Patents by Inventor Paul Beckmann

Paul Beckmann 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: 11651772
    Abstract: A system and method for improving the performance of a hands-free voice user interface system while minimizing the computational complexity without sacrificing performance. Specifically, when estimating the location of the talker for the purpose of steering a directional beam in the direction of the active talker. A hands-free voice user interface system requires a clean signal to be streamed to the cloud for recognition. One way to improve the speech signal is to estimate where the talker is and steer a beam in the direction of the active talker. To locate the talker to a localized position, a direction of arrival estimator (DOA) algorithm is used. DoA generally requires noise and echo free signal for optimal estimation, but it is computationally expensive to run audio pre-processing such as an acoustic echo cancellation for each microphone in microphone array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: DSP Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Ke Li, Paul Beckmann
  • Publication number: 20220223149
    Abstract: A system and method for improving the performance of a hands-free voice user interface system while minimizing the computational complexity without sacrificing performance. Specifically, when estimating the location of the talker for the purpose of steering a directional beam in the direction of the active talker. A hands-free voice user interface system requires a clean signal to be streamed to the cloud for recognition. One way to improve the speech signal is to estimate where the talker is and steer a beam in the direction of the active talker. To locate the talker to a localized position, a direction of arrival estimator (DOA) algorithm is used. DoA generally requires noise and echo free signal for optimal estimation, but it is computationally expensive to run audio pre-processing such as an acoustic echo cancellation for each microphone in microphone array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Ke Li, Paul Beckmann
  • Patent number: 11276397
    Abstract: A system and method for improving the performance of a hands-free voice user interface system while minimizing the computational complexity without sacrificing performance. Specifically, when estimating the location of the talker for the purpose of steering a directional beam in the direction of the active talker. A hands-free voice user interface system requires a clean signal to be streamed to the cloud for recognition. One way to improve the speech signal is to estimate where the talker is and steer a beam in the direction of the active talker. To locate the talker to a localized position, a direction of arrival estimator (DOA) algorithm is used. DoA generally requires noise and echo free signal for optimal estimation, but it is computationally expensive to run audio pre-processing such as an acoustic echo cancellation for each microphone in microphone array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: DSP Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Ke Li, Paul Beckmann
  • Publication number: 20200279557
    Abstract: A system and method for improving the performance of a hands-free voice user interface system while minimizing the computational complexity without sacrificing performance. Specifically, when estimating the location of the talker for the purpose of steering a directional beam in the direction of the active talker. A hands-free voice user interface system requires a clean signal to be streamed to the cloud for recognition. One way to improve the speech signal is to estimate where the talker is and steer a beam in the direction of the active talker. To locate the talker to a localized position, a direction of arrival estimator (DOA) algorithm is used. DoA generally requires noise and echo free signal for optimal estimation, but it is computationally expensive to run audio pre-processing such as an acoustic echo cancellation for each microphone in microphone array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Ke Li, Paul Beckmann
  • Publication number: 20200279558
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically adjusting the sensitivity of a wake word recognition system based on room conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Ke Li, Paul Beckmann
  • Patent number: 9872006
    Abstract: A camera system includes a first microphone, a second microphone, and a microphone controller. The first microphone and the second microphone are configured to capture audio over a time interval to produce a first captured audio signal and a second captured audio signal, respectively. The second captured audio signal is dampened relative to the first captured audio signal by a dampening factor. The microphone controller is configured to store the first captured audio signal in response to a determination that the first captured audio signal does not clip. In response to a determination that the first captured audio signal clips, the microphone controller is configured to identify a gain between the first captured audio signal and the second captured audio signal representative of the dampening factor, amplify the second captured audio signal based on the identified gain, and store the amplified second captured audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Beckmann, Erich Tisch, Zhinian Jing
  • Patent number: 9706088
    Abstract: An audio capture system for a sports camera includes at least one “enhanced” microphone and at least one “reference” microphone. The enhanced microphone includes a drainage enhancement feature to enable water to drain from the microphone more quickly than the reference microphone. A microphone selection controller selects between the microphones based on a microphone selection algorithm to enable high quality in conditions where the sports camera transitions in and out of water during activities such as surfing, water skiing, swimming, or other wet environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhinian Jing, Erich Tisch, Ke Li, Paul Beckmann
  • Publication number: 20170111627
    Abstract: A camera system includes a first microphone, a second microphone, and a microphone controller. The first microphone and the second microphone are configured to capture audio over a time interval to produce a first captured audio signal and a second captured audio signal, respectively. The second captured audio signal is dampened relative to the first captured audio signal by a dampening factor. The microphone controller is configured to store the first captured audio signal in response to a determination that the first captured audio signal does not clip. In response to a determination that the first captured audio signal clips, the microphone controller is configured to identify a gain between the first captured audio signal and the second captured audio signal representative of the dampening factor, amplify the second captured audio signal based on the identified gain, and store the amplified second captured audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Paul Beckmann, Erich Tisch, Zhinian Jing
  • Patent number: 9571807
    Abstract: A camera system includes a first microphone, a second microphone, and a microphone controller. The first microphone and the second microphone are configured to capture audio over a time interval to produce a first captured audio signal and a second captured audio signal, respectively. The second captured audio signal is dampened relative to the first captured audio signal by a dampening factor. The microphone controller is configured to store the first captured audio signal in response to a determination that the first captured audio signal does not clip. In response to a determination that the first captured audio signal clips, the microphone controller is configured to identify a gain between the first captured audio signal and the second captured audio signal representative of the dampening factor, amplify the second captured audio signal based on the identified gain, and store the amplified second captured audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Beckmann, Erich Tisch, Zhinian Jing
  • Publication number: 20170006396
    Abstract: An audio capture system for a sports camera includes at least one “enhanced” microphone and at least one “reference” microphone. The enhanced microphone includes a drainage enhancement feature to enable water to drain from the microphone more quickly than the reference microphone. A microphone selection controller selects between the microphones based on a microphone selection algorithm to enable high quality in conditions where the sports camera transitions in and out of water during activities such as surfing, water skiing, swimming, or other wet environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Zhinian Jing, Erich Tisch, Ke Li, Paul Beckmann
  • Publication number: 20160241832
    Abstract: A camera system includes a first microphone, a second microphone, and a microphone controller. The first microphone and the second microphone are configured to capture audio over a time interval to produce a first captured audio signal and a second captured audio signal, respectively. The second captured audio signal is dampened relative to the first captured audio signal by a dampening factor. The microphone controller is configured to store the first captured audio signal in response to a determination that the first captured audio signal does not clip. In response to a determination that the first captured audio signal clips, the microphone controller is configured to identify a gain between the first captured audio signal and the second captured audio signal representative of the dampening factor, amplify the second captured audio signal based on the identified gain, and store the amplified second captured audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Paul Beckmann, Erich Tisch, Zhinian Jing
  • Patent number: 9350895
    Abstract: A camera system includes a first microphone, a second microphone, and a microphone controller. The first microphone and the second microphone are configured to capture audio over a time interval to produce a first captured audio signal and a second captured audio signal, respectively. The second captured audio signal is dampened relative to the first captured audio signal by a dampening factor. The microphone controller is configured to store the first captured audio signal in response to a determination that the first captured audio signal does not clip. In response to a determination that the first captured audio signal clips, the microphone controller is configured to identify a gain between the first captured audio signal and the second captured audio signal representative of the dampening factor, amplify the second captured audio signal based on the identified gain, and store the amplified second captured audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Beckmann, Erich Tisch, Eric Jing
  • Publication number: 20160142579
    Abstract: A camera system includes a first microphone, a second microphone, and a microphone controller. The first microphone and the second microphone are configured to capture audio over a time interval to produce a first captured audio signal and a second captured audio signal, respectively. The second captured audio signal is dampened relative to the first captured audio signal by a dampening factor. The microphone controller is configured to store the first captured audio signal in response to a determination that the first captured audio signal does not clip. In response to a determination that the first captured audio signal clips, the microphone controller is configured to identify a gain between the first captured audio signal and the second captured audio signal representative of the dampening factor, amplify the second captured audio signal based on the identified gain, and store the amplified second captured audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Paul Beckmann, Erich Tisch, Eric Jing
  • Publication number: 20070142945
    Abstract: An audio system attachable to a computer includes a sound reproduction device for producing audible sound from audio signals. The sound reproduction device includes a radio tuner and a powered speaker. The audio system further includes a connector for connecting the sound reproduction device with a computer. The computer provides audio signals from a plurality of sources, the sources including a computer CD player, digitally encoded computer files stored on the computer, and a computer network connected to the computer. The sound reproduction device further includes control buttons for controlling at least one of the computer CD player, the digitally encoded computer files and the computer network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Paul Beckmann, Santiago Carvajal, Christopher Perry
  • Publication number: 20060212503
    Abstract: A sampling-rate conversion method receives N input channels which have been digitized at an input sampling rate, and converts the sampling rate of each input channel to produce N output channels at an output sampling rate. The method comprises computing a common FIR interpolating function which depends upon the input and output sample clocks and the instantaneous output time, and applying the common FIR interpolating function to all N input channels to compute all N output channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventors: Paul Beckmann, Timothy Stilson