Patents by Inventor Eric A. Freudenthal

Eric A. Freudenthal 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: 20260114754
    Abstract: Diagnosing the perception of missing fundamental illusion is provided. The method comprises generating a first tone comprising a sinusoidal sum of harmonic multiples of a first fundamental frequency. The first tone does not include the first fundamental frequency. A second tone is generated comprising a sinusoidal sum of a second fundamental frequency with a number of harmonics multiples of the second fundamental frequency. The second fundamental frequency is sufficiently higher than the first fundamental frequency to be distinguished as a different pitch by a user. The harmonic multiples of the first fundamental frequency and second fundamental frequency are the same multiples. The first tone and second tone are presented to a user in a predetermined sequence unknown to the user. An answer input is received from the user regarding which of the first tone or second tone is higher. The user is diagnosed according to the answer input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2025
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Inventors: Eric A. Freudenthal, Kevin J. Moreno, Natasha Rovelli
  • Patent number: 12249343
    Abstract: Methods and systems for assisting tonally-challenged singers. A microphone can be integrated with a sound reinforcement system used in a live performance. The microphone, which can transduce the performer's voice, can serve multiple purposes such as, for example, to feed input to the natural ear and to the sound reinforcement system. The processed sound of the performer's voice (with fundamental frequency emphasized) can be mixed into the signal fed to a stage “monitor” speaker facing the performer or a headset worn by the performer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Eric A. Freudenthal, Eric M. Hanson, Bryan E. Usevitch
  • Publication number: 20240098429
    Abstract: A method for assisting recognition of intonation of speech is provided. The method comprises detecting voice an utterance by a hearing aid and generating a raw voice signal produced by the voice utterance. The hearing aid processes the raw voice signal to generate an intelligibility signal that boosts and equalizes frequencies related to intelligibility of phonemes of the voice utterance. The hearing aid processes the raw voice signal to generate an intonation signal that isolates the fundamental frequency related to intonation of the voice utterances. The hearing aid mixes the intelligibility signal and the intonation signal to generate and output an intelligible speech signal with a boosted fundamental frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Eric A. Freudenthal, Chigusa Kurumada
  • Publication number: 20210375303
    Abstract: Methods and systems for assisting tonally-challenged singers. A microphone can be integrated with a sound reinforcement system used in a live performance. The microphone, which can transduce the performer's voice, can serve multiple purposes such as, for example, to feed input to the natural ear and to the sound reinforcement system. The processed sound of the performer's voice (with fundamental frequency emphasized) can be mixed into the signal fed to a stage “monitor” speaker facing the performer or a headset worn by the performer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Eric A. Freudenthal, Eric M. Hanson, Bryan E. Usevitch
  • Patent number: 11120816
    Abstract: Methods and systems for assisting tonally-challenged singers. A microphone can be integrated with a sound reinforcement system used in a live performance. The microphone, which can transduce the performer's voice, can serve multiple purposes such as, for example, to feed input to the natural ear and to the sound reinforcement system. The processed sound of the performer's voice (with fundamental frequencies emphasized) can be mixed into the signal fed to a stage “monitor” speaker facing the performer or a headset worn by the performer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Eric A. Freudenthal, Eric M. Hanson, Bryan E. Usevitch
  • Patent number: 11017787
    Abstract: An apparatus to accentuate a fundamental frequency of a singer's utterance. The apparatus includes a frequency discriminator configured to detect the fundamental frequency of the singer's utterance. The apparatus also includes a device configured to process the singer's utterance, the device comprising at least one of: a filter connected to the frequency discriminator and configured to isolate the fundamental frequency; or a synthesizer connected to the filter and configured to isolate the fundamental frequency. The apparatus also includes a speaker configured to emit an audio signal that effectively reproduces and accentuates the fundamental frequency back to the singer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventor: Eric A. Freudenthal
  • Patent number: 10950253
    Abstract: A vocal feedback device comprising: a microphone; a fundamental frequency accentuator electrically connected to the microphone, a delay circuit electrically connected to the fundamental frequency accentuator, and a speaker electrically connected to the delay circuit. The device configured to convert vocal utterances received at the microphone into an electrical signal, impose a time delay before transmitting the electrical signal, after the time delay, transmit the electrical signal to the speaker, and convert the electrical signal to an audio signal using the speaker, the audio signal being a replication of the vocal utterances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Eric A. Freudenthal, Lluvia Mendiola, Vannesa Mueller, Celete Orozco, Kendra Rosales
  • Publication number: 20190251982
    Abstract: A vocal feedback device comprising: a microphone; a fundamental frequency accentuator electrically connected to the microphone, a delay circuit electrically connected to the fundamental frequency accentuator, and a speaker electrically connected to the delay circuit. The device configured to convert vocal utterances received at the microphone into an electrical signal, impose a time delay before transmitting the electrical signal, after the time delay, transmit the electrical signal to the speaker, and convert the electrical signal to an audio signal using the speaker, the audio signal being a replication of the vocal utterances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Eric A. Freudenthal, Lluvia Mendiola, Vannesa Mueller, Celete Orozco, Kendra Rosales
  • Publication number: 20190251981
    Abstract: An apparatus to accentuate a fundamental frequency of a singer's utterance. The apparatus includes a frequency discriminator configured to detect the fundamental frequency of the singer's utterance. The apparatus also includes a device configured to process the singer's utterance, the device comprising at least one of: a filter connected to the frequency discriminator and configured to isolate the fundamental frequency; or a synthesizer connected to the filter and configured to isolate the fundamental frequency. The apparatus also includes a speaker configured to emit an audio signal that effectively reproduces and accentuates the fundamental frequency back to the singer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventor: Eric A. Freudenthal
  • Patent number: 9773426
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to facilitate tone challenged singers to sing intended notes. In one aspect, the singer determines a note to sing corresponding to an intended frequency fi. The singer utters a note continuously with fundamental frequency fu into a microphone of the natural ear apparatus. The note is processed by the apparatus to produce sound emphasizing the fundamental frequency fu and output through a speaker to the auditory organs of the singer. The singer detects differences between intended frequency fi and uttered fundamental frequency fu. The singer adjusts his vocal organs as he utters the note with the intention of changing fu to reduce difference between fi and fu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Eric A. Freudenthal, Eric M. Hanson, Bryan E. Usevitch
  • Publication number: 20170076738
    Abstract: Methods and systems for assisting tonally-challenged singers. A microphone can be integrated with a sound reinforcement system used in a live performance. The microphone, which can transduce the performers voice, can serve multiple purposes such as, for example, to feed input to the natural ear and to the sound reinforcement system. The processed sound of the performers voice (with fundamental frequencies emphasized) can be mixed into the signal fed to a stage “monitor” speaker facing the performer or a headset worn by the performer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Eric A. Freudenthal, Eric M. Hanson, Bryan E. Usevitch
  • Publication number: 20160293041
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to facilitate tone challenged singers to sing intended notes. In one aspect, the singer determines a note to sing corresponding to an intended frequency fi. The singer utters a note continuously with fundamental frequency fu into a microphone of the natural ear apparatus. The note is processed by the apparatus to produce sound emphasizing the fundamental frequency fu and output through a speaker to the auditory organs of the singer. The singer detects differences between intended frequency fi and uttered fundamental frequency fu. The singer adjusts his vocal organs as he utters the note with the intention of changing fu to reduce difference between fi and fu.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Eric A. Freudenthal, Eric M. Hanson, Bryan E. Usevitch