Patents by Inventor Michael Smithers
Michael Smithers 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: 11463832Abstract: A system and method of adjusting an audio output in one location so that its propagation into another location is reduced. As a first device in a first location generates sound, a second device in a second location detects the propagated sound. The first device then adjusts its output based on the detected sound.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2021Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATIONInventors: C. Phillip Brown, Michael Smithers, Remi Audfray, Patrick Saunders
-
Publication number: 20210280200Abstract: Techniques for adaptive processing of media data based on separate data specifying a state of the media data are provided. A device in a media processing chain may determine whether a type of media processing has already been performed on an input version of media data. If so, the device may adapt its processing of the media data to disable performing the type of media processing. If not, the device performs the type of media processing. The device may create a state of the media data specifying the type of media processing. The device may communicate the state of the media data and an output version of the media data to a recipient device in the media processing chain, for the purpose of supporting the recipient device's adaptive processing of the media data.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2021Publication date: September 9, 2021Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATIONInventors: Jeffrey RIEDMILLER, Regunathan RADHAKRISHNAN, Marvin PRIBADI, Farhad FARAHANI, Michael SMITHERS
-
Publication number: 20210211822Abstract: A system and method of adjusting an audio output in one location so that its propagation into another location is reduced. As a first device in a first location generates sound, a second device in a second location detects the propagated sound. The first device then adjusts its output based on the detected sound.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2021Publication date: July 8, 2021Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: C. Phillip Brown, Michael Smithers, Remi Audfray, Patrick Saunders
-
Patent number: 10283137Abstract: A device (160) and a method are proposed for tuning a frequency-dependent attenuation stage (122), with the purpose of suppressing non-linear distortion occurring in an audio reproduction system (120) associated with the frequency-dependent attenuation stage. The device comprises a receiving section (162) adapted to receive data representing an output acoustic signal (140) from the audio reproduction system, recorded upon excitation of the audio reproduction system by a predetermined input data signal (110)a first distortion detection section (163) adapted to detect presence of non-linear distortion based on the received data and to apply psycho-acoustic compensation to the detected non-linear distortion and a control section (164) adapted to determine, based on the psycho-acoustically compensated non-linear distortion, control information (170) suitable for controlling the frequency-dependent attenuation stage.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2015Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, Dolby International ABInventors: Jyri Tapani Pakarinen, Michael Smithers, Juan Felix Torres, Heiko Purnhagen
-
Patent number: 10090817Abstract: Systems and methods for leveling loudness variation in an audio signal are described. Embodiments use both a perceptual leveling algorithm and a standards-based loudness measure together to minimize audio process artifacts and ensure that the measured loudness of the processed audio is close to a required measure, according to a particular standard measurement of loudness. These systems and methods can be used either offline or in real-time.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2018Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Andrew P. Reilly, Michael Smithers, Jeffrey Riedmiller
-
Publication number: 20180234065Abstract: Systems and methods for leveling loudness variation in an audio signal are described. Embodiments use both a perceptual leveling algorithm and a standards-based loudness measure together to minimize audio process artifacts and ensure that the measured loudness of the processed audio is close to a required measure, according to a particular standard measurement of loudness. These systems and methods can be used either offline or in real-time.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2018Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventors: Andrew P. REILLY, Michael SMITHERS, Jeffrey RIEDMILLER
-
Patent number: 9986338Abstract: Embodiments are directed to speakers and circuits that reflect sound off a wall surface (114) to a listening location at a distance from a speaker. The reflected sound (103) provides direct audio cues to reproduce audio objects that have direct audio components without the need for direct firing speakers. The speaker comprises sideward firing drivers (108) to reflect sound off of the wall surface (114) and represents a virtual direct speaker (116). A virtual direct filter is applied to the sideward-firing driver signal to improve the perception of direct audio transmitted by the sideward firing speaker (108) to provide optimum reproduction of the reflected sound. The virtual direct filter may be incorporated as part of a crossover circuit that separates the full band and sends high frequency sound to the sideward-firing driver (108).Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2015Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Warren Mansfield, Eugene Edward Radzik, Alan J. Seefeldt, Jared Smith, C. Phillip Brown, Michael Smithers
-
Patent number: 9960742Abstract: Systems and methods for leveling loudness variation in an audio signal are described. Embodiments use both a perceptual leveling algorithm and a standards-based loudness measure together to minimize audio process artifacts and ensure that the measured loudness of the processed audio is close to a required measure, according to a particular standard measurement of loudness. These systems and methods can be used either offline or in real-time.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2017Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Andrew P. Reilly, Michael Smithers, Jeffrey Riedmiller
-
Publication number: 20180068666Abstract: Techniques for adaptive processing of media data based on separate data specifying a state of the media data are provided. A device in a media processing chain may determine whether a type of media processing has already been performed on an input version of media data. If so, the device may adapt its processing of the media data to disable performing the type of media processing. If not, the device performs the type of media processing. The device may create a state of the media data specifying the type of media processing. The device may communicate the state of the media data and an output version of the media data to a recipient device in the media processing chain, for the purpose of supporting the recipient device's adaptive processing of the media data.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2017Publication date: March 8, 2018Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATIONInventors: Jeffrey RIEDMILLER, Regunathan RADHAKRISHNAN, Marvin PRIBADI, Farhad FARAHANI, Michael SMITHERS
-
Publication number: 20180034429Abstract: Systems and methods for leveling loudness variation in an audio signal are described. Embodiments use both a perceptual leveling algorithm and a standards-based loudness measure together to minimize audio process artifacts and ensure that the measured loudness of the processed audio is close to a required measure, according to a particular standard measurement of loudness. These systems and methods can be used either offline or in real-time.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2017Publication date: February 1, 2018Inventors: Andrew P. REILLY, Michael SMITHERS, Jeffrey RIEDMILLER
-
Patent number: 9842596Abstract: Techniques for adaptive processing of media data based on separate data specifying a state of the media data are provided. A device in a media processing chain may determine whether a type of media processing has already been performed on an input version of media data. If so, the device may adapt its processing of the media data to disable performing the type of media processing. If not, the device performs the type of media processing. The device may create a state of the media data specifying the type of media processing. The device may communicate the state of the media data and an output version of the media data to a recipient device in the media processing chain, for the purpose of supporting the recipient device's adaptive processing of the media data.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2011Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Riedmiller, Regunathan Radhakrishnan, Marvin Pribadi, Farhad Farahani, Michael Smithers
-
Patent number: 9806688Abstract: Systems and methods for leveling loudness variation in an audio signal are described. Embodiments use both a perceptual leveling algorithm and a standards-based loudness measure together to minimize audio process artifacts and ensure that the measured loudness of the processed audio is close to a required measure, according to a particular standard measurement of loudness. These systems and methods can be used either offline or in real-time.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2013Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Andrew P. Reilly, Michael Smithers, Jeffrey Riedmiller
-
Patent number: 9754578Abstract: According to various embodiments, a loudspeaker horn and cabinet are designed to achieve a sound coverage pattern characterized by narrow vertical dispersion and a wide horizontal dispersion. A loudspeaker horn may comprise at least two horn sections, each extending from an inlet to a mouth. A first plurality of outlet channels is disposed in an interleaved column with a second plurality of outlet channels. A loudspeaker cabinet may comprise a primary enclosure having a front wall, the front wall having an aperture in which a low frequency loudspeaker driver is mounted. The loudspeaker cabinet further comprises a top baffle section having a top end and a bottom baffle section having a bottom end, each extending vertically from the primary enclosure. The top baffle section has a first width that gradually increases towards the top end and the bottom section has a second width that gradually increases towards the bottom end.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2014Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventor: Michael Smithers
-
Publication number: 20170251296Abstract: A column loudspeaker with a line of low-frequency drivers has a center coaxial driver with a low frequency driver and a high frequency drive. The low frequency drivers are delayed and gain adjusted such that they exhibit constant directivity in the axis of the line. The high frequency driver has the same directivity as the line of low frequency drivers. A crossover separates the audio signal into high and low frequency signals with low frequency signals sent to the low frequency drivers, and high frequency signals sent to the high frequency element in the coaxial driver. The crossover frequency is in the frequency range where the directivity of the high and low frequency drivers match. The loudspeaker cabinet is curved to provide an acoustic delay to the drivers further away from the center coaxial driver.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2015Publication date: August 31, 2017Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventor: Michael SMITHERS
-
Publication number: 20170061982Abstract: A device (160) and a method are proposed for tuning a frequency-dependent attenuation stage (122),with the purpose of suppressing non-linear distortion occurring in an audio reproduction system (120) associated with the frequency-dependent attenuation stage. The device comprises a receiving section (162) adapted to receive data representing an output acoustic signal (140) from the audio reproduction system,recorded upon excitation of the audio reproduction system by a predetermined input data signal (110)a first distortion detection section (163) adapted to detect presence of non-linear distortion based on the received data and to apply psycho-acoustic compensation to the detected non-linear distortion and a control section (164) adapted to determine, based on the psycho-acoustically compensated non-linear distortion, control information (170) suitable for controlling the frequency-dependent attenuation stage.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2015Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicants: DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB, DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATIONInventors: Jyri Tapani PAKARINEN, Michael SMITHERS, Juan Felix TORRES, Heiko PURNHAGEN
-
Patent number: 9584083Abstract: Scaling, by a desired amount sm, the overall perceived loudness Lm of a multichannel audio signal, wherein perceived loudness is a nonlinear function of signal power P, by scaling the perceived loudness of each individual channel Lc by an amount substantially equal to the desired amount of scaling of the overall perceived loudness of all channels sm, subject to accuracy in calculations and the desired accuracy of the overall perceived loudness scaling sm. The perceived loudness of each individual channel may be scaled by changing the gain of each individual channel, wherein gain is a scaling of a channel's power. Optionally, in addition, the loudness scaling applied to each channel may be modified so as to reduce the difference between the actual overall loudness scaling and the desired amount of overall loudness scaling.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Alan J. Seefeldt, Michael Smithers
-
Patent number: 9564139Abstract: A spread spectrum data hiding for audio signals is described. A set of pseudo-random noise sequences is added to an audio signal according to a data to be embedded. A masking curve is used to shape the added noise. A transient detection step can be used to control whether a shaped noise sequence is to be added or not. Embedded information is detected by first performing a whitening step and then performing a phase-only correlation with a same set of pseudo-random noise sequences. A detection method that is based on correlation of multiplexed noise sequences with a noise sequence embedded in the audio is also described.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2015Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Regunathan Radhakrishnan, Michael Smithers, David S. McGrath
-
Publication number: 20170026750Abstract: Embodiments are directed to speakers and circuits that reflect sound off a wall surface (114) to a listening location at a distance from a speaker. The reflected sound (103) provides direct audio cues to reproduce audio objects that have direct audio components without the need for direct firing speakers. The speaker comprises sideward firing drivers (108) to reflect sound off of the wall surface (114) and represents a virtual direct speaker (116). A virtual direct filter is applied to the sideward-firing driver signal to improve the perception of direct audio transmitted by the sideward firing speaker (108) to provide optimum reproduction of the reflected sound. The virtual direct filter may be incorporated as part of a crossover circuit that separates the full band and sends high frequency sound to the sideward-firing driver (108).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2015Publication date: January 26, 2017Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATIONInventors: Warren MANSFIELD, Eugene Edward RADZIK, Alan J. SEEFELDT, Jared SMITH, C. Phillip BROWN, Michael SMITHERS
-
Publication number: 20160111102Abstract: A spread spectrum data hiding for audio signals is described. A set of pseudo-random noise sequences is added to an audio signal according to a data to be embedded. A masking curve is used to shape the added noise. A transient detection step can be used to control whether a shaped noise sequence is to be added or not. Embedded information is detected by first performing a whitening step and then performing a phase-only correlation with a same set of pseudo-random noise sequences. A detection method that is based on correlation of multiplexed noise sequences with a noise sequence embedded in the audio is also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Regunathan Radhakrishnan, Michael Smithers, David S. McGrath
-
Patent number: 9269363Abstract: A spread spectrum data hiding for audio signals is described. A set of pseudo-random noise sequences is added to an audio signal according to a data to be embedded. A masking curve is used to shape the added noise. A transient detection step can be used to control whether a shaped noise sequence is to be added or not. Embedded information is detected by first performing a whitening step and then performing a phase-only correlation with a same set of pseudo-random noise sequences. A detection method that is based on correlation of multiplexed noise sequences with a noise sequence embedded in the audio is also described.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2013Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Regunathan Radhakrishnan, Michael Smithers, David S. McGrath