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: 20130301855
    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: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: J. CRAIG OXFORD, D. MICHAEL SHIELDS
  • Patent number: 8422713
    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: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8359965
    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: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8144900
    Abstract: A speaker system which includes a housing and a linear array of a plurality of sound-generating transducers. A housing is in the form of a cylinder having a longitudinal axis and substantially circular cross-section. The linear array of sound-generating transducers are mounted upon a substantially planar chord configured within a sidewall of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8103007
    Abstract: A system and method to detect and remediate unacceptable levels of speech intelligibility evaluates received test audio transmitted across and received in a space or region of interest. Intelligibility is improved by altering the rate, pitch, amplitude and frequency bands energy during presentation of the speech signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: D. Michael Shields, Philip J. Zumsteg
  • Patent number: 8098833
    Abstract: A system and method to detect and measure remediated speech intelligibility by evaluating received test audio transmitted across and received in a space or region of interest. Remediation of the test audio may include altering the rate, pitch, amplitude and frequency bands energy during presentation of the speech signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Philip J. Zumsteg, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8098849
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8094868
    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 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Publication number: 20110255701
    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: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: J. CRAIG OXFORD, D. Michael Shields
  • Publication number: 20110153314
    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: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, Patrick Taylor, D. Michael Shields
  • Publication number: 20110096947
    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: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: J. CRAIG OXFORD, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 7899192
    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 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, Patrick Taylor, D. Michael Shields
  • Publication number: 20100284560
    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: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: J. CRAIG OXFORD, D. Michael Shields
  • Publication number: 20100246880
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system for the optimization of sound production so as to achieve limbic and cortical arousal, comprising a resistance-controlled (or partially mass-controlled) woofer system, a mass-controlled (or partially resistance-controlled) midrange system, and a resistance-controlled tweeter system. This system may further comprise crossover networks of a particular configuration. By use of unsymmetrical networks of low order, it is possible to obtain a complete system which exhibits flat delay response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: J. CRAIG OXFORD, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 7796775
    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: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 7672472
    Abstract: An audio transducer for use in a loudspeaker system. The transducer includes a rigid base, a pair of flexible, curved diaphragms and 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: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Iroquois Holding Co.
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 7639147
    Abstract: A system and method to detect PASS-type device audio alarm signals and to locate such devices in alarm in a public building, airport, sports stadium or other structure which can include a system to measure speech intelligibility. Time and frequency domain analysis are carried out to establish the pressure of PASS-type device audio output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew G. Berezowski, Walter L. Heimerdinger, Charles R. Obranovich, John A. Phelps, D. Michael Shields, Philip J. Zumsteg
  • Publication number: 20090074102
    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: September 17, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Publication number: 20090071322
    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: September 17, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Publication number: 20090046871
    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: August 17, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields