Patents by Inventor D. Michael Shields

D. Michael Shields 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).

  • Publication number: 20170111019
    Abstract: A method of optimizing the low frequency audio response emanating from a pair of low frequency transducers housed within a cabinet. The low frequency transducers are electrically connected to a power amplifier and source of audio content. The resonant frequency (Fs) and amplitude (Q) are characterized as to the high-pass pole of the low frequency transducers as they are mounted within the cabinet. An equalizer is placed between the amplifier and source of audio content for canceling the complex pole of the low frequency transducers and for establishing a new complex pole at a cut off frequency below which the sound generated by the low frequency transducers will diminish.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: J. CRAIG OXFORD, D. MICHAEL SHIELDS
  • Patent number: 9605928
    Abstract: A system of panels for use in assembling a radiation, microbial, acoustically, and ballistically shielded space within a building or other personal space. The panels are comprised of an ionizing radiation shielding material layer, a non-ionizing radiation shielding layer, an anti-microbial treated layer, a bulletproof layer, and an acoustical shielding layer. A method is provided for using said panels to create a radiation, microbial, acoustically, and ballistically shielded space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Publication number: 20170069305
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for introducing a time-varying time delay or phase shift randomly into the individual reproduction channels of a sound recording, two in the case of binaural presentation. This emulates the temporal aspect of microphone and/or listener motion. The present invention may be applied as a unidirectional process. No preparation of the source material is required. It can be applied to any multichannel audio signal set. It can process analog or digital signals. The process may be used with headphones, loudspeakers, hearing aids or similar assistive hearing devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: J. CRAIG OXFORD, D. MICHAEL SHIELDS
  • Patent number: 9584904
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system for the reproduction of acoustic waves of music, sound and speech in a substantially circular horizontal plane. The loudspeaker system includes multiple spherical enclosures, each enclosure housing a pair of transducers, each pair of transducers producing acoustic waves of a predetermined frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Publication number: 20160294344
    Abstract: Circuit and associated methods for dynamically adjusting the spectral content of an audio signal, which increases the harmonic content through the systematic introduction of amplitude asymmetry. In one embodiment, the method comprises a spectral modification of an analog audio signal in which the high-frequency content is reduced as a function of the signal amplitude and spectral distribution. The audio signal is subjected to a complementary pre-emphasis and de-emphasis of the high frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: J. CRAIG OXFORD, PATRICK TAYLOR, D. MICHAEL SHIELDS
  • Patent number: 9407988
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for introducing a time-varying time delay or phase shift randomly into the individual reproduction channels of a sound recording, two in the case of binaural presentation. This emulates the temporal aspect of microphone and/or listener motion. The present invention may be applied as a unidirectional process. No preparation of the source material is required. It can be applied to any multichannel audio signal set. It can process analog or digital signals. The process may be used with headphones, loudspeakers, hearing aids or similar assistive hearing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Iroquois Holding Company
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Publication number: 20150349843
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for high quality signal transmission, which utilizes normal-mode current flow and produces an audio output signal with suppression of normal-mode voltage amplitude, comprising transmitting an audio input signal source though (1) a buffer amplifier; (2) a modulated current source; (3) a pair of wires; (4) a current transformer; and (5) a receiver amplifier for said current transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: J. CRAIG OXFORD, D. MICHAEL SHIELDS
  • Publication number: 20150271597
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for introducing a time-varying time delay or phase shift randomly into the individual reproduction channels of a sound recording, two in the case of binaural presentation. This emulates the temporal aspect of microphone and/or listener motion. The present invention may be applied as a unidirectional process. No preparation of the source material is required. It can be applied to any multichannel audio signal set. It can process analog or digital signals. The process may be used with headphones, loudspeakers, hearing aids or similar assistive hearing devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: J. CRAIG OXFORD, D. MICHAEL SHIELDS
  • Publication number: 20150256910
    Abstract: A transducer for the creation of acoustic energy omni directionally in a horizontal plane. The transducer includes a base plate, the base plate supporting a centrally located voice coil motor assembly and a hemi-toroidal diaphragm having a proximal edge and a distal edge. The proximal edge is appended to the centrally located voice coil motor assembly and the distal edge is appended to the base plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: J. CRAIG OXFORD, D. MICHAEL SHIELDS
  • Patent number: 8948273
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for high quality signal transmission, which utilizes normal-mode current flow and produces an audio output signal with suppression of normal-mode voltage amplitude, comprising transmitting an audio input signal source though (1) a buffer amplifier; (2) a modulated current source; (3) a pair of wires; (4) a current transformer; and (5) a receiver amplifier for said current transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Publication number: 20150020679
    Abstract: A system of panels for use in assembling a radiation, microbial, acoustically, and ballistically shielded space within a building or other personal space. The panels are comprised of an ionizing radiation shielding material layer, a non-ionizing radiation shielding layer, an anti-microbial treated layer, a bulletproof layer, and an acoustical shielding layer. A method is provided for using said panels to create a radiation, microbial, acoustically, and ballistically shielded space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: J. CRAIG OXFORD, D. MICHAEL SHIELDS
  • Patent number: 8929560
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for introducing a time-varying time delay randomly into the individual reproduction channels of a sound recording, two in the case of binaural presentation. This emulates the temporal aspect of microphone and/or listener motion. The present invention may be applied as a unidirectional process. No preparation of the source material is required. It can be applied to any multichannel audio signal set. It can process analog or digital signals. The process may be used with headphones, loudspeakers, hearing aids or similar assistive hearing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8885869
    Abstract: A transducer for the creation of acoustic energy omni directionally in a horizontal plane. The transducer includes a base plate, the base plate supporting a centrally located voice coil motor assembly and a hemi-toroidal diaphragm having a proximal edge and a distal edge. The proximal edge is appended to the centrally located voice coil motor assembly and the distal edge is appended to the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8850947
    Abstract: A panel for use in assembling a radiation, microbial, acoustically, and ballistically shielded space within a building or other personal space. The panel is comprised of an ionizing radiation shielding material layer, a non-ionizing radiation shielding layer, an anti microbial treated layer, a bulletproof layer and an acoustical shielding layer. A method for using said panels to create a radiation, microbial, acoustic, and ballistic shielded space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8824724
    Abstract: An audio transducer for use in a loudspeaker system. The transducer includes a pair of flexible, curved diaphragms, with each diaphragm having a distal end and a proximal end. The curved diaphragms form hemi-cylindrical lobes being substantially tangent to one another at their proximal ends and are attached to energy absorbent dampers at their distal ends. The transducers can be employed in a line array as part of the loudspeaker system as well as some of the transducers facing forward while others rearward and, in doing so, their amplitudes and phases can be adjusted for fine tailoring the geometric coverage of acoustic energy radiating from the loudspeaker system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Publication number: 20140211967
    Abstract: A method for dynamically adjusting the spectral content of an audio signal, which increases the harmonic content of said audio signal, said method comprising translating an encoded digital signal into data bands, creating a psychoacoustic model to identify sections of said data bands that are deficient in harmonic quality, analyzing the fundamental frequency and amplitude of said harmonically deficient data bands, creating additional higher order harmonics for said harmonically deficient data bands, adding said higher order harmonics back to said encoded digital signal to form a newly enhanced signal, inverse filtering said newly enhanced signal, and converting said inverse filtered signal to an analog waveform for consumption by the listener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: J. CRAIG OXFORD, PATRICK TAYLOR, D. MICHAEL SHIELDS
  • Publication number: 20140105409
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for introducing a time-varying time delay randomly into the individual reproduction channels of a sound recording, two in the case of binaural presentation. This emulates the temporal aspect of microphone and/or listener motion. The present invention may be applied as a unidirectional process. No preparation of the source material is required. It can be applied to any multichannel audio signal set. It can process analog or digital signals. The process may be used with headphones, loudspeakers, hearing aids or similar assistive hearing devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: J. Craig OXFORD, D. Michael SHIELDS
  • Patent number: 8687818
    Abstract: A method for dynamically adjusting the spectral content of an audio signal, which increases the harmonic content of said audio signal, said method comprising translating an encoded digital signal into data bands, creating a psychoacoustic model to identify sections of said data bands that are deficient in harmonic quality, analyzing the fundamental frequency and amplitude of said harmonically deficient data bands, creating additional higher order harmonics for said harmonically deficient data bands, adding said higher order harmonics back to said encoded digital signal to form a newly enhanced signal, inverse filtering said newly enhanced signal, and converting said inverse filtered signal to an analog waveform for consumption by the listener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, Patrick Taylor, D. Michael Shields
  • Publication number: 20140020550
    Abstract: A panel for use in assembling a radiation, microbial, acoustically, and ballistically shielded space within a building or other personal space. The panel is comprised of an ionizing radiation shielding material layer, a non-ionizing radiation shielding layer, an anti microbial treated layer, a bulletproof layer and an acoustical shielding layer. A method for using said panels to create a radiation, microbial, acoustic, and ballistic shielded space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: J. CRAIG OXFORD, D. MICHAEL SHIELDS
  • Patent number: 8611557
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for introducing a time-varying time delay randomly into the individual reproduction channels of a sound recording, two in the case of binaural presentation. This emulates the temporal aspect of microphone and/or listener motion. The present invention may be applied as a unidirectional process. No preparation of the source material is required. It can be applied to any multichannel audio signal set. It can process analog or digital signals. The process may be used with headphones, loudspeakers, hearing aids or similar assistive hearing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields