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).

  • Patent number: 11877126
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Chad Georges Seguin, David C. Breece, III, Leonardo Kusumo
  • Publication number: 20230247378
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Dunxu Hu, Patrick Timothy McSweeney Simons, Victoria Lulu Wang Limketkai
  • Patent number: 11632640
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: SNAP INC.
    Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Dunxu Hu, Patrick Timothy McSweeney Simons, Victoria Lulu Wang Limketkai
  • Patent number: 11620976
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tyler Back, Joshua Warren Bingham, Yuhuan Zeng, Plamen Ivanov, Christopher Evans, Jens Nilsson, Michael Asfaw
  • Patent number: 11586407
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tyler Back, Joshua Warren Bingham, Yuhuan Zeng, Plamen Ivanov, Christopher Evans, Jens Nilsson, Michael Asfaw
  • Publication number: 20230021918
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Tyler Back, Joshua Warren Bingham, Yuhuan Zeng, Plamen Alexandrov Ivanov, Christopher Evans, Jens Nilsson, Michael Asfaw
  • Publication number: 20220366926
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Russell Douglas Patton, Patrick Timothy McSweeney Simons
  • Patent number: 11361781
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Russell Douglas Patton, Patrick Timothy McSweeney Simons
  • Patent number: 11340861
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tyler Back, Joshua Warren Bingham, Yuhuan Zeng, Plamen Ivanov, Christopher Evans, Jens Nilsson, Michael Asfaw
  • Publication number: 20210409884
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Chad Georges Seguin, David C. Breece, III, Leonardo Kusumo
  • Publication number: 20210383786
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Tyler Back, Joshua Warren Bingham, Eva Tsang, Plamen Ivanov, Christopher Evans, Jens Nilsson, Michael Asfaw
  • Publication number: 20210382672
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Tyler Back, Joshua Warren Bingham, Eva Tsang, Plamen Ivanov, Christopher Evans, Jens Nilsson, Michael Asfaw
  • Publication number: 20210382678
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Tyler Back, Joshua Warren Bingham, Eva Tsang, Plamen Ivanov, Christopher Evans, Jens Nilsson, Michael Asfaw
  • Publication number: 20210345055
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Dunxu Hu, Patrick Timothy McSweeney Simons, Victoria Lulu Wang Limketkai
  • Patent number: 11146900
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Chad Georges Seguin, David C. Breece, III, Leonardo Kusumo
  • Patent number: 11044568
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Dunxu Hu, Patrick Timothy McSweeney Simons, Victoria Lulu Wang Limketkai
  • Patent number: 10897672
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Michael Xingyi Yu, Stefan Mag, Michael Smedegaard
  • Patent number: 10887713
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Shaji Parol, Eric Roy Pedersen
  • Publication number: 20200411026
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Russell Douglas Patton, Patrick Timothy McSweeney Simons
  • Publication number: 20200336850
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Chad Georges Seguin, David C. Breece, III, Leonardo Kusumo