Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
381730100 | SOUND OR NOISE MASKING | 82 |
20080219466 | Low bit-rate universal audio coder - A biologically-inspired process for universal audio coding based on neural spikes is presented. The process is based on the generation of sparse two-dimensional time-frequency representations of audio signals, called spikegrams. The spikegrams are generated by projecting the audio signal onto a set of over-complete adaptive gamma-chirp kernels. A masking model is applied to the spikegrams to remove inaudible spikes and to increase the coding efficiency. In respect of one aspect of the invention, the masked spikegram is then quantized using a genetic-algorithm-based quantizer (or its simplified linear version). The values are then differentially coded using graph based optimization and entropy coded afterwards. | 09-11-2008 |
20080260175 | Dual-Microphone Spatial Noise Suppression - Spatial noise suppression for audio signals involves generating a ratio of powers of difference and sum signals of audio signals from two microphones and then performing noise suppression processing, e.g., on the sum signal where the suppression is limited based on the power ratio. In certain embodiments, at least one of the signal powers is filtered (e.g., the sum signal power is equalized) prior to generating the power ratio. In a subband implementation, sum and difference signal powers and corresponding the power ratio are generated for different audio signal subbands, and the noise suppression processing is performed independently for each different subband based on the corresponding subband power ratio, where the amount of suppression is derived independently for each subband from the corresponding subband power ratio. In an adaptive filtering implementation, at least one of the audio signals can be adaptively filtered to allow for array self-calibration and modal-angle variability. | 10-23-2008 |
20080285768 | Method and System for Modifying and Audio Signal, and Filter System for Modifying an Electrical Signal - There is provided a filter system for modifying an electrical signal. The filter system has an input for receiving an electrical signal to be modified, a subtraction circuit for delivering a modified output signal, a direct signal part between the input and the subtraction circuit, and a modifying signal part between the input and the subtraction circuit. The modifying signal part comprises one or more inverse comb filter signal paths, where each inverse comb filter signal path has circuitry for performing an inverse comb filter function. The subtraction circuit is designed for performing a subtraction of the signals supplied via the direct signal part and the modifying signal part to thereby obtain the modified output signal. The hereby provided filter system may be used as an inverse comb filter system for modifying an audio signal in an audio system. Thus, there is also provided an audio system having an audio signal source for outputting an electrical signal representing an acoustic audio signal, and a sound source for reproducing an acoustic audio signal, said sound source having an electrical signal input and being operative to generate an acoustic audio output in response to a signal supplied to the electrical signal input. The audio system further has one or more of the inverse e comb filter systems arranged between the audio signal source and the signal input of the sound source for delivering a modified signal to the electrical signal input of the sound source. The signal supplied to the subtraction circuit by the modifying signal part may be filtered by use of the one or more inverse comb filter functions. | 11-20-2008 |
20080298604 | In-room acoustic magnitude response smoothing via summation of correction signals - A system and method are provided for smoothing the in-room acoustic magnitude response of an audio reproduction system. An in-room acoustic magnitude response analysis is performed to determine a room resonance induced peak associated with an audio signal. A replica of the audio signal is filtered at the room resonance induced peak. The filtered replica signal is added with the audio signal. Through this, smoothing of the room resonance induced peak may be achieved, such that a subjective impression of transient response and dynamics of the audio signal are preserved. | 12-04-2008 |
20080310646 | AUDIO SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE SAME - An audio signal processing method for processing input audio signals of plural channels includes calculating at least one feature quantity representing a difference between channels of input audio signals, selecting at least one weighting factor according to the feature quantity from at least one weighting factor dictionary prepared by learning beforehand, and subjecting the input audio signals of plural channels to signal processing including noise suppression and weighting addition using the selected weighting factor to generate output an output audio signal. | 12-18-2008 |
20090067639 | Acoustic apparatus and telephone conversation apparatus - An acoustic apparatus has permanent magnets | 03-12-2009 |
20090080671 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A NOISE PRODUCING COMPONENT - This invention relates to controlling a noise producing component, so that the noise disturbance is lowered when rendering an audio signal to a user. More specifically, this invention relates to a method and device that reads the audio signal output level and determines the output level variations, whereby the output level variations are used for controlling the noise producing component. | 03-26-2009 |
20090097670 | Method, medium, and apparatus for extracting target sound from mixed sound - A method, medium, and apparatus for extracting a target sound from mixed sound. The method includes receiving a mixed signal through a microphone array, generating a first signal whose directivity is emphasized toward a target sound source and a second signal whose directivity toward the target sound source is suppressed based on the mixed signal, and extracting a target sound signal from the first signal by masking an interference sound signal, which is contained in the first signal, based on a ratio of the first signal to the second signal. Therefore, a target sound signal can be clearly separated from a mixed sound signal which contains a plurality of sound signals and is input to a microphone array. | 04-16-2009 |
20090097671 | Distributed Acoustic Conversation Shielding System - A conversation shielding system comprises sensors that detect the location of a confidential conversation and the presence and location of a potential eavesdropper, audio output devices that produce masking sounds to shield the conversation from the eavesdropper, and a controller that automatically controls the operation of the output devices in response to data from the sensors. An optional portable controller may manually engage the system. A method for shielding conversation comprises identifying a conversation to be shielded, detecting a potential eavesdropper, automatically determining masking sound types, locations and volume that will shield the conversation, directing emission of masking sounds from at least one audio output device in order to shield the conversation, including adjusting the masking sound type, location, and volume in response to movement of the conversation or the eavesdropper, and continuing to shield the conversation until it ends or the eavesdropper is no longer detected. | 04-16-2009 |
20090110209 | SYSTEM FOR COMFORT NOISE INJECTION - A noise injection system adds comfort noise to an audio signal. The system includes a background noise estimator that determines a spectral content of a background noise associated with the audio signal. A comfort noise generator generates a comfort noise signal having a random phase. A gain circuit adjusts the comfort noise signal based on the spectral content of the background noise. A combining circuit combines a gain-adjusted comfort noise signal and the audio signal to generate an output signal. | 04-30-2009 |
20090116659 | Networked sound masking system with centralized sound masking generation - A sound masking system for shaping the ambient noise level in a physical environment. The sound masking system comprises a networked and distributed system having a number of master units coupled together and to a control unit. One or more of the master units may include satellite sound masking units which function to reproduce an audio signal generated by a central sound masking module. The audio signal comprises a sound masking signal, a paging signal or a sound masking signal mixed with a paging signal. The sound masking signal is generated by the central sound masking module or a selected from a number of sound masking signal inputs at the control unit. Each of the master units is addressable over the network by the control unit enabling the control unit to control the contour, spectral band, and gain characteristics of the audio output signal. The system may also include a remote control unit which provides the capability to tune and adjust each master sound masking unit in situ without requiring physical access through the ceiling installation. | 05-07-2009 |
20090190772 | METHOD FOR PROCESSING SOUND DATA - Masking thresholds are obtained for each frequency component of sound data and ambient noise. It is determined whether each frequency component of the sound data is masked by at least one of the other frequency components of the sound data. It is further determined whether each frequency component of the sound data is masked by ambient noise. Correction coefficients are set for each frequency component of the sound data according to whether the frequency component is masked by at least one of the other frequency components of the sound data and whether the frequency component is masked by the ambient noise. And each frequency component of the sound data is corrected by using the respective correction coefficients. | 07-30-2009 |
20090208030 | Customizability digital sound relaxation system - In one embodiment, an improved-customizability digital sound relaxation system having a sound card receiving port and a collectable sound card are cooperative to play prerecorded natural or other sounds by depressing one of a plurality of sound selector switches and a sound card selector switch. The new sounds of each collectable sound card customize the library of available sounds to individual taste. In another embodiment, an improved-flexibility digital sound relaxation system having at least two (2) prerecorded sounds stored at first and second memory locations of internal or external/internal memory devices may be selected and combined for concurrent and/or individual replay by depressing one of a plurality of sound selector switches and a combine switch, or by depressing one of a plurality of sound selector switches, a sound card selector switch and a combine switch. In this manner, from eighteen (18) digitally prerecorded sounds of the preferred embodiment ninety (90) individually selectable and/or combinable sounds are made available. In either embodiment, natural or other sounds may be stored in loop or sound bite format in either or both of the internal and external memories. | 08-20-2009 |
20090214050 | Audio output apparatus and audio output method - An audio output apparatus includes a masking band determining unit configured to determine a first frequency band in which masking due to environmental sounds is likely to occur in audio signal output sounds; a band-component extracting unit configured to extract a signal component from an input audio signal in the first frequency band determined by the masking band determining unit; a pitch shift unit configured to perform pitch shifting of the signal component in the first frequency band extracted by the band-component extracting unit and generate a pitch shift signal containing a signal component of at least a doubled frequency; and a signal output unit configured to supply an audio signal containing the pitch shift signal acquired by the pitch shift unit to a connected speaker. | 08-27-2009 |
20090245531 | Ear cover - An ear cover includes a cover body and a chassis connected to the cover body so as to form a closed accommodating space. The closed accommodating space is provided therein with a filler, thereby isolating, buffering and absorbing the sound. | 10-01-2009 |
20100027806 | DISTRIBUTED EMITTER VOICE LIFT SYSTEM - A system and method of providing sound reinforcement in a classroom, an office, a conference room, an auditorium, or any other suitable venue. The system includes at least one microphone, a receiver, a sound masking signal generator, a system controller, and a plurality of spatially distributed loudspeakers. The microphone detects the speech of a talker, generates at least one voice signal corresponding to the detected speech, and provides the generated voice signal to the receiver. The sound masking signal generator generates at least one sound masking signal having a specified sound masking spectrum. The system controller receives the voice signal and the sound masking signal from the receiver and the sound masking signal generator, respectively, and provides the voice and sound masking signals to the loudspeakers over respective channels. The loudspeakers emit acoustic voice and sound masking signals simultaneously and directly into the venue to obtain a more uniform sound field coverage for the acoustic voice signals and more uniform levels of the acoustic sound masking signals throughout the venue. | 02-04-2010 |
20100128886 | MUTE CIRCUITS - Mute circuits capable of eliminating audible noise when the audio system is powered up and powered down are disclosed. A discharge element is coupled between an audio processing unit and an audio output unit in an audio system and a mute control unit is coupled to the discharge element. The mute circuit comprises an active element comprising a control terminal coupled to at least one power voltage at a power terminal of a functional element in the audio processing unit through a capacitor and turning on, by AC capacitor coupling, to drive the discharge element when the audio system is powered up, such that the discharge element is turned on to discharge an output current of the audio processing unit to a ground terminal, thereby muting the audio output unit to eliminate audible noise. | 05-27-2010 |
20100158263 | Masking Based Gain Control - Interfering signals that may be present in a listening environment are masked by reproducing a desired signal in a listening environment, determining a masking threshold associated with the desired signal, identifying an interfering signal that may be present in the environment, comparing the interfering signal to the masking threshold, and adjusting the desired signal over time to raise its masking threshold above the level of the interfering signal. | 06-24-2010 |
20100189277 | SYSTEM FOR HEARING PROTECTORS - A system for hearing protection comprising an outer hearing protection unit, an inner hearing protection unit, and an outer microphone is disclosed, the inner hearing protection unit comprising a speaker and the microphone being arranged to be electrically connectable for transmission of signals to the speaker. | 07-29-2010 |
20100208911 | NOISE REDUCTION APPARATUS - In a noise reduction apparatus for controlling noise up to a predetermined upper limited frequency, a distance from a noise source to control point X is made larger than a distance obtained by subtracting a one-half wavelength from a distance, obtained by adding up a distance from the noise source to a noise detecting microphone, a distance corresponding to time as a sum of respective delay time of the noise detecting microphone, a noise controller, and a control speaker, and a distance from the control speaker to control point X, where one wavelength is a period corresponding to the upper limited frequency. | 08-19-2010 |
20100208912 | MASKING SOUND GENERATING APPARATUS, MASKING SYSTEM, MASKING SOUND GENERATING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - In a masking sound generating apparatus, a band divider divides a target sound signal into a plurality of frequency bands to generate a plurality of band signals. An envelope signal generating part generates a plurality of envelope signals representing respective envelopes of the plurality of the band signals. A signal converter segments each of the plurality of the envelope signals into a plurality of frames, then specifies frames of segmented envelope signals which have an amplitude greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold, and changes an order of the specified frames in an arrangement of the plurality of the frames. A multiplier multiplies each of the plurality of the envelope signals by a noise signal, each envelope signal having the order of the frames changed by the signal converter, and outputs the plurality of the envelope signals multiplied by the noise signal as individual band masking signals. An adder adds the individual band masking signals to output a masking sound signal capable of masking the target sound signal. | 08-19-2010 |
20100239102 | DIGITAL FILTERING IN A CLASS D AMPLIFIER SYSTEM TO REDUCE NOISE FOLD OVER - An improved power amplifier system is provided. The power amplifier system includes a programmable digital filter and a power amplifier, each responsive to a plurality of frequency response settings and switching frequency settings, respectively. Each frequency response setting and switching frequency setting is adaptively selected by a processor device to match a bandwidth of an incoming audio signal. The processor device identifies the current bandwidth of an incoming audio signal and adaptively selects a switching rate setting and a frequency response setting based on the current bandwidth. The frequency response setting is selected so as to reduce noise fold over in the power amplifier for a corresponding bandwidth, sampling rate setting, and switching frequency setting. | 09-23-2010 |
20100266138 | Device and method for active sound damping in a closed interior space - The invention relates to a method and device for active sound damping in a closed interior space ( | 10-21-2010 |
20100272285 | MASKING OF PURE TONES WITHIN SOUND FROM A NOISE GENERATING SOURCE - A method and system for masking pure tones within sound generated from a noise generating source. The method includes detecting one or more pure tones within sound being generated from the noise generating source, and generating one or more masking sounds capable of masking only the one or more pure tones detected within the sound. | 10-28-2010 |
20100278353 | System and Method For Intelligibility Enhancement of Audio Information - A method for processing an input signal to create an enhanced output signal includes obtaining an envelope of the input signal, determining a logarithm signal of the envelope, determining a rate of change of the logarithm signal to obtain a slope value, and applying a value derived from the slope value to the input signal to thereby generate an enhanced output signal. | 11-04-2010 |
20110002477 | MASKING NOISE - The invention relates to a method for masking noise as well as a control device and a masking system for carrying out said method. According to the invention, several zones in a room are independently exposed to soft sonic radiation in a basic state for masking purposes. The masking system thus comprises means for independently exposing zones in a room to sonic radiation. The masking system further comprises means which allows noise generated in a zone to be registered and preferably also be analyzed. The masking exposure to sonic radiation is reduced in the zone in which the external noise was generated and/or the masking exposure to sonic radiation is increased in the other zones in accordance with the measured or registered noise and, if applicable, the result of the analysis of the measured external noise. All in all, this allows the level of masking noise to be kept low compared with the prior art while very reliably achieving the desired masking effect. | 01-06-2011 |
20110051948 | METHOD OF CORRECTING ERRORS IN BINARY MASKS - The invention relates to a method of identifying and correcting errors in a noisy binary mask. An object of the present invention is to provide a scheme for improving a binary mask representing speech. The problem is solved in that the method comprises a) providing a noisy binary mask comprising a binary representation of the power density of an acoustic signal comprising a target signal and a noise signal at a predefined number of discrete frequencies and a number of discrete time instances; b) providing a statistical model of a clean binary mask representing the power density of the target signal; and c) using the statistical model to detect and correct errors in the noisy binary mask. This has the advantage of providing an alternative and relatively simple way of improving an estimate of a binary mask representing a speech signal. The invention may e.g. be used for speech processing, e.g. in a hearing instrument. | 03-03-2011 |
20110069845 | Selective audio/sound aspects - Certain aspects relate to providing an at least one audio source to at least one user. Certain aspects relate to selectively modifying an at least one first sound source to be provided to the at least one user, wherein the at least one first sound source is combined with an at least one second sound source, and wherein the selectively modifying is performed relative to the at least one audio source based at least in part on at least some specific information of the at least one first sound source. Other aspects relate to selectively modifying the at least one first sound source to be provided to the at least one user relative to the at least one second sound source based at least in part on at least some specific information of the at least one first sound source. | 03-24-2011 |
20110075855 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING AUDIO SIGNALS - A method for processing an audio signal is disclosed. The method for processing an audio signal includes frequency-transforming an audio signal to generate a frequency-spectrum, deciding a weighting per band corresponding to energy per band using the frequency spectrum, receiving a masking threshold based on a psychoacoustic model, applying the weighting to the masking threshold to generate a modified masking threshold, and quantizing the audio signal using the modified masking threshold. | 03-31-2011 |
20110096938 | Aural Device with White Noise Generator - An aural device to be worn over the ear of a user during sleeping hours which generates white noise. | 04-28-2011 |
20110110528 | HEARING DEVICE WITH SIMULATION OF A HEARING LOSS AND METHOD FOR SIMULATING A HEARING LOSS - A hearing device has a first earpiece for emitting a first sound signal. The hearing device also includes a device for simulating the hearing loss of a hearing-impaired person. The device changes the first sound signal emitted by the first earpiece in accordance with the hearing loss. An associated method is likewise specified. The hearing device is able to simply and accurately simulate the hearing loss of a hearing-impaired hearing device wearer. | 05-12-2011 |
20110123037 | SOUND MASKING SYSTEM AND METHOD USING VIBRATION EXCITER - A system and a method for generating a sound masking in a room, comprising a masking sound generator and at least one vibration exciter connected to a support in the room, and the at least one vibration exciter, driven by the masking sound generator, subjecting the support of the room to controlled and reproducible mechanical vibrations. | 05-26-2011 |
20110142250 | GRADIENT COIL NOISE MASKING FOR MPI DEVICE - When subjecting a patient to an MRI scan, noise generated by gradient coils in an MRI device is beautified by playing a complementary musical piece that matches the gradient coil noise in one or both of tempo and musical key. Complementary musical pieces (e.g., songs, tunes, melodies, etc.) are pre-generated for specific gradient coil sequences. Upon selection of one or more sequences to be executed during an MR scan, complementary musical pieces for the selected sequence(s) are identified and played back to a patient in the bore of the MRI device during the scan to alleviate patient stress. Tempo and/or musical key of the complementary musical pieces is adjustable (a priori or in real time) to synchronize the complementary musical piece(s) to a specific gradient sequence both rhythmically and harmonically. | 06-16-2011 |
20110170701 | ACTIVE NOISE CONTROL DEVICE - An active noise control device detects composite vibration of a vibration transmitting route to which both vibration of a rotating body caused by generation or transmission of drive force of a vehicle and vibration of a wheel generated by contact between the wheel and a road surface are transmitted. A first reference signal for defining a reference waveform of a canceling sound for canceling vibration noise in a vehicle interior is generated based on the composite vibration. The component of the canceling sound for canceling vibration noise of the rotating body is removed from the first reference signal to generate a second reference signal for defining a reference waveform of the canceling sound for canceling vibration noise of the wheel. The canceling sound is outputted based on the second reference signal. | 07-14-2011 |
20110182437 | SIGNAL SEPARATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY SELECTING THRESHOLD TO SEPARATE SOUND SOURCES - A signal separation system and a method for automatically selecting a threshold to separate sound sources. The signal separation system calculates a power sequence for a target signal using a target mask, and a power sequence for an interference signal using a complementary mask, based on signals received from a plurality of microphones; applies a nonlinearity to the target signal power sequence and the interference signal power sequence; calculates a correlation coefficient of the nonlinear target signal power sequence and the nonlinear interference signal power sequence; and sets a noise masking threshold that minimizes the correlation coefficient. | 07-28-2011 |
20110182438 | MASKER SOUND GENERATION APPARATUS AND PROGRAM - In a masker sound generation apparatus, an acquisition part acquires a sound signal, and a generation part generates a masker sound signal based on the acquired sound signal. Specifically, the generation part divides the sound signal acquired by the acquisition part into a plurality of sections each having a predetermined time length, then repeats a sorting process of sorting the divided sections as a process of changing the sequence of arrangement of the sound signal, and alters a manner of sorting the sections each time the sorting process is repeated. | 07-28-2011 |
20110188666 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PREVENTING OVERHEARING OF PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS IN PUBLIC PLACES - A method for preventing overhearing of private conversations in public spaces is disclosed. The method comprises detecting the social activity of the people in the public space and assessing the social situation and adapting the degree of sound masking and/or sound absorption at the desired locations to suit the assessed social situation. The method can be useful in public environments such as airports, city centers, club, bars, cafes and shopping centers where it is required to prevent over-hearing of private conversations. | 08-04-2011 |
20110249828 | PROTECTING SECRET DATA ENTRY FROM INFRARED AND AUDIO EAVESDROPPING - A method for protecting a data entry device from eavesdropping includes masking a signature of entry resulting from entry of data by a user of the data entry device so as to reduce the detectability of the signature by eavesdropping. The signature may include a temperature differential in the data entry device from data entry by the user and the masking may include controlling the external temperature of the data entry device to reduce temperature differentials left in the data entry device by the user. Alternatively, the signature may include sound waves emitted from the data entry device and the masking may include masking sound waves emitted from the data entry device to reduce the detectability of the sound waves. A system may also be employed for protecting data entry to a data entry device from eavesdropping. The system includes a data entry device and means for masking a signature of entry resulting from entry of data by a user of the data entry device so as to reduce the detectability of the signature by eavesdropping. | 10-13-2011 |
20110317845 | Aural Device with White Noise Generator - An aural device to be worn over the ear of a user during sleeping hours which generates white noise. | 12-29-2011 |
20120002820 | Removing Noise From Audio - The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a computer-implemented method for removing noise from audio that includes building a sound model that represents noises which result from activations of input controls of a computer device. The method further includes receiving an audio signal produced from a microphone substantially near the computer device. The method further includes identifying, without using the microphone, an activation of at least one input control from among the input controls. The method further includes associating a portion of the audio signal as corresponding to the identified activation. The method further includes applying, from the audio model, a representation of a noise for the identified activation to the associated portion of the audio signal so as to cancel at least part of the noise from the audio signal. | 01-05-2012 |
20120002821 | GROUNDING SWITCH METHOD AND APPARATUS - A grounding switch is described which operates properly even in the presence of negative voltages on a signal line. The grounding switch uses isolated field effect transistors that have their substrates tied to different voltages. The isolated field effect transistor has a gate voltage and substrate voltage which can be pulled down to a negative voltage when the signal line has a negative voltage allowing the switch to remain open even with a negative voltage. | 01-05-2012 |
20120114130 | COGNITIVE LOAD REDUCTION - A cognitive load reduction system comprises a sound source position decision engine configured to receive one or more audio signals from a corresponding one or more signal generators, wherein the sound source position decision engine is further configured to identify two or more discrete sound sources within at least one of the one or more audio signals. The cognitive load reduction system further comprises an environmental assessment engine configured to assess environmental sounds within an environment. The cognitive load reduction system further comprises a sound location engine configured to output one or more audio signals configured to cause a plurality of speakers to change a perceived location of at least one of the discrete sound sources within the environment responsive to locations of other sounds within the environment. | 05-10-2012 |
20120148063 | AUDIO PROCESSING APPARATUS, AUDIO PROCESSING METHOD, AND IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - An audio processing apparatus includes a first microphone, a second microphone, and a masking unit configured to mask movement of air from outside of the apparatus to the second microphone. A filter coefficient is estimated and learned so as to minimize the difference between the output signal of the first microphone and the output signal of the second microphone, thereby suppressing a reverberation component generated in the closed space between the masking unit and the second microphone out of the output signal of the second microphone. | 06-14-2012 |
20120177214 | VEHICLE ENGINE SOUND ENHANCEMENT - An engine harmonic enhancement system. The EHE system uses multiple parameters, such as engine load, gear, number of cylinders operating, and transmission ratio, to determine EHE gains to determine EHE gain. The EHE system determines a separate EHE gain for each harmonic. | 07-12-2012 |
20120219160 | Variable Noise Masking During Periods of Substantial Silence - Methods and systems for masking audio noise are disclosed. One apparatus includes a silence detector configured to detect a period of substantial silence in an audio signal; a masking noise source operably coupled to the silence detector, the masking noise source configured to generate a noise signal in response to the silence detector detecting the period of substantial silence; and at least one combining device operably coupled to the masking noise source, the at least one combining device configured to contribute to combining the audio signal and the noise signal. A method includes detecting a period of substantial silence in an audio signal; and combining masking noise with the audio signal during the period of substantial silence. | 08-30-2012 |
20120243702 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR PROCESSING OF AUDIO SIGNALS - Method and arrangement in an audio handling entity, for damping of dominant frequencies in a time segment of an audio signal. A time segment of an audio signal is obtained, and an estimate of the spectral density or “spectrum” of the time segment is derived. An approximation of the estimate is derived by smoothing the estimate, and a frequency mask is derived by inverting the approximation. An emphasized damping is assigned to the frequency mask in a predefined frequency range, as compared to the damping outside the predefined frequency range. Frequencies comprised in the audio time segment are then damped based on the frequency mask. The method and arrangement involves no multi-band filtering or selection of attack and release times. | 09-27-2012 |
20120263312 | RATE CONTROLLER, RATE CONTROL METHOD, AND RATE CONTROL PROGRAM - In an audio encoding system that divides frames generated from input signals into multiple scale factor bands and that encodes each of the scale factor bands by using a scale factor, the invention provides a rate control apparatus that performs rate control based on an NMR, the rate control apparatus comprising an NMR determination unit that determines an NMR that does not exceed a target rate by a binary search; and a scale factor determination unit that determines, by a binary search, the largest scale factor corresponding to the NMR determined by the NMR determination unit and a rate. Each time the NMR determination unit selects an NMR candidate value that acts as a candidate when the NMR determination unit searches for an NMR by a binary search, the scale factor determination unit determines the scale factor corresponding to the NMR candidate value. | 10-18-2012 |
20130016847 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACTIVE SOUND MASKINGAANM STEINER; ArndtAACI LeverkusenAACO DEAAGP STEINER; Arndt Leverkusen DE - A method for influencing noise in a space, such as an open-space office, whereby active sound suppression and/or sound masking is/are undertaken. In order to advantageously undertake active sound suppression or sound masking in a larger space, for example an open-space office, a plurality of sound actuators are provided distributed over the surface area of the space, and at least one sound sensor is disposed in the space, and two or more of the sound actuators are acted on differently, with regard to sound values detected by the sound sensor and/or with regard to a desired sound-related space division and/or as the result of person signals or object signals that are detected. | 01-17-2013 |
20130028436 | NOISE REDUCING SOUND REPRODUCTION SYSTEM - A noise reducing sound reproduction system and method may be operable with an input signal supplied to a loudspeaker by which it is acoustically radiated. The signal radiated by the loudspeaker may be received by a microphone that is acoustically coupled to the loudspeaker via a secondary path and that provides a microphone output signal. From the microphone output signal a useful-signal can be subtracted to generate a filter input signal. The filter input signal is filtered in an active noise reduction filter to generate an error signal, and the useful-signal is subtracted from the error signal to generate the loudspeaker input signal. In addition, the useful-signal is filtered by one or more spectrum shaping filters prior to subtraction from the microphone output signal or the loudspeaker input signal or both. | 01-31-2013 |
20130089213 | DISTRIBUTED EMITTER VOICE LIFT SYSTEM - A method of providing an improved learning environment in a classroom setting area in which at least one human listener is attempting to focus on at least one speech sound source in the presence of at least one distracting sound source is disclosed. At least one electrical sound masking signal is generated by at least one sound masking signal generator as output, received by at least one system controller, and then provided to one or more loudspeaker assemblies. At least one acoustic sound masking signal corresponding to the at least one electrical sound masking signal is emitted by the one or more loudspeaker assemblies into the classroom setting area, providing an essentially uniform level of acoustic sound masking signal, thus improving the ability of the human listener(s) to focus on the intended speech sound source in the presence of the distracting sound source. | 04-11-2013 |
20130163777 | SOUND OUTPUT DEVICE - A sound output device for masking an operation sound generated by equipment, having: a sound reproducing unit that starts reproducing a masking sound before the operation sound is generated; and a sound output unit that outputs the masking sound reproduced by the sound reproducing unit. | 06-27-2013 |
20130163778 | SOUND OUTPUT DEVICE - A sound output device for masking an operation sound generated by equipment, having: a BGM output unit that outputs a BGM; and a masking sound output unit that outputs a masking sound after the BGM output unit outputs the BGM. | 06-27-2013 |
20130163779 | SOUND OUTPUT DEVICE - A sound output device for masking an operation sound generated by equipment, having: an operation determining unit that determines an operation mode to be executed by the equipment; and a sound output unit that outputs a masking sound on the basis of the operation mode determined by the operation determining unit, the masking sound changing at least in sound pressure level over time. | 06-27-2013 |
20130170662 | MASKING SOUND OUTPUTTING DEVICE AND MASKING SOUND OUTPUTTING METHOD - A masking sound outputting device includes: an inputting unit which receives a picked-up sound signal relating to a picked-up sound; an extracting unit which extracts an acoustic feature amount of the picked-up sound signal; an instruction receiving unit which receives instructions for starting an output of a masking sound; and an outputting unit which, in the case where the instruction receiving unit receives the instructions for starting an output, outputs a masking sound corresponding to the acoustic feature amount extracted by the extracting unit. | 07-04-2013 |
20130182866 | SOUND PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SOUND PROCESSING METHOD - A sound processing apparatus includes an inputting section that inputs a sound signal, an analyzing section that analyzes the input sound signal, a storing section that stores a general-purpose masking sound, a masking sound producing section that, based on a result of the analysis by the analyzing section, processes the general-purpose masking sound stored in the storing section to produce an output masking sound, and an outputting section that outputs the output masking sound. | 07-18-2013 |
20130243215 | NETWORKED SOUND MASKING SYSTEM - A sound masking system for shaping the ambient noise level in a physical environment. The sound masking system comprises a networked and distributed system having a number of master units coupled together and to a control unit. One or more of the master units may include satellite sound masking units which function to reproduce the sound masking signal generated by the master sound masking unit. Each of the master units is addressable over the network by the control unit enabling the control unit to program the contour, spectral band, and gain characteristics of the sound masking output signal. The system may also include a remote control unit which provides the capability to tune and adjust each master sound masking unit in situ without requiring physical access through the ceiling installation. | 09-19-2013 |
20130259254 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A DIRECTIONAL SOUND FIELD - A system may be used to drive an array of loudspeakers to produce a sound field that includes a source component, whose energy is concentrated along a first direction relative to the array, and a masking component that is based on an estimated intensity of the source component in a second direction that is different from the first direction. | 10-03-2013 |
20130315413 | MASKING SOUND GENERATING APPARATUS, STORAGE MEDIUM STORED WITH MASKING SOUND SIGNAL, MASKING SOUND REPRODUCING APPARATUS, AND PROGRAM - Whereas a high masking effect can be secured in a space to which a masking sound is emitted, the degree of a discomfort a person existing in the space suffers can be reduced. In superimposition processing, a CPU | 11-28-2013 |
20130322644 | Sound Processing Apparatus - A sound processing apparatus has one or more of processors configured to suppress peaks that exist in a high-order region of a cepstrum of a sound signal and that correspond to a harmonic structure of the sound signal. The processor is further configured to generate a separation mask used to suppress a harmonic component or a nonharmonic component of the sound signal based on a resultant cepstrum in which the peaks of the high-order region have been suppressed. | 12-05-2013 |
20130322645 | DATA RECOGNITION AND SEPARATION ENGINE - Embodiments disclosed herein extend to methods, systems, and computer program products for analyzing digital data. A source of digital data is analyzed and separated into segments, each segment having an identifiable characteristic. The separated segments are copied into planes of a higher dimension. The separated segments are compared to determine a resemblance factor. A fingerprint is generated for segments having a resemblance factor above a particular threshold. Based upon the generated fingerprint, a data source may be filtered to block or to pass data corresponding to the generated fingerprint. The digital data may be audio data, video data, or other data. | 12-05-2013 |
20140003615 | NOISE REDUCTION METHOD, DEVICE, AND SYSTEM | 01-02-2014 |
20140064509 | COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR ADAPTIVE AUDIO SIGNAL SHAPING FOR IMPROVED PLAYBACK IN A NOISY ENVIRONMENT - Provided is a computer program product for adaptively enhancing an end-user's perceived quality, or quality of experience (QoE), of speech and other audio under ambient noise conditions. The computer program product comprises the steps of determining the ambient noise characteristics on a continuous basis to capture the time varying nature of ambient noises, and adaptively determining the most optimal signal shaping to be applied to the audio/speech signal to produce the most appropriate enhancement to compensate for the ambient noise impairment. The computer program product also comprises a signal shaping technique by using an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter that performs the signal modification with a low delay; a multi-level automatic gain control (AGC); and a controlled amplitude clipping module that assures samples are below a certain limit; and outputs the modified signal for playback through a loudspeaker or the like. | 03-06-2014 |
20140086426 | MASKING SOUND GENERATION DEVICE, MASKING SOUND OUTPUT DEVICE, AND MASKING SOUND GENERATION PROGRAM - There is provided a masking sound output device which prevents interference and an echo even in the case where plural apparatus output the same masking sounds. A masking sound generating unit | 03-27-2014 |
20140112493 | APPARATUS FOR DIFFERENTIAL INTERPOLATION PULSE WIDTH MODULATION DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG CONVERSION AND OUTPUT SIGNAL CODING METHOD THEREOF - A differential interpolation pulse width modulation (iPWM) digital to analog converter is provided, including an iPWM for generating differential pulse from an input digital audio data stream, a power driver for providing energy to a terminal load and a filter for removing unwanted harmonic signal to reconstruct analog signal, wherein the iPWM further includes a PWM pulse generator to convert the digital input numerical code to a series of time domain pulse width; an interpolation unit to increase the time domain resolution of the pulse width; a self-calibration unit to maintain the pulse-width accuracy of the interpolation unit; a differential pulse width generator to convert series of PWM pulse into voltage and time domain differential form. | 04-24-2014 |
20140161273 | SMARTPHONE SECURITY MASKING ENCLOSURE - The Mobile Phone/PDA Security Masking Enclosure is a sound insulated enclosure for use as a temporary storage location for cellular and other mobile devices in locations at which confidential and sensitive conversations and discussions are being conducted. A pink/white noise generating device within the enclosure generates a masking noise such that the cellular or other mobile devices inside the enclosure are unable to pick up or record conversations outside the enclosure. | 06-12-2014 |
20140169581 | AUDIO SIGNAL PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGING DEVICE, AUDIO SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD, PROGRAM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - There is provided an audio signal processing device including a feature amount extraction unit configured to extract, from an audio signal obtained by a sound collection unit, a feature amount that indicates a pulsed operation sound generated from a sound generation unit provided in a same housing as the sound collection unit, and a noise determination unit configured to determine whether or not the operation sound is included in the audio signal based on the feature amount. | 06-19-2014 |
20140334634 | HUNTING NOISE MASKING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Portable noise generator apparatuses and methods may be used to mask sounds in a hunting area. A noise generator apparatus may have a portable housing configured to be used by a hunter in a hunting area where game may be present, a loudspeaker positioned in the housing, and an electronic noise generator held within the housing. The electronic noise generator may be used to output noise through the loudspeaker to mask sounds made by the hunter while in the hunting area, and the noise may comprise frequencies perceptible by a non-human species. The noise may include white noise and ambient noise that is capable of limiting or covering the sounds of the hunter perceived by game animals. | 11-13-2014 |
20140363011 | ELIMINATION SYSTEM FOR DIVERTING DENTAL INSTRUMENT NOISE - An elimination system for diverting dental instrument noise includes an audio player, a sound sensor, and a controller. The audio player is used for broadcasting an audio content. The sound sensor may sense noise from a dental instrument, thereby outputting a sensing signal. The controller is electrically connected with the audio player and the sound sensor. According to the sensing signal from the sound sensor, the controller controls the audio content that is broadcasted by the audio player. | 12-11-2014 |
20150030175 | ROAD NOISE MASKING IN A VEHICLE - Road noise masking for a vehicle includes determining, by a computer processor, an expected interior sound associated with the vehicle. The expected interior sound is defined by a design of the vehicle in conjunction with road conditions encountered by the vehicle. The road noise masking also includes monitoring, via the computer processor, information sources of the vehicle during a driving event. Upon determining a current road surface from the monitoring, the road noise masking includes calculating a masking noise shape commensurate with the expected interior sound, and transmitting instructions including the masking noise shape to an audio system in the vehicle. The audio system produces masking noise from a tuner of the audio system that approximates the masking noise shape. | 01-29-2015 |
20150043744 | MASKING VEHICLE NOISE - A method of masking sounds associated with a vehicle is provided. The method includes performing on processing circuitry, monitoring of vehicle data. A tonal disturbance type and a tone to mask associated with the tonal disturbance type are identified based on the vehicle data. A shaped band of sounds is determined based on the tone to mask. The shaped band of sounds covers a range of frequencies around the tone to mask. The shaped band of sounds is applied to an audio output of the vehicle. | 02-12-2015 |
20150055790 | ACOUSTIC SYSTEM - An acoustic system includes: a first customer-side microphone; a first counselor-side microphone; a first sound changing unit; a first loudspeaker; a second customer-side microphone; a second counselor-side microphone; and a second loudspeaker. Between the second loudspeaker and the first customer-side microphone, a first sound transmission path is provided. Also, between the second loudspeaker and the first counselor-side microphone, a second sound transmission path is provided. These sound transmission paths have substantially the same length. The first sound signal generated by the first customer-side microphone is made to have a phase substantially opposite to that of the second sound signal generated by the first counselor-side microphone, and the sound signals are added together. | 02-26-2015 |
20150071455 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FILTERING SOUND IN A DEFINED SPACE - Methods and systems are provided for filtering sound. A position sensor determines positions of a plurality of occupants in a defined space. Multiple microphones receive sound and generate corresponding audio signals. A processor in communication with the microphones and the position sensor receives the positions of the occupants and the audio signals. The processor determines which of the occupants are engaging in speech and applies a temporal-spatial filter to the audio signals to generate a plurality of output signals corresponding respectively to each occupant of the defined space. | 03-12-2015 |
20150131808 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MASKING NOISE - A method is disclosed for masking noise originating from rotary equipment in a vehicle engine. The method may include checking if engine input conditions fulfill engine input condition threshold values. If the engine input conditions fulfill the engine input conditions threshold values, the method may include outputting a first masking noise from a speaker. The first masking noise may include a first central frequency, a first predetermined bandwidth and a first amplitude, where the first central frequency and the first amplitude are determined by the input conditions. The disclosure also relates to a system for masking noise originating from rotary equipment in a vehicle engine. | 05-14-2015 |
20150139435 | ACCOUSTIC MASKING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING HIPAA COMPLIANCE IN TREATMENT SETTING - A method and system for masking to a listener a conversation between a care provider and a patient such that the conversation becomes unintelligible to the listener, includes interposing an acoustically absorbent curtain that substantially spans between the floor and the ceiling and is positioned between the listener and the care provider and patient. A masking device is affixed to the curtain generally between the floor and the ceiling at a position along the barrier length and at a height approximately coinciding with a height of a mouth of the care provider. The masking device includes at least one speaker having an axis oriented generally perpendicular to the plane the curtain defines. An amplifier drives the speaker to produce a sound to propagate along the axis. A signal source provided at the amplifier input produces the sound selected to mask the conversation between the care provider and the patient. | 05-21-2015 |
20150350780 | SOUND MASKING SYSTEM - A sound masking system according to the invention is disclosed in which one or more sound masking loudspeaker assemblies are coupled to one or more electronic sound masking signal generators. The loudspeaker assemblies in the system of the invention have a low directivity index and preferably emit an acoustic sound masking signal that has a sound masking spectrum specifically designed to provide superior sound masking in an open plan office. Each of the plurality of loudspeaker assemblies is oriented to provide the acoustic sound masking signal in a direct path into the predetermined area in which masking sound is needed. In addition, the sound masking system of the invention can include a remote control function by which a user can select from a plurality of stored sets of information for providing from a recipient loudspeaker assembly an acoustic sound masking signal having a-selected sound masking spectrum. | 12-03-2015 |
20150382122 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT OF SPACES AND/OR OPENINGS OF THE SPACES - Methods and systems are provided for providing adaptive management of a space that comprises one or more openings. The adaptive management comprises managing one or more of: noise associated with said space, and actions associated with said space and/or said one or more openings. The adaptive management is configured and/or applied based on particular conditions and/or activities associated with said space and/or said one or more openings. | 12-31-2015 |
20160088391 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR VOICE OPERATED CONTROL - Methods and devices for processing and voice operated control are provided. The method can include performing a non-difference comparison between a first received sound and a second received sound, determining if speech exists based on the comparison, and transmitting or providing a decision that the speech is present to at least one among the device, a cell phone, a media player, or a portable computing device. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 03-24-2016 |
20160125867 | An Audio Scene Apparatus - An apparatus comprising an audio detector configured to analyse a first audio signal to determine at least one audio source, wherein the first audio signal is generated from the sound-field in the environment of the apparatus; an audio generator configured to generate at least one further audio source; and a mixer configured to mix the at least one audio source and the at least one further audio source such that the at least one further audio source is associated with the at least one audio source. | 05-05-2016 |
20160171968 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ARTIFACT MASKING | 06-16-2016 |
20160180832 | VEHICLE ENGINE SOUND ENHANCEMENT | 06-23-2016 |
20160189701 | NETWORKED SOUND MASKING SYSTEM - A sound masking system for shaping the ambient noise level in a physical environment. The sound masking system comprises a networked and distributed system having a number of master units coupled together and to a control unit. One or more of the master units may include satellite sound masking units which function to reproduce the sound masking signal generated by the master sound masking unit. Each of the master units is addressable over the network by the control unit enabling the control unit to program the contour, spectral band, and gain characteristics of the sound masking output signal. The system may also include a remote control unit which provides the capability to tune and adjust each master sound masking unit in situ without requiring physical access through the ceiling installation. | 06-30-2016 |
20160253987 | FLEXIBLE ACOUSTIC BARRIER | 09-01-2016 |