Patents by Inventor Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux

Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux 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: 11190870
    Abstract: A multi-way speaker array is disclosed that includes rings of transducers of different types. The rings of transducers may encircle the cabinet of the speaker array such that the speaker array is rotationally symmetric. The distance between rings of transducers may be based on a logarithmic scale. By separating rings of transducers using logarithmic spacing, denser transducer spacing at short wavelengths is achieved while limiting the number of transducers needed for longer wavelengths by spacing them in larger and larger logarithmic increments. Transducers with overlapping frequency ranges may be used in the speaker array to avoid initial dips or shortfalls in directivity for corresponding beam patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Gordon R. Dix, Michael B. Howes, Gary P. Geaves, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux
  • Publication number: 20200322718
    Abstract: A multi-way speaker array is disclosed that includes rings of transducers of different types. The rings of transducers may encircle the cabinet of the speaker array such that the speaker array is rotationally symmetric. The distance between rings of transducers may be based on a logarithmic scale. By separating rings of transducers using logarithmic spacing, denser transducer spacing at short wavelengths is achieved while limiting the number of transducers needed for longer wavelengths by spacing them in larger and larger logarithmic increments. Transducers with overlapping frequency ranges may be used in the speaker array to avoid initial dips or shortfalls in directivity for corresponding beam patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Gordon R. Dix, Michael B. Howes, Gary P. Geaves, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux
  • Patent number: 10798482
    Abstract: A multi-way speaker array is disclosed that includes rings of transducers of different types. The rings of transducers may encircle the cabinet of the speaker array such that the speaker array is rotationally symmetric. The distance between rings of transducers may be based on a logarithmic scale. By separating rings of transducers using logarithmic spacing, denser transducer spacing at short wavelengths is achieved while limiting the number of transducers needed for longer wavelengths by spacing them in larger and larger logarithmic increments. Transducers with overlapping frequency ranges may be used in the speaker array to avoid initial dips or shortfalls in directivity for corresponding beam patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Gordon R. Dix, Michael B. Howes, Gary P. Geaves, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux
  • Patent number: 10334355
    Abstract: A loudspeaker array has a cabinet in which is formed a continuously open circumferential horn for controlling sound produced by a number of transducers which are positioned in the cabinet, at a throat of the horn. The continuously open circumferential horn may 1) improve the power efficiency of the transducers without unwanted aliasing effects in audible frequency ranges and 2) provide vertical control for sound emitted by the transducers by flaring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Christopher Wilk, John H. Sheerin, Suzanne Hardy, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux
  • Publication number: 20190082254
    Abstract: A multi-way speaker array is disclosed that includes rings of transducers of different types. The rings of transducers may encircle the cabinet of the speaker array such that the speaker array is rotationally symmetric. The distance between rings of transducers may be based on a logarithmic scale. By separating rings of transducers using logarithmic spacing, denser transducer spacing at short wavelengths is achieved while limiting the number of transducers needed for longer wavelengths by spacing them in larger and larger logarithmic increments. Transducers with overlapping frequency ranges may be used in the speaker array to avoid initial dips or shortfalls in directivity for corresponding beam patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Gordon R. Dix, Michael B. Howes, Gary P. Geaves, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux
  • Patent number: 10154339
    Abstract: A multi-way speaker array is disclosed that includes rings of transducers of different types. The rings of transducers may encircle the cabinet of the speaker array such that the speaker array is rotationally symmetric. The distance between rings of transducers may be based on a logarithmic scale. By separating rings of transducers using logarithmic spacing, denser transducer spacing at short wavelengths is achieved while limiting the number of transducers needed for longer wavelengths by spacing them in larger and larger logarithmic increments. Transducers with overlapping frequency ranges may be used in the speaker array to avoid initial dips or shortfalls in directivity for corresponding beam patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Gordon R. Dix, Michael B. Howes, Gary P. Geaves, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux
  • Patent number: 10149046
    Abstract: A multi-way speaker array is disclosed that includes rings of transducers of different types. The rings of transducers may encircle the cabinet of the speaker array such that the speaker array is rotationally symmetric. The distance between rings of transducers may be based on a logarithmic scale. By separating rings of transducers using logarithmic spacing, denser transducer spacing at short wavelengths is achieved while limiting the number of transducers needed for longer wavelengths by spacing them in larger and larger logarithmic increments. Transducers with overlapping frequency ranges may be used in the speaker array to avoid initial dips or shortfalls in directivity for corresponding beam patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Gordon R. Dix, Michael B. Howes, Gary P. Geaves, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux
  • Patent number: 9961472
    Abstract: A method for determining the orientation of a loudspeaker relative to a listening device is described. The method simultaneously drives each transducer to emit beam patterns corresponding to distinct orthogonal audio signals. The listening device senses sounds produced by the orthogonal audio signals and analyzes the sensed audio signal to determine the spatial orientation of the loudspeaker relative to the listening device. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Afrooz Family, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux
  • Patent number: 9883140
    Abstract: A video conferencing system is described that includes a near-end and a far-end system. The near-end system records both audio and video of one or more users proximate to the near-end system. This recorded audio and video is transmitted to the far-end system through the data connection. The video stream and/or one or more settings of the recording camera are analyzed to determine the amount of a video frame occupied by the recorded user(s). The video conferencing system may directly analyze the video frames themselves and/or a zoom setting of the recording camera to determine a ratio or percentage of the video frame occupied by the recorded user(s). By analyzing video frames associated with an audio stream, the video conferencing system may drive a speaker array of the far-end system to more accurately reproduce sound content based on the position of the recorded user in a video frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux, Ronald N. Isaac, Sylvain Choisel, Afrooz Family
  • Patent number: 9762999
    Abstract: A directivity pattern generator for producing sound patterns using a modal architecture is described. The directivity pattern generator may include a beam pattern mixing unit, which defines sound patterns to be emitted by an audio system in terms of a set of frequency invariant modes or modal patterns. The beam pattern mixing unit produces a set of modal gains representing the level or degree each of the predefined modal patterns is to be applied to a set of audio streams. Modal filters may be used to modal amplitudes that compensate for inefficiencies of the each modal pattern at low frequencies. The directivity pattern generator may include a modal decomposition unit for generating driving signals for each transducer in one or more loudspeaker arrays based on weighted values for the modal gains/amplitudes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Gordon R. Dix, Vijay G. Prabakaran, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux
  • Publication number: 20170238090
    Abstract: A multi-way speaker array is disclosed that includes rings of transducers of different types. The rings of transducers may encircle the cabinet of the speaker array such that the speaker array is rotationally symmetric. The distance between rings of transducers may be based on a logarithmic scale. By separating rings of transducers using logarithmic spacing, denser transducer spacing at short wavelengths is achieved while limiting the number of transducers needed for longer wavelengths by spacing them in larger and larger logarithmic increments. Transducers with overlapping frequency ranges may be used in the speaker array to avoid initial dips or shortfalls in directivity for corresponding beam patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Gordon R. Dix, Michael B. Howes, Gary P. Geaves, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux
  • Publication number: 20170238091
    Abstract: A multi-way speaker array is disclosed that includes rings of transducers of different types. The rings of transducers may encircle the cabinet of the speaker array such that the speaker array is rotationally symmetric. The distance between rings of transducers may be based on a logarithmic scale. By separating rings of transducers using logarithmic spacing, denser transducer spacing at short wavelengths is achieved while limiting the number of transducers needed for longer wavelengths by spacing them in larger and larger logarithmic increments. Transducers with overlapping frequency ranges may be used in the speaker array to avoid initial dips or shortfalls in directivity for corresponding beam patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Gordon R. Dix, Michael B. Howes, Gary P. Geaves, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux
  • Publication number: 20170223447
    Abstract: A loudspeaker array has a cabinet in which is formed a continuously open circumferential horn for controlling sound produced by a number of transducers which are positioned in the cabinet, at a throat of the horn. The continuously open circumferential horn may 1) improve the power efficiency of the transducers without unwanted aliasing effects in audible frequency ranges and 2) provide vertical control for sound emitted by the transducers by flaring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Christopher Wilk, John H. Sheerin, Suzanne Hardy, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux
  • Publication number: 20170099458
    Abstract: A video conferencing system is described that includes a near-end and a far-end system. The near-end system records both audio and video of one or more users proximate to the near-end system. This recorded audio and video is transmitted to the far-end system through the data connection. The video stream and/or one or more settings of the recording camera are analyzed to determine the amount of a video frame occupied by the recorded user(s). The video conferencing system may directly analyze the video frames themselves and/or a zoom setting of the recording camera to determine a ratio or percentage of the video frame occupied by the recorded user(s). By analyzing video frames associated with an audio stream, the video conferencing system may drive a speaker array of the far-end system to more accurately reproduce sound content based on the position of the recorded user in a video frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux, Ronald N. Isaac, Sylvain Choisel, Afrooz Family
  • Publication number: 20160029143
    Abstract: A method for determining the orientation of a loudspeaker relative to a listening device is described. The method simultaneously drives each transducer to emit beam patterns corresponding to distinct orthogonal audio signals. The listening device senses sounds produced by the orthogonal audio signals and analyzes the sensed audio signal to determine the spatial orientation of the loudspeaker relative to the listening device. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Afrooz Family, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux