Patents Examined by Yosef K Laekemariam
  • Patent number: 10638218
    Abstract: In an audiovisual system, in which video is displayed on a screen that does not permit sound to pass through the screen, such as a light emitting diode panel, a high-frequency speaker positioned above an audience seating area can direct sound toward the screen, so that the screen can reflect the sound toward the audience seating area. The high-frequency speaker can be used with one or more low-frequency speakers positioned at or near the height of the audience seating area. The low-frequency and high-frequency sounds can appear to originate from close to the same height, thereby creating a realistic audio image at the audience seating area. A spectral filter can negate the spectral effects of propagation to and reflection from the screen. Suitable time delays can synchronize the high-frequency sound with the low-frequency sound and with video displayed on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: DTS, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Slack
  • Patent number: 10631099
    Abstract: A microphone includes a substrate defining an embedded cavity between a first surface of the substrate and an opposing second surface of the substrate, the first surface defining a first opening into the embedded cavity, a distance between the first surface and the second surface defining a substrate thickness. A cover is disposed over the first surface of the substrate and forms a housing, the cover including a port, the substrate thickness being greater than a height of the cover from the first surface of the substrate. A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) transducer is disposed in the housing and mounted on the first surface of the substrate over the first opening, and an integrated circuit (IC) is disposed in the housing and electrically coupled to the MEMS transducer. The MEMS transducer and the IC are disposed in a front volume of the housing defined by the cover and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Tony K. Lim, John Szczech, Joshua Watson
  • Patent number: 10623878
    Abstract: Higher Order Ambisonics represents three-dimensional sound independent of a specific loudspeaker set-up. However, transmission of an HOA representation results in a very high bit rate. Therefore, compression with a fixed number of channels is used, in which directional and ambient signal components are processed differently. The ambient HOA component is represented by a minimum number of HOA coefficient sequences. The remaining channels contain either directional signals or additional coefficient sequences of the ambient HOA component, depending on what will result in optimum perceptual quality. This processing can change on a frame-by-frame basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Sven Kordon, Alexander Krueger
  • Patent number: 10623844
    Abstract: Example techniques may involve headphone interaction. An implementation may include while headphones are disconnected from a control device, the control device receiving an indication of particular audio content being played back by a first zone of the media playback system. While the particular audio content is being played back by the one or more playback devices of the media playback system, detecting that headphones have been connected to the first control device. Headphones may be connectable to the control device via either (a) an analog headphone jack or (b) a point-to-point personal area network connection. In response to detecting that the headphones are connected to the control device: the control device (i) causing the one or more playback devices of the first zone to stop playback of the particular audio content; (ii) retrieving the particular audio content and (iii) resuming playback of the particular audio content via the connected headphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Clayton, Charles Alessi
  • Patent number: 10602292
    Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering audio signals are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may receive an input signal including a first portion and the second portion. A first processing stage comprising a first filter is applied to the first portion to generate a first filtered signal. A second processing stage comprising a second filter is applied to the first portion to generate a second filtered signal. A third processing stage comprising a third filter is applied to the second portion to generate a third filtered signal. A fourth processing stage comprising a fourth filter is applied to the second portion to generate a fourth filtered signal. A first output signal is determined based on a sum of the first filtered signal and the third filtered signal. A second output signal is determined based on a sum of the second filtered signal and the fourth filtered signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Remi Samuel Audfray, Jean-Marc Jot, Samuel Charles Dicker
  • Patent number: 10599389
    Abstract: A nonlinear control system and a speaker protection system are disclosed. In particular, a control system for adapting an audio output from a speaker in the proximity of an object is disclosed. The controller is configured to accept one or more input signals, and one or more estimated states produced by the model to produce one or more control signals. A speaker protection system and a quality control system are disclosed. More particularly, a system for clamping the input to a speaker dependent upon an estimate of the proximity, acoustic volume, and/or acoustic coupling of the speaker to a nearby object is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Pär Gunnars Risberg, Carl Lennart Stahl, Landy Toth
  • Patent number: 10600431
    Abstract: Systems and methods to provide distortion sensing, prevention, and/or distortion-aware bass enhancement in audio systems can be implemented in a variety of applications. Sensing circuitry can generate statistics based on an input signal received for which an acoustic output is generated. In various embodiments, the statistics can be used such that a multi-notch filter can be used to provide input to a speaker to generate the acoustic output. In various embodiments, the statistics from the sensing circuitry can be provided to a bass parameter controller coupled to bass enhancement circuitry to operatively provide parameters to the bass enhancement circuitry. The bass enhancement circuitry can provide a bass enhanced signal for generation of the acoustic output, based on the parameters. Various combinations of a multi-notch filter and bass enhancement circuitry using statistics from sensing circuitry can be implemented to provide an enhanced acoustic output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: DTS, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan James Cassidy, Aaron Kube Warner, Themis George Katsianos
  • Patent number: 10593343
    Abstract: An apparatus for decoding a surround audio signal includes a Bitstream De-multiplexer for unpacking a bitstream into spatial parameters and core parameters, a set of core decoders for decoding the core parameters into a set of core signals, a matrix derivation unit for deriving the rendering matrix from the spatial parameters and playback speaker layout information, and a renderer for rendering of the decoded core signals to playback signals using the rendering matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Zongxian Liu, Naoya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10595123
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided for tracking cleaning devices in a shopping space. A system for tracking cleaning devices comprises: a sound sensor array, a cleaning device database storing location information and sound profiles associated with a plurality of cleaning device identifiers, and a control circuit configured to: identify a cleaning device sound made by a movement of a cleaning device, determine a current location of the cleaning device based on the cleaning device sound, match the cleaning device to a cleaning device identifier in the cleaning device database, update the location information associated the cleaning device identifier in the cleaning device database based on the current location of the cleaning device, update the sound profile of the cleaning device identifier based on the cleaning device sound captured by the sound sensor array, and determine that a component of the cleaning device needs to be replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew A. Jones, Nicholaus A. Jones
  • Patent number: 10587567
    Abstract: A communication method includes the steps of transmitting, by means of a first communication apparatus, personal information to a second communication apparatus; receiving, by means of the second communication apparatus, the personal information and searching, by means of the second communication apparatus, whether or not personal information having the same content as the received personal information exists in the second communication apparatus; and notifying, by means of the second communication apparatus, the first communication apparatus of a search result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Sako, Mitsuru Takehara, Toshiro Terauchi, Makoto Inoue, Motoyuki Takai, Masamichi Asukai, Katsuya Shirai, Takatoshi Nakamura, Toru Sasaki, Yuichi Sakai, Masafumi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 10587977
    Abstract: An apparatus for playing back an audio object associated with a position includes a distance calculator for calculating distances of the position to speakers or for reading the distances of the position to the speakers. The distance calculator is configured to take a solution with a smallest distance. The apparatus is configured to play back the audio object using the speaker corresponding to the solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Simone Neukam, Jan Plogsties, Max Neuendorf, Juergen Herre, Bernhard Grill
  • Patent number: 10582042
    Abstract: Methods and systems directed to a social caller ID application that performs a reverse look up on an incoming communication to determine a specific member of a social networking system associated with the incoming communication, and, based on the social relationship between the detected member and the recipient of the communication, display particular information to the recipient. In this manner, a user is provided a caller ID system that leverages information stored remotely on a social network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Rose Yao, Brandon Marshall Walkin
  • Patent number: 10582326
    Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating a playback device include (i) outputting first audio content; (ii) capturing audio data representing reflections of the first audio content within a room in which the playback device is located; (iii) based on the captured audio data, determining an acoustic response of the room; (iv) connecting to a database comprising a plurality of sets of stored audio calibration settings, each set associated with a respective stored acoustic room response of a plurality of stored acoustic room responses; (v) querying the database for a stored acoustic room response that corresponds to the determined acoustic response of the room in which the playback device is located; and (vi) applying to the playback device a particular set of stored audio calibration settings associated with the stored acoustic room response that corresponds to the determined acoustic response of the room in which the playback device is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Sheen
  • Patent number: 10582316
    Abstract: An ear-worn electronic device comprises a plurality of EEG sensors configured to sense EEG signals from or proximate a wearer's ear. At least one processor is configured to detect, during a baseline period of no wearer movement, EEG signals from the EEG sensors, and detect, during each of a plurality of candidate control movements by the wearer, EEG signals from the EEG sensors. The at least one processor is also configured to compute, using the EEG signals, discriminability metrics for the candidate control movements and the baseline period, the discriminability metrics indicating how discriminable neural signals associated with the candidate control movements and the baseline period are from one another. The at least one processor is further configured to select a subset of the candidate control movements using the discriminability metrics, each of the selected control movements defining a neural command for controlling the ear-worn electronic device by the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Lauren Petley, Swapan Gandhi, Simon Carlile, Sahar Akram
  • Patent number: 10559316
    Abstract: Systems and methods to provide distortion sensing, prevention, and/or distortion-aware bass enhancement in audio systems can be implemented in a variety of applications. Sensing circuitry can generate statistics based on an input signal received for which an acoustic output is generated. In various embodiments, the statistics can be used such that a multi-notch filter can be used to provide input to a speaker to generate the acoustic output. In various embodiments, the statistics from the sensing circuitry can be provided to a bass parameter controller coupled to bass enhancement circuitry to operatively provide parameters to the bass enhancement circuitry. The bass enhancement circuitry can provide a bass enhanced signal for generation of the acoustic output, based on the parameters. Various combinations of a multi-notch filter and bass enhancement circuitry using statistics from sensing circuitry can be implemented to provide an enhanced acoustic output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: DTS, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan James Cassidy, Aaron Kube Warner, Themis George Katsianos
  • Patent number: 10559292
    Abstract: A rotor blade noise reduction system includes: a plurality of rotor blades; a plurality of first speakers disposed equidistantly on a first circumference which is opposed to one surface of a rotor blade plane; a plurality of second speakers disposed equidistantly on a second circumference which is opposed to the other surface of the rotor blade plane; at least one evaluation microphone configured to acquire noise generated from the rotating rotor blades and control sound generated from the first speakers and the second speakers; and an active sound suppression processor configured to input a plurality of first delay control signals corresponding to the first speakers, and to input a plurality of second delay control signals corresponding to the second speakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Goto, Akihiko Enamito
  • Patent number: 10555066
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the disclosure provide systems and methods of detecting headphone rotation to properly process user input to the headphones. The systems and methods described herein may be used, for example, to detect a gesture (e.g., a swipe) received as user input on a touch interface of the headphones, such as a touch interface integrated into an ear piece. The gesture may be made in a particular direction, such as down toward Earth. However, headphones may be worn in a plurality of configurations, such as upright with the headband around the top of the head, downward with the headband around the back of the neck, or anywhere in between. Thus, the systems and methods described herein may be used to determine the rotation of the headphones in order to properly ascertain the intended gesture and perform an intended result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brooke L. Bunney, Jonathan R. Peterson
  • Patent number: 10554712
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein involve an auxiliary zone contributing audio to a primary zone. In an example implementation, a network media system determines that a first zone in the network media system is playing back a first type of audio content and that a second zone in the network media system is not playing back audio content. While the first zone is playing back the first type of audio content and the second zone is not playing back audio content, the network media system forms a temporarily playback configuration. In the temporary playback configuration, the first zone plays back primary audio content including full frequency range audio content and the second playback device of the second zone plays back auxiliary audio content including low frequency range audio content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 10547955
    Abstract: A microphone device includes a housing including a substrate having a first surface and a cover disposed over the substrate, the housing including a sound port between the interior of the housing and the exterior of the housing. The device also includes a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) transducer mounted on the substrate and an integrated circuit (IC) mounted on the substrate. The MEMS transducer of the device is electrically connected to the IC, and the IC of the device is electrically connected to a conductor on the substrate. An encapsulating material covers the IC. And an encapsulating material confinement structure is disposed between the MEMS transducer and the IC, wherein the encapsulating material confinement structure at least partially confines the encapsulating material around the IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Tony K. Lim, John Szczech, Joshua Watson
  • Patent number: 10540955
    Abstract: A system and method includes a loudspeaker having a first, low-frequency driver and a second, high-frequency driver. An error microphone is disposed near the loudspeaker and receives sound output by both drivers as well as noise. An estimation of the secondary path between the drivers and the microphones is determined, and playback audio is applied to the estimation. The output of the estimation is subtracted from the output of the microphone to determine anti-noise. This anti-noise is used to modify audio data sent to the first, low-frequency driver; the audio data is sent directly to the second, high-frequency driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Ali Abdollahzadeh Milani, Samuel Jesse Anderson