Abstract: Mobile devices such as mobile phones typically have two speakers, one for use in a hand-set mode and one for use in a hands-free mode. A mobile device (1100) is described operable to switch between a hand-set mode and a hands-free mode, the mobile device includes a receiver speaker (10) operable in the hand-set mode and the hands-free mode of the mobile device, and a hands-free speaker (12) operable in the hands-free mode of the mobile device. The mobile device is operable in hands-free mode to route at least one audio signal to the receiver speaker and the hands-free speaker. Using the hands-free speaker and the receiver speaker may improve the sound quality without increasing the cost.

Abstract: An audio and ultrasound signal processing circuit (412), comprising: an audio input terminal (414) for receiving an input signal comprising an audio input signal; an amplitude detector (430), configured to determine an amplitude of the input signal and provide an amplitude level signal (432); a gain calculator (434) configured to determine an ultrasound amplification factor (436) in accordance with the amplitude level signal (432) and a target amplitude signal (418); a variable ultrasound amplifier (438) configured to receive an ultrasound input signal and modulate an amplitude of the ultrasound input signal in accordance with the ultrasound amplification factor (436) in order to provide an amplified ultrasound signal; and an output terminal (416) for providing an enhanced output signal comprising frequency components that correspond to the audio input signal and frequency components that correspond to the amplified ultrasound signal.

Abstract: An acoustic processor for a mobile device is described the mobile device comprising a speaker including a speaker membrane, the speaker membrane having a first speaker membrane side and second speaker membrane side opposite the first speaker membrane side, a mobile device housing for providing a first acoustic path between the first speaker membrane side and the exterior of the mobile device and a second acoustic path between the second speaker membrane side and the exterior of the mobile device, the acoustic processor being configured and arranged to sense a signal on an acoustic processor input, the signal being induced on at least one terminal of the speaker in response to acoustic waves process the induced signal to discriminate between acoustic waves from different directions; and output the processed signal on an acoustic processor output.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for and method of stereophonic widening in loudspeakers. The method includes the steps of: monitoring an amplifier state and/or loudspeaker state; generating an effect control signal in response to monitoring the amplifier state and/or a loudspeaker state; applying the effect control signal to an effect processor. The effect processor controls an amount of stereophonic widening based on the effect control signal.

Abstract: A system for producing a mechanical haptic pattern based on linear resonance actuator (LRA) signal is disclosed. The system includes an actuator displacement sensor, the actuator displacement sensor configured to apply an alternating measurement signal at a predetermined frequency to an actuator motor. The actuator displacement sensor configured to use a measure of a voltage across and a current through the actuator motor to determine its impedance at the predetermined frequency and determine an estimated displacement of the actuator motor using said impedance and a predetermined displacement-impedance function. The system also includes a controller configured to accept the LRA signal and the estimated displacement, wherein the controller is configured to alter the input LRA signal according to the estimated displacement to limit excursion of a moving part of the actuator motor.

Abstract: A haptic feedback element controller for a mobile device and a method of controlling a haptic feedback element for a mobile device is described. The haptic feedback element includes a processor having a processor output, a first processor input, and a second processor input, a control state module having an output coupled to the second processor input and configured to determine at least one operating state parameter of at least one of a haptic feedback element and a haptic feedback element amplifier; wherein the processor is configured to alter the amplitude of one or more frequency components of an input signal received on the first processor input in dependence of the at least one operating state parameter and to output a processed signal to a haptic feedback element amplifier having an output for coupling to a haptic feedback element. The haptic feedback element controller may maximize the drive signal up to mechanical and thermal limits without lifetime reduction of the haptic feedback element.

Abstract: A voice coil motor displacement sensor and a voice coil motor controller that uses said sensor. The sensor configured to apply an alternating measurement signal at a predetermined frequency to a voice coil motor, the sensor configured to use a measure of a voltage across and a current through the voice coil motor to determine its impedance at the predetermined frequency and determine an estimated displacement of said voice coil motor using said impedance and a predetermined displacement-impedance function.

Abstract: One example discloses an acoustic pairing device, comprising: an acoustic processor configured to receive a first acoustic signal and a second acoustic signal; a signal comparison module configured to identify a propagation delay or amplitude difference between the first and second acoustic signals; and a pairing module configured to output a pairing signal if the propagation delay or amplitude difference is between a first value and a second value. Another example discloses a method for acoustic pairing between a first device and a second device, executed by a computer programmed with non-transient executable instructions, comprising: receiving a propagation delay or amplitude difference between a first acoustic signal and a second acoustic signal; pairing the first and second devices if the propagation delay or amplitude difference is between a first value and a second value.

Abstract: An acoustic processor for a mobile device is described the mobile device comprising a speaker including a speaker membrane, the speaker membrane having a first speaker membrane side and second speaker membrane side opposite the first speaker membrane side, a mobile device housing for providing a first acoustic path between the first speaker membrane side and the exterior of the mobile device and a second acoustic path between the second speaker membrane side and the exterior of the mobile device, the acoustic processor being configured and arranged to sense a signal on an acoustic processor input, the signal being induced on at least one terminal of the speaker in response to acoustic waves process the induced signal to discriminate between acoustic waves from different directions; and output the processed signal on an acoustic processor output.

Abstract: A controller for a haptic feedback element is described, the haptic feedback element being configured to generate haptic vibrations, wherein the controller comprises a sense input and is configured to sense a signal induced on at least one terminal of the haptic feedback element in response to an external vibration source. The controller may sense vibrations induced one or more terminals of a haptic feedback element. The external vibration source may for example be due to speech transmitted via bone conduction which can be detected and subsequently processed.

Abstract: A signal processing circuit comprising: a first signal processor configured to produce a first output signal suitable for driving a first headphone speaker; a second signal processor configured to produce a second output signal suitable for driving a second headphone speaker; a third signal processor configured to receive the first input signal and/or the second input signal and to produce a third output signal suitable for driving a first loudspeaker; and simultaneously provide the first output signal to the first headphone speaker, the second output signal to the second headphone speaker, and the third output signal to the first loudspeaker.

Abstract: One example discloses an acoustic pairing device, comprising: an acoustic processor configured to receive a first acoustic signal and a second acoustic signal; a signal comparison module configured to identify a propagation delay or amplitude difference between the first and second acoustic signals; and a pairing module configured to output a pairing signal if the propagation delay or amplitude difference is between a first value and a second value. Another example discloses a method for acoustic pairing between a first device and a second device, executed by a computer programmed with non-transient executable instructions, comprising: receiving a propagation delay or amplitude difference between a first acoustic signal and a second acoustic signal; pairing the first and second devices if the propagation delay or amplitude difference is between a first value and a second value.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for and method of stereophonic widening in loudspeakers. The method includes the steps of: monitoring an amplifier state and/or loudspeaker state; generating an effect control signal in response to monitoring the amplifier state and/or a loudspeaker state; applying the effect control signal to an effect processor. The effect processor controls an amount of stereophonic widening based on the effect control signal.

Abstract: A signal processing circuit comprising: a first signal processor configured to produce a first output signal suitable for driving a first headphone speaker; a second signal processor configured to produce a second output signal suitable for driving a second headphone speaker; a third signal processor configured to receive the first input signal and/or the second input signal and to produce a third output signal suitable for driving a first loudspeaker; and simultaneously provide the first output signal to the first headphone speaker, the second output signal to the second headphone speaker, and the third output signal to the first loudspeaker.

Abstract: A voice coil motor displacement sensor and a voice coil motor controller that uses said sensor. The sensor configured to apply an alternating measurement signal at a predetermined frequency to a voice coil motor, the sensor configured to use a measure of a voltage across and a current through the voice coil motor to determine its impedance at the predetermined frequency and determine an estimated displacement of said voice coil motor using said impedance and a predetermined displacement-impedance function.

Abstract: An audio and ultrasound signal processing circuit (412), comprising: an audio input terminal (414) for receiving an input signal comprising an audio input signal; an amplitude detector (430), configured to determine an amplitude of the input signal and provide an amplitude level signal (432); a gain calculator (434) configured to determine an ultrasound amplification factor (436) in accordance with the amplitude level signal (432) and a target amplitude signal (418); a variable ultrasound amplifier (438) configured to receive an ultrasound input signal and modulate an amplitude of the ultrasound input signal in accordance with the ultrasound amplification factor (436) in order to provide an amplified ultrasound signal; and an output terminal (416) for providing an enhanced output signal comprising frequency components that correspond to the audio input signal and frequency components that correspond to the amplified ultrasound signal.

Abstract: A touch sensor (200) for a mobile device is disclosed which includes an acoustic port, and a loudspeaker operable to output audio through the acoustic port. The touch sensor is operable to generate a user input signal in response to the acoustic port being at least partially sealed. Partially sealing the acoustic port changes the acoustic load of the loudspeaker. The touch sensor may replace one or more hardware buttons on mobile devices such as mobile phones including smart phones. A method of operation of a touch sensor is also disclosed.

Abstract: Mobile devices such as mobile phones typically have two speakers, one for use in a hand-set mode and one for use in a hands-free mode. A mobile device (1100) is described operable to switch between a hand-set mode and a hands-free mode, the mobile device includes a receiver speaker (10) operable in the hand-set mode and the hands-free mode of the mobile device, and a hands-free speaker (12) operable in the hands-free mode of the mobile device. The mobile device is operable in hands-free mode to route at least one audio signal to the receiver speaker and the hands-free speaker. Using the hands-free speaker and the receiver speaker may improve the sound quality without increasing the cost.

Abstract: A decoder and method of decoding a sub-band coded digital audio signal. The decoder comprises: an input, for receiving sub-band coefficients for a plurality of sub-bands of the audio signal; an error detection unit, adapted to analyze the content of a sequence of coefficients in one of the sub-bands, to derive for each coefficient an indication of whether the coefficient has been corrupted by an error of a predefined type; an error masking unit, adapted to generate from the sequence a modified sequence of coefficients for the sub-band, wherein errors of the predefined type are attenuated; a coefficient combination unit, adapted to combine the received coefficients and the modified coefficients, in dependence upon the indication of error; and a signal reconstruction unit, adapted to reconstruct the audio signal using the combined coefficients.

Abstract: A device (100) for processing audio data, wherein the device (100) comprises a first audio reproduction unit (102) adapted for reproducing a first part of the audio data and adapted to be attached to a left ear (106) of a user (110), a second audio reproduction unit (104) adapted for reproducing a second part of the audio data and adapted to be attached to a right ear (108) of the user (110), a detection unit (112) adapted for detecting a left/right inversion of the first audio reproduction unit (102) and the second audio reproduction unit (104), and a control unit (114) adapted for controlling the first audio reproduction unit (102) for reproducing the second part of the audio data and for controlling the second audio reproduction unit (104) for reproducing the first part of the audio data upon detecting the left/right inversion.