Patents Examined by David Ton
  • Patent number: 10121491
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method, comprising receiving a first audio signal during an application execution in an apparatus, determining a volume level of a volume control interface for controlling a volume level of the first audio signal, controlling processing the first audio signal by at least one digital signal processing algorithm determined on the basis of the determined volume level of the volume control interface for controlling the volume level of the first audio signal, and outputting the controlled processed first audio signal at the determined volume level of the volume control interface. The invention further relates to an apparatus and a computer program product that perform the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Koray Ozcan, Miikka Vilermo
  • Patent number: 10123103
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a circuit is provided. The circuit includes: a voltage biasing circuit coupled to a microelectro-mechanical system (MEMS) microphone sensor, the MEMS microphone sensor coupled to a driver circuit, and the driver circuit coupled to an oscillator-based ADC circuit. The oscillator-based ADC circuit may include an Nth order sigma-delta modulator, where N is an integer equal to or greater than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Cesare Buffa, Fernando Cardes Garcia, Luis Hernandez-Corporales, Bernhard Kuttin, Andres Quintero Alonso, Andreas Wiesbauer
  • Patent number: 10117022
    Abstract: A portable auxiliary unit for coupling with a mobile audio player is disclosed. The auxiliary unit provides both auxiliary power input and auxiliary audio output for the player, as well as a protective casing in the form of a receiving cup open on a top side. The receiving cup provides access to inputs and outputs on the audio player accessible by cabling from the auxiliary unit installed when an access panel is opened. The auxiliary unit has an integral rechargeable battery pack and a speaker assembly connectable to the audio player via the cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Ninety7, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Brennan, Mike Prstojevich
  • Patent number: 10109172
    Abstract: A first value is received and is associated with a noise level of an environment that a user is in. It is determined whether the first value exceeds a first threshold. A second computing device is notified when the first value exceeds the first threshold. The notifying indicates that the user must leave the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Werner, Arkadiy O. Tsfasman, Byron S. Green, William L. Brodsky, Jeffrey A. Newcomer, Robert K. Mullady
  • Patent number: 10110889
    Abstract: Display device ON/OFF detection methods and apparatus are disclosed. Example metering apparatus disclosed herein include first means for sensing an audio signal output from a media device. Disclosed example metering apparatus also include second means for performing audio code detection to detect audio codes in the audio signal, and third means for determining an audio gain level applied to the audio signal. Disclosed example metering apparatus further include fourth means for determining whether the media device is ON or OFF based on the audio gain level applied to the audio signal and whether a valid audio code is detected in the audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Christen V. Nielsen, Dan Nelson
  • Patent number: 10091602
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and method for demonstrating spatial performance of a demonstration speaker model to consumers in order to evaluate different speakers. The system and method comprise a microphone array for recording the output of the demonstration speaker model. The system and method comprise acoustic input samples for processing to an acoustic output and a processor for determining characteristics of each microphone recording, and processing an acoustic input sample and characteristics of each microphone recording corresponding to a selected demonstration speaker model. The system and method further comprise a reference speaker model for outputting an acoustic signal based on the result of the processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Crutchfield Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Crutchfield, Jr., Richard I. Wright
  • Patent number: 10085083
    Abstract: A case for a portable wireless listening device (e.g., a pair of wireless earbuds) is configured to house a pair of wireless earbuds and charge the earbuds when they are in the case. The case is further configured to receive media received by the wireless earbuds and transmit the media to a non-wireless output device connected to the case. The case can further include its own wireless radio that can wirelessly communicate audio to the wireless earbuds when the earbuds are not in the case. The case can further include an input port to receive an audio signal from a non-wireless source and can be configured to wirelessly transmit the audio received from the source to the wireless earbuds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jahan C. Minoo, Zachary C. Rich, Patrick T. Ryan
  • Patent number: 10085080
    Abstract: Earphone assemblies with multiple subassembly housings are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: John Bruss, Robert A. Boyd, Carlos M. Santana, Vijay Koneru
  • Patent number: 10085087
    Abstract: A sound pick-up device of the present disclosure acquires extracted sound as a result of extracting target area sound using non-target area sound present in a target area direction from output of a beam former, divides each of an input signal and the extracted sound into plural bands, computes a power spectrum ratio between the input signal and the extracted sound for each divided band, determines whether or not target area sound is present in the input signal by employing the power spectrum ratios for each divided band, and outputs the extracted sound as a sound pick-up result in cases in which target area sound has been determined to be present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Katagiri
  • Patent number: 10084423
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide a solution to a common nuisance of loud background noise encountered when watching television, allowing the issue to be solved with little or no user interaction. Systems and methods automatically modulate device volume based on background noise level. The systems and methods record a background level of noise, and if that background level of noise increases, the systems and methods automatically increase the content volume which had been set by the user. Exceptions are made for brief sounds or for viewer conversations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: CRACKLE, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Goldstein, Christine Coner, Ihor Yaskiw
  • Patent number: 10085095
    Abstract: A hearing aid system and method of operating the hearing aid system, wherein the impedance of a hearing aid receiver is measured, values of two hearing aid receiver parameters are derived based on the measurements, an electro-acoustical model of the receiver is provided using the derived values, the model is used to predict (i) a non-distorted membrane displacement based on the derived values of the parameters measured at a zero bias voltage, and (ii) a distorted membrane displacement based on the derived values of the parameters measured at a non-zero bias voltage, based on the predicted displacements, a compensation gain is determined suitable to compensate non-linear distortion of the hearing aid receiver, and the compensation gain is applied to the processing of a hearing aid input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Lars Baekgaard Jensen, Joe Jensen, Christian Christiansen Burger
  • Patent number: 10080086
    Abstract: A dummy head has facial features that resemble a human face and includes a microphone inside a left ear and a microphone inside a right ear. A configuration of the facial features of the dummy head changes to enable the dummy head to capture binaural sound with different head related impulse responses (HRIRs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Inventors: Philip Scott Lyren, Glen A. Norris
  • Patent number: 10075799
    Abstract: The invention discloses rendering sound field signals, such as Higher-Order Ambisonics (HOA), for arbitrary loudspeaker setups, where the rendering results in highly improved localization properties and is energy preserving. This is obtained by a new type of decode matrix for sound field data, and a new way to obtain the decode matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Johannes Boehm, Florian Keiler
  • Patent number: 10074358
    Abstract: A sound control module is configured to determine N magnitudes for outputting a predetermined engine sound at N predetermined harmonics of a base frequency, respectively, where N is an integer greater than one. An adjustment module is configured to determine N magnitude adjustments for the N predetermined harmonics, respectively, based on a position of a compression ratio (CR) actuator configured to vary a CR of an engine. The sound control module is further configured to determine N adjusted magnitudes for the N predetermined harmonics based on: the N magnitudes for the N predetermined harmonics, respectively; and the N magnitude adjustments for the N predetermined harmonics, respectively. An audio driver module is configured to apply power to at least one speaker of the vehicle and output the predetermined engine sound based on the N adjusted magnitudes at N frequencies, respectively, corresponding to the N predetermined harmonics of the base frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Frank C. Valeri, Timothy J. Roggenkamp, Thomas V. Timmons
  • Patent number: 10075798
    Abstract: A method and an electronic device are provided for simultaneously outputting different audios with directionality. The method includes outputting a first audio, and when a request to output a second audio is detected, changing at least one attribute value of the first audio and the second audio and outputting the first audio and the second audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Sungjae Cho, Ohyong Kwon
  • Patent number: 10068451
    Abstract: A first value is received and is associated with a noise level of an environment that a user is in. It is determined whether the first value exceeds a first threshold. A second computing device is notified when the first value exceeds the first threshold. The notifying indicates that the user must leave the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Werner, Arkadiy O. Tsfasman, Byron S. Green, William L. Brodsky, Jeffrey A. Newcomer, Robert K. Mullady
  • Patent number: 10070238
    Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for identifying actions performed by a forklift based on detected sounds in a facility. An array of microphones can be disposed in a facility. The microphones can detect various sounds and encode the sounds in an electrical signal and transmit the sounds to a computing system. The computing system can determine the sound signature of each sound and based on the sound signature the chronological order of the sounds and the time interval in between the sounds the computing system can determine the action being performed by the forklift which is causing the sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Jones, Aaron James Vasgaard, Nicholaus Adam Jones, Robert James Taylor
  • Patent number: 10063208
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a speaker device and electronic equipment. The speaker device comprises a speaker body, an audio signal input terminal connected with the speaker body, and a DC voltage signal input terminal connected with the speaker body. The electronic equipment comprises the speaker device and a DC voltage signal output circuit. The present invention further discloses a method for reducing a low frequency distortion degree of the speaker of the electronic equipment, and the method is realized by additionally providing a DC voltage signal to the input end of the speaker. In the present invention, a distortion degree of the speaker device at a low-frequency working condition can be reduced, and inconsistency of low frequency distortion of the speaker device, caused by mass production, can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Goertek.Inc
    Inventors: Dan Han, Yun Yang
  • Patent number: 10062304
    Abstract: The described examples provide for a sound recognition and notification process and apparatus that provides a notification to a hearing impaired person via a portable device in response to the recognition of a selected sound. A processor of the sound notification apparatus is configured to compare the detected sound data to a model for recognition. If the sound data matches the model, features are extracted from the detected sound data and used by the processor to generate reference data, e.g. an updated sound model. The reference is retained in a memory of the apparatus to facilitate subsequent sound recognition without having to rely upon an external device for analysis. Recognition of a sound, based on a substantial match to stored reference data, may trigger transmission of a notification message indicating an occurrence of the corresponding sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: HZ Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Greyson Kendall Watkins, Zachary Baltzer, Nicholas Lamb
  • Patent number: 10042038
    Abstract: Acoustic vector data is sensed via acoustic vector sensor configurations in mobile devices and used to generate sound fields. From these sound fields, positioning and orientation of the mobile device is derived. The sound fields and features derived from them are classified to provide mobile device position and other information about the environment from which the sound fields are captured. Additionally, sound fields are analyzed to detect gestural input and trigger associated programmatic actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventor: John D. Lord