Patents by Inventor Iain McNeill
Iain McNeill 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: 11804221Abstract: An audio device for improved talker discrimination is provided. To improve suppression of close talker interference, i.e., of a person talking in close proximity to the user of the audio device, the audio device comprises at least an audio input to receive a voice input signal; a filter bank, configured to provide a plurality of sub-band signals from the voice input signal; a multi-band audio expander, arranged to receive at least a group of the sub-band signals and configured to conduct audio expansion on the group of sub-band signals to provide gain-controlled sub-band signals; and an audio output, configured to provide a voice output signal from at least the gain-controlled sub-band signals.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2021Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.Inventors: Iain McNeill, Matthew Neves, Gavin Radolan
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Patent number: 11694708Abstract: An audio device for improved talker discrimination is provided. To improve suppression of close talker interference, the audio device comprises at least a first and a second audio input to receive a first and second voice input signal; a first filter bank, configured to provide a plurality of first sub-band signals; a second filter bank, configured to provide a plurality of second sub-band signals; a correlator, configured to determine at least one signal correlation between at least a group of the first sub-band signals and at least a group of the second sub-band signals; and an attenuator, arranged to receive at least the group of the first sub-band signals and configured to conduct signal attenuation on the group of the first sub-band signals to provide gain-controlled sub-band signals, wherein the signal attenuation is based on the determined at least one signal correlation.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.Inventors: Iain McNeill, Matthew Nunes Neves, Gavin Radolan
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Patent number: 11689836Abstract: A headset implements an earloop microphone and includes a housing. An earloop of the headset secures the headset to an ear of a user. A first microphone is acoustically coupled to a first opening in the housing. A second microphone is acoustically coupled to a second opening in the housing. A third microphone is acoustically coupled to a third opening in the earloop.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.Inventors: Jacob T. Meyberg Guzman, John A. Kelley, Nicholas W. Paterson, Iain McNeill
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Publication number: 20220386006Abstract: A headset implements an earloop microphone and includes a housing. An earloop of the headset secures the headset to an ear of a user. A first microphone is acoustically coupled to a first opening in the housing. A second microphone is acoustically coupled to a second opening in the housing. A third microphone is acoustically coupled to a third opening in the earloop.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2021Publication date: December 1, 2022Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.Inventors: Jacob T. Meyberg Guzman, John A. Kelley, Nicholas W. Paterson, Iain McNEILL
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Patent number: 11264014Abstract: An audio device for improved talker discrimination is provided. To improve suppression of close talker interference, i.e., of a person talking in close proximity to the user of the audio device, the audio device comprises at least an audio input to receive a voice input signal; a filter bank, configured to provide a plurality of sub-band signals from the voice input signal; a multi-band audio expander, arranged to receive at least a group of the sub-band signals and configured to conduct audio expansion on the group of sub-band signals to provide gain-controlled sub-band signals; and an audio output, configured to provide a voice output signal from at least the gain-controlled sub-band signals.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2019Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: PLANTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Iain McNeill, Matthew Neves, Gavin Radolan
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Publication number: 20220013113Abstract: An audio device for improved talker discrimination is provided. To improve suppression of close talker interference, i.e., of a person talking in close proximity to the user of the audio device, the audio device comprises at least an audio input to receive a voice input signal; a filter bank, configured to provide a plurality of sub-band signals from the voice input signal; a multi-band audio expander, arranged to receive at least a group of the sub-band signals and configured to conduct audio expansion on the group of sub-band signals to provide gain-controlled sub-band signals; and an audio output, configured to provide a voice output signal from at least the gain-controlled sub-band signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2021Publication date: January 13, 2022Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.Inventors: Iain McNeill, Matthew Neves, Gavin Radolan
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Publication number: 20210151066Abstract: An audio device for improved talker discrimination is provided. To improve suppression of close talker interference, the audio device comprises at least a first and a second audio input to receive a first and second voice input signal; a first filter bank, configured to provide a plurality of first sub-band signals; a second filter bank, configured to provide a plurality of second sub-band signals; a correlator, configured to determine at least one signal correlation between at least a group of the first sub-band signals and at least a group of the second sub-band signals; and an attenuator, arranged to receive at least the group of the first sub-band signals and configured to conduct signal attenuation on the group of the first sub-band signals to provide gain-controlled sub-band signals, wherein the signal attenuation is based on the determined at least one signal correlation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2021Publication date: May 20, 2021Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.Inventors: Iain McNEILL, Matthew Nunes Neves, Gavin Radolan
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Patent number: 9980028Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for user sound exposure limiting are disclosed. In one example, an accumulated sound dose exposure from a headset speaker is determined for a plurality of sequentially monitored time intervals during a current listening session, wherein the current listening session comprises a total session time. It is determined whether a predicted sound dose exposure for the total session time exceeds or falls below a permitted sound dose exposure limit, the predicted sound dose exposure determined from the accumulated sound dose exposure. A threshold intervention level at which a time-weighted-average limiter at a headset applies attenuation to an audio signal output at a headset speaker is adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2016Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.Inventors: Iain McNeill, Kwangsee Allen Woo, John S Graham
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Publication number: 20170374444Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for user sound exposure limiting are disclosed. In one example, an accumulated sound dose exposure from a headset speaker is determined for a plurality of sequentially monitored time intervals during a current listening session, wherein the current listening session comprises a total session time. It is determined whether a predicted sound dose exposure for the total session time exceeds or falls below a permitted sound dose exposure limit, the predicted sound dose exposure determined from the accumulated sound dose exposure. A threshold intervention level at which a time-weighted-average limiter at a headset applies attenuation to an audio signal output at a headset speaker is adjusted.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2016Publication date: December 28, 2017Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.Inventors: Iain McNeill, Kwangsee Allen Woo, John S. Graham
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Patent number: 8254561Abstract: Systems and methods for a headset adapter circuit are disclosed. The headset adapter circuit generally includes a maximal length sequence generator circuit coupled to the adapter transmit signal line for injecting a maximal length sequence signal. A maximal length sequence cross-correlator circuit is coupled to the adapter receive signal line for capturing a receive signal sample and convolving the receive signal sample with the maximal length sequence signal to generate a host phone sidetone path impulse response.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2007Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.Inventor: Iain McNeill
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Patent number: 7457757Abstract: A method of enhancing the intelligibility of speech sounds in a communications headset, includes: detecting an incoming signal with speech content; based upon detectable parameters in the incoming signal, determining a combination of signal processing parameters including a high pass cutoff frequency value and a low pass cutoff frequency value for a filtering function, and an expander threshold level, an expander attack time, and an expander release time for an expander function; and sequentially applying the filtering function and expander function to the incoming signal so that the degraded sound quality of the incoming signal may be modified real-time to increase intelligibility as variations occur in speech sound quality of the incoming signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2002Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.Inventors: Iain McNeill, Robert M. Khamashta
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Publication number: 20080091459Abstract: A transaction card design creation apparatus comprising: a processor for generating a first user interface configured to enable creation of a product type transaction card design for application to a transaction card, and storing the product type transaction card design in a first storage device; and a processor for generating a second user interface configured to enable creation of a transaction card design comprising the product type transaction card design and at least one image, and storing the transaction card design in a second storage device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2007Publication date: April 17, 2008Applicant: Serverside Group LimitedInventors: Tom Elgar, Adam Elgar, Iain McNeill, Andrew Francis, Andrew Cox
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Patent number: 7227944Abstract: The present invention provides an echo reduction apparatus, system, and method that advantageously reduces echo when communicating over packet-switched networks. An echo reduction apparatus, including echo reduction circuit, operably couples a headset or handset device to an audio source that is capable of transmitting a sound signal. The echo reduction circuit receives the sound signal from the audio source and a transmit signal from the headset or handset device and provides an adjusted sound signal to the audio source. Advantageously, a variety of headsets and handsets may be used in accordance with the present invention with reduced caller echo and without the need to purchase new headsets or handsets.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2006Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.Inventors: John F. Gerhardt, J. Stephen Graham, Robert M. Khamashta, Iain McNeill
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Publication number: 20060147049Abstract: Sound pressure level limiter with anti-startle feature for audio systems are disclosed. The anti-startle feature may be implemented with a delta incident detector for detecting delta acoustic incidents that exceed a predetermined acoustic startle boundary, a delta limiter for determining an anti-startle gain, and an amplifier to apply the anti-startle gain to the input signal. The delta incident detector may detect delta incidents based on an estimated true SPL delivered by a transducer to a predetermined datum point. The estimated true SPL may be determined by based on a measured receiving frequency response of the transducer. An SPL limiter may also determine an SPL gain in response to detecting an SPL acoustic incident that exceeds a predetermined SPL threshold, and an amplifier may apply the SPL gain to the input signal to reduce it below the threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2004Publication date: July 6, 2006Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.Inventors: Antony Bayley, William Morrell, Iain McNeill, Kwangsee Woo
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Patent number: 7039179Abstract: The present invention provides an echo reduction apparatus, system, and method that advantageously reduces echo when communicating over packet-switched networks. An echo reduction apparatus, including echo reduction circuit, operably couples a headset or handset device to an audio source that is capable of transmitting a sound signal. The echo reduction circuit receives the sound signal from the audio source and a transmit signal from the headset or handset device and provides an adjusted sound signal to the audio source. Advantageously, a variety of headsets and handsets may be used in accordance with the present invention with reduced caller echo and without the need to purchase new headsets or handsets.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2002Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.Inventors: John F. Gerhardt, J. Stephen Graham, Robert M. Khamashta, Iain McNeill