Patents by Inventor Guy C. Nicholson
Guy C. Nicholson 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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Patent number: 11818561Abstract: Digital audio signal processing techniques used to provide an acoustic transparency function in a pair of headphones. A number of transparency filters can be computed at once, using optimization techniques or using a closed form solution, that are based on multiple re-seatings of the headphones and that are as a result robust for a population of wearers. In another embodiment, a transparency hearing filter of a headphone is computed by an adaptive system that takes into consideration the changing acoustic to electrical path between an earpiece speaker and an interior microphone of that headphone while worn by a user. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2022Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ismael H. Nawfal, Joshua D. Atkins, Stephen J. Nimick, Guy C. Nicholson, Jason M. Harlow
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Patent number: 11503409Abstract: Digital audio signal processing techniques used to provide an acoustic transparency function in a pair of headphones. A number of transparency filters can be computed at once, using optimization techniques or using a closed form solution, that are based on multiple re-seatings of the headphones and that are as a result robust for a population of wearers. In another embodiment, a transparency hearing filter of a headphone is computed by an adaptive system that takes into consideration the changing acoustic to electrical path between an earpiece speaker and an interior microphone of that headphone while worn by a user. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2021Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Ismael H. Nawfal, Joshua D. Atkins, Stephen J. Nimick, Guy C. Nicholson, Jason M. Harlow
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Patent number: 10951990Abstract: Digital audio signal processing techniques used to provide an acoustic transparency function in a pair of headphones. A number of transparency filters can be computed at once, using optimization techniques or using a closed form solution, that are based on multiple re-seatings of the headphones and that are as a result robust for a population of wearers. In another embodiment, a transparency hearing filter of a headphone is computed by an adaptive system that takes into consideration the changing acoustic to electrical path between an earpiece speaker and an interior microphone of that headphone while worn by a user. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2018Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Ismael H. Nawfal, Joshua D. Atkins, Stephen J. Nimick, Guy C. Nicholson, Jason M. Harlow
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Publication number: 20190058952Abstract: Digital audio signal processing techniques used to provide an acoustic transparency function in a pair of headphones. A number of transparency filters can be computed at once, using optimization techniques or using a closed form solution, that are based on multiple re-seatings of the headphones and that are as a result robust for a population of wearers. In another embodiment, a transparency hearing filter of a headphone is computed by an adaptive system that takes into consideration the changing acoustic to electrical path between an earpiece speaker and an interior microphone of that headphone while worn by a user. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2018Publication date: February 21, 2019Inventors: Ismael H. NAWFAL, Joshua D. ATKINS, Stephen J. NIMICK, Guy C. NICHOLSON, Jason M. HARLOW
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Patent number: 10034092Abstract: Digital audio signal processing techniques used to provide an acoustic transparency function in a pair of headphones. A number of transparency filters can be computed at once, using optimization techniques or using a closed form solution, that are based on multiple re-seatings of the headphones and that are as a result robust for a population of wearers. In another embodiment, a transparency hearing filter of a headphone is computed by an adaptive system that takes into consideration the changing acoustic to electrical path between an earpiece speaker and an interior microphone of that headphone while worn by a user. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ismael H. Nawfal, Joshua D. Atkins, Stephen J. Nimick, Guy C. Nicholson, Jason M. Harlow
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Patent number: 10003885Abstract: A mobile multi-function device that includes a speaker, two or more microphones, and a beamformer processor is described. The beamformer processor uses the microphones to perform beamforming operations. One of the microphones shares a receiver acoustic opening with the speaker while the other microphone uses a separate acoustic opening. The receiver acoustic opening may be an earpiece opening that is held to the ear of a user while conducting a phone call with the device and provides acoustic input and output paths for the microphone and the speaker, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2017Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Ruchir M. Dave, Jae H. Lee, Guy C. Nicholson
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Patent number: 9749737Abstract: A method in a communications device includes the following operations. During a call, a process automatically detects that the device has moved from an at-the-ear position to an away-from-the-ear position. Based on the detection, a noise suppressor that operates upon an uplink signal for the call is signaled to change its noise suppression performance. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2013Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventor: Guy C. Nicholson
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Publication number: 20170195786Abstract: A mobile multi-function device that includes a speaker, two or more microphones, and a beamformer processor is described. The beamformer processor uses the microphones to perform beamforming operations. One of the microphones shares a receiver acoustic opening with the speaker while the other microphone uses a separate acoustic opening. The receiver acoustic opening may be an earpiece opening that is held to the ear of a user while conducting a phone call with the device and provides acoustic input and output paths for the microphone and the speaker, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2017Publication date: July 6, 2017Inventors: Ruchir M. Dave, Jae H. Lee, Guy C. Nicholson
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Patent number: 9609409Abstract: A mobile multi-function device that includes a speaker, two or more microphones, and a beamformer processor is described. The beamformer processor uses the microphones to perform beamforming operations. One of the microphones shares a receiver acoustic opening with the speaker while the other microphone uses a separate acoustic opening. The receiver acoustic opening may be an earpiece opening that is held to the ear of a user while conducting a phone call with the device and provides acoustic input and output paths for the microphone and the speaker, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ruchir M. Dave, Jae H. Lee, Guy C. Nicholson
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Patent number: 9330654Abstract: Active noise cancellation (ANC) circuitry is coupled to the input of an earpiece speaker in a portable audio device, to control the ambient acoustic noise outside of the device and that may be heard by a user of the device. A microphone is to pickup sound emitted from the earpiece speaker, as well as the ambient acoustic noise. Control circuitry deactivates the ANC in response to determining that an estimate of how much sound emitted from the earpiece speaker has been corrupted by noise indicates insufficient corruption by noise. In another embodiment, the ANC decision is in response to determining that an estimate of the ambient noise level is greater than a threshold level of an audio artifact that could be induced by the ANC. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2013Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Guy C. Nicholson
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Patent number: 9326060Abstract: A method that uses a microphone array for spatially selective sound pickup during an audio-video recording session is described. An audio signal for the audio-video recording session is generated using a beamforming process from the microphone array in accordance with a sound pickup directivity pattern. Ambient sound pressure level of the audio-video recording session is monitored while generating the audio signal. The sound pickup directivity pattern of the beamforming process is automatically adjusted during the audio-video recording session as a function of the monitored ambient sound pressure level. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2014Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Guy C. Nicholson, Wei Li
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Publication number: 20160037255Abstract: A method that uses a microphone array for spatially selective sound pickup during an audio-video recording session is described. An audio signal for the audio-video recording session is generated using a beamforming process from the microphone array in accordance with a sound pickup directivity pattern. Ambient sound pressure level of the audio-video recording session is monitored while generating the audio signal. The sound pickup directivity pattern of the beamforming process is automatically adjusted during the audio-video recording session as a function of the monitored ambient sound pressure level. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2014Publication date: February 4, 2016Inventors: Guy C. Nicholson, Wei Li
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Patent number: 9099077Abstract: Active noise cancellation (ANC) circuitry is coupled to the input of an earpiece speaker in a portable audio device, to control the ambient acoustic noise outside of the device and that may be heard by a user of the device. A microphone is to pickup sound emitted from the earpiece speaker, as well as the ambient acoustic noise. Control circuitry deactivates the ANC in response to determining that an estimate of how much sound emitted from the earpiece speaker has been corrupted by noise indicates insufficient corruption by noise. In another embodiment, the ANC decision is in response to determining that an estimate of the ambient acoustic noise level is greater than an estimate of the anti-noise produced by the ANC. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2012Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Guy C. Nicholson, Cyril Labidi, Simon E. Jordan, Jae H. Lee
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Patent number: 9082389Abstract: A feed forward active noise cancellation (ANC) system for use in a portable audio device has an adaptive digital filter and a reference microphone. A non-adaptive pre-shaping digital filter has an input coupled to the reference microphone and is in series with, and in front of, the adaptive filter. The pre-shaping filter is minimum phase and presents at least 2 dB more gain over a low audio frequency band than over a high audio frequency band. This may help compensate for low frequency band difficulties, and may thereby extend ANC bandwidth at the low end without a worsening impact on the high end. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2012Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Guy C. Nicholson, Thomas M. Jensen
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Patent number: 9058801Abstract: A system for managing the changing state of an adaptive filter in an active noise control (ANC) system is described. An adaptive filter state storage stores copies of prior states of the adaptive filter. A disturbance detector can detect either normal ambient noise or abnormal ambient noise. An adaptive filter state manager signals that a copy of a current state of the adaptive filter is to be repeatedly written to the state storage, so long as normal ambient noise is being detected. But when abnormal noise is detected, the state manager signals that the adaptive filter be restored to one of its prior states, from the copies stored in the state storage. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2012Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Bruce C. Po, Guy C. Nicholson
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Publication number: 20150163578Abstract: A mobile multi-function device that includes a speaker, two or more microphones, and a beamformer processor is described. The beamformer processor uses the microphones to perform beamforming operations. One of the microphones shares a receiver acoustic opening with the speaker while the other microphone uses a separate acoustic opening. The receiver acoustic opening may be an earpiece opening that is held to the ear of a user while conducting a phone call with the device and provides acoustic input and output paths for the microphone and the speaker, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2015Publication date: June 11, 2015Inventors: Ruchir M. Dave, Jae H. Lee, Guy C. Nicholson
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Patent number: 8988480Abstract: A mobile multi-function device that includes a speaker, two or more microphones, and a beamformer processor is described. The beamformer processor uses the microphones to perform beamforming operations. One of the microphones shares a receiver acoustic opening with the speaker while the other microphone uses a separate acoustic opening. The receiver acoustic opening may be an earpiece opening that is held to the ear of a user while conducting a phone call with the device and provides acoustic input and output paths for the microphone and the speaker, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2012Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ruchir M. Dave, Jae H. Lee, Guy C. Nicholson
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Patent number: 8744091Abstract: A communications device is configured to control the intelligibility of speech in a downlink voice signal during a call. The device determines a current noise level based on sampling ambient acoustic noise and based on a previously determined noise level. The device then determines an overall output gain and a frequency response based on the current noise level and based on a user-selected volume setting of the device. The device modifies the downlink voice signal during the call in accordance with the determined overall output gain and the determined frequency response. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2010Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Shaohai Chen, Guy C. Nicholson, Bruce C. Po
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Publication number: 20140072133Abstract: A method in a communications device includes the following operations. During a call, a process automatically detects that the device has moved from an at-the-ear position to an away-from-the-ear position. Based on the detection, a noise suppressor that operates upon an uplink signal for the call is signaled to change its noise suppression performance. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2013Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventor: Guy C. Nicholson
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Publication number: 20140071221Abstract: A mobile multi-function device that includes a speaker, two or more microphones, and a beamformer processor is described. The beamformer processor uses the microphones to perform beamforming operations. One of the microphones shares a receiver acoustic opening with the speaker while the other microphone uses a separate acoustic opening. The receiver acoustic opening may be an earpiece opening that is held to the ear of a user while conducting a phone call with the device and provides acoustic input and output paths for the microphone and the speaker, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2012Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ruchir M. Dave, Jae H. Lee, Guy C. Nicholson