Patents Examined by Lao Lun-See
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Patent number: 8848926Abstract: Provided is a method for controlling synchronizing downmix signals and MPEG surround side information signals by controlling a delay according to the kind of downmix audio signals in an MPEG surround decoder. When multi-channel audio signals are restored using an HE-AAC decoder and a low-power MPEG surround decoder and complex QMF signals outputted from the HE-AAC decoder are used as downmix signals, a delay unit compensates for a delay caused in a real-to-complex converter. Anther delay unit delays spatial parameters to compensate for a delay caused in QMF and Nyquist banks when time-domain downmix signals are used. Also, when multi-channel audio signals are restored using an HE-AAC decoder and a high-quality MPEG surround decoder and complex QMF signals outputted from the HE-AAC decoder are used as downmix signals, a delay unit compensates for a delay caused in a real-to-complex converter.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2012Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research InstituteInventors: Jeong-Il Seo, Seung-Kwon Beack, In-Seon Jang, Dae-Young Jang, Jin-Woo Hong, Jin-Woong Kim
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Patent number: 8600075Abstract: A method for equalizing audio and a video apparatus using the audio equalizing method are provided. The method for equalizing audio includes detecting the distance between a speaker mounted in a video apparatus and a reflective surface, and equalizing an audio signal to be output from the speaker based on the detected distance. Accordingly, attenuation of audio output is reduced, so audio output is optimized.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2008Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Soo-chan Lim
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Patent number: 8577061Abstract: A power supply for limited power sources and an audio amplifier using the power supply comprising power sources to provide an output power signal that can be used by load with a high peak to average power requirement ratio. When such power sources are used to power devices that have a high peak to average power consumption, the average power output of the device is severely limited if the peak power is kept below the power supply limits of the limited power source.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2008Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Audera Acoustics Inc.Inventors: John B. French, Andrew John Mason
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Patent number: 8559649Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is a sleep device. The sleep-aide device includes a soft housing adapted to be disposed over a user's head, a microphone positioned on the housing to receive an ambient sound signal, a suppression circuit that receives the ambient sound signal and produces a suppression sound signal, and a set of transducers, arranged in the soft housing, which receive the suppression sound signal. The suppression sound signal has a magnitude and phase to substantially cancel the ambient sound signal at the user's ear. In another aspect, the sleep-aide device includes a microphone to receive an ambient sound signal, a suppression circuitry, which receives the ambient sound signal and transmits a suppression sound signal based on the ambient sound signal, and a transducer which receives the suppression sound signal, which has a magnitude and phase to substantially cancel the ambient sound signal at the user's ear.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2002Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Kurzweil Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Raymond C. Kurzweil, Sonya Kurzweil
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Patent number: 8548175Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for recognizing an earphone of a portable terminal that includes an interface unit which is connected to the earphone; a controller which performs a switch operation by determining whether a switch key of the earphone is inputted, according to a change of a current of a first port and a voltage of a second port, when the connection of the earphone is sensed; and an audio processing unit that outputs an audio signal to the earphone under the control of the controller.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2010Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mu Seon Im, Hyung Woo Park, Young Wan Cho, Nam Hyeong Kim, Ho Sik Cho
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Patent number: 8503703Abstract: Systems, structures, and methods are provided to fit, program, or upgrade a hearing aid system to a patient. One embodiment includes the use of a mobile device to interact with the hearing aid system through a short-range network. The mobile device is also adapted to communicate with a server through a long-range wireless network. The server may reside on the Internet.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2005Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Anthony M. Eaton, Jerome Charles Ruzicka
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Patent number: 8494180Abstract: Systems and methods provided herein decrease an idle channel noise floor and reduce power during an idle channel input for low power audio devices that include a digital pulse width modulation (PWM) amplifier having a noise shaper. An audio data signal is monitored for an idle channel condition. The noise shaper performs quantization of the audio data signal and uses noise shaper filter coefficients to shape noise resulting from the quantization. Predetermined values for the noise shaper filter coefficients are used to shape the noise resulting from quantization while the idle channel condition is not being detected. The values of the noise shaper filter coefficients are reduced so that the values move toward zeros, and the reduced values of the noise shaper filter coefficients are used to attenuate noise resulting from quantization, while the idle channel condition is being detected.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2010Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.Inventors: Travis John Guthrie, Daniel Chieng
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Patent number: 8477951Abstract: A front surround reproduction system improving the stereo effect of mid and low frequency signals by using a psychoacoustic model, and a method thereof.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2007Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chi-ho Jung, Sun-min Kim
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Patent number: 8391505Abstract: A reverberation suppressing apparatus separating sound source signals based on input signals output from microphones collecting the plurality of sound source signals, includes a sound signal output unit generating sound signals and outputting the generated sound signals, a sound acquiring unit acquiring the input signals from microphones, a first evaluation function calculation unit calculating a separation matrix, the input signals, and the sound source signals, and calculating a first evaluation function, a reverberation component suppressing unit calculating an optimal separation matrix, and suppressing a reverberation component by separating the sound source signals other than the generated sound signals, and a separation matrix updating unit dividing a step-size function, approximating each segment to a linear function, calculating step sizes based on the approximated linear functions, and repeatedly updating the separation matrix so that the degree of separation of the sound source signals exceeds the pType: GrantFiled: June 1, 2010Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiro Nakadai, Hirofumi Nakajima, Hiroshi Okuno, Ryu Takeda
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Patent number: 8320583Abstract: A noise reducing device includes: a sound-signal input unit that inputs a sound signal; a time-to-frequency converting unit that converts the input sound signal obtained by being input by the sound-signal input unit into a frequency signal; a patterning unit that calculates, for each of divided frequencies of the frequency signal, an nth order polynomial (n is a natural number) as a polynomial for interpolating sampling points and acquires a coefficient pattern including a set of values of coefficients of respective orders of the polynomial; a matching-data storing unit that stores, in association with the divided frequencies, matching data indicating a matching range as a range of a coefficient pattern regarded as noise; and a noise determining unit that determines, on the basis of a result obtained by comparing the coefficient pattern acquired by the patterning unit and the matching range indicated by the matching data, at least presence or absence of noise occurrence at a divided frequency corresponding toType: GrantFiled: March 5, 2010Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Kazuhiko Ozawa
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Patent number: 8311240Abstract: An audio signal processing apparatus includes a high-frequency components extraction means for extracting high-frequency components higher than a predetermined cutoff frequency from the input audio signal and supplying them to satellite speakers by way of a predetermined high frequency range amplifier, a low-frequency components extraction means for extracting low-frequency components lower than a predetermined cutoff frequency from the input audio signal, a correlation reducing means for reducing the correlation of the high-frequency components and the low-frequency components of the input audio signal and a delay means for delaying the low-frequency components and supplying them to a subwoofer by way of a predetermined low frequency range amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2007Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Shinichi Inoue, Kazunobu Kubota
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Patent number: 8300852Abstract: An array of parameter setting images corresponding to a plurality of parameters, and a plurality of tab images for selecting any one of a plurality of groups formed by grouping the plurality of parameters. The tab images are displayed on a screen in an arrangement associated with the array of the parameter setting images corresponding to the parameters belonging to corresponding ones of the groups. The grouping of the parameters is made such that a portion of the parameters included in a given one of the groups is shared with another of the groups, and a portion of the tab image corresponding to the portion of the parameters shared with the other group is displayed in a display style to indicate the sharing. Upon selecting a tab image, the parameters corresponding to the selected tab image are allocated to individual ones of the plurality of operators.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2006Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventor: Kotaro Terada
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Patent number: 8259952Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system and method that alternately configures an input of the entertainment system as a differential input that is decoupled from a ground point, or as ground referenced input that is coupled to a ground point. A noise detector determines a noise signal value for a ground switch module that alternately changes a switch state between a coupled state that couples the common connection to the ground point, and a decoupled state that decouples the common connection from the ground point, based upon the noise signal value being greater than a threshold.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2010Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael Thomas Augustyn, Dennis L. Kinkead, B. Neal Rhodes
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Patent number: 8218777Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a multipoint communication apparatus comprises: a receiving unit for receiving a plurality of signals containing voice signal elements and noise signal elements from the plurality of other communication apparatuses, respectively; a noise estimating unit for estimating the plurality of noise signal elements in the plurality of received signals, respectively; a gain control unit for adjusting gains of the plurality of signals passing therethrough so as to equalize the levels of the plurality of noise signal elements outputted from the gain element on the basis of the estimated levels of the noise signal elements; a combining unit for combining the plurality of signals passed through the gain control unit; and an output unit for outputting a sound signal on the basis of the a combined signal by the combining unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2008Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventor: Takeshi Otani
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Patent number: 8160282Abstract: An automatic sound system equalizer adjusts a sound system to a target sound, where the sound system includes at least two groups of loudspeakers supplied with electrical sound signals to be converted into acoustical sound signals. The equalizer sequentially supplies each group with the respective electrical sound signal; sequentially assesses the deviation of the acoustical sound signal from the target sound for each group of loudspeakers, and adjusts at least two groups of loudspeakers to a relatively small, preferably minimum deviation from the target sound by equalizing the respective electrical sound signals supplied to the groups of loudspeakers.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2007Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbHInventors: Markus Christoph, Leander Scholz
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Patent number: 8150079Abstract: An operation section housing and a display section housing are connected by a rotatable hinge having a structure in which the display section housing rotates with the rotatable hinge serving as the central rotational axis. The display section housing has three built-in speakers in predetermined positions of a display. A personal digital assistant detects the angle of the rotatable hinge and identifies the speaker located in the leftmost side and the speaker located in the rightmost side relative to an upright display image displayed on the display. Then, the left audio is output from the left side of the upright display image and the right audio is output from the right side of the upright display image.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2005Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiro Maeda, Tamotsu Ito
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Patent number: 8116484Abstract: To provide a sound output device capable of preferably outputting, while utilizing control data created based on an assumption that sound data will be output via a certain number of speakers, the sound data via a number of speakers that is larger or smaller than the certain number. The main control data storage unit stores main control data. The first sound output control unit outputs sound data from the one or more main speakers based on the main control data. The sub-control data storage unit stores sub-control data. The second sound output control unit outputs the sound data from the one or more sub-speakers based on the main control data and the sub-control data.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2007Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.Inventor: Naoki Tokiwa
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Patent number: 8090115Abstract: In a television receiver, based on speaker information of each of one or more devices including speakers which is a memory of the television receiver, a transmitting audio signal to be transmitted to each device including a speaker, in which synchronization is established between devices including speakers in a reproduction mode, is formed and transmitted to the device (including a speaker) through a communication interface. The device (including a speaker) receives the transmitting audio signal addressed thereto through a communication interface, plays back the signal, and uses a speaker of the device to generate sound.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2005Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Ryuichiro Noto
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Patent number: 8068615Abstract: A transformer saturation compensation circuit for loudspeakers in embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features: (a) a transformer with a primary winding and a secondary winding electrically coupled to an output, (b) a high pass filter, (c) a current dependent resistive load electrically coupled in parallel with the capacitor and electrically coupled to an input, (d) a switch located at the primary winding electrically coupled to the capacitor and the resistive load, the switch being rotatable to each of the taps, where the current dependent resistive load provides saturation compensation for different loudspeaker configurations without requiring changes to a highpass filter cutoff frequency, and (e) a resistive load electrically coupled in parallel with the current dependent resistive load and the capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2006Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Bosch Security Systems, Inc.Inventor: Steven J. Jakowski
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Patent number: 8023660Abstract: An apparatus for providing a set of spatial cues associated with an upmix audio signal having more than two channels on the basis of a two-channel microphone signal has a signal analyzer and a spatial side information generator. The signal analyzer is configured to obtain a component energy information and a direction information on the basis of the two-channel microphone signal, such that the component energy information describes estimates of energies of a direct sound component of the two-channel microphone signal and of a diffuse sound component of the two-channel microphone signal, and such that the directional information describes an estimate of a direction from which the direct sound component of the two-channel microphone signal originates. The spatial side information generator is configured to map the component energy information and the direction information onto a spatial cue information describing the set of spatial cues associated with an upmix audio signal having more than two channels.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2009Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventor: Christof Faller