IP Library Granted Patent US 11,418,874
Granted Patent B2
US 11,418,874 · App. 14/634,687 · Granted Aug 16, 2022

Techniques for sharing stereo sound between multiple users

Inventors: James M. Kirsch (Salt Lake City, UT); Ajay Iyer (Murray, UT); Branden Sheffield (Saratoga Springs, UT)
Assignee: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INC.
H04R3/005G10L21/0208H03G3/32H03G7/002H04R5/033G10L2021/02082H04R3/02H04R27/00H04R2420/03H04R2420/07
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,418,874
App. No.
14/634,687
Granted
Aug 16, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A first digital signal processor (DSP) associated with a first user outputs audio to the first user via first headphones, and captures speech from the first user via a first microphone. Similarly, a second DSP associated with a second user outputs audio to the second user via second headphones, and captures speech from the second user via a second microphone. The first DSP is coupled to the second DSP in order to allow the first and second users to share music and communicate with one another. The first user may speak into the first microphone, and the first and second DSPs may then interoperate to output that speech to the second user without substantially disrupting audio output to the second user. Each of the first and second users may also select between first and second audio sources that may be coupled to the first and second DSPs, respectively.

Claims (11)

1. A system for accessing audio signals from two different audio sources, the system comprising:

a first routing circuit coupled to a first audio source and including a first multiplexor and a second multiplexor; and

a first output element coupled to the first routing circuit, wherein, in a first state:

the first routing circuit is configured to route an audio signal from the first audio source to a first output element for output, and

the first multiplexor is configured to pass the audio signal from the first audio source to the first output element, and

wherein, in a second state:

the first routing circuit is configured to route an audio signal from a second audio source to the first output element for output,

the second multiplexor is configured to pass the audio signal from the second audio source to the first multiplexor, and

the first multiplexor is configured to pass the audio signal from the second audio source to the first output element.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein, in the second state, the first multiplexor is configured to not pass the audio signal from the first audio source to the first output element.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first routing circuit further includes a switch that controls configurations of the first multiplexor and the second multiplexor in the first state and the second state as well as how the audio signal from the first audio source and the audio signal from the second audio source are routed through the first routing circuit.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2015
From: KIRSCH, JAMES M.; IYER, AJAY; SHEFFIELD, BRANDEN
To: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035059/0459 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160255436A1 · Sep 1, 2016
Cited By (1)
US 12,418,694