Patents Issued in June 6, 2013
  • Publication number: 20130142337
    Abstract: The invention relates to sonic steerable antennae and their use to achieve a variety of effects. The invention comprises a method and apparatus for taking an input signal, replicating it a number of times and modifying each of the replicas before routing them to respective output transducers such that a desired sound field is created. This sound field may comprise a directed beam, focus beam or a simulated origin. Further, “anti-sound” may be directed so as to create nulls (quiet spots) in an already existing sound field. The input signal replicas may also be modified in way which changes their amplitude or they may be filtered to provide the desired delaying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED
    Inventor: Cambridge Mechatronics Limited
  • Publication number: 20130142338
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus with sound source localization. Spatial information and original audios are synthesized by a mono signal analyzer/synthesizer of a multi-channel system to obtain a three-dimensional (3D) virtual reality sound effect. By extracting and synthesizing spatial parameters, only original audio objects and spatial location data are required to obtain an effect of multi-channel spatial audio. Thus, a multi-channel playback system is formed with a small bit stream in transference to obtain Doppler effect on simulating moving of audio objects in real life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: NATIONAL CENTRAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Pao-Chi Chang, Kuo-Lun Huang, Tai-Ming Chang
  • Publication number: 20130142339
    Abstract: The document relates to audio signal processing, in particular to a system and a corresponding method for improving an audio signal of an FM stereo radio receiver, in this context, one aspect relates to the estimation of noise in a received side signal and the compensation of such noise in parametric stereo parameters. A system for generating a parametric stereo parameter from a two-channel audio signal is described. The two-channel audio signal is presentable as a mid signal and side signal representative of a corresponding left and right audio signal. The system comprises a noise estimation stage configured to determine an impact factor characteristic for the noise of the side signal; and a parametric stereo parameter estimation stage configured to determine the parametric stereo parameter; wherein the determining is based on the two-channel audio signal and the impact factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Jonas Engdegard, Heiko Purnhagen, Leif Sehlstrom
  • Publication number: 20130142340
    Abstract: The present invention relates to audio signal processing. In particular, it relates to a method and system for reliably concealing intermittent mono reception of FM stereo radio receivers. The system comprises a parametric stereo parameter estimation stage configured to determine a first parametric stereo parameter based on a first frame of the received two-channel audio signal. The system further comprises a concealment detection stage configured to determine an energy of a side signal within the first signal frame; determine a number of following successive signal frames during which the energy of the side signal drops from a value above the high threshold to a value below a low threshold; determine that the two-channel audio signal following the first signal frame is a forced mono signal if the number of successive signal frames is below a frame threshold; and determine the parametric stereo parameter based on the first parametric stereo parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB
    Inventors: Leif Sehlstrom, Heiko Purnhagen, Jonas Engdegard
  • Publication number: 20130142341
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating a merged audio data stream is provided. The apparatus includes a demultiplexer for obtaining a plurality of single-layer audio data streams, wherein each input audio data stream includes one or more layers, wherein the demultiplexer is adapted to demultiplex each one of one or more input audio data streams having one or more layers into two or more demultiplexed audio data streams having exactly one layer. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a merging module for generating the merged audio data stream based on the plurality of single-layer audio data streams. Each layer of the input data audio streams, of the demultiplexed audio data streams, of the single-layer data streams and of the merged audio data stream includes a pressure value of a pressure signal, a position value and a diffuseness value as audio data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Giovanni Del Galdo, Oliver Thiergart, Juergen Herre, Fabian Kuech, Emanuel Habets, Alexandra Craciun, Achim Kuntz
  • Publication number: 20130142342
    Abstract: An apparatus for microphone positioning includes a spatial power distribution determiner and a spatial information estimator. The spatial power distribution determiner is adapted to determine a spatial power density indicating power values for a plurality of locations of an environment based on sound source information indicating one or more power values and one or more position values of one or more sound sources located in the environment. The spatial information estimator is adapted to estimate acoustic spatial information based on the spatial power density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Giovanni Del Galdo, Oliver Thiergart, Fabian Kuech, Emanuel Habets, Alexandra Craciun
  • Publication number: 20130142343
    Abstract: With conventional source separator devices, specific frequency bands are significantly reduced in environments where dispersed static is present that does not come from a particular direction, and as a result, the dispersed static may be filtered irregularly without regard to sound source separation results, giving rise to musical noise. In an embodiment of the present invention, by computing weighting coefficients which are in a complex conjugate relation, for post-spectrum analysis output signals from microphones (10, 11), a beam former unit (3) of a sound source separator device (1) thus carries out a beam former process for attenuating each sound source signal that comes from a region wherein the general direction of a target sound source is included and a region opposite to said region, in a plane that intersects a line segment that joins the two microphones (10, 11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: ASAHI KASEI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya Matsui, Yoji Ishikawa, Katsumasa Nagahama
  • Publication number: 20130142344
    Abstract: A method for anticipating a user's desired information using a FDA device connected to a computer network is provided. This method further comprises maintaining a database of user tendencies within the computer network, receiving sensor data from the user's physical environment via the FDA device, generating query strings using both tendency data and sensor data, retrieving data from external data sources using these generated query strings, organizing the retrieved data into electronic folders, and delivering this organized data to the user via the FDA device, In particular, a data management module anticipates the type of information a user desires by combining real time data taken from a sensor unit within a FDA and data regarding the history of that particular user's tendencies stored within the data management module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: HOSHIKO LLC
    Inventor: HOSHIKO LLC
  • Publication number: 20130142345
    Abstract: A hearing system (1) capable of assisting a user of the hearing system (1) to find a location where satisfactory hearing performance is achievable is described. The hearing system (1) comprises at least one hearing device (11, 12) with an input transducer (20), an output transducer (40), and a processing unit (30) operatively connected to the input transducer (20) as well as to the output transducer (40). The hearing system (1) further comprises a first means (50) for determining from a signal of the input transducer (20) at least one parameter (60) representative of a current acoustic environment at a current location, and a second means (40, 200, 201) for indicating to a user of the hearing system (1) a degree of suitability of the current location to achieve satisfactory hearing performance based on the at least one parameter (60).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventor: Bernd Waldmann
  • Publication number: 20130142346
    Abstract: An audio testing system and an audio testing method for an electronic device under test are provided. The audio testing method includes the following steps. A testing audio is sent through a testing audio sending end of a testing device. An electronic device under test is controlled to perform recording through an audio receiving end, so as to generate an under-testing audio. After the recording is completed, the device under test controlled to playback the under-testing audio from one of both-side audio sending ends to perform recording through the testing audio receiving end, and calls an audio analyzing process to generate a first testing result. The device under test controlled to playback the under-testing audio from the other one of the both-side audio sending ends to perform recording through the testing audio receiving end, and calls the audio analyzing process to generate a second testing result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: INVENTEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsung-Hao Yang, Harianto Siek, Shao-Tang Wang
  • Publication number: 20130142347
    Abstract: Techniques for ability enhancement are described. Some embodiments provide an ability enhancement facilitator system (“AEFS”) configured to enhance a user's ability to operate or function in a transportation-related context as a pedestrian or a vehicle operator. In one embodiment, the AEFS is configured perform vehicular threat detection based at least in part on analyzing audio signals. An example AEFS receives data that represents an audio signal emitted by a vehicle. The AEFS analyzes the audio signal to determine vehicular threat information, such as that the vehicle may collide with the user. The AEFS then informs the user of the determined vehicular threat information, such as by transmitting a warning to a wearable device configured to present the warning to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Clarence T. Tegreene, Roderick A. Hyde, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Victoria Y.H. Wood, Charles Whitmer, Paramvir Bahl, Douglas C. Burger, Ranveer Chandra, William H. Gates, III, Paul Holman, Jordin T. Kare, Craig J. Mundie, Tim Paek, Desney S. Tan, Lin Zhong, Matthew G. Dyor
  • Publication number: 20130142348
    Abstract: A wearable ambient sound reduction system, the system may include: a microphone, adapted to detect an ambient sound signal; a processor adapted to generate an output signal in response to the ambient sound signal; wherein the output signal, when conveyed to a bone of the user, reduces an affect that an ambient sound signal has upon the user; wherein the microphone is coupled to the processor; and a bone conduction speaker, coupled to the processor, adapted to convey the output signal to a bone of a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventor: DAVID WEISMAN
  • Publication number: 20130142349
    Abstract: To solve the problems with the prior art that a multi-microphone array cannot inhibit broad-band noises well and cannot be used in the increasingly widespread broad-band communication, embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, a device and a system for eliminating noises with multi-microphone array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventors: Song Liu, Bo Li
  • Publication number: 20130142350
    Abstract: A system for detecting a jack configuration comprising a first plurality of switches configured to couple a first headphone jack position to ground. A second plurality of switches configured to couple a second headphone jack position to ground. A microphone bias circuit for applying a microphone bias signal to the second headphone jack position when the first headphone jack position is coupled to ground, and for applying the microphone bias signal to the first headphone jack position when the second headphone jack position is coupled to ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Christian Larsen, Lorenzo Crespi, Brian W. Friend
  • Publication number: 20130142351
    Abstract: A communication device (1, 15, 25, 35) comprising a housing (2) with a housing wall (50) bounding a space (7). The housing (2) comprises a first housing part (3) and a second housing part (4), which are joined along a dividing line (40), whereby a first abutment face (41) of the first housing part (3) abuts a second abutment face (42) of the second housing part (4) along the dividing line (40). A first microphone transducer (8) is arranged in the housing (2). The first microphone transducer (8) comprises a microphone opening (9), which is connected to the space (7). The space (7) is communicating with the surroundings via a peripheral line (47) of housing openings (39) in the outer side (44) of the housing wall (50) arranged along the dividing line (40), and housing channels (46) extending between the housing openings (39) and the inner side (43) of the housing wall (50). The housing channels (46) and the housing openings (39) are provided as recessions (45; 48) in the first abutment face (41).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: GN NETCOM A/S
    Inventor: GN Netcom A/S
  • Publication number: 20130142352
    Abstract: A sound generator system (1, 70), for a vehicle with internal combustion engine (15) and/or electric motor, has an electroacoustical transducer (11) and a control unit (24, 74). Transducer (11) produces an acoustical signal based on an electrical input signal and is connected to an acoustic line. The control unit (24, 74) creates a primary audio signal with frequencies from a given frequency range, to selectively amplify selected segments (“V”) of the primary audio signal so that the audio signal (41) amplified in the selected segments has a section in which all audio signal values correspond to a maximum amplitude value that is specified for the segment, and the audio signal (41) amplified in the selected segments is continuous at transitions from the at least one section to neighboring sections, and wherein the audio signal (41) generated by the control unit (24) forms the basis of the electrical input signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: J. EBERSPÄCHER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: J. Eberspächer GmbH & Co. KG
  • Publication number: 20130142353
    Abstract: Embodiments disclose a vehicle which has a vehicle ceiling having a first sound wave reflection portion having a first sound wave reflection characteristic and a second portion having a second sound wave reflection characteristic, wherein the first sound wave reflection portion is more sound wave reflecting than the second sound wave reflection portion and at least one speaker arranged in the vehicle, so that a main sound emission direction is directed to the first sound wave reflection portion, so that a sound wave emitted by the speaker and reflected by the first sound wave reflection portion is perceptible as a diffuse sound by a person in the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
  • Publication number: 20130142354
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the transmission of song identifications from an information/entertainment appliance in a vehicle to one mobile appliance from a plurality of mobile appliances via at least one interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventor: Volkswagen AG
  • Publication number: 20130142355
    Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed that allow for selective acoustic near-field nulls for microphone arrays. One embodiment may take the form of an electronic device including a speaker and a microphone array. The microphone array may include a first microphone positioned a first distance from the speaker and a second microphone positioned a second distance from the speaker. The first and second microphones are configured to receive an acoustic signal. The microphone array further includes a complex vector filter coupled to the second microphone. The complex vector filter is applied to an output signal of the second microphone to generate an acoustic sensitivity pattern for the array that provides an acoustic null at the location of the speaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Nadim Isaac, Martin E. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130142356
    Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed that allow for selective acoustic near-field nulls for microphone arrays. One embodiment may take the form of an electronic device including a speaker and a microphone array. The microphone array may include a first microphone positioned a first distance from the speaker and a second microphone positioned a second distance from the speaker. The first and second microphones are configured to receive an acoustic signal. The microphone array further includes a complex vector filter coupled to the second microphone. The complex vector filter is applied to an output signal of the second microphone to generate an acoustic sensitivity pattern for the array that provides an acoustic null at the location of the speaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Nadim Isaac, Martin E. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130142357
    Abstract: A method for visualizing sound source energy distribution in an echoic environment comprises steps: arranging in an echoic environment a plurality of arrayed sound pickup units, wherein each sound pickup unit includes at least two microphones separated by a directive distance enabling the sound pickup unit to have a primary pickup direction; disposing the sound pickup units with the primary pickup directions thereof pointing toward a sound source in the echoic environment, and measuring the sound source by the sound pickup units to obtain a sound source-related parameter; substituting the directive distance and the parameter into an algorithm to make the parameter have directivity; and then substituting the parameter into an ESM algorithm to establish a sound source energy distribution profile. Thereby, the method can measure a sound source in a specified direction in an echoic environment and establish a visualized sound source energy distribution profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Mingsian R. BAI, Ching-Cheng Chen, Yi-Yang Lo, Chun-Kai Wang, Shen-Wei Juan
  • Publication number: 20130142358
    Abstract: The directivity pattern of a MEMS microphone is adjusted. An indication of a position of a MEMS microphone is received and the microphone includes at least one diaphragm. An adjustment to the position of the MEMS microphone is determined. Based upon the adjustment, a position of the at least one diaphragm is adjusted. The adjusting is effective to alter a directivity pattern of the microphone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Knowles Electronics, LLC
  • Publication number: 20130142359
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus includes: a control section; a signal processing section connected with a plurality of signal processing elements and configured to perform signal processing for enhancing or attenuating an input signal in a specific frequency band; and a crossfade signal section including a crossfade signal processing element capable of replacing at least one of the signal processing elements, wherein the control section is configured to control any one of the signal processing elements among the plurality of signal processing elements, and the crossfade signal processing element, to crossfade to the crossfade signal processing element having the signal processing element as a new characteristic, to perform processing for replacing any one of the signal processing elements by the crossfade signal processing element, and to perform the processing on remaining signal processing elements of the plurality of signal processing elements in the signal processing section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Sony Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130142360
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method and system for controlling distortion of the output of a miniature speaker by attenuating critical frequency band of the input signal to be reproduced, using tuning parameters that have been predetermined where the critical frequency band is a frequency range of the speaker's frequency response in which Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) peaks. The distortion control is performed in a manner which allows an increase in the average loudness of the speaker's output without significantly increasing distortion. The tuning parameters include a center frequency and a bandwidth of the critical frequency band, and a power threshold value. In some embodiments, the system is a loudness maximizer configured to limit distortion of a speaker's output by limiting distortion in a critical frequency band using predetermined control parameters, and limit the dynamic range of the output signal and increase its perceived overall average loudness level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Guillaume Potard
  • Publication number: 20130142361
    Abstract: A method for controlling altitude information-based user functions and a mobile device adapted thereto are provided. The mobile device includes a storage unit for storing audio data that will be output according to the activation of a user function, and auxiliary data that will be applied to the audio data if an audio data altering function is set when the user function is activated, a sensing unit for collecting altitude information to set auxiliary data that will be applied to the audio data according to the activation of the user function, a controller for creating altered audio data by applying predefined auxiliary data to audio data that will be output when the user function is executed, according to the altitude information, and an audio processing unit for outputting the altered audio data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO. LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130142362
    Abstract: Controlling an audio volume is disclosed. An indicator identifying a force intensity of a touch input provided on a touch input surface is received. It is determined that the touch input is associated with an audio volume control. The audio volume is controlled based at least in part on the indicator identifying the force intensity of the touch input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: Sentons Inc.
    Inventor: Sentons Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130142363
    Abstract: An illustrative method for transferring data to a device includes identifying the data that is to be transferred to the device, modulating the data with a signal, providing the signal to a contact microphone that is in physical contact with an individual, and transmitting the signal through a body of the individual to the device using the contact microphone. An illustrative method for authenticating the individual includes transmitting a signal through a body of the individual in response to the individual physically contacting an authentication device, receiving a modified signal including the signal as modified by the body of the individual, removing the signal from the modified signal to identify a unique body signature of the individual, comparing the unique body signature to a database to determine if the database includes the unique body signature, and selectively authenticating the individual based upon whether the database includes the unique body signature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Brian Amento, Kevin Ansia Li, Kermit Hal Purdy, Larry Stead
  • Publication number: 20130142364
    Abstract: A linear interleaved magnetic motor in which the B-field flows between a plurality of motor cell elements, creating a long, serpentine gap. The motor is used with at least one flex circuit as a drive coil. The motor can be used as a drive motor for a loudspeaker transducer. Multiple loudspeaker transducers can be connected together to make a loudspeaker frame or system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas Paul Heed
  • Publication number: 20130142365
    Abstract: Techniques for sensory enhancement and augmentation are described. Some embodiments provide an audible assistance facilitator system (“AAFS”) configured to provide audible assistance to a user via a hearing device. In one embodiment, the AAFS receives data that represents an utterance of a speaker received by a hearing device of the user, such as a hearing aid, smart phone, media device, or the like. The AAFS identifies the speaker based on the received data, such as by performing speaker recognition. The AAFS determines speaker-related information associated with the identified speaker, such as by determining an identifier (e.g., name or title) of the speaker, by locating an information item (e.g., an email message, document) associated with the speaker, or the like. The AAFS then informs the user of the speaker-related information, such as by causing an audio representation of the speaker-related information to be output via the hearing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Clarence T. Tegreene, Roderick A. Hyde, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Victoria Y.H. Wood, Charles Whitmer, Paramvir Bahl, Douglas C. Burger, Ranveer Chandra, William H. Gates, III, Paul Holman, Jordin T. Kare, Craig J. Mundie, Tim Paek, Desney S. Tan, Lin Zhong, Matthew G. Dyor
  • Publication number: 20130142366
    Abstract: A personalized hearing profile is generated for an ear-level device comprising a memory, microphone, speaker and processor. Communication is established between the ear-level device and a companion device, having a user interface. A frame of reference in the user interface is provided, where positions in the frame of reference are associated with sound profile data. A position on the frame of reference is determined in response to user interaction with the user interface, and certain sound profile data associated with the position. Certain data is transmitted to the ear level device. Sound can be generated through the speaker based upon the audio stream data to provide real-time feedback to the user. The determining and transmitting steps are repeated until detection of an end event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: SOUND ID
    Inventors: NICHOLAS R. MICHAEL, EPHRAM COHEN, MEENA RAMANI, CASLAV V. PAVLOVIC
  • Publication number: 20130142367
    Abstract: Mobile consumer devices are used to communicate with consumer medical devices to either provide update data to the consumer medical device or to obtain data from the consumer medical device. Some data is used to evaluate performance and operation of the medical device or a biological condition of the living being that is being treated with the medical device. Other data is used to calibrate and update the consumer medical device or to enable or disable certain functionality of the medical device. Communications between the medical devices and mobile consumer devices can be performed automatically or on demand, as initiated by a user, a third party, or in response to predetermined conditions detected by the devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: ORCA HEALTH, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew M. Berry, Robert M. Berry, Wesley D. Chapman, Jacob S. Lybbert
  • Publication number: 20130142368
    Abstract: A hearing aid and a method for operating a hearing aid to improve the quality of the hearing aid, in particular depending on the situation, include a hearing aid component that can be worn in a human auditory canal and a balloon, the size of which can be changed and which at least partially encloses the hearing aid component. During the operation of the hearing aid, a value specific to the current hearing situation is detected by the hearing aid. The size of the balloon is then set according to the determined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: SIEMENS MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Henning Puder, Andre Steinbuss
  • Publication number: 20130142369
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for annoyance perception and modeling for hearing-impaired listeners. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method for improving noise cancellation for a wearer of a hearing assistance device having an adaptive filter. In various embodiments, the method includes calculating an annoyance measure or other perceptual measure based on a residual signal in an ear of the wearer, the wearer's hearing loss, and the wearer's preference. A spectral weighting function is estimated based on a ratio of the annoyance measure or other perceptual measure and spectral energy. The spectral weighting function is incorporated into a cost function for an update of the adaptive filter. The method includes minimizing the annoyance or other perceptual measure based cost function to achieve perceptually motivated adaptive noise cancellation, in various embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Zhang, Martin McKinney, Jinjun Xiao, Srikanth Vishnubhotla, Buye Xu
  • Publication number: 20130142370
    Abstract: A microphone assembly having a housing, a transducer, and an electronic circuit. The housing has an opening, and the transducer is disposed within that opening. The electronic circuit covers the opening such that the transducer is surrounded by at least the electronic circuit and the housing. The electronic circuit includes a substrate and an amplifier for amplifying the electrical signal into an amplified electrical signal which is coupled to a connection means. The connection means provides a direct electrical connection between the electronic circuit and a receiver. The amplifier is mounted on the substrate and disposed on a side of the substrate of the electronic circuit facing the transducer. The receiver is disposed on a side opposite the side and outside the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventor: Sonion Nederland B.V.
  • Publication number: 20130142371
    Abstract: A portable audio speaker system is configured as a generally tubular structure with a slot along its side, into which the edge of a laptop screen or tablet computer may be inserted. Audio drivers within the structure reproduce sounds from the computer. Embodiments may be wired or wireless. Other features and manufacturing techniques are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Jason P. MARTIN, Patrick R. Triato, Mark A. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20130142372
    Abstract: A speaker assembly is provided with a speaker, a housing mounted to the speaker, and a reflector spaced apart from and facing the speaker. The reflector has a generally convex central region and a plurality of circumferentially spaced lobes, each extending radially outward from the central region for reflecting acoustic vibrations from the speaker radially outboard from the reflector while providing gaps between the lobes for permitting acoustic vibrations to pass therethrough. A series of supports connect the housing and the reflector. The supports are spaced circumferentially about the housing for providing openings between the supports for an outlet of the reflected acoustic vibrations. Each of the supports is aligned with and externally visually conceals one of the lobes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventor: Ronald Paul Harwood
  • Publication number: 20130142373
    Abstract: An array speaker system includes a plurality of speaker units that respectively emit sounds in accordance with an input signal and an outer casing that supports the plurality of speaker units. Each speaker unit can be provided with a speaker operable to vibrate a vibrator in accordance with the signal, and a cavity back box that supports the speaker. The cavity back box forms a rear space with the vibrator on the opposite side with respect to the sound emission surface. The array speaker system thus constructed can emit a high power sound with a simple structure and improved stability in acoustic properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: TEI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: TEI CO., LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130142374
    Abstract: A microphone assembly, in which a microphone component and an ear set component are formed on the same printed circuit board, and a method of manufacturing the microphone assembly. In the microphone assembly, one electrode of a power supplier is connected to a diaphragm assembly through a grounding pattern of the PCB and a mike cell case and the other electrode of the power supplier is supplied to a back electrode plate through a conductive member to charge two electrodes. When an acoustic signal is input to the mike cell unit, the diaphragm assembly vibrates, and thus, an electrostatic capacity of the mike cell unit changes. The acoustic signal is transmitted to a field effect transistor (FET) mounted outside the mike cell unit along a signal pattern of the PCB and is processed by the FET.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: BSE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Sun LEE, Hyoung Joo KIM
  • Publication number: 20130142375
    Abstract: A headphone having a headband and two acoustic transducers disposed at two ends of the headband is disclosed. Each acoustic transducer includes a baffle plate installed with a speaker, a spacer, a vent and an acoustic modulator. The baffle plate and speaker divide the acoustic transducer into a front and a back chamber. The front chamber is configured for communicating with a user's ear. The spacer is disposed behind the speaker to divide the back chamber into a first back chamber and a second back communicated with each other. The vent is disposed in a back wall of the acoustic transducer to communicate the first back chamber with outside. The first acoustic modulator is disposed between the front and second back chambers. The headphone modulates resonance frequency at low frequency bands through the acoustic modulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: Merry Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Po-Hsun Sung, Chun-Fu Wang, Hung-Wen Tsao
  • Publication number: 20130142376
    Abstract: An earmuff which is adapted to covering a driver includes a first case having a first through hole and a second case having a second through hole. The second case accommodated within the first case to form an inner chamber where the driver is disposed therein. Since air flows between the first case and the second case via the first through hole and the second through hole, a satisfactory ventilation effect can be achieved and thus feeling of being at ease can be furnished.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventor: Yin Yu Lin
  • Publication number: 20130142377
    Abstract: A portable unit usable by a person when carrying out an exercise. The unit is programmable with details of a virtual athlete and their performance in a specific race, to enable the user to race against the virtual athlete. The unit informs the user through headphones of the progress of the virtual athlete during a race being carried out by a user. The unit may also be pro grammable with periodic encouragement messages for a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventor: Duncan Christopher Walsh
  • Publication number: 20130142378
    Abstract: A mold for earpiece devices either to connect an earphone to the ear canal or to act as a cover or plug thereof, allowing to prevent the development of ear diseases comprising: a mold placed in the ear canal and/or ear shell, adjusted to its shape, and whose external border is in direct contact with the user's skin; and a metallic piece with biocide properties, located inside the mold at a distance close to the border thereof; wherein the metallic piece is adjusted from inside the mold (10) to the shape of the external contour thereof, allowing that only the mold is in direct contact with the skin, and encompassing all the zones where contact is produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventor: Gustavo Andres BRAVO CORDERO
  • Publication number: 20130142379
    Abstract: A loudspeaker driver (22) also suitable for compound applications comprising a rigid speaker frame (11, 13, 15, 19, 8) to which is attached a permanent magnet (13) with which a voice coil winding (9) is adapted to interact through electromagnetic force. The voice coil winding (9) is adapted to deliver axial motion to a diaphragm assembly (21), which includes an elastic outer section (2), whose outer rim (5) is attached to the outer part of the speaker frame (11). The diaphragm assembly (21) comprises an essentially rigid primary vibrating diaphragm (4) attached between the elastic outer section (2) and an elastic inner section (3), whose inner rim (10) is attached to the inner part of said speaker frame (8). Said voice coil winding (9) is fixed to the primary vibrating diaphragm (4) through said voice coil former (6), which is adapted to move said diaphragm assembly (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Anni Tuulia Kolisoja, Terhi Ina Aurora Varla, Arno Mikael Varla
  • Publication number: 20130142380
    Abstract: In a speaker, a space surrounded by a frame on one side of a diaphragm is separated by a damper into a first internal space and a second internal space. The first internal space and the second internal space are caused to face one part and another part of an opening provided in the frame. A duct protrudes from the frame, and the opening is an open end of the duct on the base end side thereof. The speaker is installed, for example, outside a vehicle cabin with the duct inserted into an opening in a vehicle cabin wall, and the first and second internal spaces are caused to communicate with a space in the vehicle cabin through the duct. Therefore, reproduced sound in the bass range having a high sound pressure can be discharged through the duct to the space in the vehicle cabin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130142381
    Abstract: A real time spectroscopy processing and analysis system comprising a data acquisition module, an image processing module operably connected to the data acquisition module and a data analysis and presentation module operably connected to both the data acquisition module and the image processing module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: FIELD TESTED SOFTWARE LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Richard Field
  • Publication number: 20130142382
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for embedding auxiliary information in a host content in a manner that reduces memory, bandwidth and computational complexity of the embedding and transmission systems. One methodology relates to receiving a set of watermark embedding parameters produced at a pre-processing node by pre-processing the host content. The watermark embedding parameters enable embedding each of a plurality of host content segments with any one of at least two different logical values. To embed the auxiliary information, the host content is modified on a segment-by-segment basis using the set of watermark embedding parameters and in accordance with a control signal that designates one of the at least two logical values for embedding into a selected segment of the host content. The generation of watermark embedding parameters at a pre-processing node reduces storage, transmission and computational complexity of embedding operations that can occur at locations other than the pre-processing node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: VERANCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Verance Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130142383
    Abstract: An imaging system (100) includes a housing (101). A control circuit (224) disposed within the housing (101). A projector (102) is disposed within the housing (101) and is operable with the control circuit (224). The projector (102) is configured to create images (104) with an image cone (106). A gesture recognition device (103) is disposed within the housing (101) and is operable with the control circuit (224). The gesture recognition device (103) is configured to detect gestures (107) in a gesture recognition cone (108). The projector (102) and the gesture recognition device (103) can be arranged within the housing (101) such that the image cone (106) and the gesture recognition cone (108) exit the housing (101) without overlap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: MICROVISION, INC.
    Inventors: P. Selvan Viswanathan, Mark O. Freeman, Sridhar Madhavan, George Thomas Valliath, Jari Honkanen
  • Publication number: 20130142384
    Abstract: Enhanced navigation and positional metadata are provided based upon position determination utilizing data provided by multiple different systems of sensors. Infrastructure, or fixed sensor, data provides an initial location determination of humans and user-specific sensors that are co-located with their respective users provides identification of the users whose locations were determined. Navigation instructions provided based on the determined locations are enhanced by additional sensor data that is received from other user-specific sensors that are co-located with the users. Additionally, user privacy can be maintained by only utilizing sensor data authorized by the user, or by publishing fixed sensor data, identifying locations and movements of users, but not their identity, thereby enabling a user's computing device to match such information to the information obtained from user-specific sensors to determine the user's location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eyal Ofek
  • Publication number: 20130142385
    Abstract: A method to display a ghosting image upon a transparent windscreen head-up display in a vehicle includes monitoring an operating environment of the vehicle, monitoring a driver registration input, determining a registered desired location graphic illustrating a future desired location for the vehicle based upon the operating environment of the vehicle and the driver registration input, and displaying the registered desired location graphic upon the head-up display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Roy J. Mathieu, Joseph F. Szczerba, Dehua Cui, Thomas A. Seder
  • Publication number: 20130142386
    Abstract: A system and method for generating a direction confidence measure includes a camera sensor device that captures blur images of a photographic target. A depth estimator calculates matching errors for the blur images. The depth estimator then generates the direction confidence measure by utilizing the matching errors and a dynamic optimization constant that is selected depending upon image characteristics of the blur images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Pingshan Li, Kensuke Miyagi, Florian Ciurea, Tomonori Shuda