Patents by Inventor Meik Pfeffinger
Meik Pfeffinger 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: 11950067Abstract: An In-Car Communication (ICC) system supports the communication paths within a car by receiving the speech signals of a speaking passenger and playing it back for one or more listening passengers. Signal processing tasks are split into a microphone related part and into a loudspeaker related part. A sound processing system suitable for use in a vehicle having multiple acoustic zones includes a plurality of microphone In-Car Communication (Mic-ICC) instances coupled and a plurality of loudspeaker In-Car Communication (Ls-ICC) instances. The system further includes a dynamic audio routing matrix with a controller and coupled to the Mic-ICC instances, a mixer coupled to the plurality of Mic-ICC instances and a distributor coupled to the Ls-ICC instances.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2023Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Cerence Operating CompanyInventors: Tobias Herbig, Markus Buck, Meik Pfeffinger
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Patent number: 11798576Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a communication system having microphones and loudspeakers to determine a noise and speech level estimate for a transformed signal, determine a SNR from the noise and speech level estimates, and determine a gain for the transformed signal to achieve a selected SNR range at a given position. In one embodiment, the gain is determined by adapting an actual gain to follow a target gain, wherein the target gain is adjusted to achieve the selected SNR range.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2019Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Cerence Operating CompanyInventors: Tobias Herbig, Meik Pfeffinger, Bernd Iser
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Publication number: 20230209260Abstract: An In-Car Communication (ICC) system supports the communication paths within a car by receiving the speech signals of a speaking passenger and playing it back for one or more listening passengers. Signal processing tasks are split into a microphone related part and into a loudspeaker related part. A sound processing system suitable for use in a vehicle having multiple acoustic zones includes a plurality of microphone In-Car Communication (Mic-ICC) instances coupled and a plurality of loudspeaker In-Car Communication (Ls-ICC) instances. The system further includes a dynamic audio routing matrix with a controller and coupled to the Mic-ICC instances, a mixer coupled to the plurality of Mic-ICC instances and a distributor coupled to the Ls-ICC instances.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Tobias Herbig, Markus Buck, Meik Pfeffinger
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Publication number: 20230178077Abstract: A system for detection of at least one designated wake-up word for at least one speech-enabled application. The system comprises at least one microphone; and at least one computer hardware processor configured to perform: receiving an acoustic signal generated by the at least one microphone at least in part as a result of receiving an utterance spoken by a speaker; obtaining information indicative of the speaker's identity; interpreting the acoustic signal at least in part by determining, using the information indicative of the speaker's identity and automated speech recognition, whether the utterance spoken by the speaker includes the at least one designated wake-up word; and interacting with the speaker based, at least in part, on results of the interpreting.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2023Publication date: June 8, 2023Applicant: CERENCE OPERATING COMPANYInventors: Meik PFEFFINGER, Timo MATHEJA, Tobias HERBIG, Tim HAULICK
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Patent number: 11600269Abstract: A system for detection of at least one designated wake-up word for at least one speech-enabled application. The system comprises at least one microphone; and at least one computer hardware processor configured to perform: receiving an acoustic signal generated by the at least one microphone at least in part as a result of receiving an utterance spoken by a speaker; obtaining information indicative of the speaker's identity; interpreting the acoustic signal at least in part by determining, using the information indicative of the speaker's identity and automated speech recognition, whether the utterance spoken by the speaker includes the at least one designated wake-up word; and interacting with the speaker based, at least in part, on results of the interpreting.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2016Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Cerence Operating CompanyInventors: Meik Pfeffinger, Timo Matheja, Tobias Herbig, Tim Haulick
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Patent number: 11575990Abstract: An communication system supports communication paths within an environment by receiving speech signals of a speaker and playing it back for one or more listeners. Signal processing tasks are split into a microphone related part and into a loudspeaker related part. A sound processing system suitable for use in an environment having multiple acoustic zones includes a plurality of microphone communication instances coupled and a plurality of loudspeaker instances.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2017Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Cerence Operating CompanyInventors: Tobias Herbig, Markus Buck, Meik Pfeffinger
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Publication number: 20200176012Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a communication system having microphones and loudspeakers to determine a noise and speech level estimate for a transformed signal, determine a SNR from the noise and speech level estimates, and determine a gain for the transformed signal to achieve a selected SNR range at a given position. In one embodiment, the gain is determined by adapting an actual gain to follow a target gain, wherein the target gain is adjusted to achieve the selected SNR range.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2019Publication date: June 4, 2020Applicant: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.Inventors: Tobias HERBIG, Meik PFEFFINGER, Bernd ISER
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Publication number: 20190311715Abstract: A system for detection of at least one designated wake-up word for at least one speech-enabled application. The system comprises at least one microphone; and at least one computer hardware processor configured to perform: receiving an acoustic signal generated by the at least one microphone at least in part as a result of receiving an utterance spoken by a speaker; obtaining information indicative of the speaker's identity; interpreting the acoustic signal at least in part by determining, using the information indicative of the speaker's identity and automated speech recognition, whether the utterance spoken by the speaker includes the at least one designated wake-up word; and interacting with the speaker based, at least in part, on results of the interpreting.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2016Publication date: October 10, 2019Applicant: Nuance Communications, Inc.Inventors: Meik Pfeffinger, Timo Matheja, Tobias Herbig, Tim Haulick
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Publication number: 20170251304Abstract: An communication system supports communication paths within an environment by receiving speech signals of a speaker and playing it back for one or more listeners. Signal processing tasks are split into a microphone related part and into a loudspeaker related part. A sound processing system suitable for use in an environment having multiple acoustic zones includes a plurality of microphone communication instances coupled and a plurality of loudspeaker instances.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2017Publication date: August 31, 2017Applicant: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.Inventors: Tobias Herbig, Markus Buck, Meik Pfeffinger
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Patent number: 9641934Abstract: An In-Car Communication (ICC) system supports the communication paths within a car by receiving the speech signals of a speaking passenger and playing it back for one or more listening passengers. Signal processing tasks are split into a microphone related part and into a loudspeaker related part. A sound processing system suitable for use in a vehicle having multiple acoustic zones includes a plurality of microphone In-Car Communication (Mic-ICC) instances coupled and a plurality of loudspeaker In-Car Communication (Ls-ICC) instances. The system further includes a dynamic audio routing matrix with a controller and coupled to the Mic-ICC instances, a mixer coupled to the plurality of Mic-ICC instances and a distributor coupled to the Ls-ICC instances.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2012Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.Inventors: Tobias Herbig, Markus Buck, Meik Pfeffinger
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Patent number: 9549250Abstract: An in-car communication (ICC) system has multiple acoustic zones having varying acoustic environments. At least one input microphone within at least one acoustic zone develops a corresponding microphone signal from one or more system users. At least one loudspeaker within at least one acoustic zone provides acoustic audio to the system users. A wind noise module makes a determination of when wind noise is present in the microphone signal and modifies the microphone signal based on the determination.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2013Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.Inventors: Tobias Herbig, Markus Buck, Meik Pfeffinger
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Publication number: 20170011753Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a communication system having microphones and loudspeakers to determine a noise and speech level estimate for a transformed signal, determine a SNR from the noise and speech level estimates, and determine a gain for the transformed signal to achieve a selected SNR range at a given position. In one embodiment, the gain is determined by adapting an actual gain to follow a target gain, wherein the target gain is adjusted to achieve the selected SNR range.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2014Publication date: January 12, 2017Applicant: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.Inventors: Tobias Herbig, Meik Pfeffinger, Bernd Iser
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Patent number: 9502050Abstract: A speech communication system includes a speech service compartment for holding one or more system users. The speech service compartment includes a plurality of acoustic zones having varying acoustic environments. At least one input microphone is located within the speech service compartment, for developing microphone input signals from the one or more system users. At least one loudspeaker is located within the service compartment. An in-car communication (ICC) system receives and processes the microphone input signals, forming loudspeaker output signals that are provided to one or more of the at least one output loudspeakers. The ICC system includes at least one of a speaker dedicated signal processing module and a listener specific signal processing module, that controls the processing of the microphone input signal and/or forming of the loudspeaker output signal based, at least in part, on at least one of an associated acoustic environment(s) and resulting psychoacoustic effect(s).Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2012Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.Inventors: Markus Buck, Tobias Herbig, Meik Pfeffinger
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Publication number: 20150156587Abstract: An in-car communication (ICC) system has multiple acoustic zones having varying acoustic environments. At least one input microphone within at least one acoustic zone develops a corresponding microphone signal from one or more system users. At least one loudspeaker within at least one acoustic zone provides acoustic audio to the system users. A wind noise module makes a determination of when wind noise is present in the microphone signal and modifies the microphone signal based on the determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2013Publication date: June 4, 2015Applicant: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.Inventors: Tobias Herbig, Markus Buck, Meik Pfeffinger
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Publication number: 20150127351Abstract: A speech communication system includes a speech service compartment for holding one or more system users. The speech service compartment includes a plurality of acoustic zones having varying acoustic environments. At least one input microphone is located within the speech service compartment, for developing microphone input signals from the one or more system users. At least one loudspeaker is located within the service compartment. An in-car communication (ICC) system receives and processes the microphone input signals, forming loudspeaker output signals that are provided to one or more of the at least one output loudspeakers. The ICC system includes at least one of a speaker dedicated signal processing module and a listener specific signal processing module, that controls the processing of the microphone input signal and/or forming of the loudspeaker output signal based, at least in part, on at least one of an associated acoustic environment(s) and resulting psychoacoustic effect(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2012Publication date: May 7, 2015Applicant: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.Inventors: Markus Buck, Tobias Herbig, Meik Pfeffinger
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Publication number: 20130179163Abstract: An In-Car Communication (ICC) system supports the communication paths within a car by receiving the speech signals of a speaking passenger and playing it back for one or more listening passengers. Signal processing tasks are split into a microphone related part and into a loudspeaker related part. A sound processing system suitable for use in a vehicle having multiple acoustic zones includes a plurality of microphone In-Car Communication (Mic-ICC) instances coupled and a plurality of loudspeaker In-Car Communication (Ls-ICC) instances. The system further includes a dynamic audio routing matrix with a controller and coupled to the Mic-ICC instances, a mixer coupled to the plurality of Mic-ICC instances and a distributor coupled to the Ls-ICC instances.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2012Publication date: July 11, 2013Inventors: Tobias Herbig, Markus Buck, Meik Pfeffinger