Patents Examined by Norman Yu
  • Patent number: 11594240
    Abstract: A headphone, headphone system, and speech enhancing method is provided to enhance speech pick-up from the user of a headphone and includes receiving a plurality of signals from a set of microphones and generating a primary signal by array processing the microphone signals to steer a beam toward the user's mouth. A noise reference signal is also derived from one or more microphones via a delay-and-sum technique, and a voice estimate signal is generated by filtering the primary signal to remove components that are correlated to the noise reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Alaganandan Ganeshkumar, Xiang-Ern Yeo, Mehmet Ergezer
  • Patent number: 11595770
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing device which performs active noise suppression for suppressing noise signals having one or more frequency components. An audiogram is provided which specifies a hearing threshold of a user of the hearing device as a function of frequency, wherein by using the audiogram it is determined which frequency components of the noise are audible to the user and which are not audible. The noise suppression is operated selectively by suppressing audible frequency components of the noise and by not suppressing inaudible frequency components of the noise. A corresponding hearing device is operated according to the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Frank Naumann, Umut Goekay
  • Patent number: 11595744
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes: a display panel configured to display an image, one or more sound generation devices configured to vibrate the display panel to generate sound, a supporting member configured to support the display panel, a partition between the display panel and the supporting member, the partition including: a first side in a horizontal direction, and a second side in a vertical direction, and one or more first pad parts on the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taecheol Kang, Moonyoung Shin, YeongRak Choi, Sungsu Ham
  • Patent number: 11582562
    Abstract: A hearing system configured to be located at or in the head of a user, comprises a) at least two microphones providing at least two electric input signals, b) an own voice detector, c) access to a database (Ol, Hl) comprising c1) relative or absolute own voice transfer function(s), and corresponding c2) absolute or relative acoustic transfer functions for a multitude of test-persons, d) a processor connectable to the at least two microphones, to the own voice detector, and to the database. The processor is configured A) to estimate an own voice relative transfer function for sound from the user's mouth to at least one of the at least two microphones, and B) to estimate personalized relative or absolute head related acoustic transfer functions from at least one spatial location other than the user's mouth to at least one of the microphones of the hearing system in dependence of the estimated own voice relative transfer function(s) and the database (Ol, Hl).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Jesper Jensen, Nels Hede Rohde, Thomas Bentsen, Michael Syskind Pedersen, Svend Oscar Petersen
  • Patent number: 11582561
    Abstract: A thermophone includes an inner core and an outer shell coaxial with the inner core. The inner core and outer shell enclose a volume filled with gas. A pair of posts extend radially from the inner core to the outer shell and extend longitudinally between the inner core and the outer shell. At least one longitudinal slot is formed along the outer shell and a fluid seal covers the slot. A thermoacoustic active element is disposed in the volume and heated by modulated current to generate alternating pressure on the outer shell and produce acoustic signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventors: Nathanael K. Mayo, Stephen C. Butler
  • Patent number: 11575994
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a bone conduction speaker and its compound vibration device. The compound vibration device comprises a vibration conductive plate and a vibration board, the vibration conductive plate is set to be the first torus, where at least two first rods inside it converge to its center; the vibration board is set as the second torus, where at least two second rods inside it converge to its center. The vibration conductive plate is fixed with the vibration board; the first torus is fixed on a magnetic system, and the second torus comprises a fixed voice coil, which is driven by the magnetic system. The bone conduction speaker in the present disclosure and its compound vibration device adopt the fixed vibration conductive plate and vibration board, making the technique simpler with a lower cost; because the two adjustable parts in the compound vibration device can adjust both low frequency and high frequency area, the frequency response obtained is flatter and the sound is broader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xin Qi, Fengyun Liao, Jinbo Zheng, Qian Chen, Hao Chen, Yueqiang Wang, Haofeng Zhang
  • Patent number: 11546710
    Abstract: An example computer system identifies a capability of a playback device to reproduce audio content. Based on the capability, the computer system identifies a first version of audio content for playback by the playback device and causes the playback device to play back the first version of audio content. While the playback device is playing back the first version of the audio content, the computer system detects a change in a network connection between the computer system and the playback device. Based on the detected change in the network connection and the capability of the playback device, the computer system identifies a second version of audio content for playback by the playback device and causes the playback device to transition from playing back the first version of the audio content to playing back the second version of the audio content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Romi Kadri
  • Patent number: 11538450
    Abstract: An apparatus for improving the sound of a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention, may comprise: a window open/closed detection sensor for detecting the open/closed state of a window of the vehicle; a car door open/closed detection sensor for detecting the open/closed state of a car door of the vehicle; a speed sensor for measuring the speed of the vehicle; a microphone; a memory; and a processor for adjusting a coefficient of an adaptive filter used for an engine order cancellation (EOC) function, on the basis of the opened degree of the window and the speed, when the car door is closed, the window is open, and the magnitude of noise inputted to the microphone is less than or equal to a threshold magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kyuho Lee, Kihyun Kim, Byounggi Lee
  • Patent number: 11540057
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a bone conduction speaker and its compound vibration device. The compound vibration device comprises a vibration conductive plate and a vibration board, the vibration conductive plate is set to be the first torus, where at least two first rods inside it converge to its center; the vibration board is set as the second torus, where at least two second rods inside it converge to its center. The vibration conductive plate is fixed with the vibration board; the first torus is fixed on a magnetic system, and the second torus comprises a fixed voice coil, which is driven by the magnetic system. The bone conduction speaker in the present disclosure and its compound vibration device adopt the fixed vibration conductive plate and vibration board, making the technique simpler with a lower cost; because the two adjustable parts in the compound vibration device can adjust both low frequency and high frequency area, the frequency response obtained is flatter and the sound is broader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xin Qi, Fengyun Liao, Jinbo Zheng, Qian Chen, Hao Chen, Lei Zhang
  • Patent number: 11533560
    Abstract: A device renders enhanced audio based on properties of an audio rendering system. For example, audio rendering system information of an audio rendering system associated with the device is used to determine an audio enhancement optimized for the audio rendering system. The OS of the device (e.g., a mobile phone) is queried to determine the audio rendering system information. The audio rendering system information is used to determine an audio enhancement, such as by querying a database storing associations between rendering system information and audio enhancements. The audio enhancement may include, for example, one or more types of audio processing (e.g., subband spatial processing, crosstalk processing, etc.) and particular parameters for the audio processing. The audio enhancement is applied to an audio signal to generate an enhanced audio signal that is provided to the audio rendering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Boomcloud 360 Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary Seldess, Joseph Anthony Mariglio, III, Paul Riker, Daniel Elworthy Ross, Raphael Alberto Melgar, Chuan Hsueh
  • Patent number: 11531738
    Abstract: A method for use in a biometric process, comprising: for a first function and a second function, applying an acoustic stimulus to a user's ear; and for the second function: receiving a response signal of a user's ear to the acoustic stimulus; and extracting, from the response signal, one or more features for use in a biometric process, wherein the first function is a function other than to induce the response signal for use in the biometric process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Ivan Harvey, John Paul Lesso
  • Patent number: 11528561
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bone conduction speaker and its compound vibration device. The compound vibration device comprises a vibration conductive plate and a vibration board, the vibration conductive plate is set to be the first torus, where at least two first rods inside it converge to its center; the vibration board is set as the second torus, where at least two second rods inside it converge to its center. The vibration conductive plate is fixed with the vibration board; the first torus is fixed on a magnetic system, and the second torus comprises a fixed voice coil, which is driven by the magnetic system. The bone conduction speaker in the present invention and its compound vibration device adopt the fixed vibration conductive plate and vibration board, making the technique simpler with a lower cost; because the two adjustable parts in the compound vibration device can adjust both low frequency and high frequency area, the frequency response obtained is flatter and the sound is broader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xin Qi, Fengyun Liao, Jinbo Zheng, Qian Chen, Hao Chen
  • Patent number: 11528562
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a bone conduction speaker and its compound vibration device. The compound vibration device comprises a vibration conductive plate and a vibration board, the vibration conductive plate is set to be the first torus, where at least two first rods inside it converge to its center; the vibration board is set as the second torus, where at least two second rods inside it converge to its center. The vibration conductive plate is fixed with the vibration board; the first torus is fixed on a magnetic system, and the second torus comprises a fixed voice coil, which is driven by the magnetic system. The bone conduction speaker in the present disclosure and its compound vibration device adopt the fixed vibration conductive plate and vibration board, making the technique simpler with a lower cost; because the two adjustable parts in the compound vibration device can adjust both low frequency and high frequency area, the frequency response obtained is flatter and the sound is broader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xin Qi, Fengyun Liao, Jinbo Zheng, Qian Chen, Hao Chen, Lei Zhang, Junjiang Fu, Bingyan Yan
  • Patent number: 11523208
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an ear tip. The ear tip includes a main body, a first conductive element at least partially embedded in the main body, a second conductive element at least partially embedded in the main body and spaced apart from the first conductive element. The main body includes a central portion having a top and a tail portion extending from the top of the central portion. The first conductive element is proximal to the top of the central portion and the second conductive element is distal from the top of the central portion. A wearable device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Ming-Tau Huang, Yu-Jung Chang
  • Patent number: 11523217
    Abstract: An audio system for a seat headrest includes N speaker(s), each configured to be integrated into a seat headrest, N being an integer greater than or equal to 1, and an audio processing device including an electronic transmission channel connected to the speaker(s) and configured to transmit at least one audio stream via the speaker(s). The audio system comprises P microphone(s), each configured to be integrated into the headrest, P being an integer greater than or equal to 1. The audio processing device further includes an electronic receiving channel connected to the microphone(s) and configured to receive at least one sound signal via the P microphone(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Faurecia Clarion Electronics Europe
    Inventors: Nicolas Lopez Zuleta, Mounira Rigaud-Maazaoui, Jérôme Noirot, Xenofon Doukopoulos, Gaël Laqueille, Jérémie Leclere
  • Patent number: 11516598
    Abstract: A hearing device configured to be worn at an ear of a user may include a sensor unit configured to provide sensor data, the sensor unit comprising a biometric sensor configured to provide biometric data included in the sensor data; and a processor configured to determine a physiological parameter from the sensor data, the physiological parameter indicative of a physiological property of the user. The processor is configured to determine whether the physiological parameter fulfills a condition, and provide, depending on whether the physiological parameter fulfills the condition, output data based on the sensor data, the output data including at least part of the biometric data and/or information derived from at least part of the biometric data different from the physiological parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Hans-Ueli Roeck, Anne Thielen
  • Patent number: 11509217
    Abstract: An electrical device includes an integrated circuit having device circuitry and a boost converter coupled to the device circuitry. The boost converter includes a digital integrator circuit having: a first comparator; a second comparator; a counter configured to count up, count down, and pause based on a first output signal provided by the first comparator and based on a second output signal provided by the second comparator; and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) configured to provide a feedback adjustment signal for the boost converter based on a count value provided by the counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Anandha Ruban Tiruchengode Tirumurugga Bupathi, Anand Kannan, Dileep Kumar Ramesh Bhat
  • Patent number: 11501748
    Abstract: A first cancellation signal output from a first speaker cancels noise at a first cancellation point, which is a typical position of the right ear of a user, together with a second cancellation signal output from a second speaker. In addition, the second cancellation signal output from the second speaker cancels noise at a second cancellation point, which is a typical position of the left ear of the user, together with the first cancellation signal output from the first speaker. The first speaker and the second speaker are arranged side by side on a second line segment, which passes through the midpoint of a first line segment connecting the first cancellation point and the second cancellation point to each other and is perpendicular to the first line segment, and a range where the relationship between noise and the first cancellation signal and the second cancellation signal is the same as that at the cancellation point is extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Ryosuke Tachi
  • Patent number: 11471712
    Abstract: A system for a bone conduction communication system that includes at least one bone conduction element that is stabilized against a wearer's head when in use. In one embodiment, the bone conduction communication system includes a bone conduction device including at least one bone conduction element and a wearable device, the bone conduction device being coupled to the wearable device, the wearable device stabilizing the at least one bone conduction element in a plurality of axes of support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Scott Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Darin Kyle Thompson, Eric James Bassani
  • Patent number: 11477584
    Abstract: Hearing system, accessory device, agent and method for situated design of a hearing algorithm of a hearing device is disclosed, the method comprising initializing a model comprising a parameterized objective function; providing one or more operating parameters indicative of the hearing algorithm to the hearing device; obtaining operating data comprising corresponding input data and output data of the hearing device; obtaining evaluation data indicative of user evaluation of the output data; determining one or more updated operating parameters based on the model, the operating data and the evaluation data; and providing the updated operating parameters to the hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Aalbert De Vries, Joris Kraak, Andrew Dittberner