US 12,278,932 B2
Methods and apparatus to assist listeners in distinguishing between electronically generated binaural sound and physical environment sound
Glen A. Norris, Lakewood, OH (US); and Philip Scott Lyren, Rincon, PR (US)
Filed by Glen A. Norris, Lakewood, OH (US); and Philip Scott Lyren, Rincon, PR (US)
Filed on Dec. 21, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/391,764.
Application 18/391,764 is a continuation of application No. 18/133,007, filed on Apr. 11, 2023, granted, now 11,856,148.
Application 18/133,007 is a continuation of application No. 17/693,389, filed on Mar. 13, 2022, granted, now 11,632,470, issued on Apr. 18, 2023.
Application 17/693,389 is a continuation of application No. 17/113,053, filed on Dec. 6, 2020, granted, now 11,277,519, issued on Mar. 15, 2022.
Application 17/113,053 is a continuation of application No. 16/558,082, filed on Aug. 31, 2019, granted, now 10,863,032, issued on Dec. 8, 2020.
Application 16/558,082 is a continuation of application No. 16/271,784, filed on Feb. 9, 2019, granted, now 10,432,796, issued on Oct. 1, 2019.
Application 16/271,784 is a continuation of application No. 15/944,797, filed on Apr. 4, 2018, granted, now 10,225,410, issued on Mar. 5, 2019.
Application 15/944,797 is a continuation of application No. 15/619,418, filed on Jun. 9, 2017, granted, now 9,998,606, issued on Jun. 12, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/348,166, filed on Jun. 10, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2024/0146847 A1, May 2, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04R 5/00 (2006.01); G06F 3/01 (2006.01); G06F 3/16 (2006.01); G10L 21/028 (2013.01); H04M 3/56 (2006.01); H04S 1/00 (2006.01); H04S 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC H04M 3/568 (2013.01) [G06F 3/011 (2013.01); G06F 3/017 (2013.01); G06F 3/165 (2013.01); G10L 21/028 (2013.01); H04S 1/005 (2013.01); H04S 7/302 (2013.01); H04S 7/304 (2013.01); H04S 7/305 (2013.01); H04S 7/306 (2013.01); H04S 2400/11 (2013.01); H04S 2400/13 (2013.01); H04S 2420/01 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
displaying, with a display of a head mounted display (HMD) worn on a head of a first person, a virtual reality (VR) environment to the first person;
playing, with speakers in the HMD, binaural sound that externally localizes to the first person at virtual images in the VR environment;
detecting, with a sensor or a camera in the HMD, a second person in a physical environment of the first person while the first person wears the HMD and views the VR environment; and
alerting, in response to the sensor or the camera detecting the second person, the first person that the second person is in the physical environment of the second person by displaying, with the display of the HMD, a visual alert that is a virtual image of the second person that occurs in the VR environment being displayed with the display of the HMD.