公开(公告)号：US10049653B2

公开(公告)日：2018-08-14

申请号：US15570273

申请日：2016-10-14

Applicant: Avnera Corporation

Inventor： Amit Kumar ,  Eric Sorensen

IPC: G10K11/178

Abstract: A system including an automatic noise canceling (ANC) headphone and a processor. The ANC headphone has a microphone configured to generate a microphone signal and at least two non-zero ANC gain levels. The processor is configured to receive the microphone signal, determine a characteristic of the microphone signal, identify a revised ANC level from the ANC gain levels based on a comparison of the characteristic to at least one threshold, and output a signal corresponding to the revised ANC level. Methods are also disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20190146746A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-16

申请号：US16159333

申请日：2018-10-12

Applicant: Avnera Corporation

Inventor： Manpreet S. Khaira ,  Shawn O'Connor ,  Frank Prestrelski ,  Patrick Allen Quinn ,  Richard Andrew Sorensen ,  Eric Sorensen

IPC: G06F3/16 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/03

CPC classification number: G06F3/162 ,  G06F3/017 ,  G06F3/0304 ,  G06F3/0346 ,  G06F3/0414 ,  G06F3/165 ,  G06F3/167 ,  G06F2200/1636 ,  H04R2201/02 ,  H04R2430/01

Abstract: A speaker system includes a case, an audio input, speakers, an accelerometer, and a computer processor. The audio input is structured to receive a program audio signal from an audio device. The speakers are configured to play an audio output based on the program audio signal, the audio output causing a vibration of the case. The accelerometer is configured to detect the vibration of the case as well as a user tap on the case. The computer processor is configured to identify a user gesture that includes the tap on the case, to identify the tap apart from the case vibration by processing the detected vibration of the case and the detected user tap on the case based on information from the program audio signal to separate the detected user tap from the detected vibration, and to commence a particular function associated with the user gesture.

公开(公告)号：US10182160B2

公开(公告)日：2019-01-15

申请号：US15354909

申请日：2016-11-17

Applicant: AVNERA CORPORATION

Inventor： Eric Sorensen ,  Thomas Irrgang ,  Mike Wurtz

IPC: H04M9/08 ,  H04M1/60 ,  H04M1/62 ,  H04M1/725

Abstract: A portable speakerphone having a housing, a receiving transducer, an electrical cable, a transmitting transducer, and a processor. The receiving transducer is affixed to the housing and is configured to receive a first electrical signal from a mobile device. The electrical cable is coupled to and extends from the housing. The transmitting transducer is affixed to the electrical cable, remote from the housing. Also, the transmitting transducer is configured to transmit a second electrical signal, and the second electrical signal is based in part on the first electrical signal. The processor is configured to suppress acoustic echo by modifying the second electrical signal. The processor is also configured to output the modified second electrical signal to the mobile device. A related method is also disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US09967647B2

公开(公告)日：2018-05-08

申请号：US14850859

申请日：2015-09-10

Applicant: Avnera Corporation

Inventor： Amit Kumar ,  Eric Sorensen ,  Shankar Rathoud

IPC: H04R1/10 ,  G10K11/178 ,  H04R3/00 ,  H04R29/00

CPC classification number: H04R1/1041 ,  G10K11/178 ,  G10K11/17855 ,  G10K2210/1081 ,  G10K2210/3021 ,  H04R1/1083 ,  H04R3/00 ,  H04R29/00 ,  H04R2410/05 ,  H04R2460/03

Abstract: A headphone detector including a headphone and a processor. The headphone has a microphone and a speaker, and the microphone is configured to generate an audio signal based on an output of the speaker. The processor is configured to receive the audio signal, determine a characteristic of the audio signal, and assess whether the headphone is on ear or off ear based on a comparison of the characteristic to a threshold. In another aspect, an off-ear detection (OED) system includes a headphone and an OED processor. The headphone has a speaker, a feedforward microphone, and a feedback microphone. The OED processor is configured to determine whether the headphone is off ear or on ear, based at least in part on a headphone audio signal, a feedforward microphone signal, and a feedback microphone signal.

公开(公告)号：US20180124517A1

公开(公告)日：2018-05-03

申请号：US15795721

申请日：2017-10-27

Applicant: Avnera Corporation

Inventor： Manpreet S. Khaira ,  David McNeill ,  Eric Sorensen ,  Sydney Newton

IPC: H04R5/04 ,  H04R5/033 ,  B23P19/04

CPC classification number: H04R5/04 ,  B23P19/04 ,  H04R1/1025 ,  H04R5/033 ,  H04R2460/01 ,  H04R2460/15

Abstract: The disclosure includes a headset including one or more earphones and a connector configured to couple data and charge between the headset and a user equipment (UE). The headset also includes a charge node. The charge node includes a charge port for receiving UE charge from a charge source. The charge node also includes a downstream port for coupling audio data toward the earphones. The charge node further includes an upstream port for coupling the audio data toward the earphones via the downstream port and coupling UE charge from the charge port toward the UE via the connector.

公开(公告)号：US20180020281A1

公开(公告)日：2018-01-18

申请号：US15442619

申请日：2017-02-24

Applicant: Avnera Corporation

Inventor： Michael Jon Wurtz ,  Eric Sorensen

IPC: H04R1/10 ,  A61F11/08 ,  H04R23/00 ,  G10K11/178

CPC classification number: H04R1/1083 ,  A61F11/08 ,  G10K11/178 ,  G10K11/17857 ,  G10K11/17881 ,  G10K2210/1081 ,  G10K2210/3026 ,  G10K2210/3027 ,  G10K2210/3028 ,  G10K2210/3219 ,  G10K2210/3226 ,  H04R1/1016 ,  H04R23/006 ,  H04R2201/003 ,  H04R2410/05 ,  H04R2460/01

Abstract: Automatic noise-reduction (ANR) headsets include circuitry that cancels or suppress undesired noises. Recent years have seen the emergence of in-the-ear (ITE) earphones that incorporate ANR technology; however, designing them to function well usually entails many design tradeoffs, such as using larger ear nozzles that are uncomfortable to obtain desired noise reduction or that require added structures to hold the earphones to a user ear. To avoid these tradeoffs, the present inventors devised, among other things, an exemplary ITE ANR earphone that places its error measurement microphone in the ear nozzle that connects the driver front acoustic volume to a user ear canal. This placement allows use of a narrower more comfortable ear nozzle without compromising noise reduction and without requiring added holding structures. Moreover, the narrower ear nozzle also lowers the likelihood that the ANR circuitry will become unstable and produce undesirable noise.

公开(公告)号：US11366633B2

公开(公告)日：2022-06-21

申请号：US16017800

申请日：2018-06-25

Applicant: AVNERA CORPORATION

Inventor： Shawn O'Connor ,  Eric Sorensen ,  Manpreet S. Khaira ,  Sydney Newton

IPC: G06F3/16 ,  H04R1/10 ,  H04R5/033

Abstract: An apparatus can include an audio playback device configured to provide an audio output to a user, and a controller configured to: receive an initial playback position within the audio output; determine that an off-ear event has occurred; identify a time corresponding to the off-ear event; instruct the audio playback device to pause the audio output at the identified time; and calculate a new playback position within the audio output based at least in part on the identified time.

公开(公告)号：US10564925B2

公开(公告)日：2020-02-18

申请号：US15711793

申请日：2017-09-21

Applicant: Avnera Corporation

Inventor： Jiajin An ,  Michael Jon Wurtz ,  David Wurtz ,  Manpreet Khaira ,  Amit Kumar ,  Shawn O'Connor ,  Shankar Rathoud ,  James Scanlan ,  Eric Sorensen

IPC: G10L25/00 ,  G06F3/16 ,  G10L25/84 ,  H04R1/10 ,  H04R3/00 ,  G10L15/08 ,  G10L15/22 ,  H04R1/40

Abstract: Many headsets include automatic noise cancellation (ANC) which dramatically reduces perceived background noise and improves user listening experience. Unfortunately, the voice microphones in these devices often capture ambient noise that the headsets output during phone calls or other communication sessions to other users. In response, many headsets and communication devices provide manual muting circuitry, but users frequently forget to turn the muting on and/or off, creating further problems as they communicate. To address this, the present inventors devised, among other things, an exemplary headset that detects the absence or presence of user speech, automatically muting and unmuting the voice microphone without user intervention. Some embodiments leverage relationships between feedback and feedforward signals in ANC circuitry to detect user speech, avoiding the addition of extra hardware to the headset. Other embodiments also leverage the speech detection function to activate and deactivate keyword detectors, and/or sidetone circuits, thus extending battery.

公开(公告)号：US20190174218A1

公开(公告)日：2019-06-06

申请号：US16174067

申请日：2018-10-29

Applicant: Avnera Corporation

Inventor： Amit Kumar ,  Shankar Rathoud ,  Mike Wurtz ,  Eric Etheridge ,  Eric Sorensen

IPC: H04R1/10 ,  H04R3/00 ,  H04R29/00 ,  G10K11/178

CPC classification number: H04R1/1041 ,  G10K11/178 ,  G10K2210/1081 ,  G10K2210/3026 ,  G10K2210/3027 ,  H04R1/1008 ,  H04R3/00 ,  H04R29/001 ,  H04R2460/01

Abstract: Disclosed is a signal processor for headphone off-ear detection. The signal processor includes an audio output to transmit an audio signal toward a headphone speaker in a headphone cup. The signal processor also includes a feedback (FB) microphone input to receive a FB signal from a FB microphone in the headphone cup. The signal processor also includes an off-ear detection (OED) signal processor to determine an audio frequency response of the FB signal over an OED frame as a received frequency response. The OED processor also determines an audio frequency response of the audio signal times an off-ear transfer function between the headphone speaker and the FB microphone as an ideal off-ear response. A difference metric si generated comparing the received frequency response to the ideal off-ear frequency response. The difference metric is employed to detect when the headphone cup is disengaged from an ear.

公开(公告)号：US20190174006A1

公开(公告)日：2019-06-06

申请号：US16173801

申请日：2018-10-29

Applicant: Avnera Corporation

Inventor： Eric Sorensen ,  Thomas Irrgang ,  Mike Wurtz

IPC: H04M9/08 ,  H04M1/60 ,  H04M1/725 ,  H04M1/62

Abstract: A portable speakerphone having a housing, a receiving transducer, an electrical cable, a transmitting transducer, and a processor. The receiving transducer is affixed to the housing and is configured to receive a first electrical signal from a mobile device. The electrical cable is coupled to and extends from the housing. The transmitting transducer is affixed to the electrical cable, remote from the housing. Also, the transmitting transducer is configured to transmit a second electrical signal, and the second electrical signal is based in part on the first electrical signal. The processor is configured to suppress acoustic echo by modifying the second electrical signal. The processor is also configured to output the modified second electrical signal to the mobile device. A related method is also disclosed.