With Amplifier Patents (Class 381/120)
  • Patent number: 11894858
    Abstract: An amplifier performs analog amplification on a signal I_A with a gain corresponding to a state GS and outputs the amplified signal as a signal M_A. An ADC converts the signal M_A to a digital signal and outputs the digital signal as a signal M_D. Analog comparators and a down-determination unit detect that the signal M_A exceeds a first level, and cause the state GS to transition to a state of gain of the next lower stage. Digital comparators and an up-determination unit detect that the signal M_D has been continuously lower than a second level for a predetermined period, and cause the state GS to transition to a state of gain of the next higher stage. The restoration circuit performs digital amplification on the signal M_D with a gain corresponding to the gain of the amplifier and outputs the amplified signal as a signal O_D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 11785375
    Abstract: The acoustic attenuator also serves as a protective microphone enclosure that reduces exposure to debris as well as environmental humidity 5 and harmful gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventors: Peter L. Madaffari, Scott A. Moser, Vijay Parsa, Niamh C. Finnegan
  • Patent number: 11722100
    Abstract: An improved audio amplifier system can both reduce power consumption by supporting a standby mode and shorten wake time when resuming from the standby mode. The audio amplifier system may reduce power by entering a sleep or standby state in response to a command and/or detecting that an audio input signal is not received. Further, the audio amplifier system may use a burst generator to periodically or intermittently activate the power supply during standby mode. By periodically or intermittently activating the power supply, one or more of the capacitors may be charged. By charging the capacitors during standby mode, the time to wake from standby mode may be significantly reduced. In some cases, the wake time may be reduced by several order of magnitudes (e.g., from seconds to milliseconds).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: RGB Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Mendenhall, Jason Todd Muroki
  • Patent number: 11703973
    Abstract: An input apparatus and an electronic device applying the input apparatus. The input apparatus includes: at least one sensor, configured to detect an inputting operation, and output a first signal based on the inputting operation; at least one amplifying circuit, configured to amplify a difference between the first signal and a referential signal, to output a second signal, where each of the at least one amplifying circuit comprises a plurality of stages, each of the plurality stages comprises an amplifier, and a high-pass filter is connected between last two stages of the plurality of stages; and an analog-digital converter, configured to convert the second signal into a digital signal characterizing a state of the inputting operation, where the ADC comprises at least one comparator. Users can give instructions through novel inputting operations, and performances of the electronic device are greatly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: GOERTEK TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Hirotada Taniuchi
  • Patent number: 11683015
    Abstract: A class-D amplifier including a pulse width modulator including an input configured to receive a first signal based on an input signal, and an output configured to generate a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal; an H-bridge including an input coupled to an output of the pulse width modulator and an output coupled to a load, wherein the H-bridge is configured to generate an output signal across the load based on the PWM signal; and a deadtime compensation circuit coupled to the H-bridge, wherein the deadtime compensation circuit is configured to compensate for deadtime distortion in the output signal. The deadtime compensation circuit may be a feedback circuit between an output of the H-bridge and an input of the pulse width modulator, a pulse modification circuit at the output of the pulse width modulator, or an offset signal generating circuit providing an offset signal to the pulse width modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: ChienChung Yang, Dongyang Tang, Sherif Galal, Xinwang Zhang, Subbarao Surendra Chakkirala, Pradeep Silva
  • Patent number: 11652405
    Abstract: A signal amplifying circuit and associated methods and apparatuses, the circuit comprising: a signal path extending from an input terminal to an output terminal, a gain controller arranged to control the gain applied along the signal path in response to a control signal; an output stage within the signal path for generating the output signal, the output stage having a gain that is substantially independent of its supply voltage, and a variable voltage power supply comprising a charge pump for providing positive and negative output voltages, the charge pump comprising a network of switches that is operable in a number of different states and a controller for operating the switches in a sequence of the states so as to generate positive and negative output voltages together spanning a voltage approximately equal to the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Lesso, John L. Pennock, Peter J. Frith
  • Patent number: 11515817
    Abstract: A voice coil motor driving device and a method for providing control signals of the same are provided. The voice coil motor driving device includes a control module, a current driving module, and an input module. The current driving module outputs a plurality of digital current signals according to a driving signal, each of the plurality of digital current signals includes a plurality of current unit signals, and each of the plurality of digital current signals is arranged in a first time period, each of the plurality of digital current signals includes a plurality of reverse current unit signals, and the plurality of reverse current unit signals are arranged in a second time period, which is at a beginning of the first time period, or arranged in a third time period, which is at the end of the first time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SILICON TOUCH TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Chi-Yuan Chin
  • Patent number: 11443746
    Abstract: A personalized sound management system for an acoustic space includes at least one transducer, a data communication system, one or more processors operatively coupled to the data communication system and the at least one transducer, and a medium coupled to the one or more processors. The processors access a database of sonic signatures and display a plurality of personalized sound management applications that perform at least one or more tasks among identifying a sonic signature, calculating a sound pressure level, storing metadata related to a sonic signature, monitoring sound pressure level dosage levels, switching to an ear canal microphone in a noisy environment, recording a user's voice, storing the user's voice in a memory of an earpiece device, or storing the user's voice in a memory of a server system, or converting received text received in texts or emails to voice using text to speech conversion. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Staton Techiya, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Goldstein, John P. Keady
  • Patent number: 11438682
    Abstract: A microphone assembly includes a housing including a base, a cover, and a sound port. The microphone assembly further includes an acoustic transducer and an electrical circuit, both of which are disposed in an enclosed volume of the housing. The transducer and electrical circuit work in concert to convert sound waves into a processed digital audio signal. The electrical circuit is configured to process digital data in a series of frames that correspond to a fixed period in time. The electrical circuit is further configured to reduce noise in the resulting signal by varying the current draw required in a randomized or pseudo-randomized fashion between adjacent frames of digital data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: KNOWLES ELECTRONICS, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Abed, Edwin Cordon, Niel Warren, Donald Sanders, Maulik Patel, Dushyant Liya
  • Patent number: 11387792
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a loudspeaker system and an electronics device. The loudspeaker system comprises: a power amplifier, which amplifies an input audio signal; a transducer, connected to the power amplifier, which receives the amplified input audio signal and converts it into a sound wave; a power supply, which provides current to the power amplifier; and a secondary battery, wherein the secondary battery provides extra current to the power amplifier when the power amplifier needs a higher current to actuate the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Goertek Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Warren Little
  • Patent number: 11362467
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to circuitry for detecting at least partial removal of an audio accessory plug from a corresponding socket. The circuitry comprises a monitoring unit comprising a first terminal configured to be electrically connected to a first socket contact of the socket that is in electrical contact with a first plug contact of the plug when the plug is fully received in the socket. The monitoring unit is configured to monitor a first impedance of a first signal path coupled to the first terminal, and the circuitry is configured to output a signal indicative of detection of at least partial removal of the plug from the socket in response to detection by the monitoring unit of a first predetermined sequence of impedance states of the first signal path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: John Bruce Bowlerwell, John Anthony Breslin
  • Patent number: 11356729
    Abstract: A media controller application that enables a user to select source and destination services and devices for media playback that provides an interoperability layer between different service and device ecosystems, and a media redirection hardware adapter that connects to a host device using a physical connector and receives audio and then retransmits at least a portion of the audio wirelessly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventor: Ravi Rajapakse
  • Patent number: 11347473
    Abstract: A detachable display device includes a main box including a microphone and a main processor, and a display including an amplifier configured to amplify an audio signal received from the main processor and a speaker configured to convert the amplified audio signal into a sound and output the sound. The main processor is configured to perform acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) on the audio signal based on the audio signal output by the main processor, equalization information, and volume information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sunho Hwang, Kyoungryul Lim, Ingyu Lee
  • Patent number: 11343609
    Abstract: Techniques described herein generally relate to generating an audio signal with a speaker. In some examples, a speaker device is described that includes a membrane and a shutter. The membrane can be configured to oscillate along a first directional path and at least one frequency effective to generate an ultrasonic acoustic signal. The shutter is positioned along the propagation of ultrasonic acoustic signal and configured to modulate the ultrasonic acoustic signal such that an audio signal is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: SONICEDGE LTD.
    Inventor: Mordehai Margalit
  • Patent number: 11277104
    Abstract: A dynamically stabilizable amplifier drives an output current into an RLC load. A driver stage generates the output current, and a control circuit compares a current level of the amplifier output with a threshold and selectively enables a stabilizing resistor (to selectively shunt the load or dampen in series with the load, depending on RLC load type) at the driver stage output based on the comparison so that the amplifier is stable across a range of the output current level. The control circuit disables the resistor when the output current is above the highest threshold and enables it when below. The control circuit may control the resistor to have one of multiple resistance values based on a comparison with multiple thresholds. The output current level may be determined by replicating the output current level or by an input current level that sets the output current level independent of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Vamsikrishna Parupalli, John L. Melanson
  • Patent number: 11256878
    Abstract: A method for providing directed transmission of sound waves, through modulation on an ultrasonic carrier, may comprise connecting, at least one directed sound source to an audio system, emitting, via the at least one directed sound source, audio from the audio system, wherein the emitting comprises emitting medium frequency audio sound waves and higher frequency audio sound waves. The audio may be selected via a master control unit, which may be operatively coupled to a mobile application. In many embodiments, a first audio selection is configured to be heard only through a first directed sound source, and a second audio selection is configured to be heard only through a second directed sound source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: ZAPS LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Frank Scalisi, Tyler James Gilbreth, Steven Christopher Lynch, Adrian Simon Lanch
  • Patent number: 11218801
    Abstract: A point-pressed audio pickup apparatus includes a deformation element and an audio pickup device. The deformation element is pushed by an external force to induce deformation, so that a distance sensing element in the audio pickup device can measure the deformation through the changed distance so as to trigger the audio pickup device to start receiving sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Jazz Hipster Corporation
    Inventors: Yueh-Hua Hsu Huang, Lien-Huang Yang
  • Patent number: 11208320
    Abstract: A MEMS microphone includes a substrate defining a cavity including a first sidewall extending a vertical direction, a back plate disposed over the substrate and defining a plurality of acoustic holes, a diaphragm disposed between the substrate and the back plate, the diaphragm having at least one vent hole, an anchor extending from a circumference of the diaphragm to connect an end portion of the diaphragm to an upper surface of the substrate, and at least one path member communicating with the vent hole, the path member providing a flow path for the acoustic pressure to flow downwardly toward the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: DB HITEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dae Young Kim, Jin Hyung Lee
  • Patent number: 11184005
    Abstract: A field programmable device or software-defined hardware can change its functions by using software codes to alter the routing path of interconnect signal lines or the electrical properties of fundamental building elements. The field programmable device includes I/O interface blocks and signal processing blocks comprising analog signal processing units, digital signal processing units, memory units, clock units, and other supporting functional units which are electrically connected by user programmable interconnect signal lines. The analog signal processing functions can be altered by changing the electrical properties of fundamental building elements as well as the programmable signal lines after the device is manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventor: Ben Sheen
  • Patent number: 11146888
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus and a signal processing method are provided. In a case where an HS microphone detection circuit has just detected connection of a microphone contact point, an input and output IF blocks a sound signal which is input from the microphone contact point from a first input port of a sound processing apparatus for two seconds by an HS mute circuit. Thereby, it is possible to prevent an improper sound signal from the microphone contact point from being output from a left speaker and a right speaker of a headset through a right output port Rout and a left output port Lout of the sound processing apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unpleasant noise caused by the improper sound signal from being output to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Roland Corporation
    Inventor: Kentaro Mori
  • Patent number: 11115121
    Abstract: Techniques for implementing an internal optical communication link in a power amplifier system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a power amplifier system that includes a panel, an optical link, and a controller. The panel includes a plurality of signal endpoints and a first optical interface, the first optical interface being coupled to each of the plurality of signal endpoints. The optical link is coupled to the first optical interface. The controller is configured to manage operation of the power amplifier system and is coupled to the optical link via a second optical interface. The controller communicates with each of the plurality of signal endpoints over the optical link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: EMPOWER RF SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Donald M. Wike, Michael Berman, Darren Miles, Paulo Correa, Leonid Mogilevsky, Marc Obbad
  • Patent number: 11036463
    Abstract: Provided is a terminal device including: a communication unit that communicates with an audio reproduction device; a sound quality adjustment unit that performs sound quality adjustment on audio data; and a control unit that determines whether or not the audio reproduction device has a sound quality adjustment function depending on a communication result of communication based on a predetermined protocol, and turns on or off the sound quality adjustment function of the sound quality adjustment unit depending on a determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tamaki, Koji Fujita
  • Patent number: 11031863
    Abstract: A signal amplifying circuit and associated methods and apparatuses, the circuit comprising: a signal path extending from an input terminal to an output terminal, a gain controller arranged to control the gain applied along the signal path in response to a control signal; an output stage within the signal path for generating the output signal, the output stage having a gain that is substantially independent of its supply voltage, and a variable voltage power supply comprising a charge pump for providing positive and negative output voltages, the charge pump comprising a network of switches that is operable in a number of different states and a controller for operating the switches in a sequence of the states so as to generate positive and negative output voltages together spanning a voltage approximately equal to the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Lesso, John L. Pennock, Peter J. Frith
  • Patent number: 10985716
    Abstract: An audio processing device includes: at least one processor configured to: generate a first signal by reducing components that fall below a first frequency in an audio signal; generate a second signal by reducing components that fall below a second frequency that is higher than the first frequency in the audio signal; select between a first state for outputting the first signal and a second state for outputting the second signal; and output one of the selected first or second signal as an output signal; and a class-D amplifier configured to amplify the output signal, in which, the at least one processor is further configured to: determine whether or not a power supply pumping phenomenon exists or a possibility of the power supply pumping phenomenon exists, in a power source that supplies a power supply voltage to the class-D amplifier; and in which, in the selecting between the first state and the second state, the at least one processor is configured to select: the first state in a case where a determination
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsutaka Goto, Kazuhiro Yanaike
  • Patent number: 10978091
    Abstract: A system is provided to realize suppression by selecting wavelets for feature compression in distributed speech recognition. The system comprises a first device and a second device. The first device comprising: a first network module for connecting to a network; an acoustic transducer module for recording speech and outputting frames of recorded signal; and a first processor configured for the following: extracting multiple-dimensional speech features from the frames of the recorded signal to generate multiple feature sequences; applying discrete wavelet transform (DWT) to the feature sequences to obtain a plurality of component data; and transmitting at least one of the plurality of component data via the network, wherein another one of the plurality of component data is not transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: ACADEMIA SINICA
    Inventors: Yu Tsao, Syu-Siang Wang
  • Patent number: 10979824
    Abstract: A method in a transducer assembly having an external-device interface coupled to a communication protocol interface of the transducer assembly. The transducer assembly is configured to convert an input signal having one physical form to an output signal having a different physical form. At least two electrical signals are received on corresponding contacts of the external-device interface of the transducer assembly. A characteristic of at least one of the electrical signals is determined by evaluating a logic transition of the signal. A unique identity assigned to the transducer assembly is determined based on the characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Konrad Wolf, Niel D. Warren
  • Patent number: 10931026
    Abstract: An In-Building Communications system is disclosed which permits communication in tunnels, underground parking garages, tall buildings such as skyscrapers, buildings having thick walls of concrete or metal, and/or any building which has communication dead zones due to electromagnetic shielding. The invention includes a portable bi-directional amplifier (BDA) system, an outdoor antenna system attached to the building or independently mountable, an indoor antenna system attached to the building or independently mountable inside the building, and a standardized, In-Building Communications (IBC) interface box affixed preferably to the exterior of the building. The interface box communicates with antenna systems attached to the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventor: Karl F. Scheucher
  • Patent number: 10862471
    Abstract: A signal modulator for modulating at least one input signal is disclosed. The modulator includes an adaptive ramp generator receiving a clock signal having a clock cycle. The adaptive ramp generator provides a ramp signal having a profile starting from a minimum level adjusted in each clock cycle. The signal modulator may receive a first, second, and third input signal, and a clock signal. The first and second input signals may derive from a single signal where the second signal is equal to the first signal shifted by 180 degrees. The third signal may be a fixed level that sets the nominal duty cycle of the modulator. The input signal having the highest amplitude among the first, second, and third input signals is identified. The minimum level of the ramp signal is adjusted, and the peak value of the ramp maintained substantially equal to the signal having the highest amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventor: David Coyne
  • Patent number: 10771528
    Abstract: Techniques for implementing an audio distribution system using only standard network cabling for both power transmission and audio signal transmission. The system comprising of one or more Audio-streaming Source Units and one or more self-contained Network-powered Speaker Units where a plurality of audio streams can exist simultaneously and any audio stream can be directed between any Audio-streaming Source Unit and any Network-powered Speaker Unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: OneView Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Ronald Davison, Kenneth Dale Jones
  • Patent number: 10757506
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit for a parametric transducer, comprising: a signal processor for processing an input signal into first and second signals; and at least a pair of output stages arranged to respectively receive the first and second signals for generating amplified first and second signals respectively, which are provided to operate the parametric transducer. The input, first and second signals are arranged with a substantially similar frequency to cause a switching frequency of the amplifier circuit to be matched to a carrier frequency of the parametric transducer. A related audio device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Nanyang Technological University
    Inventors: Joseph Sylvester Chang, Tong Ge, Linfei Guo
  • Patent number: 10701488
    Abstract: Described herein is a head-mounted device including an audio system configured to provide a surround sound audio effect. The device may include one or more of a forehead assembly, a rear-head assembly, a set of speakers, a set of straps connecting the forehead assembly to the read-head assembly, and/or other components. The forehead assembly may include one or more speakers. Individual ones of the straps may include one or more speakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Meta View, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Beltran, Lin Cong, Eric Bokides
  • Patent number: 10701495
    Abstract: A hearing assistance and/or noise suppression device leverages computing power of an external device with a digital signal processor, such as a special unit that is configured to communicate with a smart device (e.g., a smart phone, smart watch or smart pendant) or a smart phone with a digital signal processor. Methods include having a hearing transducer communicate with and offload computing tasks to an external device with a digital signal processor. Systems include a hearing transducer with transducer circuitry that receives, amplifies and outputs digital signal processed audio from another device. Methods provide self-adjustment and fitting through a touch screen interface, which can be conducted outside of a clinical setting in a real world environment, and method can include remote data collection and communications with clinicians.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Inventors: Truong Nguyen, Harinath Garudadri, Patrick Mercier, Arthur Boothroyd, Carol Mackersie
  • Patent number: 10680343
    Abstract: An In-Building Communications system is disclosed which permits communication in tunnels, underground parking garages, tall buildings such as skyscrapers, buildings having thick walls of concrete or metal, and/or any building which has communication dead zones due to electromagnetic shielding. The invention includes a portable bi-directional amplifier (BDA) system, an outdoor antenna system attached to the building or independently mountable, an indoor antenna system attached to the building or independently mountable inside the building, and a standardized, In-Building Communications (IBC) interface box affixed preferably to the exterior of the building. The interface box communicates with antenna systems attached to the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Inventor: Karl F. Scheucher
  • Patent number: 10665215
    Abstract: The present invention provides an Effector Power Adapter for connecting an effector, the Effector Power Adapter includes a power supply module, at least one first voltage transformation module and multiple voltage output ports, wherein the voltage output port has at least one first voltage transformation output port. The first voltage transformation module is electrically connected to the power supply module and the first voltage transformation output port, and the first voltage transformation module controls the first voltage transformation output port to output numerically continuously adjustable voltages. The present invention further provides an Effector Working System, which has an effector and the above effector power adapter. The Effector Power Adapter and the Effector Working System provided by the present invention can apply different voltages to an effector to produce different sound effects, which enriches the playing effect and offers more musical creation space for music practitioners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Shenzhen Swiff Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: He Jia
  • Patent number: 10616691
    Abstract: A microphone circuit having an amplifier with an input operably coupled to a microphone motor also includes a low pass filter operably coupled to the output of the amplifier and a positive feedback network that operably couples to an output of the low-pass filter and to the amplifier input. For many useful application settings the aforementioned amplifier has unity gain while the positive feedback network has a fractional gain less than unity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Dean Badillo, Michael Jennings
  • Patent number: 10615701
    Abstract: A hybid resonant DC to DC converter uses an LLC or other resonant structure on the primary side, applying a two state waveform to one end of the resonant structure and a multi-state waveform to the other end of the resonant structure. The waveforms are at or near the resonant resonant frequency and the output voltage level is regulated by varying the shape of the multi-state waveform by varying the duty cycle of the switches used to generate it. The allows the converter to operate near or at its optimal resonant point, resulting in higher efficiency, over a wide range of regulated output voltage levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dianbo Fu, Heping Dai
  • Patent number: 10615819
    Abstract: An apparatus for a signal processor for Wide-Band Applications is provided. The signal processor includes a plurality of parallel branches. Each parallel branch includes a frequency shifter, a sigma-delta-modulator, and a filter. The output signal of each branch is combined via a signal recombiner. The signal processor is suitable for wide-band applications due to centering the zeros of the sigma-delta-modulator's noise transfer function and filter's noise transfer function at the frequency of the frequency shifter in the same branch of the signal processor. Centering these zeros at the frequency of the frequency shifter shapes the quantization noise added by the sigma-delta-modulator away from the input signal frequency to make it easier to remove the quantization noise. This wideband performance is also achieved due to the design of the embodiment's filters. The embodiments of this invention use filters with symmetric transition bands and a pass-band that is wide enough for use in wireless applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sai Mohan Kilambi, Lan Hu
  • Patent number: 10571985
    Abstract: An electronic device includes: first and second processing circuits; a current limiting circuit configured to limit the electric current supplied to the first processing circuit; and a power storage unit inserted between the current limiting circuit and the first processing circuit to be in parallel to the first processing circuit. The first processing circuit is supplemented with electric charge stored in the power storage unit in a case where an electric current exceeding a current limit value of the current limiting circuit is consumed. In response to the connection to an external power supply, a limit of inflow of the electric current to the first and second processing circuits is made and a charging mode is started, and then the limit is released and it is switched to an operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naohiro Matsuta
  • Patent number: 10554125
    Abstract: A negative voltage circuit includes a dual charging circuit, a pumping capacitor circuit, a dual discharging circuit, an output switch circuit, and a load capacitor circuit. The dual charging circuit is configured to operate in a start-up or normal operating mode during a charging mode, and supply a first current in the start-up mode higher than a second current in the normal operating mode. The pumping capacitor circuit is configured to charge based on a charging current from the dual charging circuit. The dual discharging circuit is configured to operate in the start-up mode or the normal operating mode during a discharging mode, and discharge the pumping capacitor to allow a third current in the start-up mode to flow between the pumping capacitor and the terminal of the second operating voltage. The third current in the start-up mode is higher than a fourth current in the normal operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun Paek
  • Patent number: 10510360
    Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing reverberated audio signals are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed comprising receiving an audio signal; partitioning a frequency domain representation of the audio signal into a plurality of sub-band vectors; inputting each sub-band vector into a corresponding deep neural network; calculating, using the corresponding deep neural networks, a plurality of output vectors for each sub-band; concatenating the plurality of output vectors to generate a clean audio feature matrix; and converting the clean audio feature matrix into a time-domain audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
    Inventors: Tao Yu, Ming Tu, Gang Liu
  • Patent number: 10498306
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device and method for intelligently reducing power consumption in an audio amplifier in the device, and in particular Class-D amplifiers, through the use of metadata associated with settings of the playback device and/or content to be played on the playback device. The device includes components for analyzing the settings and content metadata and regulates the voltage provided to the audio amplifier based on this analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventor: Neil Edward Johnson
  • Patent number: 10490206
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for measuring capture performance of multiple voice signals. A first speech signal is applied to a device, and measured at far-end at a far-end of a testing environment. A second speech signal is separately applied to the device, and is also measured at the far end. The measured speech signals are added, and a quality assessment model is applied to the first far-end combined signal to obtain a first quality metric. The first speech signal and the second speech signal are then both applied at the same time to the device and measured at the far-end. The quality assessment model is applied to the second far-end combined signal to obtain a second quality metric. The quality metric for the second far-end combined signal is normalized, based on the first quality metric, to obtain a performance index for the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Doh-Suk Kim
  • Patent number: 10469967
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for utilizing digital microphones in low power keyword detection and noise suppression. An example method includes receiving a first acoustic signal representing at least one sound captured by a digital microphone. The first acoustic signal includes buffered data transmitted with a first clock frequency. The digital microphone may provide voice activity detection. The example method also includes receiving at least one second acoustic signal representing the at least one sound captured by a second microphone, the at least one second acoustic signal including real-time data. The first and second acoustic signals are provided to an audio processing system which may include noise suppression and keyword detection. The buffered portion may be sent with a higher, second clock frequency to eliminate a delay of the first acoustic signal from the second acoustic signal. Providing the signals may also include delaying the second acoustic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Knowler Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: David P. Rossum, Niel D. Warren
  • Patent number: 10454424
    Abstract: A method and operates for generating a boost control signal for a DC-DC-booster is described. An audio signal may be received comprising a plurality of audio sample values. The audio signal may be delayed for a delay time. A maximum-delayed-value of the audio sample values during the delay time may be determined. The boost control signal may be generated from the maximum of the non-delayed audio signal sample value and the maximum-delayed-value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Maarten van Dommelen, Frédéric Chalet, Benno Krabbenborg
  • Patent number: 10439295
    Abstract: An In-Building Communications system is disclosed which permits communication in tunnels, underground parking garages, tall buildings such as skyscrapers, buildings having thick walls of concrete or metal, and/or any building which has communication dead zones due to electromagnetic shielding. The invention includes a portable bi-directional amplifier (BDA) system, an outdoor antenna system attached to the building or independently mountable, an indoor antenna system attached to the building or independently mountable inside the building, and a standardized, In-Building Communications (IBC) interface box affixed preferably to the exterior of the building. The interface box communicates with antenna systems attached to the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Inventor: Karl F. Scheucher
  • Patent number: 10436828
    Abstract: A load detector for an audio system comprising a closed-loop amplifier is described. The load detector includes a noise detector configured to be coupled to the output of the closed-loop amplifier. The noise detector detects a noise signal at least partially generated by the amplifier. The generated noise signal comprises frequencies outside the audible frequency range due to the noise shaping of the amplifier. The load detector further includes a parameter calculation module having an input coupled to the output of the noise detector and an output. The parameter calculation module is configured to determine a parameter value relating to an impedance of the amplifier output load from the detected noise signal and to output a load detection signal dependent on the determined parameter value. The load detector may detect the presence of a load such as a tweeter without generating a reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Temujin Gautama, Remko van Heeswijk
  • Patent number: 10412485
    Abstract: A duty-cycled acoustic sensor saves power, for example, by operating for relatively short periods of time in a repetitive manner. A sensor bias current provides operating power to the sensor. An output analog signal from the sensor carries the information induced by the sensor upon the bias signal. Capacitive coupling is employed to remove direct DC voltage from the output analog signal to generate an analog input signal for acoustic analysis. A capacitor for capacitive coupling is pre-charged to reduce the charging time of the capacitor as the sensor is being powered up. After the capacitor is sufficiently precharged, acoustic analysis is performed on the analog input signal. The sensor is powered down by substantially blocking current flow through the sensor, which saves power. Results of the acoustic analysis can be used, for example, to control parameters of the duty-cycling of the acoustic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Zhenyong Zhang, Wei Ma, Mikko Topi Loikkanen, Mark Kuhns
  • Patent number: 10412486
    Abstract: The electronic circuit having an input stage for pre-amplifying an electrical input signal of the electronic circuit provided by a transducer. The electronic circuit has an output stage for providing a microphone output signal by processing an output signal of the input stage. The electronic circuit has an adjustable output load arranged and configured for setting a current draw of the output stage. Additionally, the electronic circuit has a measurement circuit configured to capture the output signal of the input stage and an automatic control circuit configured to adjust the adjustable output load dependent on the captured output signal of the input stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Gino Rocca
  • Patent number: 10390801
    Abstract: In general, according to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe, a plurality of power supplies implemented by circuitry, at least one pulser, and a controller implemented by circuitry. The ultrasonic probe includes a plurality of piezoelectric transducers which generate ultrasonic waves in response to supplied driving signals. The pulser outputs the driving signal based on an applied voltage applied from any one of the plurality of power supplies. The controller switches the plurality of power supplies in accordance with the at least one pulser used for generation of the driving signal in one transmission mode period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Iwama, Hironobu Hongou, Isao Uchiumi, Koichi Morikawa, Takatoshi Okumura
  • Patent number: 10349161
    Abstract: A circuit for biasing a transducer including a first plate and a second plate includes a front-end buffer and a charge pump. The front-end buffer generates an internal signal at an internal node in response to a voltage signal of the second plate. The transducer receives the incident sound wave at the first plate to generate the voltage signal at the second plate. The charge pump boosts the internal signal into a boost voltage at the first plate according to a first clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: FORTEMEDIA, INC.
    Inventors: Ion Opris, Abu Hena M Kamal, Ramesh Prakash, Lee Tay Chew