Patents by Inventor Joshua D. Atkins

Joshua D. Atkins 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: 20180040333
    Abstract: Method for performing speech enhancement using a Deep Neural Network (DNN)-based signal starts with training DNN offline by exciting a microphone using target training signal that includes signal approximation of clean speech. Loudspeaker is driven with a reference signal and outputs loudspeaker signal. Microphone then generates microphone signal based on at least one of: near-end speaker signal, ambient noise signal, or loudspeaker signal. Acoustic-echo-canceller (AEC) generates AEC echo-cancelled signal based on reference signal and microphone signal. Loudspeaker signal estimator generates estimated loudspeaker signal based on microphone signal and AEC echo-cancelled signal. DNN receives microphone signal, reference signal, AEC echo-cancelled signal, and estimated loudspeaker signal and generates a speech reference signal that includes signal statistics for residual echo or for noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Jason Wung, Ramin Pishehvar, Daniele Giacobello, Joshua D. Atkins
  • Publication number: 20180033447
    Abstract: An audio system has a housing in which are integrated a number of microphones. A programmed processor accesses the microphone signals and produces a number of acoustic pick up beams based groups of microphones, an estimation of voice activity and an estimation of noise characteristics on each beam. Two or more beams including a voice beam that is used to pick up a desired voice and a noise beam that is used to provide information to estimate ambient noise are adaptively selected from among the plurality of beams, based on thresholds for voice separation and thresholds for noise-matching. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Sean A. Ramprashad, Esge B. Andersen, Joshua D. Atkins, Sorin V. Dusan, Vasu Iyengar, Tarun Pruthi, Lalin S. Theverapperuma
  • Patent number: 9736578
    Abstract: An orientation detector can have a first microphone, a second microphone, and a reference microphone spaced from the first microphone and the second microphone. An orientation processor can be configured to determine an orientation of the first microphone, the second microphone, or both, relative to a user's mouth based on a comparison of a relative strength of a first signal associated with the first microphone to a relative strength of a second signal associated with the second microphone. A channel selector in a speech enhancer can select one signal from among several signals based at least in part on the orientation determined by the orientation processor. A mobile communication handset can include a microphone-based orientation detector of the type disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Vasu Iyengar, Joshua D Atkins, Aram M. Lindahl, Tarun Pruthi, Ashrith Deshpande
  • Publication number: 20160360314
    Abstract: An orientation detector can have a first microphone, a second microphone, and a reference microphone spaced from the first microphone and the second microphone. An orientation processor can be configured to determine an orientation of the first microphone, the second microphone, or both, relative to a user's mouth based on a comparison of a relative strength of a first signal associated with the first microphone to a relative strength of a second signal associated with the second microphone. A channel selector in a speech enhancer can select one signal from among several signals based at least in part on the orientation determined by the orientation processor. A mobile communication handset can include a microphone-based orientation detector of the type disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Vasu Iyengar, Joshua D. Atkins, Aram M. Lindahl, Tarun Pruthi, Ashrith Deshpande
  • Patent number: 9456681
    Abstract: A toothbrush has one or two part-spherical pockets formed in the brush surface. Balls or pellets of matching shape of dehydrated toothpaste are placed in the depressions, the brush is wetted and the pellets turn to a gel, ready for brushing. The pellets may be of various colors and flavors to entice children to brush their teeth and may be dispensed from a storage chamber carried in the tooth brush handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Inventor: Joshua D. Atkin
  • Patent number: 8505148
    Abstract: A personal hygiene brush which includes a furcated end comprising cleaning heads from which bristles radiate about the outer perimeter and a non-furcated end including an additional cleaning head from which bristles radiate about the outer perimeter. The personal hygiene brush is capable of cleaning of all types of piercings, intra and extra-orally, as well as dental implants and implant supported prosthesis. The personal hygiene brush enables the user to clean around, under and through their individual ornamental body rings and rods without removing them from the body parts to which they are attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventor: Joshua D. Atkin
  • Patent number: 8328451
    Abstract: A toothbrush has one or two part-spherical pockets formed in the brush surface. Balls or pellets of matching shape of dehydrated toothpaste are placed in the depressions, the brush is wetted and the pellets turn to a gel, ready for brushing. The pellets may be of various colors and flavors to entice children to brush their teeth and may be dispensed from a storage chamber carried in the tooth brush handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Inventor: Joshua D Atkin
  • Patent number: 7931418
    Abstract: A toothbrush has one or two part-spherical pockets formed in the brush surface. Balls or pellets of matching shape of dehydrated toothpaste are placed in the depressions, the brush is wetted and the pellets turn to a gel, ready for brushing. The pellets may be of various colors and flavors to entice children to brush their teeth and may be dispensed from a storage chamber carried in the tooth brush handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Inventor: Joshua D Atkin
  • Publication number: 20110067191
    Abstract: A personal hygiene brush which includes a furcated end comprising cleaning heads from which bristles radiate about the outer perimeter and a non-furcated end including an additional cleaning head from which bristles radiate about the outer perimeter. The personal hygiene brush is capable of cleaning of all types of piercings, intra and extra-orally, as well as dental implants and implant supported prosthesis. The personal hygiene brush enables the user to clean around, under and through their individual ornamental body rings and rods without removing them from the body parts to which they are attached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventor: Joshua D. Atkin
  • Patent number: 7575387
    Abstract: A toothbrush has one or two part-spherical pockets formed in the brush surface. Balls or pellets of matching shape of dehydrated toothpaste are placed in the depressions, the brush is wetted and the pellets turn to a gel, ready for brushing. The pellets may be of various colors and flavors to entice children to brush their teeth and may be dispensed from a storage chamber carried in the tooth brush handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Inventor: Joshua D. Atkin