Having Microphone Patents (Class 381/91)
  • Publication number: 20080101624
    Abstract: A method (10) and system (200) for user interface enhancement using speaker directionality can include a speaker phone having a microphone array (35, 36, and 37) on a communication device (32) at a first location and a processor (202) coupled to the microphone array. The processor can be programmed to associate (12) a speaker direction with a given speaker using the microphone array and identify (14) the given speaker and provide an indication of the given speaker at a communication device (42) at a second location in communication with the communication device at the first location. The processor can be further programmed to map (18) or assign sectors to a number of speakers using the microphone array in the first location based on speaker directionality of each of the number of speakers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: PHILIP A. SCHENTRUP, VON A. MOCK, CHARLES P. SCHULTZ
  • Patent number: 7366308
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sound recording device for a public address system. Sound is emitted from a sound source, picked up by at least two sound sensors and converted into electrical signals. The sound sensors are located at a distance from a reference position which corresponds to an ideal set position. Directional vectors located between said reference position and the sound sensors indicate different directions. The sound sensors are electrically or acoustically connected to a common signal amplitude add device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Beyerdynamic GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gerhard Kock
  • Patent number: 7366310
    Abstract: The present invention increases the aperture size of a microphone array by introducing a diffracting structure into the interior of a microphone array. The diffracting structure within the array modifies both the amplitude and phase of the acoustic signal reaching the microphones. The diffracting structure increases acoustic shadowing along with the signal's travel time around the structure. The diffracting structure in the array effectively increases the aperture size of the array and thereby increases the directivity of the array. Constructing the surface of the diffracting structure such that surface waves can form over the surface further increases the travel time and modifies the amplitude of the acoustical signal thereby allowing a larger effective aperture for the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Michael R. Stinson, James G. Ryan
  • Publication number: 20080095386
    Abstract: An apparatus having a microphone and a mute circuit (not shown in detail here) operable to be actuated by a rotating door assembly. The apparatus provides a mute circuit suitable to mute the audio microphone when the rotating door assembly is in a closed position and unmute the audio microphone when the rotating door assembly is not in the closed position. Additionally, the mute circuit is impervious to generating audible disturbances in the microphone signal when the rotating assembly door is rotated between open and closed positions. This advantageously allows for the microphone to essentially transition to off when the rotating door assembly is closed and transition to on when the rotating door assembly is open and do so without additional audio disturbance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: RANE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael Rollins
  • Patent number: 7327852
    Abstract: In a method of separating acoustic signals from a plurality of sound sources comprising the following steps: disposing two microphones (MIK1, MIK2) at a predefined distance (d) from one another; picking up the acoustic signals with both microphones (MIK1, MIK2) and generating associated microphone signals (m1, m2); and separating the acoustic signal of one of the sound sources (SI) from the acoustic signals of the other sound sources (S2) on the basis of the microphone output signals (m1, m2), the proposed separation step comprises the following steps: applying a Fourier transform to the microphone output signals in order to determine their frequency spectra (M1, M2); determining the phase difference between the two microphone output signals (m1, m2) for every frequency component of their frequency spectra (M1 , M2); determining the angle of incidence of every acoustic signal allocated to a frequency of the frequency spectra (M1, M2) on the basis of the relative phase angle and the frequency; generating a sig
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Inventor: Dietmar Ruwisch
  • Publication number: 20080013758
    Abstract: A microphone module is externally connected to an electronic device which includes a first sound input jack. The microphone module includes a microphone array, a digital signal processor, and a first connecting part. The microphone array receives sound and generates a first electrical signal. The digital signal processor receives the first electrical signal, performs beam forming and noise suppression, and obtains a second electrical signal. The first connecting part is inserted into the first sound input jack, transmitting the second electrical signal to the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: FORTEMEDIA, INC.
    Inventors: Yu-De Tsai, Ming-Ching Lin
  • Patent number: 7317804
    Abstract: A sound collecting device is provided which is designed to minimize adverse effects on an output caused by exposure of an electroacoustic transducer to the air. The device includes an electroacoustic transducer and a vibrating circuit. The transducer is exposed to the air and responsive to input of a sound wave to produce a corresponding acoustic signal. The vibrating circuit vibrates the transducer to shake foreign substances such as dust or drops of water from the transducer. In a modified form, an electromagnetic sensor is provided which measures an electromagnetic noise transmitted to the transducer and which removes the electromagnetic noise from an output of the transducer to produce a noiseless acoustic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 7313243
    Abstract: A sound pickup system includes a sound source tracking device that is operable to obtain distance and direction values of a target sound source relative to the sound source tracking device, and that determines nearest and farthest ones of a plurality of microphones in a microphone array relative to the target sound source with reference to determined distances of the sound source tracking device from the microphones, and the distance and direction values obtained by the sound source tracking device. A signal processing unit includes a delay calculator for determining appropriate time delays for the microphones with reference to information from the sound source tracking device, and a delay processor for processing signals generated by the microphones in the microphone array by introducing the corresponding time delays determined by the delay calculator into the signals from the microphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Acer Inc.
    Inventor: Tien-Ming Hsu
  • Publication number: 20070237339
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing or entirely canceling background or environmental noise from a voice transmission from a communications device. A communications device, such as a voice over internet or voice over packets mobile or wire lined telephone or cordless telephone, is configured with an environmental noise counterbalanced (correction) signal generator that is connected between a microphone and a continuous time quadrant multiplication. The original output of the microphone and a counterbalanced (correction) signal generated by the environmental noise counterbalanced (correction) signal generator are mixed together prior to being passed to a transmitter. In one embodiment a discrete time unit (discrete time processing) block with or without signal processing is provided between the microphone and the continuous time quadrant multiplication to help synchronize the timing of the signals to be mixed. In another embodiment a second microphone is employed to detect environmental noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventor: Alon Konchitsky
  • Publication number: 20070230729
    Abstract: This invention relates to a hearing aid system (100, 200, 300) for generating auditory spatial cues. The hearing aid system (100, 200, 300) comprises a first microphone unit (306) adapted to convert sound received at a first microphone (102) and received at a second microphone (104), a first delay unit (106) connected to the first microphone (102) delaying the signal from the first microphone (102), a first calculation unit (108) for summing the delayed signal of the first microphone (102) and signal of the second microphone (104), a processor unit (110) processing the summed signal, and a speaker converting the processed signal to a processed sound. The first and second microphones (102, 104) are separated by a predetermined first distance and the first delay unit (106) provides a predetermined first delay thereby generating a first auditory spatial cue representing a first spatial dimension in the summed signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Graham Naylor, S. Gert Weinrich
  • Publication number: 20070230734
    Abstract: A microphone assembly comprises a housing having a top housing and a bottom housing fixed attached together, defining a volume. The microphone assembly further comprises a motor assembly and a circuit assembly disposed within the housing. The motor assembly includes a backplate and a diaphragm. The motor assembly further comprises a first end and a second end spaced apart by a central portion wherein a portion of the first and second ends fixedly attached to the inner surface of the top housing or the bottom housing. The circuit assembly includes a connecting lead for making contact with the diaphragm or a backplate. The circuit assembly is arranged in series with the motor assembly, but not stacked over or under the motor assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: KNOWLES ELECTRONICS, LLC
    Inventor: John Beard
  • Publication number: 20070223731
    Abstract: Conventional independent component analysis has had a problem that performance deteriorates when the number of sound sources exceeds the number of microphones. Conventional l1 norm minimization method assumes that noises other than sound sources do not exist, and is problematic in that performance deteriorates in environments in which noises other than voices such as echoes and reverberations exist. The present invention considers the power of a noise component as a cost function in addition to an l1 norm used as a cost function when the l1 norm minimization method separates sounds. In the l1 norm minimization method, a cost function is defined on the assumption that voice has no relation to a time direction. However, in the present invention, a cost function is defined on the assumption that voice has a relation to a time direction, and because of its construction, a solution having a relation to a time direction is easily selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventors: Masahito Togami, Akio Amano, Takashi Sumiyoshi
  • Patent number: 7269263
    Abstract: A method is provided for designing a broad band constant directivity beamformer for a non-linear and non-axi-symmetric sensor array embedded in an obstacle having an odd shape, where the shape is imposed by industrial design constraints. In particular, the method of the present invention provides for collecting the beam pattern and keeping the main lobe reasonably constant by combined variation of the main lobe with the look direction angle and frequency. The invention is particularly useful for microphone arrays embedded in telephone sets but can be extended to other types of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: BNY Trust Company of Canada
    Inventors: Stephane Dedieu, Philippe Moquin
  • Publication number: 20070165879
    Abstract: Techniques to enhance voice signals in a dual microphone system are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, there are at least two microphones that are positioned in a pre-configured array. Two audio signals x1(k) and x2(k) are received and coupled to an adjusting module that is provided to control the gain of each of the audio signals x1(k) and x2(k) to minimize signal differences between the two signals. A separation module is provided to receive matched audio signals x?1(k) and x?2(k) from the adjusting module. The separation module separates the audio signals x?1(k) and x?2(k) to obtain a first audio signal s(k) containing mainly the voice and a second audio signal n(k) containing mainly the noise. An adaptive filtering module is provided to eliminate the noise component in the audio signal s(k) to obtain an estimated voice signal e_s(k) with a higher S/N ratio. Furthermore, the adaptive filtering module can be also configured to suppress echo in the audio signal s(k) at same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Hao Deng, Yuhong Feng, Zhongsong Lin
  • Patent number: 7219763
    Abstract: A microphone assembly fitted to a panel of a vehicle-mounted control module, provided with a housing for housing a microphone and having an opening section on a surface facing the panel, and a holding case for holding the housing so as to be capable of pivoting, and when inserted into a receptacle provided in the panel the housing pivots so as to seal the opening section to the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Kojima Press Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichiro Mizoguchi, Yoshitaka Uchida
  • Patent number: 7171008
    Abstract: Two or more microphones receive acoustic signals and generate audio signals that are processed to determine what portion of the audio signals result from (i) incoherence between the audio signals and/or (ii) audio-signal sources having propagation speeds different from the acoustic signals. The audio signals are filtered to reduce that portion of one or more of the audio signals. The present invention can be used to reduce turbulent wind-noise resulting from wind or other airjets blowing across the microphones. Time-dependent phase and amplitude differences between the microphones can be compensated for based on measurements made in parallel with routine audio system processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: MH Acoustics, LLC
    Inventor: Gary W. Elko
  • Patent number: 7162043
    Abstract: In order to locate and display the source of a sound such as a noise at a factory or the like accurately even when it is outside, a pair of microphones (M1, M3) and another pair of microphones (M2, M4) are disposed on the X axis and Y axis with a distance L therebetween, respectively, the direction of the sound source is estimated from a difference between sound arrival times to the microphones (M1, M3) and a difference between sound arrival times to the microphones (M2, M4), an image around the estimated location of the sound source is picked up by a camera, and the above estimated location of the sound source is displayed on the above image displayed on the display of a personal computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignees: Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc., Kabushiki Kaisha Kumagaigumi
    Inventors: Takeshi Sugiyama, Hiroyuki Wada, Takefumi Zaima, Masanao Owaki, Yasuhiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7158645
    Abstract: Provided are an orthogonal circular microphone array system for detecting a three-dimensional direction of a sound source, the system comprising a directional microphone which receives a speech signal from the sound source, a first microphone array in which a predetermined number of microphones for receiving the speech signal from the sound source are arranged around the directional microphone, a second microphone array in which a predetermined number of microphones for receiving the-speech signal from the sound source are arranged around the directional microphone so as to be orthogonal to the first microphone array, a direction detection unit which receives signals from the first and second microphone arrays, discriminates whether the signals are speech signals and estimates the location of the sound source, a rotation controller which changes the direction of the first microphone array, the second microphone array, and the directional microphone according to the location of the sound source estimated by th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sun-do June, Jay-woo Kim, San-ryong Kim
  • Patent number: 7138576
    Abstract: A sound system and method for modeling a sound field generated by a sound source and creating a sound event based on the modeled sound field is disclosed. The system and method captures a sound field over an enclosing surface, models the sound field and enables reproduction of the modeled sound field. Explosion type acoustical radiation may be used. Further, the reproduced sound field may be modeled and compared to the original sound field model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Verax Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Randall B. Metcalf
  • Patent number: 7136671
    Abstract: The present invention provides a speaker module connectable to an earphone jack of a mobile phone and a method for using same. The speaker module comprises a microphone which converts voice signals into electrical signals, a speaker which converts electrical signals into acoustic signals, an amplifier which amplifies electrical signals, and a plug for connecting with the earphone jack of the mobile phone. Further, the plug can additionally comprise a terminal for sensing whether or not the speaker module is connected to the earphone jack terminal of the mobile phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: SK Teletech Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong-Il Lee
  • Patent number: 7130431
    Abstract: A microphone assembly includes one or more transducers positioned in a housing. Circuitry is coupled to the transducer for outputting an electrical signal such that the microphone has a main lobe directed forwardly and attenuates signals originating from the sides and/or rear. The transducers can advantageously include multiple transducers, which, with the circuit, produce a desired sensitivity pattern. The microphone assembly can be employed in a vehicle accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Alan R. Watson, Robert C. Knapp, Robert R. Turnbull, William R. Spence, G. Bruce Poe, Michael A. Bryson
  • Patent number: 7085390
    Abstract: A method for controlling audio gain balance in a multi-mode communications device (200) includes providing (201) microphone audio input to the multimode communications device. The audio is supplied to an amplifier gain stage while a dynamic instantaneous energy value of the audio input is computed (203) when in a first operational mode such as an analog mode. A predetermined gain algorithm is processed (207) representing an audio input when in a second mode such as a digital mode using the energy value. The audio gain stage in the multi-mode communications device is then adjusted (209) so that audio gain when in the first mode substantially approximates an audio gain when in an second mode. This provides a consistent audio amplitude output when receiving the first and second modes in a radio receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles H. Carter, Jr., Karthik Narasimhan
  • Patent number: 7076069
    Abstract: At a beamformer with at least two acoustical/electrical converters (M1, M2) the outputs (A1, A2) thereof are operationally connected to a beamformer unit (12). There signals dependent on signals (S1, S2) arising at said outputs (A1, A2) are co-processed to result in a beamformer output signal (Sa) dependent on both output signals of the converters. Frequency roll-off of the output signal (Sa) is counteracted by establishing a gain mismatch (10) of the two gains between the acoustical input signal (A) on one hand and the inputs to unit 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Hans-Ueli Roeck
  • Patent number: 7035416
    Abstract: A microphone array apparatus includes a microphone array including microphones, one of the microphones being a reference microphone, filters receiving output signals of the microphones, and a filter coefficient calculator which receives the output signals of the microphones, a noise and a residual signal obtained by subtracting filtered output signals of the microphones other than the reference microphone from a filtered output signal of the reference microphone and which obtain filter coefficients of the filters in accordance with an evaluation function based on the residual signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Naoshi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 7027804
    Abstract: A communications terminal comprising means operable, in the absence of significant input to the terminal, to automatically terminate a call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Moyeen Shujauddin Mufti, Tae-Hyun Nam
  • Patent number: 6980661
    Abstract: The production of multidirectional or instantaneous live virtual surround sound broadcasting is obtained by positioning a plurality of microphones on an oval frame in a predetermined pattern and with a predetermined orientation, connecting the microphones to a virtual surround semiconductor chip and connecting outputs from the semiconductor chip to a pair of speakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Inventors: Mike Godfrey, Antonio Nucaro
  • Patent number: 6950528
    Abstract: In order to suppress at least one interference signal in an incoming audio signal using a directional microphone system having at least two microphones, that directional microphone signal which has the lowest interference signal component is selected from two or more directional microphone signals that have been produced by weighted combination from the signals of the microphones, with the weighting in each case determining a direction-dependent sensitivity. If a sensitivity distribution has a minimum in the direction of the interference signal source, then a low signal energy is detected, which characterizes a lower interference signal component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Eghart Fischer
  • Patent number: 6851512
    Abstract: A modular multiple microphone array method and mounting system that facilitates surround sound multichannel recording. Array configuration allows accurate and repeatable configurations suited to studio and field use. The lightweight design ensures portability and ease of placement in a variety of field recording situations: musical performance recording, film and video production, broadcast, sound effects recording, soundscape recording, etc. Versatility built into the array design allows compatibility with a variety of sound recording standards, from single channel mono to multichannel stereo and surround sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Inventors: Charles Whitman Fox, Wade Casey McGregor
  • Publication number: 20040258255
    Abstract: The present invention provides an adaptive directional microphone system for enhancing an acoustic signal from a second direction and for reducing an acoustic signal from at least a first direction different from the second direction, the system comprising:
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Ming Zhang, Zhuliang Yu, Hui Lan
  • Publication number: 20040252849
    Abstract: A sound-capturing arrangement uses a set of directional microphones that lie approximately on a sphere having a diameter of 0.9 ms sound travel, which approximates the inter-aural time delay. Advantageously, one directional microphone points upward, one directional microphone points downward, and the odd number of microphones are arranged relatively evenly in the horizontal plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: James David Johnston, Eric R. Wagner
  • Publication number: 20040240681
    Abstract: To determine the direction of incidence for a signal from an acoustic signal source using a directional microphone system, which has at least two microphones, two or more directional microphone signals are produced, each having a direction-dependent sensitivity distribution with a minimum in one direction. The directional microphone signals are assessed with regard to a quantity to determine the directional microphone signal which is most influenced by the associated direction dependent sensitivity distribution. The direction of incidence is determined as being the direction in which the minimum of the sensitivity distribution of this directional microphone signal is located.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventor: Eghart Fischer
  • Publication number: 20040190730
    Abstract: A system and process for estimating the time delay of arrival (TDOA) between a pair of audio sensors of a microphone array is presented. Generally, a generalized cross-correlation (GCC) technique is employed. However, this technique is improved to include provisions for both reducing the influence (including interference) from correlated ambient noise and reverberation noise in the sensor signals prior to computing the TDOA estimate. Two unique correlated ambient noise reduction procedures are also proposed. One involves the application of Wiener filtering, and the other a combination of Wiener filtering with a Gnn subtraction technique. In addition, two unique reverberation noise reduction procedures are proposed. Both involve applying a weighting factor to the signals prior to computing the TDOA which combines the effects of a traditional maximum likelihood (TML) weighting function and a phase transformation (PHAT) weighting function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Yong Rui, Dinei A. Florencio
  • Publication number: 20040156512
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relates to orienting a sound field in relation to a user and a generated set of images. For instance, a system may include a sound subsystem, a location subsystem, and a speaker subsystem. The speaker subsystem may include a plurality of sensors and a plurality of speakers. The sound subsystem may include a surround sound circuit that may be connected to a signal source and the speaker subsystem. The location subsystem may receive position information reflective of the orientation of a user and provide a signal that may be used by the sound circuit to adjust the audio signal based on the orientation of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Parker
  • Patent number: 6760450
    Abstract: A microphone array apparatus includes a microphone array including microphones, one of the microphones being a reference microphone, filters receiving output signals of the microphones, and a filter coefficient calculator which receives the output signals of the microphones, a noise and a residual signal obtained by subtracting filtered output signals of the microphones other than the reference microphone from a filtered output signal of the reference microphone and which obtain filter coefficients of the filters in accordance with an evaluation function based on the residual signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Naoshi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 6757394
    Abstract: The present invention provides a microphone array including a small number of real microphone that can realize the same characteristics as a microphone array including a large number of real microphones. The microphone array of the present invention includes a plurality of real microphones, at least one virtual microphone, and an estimator for estimating a sound signal to be received by the virtual microphone based on the sound signals received by the real microphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Naoshi Matsuo
  • Publication number: 20040120532
    Abstract: A method is provided for designing a broad band constant directivity beamformer for a non-linear and non-axi-symmetric sensor array embedded in an obstacle having an odd shape, where the shape is imposed by industrial design constraints. In particular, the method of the present invention provides for collecting the beam pattern and keeping the main lobe reasonably constant by combined variation of the main lobe with the look direction angle and frequency. The invention is particularly useful for microphone arrays embedded in telephone sets but can be extended to other types of sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Stephane Dedieu, Philippe Moquin
  • Publication number: 20040114773
    Abstract: An audience data gathering device includes a microphone, a circuit board and a processor mounted in an enclosure. A compliant body is pressed against the microphone and the circuit board to couple the microphone to the processor through the circuit board. An assembly for making an electrically conductive connection between two components includes a compliant body pressing against the two components and having an electrical conductor extending on a circumferential surface of the complaint body so that the conductor is held against electric terminals on each of the components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: James M. Jensen, Jack C. Crystal
  • Patent number: 6748088
    Abstract: A device for operating a microphone system, particularly in a motor vehicle, detects speech sound in several different physical locations to track a virtual microphone location, which is optimized in relation to a moving speech source. From the evaluation of variables, such as operating time, phase and/or amplitude, the individual microphone locations are virtually weighted, and the audio signals from the microphones are added or otherwise combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Klaus Schaaf
  • Publication number: 20040105557
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sound signal processing function comprising a plurality of kinds of sound signal processing with the same arrangement of microphones that does not require replacement of the microphones or the sound signal processing part regardless of the application or the sound signal processing function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Naoshi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 6740805
    Abstract: A sound system and method for modeling a sound field generated by a sound source and creating a sound event based on the modeled sound field is disclosed. The system and method captures a sound field over an enclosing surface, models the sound field and enables reproduction of the modeled sound field. Explosion type acoustical radiation may be used. Further, the reproduced sound field may be modeled and compared to the original sound field model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Inventor: Randall B. Metcalf
  • Publication number: 20040096072
    Abstract: A microphone is equipped with an element (13) for measuring the distance to a sound emitter, for example the face of an artist. The distance measurement element (13) can be part of the acousto-electric transducer (7) of the microphone, and it can be a piezo-electric ultrasound echo range finder (15, 16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventor: Birger Orten
  • Patent number: 6714653
    Abstract: A sound capturing method and device for use in making recordings having improved three-dimensional imagery during playback. Vibration information is detected from a body portion through the use of a crystal microphone for generating a first signal corresponding to a vibrational frequency of the body portion in response to a received sound wave. Direct sound information is detected from the body portion through the use of a condenser microphone affixed thereto at a second location for generating a second signal corresponding to a frequency of the received sound wave. The first and second locations are in proximity to one another such that a sound wave will reach each location at substantially the same time. Alternatively, the signals received at either location may be processed or time-delayed such that sound waves are recorded from each location at substantially the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Inventors: Douglas Peter Magyari, David Keith Magyari
  • Publication number: 20040052381
    Abstract: A method of acoustic localization of persons in a detection space by using sound-emitting elements and sound pick-up elements by emitting acoustic signals into the detection space and measuring the reflected acoustic signals has the steps:
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventor: Juergen Hoetzel
  • Publication number: 20040037437
    Abstract: A directional micro-phone is disclosed which comprises a microphone array (3) having a plurality of microphone elements (4,5,12,13) of which the element (4) is a rear element and the other elements arc forward elements. A processor (19,31) is connected to the elements. The processor can be a hardware processor for processing signals or it can be a software controlled system for processing signals. The processor one of the forward elements (5,12,13) and thereafter establishes a window of opportunity for receipt of the wave at the rear element (4). The window of opportunity is set such that only waves emanating from a particular direction will arrive in that time frame, thereby enabling acoustic waves from that direction to the process by the microphone and other waves from different directions eliminated. The angle of arc of the microphone from which acoustic waves are received and processed can be set by changing the size of the window of opportunity t3-t2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Ian Robert Symons, Ian William Taig
  • Patent number: 6697494
    Abstract: In order to generate a predetermined or predeterminable receiving characteristic of a digital hearing aid having at least two microphones, the analog output of at least one of the microphones (5a) is converted in an analog-digital manner by over-sampling and then is down-sampled. The time delay necessary to adjust the directional characteristics is carried out at the down-sampled signal. The two signals fed from the microphones (3a, 3b) to a superposition unit (11) are level matched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Ronald Klootsema, Gerard van Oerle
  • Publication number: 20040028241
    Abstract: The invention relates to an audio data recorder. The invention is based on the problem that built-in microphones of the type above-mentioned do not ensure adequate sound quality and that, on the other hand, additional microphones connected by cable are only inadequately suitable in practice as the recording appliance and the microphone unit are often not precisely tuned to one another. In the solution according to the invention the microphone or the microphone unit and the recording appliance (audio data recorder) are connected to one another via a plug connection not only electrically, but also mechanically rigidly, wherein they may preferably be separable without additional tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG;
    Inventor: Achim Gleissner
  • Publication number: 20040028239
    Abstract: A microphone assembly for a vehicle accessory includes one or more transducers positioned in a microphone housing. The microphone housing has at least one acoustic port to which the transducer is acoustically coupled. The microphone assembly further includes a windscreen sealed across the acoustic port. The windscreen having hydrophobic properties to prevent water from penetrating the microphone housing through the acoustic port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Alan R. Watson, Robert C. Knapp, Robert R. Turnbull, William R. Speace, G. Bruce Poe, Michael A. Bryson
  • Patent number: 6690804
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus for use with a microphone and a sound mixing system wherein each microphone has an associated channel located in the sound mixing system. Each microphone has a lighting means that assigns a particular color to that particular microphone and each channel has the same color associated with it as the color identifying the microphone. The color coding of the microphone and the channel allow for both to be visually identified. The apparatus has an audio connector for connecting the lighting apparatus to the microphone; a light source connected to the audio connector; a holder means for holding the light source; a power conductor for providing a pathway for power to the apparatus; and a strain relief connector for preventing the power conductor from being strained when the microphone is in use. The apparatus allows the microphone to be identified visually by the color it emits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Peavey Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Samuel Steven Everett
  • Publication number: 20040022397
    Abstract: A directional microphone system is disclosed, which comprises circuitry for low pass filtering a first order signal, and circuitry for high pass filtering a second order signal. The system further comprises circuitry for summing the low pass filtered first order signal and the high pass filtered second order signal. A method of determining whether a plurality of microphones have sufficiently matched frequency response characteristics to be used in a multi-order directional microphone array is also disclosed. For a microphone array having at least three microphones, wherein one of the microphones is disposed between the other of the microphones, a method of determining the arrangement of the microphones in the array is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventor: Daniel M. Warren
  • Publication number: 20040013275
    Abstract: An apparatus for estimating the direction of arrival (“DOA”) of a source signal includes microphones for transducing the source signal, amplifiers in signal communication with a corresponding one of the microphones, analog-to-digital converters in signal communication with a corresponding one of the amplifiers, and a digital processor in signal communication with the analog-to-digital converters for estimating the direction of arrival of the source signal; where a corresponding method for estimating the DOA of the source signal at one of several microphones includes estimating the measured signal spectral covariance matrix (“Rx”), and estimating the angle of the DOA responsive to the measured signal spectral covariance matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Radu Victor Balan, Justinian Rosca