Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) microphone assembly is provided. The assembly includes an enclosure, a MEMS transducer, and a plurality of substrate layers. The single MEMS transducer is positioned within the enclosure. The plurality of substrate layers support the single MEMS transducer. The plurality of substrate layers define a first transmission mechanism to enable a first side of the single MEMS transducer to receive an audio input signal and a second transmission mechanism to enable a second side of the single MEMS transducer to receive the audio input signal.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) microphone assembly is provided. The assembly includes an enclosure, a MEMS transducer, and a plurality of substrate layers. The single MEMS transducer is positioned within the enclosure. The plurality of substrate layers support the single MEMS transducer. The plurality of substrate layers define a first transmission mechanism to enable a first side of the single MEMS transducer to receive an audio input signal and a second transmission mechanism to enable a second side of the single MEMS transducer to receive the audio input signal.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) microphone assembly is provided. The assembly includes an enclosure, a MEMS transducer, and a plurality of substrate layers. The single MEMS transducer is positioned within the enclosure. The plurality of substrate layers support the single MEMS transducer. The plurality of substrate layers define a first transmission mechanism to enable a first side of the single MEMS transducer to receive an audio input signal and a second transmission mechanism to enable a second side of the single MEMS transducer to receive the audio input signal.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) microphone assembly is provided. The assembly includes an enclosure, a MEMS transducer, and a plurality of substrate layers. The single MEMS transducer is positioned within the enclosure. The plurality of substrate layers support the single MEMS transducer. The plurality of substrate layers define a first transmission mechanism to enable a first side of the single MEMS transducer to receive an audio input signal and a second transmission mechanism to enable a second side of the single MEMS transducer to receive the audio input signal.

Abstract: A system and method for RF immunity of an electret condenser microphone. In one embodiment, the microphone comprises a printed wire board, an amplifier, a capacitor. The amplifier and the capacitor are mounted on the printed wire board such that longitudinal axis, i.e., the axis defined by the line between the output pin and the ground pin, of the capacitor is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the amplifier. According to one embodiment of the method of the present invention, an electret condenser microphone according to the present invention is provided, and current is provided to the capacitor to result in the creation of a magnetic field about the longitudinal axis of the capacitor. The magnetic field created is positioned such that it does not significantly contribute to the generation of RF current in the amplifier.

Abstract: The microphone system for communication devices that comprises an electric circuit comprising two microphone elements connected to a signal flow processor. This processor uses a digital signal processor or comparable analog circuitry to provide a particular electrical time delay (?) to one of the microphone elements (nearest the ear or loudspeaker) and a compatible amplitude gain (Gm1) to the other microphone element (nearest the user's mouth) in order to substantially reduce the external acoustic coupling and echo of communication devices in the receive and doubletalk state. Further, this processing system allows the microphone system to reduce the pickup of ambient noise in the send and idle state, while still being sensitive to the user's speech.

Abstract: A telephone handset that includes both a speaker and a secondary flux coil is provided. The secondary flux coil provides improved inductive coupling between the handset and a hearing aid. Due to the wiring configuration of the handset, the speaker and the secondary flux coil can be independently filtered, thus providing means for independently optimizing the performance of both the speaker and the secondary flux coil. Suitable filters include both passive circuits and digital signal processors.

Abstract: A telephone handset that includes both a speaker and a secondary flux coil is provided. The secondary flux coil provides improved inductive coupling between the handset and a hearing aid. Due to the wiring configuration of the handset, the speaker and the secondary flux coil can be independently filtered, thus providing means for independently optimizing the performance of both the speaker and the secondary flux coil. Suitable filters include both passive circuits and digital signal processors.

Abstract: A system and method for echo cancellation in a communication system having a digital echo canceller and an analog echo canceller for analog reduction of cross coupling echo components in an analog output signal when in analog form before digital processing by the digital echo canceller. An analog cancellation signal is generated which is substantially the same as the acoustic coupling echo component in the analog output signal before digital processing by the digital echo canceller. The analog echo cancellation signal is combined with the analog output signal to reduce the cross coupling echo component before digital processing by the digital echo canceller.

Abstract: A pay per use system for of the unauthorized use of computer software. An encryption program encodes original software to produce secured software. The encoding is accomplished by using cryptographic techniques. In order to use the software, a user must call a telephone number to receive the cryptographic keys necessary to decrypt the secured software. Thus, users must pay for each use of the secured software. The system allows software developers to freely distribute the secured software. Copies of the secured software may be freely made, because payment is based on each use of the software not on each copy of the software.

Abstract: The long term average broad band gains of a plurality of individual signal channels, associated with a corresponding plurality of microphone elements, are electronically and dynamically adapted to one another. This is realized by periodically and dynamically processing the signals from the individual microphone elements. More specifically, the processing is such that the long term average broad band gain of the signal channels of the individual microphone elements is dynamically adjusted, an energy estimate of each microphone signal channel is averaged over the long term and the difference in energy between the signal channels is used to readjust the long term average broad band gain of the microphone signal channels to minimize those differences.

Abstract: Full directional pickup coverage is realized by employing a pickup arrangement which provides a plurality of audio polar directivity patterns, i.e., directional beams. These polar directivity patterns are formed in a unique embodiment of the invention by generating a plurality of frequency independent time-delayed versions of a corresponding plurality of spatially sampled signals and by combining each of the plurality of spatially sampled signals with one or more selected ones of the time delayed versions to generate at least a similar plurality of polar directivity patterns. More specifically, the spatially sampled signals are combined with the delayed versions in such a manner that a greater number of polar directivity patterns can be considered than the number of spatially sampled signals. In a specific embodiment, the spatially sampled signals are acoustic (audio) and a plurality of microphones arranged in a predetermined spatial configuration is employed to obtain them.

Abstract: A controller that includes a number of switches is associated with a first appliance that has a number of operating states. In at least one of the operating states of the first appliance, the controller responds to certain switch actuations by causing it to perform a task; but when it is in another operating state, the same switch actuations have no meaning insofar as the first appliance is concerned, so the controller responds by transmitting data signals to a second appliance to have it perform a similar task. In this manner, a single controller can be used to control a number of appliances when a particular switch actuation has no meaning in the context of controlling the associated appliance. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the keypad of a telephone set is used to select a particular television station. Control signals are sent by the telephone to the television by spread spectrum data transmission over an AC power line. The data transmission format used is in accordance with the CEBUS.

Abstract: A telephone answering machine having solid state storage of an outgoing announcement (OGA) is improved by magnetic tape apparatus 120 for providing backup protection of the OGA in the event of a power failure. Also stored on the magnetic tape is the time duration of the OGA. Analog to digital conversion of the OGA, for storage in Dynamic Random Access Memories 210, 220 and 230, proceeds at a sampling rate that is inversely proportional to the time duration of the OGA to assure that the available memory space is fully utilized.