Patents Examined by James Mooney
  • Patent number: 10284992
    Abstract: The derivation of personalized HRTFs for a human subject based on the anthropometric feature parameters of the human subject involves obtaining multiple anthropometric feature parameters and multiple HRTFs of multiple training subjects. Subsequently, multiple anthropometric feature parameters of a human subject are acquired. A representation of the statistical relationship between the plurality of anthropometric feature parameters of the human subject and a subset of the multiple anthropometric feature parameters belonging to the plurality of training subjects is determined. The representation of the statistical relationship is then applied to the multiple HRTFs of the plurality of training subjects to obtain a set of personalized HRTFs for the human subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Piotr Tadeusz Bilinski, Jens Ahrens, Mark R. P. Thomas, Ivan J. Tashev, John C. Platt, David E. Johnston
  • Patent number: 10244341
    Abstract: The derivation of personalized HRTFs for a human subject based on the anthropometric feature parameters of the human subject involves obtaining multiple anthropometric feature parameters and multiple HRTFs of multiple training subjects. Subsequently, multiple anthropometric feature parameters of a human subject are acquired. A representation of the statistical relationship between the plurality of anthropometric feature parameters of the human subject and a subset of the multiple anthropometric feature parameters belonging to the plurality of training subjects is determined. The representation of the statistical relationship is then applied to the multiple HRTFs of the plurality of training subjects to obtain a set of personalized HRTFs for the human subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Piotr Tadeusz Bilinski, Jens Ahrens, Mark R. P. Thomas, Ivan J. Tashev, John C. Platt, David E. Johnston
  • Patent number: 10225643
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for secure audio acquisition. The method includes receiving audio data via a digital microphone. The digital microphone outputs a single bit at a high sampling rate. The digital microphone output is converted to a full range audio signal. The full range audio signal is filtered to provide a band limited audio output that avoids capture of enough of a spectral range of speech for the speech to be intelligible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Gokcen Cilingir, David Pearce, Adam Kupryjanow, Suhel Jaber, Paulo Lopez Meyer
  • Patent number: 10206053
    Abstract: Headphones are provided with a pair of speakers adapted to be suspended a distance away from the listener's ears and movable between a plurality of test positions. At least one microphone is adapted to be positioned near one of the listener's ears. A controller is in communication with the pair of speakers. The controller is programmed to activate the pair of speakers to produce a test sound at a plurality of test positions. The controller receives playback signals from the microphone based on each of the test sounds at the plurality of test positions. A head related transfer function (HRTF) is determined based on the playback signals received by the microphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Todd S. Welti
  • Patent number: 10194256
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to analyze microphone placement for watermarks and signatures are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a signal transformer to determine a frequency spectrum of a received noise burst; a variance determiner to compute a variance of a frequency band in the frequency spectrum; and a detection rates determiner to determine a recovery rate of at least one of a watermark or a signature based on the computed variance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Marc Messier, James Joseph Vitt, Venugopal Srinivasan, Alexander Topchy
  • Patent number: 10194238
    Abstract: A loudspeaker baffle that provides variable sound patterns is described. The baffle may support non-low frequency sound sources and a waveguide to provide varying sound beam patterns. The baffle may include a center mount adapted to receive a plurality of audio outputs and a plurality of low frequency apertures to receive a plurality low frequency output. The waveguide may be formed from a front face of the baffle. The front face may be intermediate the center mount and the low frequency apertures. The front face may include a continuously varying waveguide surface with a first waveguide portion adjacent a first audio output of the plurality of audio outputs providing a first sound pattern and a second waveguide portion adjacent a second audio output of the plurality of audio outputs providing a second sound pattern that is different than the first sound pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas J. Button, Richard D. Kamlet
  • Patent number: 10187025
    Abstract: A predictive brownout prevention system may be configured to prevent brownout of an audio output signal. Particularly, the brownout prevention system may be configured to receive information indicative of an amplitude of the audio input signal, receive information indicative of a condition of the power supply, determine from the information indicative of an amplitude of the audio input signal and the information indicative of the condition of the power supply whether a brownout condition exists, and responsive to determining the brownout condition exists, generate the selectable attenuation signal to reduce an amplitude of the audio output signal such that the signal path attenuates the audio input signal or a derivative thereof in order to prevent brownout prior to propagation to the audio output of a portion of the audio input signal having the brownout condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen May, Anu Chakravarty, John C. Tucker
  • Patent number: 10178456
    Abstract: A zipper system includes a zipper mechanism having interlocking teeth, the teeth, when interlocked, closing a signal circuit to an audio playback circuit, the audio playback circuit. The audio playback circuit includes a microprocessor. The microprocessor includes an audio track storage and control instructions that, when executed by the microprocessor, cause playback of an audio track from the audio track storage. The audio playback circuit further includes a speaker device coupled to the microprocessor that broadcasts the audio track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: ZYPHONY, LLC
    Inventors: Alfred S. Muller, III, Christopher B. McClelland, Kevin Joseph Corley
  • Patent number: 10171911
    Abstract: Provided is a method of processing an audio signal, the method performed by a device and including dividing the audio signal into a main signal and a background signal; obtaining position information about a main speaker and an auxiliary speaker; mixing the main signal and the background signal, based on the position information; and outputting the mixed main signal and the mixed background signal to the main speaker and the auxiliary speaker, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoon-jae Lee, Han-ki Kim, Sang-yoon Kim, Young-suk Song, Eun-mi Oh, Dong-hyun Lim, Ji-ho Chang, Jae-youn Cho
  • Patent number: 10142576
    Abstract: A control device may include a control unit to switch an output information to a predetermined output information, when a transition of contents of a controlled device is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC
    Inventors: Eiju Yamada, Shin Ito
  • Patent number: 10142731
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for dynamically suppressing non-linear distortion for a device, such as a speakerphone. A device may receive a signal, where the device has non-linear distortion at a predetermined frequency. The received signal may be analyzed to compute a tone strength parameter and a band level. The received signal may be filtered such that a spectrum of the input signal is dynamically limited by reducing suppression of the non-linear distortion when the tone strength parameter is in a lower portion of a predetermined range and increasing suppression of the non-linear distortion when the tone strength parameter is in an upper portion of the predetermined range, the predetermined range of the tone strength parameter corresponding to a loudness range of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Erwin Goesnar, David Gunawan
  • Patent number: 10123125
    Abstract: A loudspeaker and method of assembly according to this invention provides for simplified replacement of defective parts that can be accomplished by an unskilled worker without the use of gauges, guides, fixtures or other equipment. A moving assembly, and a combined frame and motor structure, are assembled independently of one another and then connected together, within acceptable tolerances, by a centering tee which is affixed to the moving assembly and may be easily connected to and disconnected from the motor structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: JL Audio, Inc.
    Inventor: Lucio Proni
  • Patent number: 10123147
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses pertaining to enhanced audio effect realization for virtual reality may involve receiving data in a virtual reality setting. The data may be related to audio samples from one or more sound sources, motions of the one or more sound sources, and motions of a user. Physics simulation may be performed for realization of one or more audio effects based on the received data. Signal processing may be performed using a result of the physics simulation. Audio outputs may be provided using a result of the signal processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Xin-Wei Shih, Yiou-Wen Cheng
  • Patent number: 10104466
    Abstract: Disclosed is a speaker device, comprising a vibration system, a magnetic circuit system, and an auxiliary system fixedly accommodating the magnetic circuit system and the vibration system. The vibration system comprises a center suspension comprising a first fixing portion, a second fixing portion within the first fixing portion, and a connecting arm connecting the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion. A central position of the second fixing portion is provided with a piezoelectric piece, the center suspension is provided with a first pad corresponding to the piezoelectric piece, and the piezoelectric piece is electrically connected to the first pad. The second fixing portion is provided with an antenna circuit. In the speaker device of the present invention, the signal emitted by the piezoelectric piece effectively increases the medium and high frequency effect and enhances the acoustic performance. The antenna circuit integrates the antenna device and the speaker device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventors: Shugang Li, Xiaodong Cai, Cheng Zhang
  • Patent number: 10097942
    Abstract: An indication of an acoustic characteristic of a playback device may comprise an orientation of the playback device with respect to an axis of a sensor of the playback device. After receiving the indication of the acoustic characteristic, a crossover frequency of the playback device may be determined and a series of tones may be output. A phase may be set based at least in part on a received indication of a selected tone set from the series of tones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SONOS, INC.
    Inventors: Neil Griffiths, Mike Chamness
  • Patent number: 10086754
    Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure includes a launch identification module and a speaker control module. The launch identification module is configured to monitor a speed of a vehicle and identify a vehicle launch when the vehicle speed increases from zero to a value greater than zero. The speaker control module is configured to monitor an acceleration of the vehicle control a speaker in a cabin of the vehicle to play a first sound that simulates a sound produced by at least one of an engine and a driveline during a vehicle launch when a vehicle launch is identified and the vehicle acceleration is greater than a predetermined acceleration. The speaker control module is also configured to control the speaker to not play the first sound during a vehicle launch when a vehicle launch is identified and the vehicle acceleration is less than or equal to the predetermined acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Frank C. Valeri, Scott M. Reilly, Roger C. Barlow
  • Patent number: 10080082
    Abstract: A microphone biasing circuit comprises a microphone connected between a first node and a first DC bias voltage, the microphone configured to provide a sensed voltage at the first node in response to sound; a first diode and a second diode, the first diode and the second diode connected antiparallel with one another between the first node and a second node, the second node having a second DC bias voltage; an amplifier having an input connected to the first node and an output connected to a third node, the amplifier configured to provide an output voltage to the third node based on the sensed voltage at the first node; and a feedback path connected from the third node to the second node. The feedback path comprises at least one element configured to couple alternating components of the output voltage at the third node to the second node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignees: Akustica, Inc., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Saikrishna Ganta, Chinwuba Ezekwe
  • Patent number: 10070231
    Abstract: The present disclosure regards a hearing device comprising a power source, electric circuitry, a loudspeaker, at least one microphone for sound from an acoustic environment, and at least one wireless receiver for wirelessly received sound signals. The microphone is configured to generate an environment sound signal. The wireless receiver is configured generate a source sound signal. The electric circuitry is configured to estimate at least one parameter of an impulse response from the location of the origin of the wirelessly received signal to the location of a user of the hearing device in dependence on the source sound signal and the environment sound signal. The electric circuitry is further configured to process the environment sound signal in dependence on the estimated at least one impulse-response parameter, thereby generating an output sound signal. The output sound signal is processed into sound by the loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Jesper Jensen, Jesper Bünsow Boldt
  • Patent number: 10070239
    Abstract: A Head-Related Transfer Function. The Head-Related Transfer Function includes listener-specific and general components. The listener-specific component includes listener-specific, vertical variations in the Head-Related Transfer Function. The general component includes non-listener-specific, lateral variations in the Head-Related Transfer Function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Griffin D. Romigh
  • Patent number: 10068579
    Abstract: An encoding/decoding apparatus and method for controlling a channel signal is disclosed, wherein the encoding apparatus may include an encoder to encode an object signal, a channel signal, and rendering information for the channel signal, and a bit stream generator to generate, as a bit stream, the encoded object signal, the encoded channel signal, and the encoded rendering information for the channel signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jeong Il Seo, Seung Kwon Beack, Dae Young Jang, Kyeong Ok Kang, Tae Jin Park, Yong Ju Lee, Keun Woo Choi, Jin Woong Kim