Patents Examined by George Monikang
  • Patent number: 10842677
    Abstract: A sound or thermal baffling device comprising an enclosure containing a variable density fluid and a force generating means for preserving and creating the structure and form of the enclosure, the shape and composition of the enclosure crafted to vary the baffling characteristics of the enclosure, and a further embodiment showing how a cellular material containing a variable density fluid may be created and used, and a still further embodiment showing improvements to ear protectors and head phone sets, including latching means for attaching these and other devices to the ears and head. Various applications involving previous as well as new uses are set out, including a description of how dynamic sound baffling may be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Inventor: Horst Burghardt Minkofski
  • Patent number: 10104488
    Abstract: M audio input channels, each associated with a spatial direction, are translated to N audio output channels, each associated with a spatial direction, wherein M and N are positive whole integers, M is three or more, and N is three or more, by deriving the N audio output channels from the M audio input channels, wherein one or more of the M audio input channels is associated with a spatial direction other than a spatial direction with which any of the N audio output channels is associated, and at least one of the one or more of the M audio input channels is mapped to a respective set of at least three of the N output channels. At least three output channels of a set may be associated with contiguous spatial directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Mark F. Davis
  • Patent number: 9992604
    Abstract: An error model-based multi-zone sound reproduction method includes arranging a speaker array, and setting control points for a bright zone and a dark zone. The bright zone is a zone requiring the generation of an independent sound source. The dark zone is a zone not requiring the generation of an independent sound source. The method further includes conducting probability distribution modeling on the speaker frequency response errors. The method further includes, according to the error distribution model, respectively listing expected average sound energy expressions of the bright zone and the dark zone and a frequency response consistency constraint expression of the bright zone. The method further includes calculating a time-domain impulse response filter signal of each channel according to the time-domain sound energy contrast control criterion of the frequency response consistency constraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: SUZHOU SONAVOX ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yefeng Cai
  • Patent number: 9942640
    Abstract: A sound output apparatus includes a diaphragm having a predetermined plane positioned at a rear surface side of a light provision unit, and a vibrator for providing vibration in a direction substantially orthogonal to the predetermined plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobukazu Suzuki, Yoshio Ohashi, Masahiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9942655
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a socket that comprises a socket body. The socket body forms a socket cavity for receiving a plug. The socket further comprises an acoustic device and a sound port. The sound port is disposed in the socket body for acoustically coupling the acoustic device with the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Andreas Froemel
  • Patent number: 9933989
    Abstract: Embodiments are described for a method of rendering audio for playback through headphones comprising receiving digital audio content, receiving binaural rendering metadata generated by an authoring tool processing the received digital audio content, receiving playback metadata generated by a playback device, and combining the binaural rendering metadata and playback metadata to optimize playback of the digital audio content through the headphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Nicolas R. Tsingos, Rhonda Wilson, Sunil Bharitkar, C. Phillip Brown, Alan J. Seefeldt, Remi Audfray
  • Patent number: 9936287
    Abstract: Described is a device for creating a sound source comprising integrated measuring means (50) for measuring a property representative of the strength of the sound source, the device comprising a sound generator (40a, 40b) for generating sound within an annular space defined around a central axis, the device comprising a pair of guiding surfaces (113, 123) for guiding sound away from the annular space in opposite directions along the central axis. With sound being guided as described, sound in addition being allowed to propagate outside the device in a radial direction with respect to the central axis, a high degree of omnidirectionality of the created sound source is attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: RSONANCE B.V.
    Inventor: Petrus Johannes Gerardus Van Der Linden
  • Patent number: 9924815
    Abstract: A waterproof, sound emitting feeding utensil includes a handle surrounding an inner cavity, a utensil shaped tip that is interchangeably securable to the handle, a waterproof, magnetic speaker sized and configured for storage in the inner cavity of the handle, a printed circuit board located in the inner cavity of the handle, the printed circuit board including a plurality of switches in connection with a sound chip that includes a plurality of digital sound files, each of the plurality of switches being linked to a corresponding one of the plurality of digital sound files, and wherein the printed circuit board is in electrical connection with the magnetic speaker, and a plurality of buttons mounted within the handle, each of the plurality of buttons being depressible against a corresponding one of the plurality of switches on the printed circuit board for causing the corresponding one of the plurality of digital sound files to play through the magnetic speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: PB&J Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: Curtis L. Canty
  • Patent number: 9930442
    Abstract: A sound production device for a vehicle includes: a speaker that causes a diaphragm to vibrate thereby producing sound; and a housing receiving the speaker and having a sound passage through which the sound produced by the speaker passes and a sound emission hole that causes the sound passed through the sound passage to externally emit. Plural resonant chambers having different resonant frequencies are defined in the sound passage, such that the sound passage has a labyrinth structure that is able to prevent a foreign substance form entering the diaphragm from the sound emission hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: ANDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Susumu Miyata, Makoto Tsuruta
  • Patent number: 9928728
    Abstract: A method includes generating an audio signal, generating a control signal that is configured to control a haptic feedback device that is incorporated into a device for delivering audio based on the audio signal to a user, and embedding the control signal in the audio signal by using a pseudorandom signal to form an encoded audio signal. Another method includes receiving a signal that includes an audio signal having an embedded control signal, recovering the control signal from the received signal by using a pseudorandom signal, using the recovered control signal to control a haptic feedback device that is incorporated into a device for delivering audio, recovering the audio signal from the received signal, and using the recovered audio signal to generate audio in the device for delivering audio. Systems perform similar steps, and non-transitory computer readable storage mediums each store one or more computer programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick William Umminger, III
  • Patent number: 9922657
    Abstract: When compressing an HOA data frame representation, a gain control (15, 151) is applied for each channel signal before it is perceptually encoded (16). The gain values are transferred in a differential manner as side information. However, for starting decoding of such streamed compressed HOA data frame representation absolute gain values are required, which should be coded with a minimum number of bits. For determining such lowest integer number (?e) of bits the HOA data frame representation (C(k)) is rendered in spatial domain to virtual loudspeaker signals lying on a unit sphere, followed by normalization of the HOA data frame representation (C(k)). Then the lowest integer number of bits is set to (AA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Krueger, Sven Kordon
  • Patent number: 9924266
    Abstract: Disclosed is an audio signal processing device comprising an input for receiving a noisy audio signal, a variable gain component and a noise suppression component. The noisy audio signal has a desired audio component and a noise component. The variable gain component and the noise suppression component are respectively configured to apply a gain and a noise suppression procedure to the audio signal, thereby generating a gain adjusted noise reduced audio signal. The aggressiveness of the noise suppression procedure is rapidly changed responsive to a change in the applied gain. That change is a change from a current value by an amount substantially matching the change in applied gain to a new value. The aggressiveness is then gradually returned to the current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: Karsten Vandborg Sorensen
  • Patent number: 9913033
    Abstract: A system determines to use at least two independent renderers to render at least two output streams that are to be synchronized. The independent renderers are provided with a shared synchronization object when instructed to render the respective output stream. A time when all of the independent renderers can render a respective first buffer of the respective output stream is determined from the shared synchronization object. Rendering of the output streams utilizing the independent renderers is begun at the determined time. In this way, rendering of the output streams may be synchronized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas S. Wyatt, Anthony J. Guetta
  • Patent number: 9906861
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a tweeter and a method for realizing omnidirectional high pitch sound field. The tweeter has advantages of small volume and low cost and comprises a first tweeter unit corresponding to a left sound track, a second tweeter unit corresponding to a right sound track, a radiation structure formed by a plurality of horns. In this technical solution, the tweeter has stereo effect and realizes 360° sound field of the high pitch portion with a smaller volume by disposing that the number of the horns of the left sound track is the same as the number of the horns of the right sound track in the radiation structure, the horns of the left sound track and the horns of the right sound track are disposed at intervals, and the plurality of horns are disposed evenly on a whole plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Goertek, Inc.
    Inventors: Song Liu, Yitao Liu
  • Patent number: 9900721
    Abstract: There are two representations for Higher Order Ambisonics denoted HOA: spatial domain and coefficient domain. The invention generates from a coefficient domain representation a mixed spatial/coefficient domain representation, wherein the number of said HOA signals can be variable. A vector of coefficient domain signals is separated into a vector of coefficient domain signals having a constant number of HOA coefficients and a vector of coefficient domain signals having a variable number of HOA coefficients. The constant-number HOA coefficients vector is transformed to a corresponding spatial domain signal vector. In order to facilitate high-quality coding, without creating signal discontinuities the variable-number HOA coefficients vector of coefficient domain signals is adaptively normalized and multiplexed with the vector of spatial domain signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Sven Kordon, Alexander Krueger
  • Patent number: 9894435
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for detecting acoustic and optical information as well as a corresponding computer program and a corresponding computer-readable storage medium, which can in particular be used to generate three-dimensional sound maps. The sound maps can be visualized and provided with information about acoustic sources, sound power and emitter characteristics. For this purpose, it is proposed to use for the detection of acoustic and optical information at least one microphone array and at least one device for detecting optical geometry data, wherein the at least one microphone array and the at least one device for detecting optical geometry data are arranged in a defined positional relationship. Acoustic information emitted from an object and the geometry of the object are detected by moving the at least one microphone array, the at least one device for detecting optical geometry data and the object relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Gesellschaft Zur Forderung Angewandter Informatik E.V.
    Inventors: Dirk Döbler, Gunnar Heilmann, Andy Meyer
  • Patent number: 9883291
    Abstract: There is provided a portable terminal capable of acquiring sound information successfully simply by being brought near to or into contact with the ear without the necessity of careful handling. The portable terminal includes at least a vibration member having a first surface exposed to an exterior, a vibration element operative to vibrate the vibration member in response to an electric signal corresponding to sound information, and electronic circuitry that outputs the electric signal, a difference in amplitude between individual places within the first surface of the vibration member in a vibrating state being less than or equal to 60 dB in terms of a ratio of maximum value to minimum value of amplitude. A portable terminal can be obtained that is capable of acquiring sound information successfully simply by being brought near to or into contact with the ear without the necessity of careful handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tooru Takahashi, Satoru Iwasaki, Yasuhito Fujii, Harumi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9883311
    Abstract: An audio playback system generates output signals for multiple channels of acoustic transducers by applying a rendering matrix to data representing the aural content and spatial characteristics of audio objects, so that the resulting sound field creates accurate listener impressions of the spatial characteristics. Matrix coefficients are updated to render moving objects. Discontinuous updates of the rendering matrix coefficients are controlled according to psychoacoustic principles to reduce audible artifacts. The updates may also be managed to control the amount of data needed to perform the updates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Dirk Jeroen Breebaart, David S. McGrath, Rhonda Wilson
  • Patent number: 9881602
    Abstract: A sound system for a motor vehicle exhaust gas system for emitting emulated engine sounds, including at least one loudspeaker and at least one housing accommodating at least one loudspeaker. The housing is mounted separately from a motor vehicle exhaust gas system in terms of the routing of an exhaust gas flow, at least one sound guidance tube having an outlet zone being mounted on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: TENNECO GMBH
    Inventors: Dirk Wiemeler, Bernd Schädler
  • Patent number: 9881624
    Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes obtaining a low-band spectrum of an audio signal in which a low-band signal is frequency transformed; obtaining phase information of a high-band spectrum of the audio signal based on the low-band spectrum; and outputting a bitstream that comprises the phase information of the high-band spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., KWANGWOON UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COLLABORATION FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Ki-hyun Choo, Ho-chong Park, Eun-mi Oh