Patents by Inventor Steven P. DeCabooter

Steven P. DeCabooter 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).

  • Variable noise masking during periods of substantial silence
    Patent number: 8885844
    Abstract: Methods and systems for masking audio noise are disclosed. One apparatus includes a silence detector configured to detect a period of substantial silence in an audio signal; a masking noise source operably coupled to the silence detector, the masking noise source configured to generate a noise signal in response to the silence detector detecting the period of substantial silence; and at least one combining device operably coupled to the masking noise source, the at least one combining device configured to contribute to combining the audio signal and the noise signal. A method includes detecting a period of substantial silence in an audio signal; and combining masking noise with the audio signal during the period of substantial silence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc
    Inventors: Edward Almquist, Steven P. DeCabooter
  • Variable Noise Masking During Periods of Substantial Silence
    Publication number: 20120219160
    Abstract: Methods and systems for masking audio noise are disclosed. One apparatus includes a silence detector configured to detect a period of substantial silence in an audio signal; a masking noise source operably coupled to the silence detector, the masking noise source configured to generate a noise signal in response to the silence detector detecting the period of substantial silence; and at least one combining device operably coupled to the masking noise source, the at least one combining device configured to contribute to combining the audio signal and the noise signal. A method includes detecting a period of substantial silence in an audio signal; and combining masking noise with the audio signal during the period of substantial silence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Edward Almquist, Steven P. Decabooter
  • Variable noise masking during periods of substantial silence
    Patent number: 8160271
    Abstract: Methods and systems for masking audio noise are disclosed. One apparatus includes a silence detector configured to detect a period of substantial silence in an audio signal; a masking noise source operably coupled to the silence detector, the masking noise source configured to generate a noise signal in response to the silence detector detecting the period of substantial silence; and at least one combining device operably coupled to the masking noise source, the at least one combining device configured to contribute to combining the audio signal and the noise signal. A method includes detecting a period of substantial silence in an audio signal; and combining masking noise with the audio signal during the period of substantial silence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Almquist, Steven P. DeCabooter
  • Variable Noise Masking During Periods of Substantial Silence
    Publication number: 20100104112
    Abstract: Methods and systems for masking audio noise are disclosed. One apparatus includes a silence detector configured to detect a period of substantial silence in an audio signal; a masking noise source operably coupled to the silence detector, the masking noise source configured to generate a noise signal in response to the silence detector detecting the period of substantial silence; and at least one combining device operably coupled to the masking noise source, the at least one combining device configured to contribute to combining the audio signal and the noise signal. A method includes detecting a period of substantial silence in an audio signal; and combining masking noise with the audio signal during the period of substantial silence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: Temic Automotive of North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Almquist, Steven P. DeCabooter