Patents by Inventor Mark Every

Mark Every 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: 9830899
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling adaptivity of noise cancellation are presented. One or more audio signals are received by one or more corresponding microphones. The one or more signals may be decomposed into frequency sub-bands. Noise cancellation consistent with identified adaptation constraints is performed on the one or more audio signals. The one or more audio signals may then be reconstructed from the frequency sub-bands and outputted via an output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Every, Ludger Solbach, Carlo Murgia, Ye Jiang
  • Patent number: 9502048
    Abstract: The present technology provides adaptive noise reduction of an acoustic signal using a sophisticated level of control to balance the tradeoff between speech loss distortion and noise reduction. The energy level of a noise component in a sub-band signal of the acoustic signal is reduced based on an estimated signal-to-noise ratio of the sub-band signal, and further on an estimated threshold level of speech distortion in the sub-band signal. In various embodiments, the energy level of the noise component in the sub-band signal may be reduced to no less than a residual noise target level. Such a target level may be defined as a level at which the noise component ceases to be perceptible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Every, Carlos Avendano
  • Patent number: 9437180
    Abstract: A system utilizing two pairs of microphones for noise suppression. Primary and secondary microphones may be positioned closely spaced to each other to provide acoustic signals used to achieve noise cancellation/suppression. An additional, tertiary microphone may be spaced with respect to either the primary microphone or the secondary microphone in a spread-microphone configuration for deriving level cues from audio signals provided by the tertiary and the primary or secondary microphone. The level cues are expressed via a level difference used to determine one or more cluster tracking control signal(s). The level difference-based cluster tracking signals are used to control adaptation of noise suppression. A noise cancelled primary acoustic signal and level difference-based cluster tracking control signals are used during post filtering to adaptively generate a mask to be applied to a speech estimate signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Carlo Murgia, Carlos Avendano, Karim Younes, Mark Every, Ye Jiang
  • Patent number: 9438992
    Abstract: A robust noise reduction system may concurrently reduce noise and echo components in an acoustic signal while limiting the level of speech distortion. The system may receive acoustic signals from two or more microphones in a close-talk, hand-held or other configuration. The received acoustic signals are transformed to frequency domain sub-band signals and echo and noise components may be subtracted from the sub-band signals. Features in the acoustic sub-band signals are identified and used to generate a multiplicative mask. The multiplicative mask is applied to the noise subtracted sub-band signals and the sub-band signals are reconstructed in the time domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Every, Carlos Avendano, Ludger Solbach, Ye Jiang, Carlo Murgia
  • Patent number: 9378754
    Abstract: A robust noise suppression system may concurrently reduce noise and echo components in an acoustic signal while limiting the level of speech distortion. The system may receive acoustic signals from two or more microphones in a close-talk, hand-held or other configuration. The received acoustic signals are transformed to cochlea domain sub-band signals and echo and noise components may be subtracted from the sub-band signals. Features in the acoustic sub-band signals are identified and used to generate a multiplicative mask. The multiplicative mask is applied to the noise subtracted sub-band signals and the sub-band signals are reconstructed in the time domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Every, Ludger Solbach
  • Patent number: 9343073
    Abstract: The present technology provides adaptive noise and echo reduction of an acoustic signal which can overcome or substantially alleviate problems associated with mistaken adaptation of speech and noise models to acoustic echo. The present technology carries out a multi-faceted analysis to identify echo within the near-end acoustic signal to derive an echo model. Echo classification information regarding the derived echo model is then utilized to build near-end speech and noise models. These echo, speech, and noise models are then used to generate one or more signal modifications applied to the acoustic signal to preserve the desired near-end speech signal and reduce the echo and near-end noise signals. By building near-end speech and noise models utilizing echo classification information, the present technology can prevent adaptation of the speech and noise model to the acoustic echo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Carlo Murgia, Ye Jiang, Michael M. Goodwin, Mark Every
  • Publication number: 20160064009
    Abstract: The present technology provides adaptive noise reduction of an acoustic signal using a sophisticated level of control to balance the tradeoff between speech loss distortion and noise reduction. The energy level of a noise component in a sub-band signal of the acoustic signal is reduced based on an estimated signal-to-noise ratio of the sub-band signal, and further on an estimated threshold level of speech distortion in the sub-band signal. In various embodiments, the energy level of the noise component in the sub-band signal may be reduced to no less than a residual noise target level. Such a target level may be defined as a level at which the noise component ceases to be perceptible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Mark Every, Carlos Avendano
  • Patent number: 9143857
    Abstract: The present technology provides adaptive noise reduction of an acoustic signal using a sophisticated level of control to balance the tradeoff between speech loss distortion and noise reduction. The energy level of a noise component in a sub-band signal of the acoustic signal is reduced based on an estimated signal-to-noise ratio of the sub-band signal, and further on an estimated threshold level of speech distortion in the sub-band signal. In various embodiments, the energy level of the noise component in the sub-band signal may be reduced to no less than a residual noise target level. Such a target level may be defined as a level at which the noise component ceases to be perceptible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Audience, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Every, Carlos Avendano
  • Patent number: 8949120
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling adaptivity of noise cancellation are presented. One or more audio signals are received by one or more corresponding microphones. The one or more signals may be decomposed into frequency sub-bands. Noise cancellation consistent with identified adaptation constraints is performed on the one or more audio signals. The one or more audio signals may then be reconstructed from the frequency sub-bands and outputted via an output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Audience, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Every, Ludger Solbach, Carlo Murgia, Ye Jiang
  • Patent number: 8798289
    Abstract: An adaptive power control monitors the noise level within a primary acoustic signal and compares the noise level to a threshold. If the noise level is lower than the threshold, a noise suppression system is deactivated and bypass filtering and cross fading are enabled. If the noise level is higher than the threshold, the noise suppression system is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Audience, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Every, Carlos Avendano, Ye Jiang, Ludger Solbach, Carlo Murgia
  • Publication number: 20140205107
    Abstract: A system utilizing two pairs of microphones for noise suppression. Primary and secondary microphones may be positioned closely spaced to each other to provide acoustic signals used to achieve noise cancellation/suppression. An additional, tertiary microphone may be spaced with respect to either the primary microphone or the secondary microphone in a spread-microphone configuration for deriving level cues from audio signals provided by the tertiary and the primary or secondary microphone. The level cues are expressed via a level difference used to determine one or more cluster tracking control signal(s). The level difference-based cluster tracking signals are used to control adaptation of noise suppression. A noise cancelled primary acoustic signal and level difference-based cluster tracking control signals are used during post filtering to adaptively generate a mask to be applied to a speech estimate signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Carlo Murgia, Carlos Avendano, Karim Younes, Mark Every, Ye Jiang
  • Patent number: 8718290
    Abstract: An audio device having two pairs of microphones for noise suppression. Primary and secondary microphones of the three microphones may be positioned closely spaced to each other to provide acoustic signals used to achieve noise cancellation/suppression. A tertiary microphone may be spaced with respect to either the primary microphone or the secondary microphone in a spread-microphone configuration for deriving level cues from audio signals provided by the tertiary and the primary or secondary microphone. Signals from two microphones may be used rather than three microphones. The level cues are expressed via an inter-microphone level difference (ILD) used to determine one or more cluster tracking control signal(s). The ILD based cluster tracking signals are used to control adaptation of null-processing noise suppression modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Audience, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo Murgia, Carlos Avendano, Karim Younes, Mark Every, Ye Jiang
  • Patent number: 8606571
    Abstract: The present technology provides noise reduction of an acoustic signal using a configurable classification threshold which provides a sophisticated level of control to balance the tradeoff between positional robustness and noise reduction robustness. The configurable classification threshold corresponds to a configurable spatial region, such that signals arising from sources within the configurable spatial region are preserved, and signals arising from sources outside it are rejected. In embodiments, the configurable classification threshold can be automatically and dynamically adjusted in real-time based on evaluated environmental conditions surrounding an audio device implementing the noise reduction techniques described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Audience, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Every, Carlo Murgia
  • Publication number: 20130322643
    Abstract: A robust noise reduction system may concurrently reduce noise and echo components in an acoustic signal while limiting the level of speech distortion. The system may receive acoustic signals from two or more microphones in a close-talk, hand-held or other configuration. The received acoustic signals are transformed to frequency domain sub-band signals and echo and noise components may be subtracted from the sub-band signals. Features in the acoustic sub-band signals are identified and used to generate a multiplicative mask. The multiplicative mask is applied to the noise subtracted sub-band signals and the sub-band signals are reconstructed in the time domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Mark Every, Carlos Avendano, Ludger Solbach, Ye Jiang, Carlo Murgia
  • Publication number: 20130251170
    Abstract: The present technology provides adaptive noise reduction of an acoustic signal using a sophisticated level of control to balance the tradeoff between speech loss distortion and noise reduction. The energy level of a noise component in a sub-band signal of the acoustic signal is reduced based on an estimated signal-to-noise ratio of the sub-band signal, and further on an estimated threshold level of speech distortion in the sub-band signal. In various embodiments, the energy level of the noise component in the sub-band signal may be reduced to no less than a residual noise target level. Such a target level may be defined as a level at which the noise component ceases to be perceptible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: Mark Every, Carlos Avendano
  • Patent number: 8538035
    Abstract: A robust noise reduction system may concurrently reduce noise and echo components in an acoustic signal while limiting the level of speech distortion. The system may receive acoustic signals from two or more microphones in a close-talk, hand-held or other configuration. The received acoustic signals are transformed to frequency domain sub-band signals and echo and noise components may be subtracted from the sub-band signals. Features in the acoustic sub-band signals are identified and used to generate a multiplicative mask. The multiplicative mask is applied to the noise subtracted sub-band signals and the sub-band signals are reconstructed in the time domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Audience, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Every, Carlos Avendano, Ludger Solbach, Ye Jiang, Carlo Murgia
  • Patent number: 8521530
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program for enhancing a signal are presented. The signal is received, and energy estimates of the signal may be determined. At least one characteristic of the signal may be inferred based on the energy estimates. A mask may be generated based, in part, on the at least one characteristic. In turn, the mask may be applied to the signal to produce an enhanced signal, which may be outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Audience, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Every, David Klein
  • Patent number: 8473287
    Abstract: The present technology provides adaptive noise reduction of an acoustic signal using a sophisticated level of control to balance the tradeoff between speech loss distortion and noise reduction. The energy level of a noise component in a sub-band signal of the acoustic signal is reduced based on an estimated signal-to-noise ratio of the sub-band signal, and further on an estimated threshold level of speech distortion in the sub-band signal. In embodiments, the energy level of the noise component in the sub-band signal may be reduced to no less than a residual noise target level. Such a target level may be defined as a level at which the noise component ceases to be perceptible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Audience, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Every, Carlos Avendano
  • Patent number: 8473285
    Abstract: The present technology provides adaptive noise reduction of an acoustic signal using a sophisticated level of control to balance the tradeoff between speech loss distortion and noise reduction. The energy level of a noise component in a sub-band signal of the acoustic signal is reduced based on an estimated signal-to-noise ratio of the sub-band signal, and further on an estimated threshold level of speech distortion in the sub-band signal. In embodiments, the energy level of the noise component in the sub-band signal may be reduced to no less than a residual noise target level. Such a target level may be defined as a level at which the noise component ceases to be perceptible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Audience, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Every, Carlos Avendano
  • Publication number: 20120179461
    Abstract: The present technology provides adaptive noise reduction of an acoustic signal using a sophisticated level of control to balance the tradeoff between speech loss distortion and noise reduction. The energy level of a noise component in a sub-band signal of the acoustic signal is reduced based on an estimated signal-to-noise ratio of the sub-band signal, and further on an estimated threshold level of speech distortion in the sub-band signal. In embodiments, the energy level of the noise component in the sub-band signal may be reduced to no less than a residual noise target level. Such a target level may be defined as a level at which the noise component ceases to be perceptible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Mark Every, Carlos Avendano