Acoustical Noise Or Sound Cancellation Patents (Class 381/71.1)
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Patent number: 11564036Abstract: Techniques for presence-detection devices to detect movement of a person in an environment by emitting ultrasonic signals using a loudspeaker that is concurrently outputting audible sound. To detect movement by the person, the devices characterize the change in the frequency, or the Doppler shift, of the reflections of the ultrasonic signals off the person caused by the movement of the person. However, when a loudspeaker plays audible sound while emitting the ultrasonic signal, audio signals generated by microphones of the devices include distortions caused by the loudspeaker. These distortions can be interpreted by the presence-detection devices as indicating movement of a person when there is no movement, or as indicating lack of movement when a user is moving. The techniques include processing audio signals to remove distortions to more accurately identify changes in the frequency of the reflections of the ultrasonic signals caused by the movement of the person.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2020Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Krishna Kamath Koteshwara, Zhen Sun, Spencer Russell, Tarun Pruthi, Yuzhou Liu, Wan-Chieh Pai
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Patent number: 11552506Abstract: Provided is non-contact power transmission/reception technique which is easy to be used while ensuring consideration for safety. A non-contact power transmission device 100 that wirelessly transfers generated transmission power to a non-contact power reception device 200 comprises a transmission power generation unit 120 configured to perform generation of the transmission power and a control unit 117 configured to control the generation of the transmission power. The control unit 117 is further configured to control the generation of the transmission power which is performed by the transmission power generation unit 120 in accordance with a surrounding environment in which at least one of the non-contact power transmission device 100 and the non-contact power reception device 200, or at least one of states of these devices.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2018Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.Inventors: Osamu Kawamae, Yoshinori Okada
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Patent number: 11527360Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a power-supply voltage input terminal, a first capacitor, and a second capacitor. The first capacitor has a fixed capacitance. The second capacitor has a variable capacitance. The first capacitor and the second capacitor are connected in parallel to the power-supply voltage input terminal.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2020Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: Kioxia CorporationInventor: Ryo Takeuchi
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Patent number: 11514881Abstract: A vehicle for blocking a virtual engine sound that is introduced into the vehicle includes: a speed sensor configured to detect a travelling speed of the vehicle; a virtual engine sound system (VESS) including a first speaker and a second speaker; and a controller configured to control the VESS based on the travelling speed, wherein the controller is configured to: upon the vehicle being in a stopped state, control the VESS such that the first speaker outputs a virtual engine sound and the second speaker outputs a sound having an inverse phase of the virtual engine sound.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2021Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia CorporationInventor: Youngbeom Kim
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Patent number: 11516354Abstract: An example device includes an imaging portion, an audio portion and at least one acoustic isolation feature. The audio portion is integrally coupled to the imaging portion. The audio portion is to provide an audio output. The at least one acoustic isolation feature is to facilitate acoustic separation of the imaging portion and the audio portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2017Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Stuart D. Spencer, Dan Arquilevich
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Patent number: 11510019Abstract: A hearing aid system comprises a hearing aid, and a portable auxiliary device' adapted to establish a communication link between them. The hearing aid comprises a microphone providing an electric input signal, a signal processor, and an output unit. The auxiliary device comprises a microphone providing an auxiliary electric input signal, and a user control interface allowing a user to initiate a specific calibration mode of operation of the hearing aid system. The signal processor of the hearing aid is configured to receive corresponding time segments of said electric input signal and said auxiliary electric input signal to provide an estimate of an acoustic transfer function from said microphone of said auxiliary device to said microphone of said hearing aid. A method of operating a hearing aid system is further disclosed. The invention may e.g. be used in various applications related to own voice detection and estimation.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2021Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Oticon A/SInventors: Nels Hede Rohde, Thomas Bentsen, Anders Brødløs Olsen, Michael Syskind Pedersen, Svend Feldt, Jesper Jensen
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Patent number: 11468873Abstract: An integrated circuit for implementing at least a portion of a personal audio device may include a processing circuit to implement an adaptive filter having a response that generates an anti-noise signal to reduce the presence of the ambient audio sounds at an error microphone, implement a coefficient control block that shapes the response of the adaptive filter in conformity with the error microphone signal by computing coefficients that determine the response of the adaptive filter to minimize the ambient audio sounds at the error microphone, and responsive to detecting a condition that triggers a reset of the adaptive filter, increment the coefficients in a plurality of steps from initial values of the coefficients at a time of triggering the reset to final values of the coefficients at a conclusion of the reset.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2017Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Sang-Ik Cho, Dayong Zhou
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Patent number: 11450303Abstract: A control apparatus and method for noise cancellation in a physical area. The control apparatus receives a trigger input which includes information about a first physical area and further controls an image capturing device to capture at least one first image of the first physical area based on the received trigger input. The control apparatus further determines a number of occupants of a first set of occupants present in the first physical area and scene information corresponding to the first physical area based on the captured at least one first image. The control apparatus further controls a movement of a first plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a physical three-dimensional (3D) space to create a virtual noise cancellation boundary around the first physical area based on the determined number of occupants of the first set of occupants and the scene information.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2019Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Hemant Sadhwani, Madhvesh Sulibhavi
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Patent number: 11438704Abstract: A method, system and devices to selectively control modal vibrations in an elastic panel with a number of force actuators distributed throughout the surface of the elastic panel to excite/depress the response of one or more vibrational resonant modes included in a prescribed subset. The force actuators are disposed such that prescribed modal excitation/depression may be realized when the actuators are driven by a common source signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2019Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTERInventors: Michael Charles Heilemann, Mark Frederick Bocko, David Allan Anderson
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Patent number: 11437012Abstract: An ear cup housing has several reference microphones, an error microphone and a speaker. A processor drives the speaker for acoustic noise cancellation and transparency, by processing the microphone signals, and performs an oversight process by adjusting the reference microphone signals in response to detecting wind noise events and scratch events. In another aspect, the ear cup housing has an outside face that is joined to an inside face by a perimeter and the reference microphones are on the perimeter. Other aspects are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Hanchi Chen, Sarthak Khanal, Yang Lu, Vladan Bajic, Esge B. Andersen
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Patent number: 11432067Abstract: System and methods for selectively amplifying audio signals are disclosed. In one implementation, a method includes receiving at least one image of a plurality of images captured by a wearable camera; receiving a first audio signal representative of the sounds captured by a microphone; determining a looking direction of a user; and processing the first audio signal by amplifying audio coming from the looking direction of the user and attenuating audio coming from at least one other direction; receiving a second audio signal representative of the sounds captured by a hearing interface device; transmitting the second audio signal to a speaker associated with the hearing interface device; transmitting an additional audio signal to the speaker, wherein the transmission of the additional audio signal at least partially overlaps the transmission of the second audio signal; and transmitting the processed first audio signal to the speaker.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2021Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: OrCam Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Yonatan Wexler, Amnon Shashua
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Patent number: 11423922Abstract: A system comprises an ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer. The ear-worn electronic device comprises a processor and memory coupled to the processor. The memory is configured to store an annoying sound dictionary representative of a plurality of annoying sounds pre-identified by the wearer. A microphone is coupled to the processor and configured to monitor an acoustic environment of the wearer. A speaker or a receiver is coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to identify different background noises present in the acoustic environment, determine which of the background noises correspond to one or more of the plurality of annoying sounds, and attenuate the one or more annoying sounds in an output signal provided to the speaker or receiver.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2020Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Ritwik Giri, Karim Helwani, Tao Zhang
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Patent number: 11418864Abstract: A modular head-wearable loudspeaker system includes a headphones module and an earphones module, including a principal earphone. The principal earphone includes an earphone loudspeaker, an audio signal processor, an earphone wireless interface, an earphone audio output, and an earphone microphone input. The headphones module includes two earcups interconnected by a flexible headband and comprising respective headphone loudspeakers, a headphone microphone, a mechanical earphone attachment interface detachably attached to the principal earphone, a headphone audio input communicatively connected to the headphone loudspeakers and detachably communicatively connected to the earphone audio output, and a headphone microphone output communicatively connected to the headphone microphone and detachably communicatively connected to the earphone microphone input.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2020Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: TYMPHANY ACOUSTIC TECHNOLOGY LIMITEDInventor: Ryan Meng-Wei Lu
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Patent number: 11415658Abstract: A detection device and a method for audio direction orientation and an audio processing system are provided. The device includes a first filter, which performs a first infinite impulse response operation on each first audio beam to generate second audio beams; an absolute value operator which performs an absolute value operation on amplitude of each second audio beam to generate third audio beams; a second filter which performs a second infinite impulse response operation on each third audio beam to smooth each third audio beam to generate fourth audio beams; and a DOA processor which divides the fourth audio beams into audio beam groups, and selects a selected audio beam from each audio beam group according to energy of each fourth audio beam in each audio beam group to output beam information corresponding to the selected audio beams and used in a speech recognition and for determining a voice direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2020Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: XSail Technology Co., LtdInventor: Qinghai Wei
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Active device for attenuating acoustic emissions for a turbojet engine including controlled turbines
Patent number: 11401866Abstract: An active device for attenuating the acoustic emissions of an aircraft turbojet engine includes circulation conduits for a pressurized air flow rate supplying rotary elements each having a pulsation system for the delivered air. The rotary elements are controlled in amplitude and phase and deliver, to outlet diffusers, a pulsed air flow rate with a pulsation at the frequency of the noise to be attenuated having an amplitude and a phase adjusted according to a local feedback law with microphones to attenuate the radiated acoustic power.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2020Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Safran NacellesInventors: Jean-Paul Rami, Hervé Hurlin, Jean-Baptiste Goulard, Marc Versaevel, Philippe Micheau, Julien Drant, Ambre Allard, Alain Berry, Raymond Robert -
Patent number: 11393445Abstract: A noise management system for a window includes an active noise control (ANC) module and a passive sound absorbing module. The ANC module is disposed in or adjacent a ventilation channel of the window and configured to substantially cancel low-frequency noise entering the ventilation channel. The passive sound absorbing module is disposed in or adjacent to the ventilation channel and configured to absorb both high-frequency noise entering the channel and harmonic sounds generated by the ANC module.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2019Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: AGENCY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCHInventors: Meysam Sharifzadeh Mirshekarloo, Kui Yao, Mojtaba Rahimabady, Chin Yaw Tan
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Patent number: 11394742Abstract: One or more computer processors generate a plurality of adversarial perturbations associated with a model, wherein the plurality of adversarial perturbations comprises a universal perturbation and one or more per-sample perturbations. The one or more computer processors identify a plurality of neuron activations associated with the model and the plurality of generated adversarial perturbations. The one or more computer processors maximize the identified plurality of neuron activations. The one or more computer processors determine the model is a Trojan model by leveraging one or more similarities associated with the maximized neuron activations and the generated adversarial perturbations.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2020Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Sijia Liu, Pin-Yu Chen, Jinjun Xiong, Gaoyuan Zhang, Meng Wang, Ren Wang
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Patent number: 11355096Abstract: An internal microphone signal of a headphone is filtered by i) a first filter G that, as part of an acoustic noise cancellation, ANC, subsystem, produces an anti-noise audio signal, and ii) a second filter C to produce a feedback audio signal. An estimate of a transfer function of a path S is determined, wherein the path S is from i) an input of a speaker of the headphone to ii) the internal microphone signal. The second filter C is adapted based on the estimate of the transfer function of the path S drives an input of a speaker of the headphone. Other embodiments are also described.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2020Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventor: Navneet Gandhi
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Patent number: 11328704Abstract: An active vibratory noise reduction system includes: a first estimation signal generation section configured to generate a vibratory noise estimation signal by processing standard cosine and sine wave signals with correction filters corresponding to signal transfer characteristics from a vibratory noise source to an error signal detector; a second estimation signal generation section configured to generate a canceling vibratory noise estimation signal from the standard cosine and sine wave signals by using first and second adaptive notch control filters; a virtual error signal generation section configured to generate a virtual error signal from the vibratory noise estimation signal and the canceling vibratory noise estimation signal; and a filter coefficient updating section configured to sequentially update filter coefficients of the first and second adaptive notch control filters based on first and second reference signals and the virtual error signal such that the first virtual error signal is minimized.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2021Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Xun Wang, Toshio Inoue
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Patent number: 11330360Abstract: A headphone includes an electro-acoustic transducer, a housing, a noise cancelling circuit, a resonant frequency converter, and a switch. The electro-acoustic transducer is configured to reproduce sound from electrical signals. The housing is attached to the electro-acoustic transducer. The noise cancelling circuit is configured to attenuate a noise sound by adding an antiphase sound to the noise sound. The resonant frequency converter is configured to change a resonant frequency of a Helmholtz resonator configured to include a cavity in the housing and a tubular cavity communicating with the cavity. The switch is configured to perform alteration of the resonant frequency and switching of the noise cancelling circuit, in conjunction with each other.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2021Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventor: Yu Tsuchihashi
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Patent number: 11297422Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for wear noise audio signature suppression. An example method disclosed herein includes generating an audio signature based on a media audio signal during a first time period, collecting acceleration data during the first time period, determining whether the acceleration data corresponds to wear noise having occurred during the first time period, and in response to determining the acceleration data corresponds to wear noise during the first time period, inhibiting transmission of the audio signature to a central facility.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2019Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLCInventor: Christen V. Nielsen
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Patent number: 11256338Abstract: A voice-controlled electronic device that includes an axisymmetric device housing having a longitudinal axis bisecting opposing top and bottom surfaces and a side surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The device can further include a plurality of microphones disposed within the device housing and distributed radially around the longitudinal axis; a processor configured to execute computer instructions stored in a computer-readable memory for interacting with a user and processing voice commands received by the plurality of microphones and first and second transducers configured to generate sound waves within different frequency ranges.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2020Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Craig M. Stanley, Simon K. Porter, John H. Sheerin, Glenn K. Trainer, Jason C. Della Rosa, Ethan L. Huwe, Sean T. McIntosh, Erik L. Wang, Christopher J. Stringer, Molly J. Anderson
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Patent number: 11252504Abstract: A method, comprising: obtaining one or more accelerometer signals derived from an accelerometer; and determining one or more parameters of wind at the accelerometer based on the one or more accelerometer signals.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Vitaliy Sapozhnykov, Thomas I. Harvey, Hock Lim, David Watts
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Patent number: 11251785Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first input port configured to receive a supply voltage from a switched-mode power supply (SMPS), where frequency components of the supply voltage include harmonics of a reference frequency, where the reference frequency is equal to a first frequency divided by a factor; and a spurious components cancellation circuit coupled to the first input port, where the spurious components cancellation circuit is configured to: generate a first clock signal having the reference frequency; adjust an amplitude and a phase of the first clock signal to form a compensation signal; and add the compensation signal to the supply voltage to produce a modified supply voltage with reduced frequency components at one or more harmonic frequencies of the reference frequency.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2021Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventor: Grigory Itkin
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Patent number: 11240653Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a head unit for an infotainment system of a vehicle. The head unit is coupled to a mobile terminal device via a Bluetooth link. The head unit is configured to exchange a digital audio signal adapted for improved audio quality during the hands-free talking, via an additional wireless link, in response to hands-free talking during a phone call with the mobile terminal device coupled via the Bluetooth link based on a hands-free profile.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2019Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: Audi AGInventor: Enrico Gahner
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Patent number: 11232800Abstract: The present disclosure provides for improved hot word detection in electronic devices, particularly small form factor devices such as wearables. The electronic device includes an accelerometer onboard to pick up voice in noisy conditions, and utilizes the accelerometer to confirm that a particular user intended to activate the hot word detection, thereby reducing false detection of other people's voices.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2019Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Google LLCInventor: Jae Lee
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Patent number: 11205413Abstract: An active noise cancellation (ANC) system may include an adaptive filter divergence detector for detecting divergence of the one or more controllable filters as they adapt, based on dynamically adapted thresholds. Upon detection of a controllable filter divergence, the ANC system may be deactivated, or certain speakers may be muted. Alternatively, the ANC system may modify the diverged controllable filters to restore proper operation of the noise cancelling system.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2020Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATEDInventors: Kevin J. Bastyr, James May, David Trumpy
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Patent number: 11205438Abstract: A device capable of motion includes an acoustic echo canceller for cancelling a reference signal from received audio data. The device updates an adaptive filter as the device moves to reflect the changing audio channel between a loudspeaker and a microphone of the device. A step size for changing coefficients of the filter is determined based on its velocity. A number of iterations for updating the filter using a frame of audio data is also determined based on the velocity.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2019Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Amit Chhetri
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Patent number: 11199829Abstract: A method for automatic monitoring of industrial control systems, comprising: monitoring an environment by an electromagnetic sensor to measure a plurality of electromagnetic pulses emitted by at least one industrial control device during operation of the at least one industrial control device; calculating automatically at least one normal data pattern based on an analysis of the plurality of electromagnetic pulses; matching between at least one new electromagnetic pulse measured by the electromagnetic sensor and the at least one normal data pattern to automatically detect at least one abnormal data pattern; and sending automatically a security alert in response to the abnormal data pattern.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2020Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: NEC Corporation Of AmericaInventor: Moshe Karako
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Patent number: 11189259Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating destructive interference signals for use in active noise cancellation in an interior setting of an urban environment. The system employs a combination of conventional ANC and predictive state estimation to generate destruction interference sound waves using a window pane to counteract urban noises.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2020Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Inventor: Theodore Tzanetos
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Patent number: 11170785Abstract: The techniques described herein improve methods to equip a computing device to conduct automatic speech recognition (“ASR”) in talker-independent multi-talker scenarios. In some examples, permutation invariant training of deep learning models can be used for talker-independent multi-talker scenarios. In some examples, the techniques can determine a permutation-considered assignment between a model's estimate of a source signal and the source signal. In some examples, the techniques can include training the model generating the estimate to minimize a deviation of the permutation-considered assignment. These techniques can be implemented into a neural network's structure itself, solving the label permutation problem that prevented making progress on deep learning based techniques for speech separation. The techniques discussed herein can also include source tracing to trace streams originating from a same source through the frames of a mixed signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Dong Yu
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Patent number: 11164556Abstract: A noise reduction system is provided. The noise reduction system may include a sub-band noise sensor, a plurality of sub-band noise reduction modules, and an output module. The sub-band noise sensor may be configured to detect a noise and generate a plurality of sub-band noise signals in response to the detected noise. Each of the plurality of sub-band noise signals may have a distinctive sub-band of the frequency band of the noise. Each of the sub-band noise reduction modules may be configured to receive one of the sub-band noise signals from the sub-band noise sensor and generate a sub-band noise correction signal for reducing the received sub-band noise signal. The output module may be configured to receive the sub-band noise correction signals and output a noise correction signal for reducing the noise based on the sub-band noise correction signals.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2021Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: SHENZHEN VOXTECH CO., LTD.Inventors: Chengqian Zhang, Fengyun Liao, Xin Qi
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Patent number: 11127389Abstract: An active noise control unit generates a noise canceling sound of a single frequency that cancels engine sound heard by an occupant and outputs the noise canceling sound to a speaker through an amplifier. A second harmonic detector and a third harmonic detector detect a magnitude of a harmonic component of the noise canceling sound included in sound collected by a microphone. A controller controls a frequency of the noise canceling sound generated by the active noise control unit to a fundamental frequency of the engine sound based on a rotation frequency of the engine, and in addition, causes an output level control unit to control a level of the noise canceling sound to be output to the amplifier so that the level of the noise canceling sound becomes higher when the magnitude of the harmonic component exceeds a predetermined threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2020Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.Inventor: Taku Sugai
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Patent number: 11127414Abstract: A method of echo cancellation in hands-free communication is disclosed. The method includes: receiving, via a receive signal processor, a far-end audio signal; providing the far-end audio signal to: an acoustic echo canceller module as a reference signal, and at least one loudspeaker for playback; determining an external gain value associated with the far-end audio signal, the external gain applied to the far-end audio signal downstream of the receive signal processor and prior to playback from the at least one loudspeaker; adjusting at least one parameter of the acoustic echo canceller module based on the external gain value; receiving playback output of the far-end audio signal from the at least one loudspeaker as an input signal to a microphone; and processing the microphone input signal by the adjusted acoustic echo canceller module to produce an echo-cancelled signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2019Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: BlackBerry LimitedInventors: Mohammad Aamir Husain, Michael Andrew Percy, Mark Robert Every, Frank Linseisen
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Patent number: 11128955Abstract: Improved audio processing management in a portable converged communication device is provided. A default mode of audio processing is provided where audio input to a microphone is routed and processed simultaneously to a plurality of different processors in parallel. The default mode is suspended in response to a keyword input to a microphone. The keyword is recognized by a speech recognition engine (ASR). The keyword enables audio processing through one of the plurality of processors while selectively suspending other audio processing through the other processors.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2020Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.Inventors: Haohua Li, Keh Yong Teh, Jesus F Corretjer, Lian Kooi Ng
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Patent number: 11122157Abstract: A telecommunication device includes an audio signal transmission unit configured to receive an audio signal and to transmit the same to a further telecommunication device. The telecommunication device further includes a signaling unit configured to output a signaling when there is a concern that the audio signal is acoustically understandable for third parties or represents a disturbance for third parties. A further telecommunication device includes an audio signal receive unit configured to receive an audio signal from a further telecommunication device and to output the same acoustically, and a signaling unit configured to output a signaling when there is a concern that the output audio signal is acoustically understandable for third parties or represents a disturbance. The telecommunication devices may be interconnected in a system. Also described are corresponding methods for operation and a computer program.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2018Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Jens Ekkehart Appell, Jan Rennies-Hochmuth
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Patent number: 11115762Abstract: A hearing device configured to be worn at a head of a user. The hearing device includes a vibration sensor to detect a vibration conducted through the user's head to the hearing device and to output a vibration signal including information about the vibration. At least part of the vibration can be caused by an own voice activity of the user. A method of operating the hearing device allows a reliable own voice detection at rather low processing effort. The processor determines a presence of an own voice characteristic in the vibration signal at a vibration frequency associated with the own voice characteristic and identifies the own voice activity based on an identification criterion including the presence of the own voice characteristic in the vibration signal at the associated vibration frequency. The own voice characteristic indicative of part of the vibration can be caused by the own voice activity.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2020Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: SONOVA AGInventors: Ullrich Sigwanz, Nadim El Guindi, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz, Nina Stumpf
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Patent number: 11109166Abstract: A hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, configured to play sound into an ear canal of a user, the hearing device comprising at least one input transducer (ITq) for picking up sound sq at said at least one input transducer from a sound field S around the hearing device and providing corresponding at least one electric input signal(s) INq representing said sound sq, i=1, . . .Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2020Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: OTICON A/SInventors: Jesper Jensen, Peter Sommer, Svend Oscar Petersen, Karsten Bo Rasmussen, Jan M. De Haan, Michael Syskind Pedersen
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Patent number: 11094323Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device comprises: multiple microphones for receiving audio signals generated by multiple sound sources; a communication unit for communicating with a voice recognition server; and a processor for determining the direction in which each of the multiple sound sources is located with reference to the electronic device, on the basis of the multiple audio signals received through the multiple microphones, determining at least one target sound source among the multiple sound sources on the basis of the duration of the determined direction of each of the sound sources, and controlling the communication unit such that the communication unit transmits, to the voice recognition server, an audio signal of a target sound source from which a predetermined voice is generated among the at least one target sound source.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2017Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Ki-hoon Shin, Myung-suk Song, Jong-uk Yoo
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Patent number: 11095986Abstract: A vibration speaker includes: a housing; a diaphragm covering an open side of the housing and having a rim fixed to the housing; a vibration member installed in the housing to vibrate in a vibration direction of the diaphragm and having a magnet forming a magnetic field; a voice coil installed on an inner surface of the diaphragm and configured to vibrate the diaphragm through interaction with the vibration member; a solenoid driver fixed in the housing and configured to form the magnetic field that controls vibration of the vibration member; an amplifier configured to apply a first output signal to the voice coil and apply a second output signal having a phase different from the first output signal to the solenoid driver; and a controller configured to determine whether to apply the second output signal by comparing a frequency of the first output signal with the resonance frequency.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2020Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventor: Youngbeom Kim
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Patent number: 11081096Abstract: A partial enclosure for inhibiting sound passing into and out of the partial enclosure includes an absorber-barrier or an absorber-barrier-absorber, each made from sound absorbing material and sound barrier material and arranged to form the partial enclosure. The enclosure also includes an adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system. The absorber-barrier or absorbed-barrier-absorber is positioned to block or inhibit unwanted sound from various positions of a source of the unwanted sound, or motion of the source of the unwanted sound. The adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system includes a sound generating device arranged on or in the partial enclosure to emit anti-noise signal to cancel or inhibit the unwanted sound.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2019Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Inventor: Bonnie S. Schnitta
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Patent number: 11081128Abstract: A sound state estimating unit detects surrounding sound at a timing at which a notification to a destination user occurs. A user state estimating unit detects a position of the destination user and positions of users other than the destination user at the timing at which the notification occurs. An output control unit controls output of the notification to the destination user at a timing at which it is determined that the surrounding sound detected by the sound state estimating unit is masking possible sound which can be used for masking in a case where the position of the destination user detected by the user state estimating unit is within a predetermined area.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2018Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Mari Saito, Hiro Iwase
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Patent number: 11017791Abstract: Disclosed is a deep neural network-based method and apparatus for combining noise and echo removal. The deep neural network-based method for combining noise and echo removal according to one embodiment of the present invention may comprise the steps of extracting a feature vector from an audio signal that includes noise and echo; and acquiring a final audio signal from which both noise and echo have been removed, by using a combined nose and echo removal gain estimated by means of the feature vector and deep neural network DNN.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2018Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang UniversityInventors: Joon-Hyuk Chang, Hyeji Seo
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Patent number: 10978040Abstract: A device and method generate a sound masker to mask sound of the ambient environment. More specifically, spectral characteristics of sound in the ambient environment are determined, where the spectral characteristics are determined in terms of auditory excitation patterns. A database of pre-recorded sounds is searched to identify at least one pre-recorded sound that has spectral characteristics corresponding to the spectral characteristics of the sound in the ambient environment. At least a portion of the identified at least one pre-recorded sound is reproduced to mask the sound in the ambient environment.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2020Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Sony Network Communications Europe B.V.Inventors: Peter Isberg, Kjell Krona, Anci Johansson, Richard Folke Tullberg
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Patent number: 10955550Abstract: A motion-sensitive acoustic speaker may include a housing; a transmitter associated with the housing, a receiver associated with the housing, a interface component associated with the housing, and a processing device.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2019Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: TYMPHANY ACOUSTIC TECHNOLOGY (HUIZHOU) CO., LTD.Inventor: Alexey Abdulov
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Patent number: 10957300Abstract: A system for reducing far-field noise produced by well operations includes a passive sound barrier shielding an area, in which the well operations are performed, in an open-air environment. The system further includes a sound sensor to receive near-field noise from the well operations. The system further includes an analysis module, coupled to the sound sensor, to generate an anti-noise signal. The system further includes active anti-noise generators, coupled to the analysis module, to generate anti-noise, based on the anti-noise signal, that destructively interferes with noise from the well operations outside of the passive sound barrier at a predetermined distance from the passive sound barrier. The analysis module generates the anti-noise signal based on the near-field noise, the predetermined distance, and adjustable positions and orientations of the active anti-noise generators.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2016Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Bryan J. Lewis, Kenneth R. Coffman, Bruce C. Lucas, Adam Marks, Tim H. Hunter
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Patent number: 10945079Abstract: A hearing system is adapted to be worn by a user and configured to capture sound in an environment of the user and comprises a) a sensor array comprising M transducers for providing M electric input signals representing said sound and having a known geometrical configuration relative to each other; b) a detector unit for detecting movements over time of the hearing system, and providing location data of said sensor array at different points in time t, t=1, . . . , N; c) a first processor for receiving said electric input signals and—in case said sound comprises sound from a localized sound source S—for extracting sensor array configuration specific data ?ij of said sensor array indicative of differences between a time of arrival of sound from said localized sound source S at said respective input transducers, at said different points in time t, t=1, . . .Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2018Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: OTICON A/SInventors: Martin Skoglund, Thomas Lunner, Fredrik Gustafsson
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Patent number: 10937440Abstract: An information handling system audio system includes a library of noise reduction filters associated with cooling fan speeds to isolate out cooling fan noise. Changed cooling fan settings communicated to the audio system trigger application of a library noise reduction filter for the selected cooling fan setting to isolate out cooling fan noise while an adaptive filter defines a noise reduction filter from recorded sounds. The library noise reduction filter reduces cooling fan noises during the time used to determine the adaptive noise reduction filter. In one embodiment, changes in cooling fan settings prioritize definition of noise reduction filters by the adaptive filter.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2019Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: Chien-Yu Huang, Shih Chia-Hung, Chu Shu Hsuan
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Patent number: 10917718Abstract: An audio signal processing apparatus for rendering an input audio signal is disclosed. The audio signal processing apparatus includes a receiving unit, which obtains a plurality of input audio signals corresponding to sounds collected by each of a plurality of sound collecting devices, a processor, which obtains an incidence direction for each frequency component for at least some frequency components of each of the plurality of input audio signals corresponding to a sound incident to each of the plurality of sound collecting devices based on cross-correlations between the plurality of input audio signals, and generates an output audio signal by rendering at least some of the plurality of input audio signals based on the incidence direction for each frequency component, and an output unit, which outputs the generated output audio signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2019Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: GAUDIO LAB, INC.Inventors: Jeonghun Seo, Sangbae Chon, Sewoon Jeon, Yonghyun Baek
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Patent number: 10896665Abstract: A wireless earpiece includes a wireless earpiece housing, a processor disposed within the wireless earpiece housing, at least one microphone operatively connected to the processor, and at least one speaker operatively connected to the processor. The processor is configured to receive audio from the at least one microphone, perform processing of the audio to provide processed audio, and output the processed audio to the at least one speaker. The processing of the audio involves identifying body generated sounds generated by a body of a user of the wireless earpiece and removing the body generated sounds.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2018Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: BRAGI GmbHInventor: Peter Vincent Boesen