xiaoling Shao
  • Patent number: 10112534
    Abstract: In a vehicle equipped with a vehicle sound system, determining a virtual fixed gear ratio; determining a virtual RPM based on the virtual fixed gear ratio; generating a set of harmonic signals based on the virtual RPM, the harmonic signals being sine-wave signals proportional to harmonics of the virtual RPM; processing the harmonic signals to produce a set of processed harmonic signals; and in the vehicle sound system, transducing the processed harmonic signals to acoustic energy thereby to produce an engine sound within a passenger cabin of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Cristian Marius Hera, Ben J. Feng
  • Patent number: 10111003
    Abstract: A surround acoustic box system comprises at least a first separable acoustic box, at least a separable second acoustic box and a host acoustic box body, wherein the first separable acoustic box and the second separable acoustic box respectively has a forward speaker unit and a left front speaker for providing forward channels, and the host acoustic box body is a horizontal bar-like acoustic box and further includes a console circuit module, a power supply circuit module, at least a first positioning sensor part, at least a second positioning sensor part, at least two front speakers and at least two top speakers, in which the first separable acoustic box and the second separable acoustic box can be attached to the host acoustic box body or otherwise detached from the host acoustic box body so as to achieve various surround channel effects through the controls of the console circuit module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: SOUND CHEERS LIMITED
    Inventors: Joo Suah Ang, Kheng Wee Lee, Yeh Huar Kek, Jiong Luo
  • Patent number: 10097149
    Abstract: An earpiece device (10, 110, 210, 210?) provides advanced communication to the user thereof, for controlling a total sound dose (TND), including an audio output from an audio source (16) reaching an ear of the user occluded at the outer ear canal (15) by an in-ear device (14), for allowing an external ambient sound to be heard by the ear of the user, and for allowing a voice (NSV) of the user to be transmitted to a telecommunication transmission link (TTL). The present invention also contemplates a method of operation of the earpiece device (10, 110, 210, 210?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: EERS GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Jérémie Voix, Jean-Nicolas Laperle, Jakub Mazur, Antoine Bernier
  • Patent number: 10091590
    Abstract: A hearing aid compatible portable electronic audio device is configured to automatically determine whether or not the device is being used by a hearing impaired user who is wearing a hearing aid, and select a mode of operation based on this determination. The device includes a proximity sensor and a magnetic field sensor. The proximity sensor is used to detect a change in distance of the device to the user's ear. The magnetic field sensor is used to detect a change in magnetic field caused by the device moving relative to the hearing aid. The device selects between a normal audio mode of operation and a hearing aid compatible mode of operation based on both the change in detected distance and the change in detected magnetic field. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Shaohai Chen, Ching-Yu John Tam
  • Patent number: 10080072
    Abstract: A microphone includes a tubular microphone case having conductivity, a circuit board on which a circuit is configured, the circuit being used for an operation of a microphone unit that converts an audio signal into an electrical signal, a light source that is accommodated in a position close to a first end of the microphone case and emits light, a light source mounting board on which the light source is placed, a holding member that has conductivity, holds the light source mounting board and the circuit board, and is fixed to the microphone case, and a light guide member including a protrusion. The holding member includes a light source mounting board accommodating portion that accommodates the light source mounting board, a circuit board accommodating portion that accommodates the circuit board, and a hole that can accept the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA AUDIO-TECHNICA
    Inventor: Hiroaki Furuya
  • Patent number: 10080090
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical feedback system (100) based on sound analysis in a medical environment. With a sound scene analyzer (SSA, 10) being capable of analyzing and classifying an audio signal so as to obtain a list of one or more sound sources in the medical environment surrounding the patient, and a sound-level analyzer (SLA, 20) being capable of providing an indicator for perceived levels of corresponding sound from the list of sound sources, advanced sound analysis is possible. Finally, a sound classifier (SC, 30) is arranged for classifying said list of one or more sound sources in a medical environment with respect to a degree of avoidability, and generating a corresponding feedback signal (FEED, 50) for appropriate action by medical personal, patients and/or visitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Mun Hum Park, Armin Gerhard Kohlrausch, Albertus Cornelis Den Brinker, Thomas Falck
  • Patent number: 10080085
    Abstract: The invention provides a loudspeaker nonlinear compensation method. The method includes steps: obtaining system parameter of the loudspeaker, the No. i time-domain excitation voltage signal and the No. i state vector of the loudspeaker; compensating the No. i time-domain excitation voltage signal according to the system parameter and the No. i state vector and obtain i compensation voltage signal; obtaining the No. i+1 state vector according to the calculation of the system parameter and the No. i compensation voltage signal; outputting the No. i compensation voltage signal and record the quantity of the compensation voltage signal; judging whether the quantity of the compensation voltage signal is equal to the preset number value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: AAC TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Yuxiang Hu, Jing Lu, Henglizi Zhang
  • Patent number: 10070227
    Abstract: The present invention provides a diaphragm structure of a sounding apparatus comprising: a thin-film layer; a first circuit thin-film layer fixed on a first side of the thin-film layer by means of a first electrolytic bonding layer; a second circuit thin-film layer fixed on a second side of the thin-film layer by means of a second electrolytic bonding layer; multiple holes passing through the first circuit thin-film layer, the thin-film layer and the second circuit thin-film layer; and multiple conductive layers disposed on inner circumferential walls of the holes and in contact with the first circuit thin-film layer and the second circuit thin-film layer. In the diaphragm structure provided by the present invention, instead of using back adhesives, electrolytic bonding is used to fix the circuit thin-film layers on two sides of a thin-film layer, thereby greatly reducing the thickness of the diaphragm structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Inventor: Ko-Chung Teng
  • Patent number: 10070230
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a microphone package includes: a pressure sensing element including a film and a device; and a cover. The film generates strain in response to pressure. The device includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; and a first magnetic layer. The first magnetic layer is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode and has a first magnetization. The cover includes: an upper portion; and a side portion. The side portion is magnetic and provided depending on the first magnetization and the second magnetization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Higashi, Yoshihiko Fuji, Michiko Hara, Akiko Yuzawa, Shiori Kaji, Tomohiko Nagata, Akio Hori, Hideaki Fukuzawa
  • Patent number: 10063958
    Abstract: Devices for attaching earpiece to a user's ear are described herein. In one embodiment, an earpiece that is removably attachable to an ear of a user can include a housing that has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. A transducer may be positioned, for example, at the proximal portion of the housing, and a retention member can be elastically coupled to the distal portion of the housing. The retention member and the housing can be configured to compress a portion of the user's ear therebetween in a manner that positions the proximal end portion of the housing in a vestibule of the ear adjacent an entrance to the auditory canal of the user's ear when the earpiece is attached to the user's ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Lorenz Henric Jentz, Philip Bryan, Monika Romana Wolf, Kenneth Dennis Jasinski, Kory Gunnerson, Emron J. Henry, Karl William Vanderbeek, Richard James Wattles
  • Patent number: 10063967
    Abstract: A sound collecting device includes a sound source position input interface that receives input of sound source position information indicating a sound source position, an audio interface that receives input of sound signals collected by two or more sound collecting units placed at predetermined positions in advance, a recording medium in which sound collecting unit placement information indicating placement information of the sound collecting units is stored, and a controller that selects one of the sound signals output from the sound collecting units, based on the sound source position information and the sound collecting unit placement information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Noda, Kou Watanabe, Takeshi Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 10063969
    Abstract: A microchip has imbedded therein, circuitry for enhancing the sound outputted therefrom and which is associated with an electronic device, such as a radio, television, headphones, earbuds and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: AfterMaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence G. Ryckman, Sheldon G. Yakus