Patents Examined by Marlon T. Fletcher
  • Patent number: 10968078
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring condition of a rope of a hoisting device, which rope comprises one or more load bearing members oriented to extend parallel with longitudinal direction of the rope throughout the length thereof. The method comprises measuring strains of one or more portions of a load bearing member of the rope; and comparing the measured strains of one or more portions of a load bearing member of the rope with at least one reference. The invention also relates to a hoisting device implementing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Hannu Lehtinen, Jukka Penttila, Juha Helenius
  • Patent number: 10968076
    Abstract: A method of operating an elevator system (10) includes identifying one or more components (46, 48, 50, 52) in an elevator hoistway (14) requiring periodic maintenance and/or inspection and programming hoistway component locations of the one or more components into an elevator car control system. The elevator car (12) is driven to a programmed hoistway component location of a selected component of the one or more components utilizing the hoistway component location programmed into the elevator car control system. The selected component is accessed from inside the elevator car (12) to perform maintenance and/or inspection of the selected component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Emmanuel Convard, Frédéric Beauchaud
  • Patent number: 10964300
    Abstract: An audio signal processing method, belongs to the field of terminal technologies. The audio signal processing method includes: acquiring a first audio signal of a target song sung by a user; extracting timbre information of the user from the first audio signal; acquiring intonation information of a standard audio signal of the target song; and generating a second audio signal of the target song based on the timbre information and the intonation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Guangzhou Kugou Computer Technology Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Chunzhi Xiao
  • Patent number: 10964298
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described that are utilized for remotely controlling a musical instrument. A first digital record comprising musical instrument digital commands from a first electronic instrument for a first item of music is accessed. The first digital record is transmitted over a network using a network interface to a remote, second electronic instrument for playback to a first user. Optionally, video data is streamed to a display device of a user while the first digital record is played back by the second electronic instrument. A key change command is transmitted over the network using the network interface to the second electronic instrument to cause the second electronic instrument to playback the first digital record for the first item of music in accordance with the key change command. The key change command may be transmitted during the streaming of the video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Inventor: Michael John Elson
  • Patent number: 10957297
    Abstract: An application for operating on a smart phone that records a musician's performance, either voice or instrumental, in combination with pre-recorded music. The combination allows for the auto tuning of the recording, the compression of the recording, the equalization of the recording, adding in reverb, correcting latency and the audio quantization of the rhythm, in addition to music enhancement features such as vocal spread, DeEsser, vocal doubler, vocal harmonizer, tape saturation, pitch correcdtion, flanger, phaser, auto pan, vibrato, tremolo, rotary, ring modulator, metalizer, expander, noise gate, wah, vocal leveling, tape stop, half speed, LoFi, and stutter. Once combined, the song is transmitted to social media and/or to an online store for sale. The user can also make a video with the song. Additional marketing such as song competitions or music reviews and ratings are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventor: Louis Yoelin
  • Patent number: 10957294
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for generating an output file. One technique involves the steps of generating audio or MIDI content blocks from one or more musical performances; receiving an input file having audio or MIDI music content; generating a harmonic chord map for the input file; using the harmonic chord map to automatically select a subset of the audio or MIDI content blocks, and generating the output file by combining the selected subset of content blocks and the input file. This technique may enable the creation of unique and new musical accompaniments by re-purposing audio or MIDI content from back catalogs and/or out-takes of musical works. The new arrangement may be provided in multiple music styles, genres, or moods and may contain performances from multiple musical instruments, which may be pre-recorded from live instrument performances and/or of MIDI generated musical content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Score Music Productions Limited
    Inventor: Michael John Kiely
  • Patent number: 10943573
    Abstract: Various examples and techniques pertaining to audio output monitoring for failure detection of warning sound playback are described. In one aspect, audio data, which includes a plurality of bits of a first sound sample and one or more control bits for integrity check, is retrieved from a data storage. The audio data is processed by: (i) performing an integrity check on the first sound sample based on the one or more control bits, and (ii) playing back a first sound using the first sound sample. The first sound can be a warning sound in automobile applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventors: Yu-Hsiang Lin, Fang-Shan Yang, Chih-Hsing Chu, Ching-He Sun
  • Patent number: 10943574
    Abstract: User interface techniques provide user vocalists with mechanisms for forward and backward traversal of audiovisual content, including pitch cues, waveform- or envelope-type performance timelines, lyrics and/or other temporally-synchronized content at record-time, during edits, and/or in playback. Recapture of selected performance portions, coordination of group parts, and overdubbing may all be facilitated. Direct scrolling to arbitrary points in the performance timeline, lyrics, pitch cues and other temporally-synchronized content allows user to conveniently move through a capture or audiovisual edit session. In some cases, a user vocalist may be guided through the performance timeline, lyrics, pitch cues and other temporally-synchronized content in correspondence with group part information such as in a guided short-form capture for a duet. A scrubber allows user vocalists to conveniently move forward and backward through the temporally-synchronized content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Smule, Inc.
    Inventors: David Steinwedel, Andrea Slobodien, Jeffrey C. Smith, Perry R. Cook
  • Patent number: 10937434
    Abstract: Various examples and techniques pertaining to audio output monitoring for failure detection of warning sound playback are described. In one aspect, audio data, which includes a plurality of bits of a first sound sample and one or more control bits for integrity check, is retrieved from a data storage. The audio data is processed by: (i) performing an integrity check on the first sound sample based on the one or more control bits, and (ii) playing back a first sound using the first sound sample. The first sound can be a warning sound in automobile applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Inventors: Yu-Hsiang Lin, Fang-Shan Yang, Chih-Hsing Chu, Ching-He Sun
  • Patent number: 10937395
    Abstract: A saddle for a stringed musical instrument comprising a body having at least one member with a first and second section. The first section, in cross section has opposite ends, and a geometry conforming to the geometry of a slot in a bridge plate and a width approximately equal in dimension to the width of the slot so the opposite ends of the first section tightly fit into the slot when the first section is inserted therein. The second section having a width substantially wider than the width of the first section and having two lateral sides, in cross section, extending from the opposite ends of the first section to form, in combination with the first section, a right-side up “T” fitting such that the saddle possesses a substantially higher resistance to bending forces from tension in the strings in the musical instrument as compared conventional saddle structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Inventor: Robert L. Oberg
  • Patent number: 10937403
    Abstract: A signal supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a generator configured to generate a first sound signal and a second sound signal in accordance with an instruction signal including operation body information corresponding to an operation input to an operation body and linked member information corresponding to a movement of a linked member linked with the operation body and an adjuster configured to adjust a relationship between the first sound signal and the second sound signal on the basis of the operation body information and the linked member information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Nishida, Yasuhiko Oba, Akihiko Komatsu, Michiko Tanoue
  • Patent number: 10930258
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic percussion instrument that can facilitate determination of contact of a detection target conductor with a head. An electronic percussion instrument includes: a tubular body portion with an end surface in an axial direction open; a head that covers the open end surface in the axial direction of the body portion and has a front surface adapted to be hit; and a capacitive sensor that has an electrode disposed on a rear surface side of the head, in which the head includes an electrically isolated conductive head, and no conductor connected to a reference potential point is provided between the front surface of the head and the electrode. In this manner, it is possible to facilitate determination of contact of the detection target conductor with the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Roland Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Yoshino
  • Patent number: 10923088
    Abstract: An electronic-drum module for connection to one or more electronic-drum pads is provided. The module includes an electronic display; a first memory storing audio files for playback when the playback is triggered by a signal received from a pad; and one or more processors coupled to the display and the memory. The processors are configured receive an instruction to transfer a set of samples. The set of samples is associated with a priority-instruction and includes a first subset of samples and a second subset of samples. The processors are also configures to transfer the first subset of samples from a second memory to the first memory based on the priority-instruction before transferring the second subset of samples and to transfer the second subset of samples from the second memory to the first memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: INMUSIC BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: David C. Gill, Kenneth Helberg
  • Patent number: 10923092
    Abstract: A system for playing a multi-string instrument utilizing a device in conjunction with hardware and software that once programmed on a computer using a touchscreen, solenoids press the strings down on the frets on the neck of a multi-string instrument, requiring a user to only need to touch the touchscreen and simultaneously strum the strings by any method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: OB-session Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Karl Hoh, Debra Kay Hoh
  • Patent number: 10923093
    Abstract: A universal pickup transducer mounting system for a string instrument having a neck and bridge between which a plurality of strings extend includes a receiving cavity formed in the string instrument's body and a multiplicity of exchangeable body blocks disposed in the receiving cavity and configured for releasable mounting therein. The multiplicity of exchangeable body blocks includes at least one transducer receiving block that has an opening formed therein configured for receiving at least one pickup transducer therein. The at least one transducer receiving block is mountable within the receiving cavity to locate the at least one pickup transducer at a user selected longitudinal position relative to the neck and the bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Inventor: Petr Micek
  • Patent number: 10916230
    Abstract: A sensor includes: an upper electrode; a lower electrode provided facing the upper electrode; an upper electrode support portion provided in an upper portion of the upper electrode; a deforming portion provided at both ends of the upper electrode support portion and enabling a distance between the upper electrode and the lower electrode to be changed; a rotatable actuator arranged facing the upper electrode support portion; and a member arranged between the upper electrode support portion and the actuator, and capable of moving relative to at least one of the actuator and the upper electrode support portion when the actuator presses the upper electrode support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shin Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10906775
    Abstract: Disclosed is an elevator control system configured to control movement of an elevator car (12) along an elevator hoistway (26) between a starting position and a destination position (L2), the control system comprising a car holding position monitoring unit configured to monitor whether the elevator car (12) has moved upwards or downwards in the hoistway (26) during a holding period (68) where the car (12) was intended to remain stationary at the destination position (L2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Uwe Schoenauer
  • Patent number: 10906776
    Abstract: A method of warning a technician is provided. The method comprising: detecting a wireless signal emitted by at least one of a sensor and a user device; determining a distance between the sensor and the user device in response to the wireless signal; determining whether the user device is within a work area in response to the distance between the sensor and the user device; and conveying safety instructions through an application installed on the user device when the user device is determined to be within the work area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Ezhil Nanjappan
  • Patent number: 10899579
    Abstract: The invention refers to an elevator brake controller, comprising a brake supply circuit comprising a rectifier with a mains input side and a DC link output side, whereby in the mains input side and/or in the DC link output side at least one fuse is connected, a brake control circuit with at least one brake coil of an elevator brake, which brake coil is connected in series with a control switch configured to be controlled by an elevator control, which series connection of brake coil and control switch is connected to the DC link, a brake safety circuit which is connected between the brake supply circuit and the brake control circuit, which brake safety circuit comprises a first safety switch being connected in series with the brake coil as well as a second safety switch which is connected in parallel to the brake coil, whereby the first and second safety switches are configured to be controlled by an elevator safety circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Arto Nakari
  • Patent number: 10902832
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a timbre fitting method and system based on time-varying multi-segment spectrum, the system includes an input device for obtaining audio signals of musical instruments and a segmented multi-model compensation module. The segmented multi-model compensation module learns a timbre of a source musical instrument and a target musical instrument, and establishes a multi-segment model of the sound feature of the source musical instrument and a multi-segment model of the sound feature of the target musical instrument. The sound feature is set to be based on maximum amplitude of the audio signal played the same sequence on the target musical instrument and the source musical instrument, and the audio signal of the sequence is divided into multiple segments according to the amplitude. The sound feature includes frequency spectrums of notes respectively within each amplitude range. The segmented multi-model compensation module establishes a multi-model structure with time-varying gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mooer Audio CO.,LTD.
    Inventors: Ping Shen, Zhenyu Tang, Jianxiong Zhang