Patents Examined by David L Ton
  • Patent number: 11646049
    Abstract: A vehicle device may receive audio data and other vehicle data associated with a vehicle and may transform the audio data to transformed audio data in a frequency domain. The vehicle device may segment the transformed audio data into a plurality of audio segments and may process the plurality of audio segments, with different feature extraction techniques, to extract a plurality of feature vectors. The vehicle device may merge the plurality of feature vectors into a merged feature vector and may create an audio signature for the audio data based on the merged feature vector. The vehicle device may process the audio signature and the other vehicle data, with a model, to determine a classification of the audio signature and may perform one or more actions based on the classification of the audio signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: Verizon Connect Development Limited, Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Vipul Shyam Javeri, Mourya C. Darivemula, Jeyanth Paul John Britto, Nishitha Reddy Nalla, Aaroon Thowfiq Shahul Hameed, Douglas Coimbra De Andrade, Jin Soo Cho, Ianemmanuel P Crueldad
  • Patent number: 11641560
    Abstract: Methods for dialogue enhancing audio content, comprising providing a first audio signal presentation of the audio components, providing a second audio signal presentation, receiving a set of dialogue estimation parameters configured to enable estimation of dialogue components from the first audio signal presentation, applying said set of dialogue estimation parameters to said first audio signal presentation, to form a dialogue presentation of the dialogue components; and combining the dialogue presentation with said second audio signal presentation to form a dialogue enhanced audio signal presentation for reproduction on the second audio reproduction system, wherein at least one of said first and second audio signal presentation is a binaural audio signal presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Leif Jonas Samuelsson, Dirk Jeroen Breebaart, David Matthew Cooper, Jeroen Koppens
  • Patent number: 11638095
    Abstract: A method for improving the effective signal-to-noise ratio (“SNR”) of an analog to digital converter (“ADC”) for active loudspeakers uses the two available channels of a stereo ADC to separately process the low- and high-frequency components of an audio signal. Because the power spectral density of music approximates a pink noise spectrum, the high-frequency component of the signal has peak levels low enough to avoid exceeding the maximum ADC input level. The audio signal is analog high-pass filtered and the resulting high-frequency signal component is sent directly to a first ADC channel without attenuation. The remaining low-frequency component is attenuated and sent to a second ADC channel. The digital signals are processed, converted back to analog, amplified, and reproduced by loudspeaker drivers. Noise and distortion at low frequencies is less audible than higher frequencies, so the improved SNR at higher frequencies yields a significant practical improvement in audio fidelity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Barefoot Sound, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Barefoot
  • Patent number: 11632627
    Abstract: A separate virtual (e.g. aural) location for one or more interaction or telephony call participants may provide an indication or clue for at least one of the call participants of who is speaking at any one time, reducing errors and misunderstandings during the call. Auditory localization may be used so that participants are heard from separate virtual locations. An audible user interface (AUI) may be produced such that audio presented to the listening user is location-specific, the location being relevant to the user, just as information presented in a graphical user interface (GUI) might be relevant. For example, a plurality of audio streams which are part of an interaction between communicating parties may be accepted, and based on the audio streams, a plurality of audio outputs may be provided, each located at a different location in three-dimensional space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: INCONTACT, INC.
    Inventors: Adam Samuel Horrocks, Matthew Lawrence Page, Nathan Edwin Boden, Christopher Garn Seaman
  • Patent number: 11626097
    Abstract: Systems and methods for audio listening devices, comprise a speaker coupled to a first housing, a sound port having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the first housing, and the second end is configured to be inserted in an ear canal of a person such that sound waves emitted from the speaker propagates via a secondary path to the ear canal through the sound port, active noise cancellation (ANC) components configured to generate anti-noise signals through the micro-speakers to cancel external noise, and a first microphone disposed within the sound port at the second end of the sound port such that the first microphone is configured to detect the anti-noise signal that propagates through the sound port via the secondary path and the external noise that propagates via a primary path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Wensen Liu, Govind Kannan, Jayvon Timmons, Trausti Thormundsson
  • Patent number: 11616871
    Abstract: The disclosure herein provides a mobile system including a mobile base station and a wireless earbud. The base station comprising a connection hole, a user input button, at least one processor, at least one memory, and circuitry. The wireless earbud is configured for plugging into the connection hole of the base station to form an integrated body with the base station. The system establishes a wireless Bluetooth pairing between a smartphone and the wireless earbud using two-way wireless communication to produce Bluetooth communication between the smartphone and the wireless earbud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Pinn, Inc.
    Inventor: Seung Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 11606642
    Abstract: The application describes a switched driver (401) for outputting a drive signal at an output node (402) to drive a load such as a transducer. The driver receives respective high-side and low-side voltages (VinH, VinL) defining an input voltage at first and second input nodes and has connections for first and second capacitors (403H, 403L). A network of switching paths is configured such that each of the first and second capacitors can be selectively charged to the input voltage, the first input node can be selectively coupled to a first node (N1) by a path that include or bypass the first capacitor, and the second input node can be selectively coupled to a second node (N2) by a path that includes or bypasses the second capacitor. The output node (402) can be switched between two switching voltages at the first or second nodes. The driver is selectively operable in different operating modes, where the switching voltages are different in each of said modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony S. Doy, Eric J. King
  • Patent number: 11601738
    Abstract: Display panel and display apparatus including the same. A display panel includes a first substrate including a display portion configured to display an image, a second substrate attached to the first substrate by an adhesive member, and a vibration generating module within the adhesive member to overlap the display portion. The vibration generating module is surrounded by the second substrate and the adhesive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: YongGyoon Jang, Yong-Su Ham, YongWoo Lee, Kyungyeol Ryu
  • Patent number: 11594208
    Abstract: An information processing device includes a first acquisition unit that acquires biological information on a user, a first judgment execution unit that executes a first judgment on whether a first discomfort condition is satisfied or not based on first discomfort condition information specifying the first discomfort condition and the biological information, a second acquisition unit that acquires a sound signal, an acoustic feature detection unit that detects an acoustic feature based on the sound signal, a second judgment execution unit that executes a second judgment on whether a second discomfort condition is satisfied or not based on second discomfort condition information specifying the second discomfort condition and the acoustic feature, and an output judgment unit that judges whether first masking sound should be outputted or not based on a result of the first judgment and a result of the second judgment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kaori Handa, Masaru Kimura
  • Patent number: 11581865
    Abstract: An audio system has an amplifier for driving an audio actuator and includes a switched-mode power supply that draws power from a power source (e.g., battery) to supply power to the amplifier, a capacitor charged by the switched-mode power supply to supply power to the amplifier, and a feed-forward compressor that performs dynamic range compression of an audio input to provide an audio output for amplification by the amplifier. The compressor includes a sidechain frequency-biasing filter that generates a frequency-biased version of the audio input that is attenuated as frequency increases which causes the compressor to decrease the compression as frequency increases. A control block limits current drawn from the battery by the switched-mode power supply independent of audio input frequency, but the frequency-biasing filter enables the amplifier to service audio power transients greater than the current-limited power supply can supply by advantageously concurrently sourcing extra power from the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Miles Klett Roberto
  • Patent number: 11567510
    Abstract: An ambient sound environment is captured by a microphone array of an autonomous vehicle traveling in the ambient sound environment. A perception module of the autonomous vehicle classifies sounds and localizes sound sources in the ambient sound environment. Classification is performed using spectrum analysis and/or machine learning. In an embodiment, sound sources within a field of view (FOV) of an image sensor of the autonomous vehicle are localized in a visual scene generated by the perception module. In an embodiment, one or more sound sources outside the FOV of the image sensors are localized in a static digital map. Localization is performed using parametric or non-parametric techniques and/or machine learning. The output of the perception module is input into a planning module of the autonomous vehicle to plan a route or trajectory for the autonomous vehicle in the ambient sound environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Motional AD LLC
    Inventors: Metarsit Leenayongwut, Weng Fei Low
  • Patent number: 11568852
    Abstract: An example reverberation device configured for use with a musical instrument is disclosed. The example reverberation device comprises: (a) an input amplifier configured to receive an input signal from the musical instrument and output an amplified input signal based on the received input signal; (b) an input transducer connected to the input amplifier and configured to transmit the amplified input signal; (c) a reverberation plate comprising a bended surface, wherein the reverberation plate is connected to the input transducer, and wherein the reverberation plate is configured to output the input signal as an output signal at the bended surface; (d) an output transducer connected to the reverberation plate at the bended surface and configured to transmit the output signal; and (e) an output amplifier configured to receive the transmitted output signal from the output transducer and output an amplified output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Inventor: James Lenger
  • Patent number: 11564052
    Abstract: An example method of operation includes identifying a loudspeaker array profile defining characteristics of a loudspeaker array stored in memory, identifying a three-dimensional venue geometry value stored in the memory, defining virtual receivers to simulate acoustic characteristics within the venue geometry, defining a number of passive acoustic filter permutations to perform within a range of passive acoustic filter settings, and each passive acoustic filter setting is unique and has one or more passive acoustic filters to apply to one or more loudspeakers in the loudspeaker array, selecting performance criteria to apply to the loudspeaker array to represent its sound coverage uniformity at a given location throughout the venue geometry, calculating the performance criteria of the loudspeaker array via a passive acoustic filter setting selected from one or more of the passive acoustic filter permutations by performing a simulation with the passive acoustic filter settings, identifying an optimized passive
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Biamp Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Xian Yu
  • Patent number: 11546579
    Abstract: Display device ON/OFF detection methods and apparatus are disclosed. Example display activity detectors disclosed herein are to extract regions from respective ones of captured video frames, the regions corresponding to a depiction of a display of a monitored media device Disclosed example display activity detectors are also to compute a distance metric that is to represent an amount a first one of the regions of a first one of the captured video frames differs from a corresponding second one of the regions of a second one of the captured video frames. Disclosed example display activity detectors are further to compare the distance metric to a threshold to determine whether the monitored media device is ON or OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventors: Christen V. Nielsen, Dan Nelson
  • Patent number: 11545125
    Abstract: An electronic system includes a fan module, an embedded controller, an error microphone, an active noise cancellation controller, and a micro speaker module. The error microphone is configured to output an error signal by detecting the noise level during the operation of the electronic system. According to the error signal and the fan information provided by the embedded controller, the active noise cancellation controller calculates the narrow-band noises associated with the actual single-blade fundamental frequency noise and the actual BPF fundamental frequency noise generated by the fan module, and drives the micro speaker module accordingly for providing a noise cancellation signal. The error signal may be reduced to zero by adaptively adjusting the noise cancellation signal for canceling the noises generated during the operation of the electronic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: ACER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jia-Ren Chang, Ruey-Ching Shyu
  • Patent number: 11545949
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, articles of manufacture, and methods for volume adjustment are disclosed herein. An example method includes collecting data corresponding to a volume of an audio signal as the audio signal is output through a device, when an average volume of the audio signal does not satisfy a volume threshold for a specified timespan, determining a difference between the average volume and a desired volume, and applying a gain to the audio signal to adjust the volume of the audio signal to the desired volume, the gain determined based on the difference between the average volume and the desired volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Coover, Jeffrey Scott, Markus K Cremer, Aneesh Vartakavi
  • Patent number: 11538451
    Abstract: A playback device is configured to receive, via a network interface, a source stream of audio including first and second channel streams of audio, and to produce, via respective first and second speaker drivers, a first channel audio output and a second channel audio output. The playback device is also configured to receive, via one or more microphones, a captured stream of audio including first and second portions corresponding to the respective first and second channel audio outputs. The playback device is also configured to combine at least the first channel stream of audio and the second channel stream of audio into a compound audio signal and perform acoustic echo cancellation on the compound audio signal and thereby produce an acoustic echo cancellation output, then to apply the acoustic echo cancellation output to the captured stream of audio and thereby increase a signal-to noise ratio of the captured stream of audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Saeed Bagheri Sereshki, Romi Kadri
  • Patent number: 11533574
    Abstract: A method is used for detecting whether a device is being worn, when the device comprises a first transducer and a second transducer. It is determined when a signal detected by at least one of the first and second transducers represents speech. It is then determined when said speech contains speech of a first acoustic class and speech of a second acoustic class. A first correlation signal is generated, representing a correlation between signals generated by the first and second transducers during at least one period when said speech contains speech of the first acoustic class. A second correlation signal is generated, representing a correlation between signals generated by the first and second transducers during at least one period when said speech contains speech of the second acoustic class. It is then determined from the first correlation signal and the second correlation signal whether the device is being worn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: John P. Lesso
  • Patent number: 11533035
    Abstract: An example speaker for providing alerts includes: a housing and a cover forming an integrated unit; a microphone configured to sense an ambient noise level; and a processor configured to adjust a volume of the speaker based upon the ambient noise level. A hinge can be positioned between the housing and the cover to allow the cover to be pivoted relative to the housing from a close position to an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Federal Signal Corporation
    Inventors: Scott M. Cassidy, Lonnie E. Moravetz, Mark J. Dietel
  • Patent number: 11514878
    Abstract: A method of using an acoustic resonator including receiving at a first stage of a resonator an incoming acoustic wave. The method further includes resonating the incoming wave with a flexible membrane, a taper of the flexible membrane, and a cavity of a first stage, thereby producing synergistic effect on a resulting acoustic resonance. Additionally, the method includes transforming an acoustic energy associated with the incoming acoustic wave into an elastic energy, wherein the elastic energy is channeled through the flexible membrane, thereby reducing an intensity of the incoming acoustic wave and resulting in a first reduced incoming acoustic wave. Further the method includes transferring the first reduced incoming acoustic wave through a hole of a neck of the flexible membrane. The method also includes transferring a first pressure wave caused by a perturbation in the flexible membrane into a second stage, thereby producing a second acoustic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Fabio Semperlotti, Mehdi Jokar