Patents Examined by Sabrina Diaz
  • Shock mounted transducer assembly
    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
  • Apparatus and method for processing stereo signals for reproduction in cars to achieve individual three-dimensional sound by frontal loudspeakers
    Patent number: 10257634
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a digital processor including an ambient portion extractor and a spatial effect processing stage. The ambient portion extractor is configured to extract an ambient portion from a multi-channel signal. The spatial effect processing stage is configured to generate a spatial effect signal based on the ambient portion of the multi-channel signal. The digital processor is configured to combine the multi-channel signal or a processed version thereof with the spatial effect signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hess, Oliver Hellmuth, Stefan Varga, Emanuel Habets, Jan Plogsties, Juergen Herre
  • Adaptive beamforming using Kepstrum-based filters
    Patent number: 10249286
    Abstract: A signal processing system, as disclosed herein, generates a filtered signal from a plurality of input signals, comprising a first type of signal and a second type of signal, received from each of a plurality of signal capturing terminals. For each signal frame, a first resultant estimate of the first type of signal in each of the plurality of input signals is determined based on a first impulse response of a corresponding first content adaptive filter. For each signal frame, a second resultant estimate of the first type of signal in a composite signal is determined based on a second impulse response of a second content adaptive filter. Phase information of an estimated interference signal obtained from the second content adaptive filter is restored and the first type of signal is extracted from the filtered signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: KAAM LLC
    Inventor: Senthil Kumar Mani
  • Portable electronic device with acoustic and/or proximity sensors and methods therefor
    Patent number: 10237666
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing and a user interface. The electronic device also includes an acoustic detector and one or more processors operable with the acoustic detector. The one or more processors can receive, from the user interface, user input corresponding to an operation of the electronic device. The one or more processors can then optionally initiate a timer in response to receiving the user input and monitor the acoustic detector for a predefined acoustic marker, one example of which is acoustic data indicating detection of one or more finger snaps. Where the one or more finger snaps occur prior to expiration of the timer, the one or more processors can perform the operation of the electronic device. Otherwise ignore the user input. The acoustic confirmation of user input helps to eliminate false triggers, thereby conserving battery power and extending run time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Su-Yin Gan, Alex Vaz Waddington
  • Adaptive step-size control for beamformer
    Patent number: 10237647
    Abstract: A beamformer system that can isolate a desired portion of an audio signal resulting from a microphone array. A combination of beamformers is used to dampen undesired noise, whether diffuse or coherent. A fixed beamformer is used to dampen diffuse noise while an adaptive beamformer is used to cancel directional coherent noise. The adaptive beamformer isolates and weights audio from various directions. The weights may vary depending on the isolated desired audio signal, dynamically adjusting the step-size adjustments to the weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Amit Singh Chhetri
  • Load balancing to maximize device function in a personal area network device system and method
    Patent number: 10194228
    Abstract: A system includes a first device comprising a housing, a battery disposed within the housing, an intelligent control disposed within the housing, a transceiver disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the intelligent control, and a plurality of sensors operatively connected to the intelligent control. The system further includes a second device comprising a housing, a battery disposed within the housing, an intelligent control disposed within the housing, a transceiver disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the intelligent control, and a plurality of sensors operatively connected to the intelligent control. The first device and the second device provide for balancing load by powering one or more of the biosensors in one of the first device or the second device and shifting functions to the other of the first device and the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Inventor: Eric Christian Hirsch
  • Circuit for detecting button action on earphone, terminal, and earphone
    Patent number: 10194231
    Abstract: A circuit for detecting a button action on an earphone, including a first resistor, a comparator having with a first input end, a second input end, and an output end, with the first input end of the comparator connected to the first end of the first resistor, and the second input end of the comparator connected to the second end of the first resistor. A power supply us connected to the first resistor. The earphone includes a second resistor, and when the earphone is connected to the circuit, the second resistor is connected to the first resistor. The earphone further includes a microphone having a first end connected to the first end of the second resistor and a second end grounded, and a button having ends that are respectively connected the microphone and the second resistor. When the button is pressed, the ends of the button are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Su, Huogen Kuang
  • Directional sound playing system and method
    Patent number: 10187724
    Abstract: A directional sound playing system using ultrasonic sound sources, the ultrasonic sound sources being installed on a surface of a supporting body. The directional sound playing system includes a setting module, a first detecting module, and a driving control module. The setting module sets a distribution position of each of the ultrasonic sound sources on the surface of the supporting body according to the angle of output of each of the ultrasonic sound sources and a requirement angle of a listener. The first detecting module obtains location information of the listener. The driving control module selects and drives one or more ultrasonic sound sources to transmit and direct ultrasonic sound corresponding to the location information of the listener. A directional sound playing method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: NANNING FUGUI PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hsiao-Jen Tsai
  • Electronic device including sound output module and housing for the electronic device
    Patent number: 10178455
    Abstract: An electronic device including a sound output module and a housing for the electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a front case including a display unit, a rear case coupled to the front case and including a mounting space of a battery, a speaker module configured to form at least one side wall of the mounting space of the battery, and a battery cover configured to cover at least the mounting space of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heecheul Moon, Jongchul Choi
  • Audio playing system capable of automatically personally compensating
    Patent number: 10136241
    Abstract: An audio playing system has a first channel output device, a first audio modulator and a controller. The first audio modulator is electrically coupled to the first channel output device and having a set of first modulation parameters, the first audio modulator configured to selectively modulate a first channel audio signal with the set of first modulation parameters and output the modulated first channel audio signal to the first channel output device. The controller is electrically coupled to the first channel output device and the first audio modulator, wherein in a test mode, the controller is configured to send a set of test audio signals to the first channel output device, to generate a set of first user parameters based on a plurality of pieces of first confirmation signal, and to adjust the set of first modulation parameters based on the set of first user parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: GEMTEK TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Wen Chen, Chih-Hsu Yen, Fu-Ming Tien
  • Processor-readable medium, apparatus and method for updating hearing aid
    Patent number: 10111018
    Abstract: A system for updating a hearing aid by providing an update to a hearing aid to configure the hearing aid for an acoustic environment with a sound profile different than a physical environment a user is currently located in with an acoustic sample representative of the acoustic environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: III Holdings 4, LLC
    Inventor: Frederick Charles Neumeyer
  • Circuit and method for detecting the load status of an audio amplifier
    Patent number: 10104483
    Abstract: A diagnostic circuit is used for detecting the load status of an audio amplifier. The audio amplifier includes two output terminals for connection to a speaker. The diagnostic circuit may include a first circuit, which configured to generate a first signal indicating whether a signal provided via the two output terminals comprises an audio signal. A second circuit can be configured to detect a first measurement signal being indicative for the output current provided via the two output terminals, and to compare the first measurement signal with at least one threshold in order to generate a second signal indicating whether the output current has a low current amplitude profile or a high current amplitude profile. A third circuit can be configured to generate a diagnostic signal as a function of the first and the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Edoardo Botti, Marco Raimondi
  • Headset with magnetic frictional coupler
    Patent number: 10104212
    Abstract: A headset is described that utilizes magnetic frictional couplers. A coupler includes a first member having a first engagement surface and a second member having a second engagement surface disposed for relative positioning of the first and second members along a line of adjustment. One or more magnetic elements are arranged on the first and second members to establish a magnetic flux between the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface, and thereby establishing a frictional force tending to hold the relative positions of the first and second members. The magnetic flux varies as a function of relative position of the first and second members along the line of adjustment, and has peaks at a plurality of detent positions along the line of adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob T Meyberg, Barry J Lee, John Kelley
  • Electric vehicle sound enhancement systems and methods
    Patent number: 10071686
    Abstract: An audio system of a vehicle includes: an acceleration state module that sets an acceleration state signal to a first state when a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle is greater than a first predetermined acceleration, where the first predetermined acceleration is positive; a sound control module that selectively sets audio characteristics for an acceleration event in response to determinations that all of: (i) the acceleration state signal is in the first state; (ii) an electric motor is outputting positive torque to a powertrain of the vehicle; and (iii) a driver is applying pressure to an accelerator pedal; and an audio driver module that, based on the audio characteristics, applies power to speakers to output sound within a passenger cabin of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Scott M. Reilly, Frank C. Valeri, Roger C. Barlow, Jr.
  • Audio amplifier
    Patent number: 10076062
    Abstract: A amplifier with improved space efficiency includes a housing that dissipates heat having an upper wall and two side walls and having an interior with upper and lower portions. The amplifier further includes an upper circuit board in the upper portion and a lower circuit board in a lower portion. The amplifier further includes a connector that electrically connects the upper and lower circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Inventor: Nicholas Heath Wright
  • Parameter setting apparatus and method
    Patent number: 10069582
    Abstract: A memory of a parameter setting apparatus stores therein a current value of a signal processing parameter and an auxiliary value for temporarily adjusting the current value. Once an instruction for changing the current value of the parameter is given by an operation, by a user, of a manual operator when an edit mode is ON, a CPU of the parameter setting apparatus not only changes the current value but also changes the auxiliary value in response to the current value change instruction. When the edit mode is OFF, on the other hand, the CPU changes only the current value in response to the current value change instruction without changing the auxiliary value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Taku Nishikori, Chris Angell, Chris Taylor, Hiroaki Fujita
  • Ear wearable type wireless device and system supporting the same
    Patent number: 10067735
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided and includes a housing including a portion that is detachably mountable on one of a user's ears, a wireless communication circuit, a battery, a speaker, at least one sensor included in the housing, a processor electrically connected to the wireless communication circuit, the battery, the speaker, and the at least one sensor, and a memory electrically connected to the processor so that the processor can request a connection from an external device configured to be detachably mounted on another one of the user's ears, determine a portion to be output from the audio data stored in the memory based on whether a response of the external device for the request for the connection is received or at least a portion of at least one signal is received from the external device by formation of the requested connection, and output the determined portion through the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ahhyun Chun, Yong-Yi Kim, Hyeong Geun Kim, Jae-Hyun Jo, Sunlyeong Hwang, Ilsung Hong
  • Ear attachment apparatus
    Patent number: 10045114
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide for an improved attachment apparatus for attaching the attachment apparatus to an ear of a user. In some embodiments, the attachment apparatus may include an attachment body that defines an opening configured to enable at least a portion of a user's ear to pass through the opening when the attachment apparatus is coupled to the user. In such embodiments, the attachment body may prevent an anterior portion of the ear from passing through the opening and may receive, from an interaction with the anterior portion of the ear, a force that biases the first attachment portion in a direction away from a median plane of the user. In some embodiments, the attachment body may secure the attachment apparatus to the ear of the user while the first attachment portion is biased away from the median plane of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Human, Incorporated
    Inventors: Benjamin S. Willis, Dae Il Kwon
  • Speaker back cavity
    Patent number: 10027784
    Abstract: An apparatus including a sound transducer; and a housing having the sound transducer connected thereto. The housing forms a substantially sealed air space back cavity acoustically coupled to the sound transducer. The housing includes a housing member having a first dividing structure located in the back cavity to connect two adjacent air mass sections of the back cavity, where the dividing structure includes at least one aperture to permit travel of sound waves through the at least one aperture between the air mass sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Thomas Benedict Slotte, Anders Johan Engberg
  • Integrated speakers
    Patent number: 10021480
    Abstract: An enclosure for an electronic device is enclosed. The enclosure includes rib structures configured to improve structural support to prevent damage and to dissipate vibration throughout the enclosure. The rib structure can receive a speaker module and a cap member. The rib structure and the speaker module can combine to form a three-dimensional volume allowing the speaker module in which the speaker module may project sound, thereby enhancing acoustic performance. Also, the cap member may be adhesively attached to the rib structure to provide additional structural support against vibration and abuse caused by load forces associated with a drop event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: G. Kyle Lobisser, Jason S. Keats, Ryan J. Mihelich, Pablo Seoane Vieites, Kevin M. Kenney, John Raff, Erik A. Uttermann, Melody L. Kuna, Oliver C. Ross