Patents by Inventor Hilmar Lehnert

Hilmar Lehnert 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).

  • Patent number: 12375849
    Abstract: Example techniques relate to audio generation in a media playback system. Based on one or more first functions and first characteristics of an area, the system may generate first audio that includes a first audio signal and a second audio signal. The system provides the first audio signal to at least one first audio driver and the second audio signal to at least one second audio driver, thereby causing a first playback device and a second playback device to play back the first audio synchronously. The system receives second characteristics of the area and based on one or more second functions and the second characteristics, generates second audio comprising a third audio signal and a fourth audio signal. The system provides the third audio signal to the at least one first audio driver and the fourth audio signal to the at least one second audio driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Chamness, Aurelio Rafael Ramos, Timothy Sheen, Hilmar Lehnert
  • Publication number: 20250240596
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting bass levels of a multi-channel audio signal include, among other features, (i) receiving the multi-channel signal via a playback device; (ii) separating, from the multi-channel signal, low-frequency signals comprising frequencies less than a threshold frequency; (iii) determining electrical energies of the low-frequency signals; (iv) determining a first energy by summing the electrical energies of the low-frequency signals; (v) consolidating the low-frequency signals into a consolidated low-frequency signal; (vi) determining a second energy by determining an electrical energy of the consolidated low-frequency signal; (vii) generating a gain-adjusted low-frequency signal by adjusting a gain of the consolidated low-frequency signal based on both (a) the first energy and (b) the second energy; (viii) generating a gain-adjusted multi-channel signal by mixing the gain-adjusted low-frequency signal back into the multi-channel signal; and (ix) using the gain-adjusted multi-channel s
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2024
    Publication date: July 24, 2025
    Inventors: Hilmar Lehnert, Aurelio Ramos, Bob Dizon
  • Publication number: 20250234145
    Abstract: To avoid damage from overheating, playback device operation can be modulated based on input from temperature sensors. An example method includes obtaining, via one or more temperature sensors carried by the playback device, temperature data. Based on the temperature data, a first temperature parameter is detected. In response to detecting the first temperature parameter, a gain of audio playback is decreased by a first amount. After decreasing the gain of audio playback by the first amount, a second temperature parameter is detected. In response to detecting the second temperature parameter, the gain of audio playback is decreased by a second amount different than the first amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2025
    Publication date: July 17, 2025
    Inventors: Hilmar Lehnert, Aurelio Ramos
  • Publication number: 20250234132
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing augmented arrays for audio playback are disclosed. An example playback device includes a first transducer configured to output audio along a first acoustic axis and a second transducer configured to output audio along a second acoustic axis. The playback device is configured to receive a source stream of audio content including at least a first input channel and a second input channel. The device plays back first audio output via the first transducer based on the first input channel and directed along the first acoustic axis, and plays back second audio output via the second transducer based on the second input channel and directed along the second acoustic axis, wherein the second audio output at least partially cancels the first audio output along a first spatial region offset from the first acoustic axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2025
    Publication date: July 17, 2025
    Inventors: Hilmar Lehnert, Chris Davies, Paul MacLean
  • Publication number: 20250193571
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a headphone device which operates in various modes applying different gesture profiles based on various operational, playback, or environmental conditions. An example headphone device includes a first earbud and a second earbud communicatively coupled to each other. One or both of the earbuds include a touch-sensitive interface and a processor. The earbuds are configured to interpret a first set of gestures to the touch-sensitive interface as respective commands while operating in a first mode. Upon detecting a change in an operational condition, one or both earbuds transition to a second mode where the earbuds are configured to interpret a second set of gestures to the touch-sensitive interface as respective commands, different from the respective commands correlating to the first set of gestures to the touch-sensitive interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2024
    Publication date: June 12, 2025
    Inventor: Hilmar Lehnert
  • Patent number: 12256200
    Abstract: To avoid damage from overheating, playback device operation can be modulated based on input from temperature sensors. An example method includes obtaining, via one or more temperature sensors carried by the playback device, temperature data. Based on the temperature data, a first temperature parameter is detected. In response to detecting the first temperature parameter, a gain of audio playback is decreased by a first amount. After decreasing the gain of audio playback by the first amount, a second temperature parameter is detected. In response to detecting the second temperature parameter, the gain of audio playback is decreased by a second amount different than the first amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Hilmar Lehnert, Aurelio Ramos
  • Patent number: 12250528
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing augmented arrays for audio playback are disclosed. An example playback device includes a first transducer configured to output audio along a first acoustic axis and a second transducer configured to output audio along a second acoustic axis. The playback device is configured to receive a source stream of audio content including at least a first input channel and a second input channel. The device plays back first audio output via the first transducer based on the first input channel and directed along the first acoustic axis, and plays back second audio output via the second transducer based on the second input channel and directed along the second acoustic axis, wherein the second audio output at least partially cancels the first audio output along a first spatial region offset from the first acoustic axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Hilmar Lehnert, Chris Davies, Paul MacLean
  • Publication number: 20250063300
    Abstract: Systems and methods for authenticating a passive speaker include (i) activating, by a playback device configured to drive the passive speaker, a passive speaker identification circuit of the passive speaker by providing an identification signal to an input terminal of the passive speaker, wherein the passive speaker is a particular type of passive speaker having particular acoustic characteristics; (ii) while the passive speaker identification circuit is active, measuring, by the playback device, an electrical current of the identification signal; (iii) determining, based on the measured electrical current of the identification signal, an impedance modulation of the passive speaker; (iv) determining, by the playback device, the particular type of the passive speaker based on the impedance modulation of the passive speaker; and (v) applying, by the playback device, a calibration to the playback device based on the determined particular type of the passive speaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Nicholas D'Amato, Benjamin Rappoport, Dayn Wilberding, Timothy Sheen, Andrea Testa, Nash Reilly, Hilmar Lehnert
  • Publication number: 20250024217
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method comprises receiving audio content comprising left input channel signals and right input channel signals, and generating first and second input signals from the left and right input channel signals. The first input signal is based on a sum of the left and right input channel signals, and the second input signal is based on a difference of the left and right input channel signals. An array transfer function is applied to the first and second input signals to produced audio output signals, which can be provided to a plurality of audio transducers on one or more playback devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2024
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Inventors: Hilmar Lehnert, Paul MacLean
  • Patent number: 12200453
    Abstract: Example techniques relate to audio generation in a media playback system. Based on one or more first functions and first characteristics of an area, the system may generate first audio that includes a first audio signal and a second audio signal. The system provides the first audio signal to at least one first audio driver and the second audio signal to at least one second audio driver, thereby causing a first playback device and a second playback device to play back the first audio synchronously. The system receives second characteristics of the area and based on one or more second functions and the second characteristics, generates second audio comprising a third audio signal and a fourth audio signal. The system provides the third audio signal to the at least one first audio driver and the fourth audio signal to the at least one second audio driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Chamness, Aurelio Rafael Ramos, Timothy Sheen, Hilmar Lehnert
  • Patent number: 12170885
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting bass levels of a multi-channel audio signal include, among other features, (i) receiving the multi-channel signal via a playback device; (ii) separating, from the multi-channel signal, low-frequency signals comprising frequencies less than a threshold frequency; (iii) determining electrical energies of the low-frequency signals; (iv) determining a first energy by summing the electrical energies of the low-frequency signals; (v) consolidating the low-frequency signals into a consolidated low-frequency signal; (vi) determining a second energy by determining an electrical energy of the consolidated low-frequency signal; (vii) generating a gain-adjusted low-frequency signal by adjusting a gain of the consolidated low-frequency signal based on both (a) the first energy and (b) the second energy; (viii) generating a gain-adjusted multi-channel signal by mixing the gain-adjusted low-frequency signal back into the multi-channel signal; and (ix) using the gain-adjusted multi-channel s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Hilmar Lehnert, Aurelio Ramos, Bob Dizon
  • Publication number: 20240348962
    Abstract: Examples described herein relate to a charging system for wireless earbuds involving charging adapters that are attachable to the wireless earbuds. In some implementations, the charging adapter is attachable to an external surface of an earbud using a magnetic or mechanical interface that align electrodes of the charging adapter with electrodes on the wireless headset, allowing an internal battery of the earbud to draw current and charge from the charging adapter while the earbud is in-ear. Then, when the internal battery is and recharged using a charging case or wall charger, the charging adapter can be detached from the earbud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Inventor: Hilmar Lehnert
  • Patent number: 12101591
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a headphone device which operates in various modes applying different gesture profiles based on various operational, playback, or environmental conditions. An example headphone device includes a first earbud and a second earbud communicatively coupled to each other. One or both of the earbuds include a touch-sensitive interface and a processor. The earbuds are configured to interpret a first set of gestures to the touch-sensitive interface as respective commands while operating in a first mode. Upon detecting a change in an operational condition, one or both earbuds transition to a second mode where the earbuds are configured to interpret a second set of gestures to the touch-sensitive interface as respective commands, different from the respective commands correlating to the first set of gestures to the touch-sensitive interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Hilmar Lehnert
  • Publication number: 20240314496
    Abstract: Example techniques relate to audio generation in a media playback system. Based on one or more first functions and first characteristics of an area, the system may generate first audio that includes a first audio signal and a second audio signal. The system provides the first audio signal to at least one first audio driver and the second audio signal to at least one second audio driver, thereby causing a first playback device and a second playback device to play back the first audio synchronously. The system receives second characteristics of the area and based on one or more second functions and the second characteristics, generates second audio comprising a third audio signal and a fourth audio signal. The system provides the third audio signal to the at least one first audio driver and the fourth audio signal to the at least one second audio driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Inventors: Mike Chamness, Aurelio Rafael Ramos, Timothy Sheen, Hilmar Lehnert
  • Patent number: 12081953
    Abstract: Systems and methods for authenticating a passive speaker include (i) activating, by a playback device configured to drive the passive speaker, a passive speaker identification circuit of the passive speaker by providing an identification signal to an input terminal of the passive speaker, wherein the passive speaker is a particular type of passive speaker having particular acoustic characteristics; (ii) while the passive speaker identification circuit is active, measuring, by the playback device, an electrical current of the identification signal; (iii) determining, based on the measured electrical current of the identification signal, an impedance modulation of the passive speaker; (iv) determining, by the playback device, the particular type of the passive speaker based on the impedance modulation of the passive speaker; and (v) applying, by the playback device, a calibration to the playback device based on the determined particular type of the passive speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas D'Amato, Benjamin Rappoport, Dayn Wilberding, Timothy Sheen, Andrea Testa, Nash Reilly, Hilmar Lehnert
  • Publication number: 20240242724
    Abstract: Multichannel audio playback devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some examples, a first playback device is configured to receive a source stream of audio content comprising left, right and center input channels. In a first mode, the first playback device is configured to play back audio via a plurality of transducers based on the left, right, and center input channels. In a second mode, in which the first playback device is bonded to second and third playback devices, the first playback device is configured to (i) play back audio via the plurality of transducers based on at least the center input channel, (ii) cause audio to be played via the second playback device based on at least the right input channel, and (iii) cause audio to be played via the third playback device based on at least the left input channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2024
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Richard Jackson, Hilmar Lehnert, Chris Davies, Paul MacLean, Roberto Maria Dizon
  • Publication number: 20240236569
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing augmented arrays for audio playback are disclosed. An example playback device includes a first transducer configured to output audio along a first acoustic axis and a second transducer configured to output audio along a second acoustic axis. The playback device is configured to receive a source stream of audio content including at least a first input channel and a second input channel. The device plays back first audio output via the first transducer based on the first input channel and directed along the first acoustic axis, and plays back second audio output via the second transducer based on the second input channel and directed along the second acoustic axis, wherein the second audio output at least partially cancels the first audio output along a first spatial region offset from the first acoustic axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Hilmar Lehnert, Chris Davies, Paul MacLean
  • Publication number: 20240187777
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a headphone device which operates in various modes applying different gesture profiles based on various operational, playback, or environmental conditions. An example headphone device includes a first earbud and a second earbud communicatively coupled to each other. One or both of the earbuds include a touch-sensitive interface and a processor. The earbuds are configured to interpret a first set of gestures to the touch-sensitive interface as respective commands while operating in a first mode. Upon detecting a change in an operational condition, one or both earbuds transition to a second mode where the earbuds are configured to interpret a second set of gestures to the touch-sensitive interface as respective commands, different from the respective commands correlating to the first set of gestures to the touch-sensitive interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2023
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventor: Hilmar Lehnert
  • Patent number: D1043613
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: SONOS, INC.
    Inventors: Roland Bird, Roger Swales, Niels van Hoof, Lukasz Natkaniec, Mieko Kusano, Stefan Reichert, Dana Krieger, Tadeo T. Toulis, Mike Chamness, Hilmar Lehnert, Wilfred Wei, Wei Hean Liew
  • Patent number: D1063891
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: SONOS, INC.
    Inventors: Stefan Reichert, Mieko Kusano, Roland Bird, Roger Swales, Niels van Hoof, Lukasz Natkaniec, Dana Krieger, Tadeo T. Toulis, Mike Chamness, Hilmar Lehnert, Wilfred Wei, Wei Hean Liew