Patents Examined by Sabrina Diaz
  • Patent number: 10341771
    Abstract: Disclosed are a main speaker, sub speaker and system including the same. The present invention includes a main speaker configured to receive a first audio signal from a first source device and output the received first audio signal and at least one sub speaker configured communicate with the main speaker by wire or wireless. Particularly, if the communication with the main speaker is connected, the sub speaker outputs the first audio signal. If the sub speaker is separated from the main speaker, the sub speaker outputs the second audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Youngjoon Park
  • Patent number: 10341752
    Abstract: A removable cartridge for a portable communication device. The removable cartridge includes frame having a first surface, and an opposite second surface. The second surface is non-planar and is shaped to conform to a shape of a speaker cone in the portable communications device. The removable cartridge also includes a membrane coupled to the first surface of the frame. A portion of the membrane is suspended over an open gap defined by the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS
    Inventors: Andrew P. Miehl, Deborah A. Gruenhagen, Ryan M. Nilsen, Jorge L. Garcia, Vance McGary
  • Patent number: 10339951
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for audio signal processing in a vehicle. In order to allow simple and reliable echo cancellation for voice recognition during simultaneous reproduction of a multichannel audio source signal in a vehicle, a mono audio signal is generated on the basis of a multichannel audio source signal. The mono audio signal is limited to a frequency range between a prescribed lower frequency and a prescribed upper frequency, for example to a range from 100 Hz to 8 kHz. The limited mono audio signal is output via multiple loudspeakers in the vehicle. An influence of the limited mono audio signal that is output via the multiple loudspeakers on a voice audio signal received in the vehicle via a microphone is compensated for by means of the limited mono audio signal in an echo canceller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: David Scheler
  • Patent number: 10334379
    Abstract: A transmitting device comprises a binaural circuit (601) which provides a plurality of binaural rendering data sets, each binaural rendering data set comprising data representing parameters for a virtual position binaural rendering. Specifically, head related binaural transfer function data may be included in the data sets. A representation circuit (603) provides a representation indication for each of the data sets. The representation indication for a data set is indicative of the representation used by the data set. An output circuit (605) generates a bitstream comprising the data sets and the representation indications. The bitstream is received by a receiver (701) in a receiving device. A selector (703) selects a selected binaural rendering data set based on the representation indications and a capability of the apparatus, and an audio processor (707) processes the audio signal in response to data of the selected binaural rendering data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Jeroen Gerardus Henricus Koppens, Arnoldus Werner Johannes Oomen, Erik Gosuinus Petrus Schuijers
  • Patent number: 10334380
    Abstract: A transmitting device comprises a binaural circuit (601) which provides a plurality of binaural rendering data sets, each binaural rendering data set comprising data representing parameters for a virtual position binaural rendering. Specifically, head related binaural transfer function data may be included in the data sets. A representation circuit (603) provides a representation indication for each of the data sets. The representation indication for a data set is indicative of the representation used by the data set. An output circuit (605) generates a bitstream comprising the data sets and the representation indications. The bitstream is received by a receiver (701) in a receiving device. A selector (703) selects a selected binaural rendering data set based on the representation indications and a capability of the apparatus, and an audio processor (707) processes the audio signal in response to data of the selected binaural rendering data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Jeroen Gerardus Henricus Koppens, Arnoldus Werner Johannes Oomen, Erik Gosuinus Petrus Schuijers
  • Patent number: 10327082
    Abstract: A system, wireless earpiece, and method for locating a tag utilizing one or more wireless earpieces. The tag is associated with the one or more wireless earpieces. The tag includes identification information. The tag is searched for. The tag is located in response to searching for the tag. Feedback is provided through the one or more wireless earpieces for locating the tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Inventors: Veniamin Milevski, Peter Vincent Boesen
  • Patent number: 10327070
    Abstract: A sound pickup device includes a housing having a porous exterior surface, main microphones, a reference microphone disposed near the main microphones, a first support member, a second support member, a first blocking member that blocks between the inside of the housing and the insides of the main microphones, a second blocking member that blocks between the outside of housing and the inside of the reference microphone, and a third blocking member that blocks between the inside of the housing and the inside of the reference microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshio Ohtsuka
  • Patent number: 10325615
    Abstract: Methods and systems for audio source separation in real-time are described. In an embodiment, the present disclosure describes reading and decoding an audio source into PCM samples, fragmenting Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) samples into fragments, transforming fragments into spectrograms, performing audio source separation using a training database that includes a training dictionary and non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) to generate a set of component signals, and streaming the component signals to a playback engine. In an embodiment, a semantic equalizer graphical user allows for fading of individual component signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Red Pill VR, Inc
    Inventors: Alejandro Koretzky, Karthiek Reddy Bokka, Naveen Sasalu Rajashekharappa
  • Patent number: 10319353
    Abstract: A sample library for sample notes, wherein each note has been samples at a plurality of dynamic layers, each note having a main sample and a plurality of impulse response samples. Each impulse response sample corresponding to a deconvolution of the main note and one corresponding dynamic layer sample. During playback of a note the main sample is convoluted with a corresponding impulse response sample to produce a simulated target note.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: THE STONE FAMILY TRUST OF 1992
    Inventor: Christopher L. Stone
  • Patent number: 10313794
    Abstract: The present invention is a speaker system for reproducing sound close to the actual sound of instruments or actual acoustic field. The instruments output sounds in various directions. For example, reverse phase sound is output and human voice is output in forward direction. Therefore, the speaker capable of reproducing stereophonic sound close to the original sound without limiting a listening point is required. In a speaker cabinet 5, left and right speakers 3, 4 are arranged back to back with each other to output normal phase sound and reverse phase sound from left and right. Front left and front right speakers 1, 2 are slightly facing to each other to output the sound like a voice by a point sound source. Sounds of the front speakers and left and light speakers are overlapped with each other and stereophonic sound can be reproduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Inventor: Tomoaki Kanoko
  • Patent number: 10312649
    Abstract: A phantom powered preamp for use with a microphone cartridge having a unique mechanical interface. The unique mechanical interface allows the phantom powered preamp to function with both ¼ and ½ inch microphone cartridges. The phantom powered preamp including a housing base having a PC board assembly and a connector, the PC board assembly being electrically coupled to the connector; a preamp tip having an adapter and a guard tube, the PC board assembly extending from the housing base to the preamp tip and being electrically coupled to the adapter and the guard tube, the adapter being configured to be electrically coupled to the microphone cartridge, the guard tube being configured to surround a portion of the PC board assembly within the preamp tip; and a first converter being configured to releasably engage the preamp tip or the housing base to reduce edge diffraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: PCB Piezotronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Nowak, Andrew Karkau
  • Patent number: 10306370
    Abstract: An electromagnetic transducer includes a diaphragm movable relative to a central axis, a magnetic assembly axially spaced from the diaphragm, and a magnetic gap annularly disposed about the central axis. A voice coil is coupled to the diaphragm and includes spaced first and second coil portions which are at least partially disposed in the magnetic gap. A housing includes a rear frame surrounding and supporting the magnetic assembly, the rear frame having an annular well portion in fluid communication with the magnetic gap. At least one channel is formed in the rear frame in fluid communication with the well portion and extends outwardly beyond the well portion in a radial direction. A vent is provided on an outer surface of the rear frame in fluid communication with the at least one channel, wherein air exits the transducer via the vent to transfer heat from the transducer to the ambient environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Ralph E. Hyde
  • Patent number: 10297245
    Abstract: A device for wind noise reduction and spatial noise reduction comprises a first microphone for capturing a nominal speech signal, and a second microphone for capturing a nominal noise signal. The device has a generalized sidelobe canceller for spatial noise reduction, comprising a blocking matrix filter configured to adaptively process the nominal speech signal to produce a speech cancellation signal, a first subtraction node for subtracting the speech cancellation signal from the nominal noise signal to produce a noise reference signal, a noise cancellation filter configured to adaptively filter the noise reference signal to produce a noise cancellation signal, and a second subtraction node for subtracting the noise cancellation signal from the nominal speech signal to produce a speech reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Hu Chen
  • Patent number: 10299047
    Abstract: The hearing aid includes a signal processor having a level-dependent filter section and a level-independent filter section. The level-dependent filter section provides level-dependent gain wherein sound is attenuated or amplified depending on the level of the incoming sound. The level-independent filter section provides substantially constant gain wherein sound that passes through the filter section is not changed in level, and provides transparency in that it corrects for insertion loss caused by the earpiece of the hearing aid when worn by the user. The level dependent and level independent filter sections, when fitted to the user, greatly improve the user's perception of sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Meyer Sound Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventors: John D. Meyer, Toban A. Szuts
  • Patent number: 10298245
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) system includes a transconductance amplifier, loop filter, quantizer, logic circuit, and digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The transconductance amplifier is configured to generate a current signal in response to an audio signal. The loop filter is connected to the transconductance amplifier and configured to generate a filtered signal based on the current signal. The quantizer is configured to generate a digital representation of the filtered signal. The logic circuit is configured to generate control signals based on the digital representation. The DAC is coupled to the loop filter's and the transconductance amplifier's output. The DAC includes three-level unit elements, where each unit element is configured to provide one of two signal levels or no signal to the loop filter in response to control signals from the logic circuit. Such an ADC system may allow for a high dynamic range while maintaining low power consumption and low noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Claudio De Berti, Lorenzo Crespi
  • Patent number: 10283103
    Abstract: The disclosure includes an acoustic processing network comprising a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) operating at a first frequency and a Real-Time Acoustic Processor (RAP) operating at a second frequency higher than the first frequency. The DSP receives a noise signal from at least one microphone. The DSP then generates a noise filter based on the noise signal. The RAP receives the noise signal from the microphone and the noise filter from the DSP. The RAP then generates an anti-noise signal based on the noise signal and the noise filter for use in Active Noise Cancellation (ANC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: AVNERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Amit Kumar
  • Patent number: 10277972
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a headphone and an interaction system. The headphone includes: a controller electrically connected to the Type-C interface, a biological features detection module connected to the controller, a microphone electrically connected to the controller, and a loudspeaker electrically connected to the controller. The biological features detection module is configured to detect biological features of a user wearing the headphone; and the controller is configured to control paring between the Type-C interface and a terminal and communication between the terminal and the biological features detection module, the microphone and the loudspeaker when the headphone is in a digital mode, to control detection of biological features and processing of audio data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: SHENZHEN GOODIX TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chang Liu, Wangwang Yang, Hongliang Duan, Gengchun Deng, Haixiang Wang
  • Patent number: 10278000
    Abstract: Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to audio object clustering with single channel quality preservation. A method of clustering audio objects is disclosed. The method includes determining cluster positions based on object positions of the audio objects and a reference speaker layout, the reference speaker layout indicating speakers located at different speaker positions. The method also includes determining object-to-cluster gains based on the determined cluster positions, the object positions and the reference speaker layout, an object-to-cluster gain defining a proportion of the respective audio object that is assigned to a cluster associated with one of the determined cluster positions. The method further includes clustering the audio objects based on the object-to-cluster gains and the cluster positions for generating cluster signals. Corresponding system, computer program product and device for clustering audio objects are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Dirk Jeroen Breebaart, Lianwu Chen, Lie Lu
  • Patent number: 10275212
    Abstract: An example embodiment may involve determining that a client device (such as a smartphone, tablet, or in-automobile audio device) is in an automobile and that the client device has access to a playlist of audio content. Possibly based on the client device being in the automobile and having access to the playlist of audio content, the client device may request a stream of the audio content. As a consequence of making the request, the client device may receive the stream of the audio content and begin audible playout of the audio content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Gracenote Digital Ventures, LLC
    Inventor: Venkatarama Anilkumar Panguluri
  • Patent number: 10271121
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising having an enclosure with an enclosure wall separating a surrounding environment from an encased space. The enclosure wall includes a top portion having an acoustic channel extending from the encased space to the surrounding environment and a bottom portion. A microphone assembly module positioned within the encased space, and having a microphone acoustically coupled to a sound inlet port that is aligned with the acoustic channel and an air permeable water resistant membrane. A first support member is dimensioned to translatably couple the microphone assembly module to the top portion of the enclosure wall and translate the microphone assembly in response to a pressure change within the acoustic channel, and a second support member is dimensioned to translatably couple the microphone assembly module to the bottom portion of the enclosure wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Neal D. Evans, Jesse A. Lippert, Nikolas T. Vitt