Patents Examined by James K Mooney
  • Patent number: 11036464
    Abstract: Various implementations include approaches for controlling a wearable audio device. In some cases, a method includes: detecting an initiation trigger for initiating a spatialized augmented reality (AR) menu mode; providing at least two distinct audio choices corresponding with spatially delineated zones in a menu defined relative to a physical position of the wearable audio device, in response to the initiation trigger, wherein each audio choice is associated with a selection from the menu; receiving a selection command indicating selection of one of the audio choices, wherein the selection command comprises a gesture detected by a gesture detection system at the wearable audio device; and in response to receiving the selection command: a) initiating playback of audio content associated with the selected audio choice, b) adjusting a setting at the wearable audio device, c) entering an additional menu related to the selection command, or d) exiting the menu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel James Buckley, Peter Daniel Carpenter, Colin Richardson Cowles, Todd Richard Reily, Michelle Gelberger
  • Patent number: 11032644
    Abstract: A system processes an audio signal using spectrally orthogonal sound components. The system includes a circuitry that generates a mid component and a side component from a left channel and a right channel of the audio signal. The circuitry generates a hyper mid component including spectral energy of the side component removed from spectral energy of the mid component, and generate a residual mid component including spectral energy of the hyper mid component removed from the spectral energy of the mid component. The circuitry filters subbands of the residual mid component, such as to apply a subband spatial processing. The circuitry generates a left output channel and a right output channel using the filtered subbands of the residual mid component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Boomcloud 360, Inc.
    Inventor: Zachary Seldess
  • Patent number: 11032639
    Abstract: Input audio data, including first microphone audio signals and second microphone audio signals output by a pair of coincident, vertically-stacked directional microphones, may be received. An azimuthal angle corresponding to a sound source location may be determined, based at least in part on an intensity difference between the first microphone audio signals and the second microphone audio signals. An elevation angle corresponding to a sound source location may be determined, based at least in part on a temporal difference between the first microphone audio signals and the second microphone audio signals. Output audio data, including at least one audio object corresponding to a sound source, may be generated. The audio object may include audio object signals and associated audio object metadata. The audio object metadata may include at least audio object location data corresponding to the sound source location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Nicolas R. Tsingos
  • Patent number: 11032640
    Abstract: Herein provided is a method and system to determine a sound source direction using a microphone array comprising at least four microphones by analysis of the complex coherence between at least two microphones. The method includes determining the relative angle of incidence of the sound source and communicating directional data to a secondary device, and adjusting at least one parameter of the device in view of the directional data. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Staton Techiya, LLC
    Inventor: John Usher
  • Patent number: 11030989
    Abstract: An active noise cancellation system includes a sensor operable to sense environmental noise and generate a corresponding reference signal, a fixed noise cancellation filter including a predetermined model of the active noise cancellation system operable to generate an anti-noise signal, and a tunable noise cancellation filter operable to modify the anti-noise signal in accordance with stored coefficients, wherein the tunable noise cancellation filter is further operable to modify the stored coefficients in real-time based on user feedback and generate a tuned anti-noise signal that models tunable deviations from the predetermined noise model. A graphical user interface is operable to receive user adjustments of tunable parameters in real-time, the tunable parameters corresponding to at least one of the stored coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Trausti Thormundsson, Govind Kannan, Ali Abdollahzadeh Milani, Ragnar Hlynur Jonsson
  • Patent number: 11024284
    Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in a method that includes receiving a plurality of representations of the signal corresponding to samples of the signal within a frame of predetermined time duration, and estimating a power spectral density (PSD) for each of a plurality of frequency bins. The PSD for a particular frequency bin is estimated based on a smoothing parameter calculated from a noise estimate for the particular frequency bin as obtained from samples corresponding to a preceding frame. The method also includes generating, based on the PSD for each of the plurality of frequency bins, an estimate of the steady-state noise floor, and computing a measure of spectral flatness associated with the samples within the frame. The method also includes determining that the measure of spectral flatness satisfies a threshold condition, and in response, computing an updated estimate of the steady-state noise floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Shiufun Cheung, Zukui Song
  • Patent number: 11011168
    Abstract: This application is directed to a speaker device having a rounded enclosure. The rounded enclosure includes two housing elements that are coupled to each other and have a substantially continuous transition. The rounded enclosure has a circular cross section defined by a first radius. A first housing element includes and extends past the circular cross section, and a second housing element has a second maximum radius that is smaller than the first radius. A speaker unit and a circuit board are arranged within the rounded enclosure. The circuit board is electrically coupled to the speaker unit. At least a portion of the first housing element includes perforations configured to enable transmission of sound generated by the speaker unit out of the speaker device. The second housing element has a power connector that is electrically coupled to the circuit board and is configured to receive power from an external power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Frédéric Heckmann, Yau-Shing Lee, Robert Rose, Jun Hou, Patanjali Peri, Phanindraja Ancha
  • Patent number: 11003415
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method and system for transferring audio-video signals to a production center and managing communications between headsets, for example, within a multiprocessing system while minimizing delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: NEW ENGLAND SPORTS NETWORK, INC.
    Inventors: George Morgan, Jeffrey P. Cummings
  • Patent number: 11006212
    Abstract: A speaker for transmitting reflected sound waves off an upper surface down to a listening environment, comprising: a cabinet containing a plurality of audio drivers, direct-firing drivers within the cabinet oriented to transmit sound along a horizontal axis substantially perpendicular to a front surface of the cabinet, and a pair of upward-firing slotted drivers placed proximate to ends of an top surface of the cabinet and oriented at an inclination angle relative to the horizontal axis. The slotted drivers are configured to create an overlapping reflected sound projection for high frequency sound when reflected down to a listening position located at a distance in front of the speaker pair. Such a speaker projects reflected sound that provides wider horizontal or side-to-side dispersion to better cover the listening area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Smithers, Alan J. Seefeldt
  • Patent number: 10998992
    Abstract: A method and device for improving the sound quality of an audio file in an audio device by modifying an audio signal by means of at least one effect device. The method according to the invention includes the following method steps: a) associating the audio file with meta data; b) comparing the meta data to files in which settings of the effect device are stored; c) associating the meta data with a file from method step b), and d) loading the file from method step c) and activating the effect device, the effect device being set by means of values from the file in method step c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Kronoton GmbH
    Inventor: Gunnar Kron
  • Patent number: 10997960
    Abstract: An audio processing system can include an Analog to Digital Converter structured to receive an analog input signal and convert the analog input signal to a digital input signal, a first processor coupled with the Analog to Digital Converter, the first processor including at least one programmable bi-quadratic filter chain structured to receive the digital input signal from the Analog to Digital Converter and perform audio processing on the received digital input signal at a first clock rate, and a second processor coupled with the first processor and the Analog to Digital Converter and structured to receive the digital input signal from the Analog to Digital Converter and perform audio processing on the received digital input signal at a second clock rate that is different from the first clock rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: AVNERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amit Kumar, Thomas Irrgang, Xudong Zhao
  • Patent number: 10979803
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a communication apparatus, a communication method, a program, and a telepresence system that can perform communication more smoothly. A sound processing unit processes, in accordance with a setting for a specific sound, the sound in performing communication using a video and a voice. For example, the sound processing unit performs processing on a sound input by an input unit, and the sound processed by the sound processing unit, and the original sound input by the input unit are both transmitted. Furthermore, the sound processing unit performs processing on a sound received by a receiving unit configured to receive a sound transmitted from another communication apparatus, and causes the sound to be output from an output unit. The present technology can be applied to a telepresence system, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji Miyama, Yoshihiro Manabe, Ryuichi Namba
  • Patent number: 10972830
    Abstract: The present disclosure provided a speaker monomer with a pair of dynamic speakers thereof includes a housing, an electro-acoustic conversion member received in the housing, and a PCB. The electro-acoustic conversion member includes a first dynamic speaker and a second dynamic speaker, and the housing is a double-barrel-shaped configuration and includes a first receiving room for receiving the first dynamic speaker therein, and a second receiving room arranged in parallel and separated from the first receiving room for receiving the second dynamic speaker therein. The PCB is installed in an end portion of the housing and electrically connected to the first and second dynamic speakers. The present disclosure not only can improve sound quality of an ear-in earphone, but also can reduce a volume of the ear-in earphone, improve assembly efficiency and reduce a defective rate of the ear-in earphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SHENZHEN GINTO E-COMMERCE CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Jianhua Huang, Jin Yang
  • Patent number: 10972819
    Abstract: A display apparatus including a display panel configured to display an image is disclosed. The display apparatus includes a supporting member on a rear surface of the display panel. The supporting member includes a groove. The display apparatus also includes a sound generator between the display panel and the supporting member, and configured to provide a vibration. The display apparatus further includes a vibration transfer member between the display panel and the sound generator, and configured to transfer the vibration of the sound generator to the display panel to generate sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwangho Kim, KwanHo Park, YeongRak Choi, Sungtae Lee
  • Patent number: 10965024
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for frequency routing based on orientation are disclosed. An example method includes receiving, by a playback device, an audio data stream. The example method includes determining, by the playback device, an orientation of the playback device. The example method includes routing, by the playback device, a first set of frequencies in the audio data stream to at least one of a plurality of speaker drivers based on the first orientation. The example method includes routing, by the playback device, a second set of frequencies in the audio data stream to the at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers based on the second orientation, wherein the first set of frequencies is different than the second set of frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Kallai, Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson, Jonathan P. Lang, Craig Wisneski, Jonathon Reilly, Seamus Daly, Todd Mansfield
  • Patent number: 10958997
    Abstract: A portable audio input/output device may include one or more openings that extend through a cover of the device and allow acoustic signals outside a housing of the device to reach a microphone disposed within the housing. The opening(s) may be illuminated by a light guide disposed within the housing, which scatters light emitted from lights disposed within the housing. In some instances, a hole may pass through a printed circuit board to allow acoustic signals to be received by the microphone disposed below the printed circuit board. An input/output (I/O) interface module with multiple buttons and inputs may be installed in the hole. The multiple buttons and I/O ports of the I/O interface module may be aligned along an axis vertical relative to the housing and centered with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Mann Chamberlin, Chia Hung Kuo, Jacob William Beatty, Duane Everard Whyte, Adrian Roy Ramiscal Santos, Isabella Talley Lewis
  • Patent number: 10936279
    Abstract: A radio communication device is a radio communication device that performs radio communication by a press-to-talk communication system, and includes an operating unit that receives an operation of a user, an output unit that outputs a received voice signal as a voice, and a volume adjusting unit that adjusts a volume of the voice output by the output unit. The volume adjusting unit acquires source information that indicates a source of the voice signal when a predetermined operation by a user is made with respect to the operating unit, and adjusts the volume of the voice by using an adjustment coefficient that is a degree of adjustment of the volume of the voice, based on the acquired source information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: JVCKENWOOD Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiteru Ono
  • Patent number: 10932081
    Abstract: The description relates to rendering directional sound. One implementation includes receiving directional impulse responses corresponding to a scene. The directional impulse responses can correspond to multiple sound source locations and a listener location in the scene. The implementation can also include encoding the directional impulse responses to obtain encoded departure direction parameters for individual sound source locations. The implementation can also include outputting the encoded departure direction parameters, the encoded departure direction parameters providing sound departure directions from the individual sound source locations for rendering of sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Nikunj Raghuvanshi, Keith William Godin, John Michael Snyder, Chakravarty Reddy Alla Chaitanya
  • Patent number: 10924878
    Abstract: Some implementations may involve receiving, via an interface system, personnel location data indicating a location of at least one person and receiving, from an orientation system, headset orientation data corresponding with the orientation of a headset. First environmental element location data, indicating a location of at least a first environmental element, may be determined. Based at least in part on the headset orientation data, the personnel location data and the first environmental element location data, headset coordinate locations of at least one person and at least the first environmental element in a headset coordinate system corresponding with the orientation of the headset may be determined. An apparatus may be caused to provide spatialization indications of the headset coordinate locations. Providing the spatialization indications may involve controlling a speaker system to provide environmental element sonification corresponding with at least the first environmental element location data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Poppy Anne Carrie Crum
  • Patent number: 10915142
    Abstract: A dock and an operation method therefor are provided. The dock is suitable for propping up a mobile communication device. The dock includes an audio-receiving circuit, a rotating module, a communication circuit, and a controller circuit. The controller circuit is coupled to the audio-receiving circuit, the rotating module, and the communication circuit. The controller circuit transmits at least one of a plurality of audio signals generated by the audio-receiving circuit to the mobile communication device through the communication circuit, and determines an audio direction of an audio source according to the plurality of audio signals. The controller circuit controls the rotating module to rotate according to the audio direction, so as to bring the mobile communication device face toward the audio source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Chin-Sung Hsu, Chih-Long Ho, Nai-Chuan Hung, Chih-Hsien Lin, Hung-Chih Chiu