Patents Examined by Simon King
  • Patent number: 12047725
    Abstract: An apparatus for fitting an earphone device in an ear canal using an anatomically shaped, compressible cushion member with a through channel and a spacer member extending from its side wall, but not connecting to its other side wall, thus providing sufficient acoustic signal transmission to the ear canal in all circumstances by ensuring a 5 minimum clearance C between the opposing side walls of the channel in both a non-compressed state and a compressed state of the cushion member, while also allowing for a flexible and comfortable design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Markus Vaalgamaa, Laura Laaksonen, Pirkka Myllykoski
  • Patent number: 12045542
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a method of earphone feature control by using a graphic user interface on a device linked to the earphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: The Diablo Canyon Collective LLC
    Inventors: John Usher, John P. Keady
  • Patent number: 12042271
    Abstract: The invention discloses a parametric system for testing a capability of auditory spatial positioning and a method of providing a parametric minimum audible angle. The system includes: an host computer system calculating spatial movement data and communicating with a slave computer; a spatial movement system realizing control of any spatial position through circumferential movement, radial movement and vertical movement; a real-time three-dimensional display system built into the host computer system; an audio system randomly generates a type of audio data of a sound source and a sound source with equal-difference decibels; and a test system for matching human spatial positioning results to sound source spatial data and providing an objective evaluation. The invention further provides a method of providing a parametric minimum audible angle for a capability of auditory spatial positioning, the invention improves the control accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: TIANJIN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Guangjian Ni, Zihao Xu, Dong Ming, Baolu Liu, Haiyu Zhang, Qi Zheng, Jia Pang
  • Patent number: 12047726
    Abstract: An earbud for detecting biosignals from and presenting audio signals at an inner ear canal and method therefor are disclosed. The earbud includes a nozzle and a housing including a body. The nozzle extends from the housing body and has a proximal end arranged for positioning within an inner ear canal of an individual. An earbud tip of the earbud attaches to the proximal end of the nozzle and is adapted to engage the inner ear canal. The earbud includes a speaker and various sensors including an infrasonic/vibration sensor. The infrasonic/vibration sensor detects the biosignals including infrasonic signals from the body of the individual in the canal, and the speaker transmits sound from an audio source into the canal via the nozzle. The earbud preferably seals the inner ear canal to block external sound while also decreasing an acoustic volume of the canal that amplifies the biosignals prior to detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: MindMics, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Barnacka, Jal Mahendra Panchal, Martin D Ring, Thomas Devlin
  • Patent number: 12047732
    Abstract: A tuned-frequency-spectrum earpiece for selectively tuning audio frequencies that enter an inner ear of a user wearing the earpiece, the earpiece including a base having an emitter end and receiver end, the base including a channel that passes through an entirety of the base; a sound-attenuation plug, wherein the sound-attenuation plug is configured to couple to the base such that the sound-attenuation plug surrounds at least a portion of the channel of the base; a first filter device configured to insert into the channel of the base and to selectively reject undesired frequencies of the audio frequencies that enter the earpiece; and a frequency-selective sound collector operatively coupled to the receiver end of the base and configured to increase an amount of desired frequencies of the audio frequencies that enter the first filter device. Some embodiments increase the amount of sound from some directions while reducing sound from other directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: JMJ Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: David M. Chenal
  • Patent number: 12047768
    Abstract: Improved tools for authoring and rendering audio reproduction data are provided. Some such authoring tools allow audio reproduction data to be generalized for a wide variety of reproduction environments. Audio reproduction data may be authored by creating metadata for audio objects. The metadata may be created with reference to speaker zones. During the rendering process, the audio reproduction data may be reproduced according to the reproduction speaker layout of a particular reproduction environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Nicolas R. Tsingos, Charles Q. Robinson, Jurgen W. Scharpf
  • Patent number: 12034882
    Abstract: Systems and method are directed towards dynamically updating a remote management system of changes in e911 records. An e911 computing system may determine if an e911 record has been deleted from a local database. In response to determining that the e911 record has been deleted, the e911 computing system notifies a management system of the e911 record being deleted. The e911 computing system may also determine if the e911 record is new. In response to determining that the e911 record is new, the e911 computing system provides the e911 record to the management system. The e911 computing system may also determine if the e911 record has changed. In response to determining that the e911 record has changed: the e911 computing system generates a table of changes to the e911 record and provides the table of changes to the management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: DISH WIRELESS L.L.C.
    Inventor: Jon William Freeman Crofford
  • Patent number: 12035112
    Abstract: Disclosed are an earphone ear-oriented debugging method, apparatus and system, and a wireless earphone. The method comprises: confirming an in-ear state signal indicating that a first earphone and a second earphone are in an in-ear state; sending a plurality of first ear-oriented debugging waves to the second earphone according to the in-ear state signal, wherein the plurality of first ear-oriented debugging waves respectively correspond to a plurality of frequency points for wireless communication in a one-to-one correspondence; receiving a first earphone configuration instruction sent from the second earphone, wherein the first earphone configuration instruction is generated by the second earphone according to the first ear-oriented debugging waves; and configuring a configuration parameter of an antenna matching element of the first earphone according to the first earphone configuration instruction, to optimize a communication state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: ZHUHAI JIELI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Haitao Huang, Yihui Wang, Zhihuan Deng
  • Patent number: 12028675
    Abstract: A method of determining an audio controller for a headphone that is configured to use an acoustic transducer to develop sound that is delivered to an ear of a user and that includes a feedback microphone that is configured to sense sound developed by the acoustic transducer, and a related computer program product and system. A first audio transfer function between the acoustic transducer and the feedback microphone is measured. A second audio transfer function between the acoustic transducer and the feedback microphone with a feedback controller applied is determined. The audio controller is calculated based on both the first audio transfer function and the second audio transfer function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: Ole Mattis Nielsen
  • Patent number: 12028672
    Abstract: Disclosed is a headset for audio communication, a software application for an electronic device associated with a headset, and a method for controlling a headset feature. The headset is configured to be worn by a user. The headset comprises a speaker for sound transmission into the user's ear, a transceiver or a radio communication unit for communication with an external device, a connection to a location-based service software, the location-based service software is configured for controlling at least one headset feature based on location data of the headset, and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured for enabling the location-based service software to detect if the current location data of the headset indicates a change in location data corresponding to a certain change criterion and changing the at least one headset feature, if a change criterion associated with the change in location data is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: GN AUDIO A/S
    Inventor: Kevin A. Batson
  • Patent number: 12020702
    Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein generally include multi-wake phrase detection executed on a single device utilizing multiple voice assistants. Systems and methods presented herein can further include continuously running a Voice Activity Detection (VAD) process which detects presence of human speech. The multi-wake phrase detection can activate when the VAD process detects human speech. Once activated, the multi-wake phrase detection can determine which (if any) of the wake phrases of the multiple voice assistants might be in the detected speech. Operation of the multi-wake phrase detection can have a low miss-rate. In some examples, operation of the multi-wake phrase detection can be granular to accomplish the low miss-rates at low power with a tolerance for false positives on wake phrase detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: AONDEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Mouna Elkhatib, Adil Benyassine
  • Patent number: 12014114
    Abstract: Disclosed is a wireless audio device, which includes at least one microphone, at least one speaker, at least one sensor, a processor, and a memory storing instructions, and the instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the wireless audio device, while the wireless audio device outputs a sound for reducing an outside sound acquired through the at least one microphone through the at least one speaker, to identify a specified outside sound of the outside sound acquired through the at least one microphone, to output a notification sound for indicating that the specified outside sound is identified through the at least one speaker, to identify a motion of a user of the wireless audio device through the at least one sensor, in response to outputting the notification sound, and to stop the output of the sound for reducing the outside sound based on the identified motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyunson Seo, Kyounggu Woo, Sangho Lee
  • Patent number: 12003910
    Abstract: A charging system, a device for charging earphones while the earphones are in use, process, and method of use are presented. The present disclosure is configured to provide a wireless, magnetic-induction charging cable for charging and/or recharging headphones and/or wireless headphones and/or earphones. In the arrangement shown, as one example, system 10 is generally configured of a cable having two ends. One end, a plug end (to be further described herein), accepts power from a power source. This end may be formed of a USB-C type connection, a Thunderbolt® connection, or the like. The charging end is configured to connect and accept wireless headphones therein, such as Airpods®, for example. Another example, and in an alternative embodiment, the charging end is configured to accept with close and tight tolerances, as well as through magnetic securement, Pixel Buds® for charging through inductance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Inventor: Kash Patel
  • Patent number: 12001477
    Abstract: A computing system includes an interface configured to interface and communicate with an external media resource, a memory that stores operational instructions and a processing module operably coupled to the interface and to the memory, such that the processing module, when operable within the computing system based on the operational instructions, is configured to is configured to perform various operations. The computing system receives an audio fingerprint from the external medial resource, divides the audio file segment into a plurality of portions and compares the audio file segment with a plurality of stored audio segments. The computing system then determines whether a threshold number of the plurality of portions of a stored audio segment compare favorably with a threshold number of the plurality of portions of the audio file segment and based thereon determines whether the audio file segment and the stored audio segment correspond to alternate versions of a same song.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Dyon Anniballi
  • Patent number: 11997447
    Abstract: An earpiece includes a housing including a sound output channel operatively coupled to a speaker formed within the housing. An ear canal feedback channel is formed extending alongside the sound output channel and operatively coupled to a microphone formed within the housing and a DSP operatively coupled to the microphone, the DSP including a voice activity detection module to detect a microphone audio data stream and discern between host audio data stream of audio played by the speaker and external ear canal noise captured in the microphone audio data stream at the microphone at the ear canal feedback channel. An audio processor receives the detected external ear canal noise and generate audio data descriptive of an opposite waveform to the detected external ear canal noise to playback and reduce the detected external ear canal noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: DELL PRODUCTS LP
    Inventors: Deeder M. Aurongzeb, Peng Lip Goh
  • Patent number: 11997448
    Abstract: A voice-controlled device includes a microphone to receive a set of sound waves that includes speech uttered by a user and other sound, and to output a first audio signal that includes a contribution from the speech uttered by the user and a contribution from the other sound. The device also includes a receiver to receive an electromagnetic signal and to output a second audio signal obtained from the electromagnetic signal. An audio pre-processor of the device processes the first audio signal using the second audio signal to reduce the contribution from the other sound in a processed audio signal. The voice-controlled device then provides the processed audio signal to a speech recognition module to determine a voice command issued by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: SOUNDHOUND AI IP, LLC
    Inventor: Karl Stahl
  • Patent number: 11997446
    Abstract: An earphone includes an earphone body, a first eartip, a sensing module and a controller. The earphone has an in-ear earphone structure when the first eartip is mounted on the earphone body. The sensing module is arranged on an inner cavity wall of the earphone body, and configured to sense an assembly state between the first eartip and the earphone body. The controller is coupled to the sensing module, and configured to obtain the assembly state output by the sensing module, identify a current earphone mode of the earphone according to the assembly state, and adjust an acoustic parameter of the earphone according to the current earphone mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shibo Li
  • Patent number: 11996092
    Abstract: A system has multiple audio-enabled devices that communicate with one another over an open microphone mode of communication. When a user says a trigger word, the nearest device validates the trigger word and opens a communication channel with another device. As the user talks, the device receives the speech and generates an audio signal representation that includes the user speech and may additionally include other background or interfering sound from the environment. The device transmits the audio signal to the other device as part of a conversation, while continually analyzing the audio signal to detect when the user stops talking. This analysis may include watching for a lack of speech in the audio signal for a period of time, or an abrupt change in context of the speech (indicating the speech is from another source), or canceling noise or other interfering sound to isolate whether the user is still speaking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ty Loren Carlson, Rohan Mutagi
  • Patent number: 11987183
    Abstract: A protective case system for use with an electronic device includes a protective case, a handle, and an adapter. The protective case removably receives the electronic device and a display screen of the electronic device remains accessible when the electronic device is installed in the protective case. The handle extends outward from the protective case. The handle is configured for carrying the protective case and the installed electronic device. The adapter is configured to attach to the handle and be bendable by a user to a plurality of positions. The adapter is configured to function as a multi-position stand for the protective case and the installed electronic device. The adapter is further configured to removably affix the protective case and the installed electronic device to a seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Otter Products, LLC
    Inventors: Shanshan Li, Joseph A. Prizzi, Kevin M. Malak, Jeffrey C. Wicks, Andrew J. Walla
  • Patent number: 11991504
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: SOUND UNITED, LLC.
    Inventors: Bradley M. Starobin, Matthew Lyons, Stuart W. Lumsden, Michael DiTullo, Paul O'Connor