Patents Examined by Douglas Suthers
  • Patent number: 8331573
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for attenuating applause from a satellite radio signal, including, a spectrum analyzer and comparator having an internal memory for obtaining a spectral signature of different sounds in the radio signal, a detector automatically detecting whether the sounds contain applause, an attenuator attenuating the sounds containing applause; and a digital to analog converter converting the attenuated sounds for audio listening. A comparator compares applause in the radio signal to a threshold level and disables the attenuator when the applause abates below the threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Agere Systems LLC
    Inventor: James L. Archibald
  • Patent number: 8325936
    Abstract: A vehicle loudspeaker system in a vehicle including directional loudspeakers. One directional loudspeaker radiates sound at a first seating position and another loudspeaker radiates sound at a second seating position. The directional loudspeakers may be used with other vehicle loudspeakers to control spatial perceptions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Jahn Dmitri Eichfeld, Klaus Hartung
  • Patent number: 8320579
    Abstract: A cord-based controller for an auxiliary device, such as a headset, is provided for use with a portable electronic device. A pressure-sensitive, and preferably bendable, material such as a piezoelectric pressure sensor is placed within or on an or cord of a headphone lead, such as by wrapping it within the outer shielding of the cord. A self-powered controlling sensor is arranged to control the electronic device using a generated control signal. The controlling sensor comprises a sensor material. The control signal is generated by deformation of the sensor material independent of power supplied to the headset and independent of power supplied to the portable electronic device. This is achieved without requiring a separate housing for the controller, which typically protrudes from the cord. A plurality of control sensor elements can be provided, each producing a different control signal voltage transmitted along a single control signal electrical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Bengt Stefan Gustavsson
  • Patent number: 8320594
    Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) device having a volume control function for external audio reproduction units by using volume control buttons of a remote controller is provided. The A/V device includes speakers, an audio output port for externally outputting an audio signal, an audio signal processing unit for reproducing and amplifying the audio signal and applying the amplified audio signal to the speakers or the audio output port, a memory unit for storing volume control values, and a control unit for applying to the audio signal processing unit any of the volume control values stored in the memory based on whether the external audio reproduction unit is plugged in the audio output port. The control unit controls the audio signal processing unit to adjust the volume control values for the audio output port by the volume control buttons when the external audio reproduction unit is plugged in the audio output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 8320578
    Abstract: A method or apparatus to provide an improved headset. The headset includes at least one sensor. The headset further includes a configuration logic to configure the headset based on the position of the headset on the user's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: DP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Philippe Kahn, Arthur Kinsolving, Michael Cory Fairman, Mark Andrew Christensen, Peter William Spaulding
  • Patent number: 8315406
    Abstract: A music reproducing system has a music reproducing unit and a transducer unit connected to the music reproducing unit. The transducer unit includes a transducer, a main sensor, and attachment-state detector. The music reproducing unit includes an information processing part and a detection controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Homare Kon
  • Patent number: 8306242
    Abstract: A method of operating a loudspeaker includes providing a digital audio signal and identifying a target transfer function to be applied to the signal. At least one coefficient of an FIR filter is generated. The generating includes performing Heyser spiral curve fitting, and fitting a three-dimensional curve based on a magnitude and phase of a target transfer function. The digital audio signal is filtered through the FIR filter. The filtered signal is inputted into the loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Matthew A Donarski
  • Patent number: 8300867
    Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) device having a volume control function for external audio reproduction units by using volume control buttons of a remote controller is provided. The A/V device includes speakers, an audio output port for externally outputting an audio signal, an audio signal processing unit for reproducing and amplifying the audio signal and applying the amplified audio signal to the speakers or the audio output port, a memory unit for storing volume control values, and a control unit for applying to the audio signal processing unit any of the volume control values stored in the memory based on whether the external audio reproduction unit is plugged in the audio output port. The control unit controls the audio signal processing unit to adjust the volume control values for the audio output port by the volume control buttons when the external audio reproduction unit is plugged in the audio output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 8300866
    Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) device having a volume control function for external audio reproduction units by using volume control buttons of a remote controller is provided. The A/V device includes speakers, an audio output port for externally outputting an audio signal, an audio signal processing unit for reproducing and amplifying the audio signal and applying the amplified audio signal to the speakers or the audio output port, a memory unit for storing volume control values, and a control unit for applying to the audio signal processing unit any of the volume control values stored in the memory based on whether the external audio reproduction unit is plugged in the audio output port. The control unit controls the audio signal processing unit to adjust the volume control values for the audio output port by the volume control buttons when the external audio reproduction unit is plugged in the audio output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 8300845
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus is provided that has a rear-side and a front-side, a first microphone that generates a first signal, and a second microphone that generates a second signal. An automated balance controller generates a balancing signal based on an imaging signal. A processor processes the first and second signals to generate at least one beamformed audio signal, where an audio level difference between a front-side gain and a rear-side gain of the beamformed audio signal is controlled during processing based on the balancing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Robert Zurek, Kevin Bastyr, Joel Clark, Plamen Ivanov
  • Patent number: 8295516
    Abstract: An output control system includes a plurality of output control apparatuses, the output control apparatuses controlling audio signals supplied to respective two-dimensionally arranged loudspeakers, including at least two loudspeakers in a vertical direction, and at least two loudspeakers in a horizontal direction, the audio signals respectively corresponding to images displayed on an array of a plurality of displays forming a multi-display apparatus. Each of the output control apparatuses includes a communication unit for exchanging information relating to one of a state and a process result of own apparatus with another output control apparatus, and a signal processing unit for processing an audio signal to be output to the corresponding loudspeaker based on the information relating to the other output control apparatus received via the communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Akihiko Arimitsu, Junichi Shima, Takuro Ema
  • Patent number: 8295495
    Abstract: An FM audio receiver can include a mono/stereo detector that causes the audio receiver to output either a monophonic or a stereophonic signal based on a received pilot tone energy. An accurate operation of the receiver, including but not limited to correct decoding of monophonic/stereophonic reception, can be based on the receiver operating with the same rated maximum system deviation (RMSD) as the received signal itself. Aspects of the disclosure describe a system and method of detecting and matching a receiver's RMSD to that of a received signal by demodulating a carrier bearing a an input signal over a first bandwidth, extracting a pilot energy signal from the input signal, and demodulating the carrier bearing the input signal over a second bandwidth if the pilot energy signal is within a pilot energy range for a first predetermined amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: Chris Cheng-Chieh Lee
  • Patent number: 8295499
    Abstract: An audio information processing apparatus and method include dividing an audio signal, determining a time period having a power change ratio of an audio signal larger than a first threshold value as an attack candidate, searching the time period of the attack candidate and a time period immediately before the time period of the attack candidate for an attack starting point, correcting a power of an audio signal included in the time period, and determining whether a power change ratio of the audio signal included in the time period is larger than a second threshold value for attack detection which is larger than the first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Miyuki Shirakawa, Masanao Suzuki, Yoshiteru Tsuchinaga
  • Patent number: 8284953
    Abstract: A circuit of reducing a pop-up noise in a digital amplifier includes a switch unit and a switch signal generator. The switch unit is coupled in parallel to an output load between an output node of the digital amplifier and a reference node. The switch unit controls a current flowing through the output load by forming a conduction path between the output node and the reference node in response to a switch signal. The switch signal generator generates the switch signal in response to a switch control signal indicating a power-on or a power-off. The pop-up noise is reduced by the conduction path that is formed when the digital amplifier is powered on or off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soo-Hyoung Lee, Wang-Seup Yeum, Yong-Jin Cho, In-Bock Lee
  • Patent number: 8265292
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a computer-implemented method for removing noise from audio that includes building a sound model that represents noises which result from activations of input controls of a computer device. The method further includes receiving an audio signal produced from a microphone substantially near the computer device. The method further includes identifying, without using the microphone, an activation of at least one input control from among the input controls. The method further includes associating a portion of the audio signal as corresponding to the identified activation. The method further includes applying, from the audio model, a representation of a noise for the identified activation to the associated portion of the audio signal so as to cancel at least part of the noise from the audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Jerrold Leichter
  • Patent number: 8259954
    Abstract: In one embodiment, one or more users may be participating in a conversation. In one example, a first user may be speaking into a speaker end device and a second user may be listening at a listener end device. The second user may be in an environment where noise may be present. Particular embodiments determine characteristics of the noise at the listener end device. Characteristics of a voice signature for a user speaking with the speaker end device are also determined. Comprehension enhancement of voice signals received from speaker end device is then performed based on characteristics of the noise at the listener end device and characteristics of the voice signature. For example, the signature of the voice signals may be altered to lessen the overlap with the noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Mukul Jain, Labhesh Patel, Sanjeev Kumar
  • Patent number: 8254592
    Abstract: Electronic devices and accessories such as headsets are provided. An accessory may include speakers and active noise cancellation circuitry. Microphones may be used to pick up ambient noise signals for implementing noise cancellation for the speakers. The accessory may also include a voice microphone and an ambient noise microphone that picks up ambient noise signals for implementing noise cancellation for the voice microphone. A user input interface may gather user input. Ultrasonic tone generators may transmit data between the device and accessory. The electronic device and accessory may be connected to each other by audio connectors. Hybrid circuits that each include a summer and a transconductance amplifier may be selectively switched into or out of use. When switched into use, paths between the device and accessory can support bidirectional communications such as communications involving the simultaneous flow of analog audio and microphone signals in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell B. Sander, Jeffrey Terlizzi, Douglas M. Farrar, Brian Sander
  • Patent number: 8254600
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing an audio signal and method thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyen-O Oh, Yang Won Jung
  • Patent number: 8243936
    Abstract: The present invention provides improvements to prior art audio codecs that generate a stereo-illusion through post-processing of a received mono signal. These improvements are accomplished by extraction of stereo-image describing parameters at the encoder side, which are transmitted and subsequently used for control of a stereo generator at the decoder side. Furthermore, the invention bridges the gap between simple pseudo-stereo methods, and current methods of true stereo-coding, by using a new form of parametric stereo coding. A stereo-balance parameter is introduced, which enables more advanced stereo modes, and in addition forms the basis of a new method of stereo-coding of spectral envelopes, of particular use in systems where guided HFR (High Frequency Reconstruction) is employed. As a special case, the application of this stereo-coding scheme in scalable HFR-based codecs is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Henn, Kristofer Kjorling, Lars Liljeryd, Jonas Roden, Jonas Engdegard
  • Patent number: 8224012
    Abstract: A microphone assembly includes one or more transducers positioned in a housing. Circuitry is coupled to the transducer for outputting an electrical signal such that the microphone has a main lobe directed forwardly and attenuates signals originating from the sides and/or rear. The transducers can advantageously include multiple transducers, which, with the circuit, produce a desired sensitivity pattern. The microphone assembly can be employed in a vehicle accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Alan R Watson, Robert C Knapp, Robert R Turnbull, William R Spence, G. Bruce Poe, Michael A Bryson