Patents by Inventor John B. French

John B. French 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).

  • Publication number: 20240276153
    Abstract: Acoustic transducer systems and methods of operating acoustic transducer systems are provided. The methods can involve: receiving an input audio signal; determining a position of a diaphragm; determining a correction factor, a motor force factor, a spring error factor, and a system spring factor based at least on the position of the diaphragm; determining a corrected voice coil current based at least on the input audio signal, the correction factor, the spring error factor, and a velocity of the diaphragm; and applying a corrected audio signal to a voice coil fixed to the diaphragm based at least on the corrected voice coil current, wherein the corrected audio signal corrects the input audio signal to compensate for non-linear characteristics of the acoustic transducer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventor: John B. French
  • Patent number: 11997466
    Abstract: Acoustic transducer systems and methods of operating acoustic transducer systems are provided. The methods can involve: receiving an input audio signal; determining a position of a diaphragm; determining a correction factor, a motor force factor, a spring error factor, and a system spring factor based at least on the position of the diaphragm; determining a corrected voice coil current based at least on the input audio signal, the correction factor, the spring error factor, and a velocity of the diaphragm; and applying a corrected audio signal to a voice coil fixed to the diaphragm based at least on the corrected voice coil current, wherein the corrected audio signal corrects the input audio signal to compensate for non-linear characteristics of the acoustic transducer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Audera Acoustics Inc.
    Inventor: John B. French
  • Publication number: 20230023373
    Abstract: Acoustic transducer systems and methods of operating acoustic transducer systems are provided. The methods can involve: receiving an input audio signal; determining a position of a diaphragm; determining a correction factor, a motor force factor, a spring error factor, and a system spring factor based at least on the position of the diaphragm; determining a corrected voice coil current based at least on the input audio signal, the correction factor, the spring error factor, and a velocity of the diaphragm; and applying a corrected audio signal to a voice coil fixed to the diaphragm based at least on the corrected voice coil current, wherein the corrected audio signal corrects the input audio signal to compensate for non-linear characteristics of the acoustic transducer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventor: John B. French
  • Patent number: 11405729
    Abstract: Acoustic transducer systems and methods of operating acoustic transducer systems are provided. The methods can involve: receiving an input audio signal; determining a position of a diaphragm; determining a correction factor, a motor force factor, a spring error factor, and a system spring factor based at least on the position of the diaphragm; determining a corrected voice coil current based at least on the input audio signal, the correction factor, the spring error factor, and a velocity of the diaphragm; and applying a corrected audio signal to a voice coil fixed to the diaphragm based at least on the corrected voice coil current, wherein the corrected audio signal corrects the input audio signal to compensate for non-linear characteristics of the acoustic transducer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Inventor: John B. French
  • Patent number: 10939212
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer includes a controller configured to receive an input audio signal and to generate a first reference signal indicative of an envelope of the input audio signal. The controller is further configured to provide a stationary coil signal to a stationary coil of an acoustic transducer based on the first reference signal and to measure a current through the stationary coil after providing the stationary coil signal to the stationary coil. The controller is further configured to generate a first output indicative of the current through the stationary coil and to determine a magnetic flux in an air gap of magnetic material based on the first output. The controller is further configured to generate a voltage output for a moving coil that is inversely proportional to the magnetic flux in the air gap. The voltage output provides an undistorted output that corresponds to the input audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: John B. French
  • Publication number: 20200222791
    Abstract: A read and write playing card system and method are described. The playing card includes a unique card identification that uniquely identifies the playing card from other cards in the deck of playing cards. Additionally, the read and write playing card includes at least one playing card electronic component that receives data regarding game play. Furthermore, the read and write playing card includes at least one of the playing card electronic components that stores data regarding game play. Further still, the read and write playing card includes at least one of the playing card electronic components that transmits the unique card identification data, when activated by the electronic system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventor: John B. French
  • Publication number: 20200068313
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer includes a controller configured to receive an input audio signal and to generate a first reference signal indicative of an envelope of the input audio signal. The controller is further configured to provide a stationary coil signal to a stationary coil of an acoustic transducer based on the first reference signal and to measure a current through the stationary coil after providing the stationary coil signal to the stationary coil. The controller is further configured to generate a first output indicative of the current through the stationary coil and to determine a magnetic flux in an air gap of magnetic material based on the first output. The controller is further configured to generate a voltage output for a moving coil that is inversely proportional to the magnetic flux in the air gap. The voltage output provides an undistorted output that corresponds to the input audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventor: John B. FRENCH
  • Patent number: 10469950
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer includes a controller configured to receive an input audio signal and to generate a first reference signal indicative of an envelope of the input audio signal. The controller is further configured to provide a stationary coil signal to a stationary coil of an acoustic transducer based on the first reference signal and to measure a current through the stationary coil after providing the stationary coil signal to the stationary coil. The controller is further configured to generate a first output indicative of the current through the stationary coil and to determine a magnetic flux in an air gap of magnetic material based on the first output. The controller is further configured to generate a voltage output for a moving coil that is inversely proportional to the magnetic flux in the air gap. The voltage output provides an undistorted output that corresponds to the input audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: John B. French
  • Patent number: 10376775
    Abstract: A read and write playing card system and method are described. The playing card includes a unique card identification that uniquely identifies the playing card from other cards in the deck of playing cards. Additionally, the read and write playing card includes at least one playing card electronic component that receives data regarding game play. Furthermore, the read and write playing card includes at least one of the playing card electronic components that stores data regarding game play. Further still, the read and write playing card includes at least one of the playing card electronic components that transmits the unique card identification data, when activated by the electronic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Milestone Technologies
    Inventor: John B. French
  • Publication number: 20190098416
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer includes a controller configured to receive an input audio signal and to generate a first reference signal indicative of an envelope of the input audio signal. The controller is further configured to provide a stationary coil signal to a stationary coil of an acoustic transducer based on the first reference signal and to measure a current through the stationary coil after providing the stationary coil signal to the stationary coil. The controller is further configured to generate a first output indicative of the current through the stationary coil and to determine a magnetic flux in an air gap of magnetic material based on the first output. The controller is further configured to generate a voltage output for a moving coil that is inversely proportional to the magnetic flux in the air gap. The voltage output provides an undistorted output that corresponds to the input audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventor: John B. FRENCH
  • Patent number: 9936299
    Abstract: Driver for an acoustic transducer having a moving coil of substantially equal length to the air gap. The air gap may itself be extended in length using an upper or lower lip, or both. A stationary coil is also provided. The moving and stationary coils can be controlled by suitable control blocks to form an electromagnet-based transducer with reduced distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Harman Becker Gepkocsirendszer Gyarto Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag
    Inventor: John B. French
  • Patent number: 9930446
    Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to acoustic transducers with stationary and moving coils, and methods for operating the acoustic transducers. Time varying signals are applied to the moving and stationary coils to control the movement of a diaphragm, which produces sound. The time varying signals are derived from a composite signal that is provided, via a pair of conductors, to the acoustic transducer. The time varying signals are derived based on various filter methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Harman Becker Gepkocsirendszer Gyarto Korlatoll Felelossegu Tarsasag
    Inventors: John B. French, David Russell
  • Patent number: 9807518
    Abstract: This invention relates to acoustic drivers with stationary and moving coils. Time varying signals are applied to the moving and stationary coils to control the movement of a diaphragm, which produces audible sound. The time varying signals correspond to an input audio signal such that the sound corresponds to the input audio signal. Some of the described embodiments include multiple moving coils, multiple stationary coils or both. Some embodiments include feedback for adjusting one or more of the signals based on a characteristic of the acoustic driver. Various compensation and other features of the invention are also described in relation to various embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Harman Becker Gepkocsirendszer Gyarto Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag
    Inventors: John B. French, Andrew J. Mason
  • Publication number: 20160337752
    Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to acoustic transducers with stationary and moving coils, and methods for operating the acoustic transducers. Time varying signals are applied to the moving and stationary coils to control the movement of a diaphragm, which produces sound. The time varying signals are derived from a composite signal that is provided, via a pair of conductors, to the acoustic transducer. The time varying signals are derived based on various filter methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: John B. FRENCH, David RUSSELL
  • Patent number: 9438999
    Abstract: Driver for an acoustic transducer having a moving coil of substantially equal length to the air gap. The air gap may itself be extended in length using an upper or lower lip, or both. A stationary coil is also provided. The moving and stationary coils can be controlled by suitable control blocks to form an electromagnet-based transducer with reduced distortion. The acoustic transducer may be a hybrid acoustic transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Harman Becker Gepkocsirendszer Gyarto Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag
    Inventor: John B. French
  • Patent number: 9438998
    Abstract: Driver for an acoustic transducer having a moving coil of substantially equal length to the air gap. The air gap may itself be extended in length using an upper or lower lip, or both. A stationary coil is also provided. The moving and stationary coils can be controlled by suitable control blocks to form an electromagnet-based transducer with reduced distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Harman Becker Gepkocsirendszer Gyarto Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag
    Inventor: John B. French
  • Publication number: 20160150322
    Abstract: Driver for an acoustic transducer having a moving coil of substantially equal length to the air gap. The air gap may itself be extended in length using an upper or lower lip, or both. A stationary coil is also provided. The moving and stationary coils can be controlled by suitable control blocks to form an electromagnet-based transducer with reduced distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventor: John B. FRENCH
  • Publication number: 20160127839
    Abstract: This invention relates to acoustic drivers with stationary and moving coils. Time varying signals are applied to the moving and stationary coils to control the movement of a diaphragm, which produces audible sound. The time varying signals correspond to an input audio signal such that the sound corresponds to the input audio signal. Some of the described embodiments include multiple moving coils, multiple stationary coils or both. Some embodiments include feedback for adjusting one or more of the signals based on a characteristic of the acoustic driver. Various compensation and other features of the invention are also described in relation to various embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: John B. French, Andrew J. Mason
  • Patent number: 9247350
    Abstract: Driver for an acoustic transducer having a moving coil of substantially equal length to the air gap. The air gap may itself be extended in length using an upper or lower lip, or both. A stationary coil is also provided. The moving and stationary coils can be controlled by suitable control blocks to form an electromagnet-based transducer with reduced distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Harman Becker Gepkocsirendszer Gyarto Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag
    Inventor: John B. French
  • Patent number: 9241213
    Abstract: This invention relates to acoustic transducers with stationary and moving coils, and methods for operating the acoustic transducers. Time varying signals are applied to the moving and stationary coils to control the movement of a diaphragm, which produces sound. The time varying signal applied to the moving coil corresponds to at least a processed version of an input audio signal and is updated based on, at least, a version of the time varying signal applied to the stationary coil. Some embodiments include updating the processed version of the input audio signal in response to a magnetic flux value corresponding to the time-varying signal applied to the stationary coil. Some embodiments include updating the time-varying signal applied to the moving coil in response to a feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Harman Becker Gepkocsirendszer Gyarto Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag
    Inventors: John B. French, David Russell