Patents Issued in January 17, 2017
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Patent number: 9549222Abstract: A coupling device for use in a hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network may be configured to disable an upstream path through it when there is only noise incident on the upstream path, and enable the upstream path through it when a desired transmission from a cable modem downstream of the coupling device is incident on the upstream path. The coupling device may be a trunk amplifier, a distribution amplifier, a splitter, or the like. The coupling device may comprise a single upstream interface coupled to a plurality of downstream interfaces. The enabling and/or disabling may be in response to a signal strength indicated by the SSI being below a threshold and/or in response to one or more control messages indicating whether any downstream cable modem is, or will be, transmitting.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2015Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Maxlinear, Inc.Inventors: Curtis Ling, Sridhar Ramesh, Timothy Gallagher
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Patent number: 9549223Abstract: A reception unit receives data whose bit rate varies. A signal processing section 118 converts the data received by the reception unit into data of a data format to be transmitted to a client apparatus and stores the data obtained by the conversion into a buffer 120. When data is stored by a given amount into the buffer 120, a transmission section streaming-distributes the data to the client apparatus. A control section 126 additionally stores, when data is not stored by the given amount into the buffer 120 in a given transmission period, dummy data into the buffer 120 until the given amount is reached, and controls the transmission section to transmit the resulting data.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2013Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.Inventors: Masayoshi Mizuno, Hideaki Iwaki, Youji Kita
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Patent number: 9549224Abstract: Methods and systems are provided herein for presenting supplemental content in media assets, which may be presented only to particular users, irrespective of whether or not other users are viewing the same media asset on the same device.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2013Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.Inventors: Paul Jensen, Jaya Bhagavathula
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Patent number: 9549225Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining social media data associated with a plurality of end user devices of a plurality of users interacting with a social media network where the social media data includes user commentary at the social media network, determining first targeted advertising for delivery to first end user devices of a portion of the plurality of users based on an analysis of the social media data, and determining second targeted advertising for delivery during a target broadcast programming to a second end user device of a target user of the plurality of users based on an analysis of the user commentary, wherein the analysis includes identifying a comment context. Other embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Junlan Feng, Bernard S. Renger
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Patent number: 9549226Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed which reduces or removes the effectiveness of commercial skip systems such as presently found in VCRs, PVRs, etc. which are designed to delete commercials from signal material upon playback of a previously recorded version of the signal material. In an embodiment, the effectiveness of the commercial skip system is reduced or removed by adding a flat field of selected signal level to active line portions of video lines of the signal material. Other embodiments modify the normal fade to black signal indicative of a commercial to provide a fade to non-black signal. In further embodiments, a fade to non-black signal is inserted in an overscan area of the signal picture. Still further embodiments modify audio signals or selected signals in the horizontal blanking interval which may be used in commercial skip systems to detect the presence of commercials.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2015Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Rovi Solutions CorporationInventors: Ronald Quan, John O. Ryan, Peter Wonfor
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Patent number: 9549227Abstract: In particular embodiments, one or more computer systems of a social-networking system provide social content for display in a mobile application running on a mobile device of a user of the social-networking system. The mobile application is configured to display the social content and an interface for selecting media content to view on a display device. The social content is from a social graph of the social-networking system. The social graph includes nodes and edges connecting the nodes. The nodes include user nodes that are each associated with a particular user of the social-networking system. The one or more computer systems of the social-networking system receive an indication from the mobile application that an option to view particular media content has been selected and provide one or more instructions to display the selected particular media content on the display device.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2012Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Colin Cameron Brennan Campbell, David Harry Garcia, Mark Heynen, Michael John McKenzie Toksvig, Erick Tseng, Yoon Kean Wong
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Patent number: 9549228Abstract: The present invention relates to a broadcast signal processing method and device for 3D broadcasting service. The broadcast signal processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: encoding 3D video broadcast data that includes left image broadcast data having a left image and right image broadcast data having a right image to provide 3D effects; encoding signaling information for signaling the encoded 3D video broadcast data; generating a broadcast signal including the encoded 3D video broadcast data and the encoded signaling information; and transmitting the generated broadcast signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2011Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Jongyeul Suh, Joonhui Lee, Jeehyun Choe, Jeonghyu Yang
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Method and an apparatus for processing a broadcast signal including an interactive broadcast service
Patent number: 9549229Abstract: A method of processing a broadcast signal including an interactive broadcast service at a transmitter is disclosed. The method comprises generating an parameter table containing metadata about applications and interactive broadcast events targeted to the applications, dividing the parameter table into a plurality of parameter blocks, inserting each of the parameter blocks into each of a plurality of parameter table sections, generating a trigger which is a signaling element to identify signaling and establish timing of playout of the interactive broadcast events, inserting the trigger into a closed caption channel of the broadcast signal, transmitting the broadcast signal including the closed caption channel and a specific channel carrying the plurality of parameter table sections, wherein the trigger includes location information specifying a location of the parameter table in the broadcast signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2015Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Kyungho Kim, Gomer Thomas, Seungjoo An, Jinpil Kim, Sejin Oh, Kyoungsoo Moon -
Patent number: 9549230Abstract: An optics device port configuration system includes a switch. A first optics device and a second optics device are connected to the switch. A cable connects the first optics device and the second optics device to provide a link. The switch determines that an optics type of the first optics device is unavailable. In response, the switch applies each of a plurality of fiber optics configurations on the switch until either the link becomes available or each of the fiber optics configurations have been applied without the link becoming available. In response to each of the fiber optics configurations having been applied without the link becoming available, the switch applies each a plurality of copper optics configurations on the switch until the link becomes available. In response to the link becoming available, the switch provides at least one setting on the switch until errors are not occurring on the link.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: Kapil Adhikesavalu, Satish Jayavel
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Patent number: 9549231Abstract: An optical transmission device includes: a serializer and deserializer configured to convert an input client signal into parallel data at a sampling rate of k times (k is a power of 2) a rate of the input client signal and output the parallel data; a frame generation section configured to generate an optical channel payload unit (OPU) frame from the client signal; and a stuff control section connected to an output of the parallel data and configured to perform, in units of 1/k bits, a stuff operation to map the client signal into the OPU frame and thereby calculate a Cn(n=1/k) value which is a theoretical value of the stuff operation.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2015Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventors: Haruhisa Fukano, Toshiharu Hirose, Akira Hashimoto, Koji Nekoda, Koichi Kinoshita, Akira Hatae
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Patent number: 9549232Abstract: In an example, the present invention includes an integrated system on chip device. The device has a data input/output interface provided on the substrate member and configured for a predefined data rate and protocol. In an example, the data input/output interface is configured for number of lanes numbered from four to one hundred and fifty. In an example, the SerDes block is configured to convert a first data stream of N into a second data stream of M such that each of the first data stream having a first predefined data rate at a first clock rate and each of the second data stream having a second predefined data rate at a second clock rate.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: INPHI CORPORATIONInventor: Radhakrishnan L. Nagarajan
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Patent number: 9549233Abstract: A transmission device includes: a wavelength-variable light source; a wavelength stabilized light source: a wavelength measuring device; a control circuit that controls the wavelength-variable light source; and a reception circuit that receives second reference wavelength light generated based on first reference wavelength light output from the wavelength stabilized light source whose wavelength stability is higher than that of the wavelength-variable light source, the control circuit calibrating the wavelength measuring device by using the second reference wavelength light, the control circuit calibrating the wavelength-variable light source by using the calibrated wavelength measuring device.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2015Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventor: Kazuo Hironishi
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Patent number: 9549234Abstract: A small form factor pluggable device (SFP) or other compact transceiver device is provided at a subscriber's site and is configured to perform Layer 3 testing (e.g., ICMP echo request and response operations) for testing connectivity across networks. A universal interface coupling a conventional transceiver to host equipment is also disclosed which has components that can provide additional functionality to the transceiver while maintaining compatibility between the transceiver and the host equipment.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2013Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Enginuity Communications CorporationInventor: Marco Mascitto
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Patent number: 9549235Abstract: A user interface apparatus using a speaker to control device operations by utilizing a speaker and a method thereof are provided. The user interface apparatus includes a user input pad that forms at least a portion of the exterior of a speaker and is configured to generate an impact sound wave based on an external impact An impact sound wave recognizer is configured to receive feedback of an output signal output via the speaker and separate a reverse current signal due to the impact sound wave included in the feedback signal. In addition, a controller is configured to analyze a waveform of the reverse current signal separated by the impact sound wave recognizer to recognize a user input pattern, and output a control signal that corresponds to the recognized user input pattern. The device operations of various devices may be controlled by tapping or flicking the exterior of a speaker.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Kwang Myung Oh, Sung Min Park, Hui Sung Lee, Sung Jin Sah
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Patent number: 9549236Abstract: An assembly for a condenser microphone capsule, the assembly comprising: a plate having opposing planar surfaces and one or more tabs extending laterally from a peripheral region, at least one tab being adapted to receive an electrical connector; and a mount affixed around at least a portion of the peripheral region.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: FREEDMAN ELECTRONICS PTY LIMITEDInventor: Luke John Hamilton
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Patent number: 9549237Abstract: A speaker includes an enclosure including a peripheral sound wave exit. A compression driver is connected to the speaker enclosure. Sound waves are peripherally spread from the sound wave exit of the speaker enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Allan Devantier, Colby J. Buddelmeyer
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Patent number: 9549238Abstract: An in-ear headphone may be constructed and operated with at least a housing sized to fit in an external auditory meatus of a user and have at least one audio driver. A fitment feature may extend from the housing and incorporate a plurality of flexible flanges cantilevered from a unitary base. The fitment feature may be configured to engage a tragus of the user to secure the housing within the external auditory meatus.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2015Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Fender Musical Instruments CorporationInventor: Phillip Dale Lott
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Patent number: 9549239Abstract: An earphone wire control device, an earphone, a voice recording system and a voice recording system and method. When a switching unit turns on a first path, a microphone path is short-circuited, a first signal generating unit generates a recording start signal and cuts off the first path after generating the recording start signal so that the microphone path is turned on. When the switching unit turns on a second path, the microphone path is short-circuited, a second signal generating unit generates a recording stop signal and cuts off the second path after generating the recording stop signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company LimitedInventors: Yuejun Liu, Chenglin Liu
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Patent number: 9549240Abstract: Disclosed are a terminal and a method of pairing a terminal with a hearing apparatus. The method of pairing a terminal involves verifying whether a hearing apparatus is in contact with a terminal, and pairing the terminal with the hearing apparatus in response to a determination that the hearing apparatus is in contact with the terminal.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jun Il Sohn, See Youn Kwon, Yang Wook Kim, Hee Suk Shin, Jun Whon Uhm, Ju Hwan Woo, Jong Min Choi, Jong Hee Han, Dong Wook Kim
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Patent number: 9549241Abstract: The present invention discloses an earphone and a method for making an earphone to achieve automatic identification and switch control.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2013Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Qingdao Goertek Technology Co., Ltd.Inventor: Mengzhao Lin
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Patent number: 9549242Abstract: A loudspeaker comprising includes an enclosure, a driver element located within the enclosure and including a cone diaphragm, a first cavity defined by a first cavity wall and the cone diaphragm, the first cavity extending from the cone diaphragm and having a first opening which has an area less than an area of the cone diaphragm, an exit element extending from the first opening of the first cavity and acoustically coupling the first cavity to an environment outside of the enclosure, a second cavity, defined by a second cavity wall within the enclosure extending from a second opening in the first cavity, and an acoustic element in the second opening acoustically coupling the second cavity to the first cavity. The second cavity is not otherwise acoustically coupled to the environment outside of the enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2015Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Bose CorporationInventors: Jason D. Silver, John H. Wendell
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Patent number: 9549243Abstract: A product is disclosed that may be used in a vehicle and may include a subwoofer speaker driver mounted in an enclosure which is attached to the vehicle's body. A volume of space may define an acoustic chamber in a closure of the vehicle. A duct may be provided between the enclosure and the acoustic chamber. The size of the enclosure may be minimized by using available space in the closure to serve as part of the bass chamber volume for the subwoofer.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Gregory A. Stys, Richard A. Close, Dale E. Osentoski
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Patent number: 9549244Abstract: A directivity control system includes: a sound collection unit, configured to collect a sound; a display unit, configured to display a designation screen used to designate a directivity direction oriented from the sound collection unit to a first sound position; a directivity direction calculation unit, configured to calculate a horizontal angle and a vertical angle from the sound collection unit to the first sound position corresponding to the designated directivity direction in accordance with a designation of the directivity direction on the designation screen displayed by the display unit; and a control unit, configured to form directivity of the sound collected by the sound collection unit based on the horizontal angle and the vertical angle calculated by the directivity direction calculation unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shinichi Shigenaga, Kazunori Hayashi, Toshimichi Tokuda, Hirotaka Sawa, Kosuke Shinozaki, Shuichi Watanabe
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Patent number: 9549245Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to devices, methods and systems for microphone arrays wherein enhancing performance of directional microphone arrays is provided. Enhanced performance of speaker phones is also provided. In certain embodiments, the housing of the device is configured to support the at least three microphones and the loudspeaker in a substantially first orientation; and the at least three microphones and the loudspeaker are arranged in a spatial relationship such that appropriate phase and delay characteristics achieve a substantial null response in the at least three microphones and in the loudspeaker in a substantial vertical direction away from the substantially first orientation over a desired audible range of frequencies and the device is able to provide a response to sounds over a range of first oriented elevations.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2015Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Inventor: Robert Henry Frater
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Patent number: 9549247Abstract: An audio mixing system comprises a plurality of input ports and output ports, and a plurality of input channels and output channels for controlling characteristic of input sound signals. Two or more input ports included in the plurality of input ports or two or more output ports included in the plurality of output ports are registered as a plurality of patch ports. By an instruction to collectively patch a port group, the input ports or the output ports registered as the plurality of patch ports are patched to input channels or output channels respectively by an input or an output patch.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2012Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventors: Kotaro Terada, Hiroaki Fujita
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Patent number: 9549248Abstract: An audio system has a first channel for receiving a first input signal and driving a first speaker and a second channel for receiving a second input signal and driving a second speaker. A first feedforward circuit couples an input of the second channel circuit to an input of the first channel circuit. A second feedforward circuit couples an input of the first channel circuit to an input of the second channel circuit. Circuit parameters of the first and the second feedforward circuits are determined such that a first detected output signal is zero when the first input signal is non-zero and the second input signal is zero, and a second detected output signal is zero when the second input signal is non-zero and the first input signal is zero. The audio system is configured to operate using the determined circuit parameters for the first and the second feedforward circuits.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2013Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventor: Peter J. Holzmann
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Patent number: 9549249Abstract: The disclosed active noise suppression headphone system is directed to a headphone system that is capable of substantially suppressing high or low frequency interfering noise that penetrate through a headphone earpiece from multiple directions. An external microphone mounted with a housing of a headphone earpiece senses ambient noise outside of the earpiece. The sensed ambient noise may be processed through at least one parallel filter bank arranged in at least one headphone earpiece. Each parallel filter bank may include adaptively linked filters. The output of these filters may be amplified based on weighting factors that are dependent upon the sensed ambient noise and that are generated by a filtered x least mean square circuit. The amplified filtered outputs may be summed to generate an antinoise signal that is in input to a loudspeaker within the headphone earpiece that substantial suppresses the ambient noise before it can be perceived by an end user of the headphones.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2013Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: AKG Acoustics GmbHInventors: Alois Sontacchi, Robert Höldrich, Markus Flock
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Patent number: 9549250Abstract: An in-car communication (ICC) system has multiple acoustic zones having varying acoustic environments. At least one input microphone within at least one acoustic zone develops a corresponding microphone signal from one or more system users. At least one loudspeaker within at least one acoustic zone provides acoustic audio to the system users. A wind noise module makes a determination of when wind noise is present in the microphone signal and modifies the microphone signal based on the determination.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2013Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.Inventors: Tobias Herbig, Markus Buck, Meik Pfeffinger
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Patent number: 9549251Abstract: A distributed automatic level control function is provided, in which information relating to a common automatic level control parameter is transmitted to each of a plurality of microphone devices, wherein the information transmitted to at least one microphone device is derived from an audio sample of at least one different microphone device. Each microphone device produces the common automatic level control parameter based on the information received by the microphone device and applies the common automatic level control parameter produced by the microphone device to a distributed automatic level controller of the microphone device.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.Inventors: Dongqin Yan, Jie Fu, Yang Pan
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Patent number: 9549252Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first transducer configured to detect sound and generate a first signal based on the detected sound. The apparatus also comprises a second transducer configured to detect vibration and/or sound and generate a second signal based on the detected vibrations and/or sound. The second transducer is less acoustically responsive than the first transducer. The apparatus comprises an interface configured to send the first and second signals to a processor configured to modify the first signal on the basis of the second signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2010Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Nokia Technologies OyInventor: Mikko Veli Aimo Suvanto
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Patent number: 9549253Abstract: A processor-implemented method for spatial sound localization and isolation is described. The method includes segmenting, via a processor, each of a plurality of source signals detected by a plurality of sensors, into a plurality of time frames. For each time frame, the method further includes obtaining, via a processor, a plurality of direction of arrival (DOA) estimates from the plurality of sensors, discretizing an area of interest into a plurality of grid points, calculating, via the processor, DOA at each of grid points, comparing, via the processor, the DOA estimates with the computed DOAs. If the number of sources is more than 1, the method includes obtaining via the processor, a plurality of combinations of DOA estimates, from amongst the plurality of combinations, estimating, via the processor, one or more initial candidate locations corresponding to each of the combinations, selecting location of the sources from amongst the initial candidate locations.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Foundation for Research and Technology—Hellas (FORTH) Institute of Computer Science (ICS)Inventors: Anastasios Alexandridis, Anthony Griffin, Athanasios Mouchtaris
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Patent number: 9549254Abstract: A system, article, and method of acoustic signal mixing comprises use of a total pair that is a count of the number of addition coefficients and subtraction coefficients in a mixture configuration and used with a function applied to a frame of acoustic samples to determine an outcome.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Phani Kumar Nyshadham, Niranjan Avadhanam, Shivakumar D R
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Patent number: 9549255Abstract: A sound pickup apparatus and method form a bidirectionality and a unidirectionality based on sound signals picked up by microphones arranged at vertices of a triangle. A target sound is extracted by performing a spectral subtraction operation and, with respect to each frequency, a ratio of amplitude spectra of beamformer outputs between outputs is calculated for each microphone array of a directionality forming unit. A mode or median of the calculated ratio of amplitude spectra is set as a correction coefficient which corrects power of beamformer outputs for each of the microphone arrays and a target area sound is extracted.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2016Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kazuhiro Katagiri
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Patent number: 9549256Abstract: An audio/video receiver configured to limit the power delivered to its speakers based on real time calculations. First, power delivered to the speakers is limited to the power rating of the speakers during short durations. Second, a secondary longer time constant Root-Mean-Square (RMS) detector limits sustained power to the speakers for a predetermined fraction of the peak power rating.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2015Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: CRESTRON ELECTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Mark LaBosco, David Burke, Alexander Marra
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Patent number: 9549257Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method of cancelling feedback in a vehicle communications system. The system and method may adjust a phase and a polarity of the microphone signal to produce an inverted microphone signal having a shifted phase. A speaker signal may be summed with the inverted microphone signal to cancel out at least a portion of a microphone signal component of the speaker signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Pinnacle Peak Holdings CorporationInventors: Steve B. Hall, James P. Roberts, Samuel W. Grove
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Patent number: 9549258Abstract: An example implementation involves a first playback device receiving audio content to be played back by the first playback device and a second playback device in synchrony. Such audio content may include a first and second stereo component. The first playback device determines a limiting result that indicates frequencies at which a playback volume of the second playback device is limited and determines a crossover frequency based on the indicated frequencies at which the playback volume of the second playback device is limited. The first playback device causes the second playback device to play a first portion of the second stereo component that is above the determined crossover frequency and plays (i) the first stereo component and (ii) a second portion of the second stereo component that is below the indicated frequency in synchrony with playback of the first portion by the second playback device.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2016Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Aurelio Rafael Ramos, Timothy W. Sheen
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Patent number: 9549259Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are provided for automatically provisioning wireless local area network (LAN) access point and/or hotspot information, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service provider information, and VoIP account information on a service provider's Web page to configure a wireless VoIP headset for use.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2011Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.Inventor: Edward L. Reuss
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Patent number: 9549260Abstract: Headphones for stereo tactile vibration, and related systems and methods are disclosed. A headphone comprises a first speaker assembly including a first audio driver and a first tactile bass vibrator. The headphone also comprises a second speaker assembly including a second audio driver and a second tactile bass vibrator. The headphone further comprises a signal processing circuit configured to generate a first tactile vibration signal and a second tactile vibration signal from an audio signal to be received by the headphone. The first tactile vibration signal differs from the second tactile vibration signal. A method of operating the headphone includes generating the first tactile vibration signal and the second tactile vibration signal, and driving vibration of the first and second tactile bass vibrators with the first and second tactile vibration signals, respectively. A stereo tactile vibrator system includes the headphone.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Skullcandy, Inc.Inventors: Tetsuro Oishi, John Timothy, Sam Noertker
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Patent number: 9549261Abstract: According to one embodiment, a microphone package includes: a pressure sensing element including a film and a device; and a cover. The film generates strain in response to pressure. The device includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; and a first magnetic layer. The first magnetic layer is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode and has a first magnetization. The cover includes: an upper portion; and a side portion. The side portion is magnetic and provided depending on the first magnetization and the second magnetization.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2013Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Yoshihiro Higashi, Yoshihiko Fuji, Michiko Hara, Akiko Yuzawa, Shiori Kaji, Tomohiko Nagata, Akio Hori, Hideaki Fukuzawa
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Patent number: 9549262Abstract: A miniature electroacoustic transducer includes: a metal shell, having the shape of a barrel with one open end; a vibrating system, including a vibrating diaphragm and a voice coil; and a magnetic circuit system, including a concentrating flux plate, a magnet and a magnetic yoke that are sequentially combined together. The magnetic circuit system is formed with a magnetic gap corresponding to the voice coil; the vibrating system and the magnetic circuit system are fixedly installed in the barrel-shaped shell; the components in the structure are further modularized, maximizing the magnet under the same product dimension and effectively improving the product sensitivity. An assembling method of the electroacoustic transducer includes: a. providing a barrel-shaped metal shell with one open end; b. putting a pre-assembled vibrating system into the shell; c. putting a pre-assembled magnetic circuit system into the shell; and d. fixedly assembling the shell with the magnetic yoke.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2012Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: GOERTEK INC.Inventors: Ze Wang, Lianshan Ge, Chunfa Liu
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Patent number: 9549263Abstract: An acoustic transducer has a substrate having a cavity, a vibrating electrode plate disposed above the substrate and having a void portion that allows pressure to escape, a fixed electrode plate disposed above the substrate opposite the vibrating electrode plate, a plurality of sensing portions configured by the vibrating electrode plate and the fixed electrode plate, at least one of the vibrating electrode plate and the fixed electrode plate being divided into a plurality of regions, and a sensing portion being configured by the vibrating electrode plate and the fixed electrode plate in each of the divided regions, and a leak pressure regulation portion that hinders leakage of air pressure passing through the void portion when the vibrating electrode plate is not undergoing deformation.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: OMRON CorporationInventor: Yuki Uchida
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Patent number: 9549264Abstract: A method for controlling a hearing aid using a portable terminal is provided. The method includes taking a photo, generating a control signal to control a hearing mode of the hearing aid according to an analysis of a surrounding condition based on the photo, and transmitting the control signal to the hearing aid.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jung-Soo Kim, Ik-Soo Kim
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Patent number: 9549265Abstract: An exemplary sound processor 1) identifies at least one frequency bin, included in a plurality of frequency bins included in a frequency spectrum of an audio signal that is presented to a cochlear implant patient, that contains spectral energy above a modified spectral envelope, 2) identifies each frequency bin that contains spectral energy below the modified spectral envelope, 3) enhances the spectral energy contained in the at least one frequency bin identified as containing spectral energy above the modified spectral envelope, and 4) compresses the spectral energy contained in each frequency bin identified as containing spectral energy below the modified spectral envelope.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2016Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Advanced Bionics AGInventors: Adam B. Strauss, Leonid M. Litvak
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Patent number: 9549266Abstract: Method of controlling a hearing instrument comprising at least one hearing device, the method comprising determination of an acoustic environment at least partially by means of calculating the complex coherence of signals from either a pressure microphone and a particle velocity transducer; a pair of pressure microphones in a single hearing device; or a pair of pressure microphones, one situated in each of a pair of hearing devices. This enables finer determination of acoustic environments, thus improving the hearing experience for the wearer of the hearing instrument. The invention further relates to a corresponding hearing instrument.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2012Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: SONOVA AGInventors: Manuela Feilner, Martin Kuster
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Patent number: 9549267Abstract: An implantable magnetic transducer arrangement is described for a hearing implant in a recipient patient. An implant housing hermetically encapsulates an interior housing volume and is fixedly attached to skull bone beneath the skin of the patient. A magnetic transducer is located within the housing volume and includes multiple pie-shaped permanent magnets wherein adjacent magnets have different direction magnetic polarities, and one or more suspension elements that resiliently couple adjacent magnets to allow their relative movement. The magnetic transducer is operatively coupled to an external magnetic drive component above the skin of the patient to form an oscillating system that develops a mechanical stimulation signal to the implant housing for delivery by bone conduction of the skull bone as an audio signal to the cochlea of the patient.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2016Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbHInventors: Markus Nagl, Thomas Lechleitner
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Patent number: 9549268Abstract: A hearing device and an associated method for tuning a hearing aid include at least one hearing aid and at least one external unit. The device includes the following: a memory unit in the hearing aid which stores the times and the listening situations for which at least one predefinable algorithm for signal processing is activated; an output unit in the hearing aid and/or in the external unit which outputs and/or displays the stored times, listening situations and the activated algorithm; an input unit in the hearing aid or in the external unit for inputting an assessment rating which expresses the hearing aid wearer's satisfaction with the algorithm activated, and a change unit in the hearing aid for changing at least one parameter of the algorithm as a function of the assessment rating. Even algorithms of very short duration, such as an MPO, for example, are trainable.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2010Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Roland Barthel, Andre Steinbuss
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Patent number: 9549269Abstract: A method for processing audio signals in particular for a therapy of subjective tinnitus with an individual tinnitus frequency. The method includes: providing a first audio signal, determining a blocking range in the frequency spectrum of the first audio signal with a predefinable frequency width, creating a second audio signal from the first audio signal using a filter, and determining an auditory energy of the first audio signal or the second audio signal within at least one predefined therapeutically applicable frequency range and specifying an evaluation parameter for the second audio signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2015Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: SONORMED GMBHInventors: Marc Adrian Nötzel, Johannes Abraxas Wittig, Jörg Land, Matthias Lanz
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Patent number: 9549270Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for providing audio to one or more individuals in an operating room. An ultrasonic signal generator may be provided that generates two or more ultrasonic signals that combine to produce an audible signal at a desired location. The audio signal may be perceived by individuals in the operating room to emanate from a surface or location within the operating room, or the audio signal may be generated to provide an audible signal to one or more persons within a particular location within the operating room. Multiple audio signals may be generated to emanate from multiple different locations. Likewise, multiple audio signals may be generated to provide different audible signals in different locations in the operating room.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: David J. Van Tol, Anthony B. Ross
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Patent number: 9549271Abstract: Disclosed are a device and a method for tracking a sound source location by removing wind noise. The disclosed method for tracking a sound source by removing wind noise comprises the steps of: performing a Fourier transform for input signals of a time domain received by a plurality of microphones; detecting a first sound source section on the basis of an average power value of the Fourier-transformed input signals; detecting a second sound source section from which wind noise has been removed, on the basis of the first sound source section and a difference of power values of the input signals received by the microphones; and detecting a location of a sound source on the basis of the second sound source section and a phase difference of the input signals received by the plurality of microphones.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2013Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYInventors: Jong Suk Choi, Van Quang Nguyen
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Patent number: 9549272Abstract: The present invention discloses a multifunctional device for assembly and test of wire-control earphone, belonging to the technical field of assembly and test device of electronic products, comprising an operating platform, and a wire-control component region and a wire slot are provided on the upper surface of the operating platform, the assembly of wire-control earphone can be achieved by the operating platform; and touch control holes are provided in the wire-control component region, the touch control holes are in one-to-one correspondence with rods, each of the rods has a touch control end and an operating end, a socket is provided on the operating platform, the socket is connected to a circuit board, a signal transmitting elastic sheet is provided on the circuit board, and after an earphone plug is inserted into the socket, by pressing the operating end of the rod, the touch control terminal comes into contact with the contact point on the wire-control earphone, then through the signal transmitting elasType: GrantFiled: September 3, 2013Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Goertek, Inc.Inventors: Shoubiao Deng, Shuliang Gong, Baohui Song