公开(公告)号：US20220174399A1

公开(公告)日：2022-06-02

申请号：US17651563

申请日：2022-02-17

Applicant: Apple, Inc.

Inventor： Martin E. Johnson ,  Simon K. Porter ,  Suzanne Hardy ,  John H. Sheerin

IPC: H04R1/28 ,  H04R1/40 ,  H04R1/02 ,  H04R1/26 ,  H04R3/14

Abstract: Loudspeakers are described that may reduce comb filtering effects perceived by a listener by either 1) moving transducers closer to a sound reflective surface (e.g., a baseplate, a tabletop or a floor) through vertical (height) or rotational adjustments of the transducers or 2) guiding sound produced by the transducers to be released into the listening area proximate to the reflective surface through the use of horns and openings that are at a prescribed distance from the reflective surface. The reduction of this distance between the reflective surface and the point at which sound emitted by the transducers is released into the listening area may lead to shorter reflected path that reduces comb filtering effects caused by reflected sounds that are delayed relative to the direct sound. Accordingly, the loudspeakers shown and described may be placed on reflective surfaces without severe audio coloration caused by reflected sounds.

公开(公告)号：US11290805B2

公开(公告)日：2022-03-29

申请号：US16822474

申请日：2020-03-18

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Martin E. Johnson ,  Simon K. Porter ,  Suzanne Hardy ,  John H. Sheerin

IPC: H04R1/28 ,  H04R1/40 ,  H04R1/02 ,  H04R1/26 ,  H04R3/14

Abstract: Loudspeakers are described that may reduce comb filtering effects perceived by a listener by either 1) moving transducers closer to a sound reflective surface (e.g., a baseplate, a tabletop or a floor) through vertical (height) or rotational adjustments of the transducers or 2) guiding sound produced by the transducers to be released into the listening area proximate to the reflective surface through the use of horns and openings that are at a prescribed distance from the reflective surface. The reduction of this distance between the reflective surface and the point at which sound emitted by the transducers is released into the listening area may lead to shorter reflected path that reduces comb filtering effects caused by reflected sounds that are delayed relative to the direct sound. Accordingly, the loudspeakers shown and described may be placed on reflective surfaces without severe audio coloration caused by reflected sounds.

公开(公告)号：US11265653B2

公开(公告)日：2022-03-01

申请号：US16799440

申请日：2020-02-24

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Afrooz Family ,  Anthony P. Bidmead ,  Erik L. Wang ,  Gary P. Geaves ,  Martin E. Johnson ,  Matthew I. Brown ,  Michael B. Howes ,  Sylvain J. Choisel ,  Tomlinson M. Holman

IPC: H04R3/12 ,  H04S7/00 ,  H04R27/00 ,  G10L19/008

Abstract: An audio system is described that includes one or more speaker arrays that emit sound corresponding to one or more pieces of sound program content into associated zones within a listening area. Using parameters of the audio system (e.g., locations of the speaker arrays and the audio sources), the zones, the users, the pieces of sound program content, and the listening area, one or more beam pattern attributes may be generated. The beam pattern attributes define a set of beams that are used to generate audio beams for channels of sound program content to be played in each zone. The beam pattern attributes may be updated as changes are detected within the listening environment. By adapting to these changing conditions, the audio system is capable of reproducing sound that accurately represents each piece of sound program content in various zones.

公开(公告)号：US20210227345A1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-22

申请号：US17224033

申请日：2021-04-06

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Martin E. Johnson ,  Ronald N. Isaac ,  Afrooz Family

IPC: H04S7/00 ,  H04R3/12 ,  H04R1/40 ,  H04R5/04 ,  H04S3/00

Abstract: A directivity adjustment device that maintains a constant direct-to-reverberant ratio based on the detected location of a listener in relation to the speaker array is described. The directivity adjustment device may include a distance estimator, a directivity compensator, and an array processor. The distance estimator detects the distance between the speaker array and the listener. Based on this detected distance, the directivity compensator calculates a directivity index form a beam produced by the speaker array that maintains a predefined direct-to-reverberant sound energy ratio. The array processor receives the calculated directivity index and processes each channel of a piece of sound program content to produce a set of audio signals that drive one or more of the transducers in the speaker array to generate a beam pattern with the calculated directivity index.

公开(公告)号：US11061643B2

公开(公告)日：2021-07-13

申请号：US17002653

申请日：2020-08-25

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Aleksandar Pance ,  Brett Bilbrey ,  Darby E. Hadley ,  Martin E. Johnson ,  Ronald Nadim Isaac

IPC: H04N7/15 ,  G06F3/16 ,  H04N21/422 ,  H04N21/439 ,  H04N21/442 ,  H04N21/4143 ,  H04N21/4223 ,  H04S7/00 ,  G06F3/0484 ,  G10L17/00 ,  H04N5/232 ,  H04R3/04 ,  H04R29/00 ,  H04N5/60 ,  H04N7/14 ,  H04N21/45 ,  H04N21/485

Abstract: A system for enhancing audio including a plurality of sensors, an output device, and a processor in communication with the plurality of sensors and the output device. The processor is configured to process data captured by the plurality of sensors, and based on that, modify an output of the output device. The processor also is configured to determine whether there are a plurality of users associated with a video conferencing session, determine which user of the plurality of users is speaking, and enhance the audio or video output of the speaking user on the output device.

公开(公告)号：US11039266B1

公开(公告)日：2021-06-15

申请号：US16584625

申请日：2019-09-26

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Tomlinson Holman ,  Martin E. Johnson

IPC: H04S7/00 ,  H04S1/00 ,  H04R5/04 ,  H04R5/033 ,  H04R3/04

Abstract: A method for producing a diffuse field that is non-localizable and without timbre inaccuracies. A processor receives an audio bitstream containing an at least one surround channel. The surround channel is rendered as an at least one virtualized line array source. Timbre correction is applied to the virtualized line array source. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

公开(公告)号：US10976989B2

公开(公告)日：2021-04-13

申请号：US16553679

申请日：2019-08-28

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Stuart John Wood ,  Martin E. Johnson ,  Darius A. Satongar

IPC: G06F3/048 ,  G06F3/16 ,  G06F3/0481 ,  G06F3/0486 ,  G06F3/0488 ,  H04S1/00 ,  H04S7/00

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to user interfaces for managing spatial audio. Some exemplary techniques include user interfaces for transitioning between visual elements. Some exemplary techniques include user interfaces for previewing audio. Some exemplary techniques include user interfaces for discovering music. Some exemplary techniques include user interfaces for managing headphone transparency. Some exemplary techniques include user interfaces for manipulating multiple audio streams of an audio source.

公开(公告)号：US10609484B2

公开(公告)日：2020-03-31

申请号：US15684790

申请日：2017-08-23

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Afrooz Family ,  Anthony P. Bidmead ,  Erik L. Wang ,  Gary P. Geaves ,  Martin E. Johnson ,  Matthew I. Brown ,  Michael B. Howes ,  Sylvain J. Choisel ,  Tomlinson M. Holman

IPC: H04S7/00 ,  H04R3/12 ,  H04R27/00 ,  G10L19/008

Abstract: An audio system is described that includes one or more speaker arrays that emit sound corresponding to one or more pieces of sound program content into associated zones within a listening area. Using parameters of the audio system (e.g., locations of the speaker arrays and the audio sources), the zones, the users, the pieces of sound program content, and the listening area, one or more beam pattern attributes may be generated. The beam pattern attributes define a set of beams that are used to generate audio beams for channels of sound program content to be played in each zone. The beam pattern attributes may be updated as changes are detected within the listening environment. By adapting to these changing conditions, the audio system is capable of reproducing sound that accurately represents each piece of sound program content in various zones.

公开(公告)号：US20190104366A1

公开(公告)日：2019-04-04

申请号：US16113399

申请日：2018-08-27

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Martin E. Johnson ,  Afrooz Family ,  Darius A. Satongar ,  Jonathan D. Sheaffer ,  Lance F. Reichert ,  Peter V. Jupin

IPC: H04R5/04 ,  H04R5/033 ,  H04S7/00

Abstract: In a device or method for rendering a sound program for headphones, a location is received for placing the sound program with respect to first and second ear pieces. If the location is between the first ear piece and the second ear piece, the sound program is filtered to produce low-frequency and high-frequency portions. The high-frequency portion is panned according to the location to produce first and second high-frequency signals. The low-frequency portion and the first high-frequency signal are combined to produce a first headphone driver signal to drive the first ear piece. A second headphone driver signal is similarly produced. The sound program may be a stereo sound program. The device or method may also provide for a location that is between the first ear piece and a near-field boundary. Other aspects are also described.

公开(公告)号：US20190007780A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-03

申请号：US15639191

申请日：2017-06-30

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Jonathan D. Sheaffer ,  Joshua D. Atkins ,  Martin E. Johnson ,  Stuart J. Wood

IPC: H04S7/00 ,  G10L19/008 ,  G06T7/20

Abstract: Image analysis of a video signal is performed to produce first metadata, and audio analysis of a multi-channel sound track associated with the video signal is performed to produce second metadata. A number of time segments of the sound track are processed, wherein each time segment is processed by either (i) spatial filtering of the audio signals or (ii) spatial rendering of the audio signals, not both, wherein for each time segment a decision was made to select between the spatial filtering or the spatial rendering, in accordance with the first and second metadata. A mix of the processed sound track and the video signal is generated. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.