Stereo Earphone Patents (Class 381/309)
  • Patent number: 10313823
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device (WED) corrects errors where a user hears binaural sound. The WED includes head tracking that tracks head movements of the user. Speaker play the binaural sound to the user while the user wears the WED. The WED corrects an error where the user hears the binaural sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Inventors: Philip Scott Lyren, Glen A. Norris
  • Patent number: 10284943
    Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for adjusting a sound field of an earphone, a terminal, and an earphone. The method includes acquiring a loudness data difference between first and second earplugs of an earphone connected to a terminal; determining a current sound field parameter of the earphone according to the loudness data difference; judging whether the current sound field parameter is substantially the same as a pre-set sound field parameter by comparison; and when the current sound field parameter is not the same as the pre-set sound field parameter, adjusting gain parameters of first and second channels of the terminal according to the current sound field parameter and the pre-set sound field parameter, so that the current sound field parameter of the earphone reaches the pre-set sound field parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: ZTE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yong Gong
  • Patent number: 10237672
    Abstract: An audio headset may receive a plurality of audio signals corresponding to plurality of surround sound channels. The headset may determine, via its audio processing circuitry, context and content of the audio signals. The audio processing circuitry may process the audio signals to generate a pair of stereo signals carrying one or more virtual surround channels, wherein the processing comprises automatically controlling, based on the context and the content of the audio signals, a simulated acoustic environment of the virtual surround channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Kulavik
  • Patent number: 10231054
    Abstract: Headphones include a left loudspeaker element; a right loudspeaker element; and a holder for holding the left loudspeaker element and the right loudspeaker element, such that the loudspeaker elements can be attached to the ears, wherein the left loudspeaker element or the right loudspeaker element includes: a first sound converter; a second sound converter, wherein the first sound converter is implemented such that the first sound converter provides directed emission in the direction of an ear in the operating position of the headphones, and the second sound converter is implemented such that the second sound converter provides no or less directed emission than the first sound converter in the direction of the ear in the operating position of the headphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Kaetel Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Kaetel
  • Patent number: 10205814
    Abstract: A method of audio messaging between users of earpiece wearables includes connecting an earpiece wearable associated with a first user with an earpiece wearable associated with a second user and sending and receiving audio messages between the earpiece wearable associated with the first user and the earpiece wearable associated with the second user, wherein the sending of the audio messages is activated by head movement sensed with an inertial sensor of the earpiece wearable performing the sending. The method further includes maintaining a record of the audio messages stored on a machine readable memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: BRAGI GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Vincent Boesen, Martin Steiner
  • Patent number: 10178487
    Abstract: In order to achieve an enhanced audio experience, audio information, for example a movie soundtrack having binaural components, may be stored on a mobile device prior to the beginning of a movie presentation in a theater. Responsive to an audio sync signal presented to the mobile device, the audio information may be played back from the mobile device in a manner synchronized to display of the movie on a theater screen. The audio sync signal may be a high-frequency signal emitted by a loudspeaker in the theater. The audio information may be customized for a user. For example, via use of a binaural audio system, a user of a first mobile device may experience a movie presentation in a theater in a first language, and user of a second mobile device may experience the same movie presentation in the theater in a second language.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: SOUNDFI SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Chris T. Anastas
  • Patent number: 10163452
    Abstract: An electronic device including a voice obtaining microphone configured to receive a voice signal including a noise at a first level; a noise obtaining microphone configured to receive a voice signal including a noise at a second level higher than the first level; and a controller configured to estimate the noise at the second level from the voice signal received by the noise obtaining microphone, remove the noise at the first level from the voice signal received by the voice obtaining microphone based on the estimated noise, and perform an operation corresponding to the voice signal having the noise at the first level eliminated therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Byounggi Lee, Hyejeong Jeon
  • Patent number: 10154358
    Abstract: An audio apparatus adaptable to a user position is provided. The audio apparatus may include a plurality of sub-modules placed at separate locations from one another, each sub-module of the plurality of sub-modules including a loudspeaker configured to generate sound and a communicator configured to perform communication. The first sub-module among the plurality of sub-modules may include a processor that processes an audio signal to be output as sound through the loudspeaker of the first sub-module, determines a user's position with respect to each of the plurality of sub-modules, and changes a state of the sound being output from the loudspeaker of the first sub-module in accordance with the determined position of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jee-hoon Park, David Law, Phillip Vasquez, Robin Hayes, You-na Choo
  • Patent number: 10129680
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, embodiments receiving audio content in a multi-channel sound format over a communication network resulting in multi-channel audio content. Further embodiments can include identifying a compression ratio of the audio content. Additional embodiments can include determining a rendered sound externalization for rendering the audio content according to the compression ratio of the audio content. Also, embodiments can include rendering the audio content in a binaural audio format for headphone playback on an audio device according to the rendered sound externalization. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Manuel Briand
  • Patent number: 10129684
    Abstract: Systems and methods of providing an audio signal are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of delivering an audio signal from a device toward a user's ear includes, for example, transmitting a filtered audio signal from a transducer positioned at a location on the device that is longitudinally spaced apart from an entrance of an auditory canal of the user's ear when the device is worn on the user's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Hannes Gamper, Mark Richard Paul Thomas, Ivan Jelev Tashev, David Emerson Johnston
  • Patent number: 10123105
    Abstract: An automatic rewinding apparatus with an abrasion-resistant rotation axis includes: a main base lower housing including a cylindrical fixing axis at a center; a PCB substrate penetrated by the fixing axis and combined with the main base lower housing; a contact terminal coupling plate; a middle base coil housing including: a sub-base lower housing, a cylindrical winding bobbin, a sub-base upper housing, and an abrasion-resistance improving insert disposed on internal circumferential surfaces of punctured centers of the sub-base lower housing, the winding bobbin and the sub-base upper housing; a rolling elastic member with elasticity; grease cover plates on both sides of the rolling elastic member; a cap for covering the opening of the sub-base upper housing and combination with the sub-base upper housing; a stopper ball; and a main base upper housing combined with the main base lower housing and covering a second side where the track of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: BLUECOM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Beom-Seok Kim
  • Patent number: 10123150
    Abstract: A game engine may generate video and audio content on a per-frame basis. Audio data corresponding to a current frame may be generated to comprise sound-field information independent of a speaker configuration or spatialization technology that may be used to play the associated audio. The sound-field may be generated based on monaural audio data corresponding to a sound produced by an in-game object at the object's position as of the current frame. The sound-field information may be transmitted to a remote computing device for reproduction using a selected, available speaker configuration and spatialization technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Y. Kim, Todd R. Manion, Robert N. Heitkamp, Steven Wilssens, Philip A. Edry
  • Patent number: 10117604
    Abstract: A method of providing audiometric feedback from a network of distributed body sensors using one or more earpieces includes receiving signals from the network of distributed body sensors at the one or more wireless earpieces, processing the signals received at the one or more wireless earpieces to determine a location of individual body sensors within the network of distributed body sensors relative the one or more earpieces, and producing audiometric feedback at the one or more wireless earpieces at least partially based on the locations of the individual body sensors relative to the one or more earpieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: BRAGI GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Vincent Boesen, Darko Dragicevic
  • Patent number: 10123106
    Abstract: A multifunctional headphone cable includes: a connecting line, two ends thereof respectively having an audio connection portion configured with a noise receiving microphone; a controller, configured on the connecting line and including a control circuit, the control circuit being configured with an active noise cancelling (ANC) module in connection with the noise receiving microphone, the control circuit being configured with a hearing amplifier adapted to amplify audio signals, memory module, wireless communication module and wireless charging module; and a power supply unit, configured on the connecting line and in connection with the control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: CONSONANCE TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yung-Yi Chiu, Kang-Chou Liu, Jin-Wen Chan
  • Patent number: 10123110
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a communication device that includes a microphone configured to detect an acoustic signal from an acoustic environment, and a processor, configured to detect an acoustical dampening between the acoustic environment and the microphone, based on a change in a characteristic of the acoustic signal and, responsive to the acoustical dampening, apply a compensation filter to the acoustic signal to form a compensated acoustic signal that is reproduced. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Staton Techiya, LLC
    Inventors: John Usher, Steve Goldstein
  • Patent number: 10110982
    Abstract: A cover for a wearable personal acoustic device includes a fabric cover shaped to receive and enclose a wearable personal acoustic device, and an identification tag, such as an RFID tag or optical tag, secured to the fabric cover. The fabric cover includes a stretchable material that is acoustically transparent. The fabric cover may include a closure mechanism that can provide an opening through which the wearable personal acoustic device is received or removed and a closed state in which the wearable personal acoustic device is enclosed by the fabric cover. The identification tag stores an identifier associated with the fabric cover and communicates with the wearable personal acoustic device through an identification reader. The identifier may be associated with a physical property of the fabric cover or an operational parameter of the wearable personal acoustic device. The operational parameter optionally is definable by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joel H. Miller, Marcey Ann Mankosa, Michael Andrew Zalisk, Daniel Winchell Tellier, Bojan Rip
  • Patent number: 10104462
    Abstract: A sound output unit being detachably assembled to an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing and a connecting module disposed on the housing. The sound output unit includes a main body and a plug. The plug is electrically coupled to the main body. The plug is detachably assembled to the connecting module. The plug is adapted to rotate relative to connecting module along an axial line, such that a sensing component of the connecting module determines whether the sensing portion is sensed to make the electronic device switch between a first sound output mode and a second sound output mode. The plug has at least one conduction portion and a sensing portion on a circumferential surface of the plug, and the sensing portion is located on the at least one conduction portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Hui Li, Peng-Fei Li
  • Patent number: 10051402
    Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) includes a memory that stores head-related transfer functions (HRTFs), a digital signal processor (DSP) that processes sound into binaural sound with a pair of the HRTFs, and head tracking that tracks head movements of the user. Speakers play the binaural sound to the user while the user wears the HMD, and the HMD corrects an error where the user hears the binaural sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Inventors: Philip Scott Lyren, Glen A. Norris
  • Patent number: 10038963
    Abstract: A speaker apparatus includes an input portion to which audio signals of a plurality of channels are input, a plurality of speakers, a directivity controlling portion that delays the audio signals of the plurality of channels input to the input portion and distributes the delayed audio signals to the plurality of speakers so that the plurality of speakers output a plurality of sound beams, and a localization adding portion that applies a filtering processing based on a head-related transfer function to at least one of the audio signals of the plurality of channels input to the input portion and inputs the processed audio signal to the plurality of speakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Katayama, Susumu Takumai, Keiichi Imaoka
  • Patent number: 10015615
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a sound field reproduction apparatus and method, and a program, enabled to more accurately reproduce a sound field. A spacial filter application unit obtains a virtual speaker array drive signal of an annular virtual speaker array with a radius larger than a radius of a spherical microphone array, by applying a spacial filter to a spacial frequency spectrum of a sound collection signal obtained by having the spherical microphone array collect sounds. An inverse filter generation unit obtains an inverse filter based on a transfer function from a real speaker array up to the virtual speaker array. An inverse filter application unit applies the inverse filter to a time frequency spectrum of the virtual speaker array drive signal, and obtains a real speaker array drive signal of the real speaker array. The present technology can be applied to a sound field reproduction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuhki Mitsufuji, Homare Kon
  • Patent number: 10015580
    Abstract: The present invention is a headphone assembly comprising a headband for fitting around the head of the user, a first earpiece module detachably connected to the first end of the headband, and a second earpiece module detachably connected to the second end of the headband.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Inventor: Joseph R. Bruno
  • Patent number: 10009706
    Abstract: A method comprising: determining a spatial audio signal; determining an apparatus motion parameter; and stabilizing the spatial audio signal dependent on the apparatus motion parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Ravi Shenoy, Pushkar Prasad Patwardhan, Miikka Vilermo, Kemal Ugur
  • Patent number: 10009691
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present application provide a sound channel configuration method and apparatus and an earphone device. The method includes: obtaining heartbeat transmission signals at one earpiece and a reference position of a human body; and performing sound channel configuration on a signal of the earpiece at least according to the heartbeat transmission signals at the earpiece and the reference position. The embodiments of the present application provide sound channel configuration solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: BEIJING ZHIGU RUI TUO TECH CO., LTD
    Inventor: Ran Xu
  • Patent number: 9992584
    Abstract: Presented herein are hearing prostheses configured to execute sound processing (e.g., beamforming techniques) specifically designed to provide better performance for single-side deaf recipients. In particular, the hearing prostheses presented herein execute side-beamforming techniques in which the directionality of the hearing prostheses are limited to a spatial region proximate to the recipient's deaf ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Martin Evert Gustaf Hillbratt, Marcus Andersson
  • Patent number: 9980025
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a microphone unit, which can be contacted by a plug connector, and a microphone unit, wherein this comprises a housing, a circuit board having a microphone component and contacts, wherein the contacts are embodied on second contact ends as contact pins and wherein the contacts are connected at the first contact ends to the circuit board, wherein a multi-pole plug connector can be connected to the contact pins. The housing is embodied as a one-part injection molded part and the first contact ends are embodied as pressfit contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Peiker Acustic GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Klose
  • Patent number: 9980032
    Abstract: An earphone device includes first and second earphone bodies into which respective electro-acoustic transducers are built; first and second cables, one end of each of which is connected to the respective earphone body and within each of which a switch member to be turned on by one-way press is disposed over a predetermined range along the length direction of the cable so that the cable has switch functions; wherein a switch is shunted into two switches by the first and second cables, portions of the first and second cables having switch functions are arranged one on top of the other, and an overlapped portion is unidirectionally pressed to simultaneously turn on the respective switches. In addition, a sound-reproducing system is configured by combining a mobile terminal which operates in conjunction with this earphone device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: FOSTER ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Yajima
  • Patent number: 9961474
    Abstract: The disclosure is based on the finding that acoustic near-field transfer functions indicating acoustic near-field propagation channels between loudspeakers and ears of a listener can be employed to pre-process audio signals. Therefore, acoustic near-field distortions of the audio signals can be mitigated. The pre-processed audio signals can be presented to the listener using a wearable frame, wherein the wearable frame comprises the loudspeakers for audio presentation. The disclosure can allow for a high quality rendering of audio signals as well as a high listening comfort for the listener. The disclosure can provide the following advantages. By means of a loudspeaker selection as a function of a spatial audio source direction, cues related to the listener's ears can be generated, making the approach more robust with regard to front/back confusion. The approach can further be extended to an arbitrary number of loudspeaker pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Christof Faller, Alexis Favrot, Yue Lang, Peter Grosche
  • Patent number: 9955746
    Abstract: A head garment for privacy and methods of using the same. The head garment has a frame including an elongated member, the frame including a loop portion that extends upward and forward from a rear portion that includes a tail, the loop portion including a rim, a veil having a rear portion that is connected to the rear portion of the frame and a front portion that is connected to the rim. The tension in the portion of the veil that spans between the connection to the rear portion of the frame and to the rim provides support for the rim, and the front portion of the veil extends beyond and drapes downward from the rim. The head garment is usable with a ventilation system and/or an electronic device and may be folded for stowing in a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: DICKSBRIDGE, INC.
    Inventor: John H. Dick
  • Patent number: 9955281
    Abstract: Headphones include a memory that stores head-related transfer functions (HRTFs), a digital signal processor (DSP) that processes sound into binaural sound with a pair of the HRTFs, speakers that play the binaural sound to the user while the user wears the headphones, and head tracking that tracks head movements of the user. The headphones correct an error where the user hears the binaural sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Inventors: Philip Scott Lyren, Glen A. Norris
  • Patent number: 9933995
    Abstract: Method and system for displaying images on headphones worn by a user and/or for displaying a status of the user. The headphones include a display screen on an outward-facing surface of the headphones. The display screen can display images related to audio being listened to by the user. The display screen can also display a status of the user, such as “on the phone” or “busy.” The display screen can be a touch screen display, and the user can input commands to the headphones by touching and/or gesturing on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Todd Welti, Elisabeth McMullin
  • Patent number: 9913064
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described for mapping virtual speakers to physical speakers, having first adjusted the position of one of the virtual speakers based on a relative position of the one of the virtual speakers to one of the physical speakers. A device comprising one or more processors may perform the techniques. The one or more processors may be configured to determine a difference in position between one of a plurality of physical speakers and one of a plurality of virtual speakers arranged in a geometry, and adjust a position of the one of the plurality of virtual speakers within the geometry based on the determined difference in position and prior to mapping the plurality of virtual speakers to the plurality of physical speakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Nils Günther Peters, Martin James Morrell
  • Patent number: 9906863
    Abstract: Headphones include a left loudspeaker element; a right loudspeaker element; and a holder for holding the left loudspeaker element and the right loudspeaker element, such that the loudspeaker elements can be attached to the ears, wherein the left loudspeaker element or the right loudspeaker element includes: a first sound converter; a second sound converter, wherein the first sound converter is implemented such that the first sound converter provides directed emission in the direction of an ear in the operating position of the headphones, and the second sound converter is implemented such that the second sound converter provides no or less directed emission than the first sound converter in the direction of the ear in the operating position of the headphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Kaetel Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Kaetel
  • Patent number: 9848274
    Abstract: A method of sound spatialization, in which at least one filtering process, including summation, is applied, to at least two input signals, the filtering process comprising: the application of at least one first room effect transfer function, the first transfer function being specific to each input signal, and the application of at least one second room effect transfer function, the second transfer function being common to all input signals. The method is such that it comprises a step of weighting at least one input signal with a weighting factor, said weighting factor being specific to each of the input signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Orange
    Inventors: Gregory Pallone, Marc Emerit
  • Patent number: 9826299
    Abstract: Embodiments include a head-worn computer comprising, a front frame mechanically adapted to secure a see-through computer display; an arm, secured to the front frame, mechanically adapted to secure the front frame to the head of a user; and the arm comprising an internal speaker system, enclosed by the arm, wherein the internal speaker system comprises a back cavity and a speaker, the arm further comprising an inlet vent positioned to vent the back cavity and an audio outlet vent positioned to vent the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Osterhout Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph F. Osterhout, Robert Michael Lohse
  • Patent number: 9794715
    Abstract: A system can include a hardware processor that can receive left and right audio signals and process the left and right audio signals to generate three or more processed audio signals. The three or more processed audio signals can include a left audio signal, a right audio signal, and a center audio signal. The processor can also filter each of the left and right audio signals with one or more first virtualization filters to produce filtered left and right signals. The processor can also filter a portion of the center audio signal with a second virtualization filter to produce a filtered center signal. Further, the processor can combine the filtered left signal, filtered right signal, and filtered center signal to produce left and right output signals and output the filtered left and right output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: DTS LLC
    Inventor: Martin Walsh
  • Patent number: 9794676
    Abstract: A headphone that has a support structure that is adapted to sit on a head or upper torso of a user, a first acoustic driver carried by the support structure such that the first acoustic driver is located off of an ear of the user, wherein the first acoustic driver has front and rear sides and sound is radiated from both sides of the first acoustic driver, and a structure that defines a first acoustic chamber on the front side of the first acoustic driver and with at least one opening therein, and a second acoustic chamber on the rear side of the first acoustic driver and with at least one opening therein. At low frequencies a polar pattern of the first acoustic driver behaves approximately like a dipole, and at high frequencies a polar pattern of the first acoustic driver exhibits a higher order directional pattern. A second acoustic driver can be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Mihir D. Shetye, Ryan C. Silvestri
  • Patent number: 9769585
    Abstract: Methods and systems for positioning audio signals on virtual soundstages. The mobile device may include one or more orientation components that are used to generate orientation data that track directional changes that are used to position an audio signal on a virtual soundstage. A listener of the sound from the audio signal may be associated with the orientation data such that the positioning of the audio signal provides virtual acoustic presence on the virtual soundstage. The audio signal is received, the audio signal may be associated with a plurality audio channels. The orientation data for positioning the audio signal is also received. A position for the audio signal on the virtual soundstage is determined based in part on the orientation data. The audio signal is then positioned on the virtual soundstage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventor: Patrick J. Hills
  • Patent number: 9744459
    Abstract: An example game device includes a virtual camera, a localization calculation microphone, and a volume calculation microphone in a virtual space. The localization calculation microphone is provided at the location of the virtual camera, and the volume calculation microphone is located away from the virtual camera. The game device calculates a left-right position and a front-back position of a sound source as viewed from the localization calculation microphone. The game device also calculates the volume of a sound based on a distance between the volume calculation microphone and the sound source. The game device outputs the sound based on the calculated localized position and volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masato Mizuta
  • Patent number: 9743172
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an earset including at least: a first earphone portion containing a first speaker that outputs sound signals or voice signals provided from an external device and a first microphone that receives user's voice signals provided via a user's external auditory canal and configured to be able to be inserted into an external auditory canal of a user; a second earphone portion containing a second speaker that outputs sound signals or voice signals provided from an external device and configured to be able to be inserted into a second external auditory canal of a user; and a main body connected with the first earphone portion and the second earphone portion and configured to be able to set up a calling mode or a playing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: HAEBORA
    Inventor: Doo Sik Shin
  • Patent number: 9704472
    Abstract: Systems and methods of the present disclosure include analyzing and comparing transfer functions associated with a plurality of electro-acoustic paths for transducers of a personal audio device to determine proximity of the transducers to respective ears of a listener of the personal audio device, quality of acoustic seals associated with the transducers, and for one or more other purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Nitin Kwatra
  • Patent number: 9693128
    Abstract: The present invention is characterized in that coupling units are placed on upper and lower ends of the body of a conventional earphone, one coupling unit of respective coupling units is coupled, the earphone cord is wound between the coupling units, and the other coupling unit is coupled, thereby binding the earphone cord. The present invention makes it possible to prevent the cord from being twisted while being contained after earphone binding and to use the cord ring, which is created in the binding process, to hold the earphone on the user's body or a portable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Inventor: Dongsik Seo
  • Patent number: 9686602
    Abstract: A green headphone is disclosed. A force sensor is configured between a speaker cover and a cushion of the headphone. The headphone switches on automatically to play audio when a user puts the headphone on his head. The headphone switches off automatically to stop playing audio when a user puts the headphone off his head, the power consumption is saved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Uneo Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Sheng Hou, Cheng-Tsung Chen, Chia-Hung Chou
  • Patent number: 9674609
    Abstract: A speaker apparatus includes an input portion to which audio signals of a plurality of channels are input, a plurality of speakers, a directivity controlling portion that delays the audio signals of the plurality of channels input to the input portion and distributes the delayed audio signals to the plurality of speakers so that the plurality of speakers output a plurality of sound beams, and a localization adding portion that applies a filtering processing based on a head-related transfer function to at least one of the audio signals of the plurality of channels input to the input portion and inputs the processed audio signal to the plurality of speakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Katayama, Susumu Takumai, Keiichi Imaoka
  • Patent number: 9641953
    Abstract: A sound spatialization, with the application of at least one transfer function with room effect to at least one sound signal. This application amounts to multiplying, in the spectral range, spectral components of the sound signal by the spectral components of a filter corresponding to the transfer function, each spectral component of the filter having a temporal evolution in a time-frequency representation. In particular, the spectral components of the filter are especially ignored, for the above-mentioned multiplications of components, beyond a threshold frequency and after at least a given instant in said time-frequency representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Orange
    Inventors: Gregory Pallone, Marc Emerit
  • Patent number: 9602927
    Abstract: A system for audio processing comprising a room reflection emulation system for emulating sound reflections in a room. A room acoustics emulation system for emulating acoustic properties of the room. A head, shoulder and ear emulation system for emulation sound reflections near the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Harry K. Lau
  • Patent number: 9602928
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a speaker system includes filters, speakers, and a sound collection unit. Each of the filters filters a first signal to generate a second signal. The speakers are arranged so that transfer characteristics from the speakers to an evaluation point are different from each other. Each of the speakers converts the second signal generated by a corresponding one of the filters into a sound wave. The sound collection unit combines sound waves output from the speakers to generate a combined sound wave. The filters are formed so that a transfer characteristic from the first signal to an output signal matches a target transfer characteristic, the output signal indicating a sound pressure of the combined sound wave at the evaluation point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Goto, Akihiko Enamito, Osamu Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9578410
    Abstract: There is provided a sound reproduction device including a left channel housing unit that accommodates at least a left channel driver unit outputting a left channel sound, a left channel microphone recording an external sound, and a left channel micro-computer controlling a setting for a noise cancelling processing based on a recording signal of the left channel microphone; and a right channel housing unit that accommodates at least a right channel driver unit outputting a right channel sound, a right channel microphone recording an external sound, and a right channel micro-computer controlling a setting for a noise cancelling processing based on a recording signal of the right channel microphone. The left channel micro-computer and the right channel micro-computer are configured to communicate data with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Ozawa, Osamu Nishida, Naotaka Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 9571933
    Abstract: A multi-channel headphone has a housing, multiple independent sound channels formed in the housing, and at least one speaker unit mounted inside the housing. The at least one speaker unit produces sound directly passing through one of the sound channels and refracted through the rest of sound channels. As the refracted sound is slower than the directly travelling sound, multiple layers of auditory feeling can be provided and a stereo sound effect can be generated for users to enjoy better auditory feeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignees: Chien-Chuan Pan, OBO PRO.2 INC.
    Inventor: Chien-Chuan Pan
  • Patent number: 9560434
    Abstract: A head gear audio system having an audio plug electrically connected to a y-adapter, a left coiled wire having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the y-adapter and the second end connected to a left ear bud speaker; and a right coiled wire having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the y-adapter and the second end connected to a right ear bud speaker, wherein the left coiled wire is releasably affixed to a left section of a stretchable cord and the right coiled wire is releasably affixed to a right section of the stretchable cord, and a tensioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Inventor: Jeffrey Wade Schermerhorn
  • Patent number: 9510972
    Abstract: Dry eye treatment apparatus and methods are described herein which generally comprise a patch or strip affixed to the skin of the upper and/or lower eyelids to deliver heat or other forms of energy, pressure, drugs, moisture, etc. (alone or in combination) to the one or more meibomian glands contained within the underlying skin. The treatment strip or strips include one or more strips configured to adhere to an underlying region of skin in proximity to one or both eyes of a subject such that the one or more strips allow for the subject to blink naturally without restriction from the one or more patches. Moreover, the one or more strips may be configured to emit energy to the underlying region of skin and where the one or more strips are shaped to follow a location of one or more meibomiam glands contained within the underlying region of skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Sight Sciences, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Badawi