Multiple Channel Patents (Class 381/80)
  • Patent number: 8731209
    Abstract: In order to generate a multi-channel signal having a number of output channels greater than a number of input channels, a mixer is used for upmixing the input signal to form at least a direct channel signal and at least an ambience channel signal. A speech detector is provided for detecting a section of the input signal, the direct channel signal or the ambience channel signal in which speech portions occur. Based on this detection, a signal modifier modifies the input signal or the ambience channel signal in order to attenuate speech portions in the ambience channel signal, whereas such speech portions in the direct channel signal are attenuated to a lesser extent or not at all. A loudspeaker signal outputter then maps the direct channel signals and the ambience channel signals to loudspeaker signals which are associated to a defined reproduction scheme, such as, for example, a 5.1 scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Christian Uhle, Oliver Hellmuth, Juergen Herre, Harald Popp, Thorsten Kastner
  • Publication number: 20140133672
    Abstract: Described herein is an automatic audio enhancement system (AAES) that may locate, via aspects of an electronic device, objects and/or people within a target environment, such as inside a vehicle. The AAES also may change one or more audio output signals based at least on information associated with the location of the objects and/or people. In one example of the AAES, the locating of the objects and/or people may occur in association with operation of a mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ravi Lakkundi, Vallabha Hampiholi
  • Publication number: 20140126742
    Abstract: A multi-room audio distribution system 8 having a plurality of audio cable adapters that can be used to connect and distribute an electrical audio signal from an audio signal source 12, such as a personal computer to and through an unused telephone landline wired network 22 or a unused LAN (local area network or Ethernet) wired network to one or more audio receivers 18 such as an amplified speaker set, a stereo receiver, a headphones set, or another consumer electronic device each audio receiver having an audio input jack or a plurality of audio input jacks with the purpose of providing a means to play audio (music) from a single audio signal source on one or more of such audio receivers in one or more locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventor: JEFFREY G. EGGEBRAATEN
  • Patent number: 8718285
    Abstract: An object decoding unit receives a plurality of pieces of coded acoustic information coded on an object basis and decodes the received coded acoustic information on an object basis to generate object signals. A rendering unit positions, for each acoustic signal resulting from synthesizing the object signals, a virtual sound source of each of the object signals resulting from the object-based decoding, in a listening space, and priority information indicating a priority of the acoustic signal is multiplexed with the coded acoustic information. The rendering unit determines, with reference to the priority indicated in the priority information or the number of object signals included in the acoustic signal, a size of an area of the listening space which is allocated to the acoustic signal, and positions, within the area, the virtual sound source of each of the object signals included in the acoustic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomokazu Ishikawa, Takeshi Norimatsu, Huan Zhou, Zhong Hai Shan, Kok Seng Chong
  • Publication number: 20140119561
    Abstract: An apparatus is described that includes an AV receiver with a wireless audio module (WAM) host. The apparatus further includes a plurality of wireless speakers each having a WAM device to enable bi-directional communications with the WAM host. The apparatus further includes a wireless input/output device or a plurality of wireless input/output devices embedded in speakers to enable bidirectional communications with the WAM host in order to automatically configure the plurality of wireless speakers to optimize audio parameters of the wireless speakers. The automatic configuration includes determining a location for each speaker in order to identify each speaker. The automatic configuration further includes setting time delay parameters for each speaker. The automatic configuration further includes setting volume parameters for each speaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: AliphCom, Inc.
    Inventors: Jano Banks, David Buuck, Jeff Boone, Jon Norenberg, Brad Bozarth, Eric Wiles, David Northway
  • Patent number: 8711219
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a signal processor includes: a plurality of loudspeakers configured to reproduce sound of a plurality of channels; a plurality of microphones configured to pick up sound of a plurality of channels; a detector configured to detect a user who is present in a direction of a space from which the microphones pick up the sound, and output directional characteristic information indicating a relative direction of the user to the loudspeakers; and a signal processor configured to switch contents of processing to reduce a disturbance signal included in a picked-up sound signal of the sound picked up by the microphones from the picked-up sound signal based on the relative direction indicated by the directional characteristic information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takashi Sudo, Takehiko Isaka
  • Patent number: 8712072
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to mobile devices. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide one or more antennas embedded into headsets and/or earphone for mobile devices. In an embodiment, an antenna wire having a length of about 100 mm to 150 mm is implement as a part of a headset or an earphone that has an overall length of at least 90 cm, where the antenna wire is substantially insulated from the audio wire(s). The headset or earphone is connected to a mobile device that receives television signals from the antenna. In a specific embodiment, a mobile device includes a connection circuit that is configured to separate television signals form audio signals. In an exemplary embodiment, various components of the mobile device positioned at predetermine location away from the connection circuit to reduce noise and/or interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Telegent Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lapoe Lynn, Hongbin Tong
  • Publication number: 20140112495
    Abstract: Various methods and devices are provided for a wireless audio system for a number of users. The system includes a base unit that is adapted to removably store, recharge and communicate with personal microphone modules, table-top microphones, and audio adapters. The system also includes a plurality of personal microphone modules that each are adapted to be removable and coupled to a user's clothing, and to communicate wirelessly with the base unit, and table-top microphones that are adapted to communicate wirelessly with the base unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Martin Reed Bodley, Jean-Pierre Carney, Donald William Kugler, JR.
  • Patent number: 8705780
    Abstract: An audio apparatus, an audio signal transmission method, and an audio system are provided. The audio signal transmission method includes: wirelessly receiving an audio signal from a first external device; converting the received audio signal into audio signals of multi-channels; and wirelessly transmitting an audio signal of at least one of the multi-channels to at least one of second external devices. Therefore, the audio apparatus wirelessly communicates with a plurality of external devices, and thus a user can connect an audio device to an external device without using wired cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eung-sik Yoon, Yong-jin Kang
  • Patent number: 8705750
    Abstract: An audio processor for converting a multi-channel audio input signal, such as a B-format sound field signal, into a set of audio output signals, such as a set of two or more audio output signals arranged for headphone reproduction or for playback over an array of loudspeakers. A filter bank splits each of the input channels into frequency bands. The input signal is decomposed into plane waves to determine one or two dominant sound source directions. The(se) are used to determine a set of virtual loudspeaker positions selected such that the dominant direction(s) coincide(s) with virtual loudspeaker positions. The input signal is decoded into virtual loudspeaker signals corresponding to each of the virtual loudspeaker positions, and the virtual loudspeaker signals are processed with transfer functions suitable to create the illusion of sound emanating from the directions of the virtual loudspeakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Berges Allmenndigitale Rådgivningstjeneste
    Inventor: Svein Berge
  • Patent number: 8699963
    Abstract: An audio subsystem in a mobile communication device has a speaker. In one implementation, the audio subsystem has a higher-gain power amplifier, a lower-gain power amplifier, and a switching system configured to route signals produced by the lower-gain power amplifier to the speaker while the device is operative in a first mode and configured to route signals produced by the higher-gain power amplifier to the speaker while the device is operative in a second mode. In another implementation, the audio subsystem has a power amplifier coupled to the speaker and a power supply control controlled to provide voltage at a first voltage level to the power amplifier while the device is operative in a first mode and controlled to provide voltage at a second, higher, voltage level to the power amplifier while the device is operative in a second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Chao Chen, Li Huang, Dan Kaufman
  • Publication number: 20140098971
    Abstract: A system and method for the directional transmission of sound is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises an audio source configured to generate an audio signal, a control module configured to receive the audio signal and generate a driving signal, based at least in part on the audio signal, and an array comprising a plurality of loudspeakers, wherein the loudspeakers are linearly arranged such that the spacing between two adjacent loudspeakers increases along the array. In a particularly, embodiment, the spacing increases exponentially, and broadband dipole loudspeakers are used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventor: Istvan B. Kadar
  • Publication number: 20140086431
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a wireless-enabled peripheral hub device. According to one embodiment, the hub device includes a communication module for wirelessly communicating with one of a plurality of mobile devices and a loudspeaker system configured to stream audio received from one of the mobile devices. Furthermore, the device housing includes a movable cover portion and an internal cavity area for storing an accessory input device for use with one of the plurality of mobile devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Devlopment Compnay, L.P.
    Inventors: Randall W. Martin, Matthew Graeme Leck, Marcus Andrew Hoggarth, John Joseph Briden
  • Publication number: 20140086414
    Abstract: An apparatus creates first data stream(s) by processing first audio signal(s) and creates second data stream(s) by processing second audio signal(s). The processing includes detecting phase information from at least one of the second audio signal(s) so as to eliminate the phase information. The second data stream(s) are created without the phase information from the at least one second audio signal. The first and second data streams are output. Another apparatus receives first data stream(s) including first audio signal(s) and receives second data stream(s) including second audio signal(s). The second audio signal(s) include at least one second audio signal where phase information has been eliminated. Phase information is detected from one of a selected first audio signal or a selected second audio signal and is added into the at least one second audio signal. Output audio is rendered using the first and second audio signal(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Miikka T. Vilermo, Mikko T. Tammi
  • Patent number: 8675649
    Abstract: In an audio network system constructed from a main node and a plurality of satellite nodes each having a plurality of ports, the main node generates and transmits a main packet including audio signals of a plurality of channels. Each satellite node selects one of the plurality of ports in turn, and confirms whether the main packet arrives at the selected port every predetermined period or not. When the main packet arrives at the selected port every predetermined period, the main packet is received via the port by continuing selection of the port. In the case where reception of the main packet is lost, one is selected from the plurality of ports in turn, the operation to confirm arrival of the main packet is restarted, and another port at which the main packet arrives at the present stage is automatically found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Bentall, Eamon Hughes, Peter Charles Eastty, Michael John Hunter Smith, Ken Iwayama, Peter Damien Thorpe, Masahiro Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20140064492
    Abstract: An apparatus for receiving audio data from a nomadic device is provided. The apparatus comprises a first portable speaker for being operably coupled to the nomadic device. The nomadic device receives first information indicative of a first crossover frequency for the first portable speaker and determines the first crossover frequency based on the first information. The nomadic device transmits the audio data to the first portable speaker in accordance to the first crossover frequency. The first portable speaker is configured to playback the audio data at the first crossover frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Ravi Lakkundi, Shyam Vedantam
  • Patent number: 8660055
    Abstract: An apparatus induces a first wireless device to transmit audio-related data to both the apparatus and a second wireless device by providing the first wireless device with a false indication of the apparatus being capable of performing an audio function that the apparatus is incapable of performing so as to enable the second wireless device to receive the audio-related data simultaneously with the apparatus, and wherein the second wireless device cooperates with the apparatus to leave the first wireless device unaware of the simultaneous receipt of the audio-related data by the second wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Joji Ueda, Ronald N. Isaac
  • Publication number: 20140044277
    Abstract: A wireless audio transmission system includes: a transmitter having a microphone and a modulator-transmitter transmitting a radio wave modulated by an audio signal from the microphone; a receiver having a receiver-demodulator demodulating the audio signal after receiving the radio wave transmitted from the transmitter, output ting the audio signal demodulated by the receiver-demodulator to the outside of the receiver; and a video camera into which the audio signal output from the receiver is input, wherein the receiver has a detector detecting frequencies of a radio wave not being used by other devices based on a reception level of the radio wave received by the receiver-demodulator and outputs available frequency information indicating the frequencies detected by the detector to the video camera, and the video camera has a controller causing the available frequency information input from the receiver to be displayed on a display unit attached to the video camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki YAHAGI
  • Patent number: 8638958
    Abstract: A music playing system employing the combination of mini-speaker footwear wirelessly receiving music from a music source (20) external to the footwear using an audio adapter transmitter (13) connected to the music source (20) to wirelessly transmit music to an audio adapter receiver (9) mounted in the footwear is disclosed. A rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery pack (10) is hidden in a shoe compartment (19). This battery pack powers the speakers (1-4) in the footwear and the audio adapter receiver (9). The external music source (20) may for example be but not limited to an iPod, iPhone, iPad, iPad 3G, iPod nano, iPod Shuffle, iPod Touch, iPad Tablet, smart phone, Droid phone, Android phone, MP3 player, CD player, microchip player or computer. Power for the audio adapter transmitter (13) is provided by the battery power pack of the external music source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Inventor: John Andrew Wells
  • Patent number: 8634572
    Abstract: Method and apparatus comprising a method of recording natural sounds with a matched microphone array, recording the signal on a high resolution recording device including creating an audio bed, and playing back the recording on a tuned playback system. The method and apparatus is used to create or duplicate an ambient sound space for ambient therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Inventor: Louis Fisher Davis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8620010
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a loudspeaker device, comprising first and second closely located and individually acoustically isolated loudspeaker elements. The first and second elements are arranged to receive a first signal and a second signal, respectively, at least part of said first signal being in anti-phase relative to said second signal. The device further includes third and fourth loudspeaker elements, being located in close proximity to said first and second loudspeaker elements, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Embracing Sound Experience AB
    Inventor: Fredrik Gunnarsson
  • Publication number: 20130336498
    Abstract: The present publication describes a data transfer method and system in a digital sound reproduction system. The method comprises method steps for generating a digital audio stream for multiple channels in a host data source, e.g. a computer, the audio stream is formed by multiple consecutive samples, receiving the digital audio stream sent by the host data source through a digital data transmission network by several digital receivers each of which including a microcontroller with a clock, the receivers further including means for generating an audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Genelec Oy
    Inventor: Niko Haatainen
  • Patent number: 8600077
    Abstract: A device (1) is arranged for controlling the sound levels of a group of audio channels including a user selected main channel (MC) and at least one auxiliary channel (AC1; AC2). The audio channels can be rendered simultaneously. The device comprises automatic level adjustment means (12, 13) for adjusting the sound level of the at least one auxiliary channel relative to the main channel. The level adjustment means (12, 13) may be arranged for adapting the respective sound levels to the content or signal characteristics of each associated audio channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Mark Jozef Willem Mertens, Ronaldus Maria Aarts
  • Publication number: 20130315417
    Abstract: A system for re-broadcasting a received media stream to multiple media players includes an input port for receiving the media stream, a processor for decoding the media stream into a format suitable for rebroadcast, and an output port for re-broadcasting the media stream to a plurality of media players.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventor: Cary Christie
  • Patent number: 8594340
    Abstract: Where information is to be conveyed as acoustic waves, embodiments of the present invention provide a transmitter capable of causing acoustic waves that convey information to be not easily perceived by the human ear. A transmitter, being an apparatus that converts various types of encoded information into acoustic wave(s) in the audible spectrum and carries out transmission thereof, comprises microphone(s) that cause ambient sound(s) from location(s) at which acoustic wave(s) is/are transmitted to be input as ambient sound signal(s); peak frequency detector(s) that detect, within ambient sound signal(s), peak frequency or frequencies of major constituent(s) of ambient sound(s); carrier wave generator(s) that generate carrier waves at a plurality of frequencies that are natural number multiples of peak frequency or frequencies and that can be used to mask ambient sound(s); and modulator(s) that modulate a plurality of carrier waves with baseband signal(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Field System, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomio Takara, Hiroshi Suzuki, Takashige Tsukuma, Yoshimaru Maruno, Ichiro Okuyama
  • Publication number: 20130294618
    Abstract: The invention relates to the method and devices of sound volume management and control in the attended areas. According to the proposed method and system variants the sound reproducing system comprises: sounding mode appointment device, central station for audio signal transmittance; one or more peripheral stations for audio signal reception and playback; appliance for listener's location recognition; computing device for performing calculation concerning sounding parameters at the points of each listener's location and for performing calculation of controlling parameters for system tuning. The system can be operated wirelessly and can compose a local network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventor: Mikhail LYUBACHEV
  • Patent number: 8577045
    Abstract: An encoding apparatus comprises a frame processor (105) which receives a multi channel audio signal comprising at least a first audio signal from a first microphone (101) and a second audio signal from a second microphone (103). An ITD processor 107 then determines an inter time difference between the first audio signal and the second audio signal and a set of delays (109, 111) generates a compensated multi channel audio signal from the multi channel audio signal by delaying at least one of the first and second audio signals in response to the inter time difference signal. A combiner (113) then generates a mono signal by combining channels of the compensated multi channel audio signal and a mono signal encoder (115) encodes the mono signal. The inter time difference may specifically be determined by an algorithm based on determining cross correlations between the first and second audio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan A. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 8571229
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes at least a die carried by a substrate, a plurality of bond pads disposed on the die, a plurality of conductive components, and a plurality of bond wires respectively connected between the plurality of bond pads and the plurality of conductive components. The plurality of bond pads respectively correspond to a plurality of signals, and include a first bond pad configured for transmitting/receiving a first signal and a second bond pad configured for transmitting/receiving a second signal. The plurality of conductive components include a first conductive component and a second conductive component. The first conductive component is bond-wired to the first bond pad, and the second conductive component is bond-wired to the second bond pad. The first conductive component and the second conductive component are separated by at least a third conductive component of the plurality of conductive components, and the first signal is asserted when the second signal is asserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventors: Chien-Sheng Chao, Tse-Chi Lin, Yin-Chao Huang
  • Publication number: 20130279716
    Abstract: A method of operating an audio system that provides audio radiation to a plurality of listening positions includes providing at least one source of audio signals. At each listening position, at least one array of speaker elements is provided. A filter is provided between the at least one source and at least one of the speaker elements at a first listening position. The filter is optimized so that the filter reduces acoustic energy radiated from the first array to at least one other listening position of the plurality of listening positions, compared to acoustic energy radiated from the first array to the first listening position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Klaus Hartung, Paul B. Hultz
  • Patent number: 8559661
    Abstract: A sound system comprises at least three audio driver arrangements (101, 103, 105) for emitting audio signals. The audio driver arrangements (101, 103, 105) are angled relative to each other to emit sound signals in different directions angled at least 45° apart. A driving unit (201, 203, 205) is provided for each audio driver arrangement (101, 103, 105) to generate a drive signal. The audio driver arrangements (103, 105) angled most relative to each other are arranged to emit audio signals being between 90° and 270° out of phase. The driving arrangement (201) for the third audio driver arrangement (101) has a varying phase response with a variation resulting in the emitted audio signal varying between a first phase interval proximal the signal emitted from a first of the other audio driver arrangements (103) and a second phase interval proximal to the signal emitted from the second of the other audio driver arrangements (105). The invention may e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Loic Bernard Tanghe
  • Publication number: 20130266152
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods involving first and second acoustic speaker devices for synchronizing playback of a common audio playback signal by the first and second acoustic speaker devices. The first acoustic speaker device may transmit wirelessly a first message comprising a first checksum set comprising a plurality of checksums indicating units of the common audio playback signal in a playback queue of the first acoustic speaker device. The second acoustic speaker device may receive and compare the first checksum set to a second checksum set comprising a plurality of checksums indicating units of the common audio playback signal in a playback queue of the second acoustic speaker device. The presence or absence of a match between the first and second checksum sets, as well as an offset, if any, of the match may indicate which acoustic speaker device is behind and by how many units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: Koss Corporation
    Inventors: Joel L. Haynie, Hytham Alihassan, Timothy Wawrzynczak
  • Publication number: 20130251174
    Abstract: In general, techniques of controlling a plurality of multimedia players in groups are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a mechanism is provided to allow a user to group some of the players according to a theme or scene, where each of the players is located in a zone. When the scene is activated, the players in the scene react in a synchronized manner. For example, the players in the scene are all caused to play a multimedia source or music in a playlist, wherein the multimedia source may be located anywhere on a network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Lambourne
  • Publication number: 20130243202
    Abstract: Audio information coexists with best efforts data on a wireless network, such as a wireless local area network, by defining a backoff dedicated to communicate of audio information and using undedicated resources to communicate best efforts data. The backoff has a periodic interval that corresponds to the sample rate of the audio information so that a set of audio frame slots communicated at the start of a backoff interval has a length of time to complete communication. The set of audio frame slots has, for instance, an audio frame slot for each audio endpoint interfaced with the network. Periodic backoffs ensures synchronized audio playback by dedicating an antenna to communication of audio frames at the sample rate of the audio information, while supporting best efforts network communication when audio information is not being communicated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: David Konetski, Pratik M. Mehta
  • Publication number: 20130236029
    Abstract: Receiving, by a first zone player, first control information from a user interface module; based on the received first control information, transmitting, by the first zone player, a notification to a second zone player, wherein the notification indicates that the first zone player is joining a synchrony group with the second zone player; receiving, by the first zone player, second control information from the second zone player, wherein the second control information comprises a multicast address that an audio information channelization device uses to broadcast audio information and playback timing information to the synchrony group; and playing, by the first zone player, the audio information in synchrony with the second zone player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: SONOS, INC.
    Inventor: Nicholas A. J. Millington
  • Publication number: 20130236028
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a data processing method applied in an electronic device. The electronic device includes a codec, at least two audio output devices, an identification module, a communication module and at least two players.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicants: LENOVO (BEIJING) LIMITED, BEIJING LENOVO SOFTWARE LTD.
    Inventors: Yongqiang Zhang, Jun Li
  • Patent number: 8532309
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a signal correction apparatus includes a sound quality estimation module, a sound quality enhancement processing controller, and a sound quality enhancement processor. The sound quality estimation module is configured to generate channel importance information based on correlations of channels for signals input from one or more channels, and to generate frequency importance information based on noise levels. The sound quality enhancement processing controller is configured to decide valid channels and valid frequency components which are to undergo sound quality enhancement processing of the signals based on the channel importance information and the frequency importance information, and to generate valid channel information and valid processing frequency information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masataka Osada, Takashi Sudo
  • Patent number: 8515566
    Abstract: An audio context object gathers multiple channels of audio data from an audio device and stores each channel of data separately in a ring buffer. Clients of the audio context can request any number of channels of data at any interval from the audio context. Multiple clients can share the same audio device. The ring buffer used by the audio context object stores the channels of audio data in a two-dimensional array such that each channel of audio data is stored in contiguous memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley D. Ford
  • Patent number: 8502821
    Abstract: The system for three-dimensional rendering of signals has a computer system having acquired, streaming, or previously stored data in its memory representing multiple channels of signals in which each channel has a value which varies over a domain, e.g., time or frequency, and a display coupled to the computer. For each channel, the computer system segments the data of the channel into segments, orders the segments, renders on the display each of the segments, in which each of the rendered segments are aligned in such order along a three-dimensional perspective with gaps between adjacently rendered segments, and lines are rendered extending from each line of each one of the rendered segments to form a three-dimensional plane in the gap to the next successive one of the rendered ordered segments to form a three-dimensional continuous or discontinuous surface characterizing the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: C Speed, LLC
    Inventors: Justin Ralph Louise, Kevin Roy Francis, David James Yaw
  • Patent number: 8488800
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention divides an audio signal into auditory events, each of which tends to be perceived as separate and distinct, by calculating the spectral content of successive time blocks of the audio signal, calculating the difference in spectral content between successive time blocks of the audio signal, and identifying an auditory event boundary as the boundary between successive time blocks when the difference in the spectral content between such successive time blocks exceeds a threshold. In another aspect, the invention generates a reduced-information representation of an audio signal by dividing an audio signal into auditory events, each of which tends to be perceived as separate and distinct, and formatting and storing information relating to the auditory events. Optionally, the invention may also assign a characteristic to one or more of the auditory events. Auditory events may be determined according to the first aspect of the invention or by another method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Brett Graham Crockett
  • Publication number: 20130156207
    Abstract: An accessory device having multiple speakers and/or microphones to perform a number of audio functions, for use with mobile devices, are provided. The audio transducers (e.g., microphones and/or speakers) may be housed in one or more extendable and/or rotationally adjustable arms. To compensate for the unwanted signal feedback between the speakers and microphones, acoustic echo cancellation may be implemented to determine the proper distance and relative location between the speakers and microphones. Acoustic echo cancellation removes the echo from voice communications to improve the quality of the sound. The removal of the unwanted signals captured by the microphones may be accomplished by characterizing the audio signal paths from the speakers to the microphones (speaker-to-microphone path distance profile), including the distance and relative location between the speakers and microphones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: QUALCOMM Incorporated
  • Publication number: 20130148821
    Abstract: A method, device and computer program product for processing audio signals, the method including determining beamformer filter coefficients to be applied to the audio signals; applying the beamformer filter coefficients to the audio signals; outputting the filtered audio signals from an audio output comprising a plurality of speakers coupled with the device; and receiving at a microphone coupled with the device, the filtered audio signals output from the audio output. The filter coefficients are determined such that the filtered audio signals are suppressed when received at the microphone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventor: Karsten Vandborg Sorensen
  • Patent number: 8457334
    Abstract: An audio apparatus, an audio signal transmission method, and an audio system are provided. The audio signal transmission method includes: wirelessly receiving an audio signal from a first external device; converting the received audio signal into audio signals of multi-channels; and wirelessly transmitting an audio signal of at least one of the multi-channels to at least one of second external devices. Therefore, the audio apparatus wirelessly communicates with a plurality of external devices, and thus a user can connect an audio device to an external device without using wired cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eung-sik Yoon, Yong-jin Kang
  • Patent number: 8452030
    Abstract: An external equipment controlling apparatus includes: a connecting unit, connected to an external equipment via an interface to input/receive data into/from the external equipment, the external equipment to which audio data is input and which performs an acoustic process to a sound corresponding to the audio data and causes a speaker to emit the sound; an audio data outputting unit, operable to generate the audio data, and operable to output the audio data to the external equipment; an identification information acquiring unit, configured to acquire identification information for specifying the external equipment from the external equipment; a program acquiring unit, configured to acquire a control program corresponding to the external equipment specified by the identification information from a server via a network; a video data outputting unit, operable to generate video data for displaying a setting screen for setting the acoustic process on a displaying unit, and operable to output the video data to the d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Kohara, Hisanori Itoga, Kazuhiko Honda
  • Patent number: 8452027
    Abstract: An audio conference system including a controller, a plurality of microphones, and an antenna that makes the controller and the microphones communicate via radio communication, in which the controller includes: an utterance permitting unit that, in response to utterance request instruction information received from any of the microphones, transmits utterance permission instruction information to the microphone; and an utterance inhibiting unit that, in response to utterance inhibition request instruction information received from any of the microphones, transmits utterance inhibition instruction information to the other microphones, and the microphones each include: an utterance requesting unit that transmits utterance request instruction information to the controller and transmits, to the controller, a speech signal input after receiving the utterance permission instruction information from the controller; and an utterance stopping unit that stops transmission of the speech signal to the controller upon rece
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica
    Inventor: Manami Katsuno
  • Patent number: 8452433
    Abstract: In a mixing system where a console, engine and I/O devices, each possessing a plurality of supply sources and destinations, are connected to a network, a plurality of transmission channels of the network are allocated to the individual devices. In response to human operator's connection instruction given via the console for instructing a connection between a supply source possessed by one of the devices and a supply destination possessed by another of the devices, the device possessing the supply source transmits an audio signal of the supply source to the network using one of the transmission channels allocated to the device. The device possessing the signal supply destination, for which the connection instruction has been given, receives the audio signal transmitted via the transmission channel and supplies the received audio signal to the supply destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Kotaro Terada
  • Publication number: 20130129112
    Abstract: A transmitting apparatus transmits contents data of the same contents in the same reproducing positions to the respective receiving apparatuses at the same time. The receiving apparatuses specifies a reception start time at which contents data of next contents is first received, and adds a same delay time set in each of the receiving apparatuses to the reception start time so as to set a reproduction start time of next contents. The receiving apparatuses end the reproduction of the on-reproducing contents at the reproduction start time, and starts reproduction of the contents data of the next contents. Therefore, even when the reproducing positions slightly shift from each other among the receiving apparatuses during reproduction of the contents, the reproduction start times of the next contents can be synchronized with each other among all the receiving apparatuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Onkyo Corporation
    Inventor: Susumu TAKEMURA
  • Publication number: 20130108073
    Abstract: A method and a system for adapting the timbre of sound output at power-up/down of a media player or stereo, where the timbre adaptation is a limitation of the bandwidth of the signal or sound, which bandwidth limitation is reduced over time to eventually provide no filtering at all.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: BANG & OLUFSEN A/S
    Inventors: Jan Abildgaard Pedersen, Morten Lydolf
  • Publication number: 20130101134
    Abstract: System, method and device to provide apparent audio source position of a performer on a stage using a monophonic wireless microphone and volume modulation of left and right audio channels based on the actual position of the performer. Two audio channels are produced using a single audio input channel plus position information. Performances are enhanced by the perception of the audience that the source of the sound, such as singing, is the location of the performer on the stage. Other embodiments use additional audio channels. One embodiment uses the carrier amplitude of the wireless microphone to determine position. In another embodiment two or more wireless microphone receivers are used to improve position accuracy. The stage may be real, virtual or remote. The performance and/or audio may be live or recorded. Calibration and adjustment features are included in alternate embodiments. Constant power panning is included in one embodiment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: ZETTA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LLC - FORC SERIES
    Inventor: Jonathan N. Betts-Lacroix
  • Patent number: 8428273
    Abstract: This invention relates to a wireless digital transmission system for loudspeakers comprising: compression means for the file representing the digital audio signal of the “compact disc” type, a transmission device comprising means of converting this compressed signal into a series signal moving by packets going to a modulator circuit with phase quadrature and means of transmitting the signals exiting the modulator circuit with phase quadrature to the domestic network for feeding electricity; a receiving device comprising means of connecting to this domestic network and of extracting from the feed electrical signal, by a demodulator with phase quadrature, data packets moving the digital audio signal to convert it into a parallelized digital signal sent to a decompression circuit; means of converting the decompressed digital signals into an analog signal intended to feed a loudspeaker after adequate amplification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: TouchTunes Music Corporation
    Inventor: Guy Nathan
  • Publication number: 20130094662
    Abstract: This invention relates to a wireless digital transmission system for loudspeakers comprising: compression means for the file representing the digital audio signal of the “compact disc” type, a transmission device comprising means of converting this compressed signal into a series signal moving by packets going to a modulator circuit with phase quadrature and means of transmitting the signals exiting the modulator circuit with phase quadrature to the domestic network for feeding electricity; a receiving device comprising means of connecting to this domestic network and of extracting from the feed electrical signal, by a demodulator with phase quadrature, data packets moving the digital audio signal to convert it into a parallelized digital signal sent to a decompression circuit; means of converting the decompressed digital signals into an analog signal intended to feed a loudspeaker after adequate amplification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: TOUCHTUNES MUSIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: TouchTunes Music Corporation