Patents by Inventor Eric A Sorensen
Eric A Sorensen 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: 20240157258Abstract: A gaming device that includes a handheld controller with a handle and a mechanism for connecting the handheld controller to a mobile device. The mechanism includes a substantially rigid arm and a connector. The arm is housed within the handle and is configured to pivot about a pivot point within the handle. The connector is attached to the arm at the end opposite the pivot point and is structured to physically and electrically pair the mobile device and the handheld controller. The connector is structured to pivot about the pivot point with the arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2023Publication date: May 16, 2024Applicant: Backbone Labs, Inc.Inventors: Ozhan Maker, Zachary Scott, Eric Sorensen, Cory Newton
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Patent number: 11853505Abstract: A gaming input device implements a method of adjusting input polling rate in various usage scenarios to optimize performance in light of scenario-specific considerations. The device detects a usage scenario and maps it to an optimized input polling rate, then requests the optimized input polling rate from associated firmware and hardware so an adjustment can be accomplished. The automated adjustment to polling rate accounts for problems associated with various usage scenarios, such as latency and power consumption, and allows for optimization specific to each scenario.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2023Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Backbone Labs, Inc.Inventors: Eric Sorensen, Maneet Singh Khaira, Zachary Scott, Samuel Boegli
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Patent number: 11827516Abstract: A hydride flow reactor includes a tank configured to receive a hydride fuel. The reactor also includes a tubular member coupled to the tank and configured to receive the hydride fuel from the tank. The reactor also includes a transporter positioned at least partially within the tubular member and configured to transport the hydride fuel through the tubular member. The reactor also includes a heater positioned at least partially around the tubular member and the transporter. The heater is configured to heat the hydride fuel in the tubular member to convert the hydride fuel into hydrogen gas and a reacted byproduct.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Adam Eric Sorensen, John J. Vajo, Jason Graetz
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Publication number: 20230271082Abstract: A game controller for a mobile device having a first handle, a second handle, a bridge coupling the first handle to the second handle, and a magnetic connector. The first handle includes a user-accessible, first hardware interface configured to accept touch inputs. The second handle includes a user-accessible, second hardware interface configured to accept touch inputs. The magnetic connector is configured to magnetically retain a mobile device to the game controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2023Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventors: Maneet Singh Khaira, Zachary Scott, Eric Sorensen, Ozhan Maker, Jon Christopher Lake
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Patent number: 11662855Abstract: A gaming input device implements a method of adjusting input polling rate in various usage scenarios to optimize performance in light of scenario-specific considerations. The device detects a usage scenario and maps it to an optimized input polling rate, then requests the optimized input polling rate from associated firmware and hardware so an adjustment can be accomplished. The automated adjustment to polling rate accounts for problems associated with various usage scenarios, such as latency and power consumption, and allows for optimization specific to each scenario.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2022Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: BACKBONE LABS, INC.Inventors: Eric Sorensen, Maneet Singh Khaira, Zachary Scott, Samuel Boegli
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Patent number: 11614916Abstract: Many headsets include automatic noise cancellation (ANC) which dramatically reduces perceived background noise and improves user listening experience. Unfortunately, the voice microphones in these devices often capture ambient noise that the headsets output during phone calls or other communication sessions to other users. In response, many headsets and communication devices provide manual muting circuitry, but users frequently forget to turn the muting on and/or off creating further problems as they communicate. To address this, the present inventors devised, among other things, an exemplary headset that detects the absence or presence of user speech, automatically muting and unmuting the voice microphone without user intervention. Some embodiments leverage relationships between feedback and feedforward signals in ANC circuitry to detect user speech, avoiding the addition of extra hardware to the headset.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2019Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: AVNERA CORPORATIONInventors: Jiajin An, Michael Jon Wurtz, David Wurtz, Manpreet Khaira, Amit Kumar, Shawn O'Connor, Shankar Rathoud, James Scanlan, Eric Sorensen
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Publication number: 20220331688Abstract: A game controller for a mobile device having a first handle, a second handle, a bridge coupling the first handle to the second handle, and a magnetic connector. The first handle includes a user-accessible, first hardware interface configured to accept touch inputs. The second handle includes a user-accessible, second hardware interface configured to accept touch inputs. The magnetic connector is configured to magnetically retain a mobile device to the game controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2022Publication date: October 20, 2022Inventors: Maneet Singh Khaira, Zachary Scott, Eric Sorensen, Ozhan Maker, Jon Christopher Lake
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Publication number: 20220219974Abstract: A hydride flow reactor includes a tank configured to receive a hydride fuel. The reactor also includes a tubular member coupled to the tank and configured to receive the hydride fuel from the tank. The reactor also includes a transporter positioned at least partially within the tubular member and configured to transport the hydride fuel through the tubular member. The reactor also includes a heater positioned at least partially around the tubular member and the transporter. The heater is configured to heat the hydride fuel in the tubular member to convert the hydride fuel into hydrogen gas and a reacted byproduct.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2021Publication date: July 14, 2022Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Adam Eric Sorensen, John J. Vajo, Jason Graetz
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Patent number: 11366633Abstract: An apparatus can include an audio playback device configured to provide an audio output to a user, and a controller configured to: receive an initial playback position within the audio output; determine that an off-ear event has occurred; identify a time corresponding to the off-ear event; instruct the audio playback device to pause the audio output at the identified time; and calculate a new playback position within the audio output based at least in part on the identified time.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2018Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: AVNERA CORPORATIONInventors: Shawn O'Connor, Eric Sorensen, Manpreet S. Khaira, Sydney Newton
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Patent number: 11102580Abstract: The disclosure includes a headset including one or more earphones and a connector configured to couple data and charge between the headset and a user equipment (UE). The headset also includes a charge node. The charge node includes a charge port for receiving UE charge from a charge source. The charge node also includes a downstream port for coupling audio data toward the earphones. The charge node further includes an upstream port for coupling the audio data toward the earphones via the downstream port and coupling UE charge from the charge port toward the UE via the connector.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2017Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: AVNERA CORPORATIONInventors: Manpreet S. Khaira, David McNeill, Eric Sorensen, Sydney Newton
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Patent number: 11006201Abstract: Disclosed is a signal processor for headphone off-ear detection. The signal processor includes an audio output to transmit an audio signal toward a headphone speaker in a headphone cup. The signal processor also includes a feedback (FB) microphone input to receive a FB signal from a FB microphone in the headphone cup. The signal processor also includes an off-ear detection (OED) signal processor to determine an audio frequency response of the FB signal over an OED frame as a received frequency response. The OED processor also determines an audio frequency response of the audio signal times an off-ear transfer function between the headphone speaker and the FB microphone as an ideal off-ear response. A difference metric si generated comparing the received frequency response to the ideal off-ear frequency response. The difference metric is employed to detect when the headphone cup is disengaged from an ear.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: AVNERA CORPORATIONInventors: Amit Kumar, Shankar Rathoud, Michael Jon Wurtz, Eric Etheridge, Eric Sorensen
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Patent number: 10950214Abstract: A system including an automatic noise canceling (ANC) headphone and a processor. The ANC headphone has a microphone configured to generate a microphone signal and at least two non-zero ANC gain levels. The processor is configured to receive the microphone signal, determine a characteristic of the microphone signal, and identify a revised ANC level from the ANC gain levels based on a comparison of the characteristic to at least one threshold. Methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2019Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: AVNERA CORPORATIONInventors: Amit Kumar, Eric Sorensen
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Patent number: 10945062Abstract: A headphone having a speaker, a feedforward microphone, a feedback microphone, and an OED processor. The speaker is configured to transmit an audio playback signal based on a headphone audio signal. The feedforward microphone is configured to sense an ambient noise signal and transmit a feedforward microphone signal based at least in part on the ambient noise signal. The feedback microphone is configured to sense a total audio signal and transmit a feedback microphone signal based at least in part on the total audio signal, in which the total audio signal is the sum of the audio playback signal and at least a portion of the ambient noise level. The OED processor is configured to determine whether the headphone is off ear or on ear, based at least in part on the headphone audio signal, the feedforward microphone signal, and the feedback microphone signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2019Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: AVNERA CORPORATIONInventors: Amit Kumar, Eric Sorensen, Shankar Rathoud
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Publication number: 20200348901Abstract: Many headsets include automatic noise cancellation (ANC) which dramatically reduces perceived background noise and improves user listening experience. Unfortunately, the voice microphones in these devices often capture ambient noise that the headsets output during phone calls or other communication sessions to other users. In response, many headsets and communication devices provide manual muting circuitry, but users frequently forget to turn the muting on and/or off creating further problems as they communicate. To address this, the present inventors devised, among other things, an exemplary headset that detects the absence or presence of user speech, automatically muting and unmuting the voice microphone without user intervention. Some embodiments leverage relationships between feedback and feedforward signals in ANC circuitry to detect user speech, avoiding the addition of extra hardware to the headset.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2019Publication date: November 5, 2020Inventors: Jiajin AN, Michael Jon WURTZ, David WURTZ, Manpreet KHAIRA, Amit KUMAR, Shawn O'CONNOR, Shankar RATHOUD, James SCANLAN, Eric SORENSEN
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Patent number: 10802463Abstract: A method of printing a tag and attaching the tag to a bag for printing, severing and feeding non-curled tags to sewing machines. The method of printing a tag and attaching the tag to a bag comprising providing a control unit, a bag conveyor, a bag switch, a printer unit, a chute, a chute sensor, and a feeder assembly; printing and severing a tag in the printer unit; dispensing the tag into the chute to prevent the tag from curling and jamming; and feeding the tag to a sewing machine whereupon the tag is attached to a bag.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2018Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: CMSI TechnologiesInventors: Robert Herfindahl, Matthew Benner, Eric Sorensen, Lamar Sorensen
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Publication number: 20200137478Abstract: Disclosed is a signal processor for headphone off-ear detection. The signal processor includes an audio output to transmit an audio signal toward a headphone speaker in a headphone cup. The signal processor also includes a feedback (FB) microphone input to receive a FB signal from a FB microphone in the headphone cup. The signal processor also includes an off-ear detection (OED) signal processor to determine an audio frequency response of the FB signal over an OED frame as a received frequency response. The OED processor also determines an audio frequency response of the audio signal times an off-ear transfer function between the headphone speaker and the FB microphone as an ideal off-ear response. A difference metric si generated comparing the received frequency response to the ideal off-ear frequency response. The difference metric is employed to detect when the headphone cup is disengaged from an ear.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2019Publication date: April 30, 2020Inventors: Amit Kumar, Shankar Rathoud, Michael Jon Wurtz, Eric Etheridge, Eric Sorensen
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Publication number: 20200105239Abstract: A system including an automatic noise canceling (ANC) headphone and a processor. The ANC headphone has a microphone configured to generate a microphone signal and at least two non-zero ANC gain levels. The processor is configured to receive the microphone signal, determine a characteristic of the microphone signal, and identify a revised ANC level from the ANC gain levels based on a comparison of the characteristic to at least one threshold. Methods are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2019Publication date: April 2, 2020Inventors: Amit Kumar, Eric Sorensen
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Patent number: 10564925Abstract: Many headsets include automatic noise cancellation (ANC) which dramatically reduces perceived background noise and improves user listening experience. Unfortunately, the voice microphones in these devices often capture ambient noise that the headsets output during phone calls or other communication sessions to other users. In response, many headsets and communication devices provide manual muting circuitry, but users frequently forget to turn the muting on and/or off, creating further problems as they communicate. To address this, the present inventors devised, among other things, an exemplary headset that detects the absence or presence of user speech, automatically muting and unmuting the voice microphone without user intervention. Some embodiments leverage relationships between feedback and feedforward signals in ANC circuitry to detect user speech, avoiding the addition of extra hardware to the headset.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Inventors: Jiajin An, Michael Jon Wurtz, David Wurtz, Manpreet Khaira, Amit Kumar, Shawn O'Connor, Shankar Rathoud, James Scanlan, Eric Sorensen
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Patent number: 10540954Abstract: A fixture for calibrating an active noise canceling (ANC) earphone, the calibration fixture including an ear model and an acoustic path. The ear model is configured to support an ANC earphone and includes an ear canal extending from an outer end of the ear canal to an inner end of the ear canal. The acoustic path is external to the ear canal and extends from, at a first end of the acoustic path, the inner end of the ear canal of the ear model to an opposite, second end of the acoustic path. The acoustic path is configured to transmit a mechanical sound wave received from the inner end of the ear canal to a region external to the ear model and adjacent the outer end of the ear canal.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2018Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: Avnera CorporationInventors: Amit Kumar, Thomas Irrgang, Shankar Rathoud, Eric Sorensen
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Patent number: 10474420Abstract: A speaker system includes a case, an audio input, speakers, an accelerometer, and a computer processor. The audio input is structured to receive a program audio signal from an audio device. The speakers are configured to play an audio output based on the program audio signal, the audio output causing a vibration of the case. The accelerometer is configured to detect the vibration of the case as well as a user tap on the case. The computer processor is configured to identify a user gesture that includes the tap on the case, to identify the tap apart from the case vibration by processing the detected vibration of the case and the detected user tap on the case based on information from the program audio signal to separate the detected user tap from the detected vibration, and to commence a particular function associated with the user gesture.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2018Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Avnera CorporationInventors: Manpreet S. Khaira, Shawn O'Connor, Frank Prestrelski, Patrick Allen Quinn, Richard Andrew Sorensen, Eric Sorensen