Today the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 66 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. In this particular report we briefly cover two audio related patent, with one focused on managing Spatial Audio. Our report also covers two iPhone 13 Pro MagSafe case design patents and as always, we wrap up this week's granted patent report with our traditional listing of the remaining granted patents that were issued to Apple today.

Apple Granted Two Audio Patents

Apple was granted two audio patents today. The first audio patent covers a system and method for configuring and adjusting beam patterns output by a speaker system in response to voice commands titled "Handsfree beam pattern configuration."

More specifically, Apple's patent covers an audio system that adjusts one or more beam patterns emitted by one or more loudspeaker arrays based on the preferences of users/listeners is described. The audio system includes an audio receiver that contains a listener location estimator, a listener identifier, and a voice command processor. Inputs from the listener location estimator, the listener identifier, and the voice command processor are fed into an array processor. The array processor drives the one or more loudspeaker arrays to emit beam patterns into the listening area based on inputs from each of these devices. By examining the location, preferred usage settings, and voice commands from listeners, the generated beam patterns are customized to the explicit and implicit preferences of the listeners with minimal direct input.

Apple's patent FIG. 7B below shows beam patterns generated for listeners 5A and 5B based on the voice commands.

For more details, review Apple's granted Patent 11,432,096.

The second audio patent covers computer user interfaces, and more specifically to techniques 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.

Apple's patent FIG. 6B below illustrates an exemplary technique for transitioning between visual elements.

For more details and dozens of patent figures, review granted patent 11,429,342.

Two Granted Design Patents of Interest

Today’s Remaining Granted Patents

Posted by Jack Purcher on August 30, 2022 at 08:11 AM in 2. Granted Patents | Permalink | Comments (0)

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