Patents Examined by Jesse A Elbin
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Patent number: 9940092Abstract: Embodiments are provided for causing a playback device to pre-cache audio content in a playback queue. An example implementation involves a playback device detecting by a sensor on the playback device, movement in relation to the playback device. In response to detecting the movement, the playback device identifies a particular media item in a playback queue associated with the playback device. Prior to receiving a user command to play the media item, the playback device stores at least a portion of the particular media item in memory on the playback device.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2015Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventor: Jonathon Reilly
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Patent number: 9936309Abstract: Scene and/or state information may be used to facilitate processing an input to separate one or more signals within the input, to shape the signal within the input, and/or for other processing of the input or signal(s) within the input. A scene determination may be made based upon location data, time data, data describing the received input, or other basis. A state determination may be made based upon the scene determination, properties of a signal itself, or other information such as location, time, etc. By determining an appropriate scene and/or state, processing of an input and/or a signal within an input may proceed in a fashion determined to provide the most valuable information for output. Systems and methods in accordance with the invention may be implemented in a wide variety of baseband processing systems, such as hearing aids and energy consumption monitoring systems.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2014Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: Alarm.com IncorporatedInventors: Jerald Frederic Johnson, Marc Anthony Epard, Curtis Scott Crawford, Ronald Byron Kabler, Alain Charles Briançon, Christopher Allen Giacoponello, Victor Andres Jara-Olivares, Robert Leon Lutes, John Berns Lancaster
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Patent number: 9892755Abstract: Technology is described for directing media content to a target device. A media content directing request may be received from a source device indicating that the source device intends to direct media content to the target device that is available for media content playback. A list of available target devices for media content playback may be provided to the source device. A playback message may be received from the source device that includes a selection of the target device from the list of available target devices. Communication of the playback message to the target device may be facilitated to initiate playback of media content from a media content playback server as directed by the source device.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Evan Walton Layman, Hagay Lupesko, Johnson Cheng, Haydn Lee Gilbert, Travis Ronald Langner, Rickesh Pal, Ivo Pletikosic
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Patent number: 9888332Abstract: The invention concerns a mobile terminal with at least two transducers (LSm, LSs1, LSS2) used simultaneously as loudspeakers for stereophonic effect. According to the invention, one of said transducers is a main transducer (LSm) with a main working frequency band (Bm) corresponding to at least the phone frequency band, while the other transducer is a secondary transducer (LSs1; LSs2) with a secondary working frequency band (Bs1; Bs2) band different from said main frequency band, the lowest frequencies of said secondary working frequency band (Bs1; Bs2) being greater than the lowest frequencies of said main working frequency band.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2014Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: DRNC Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Gerard Douhet, Stephane Dufosse, Alain Guillotin
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Patent number: 9840686Abstract: Provided are wrinkle reducing and deodorizing dryer sheets and methods of making and using the dryer sheets. In one form of the dryer sheet, the wrinkle reducing and deodorizing dryer sheet includes an absorbent wet substrate in sheet form with a polyvinyl alcohol sheet adhered to one surface of the substrate. In another form the PVA sheet is added separately from that of the absorbent wet substrate sheet. The PVA sheet is preferably in the form of an uncoated non-woven of a thickness of 8 mil or less. The wet impregnated sheet contains a solution of quaternary ammonium salts of different water solubility. The method for using, the wrinkle reducing and deodorizing dryer sheet is added to a rotary dryer with a load of wet or dried garments to reduce wrinkling in the garments during the drying process, reduce static cling and refresh the treated clothing.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2015Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: JR CHEM, INC.Inventors: Jose E. Ramirez, Donna F. Ramirez
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Patent number: 9813798Abstract: A headset comprises an ear cup, at least one speaker, an adjustable ear cup shaper, and circuitry. The ear cup shaper is adjustable into at least two configurations, wherein a first of the configurations creates no depression or a first amount of depression in the ear cup and a second of the configurations creates a second amount of depression in the ear cup, where the second amount is greater than the first amount. The circuitry is operable to determine which one of the configurations the ear cup shaper is configured into, and set an audio setting applied to an audio signal output to the speaker based on the determined one of the configurations.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2015Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.Inventors: Richard Kulavik, Andy Logan
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Patent number: 9736606Abstract: In general, techniques are described for audio editing of higher-order ambisonic audio data. A device comprising a memory and one or more processors may be configured to perform the techniques. The memory may be configured to store a higher order ambisonic (HOA) representation of the audio object. The one or more processors may be configured to add a source tail to the HOA representation of the audio object by storing one or more spherical harmonic (SH) basis functions associated with the audio object to a buffer.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2015Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Martin James Morrell, Pei Xiang, Richard Paul Walters, Nils Günther Peters, Dipanjan Sen
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Patent number: 9712924Abstract: A microphone includes a substrate including a penetration hole; a vibration membrane disposed over the substrate and covering the penetration hole; a fixed electrode disposed over the vibration membrane and spaced apart from the vibration membrane; a fixed plate disposed over the fixed electrode; and a plurality of air inlets disposed in the fixed electrode and the fixed plate. The vibration membrane includes a plurality of slots positioned over the penetration hole, and an entire area of the plurality of slots is approximately 8% to approximately 19% of an entire area of the vibration membrane.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2015Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Ilseon Yoo, Hyunsoo Kim
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Patent number: 9668058Abstract: A speaker diaphragm includes: a vibrator; and a suspension adhered to an outer peripheral part of the vibrator and supporting the vibrator so that the vibrator can vibrate, at least part of the suspension including a top surface member constituting a top surface part of the suspension, a rear surface member constituting a rear surface part of the suspension, and an intermediate member between the top surface member and the rear surface member, these members being stacked, the intermediate member having a rigidity lower than that of at least one of the top surface member and the rear surface member, the top surface member having one or more first holes, the rear surface member having one or more second holes, and at least some of the first holes and second holes being dispose so as to overlap across the intermediate member in a direction in which the members are stacked.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2015Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Toshiyuki Matsumura, Shuji Saiki
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Patent number: 9667270Abstract: An system, method, and method of encoding/decoding a multi-channel audio signal, including a decoding level generation unit producing decoding-level information that helps a bitstream including a number of audio channel signals and space information to be decoded into a number of audio channel signals, wherein the space information includes information about magnitude differences and/or similarities between channels, and an audio decoder decoding the bitstream according to the decoding-level information. Accordingly, even a single input bitstream can be decoded into a suitable number of channels depending on the type of a speaker configuration used. Scalable channel decoding can be achieved by partially decoding an input bitstream. In the scalable channel decoding, a decoder may set decoding levels and outputs audio channel signals according to the decoding levels, thereby reducing decoding complexity.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2015Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Junghoe Kim, Miao Lei, Eunmi Oh
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Patent number: 9661419Abstract: A microphone having a microphone capsule is provided. The microphone capsule has a diaphragm carrier, a diaphragm and an adhesive tape ring which is used to fasten the diaphragm to or in the diaphragm carrier. The microphone capsule is in the form of a dynamic sound transducer. A dynamic sound transducer for headphones, earphones or headsets is also provided. The sound transducer has a diaphragm carrier, a diaphragm and a moving coil which is coupled to the diaphragm. In a similar manner to the microphone capsule, the sound transducer has an adhesive tape ring between the diaphragm and the diaphragm carrier, which ring is used to fasten the diaphragm to the diaphragm carrier.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2013Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Sennheiser electronics GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Alwin Harms, Heinz Epping, André Michaelis, Günter Pöppel
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Patent number: 9659090Abstract: A method and apparatus for intelligently routing and managing audio signals within an electronic device is disclosed. The routing is responsive to a set of logical and physical policies which are stored in data tables which can be updated as needed.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2014Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: James D. Batson, Meriko L. Borogove, Gregory R. Chapman, Patrick L. Coffman, Anthony J. Guetta, Aram Lindahl, Andrew Rostaing
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Patent number: 9621976Abstract: A glasses apparatus which works in conjunction with a display apparatus which operates in a multi-view mode to combine and output a plurality of contents. The glasses apparatus includes: a first interface module which receives a synchronization signal in a first wireless communication method; first and second glasses mounted on a glasses frame and which are driven in synchronization with one of the plurality of contents based on the synchronization signal; a second interface module which receives an audio signal of at least said one content in a second wireless communication method; a controller which selects an audio signal of said one content from among audio signals corresponding to the plurality of contents, and an audio outputter which outputs the audio signal of the selected content, and which is integrally formed with the glasses frame.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Jea-hee Han, Je-hwan Seo, Ju-won Cho
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Patent number: 9609383Abstract: Technology is described for providing audio for digital content. The digital content may be provided to a plurality of devices. Each device may be associated with a profile. At least one group of profiles may be identified from the plurality of devices that share an affiliation. The group of profiles may be represented as a group of environment objects in the digital content. A location may be identified within the digital content that corresponds to the group of environment objects. Audio may be received for the devices. The audio may be received while the digital content is being transmitted to the plurality of devices. The audio may be transmitted to the plurality of devices for directional audio playback. The audio may be directed to correspond with the virtual location of the at least one group of environment objects in the digital content.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Alistair Robert Hirst
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Patent number: 9602905Abstract: A headset may comprise at least one ear cup and an ear cup shaper configurable into at least two configurations. When the ear cup shaper is configured in a first of the configurations, the ear cup is shaped to contact the temple of a wearer of the headset. When the adjustable ear cup shaper is configured in a second of the configurations, the ear cup is shaped to accommodate the temple piece of a pair of eyeglasses of a wearer of the headset. The ear cup may comprise a filler material such as foam, and the adjustable ear cup shaper when configured in the second of the configurations may create a depression in the foam. The adjustable ear cup shaper may comprise a strap and/or a plunger.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.Inventors: Richard Kulavik, Andy Logan
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Patent number: 9602933Abstract: The invention regards a communication device which is adapted for placement in a users ear. The communication device comprises a shell part enclosing an input transducer for receiving an input signal, a signal processing device and an output N transducer for providing a signal perceivable as sound, a battery located at a surface part of the shell which is facing away from the head of the user, a transmission and reception circuit for transmission and/or reception of electromagnetic energy. According to the invention an antenna for radiating and/or receiving electromagnetic energy is provided such that it has a first surface turned towards the surroundings and a second surface located in close proximity of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: OTICON A/SInventors: Kare T. Christensen, Ove Knudsen
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Patent number: 9601969Abstract: An apparatus includes a load and a first armature. A first lever mechanically couples the first armature and the load. Motion of the first armature causes the first lever to pivot about a first pivot axis. The apparatus also includes a second armature and a second lever that mechanically couples the second armature and the load. Motion of the second armature causes the second lever to pivot about a second pivot axis. At least one stator is provided for creating magnetic flux for the first and second armatures to interact with, thereby to drive motion of the load. The apparatus also includes a coupling mechanism that couples the first lever and the second lever. The coupling mechanism is arranged to encourage common mode oscillation of the first and second levers and inhibit differential mode oscillation of the first and second levers, thereby to inhibit rocking of the load.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2014Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: Bose CorporationInventors: Brian M. Lucas, Johan H. Isaksson, Geoffrey C. Chick
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Patent number: 9571615Abstract: Excessive deformation of a piezoelectric element is reduced. An electronic apparatus 1 according to the present invention includes a panel 10, a piezoelectric element 30, a housing 60 for mounting the panel 10, and an intermediate member 80 attached to the piezoelectric element 30, wherein the intermediate member 80 and the panel 10 deform due to deformation of the piezoelectric element 30, thereby delivering an air conduction sound and a human body vibration sound to an object in contact with the panel 10 that is deforming.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2013Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: KYOCERA CorporationInventors: Seiji Horii, Kenichi Ozasa, Hayato Mizuno, Hiroto Yahagi, Ryosuke Kobayashi
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Patent number: 9563699Abstract: A method for matching a query against a broadcast stream includes receiving one or more broadcast streams, from which it generates and stores an audio fingerprint of a selected portion of each received broadcast stream. A query is received from which the method generates an audio fingerprint. From that point, the method continues by identifying audio content from the query, using the query audio fingerprint and a database of indexed audio content. The method concludes by identifying the source of the query using the query audio fingerprint and the stored audio fingerprints. Embodiments of the method further include predictively caching audio fingerprint sequences and corresponding audio item identifiers from a server after storing audio fingerprints extracted from the broadcast stream; and using the predictively cached audio fingerprint sequences to identify an audio item within the audio signal based on at least some additional audio fingerprints of the audio signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2015Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: SoundHound, Inc.Inventors: Keyvan Mohajer, Bernard Mont-Reynaud, Joe Kyaw Soe Aung
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Patent number: 9525950Abstract: A method of processing a signal in a hearing aid (50), the method comprising the steps of determining a gain vector applied in a number of individual frequency bands, determining a gradient of a speech intelligibility measure as a function of the gain vector, modifying the value of the gradient and using the modified value of the gradient to optimize both speech intelligibility and listening comfort. The invention also provides a hearing aid (50).Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2014Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: Widex A/SInventors: Kristian Timm Andersen, Mette Dahl Meincke