Patents Examined by Ubachukwu Odunukwe
  • Patent number: 9992573
    Abstract: A filter for correcting phase distortion produced at low frequencies in a loudspeaker system is created by inverting the phase response of the determined complex-valued frequency response of a loudspeaker system. The inverted phase response is obtained by taking the complex conjugate of the phase response. The impulse response for the inverted phase response is obtained by means of an inverse Fourier transform of the inverted phase response. The impulse response provides a linear phase FIR filter having a long filter length. The linear phase FIR filter is applied to the audio signal input to the loudspeaker system. Prior to inverting the phase response, the determined complex-valued frequency response of a loudspeaker system can be subjected to high frequency blanking and polynomial smoothing. Also, the linear phase FIR filter can be subjected to a window function prior to applying the filter to the audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Meyer Sound Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventors: Perrin Meyer, John D. Meyer
  • Patent number: 9985518
    Abstract: A circuit includes: a signal processing unit which is configured to perform signal processing; an amplifying unit which is configured to amplify a signal output from the signal processing unit; a first power supplying path which is extended from a battery to the signal processing unit; a second power supplying path which is branched from the first power supplying path, and which is extended to the amplifying unit; a power limiting unit which is provided in the second power supplying path, and which is configured to limit power flowing in the second power supplying path; and a capacitor which is connected to the second power supplying path, and which is configured to supplement power to be supplied to the amplifying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Ishii, Satsuki Kawahashi, Takeshi Kono, Yoshiyuki Harada
  • Patent number: 9984701
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for removing non-stationary and/or colored noise can include one or more of the three following innovative aspects: (1) detection of an unwanted target signal, or component thereof, within an observed signal; (2) removal of the target (component) from the observed signal; and (3) filling of a gap in the observed signal generated by removal of the unwanted target (component). Removal regions, frequency bands, and/or regions of the observed signal used to train the gap filler can be adapted in correspondence with local characteristics of the observed signal and/or the target signal (component). Related aspects also are described. For example, disclosed noise detection and/or removal methods can include converting an incoming acoustic signal to a corresponding machine-readable form. And, a corrected signal in machine-readable form can be converted to a human-perceivable form, and/or to a modulated signal form conveyed over a communication connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Harvey D. Thornburg, Hyung-Suk Kim, Peter A. Raffensperger
  • Patent number: 9986082
    Abstract: An interface device and method between an electronic device and an external device using an ear jack of a smart device are disclosed in order to implement an interface that is capable of automatically recognizing an ear jack insertion type appcessory. The interface device includes: an electronic device including an ear jack including a plurality of audio signal input and output terminals; an external device including an interface unit including a connector unit configured to be inserted into the ear jack, the connector unit including a plurality of terminals that correspond to the plurality of audio signal input and output terminals provided in the ear jack of the electronic device, respectively; and a recognizing unit on the connector unit of the interface unit configured to recognize whether the external device is connected to the ear jack of the electronic device through a plurality of detections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Changsu Lee, Sungsoo Moon, Kemsuk Seo, Bongjae Rhee, Sangmoon Lee
  • Patent number: 9972296
    Abstract: An acoustic-to-electronic bass drum conversion kit describes the parts needed to convert an acoustic bass drum into an electronic bass drum trigger and amplification device. My invention includes a front panel assembly which has at least one loudspeaker mounted on a panel which fits over the front of a bass drum shell, and a rear panel assembly which has an amplifier and an impact sensitive kick pad mounted on a rear panel. After discarding the front and rear drum heads and hoops, the front and rear panel assemblies are attached to the bass drum shell using conventional lug, tension rod and claw bracket technology. My invention provides the desired look of an acoustic bass drum for drummers who desire an electronic drum amplification system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventor: Mark David Steele
  • Patent number: 9966104
    Abstract: A control device is provided which mixes and outputs two types of audio signals processed under standards different from each other; in particular, an audio signal of ASIO standard and an audio signal of WDM standard. An audio interface is connected to a computer, and an audio signal is input to the computer. A mixer module of the computer mixes an audio signal which is effect-processed by an ASIO application and an audio signal reproduced by a WDM application, outputs the mixed audio signal to the audio interface, and also outputs the mixed audio signal to the WDM application and records the sound. In each step of the process, double buffering is used to reduce sound drop-out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: TEAC Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Omata
  • Patent number: 9949050
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for calibrating an array of receivers (rj), each receiver being configured for receiving a signal transmitted by at least one transmitter (si), and echoes of the transmitted signal as reflected by one or more reflective surfaces (w), said method comprising the following steps: sorting said echoes, by assigning each echo to a reflective surface or to a combination of reflective surfaces (w) calibrating said array of receivers (rj) based on said sorting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnic Federale De Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Ivan Dokmanic, Laurent Daudet, Martin Vetterli
  • Patent number: 9921801
    Abstract: Positional information indicative of positions of a plurality of terminals is acquired from the terminals through communication; one or more representative terminals are determined from among the terminals in accordance with a state of distribution of the positions; when the positional information satisfies a predetermined condition, a first command to cause the representative terminals to output a sound at a first sound volume being transmitted to the representative terminals, and a second command to cause general terminals to output a sound at a second sound volume different from the first sound volume being transmitted to the general terminals different from the representative terminals; and when the positional information does not satisfy the predetermined condition, a third command to cause the representative terminals and general terminals to output a sound at a third sound volume being transmitted to the representative terminals and general terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yuki, Kazuki Funase
  • Patent number: 9924288
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for detecting blockage associated with a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) microphone of a device are presented. The device includes a MEMS acoustic sensor and a processor. The MEMS acoustic sensor is contained in a cavity within the device. The processor is configured to detect a blockage condition associated with an opening of the cavity that contains the MEMS acoustic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventors: Baris Cagdaser, Renata Melamud Berger, Omid Oliaei, Aleksey S. Khenkin
  • Patent number: 9888321
    Abstract: A loudspeaker includes a frame, a magnetic circuit provided with a magnetic gap, a cone-shaped diaphragm, a voice coil, and an LED. The magnetic circuit is connected to a lower part of the frame. The diaphragm is connected to an outer periphery of the frame. A first end of the voice coil is connected to the diaphragm, and a second end thereof is inserted into the magnetic gap. The LED is provide on an upper part of the frame, and outputs light toward the center of the diaphragm. The LED is disposed such that the diaphragm reflects the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Kuribayashi, Kazutaka Kubo, Yohei Jin, Hitoshi Sato, Hiroyuki Morimoto
  • Patent number: 9883265
    Abstract: A wireless audio speaker system that includes a speaker main unit and multiple functions provided by exchangeable accessories is disclosed. The speaker main unit includes a top sleeve and a bottom sleeve that covers the external surface of a more internal enclosure that houses the main unit electronics and circuitry. External electrical and mechanical connectors are configured to be positioned on speaker unit and are adapted to being connected to the accessories. One external connector is positioned on the top sleeve for passing power and audio signals between the speaker main unit and an accessory component that is mounted to the top sleeve. A second connector is configured to be positioned on the bottom sleeve for passing audio signals between the speaker main unit and a second speaker that is stacked to the bottom sleeve via stacking plate. Multiple exchangeable accessory components are described to seamlessly supplement functionality and enhance user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: BRAVEN, LC
    Inventors: John Craig Cheney, Andy Fathollahi, Bryan Richard Berrett
  • Patent number: 9877135
    Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention, a method is disclosed. Near field communication is detected between at least two devices. A location of at least one of the at least two devices is determined based on the detected near field communication. An audio channel of a multi-channel audio file is assigned based on the determined location of the at least one of the at least two devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Juha Reinhold Backman, Miikka Olavi Tikander
  • Patent number: 9858916
    Abstract: A method comprising acquiring an analog first sound signal, performing analog-to-digital conversion on the first sound signal to generate a digital second sound signal, performing reverberation processing, at a system bottom layer, on the second sound signal to generate a digital third sound signal, performing digital sound mixing processing on the third sound signal and a background sound signal sent from an application layer to generate a digital fourth sound signal, performing digital-to-analog conversion on the fourth sound signal to generate an analog fifth sound signal, performing analog sound mixing processing on the first sound signal and the fifth sound signal to generate an analog sixth sound signal, and playing the sixth sound signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: HUAWEI DEVICE (DONGGUAN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kang An, Cunshou Qiu, Qing Chang
  • Patent number: 9837064
    Abstract: A communication device includes a loudspeaker to transmit sound into a room. A signal having a white noise-like frequency spectrum spanning a frequency range of human hearing is generated. Auditory thresholds of human hearing for frequencies spanning the frequency range are stored. Respective levels of background noise in the room at the frequencies are determined. The white noise-like frequency spectrum is spectrally shaped to produce a shaped frequency spectrum having, for each frequency, a respective level that follows either the auditory threshold or the level of background noise at that frequency, whichever is greater. The shaped frequency spectrum is transmitted from the loudspeaker into the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Knut Inge Hvidsten
  • Patent number: 9826312
    Abstract: A circuit for driving a loudspeaker is disclosed. The circuit includes: a signal generator connected to the loudspeaker, generating a first signal comprising a first pulse with positive value and a second pulse with negative value; a detection circuit connected to the loudspeaker, detecting a second signal produced by the loudspeaker in response to the first signal; and a processing circuit connected to the signal generator and the detection circuit, calculating the impedance of the loudspeaker according to the second signal; wherein each pulse width of the first and second pulses is between 100 ns and 900 ns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventors: Ming-Cheng Chiang, Chia-Chi Tsai
  • Patent number: 9820029
    Abstract: A device-adaptable headset device is provided, comprising: a microphone; one or more speakers; an audio connector comprising: a microphone output pin; and one or more speaker input pins respectively connected to the one or more speakers; a microphone line between the microphone output pin and the microphone; a ground line; one or more input devices in communication with the microphone line; a first circuit and a second circuit respectively configured for active signalling and passive signalling on the microphone line; and, a processor configured to: determine a present signalling mode; when the signalling mode is active, and when the one or more input devices is actuated, generate active signals on the microphone line using the first circuit; and, when the signalling mode is passive, and when the one or more input devices is actuated, generate passive signals on the microphone line using the second circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventor: Jens Kristian Poulsen
  • Patent number: 9805581
    Abstract: An alert system for generating a signal indicating at least one aspect of sound within a workspace environment, the system comprising at least a first sensor positioned one of within and proximate a workspace, the at least a first sensor sensing at least one aspect of sound generated within the workspace and generating a signal indicating the at least one aspect, a communication device located within the workspace, the communication device configured to generate a signal perceivable within the workspace and a processor receiving signals from the at least a first sensor and linked to the communication device, the processor programmed to perform the steps of identifying when the at least one aspect exceeds a threshold value and driving the communication device to indicate that the at least one aspect exceeds the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Scheper, Matthew Warner, Karl J. Mead, Brett Kincaid, Kurt Heidmann
  • Patent number: 9794692
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining a relative orientation of speakers that receive audio signals from a portable audio source device. In an embodiment, a microphone coupled with the portable audio source device receives a first sound from a first speaker and a second sound from a second speaker. An orientation detector determines a volume of at least one of the first and second sounds and the portable audio source device detects a movement of the portable audio source device. The orientation detector detects a variation in the determined volume and determines a relative orientation of the first and second speakers based, at least in part, on the detected movement and the detected variation in the determined volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kulvir S. Bhogal, Jonathan F. Brunn, Jeffrey R. Hoy, Asima Silva
  • Patent number: 9773490
    Abstract: A personal audio device, such as a wireless telephone, includes an adaptive noise canceling (ANC) circuit that adaptively generates an anti-noise signal from a reference microphone signal and injects the anti-noise signal into the speaker or other transducer output to cause cancellation of ambient audio sounds. An error microphone is also provided proximate to the speaker to provide an error signal indicative of the effectiveness of the noise cancellation. A secondary path estimating adaptive filter is used to estimate the electro-acoustical path from the noise canceling circuit through the transducer so that source audio can be removed from the error signal. A level of the source audio with respect to the ambient audio is determined to determine whether the system may generate erroneous anti-noise and/or become unstable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: CIRRUS LOGIC, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Alderson, Jon D. Hendrix, Dayong Zhou, Antonio John Miller, Chin Yong, Gautham Devendra Kamath
  • Patent number: 9773494
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system to create a quiet zone by suppressing background noise near a user's head. The present invention utilizes two microphones; one microphone receives environmental noise and the other one is located close to a person's head. A parabolic dish loudspeaker creates a uniform sound field near a user's head. A high performance frequency-domain filtered-x least mean square with band selection (FD-FX-LMS-BS) algorithm is utilized to generate the anti-phase noise signals. The algorithm has high noise reduction performance and also allows selection of specific frequency bands for noise reduction. The FD-FX-LMS-BS algorithm is performed by a field programmable gate array (FPGA) chip, which has minimal delay in algorithm processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED RESEARCH LLC.
    Inventor: Chiman Kwan