Patents by Inventor Phillip Alan Hetherington

Phillip Alan Hetherington 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: 11348595
    Abstract: A system and method that enhances spoken utterances and provides entertainment by capturing one or more microphone signals containing echo and decomposing the one or more microphone signals into a plurality of signal paths through a synthesizer that adds or makes non-linear modifications to some of the captured one or more microphone signals. The system and method and estimates multiple echo paths from each of the one the one or more microphones. The system and method processes the captured microphone signals in response to the estimated plurality of echo paths by subtracting the echo contributions of each of the plurality of echo paths from the captured one or more microphone signals. The system and method also provide signal separation and post processing functions that renders speech recognition gaming applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignees: BlackBerry Limited, 2236008 Ontario Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Alan Hetherington, Shreyas Anand Paranjpe, Leonard Charles Layton
  • Patent number: 10497346
    Abstract: A multimodal system and process processed one or more sensor signals and extracts features from the one or more sensor signals through a spatiotemporal correlation between consecutive frames of an image or video sequence. The multimodal system and process determines the movement and direction of the features through an image subtraction, or a coherence measure and synthesizes a musical instrument signal in response to the detected movement and direction or the triggers. The imaginary musical instrument signal is added to an infotainment signal within a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignees: 2236008 Ontario Inc., BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Shreyas Anand Paranjpe, Phillip Alan Hetherington, Leonard Charles Layton
  • Patent number: 10140089
    Abstract: A system and method that enhances spoken utterances by capturing one or more microphone signals. The system and method estimates a plurality of echo paths from each of the one or more microphone signals and synthesizes a speech reinforcement signal in response to and corresponding to the one or more microphone signals. The system and method concatenates portions of the synthesized reinforcement signal with the captured microphone signals and processes the captured microphone signals in response to the estimated plurality of echo paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignees: 2236008 Ontario Inc., BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Shreyas Paranjpe, Phillip Alan Hetherington, Leonard Charles Layton
  • Publication number: 20180190307
    Abstract: A system and method that enhances spoken utterances and provides entertainment by capturing one or more microphone signals containing echo and decomposing the one or more microphone signals into a plurality of signal paths through a synthesizer that adds or makes non-linear modifications to some of the captured one or more microphone signals. The system and method and estimates multiple echo paths from each of the one the one or more microphones. The system and method processes the captured microphone signals in response to the estimated plurality of echo paths by subtracting the echo contributions of each of the plurality of echo paths from the captured one or more microphone signals. The system and method also provide signal separation and post processing functions that renders speech recognition gaming applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Phillip Alan Hetherington, Shreyas Anand Paranjpe, Leonard Charles Layton
  • Publication number: 20180190248
    Abstract: A multimodal system and process processed one or more sensor signals and extracts features from the one or more sensor signals through a spatiotemporal correlation between consecutive frames of an image or video sequence. The multimodal system and process determines the movement and direction of the features through an image subtraction, or a coherence measure and synthesizes a musical instrument signal in response to the detected movement and direction or the triggers. The imaginary musical instrument signal is added to an infotainment signal within a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Shreyas Anand Paranjpe, Phillip Alan Hetherington, Leonard Charles Layton
  • Publication number: 20180190306
    Abstract: A system and method that enhances spoken utterances and provides entertainment by capturing one or more microphone signals containing echo and decomposing the one or more microphone signals into a plurality of signal paths through a synthesizer that adds or makes non-linear modifications to some of the captured one or more microphone signals. The system and method and estimates multiple echo paths from each of the one the one or more microphones. The system and method processes the captured microphone signals in response to the estimated plurality of echo paths by subtracting the echo contributions of each of the plurality of echo paths from the captured one or more microphone signals. The system and method also provide signal separation and post processing functions that renders speech recognition gaming applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Phillip Alan Hetherington, Shreyas Anand Paranjpe, Leonard Charles Layton
  • Patent number: 9978355
    Abstract: A system and method for acoustic management that includes improving the sound quality of two or more audio processing modules in an acoustic environment may receive first control parameters from a first audio processing module. Receiving second control parameters from a second audio processing module. An audio processing interaction may be derived between with the first audio processing module and the second audio processing module determined from the first control parameters and the second control parameters. The first control parameters and the second control parameters may be modified responsive to the derived audio processing interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: 2236008 Ontario Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Robert Every, Phillip Alan Hetherington
  • Patent number: 9949034
    Abstract: In a system and method for maintaining the spatial stability of a sound field a balance gain may be calculated for two or more microphone signals. The balance gain may be associated with a spatial image in the sound field. Signal values may be calculated for each of the microphone. The signal values may be signal estimates or signal gains calculated to improve a characteristic of the microphone signals. The differences between the signal values associated with each microphone signal may be limited although some difference between signal values may be allowable. One or more microphone signals are adjusted responsive to the two or more balance gains and the signal gains to maintain the spatial stability of the sound field. The adjustments of one or more microphone signals may include mixing of two or more microphone. The signal gains are applied to the two or more microphone signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: 2236008 Ontario Inc.
    Inventors: Shreyas Paranjpe, Phillip Alan Hetherington
  • Patent number: 9944127
    Abstract: A system and method for synthesizing an engine sound may receive one or more vehicle operational data signals. One or more tone parameters associated with a Shepard tone generator may be modified responsive to the one or more vehicle operation data signals. A Shepard tone may be generated responsive to the modified one or more tone parameters. The Shepard tone may be reproduced using one or more audio transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: 2236008 Ontario Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Robert Every, Phillip Alan Hetherington, Leonard Charles Layton
  • Patent number: 9947318
    Abstract: A system and method for processing an audio signal captured from a microphone may reproduce a known audio signal with an audio transducer into an acoustic space. The known audio signal may include content from one or more audio sources. A microphone audio signal may be captured from the acoustic space where the microphone audio signal comprises the known audio signal and one or more unknown audio signals. Processing control information may be accessed. The known audio signal may be reduced in the microphone audio signal responsive to the processing control information where the processing control information indicates one or more characteristics of a downstream audio processor that processes the microphone audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: 2236008 Ontario Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Charles Layton, Phillip Alan Hetherington
  • Patent number: 9916841
    Abstract: The invention includes a method, apparatus, and computer program to selectively suppress wind noise while preserving narrow-band signals in acoustic data. Sound from one or several microphones is digitized into binary data. A time-frequency transform is applied to the data to produce a series of spectra. The spectra are analyzed to detect the presence of wind noise and narrow band signals. Wind noise is selectively suppressed while preserving the narrow band signals. The narrow band signal is interpolated through the times and frequencies when it is masked by the wind noise. A time series is then synthesized from the signal spectral estimate that can be listened to. This invention overcomes prior art limitations that require more than one microphone and an independent measurement of wind speed. Its application results in good-quality speech from data severely degraded by wind noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: 2236008 Ontario Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Alan Hetherington, Xueman Li, Pierre Zakarauskas
  • Publication number: 20180043826
    Abstract: A system and method for synthesizing an engine sound may receive one or more vehicle operational data signals. One or more tone parameters associated with a Shepard tone generator may be modified responsive to the one or more vehicle operation data signals. A Shepard tone may be generated responsive to the modified one or more tone parameters. The Shepard tone may be reproduced using one or more audio transducers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Robert Every, Phillip Alan Hetherington, Leonard Charles Layton
  • Publication number: 20180045530
    Abstract: A method for generating an acoustic signal for localization of a point of interest may access a geographic location and an audio waveform associated with a point of interest. A geographic location of a vehicle may be determined. An orientation of the geographic location associated with the point of interest may be derived relative to the vehicle based on the geographic location associated with the point of interest and the determined geographic location of the vehicle. An acoustic signal including the audio waveform may be produced in two or more audio transducers where a human listener inside the vehicle perceives the produced acoustic signal to be spatially indicative of the derived orientation of the geographic location associated with the point of interest relative to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Phillip Alan Hetherington, Leonard Charles Layton
  • Publication number: 20170372689
    Abstract: A system and method for acoustic management that includes improving the sound quality of two or more audio processing modules in an acoustic environment may receive first control parameters from a first audio processing module. Receiving second control parameters from a second audio processing module. An audio processing interaction may be derived between with the first audio processing module and the second audio processing module determined from the first control parameters and the second control parameters. The first control parameters and the second control parameters may be modified responsive to the derived audio processing interaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Mark Robert Every, Phillip Alan Hetherington
  • Patent number: 9769568
    Abstract: A system and method for speech reinforcement may determine the spatial location of an audio source and the spatial location of a listener. An audio signal generated by the audio source may be captured. The spatial location, relative to the listener, of two or more audio transducers that emit a reinforcing audio signal to reinforce the audio signal may be determined. The captured audio signal, responsive to the spatial location of the audio source, the spatial location of the listener and the spatial location of the two or more audio transducers to generate the reinforcing audio signal, such that, when emitted by the two of more audio transducers, the listener perceives a source of the reinforcing audio signal to be spatially located in substantially the spatial location of the audio source thereby reinforcing the audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: 2236008 Ontario Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Charles Layton, Phillip Alan Hetherington, Shreyas Paranjpe
  • Patent number: 9767784
    Abstract: A system and method for acoustic management that includes improving the sound quality of two or more audio processing modules in an acoustic environment may receive first control parameters from a first audio processing module. Receiving second control parameters from a second audio processing module. An audio processing interaction may be derived between with the first audio processing module and the second audio processing module determined from the first control parameters and the second control parameters. The first control parameters and the second control parameters may be modified responsive to the derived audio processing interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: 2236008 Ontario Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Robert Every, Phillip Alan Hetherington
  • Patent number: 9756440
    Abstract: In a system and method for maintaining the spatial stability of a sound field a background noise estimate may be estimated for each of a first signal and a second signal. A first gain coefficient may be calculated responsive to the first audio signal and the background noise estimate of the first audio signal. A second gain coefficient may be calculated responsive to the second signal and the background noise estimate of the second signal. The gain coefficients may be calculated using one or more gain coefficient calculators. A common gain coefficient may be selected from one of the first gain coefficient and the second gain coefficient. The selected common gain coefficient may be one that results in a least amount of audio signal modification and may be applied to each of the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: 2236008 Ontario Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip Alan Hetherington
  • Patent number: 9743179
    Abstract: In a system and method for maintaining the spatial stability of a sound field a balance gain may be calculated for two or more microphone signals. The balance gain may be associated with a spatial image in the sound field. Signal values may be calculated for each of the microphone. The signal values may be signal estimates or signal gains calculated to improve a characteristic of the microphone signals. The differences between the signal values associated with each microphone signal may be limited although some difference between signal values may be allowable. One or more microphone signals are adjusted responsive to the two or more balance gains and the signal gains to maintain the spatial stability of the sound field. The adjustments of one or more microphone signals may include mixing of two or more microphone. The signal gains are applied to the two or more microphone signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: 2236008 Ontario INC.
    Inventor: Phillip Alan Hetherington
  • Patent number: 9734686
    Abstract: A system and method for enhancing a proximity warning sound may determine an indicator of a distance between a first object and a second object. A proximity warning sound may be generated including a reverberation mimicking component responsive to the determined distance indicator; where a human listener perceives the reverberation mimicking component included in the audible proximity warning sound to be indicative of the determined distance indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignees: BlackBerry Limited, 2236008 Ontario Inc.
    Inventors: John Patrick Grenn, Mark William Harvey, Phillip Alan Hetherington
  • Publication number: 20170132893
    Abstract: A system and method for enhancing a proximity warning sound may determine an indicator of a distance between a first object and a second object. A proximity warning sound may be generated including a reverberation mimicking component responsive to the determined distance indicator; where a human listener perceives the reverberation mimicking component included in the audible proximity warning sound to be indicative of the determined distance indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: John Patrick Grenn, Mark William Harvey, Phillip Alan Hetherington