Patents Examined by Paul W. Huber
  • Patent number: 11917359
    Abstract: A feeder/interconnection/return (FIR) Cable Loop System vastly improves the distribution, equalization, efficiency and power delivery of high performance multiple speaker systems, without the complexities and inherent inefficiencies of existing systems. This is achieved by a feeder cable which connects from an amplifier to the first speaker, while interconnecting cables connect all the speakers to each other. A return cable connects the last speaker back to the amplifier. This results in balanced power, significant improvement in frequency response, and dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: COASTAL SOURCE, LLC
    Inventors: Franco L D'Ascanio, Sean P Snowden, Harold M. Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 11917363
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a microphone module structure for an artificial intelligence smart device. According to the present invention, internally/externally generated noises, vibrations, impacts, or sounds output from a speaker are prevented from being transmitted to a microphone, whereby the voice recognition rate of an AI speaker, an AI soundbar, or various voice recognition devices can be significantly improved, and thus various smart devices can be effectively controlled via voice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Inventor: Yon Mook Park
  • Patent number: 11907424
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a haptic motor driving method including: analyzing a received audio signal; extracting a corresponding haptic event signal when a result of the analysis is equal to or larger than a specific threshold value; generating a haptic signal corresponding to the extracted haptic event signal; and multiplexing pre-stored haptic data and the generated haptic signal by considering whether a first user input signal is received, and outputting a driving signal driving a haptic motor, and basically, a haptic signal is generated from an audio sound, but a system is configured in the form of responding to an input of a user, thereby providing a more realistic haptic result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: DONG WOON ANATECH CO., LTD
    Inventors: Jeonghoon Lee, Inwoo Han, Dongpil Ju
  • Patent number: 11908487
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus according an embodiment includes an acquisition unit and an application unit. The acquisition unit acquires M detection signals output from M detector devices having N-fold symmetry (M is an integer equal to or greater than 2, and N is an integer equal to or greater than 2). Each of the M detector devices detects original signals generated from K signal sources (K is an integer equal to or greater than 2) having the N-fold symmetry. The application unit applies a trained neural network to M input vectors corresponding to the M detection signals and outputs K output vectors. The same parameter is set to, of multiple weights included in a weight matrix of the trained neural network, weights that are commutative based on the N-fold symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takehiko Kagoshima, Daichi Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 11900909
    Abstract: A system and method for quieting unwanted sound. As a non-limiting example, various aspects of this disclosure provide a system and method, for example implemented in a premises-based or home audio system, for quieting unwanted sound at a particular location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SOUND UNITED, LLC.
    Inventors: Bradley M. Starobin, Matthew Lyons, Stuart W. Lumsden, Michael DiTullo
  • Patent number: 11895481
    Abstract: A sound control apparatus includes: a display panel that is supported by a base provided in a vehicle in a manner in which an angle of the display panel relative to the base is variable; an angle detector configured to detect the angle; and a controller configured to change sound setting in a cabin of the vehicle in accordance with the angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Nobuaki Kajimoto, Shizuka Ishigaki
  • Patent number: 11895478
    Abstract: A sound capture device is disclosed, including plural microphone capsules, distributed over portion P of sphere S circumscribed between two or three planes perpendicular to each other, the three planes intersecting at a point corresponding to the center of the sphere S, and the two planes intersecting at a straight line passing through the center of the sphere S, and the sphere portion P being such that P=n S/8, with n=1,2; and a processing unit connected to the capsules to receive the signals captured by the capsules. The processing unit is arranged to matrix the signals in an ambisonic representation which retains only the ambisonic components associated with spherical harmonics that are symmetrical in relation to at least two of the aforementioned planes, and process a matrix thus obtained to identify a sound source surrounding the sphere portion and interpret a sound signal from the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Inventors: Pierre Lecomte, Rozenn Nicol, Laurent Simon, Manuel Melon, Katell Peron, Cyril Plapous, Kais Hassan
  • Patent number: 11895472
    Abstract: Various implementations include audio systems and methods for mixed rendering to enhance audio output. Certain implementations include an audio system having: at least one far-field speaker configured to output a first portion of an audio signal; and a pair of non-occluding near-field speakers configured to output a second portion of the audio signal in synchrony with the output of the first portion of the audio signal, where the first portion of the audio signal is distinct from the second portion of the audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: James Walter Tracey, Guy Anthony Torio, Eric John Freeman, Nathan Blagrove, Santiago Carvajal
  • Patent number: 11889281
    Abstract: A method for managing a plurality of multimedia communication links in a point-to-multipoint Bluetooth network established between a source device and a plurality of sink devices, the method comprising: determining a new set of values of the configuration parameters upon: —receiving a request for adding a new sink device to the plurality of sink devices of the point-to-multipoint Bluetooth network, or —receiving a request for changing a value of a configuration parameter related to a sink device of the plurality of sink devices, or —determining an updated value of the maximum bandwidth usage parameter, wherein the new set of values is determined to allocate data rates between the plurality of multimedia communication links without exceeding the value of the maximum bandwidth usage parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Julien Goupy, Thomas Girardier, Nicolas Guezellot Prudhomme
  • Patent number: 11882418
    Abstract: Embodiments of an audio distribution module and system provide a compact and rugged audio switching device including a radio control unit in communication with an operator control panel. In various embodiments, an audio switching fabric is included with audio relays for directing the transmission and receipt of audio content between a headset in communication with the operator control panel and one or more radios in communication with the radio control unit, facilitating transmission and receipt of audio communications between the radio(s) and the headset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: MA Federal, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Kasson, Mathew Denault
  • Patent number: 11870475
    Abstract: Examples described herein relate to management of concurrent audio streams from different sources. Portable playback devices, such as wearable wireless headphones and earbuds, as well as portable battery-powered speakers, may include multiple network interfaces for connection to different types of networks, such as an 802.11-compatible network interface for connection to wireless local area networks (e.g., Wi-Fi® networks) and an 802.15-compatible network interface for connection to a mobile device via a personal area network (Bluetooth®). Via such connections, the playback devices may receive two or more concurrent streams. By managing these streams according to playback policies, the portable playback devices may play the user's intended audio without necessarily requiring user input to explicitly select among the concurrent streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Jodi Vautrin, Matt Pandina, Elizabeth Dolman, Ken Hu, Jason Yore, Matthew Moore, Ted Lin, Richard Bannon, Chris Babroski, Robert Bermani
  • Patent number: 11863955
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of digital content, and more particularly to an improved system and methods for producing, mixing, and recording content. In particular, the system may include a plurality of input channels to which one or more audio sources may be linked via a user interface. Each audio source may be assigned to a physical fader or a virtual fader for adjusting a level of an audio signal received from the audio source. Advantageously, the system may connect via a wired and/or wireless connection with a number of audio devices and may further facilitate assigning each audio source to an input channel such that content creators, such as podcasters, are able to produce, mix, and record audio contents more efficiently and effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Freedman Electronics Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Pieter Schillebeeckx, Jason Flamos
  • Patent number: 11856354
    Abstract: Disclosed is a wireless earbud, which includes: a charging port configured to be connected to an earbud charging voltage and receive/send a communication signal; a communication switching circuit including a first input/output terminal connected to the charging port and a second input/output terminal, the communication switching circuit is configured to switch to an off state when the charging port is connected to the earbud charging voltage, and switch to an on state when the charging port is connected to the communication signal; a communication on-off circuit connected to the second input/output terminal of the communication switching circuit; and an earbud control circuit configured to perform box entry detection on the wireless earbud and generate a corresponding detection signal to control the communication switching circuit to turn on/off an electrical connection between the earbud control circuit and the communication on-off circuit according to the detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventors: Zhenwu Liu, Chongguang Dai, Junjie Ni
  • Patent number: 11838711
    Abstract: A Bluetooth earphone includes an earbud portion and an earphone handle portion. A receiver module is disposed in the earbud portion. The earphone handle portion includes a connecting section connected to the earbud portion, and a top section and a bottom section located on both sides of the connecting section, a battery is disposed in the bottom section of the earphone handle portion. The Bluetooth earphone includes an antenna and a flexible circuit board. The antenna extends from the connecting section of the earphone handle portion to the top section of the earphone handle portion. The flexible circuit board includes a feeding part and a first extension part connected to the feeding part. The feeding part is located in the connecting section of the earphone handle portion, and is coupled to the antenna. The first extension part extends to the earbud portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chungwen Yang, Zhaocai Zeng, Hanyang Wang, Haowen Xu, Lin Lu, Huiliang Xu
  • Patent number: 11818539
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system, comprising a first circuit board comprising a control circuitry configured to control a beamforming array of microphones, and multiple second circuit boards attached to the first circuit board, each one of the multiple second circuit boards mounting a microphone of the array of microphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Viktor Dobos, Zoltan Giang-Son Kleinheincz, Florian Czinege
  • Patent number: 11816392
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein extending an audio track by joining similar portions. Audio features (e.g., spectral features, modulation features) may be extracted from the audio track. The audio track may be segmented, e.g., based on the audio features, and each segment may be slid through the audio track using a timestep. In each timestep, the sliding segment may be compared to the underlying portion of the audio track and a similarity score (e.g., a cross-correlation) may be generated. A self-similarity matrix may be generated based on the comparisons involving all the segments. The self-similarity matrix may be analyzed for peak values and segments corresponding to the peak values may be joined to extend the audio track. The embodiments may be applied to any kind of audio including music, ambient noise, speech, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: BrainFM, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin JP Woods
  • Patent number: 11810543
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for audio signal processing selection are provided. In the method, multiple audio signal processing operations are performed on a synthesized audio signal to generate multiple processed audio signals, the audio signal processing operations are evaluated according to the comparison results between the processed audio signals and the primary signal, and the audio signal processing operation corresponding to a designated application and the designated audio output mode is selected according to the evaluation result of the audio signal processing operations. The synthesized audio signal is generated by adding a secondary signal into a primary signal. The signal processing is related to remove the secondary signal from the synthesized audio signal. Those processed audio signals are used by the designated application at the designated audio output mode. The comparison result is related to signal similarity. The evaluation result is related to the highest signal similarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventors: Po-Jen Tu, Jia-Ren Chang, Kai-Meng Tzeng, Ming-Chun Fang
  • Patent number: 11811463
    Abstract: An example process includes receiving a voltage input and a current input associated with one or more audio signals, bandpass filtering the voltage input and the current input, determining a root means square of the bandpass filtered portion, dividing the determined root means square of the voltage by the root means square of the current to identify an impedance value, and determining whether a fault has occurred based on the impedance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Biamp Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Jacob Peter Campbell, Aaron Faulstich
  • Patent number: 11799435
    Abstract: An audio processing device includes a signal processing circuit, a power switch circuit, a power amplifier and a detection circuit. The signal processing circuit is configured to process an audio input to generate an audio signal. The power switch circuit is configured to generate an operating voltage. The power amplifier is coupled with the signal processing circuit and the power switch circuit, and configured to drive a load circuit by the operating voltage according to the audio signal. The detection circuit is coupled with the signal processing circuit and the power switch circuit, configured to obtain a volume value from the audio signal and compare the volume value with a first volume threshold to generate a comparison result, and configured to control, according to the comparison result, the power switch circuit to set the operating voltage to have a corresponding one of multiple voltage levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Chun Hao Lai, Tsung-Peng Chuang
  • Patent number: 11800286
    Abstract: Modular equipment includes a main module that has a main speaker, main communication components arranged to implement at least one wireless communication, power supply components arranged to acquire main power supply from the mains, main assembly means arranged to assemble the main module with one or more additional modules, a processor component arranged to detect if the main module is assembled with a first additional module comprising one or more microphones and, if this is the case, to activate at least one additional function implemented by the equipment and using the microphone(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SAGEMCOM BROADBAND SAS
    Inventor: Gabriel Bouvigne