公开(公告)号：US11809774B1

公开(公告)日：2023-11-07

申请号：US16890953

申请日：2020-06-02

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Nikolas T. Vitt ,  Jonathan D. Sheaffer ,  Neal D. Evans ,  Christopher T. Eubank ,  Jae Hwang Lee

IPC: G06F3/16 ,  H04R3/00 ,  G06F3/01

CPC classification number: G06F3/165 ,  G06F3/017 ,  H04R3/00 ,  H04R2430/01

Abstract: A method performed by a processor of a computer system including a headset that is to be worn on a head of a user. The method drives a speaker of the headset with an input audio signal to output sound into an environment. The method determines that the speaker is at least partially covered with a cupped hand. In response to determining that the speaker is at least partially covered with the cupped hand, applying a gain to the input audio signal to reduce an output sound level of the speaker.

公开(公告)号：US11682414B1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-20

申请号：US17576643

申请日：2022-01-14

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Nikolas T. Vitt ,  Christopher T. Eubank ,  Jonathan D. Sheaffer ,  Tomlinson Holman

IPC: G10L25/51 ,  G10L15/00 ,  H04R3/04 ,  H04R3/00 ,  H04R5/04 ,  H04R5/033 ,  H04R5/027 ,  G06F3/01 ,  H04R3/12

CPC classification number: G10L25/51 ,  G06F3/017 ,  G10L15/00 ,  H04R3/005 ,  H04R3/04 ,  H04R3/12 ,  H04R5/027 ,  H04R5/033 ,  H04R5/04 ,  H04R2430/01

Abstract: Audio processing with audio transparency can include receiving a user content audio signal and receiving a microphone signal. The microphone signal can contain sensed sound of a user environment. Strength of the sensed sound can be increased based on strength of the user content audio signal, to reduce a masking of the sensed sound during playback. The sensed sound and the user content audio signal can be combined in a composite output audio signal used to drive a speaker. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

公开(公告)号：US20230143588A1

公开(公告)日：2023-05-11

申请号：US18053282

申请日：2022-11-07

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Robert D. Silfvast ,  Neal D. Evans ,  Nikolas T. Vitt ,  Jonathan D. Sheaffer

IPC: G10L15/08 ,  H04L9/40 ,  H04R1/10

CPC classification number: G10L15/083 ,  H04L63/18 ,  H04R1/1091 ,  G10L2015/088 ,  H04R2460/13

Abstract: A method for routing audio content through an electronic device that is to be worn by a user. The method obtains a communication and determines whether the communication is private. In response to determining that the communication is private, the method drives a bone conduction transducer of the electronic device with an audio signal associated with the communication. In response to determining that the communication is not private, however, the method drives a speaker of the electronic device with the audio signal.

公开(公告)号：US20220210562A1

公开(公告)日：2022-06-30

申请号：US17695238

申请日：2022-03-15

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

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：US11284195B2

公开(公告)日：2022-03-22

申请号：US17107613

申请日：2020-11-30

Applicant: Apple Inc.

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

IPC: H04R5/033 ,  H04R5/04 ,  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：US20220059123A1

公开(公告)日：2022-02-24

申请号：US17514694

申请日：2021-10-29

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Jonathan D. Sheaffer ,  Joshua D. Atkins ,  Mehrez Souden ,  Symeon Delikaris Manias ,  Sean A. Ramprashad

IPC: G10L25/78 ,  G10L21/0272 ,  G06T7/246 ,  H04R3/00

Abstract: Processing of ambience and speech can include extracting from audio signals, ambience and speech signals. One or more spatial parameters can be generated that define spatial characteristics of ambience sound in the one or more ambience audio signals. The primary speech signal, the one or more ambience audio signals, and the spatial parameters can be encoded into one or more encoded data streams. Other aspects are described and claimed.

公开(公告)号：US20210211821A1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-08

申请号：US17128910

申请日：2020-12-21

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Gaetan R. Lorho ,  Jonathan D. Sheaffer ,  Symeon Delikaris Manias ,  Frank Baumgarte

IPC: H04S7/00 ,  H04R1/40 ,  H04R3/00 ,  H04R5/027 ,  H04R3/04 ,  H04R29/00

Abstract: Transfer functions can describe responses of microphones or ears to sounds at different locations on a sphere. The transfer functions can be compressed by determining, based on transfer functions, a) one or more basis transfer functions, and b) spherical harmonics coefficients that describe variations of the transfer functions with respect to spherical coordinates. Other aspects are described and claimed.

公开(公告)号：US20190222950A1

公开(公告)日：2019-07-18

申请号：US16240161

申请日：2019-01-04

Applicant: Apple Inc.

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

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

CPC classification number: H04S7/30 ,  G06T7/20 ,  G10L19/008 ,  G10L21/0272 ,  G10L2021/02082 ,  G10L2021/02166 ,  H04S3/00 ,  H04S7/302 ,  H04S2400/11 ,  H04S2400/15 ,  H04S2420/01

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.

公开(公告)号：US20250133364A1

公开(公告)日：2025-04-24

申请号：US18936811

申请日：2024-11-04

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Jonathan D. Sheaffer ,  Martin E. Johnson ,  Andrew P. Bright

IPC: H04S7/00 ,  G10L25/21 ,  G10L25/60 ,  H04R1/10 ,  H04R1/40 ,  H04R3/00 ,  H04R5/033 ,  H04R5/04 ,  H04W76/14

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for automatically transitioning between communication modes of wearable audio output devices based solely on acoustic analysis. The audio output devices may operate in one of three electroacoustic modes. In the transparency mode, an audio output device may pass through the speech signal of a nearby user. In the peer-to-peer mode, the audio output device may establish a direct low-latency radio frequency (RF) link to another audio output device. In the telephony mode, the audio output device may communicate with another audio output device using networked telephony. The disclosed methods and systems perform acoustic analysis of the near-field speech signal of a local wearer of the audio output device and the far-field speech signal of a remote talker to determine the best mode for the audio output device to use and to seamlessly transition between the modes as the acoustic environment between the wearers changes.

公开(公告)号：US12175159B1

公开(公告)日：2024-12-24

申请号：US18487893

申请日：2023-10-16

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Nikolas T. Vitt ,  Jonathan D. Sheaffer ,  Neal D. Evans ,  Christopher T. Eubank ,  Jae Hwang Lee

IPC: G06F3/16 ,  G06F3/01 ,  H04R3/00

Abstract: A method performed by a processor of a computer system including a headset that is to be worn on a head of a user. The method drives a speaker of the headset with an input audio signal to output sound into an environment. The method determines that the speaker is at least partially covered with a cupped hand. In response to determining that the speaker is at least partially covered with the cupped hand, applying a gain to the input audio signal to reduce an output sound level of the speaker.