Patents by Inventor Michael Asfaw
Michael Asfaw 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: 12167218Abstract: Head-wearable apparatus to generate binaural audio content includes a first stem coupled to a first microphone housing that encases first front microphone and first rear microphone that generates acoustic signals, respectively. First microphone housing includes a first front port that faces downward and a first rear port that faces backwards. Apparatus includes second stem coupled to second microphone housing that encases second front microphone and second rear microphone that generate acoustic signals, respectively. Second microphone housing includes second front port that faces downward and second rear port that faces backwards. Apparatus includes binaural audio processor that includes beamformer and storage device. Beamformer generate first beamformer signal based on acoustic signals from first front microphone and first rear microphone, and second beamformer based on acoustic signals from second front microphone and second rear microphone.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2023Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: SNAP INC.Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Dunxu Hu, Patrick Timothy McSweeney Simons, Victoria Lulu Wang Limketkai
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Patent number: 11877126Abstract: Techniques, methods, systems, and other mechanisms for measuring the excursion of a speaker while being actively driven. Measuring excursion can involve attaching a flexible printed coil (FPC), including a sense coil, to the speaker, and monitoring an induced current as produced though the sense coil, and further detecting that violation of an excursion limit for the speaker may likely occur.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2021Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Michael Asfaw, Chad Georges Seguin, David C. Breece, III, Leonardo Kusumo
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Publication number: 20230247378Abstract: Head-wearable apparatus to generate binaural audio content includes a first stem coupled to a first microphone housing that encases first front microphone and first rear microphone that generates acoustic signals, respectively. First microphone housing includes a first front port that faces downward and a first rear port that faces backwards. Apparatus includes second stem coupled to second microphone housing that encases second front microphone and second rear microphone that generate acoustic signals, respectively. Second microphone housing includes second front port that faces downward and second rear port that faces backwards. Apparatus includes binaural audio processor that includes beamformer and storage device. Beamformer generate first beamformer signal based on acoustic signals from first front microphone and first rear microphone, and second beamformer based on acoustic signals from second front microphone and second rear microphone.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2023Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Dunxu Hu, Patrick Timothy McSweeney Simons, Victoria Lulu Wang Limketkai
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Patent number: 11632640Abstract: Head-wearable apparatus to generate binaural audio content includes a first stem coupled to a first microphone housing that encases first front microphone and first rear microphone that generates acoustic signals, respectively. First microphone housing includes a first front port that faces downward and a first rear port that faces backwards. Apparatus includes second stem coupled to second microphone housing that encases second front microphone and second rear microphone that generate acoustic signals, respectively. Second microphone housing includes second front port that faces downward and second rear port that faces backwards. Apparatus includes binaural audio processor that includes beamformer and storage device. Beamformer generate first beamformer signal based on acoustic signals from first front microphone and first rear microphone, and second beamformer based on acoustic signals from second front microphone and second rear microphone.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2021Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: SNAP INC.Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Dunxu Hu, Patrick Timothy McSweeney Simons, Victoria Lulu Wang Limketkai
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Patent number: 11620976Abstract: An electronic device includes a microphone array to capture audio input data, a speaker array to render audio output data for playback; one or more sensors to detect an orientation of the microphone array, acoustic echo cancellation logic, and an interface. The acoustic echo cancellation logic applies acoustic echo cancellation to the audio input data to form echo-cancelled audio input data based on the orientation of the microphone array. The interface transmits the echo-cancelled audio input data over a communications channel as part of an audiovisual communication system.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2020Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Tyler Back, Joshua Warren Bingham, Yuhuan Zeng, Plamen Ivanov, Christopher Evans, Jens Nilsson, Michael Asfaw
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Patent number: 11586407Abstract: An electronic device includes sensors configured to detect an orientation of a display, driver logic, and a speaker array. The driver logic processes the audio data received by an interface to form audio output data, and forms driver signals representing the audio output data based on the orientation of the display detected by the one or more sensors. The speaker array receives the driver signals formed orientation of the display, and renders the audio output data for playback based on the driver signals.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2020Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Tyler Back, Joshua Warren Bingham, Yuhuan Zeng, Plamen Ivanov, Christopher Evans, Jens Nilsson, Michael Asfaw
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Publication number: 20230021918Abstract: An electronic device includes a microphone array configured to capture audio data, one or more sensors configured to detect an orientation of the microphone array, and digital signal processing (DSP) logic, and an interface. The DSP logic processes, based on the orientation of the microphone array detected by the one or more sensors, the audio data captured by the microphone array to form audio input data. The interface configured to transmit the audio input data over a communications channel to be output by another electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Tyler Back, Joshua Warren Bingham, Yuhuan Zeng, Plamen Alexandrov Ivanov, Christopher Evans, Jens Nilsson, Michael Asfaw
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Publication number: 20220366926Abstract: Method to perform dynamic beamforming to reduce SNR in signals captured by head-wearable apparatus starts with microphones generating acoustic signals. Microphones are coupled to first stem of the apparatus and to second stem of the apparatus. First and second beamformers generate first and second beamformer signals, respectively. Noise suppressor attenuates noise content from the first beamformer signal and the second beamformer signal. Noise content from first beamformer signal are acoustic signals not collocated in second beamformer signal and noise content from second beamformer signal are acoustic signals not collocated in first beamformer signal. Speech enhancer generates clean signal comprising speech content from first noise-suppressed signal and second noise-suppressed signal. Speech content are acoustic signals collocated in first beamformer signal and second beamformer signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2022Publication date: November 17, 2022Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Russell Douglas Patton, Patrick Timothy McSweeney Simons
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Patent number: 11361781Abstract: Method to perform dynamic beamforming to reduce SNR in signals captured by head-wearable apparatus starts with microphones generating acoustic signals. Microphones are coupled to first stem of the apparatus and to second stem of the apparatus. First and second beamformers generate first and second beamformer signals, respectively. Noise suppressor attenuates noise content from the first beamformer signal and the second beamformer signal. Noise content from first beamformer signal are acoustic signals not collocated in second beamformer signal and noise content from second beamformer signal are acoustic signals not collocated in first beamformer signal. Speech enhancer generates clean signal comprising speech content from first noise-suppressed signal and second noise-suppressed signal. Speech content are acoustic signals collocated in first beamformer signal and second beamformer signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2020Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Snap Inc.Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Russell Douglas Patton, Patrick Timothy McSweeney Simons
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Patent number: 11340861Abstract: An electronic device includes a microphone array configured to capture audio data, one or more sensors configured to detect an orientation of the microphone array, and digital signal processing (DSP) logic, and an interface. The DSP logic processes, based on the orientation of the microphone array detected by the one or more sensors, the audio data captured by the microphone array to form audio input data. The interface configured to transmit the audio input data over a communications channel to be output by another electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2020Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Tyler Back, Joshua Warren Bingham, Yuhuan Zeng, Plamen Ivanov, Christopher Evans, Jens Nilsson, Michael Asfaw
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Publication number: 20210409884Abstract: Techniques, methods, systems, and other mechanisms for measuring the excursion of a speaker while being actively driven. Measuring excursion can involve attaching a flexible printed coil (FPC), including a sense coil, to the speaker, and monitoring an induced current as produced though the sense coil, and further detecting that violation of an excursion limit for the speaker may likely occur.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Chad Georges Seguin, David C. Breece, III, Leonardo Kusumo
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Publication number: 20210382678Abstract: An electronic device includes a microphone array configured to capture audio data, one or more sensors configured to detect an orientation of the microphone array, and digital signal processing (DSP) logic, and an interface. The DSP logic processes, based on the orientation of the microphone array detected by the one or more sensors, the audio data captured by the microphone array to form audio input data. The interface configured to transmit the audio input data over a communications channel to be output by another electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2020Publication date: December 9, 2021Inventors: Tyler Back, Joshua Warren Bingham, Eva Tsang, Plamen Ivanov, Christopher Evans, Jens Nilsson, Michael Asfaw
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Publication number: 20210382672Abstract: An electronic device includes sensors configured to detect an orientation of a display, driver logic, and a speaker array. The driver logic processes the audio data received by an interface to form audio output data, and forms driver signals representing the audio output data based on the orientation of the display detected by the one or more sensors. The speaker array receives the driver signals formed orientation of the display, and renders the audio output data for playback based on the driver signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2020Publication date: December 9, 2021Inventors: Tyler Back, Joshua Warren Bingham, Eva Tsang, Plamen Ivanov, Christopher Evans, Jens Nilsson, Michael Asfaw
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Publication number: 20210383786Abstract: An electronic device includes a microphone array to capture audio input data, a speaker array to render audio output data for playback; one or more sensors to detect an orientation of the microphone array, acoustic echo cancellation logic, and an interface. The acoustic echo cancellation logic applies acoustic echo cancellation to the audio input data to form echo-cancelled audio input data based on the orientation of the microphone array. The interface transmits the echo-cancelled audio input data over a communications channel as part of an audiovisual communication system.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2020Publication date: December 9, 2021Inventors: Tyler Back, Joshua Warren Bingham, Eva Tsang, Plamen Ivanov, Christopher Evans, Jens Nilsson, Michael Asfaw
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Publication number: 20210345055Abstract: Head-wearable apparatus to generate binaural audio content includes a first stem coupled to a first microphone housing that encases first front microphone and first rear microphone that generates acoustic signals, respectively. First microphone housing includes a first front port that faces downward and a first rear port that faces backwards. Apparatus includes second stem coupled to second microphone housing that encases second front microphone and second rear microphone that generate acoustic signals, respectively. Second microphone housing includes second front port that faces downward and second rear port that faces backwards. Apparatus includes binaural audio processor that includes beamformer and storage device. Beamformer generate first beamformer signal based on acoustic signals from first front microphone and first rear microphone, and second beamformer based on acoustic signals from second front microphone and second rear microphone.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2021Publication date: November 4, 2021Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Dunxu Hu, Patrick Timothy McSweeney Simons, Victoria Lulu Wang Limketkai
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Patent number: 11146900Abstract: Techniques, methods, systems, and other mechanisms for measuring the excursion of a speaker while being actively driven. Measuring excursion can involve attaching a flexible printed coil (FPC), including a sense coil, to the speaker, and monitoring an induced current as produced though the sense coil, and further detecting that violation of an excursion limit for the speaker may likely occur.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2018Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Michael Asfaw, Chad Georges Seguin, David C. Breece, III, Leonardo Kusumo
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Patent number: 11044568Abstract: Head-wearable apparatus to generate binaural audio content includes a first stem coupled to a first microphone housing that encases first front microphone and first rear microphone that generates acoustic signals, respectively. First microphone housing includes a first front port that faces downward and a first rear port that faces backwards. Apparatus includes second stem coupled to second microphone housing that encases second front microphone and second rear microphone that generate acoustic signals, respectively. Second microphone housing includes second front port that faces downward and second rear port that faces backwards. Apparatus includes binaural audio processor that includes beamformer and storage device. Beamformer generate first beamformer signal based on acoustic signals from first front microphone and first rear microphone, and second beamformer based on acoustic signals from second front microphone and second rear microphone.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2020Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: Snap Inc.Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Dunxu Hu, Patrick Timothy McSweeney Simons, Victoria Lulu Wang Limketkai
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Patent number: 10897672Abstract: An audio device includes a speaker array and a controller for beam-steering audio output by the speaker array to localize sound in different locations in a local area around the audio device. The audio device also includes a microphone array or a set of cameras configured to detect an object, such as a human, in the local area around the audio device. From data captured by the microphone array or the set of cameras, the audio device determines a location of the object in the local area and steers the audio output by the speaker array towards the determined location of the object. As the object moves within the local area, the audio device dynamically steers the audio output to move along with the object.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2019Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Michael Xingyi Yu, Stefan Mag, Michael Smedegaard
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Patent number: 10887713Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method for testing a microphone of a device under test. The apparatus includes a speaker, a mount or bracket that secures a device under test a fixed distance from the speaker, and a controller. The controller causes the speaker to generate a test signal at various amplitudes. The controller receives an output signal generated by the microphone in response to the test signal and generates a prediction of whether the microphone is defective based on the output signal. The prediction may be generated by a machine-learning model such as a neural network or other trained classifier.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2019Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Shaji Parol, Eric Roy Pedersen
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Publication number: 20200411026Abstract: Method to perform dynamic beamforming to reduce SNR in signals captured by head-wearable apparatus starts with microphones generating acoustic signals. Microphones are coupled to first stem of the apparatus and to second stem of the apparatus. First and second beamformers generate first and second beamformer signals, respectively. Noise suppressor attenuates noise content from the first beamformer signal and the second beamformer signal. Noise content from first beamformer signal are acoustic signals not collocated in second beamformer signal and noise content from second beamformer signal are acoustic signals not collocated in first beamformer signal. Speech enhancer generates clean signal comprising speech content from first noise-suppressed signal and second noise-suppressed signal. Speech content are acoustic signals collocated in first beamformer signal and second beamformer signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Russell Douglas Patton, Patrick Timothy McSweeney Simons