Patents Examined by Regina N. Holder
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Patent number: 11373668Abstract: An audio enhancement method includes receiving a first plurality of input signals representative of audio captured using an array of two or more sensors, the first plurality of input signals characterized by a first signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), with the audio being the signal-of-interest. The method also includes receiving a second input signal representative of the audio, the second input signal characterized by a second SNR. The second SNR is higher than the first SNR. The method further includes combining the first plurality of input signals and the second input signal to generate one or more driver signals, and driving one or more acoustic transducers using the one or more driver signals to generate an acoustic signal representative of the audio. The driver signals include spatial information derived from the first plurality of input signals, and are characterized by a third SNR that is higher than the first SNR.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2020Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Bose CorporationInventors: Carl Jensen, Andrew Todd Sabin, Andrew Jackson Stockton X, Daniel Ross Tengelsen, Marko Stamenovic, Wade P. Torres
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Patent number: 11350232Abstract: A system for determining a room impulse response of an environment is disclosed. The system includes one or more microphones configured to detect acoustic energy in an area, an input/output interface configured to connect to a network, and one or more processors coupled to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The system is configured to identify a sound detected by the one or more microphones, retrieve a copy of the sound via the network, and determine a room impulse response of the area based on the sound and the copy of the sound.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2020Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Philip Robinson, Paul Thomas Calamia
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Patent number: 11297427Abstract: A processing device according to an embodiment includes a sound pickup signal acquisition unit that acquires sound pickup signals picked up by left and right microphones through a monophonic input terminal, a switch unit that switches a connection state so that a first sound pickup signal picked up only by the left microphone and a second sound pickup signal picked up only by the right microphone are input, an interaural distance acquisition unit that acquires an interaural distance of the listener, a front time difference acquisition unit that acquires a front time difference, an incident time difference calculation unit that calculates an incident time difference based on an angle ?, the front time difference, and the interaural distance, and a transfer characteristics generation unit that calculates transfer characteristics by applying a delay corresponding to the incident time difference to the first and second sound pickup signals.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2020Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: JVCKENWOOD CORPORATIONInventors: Yumi Fujii, Hisako Murata, Masaya Konishi, Takahiro Gejo, Kuniaki Takachi
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Patent number: 11252495Abstract: A headphone may employ an ear pad mounted to a housing. Affixing a soft sticky or tacky non-adhesive polymer base to the underside of a headphone ear pad allows easy attachment of ear pads to a headphone with the ability to frequently and non-destructively swap pads, without the weight, bulk and fragility of other pad attachment mechanisms.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: Dan Clark Audio, Inc.Inventors: Daniel William Clark, Robert Jason Egger
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Patent number: 11240595Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining a first aperture and at least partially defining an internal volume. An air permeable component can be disposed at the first aperture and the device can include a support component defining a second aperture within the first aperture and engaging the air permeable component. The support component can include a sidewall disposed in the first aperture and defining at least one notch.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2020Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jaden A. Barney, Benjamin M. Russo, Brandon R. Collins-Smoot, Douglas G. Fournier, Hongsheng Lin, Jared P. Ostdiek, Jason B. Neevel, Joseph F. Maldonado, Justin D. Crosby, Michael A. Fisher, Per K. Larsson, Teemu P. Sipila, Ville R. Riikonen, Hengxin Ni, Tiffany Hu
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Patent number: 11223898Abstract: An audio system includes a variable voltage power supply and at least one remotely positioned speaker assembly. The speaker assembly includes a driver (e.g., a tweeter) and a switching amplifier. Moving the switching amplifier to a remote position within the speaker assembly provides numerous design advantages and allows for utilization of a smaller power supply. In addition, the audio system is configured to detect a type of the at least one speaker and to adjust an output voltage of the variable voltage power supply accordingly. This allows for reconfiguration and/or expansion of original systems. A related method of detecting a type of speaker electrically connected to an audio source is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2019Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: RADIO SOUND, INC.Inventors: Wayne Zinner, Ernest Theodore Sims, III, Matthew Kane Gant
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Patent number: 11218800Abstract: In an example, the present invention provides an UWB and FMCW sensor apparatus, with an audio module and inertial motion module. The apparatus has at least three transceiver modules. Each of the transceiver modules has an antenna array to be configured to sense a back scatter of electromagnetic energy from spatial location of a zero degree location in relation to a mid point of the device through a 360 degrees range where each antenna array is configured to sense a 120 degree range. In an example, each of the antenna array has a support member, a plurality of receiving antenna, a receiver integrated circuit coupled to the receiving antenna and configured to receive an incoming rf signal and covert the incoming rf signal into a base band signal, and a plurality of transmitting antenna.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2020Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: Koko Home, Inc.Inventors: Bradley Michael Eckert, Luca Rigazio, Neal Khosla, Kiran R. Joshi, Lenin Patra
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Patent number: 11212608Abstract: A microphone array (3) having microphones (2) observing sound and a noise elimination processing unit (5) obtaining a sound of interest by eliminating noise from the observed sound signal are provided. The two microphones (2) which are adjacent to each other from among the plurality of microphones (2) have a positional relationship in such a manner that, in a plane (12) including the two microphones (2), a sound-of-interest source (A) generating a sound of interest, and a noise source (B) generating noise, the perpendicular bisector (13) of a first line segment (10) connecting the two microphones (2) coincides with the bisector of the angle ? between a second line segment (14) connecting the sound-of-interest source (A) and the midpoint (11) of the first line segment (10) and a third line segment (15) connecting the noise source (B) and the midpoint (11) of the first line segment (10).Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2017Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventor: Nobuaki Tanaka
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Patent number: 11212613Abstract: The signal processing device is a signal processing device that collects a target sound output from an object to be a sound source, and includes a communication circuit that inputs image data produced by a camera and an acoustic signal output from a microphone array, and a control circuit that controls a sound collection direction of the acoustic signal in at least any one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction relative to the microphone array based on at least any one of the image data and the acoustic signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2020Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Hikaru Usami, Yoshifumi Hirose, Yusuke Adachi
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Patent number: 11206476Abstract: A device is discussed, such as the hearing assistance device itself and/or an electrical charger cooperating with the hearing assistance device. The device can have one or more accelerometers and a power control module to receive input data indicating a change in acceleration of the device over time from the one or more accelerometers in order to make a determination to autonomously change a power mode for the hearing assistance device based on at least whether the power control module senses movement of the hearing assistance device as indicated by the accelerometers.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2020Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: Eargo, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Sarjeant Aase, Hardik Ruparel, Beau Polinske, Gints Valdis Klimanis
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Patent number: 11197085Abstract: An audio earphone device may include an earpiece configured to playback audio, an earhook attached to the earpiece, and an eartip removably attached to the earpiece. The earpiece may be configured to deliver audio to the ear with the removably attached eartip removed. The earhook may be configured to be placed around an ear to position an opening for a speaker of the earpiece over the cavum concha of the ear. The eartip may be configured to sit in the cavum concha of the ear and channel audio from the opening of the earpiece to the ear canal of the ear. The eartip may be removably attached to only a side of the earpiece that is configured to be proximate to the ear.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Kin Hee Woo, Lee Sun Ooi
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Patent number: 11190871Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer-readable media focusing sound signals from plural microphones in a 3D space, to determine audio signal processing profiles to optimize sound source(s) in the space. At least one processor determines plural virtual microphone bubbles in the space, and defines one or more bubble object profiles which comprise(s) specific attributes and functions of audio processing functions for each bubble, each bubble object profile including: (a) an individual bubble object profile when the bubble has been configured for an individual bubble; (b) a region object profile when the bubble has been configured for a region of one or more bubbles; and (c) a group object profile when the bubble has been configured for a group having one or more bubbles. The audio signal processing functions are used for the at least one bubble, for any combination of (a), (b), and (c).Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2020Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Inventors: Erica Patricia Yorga, Richard Dale Ferguson, Kael Blais, Mahdi Javer, Nicholas Norrie
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Patent number: 11172290Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program, the method comprising: obtaining a first audio signal emitted by an audio source, wherein the first audio signal is captured by a first microphone located at a first position; obtaining at least one second audio signal emitted by the same audio source, wherein the at least one second audio signal is captured by one or more second microphones located at one or more second positions which are different to the first position; determining if one or more of the second audio signals were obtained within a threshold time; and if one or more second audio signals were obtained within the threshold time causing the one or more second audio signals that were obtained within the threshold time to be processed for rendering spatial audio to a user; and if one or more second audio signals were not obtained within the threshold time causing, at least part of, the one or more second audio signals that were not obtained within the threshold time to be discarded.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2018Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OYInventors: Sujeet Shyamsundar Mate, Lasse Laaksonen
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Patent number: 11159902Abstract: A system and method for providing user location-based multi-zone media. As a non-limiting example, various aspects of this disclosure provide a system and method that flexibly presents media content (e.g., audio content) to a user as the user moves throughout a premises. As a non-limiting example, various aspects of this disclosure provide a system and method that flexibly presents media content (e.g., audio content) to a user as the user moves throughout a premises.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2020Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Sound United, LLC.Inventors: Bradley M. Starobin, Matthew Lyons, Stuart W. Lumsden, Michael DiTullo, Paul O'Connor
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Patent number: 11146900Abstract: Techniques, methods, systems, and other mechanisms for measuring the excursion of a speaker while being actively driven. Measuring excursion can involve attaching a flexible printed coil (FPC), including a sense coil, to the speaker, and monitoring an induced current as produced though the sense coil, and further detecting that violation of an excursion limit for the speaker may likely occur.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2018Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Michael Asfaw, Chad Georges Seguin, David C. Breece, III, Leonardo Kusumo
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Patent number: 11140476Abstract: In an example, a circuit includes: an AC piezoelectric audio transducer configured to receive an audio output signal of a source; a step-up transformer having a primary winding to receive the audio output signal of the source; a bridge rectifier having an input connected to a secondary winding of the step-up transformer; and a DC piezoelectric audio transducer connected to an output of the bridge rectifier. The AC piezoelectric audio transducer, the step-up transformer, the bridge rectifier, and the DC piezoelectric audio transducer are configured to produce an audible alarm signal based on the audio output signal of the source without powered amplification, which includes an audible sound from the AC piezoelectric audio transducer and another audible sound from the DC piezoelectric audio transducer.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2021Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Homeland SecurityInventors: Norman Chiu, Paul Goldhagen
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Patent number: 11134332Abstract: An ear tip for a hearing device includes a body member having a receiver retention portion that is communicably coupled to a sound port. The receiver retention portion is configured to receive and capture a receiver such as a balanced armature receiver. An electrical interface of the receiver is accessible via an opening in the receiver retention portion. The ear tip also includes an ear interface portion that is disposed at least partially about the body member. The ear interface portion is configured to be disposed in a user's ear canal. The ear interface portion and the body member are integrally formed as a unitary member.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2019Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLCInventor: Matthew Manley
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Patent number: 11128975Abstract: An acoustic system includes an audio output device configured to output a sound to a listener being still at least for a predetermined period of time, and an acoustic control device configured to perform signal processing for localizing, at a specific part of the listener, the sound that is output through the audio output device, wherein the audio output device is installed above the specific part of the listener.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2020Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: SOCIONEXT INC.Inventors: Katsumi Kobayashi, Kazutaka Abe, Yoshitaka Mizuno
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Patent number: 11128974Abstract: An electronic device and an audio system comprising the electronic device are disclosed. The electronic device comprises: a microphone; a communicator performing communication with an external electronic device, and a processor configured to, based on receiving, via the microphone, an audio signal generated in a surroundings of the microphone and an audio signal of an inaudible frequency band which the external electronic device outputs through a speaker connected to the external electronic device, remove audio signals of remaining frequency bands except for the inaudible frequency band from the received audio signals and control the communicator to transmit an audio signal of the inaudible frequency band to the external electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2018Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Jong-jin Park, Won-jae Lee
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Patent number: 11122360Abstract: The problem of contaminants entering a microphone assembly through a pressure equalization aperture is mitigated by moving the pressure equalization aperture from a location near the acoustic port to a location on the cover of the microphone assembly. This is achieved by fabricating an aperture reduction structure using a separate dedicated die, with an aperture of diameter ˜25 microns or less disposed on the aperture reduction structure, and then coupling the aperture reduction structure to the cover of the microphone. The relatively smaller aperture on the cover after the coupling of the aperture reduction structure is used for pressure equalization of the back volume of the microphone with a pressure outside of the microphone assembly.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2020Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLCInventors: Michael Pedersen, Peter V. Loeppert