Patents Examined by William A Jerez Lora
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Patent number: 11561610Abstract: Techniques for implementing an augmented audio conditioning (AAC) system are described herein. In some examples, the AAC system can store conditioning data comprising crowd noise experiences associated with context-relevant environments and/or actions associated with an activity. The AAC system can detect an action of a user who is training in a conditioning environment and determine that the action is associated with the activity. In some examples, the AAC system can also determine an association between the action of the user and audio data representing a crowd noise experience of a context-relevant environment during an event. Furthermore, the AAC system can, in response to detecting the action of the user, output the audio-conditioning data into the conditioning environment to simulate the crowd noise experience of the context-relevant environment during the event.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2020Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: Moea Technologies, Inc.Inventor: John Correia
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Patent number: 11540042Abstract: A method for rejecting inherent noise of a microphone arrangement that includes a first microphone and a second microphone. The first microphone generates a first microphone signal from an ambient sound signal and the second microphone generates a second microphone signal from the ambient sound signal. A measure of correlation between the first microphone signal and the second microphone signal is ascertained, and inherent noise of the first microphone and/or of the second microphone in the first or second microphone signal is rejected on the basis of the measure of correlation.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2021Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Cecil Wilson, Thomas Pilgrim
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Patent number: 11527232Abstract: A remote microphone signal is obtained from a remote device, and a local microphone signal from a local device. A difference between strength of the remote microphone signal and strength of the local microphone signal is determined. An output audio signal is produced to drive a speaker in the local device. If the difference is greater than a threshold, then the local and remote microphone signals are applied to two input channels, respectively, of a two channel noise suppressor which produces the output audio signal, but if the difference is less than the threshold after a certain delay since the difference was greater than the threshold, then only the remote microphone signal is applied to a single input of a single channel noise suppressor which produces the output audio signal. Other aspects are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2021Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventor: Sorin Dusan
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Patent number: 11523244Abstract: A system including an audio source device having a first microphone and a first speaker for directing sound into an environment in which the audio source device is located and a wireless audio receiver device having a second microphone and a second speaker for directing sound into a user's ear. The audio source device is configured to 1) capture, using the first microphone, speech of the user as a first audio signal, 2) reduce noise in the first audio signal to produce a speech signal, and 3) drive the first speaker with the speech signal. The wireless audio receiver device is configured to 1) capture, using the second microphone, a reproduction of the speech produced by the first speaker as a second audio signal and 2) drive the second speaker with the second audio signal to output the reproduction of the speech.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Paul Meade, Christopher T. Eubank, Neal D. Evans, Nikolas T. Vitt
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Patent number: 11523240Abstract: An audio system generates customized head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) for a user. The audio system receives an initial set of estimated HRTFs. The initial set of HRTFs may have been estimated using a trained machine learning and computer vision system and pictures of the user's ears. The audio system generates a set of test locations using the initial set of HRTFs. The audio system presents test sounds at each of the initial set of test locations using the initial set of HRTFs. The audio system monitors user responses to the test sounds. The audio system uses the monitored responses to generate a new set of estimated HRTFs and a new set of test locations. The process repeats until a threshold accuracy is achieved or until a set period of time expires. The audio system presents audio content to the user using the customized HRTFs.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Vamsi Krishna Ithapu, William Owen Brimijoin, II, Henrik Gert Hassager
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Patent number: 11516594Abstract: A sensor arrangement is provided, including a first capacitive sensor and a second capacitive sensor. A charge pump is coupled to the first capacitive sensor and to the second capacitive sensor, the charge pump being operable to deliver a positive bias voltage. A differential output has a first terminal coupled to the first capacitive sensor and a second terminal coupled to the second capacitive sensor.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLCInventor: Mark Niederberger
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Patent number: 11510001Abstract: An electronic device is provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2021Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Taeyoung Han, Yongju Son, Sangheon Kim, Mira Seo, Byeongyeop Jang, Keunwon Jang, Jinwan An
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Patent number: 11510002Abstract: A semiconductor device with a novel structure which can identify the sound source is provided. The semiconductor device includes a microphone array, delay circuits, and a signal processing circuit. The delay circuit includes a first selection circuit, which selects a microphone, signal retention circuits, which retain voltages depending on the sound signal, and a second selection circuit, which selects a signal retention circuit. Each signal retention circuit includes a transistor which includes a semiconductor layer including an oxide semiconductor in its channel formation region. The first selection circuit writes the voltage of discreet sound signals to the signal retention circuit. The second selection circuit selects at different timings the voltages which are retained in the signal retention circuit and generates the output signal corresponding to the delayed sound signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2019Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takayuki Ikeda, Kiyotaka Kimura, Takeya Hirose
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Patent number: 11501785Abstract: An audio signal processing method and apparatus for adaptively adjusting a decorrelator. The method comprises obtaining a control parameter and calculating mean and variation of the control parameter. Ratio of the variation and mean of the control parameter is calculated, and a decorrelation parameter is calculated based on the said ratio. The decorrelation parameter is then provided to a decorrelator.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2021Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)Inventors: Tomas Jansson Toftgård, Tommy Falk
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Patent number: 11503401Abstract: A dual-zone automotive multimedia system may include a first infotainment device associated with a front zone of a vehicle, at least one second infotainment device associated with a rear zone of a vehicle, wherein the at least one second infotainment device includes a directional loudspeaker arranged facing the rear zone of the vehicle, and a processor programmed to transmit audio signals to the first and second infotainment devices to create sound at each of the front and rear zones, wherein the audio signal transmitted to the directional loudspeaker relates to playback at the rear zone.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2021Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Harman International Industries, IncorporatedInventors: Riley Winton, Christopher Ludwig, Christopher Michael Trestain, Maxwell Boone Willis
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Patent number: 11483658Abstract: A system and method for determining an in-ear status of wearable audio devices includes determining that the devices are each proximate a portion of a body of a user. Each device determines its orientation; if both orientations correspond to ears of the user, the devices output corresponding audio.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Varn Khanna, Atif M Noori
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Patent number: 11483651Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program is described comprising: receiving a near-field audio source signal from a near-field microphone (22); receiving a far-field audio signal from an array comprising one or more far-field microphones (23); determining a filter length of a first portion of a room impulse response filter for the near-field microphone, wherein said filter length of said first portion is the same at each of a plurality of frequency bands of the filter and wherein said filter length of said first portion includes a direct acoustic propagation delay; and determining a filter length of a second portion of the room impulse response filter at each of the plurality of frequency bands, wherein the filter length of said second portion is frequency-dependent.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2019Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: Nokia Technologies OyInventors: Anssi Rämö, Arto Lehtiniemi, Antti Eronen, Lasse Laaksonen, Joonas Nikunen
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Patent number: 11483649Abstract: A system includes multiple microphone arrays positioned at different locations on a roof of an autonomous vehicle. Each microphone array includes two or more microphones. Internal clocks of each microphone array are synchronized by a processor and used to generate timestamps indicating when microphones capture a sound. Based on the timestamps, the processor is configured to localize a source of the sound.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Choon Ping Chng, Cheng-Han Wu, Ganesh Balachandran, Peter Strohm
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Patent number: 11477596Abstract: A computerized microphone-equipped audio playback device comprising a speaker and microphone and being configured to receive digital audio; and play the digital audio on a speaker, in accordance with a playback delay that is derivative of, at least: an arrival time of a first calibration sound at the processor and an arrival time of the first calibration sound at a second microphone-equipped audio playback device, wherein the first calibration sound originated at the listener position; a generation time of a second calibration sound at the second microphone-equipped audio playback device, and an arrival time of the second calibration sound at the processor; and a generation time of a third calibration sound at the processor, and an arrival time of the third calibration sound at the second microphone-equipped audio playback device; thereby synchronizing arrival of sound of the two playback devices at the listener position.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: WAVES AUDIO LTD.Inventors: Nahum Noam Weissman, Matan Ben-Asher, Itai Neoran
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Patent number: 11463830Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) microphone includes a cavity to receive an acoustic signal. The acoustic signal causes movement of a diaphragm relative to one or more other surfaces, which in turn results in an electrical signal representative of the received acoustic signal. A light sensor is included within the packaging of the MEMS microphone such that an output of the light sensor is representative of a light signal received with the acoustic signal. The output of the light sensor is used to modify the electrical signal representative of the received acoustic signal in a manner that limits light interference with an acoustical output signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2021Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.Inventor: Miroslav Svajda
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Patent number: 11457308Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to a microphone device configured to receive sound from different beams, where each beam has a different spatial orientation and is configured to receive sound from different directions. The microphone device is also configured to process the received sound using a generic or specific head related transfer function (HRTF) to generate processed audio and transmit the processed audio to hearing devices worn by a hearing-impaired user. Additionally, the microphone device can use a reference line and/or reference point when processing the received audio.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2018Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: SONOVA AGInventors: Marc Secall, Benjamin Heldner
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Patent number: 11451908Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include networked microphone devices (NMD) determining whether a Do Not Disturb (DND) feature should be activated, in response to determining that the DND feature should be activated, activating the DND feature. In some embodiments, the NMD determines whether to activate the DND feature based on various configuration and operational states. And in some embodiments, activating the DND feature includes activating the DND feature includes activating the DND feature at one or more additional NMDs based on the configuration and operational state of the NMD and the one or more additional NMDs.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2020Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Sein Woo, Ryan Myers, Charles Freedman
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Patent number: 11450304Abstract: A sensor system includes a triplet element including a first hydrophone, a second hydrophone, and a third hydrophone configured to receive an incoming signal at a first phase, a second phase, and a third phase, respectively, the first to third hydrophones extending along a first direction, and a processor configured to determine an incidence direction of the incoming signal, and to dynamically generate a cardioid null in the incidence direction to reject the incoming signal based on the incoming signal at the first to third phases.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2020Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventor: Andrew Wilby
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Patent number: 11445294Abstract: A steerable speaker array is provided, comprising a plurality of drivers arranged in a concentric, nested configuration formed by arranging the drivers in a plurality of concentric groups and placing the groups at different radial distances from a central point of the configuration. Each group is formed by a subset of the plurality of drivers being positioned at predetermined intervals from each other along a perimeter of the group. Also, the concentric groups are harmonically nested and rotationally offset from each other. An audio system is also provided comprising at least one steerable speaker array and a beamforming system configured to receive one or more input audio signals from an audio source, generate a separate audio output signal for each driver of the speaker array based on at least one of the input signals, and provide the audio output signals to the corresponding drivers to produce a beamformed audio output.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2020Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Matthew David Koschak, Brent Robert Shumard, David Grant Cason, Kenneth James Platz
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Patent number: 11437015Abstract: A vehicle sound synthesis system is provided with a loudspeaker, a microphone and a controller. The loudspeaker is adapted to project sound indicative of synthesized engine noise (SEN) within a cabin of a vehicle in response to receiving an adjusted SEN signal. The microphone is disposed in the cabin and adapted to provide a microphone signal having a SEN component and a noise component. The controller is programmed to receive the microphone signal, adjust a SEN signal based on the microphone signal, and provide the adjusted SEN signal to the loudspeaker.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2018Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATEDInventors: Kevin J. Bastyr, Divya Sishtla Venkata, David Paul Trumpy