Patents by Inventor Richard E. Saffran

Richard E. Saffran 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: 10249323
    Abstract: A headset and a method for determining that a headset user is speaking, includes receiving a first signal from a first microphone and receiving a second signal from a second microphone. A principal signal is provided from a sum of the first and second signals. A reference signal is provided from a difference between the first and second signals. A rate of change of at least one of the principal signal or the reference signal is limited by a time constant. The principal signal and the reference signal are compared, and an indication that the user is speaking is selectively made based at least in part upon the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Richard E. Saffran
  • Publication number: 20180350394
    Abstract: A headset and a method for determining that a headset user is speaking, includes receiving a first signal from a first microphone and receiving a second signal from a second microphone. A principal signal is provided from a sum of the first and second signals. A reference signal is provided from a difference between the first and second signals. A rate of change of at least one of the principal signal or the reference signal is limited by a time constant. The principal signal and the reference signal are compared, and an indication that the user is speaking is selectively made based at least in part upon the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventor: Richard E. Saffran
  • Patent number: 9769580
    Abstract: An automated process for equalizing an audio system and an apparatus for implementing the process. An audio system includes a microphone unit, for receiving the sound waves radiated from a plurality of speakers, acoustic measuring circuitry, for calculating frequency response measurements; a memory, for storing characteristic data of the loudspeaker units and further for storing the frequency response measurements; and equalization calculation circuitry, for calculating an equalization pattern responsive to the digital data and responsive to the characteristic data of the plurality of loudspeaker units. Also described is an automated equalizing system including a acoustic measuring circuitry including a microphone for measuring frequency response at a plurality of locations; a memory, for storing the frequency responses at the plurality of locations; and equalization calculation circuitry, for calculating, from the frequency responses, an optimized equalization pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Rabinowitz, Hilmar Lehnert, Keith D. Martin, Richard E. Saffran, Abhijit Kulkarni, Finn Arnold
  • Patent number: 8150047
    Abstract: An automated process for equalizing an audio system and an apparatus for implementing the process. An audio system includes a microphone unit, for receiving the sound waves radiated from a plurality of speakers, acoustic measuring circuitry, for calculating frequency response measurements; a memory, for storing characteristic data of the loudspeaker units and further for storing the frequency response measurements; and equalization calculation circuitry, for calculating an equalization pattern responsive to the digital data and responsive to the characteristic data of the plurality of loudspeaker units. Also described is an automated equalizing system including a acoustic measuring circuitry including a microphone for measuring frequency response at a plurality of locations; a memory, for storing the frequency responses at the plurality of locations; and equalization calculation circuitry, for calculating, from the frequency responses, an optimized equalization pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Rabinowitz, Hilmar Lehnert, Keith D. Martin, Richard E. Saffran, Abhijit Kulkarni, Finn Arnold
  • Publication number: 20120057713
    Abstract: An automated process for equalizing an audio system and an apparatus for implementing the process. An audio system includes a microphone unit, for receiving the sound waves radiated from a plurality of speakers, acoustic measuring circuitry, for calculating frequency response measurements; a memory, for storing characteristic data of the loudspeaker units and further for storing the frequency response measurements; and equalization calculation circuitry, for calculating an equalization pattern responsive to the digital data and responsive to the characteristic data of the plurality of loudspeaker units. Also described is an automated equalizing system including a acoustic measuring circuitry including a microphone for measuring frequency response at a plurality of locations; a memory, for storing the frequency responses at the plurality of locations; and equalization calculation circuitry, for calculating, from the frequency responses, an optimized equalization pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: William M. Rabinowitz, Hilmar Lehnert, Keith D. Martin, Richard E. Saffran, Abhijit Kulkarni, Finn Arnold
  • Publication number: 20120057724
    Abstract: An automated process for equalizing an audio system and an apparatus for implementing the process. An audio system includes a microphone unit, for receiving the sound waves radiated from a plurality of speakers, acoustic measuring circuitry, for calculating frequency response measurements; a memory, for storing characteristic data of the loudspeaker units and further for storing the frequency response measurements; and equalization calculation circuitry, for calculating an equalization pattern responsive to the digital data and responsive to the characteristic data of the plurality of loudspeaker units. Also described is an automated equalizing system including a acoustic measuring circuitry including a microphone for measuring frequency response at a plurality of locations; a memory, for storing the frequency responses at the plurality of locations; and equalization calculation circuitry, for calculating, from the frequency responses, an optimized equalization pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: William M. Rabinowitz, Hilmar Lehnert, Keith D. Martin, Richard E. Saffran, Abhijit Kulkarni, Finn Arnold
  • Patent number: 7483540
    Abstract: An automated process for equalizing an audio system and an apparatus for implementing the process. An audio system includes a microphone unit, for receiving the sound waves radiated from a plurality of speakers, acoustic measuring circuitry, for providing frequency response measurement signals; a memory, for storing characteristic data signals representative of the loudspeaker units and further for storing the frequency response measurement signals; and equalization calculation circuitry, for providing an equalization pattern signal responsive to the frequency response measurement signals and responsive to the characteristic data signals representative of the plurality of loudspeaker units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Rabinowitz, Hilmar Lehnert, Keith D. Martin, Richard E. Saffran, Abhijit Kulkarni, Finn Arnold
  • Patent number: 7187777
    Abstract: Apparatus for simulating sound properties of audio equipment not physically present in a simulated environment not physically present includes a source of binaurally encoded audio signals processed for loudspeaker reproduction characterizing audio equipment not physically present in a simulated environment not physically present. There are left and right electroacoustical transducers. A head locator is constructed and arranged to locate a listener's head in a predetermined position between and a predetermined distance from the left and right electroacoustical transducers so that the electroacoustical transducers are forward of the listener's head. Amplifying apparatus couples the source to the electroacoustical transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: Richard E. Saffran
  • Publication number: 20030179891
    Abstract: An automated process for equalizing an audio system and an apparatus for implementing the process. An audio system includes a microphone unit, for receiving the sound waves radiated from a plurality of speakers, acoustic measuring circuitry, for providing frequency response measurement signals; a memory, for storing characteristic data signals representative of the loudspeaker units and further for storing the frequency response measurement signals; and equalization calculation circuitry, for providing an equalization pattern signal responsive to the frequency response measurement signals and responsive to the characteristic data signals representative of the plurality of loudspeaker units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: William M. Rabinowitz, Hilmar Lehnert, Keith D. Martin, Richard E. Saffran, Abhijit Kulkarni, Finn Arnold
  • Patent number: 4961226
    Abstract: A stereo loudspeaker system has left and right cabinets that are the mirror image of each other. Each cabinet has a rear panel perpendicular to a side panel and an angled panel that forms an acute angle with the side and rear panels. The side panel carries a first woofer. The angled panel carries a second woofer and a tweeter. The rear panel is clear of drivers. The woofers and tweeter are connected in phase. An RC circuit connects the input terminals to the tweeter. The woofers are connected in parallel across the input terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: Richard E. Saffran
  • Patent number: 4661936
    Abstract: Drift of the standing wave pattern in an acoustic doppler intrusion detection system in a confined space is compensated by adjusting the relative radiating and receiving positions of the radiator and receiver transducers, respectively, either mechanically or electrically until the signal level of the carrier wave at the receiver transducer is optimized. In the mechanical adjustment mode, either the receiver transducer or the radiating transducer is supported for movement relative to the other and is moved by a motor energized under the control of a signal level sensor circuit connected to the output of the receiver transducer. In another mode, a plurality of receiver (or alternatively radiator) transducers are connected through a switch to the signal level sensor circuit which in response to a drop in received signal level below a predetermined threshold, selectively switches the active transducer to optimize the received signal level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: GTE Government Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Mark R. Magee, Richard E. Saffran
  • Patent number: 4580249
    Abstract: Drift of the standing wave pattern in an acoustic doppler intrusion detection system with radiating and receiving transducers in a confined space is compensated by changing the operating frequency of the carrier wave generator when the magnitude of the received carrier wave is less than a predetermined threshold level. The magnitude of the received carrier wave is continuously monitored and compared to the threshold level. The generator frequency is incrementally increased until the carrier wave magnitude is optimum. This invention comprehends the apparatus for and method of optimizing signal strength at the receiving transducer by this technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1986
    Assignee: GTE Government Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Mark R. Magee, Richard E. Saffran, G. Kirby Miller