Patents by Inventor Glen A. Norris

Glen A. Norris 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).

  • Switching binaural sound
    Patent number: 10873821
    Abstract: A method provides binaural sound to a person through electronic earphones. The binaural sound localizes to a sound localization point (SLP) in empty space that is away from but proximate to the person. When an event occurs, the binaural sound switches or changes to stereo sound, to mono sound, or to altered binaural sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Inventors: Philip Scott Lyren, Glen A. Norris
  • Dummy head for electronic calls
    Patent number: 10869129
    Abstract: A method captures binaural sound of a voice of a first user with microphones located at left and rights ears of a dummy head. The dummy head transmits the voice of the first user to a portable electronic device with or near the first user. This portable electronic device transmits the binaural sound over one or more networks to another electronic device being used by a second user to communicate with the first user during the electronic call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventors: Glen A. Norris, Philip Scott Lyren
  • Methods and apparatus to assist listeners in distinguishing between electronically generated binaural sound and physical environment sound
    Patent number: 10863032
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus assist listeners in distinguishing between electronically generated binaural sound and physical environment sound while the listener wears a wearable electronic device that provides the binaural sound to the listener. The wearable electronic device generates a visual alert or audio alert when the electronically generated binaural sound occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Inventors: Glen A. Norris, Philip Scott Lyren
  • Binaural sound in visual entertainment media
    Patent number: 10848899
    Abstract: A method provides binaural sound to a listener while the listener watches a movie so sounds from the movie localize to a location of a character in the movie. Sound is convolved with head related transfer functions (HRTFs) of the listener, and the convolved sound is provided to the listener who wears a wearable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Inventors: Philip Scott Lyren, Glen A. Norris
  • Computer Performance of Executing Binaural Sound
    Publication number: 20200359157
    Abstract: A method improves performance of a computer that provides binaural sound to a listener. A memory stores coordinate locations that follow a path of how the head of the listener moves. This path is retrieved in anticipation of subsequent head movements of the listener to improve computer performance of executing binaural sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Philip Scott Lyren, Glen A. Norris
  • Smartphone processes a voice in a telephone call to a familiar location
    Patent number: 10834516
    Abstract: A smartphone analyzes prior telephone calls and determines a familiar sound localization point (SLP). The smartphone processes a voice in a telephone call so the voice externally localizes to a user of the smartphone as binaural sound from the familiar SLP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Inventors: Philip Scott Lyren, Glen A. Norris
  • Localizing Binaural Sound to Objects
    Publication number: 20200329333
    Abstract: An electronic device identifies a location of a physical object that is away from a listener. The electronic device convolves sound so the sound externally localizes as binaural sound to the physical object. The sound plays to the listener through earphones so the listener hears the sound as emanating from the physical object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Glen A. Norris, Philip Scott Lyren
  • Headphones that provide binaural sound to a portable electronic device
    Patent number: 10805758
    Abstract: Headphones provide binaural sound to a location behind a portable electronic device. The sound is convolved or processed to a location that is behind the portable electronic device so that the listener perceives the location of the sound as originating from the location of the portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Inventors: Glen A. Norris, Philip Scott Lyren
  • Wearable electronic device displays a 3D zone from where binaural sound emanates
    Patent number: 10798509
    Abstract: A portable electronic device (PED) divides an area around a user into a three-dimensional (3D) zone. A wearable electronic device worn on a head of the user displays the 3D zone in response to the wearable electronic device detecting that the user is leaving the zone. The wearable electronic device plays binaural sound that emanates to the user from sound localization points (SLPs) inside the zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Inventors: Philip Scott Lyren, Glen A. Norris
  • Improving a user experience localizing binaural sound to an AR or VR image
    Patent number: 10791409
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus improve a user experience localizing binaural sound to an augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) image. The sound is convolved or processed to a location that is behind the AR or VR image so that the listener perceives the location of the sound as originating from the AR or VR image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Inventors: Glen A. Norris, Philip Scott Lyren
  • Switching Binaural Sound
    Publication number: 20200304930
    Abstract: A method provides binaural sound to a person through electronic earphones. The binaural sound localizes to a sound localization point (SLP) in empty space that is away from but proximate to the person. When an event occurs, the binaural sound switches or changes to stereo sound, to mono sound, or to altered binaural sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Philip Scott Lyren, Glen A. Norris
  • Adjusting ambient sound playing through speakers in headphones
    Patent number: 10785587
    Abstract: Headphones include one or more microphones that capture ambient sound in an environment of a user. The headphones play music from a smartphone and the ambient sound through speakers. An amplitude of the ambient sound playing through the speakers is adjusted in response to determining an atmospheric pressure in the environment or movement of the smartphone with the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Inventors: Glen A. Norris, Philip Scott Lyren
  • Smartphone moves location of binaural sound
    Patent number: 10779102
    Abstract: A smartphone includes a camera that takes a picture of an ear of a user and retrieves at least one head-related transfer function (HRTF) from a database based on the picture. A digital signal processor (DSP) processes the sound to generate binaural sound, and a transmitter transmits the binaural sound to earphones or headphones worn on a head of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Inventors: Glen A. Norris, Philip Scott Lyren
  • Wearable electronic device displays a sphere to show location of binaural sound
    Patent number: 10750308
    Abstract: A handheld portable electronic device (HPED) designates a sound localization point (SLP) for binaural sound. A digital signal processor (DSP) processes the sound with head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) to generate the binaural sound. A wearable electronic device (WED) displays a sphere that includes the SLP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Inventors: Philip Scott Lyren, Glen A. Norris
  • Sound Localization for an Electronic Call
    Publication number: 20200260203
    Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) determines a distance between eyes of a user wearing the HMD, and head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) are selected based on the eye distance. The HMD displays a virtual image to the user and processes sound with the HRTFs into binaural sound that externally localizes at the virtual image. The HMD that determines the distance between the eyes of the user is also the HMD that displays the virtual image and processes the sound with the HRTFs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Glen A. Norris, Philip Scott Lyren
  • Adjusting ambient sound playing through speakers in headphones
    Publication number: 20200245087
    Abstract: During an electronic call between two individuals, a sound localization point simulates a location in empty space from where an origin of a voice of one individual occurs for the other individual.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Glen A. Norris, Philip Scott Lyren
  • Designating a sound localization point(SLP)for binaural sound at a location of a smartphone
    Patent number: 10728682
    Abstract: Electronic glasses detect a location of smartphone and designate the location as a sound localization point (SLP) from where binaural sound originates to a user wearing the electronic glasses. A digital signal processor (DSP) in the smartphone processes sound into the binaural sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Inventors: Philip Scott Lyren, Glen A. Norris
  • Computer performance of executing binaural sound
    Patent number: 10728685
    Abstract: A method improves performance of a computer that provides binaural sound to a listener. A memory stores coordinate locations that follow a path of how the head of the listener moves. This path is retrieved in anticipation of subsequent head movements of the listener to improve computer performance of executing binaural sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Inventors: Philip Scott Lyren, Glen A. Norris
  • Switching Binaural Sound
    Publication number: 20200236486
    Abstract: A method provides binaural sound to a person through electronic earphones. The binaural sound localizes to a sound localization point (SLP) in empty space that is away from but proximate to the person. When an event occurs, the binaural sound switches or changes to stereo sound, to mono sound, or to altered binaural sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Philip Scott Lyren, Glen A. Norris
  • Switching binaural sound
    Patent number: 10708703
    Abstract: A method provides binaural sound to a person through electronic earphones. The binaural sound localizes to a sound localization point (SLP) in empty space that is away from but proximate to the person. When an event occurs, the binaural sound switches or changes to stereo sound, to mono sound, or to altered binaural sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Inventors: Philip Scott Lyren, Glen A. Norris