Patents Examined by Ubachukwu Odunukwe
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Patent number: 10783896Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program wherein the method comprises: obtaining a beamforming signal using respective signals from a first microphone and a second microphone; reducing the data size of the beamforming signal by grouping the beamforming signal into frequency bands and obtaining a data value for each of the frequency bands; and forming a bit stream comprising at least the reduced size beamforming signal and the signal from the first microphone wherein the bit stream enables parameters of a beamed audio channel to be controlled.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2017Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Nokia Technologies OyInventors: Toni Henrik Makinen, Mikko Tapio Tammi, Miikka Tapani Vilermo
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Patent number: 10785565Abstract: Apparatus including a processor configured to: receive an audio signal from a close microphone, wherein the audio signal is input in a spatial audio mixing, and the close microphone is associated with a first sound source; receive a beam-formed audio signal from a microphone array, wherein the beam-formed audio signal is a result of forming a beam of the microphone array directed from the microphone array towards the close microphone so as to enhance the audio signal; determine a time duration where no further sound source is active within the sound scene the first sound source; and determine a time difference, during the time duration, between the audio signal and the beam-formed audio signal to enable alignment of the audio signal and the beam-formed audio signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2017Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Nokia Technologies OyInventors: Sujeet Shyamsundar Mate, Jussi Leppanen
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Patent number: 10776073Abstract: A system, method and computer-readable storage device are disclosed for managing a mute and unmute feature on a device which is used to communicate data in a communication conference. The method includes detecting, when the device is set to mute, whether the user is speaking and whether the speech is meant for the conference. Background noises are distinguished from the speech of the user. If the user is speaking and the device is set to mute, the device will automatically switch to and unmute setting such that people in the indication conference can hear the user speak. Facial recognition, and gaze detection or other data can also be used to determine when to automatically mute or unmute the device and can aid in inferring an intent of the user to speak to the conference participants.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.Inventors: Nils Lenke, Eric Montague, William F. Ganong, III
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Patent number: 10770056Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a computer-program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium that is programmed to perform selective active noise cancellation (ANC) for a vehicle is provided. The computer-program product comprising instructions to determine an amount of noise present in a first zone and a second zone and to selectively drive only at least one first loudspeaker in the first zone to generate a first cancellation field to cancel road noise and/or engine noise if the amount of noise in the first zone is greater than the amount of noise in the second zone. The computer-program product comprising instructions to selectively drive only at least one second loudspeaker in the second zone to generate the second cancellation field to cancel road noise and/or engine noise if the amount of noise in the second zone is greater than the amount of noise in the first zone.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2019Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbHInventor: Nikos Zafeiropoulos
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Patent number: 10764689Abstract: A speaker includes a housing and a sound unit accommodated in the housing. A sound outlet is disposed on one side wall of the housing, a front cavity is formed between the sound unit and the housing, a front cavity channel and a side cavity on one side of the front cavity channel are disposed in the housing, and the front cavity channel is connected between the front cavity and the sound outlet. The speaker further includes a connecting channel formed by injection molding, and the connecting channel is connected between the side cavity and the front cavity channel. The connecting channel includes a bottom wall, a side wall which extends from the bottom wall, and a top wall connected to the side wall.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2019Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.Inventor: Yong Zhang
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Patent number: 10764663Abstract: The present disclosure provides a speaker box which includes a shell, a speaker, an acoustic guiding channel, an auxiliary acoustic cavity, a baffle and a cover plate. The diaphragm of the speaker separates the receiving space into a front acoustic cavity and a rear cavity, the acoustic channel communicates the front acoustic cavity with the outside to form a front cavity. The auxiliary acoustic cavity is provided with a first through-hole in communication with the front cavity and a second through-hole in communication with the outside, and the baffle completely covers the first through-hole. The baffle is provided with a channel penetrating therethrough, and the auxiliary acoustic cavity is in communication with the front cavity through the channel. The cover plate completely covers the second through-hole and forms a fixed. Compared with the related art, the high-frequency acoustic performance of the speaker box of the present disclosure is excellent.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2019Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Jun Wu, Kaihua Shen, Yue Ren
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Patent number: 10764664Abstract: The present disclosure provides a speaker box which comprises a shell, a speaker, a support wall, and a sound guide channel. The speaker is fixed to be supported on the support wall. The diaphragm of the speaker partitions the receiving space into a front sound cavity and a rear cavity. The sound guide channel communicates the front sound cavity with the outside and forms the front cavity with the front sound cavity. The speaker box also comprises a surrounding wall and a cover plate arranged on the surrounding wall. The surrounding wall is located on the outside of the support wall, and the shell, surrounding wall, support wall and cover plate are jointly enclosed as auxiliary acoustic cavity. Compared with the related art, the high frequency acoustic performance of the speaker box of the present disclosure is excellent.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2019Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Jun Wu, Kaihua Shen, Wang Sun
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Patent number: 10756689Abstract: A system may include an input configured to receive a first signal representative of a second signal to be driven to an amplifier input of an amplifier, processing circuitry configured to process the first signal in order to generate the second signal from the first signal such that the processing circuitry limits a current driven by the amplifier to an output load of the amplifier, and an output configured to drive the second signal to the amplifier input.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2018Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Eric Lindemann, John L. Melanson, Eric J. King
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Patent number: 10750274Abstract: A speaker box is provided in the present disclosure. The speaker box comprises a shell, a speaker, a sound guiding channel, an auxiliary sound cavity, a baffle, a cover plate and a sound absorber. The diaphragm of the speaker separates the receiving space into a front sound cavity and a rear cavity, the sound guiding channel communicates the front sound cavity with the outside. The auxiliary sound cavity is provided with the first through hole communicating with the front cavity and the second through hole communicating with the outside, and the baffle completely covers the first through hole. The baffle is provided with a channel, and the auxiliary sound cavity communicates with the front cavity through the channel. The cover plate covers the second through hole. Compared with the related art, the high frequency acoustic performance of the speaker box of the present disclosure is excellent.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2019Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Jun Wu, Kaihua Shen, Yue Ren
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Patent number: 10741162Abstract: An active noise cancellation (ANC) system may include provisions for validating the accuracy of a modeled transfer characteristic stored in secondary path filters, which provides an estimate of the secondary path (i.e., the transfer function between a speaker and an error microphone). Using estimated anti-noise or music signals to adjust an error signal from the error microphone, a signal analysis controller may detect ANC instability or noise boosting. Such noise boosting may indicate the stored transfer characteristic in the secondary path filter does not accurately represent the actual secondary path. According, upon detection of noise boosting, the stored transfer characteristic of the secondary path filters may be modified.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2019Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATEDInventor: Kevin J. Bastyr
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Patent number: 10735858Abstract: A system includes an audio transducer. The audio output of the transducer may be directed at an operator. The directionality of the audio output may ensure privacy in audio delivery. Further, the directionality of the audio output may reduce the potential for other nearby individuals to be disturbed by the audio output. A directed audio system may control the content of the audio output. The content of the audio output may be configured for applications in individual operator workspaces, multiple-operator common spaces, shared-use spaces or a combination thereof. The directed audio system may customize the audio output in accord with a stored audio profile for the operator.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2019Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Steelcase, Inc.Inventors: Darrin Sculley, Mark Slager, Scott Wilson, Mark McKenna, Kirk Gregory Griffes
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Patent number: 10733971Abstract: [Object] To provide a sound processing device capable of effectively reducing ambient noise at low cost. [Solution] Provided is a sound processing device including: a first sound collector configured to collect a first noise signal from a noise source of noise leaking into a casing mounted to a user's ear; a first signal processing unit configured to form a first noise reduction signal used to reduce noise at a cancellation point on the basis of the first noise signal; a second signal processing unit configured to form a second noise reduction signal used to reduce noise at a cancellation point with respect to a first pseudo noise signal; an adder configured to add the first noise reduction signal and the second noise reduction signal; and a sound emitter configured to emit an output of the adder into the casing as sound.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2017Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Shigetoshi Hayashi, Kohei Asada, Tetsunori Itabashi, Kazuma Yoshii, Mitsuhiro Suzuki, Shinpei Tsuchiya, Yushi Yamabe
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Patent number: 10735850Abstract: The present invention refers to a loudspeaker. Soundwaves generated by a loudspeaker according to the prior art are emitted into a room or into the surrounding space in a predetermined geometric structure. It is a task of the present invention to provide a loudspeaker, which has an improved spatial acoustic performance. According to an embodiment of the invention, the loudspeaker comprises a housing, at least one driver arrangement and a mounting device including a movable mechanism for mounting the driver arrangement to the housing. The driver arrangement comprises at least one electroacoustic driver. With the help of the mounting device the driver arrangement is mounted to the housing in different predetermined positions, wherein the mounting device is adapted such, that the driver arrangement can be arranged in at least a first position and at least a second position with respect to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2016Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: BURMESTER AUDIOSYSTEME GMBHInventors: Stefan Größler, Robert Horbach, Martin Lorenz, Pascal-Philippe Bings
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Patent number: 10728654Abstract: An integrated circuit for digital signal routing. The integrated circuit has analog and digital inputs and outputs, including digital interfaces for connection to other integrated circuits. Inputs, including the digital interfaces, act as data sources. Outputs, including the digital interfaces, act as data destinations. The integrated circuit also includes signal processing blocks, which can act as data sources and data destinations. Signal routing is achieved by means of a multiply-accumulate block, which takes data from one or more data source and, after any required scaling, generates output data for a data destination. Data from a data source is buffered for an entire period of a data sample clock so that the multiply-accumulate block can retrieve the data at any point in the period, and output data of the multiply-accumulate block is buffered for an entire period of the data sample clock so that the data destination can retrieve the data at any point in the period.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2018Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Graeme Gordon Mackay, Jonathan Timothy Wigner, Gordon Richard McLeod
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Patent number: 10720142Abstract: An active duct noise control system and a method thereof are provided, including a duct, a noise source speaker, a microphone, a plurality of noise-cancelling speakers, and a plurality of controllers. Wherein, the noise source speaker generates the primary noise, and the microphone is disposed to receive the residual noise. The plurality of noise-cancelling speakers are disposed between the noise source speaker and the microphone and respectively generate noise-cancelling audio frequencies to offset the primary noise and reduce the residual noise. The plurality of controllers are respectively connected to the plurality of noise-cancelling speakers and the noise source speaker and calculate each of the noise-cancelling audio frequencies generated by each of the plurality of noise-cancelling speakers according to the multi-channel inverse filtering principle.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2019Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: NATIONAL TSING HUA UNIVERSITYInventors: Ming-Sian Bai, Hung-Yu Chen
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Patent number: 10720140Abstract: An active road noise control method in an active road noise controller disposed in a vehicle may include diagnosing whether a plurality of microphones connected in a daisy chain has failed, receiving a data frame from the plurality of microphones, identifying normal information related to information included in the data frame based on a result of diagnosis, generating a digital noise control signal using the identified normal information, and transmitting the generated digital noise control signal to an external amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2018Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventor: Young Kim
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Patent number: 10713927Abstract: A workspace assembly includes a plurality of sound sensors including at least first and second sound sensors located in first and second spaces within a facility, respectively, at least one communication device located within one of the first space and the second space, and a processor in communication with the sound sensors and the communication device, the processor adapted to compare at least some characteristic of the sounds in at least a subset of the plurality of spaces to identify a particular space from which the sound emanates and to compare at least some characteristic of the sound emanating from the particular space to at least one threshold characteristic value and to provide a signal via the at least one communication device based on the results of the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2019Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: STEELCASE INC.Inventors: Robert Scheper, Matthew Warner, Karl Mead, Brett Kincaid, Kurt Heidmann
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Patent number: 10685640Abstract: A noise-cancellation method, comprising the steps of: receiving a value from a noise sensor at a time step; storing the received value in a buffer, the buffer having a length, the buffer further storing a number of additional values, wherein an end value is removed from the buffer to accommodate the received value; providing a previously-computed result, wherein the previously-computed result represents the sum of the square of the values stored in the buffer at a previous time step; adding a square of the received value to the previously-computed result and subtracting a square of the end value from the sum of the received value and the previously computed value in order to yield a newly-computed result and updating a plurality of coefficients of an adaptive filter according to, in part, the value of the newly-computed result.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2018Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: Bose CorporationInventors: Siamak Farahbakhsh, Wade Torres, Eric Bernstein
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Patent number: 10685664Abstract: This disclosure describes, in part, techniques for detecting that a microphone of a voice-enabled device is unusable due to noise levels around the microphone, and indicating to a user that the device has become unusable due to, for example, buffeting. The device may analyze audio signals to determine that the noise levels are too high to perform speech-processing techniques to detect voice. The device may utilize speakers to output sounds, and/or LEDs to output light, to indicate noise levels and/or that the device is unable to detect voice due to buffeting. In this way, the device may indicate that a user needs to speak loudly to be heard, move their device, and/or reduce sound in the environment to use the speech-processing abilities of the device.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2018Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Trausti Thor Kristjansson, Balaji Nagendran Thoshkahna
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Patent number: 10687159Abstract: In a noise reduction device that generates and outputs a control sound signal for reducing noise, an internal loop control unit controls an internal loop in which a pre-output control sound signal that is acquired from a control sound output unit before output to a speaker is input to a sound receiver. A measurement unit measures an input level of a microphone sound signal and an input level of the pre-output control sound signal that has been input to the sound receiver in the internal loop. A fault detector uses the input level of the microphone sound signal and the input level of the pre-output control sound signal measured by the measurement unit to detect a fault in any one of the microphone, the sound receiver, the speaker, and the control sound output unit. A transmitter sends a result of fault detection performed by the fault detector to a management device.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2019Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takahiro Yamaguchi, Toshihiro Ezaki, Kenichi Kubota, Masaru Matsuoka, Yuji Suzuki, Junji Araki, Shinichi Takayama