Patents Examined by Xu Mei
  • Patent number: 11889280
    Abstract: An apparatus, comprising: an audio input for receiving an input audio signal; an tuning input for receiving a tuning signal; a filter chain comprising a plurality of filters for filtering the audio signal to produce a filtered input audio signal, the filter chain comprising: a first filter module operating at a first sampling rate; and a second filter module operating at a second sampling rate greater than the first sampling rate, wherein a phase response of the first filter module is dependent on the tuning input and wherein a magnitude response of the first filter module is substantially independent of the tuning input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic Inc.
    Inventor: John P. Lesso
  • Patent number: 11888455
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments provide glitch prediction based on machine learning algorithms in mixed analog and digital systems, particularly directed to digital microelectromechanical (MEMS) multipath acoustic sensors or microphones, which allow seamless, low latency gain changes without audible artifacts or interruptions in the audio output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventors: Stefano Valle, Alessandro Magnani, Pascal Trotta
  • Patent number: 11886769
    Abstract: An example system is configured to: (i) receive data indicating a command to play back, via a playback device of a media playback system, media content; (ii) based on the data indicating the command, detect a first playback condition comprising a first user identity; (iii) identify, from one or more user accounts associated with the playback device, a first user account corresponding to the first user identity; (iv) based at least on (1) the command and (2) one or more properties of the first user account, determine first media content for playback by the playback device; and (v) cause the playback device to play back the first media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Reimann, David Taylor, Abhishek Kumar
  • Patent number: 11876497
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for progressively transitioning the playback volume based on a background noise level. The device may have a predetermined quantity of volume levels between a minimum volume and a maximum volume. The volume levels may be spaced by predetermined increments, such that there is a predefined difference between adjacent volume levels. A digital gain may be used to adjust the volume level and an analog gain may allow for the playback volume to be adjusted to an amount between adjacent volume levels. The playback volume may progressively transition within the predefined volume levels by an amount less than the predetermined difference between adjacent volume levels. This smaller amount may be the analog gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Jae Lee, Priya Kasirajan
  • Patent number: 11863143
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for automatic control of gain in audio and video conferencing applications to maintain a predetermined and stable audio level. In one embodiment, a first stage applies a first stage gain based on a long-term estimate of signal level, while a second stage gain, based on a short-term estimate of signal level assists the first stage gain to achieve a target level. Some embodiments of long-term level estimation utilize statistical analysis of a buffer to validate or arrive at a more accurate long-term signal level estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Zoom Video Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Rao, Yangzhong Wang, Jianglong Li
  • Patent number: 11863956
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing audio to a user include retrieving aural attributes of the user and analyzing the aural attributes to detect any aural imbalance between two ears of the user. An audio generated by an interactive application is dynamically calibrated, in accordance to aural imbalance detected between the two ears of the user, to generate a calibrated audio. The audio of the interactive application is forwarded to a first side of a headphone directed toward a first ear of the user and the calibrated audio to second side of the headphone directed toward a second ear. The different audio provided via different sides of the headphone compensate for the aural imbalance detected in the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC
    Inventor: Bethany Tinklenberg
  • Patent number: 11856377
    Abstract: A method and system directed to controlling Active Noise Reduction (ANR) audio devices with active noise reduction. The system sets one or more ANR parameters of a first and a second wearable audio device to a first ANR state; detects that the first wearable audio device is removed from a first ear of a user; and automatically adjusts the one or more ANR parameters of the second wearable audio device to a second ANR state when the first wearable audio device is removed from the ear of the user, wherein the second ANR state comprises a reduction in a level of ANR compared to the first ANR state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Minich, Emery M. Ku, Alexia Delhoume, Michelle Gelberger
  • Patent number: 11856366
    Abstract: Driver circuitry is disclosed for driving an electroacoustic transducer to provide an output comprising both ultrasonic and audio signal components. The driver circuitry comprises an adjustment module configured to reduce the level of said ultrasonic component signal in response to an increase in an operational variable indicative of a level of said audio signal component, while also increasing the pulse duration, duty cycle, repetition frequency or frequency span or bandwidth of the ultrasonic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic Inc.
    Inventors: John Paul Lesso, Cedric Andrieu, Calum Cuthill
  • Patent number: 11843922
    Abstract: An audio system is described for calibrating one or more transducers for a user using the auditory steady state response (ASSR) of the user. The audio system presents an audio calibration signal to the user via a transducer array in the headset. The system measures electrical signals that are generated in the auditory cortex of the brain of the user in response to the presented audio calibration signal. The audio system determines an ASSR of the user based on the measured electrical signals. The audio system determines a value for one or more sound filter parameter based on the determined ASSR and a model. The audio system calibrates the transducer array using the determined sound filter parameters. The calibrated transducer array is used to present audio content to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Morteza Khaleghimeybodi, Nils Thomas Fritiof Lunner
  • Patent number: 11843926
    Abstract: A system for presenting audio content to a user. The system comprises one or more microphones coupled to a frame of a headset. The one or more microphones capture sound from a local area. The system further comprises an audio controller integrated into the headset and communicatively coupled to an in-ear device worn by a user. The audio controller identifies one or more sound sources in the local area based on the captured sound. The audio controller further determines a target sound source of the one or more sound sources and determines one or more filters to apply to a sound signal associated with the target sound source in the captured sound. The audio controller further generates an augmented sound signal by applying the one or more filters to the sound signal and provides the augmented sound signal to the in-ear device for presentation to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: William Owen Brimijoin, II, Nils Thomas Fritiof Lunner, Philip Robinson, Ravish Mehra
  • Patent number: 11832080
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to: determine, for two or more microphone audio signals, a plurality of spatial audio parameters for providing spatial audio reproduction, wherein the plurality of spatial audio parameters are associated with respective frequency bands of at least two frequency bands of the two or more microphone audio signals; determine at least one coherence parameter associated with a sound field, wherein the sound field is associated with the two or more microphone audio signals; determine at least one audio signal based on the two or more microphone audio signals; and enable the spatial audio reproduction based on the plurality of spatial audio parameters, the at least one coherence parameter, and the at least one determined audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Mikko-Ville Laitinen, Juha Vilkamo
  • Patent number: 11832042
    Abstract: An assembly may include a speaker supportable for movement relative to a reference external to the speaker and a speaker housing supporting speaker components operable to produce an audio output. A sensor is operable to sense a direction of movement of the speaker during movement of the speaker relative to the reference. Control components are operable to control the speaker components based on the direction of movement of the speaker relative to the reference. When the speaker is sensed to be moving in a first direction relative to the reference, an operational characteristic of the speaker components is controlled to increase or advance during movement in the first direction. When the speaker is sensed to be moving in a second direction relative to the reference different from the first direction, the operational characteristic of the speaker components is controlled to decrease or retreat during movement in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Kenneth Scott Hanna, Michael James Soetaert, Keith Scott Ruh, William Clement Kuru, Gregory de Swarte
  • Patent number: 11832086
    Abstract: Channels of audio data in a spatial audio object are associated with any one or more of a direction and a location of one or more recorded sounds, which channels are to be reproduced as spatial sound. A visualized spatial sound object represents a snapshot/thumbnail of the spatial sound. To preview the spatial sound (by experiencing its snapshot or thumbnail), a user manipulates the orientation of the visualized spatial sound object, and a weighted downmix of the channels is rendered for output as a spatial preview sound, e.g., a single output audio signal is provided to a spatial audio renderer; one or more of the channels that are oriented toward the user are emphasized in the preview sound, more than channels that are oriented away from the user. Other aspects are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher T. Eubank, Matthew S. Connolly, Stephen E. Pinto
  • Patent number: 11825283
    Abstract: Aspects provide a wearable audio output device that provides an audio indication regarding a user's status with respect to a teleconference. The user is connected to at least one remote participant of a teleconference via the wearable audio output device. The wearable audio output device alters an audio stream to provide an indication of the user's status. Absent a visual indication, the user is intuitively aware of whether the microphone on the wearable audio output device is muted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: Santiago Carvajal
  • Patent number: 11812243
    Abstract: A headset comprising a controller configured to receive wind information comprising information relating to a direction of wind in a predetermined coordinate system, direction information relating to a direction of the headset in the predetermined coordinate system, and an input audio signal and to generate an output audio signal based on the wind information, the direction information and the input audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Bang & Olufsen A/S
    Inventors: Sven Ewan Shepstone, Pablo Martinez-Nuevo
  • Patent number: 11807170
    Abstract: A vehicle and a controlling method of the same include a speaker outputting virtual engine sound integrated with a head lamp. The vehicle includes the head lamp; a head lamp case in which the head lamp is provided; and a speaker for outputting a virtual engine sound, and provided inside the head lamp case, where an internal cross-sectional area of the head lamp case may increase in a direction toward a front of the vehicle based on a position where the speaker is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Yonghwan Hwang
  • Patent number: 11805360
    Abstract: A device includes a memory configured to store instructions and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions. The one or more processors are configured to execute the instructions to receive audio data including a first audio frame corresponding to a first output of a first microphone and a second audio frame corresponding to a second output of a second microphone. The one or more processors are also configured to execute the instructions to provide the audio data to a first noise-suppression network and a second noise-suppression network. The first noise-suppression network is configured to generate a first noise-suppressed audio frame and the second noise-suppression network is configured to generate a second noise-suppressed audio frame. The one or more processors are further configured to execute the instructions to provide the noise-suppressed audio frames to an attention-pooling network. The attention-pooling network is configured to generate an output noise-suppressed audio frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Vahid Montazeri, Van Nguyen, Hannes Pessentheiner, Lae-Hoon Kim, Erik Visser, Rogerio Guedes Alves
  • Patent number: 11804814
    Abstract: A digital audio playback circuit includes a noise shaping circuit configured to receive an input digital audio signal, and a digital to analog converter (DAC) configured to convert the input digital audio signal to a pre-amplified output analog audio signal according to a gain ramp defined by a gain control signal. A muting circuit is configured to compare input digital audio signal to a threshold and assert a mute control signal when the input digital audio signal is below the threshold. An analog gain control ramp circuit is configured to generate the gain control signal in response to the mute control signal to cause the gain ramp to ramp down. An amplifier is configured to amplify the pre-amplified output analog audio signal for playback by an audio playback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Francesco Stilgenbauer, Paolo Cacciagrano, Giovanni Gonano
  • Patent number: 11792572
    Abstract: An audio signal processing circuit includes a filter, a gain control circuit, and a bass boost circuit. The filter filters an audio signal and produces a filtered signal accordingly. The gain control circuit divides the filtered signal in the time domain into a first segment and a second segment that are substantially equal in length, measures a first amplitude of the first segment and a second amplitude of the second segment, and generates a gain based on the first amplitude which is greater than the second amplitude. The bass boost circuit adjusts the amplitudes of the first segment and the second segment according to the gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tien-Chiu Hung
  • Patent number: 11792589
    Abstract: To avoid damage from overheating, playback device operation can be modulated based on input from temperature sensors. An example method includes obtaining, via one or more temperature sensors carried by the playback device, temperature data. Based on the temperature data, a first temperature parameter is detected. In response to detecting the first temperature parameter, a gain of audio playback is decreased by a first amount. After decreasing the gain of audio playback by the first amount, a second temperature parameter is detected. In response to detecting the second temperature parameter, the gain of audio playback is decreased by a second amount different than the first amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Hilmar Lehnert, Aurelio Ramos