Abstract: Directional sound acquisition is obtained by combining directional sensitivities in microphones with signal processing electronics to reduce the effects of noise received from unwanted directions. One or more microphones having directional sensitivity including a minor lobe pointing in the particular direction of interest and a major lobe pointing in a direction other than the particular direction are used. Signal processing circuitry reduces the effect of sound received from directions of a microphone major lobe.

Abstract: Synthesized speech is enhanced by listening to the acoustic background into which the synthesized speech is delivered and adjusting parameters of the synthesized speech accordingly. In one embodiment, text is synthesized into speech based on at least one noise parameter determined from the environment into which the synthesized speech is delivered. In another embodiment, parameters for a filter modifying the synthesized signal are determined based environmental noise.

Abstract: Recognizing and enhancing speech is accomplished by fusing audio and visual speech recognition. An audio speech recognizer determines a subset of speech elements for speech segments received from at least one audio transducer. A visual speech recognizer determines a figure of merit for at least one speech element based on at least one image received from at least one visual transducer. Speech may also be enhanced by variably filtering or editing received audio signals based on at least one visual speech parameter.

Abstract: Speech in the presence of noise is detected by first extracting at least one extracted speech signal from at least one received signal and extracting at least one extracted noise signal from the at least one received signal. A detected speech signal is generated based on both at least one extracted speech signal and on at least one extracted noise signal.

Abstract: Magnetic forces are used as a controlled actuation mechanism to move and position objects of interest. In one embodiment, a first spherical surface has at least one magnetic positioner attached. A second spherical surface is positioned to move relative to the first spherical surface. A plurality of controlled electromagnets are spaced about the second spherical surface. Control logic energizes at least one of the controlled electromagnets to create magnetic interaction with at least one magnetic positioner to move the first spherical surface relative to the second spherical surface.

Abstract: A method is provided for positioning the individual elements of a microphone arrangement including at least two such elements. The spacing among the microphone elements supports the generation of numerous combinations of the signal of interest and a sum of interfering sources. Use of the microphone element placement method leads to the formation of many types of microphone arrangements, comprising at least two microphone elements, and provides the input data to a signal processing system for sound discrimination. Many examples of these microphone arrangements are provided, some of which are integrated with everyday objects. Also, enhancements and extensions are provided for a signal separation-based processing system for sound discrimination, which uses the microphone arrangements as the sensory front end.

Abstract: A novel visual method and system for interacting with displays and all devices that use such displays. The system has three hardware elements, which are a display, a light sensor or camera that can register the display image and the pointing device or its effect on the display, and a pointing device that can be registered by or produces recognizable characteristics that can be registered by the light sensor or camera.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically separating and recovering original signal sources by processing a set of mixed received mixtures and convolution of said signals utilizing differential equations and a computer. The system of the invention enables the blind separation and recovery of an unknown number of signals mixed together in dynamically changing interference environments with very minimal assumption on the original signals. The system of this invention has practical applications to nonmultiplexed media sharing, adaptive interferer rejection, acoustic sensors, acoustic diagnostics, medical diagnostics and instrumentation, speech, voice, language recognition and processing, wired and wireless modulated communication signal receivers, and cellular communications.