Patents by Inventor Iain Alexander McCowan

Iain Alexander McCowan 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: 11863942
    Abstract: An example method of operation may include detecting an acoustic stimulus via active beams associated with at least one microphone disposed in a defined space, detecting loudspeaker characteristic information of at least one loudspeaker providing the acoustic stimulus, transmitting acoustic stimulus information based on the acoustic stimulus to a central controller, and modifying, via a central controller, at least one control function associated with the at least one microphone and the at least one loudspeaker to minimize acoustic feedback produced by the loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Biamp Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Richard S. Juszkiewicz, Nicholas William Metzar, Iain Alexander McCowan, Matthew V. Kotvis, Jason Damori, Scott Wieser
  • Publication number: 20230247351
    Abstract: An example method of operation may include initializing a microphone array in a defined space to receive one or more sound instances based on a preliminary beamform tracking configuration, detecting the one or more sound instances within the defined space via the microphone array, modifying the preliminary beamform tracking configuration, based on a location of the one or more sound instances, to create a modified beamform tracking configuration, and saving the modified beamform tracking configuration in a memory of a microphone array controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Biamp Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Iain Alexander McCowan, Richard S. Juszkiewicz, Nicholas William Metzar, Matthew V. Kotvis
  • Patent number: 11676618
    Abstract: An example method of operation may include designating sub-regions which collectively provide a defined reception space, receiving audio signals at a controller from the microphone arrays in the defined reception space, configuring the controller with known locations of each of the microphone arrays, assigning each of the sub-regions to at least one of the microphone arrays based on the known locations, and creating beamform tracking configurations for each of the microphone arrays based on their assigned sub-regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Biamp Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Iain Alexander McCowan, Stefano Davolio, Richard S. Juszkiewicz, Nicholas William Metzar, Matthew V. Kotvis, Jeffrey William Sondermeyer, Jason Damori
  • Patent number: 11638091
    Abstract: An example method of operation may include initializing a microphone array in a defined space to receive one or more sound instances based on a preliminary beamform tracking configuration, detecting the one or more sound instances within the defined space via the microphone array, modifying the preliminary beamform tracking configuration, based on a location of the one or more sound instances, to create a modified beamform tracking configuration, and saving the modified beamform tracking configuration in a memory of a microphone array controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Biamp Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Iain Alexander McCowan, Richard S. Juszkiewicz, Nicholas William Metzar, Matthew V. Kotvis
  • Patent number: 11606656
    Abstract: An example method of operation may include detecting an acoustic stimulus via active beams associated with at least one microphone disposed in a defined space, detecting loudspeaker characteristic information of at least one loudspeaker providing the acoustic stimulus, transmitting acoustic stimulus information based on the acoustic stimulus to a central controller, and modifying, via a central controller, at least one control function associated with the at least one microphone and the at least one loudspeaker to minimize acoustic feedback produced by the loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Biamp Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Richard S. Juszkiewicz, Nicholas William Metzar, Iain Alexander McCowan, Matthew V. Kotvis, Jason Damori, Scott Wieser
  • Publication number: 20220078547
    Abstract: An example method of operation may include initializing a microphone array in a defined space to receive one or more sound instances based on a preliminary beamform tracking configuration, detecting the one or more sound instances within the defined space via the microphone array, modifying the preliminary beamform tracking configuration, based on a location of the one or more sound instances, to create a modified beamform tracking configuration, and saving the modified beamform tracking configuration in a memory of a microphone array controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Iain Alexander McCowan, Richard S. Juszkiewicz, Nicholas William Metzar, Matthew V. Kotvis
  • Patent number: 11211081
    Abstract: An example method of operation may include designating sub-regions which collectively provide a defined reception space, receiving audio signals at a controller from the microphone arrays in the defined reception space, configuring the controller with known locations of each of the microphone arrays, assigning each of the sub-regions to at least one of the microphone arrays based on the known locations, and creating beamform tracking configurations for each of the microphone arrays based on their assigned sub-regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Biamp Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Iain Alexander McCowan, Stefano Davolio, Richard S. Juszkiewicz, Nicholas William Metzar, Matthew V. Kotvis, Jeffrey William Sondermeyer, Jason Damori
  • Patent number: 11178484
    Abstract: An example method of operation may include initializing a microphone array in a defined space to receive one or more sound instances based on a preliminary beamform tracking configuration, detecting the one or more sound instances within the defined space via the microphone array, modifying the preliminary beamform tracking configuration, based on a location of the one or more sound instances, to create a modified beamform tracking configuration, and saving the modified beamform tracking configuration in a memory of a microphone array controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Biamp Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Iain Alexander McCowan, Richard S. Juszkiewicz, Nicholas William Metzar, Matthew V. Kotvis
  • Patent number: 11089418
    Abstract: An example method of operation may include detecting an acoustic stimulus via active beams associated with at least one microphone disposed in a defined space, detecting loudspeaker characteristic information of at least one loudspeaker providing the acoustic stimulus, transmitting acoustic stimulus information based on the acoustic stimulus to a central controller, and modifying, via a central controller, at least one control function associated with the at least one microphone and the at least one loudspeaker to minimize acoustic feedback produced by the loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Biamp Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Richard S. Juszkiewicz, Nicholas William Metzar, Iain Alexander McCowan, Matthew V. Kotvis, Jason Damori, Scott Wieser
  • Publication number: 20200322719
    Abstract: An example method of operation may include initializing a microphone array in a defined space to receive one or more sound instances based on a preliminary beamform tracking configuration, detecting the one or more sound instances within the defined space via the microphone array, modifying the preliminary beamform tracking configuration, based on a location of the one or more sound instances, to create a modified beamform tracking configuration, and saving the modified beamform tracking configuration in a memory of a microphone array controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Iain Alexander McCowan, Richard S. Juszkiewicz, Nicholas William Metzar, Matthew V. Kotvis
  • Patent number: 10741193
    Abstract: An example method of operation may include designating sub-regions which collectively provide a defined reception space, receiving audio signals at a controller from the microphone arrays in the defined reception space, configuring the controller with known locations of each of the microphone arrays, assigning each of the sub-regions to at least one of the microphone arrays based on the known locations, and creating beamform tracking configurations for each of the microphone arrays based on their assigned sub-regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Biamp Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Iain Alexander McCowan, Stefano Davolio, Richard S. Juszkiewicz, Nicholas William Metzar, Matthew V. Kotvis, Jeffrey William Sondermeyer, Jason Damori
  • Patent number: 10694285
    Abstract: An example method of operation may include initializing a microphone array in a defined space to receive one or more sound instances based on a preliminary beamform tracking configuration, detecting the one or more sound instances within the defined space via the microphone array, modifying the preliminary beamform tracking configuration, based on a location of the one or more sound instances, to create a modified beamform tracking configuration, and saving the modified beamform tracking configuration in a memory of a microphone array controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Biamp Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Iain Alexander McCowan, Richard S. Juszkiewicz, Nicholas William Metzar, Matthew V. Kotvis
  • Publication number: 20200154200
    Abstract: An example method of operation may include initializing a microphone array in a defined space to receive one or more sound instances based on a preliminary beamform tracking configuration, detecting the one or more sound instances within the defined space via the microphone array, modifying the preliminary beamform tracking configuration, based on a location of the one or more sound instances, to create a modified beamform tracking configuration, and saving the modified beamform tracking configuration in a memory of a microphone array controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Iain Alexander McCowan, Richard S. Juszkiewicz, Nicholas William Metzar, Matthew V. Kotvis
  • Patent number: 10433086
    Abstract: An example method of operation may include detecting an acoustic stimulus via active beams associated with at least one microphone disposed in a defined space, detecting loudspeaker characteristic information of at least one loudspeaker providing the acoustic stimulus, transmitting acoustic stimulus information based on the acoustic stimulus to a central controller, and modifying, via a central controller, at least one control function associated with the at least one microphone and the at least one loudspeaker to minimize acoustic feedback produced by the loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Biamp Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Richard S. Juszkiewicz, Nicholas William Metzar, Iain Alexander McCowan, Matthew V. Kotvis, Jason Damori, Scott Wieser
  • Patent number: 10210882
    Abstract: An example method of operation may include designating sub-regions which collectively provide a defined reception space, receiving audio signals at a controller from the microphone arrays in the defined reception space, configuring the controller with known locations of each of the microphone arrays, assigning each of the sub-regions to at least one of the microphone arrays based on the known locations, and creating beamform tracking configurations for each of the microphone arrays based on their assigned sub-regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Biamp Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Iain Alexander McCowan, Stefano Davolio, Richard S. Juszkiewicz, Nicholas William Metzar, Matthew V. Kotvis, Jeffrey William Sondermeyer, Jason Damori
  • Patent number: 9659576
    Abstract: Audio conferencing systems and methods with mutual adaptation control of adaptive beamforming and adaptive acoustic echo cancellation are disclosed. Mutual adaptation control may be achieved in a system including an adaptive beamforming module, an adaptive acoustic echo cancellation module, and an adaptation control module. The adaptive beamforming module has a controllable beamforming adaptivity and a beamforming adaptation state. The adaptive acoustic echo cancellation module has a controllable AEC adaptivity and an AEC adaptation state. The adaptation control module is configured and/or operates (i) to modify the beamforming adaptivity when the AEC adaptation state is unsettled (adapting to changed conditions), (ii) to modify the AEC adaptivity when the beamforming adaptation state is unsettled (adapting to changed conditions), (iii) to restore the beamforming adaptivity when the AEC adaptation state is settled, and (iv) to restore the AEC adaptivity when the beamforming adaptation state is settled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Biamp Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew V. Kotvis, Iain Alexander McCowan, Ted S. Wada, Richard S. Juszkiewicz, Nicholas W. Metzar, Jeffrey William Sondermeyer
  • Patent number: 9462380
    Abstract: A microphone array system for sound acquisition from multiple sound sources in a reception space surrounding a microphone array that is interfaced with a beamformer module is disclosed. The microphone array includes microphone transducers that are arranged relative to each other in N-fold rotationally symmetry, and the beamformer includes beamformer weights that are associated with one of a plurality of spatial reception sectors corresponding to the N-fold rotational symmetry of the microphone array. Microphone indexes of the microphone transducers are arithmetically displaceable angularly about the vertical axis during a process cycle, so that a same set of beamformer weights is used selectively for calculating a beamformer output signal associated with any one of the spatial reception sectors. A sound source location module is also disclosed that includes a modified steered power response sound source location method. A post filter module for a microphone array system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Biamp Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Iain Alexander McCowan
  • Publication number: 20150146882
    Abstract: A microphone array system for sound acquisition from multiple sound sources in a reception space surrounding a microphone array that is interfaced with a beamformer module is disclosed. The microphone array includes microphone transducers that are arranged relative to each other in N-fold rotationally symmetry, and the beamformer includes beamformer weights that are associated with one of a plurality of spatial reception sectors corresponding to the N-fold rotational symmetry of the microphone array. Microphone indexes of the microphone transducers are arithmetically displaceable angularly about the vertical axis during a process cycle, so that a same set of beamformer weights is used selectively for calculating a beamformer output signal associated with any one of the spatial reception sectors. A sound source location module is also disclosed that includes a modified steered power response sound source location method. A post filter module for a microphone array system is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: DEV-AUDIO PTY LTD.
    Inventor: Iain Alexander McCowan
  • Patent number: 8923529
    Abstract: A microphone array system (16) for sound acquisition from multiple sound sources in a reception space surrounding a microphone array (18) that is interfaced with a beamformer module (28) is disclosed. The microphone array (18) includes microphone transducers (22) that are arranged relative to each other in N-fold rotationally symmetry, and the beamformer includes beamformer weights that are associated with one of a plurality of spatial reception sectors corresponding to the N-fold rotational symmetry of the microphone array (18). Microphone indexes of the microphone transducers (18) are arithmetically displaceable angularly about the vertical axis during a process cycle, so that a same set of beamformer weights is used selectively for calculating a beamformer output signal associated with any one of the spatial reception sectors. A sound source location module (30) is also disclosed that includes a modified steered power response sound source location method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Biamp Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Iain Alexander McCowan
  • Publication number: 20110164761
    Abstract: A microphone array system (16) for sound acquisition from multiple sound sources in a reception space surrounding a microphone array (18) that is interfaced with a beamformer module (28) is disclosed. The microphone array (18) includes microphone transducers (22) that are arranged relative to each other in N-fold rotationally symmetry, and the beamformer includes beamformer weights that are associated with one of a plurality of spatial reception sectors corresponding to the N-fold rotational symmetry of the microphone array (18). Microphone indexes of the microphone transducers (18) are arithmetically displaceable angularly about the vertical axis during a process cycle, so that a same set of beamformer weights is used selectively for calculating a beamformer output signal associated with any one of the spatial reception sectors. A sound source location module (30) is also disclosed that includes a modified steered power response sound source location method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventor: Iain Alexander McCowan