Patents by Inventor Michael Eckert

Michael Eckert 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: 11143743
    Abstract: An ultra-wide band rf sensing apparatus or module. In an example, the apparatus has at least three antenna arrays configured to sense a back scatter of electromagnetic energy from spatial location of a zero degree location in relation to a mid point of the device through a 360 degrees range where each antenna array is configured to sense a 120 degree range. As shown, each of the three antenna arrays comprises a support member, a plurality of transmitting antenna spatially configured on a first portion of the support member. The support member also has a transmitting integrated circuit coupled to each of the plurality of transmitting antenna and configured to transmit an outgoing UWC signal. Each of the antenna array also has a plurality of receiving antenna spatially configured on second portion of the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Koko Home, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Michael Eckert, Luca Rigazio, Neal Khosla, Kiran Joshi, Lenin Patra
  • Publication number: 20210272574
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments enable converting audio signals captured in various formats by various capture devices into a limited number of formats that can be processed by an audio codec (e.g., an Immersive Voice and Audio Services (IVAS) codec). In an embodiment, a simplification unit of the audio device receives an audio signal captured by one or more audio capture devices coupled to the audio device. The simplification unit determines whether the audio signal is in a format that is supported/not supported by an encoding unit of the audio device. Based on the determining, the simplification unit, converts the audio signal into a format that is supported by the encoding unit. In an embodiment, if the simplification unit determines that the audio signal is in a spatial format, the simplification unit can convert the audio signal into a spatial “mezzanine” format supported by the encoding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicants: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Stefan BRUHN, Michael ECKERT, Juan Felix TORRES, Stefanie BROWN, David S. MCGRATH
  • Publication number: 20210249140
    Abstract: In an example, the technique also detects and measures vital signs of each human target by continuous, non-intrusive method. In an example, the vital signs of interest include a heart rate and a respiratory rate, which can provide valuable information about the human's wellness. Additionally, the heart rate and respiratory rate can also be used to identify a particular person, if more than two target humans living in a home. Of course, there can be other variations, modifications, and alternatives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Bradley Michael ECKERT, Luca RIGAZIO, Neal KHOSLA, Kiran R. JOSHI
  • Publication number: 20210166708
    Abstract: The present document describes a method (700) for encoding a multi-channel input signal (201). The method (700) comprises determining (701) a plurality of downmix channel signals (203) from the multi-channel input signal (201) and performing (702) energy compaction of the plurality of downmix channel signals (203) to provide a plurality of compacted channel signals (404). Furthermore, the method (700) comprises determining (703) joint coding metadata (205) based on the plurality of compacted channel signals (404) and based on the multi-channel input signal (201), wherein the joint coding metadata (205) is such that it allows upmixing of the plurality of compacted channel signals (404) to an approximation of the multi-channel input signal (201). In addition, the method (700) comprises encoding (704) the plurality of compacted channel signals (404) and the joint coding metadata (205).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicants: DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB, DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: David S. MCGRATH, Michael ECKERT, Heiko PURNHAGEN, Stefan BRUHN
  • Patent number: 11004567
    Abstract: In an example, the technique also detects and measures vital signs of each human target by continuous, non-intrusive method. In an example, the vital signs of interest include a heart rate and a respiratory rate, which can provide valuable information about the human's wellness. Additionally, the heart rate and respiratory rate can also be used to identify a particular person, if more than two target humans living in a home. Of course, there can be other variations, modifications, and alternatives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Koko Home, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Michael Eckert, Luca Rigazio, Neal Khosla, Kiran R. Joshi
  • Publication number: 20210037315
    Abstract: In an example, the present invention provides an UWB and FMCW sensor apparatus, with an audio module and inertial motion module. The apparatus has at least three transceiver modules. Each of the transceiver modules has an antenna array to be configured to sense a back scatter of electromagnetic energy from spatial location of a zero degree location in relation to a mid point of the device through a 360 degrees range where each antenna array is configured to sense a 120 degree range. In an example, each of the antenna array has a support member, a plurality of receiving antenna, a receiver integrated circuit coupled to the receiving antenna and configured to receive an incoming rf signal and covert the incoming rf signal into a base band signal, and a plurality of transmitting antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Bradley Michael ECKERT, Luca RIGAZIO, Neal KHOSLA, Kiran R. JOSHI, Lenin PATRA
  • Publication number: 20210035425
    Abstract: In an example, the present invention provides a method for identifying a status of a user and providing feedback to the user based upon the status of the user. In an example, the method includes generating an electromagnetic radio frequency (RF) signal from an RF generating device and emitting the electromagnetic RF signal into a spatial region of a user. In an example, the method includes detecting a back scattered RF signal, using an RF receiving antenna, from the user and converting the back scattered RF signal from an RF analog signal into an RF digital signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Bradley Michael ECKERT, Luca RIGAZIO, Neal KHOSLA, Kiran R. JOSHI
  • Patent number: 10899452
    Abstract: A toilet module and a vehicle including a toilet module are provided. An exemplary toilet module includes a toilet unit and a housing. The housing includes a front wall with an access opening, a first functional wall arranged opposite the front wall and supporting the toilet unit, and a second functional wall perpendicular to the front wall and extending between the front wall and the first functional wall. Further, the toilet module includes a storage shelf attached to the housing and a swivable table attached to the housing and movable to an extended configuration. The swivable table overlaps the storage shelf when in the extended configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Inventors: Ralf Schliwa, Volker Luderer, Florian Schuephaus, Roland Lange, Michael Eckert
  • Publication number: 20200342883
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing forward error correction for a multi-channel audio signal are described. Blocks of an audio stream are buffered into a frame. A transformation can be applied that compacts the energy of each block into a plurality of transformed channels. The energy compaction transform may compact the most energy of a block into the first transformed channel and to compact decreasing amounts of energy into each subsequent transformed channel. The transformed frame may be encoded using any suitable codec and transmitted in a packet over a network. Improved forward error correction may be provided by attaching a low bit rate encoding of the first transformed channel to a subsequent packet. To reconstruct a lost packet, the low bit rate encoding of the first channel for the lost packet may be combined with a packet loss concealment version of the other channels, constructed from a previously-received packet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Shen HUANG, Michael ECKERT, Glenn N. DICKINS
  • Patent number: 10810850
    Abstract: In an example, the present invention provides a method for identifying a status of a user and providing feedback to the user based upon the status of the user. In an example, the method includes generating an electromagnetic radio frequency (RF) signal from an RF generating device and emitting the electromagnetic RF signal into a spatial region of a user. In an example, the method includes detecting a back scattered RF signal, using an RF receiving antenna, from the user and converting the back scattered RF signal from an RF analog signal into an RF digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Koko Home, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Michael Eckert, Luca Rigazio, Neal Khosla, Kiran Joshi
  • Patent number: 10812759
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for determining orientation of an external audio device in a video conference, which may be used to provide congruent multimodal representation for a video conference. A camera of a video conferencing system may be used to detect a potential location of an external audio device within a room in which the video conferencing system is providing a video conference. Within the detected potential location, a visual pattern associated with the external audio device may be identified. Using the identified visual pattern, the video conferencing system may estimate an orientation of the external audio device, the orientation being used by the video conferencing system to provide spatial audio video congruence to a far end audience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Erwin Goesnar, Hannes Muesch, David Gunawan, Michael Eckert, Glenn N. Dickins
  • Publication number: 20200265698
    Abstract: In an example, the present invention provides a method for identifying a status of a user and providing feedback to the user based upon the status of the user. In an example, the method includes generating an electromagnetic radio frequency (RF) signal from an RF generating device and emitting the electromagnetic RF signal into a spatial region of a user. In an example, the method includes detecting a back scattered RF signal, using an RF receiving antenna, from the user and converting the back scattered RF signal from an RF analog signal into an RF digital signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Bradley Michael ECKERT, Luca RIGAZIO, Neal KHOSLA, Kiran JOSHI
  • Publication number: 20200264278
    Abstract: A method for a computing system includes beaming with a radar emitter from a central hub, a plurality of radar signals into an interior room, receiving with a radar receiver within the central hub, a plurality of radar reflections in response to the plurality of radar signals, processing with a processor within the central hub, the plurality of radar reflections to form a plurality of processed radar signals, determining with an AI processor within the central hub, at least one activity from a plurality of activities in response to the plurality of processed radar signals, and determining with a central processing unit within the central hub, a notification action to perform in response to the one or more activities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Bradley Michael Eckert, Luca Rigazio, Neal Khosla, Kiran R. JOSHI, Lenin PATRA
  • Publication number: 20200256972
    Abstract: In an example, the present invention provides an UWB and FMCW sensor apparatus. The apparatus has at least three transceiver modules. Each of the transceiver modules has an antenna array to be configured to sense a back scatter of electromagnetic energy from spatial location of a zero degree location in relation to a mid point of the device through a 360 degrees range where each antenna array is configured to sense a 120 degree range. In an example, each of the antenna array has a support member, a plurality of receiving antenna, a receiver integrated circuit coupled to the receiving antenna and configured to receive an incoming rf signal and covert the incoming rf signal into a base band signal, and a plurality of transmitting antenna. Each antenna array has a transmitter integrated circuit coupled to the transmitting antenna to transmit an outgoing rf signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Bradley Michael ECKERT, Luca RIGAZIO, Neal KHOSLA, Kiran JOSHI, Lenin PATRA
  • Publication number: 20200260180
    Abstract: In an example, the present invention provides an UWB and FMCW sensor apparatus, with an audio module and inertial motion module. The apparatus has at least three transceiver modules. Each of the transceiver modules has an antenna array to be configured to sense a back scatter of electromagnetic energy from spatial location of a zero degree location in relation to a mid point of the device through a 360 degrees range where each antenna array is configured to sense a 120 degree range. In an example, each of the antenna array has a support member, a plurality of receiving antenna, a receiver integrated circuit coupled to the receiving antenna and configured to receive an incoming rf signal and covert the incoming rf signal into a base band signal, and a plurality of transmitting antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Bradley Michael ECKERT, Luca RIGAZIO, Neal KHOSLA, Kiran JOSHI, Lenin PATRA
  • Patent number: 10743100
    Abstract: In an example, the present invention provides an UWB and FMCW sensor apparatus, with an audio module and inertial motion module. The apparatus has at least three transceiver modules. Each of the transceiver modules has an antenna array to be configured to sense a back scatter of electromagnetic energy from spatial location of a zero degree location in relation to a mid point of the device through a 360 degrees range where each antenna array is configured to sense a 120 degree range. In an example, each of the antenna array has a support member, a plurality of receiving antenna, a receiver integrated circuit coupled to the receiving antenna and configured to receive an incoming rf signal and covert the incoming rf signal into a base band signal, and a plurality of transmitting antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Totemic Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Michael Eckert, Luca Rigazio, Neal Khosla, Kiran Joshi, Lenin Patra
  • Patent number: 10714098
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing forward error correction for a multi-channel audio signal are described. Blocks of an audio stream are buffered into a frame. A transformation can be applied that compacts the energy of each block into a plurality of transformed channels. The energy compaction transform may compact the most energy of a block into the first transformed channel and to compact decreasing amounts of energy into each subsequent transformed channel. The transformed frame may be encoded using any suitable codec and transmitted in a packet over a network. Improved forward error correction may be provided by attaching a low bit rate encoding of the first transformed channel to a subsequent packet. To reconstruct a lost packet, the low bit rate encoding of the first channel for the lost packet may be combined with a packet loss concealment version of the other channels, constructed from a previously-received packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Shen Huang, Michael Eckert, Glenn N. Dickins
  • Publication number: 20190342521
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for determining orientation of an external audio device in a video conference, which may be used to provide congruent multimodal representation for a video conference. A camera of a video conferencing system may be used to detect a potential location of an external audio device within a room in which the video conferencing system is providing a video conference. Within the detected potential location, a visual pattern associated with the external audio device may be identified. Using the identified visual pattern, the video conferencing system may estimate an orientation of the external audio device, the orientation being used by the video conferencing system to provide spatial audio video congruence to a far end audience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Erwin GOESNAR, Hannes MUESCH, David GUNAWAN, Michael ECKERT, Glenn N. DICKINS
  • Publication number: 20190237086
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing forward error correction for a multi-channel audio signal are described. Blocks of an audio stream are buffered into a frame. A transformation can be applied that compacts the energy of each block into a plurality of transformed channels. The energy compaction transform may compact the most energy of a block into the first transformed channel and to compact decreasing amounts of energy into each subsequent transformed channel. The transformed frame may be encoded using any suitable codec and transmitted in a packet over a network. Improved forward error correction may be provided by attaching a low bit rate encoding of the first transformed channel to a subsequent packet. To reconstruct a lost packet, the low bit rate encoding of the first channel for the lost packet may be combined with a packet loss concealment version of the other channels, constructed from a previously-received packet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shen HUANG, Michael ECKERT, Glenn N. DICKINS
  • Patent number: 10362270
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for determining orientation of an external audio device in a video conference, which may be used to provide congruent multimodal representation for a video conference. A camera of a video conferencing system may be used to detect a potential location of an external audio device within a room in which the video conferencing system is providing a video conference. Within the detected potential location, a visual pattern associated with the external audio device may be identified. Using the identified visual pattern, the video conferencing system may estimate an orientation of the external audio device, the orientation being used by the video conferencing system to provide spatial audio video congruence to a far end audience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Erwin Goesnar, Hannes Muesch, David Gunawan, Michael Eckert, Glenn N. Dickins