Stereo Earphone Patents (Class 381/309)
  • Patent number: 12151159
    Abstract: A gaming unit and producing a game-audio output of a varying volume level and a chat-voice output is connected to headphones adapted to be worn by a player of the unit and connected to the gaming unit for making the chat-voice output and the game-audio output audible to the player. A circuit or software associated with the headphones can increase the chat-voice volume level generally proportionately to the game-audio volume level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc.
    Inventor: Carmine J. Bonanno
  • Patent number: 12135914
    Abstract: An audio circuit includes: a first Type-C port, a first microphone input module, and a second microphone input module; the first Type-C port includes a first pin and a second pin, the first microphone input module is connected to the first pin, and the second microphone input module is connected to the second pin; in a case that the first Type-C port and a second Type-C port of the earpiece are in a first plugging state, the first pin is connected to a third pin of the second Type-C port, and the second pin is connected to a fourth pin of the second Type-C port; and in a case that the first Type-C port and the second Type-C port are in a second plugging state, the second pin is connected to the third pin, and the first pin is connected to the fourth pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: VIVO MOBILE COMMUNICATION CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yewei Huang
  • Patent number: 12096204
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for presenting mixed reality audio. In an example method, audio is presented to a user of a wearable head device. A first position of the user's head at a first time is determined based on one or more sensors of the wearable head device. A second position of the user's head at a second time later than the first time is determined based on the one or more sensors. An audio signal is determined based on a difference between the first position and the second position. The audio signal is presented to the user via a speaker of the wearable head device. Determining the audio signal comprises determining an origin of the audio signal in a virtual environment. Presenting the audio signal to the user comprises presenting the audio signal as if originating from the determined origin. Determining the origin of the audio signal comprises applying an offset to a position of the user's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventor: Anastasia Andreyevna Tajik
  • Patent number: 12069463
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for using an audio time and level difference renderer (TLDR) to generate spatialized audio content for multiple channels from an audio signal received at a single channel. The system selects an audio TLDR from a set of audio TLDRs based on received input parameters. The system configures the selected audio TLDR based on received input parameters using a filter parameter model to generate a configured audio TLDR that comprises a set of configured binaural dynamic filters, and a configured delay between the multiple channel. The system applies the configured audio TLDR to an audio signal received at the single channel to generate spatialized multiple channel audio content for each channel of the multiple audio channel and presents the generated spatialized audio content at multiple channels to a user via a headset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: William Owen Brimijoin, II, Samuel Clapp, Peter Harty Dodds, Nava K. Balsam, Tomasz Rudzki, Ryan Rohrer, Kevin Scheumann, Michaela Warnecke
  • Patent number: 12022277
    Abstract: A headphone for spatial audio rendering includes a first database having an impulse response pair corresponding to a reference speaker location. A head sensor provides head orientation information to a second database having rotation filters, the filters corresponding to different azimuth and elevation positions relative to the reference speaker location. A digital signal processor combines the rotation filters with the impulse response pair to generate an output binaural audio signal to transducers of the headphone. Efficiencies in creating impulse response or HRTF databases are achieved by sampling the impulse response less frequently than in conventional methods. This sampling at coarser intervals reduces the number of data measurements required to generate a spherical grid and reduces the time involved in capturing the impulse responses. Impulse responses for data points falling between the sampled data points are generated by interpolating in the frequency domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Teck Chee Lee, Geith Mark Benjamin Leslie, Mark Anthony Davies, Edwin Tomboza, Toh Onn Desmond Hii
  • Patent number: 12003954
    Abstract: An audio system and a method of determining an audio filter based on a position of an audio device of the audio system, are described. The audio system receives an image of the audio device being worn by a user and determines, based on the image and a known geometric relationship between a datum on the audio device and an electroacoustic transducer of the audio device, a relative position between the electroacoustic transducer and an anatomical feature of the user. The audio filter is determined based on the relative position. The audio filter can be applied to an audio input signal to render spatialized sound to the user through the electroacoustic transducer, or the audio filter can be applied to a microphone input signal to capture speech of the user by the electroacoustic transducer. Other aspects are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vignesh Ganapathi Subramanian, Antti J. Vanne, Olivier Soares, Andrew R. Harvey, Martin E. Johnson, Theo Auclair
  • Patent number: 11974113
    Abstract: A cinema system comprises video equipment configured to generate video images from video data for presentation on a screen; a headphone system including left and right ear cups, each including at least one driver configured to drive highs and/or mids based on headphone sound signals and not configured to drive lows; a first DAC configured to convert audio data based on the headphone sound data to the headphone sound signals; and a control system configured to generate the audio data from at least headphone sound data; one or more low-frequency speakers configured to drive lows based on low-frequency speaker signals; a second DAC configured to generate the low-frequency speaker signals from low-frequency speaker data; and a server system configured to assist in providing the video data to the video equipment, the headphone sound data to the one or more headphone systems, and the low-frequency speaker data to the second DAC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: HED Technologies SARL
    Inventor: Timothy Degraye
  • Patent number: 11962996
    Abstract: Providing a more natural, physically accurate rendering of the acoustic behavior of a volumetric audio source (e.g., a line-like audio source). In one embodiment, this is achieved by applying a parametric distance-dependent gain function in the rendering process, where the shape of the parametric gain function depends on characteristics of the volumetric audio source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON
    Inventor: Werner De Bruijn
  • Patent number: 11947867
    Abstract: A single audio interface signal switching circuit and a single audio interface switching device are provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, which sets only one single audio interface and uses a working mode switching module to control a driver chip to generate different drive signals, in order to control working states of an audio signal output module, a time code input module, and a time code output module electrically connected with the driver chip. Since there is only one audio interface, and a working mode of the single audio interface switching device is controlled by the working mode switching module, so that a volume of the single audio interface switching device is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: Qiankun Liu
  • Patent number: 11943607
    Abstract: A method or apparatus switches between binaural sound and stereo sound in response to head movements of a listener. An electronic device provides the listener with binaural sound at a sound localization point (SLP) in a field-of-view of the listener. Binaural sound at the SLP switches to one of mono or stereo sound when head movements of the listener cause the SLP to move outside the field-of-view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventor: Philip Scott Lyren
  • Patent number: 11937045
    Abstract: This audio image control method controls the localization of an audio image in a space between a headphone/speaker and the auricle. Rearward sound emitted from the headphone/speaker at a position corresponding to the rear of the auricle and traveling toward the auricle is blocked and reflected to travel away toward the front of the auricle. The reflected rearward sound is reflected together with forward scattering sound emitted from the headphone/speaker at a position forwardly of the auricle and travelling away from the auricle, and is allowed to reach the auricle as reflected forward sound travelling from the front of the auricle toward the auricle. Central sound emitted from the central portion of the headphone/speaker and travelling toward the auricle, and emitted forward sound emitted from the headphone/speaker at a position corresponding to the front of the auricle and traveling toward the auricle are allowed to reach the auricle directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Inventor: Toshihiko Horie
  • Patent number: 11902756
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and acknowledging audio transmissions containing data. In one embodiment, a method is presented that includes receiving multiple audio signals that are detected by multiple receivers from within a service area. A first audio transmission may be detected in a first subset of the audio signal that are received by a first subset of the receivers. The first subset of the receivers may be positioned to receive audio transmissions from computing devices located within a first portion of the service area. At least one transmitter may be identified that is positioned to transmit audio transmissions to computing devices located within at least a subset of the first portion of the service area. A second audio transmission may be transmitted using the at least one first transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: LISNR
    Inventors: Oz Mendel, William Knauer
  • Patent number: 11863959
    Abstract: A headphone system includes a calibration microphone for performing a calibration routine with a user. The calibration microphone receives a stimulus signal emitted by the headphone system and generates a response signal indicating variations in the stimulus signal that arise due to physiological attributes of the user. Based on the stimulus signal and the response signal, the calibration engine generates response data. The calibration engine processes the response data based on a headphone transfer function (HPTF) associated with the headphone system in order to create an inverse filter that can reduce or remove acoustic variations caused by the headphone system. The calibration engine generates a personalized HRTF for the user based on the response data and the inverse filter. The personalized HRTF can be used to implement highly accurate 3D audio and is thereby well-suited for applications to immersive audio and audio-visual entertainment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Joy Lyons, Jason Riggs, Alfredo Fernandez Franco
  • Patent number: 11856370
    Abstract: An electronic device configured to communicate with a binaural hearing device, includes: a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly receive, from the binaural hearing device, a signal indicating an orientation of a head of a user of the binaural hearing device; a memory storing head-related transfer functions (HRTF) respectively for a left ear and a right ear of the user; an input transducer configured to capture sound at a distance from the user; and a processing unit configured to provide a spatialized binaural audio signal based on the captured sound, the orientation of the head of the user, and the head-related transfer functions (HRTF); wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to transmit the spatialized binaural audio signal to the binaural hearing device for allowing the binaural hearing device to provide left and right audio outputs based on the spatialized binaural audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Changxue Ma, Andrew Dittberner, Eugene Brandewie
  • Patent number: 11831286
    Abstract: An audio amplifier includes: a buck controller configured to control an output voltage at a first supply terminal, the output voltage selected from a set including a plurality of output voltages, where the output voltage takes a settling time to settle; a first audio bridge including: a class-AB driver stage coupled to the first supply terminal, and a delay insertion circuit configured to receive a processed digital stream and provide the processed digital stream to the class-AB driver stage a delay time after receiving the processed digital stream, where the delay time is based on the settling time; and an audio amplitude detector configured to detect a first peak amplitude in the first digital audio stream, where the buck controller is configured to select a lowest output voltage from the set that is higher than the first peak amplitude plus a headroom voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Shenzhen) R&D Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: XiangSheng Li, Ru Feng Du
  • Patent number: 11832047
    Abstract: A head-mounted device, a wearing detection method, a wearing detection apparatus, and a medium are provided. The head-mounted device includes a GMR magnetic sensor and an IR sensor. The GMR magnetic sensor outputs a collected signal so that the MCU calculates a reference parameter indicating a position of the head-mounted device. The IR sensor outputs a collected signal so that the MCU makes determination based on the output signal. Only in a case that the reference parameter and the output signal meet the predetermined condition, it is determined that the head-mounted device is worn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventor: Yueting Li
  • Patent number: 11785412
    Abstract: A headphone for spatial audio rendering includes a first database having an impulse response pair corresponding to a reference speaker location. A head sensor provides head orientation information to a second database having rotation filters, the filters corresponding to different azimuth and elevation positions relative to the reference speaker location. A digital signal processor combines the rotation filters with the impulse response pair to generate an output binaural audio signal to transducers of the headphone. Efficiencies in creating impulse response or HRTF databases are achieved by sampling the impulse response less frequently than in conventional methods. This sampling at coarser intervals reduces the number of data measurements required to generate a spherical grid and reduces the time involved in capturing the impulse responses. Impulse responses for data points falling between the sampled data points are generated by interpolating in the frequency domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Teck Chee Lee, Geith Mark Benjamin Leslie, Mark Anthony Davies, Edwin Tomboza, Toh Onn Desmond Hii
  • Patent number: 11716585
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device (WED) corrects an error where a user hears binaural sound. A processor processes sound into binaural sound that localizes to the user at a location, and the WED determines a gaze direction of the user when the user hears the binaural sound. The WED corrects an error between the location and the gaze direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Inventors: Philip Scott Lyren, Glen A. Norris
  • Patent number: 11696088
    Abstract: This patent teaches a method and apparatus of an enhanced reading experience. This enables books to be brought to life by enhancing the reading experience by delivering sounds and visual effects at a precise timing based on eye tracking technology during the reading experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Opic Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Edwin Douglas, David Byron Douglas
  • Patent number: 11693621
    Abstract: A device system includes an acoustic device, a sensor, and a sound processor. The acoustic device is configured to be worn by a user. A sensor is configured to detect a movement of a shielding object. The sound processor is configured to generate sound with a first sound quality for a block state in which the shielding object blocks a virtual sound source localized on an opposite side of the shielding object and emit the sound from the acoustic device. The sound processor is further configured to change a sound quality of the sound from the first sound quality to a second sound quality for a non-block state in which the shielding object does not block the virtual sound source, in response to the sensor detecting that the shielding object moves from a position blocking the virtual sound source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukio Tada, Kazuya Kumehara, Mitsuki Arita
  • Patent number: 11641100
    Abstract: A system includes a first USB Type-C Power Delivery (USB-C/PD) port and a control circuit operatively coupled to the first USB-C/PD port. The control circuit is configured to determine whether a short circuit condition has occurred. The control circuit is also configured to turn off a ground isolation switch when short circuit condition occurs. The control circuit is further configured to determine a whether a voltage on a configuration channel line (CC line) is greater than a first threshold voltage. The control circuit is further configured to determine whether the voltage on the CC line is less than a second threshold voltage. The control circuit is further configured to turn on the ground isolation switch when the voltage on the CC line is less than the second threshold voltage. The control circuit may perform one or more error recovery operations after turning on the ground isolation switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Mitul Nareshkumar Mevada, Kailas Iyer
  • Patent number: 11553297
    Abstract: This patent includes a method to generate a six dimensional audio dataset. When listening to the six dimensional audio dataset with an advanced headset disclosed in this patent, a user will enable a user to have precision sound localization and maximize the listening experience. For example, when the audio file is registered to a living room, a user would be able to sit in the “middle of the band” and if desired, reposition the instruments to different locations within the living room to change the audio experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Edwin Douglas, David Byron Douglas
  • Patent number: 11503403
    Abstract: Sound quality is improved. A plurality of speaker units including a first speaker unit of a dynamic type, an arrangement case having an inner space formed as an arrangement space in which the plurality of speaker units is arranged, and a sound conduit protruding from the arrangement case and provided as a path for sound output from the plurality of speaker units are provided, the first speaker unit has a highest sound output band among the plurality of speaker units, the axial direction of the sound conduit and the axial direction of the first speaker unit are oriented in the same direction, the speaker units except the first speaker unit are arranged around the first speaker unit or on the opposite side to the sound conduit with the first speaker unit therebetween, and a central axis of the first speaker unit is positioned further on the inner side than the inner peripheral surface of the sound conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Kuwahara, Takahiro Suzuki, Daizen Kobayashi, Mizuki Shimamura
  • Patent number: 11490218
    Abstract: A device for reproducing spatial audio using a machine learning model may include at least one processor configured to receive multiple audio signals corresponding to a sound scene captured by respective microphones of a device. The at least one processor may be further configured to provide the multiple audio signals to a machine learning model, the machine learning model having been trained based at least in part on a target rendering configuration. The at least one processor may be further configured to provide, responsive to providing the multiple audio signals to the machine learning model, multichannel audio signals that comprise a spatial reproduction of the sound scene in accordance with the target rendering configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Symeon Delikaris Manias, Mehrez Souden
  • Patent number: 11471126
    Abstract: Arrangements described herein relate to a headset. The headset includes a device. The device includes a transducer configured to interact with a head of a subject. The headset further includes a manually-operated registration system configured to delineate a workspace of the transducer at the head of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: NovaSignal Corp.
    Inventors: Jan Zwierstra, Trevor Dunlop, Lane Stith
  • Patent number: 11457325
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for using an audio time and level difference renderer (TLDR) to generate spatialized audio content for multiple channels from an audio signal received at a single channel. The system selects an audio TLDR from a set of audio TLDRs based on received input parameters. The system configures the selected audio TLDR based on received input parameters using a filter parameter model to generate a configured audio TLDR that comprises a set of configured binaural dynamic filters, and a configured delay between the multiple channel. The system applies the configured audio TLDR to an audio signal received at the single channel to generate spatialized multiple channel audio content for each channel of the multiple audio channel and presents the generated spatialized audio content at multiple channels to a user via a headset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Owen Brimijoin, II, Samuel Clapp, Peter Dodds, Nava K. Balsam, Tomasz Rudzki, Ryan Rohrer, Kevin Scheumann, Michaela Warnecke
  • Patent number: 11445321
    Abstract: A headphone for spatial audio rendering includes a first database having an impulse response pair corresponding to a reference speaker location. A head sensor provides head orientation information to a second database having rotation filters, the filters corresponding to different azimuth and elevation positions relative to the reference speaker location. A digital signal processor combines the rotation filters with the impulse response pair to generate an output binaural audio signal to transducers of the headphone. Efficiencies in creating impulse response or HRTF databases are achieved by sampling the impulse response less frequently than in conventional methods. This sampling at coarser intervals reduces the number of data measurements required to generate a spherical grid and reduces the time involved in capturing the impulse responses. Impulse responses for data points falling between the sampled data points are generated by interpolating in the frequency domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Teck Chee Lee, Geith Mark Benjamin Leslie, Mark Anthony Davies, Edwin Tomboza, Toh Onn Desmond Hii
  • Patent number: 11412328
    Abstract: A headband for headphones includes: a band base portion including a U-shaped cross section forming a slit opened on a side surface of the band, the band having a first flexural rigidity; and a supporter detachably attached into the slit, formed into an arc shape and having a second flexural rigidity larger than the first flexural rigidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: JVCKENWOOD CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinji Kamimura
  • Patent number: 11389722
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for independent audio volume control. User input may be received in an audio setup configured for combined-game-and-chat audio, with the user input including one or both of a selection of a desired volume of a chat audio component of the combined-game-and-chat audio signal, and a selection of a desired volume of a game audio component of the combined-game-and-chat audio signal. Based on the user input, a corresponding mix setting may be determined, with the mix setting including one or more control parameters for adaptively controlling mixing of the chat audio component and the game audio component to generate the combined-game-and-chat audio signal. The mix setting may be determined based on a data set characterizing an audio device where at least portion of the mixing is performed. The data set may be pre-programmed and/or determined based on testing of the audio device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.
    Inventors: Shobha Devi Kuruba Buchannagari, Kevin Robertson, Scott Warren, Carmine Bonanno, Richard Kulavik
  • Patent number: 11388498
    Abstract: A hearing device comprising a first earphone with a first driver unit and a second earphone comprising a second driver unit. The headset further comprises a first ambient microphone adapted for converting ambient noise to an ambient input signal. A first electric circuitry is adapted for receiving the first ambient input sound signal from the ambient microphone and in an ambient mode outputting a first ambient output sound signal of a certain level to the first driver unit. An activation circuit is adapted to activate and deactivate the ambient mode for the hearing device. In the ambient mode, the ambient output sound signal is sent to the first driver unit and not the second driver unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: GN Audio A/S
    Inventors: Kevin A. Batson, David M. Geno, Martin E. Granville, Thomas F. Terrien, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11388538
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a signal processing device, a signal processing method, and a program capable of stabilizing localization of a sound image in a center direction. Input signals of audio of two channels are added to generate the addition signal. Moreover, convolution of the addition signal and a head related impulse response (HRIR) in a center direction is performed to generate a center convolution signal. Furthermore, convolution of the input signal and a binaural room impulse response (BRIR) is performed to generate an input convolution signal. Then, the center convolution signal and the input convolution signal are added to generate an output signal. The present technology can be applied, for example, in a case of reproducing listening conditions in various sound fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yuji Tsuchida
  • Patent number: 11315555
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a terminal holder and a far-field voice interaction system. A specific implementation of the terminal holder includes: a far-field voice pickup device and a voice analysis device. The far-field voice pickup device receives voice sent by a user, and sends the voice to the voice analysis device. The voice analysis device analyzes the voice, determines whether the voice contains a preset wake-up word, and sends the voice to a terminal in communication connection with the terminal holder when the preset wake-up word is contained. This embodiment receives voice sent by a user through the terminal holder supporting a far-field voice pickup function, thereby facilitating the far-field voice control over the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignees: Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Shanghai Xiaodu Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong Su, Peng Li, Lifeng Zhao
  • Patent number: 11310618
    Abstract: A spatialized audio system includes a sensor to detect a head pose of a listener. The system also includes a processor to render audio data in first and second stages. The first stage includes rendering first audio data corresponding to a first plurality of sources to second audio data corresponding to a second plurality of sources. The second stage includes rendering the second audio data corresponding to the second plurality of sources to third audio data corresponding to a third plurality of sources based on the detected head pose of the listener. The second plurality of sources consists of fewer sources than the first plurality of sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Michael Link
  • Patent number: 11310599
    Abstract: A method captures binaural sound of a voice of a first user with microphones located at left and rights ears of a dummy head. The dummy head transmits the voice of the first user to a portable electronic device with or near the first user. This portable electronic device transmits the binaural sound over one or more networks to another electronic device being used by a second user to communicate with the first user during the electronic call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Inventors: Glen A. Norris, Philip Scott Lyren
  • Patent number: 11297407
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide an earset that has a chamber for effectively blocking external noise, with a sound reproducing unit and an inner microphone mounted in the chamber. According to an embodiment of the earset, the earset includes: a housing having a mounting space in which components are mounted and an insertion tube that is inserted into an external auditory canal of the user; a sound reproducing unit mounted in the mounting space and configured to emit sounds to the insertion tube; an inner microphone mounted in the mounting space; a chamber forming a closed space that surrounds the inner microphone; and a duct mounted in the chamber and configured to transmit sounds coming through the insertion tube to the inner microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: EM-TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Wook Lim, Young In Yoo, Je Tae Lee
  • Patent number: 11290835
    Abstract: An acoustic processing apparatus includes an acquisition section that acquires operation position information of a seat apparatus that operates following a movement of a user; and a sound image localization processor that performs sound image localization processing on an audio signal according to the operation position information acquired by the acquisition section, the audio signal being reproduced by a speaker unit provided to the seat apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Nakagawa, Ryutaro Watanabe, Tetsunori Itabashi, Shigetoshi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11284195
    Abstract: In a device or method for rendering a sound program for headphones, a location is received for placing the sound program with respect to first and second ear pieces. If the location is between the first ear piece and the second ear piece, the sound program is filtered to produce low-frequency and high-frequency portions. The high-frequency portion is panned according to the location to produce first and second high-frequency signals. The low-frequency portion and the first high-frequency signal are combined to produce a first headphone driver signal to drive the first ear piece. A second headphone driver signal is similarly produced. The sound program may be a stereo sound program. The device or method may also provide for a location that is between the first ear piece and a near-field boundary. Other aspects are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Afrooz Family, Darius A. Satongar, Jonathan D. Sheaffer, Lance F. Reichert, Peter V. Jupin
  • Patent number: 11272310
    Abstract: Described is a method performed by a computation device for generating a binaural audio stream, comprising: receiving an audio stream for a sound source; determining a measure of processing capability of the computation device; selecting, based on the determined measure, a filtering mode from among a predefined set of filtering modes for use in an audio filtering process intended to convert the audio stream into a binaural audio stream; determining, based on a relative position of the virtual source location to a virtual listener location in a virtual listening environment, filter parameters for a set of filters specified by the selected filtering mode; generating the binaural audio stream by applying the audio filtering process to the audio stream, using the set of filters specified by the selected filtering mode; and outputting the binaural audio stream for playback. Further described are corresponding computation devices, computer programs, and computer-readable storage media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Khoa-Van Nguyen, Stephane Giraudie, Benoit Senard
  • Patent number: 11252505
    Abstract: A method for regulating a sound source of a designated object and an audio processing device using same are provided. The method includes the following steps. An original two-channel signal is obtained. An included angle of the designated object with respect to an ear of a user is detected. A first beam and a second beam are respectively formed in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction according to the included angle to obtain a bidirectional sound signal. A sound rotation process is performed, so that the ear is directed toward sound source of the designated object, and a rotated two-channel sound signal is obtained. A unidirectional sound signal towards the sound source is obtained. A sound signal characteristic of the designated object is obtained according to the bidirectional sound signal and the unidirectional sound signal and then is regulated to synthesize a regulated two-channel signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: ACER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Po-Jen Tu, Jia-Ren Chang, Kai-Meng Tzeng, Chao-Kuang Yang
  • Patent number: 11252528
    Abstract: A system and method for providing low interaural coherence at low frequencies is disclosed. In some embodiments, the system may include a reverberator and a low-frequency interaural coherence control system. The reverberator may include two sets of comb filters, one for the left ear output signal and one for the right ear output signal. The low-frequency interaural coherence control system can include a plurality of sections, each section can be configured to control a certain frequency range of the signals that propagate through the given section. The sections may include a left high-frequency section for the left ear output signal and a right high-frequency section for the right ear output signal. The sections may also include a shared low-frequency section that can output signals to be combined by combiners of the left and right high-frequency sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Remi Samuel Audfray, Jean-Marc Jot
  • Patent number: 11206471
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an earphone equipped with a pressure equalizing means, and more specifically to an earphone equipped with a pressure equalizing means, in which a speaker unit is disposed inside an earphone housing in a longitudinal direction and a first air path is formed to discharge sound waves, generated by the diaphragm of the speaker unit, to the external ear canal through one side of the speaker unit. When air inside the external ear canal is discharged out of the speaker unit, air is discharged into the vibration space of the speaker unit by using the first air path, and is then discharged out of the speaker unit through a second air path formed in the other side of the top surface of the speaker unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: BUJEON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Donghyun Seo, Minkoo Park, Halim Kim
  • Patent number: 11202164
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for predictive head-tracked binaural audio rendering in which a rendering device renders multiple audio streams for different possible head locations based on head tracking data received from a headset, for example audio streams for the last known location and one or more predicted or possible locations, and transmits the multiple audio streams to the headset. The headset then selects and plays one of the audio streams that is closest to the actual head location based on current head tracking data. If none of the audio streams closely match the actual head location, two closest audio streams may be mixed. Transmitting multiple audio streams to the headset and selecting or mixing an audio stream on the headset may mitigate or eliminate perceived head tracking latency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Juha O. Merimaa, Christopher T. Eubank, Martin E. Johnson, Stuart J. Wood, Deepak Natarajan
  • Patent number: 11200876
    Abstract: A method performed by a head-mounted wearable audio output device is provided. The audio output device is worn on a head of a user and includes at least one sensor. The device detects a user activity based on motion of the user's body using the at least one sensor. The devices detects an orientation of the head of the user is one of upward or downward using the at least one sensor. The devices controls at least one of: a level of attenuation applied to external noise or audio output based on the detected user activity and the detected orientation of the head of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeremy Kemmerer, Juan Carlos Rodero Sales
  • Patent number: 11184711
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for a privacy blocking device configured to prevent receipt, by a listening device, of video and/or audio data until a trigger occurs. A blocker may be configured to prevent receipt of video and/or audio data by one or more microphones and/or one or more cameras of a listening device. The blocker may use the one or more microphones, the one or more cameras, and/or one or more second microphones and/or one or more second cameras to monitor for a trigger. The blocker may process the data. Upon detecting the trigger, the blocker may transmit data to the listening device. For example, the blocker may transmit all or a part of a spoken phrase to the listening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventor: Thomas Stachura
  • Patent number: 11178482
    Abstract: A transducer module and electronics device are disclosed. The transducer module comprises: a transducer member; and a housing, wherein the transducer member and the housing form a cavity, and at least two venting holes are provided in the housing and communicate the cavity with outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Goertek Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Warren Little
  • Patent number: 11109180
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for generating a filter for an audio signal and a parameterization device for the same, and more particularly, to a method for generating a filter for an audio signal, to implement filtering of an input audio signal with a low computational complexity, and a parameterization device therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignees: WILUS INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY INC., GCOA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taegyu Lee, Hyunoh Oh
  • Patent number: 11109175
    Abstract: A sound outputting device, a processing device and a sound controlling method thereof are provided. The sound controlling method includes the following steps. An original left sound signal and an original right sound signal are received. The original left sound signal and the original right sound signal are transformed to be a virtual left sound signal and a virtual right sound signal of a virtual sound source. A rotation degree of a user is detected. The virtual left sound signal and the virtual right sound signal are transformed to be an updated left sound signal and an updated right sound signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: ACER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Po-Jen Tu, Jia-Ren Chang, Kai-Meng Tzeng
  • Patent number: 11082793
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device (WED) corrects errors where a user hears binaural sound. The WED includes a digital signal processor (DSP) that processes sound into the binaural sound to localize to a first location and head tracking that tracks where the user looks to hear the binaural sound at a second location. The WED corrects an error between the first location and the second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventors: Philip Scott Lyren, Glen A. Norris
  • Patent number: 11076257
    Abstract: Ambisonic audio is converted to binaural audio based on head related impulse responses (HRIRs) associated with sound sources located symmetric with respect to a head of a listener. The HRIRs associated with sound sources located symmetric with respect to the head of the listener are mapped to HRIR pairs associated with sound sources located on one side of the head of the listener based on the symmetry of the sound source locations. A sequence of HRIRs based on the mapped left HRIRs or a sequence of HRIRs based on the mapped right HRIRs are input into a spherical harmonics converter which outputs respective left spherical harmonics or right spherical harmonics. Ambisonic audio is binauralized based on the left spherical harmonics and the right spherical harmonics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: EmbodyVR, Inc.
    Inventors: Kaushik Sunder, Saarish Kareer
  • Patent number: 11056094
    Abstract: A method and audio apparatus for processing an audio signal are provided. The audio apparatus includes at least one microphone to acquire ambient sound of the audio apparatus, a speaker to output the audio signal, an air pressure regulator including a fluid tube connecting an external space of a housing of the audio apparatus to an internal space of the housing, and configured to adjust a change in an air pressure of the internal space of the housing and an audio signal processor configured to generate an anti-noise signal for canceling noise in the ambient sound by using the acquired ambient sound and output the generated anti-noise signal and the audio signal through the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinho Park, Guiwon Seo, Jonghwa Lee, Hyeongcheol Jeong, Sungwon Cho