Plural Chambers Patents (Class 181/145)
  • Patent number: 11683639
    Abstract: A speaker system uses multiple sound chambers having phi ratios to create a dampening effect to filter out incoherent sounds, thus creating an enhanced listening experience that feels very natural to the listener. The speaker system has at least a sound driver, a first sound chamber having a first volume, and a second sound chamber having a second volume that is approximately 1.6 times the first volume. The speaker system can also have a second sound driver, and a third sound chamber having a third volume that is that is approximately 1.6 times the second volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Soniphi LLC
    Inventor: Wayne J. Powell
  • Patent number: 11504626
    Abstract: A seat system includes a seat including a sensor configured to acquire information for detection of a motion of an occupant seated on a seat body, a terminal device configured to acquire the information from the sensor, and a server capable of communicating with the terminal device. The terminal device executes a game using the sensor based on the information, and acquires an execution result corresponding to the occupant for a game played by the occupant. The server generates integrated data by integrating execution results of the game acquired from another terminal device, and computes a reference value for execution results of the game based on the integrated data. The terminal device or the server assigns a difficulty level of the game for the terminal device based on the execution result corresponding to the occupant and the reference value. The terminal device reflects the difficulty level on the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kaku, Hiroyuki Numajiri, Takako Miyoshi, Munetaka Kowa, Atsushi Kusano, Ryuichiro Hirose, Yoshikazu Ito, Yosuke Higashi, Satoshi Suzuki, Ryosuke Sato, Satoru Kaneda
  • Patent number: 11395063
    Abstract: This application provides a speaker and a sound diffuser thereof. The sound diffuser includes a first diffusion surface and a second diffusion surface. The first diffusion surface faces toward a first driver, and has a first central area that is a circular protrusion, a first outer ring region, and a first concave ring region located between the first central area and the first outer ring region. The second diffusion surface faces toward a second driver, and is a circular dish surface protuberant from center outwards. The sound diffuser is coaxially located between the first driver and the second driver, and the first driver and the second driver respectively generate different sound production frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: TYMPHANY ACOUSTIC TECHNOLOGY (HUIZHOU) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhengmin Wang, Le Pan, Xiangfeng Jin
  • Patent number: 11172276
    Abstract: An annular radiation speaker structure includes an external speaker enclosure, an internal speaker enclosure and a speaker unit. The external speaker enclosure has a bottom portion and an outer wall, the outer wall extends upward from a periphery of the bottom portion and jointly defines an outer cavity, an inner wall surface of the outer wall has a supporting portion, a height difference between a top end of the supporting portion and a top end of the outer wall is defined as a built-in height, and the bottom portion forms a sound cone. The internal speaker enclosure has an inner cylinder wall, the inner cylinder wall has an upper opening and a lower opening and defines an inner cavity, and a bottom end of the inner cylinder wall is disposed on the supporting portion and forms a resonant cavity between the supporting portion and the sound cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignees: DEXIN ELECTRONIC LTD., DEXIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ho-Lung Lu, Shun-Chieh Chang
  • Patent number: 11164558
    Abstract: A vehicular air conditioning system includes an air conditioner case, a blower configured to blow an air to an internal air flow path of the air conditioner case, a microphone provided in the internal air flow path on a downstream side of the blower and configured to detect noise, and a speaker configured to output sound waves having a phase opposite to a phase of the noise detected by the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventors: Jung Seon Kim, Sang Ho Oh, Tae Wan Kim, Young Duk Park, Jeong Hun Seo, Jeong Eun Lee, Joong Heum Jung, Sun Joo Hong, Jae Hwan Jung, Bok Sun Kang
  • Patent number: 11159762
    Abstract: A display device and a speaker assembly are provided, the speaker assembly is located in a first rear housing or a second rear housing and includes a shell, a first speaker unit and a second speaker unit, the shell has a cavity, the cavity has a baffle disposed therein, the cavity is divided into a first cavity and a second cavity by the baffle, the first speaker unit and the second speaker unit are respectively located in the first cavity and the second cavity, and the speaker has a relatively low degree of distortion and a relatively high reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: HISENSE VISUAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuibao Li, Weicai Huang, Haiying Wang
  • Patent number: 11082760
    Abstract: A speaker assembly for being mounted within a wall is provided. The speaker assembly has a housing and a plurality of transducers supported by the housing. Each transducer has a front radiation surface and a radiation rear surface adapted to radiate sound along a central axis. The transducers are arranged relative to each other so the central axes of acoustic radiation of each of the transducers intersect at a circumcenter defined between the plurality of transducers to substantially cancel vibrations from the plurality of transducers. A slot is formed adjacent of each of the transducers. The slot extending a depth dimension of the assembly between a slot opening for transmitting acoustic radiation from the plurality of transducers and a back wall of the housing, wherein the depth dimension is generally perpendicular to the central axes of acoustic radiation of each of the transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Brian Sterling
  • Patent number: 11044540
    Abstract: A variable waveguide speaker controls, narrows, and directs the dispersion of the lower driver array to handle far-field listening areas. The widening mid-section of the speaker directs the sound from the mid-driver array to mid-field listening areas. The top of the speaker is the widest, allowing the top array drivers to cover their widest dispersion for near-field listening areas. This form-follows-function design results in a modern shape and elegant enclosure, as well as superior audio performance. A unique laminar flow grill system consisting of a multi-layer sandwich arrangement protects the speaker components from performance damage UV rays, dust, debris, water and ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: COASTAL SOURCE, LLC
    Inventors: Franco L. D'Ascanio, Franco C. D'Ascanio, Sean P. Snowden
  • Patent number: 10976486
    Abstract: Devices that include light assemblies for providing visual feedback to users that operate the electronic devices. In some instances, the devices comprise voice-controlled devices and, therefore, include one or more microphones for receiving audible commands from the users. After receiving a command, for instance, one such voice-controlled device may cause a corresponding light assembly of the device to illuminate in some predefined manner. This illumination may indicate to the user that device has received the command. In other instances, the devices may illuminate the lighting assembly for an array of other purposes. For instance, one such device may illuminate the corresponding light assembly when powering on or off, playing music, outputting information to a user (e.g., via a speaker or display), or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacobi Colton Grillo, Faiza Hassan, Isabella Talley Lewis, Tony David
  • Patent number: 10932039
    Abstract: The present invention provides a speaker box, includes a housing having an accommodating space, a speaker unit accommodated in the accommodating space of the housing, and two sound channels formed in the accommodating space. The speaker unit includes a diaphragm that vibrates for generating sound. The diaphragm divides the accommodating space into a front sound cavity and a rear cavity. The sound channel communicates the front sound cavity with an outside. The sound channel is connected with the front sound cavity to form a front cavity. The sound channel respectively communicates the front sound cavity with the outside. The two sound channels are symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the speaker unit respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: AAC Acoustic Technologies (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yajian Zheng, Lu Feng
  • Patent number: 10820073
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a speaker box. The speaker box includes a housing having a top wall, and a sounding unit accommodated in the housing. The sounding unit includes a diaphragm, which together with the top wall are disposed with a spacing therebetween to form a front acoustic cavity. The speaker box further includes a sound guiding channel. The front acoustic cavity and the sound guiding channel together constitute a front chamber of the speaker box. At least two first through-holes disposed with a spacing therebetween are provided in a region of the top wall corresponding to the front chamber. The speaker box further includes a cover plate provided on the top wall. The cover plate includes hard sheets covering the first through-holes and a soft rubber fixing portion, which surrounds and spaces the hard sheets from the top wall, and is fixedly connected with the top wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Shan, Yue Ren
  • Patent number: 10805719
    Abstract: A loudspeaker for use in a system of loud speakers comprises a wedge-shaped cabinet having front, back, top, bottom, left and right side faces, a baffle positioned and covering a portion of the front face of the cabinet, a low frequency driver positioned behind the baffle and spaced rearwardly therefrom toward the back face of the cabinet, and a vertically-aligned array including a plurality of high frequency drivers supported by the baffle and shaped, sized and positioned to adjoin with common spacing to a further loudspeaker in the system of loudspeakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugh K. Sarvis, D. Broadus Keele, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10743102
    Abstract: An electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention may have a structure including a sensor and a speaker. The structure may comprise: a first passage portion connected to the speaker; a second passage portion connected to the sensor; and a shared passage portion connected to the first passage portion and the second passage portion and leading to the outside of the structure. According to an embodiment, a sound output from the speaker is emitted to the outside of the structure through the first passage portion and the common passage portion, and a medium introduced from the outside of the structure may come into contact with the sensor through the common passage portion and the second passage portion. Various other embodiments are possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joonrae Cho, Byounghee Lee, Woojin Cho, Hochul Hwang
  • Patent number: 10730422
    Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in a vehicle seat that includes a seat headrest portion for supporting the head of an occupant, and a seat backrest portion for supporting the back of the occupant in a seated position. The backrest portion includes an enclosure for receiving at least a portion of an acoustic transducer. The vehicle seat also includes an acoustic channel having a first end that is configured to be fitted around a driver of the acoustic transducer in an acoustically sealed configuration, and a second end. The second end is opposite the first end and disposed at a location closer to the seat headrest portion than the seat backrest portion. The acoustic channel is configured to radiate acoustic energy from the acoustic transducer through the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Oswald, Bradford Kyle Subat, Tobe Z. Barksdale, Muhammad Haris Usmani
  • Patent number: 10721565
    Abstract: An audio device includes a speaker array and a controller for beam-steering audio output by the speaker array to localize sound in different locations in a local area around the audio device. The audio device also includes a microphone array or a set of cameras configured to detect an object, such as a human, in the local area around the audio device. Additionally, the audio device includes a subwoofer for outputting low frequencies. Different speakers are included in different chambers, with the subwoofer also included in a chamber. The audio device opens or closes valve doors separating adjacent chambers to alter audio output. Opening the valve doors allows the audio device to better output low frequencies, while closing the valve door allows the audio device to direct audio output by the speakers to locations in the local area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Asfaw, Michael Xingyi Yu, Michael Smedegaard
  • Patent number: 10674263
    Abstract: An audio circuit includes an amplifier, a voltage sensor, a current sensor, and an excursion control circuit. The voltage sensor is coupled to an output of the amplifier. The current sensor is coupled to the output of the amplifier. The excursion control circuit is coupled to the amplifier, the voltage sensor, and the current sensor. The excursion control circuit includes back electro-magnetic force (EMF) measurement, a back-EMF model, and excursion protection. The back-EMF measurement is to measure back electro-magnetic force of a speaker based on voltage measurements received from the voltage sensor and current measurements received from the current sensor. The back-EMF model is updated based on measurements of the back-EMF and is converted to an excursion model. The excursion protection is to limit amplitude of audio signal provided to the amplifier based on the excursion model of the speaker and amplitude of an audio input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Supriyo Palit, Abhishek Singh, Kevin Selva Prasanna Valanarasu
  • Patent number: 10652638
    Abstract: A speaker assembly for being mounted within a wall is provided. The speaker assembly has a housing and a plurality of transducers supported by the housing. Each transducer has a front radiation surface and a radiation rear surface adapted to radiate sound along a central axis. The transducers are arranged relative to each other so the central axes of acoustic radiation of each of the transducers intersect at a circumcenter defined between the plurality of transducers to substantially cancel vibrations from the plurality of transducers. A slot is formed adjacent of each of the transducers. The slot extending a depth dimension of the assembly between a slot opening for transmitting acoustic radiation from the plurality of transducers and a back wall of the housing, wherein the depth dimension is generally perpendicular to the central axes of acoustic radiation of each of the transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Brian Sterling
  • Patent number: 10631096
    Abstract: A transducer assembly having a frame; a dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly suspended from the frame, the dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly having a first diaphragm and a first voice coil attached thereto and a second diaphragm and a second voice coil attached thereto, wherein the first voice coil and the second voice coil are between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, and the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm are operable to move in opposite directions along an axis of vibration; a magnet assembly positioned within the frame, the magnet assembly having a first magnet and a second magnet positioned between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm; and a rigid support member dimensioned to fixedly connect the magnet assembly to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jordi Antoni Garcia Selva, Andrew M Hulva, Anthony P Grazian, Matthew A Donarski, Onur I Ilkorur, Alexander V Salvatti
  • Patent number: 10626550
    Abstract: An example composition includes a cloth, which has on each side thereof, a first waterproofing agent, a barrier which inhibits or prevents environmental degradation, and an elastomeric barrier including a second waterproofing agent. Another example composition includes a cloth with a phenolic resin coating having, on each side thereof, a first waterproofing agent, a barrier which inhibits or prevents environmental degradation, and an elastomeric barrier including a second waterproofing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn J. Prevoir, Philip Lawrence Smith
  • Patent number: 10553089
    Abstract: A security system control panel or home automation control panel including an end-user replaceable cellular telephony module that is removable from the control panel without disassembling the control panel. The cellular module includes a body, a cellular telephony circuit coupled to the body, a cellular telephony antenna coupled to the body and the cellular telephony circuit, and a first connector coupled to the cellular telephony circuit and the body, wherein the first connector is sized and shaped or otherwise configured to be removably engaged by the end-user with a second connector in the control panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Nortek Security & Control LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Laguer Acera, Bruce James Ehlers, Kaoru Hisamoto, David Alan Krula, Brian Vencil Skarda, Robert John True, Lance Leo Dean, Dale Pedersen, Geoff Goldberg, Loren Bryner
  • Patent number: 10547933
    Abstract: An enclosure unit for a speaker device is presented. The enclosure unit comprises an integral elongated hollow body defining a cavity for mounting therein an electronic unit of the speaker. The hollow body has a distal end portion, defining an open end of the enclosure unit through which sound reproduced by said electronic unit is output, a proximal end portion having an open end, and an intermediate portion in between the distal end and proximal end portions. The proximal end portion of the hollow body is coupled to the intermediate portion at a certain location on the intermediate portion thereby defining a toroidal-like portion of the hollow body. A cross sectional dimension of an interior of the hollow body reduces from the distal end portion towards the proximal end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Novel Acoustics Ltd.
    Inventor: Boaz Dekel
  • Patent number: 10531181
    Abstract: Examples are disclosed for tuning loudspeakers to have complementary impedance characteristics. An example loudspeaker system includes an amplifier configured to generate an audio signal, and a plurality of speakers connected in parallel to the amplifier to receive the audio signal, wherein each speaker of the plurality of speakers has a unique impedance characteristic that, when combined with the impedance characteristics of the other speakers of the plurality of speakers, shows all speaker impedance characteristics to be complementary, resulting in a more level, or resistive, overall speaker system load impedance. This more level, or resistive, overall speaker system load impedance results in a more dynamic sound with more extended low end in comparison to conventional speaker systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Chris N. Hagen
  • Patent number: 10484766
    Abstract: Disclosed in the present invention is a speaker module. The speaker module comprises a housing, and a speaker unit located within the inner chamber of the housing. The speaker unit separates the inner chamber into a front sound chamber and a rear sound chamber which are isolated from each other. The housing is embedded with a metal sheet, the metal sheet being provided with a pressure relief hole which is acoustically sealed and used for communicating a rear sound chamber and the external environment. The pressure relief hole is provided with a mesh on the side away from the rear sound chamber. The speaker module provided by the present invention has a housing embedded with a metal sheet, the metal sheet being provided with a pressure relief hole. The inner diameter of the pressure relief hole can be made small according to actual needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventors: Xinxiang Huo, Yun Yang, Zhijun Sun
  • Patent number: 10484768
    Abstract: A free-standing, portable speaker system including (1) at least a first cabinet enclosure of a first size generally rectangular in shape and having six sides; wherein the at least first cabinet enclosure includes at least a first driver and at least a second driver; and a planar partition soundboard member; wherein the partition soundboard member is adapted for enhancing the quality of sound from said first cabinet enclosure; and (2) at least a third driver releasably attached to the first cabinet enclosure; wherein the at least third driver in combination with the at least first and second drivers enclosed in the at least first cabinet enclosure enhances the quality of sound from said speaker system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Inventor: Eric James Lundgard
  • Patent number: 10425174
    Abstract: A system that acquires information from at least first and second electronic devices, the information indicating a quality of a wireless link between the at least first and second electronic devices; generates adjustment information indicating an adjustment of at least one of a position, orientation, antenna position or antenna direction of at least one of the first or second electronic devices to improve the quality of the wireless link between the first and second electronic devices; and controls outputting the adjustment information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Erika Saito, Natsuki Itaya, Kazuyuki Sakoda, Kenzoh Nishikawa, Chihiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 10397693
    Abstract: An acoustic enclosure has a housing at least partially defining an acoustic chamber for an acoustic radiator. The housing defines an acoustic port from the acoustic chamber to a surrounding environment. An acoustic resonator has a first resonant chamber and a second resonant chamber. The acoustic resonator also has a first duct to acoustically couple the first resonant chamber with the acoustic chamber and a second duct to acoustically couple the second resonant chamber with the first resonant chamber. An electronic device can have an electro-acoustic transducer. Circuitry in the electronic device can drive the electro-acoustic transducer to emit sound over a selected frequency bandwidth. Damping provided by the first and the second resonant chambers can de-emphasize one or more frequencies and/or extend a frequency response of the acoustic enclosure to improve perceived sound quality emitted by the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hongdan Tao, Anthony P. Grazian, Christopher Wilk, Matthew A. Donarski, Michael J. Newman, Onur I. Ilkorur
  • Patent number: 10368161
    Abstract: An amplifier and an electronic device using the same are provided. The amplifier includes a first speaker, a second speaker, an acoustic box and at least one partition. The first speaker and the second speaker are disposed on a continuous surface inside the acoustic box. The partition is disposed on the continuous surface and interposed between the first speaker and the second speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: ACER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Feng-Ming Liu, Jia-Ren Chang, Chien-Chung Chen
  • Patent number: 10306357
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system (50) has a front loudspeaker enclosure (10) having at least one front loudspeaker (20) and a rear loudspeaker enclosure (30) having at least one second loudspeaker (40). The front loudspeaker enclosure (10) is in the form of a horn-loaded enclosure. The rear loudspeaker enclosure (30) is in the form of a vented high-pass enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: AURA AUDIO OY
    Inventors: Mika Isotalo, Jan Thome
  • Patent number: 10283121
    Abstract: A voice controlled assistant has a housing to hold one or more microphones, one or more speakers, and various computing components. The housing has an elongated cylindrical body extending along a center axis between a base end and a top end. The microphone(s) are mounted in the top end and the speaker(s) are mounted proximal to the base end. The microphone(s) and speaker(s) are coaxially aligned along the center axis. The speaker(s) are oriented to output sound directionally toward the base end and opposite to the microphone(s) in the top end. The sound may then be redirected in a radial outward direction from the center axis at the base end so that the sound is output symmetric to, and equidistance from, the microphone(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Theodore List
  • Patent number: 10271141
    Abstract: A speaker assembly may include a first woofer speaker electronically coupled to a first electronic circuit including high-Q filter configured to provide first audio signals having frequencies between 200-2000 Hz to the first woofer speaker. The speaker assembly may further include at least one second woofer speaker electronically coupled to a second electronic circuit configured to provide second audio signals having frequencies between 20-200 Hz to the second woofer speaker, wherein the first woofer speaker is identical to the second woofer speaker and is configured to operate as a mid-range speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Mark Glazer
  • Patent number: 10250593
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to methods of generating and using an image-based derived key. In various embodiments, the image-based derived key may be used to facilitate user authentication and data encryption. For some embodiments, a method is disclosed comprising determining an image-based derived key, wherein the image-based derived key is generated from a selection of authentication images chosen by a user, encrypting data using the image-based derived key, and transmitting the encrypted data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Selim Aissi, Taeho Kgil, Ajit Gaddam
  • Patent number: 10244317
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a sound apparatus comprising a plurality of driver units arranged linearly in an end-fire array, and for each driver unit, a corresponding digital filter for individual digital signal processing of signals received by the driver unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Adrian Celestinos, Allan Devantier, Andri Bezzola, Pascal M. Brunet
  • Patent number: 10171910
    Abstract: Disclosed are stereo sound system devices and methods for reproducing stereo sound with improved auditory experience and reduced speaker rattle. In some embodiments, the disclosed arrangement of speakers on the sound system housing and driving low frequency speakers with the same signal contribute to the improved auditory experience and reduced speaker rattle effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: D2A Audio LLC
    Inventor: Ahmad Rick Ashrafzadeh
  • Patent number: 10158958
    Abstract: Audio perception in local proximity to visual cues is provided. A device includes a video display, first row of audio transducers, and second row of audio transducers. The first and second rows can be vertically disposed above and below the video display. An audio transducer of the first row and an audio transducer of the second row form a column to produce, in concert, an audible signal. The perceived emanation of the audible signal is from a plane of the video display (e.g., a location of a visual cue) by weighing outputs of the audio transducers of the column. In certain embodiments, the audio transducers are spaced farther apart at a periphery for increased fidelity in a center portion of the plane and less fidelity at the periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Christophe Chabanne, Nicolas R. Tsingos, Charles Q. Robinson
  • Patent number: 10142726
    Abstract: Example techniques may involve reduction of turbulence noise from a sound transducer that is mounted within an interior housing of a playback device. An example playback device may include an enclosure comprising a first interior volume and a second interior volume. The playback device may further include a speaker mounted within an interior of the enclosure. The speaker includes a diaphragm dividing the first interior volume and the second interior volume and the speaker is moveable along an axis to generate sound. The playback device may also include a first speaker vent providing airflow between the first interior volume and an exterior of the enclosure and a second speaker vent providing airflow between the first interior volume and the exterior of the enclosure. The first speaker vent directs airflow in a first direction and second speaker vent directs airflow in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Tetsuro Oishi
  • Patent number: 10045461
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with electrical components such as a power supply that produce heat. Speakers and other components may be controlled using control circuitry within the electronic device. The electronic device may play audio signals through the speakers. Audio data may be received from external equipment or may be maintained locally within the device. A speaker such as a subwoofer may be mounted in a device housing above the power supply so that airflow from the speaker cools the power supply. To enhance cooling, the control circuitry may supply inaudible signals to the speaker that enhance airflow produced by the speaker. The inaudible signals may be supplied in response to detecting current heat-producing audio playback conditions, to predicting future heat-producing conditions, or real-time temperature measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brad G. Boozer, Craig M. Stanley, John J. Baker, Phillip Michael Hobson, Nathan P. Bosscher
  • Patent number: 9992575
    Abstract: A speaker assembly comprises two separate and symmetrical speakers combining together in a reversed manner. Each speaker includes a base surface for seating said speaker and a sound emission surface provided at one front side thereof for an emission of sound derived from the speaker. Wherein each speaker defines a mating surface which the sound emission surface is located at and said two speakers can be secured to each other snugly into an integral unit by jointing two mating surfaces thereof via a magnetic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Xiao-Qin Wang, Chin-Chu Cheng, Hui-Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 9961465
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for improving speaker performance and a terminal device, when a speaker is being driven, an algorithm parameter that matches the speaker is selected, to resolve a problem that adjustment and control performance is reduced because of a difference in speaker models, and can effectively improve performance of a speaker. The method includes obtaining an identity of a speaker, where the identity is used to identify the speaker; obtaining an algorithm parameter corresponding to the speaker from a preset algorithm parameter library according to the identity of the speaker, where the preset algorithm parameter library comprises algorithm parameters of speakers of at least two models; sending the algorithm parameter corresponding to the speaker to a smart speaker power amplifier module, so that the smart speaker power amplifier module drives the speaker according to the algorithm parameter corresponding to the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Youying Lan, Weicun Zhou, Peng Li
  • Patent number: 9936283
    Abstract: A speaker assembly broadly comprising a housing, an input circuit, and a number of speakers. The housing includes a lower section configured to be positioned at least partially below a ground surface and an upper section extending upwards from the lower section. The input circuit receives audio signals from a sound system or other controller and actively or passively sends the audio signals to the speakers. The speakers include a low-range speaker positioned in the lower section of the housing and a relatively higher-range speaker positioned in the upper section. The speaker assembly is configured to be spaced from other speaker assemblies within a listening area with each speaker assembly generating low frequency soundwaves and relatively higher-frequency soundwaves. This reduces or eliminates out-of-phase crossover frequency wave cancellation effects within the listening area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: MS Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Chris Combest
  • Patent number: 9913014
    Abstract: A speaker system such as a sound bar assembly having a plurality of speaker units and improved sound quality is provided. Opposing mating portions of front and back panels of the assembly or system are fused or welded together to form outer boundary and interior joints where the front and back panels are welded together. The front and back panels are spaced apart at their first and second ends to define first and second speaker compartments, respectively, separated by a central compartment. A speaker unit is positioned in each of the speaker compartments. The speaker compartments are acoustically isolated from one another by the interior joints to improve the sound quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: JVIS USA, LLC
    Inventors: Alexis A. Perez, Jason T. Murar, Michael G. Froude
  • Patent number: 9913058
    Abstract: According to one implementation, a sonic field sound system includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a memory storing a sound modulation software code. The sound system further includes an acoustic object coupled to an input of the computing platform via a capacitance sensing unit. The acoustic object has one or more input interface(s) coupled to an output of the computing platform, and also has a resonant cavity having at least one outlet. The hardware processor is configured to execute the sound modulation software code to generate a waveform for driving the one or more input interface(s) of the acoustic object via the output of the computing platform to produce a sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Israr, Ivan Poupyrev, Yoshio Ishiguro, Olivier Bau, Yuri Suzuki, James H. Auger
  • Patent number: 9906855
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an enclosure capable of receiving an array of transducers for converting electrical signals into steered audible signals. The apparatus also includes one or more structures within the enclosure defining a port having one end located within the enclosure and another end that is external to the enclosure. The apparatus also includes an acoustic resistive element located in the one of the one or more structures, the acoustic resistive element being capable of reducing effects of the acoustic characteristics of the port for audible signals being produced by the array of transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Antonio M. Lage, Said Boluriaan, Eric C. Mitchell, Ray Scott Wakeland
  • Patent number: 9837083
    Abstract: A voice controlled assistant has a housing to hold one or more microphones, one or more speakers, and various computing components. The housing has an elongated cylindrical body extending along a center axis between a base end and a top end. The microphone(s) are mounted in the top end and the speaker(s) are mounted proximal to the base end. The microphone(s) and speaker(s) are coaxially aligned along the center axis. The speaker(s) are oriented to output sound directionally toward the base end and opposite to the microphone(s) in the top end. The sound may then be redirected in a radial outward direction from the center axis at the base end so that the sound is output symmetric to, and equidistance from, the microphone(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Theodore List
  • Patent number: 9800961
    Abstract: A portable loudspeaker includes an electro-acoustic driver which creates sound waves when operated and a housing having a front side to which the driver is secured. The loudspeaker also includes a battery supported by the housing for providing electrical power to the driver and a cover having an upper portion and a lower portion, and secured to the housing which can be moved between (i) a closed position in which the upper and lower portions overlie the driver, and (ii) an open position in which the upper and lower portions do not overlie the driver and are substantially disposed beneath a supporting base of the housing. A controller controls operation of the loudspeaker. When the cover is moved to the closed position, the controller mutes the driver if the driver was outputting acoustic waves when the cover was moved to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Travis E. Nicholson, Paul Warren, Stephen J. Maguire, Tommy Marincic, Leslie L. Scott
  • Patent number: 9774935
    Abstract: A speaker device for reproducing an audio signal includes a first speaker including a first diaphragm and a first magnetic circuit that drives the first diaphragm, where the first diaphragm reproduces an audio signal including a predetermined frequency range, a second speaker including a second diaphragm and a second magnetic circuit that drives the second diaphragm, where the second diaphragm reproduces an audio signal including a frequency range substantially the same as the predetermined frequency range, and at least one cabinet having the first speaker and the second speaker mounted therein so that radiation directions of sounds are opposite to each other. At least part of a space formed between the first speaker and the second speaker communicates with the outside of the cabinet. When the speaker device reproduces the audio signal, the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm vibrate in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Matsumura, Akihisa Kawamura, Kazuki Honda, Takafumi Yuasa, Shuji Saiki, Satoshi Takayama
  • Patent number: 9723399
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a housing having an audio output port therein, a display carried by the housing, and a baffle enclosure carried within the housing. The electronic device may also include an audio output transducer carried by the baffle enclosure and acoustically coupled to the audio output port, and a passive radiator carried by the baffle enclosure, acoustically coupled between the audio output transducer and the display, and acoustically isolated from the audio output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ryan J. Mihelich, Inna Lobel
  • Patent number: 9589429
    Abstract: An alarm sounder and at least one sound amplification component having at least one horn shaped channel form an alarm detector. The at least one horn shaped channel has a throat end and an outlet end, the throat end being disposed corresponding to a sound-making end of the alarm sounder. The sound intensity of the alarm detector can meet the regulations of the industry standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventor: Chang Lin Sun
  • Patent number: 9532143
    Abstract: A method of optimizing the low frequency audio response emanating from a pair of low frequency transducers housed within a cabinet. The low frequency transducers are electrically connected to a power amplifier and source of audio content. The resonant frequency (Fs) and amplitude (Q) are characterized as to the high-pass pole of the low frequency transducers as they are mounted within the cabinet. An equalizer is placed between the amplifier and source of audio content for canceling the complex pole of the low frequency transducers and for establishing a new complex pole at a cut off frequency below which the sound generated by the low frequency transducers will diminish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shiekts
  • Patent number: 9525932
    Abstract: A balanced acoustic device includes an enclosure defining an acoustic chamber, a first passive radiator diaphragm having an active driver assembly and a second passive radiator diaphragm having a plurality of active driver assemblies that are laterally offset. The moving mass of the first passive radiator assembly is substantially equal to the moving mass of the second passive radiator assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roman Litovsky, Chester Smith Williams
  • Patent number: RE46811
    Abstract: An audio system for a television using a pipe type passive directional acoustic device mounted in a television cabinet. The slotted pipe type passive directional acoustic device includes a first acoustic driver, acoustically coupled to a pipe to radiate acoustic energy into the pipe. The first pipe includes an elongated opening along at least a portion of the length of the pipe. Acoustically resistive material is in the opening. Pressure waves are radiated to the environment through the opening. The pressure waves are characterized by a volume velocity. The pipe, the opening, and the acoustically resistive material are configured so that the volume velocity is substantially constant along the length of the pipe. The passive directional acoustic devices directionally radiate sound waves laterally from the television cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Jankovsky, Eric S. Johanson, Richard Saffran