Patents by Inventor Robert Zurek

Robert Zurek 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).

  • Publication number: 20170134857
    Abstract: A method and apparatus increase audio output of a device. A mode of audio output operation of a device can be determined. Audio output can operate in a determined first mode of audio output operation that powers at least one first speaker at a first bandwidth and at a first output level below a first output level threshold. The audio output can operate in a determined second mode of audio output operation. The second mode of audio output operation can power the at least one first speaker at a high pass filtered second bandwidth that filters out low frequencies of the first bandwidth. The second mode of audio output operation can power the at least one first speaker at a second output level below a second output level threshold. The second output level threshold can be higher than the first output level threshold. The second output level can exceed the first output level threshold at least once.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Robert Zurek, Kevin J. Bastyr, Joel Clark, Giles T. Davis, Adrian M. Schuster
  • Publication number: 20170116995
    Abstract: Systems and methods for authorizing a user of a portable communications device entail sampling a user utterance via both an air mic (audio mic) and a conduction mic (surface mic or bone conduction mic). The difference between these signals is unique to each user since the tissues of each user will differ with respect to audio conduction. This difference may be characterized via a transform including magnitude, phase and time delay components. If the transform for a prospective user matches a stored transform for an authorized user, then the prospective user may be granted access.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Roger W Ady, Robert Zurek
  • Patent number: 9628910
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to reduce acoustic feedback from a speaker to a microphone in a communication device. An audio signal can be reproduced by an apparatus. An audible signal of at least one near-end user can be voice activity detected at the apparatus. At least one audio output channel of multiple audio output channels can be operated on to attenuate acoustic pressure representative of the audio signal near at least one microphone aperture location when the audible signal of the at least one near-end user is detected at the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Robert Zurek, Giles T Davis, Plamen A Ivanov
  • Publication number: 20170019734
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to reduce acoustic feedback from a speaker to a microphone in a communication device. An audio signal can be reproduced by an apparatus. An audible signal of at least one near-end user can be voice activity detected at the apparatus. At least one audio output channel of multiple audio output channels can be operated on to attenuate acoustic pressure representative of the audio signal near at least one microphone aperture location when the audible signal of the at least one near-end user is detected at the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Robert Zurek, Giles T. Davis, Plamen A. Ivanov
  • Publication number: 20170019362
    Abstract: Voice controlled multimedia content creation techniques are discussed in which a multimedia package is created and shared to a specified destination responsive to voice commands. The voice commands can be received by a device as a single stream (e.g., a single phrase) that causes automatic performance of a sharing sequence or as a series of multiple voice commands that are input in response to prompts for voice input as part of the sharing sequence. The voice commands can be recognized and handled by a content creation system of the device to select a clip for tagging of content (such as captured audio or video). The selected clip is then combined with the content to create the multimedia package. Voice commands can also be employed to specify a destination for sharing of the content, such as one or more contacts or a particular sharing site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Steve S. Kim, Joel Clark, Robert Zurek
  • Patent number: 8638951
    Abstract: At least two microphones generate wideband electrical audio signals in response to incoming sound waves, and the wideband audio signals are filtered to generate low band signals and high band signals. From the low band signals, low band beamformed signals are generated, and the low band beamformed signals are combined with the high band signals to generate modified wideband audio signals. In one implementation, an electronic apparatus is provided that includes a microphone array, a crossover, a beamformer module, and a combiner module. The microphone array has at least two pressure microphones that generate wideband electrical audio signals in response to incoming sound waves. The crossover generates low band signals and high band signals from the wideband electrical audio signals. The beamformer module generates low band beamformed signals from the low band signals. The combiner module combines the high band signals and the low band beamformed signals to generate modified wideband audio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Robert Zurek, Kevin Bastyr, Joel Clark, Plamen Ivanov
  • Patent number: 8433076
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus is provided having a front side and a rear side oriented in opposite directions along a first axis, and a right-side and a left-side oriented in opposite directions along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. A null control signal is generated based on an imaging signal. A first microphone located near the right-side of an electronic apparatus generates a first signal and a second microphone located near the left-side of the electronic apparatus generates a second signal. The first and second signals are processed, based on the null control signal, to generate a right beamformed audio signal having a first directional pattern having at least one first null, and a left beamformed audio signal having a second directional pattern having at least one second null. A first angular location (?) of the at least one first null and a second angular location (?) of the at least one second null are steered based on the null control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Robert Zurek, Kevin Bastyr, Joel Clark, Plamen Ivanov
  • Patent number: 8300845
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus is provided that has a rear-side and a front-side, a first microphone that generates a first signal, and a second microphone that generates a second signal. An automated balance controller generates a balancing signal based on an imaging signal. A processor processes the first and second signals to generate at least one beamformed audio signal, where an audio level difference between a front-side gain and a rear-side gain of the beamformed audio signal is controlled during processing based on the balancing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Robert Zurek, Kevin Bastyr, Joel Clark, Plamen Ivanov
  • Publication number: 20120169612
    Abstract: An apparatus can include an apparatus housing, a substantially planar touch surface coupled to the apparatus housing, and a plurality of oblique sensors coupled to the touch surface. Each oblique sensor of the plurality of oblique sensors can have a sensor surface substantially oblique to the touch surface. The plurality of oblique sensors can detect a touch force parallel to the touch surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Rachid Alameh, Roger Scheer, Robert Zurek
  • Publication number: 20120019689
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus is provided having a front side and a rear side oriented in opposite directions along a first axis, and a right-side and a left-side oriented in opposite directions along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. A null control signal is generated based on an imaging signal. A first microphone located near the right-side of an electronic apparatus generates a first signal and a second microphone located near the left-side of the electronic apparatus generates a second signal. The first and second signals are processed, based on the null control signal, to generate a right beamformed audio signal having a first directional pattern having at least one first null, and a left beamformed audio signal having a second directional pattern having at least one second null. A first angular location (?) of the at least one first null and a second angular location (?) of the at least one second null are steered based on the null control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Zurek, Kevin Bastyr, Joel Clark, Plamen Ivanov
  • Publication number: 20120013768
    Abstract: At least two microphones generate wideband electrical audio signals in response to incoming sound waves, and the wideband audio signals are filtered to generate low band signals and high band signals. From the low band signals, low band beamformed signals are generated, and the low band beamformed signals are combined with the high band signals to generate modified wideband audio signals. In one implementation, an electronic apparatus is provided that includes a microphone array, a crossover, a beamformer module, and a combiner module. The microphone array has at least two pressure microphones that generate wideband electrical audio signals in response to incoming sound waves. The crossover generates low band signals and high band signals from the wideband electrical audio signals. The beamformer module generates low band beamformed signals from the low band signals. The combiner module combines the high band signals and the low band beamformed signals to generate modified wideband audio signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: Robert ZUREK, Kevin BASTYR, Joel CLARK, Plamen IVANOV
  • Publication number: 20110317041
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus is provided that has a rear-side and a front-side, a first microphone that generates a first signal, and a second microphone that generates a second signal. An automated balance controller generates a balancing signal based on an imaging signal. A processor processes the first and second signals to generate at least one beamformed audio signal, where an audio level difference between a front-side gain and a rear-side gain of the beamformed audio signal is controlled during processing based on the balancing signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Zurek, Kevin Bastyr, Joel Clark, Plamen Ivanov
  • Publication number: 20110262787
    Abstract: A battery pack having reduced magnetic emitted noise includes a housing having an electrode assembly (700) disposed therein. The electrode assembly (700) includes a cell stack comprising a cathode (701) and an anode (702) with a separator disposed therebetween. The cell stack of the electrode assembly (700) has a first end (705) and a second end (706). A first electrical conductor (703) coupled to the anode (702) at the first end (705) of the cell stack. A second electrical conductor (704) coupled to the cathode (701) at the first end (705) of the cell stack. During discharge, current (711,712) passes through the first electrical conductor (703) and second electrical conductor (704), and across the cathode (701) and anode (702), in substantially opposite directions at a substantially similar magnitude so as to reduce magnetic field noise generated by the electrode assembly (700).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Hosein Maleki, Jim Krause, Robert Zurek, Michael Frenzer, Jim Kim
  • Publication number: 20070116308
    Abstract: A mobile station (100) that includes a processor (212) that selectively disables at least one station component to reduce electromagnetic noise generated by the station in the frequency range below 20 kHz when the mobile station is operated in the hearing aid compatible mode. The component can be, for example, a display (204), a light (206) or a wireless interface (208). The processor also can optimize characteristics of audio signals transmitted from the mobile station to the hearing aid for reproduction by the hearing aid. For instance, the processor can selectively adjust filter parameters (216) and/or a signal gain (218) applied to audio signals. A user interface (220) having a soft-key can be provided to cycle through various HAC options.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Inventors: Robert Zurek, Scott Isabelle, Scott Kelley, Alfred Wieczorek
  • Publication number: 20070112444
    Abstract: A portable communication device (200) including a portable communication device motion information obtaining device (230), for example, a GPS receiver, communicably coupled to a controller, an image projector (260) communicably coupled to the controller, the image projector projecting an image based on information from the portable communication device motion information obtaining device. In one embodiment image is projected onto a partially reflective film for viewing in a head-up (HUD) display application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: William Alberth, Robert Zurek
  • Publication number: 20070019820
    Abstract: A communication device 100 includes a first audio output 105; a second audio output 110; an audio transducer 115 for dual mode use; a shuttered acoustic path 120 coupled between the audio transducer 115 and the first audio output 105; and an attenuated acoustic path 125 coupled between the audio transducer 115 and the second audio output 110.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Inventors: Robert Zurek, Greg Black, Joel Clark
  • Publication number: 20060145943
    Abstract: Methods in a wireless portable communication device for transmitting annotating audio communication with an image (100), for receiving annotating audio communication with an image (300, 400) are provided. The image may be attached manually or automatically based upon a pre-selected condition to the audio communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Mark Tarlton, Stephen Levine, Daniel Servi, Robert Zurek
  • Publication number: 20060145944
    Abstract: Methods in a wireless portable communication device for transmitting annotating audio communication with an image (100), for receiving annotating audio communication with an image (300, 400) are provided. The image may be attached manually or automatically based upon a pre-selected condition to the audio communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Mark Tarlton, Stephen Levine, Daniel Servi, Robert Zurek
  • Publication number: 20060140417
    Abstract: A method for audio signal enhancement comprising obtaining (222) a first audio signal from a first physical microphone element and obtaining a second audio signal from a second physical microphone element. The audio signals are array processed (226) to generate a virtual linear first order element and a virtual non-linear even order element. The array processing (226) includes combining the virtual linear first order element and the virtual non-linear even order element to generate a directional audio signal having a primary audio beam. An apparatus is disclosed for implementing the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventor: Robert Zurek
  • Publication number: 20060140431
    Abstract: An improved microphone assembly (128) is provided for porting two microphones (240, 242) of an opposing pair used for beam forming through a single symmetric porting structure (244). The microphone assembly (128) includes a first microphone capsule (240), a second microphone capsule (242) and a porting structure (244). The porting structure (244) encloses the first and second microphone capsules (240, 242) therein and has a first port (251) formed in a first wall (246) thereof and a second port (252) formed in a second wall (248) thereof opposite to the first wall (246), where the first and second microphone capsules (240, 242) share the first port (251).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventor: Robert Zurek