Patents by Inventor Brent Roberts

Brent Roberts 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: 12185066
    Abstract: Embodiments include an audio system comprising an audio device, a speaker, and a processor. The audio system is configured to receive data from one or more sensors corresponding to persons in a room and/or characteristics of a room, and responsively take action to modify one or more characteristics of the audio system, share the information with other systems or devices, and track data over time to determine patterns and trends in the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Meyer, Daniel Aaron Law, Avinash K. Vaidya, Steven Norman Leib, Mark Swiderski, David Grant Cason, Brent Robert Shumard
  • Patent number: 12164656
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for validating data, such as data related to testing or sampling a batch of a product, with a data compliance tracking system. An exemplary method includes receiving at least one data point from a computing element, wherein the data point corresponds to data collected from a sampling of at least one parameter during a batch run of a product and includes time stamp data; determining limit information corresponding to the at least one parameter, wherein the limit information includes at least one limit associated with at the least one parameter and has an associated valid value range; storing the at least one data point and the limit information; receiving an analytics request from a user device; analyzing the stored limit information to apply a limit to a select data point; and displaying an analytics output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: ID Business Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Robert Rognlie, Joseph David Ruth, Kenneth Andrew Forman
  • Patent number: 12167197
    Abstract: An audio device may be configured to have multiple modes of operation. The mode of the device may be associated with a particular geometric configuration of the device, such as by swiveling an arm of the device and/or changing the orientation of the device with respect to gravity and/or a surface (e.g., table) on which the device rests. The device may determine the appropriate state based on the current geometry, and based on the state may tune the device for a particular operation suited for that geometry. For example, different signal processing parameters may be applied, different microphones may be enabled and disabled, and/or different acoustic conditions may be provided (for example, different modes of a passive radiator) based on the mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Robert Shumard, Walter Timothy Harwood, Michael Knappe
  • Publication number: 20240406654
    Abstract: An example immersive audio signal processing system and a computer-implemented method for generating a target arena environment audio stream are provided. The example immersive audio signal processing system includes a plurality of multi-lobe digital sound wave capture devices positioned within the arena environment. The plurality of multi-lobe digital sound wave capture devices is configured to direct first beamformed lobes to a playing region of the arena environment, second beamformed lobes to a spectator region of the arena environment, and third beamformed lobes to a noise source region of the arena environment. A digital signal processor is configured to isolate noise audio components originating from at least the spectator region or the noise source region from the audio signal stream and generate a target arena environment audio stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Applicant: SHURE ACQUISITION HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: John BORN, Daniel LAW, Michael LESTER, David GRUNDTVIG, Brent Robert SHUMARD, William OAKLEY, Chad Wiggins, Paul Massaro
  • Publication number: 20240406347
    Abstract: A videoconferencing device may include an elongated housing having two ends, a microphone array, one or more loudspeakers, and a plurality of cameras, where at least one of the cameras is disposed at one end of the housing at least another of the cameras is disposed at an opposite end of the housing. The videoconferencing device may also include a microphone array disposed within an acoustical cavity, where the cameras and loudspeakers are disposed outside of the acoustical cavity. The videoconferencing devices may provide viewing angle diversity of the cameras to better capture images and/or video of participants in a videoconference, and also provide more optimal audio capture of the participants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Sanjay Navinchandra Kadiwala, Luis Angel Guerra, Brent Robert Shumard, Zachery L. Barnett
  • Publication number: 20240397260
    Abstract: Array microphone systems and methods for enabling predistortion of the aperture of an array microphone at various steering vectors are provided. The predistortion of the aperture can regularize the apparent aperture of the array microphone to be closer to that of the base aperture of the array microphone, while minimizing the number of microphone elements used. Improved directivity and more optimal pickup and capture of sound in the environment may result through the use of these systems and methods, which can help to avoid undesired noise and/or to more efficiently cover audio sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventor: Brent Robert Shumard
  • Patent number: 12149913
    Abstract: A microphone having a multi-channel mixer and one or more connectors usable to receive and/or output audio. Any of the connectors may be used as an input connector, as an output connector, or configured to be switchable between being an input and an output connector. The user of the microphone may be able to conveniently use one or more of the connectors to expand the microphone to become part of a larger setup that uses multiple microphones. For example, an XLR connector of the microphone may be passive, and may be configured such that a user can daisy chain the output from an XLR connector of another microphone into an XLR connector of the microphone. In such an arrangement, an output based on one or both of the microphones may be output through another connector of the microphone, such as a USB connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Robert Shumard, James Michael Pessin, Timothy William Balgemann, Soren Christian Pedersen, Thomas Andrew Satrom, Ryan Jerold Perkofski
  • Publication number: 20240381022
    Abstract: Embodiments include an array microphone, comprising: a plurality of microphone boards arranged in a linear pattern along a first axis and comprising a plurality of microphone elements configured to cover a plurality of frequency bands, each microphone board comprising: a first linear array comprising a first microphone element of the plurality of microphone elements and one or more second microphone elements of the plurality of microphone elements, the first microphone element located on the first axis and the one or more second microphone elements located on a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, and a second linear array comprising the first microphone element and one or more third microphone elements of the plurality of microphone elements, the one or more third microphone elements located on a third axis orthogonal to the first axis and to the second axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Inventor: Brent Robert Shumard
  • Publication number: 20240365057
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for capturing and encoding ambisonic audio are described herein. An example ambisonic microphone may comprise a first microphone capsule oriented substantially toward a first vertex of a notional tetrahedron, a second microphone capsule oriented substantially toward a second vertex of the notional tetrahedron, a third microphone capsule oriented substantially toward a third vertex of the notional tetrahedron, and a fourth microphone capsule oriented substantially toward a fourth vertex of the notional tetrahedron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Matthew Koschak, William Wallace Taylor, III, Joseph Michael Bradel, Brent Robert Shumard
  • Patent number: 12116028
    Abstract: A system and method for virtual block stick circuits is presented. The present disclosure implements specialized algorithms adapted to determine the true status of a virtual block based on multiple inputs from different perspectives. In one embodiment, the system can use the far house perspective of that virtual track segment and the PTC hazard for the near virtual track segment directly adjacent to the near house uses the near house perspective of that virtual track segment. For the middle virtual track segments, the near house perspectives of the middle virtual track segments are held ‘TRUE’ if they are already ‘TRUE’ when the train first enters the block, using stick circuits for the near house perspective of the middle track circuits. The vital application can then indicate the true state of the virtual track segment as occupied (FALSE), to protect the train from trains that follow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: BNSF Railway Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Ryan Allen, Michael Ramolt, Brent Russell, Kent Robert Shue
  • Publication number: 20240323596
    Abstract: Embodiments include a microphone array comprising a first plurality of directional microphone elements arranged in a first cluster formed by directing a front face of the microphone elements towards a center of the first cluster, and a second plurality of directional microphone elements arranged in a second cluster formed by directing a front face of the elements away from a center of the second cluster, wherein the first cluster is disposed vertically above the second cluster. Also provided is a microphone comprising a first microphone array comprising a plurality of directional microphone elements arranged in close proximity to each other and configured to capture near-field sounds within a first range of frequencies, and a second microphone array disposed concentrically around the first microphone array, the second array comprising a plurality of omnidirectional microphone elements configured to capture near-field sounds within a second range of frequencies higher than the first range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Inventors: Brent Robert Shumard, Mark Gilbert, Emily Ann Wigley, Roger Stephen Grinnip, III
  • Publication number: 20240300008
    Abstract: Systems and associated methods are provided for controlling the shape of an ingot head during formation. At the end of a cast, prior to forming the ingot head, chill bars or other cooling structure may be lowered into an ingot mold and define a reduced casting footprint for forming the ingot head. Supplemental molten metal may be fed into the reduced casting footprint, and the chill bars may be moved laterally towards the center of the ingot, further reducing the casting footprint. As additional molten metal fills the reduced mold footprint, the ingot may be lowered relative to the chill bars to further increase the height of the ingot head. Additional molten metal may be added until the desired shape of the ingot head is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Applicant: NOVELIS INC.
    Inventors: Phillip Wilson, John Robert Buster McCallum, Aaron David Sinden, Brent Opdendries, Jason Dell Hymas, Todd F. Bischoff
  • Patent number: 12063473
    Abstract: A microphone module comprises a housing, an audio bus, and a first plurality of microphones in communication with the audio bus. The microphone module further comprises a module processor in communication with the first plurality of microphones and the audio bus. The module processor is configured to detect the presence of an array processor in communication with the audio bus, detect the presence of a second microphone module in communication with the audio bus, and configure the audio bus to pass audio signals from both the first plurality of microphones and the second microphone module to the array processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachery Barnett, Brent Robert Shumard, David Grant Cason, Andrey Ash, Jordan Schultz, Mathew T. Abraham, Avinash K. Vaidya
  • Patent number: 12028678
    Abstract: Embodiments include a microphone array comprising a first plurality of directional microphone elements arranged in a first cluster formed by directing a front face of said microphone elements towards a center of the first cluster, and a second plurality of directional microphone elements arranged in a second cluster formed by directing a front face of said elements away from a center of the second cluster, wherein the first cluster is disposed vertically above the second cluster. Also provided is a microphone comprising a first microphone array comprising a plurality of directional microphone elements arranged in close proximity to each other and configured to capture near-field sounds within a first range of frequencies, and a second microphone array disposed concentrically around the first microphone array, the second array comprising a plurality of omnidirectional microphone elements configured to capture near-field sounds within a second range of frequencies higher than the first range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Robert Shumard, Mark Gilbert, Emily Ann Wigley, Roger Stephen Grinnip, III
  • Publication number: 20240187786
    Abstract: Embodiments include a microphone assembly comprising an array microphone and a housing configured to support the array microphone and sized and shaped to be mountable in a drop ceiling in place of at least one of a plurality of ceiling tiles included in the drop ceiling. A front face of the housing includes a sound-permeable screen having a size and shape that is substantially similar to the at least one of the plurality of ceiling tiles. Embodiments also include an array microphone system comprising a plurality of microphones arranged, on a substrate, in a number of concentric, nested rings of varying sizes around a central point of the substrate. Each ring comprises a subset of the plurality of microphones positioned at predetermined intervals along a circumference of the ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2023
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventors: Mathew T. Abraham, David Grant Cason, John Casey Gibbs, Gregory William Lantz, Albert Francis McGovern, Jr., Brent Robert Shumard
  • Patent number: 11910170
    Abstract: A microphone device comprising, for example, a mid microphone cartridge and two side microphone cartridges. The mid microphone cartridge may be, for example, a cardioid microphone cartridge, and the side microphone cartridges may each be, for example, a bidirectional microphone cartridge. Each of the mid microphone cartridge and of the two side microphone cartridges may be orthogonal to the other two microphone cartridges. The microphone device, which may be referred to herein as a mid dual-side microphone, may provide a combined pickup pattern, such as a beam and/or a toroid, that may be steerable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Brent Robert Shumard
  • Publication number: 20240007688
    Abstract: An example immersive audio signal processing system and a computer-implemented method for generating a target arena environment audio stream are provided. The example immersive audio signal processing system includes a plurality of multi-lobe digital sound wave capture devices positioned within the arena environment. The plurality of multi-lobe digital sound wave capture devices is configured to direct first beamformed lobes to a playing region of the arena environment, second beamformed lobes to a spectator region of the arena environment, and third beamformed lobes to a noise source region of the arena environment. A digital signal processor is configured to isolate noise audio components originating from at least the spectator region or the noise source region from the audio signal stream and generate a target arena environment audio stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: SHURE ACQUISITION HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: John BORN, Daniel LAW, Michael LESTER, David GRUNDTVIG, Brent Robert SHUMARD, William OAKLEY
  • Patent number: 11832053
    Abstract: Embodiments include a microphone assembly comprising an array microphone and a housing configured to support the array microphone and sized and shaped to be mountable in a drop ceiling in place of at least one of a plurality of ceiling tiles included in the drop ceiling. A front face of the housing includes a sound-permeable screen having a size and shape that is substantially similar to the at least one of the plurality of ceiling tiles. Embodiments also include an array microphone system comprising a plurality of microphones arranged, on a substrate, in a number of concentric, nested rings of varying sizes around a central point of the substrate. Each ring comprises a subset of the plurality of microphones positioned at predetermined intervals along a circumference of the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mathew T. Abraham, David Grant Cason, John Casey Gibbs, Gregory William Lantz, Albert Francis McGovern, Jr., Brent Robert Shumard
  • Patent number: 11818536
    Abstract: A filter that may increase and extend, the bass frequency response of a speaker of an audio device. The filter may be space-efficient. The filter may be part of a device that does not necessarily have a large rear cavity and that does not necessarily have porting and/or passive radiating. The low-frequency extension filter may be used, for example, with a smaller rear cavity while essentially simulating the acoustic effects of a much larger rear cavity. The low-frequency extension filter may include a plurality of acoustic pathways, such as tubes, which may wind around along a tortuous path and which may resemble a labyrinthine design. The tubes may be selected to resonate with particular predetermined low frequency channels. For example, the tubes may be approximately a quarter wavelength of the center of the corresponding frequency channel, or even slightly shorter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Robert Shumard, Thomas Andrew Satrom
  • Publication number: 20230362534
    Abstract: A microphone may comprise a microphone element for detecting sound, and a digital signal processor configured to process a first audio signal that is based on the sound in accordance with a selected one of a plurality of digital signal processing (DSP) modes. Each of the DSP modes may be for processing the first audio signal in a different way. For example, the DSP modes may account for distance of the person speaking (e.g., near versus far) and/or desired tone (e.g., darker, neutral, or bright tone). At least some of the modes may have, for example, an automatic level control setting to provide a more consistent volume as the user changes their distance from the microphone or changes their speaking level, and that may be associated with particular default (and/or adjustable) values of the parameters attack, hold, decay, maximum gain, and/or target gain, each depending upon which DSP is being applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy William Balgemann, Soren Christian Pedersen, James Michael Pessin, Brent Robert Shumard, Lena Lins Sutter, Ryan Jerold Perkofski