Patents Examined by Simon King
  • Patent number: 11606656
    Abstract: An example method of operation may include detecting an acoustic stimulus via active beams associated with at least one microphone disposed in a defined space, detecting loudspeaker characteristic information of at least one loudspeaker providing the acoustic stimulus, transmitting acoustic stimulus information based on the acoustic stimulus to a central controller, and modifying, via a central controller, at least one control function associated with the at least one microphone and the at least one loudspeaker to minimize acoustic feedback produced by the loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Biamp Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Richard S. Juszkiewicz, Nicholas William Metzar, Iain Alexander McCowan, Matthew V. Kotvis, Jason Damori, Scott Wieser
  • Patent number: 11595746
    Abstract: A remote controller for a sound delivery system such as hearing aids and headsets is shown and described. The remote controller has control buttons corresponding to control functions of the sound delivery system, a signal generator, a signal transmitter, and a power supply. The sound delivery system is worn on the head or ears, and includes speakers, sounding controlling elements, a signal receiver for communication with the remote controller, a power supply, and audible and/or visible beacons for implementing a locator function if misplaced or lost. The remote controller may be a stand alone, dedicated component physically separate from the sound delivery system, or alternatively, may be implemented as an application downloadable to a cellular telephone. The application causes manual controls corresponding to those of a hearing aid or stereophonic controls to appear on a screen of the cellular telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventor: Curt Davidson
  • Patent number: 11589153
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for signal processing are described. Generally, as provided for by the described techniques, a wearable device may receive an input audio signal (e.g., including both an external signal and a self-voice signal). The wearable device may detect the self-voice signal in the input audio signal based on a self-voice activity detection (SVAD) procedure, and may implement the described techniques based thereon. The wearable device may perform beamforming operations or other separation procedures to isolate the external signal and the self-voice signal from the input audio signal. The wearable device may apply a first filter to the external signal, and a second filter to the self-voice signal. The wearable device may then mix the filtered signals, and generate an output signal that sounds natural to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Lae-Hoon Kim, Dongmei Wang, Fatemeh Saki, Taher Shahbazi Mirzahasanloo, Erik Visser, Rogerio Guedes Alves
  • Patent number: 11589151
    Abstract: An audio data communication method and a wireless audio system are disclosed. The audio data communication method is performed by dual-channel wireless audio equipment that includes a primary audio device, a secondary audio device, and a communication link with an audio source device. The method includes transmitting, by the source device, audio data in a preset time interval to the primary and secondary audio devices. The primary and secondary audio devices generate first feedback information and second feedback information. The first and second feedback information are transmitted to the audio source device based on a Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance protocol. The disclosed techniques address issues such as information interaction between the primary and secondary audio devices during transmission of the feedback information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Shanghai WuQi Microelectronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Da Liu
  • Patent number: 11582543
    Abstract: A display device includes: a display panel including a first substrate and a light emitting element layer disposed on the first substrate; and a sound generator disposed on one surface of the first substrate, where the sound generator vibrates the display panel to output a sound. The sound generator includes: a first vibration generator which vibrates the display panel by generating a magnetic force using a first voice coil therein; and a second vibration generator including a vibration layer which contracts or expands based on a voltage applied thereto to vibrate the display panel, where the first vibration generator and the second vibration generator overlap each other in a thickness direction of the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Woo Im, Byeong Hee Won, Yi Joon Ahn
  • Patent number: 11564841
    Abstract: A headset, comprising: first and second ear cups, and a power and signal connector that extends between the ear cups, wherein each ear cup comprises a housing having a mounting structure for mounting the ear cup on a wearable support; a speaker; and a speaker drive circuit for operating the speaker. The first ear cup further comprises: an external power and signal connector; and a mounting structure having a first profile for mounting a removable control module having a corresponding first profile on the first ear cup such that corresponding power and signal connectors can engage the external power and signal connector so that the removable control module can provide operating signals to the speaker drive circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: JSP LIMITED
    Inventors: Clive Johnstone, Stephen Sanders
  • Patent number: 11570538
    Abstract: An electronic device may include one or more terminals configured to provide a voltage signal to an actuator. The electronic device may detect a current associated with the voltage signal provided by the terminal to the actuator. The electronic device may determine an impedance across associated with the actuator based on the voltage signal and the electrical current. The electronic device may compare the impedance to a threshold impedance to determine whether there is sufficient skin contact with the actuator. The electronic device may provide audio via cartilage conduction if there is sufficient contact based on comparing the impedance to the threshold impedance, or may output a notification to the user to adjust placement of the electronic device to improve contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Drew Stone Briggs, Morteza Khaleghimeybodi, Chuming Zhao, John Raymond Brodie
  • Patent number: 11570535
    Abstract: A moving robot may include a main body which forms a space therein, an inner housing which surrounds the main body, an outer housing, two voice recognition members/devices (or voice sensors) which are disposed in the housings and are disposed to be separated from each other, and a microphone mount which is supported by the inner housing and causes the voice recognition device to be in close contact with the outer housing. The microphone mount may include a bending prevention rib which is disposed below the microphone mount to prevent bending of the microphone mount, and a twist prevention rib which is disposed below the microphone mount to prevent twisting of the microphone mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Byeongmin Lee, Byungdoo Yim, Haejun Park
  • Patent number: 11558704
    Abstract: A management server includes a memory, and at least one processor configured to control an audio client system, by execution of instructions stored in the memory. The at least one processor is configured to acquire a first transfer function measured for a portion of or for all of the first signal path in the audio client system. The at least one processor is also configured to generate a virtual second signal path for a portion of or for all of the first signal path in the audio client system, and calculate a second transfer function for a portion of or for all of the generated virtual second signal path. The at least one processor is also configured to determine a condition of the audio client system, based on a result of a comparison between the first transfer function and the second transfer function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11546685
    Abstract: A wearable device, comprising: one or more processors configured to: detect a wear status of the wearable device; and in response to the wear status, allocate resources of the wearable device to one or more functions of the wearable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Nigel Burgess, Andrew I. Bothwell
  • Patent number: 11533552
    Abstract: An information processing system includes a processor configured to detect biological information measured at a head and control a volume of an ambient sound output from a speaker provided in a device which is worn so as to cover an ear according to the detected biological information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Agama-X Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motofumi Baba, Kengo Tokuchi
  • Patent number: 11528544
    Abstract: A display device includes a display panel including a first area and a second area, a sound generator disposed in at least one of the first and second areas on the display panel, a partition member disposed at a boundary between the first and second areas on the display panel, and extending in a predetermined direction, and a blocking member disposed in at least one of the first and second areas on the display panel, and spaced apart from the partition member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae-Sung Kim, Youngji Kim
  • Patent number: 11523209
    Abstract: In one example, an apparatus comprises a headset and an auxiliary device. The headset includes a first microphone to detect first egress audio signals and a speaker to output ingress audio signals received wirelessly from a mobile device. The auxiliary device includes a container to hold the headset, as well as a second microphone to detect second egress audio signals. In a first operation mode, one of the headset or the auxiliary device can transmit wireless signals including the first egress audio signals to the mobile device. In a second operation mode, one of the headset or the auxiliary device can transmit wireless signals including the second egress audio signals to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Logitech Europe S.A.
    Inventors: Rong-Hwa Ding, Tommy Chun Wah Ho
  • Patent number: 11523202
    Abstract: An ITE hearing instrumentality, for use in an ear canal, that includes a housing, a receiver located within the housing, an earpiece on the housing that is configured to mount the housing within the ear canal, and at least one biometric sensor on the earpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Michael Au, Frank Wang, Grace Gardner, Lu Zhang, Stephan Gehring, Daniel Baer
  • Patent number: 11520996
    Abstract: A method for providing directed transmission of sound waves, through modulation on an ultrasonic carrier, may comprise connecting at least one directed sound source to an audio system; emitting, via the at least one directed sound source, audio from the audio system, wherein the emitting comprises emitting medium-frequency audio waves and higher-frequency audio waves. The audio may be selected via a master control unit (MCU), which may be operatively coupled to a mobile application. In some embodiments, a first audio selection is configured to be heard only through a first directed sound source, and a second audio selection is configured to be heard only through a second directed sound source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Zaps Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Frank Scalisi, Tyler James Gilbreth, Steven Christopher Lynch, Adrian Simon Lanch
  • Patent number: 11516574
    Abstract: An audio output device is provided. The audio output device includes a housing, an audio output unit outputting audio data, a first contact sensor configured to detect a contact of an external object, a second contact sensor configured to detect a contact of the external object, a proximity sensor configured to detect a proximity of the external object within a predetermined distance, and a processor operatively connected to the audio output unit, the first contact sensor, the second contact sensor, and the proximity sensor. The processor may be configured to execute a wearing detection mode of the audio output device, to determine the contact of the external object through the first contact sensor, to determine the contact of the external object through the second contact sensor, to determine the proximity of the external object through the proximity sensor, and to determine that the audio output device is in a state worn by the external object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seoyoung Jin, Hongki Kim, Donghan Lee, Kiwook Han, Kyungik Jang, Sungnam Jeong, Jeongmin Park
  • Patent number: 11516570
    Abstract: Implementations of the subject matter described herein provide a silent voice input solution without being noticed by surroundings. Compared with conventional voice input solutions which are based on normal speech or whispering, the proposed “silent” voice input method is performed by using ingressive voice during the user's breathing-in process. By placing the apparatus very close to the user's mouth with a ultra-small gap formed between the microphone and the apparatus, the proposed silent voice input solution can realize a very small voice leakage, and thereby allowing the user to use ultra-low voice speech input in public and mobile situations, without disturbing surrounding people.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Masaaki Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 11509988
    Abstract: A headset which includes an earpiece; a flexible headband coupled to the earpiece, the flexible headband including a flex sensing component, the headband profile sensing component determining when the headset is in a headset un-used orientation and a headset used orientation; and, a smart power control system, the smart power control system performing a smart power control operation based upon whether the headset is in the headset un-used orientation or the headset used orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Wong Hin Loong Justin, Manish Krishnaji Desai, Siluvai Micheal Starlin Innasimuthu
  • Patent number: 11484442
    Abstract: Earmuffs each include a body portion, and a circular pad portion attached to the body portion and having a contact surface brought into contact with the head of the user during use. The pad portion is provided with slits connecting the inner circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface and open on the contact surface, the slits being cut into the pad portion so as to be gradually shifted toward the body portion in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: JVCKENWOOD CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinji Kamimura
  • Patent number: 11477564
    Abstract: An earphone module includes an antenna structure. The antenna structure includes a first radiator, a second radiator, a conductive member, and a first insulating member. The first radiator includes a feeding end. The second radiator includes a ground end, and a first slot is formed between the first radiator and the second radiator. The conductive member is connected to the first radiator and the second radiator. The first insulating member is disposed in the first slot. The first radiator, the second radiator, the conductive member, and the first insulating member collectively serve as at least a part of a shell of the earphone module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Merry Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jui-Hsien Chien