Patents by Inventor Soenke Pelzer
Soenke Pelzer 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).
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Publication number: 20260197602Abstract: An audio system and a method of providing a faded audio experience during a transition from a first audio experience to a second audio experience, is described. The first audio experience can include playback of an audio signal spatialized using a first space impulse response that is generated by the audio system. The second audio experience includes playback of the audio signal spatialized using a second space impulse response that is received by the audio system. The audio system generates a hybrid space impulse response based on the first space impulse response and the second space impulse response. During the transition between audio experiences, the hybrid space impulse response is used to spatialize the audio signal to create the faded audio experience. Other aspects are also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2026Publication date: July 9, 2026Inventors: Soenke Pelzer, David E. Romblom, Kacper Kosikowski, Dirk Schroeder
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Patent number: 12647744Abstract: A ray trace simulation may be performed using a model of a user's environment. A decay rate of the environment may be measured in one or more microphone signals that capture sound in the user's environment. A room impulse response of the environment may be generated from the ray trace simulation. The model of the environment may be modified based on the decay rate of the environment and the room impulse response.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2023Date of Patent: June 2, 2026Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Soenke Pelzer, David E. Romblom, Dirk Schroeder, Juha O. Merimaa, Jonathan D. Sheaffer
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Patent number: 12598443Abstract: An audio system and a method of providing a faded audio experience during a transition from a first audio experience to a second audio experience, is described. The first audio experience can include playback of an audio signal spatialized using a first space impulse response that is generated by the audio system. The second audio experience includes playback of the audio signal spatialized using a second space impulse response that is received by the audio system. The audio system generates a hybrid space impulse response based on the first space impulse response and the second space impulse response. During the transition between audio experiences, the hybrid space impulse response is used to spatialize the audio signal to create the faded audio experience. Other aspects are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2023Date of Patent: April 7, 2026Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Soenke Pelzer, David E. Romblom, Kacper Kosikowski, Dirk Schroeder
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Patent number: 12375853Abstract: An audio device can sense sound in a physical environment using a plurality of microphones to generate a plurality of microphone signals. Clean speech can be extracted from microphone signals. Ambience can be extracted from the microphone signals. The clean speech can be encoded at a first compression level. The ambience can be encoded at a second compression level that is higher than the first compression level. Other aspects are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2024Date of Patent: July 29, 2025Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Tomlinson Holman, Christopher T. Eubank, Joshua D. Atkins, Soenke Pelzer, Dirk Schroeder
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Patent number: 12348953Abstract: Processing sound in an enhanced reality environment can include generating, based on an image of a physical environment, an acoustic model of the physical environment. Audio signals captured by a microphone array, can capture a sound in the physical environment. Based on these audio signals, one or more measured acoustic parameters of the physical environment can be generated. A target audio signal can be processed using the model of the physical environment and the measured acoustic parameters, resulting in a plurality of output audio channels having a virtual sound source with a virtual location. The output audio channels can be used to drive a plurality of speakers. Other aspects are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2024Date of Patent: July 1, 2025Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christopher T. Eubank, Joshua D. Atkins, Soenke Pelzer, Dirk Schroeder
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Patent number: 12256212Abstract: A plurality of microphone signals of a microphone array may be obtained. An environment change may be detected based on the microphone signals. In response, a reverberation time environment may be determined. The reverberation may be used to modify a playback audio signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2023Date of Patent: March 18, 2025Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Bernard, Prateek Murgai, Juha O. Merimaa, Jonathan D. Sheaffer, Soenke Pelzer
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Publication number: 20240236610Abstract: Processing sound in an enhanced reality environment can include generating, based on an image of a physical environment, an acoustic model of the physical environment. Audio signals captured by a microphone array, can capture a sound in the physical environment. Based on these audio signals, one or more measured acoustic parameters of the physical environment can be generated. A target audio signal can be processed using the model of the physical environment and the measured acoustic parameters, resulting in a plurality of output audio channels having a virtual sound source with a virtual location. The output audio channels can be used to drive a plurality of speakers. Other aspects are also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2024Publication date: July 11, 2024Inventors: Christopher T. Eubank, Joshua D. Atkins, Soenke Pelzer, Dirk Schroeder
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Publication number: 20240163609Abstract: An audio device can sense sound in a physical environment using a plurality of microphones to generate a plurality of microphone signals. Clean speech can be extracted from microphone signals. Ambience can be extracted from the microphone signals. The clean speech can be encoded at a first compression level. The ambience can be encoded at a second compression level that is higher than the first compression level. Other aspects are also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2024Publication date: May 16, 2024Inventors: Tomlinson Holman, Christopher T. Eubank, Joshua D. Atkins, Soenke Pelzer, Dirk Schroeder
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Patent number: 11956623Abstract: Processing sound in an enhanced reality environment can include generating, based on an image of a physical environment, an acoustic model of the physical environment. Audio signals captured by a microphone array, can capture a sound in the physical environment. Based on these audio signals, one or more measured acoustic parameters of the physical environment can be generated. A target audio signal can be processed using the model of the physical environment and the measured acoustic parameters, resulting in a plurality of output audio channels having a virtual sound source with a virtual location. The output audio channels can be used to drive a plurality of speakers. Other aspects are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christopher T. Eubank, Joshua D. Atkins, Soenke Pelzer, Dirk Schroeder
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Patent number: 11930337Abstract: An audio device can sense sound in a physical environment using a plurality of microphones to generate a plurality of microphone signals. Clean speech can be extracted from microphone signals. Ambience can be extracted from the microphone signals. The clean speech can be encoded at a first compression level. The ambience can be encoded at a second compression level that is higher than the first compression level. Other aspects are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2021Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: Apple IncInventors: Tomlinson Holman, Christopher T. Eubank, Joshua D. Atkins, Soenke Pelzer, Dirk Schroeder
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Publication number: 20240007820Abstract: An audio system and a method of providing a faded audio experience during a transition from a first audio experience to a second audio experience, is described. The first audio experience can include playback of an audio signal spatialized using a first space impulse response that is generated by the audio system. The second audio experience includes playback of the audio signal spatialized using a second space impulse response that is received by the audio system. The audio system generates a hybrid space impulse response based on the first space impulse response and the second space impulse response. During the transition between audio experiences, the hybrid space impulse response is used to spatialize the audio signal to create the faded audio experience. Other aspects are also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2023Publication date: January 4, 2024Inventors: Soenke Pelzer, David E. Romblom, Kacper Kosikowski, Dirk Schroeder
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Publication number: 20230276190Abstract: A plurality of microphone signals of a microphone array may be obtained. An environment change may be detected based on the microphone signals. In response, a reverberation time environment may be determined. The reverberation may be used to modify a playback audio signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2023Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventors: Benjamin BERNARD, Prateek MURGAI, Juha O. MERIMAA, Jonathan D. SHEAFFER, Soenke PELZER
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Patent number: 11631393Abstract: Ray tracing is performed with sound sources and a listener position in a listening environment, to generate impulse responses associated with each of the sound sources. The impulse responses are combined to form a combined impulse response. One or more filters are determined, each corresponding to the sound sources, based on the combined impulse response and the impulse responses. Each filter serves as a correction factor that holds unique acoustic information for the sound source that the filter is associated with. The combined impulse response and the filters can be applied to one or more audio signals that contain the sound sources, resulting in audio having reverberation that is tailored to the various sound sources. Other aspects are described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2021Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Soenke Pelzer, David E. Romblom, Dirk Schroeder, Jonathan D. Sheaffer
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Patent number: 11197119Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for generating physically accurate auralization of sound propagation in complex environments, while accounting for important wave effects, such as sound absorption, sound scattering, and airborne sound insulation between rooms. According to some embodiments, techniques may be utilized to determine more accurate, e.g., “acoustically-effective” room volumes that account for open windows, open doors, acoustic dead space, and the like. According to other embodiments disclosed herein, techniques may be utilized to perform optimized hybrid acoustical ray tracing, including grouping coherent rays by processing core.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2018Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Dirk Schroeder, Soenke Pelzer
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Patent number: 11170139Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for generating physically accurate auralization of sound propagation in complex environments, while accounting for important wave effects, such as sound absorption, sound scattering, and airborne sound insulation between rooms. According to some embodiments, techniques may be utilized to determine more accurate, e.g., “acoustically-effective” room volumes that account for open windows, open doors, acoustic dead space, and the like. According to other embodiments disclosed herein, techniques may be utilized to perform optimized hybrid acoustical ray tracing, including grouping coherent rays by processing core.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2018Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Dirk Schroeder, Soenke Pelzer
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Patent number: 11172320Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for generating physically accurate auralization of sound propagation in complex environments, while accounting for important wave effects, such as sound absorption, sound scattering, and airborne sound insulation between rooms. According to some embodiments, techniques may be utilized to determine more accurate, e.g., “acoustically-effective” room volumes that account for open windows, open doors, acoustic dead space, and the like. According to other embodiments disclosed herein, techniques may be utilized to perform optimized hybrid acoustical ray tracing, including grouping coherent rays by processing core.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2018Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Soenke Pelzer, Dirk Schroeder
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Publication number: 20210329381Abstract: An audio device can sense sound in a physical environment using a plurality of microphones to generate a plurality of microphone signals. Clean speech can be extracted from microphone signals. Ambience can be extracted from the microphone signals. The clean speech can be encoded at a first compression level. The ambience can be encoded at a second compression level that is higher than the first compression level. Other aspects are also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2021Publication date: October 21, 2021Inventors: Tomlinson Holman, Christopher T. Eubank, Joshua D. Atkins, Soenke Pelzer, Dirk Schroeder
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Publication number: 20210329405Abstract: Processing sound in an enhanced reality environment can include generating, based on an image of a physical environment, an acoustic model of the physical environment. Audio signals captured by a microphone array, can capture a sound in the physical environment. Based on these audio signals, one or more measured acoustic parameters of the physical environment can be generated. A target audio signal can be processed using the model of the physical environment and the measured acoustic parameters, resulting in a plurality of output audio channels having a virtual sound source with a virtual location. The output audio channels can be used to drive a plurality of speakers. Other aspects are also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2021Publication date: October 21, 2021Inventors: Christopher T. Eubank, Joshua D. Atkins, Soenke Pelzer, Dirk Schroeder
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Patent number: 11070933Abstract: A computer system having an electronic device determines a listener position within a computer-generated reality (CGR) setting that is to be aurally experienced by a user of the electronic device through at least one speaker. The system determines a source position of a virtual sound source within the CGR setting and determines a characteristic of a virtual object within the CGR setting, where the characteristic include a geometry of an edge of the virtual object. The system determines at least one edge-diffraction filter parameter for an edge-diffraction filter based on 1) the listener position, 2) the source position, and 3) the geometry. The system applies the edge-diffraction filter to an input audio signal to produce a filtered audio signal that accounts for edge-diffraction of sound produced by the virtual sound source within the CGR setting.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2020Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Dirk Schroeder, Jonathan D. Sheaffer, Soenke Pelzer, Juha O. Merimaa