Patents by Inventor Charles Oswald
Charles Oswald 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).
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Publication number: 20170267139Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in a seat headrest that includes an interior chamber that accommodates an acoustic transducer, and an acoustic channel disposed between the interior chamber and an external opening in the seat headrest. The headrest also includes a soft outer layer disposed around at least a portion of a periphery of the external opening, and a grill mount. The grill mount is disposed in or attached to the outer layer, the grill mount extending, at least in part, around the periphery of the acoustic channel, and configured to engage with a portion of a speaker grill-assembly in a mating configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2017Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: Bradford Kyle Subat, Charles Oswald
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Publication number: 20170267137Abstract: The technology can be embodied in a headrest that includes an enclosure that includes one or more acoustic transducers. The headrest includes a bar for mounting on a backrest of the seat, such that the mounted headrest is movable with respect to the backrest to different positions over an adjustable range. The bar includes one or more wires each of which is coupled to an electrical contact at one end, and an acoustic transducer at an opposite end, the one or more wires disposed within a hollow interior portion of the bar. The bar also includes an opening for permitting an electrical connection to be established between an electrical connector coupled to an external source, and the electrical contact coupled to the one or more wires. The connection is maintained over the adjustable range of the headrest by a mechanical bias on either the electrical connector or the electrical contact.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2016Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: Bradford Kyle Subat, Charles E. Dunn, JR., Charles Oswald, Kurt Mathew Heiden
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Publication number: 20170272876Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in a method for controlling acoustic output radiating through an adjustable wing of a seat headrest. The method includes receiving, from a sensor disposed in the seat headrest, an input signal indicative of a position of the adjustable wing. The position can be one of multiple positions within an angle range. The method also includes updating, based on the input signal, values for one or more control parameters associated with a transducer that generates the acoustic output radiating through the adjustable wing, and adjusting the transducer in accordance with the position of the adjustable wing using one or more control signals that are generated based on the updated values of the one or more control parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2016Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: Charles Oswald, Joseph Walter McCabe
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Patent number: 9769581Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in a method for controlling acoustic output radiating through an adjustable wing of a seat headrest. The method includes receiving, from a sensor disposed in the seat headrest, an input signal indicative of a position of the adjustable wing. The position can be one of multiple positions within an angle range. The method also includes updating, based on the input signal, values for one or more control parameters associated with a transducer that generates the acoustic output radiating through the adjustable wing, and adjusting the transducer in accordance with the position of the adjustable wing using one or more control signals that are generated based on the updated values of the one or more control parameters.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2016Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Bose CorporationInventors: Charles Oswald, Joseph Walter McCabe
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Publication number: 20170251287Abstract: A vehicle headrest includes a main body portion having a front surface arranged to support a back of a head of a user. The main body portion includes first and second speakers which are disposed within the main body portion, and a cushion layer that is configured to surround the speakers and provide cushioning for a user's head. The cushion layer includes acoustic channels for controlling a radiation pattern of acoustic energy radiated from the speakers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2017Publication date: August 31, 2017Applicant: Bose CorporationInventors: Charles Oswald, Bradford Kyle Subat, Ryan C. Struzik
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Patent number: 9706291Abstract: A vehicle headrest includes a passive directional acoustic device. The passive directional acoustic device includes an acoustic driver, a pipe acoustically coupled to the acoustic driver. The pipe includes an elongated opening along at least a portion of the length of the pipe through which acoustic energy is radiated to the environment. The radiation is characterized by a volume velocity. The pipe and the opening are configured so that the magnitude of the volume velocity is substantially constant along the length of the pipe.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2016Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Bose CorporationInventors: Charles Oswald, Matthew Carlos Baron, Daniel Ross Tengelsen, Bradford Kyle Subat
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Patent number: 9699537Abstract: A vehicle headrest includes a main body portion having a front surface arranged to support a back of a head of a user. The main body portion includes first and second speakers which are disposed within the main body portion, and a cushion layer that is configured to surround the speakers and provide cushioning for a user's head. The cushion layer includes acoustic channels for controlling a radiation pattern of acoustic energy radiated from the speakers.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2014Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Bose CorporationInventors: Charles Oswald, Bradford Kyle Subat, Ryan C. Struzik
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Patent number: 9682641Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in a seat headrest that includes an interior chamber that accommodates an acoustic transducer, and an acoustic channel disposed between the interior chamber and an external opening in the seat headrest. The headrest also includes a soft outer layer disposed around at least a portion of a periphery of the external opening, and a grill mount. The grill mount is disposed in or attached to the outer layer, the grill mount extending, at least in part, around the periphery of the acoustic channel, and configured to engage with a portion of a speaker grill-assembly in a mating configuration.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2016Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Bose CorporationInventors: Bradford Kyle Subat, Charles Oswald
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Publication number: 20170150288Abstract: Signals in an automobile audio system having at least two near-field speakers located close to an intended position of a listener's head are adjusted such that in a first mode, audio signals are distributed to the near-field speakers according to a first filter that causes the listener to perceive a wide soundstage, and in a second mode, the audio signals are distributed to the near-field speakers according to a second filter that causes the listener to perceive a narrow soundstage. A user input of a variable value is received and, in response, distribution of the audio signals is transitioned from the first mode to the second mode, the extent of the transition being variable based on the value of the user input.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2017Publication date: May 25, 2017Applicant: Bose CorporationInventors: Michael S. Dublin, Tobe Z. Barksdale, Jahn Dmitri Eichfeld, Charles Oswald
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Patent number: 9615188Abstract: Signals in an automobile audio system having at least two near-field speakers located close to an intended position of a listener's head are adjusted such that in a first mode, audio signals are distributed to the near-field speakers according to a first filter that causes the listener to perceive a wide soundstage, and in a second mode, the audio signals are distributed to the near-field speakers according to a second filter that causes the listener to perceive a narrow soundstage. A user input of a variable value is received and, in response, distribution of the audio signals is transitioned from the first mode to the second mode, the extent of the transition being variable based on the value of the user input.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2015Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Bose CorporationInventors: Michael S. Dublin, Tobe Z. Barksdale, Jahn Dmitri Eichfeld, Charles Oswald
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Publication number: 20170053636Abstract: An audio system includes a plurality of near-field speakers arranged in a listening area. A plurality of cross-talk cancellation filters are coupled to the speakers. The speakers and the filters are arranged to provide first and second listening zones in the listening area such that audio from the first listening zone is cancelled in the second listening zone and vice versa. The system also includes at least one audio source providing audio content. Volume-based equalization circuitry receives an audio signal representing audio content for the first listening zone from the audio source and controls a volume adjustment applied to the audio signal to control a volume of audio in the first listening zone. The circuitry limits attenuation or amplification of a first frequency portion of the audio signal when a volume setting differential corresponding to a difference between volume settings for the first and second zones exceeds a predetermined value.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2015Publication date: February 23, 2017Applicant: BOSE CORPORATIONInventors: Charles Oswald, Eduardo T. Salvador, Jeffery R. Vautin, Michael S. Dublin, Daniel Ross Tengelsen, Christopher B. Ickler
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Publication number: 20170013386Abstract: An audio system includes a plurality of speakers and an audio signal processor. The audio signal processor receives an audio signal and source position data associated with the audio signal; and applies a set of speaker driver signals to the plurality of speakers. The set of speaker driver signals causes the plurality of speakers to generate acoustic output that simulates output of the audio signal by an audio source at a location corresponding to the source position data in each of a plurality of discrete acoustic areas.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2015Publication date: January 12, 2017Applicant: BOSE CORPORATIONInventors: Jeffery R. Vautin, Michael S. Dublin, Charles Oswald
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Publication number: 20160381445Abstract: The technology described in this document is embodied in a speaker grill configured to be attached to a speaker system disposed in a portion of a vehicle seat. The speaker grill includes a base that includes perforations to allow acoustic energy from the speakers to pass through the grill, a sidewall extending from the base such that the sidewall and the base define a cavity, and a structural feature configured to allow the speaker grill to be to be attached to a substantially rigid portion of the vehicle seat. The speaker grill is attached in an acoustic path of the speaker system, and is removable from the substantially rigid portion of the vehicle seat following attachment.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2016Publication date: December 29, 2016Inventors: Bradford Kyle Subat, Charles Oswald, Tobe Z. Barksdale, David N. Meeker
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Publication number: 20160323671Abstract: A signal input module receives at least one of an entertainment audio signal and a telephony audio signal from vehicle sound circuitry. A level control module executes gain level control logic to balance the entertainment audio signal and a telephony audio signal according to a ratio. A gain control signal is applied to at least one of the entertainment audio signal and the telephony audio signal. A routing module mixes the entertainment audio signal and the telephony audio signal and routes the mixed signal to an output channel associated with a speaker.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2016Publication date: November 3, 2016Applicant: Bose CorporationInventors: Jeffery R. Vautin, Eduardo T. Salvador, Ryo Maiguma, Tobe Z. Barksdale, Douglas J. Holmi, Charles Oswald, Zukui Song, Shiufun Cheung, Michael S. Dublin
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Patent number: 9445197Abstract: An automobile audio system having at least two near-field speakers located close to an intended position of a listener's head is configured by determining a first binaural filter that causes sound produced by each of the near-field speakers to have characteristics at the intended position of the listener's head of sound produced by a sound source located at a first designated position other than the actual locations of the near-field speakers, determining an up-mixing rule to generate at least three component channel signals from an input audio signal having at least two channels, and configuring the audio system to, determine a first binaural signal corresponding to a combination of the component channel signals originating at the first designated position, and filter the first binaural signal using the first binaural filter and to output the filtered signals using the near-field speakers.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2013Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Bose CorporationInventors: Charles Oswald, Michael S. Dublin, Tobe Z. Barksdale, Wontak Kim, Jahn Dmitri Eichfeld
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Patent number: 9428090Abstract: There is provided a headrest with speakers capable of exhibiting an excellent sound effect. The headrest with speakers includes: a headrest frame; a pair of left and right enclosures supported by the headrest frame; speaker units supported in the enclosures respectively; and a headrest cushion member supported by the headrest frame to support a head, the headrest cushion member including: a net member having a pair of left and right acoustically transparent parts at places substantially facing the respective speaker units; and soundproof parts disposed between the pair of left and right acoustically transparent parts in the net member and between the pair of left and right enclosures respectively.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignees: Bose Corporation, Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.Inventors: Bradford Kyle Subat, Tobe Z. Barksdale, Charles Oswald, Etsunori Fujita, Yumi Ogura, Seiji Kawasaki
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Publication number: 20160227335Abstract: An automobile audio system includes a signal processor configured to receive and process audio signals from a source and provide processed audio signals to an amplifier, a first headrest including a headrest speaker and coupled to a driver's seat, a first fixed speaker positioned near a left corner of the vehicle's cabin forward of the headrest, a second fixed speaker positioned near a right corner of the vehicle's cabin forward of the headrest, and a headrest accessory port located in a passenger's seat. The port is configured to connect the audio system to a second headrest speaker. The processor uses a first set of parameters for processing the received audio signals when the first headrest speaker is connected and the second headrest speaker is not connected, and a second set of parameters for processing the received audio signals when both the first and second headrest speaker are connected.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2016Publication date: August 4, 2016Applicant: Bose CorporationInventors: Tobe Z. Barksdale, Michael S. Dublin, Charles Oswald
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Patent number: 9403454Abstract: The technology described in this document is embodied in a speaker grill configured to be attached to a speaker system disposed in a portion of a vehicle seat. The speaker grill includes a base that includes perforations to allow acoustic energy from the speakers to pass through the grill, a sidewall extending from the base such that the sidewall and the base define a cavity, and a structural feature configured to allow the speaker grill to be to be attached to a substantially rigid portion of the vehicle seat. The speaker grill is attached in an acoustic path of the speaker system, and is removable from the substantially rigid portion of the vehicle seat following attachment.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2014Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Bose CorporationInventors: Bradford Kyle Subat, Charles Oswald, Tobe Z. Barksdale, David Meeker
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Patent number: 9352701Abstract: A signal input module receives at least one of an entertainment audio signal and a telephony audio signal from vehicle sound circuitry. A level control module executes gain level control logic to balance the entertainment audio signal and a telephony audio signal according to a ratio. A gain control signal is applied to at least one of the entertainment audio signal and the telephony audio signal. A routing module mixes the entertainment audio signal and the telephony audio signal and routes the mixed signal to an output channel associated with a speaker.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2014Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Bose CorporationInventors: Jeffery R. Vautin, Eduardo T. Salvador, Ryo Maiguma, Tobe Z. Barksdale, Douglas J. Holmi, Charles Oswald, Shiufun Cheung, Michael S. Dublin, Zukui Song
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Publication number: 20160137106Abstract: The technology described in this document is embodied in a speaker grill configured to be attached to a speaker system disposed in a portion of a vehicle seat. The speaker grill includes a base that includes perforations to allow acoustic energy from the speakers to pass through the grill, a sidewall extending from the base such that the sidewall and the base define a cavity, and a structural feature configured to allow the speaker grill to be to be attached to a substantially rigid portion of the vehicle seat. The speaker grill is attached in an acoustic path of the speaker system, and is removable from the substantially rigid portion of the vehicle seat following attachment.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2014Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: Bradford Kyle Subat, Charles Oswald, Tobe Z. Barksdale, David Meeker