William H Weeks

US Patent:

7013011, Mar 14, 2006

Filed:

Dec 28, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/040922

Inventors:

William A. Weeks - Santa Cruz CA, US
William R. Morrell - Santa Cruz CA, US

Assignee:

Plantronics, Inc. - Santa Cruz CA

International Classification:

H03G 5/00
H03G 3/00
G10L 19/14

US Classification:

381 98, 381107, 704224, 704225

Abstract:

An audio limiting circuit capable of satisfying frequency dependent limits and time domain constraints, is disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, an input node receives an unattenuated input signal and a system modeling filter predicts the amount, if any, by which the sound pressure level that would be generated by an acoustic transducer in response to the unattenuated input signal, would exceed one or more predetermined limits. In that embodiment, an energy detector separates the excess predicted sound pressure level into one or more frequency bands and calculates the average acoustic energy associated with each band. A gain logic block determines an attenuation factor based on whether one or more of the predetermined limits has been exceeded and the attenuation factor values are smoothed to minimize abrupt changes to the unattenuated input signal. A delay buffer delays the unattenuated input signal values. Finally, in the embodiment described here, the smoothed attenuation factor values are synchronized with and applied to the delayed input signal values and the resulting attenuated signal is transmitted to an output node and ultimately to one or more acoustic transducers.

US Patent:

7242783, Jul 10, 2007

Filed:

Jan 25, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/340239

Inventors:

William A. Weeks - Santa Cruz CA, US
William R. Morrell - Santa Cruz CA, US

Assignee:

Plantronics, Inc. - Santa Cruz CA

International Classification:

H03G 5/00
H03G 3/00
G10L 19/14

US Classification:

381 98, 381107, 381 99, 381104, 704224, 704225

Abstract:

An audio limiting circuit capable of satisfying frequency dependent limits and time domain constraints, is disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, an input node receives an unattenuated input signal and a system modeling filter predicts the amount, if any, by which the sound pressure level that would be generated by an acoustic transducer in response to the unattenuated input signal, would exceed one or more predetermined limits. In that embodiment, an energy detector separates the excess predicted sound pressure level into one or more frequency bands and calculates the average acoustic energy associated with each band. A gain logic block determines an attenuation factor based on whether one or more of the predetermined limits has been exceeded and the attenuation factor values are smoothed to minimize abrupt changes to the unattenuated input signal. A delay buffer delays the unattenuated input signal values. Finally, in the embodiment described here, the smoothed attenuation factor values are synchronized with and applied to the delayed input signal values and the resulting attenuated signal is transmitted to an output node and ultimately to one or more acoustic transducers.

US Patent:

7359504, Apr 15, 2008

Filed:

Dec 3, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/309695

Inventors:

Edward L. Reuss - Santa Cruz CA, US
William A. Weeks - Santa Cruz CA, US

Assignee:

Plantronics, Inc. - Santa Cruz CA

International Classification:

H04M 9/08

US Classification:

37940602, 37940601

Abstract:

The present invention provides a solution to the needs described above through a method and apparatus for reducing echo and noise. The apparatus includes a microphone array for receiving and audio signal, the audio signal including a voice signal component and a noise signal component. The apparatus further includes a voice processing path having an input coupled to the microphone array and a noise processing path having an input coupled to the microphone array. The voice processing path is adapted to detect voice signals and the noise processing path is adapted to detect noise signals. A first echo controller is coupled to the voice processing path and a second echo controller is coupled to the noise processing path. A noise reducer is coupled to the output of the first echo controller and second echo controller.

US Patent:

6704413, Mar 9, 2004

Filed:

Oct 25, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/427382

Inventors:

William A. Weeks - Santa Cruz CA
Bruce E. Balentine - Denton TX

Assignee:

Plantronics, Inc. - Santa Cruz CA

International Classification:

H04M 100

US Classification:

37937401, 379419

Abstract:

An auditory user interface provides auditory feedback concerning variable parameters of a device. Auditory user interface elements indicate modes corresponding to control functions and variable parameters. Additional auditory user interface elements indicate particular values for the parameters. Each control function is distinguished by particular auditory characteristics, such as distinct musical scales, so that the user can easily recognize which mode is active and discern the current value for the parameter corresponding to the mode. Center values and limit values are denoted by distinctive auditory elements.

US Patent:

20210330216, Oct 28, 2021

Filed:

Jun 14, 2019

Appl. No.:

17/252600

Inventors:

- TOKYO, JP
Neraj P. BOBRA - San Jose CA, US
Aditya DUA - San Jose CA, US
Ronny X. LI - San Francisco CA, US
William A. WEEKS - Santa Cruz CA, US

Assignee:

OTSUKA PHARMACEUTICAL CO. LTD. - TOKYO

International Classification:

A61B 5/11
A61B 5/07
A61B 5/00
G16H 40/67
G16H 20/30
G01C 22/00

Abstract:

A system, a wearable device, and a method are provided which can increase the accuracy of physiological metrics while detecting if the patient ingested digital medicine and/or improve performance of the wearable device. The wearable device can comprise machine executable instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform various algorithms, such as, for example, at least one of a step count algorithm, a body angle algorithm, a heart rate algorithm, a peak finder algorithm, an adaptive thresholding algorithm, a heart rate variability algorithm, a R-R cleaning Algorithm, a deltaR-R cleaning algorithm, a merge twin interval algorithm, a split tall intervals algorithm, an absorb short intervals algorithm, a bimodal detection algorithm, and a resting algorithm.

US Patent:

20160380708, Dec 29, 2016

Filed:

Jun 23, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/190741

Inventors:

- Redwood City CA, US
Mark Zdeblick - Portola Valley CA, US
Lawrence Arne - Palo Alto CA, US
Jonathan Withrington - San Francisco CA, US
William McAllister - Saratoga CA, US
Alireza Shirvani - Menlo Park CA, US
Jafar Shenasa - San Jose CA, US
Jeremy Frank - San Francisco CA, US
Patricia Johnson - Palo Alto CA, US
Scott Andrews - Redwood City CA, US
Robert Azevedo - Albany CA, US
William A. Weeks - Santa Cruz CA, US
Alberto Berstein - San Jose CA, US
Yashar Behzadi - Anaheim CA, US

International Classification:

H04B 15/00
H04W 72/04
A61B 5/053
A61B 90/00
A61B 5/00
H04B 13/00
H04W 52/18

Abstract:

Systems, methods, and apparatuses are presented for resolving any interference, noise, and/or collisions caused by two or more ingestible event markers (IEMs) transmitting simultaneously or concurrently. Methods include techniques from the perspective of the IEM for randomly varying signal transmission characteristics in order to avoid collisions with other concurrently transmitting IEMs. Methods also include techniques from the perspective of a receiver for receiving multiple transmission signals from multiple IEMs and for resolving any interference or signal collisions.

US Patent:

20150212267, Jul 30, 2015

Filed:

Jan 30, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/168513

Inventors:

- Ar's-Hertogenbosch, NL
- Berwyn PA, US
Sandeep Razdan - Millbrae CA, US
William A. Weeks - Ivyland PA, US
Michael Tryson - Hanover PA, US
Jibin Sun - Mountain View CA, US
Haipeng Zhang - Santa Clara CA, US
Jonathan Edward Lee - Harrisburg PA, US
Michael Frank Cina - Elizabethtown PA, US
Jeroen Antonius Maria Duis - Didam, NL

Assignee:

Tyco Electronics Nederland B.V. - Ar's-Hertogenbosch
Tyco Electronics Corporation - Berwyn PA

International Classification:

G02B 6/12
G02B 6/13
G02B 6/122

Abstract:

An optical assembly comprising: (a) a substrate having a first planar surface; (b) an optical component connected to the substrate and having a second planar surface parallel to the first surface and at least one first optical axis; (c) a plurality of optical fiber stubs having a certain diameter and being disposed at least partially between the substrate and the optical component; (d) at least one of the substrate or the optical component having one or more grooves on the first or second surfaces, respectively, such that each groove is configured to receive one of the plurality of fiber stubs such that each of the fiber stubs protrudes a first distance from the first or second surface to space the first surface the first distance from the second surface; and (e) a least one optical conduit having a second optical axis, the optical conduit being disposed on the first or second surface such that the second optical axis is optically aligned with the first optical axis.