Patents by Inventor Alastair Sibbald

Alastair Sibbald has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11741935
    Abstract: A host device configured to be wirelessly coupled to an accessory device, the host device comprising noise reduction circuitry, wherein, in use of the host device: a signal generated by a microphone of the accessory device in response to ambient noise is supplied to the noise reduction circuitry; the noise reduction circuitry applies a noise reduction transfer function to the signal supplied thereto to generate a noise cancellation signal; and the noise cancellation signal is supplied to at least one loudspeaker of the accessory device; and wherein the noise reduction transfer function applied by the noise reduction circuitry is user selectable or user adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Alastair Sibbald
  • Patent number: 11620975
    Abstract: A feedforward ambient noise reduction arrangement includes, within a housing, a loudspeaker device for directing sound energy into an ear of a listener. Disposed externally of the housing, and positioned to sense ambient noise on its way to the listener's ear, are plural microphone devices capable of converting the sensed ambient noise into electrical signals for application to the loudspeaker to generate an acoustic signal opposing the ambient noise. Importantly, the overall arrangement is such that the acoustic signal is generated by said loudspeaker means in substantial time alignment with the arrival of said ambient noise at the listener's ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Alastair Sibbald
  • Publication number: 20220277720
    Abstract: A host device configured to be wirelessly coupled to an accessory device, the host device comprising noise reduction circuitry, wherein, in use of the host device: a signal generated by a microphone of the accessory device in response to ambient noise is supplied to the noise reduction circuitry; the noise reduction circuitry applies a noise reduction transfer function to the signal supplied thereto to generate a noise cancellation signal; and the noise cancellation signal is supplied to at least one loudspeaker of the accessory device; and wherein the noise reduction transfer function applied by the noise reduction circuitry is user selectable or user adjustable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventor: Alastair Sibbald
  • Patent number: 11367426
    Abstract: A host device configured to be wirelessly coupled to an accessory device, the host device comprising noise reduction circuitry, wherein, in use of the host device: a signal generated by a microphone of the accessory device in response to ambient noise is supplied to the noise reduction circuitry; the noise reduction circuitry applies a noise reduction transfer function to the signal supplied thereto to generate a noise cancellation signal; and the noise cancellation signal is supplied to at least one loudspeaker of the accessory device; and wherein the noise reduction transfer function applied by the noise reduction circuitry is user selectable or user adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Alastair Sibbald
  • Publication number: 20210383785
    Abstract: A feedforward ambient noise reduction arrangement includes, within a housing, a loudspeaker device for directing sound energy into an ear of a listener. Disposed externally of the housing, and positioned to sense ambient noise on its way to the listener's ear, are plural microphone devices capable of converting the sensed ambient noise into electrical signals for application to the loudspeaker to generate an acoustic signal opposing the ambient noise. Importantly, the overall arrangement is such that the acoustic signal is generated by said loudspeaker means in substantial time alignment with the arrival of said ambient noise at the listener's ear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventor: Alastair Sibbald
  • Patent number: 11127390
    Abstract: A feedforward ambient noise reduction arrangement includes, within a housing, a loudspeaker device for directing sound energy into an ear of a listener. Disposed externally of the housing, and positioned to sense ambient noise on its way to the listener's ear, are plural microphone devices capable of converting the sensed ambient noise into electrical signals for application to the loudspeaker to generate an acoustic signal opposing the ambient noise. Importantly, the overall arrangement is such that the acoustic signal is generated by said loudspeaker means in substantial time alignment with the arrival of said ambient noise at the listener's ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Alastair Sibbald
  • Patent number: 10950215
    Abstract: Noise reduction circuitry for a communication apparatus can apply different noise reduction transfer functions, depending on whether a listening device is connected to the apparatus. If no listening device is connected, the noise reduction transfer function can be adapted for use with microphones and speakers that form an integral part of the communication apparatus, which may be a cellular telephone. If a listening device is connected, the noise reduction transfer function can be adapted for use with microphones and speakers that form a part of the listening device. This allows the noise reduction circuitry to provide improved noise reduction performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Alastair Sibbald
  • Publication number: 20210074257
    Abstract: A host device configured to be wirelessly coupled to an accessory device, the host device comprising noise reduction circuitry, wherein, in use of the host device: a signal generated by a microphone of the accessory device in response to ambient noise is supplied to the noise reduction circuitry; the noise reduction circuitry applies a noise reduction transfer function to the signal supplied thereto to generate a noise cancellation signal; and the noise cancellation signal is supplied to at least one loudspeaker of the accessory device; and wherein the noise reduction transfer function applied by the noise reduction circuitry is user selectable or user adjustable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventor: Alastair Sibbald
  • Publication number: 20200302906
    Abstract: Noise reduction circuitry for a communication apparatus can apply different noise reduction transfer functions, depending on whether a listening device is connected to the apparatus. If no listening device is connected, the noise reduction transfer function can be adapted for use with microphones and speakers that form an integral part of the communication apparatus, which may be a cellular telephone. If a listening device is connected, the noise reduction transfer function can be adapted for use with microphones and speakers that form a part of the listening device. This allows the noise reduction circuitry to provide improved noise reduction performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventor: Alastair Sibbald
  • Patent number: 10685636
    Abstract: Noise reduction circuitry for a communication apparatus can apply different noise reduction transfer functions, depending on whether a listening device is connected to the apparatus. If no listening device is connected, the noise reduction transfer function can be adapted for use with microphones and speakers that form an integral part of the communication apparatus, which may be a cellular telephone. If a listening device is connected, the noise reduction transfer function can be adapted for use with microphones and speakers that form a part of the listening device. This allows the noise reduction circuitry to provide improved noise reduction performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Alastair Sibbald
  • Publication number: 20200027435
    Abstract: Noise reduction circuitry for a communication apparatus can apply different noise reduction transfer functions, depending on whether a listening device is connected to the apparatus. If no listening device is connected, the noise reduction transfer function can be adapted for use with microphones and speakers that form an integral part of the communication apparatus, which may be a cellular telephone. If a listening device is connected, the noise reduction transfer function can be adapted for use with microphones and speakers that form a part of the listening device. This allows the noise reduction circuitry to provide improved noise reduction performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventor: Alastair Sibbald
  • Publication number: 20200020312
    Abstract: A feedforward ambient noise reduction arrangement includes, within a housing, a loudspeaker device for directing sound energy into an ear of a listener. Disposed externally of the housing, and positioned to sense ambient noise on its way to the listener's ear, are plural microphone devices capable of converting the sensed ambient noise into electrical signals for application to the loudspeaker to generate an acoustic signal opposing the ambient noise. Importantly, the overall arrangement is such that the acoustic signal is generated by said loudspeaker means in substantial time alignment with the arrival of said ambient noise at the listener's ear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventor: Alastair Sibbald
  • Patent number: 10460718
    Abstract: A feedforward ambient noise reduction arrangement includes, within a housing, a loudspeaker device for directing sound energy into an ear of a listener. Disposed externally of the housing, and positioned to sense ambient noise on its way to the listener's ear, are plural microphone devices capable of converting the sensed ambient noise into electrical signals for application to the loudspeaker to generate an acoustic signal opposing the ambient noise. Importantly, the overall arrangement is such that the acoustic signal is generated by said loudspeaker means in substantial time alignment with the arrival of said ambient noise at the listener's ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Alastair Sibbald
  • Patent number: 10419841
    Abstract: An active noise-reduction headphone arrangement has a housing bearing a loudspeaker having a first diaphragm surface coupled to a first volume of air bounded by and coupled to a user's ear, and a second diaphragm surface bounding a cavity within the housing assembly so as to define a second volume of air, rearward of the diaphragm; a conduit provided in the housing, the conduit being in fluid communication the ambient air via a first acoustic couple means having a first characteristic acoustic impedance, the conduit also being in fluid communication with said second volume of air via a second acoustic couple means having a second characteristic acoustic impedance; and a microphone having an inlet coupled acoustically to a predetermined location within the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: INCUS LABORATORIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Alastair Sibbald, Peter John McCutcheon, Robert Alcock
  • Patent number: 10009694
    Abstract: A MEMS microphone assembly has an enclosure enclosing a volume of air. A MEMS microphone chip is provided within the enclosure. First and second acoustic ports are formed in the enclosure, defining first and second fluid paths between the volume of air and air outside the enclosure. The MEMS microphone responds to a pre-determined linear interpolative value between two independent pressure signals supplied via first and second ports according to the potentiometic ratio of the acoustic impedances of the first and second ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: INCUS LABORATORIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Alastair Sibbald, Peter John McCutcheon, Robert Alcock, David Monteith
  • Publication number: 20180041828
    Abstract: An active noise-reduction headphone arrangement has a housing bearing a loudspeaker having a first diaphragm surface coupled to a first volume of air bounded by and coupled to a user's ear, and a second diaphragm surface bounding a cavity within the housing assembly so as to define a second volume of air, rearward of the diaphragm; a conduit provided in the housing, the conduit being in fluid communication the ambient air via a first acoustic couple means having a first characteristic acoustic impedance, the conduit also being in fluid communication with said second volume of air via a second acoustic couple means having a second characteristic acoustic impedance; and a microphone having an inlet coupled acoustically to a predetermined location within the conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: Incus Laboratories Limited
    Inventors: Alastair Sibbald, Peter John McCutcheon, Robert Alcock
  • Publication number: 20180041843
    Abstract: A MEMS microphone assembly has an enclosure enclosing a volume of air. A MEMS microphone chip is provided within the enclosure. First and second acoustic ports are formed in the enclosure, defining first and second fluid paths between the volume of air and air outside the enclosure. The MEMS microphone responds to a pre-determined linear interpolative value between two independent pressure signals supplied via first and second ports according to the potentiometic ratio of the acoustic impedances of the first and second ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Alastair Sibbald, Peter John McCutcheon, Robert Alcock, David Monteith
  • Publication number: 20180033422
    Abstract: A feedforward ambient noise reduction arrangement includes, within a housing, a loudspeaker device for directing sound energy into an ear of a listener. Disposed externally of the housing, and positioned to sense ambient noise on its way to the listener's ear, are plural microphone devices capable of converting the sensed ambient noise into electrical signals for application to the loudspeaker to generate an acoustic signal opposing the ambient noise. Importantly, the overall arrangement is such that the acoustic signal is generated by said loudspeaker means in substantial time alignment with the arrival of said ambient noise at the listener's ear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: Alastair Sibbald
  • Patent number: 9786264
    Abstract: A feedforward ambient noise reduction arrangement includes, within a housing, a loudspeaker device for directing sound energy into an ear of a listener. Disposed externally of the housing, and positioned to sense ambient noise on its way to the listener's ear, are plural microphone devices capable of converting the sensed ambient noise into electrical signals for application to the loudspeaker to generate an acoustic signal opposing the ambient noise. Importantly, the overall arrangement is such that the acoustic signal is generated by said loudspeaker means in substantial time alignment with the arrival of said ambient noise at the listener's ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Alastair Sibbald
  • Publication number: 20150139434
    Abstract: Noise reduction circuitry for a communication apparatus can apply different noise reduction transfer functions, depending on whether a listening device is connected to the apparatus. If no listening device is connected, the noise reduction transfer function can be adapted for use with microphones and speakers that form an integral part of the communication apparatus, which may be a cellular telephone. If a listening device is connected, the noise reduction transfer function can be adapted for use with microphones and speakers that form a part of the listening device. This allows the noise reduction circuitry to provide improved noise reduction performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Alastair Sibbald