Abstract: The present technology relates to a headphone and a reproduction control method that enable external sound to be caught more easily and promptly, and a program. The headphone includes: a sound collecting unit configured to collect outer sound; a detection unit configured to detect a specific motion to a sensor unit for capture of the outer sound; and a reproduction control unit configured to cause, in a case where the specific motion is detected, the outer sound collected by the sound collecting unit to be reproduced and volume of audio under reproduction to be reduced or the reproduction of the audio to stop. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a headphone.
Abstract: An integrated circuit, a circuit assembly and a method for operation the integrated circuit are disclosed. In embodiments the integrated circuit includes at least one supply voltage terminal configured to receive a supply voltage for operation the integrated circuit, at least one input terminal configured to receive an analog input signal corresponding to an audio signal, at least one output terminal configured to provide an analog output signal and a signal strength detector configured to detect a signal strength of the analog input signal provided at the at least one input terminal, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to amplify an audio signal based on the detected signal strength and to output a corresponding amplified signal at the at least one output terminal, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a signaling circuit configured to indicate an amplification setting of the integrated circuit at the at least one supply voltage terminal.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 7, 2015
Date of Patent:
March 3, 2020
Assignee:
TDK CORPORATION
Inventors:
Pirmin Hermann Otto Rombach, Gino Rocca, Anton Leidl, Armin Schober
Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for acoustic speech localization, comprising receiving, via a plurality of microphones, a plurality of audio signals. Modulation properties of the plurality of audio signals may be analyzed. Speech sounds may be localized from the plurality of audio signals based upon, at least in part, the modulation properties of the plurality of audio signals.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 22, 2018
Date of Patent:
March 3, 2020
Assignee:
Nuance Communications, Inc.
Inventors:
Sam Karimian-Azari, Dushyant Sharma, Amr Nour-Eldin, Patrick A. Naylor
Abstract: The disclosure presents a method and a hearing device comprising a first portion adapted for being arranged behind an ear of a user for providing a signal, an output transducer for converting the signal to an acoustic output, a coupling element coupled to the first portion, and wherein the coupling element is adapted for transmitting at least the signal or the acoustic output.
Abstract: Directional sound location is used to determine security events of a security system. A sound sensor reports a vector direction to a sound source of an acoustic signal. If the vector direction is historically observed at similar times, then perhaps the sound source is not considered a security event. However, if the vector direction is unknown or unfamiliar, the security system may infer the security event and notify emergency services.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 31, 2019
Date of Patent:
March 3, 2020
Assignees:
AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P., AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
Inventors:
James H. Pratt, Steven Belz, Michael Lattanzi, Constance Missimer
Abstract: A speaker apparatus is provided in order to both receive and dissipate heat and to provide acoustic absorption for sound waves propagating through a speaker cavity. The speaker apparatus includes a speaker and a speaker cavity configured to receive sound waves emitted by the speaker for propagation through the speaker cavity. The speaker apparatus also includes a heat dissipation structure disposed at least partially within the speaker cavity. The heat dissipation structure includes a heat pipe or a heat sink configured to receive heat from a component that generates heat. The heat dissipation structure is configured to provide acoustic absorption for the sound waves propagating through the speaker cavity.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 13, 2018
Date of Patent:
February 25, 2020
Assignee:
Nokia Technologies Oy
Inventors:
Ian Davis, Rudi O'Reilly Meehan, Akshat Agarwal
Abstract: The apparatus and methods of the present invention provide improved accuracy of response for a tactile transducer included in a body-mounted device such as a headphone, VR/AR headset or similar device. Accuracy is increased through the application of digital signal processing, such as with Infinite Impulse Response filters or Finite Impulse Response filters.
Abstract: The amount of far-field noise transmitted by a primary communication device in an open-plan office environment is reduced by defining an acoustic perimeter of reference microphones around the primary device. Reference microphones generate a reference audio input including far-field noise in the proximity of the primary device. The primary device generates a main audio input including the voice of the primary speaker as well as background noise. Reference audio input is compared to main audio input to identify the background noise portion of the main audio signal. A noise reduction algorithm suppresses the identified background noise in the main audio signal. The one or more reference microphones defining the acoustic perimeter may be included in separate microphone devices placed in proximity to the main desktop phone, microphones within other nearby desktop telephone devices, or a combination of both types of devices.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 5, 2019
Date of Patent:
February 18, 2020
Assignee:
Polycom, Inc.
Inventors:
Kwan K. Truong, Peter L. Chu, Steven L. Potts, Eric Elias
Abstract: The disclosure presents a method and a hearing device comprising a first portion adapted for being arranged behind an ear of a user for providing a signal, an output transducer for converting the signal to an acoustic output, a coupling element coupled to the first portion, and wherein the coupling element is adapted for transmitting at least the signal or the acoustic output.
Abstract: A method for re-forming a complete ring network of a plurality of Bluetooth® speakers, after a speaker has left an original ring of speakers, the method including detecting that the speaker has left the ring, and reestablishing the ring without the departed speaker. The detection may include a timeout detection if the speaker left without notice, or include receiving notice that the speaker intends to leave.
Abstract: Disclosed is a sound event detecting method including receiving an audio signal, transforming the audio signal into a two-dimensional (2D) signal, extracting a feature map by training a convolutional neural network (CNN) using the 2D signal, pooling the feature map based on a frequency, and determining whether a sound event occurs with respect to each of at least one time interval based on a result of the pooling.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 20, 2018
Date of Patent:
January 21, 2020
Assignee:
Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
Abstract: An audio system comprising a plurality of speaker devices allows seamless transitioning of playing audio between speakers in different locations. A mobile device may be used to determine a location for which the associated speakers should be used for playback. The speaker devices at the different locations may be synchronized to a common clock in order to allow the audio playback to be transitioned seamlessly from one location to another.
Abstract: A vehicular sound processing system includes a plurality of interior microphones that detect interior sound emanating from within the interior cabin of the vehicle, and a plurality of exterior microphones that detect exterior sound emanating from exterior the vehicle. The interior microphones also detect exterior sound. A sound processor processes exterior microphone signals to determine exterior sound detected by the exterior microphones. The sound processor processes interior microphone signals to distinguish voices of occupants present within the interior cabin from non-vocal sound emanating from within the interior cabin and from exterior sound emanating from exterior the vehicle. The sound processor processes the exterior microphone signals to determine a sound of interest emanating from exterior of the vehicle. Responsive to determination of the sound of interest, the sound of interest is played by loudspeakers so that a driver of the vehicle can hear the sound of interest.
Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a processor that performs a separate process to separate a content signal into a primary component which is an objective sound and a secondary component which is other than the objective sound, a speaker that outputs the primary component, and a transmitter that transmits the secondary component to another apparatus.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 8, 2019
Date of Patent:
January 14, 2020
Assignee:
Yamaha Corporation
Inventors:
Kohei Sekiguchi, Yuta Yuyama, Kunihiro Kumagai
Abstract: An embodiment provides a method, including: detecting, at a device, a primary speaker is providing audio input; detecting, at the device, a voice data link providing audio of the primary speaker to another speaker is muted; and providing a notification to the primary speaker that the voice data link is muted. Other aspects are described and claimed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 13, 2014
Date of Patent:
January 7, 2020
Assignee:
Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
Inventors:
Russell Speight VanBlon, Arnold S. Weksler, John Carl Mese, Nathan J. Peterson
Abstract: Personal audio systems and methods are disclosed. A personal audio system includes a voice activity detector to determine whether or not an ambient audio stream contains voice activity, a pitch estimator to determine a frequency of a fundamental component of an annoyance noise contained in the ambient audio stream, and a filter bank to attenuate the fundamental component and at least one harmonic component of the annoyance noise to generate a personal audio stream. The filter bank implements a first filter function when the ambient audio stream does not contain voice activity, or a second filter function when the ambient audio stream contains voice activity.
Abstract: A vehicle sound system and method of generating sound having a plurality of frequency responses are provided. The vehicle sound system includes selecting each of a plurality of acoustic panel assemblies based on a frequency range of sound pressure vibrations the acoustic panel assembly is capable of generating, and positioning the plurality of acoustic panel assemblies within a vehicle at a respective locations within the vehicle based on the frequency range of sound pressure vibrations the acoustic panel assembly is capable of generating.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 14, 2018
Date of Patent:
January 7, 2020
Assignee:
Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Inventors:
Edgar Arturo Escobar, Christopher L. Steinmeyer, David T. Christian, Jr.
Abstract: A method provides binaural sound to a person through electronic earphones. The binaural sound localizes to a sound localization point (SLP) in empty space that is away from but proximate to the person. When an event occurs, the binaural sound switches or changes to stereo sound, to mono sound, or to altered binaural sound.
Abstract: This disclosure describes a portable electronic device that includes a device housing having a device housing component defining an opening. In some embodiments, the opening can be an acoustic opening configured to accommodate the passage of audio waves into and/or out of the device housing. The portable electronic device also includes an input control disposed within the device housing; and an electrical component disposed in a first position between the input control and the opening defined by the device housing component. At least a portion of the electrical component is configured to shift from the first position to a second position in which the input control is actuated by the electrical component.
Abstract: A method provides binaural sound to a person through electronic earphones. The binaural sound localizes to a sound localization point (SLP) in empty space that is away from but proximate to the person. When an event occurs, the binaural sound switches or changes to stereo sound, to mono sound, or to altered binaural sound.