Monitoring/measuring Of Audio Devices Patents (Class 381/58)
  • Patent number: 11310613
    Abstract: Provided are an audio calibration method and device. The method includes: transmitting an audio calibration signal to a first loudspeaker and a second loudspeaker such that the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker generate sound signals; determining first loudspeaker sound information through a sound signal generated by the first loudspeaker and acquired by a first microphone and a sound signal generated by the first loudspeaker and acquired by the second microphone; determining second loudspeaker sound information through a sound signal generated by the second loudspeaker and acquired by the first microphone and a sound signal generated by the second loudspeaker and acquired by the second microphone; and determining a calibration parameter of the first loudspeaker or a calibration parameter of the second loudspeaker according to the first loudspeaker sound information and the second loudspeaker sound information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: MERRY ELECTRONICS(SUZHOU) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hui Wu, Chunyan Hu, Tianliang Zhang
  • Patent number: 11297453
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for performing a role swapping operation between a pair of non-tethered wireless ear buds after detecting a triggering event. Further, state information can be coordinated between devices, including in connection with performing a role swap between buds in a pair of wireless, untethered ear buds, where one wireless ear bud is in a primary role and is responsible for a connection with a companion device, and another wireless ear bud in the pair is in a secondary role.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventors: Sriram Hariharan, Ganesha Adkasthala Ganapathi Batta, Tad J. Dreier, Christopher S. Wiebe, Ashley N. Saulsbury, Duy N. Phan, David J. Shaw, Robert D. Watson, Augustin Prats
  • Patent number: 11297452
    Abstract: An inspection system includes two or more microphone units and an inspection controller. The two or more microphone units are disposed side by side in a vehicle. The inspection controller is configured to cause an inspection-target speaker to output an inspection sound, and determine, on the basis of a sound picked up by a main microphone unit and a sound picked up by one or more satellite microphone units, whether the inspection-target speaker passes or fails. The inspection-target speaker is any of one or more speakers mounted on the vehicle. The main microphone unit is one, of the microphone units, that is disposed at a position corresponding to a position of the inspection-target speaker. The one or more satellite microphone units are each one of the microphone units excluding the main microphone unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mototsugu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11297409
    Abstract: A remote speaker microphone (RSM) unit enables a user to use either a headset or an in-ear speaker with the RSM unit. The RSM unit includes a first RSM connection for communicating and connectable with the first connection of the headset; and a second RSM connection for communicating and connectable with the second connection of the in-ear speaker. Connecting either the headset or the in-ear speaker to the RSM unit disables the speaker and microphone of the RSM unit. At least one of the first and second connections are wireless, e.g., Bluetooth or NFC, and at least one of the first and second RSM connections are wireless connections communicable with the first and second connections, respectively. In addition or the alternative, at least one of said first connection and said second connection are electrical plugs and at least one of said first and second RSM connections are corresponding electrical jacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Safariland, LLC
    Inventors: Don Herbert, Peter Hoang, John Brad Medine, David Trinh Le
  • Patent number: 11290661
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for presenting subtitles. The systems and methods include accessing, by a user device, a video discovery graphical user interface that includes a plurality of videos; receiving a user input that gradually reduces volume of the user device; determining that the volume of the user device has gradually been reduced by the user input until a mute state has been reached in which audio output of the user device is disabled; and in response to determining that the volume of the user device has gradually been reduced until the mute state has been reached, automatically causing subtitles of a first video of the plurality of videos to be displayed during playback of the first video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Kenneth Boyd, Andrew Grosvenor Cooper, David Michael Hornsby, Georgiy Kassabli, Matthew Thompson
  • Patent number: 11234089
    Abstract: Disclosed in the embodiments of the present application are a microphone hole blockage detection method and a related product. The method may include: a microphone of a first wireless earphone, acquiring audio of a preset frequency band, the preset frequency band being an audible sound frequency band; determining a first volume parameter of the audio acquired by the first wireless earphone; and, on the basis of the first volume parameter, determining that the microphone of the first wireless earphone is in a blocked hole state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Congwei Yan
  • Patent number: 11231975
    Abstract: An electronic device is in communication with one or more wearable audio output devices. The electronic device detects occurrence of an event and outputs, via the one or more wearable audio output devices, one or more audio notifications corresponding to the event. After beginning to output the one or more audio notifications, the electronic device detects an input directed to the one or more wearable audio output devices. In response, if the input is detected within a predefined time period with respect to the one or more audio notifications corresponding to the event, the electronic device performs a first operation associated with the one or more audio notifications corresponding to the event; and, if the input is detected after the predefined time period has elapsed, the electronic device performs a second operation not associated with the one or more audio notifications corresponding to the first event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Devin W. Chalmers, Sean B. Kelly, Karlin Y. Bark
  • Patent number: 11218231
    Abstract: A test system comprises a device under test and a testing device. The device under test comprises a first initiation unit, wherein the first initiation unit is configured to generate a first wireless initiation signal. The initiation signal consists of at least one of electromagnetic waves and sound waves, wherein the initiation signal comprises a first test command. The testing device comprises a first sensor unit, wherein the first sensor unit is configured to receive the initiation signal via the first sensor unit. The testing device is configured to generate a first electromagnetic test signal based on the first test command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Baris Guezelarslan, Dominik Hettich, Magdalena Poellmann, Kurt Loupal, Adrian Cardalda-Garcia, Matthias Ruttmann, Bledar Karajani
  • Patent number: 11212628
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method and an apparatus for testing a speaker, an electronic device and a storage medium. A specific implementation includes: obtaining first audio data recorded by a microphone integrated with the speaker in ambient white noise; analyzing the first audio data to derive a first analysis result; and determining whether there is a defect in the microphone according to the first analysis result. Hence, these allow for testing a completed set on an assembled speaker to ensure the consistency of a microphone test and improve the accuracy of the test result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignees: Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Shanghai Xiaodu Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Aihui An, Ming Yu, Kang Lei, Guoguo Chen
  • Patent number: 11200907
    Abstract: A stereo signal processing method and apparatus, where the method includes performing delay estimation on a stereo signal of a current frame to determine an inter-channel time difference of the current frame, identifying a sign of the inter-channel time difference of the current frame is different from a sign of an inter-channel time difference of a previous frame of the current frame, performing delay alignment processing on the first-channel signal of the current frame based on the inter-channel time difference of the current frame, and performing delay alignment processing on the second-channel signal of the current frame based on the inter-channel time difference of the previous frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eyal Shlomot, Haiting Li, Lei Miao
  • Patent number: 11196960
    Abstract: Media content typically includes closed captioning information such as subtitled in domestic and foreign languages. Techniques and mechanisms provide that closed captioning information may be toggled on/off using menu options and preferences as well as automatically managed by intelligently monitoring the environment surrounding a device. Device sensors such as microphones and vibration monitors determine the noise level of an environment as well as the spectral characteristics of the noise to determine whether the noise profile would interfere with the video playback experience. A particular environmental noise profile could automatically trigger the display of closed captioning information or present an easy access, otherwise unavailable toggle to display closed captioning information associated with a video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: TiVo Corporation
    Inventor: Torbjorn Einarsson
  • Patent number: 11190890
    Abstract: An acoustic testing apparatus may include connections for multiple devices under test (DUTs) to support simultaneous testing of two or more miniature electroacoustic devices. The acoustic testing apparatus may allow the testing of multiple DUTs with a ratio of less than one reference microphone per DUT. Thus, the speed of testing DUTs may be increased without adding significant cost through additional reference microphones. For example, a single reference microphone may be used to test two or four DUTs coupled together through an acoustic test cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Aleksey Khenkin, Kevin Stoddart, Gordon Cowan, Keith Getz
  • Patent number: 11190892
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques that include aligning processing of audio samples collected by multiple audio sensors or microphones. In one example, this disclosure describes a method comprising enabling a first microphone; processing, by an audio processor and using a first processing pipeline, audio data samples collected by the first microphone; enabling a second microphone a period of time after enabling the first microphone; processing, by the audio processor and using a second processing pipeline, a sample of audio data collected by the second microphone by synchronizing starting times for the first and second processing pipelines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Alok Kumar Mathur
  • Patent number: 11184726
    Abstract: Example techniques may involve multiple calibrations for a playback device. In an example implementation, a playback device plays back audio content according to a first calibration via the one or more audio amplifiers. The playback device detects that an arrangement of one or more listeners relative to the first playback device has changed from a first arrangement to a second arrangement. Based on detection that the arrangement of one or more listeners relative to the first playback device has changed from the first arrangement to the second arrangement, the playback device applies a second calibration to playback by the first playback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Klaus Hartung, Dayn Wilberding
  • Patent number: 11175885
    Abstract: A method for controlling a display apparatus includes: based on a communication connection with an audio device being established through a first interface, transmitting, to the audio device, audio setup information of the display apparatus; based on receiving a first audio signal comprising a plurality of channels from an external server, transmitting a second audio signal comprising the plurality of channels to the audio device; receiving, from the audio device, a third audio signal comprising a height channel obtained from the second audio signal based on the audio setup information of the display apparatus; and outputting the received third audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jinman Kim
  • Patent number: 11178481
    Abstract: An ear-plug assembly presents audio content to an ear canal of a user. The audio content may be based in part on sound in a local area surrounding the user. The ear-plug assembly detects, via one or more acoustic sensors, sound in the area around the user. The sound waves travel through an aperture in a body of the ear-plug assembly and are propagated to a waveguide to the one or more acoustic sensors. The ear-plug assembly processes the detected sound data in a controller, which instructs a speaker assembly to present audio content based in part on the detected sound data. The detected sounds may be amplified, attenuated, filtered, and/or augmented when presented by the speaker assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Oishi, Morteza Khaleghimeybodi, Pablo Francisco Faundez Hoffmann, Alan Ng, Antonio John Miller, Gongqiang Yu, Chuming Zhao
  • Patent number: 11163825
    Abstract: A media playlist is generated in which media items have a tempo matching a target tempo. The content server receives a seed value and a tempo signal from a client device. The tempo signal indicates a target tempo specified by the user. The content server calculates a target tempo range associated with the target tempo and generates a filtered playlist of media items based on the seed value and the target tempo range. The media items in the in the filtered playlist have tempos within the target tempo range. The content server provides the media items in the filtered playlist to the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Pandora Media, LLC
    Inventors: David H. Reiley, Jr., Andreas Ehmann, Walker Phillips, Myra Chachkin, Maria Cantu Chavez
  • Patent number: 11159872
    Abstract: A wearable audio device that includes an electro-acoustic transducer for creating audio output and a magnetometer system comprising a magnetic field sensor with an output, a temperature sensor that is configured to determine an internal device temperature, a processor, and memory. The magnetometer system is configured to derive from the magnetic field sensor output a directional heading of the Earth's magnetic field. The magnetometer system is further configured to compensate the magnetic field sensor output, wherein the compensation is temperature dependent. The memory is configured to store temperature-dependent compensation information. The magnetometer system is further configured to use the temperature sensor output to retrieve compensation information from the memory in order to compensate the magnetic field sensor output at the current temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen J. Maguire, Jordan J. Bonner
  • Patent number: 11153017
    Abstract: A test system comprises a device under test and a testing device. The device under test comprises a first microphone, wherein the first microphone is configured to receive sound waves. The testing device comprises a first speaker, wherein the first speaker is configured to generate sound waves. The testing device is configured to generate a first acoustic command signal via the first speaker, wherein the first acoustic command comprises a first test command. The device under test is configured to receive the first acoustic command signal via the first microphone. The device under test is configured to generate a first electromagnetic test signal based on the first test command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Baris Guezelarslan, Dominik Hettich, Magdalena Poellmann
  • Patent number: 11146902
    Abstract: A device may receive a request to initiate an audio test and may generate, based on the request, one or more instructions to control a bone transducer device and a microphone device. The device may send the one or more instructions to a control device and may receive, after sending the one or more instructions, audio data from the control device. The device may process the audio data to determine whether the audio data includes an otoacoustic emission (OAE) and may cause at least one action to be performed based on determining whether the OAE is included in the audio data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Aseem Jain, Gianluca Croso, Sanjay Elangovan, Andrew Sean Tsai, Richard J. Chen, Taha Mirza Baig, Gavin Mischler, Adarsha Malla, Darian Low, Francis Xavier Creighton
  • Patent number: 11133036
    Abstract: A system and method for associating audio feeds to corresponding video feeds, including determining a subject of interest within a video feed based on the video feed and metadata associated with the video feed; analyzing the metadata to determine an optimal audio source for the subject of interest; configuring the optimal audio source to capture an audio feed; and associating the captured audio feed with the video feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Insoundz Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomer Goshen, Emil Winebrand
  • Patent number: 11133020
    Abstract: A device or system is provided which is configured to detect one or more sound events and/or scenes associated with a predetermined context, and to provide an assistive output on fulfilment of that context.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: AUDIO ANALYTIC LTD
    Inventors: Christopher James Mitchell, Sacha Krstulovic, Cagdas Bilen, Neil Cooper, Julian Harris, Amoldas Jasonas, Joe Patrick Lynas
  • Patent number: 11134444
    Abstract: Disclosed are a low-power communication method and a low-power communication apparatus in a communication system. A low-power station may comprise a processor; a memory storing at least one instruction executable by the processor; a receiver for receiving a WUR PPDU according to the at least one instruction; and a transceiver for transmitting and receiving a legacy PPDU according to the at least one instruction, and the at least one instruction may be configured to cause the receiver to receive a WUR wake-up frame from the access point in an on-duration within a WUR duty cycle period; when the WUR wake-up frame is received, cause the processor to transmit a first signal requesting wake-up to the transceiver; and when the first signal is received, cause the transceiver to transition from a sleep state to a wake-up state at a TWT configured between the access point and the low-power station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Sung Hyun Hwang, Kyu Min Kang, Sung Jin Yoo, Su Na Choi, Jae Cheol Park, Yong Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 11115743
    Abstract: A signal processing device according to an embodiment includes a measurement signal generation unit that generates a first measurement signal and outputs the signal to headphones, a sound pickup signal acquisition unit that acquires a first sound pickup signal obtained by picking up the first measurement signal by a microphone, a signal analysis unit that calculates a frequency response of the first sound pickup signal, a fit determination unit that determine a fit of the headphones by comparing a response value of the frequency response in a specified frequency band with a reference value, and a display unit that outputs gradual results of the determination in accordance with a percentage of the response value with respect to the reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: JVCKENWOOD Corporation
    Inventors: Yumi Fujii, Takahiro Gejo, Hisako Murata, Masaya Konishi, Kuniaki Takachi
  • Patent number: 11115766
    Abstract: A computing device includes: a memory storing an audio sequence and a reference attribute associated with playback of the audio sequence; a speaker; a microphone; an audio enclosure supporting the speaker and the microphone; a processor configured to: simultaneously (i) control the speaker to play the audio sequence, and (ii) control the microphone to capture a test recording corresponding to playback of the audio sequence; based on a comparison of the reference attribute to a test attribute associated with the test recording, detect occlusion of the audio enclosure; and in response to detecting occlusion of the audio enclosure, generate a notification message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Yegor D. Sinelnikov, Dongqing Chen, David S. Koch, Jing Lu, Neeta R. Joshi, Shan Chu
  • Patent number: 11100719
    Abstract: A method of overlaying an optical and acoustic reproduction of a real scene with virtual image and audio data comprises reading image data which represent an optical and/or acoustic reproduction of the real scene captured by at least one environment sensor of a mobile device, determining marker data from the image data, wherein the marker data represent a reproduction and a positioning of a marker arranged in the real scene, reading virtual image and audio data, wherein the virtual image and audio data comprise a representation instruction for representing the virtual image, a positioning instruction for positioning the virtual image and a positioning instruction for replay of the audio data, determining object data from the image and audio data, and ascertaining a positioning rule for positioning the virtual image with reference to the reproduction of the object portion using the object data and the virtual image and audio data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: 3DQR GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Anderson, Volker Bauer
  • Patent number: 11081127
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device comprises a communication unit, a speaker, and a processor for: outputting a test sound through the speaker when a preset signal is received from an external terminal device through the communication unit; acquiring, on the basis of sound data, reverberation time information for each frequency of the test sound and size information on a space in which the electronic device is positioned when sound data acquired by recording a test sound in a terminal device is received through the communication unit; acquiring, on the basis of the reverberation time information for each frequency and the size information on a space, a sound absorption rate of an object arranged in the space; and identifying information on the object on the basis of the sound absorption rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jaemyung Hur, Kunsok Kang, Hyunkyu Yun
  • Patent number: 11076243
    Abstract: A terminal may include: a sensor unit including a microphone configured to acquire a surrounding sound and a position sensor configured to detect a position of the terminal; a processor configured to identify characteristics of a voice of a specific person designated by a user of the terminal through learning, and determine a setting value determining operating characteristics of a hearing aid based on the characteristics of the voice of the specific person; and a communicator configured to transmit the setting value to the hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae Kwon Jung, Yun Tae Lee, Sung Youl Choi, Bang Chul Ko, Ho Kwon Yoon
  • Patent number: 11061643
    Abstract: A system for enhancing audio including a plurality of sensors, an output device, and a processor in communication with the plurality of sensors and the output device. The processor is configured to process data captured by the plurality of sensors, and based on that, modify an output of the output device. The processor also is configured to determine whether there are a plurality of users associated with a video conferencing session, determine which user of the plurality of users is speaking, and enhance the audio or video output of the speaking user on the output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Aleksandar Pance, Brett Bilbrey, Darby E. Hadley, Martin E. Johnson, Ronald Nadim Isaac
  • Patent number: 11057727
    Abstract: An audio or haptic power output system manages and delivers power to multiple output transducers based on corresponding power or current limits that are adjusted dynamically according to measures of power or current that are required to generate power output signals from corresponding digital input values or signals. A power management subsystem controls electrical power or current consumed by power output stages that supply power to the transducers by comparing the measures of power or current required to generate the power output signals to the corresponding power or current limits, and limiting the power or current consumed by the individual power output stages measures of power or current exceeds the corresponding limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: CIRRUS LOGIC, INC.
    Inventors: Tian Zhao, Jeffrey A. May
  • Patent number: 11044567
    Abstract: Systems and methods for microphone degradation detection and compensation are disclosed. For example, microphones of an electronic device may capture audio and generate corresponding audio data, such as during a period of time where only ambient noise is present. Sound intensity level value differences between audio data from the various microphones may be determined and when one or more of the sound intensity level value differences satisfies a threshold amount, the microphone associated with the variant sound intensity level value may be determined to be degraded. The sound intensity level value difference may be compensated for, such as by utilizing sound boosting techniques and/or modifying parameters of a beamforming component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoxue Li, Trausti Thor Kristjansson, Philip R. Hilmes
  • Patent number: 11026034
    Abstract: A self-calibration system may include a housing including a first calibration circuit configured to coordinate with a second calibration circuit to execute a calibration sequence for an active noise cancelling (ANC) earphone. The housing further includes a cavity configured to accommodate the ANC earphone, wherein the cavity is contoured to simulate the ANC earphone in a user's ear. The housing further includes a calibration microphone coupled with the first calibration circuit and configured to measure calibration sound waves from the ANC earphone, and a calibration speaker configured to emit calibration sound waves to the ANC earphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Govind Kannan, Wensen Liu, Jayvon Timmons
  • Patent number: 11016723
    Abstract: Various implementations include audio devices and related computer-implemented methods for controlling playback of augmented reality (AR) audio. Certain implementations include approaches for managing audio notifications at an audio device according to a set of audio notification rules, for example, by delaying release of notifications and/or de-prioritizing notifications based upon the rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew Christopher Smith, Ilissa Brooke Bruser, Maya Antara Mukhopadhaya, DonPaul Nogueira, Todd Richard Reily
  • Patent number: 11004436
    Abstract: A method for active noise reduction in an electric or hybrid vehicle includes (i) detecting noise in an area surrounding the vehicle by at least one sound recording apparatus which is attached to the vehicle, and (ii) generating anti-phase sound by at least one sound output apparatus, which is attached to the vehicle, depending on a signal recorded by the sound recording apparatus. The generated anti-phase sound is generated with respect to a portion of the noise in the area surrounding the vehicle and is output into the area surrounding the vehicle. Also described is a corresponding electric or hybrid vehicle which is designed to perform active noise reduction with respect to its ambient noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Inventors: Raoul Heyne, Alexander Schneider-Schaper
  • Patent number: 11006200
    Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to a hearing device configured adjust the tap detection sensitivity on based on context. The disclosed technology can determine a context for a hearing device based on sound received at the hearing device (e.g., determine loud environment) or a wireless communication signal from an external device received at the hearing device (e.g., receive a message that phone call is incoming); adjust a tapping sensitivity threshold of the hearing device based on the context; detect a tap of the hearing device based on the adjusted sensitivity threshold; and modify a setting of the hearing device (e.g., reduce volume based on a tap) or transmitting instructions to the external device based on detecting the tap. The hearing device can be a hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Nadim El Guindi, Nina Stumpf
  • Patent number: 10998992
    Abstract: A method and device for improving the sound quality of an audio file in an audio device by modifying an audio signal by means of at least one effect device. The method according to the invention includes the following method steps: a) associating the audio file with meta data; b) comparing the meta data to files in which settings of the effect device are stored; c) associating the meta data with a file from method step b), and d) loading the file from method step c) and activating the effect device, the effect device being set by means of values from the file in method step c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Kronoton GmbH
    Inventor: Gunnar Kron
  • Patent number: 10979835
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method and an apparatus for testing a speaker, an electronic device and a storage medium. A specific implementation includes: obtaining first audio data recorded by a microphone integrated with the speaker in ambient white noise; analyzing the first audio data to derive a first analysis result; and determining whether there is a defect in the microphone according to the first analysis result. Hence, these allow for testing a completed set on an assembled speaker to ensure the consistency of a microphone test and improve the accuracy of the test result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventors: Aihui An, Ming Yu, Kang Lei, Guoguo Chen
  • Patent number: 10938102
    Abstract: Exemplary drone detection, tracking, and control systems as well as related methods are provided. An exemplary system can include directional antennas and a movement system that moves the directional antennas in various azimuth and elevation orientations. A control system includes a video signal processor, a transceiver, an input/output system, a user interface, a wireless system, a machine instruction storage medium, and a plurality of machine readable instructions that operate the antenna assembly to detect, orient on, and record at least a video signal from a moveable platform as well as generate a graphical user interface (GUI) that shows a map with a user location, the antenna system location, and orientation of the antenna assembly with line of bearing. The GUI also displaying a plurality of radio channel and detected signal information. A display is provided that displays the GUI and enables user interaction with the GUI and system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jawad Abuasabeh, Todd B. Welch
  • Patent number: 10932062
    Abstract: An ultrasonic proximity sensor can determine one or more characteristics of a local environment. For example, the sensor can emit an ultrasonic signal into a local environment and can receive an ultrasonic signal from the local environment. From a measure of correlation between the emitted and the received signals, the sensor can classify the local environment. By way of example, such a sensor can assess whether an in-ear earphone is positioned in a user's ear. A media device in communication with the sensor can transmit an audio signal to the earphone for audio playback responsive to a determination by the sensor that the earphone is in the user's ear and can redirect the audio signal to another playback device responsive to a determination by the sensor that the earphone is not in the user's ear. Related and other aspects also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Charles L. Greenlee
  • Patent number: 10902001
    Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying and displaying present contacts associated with a device's group account are described herein. In some embodiments, a contact list associated with a requesting device may be obtained, and group accounts, and in particular group accounts that have granted communications session privileges to the requesting device's group account, may be determined. Presence information associated with each of the group accounts may be determined so as to identify which of the group accounts are currently “present” (e.g., human presence has been detected proximate to a user's device). These group accounts may be aggregated together, and list metadata may be generated indicating which of the contacts are present, and which are not. The list metadata, as well as list data representing the contact list, may then be provided to the requesting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rishi Shankar Rengasamy, Arun Rajendran, Ganesh Basavaraj Mamadapur
  • Patent number: 10880658
    Abstract: A hearing aid and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the hearing includes a body that at least partially conforms to the contours of an external ear and is sized to engage therewith. Various electronic components are contained within the body, including an electronic signal processor that is programmed with a respective left ear qualified sound range and a right ear qualified sound range. Each of the left ear qualified sound range and the right ear qualified sound range may be a range of sound corresponding to a preferred hearing range of an ear of the patient modified with a subjective assessment of sound quality according to the patient. Sound received at the hearing aid is converted to the qualified sound range prior to output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Texas Institute of Science, Inc.
    Inventors: Laslo Olah, Grigorii Sokolovskii, Sergey Losev, Ekaterina Sokolovskaya
  • Patent number: 10880645
    Abstract: Microphone array calibration that does not require a calibrated source or calibrated reference microphone is provided. We provide a statistical (Bayesian) algorithm that (under condition of reasonable environment noise during calibration) can determine gain and phase differences of a whole array at once, even when the gain and/or phase of the source is unknown. More specifically, a Bayesian regression with complex log-normal prior and complex normal likelihood is employed. The inherent phase-wrapping ambiguity in this regression is resolved by exploiting the similarity of likelihood between a lattice point and its Euclidean Voronoi region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Sorama B.V.
    Inventors: Patrick Wijnings, Rick Scholte
  • Patent number: 10861434
    Abstract: A noise-cancellation system, including: a plurality of sensors, each sensor outputting a sensor signal; a controller configured to receive each sensor signal, and, for each sensor signal, to: determine a power of the sensor signal at a plurality of frequencies; determine a measure of association between the power of the sensor signal at the plurality of frequencies and frequency; and determine whether the measure of association exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein the processor is further configured to compute a noise-cancellation signal using the sensor signals, wherein the noise-cancellation signal is computed excluding sensor signals that were determined to exceed the predetermined threshold; and at least one actuator receiving the noise-cancellation signal and producing a noise-cancellation audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: Ankita D. Jain
  • Patent number: 10841718
    Abstract: An acoustic testing apparatus includes a box body, a machine frame, a door frame, a door body, a rotary mechanism and linear displacement mechanisms. The box body has a feed-discharge port. The machine frame has a first opening and a second opening opposite to each other, and is disposed on the box body. The first opening communicates with the feed-discharge port. The door frame is disposed on the machine frame. The door body is disposed on the door frame. The rotary mechanism is disposed on the door frame and is connected to the door body to drive the door body to rotate. The linear displacement mechanisms are disposed on the machine frame and are connected to the door frame to drive the door frame to displace between the first opening and the second opening linearly, thus delivering an object to come in and out of the box body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: TYMPHANY ACOUSTIC TECHNOLOGY (HUIZHOU) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daniel James Majak, Ruzhou Zhu
  • Patent number: 10841717
    Abstract: A noise generator and method are provided for generating a test signal for measuring the performance of a loudspeaker over an operating broad band of frequencies ranging from low to high frequencies. A broadband random noise source is provided for generating broadband noise over the operating broad band of frequencies of the loudspeaker, and an impulsive noise source is additionally provided for generating random impulses of noise. The broadband noise and the randomly generated noise impulses are equalized to produce a composite noise signal having a desired crest factor as a function of frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Meyer Sound Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventors: John D. Meyer, Roger Schwenke, Toban A. Szuts
  • Patent number: 10839782
    Abstract: An external extended device, an audio processing method and an audio playback method are provided. The external extended device is configured to receive power supplied and a signal transmitted by a television device and the external extended device includes: an integrated physical interface connecting the external extended device and the television device; and a sound-mixing processing chip electrically connected with the integrated physical interface and configured to: acquire an accompaniment audio signal transmitted by the television device via the integrated physical interface; perform sound-mixing processing on a user voice signal gathered by a microphone device and the accompaniment audio signal; and transmit a sound-mixed signal to a power amplifier circuit of the television device via the integrated physical interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xin Liang, Yukun Fei, Zhongwen Wen, Guiming Long, Ming Zhou
  • Patent number: 10834507
    Abstract: An audio modification includes a signal transmitter, at least one signal receiver, a processor and an audio generator. The signal transmitter being disposed on a first device is configured to transmit a signal. The at least one signal receiver being disposed on a second device is configured to receive the signal. The processor is configured to determine a first distance between the first device and the second device according to a measuring indicator of the signal and to calculate a second distance that forms a head dimension of a user. The processor is further configured to apply the head dimension in a head related transfer function in order to modify audio information. The audio generator is configured to output a sound corresponding to the audio information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Yen-Chieh Wang, Yung-Ching Tseng
  • Patent number: 10832672
    Abstract: Smart speaker system mechanisms, associated with a smart speaker device comprising an audio capture device, are provided for processing audio sample data captured by the audio capture device. The mechanisms receive, from the audio capture device of the smart speaker device, an audio sample captured from a monitored environment. The mechanisms classify a sound in the audio sample data as a type of sound based on performing a joint analysis of a plurality of different characteristics of the sound and matching results of the joint analysis to criteria specified in a plurality of sound models. The mechanisms determine, based on the classification of the sound, whether a responsive action is to be performed based on the classification of the sound. In response to determining that a responsive action is to be performed, the mechanisms initiate performance of the responsive action by the smart speaker system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Gordon, James Kozloski, Ashish Kundu, Clifford A. Pickover, Komminist Weldemariam
  • Patent number: 10825440
    Abstract: A method for calibrating an ANC-enabled portable audio device having microphones plays continuously a calibration sound by a calibrated speaker of a test station separate from the device. For each microphone of all the microphones, a microphone calibration value is computed using a comparison of a predetermined level and a measured level of an audio signal transduced by the microphone in response to the continuously-played calibration sound. The calibration is done without using a microphone of the test station. A processing element of the device may be programmed to make the comparison and computation. The processing element also causes a speaker of the device to generate a second calibration sound, measures a second level while the computed calibration value is applied to one of microphones (e.g., error microphone), and computes a calibration value for the device speaker using a comparison of a predetermined level and the second level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Inventors: Jeffrey Alderson, Ning Li, Ronald Coapstick
  • Patent number: 10824921
    Abstract: A first intelligent assistant computing device configured to receive and respond to natural language inputs provided by human users syncs to a reference clock of a wireless computer network. The first intelligent assistant computing device receives a communication sent by a second intelligent assistant computing device indicating a signal emission time at which the second intelligent assistant computing device emitted a position calibration signal. The first intelligent assistant computing device records a signal detection time at which the position calibration signal was detected. Based on a difference between 1) the signal emission time and the signal detection time, and 2) a known propagation speed of the position calibration signal, a distance between the first and second intelligent assistant computing devices is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Nabil Bathiche, Flavio Protasio Ribeiro, Vivek Pradeep