Abstract: A mobile device comprising a software application configured to detect the sound of a product use event; provide a user reward using said software application in response to said detection; capture data relating to said product use event; and provide said captured data to a remote computer system for analysis.

Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication doorbell, including a camera, a speaker, a microphone, a power manager, a battery, an AC/DC rectifier, and a DC/DC converter. The doorbell is configured for connection to an external AC power source through the AC/DC rectifier and the DC/DC converter. The power manager is configured to draw power, up to a threshold power, from the AC power source and to draw supplemental power from the battery such that the power drawn from the AC power source never exceeds the threshold power. The present A/V recording and communication doorbell can thus be connected to an existing household AC power supply and an existing doorbell signaling device without causing inadvertent sounding of the signaling device.

Abstract: Generating sounds in a vehicle, including generating turn indicator/hazard warning lights (TI/HWL) sounds via a first channel, and generating additional sounds via a second channel, where the second channel is different than the first channel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing spoken messages that reflect event status of one or more hazard detection systems within a smart-home environment are described herein. The messages can inform occupants in concise manner that does not overload cognitive recognition of those occupants. For example, the messages may be prioritized to limit the amount of information that is spoken and intelligently condense information in as concise a manner as possible. This may be accomplished by using one or more speaking paradigms to compile audible messages to be played back through a speaker of the hazard detection system.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of operating a switched-mode power converter includes measuring an input voltage of the switched-mode power converter; determining an on-time of a switch of the switched-mode power converter; determining an off-time of the switch of the switched-mode power converter; and determining an output voltage of the switched-mode power converter based on the measured input voltage, the determined on-time and the determined off-time. The output voltage includes a voltage at a first node having a DC path to a load path of the switch.

Abstract: A system and method for sonically connecting special devices is provided. A plurality of devices is monitored. One or more sound profiles are maintained on each of the devices, wherein at least one of the sound profiles on each device is for a sound emitted by one other device in the plurality. A sound is detected on one of the devices and the detected sound is compared to one or more of the sound profiles stored on that device. A match is identified between the detected sound and one of the sound profiles. One or more response actions are performed based on the identified match.

Abstract: An acoustic transmitter for transmitting an acoustic signal through a downhole medium includes a voltage source; a composite load; and switching circuitry that applies voltage from the voltage source across the composite load in response to a drive signal. The composite load includes charge control circuitry, in the form of at least one inductor, connected electrically in series with a piezoelectric transducer that may be electrically modeled as a capacitor.

Abstract: An intelligent electronic horn and an implementation method includes: detecting one or more of a current operating air pressure, operating temperature and power supply voltage of the electronic horn; calculating a compensation control parameter according to a detection result; performing compensation control on a drive signal of the electronic horn according to the compensation control parameter; and using the drive signal after the compensation control to drive the electronic horn to sound. The operating air pressure, temperature and power supply voltage of an electronic horn are detected, calculations are performed on the basis of a pre-established mathematical model according to detected values, and compensation control is performed on the frequency and pulse width of a drive signal of the electronic horn.

Abstract: A battery-powered supplemental alert generator is disclosed that is adapted to be mounted in close proximity to, such as within 3 or 4 feet of, a conventional smoke, heat and/or fire detector/alert device. The supplemental alert generator operates in a relatively low power mode while listening for the nearby detector/alert device to generate a standard audible alert signal. Upon detecting that a monitored sound level has reached a particular threshold, the supplemental alert generator enters into a higher power analysis mode in which it analyzes the detected signal to assess whether it is an audible alert signal. If an audible alert signal is detected, the supplemental alert generator generates one or more supplemental alert signals, such as a 520 Hz audible square wave signal. The supplemental alert generator may be used to retrofit a house, hotel, or other building to comply with new standards or to otherwise increase the effectiveness of the existing detection/alert system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an improved-customizability digital sound relaxation system having a sound card receiving port and a collectable sound card are cooperative to play prerecorded natural or other sounds by depressing one of a plurality of sound selector switches and a sound card selector switch. The new sounds of each collectable sound card customize the library of available sounds to individual taste. In another embodiment, an improved-flexibility digital sound relaxation system having at least two (2) prerecorded sounds stored at first and second memory locations of internal or external/internal memory devices may be selected and combined for concurrent and/or individual replay by depressing one of a plurality of sound selector switches and a combine switch, or by depressing one of a plurality of sound selector switches, a sound card selector switch and a combine switch.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for alerting a person to check a medical device while conserving battery power. The medical device initiates a status alert if a readiness condition of the medical device is no longer being met. The status alert includes notification periods during which an audible sound is emitted alternating with off periods during which substantially no audible sound is emitted. The audible sounds may include certain tones or at least one spoken word. At least one of the duration of successive notification periods or the duration of successive off periods may be varied. In this manner, the medical device may provide audible sound at different times during the day in an attempt to get the attention of a person. In addition, the medical device may sense an activity to determine when to provide the audible sound.

Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention includes a method of wireless communication. The method comprises receiving a sonic signal and determining a sequence of sonic tones from a received sonic signal. The receiving includes receiving the sonic signal at an electronic device using a microphone. The sonic signal includes a sequence of sonic tones. The receiving results in the received sonic signal. The sequence of sonic tones contains predefined timing. The timing includes the duration of each sonic tone and a set of intervals between successive sonic tones.

Abstract: A transaction product includes an electrical circuit, a housing, and an account identifier. The electrical circuit includes a plurality of lights The housing substantially encloses the electrical circuit including the plurality of lights. The housing defines a plurality of light cavities separated from one another and substantially enclosed within the housing, and each of the plurality of lights is positioned in a different one of the plurality of light cavities. The account identifier is coupled to the housing and links the transaction product to a financial account having an associated monetary value available toward a price of a purchase, wherein the account identifier is machine readable. Other products, cards, assemblies and methods of using such cards, products and assemblies are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic disk-type horn having no contact point and a non-contact horn using a photointerrupter. The electronic disk-type horn generates a sound, and includes a switch circuit for selectively supplying current to the coil, a pulse generation timer circuit for periodically providing a pulse to the switch circuit, and a pulse ratio adjustment circuit for adjusting ON/OFF times of one period of the pulse. Further, the horn using a photointerrupter includes a light blocking panel for blocking a light emitting device and a light receiving device to prevent light emitted from the light emitting device from reaching the light receiving device, a switch circuit for selectively supplying current to the coil, and a photointerrupter including the light emitting device and the light receiving device, the photointerrupter controlling the switch circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for removing smudges (506, 706, 806, 906) including oils and dust from portable electronic displays. The apparatus comprises a display device (110, 150, 500, 700, 800, 900, 1000) positioned within a housing (102, 104, 808), comprising a transparent cover (302, 502, 702, 802, 902, 1002) having a surface (508, 908) viewable through an opening in the housing (102, 104, 808) and a susceptibility to receiving contaminants (506, 706, 806, 906). A vibration device (504, 704, 804, 904, 1004) is positioned against the transparent cover (302, 502, 702, 802, 902, 1002) to provide motion (510) in a direction parallel to the surface, thereby causing the contaminants to move (708) across the surface (508, 908). The contaminants (506, 706, 806, 906) may then be hidden by the housing (102, 104, 808) or ejected by a motion (912) perpendicular to the surface by another vibrating device (911).

Abstract: A novel programmable timer includes a sensor for sensing opening of a refrigerator or cabinet door and an alarm outputting a visible and/or audible alarm when a timer has expired if and only if the sensor indicates that the door is open, thereby preventing expenditure of the alarm at times when the alarming function is likely to be ineffective. The timer is also attachable to an article of food within the refrigerator or to a wall or other portion of the refrigerator via a spring clip, magnet, and/or releasable adhesive.

Abstract: A plurality of directional sounders located in a region being monitored can be synchronously and sequentially activated in various patterns to establish an audibly defined exit route from the region. Emitted audio, from a respective sounder, can be different than the audio emitted by other activated sounders to provide a path and direction for evacuation to individuals in the vicinity of the exit route.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for controlling an alarm using motion recognition in a portable terminal. In the method, motion input of the portable terminal is sensed in an alarm mode. It is checked whether the motion is a predetermined motion in a motion database. If the motion is the predetermined motion, a re-alarm time corresponding to the motion is set.

Abstract: Due to the presence of various environmental condition detectors in the home and businesses such as smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, natural gas detectors, etc., each having individual but similar sounding alarm patterns, it can be difficult for occupants of such dwellings to immediately determine the specific type of environmental condition that exists during an alarm condition. The present invention comprises an environmental condition detector using both tonal pattern alarms and pre-recorded voice messages to indicate information about the environmental condition being sensed. Single-station battery-powered and 120VAC detectors are described as are multiple-station interconnected 120 VAC powered detectors. The pre-recorded voice messages describe the type of environmental condition detected or the location of the environmental condition detector sensing the condition, or both, in addition to the tonal pattern alarm. Provisions are made for multi-lingual pre-recorded voice messages.

Abstract: A discreet bed-wetting alarm comprising a controller, earpiece with earphone, and interconnecting cable. The controller comprises a clock/processor with timer, a display, a sound signal/tone generator, an amplifier programmed to provide an increase in sound volume level, a battery, and various input devices. A plurality of alarm time selections corresponding to known bed-wetting event times is subsequently made and a suitable alarm tone or tones is selected to awaken or alert the user. The discreet bed-wetting alarm controller and earphone may be incorporated into the earpiece for further discretion. Alternate embodiments include a vibrating alarm and/or a flashing light alarm.

Abstract: Protection against abusive ringing of doorbells is provided by a ring limiting circuit including ring counter and ring timer circuits. Protection can also be implemented in software executed by a digital processor such as a smart home central controller in a wireless doorbell installation.

Abstract: This invention relates to systems to regulate pace. More particularly, this invention relates to providing a user with a regulated pace through the use of an electronic pace regulating, timing, and coaching device. In accordance with the instant invention, a portable programmable electronic device is configured to provide an audible signal at a repeated frequency that is selectable by the user. The pace timer and coaching device provides the user with a set audible cue at a set frequency to be followed during an exercise session. The audible cues provide a single regulated pace to be followed by the user while performing repetitive actions, motions, or strokes such that a desired training or racing pace is adhered to. The device is configured to detachably couple to swim goggles, to a user, to sunglasses, to an arm band, to exercise equipment, or to other articles of clothing utilized while exercising.

Abstract: A system for the automated conversion of light signals to audio.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vibration apparatus for generating vibration in a mobile terminal. The apparatus includes a vibrator for generating vibration; a frequency generator for generating a driving signal having a frequency within a predetermined frequency range in a predetermined time period; a driver for driving the vibrator using the driving signal provided from the frequency generator; and a frequency controller for periodically varying a frequency of the driving signal within the frequency range. Further, the vibration apparatus includes a vibration measurer for measuring vibration generated by the vibrator and providing the measured vibration values to the frequency controller. The frequency controller updates a frequency of the driving signal for driving the vibrator at a frequency indicating a maximum vibration value according to the measured vibration values.

Abstract: A sound generator apparatus configured to improve sound quality for a sound generator that includes a processing device and a memory coupled to the processing device. The sound generator apparatus also includes a sound generator coupled to the processing device. Further, the sound generator apparatus includes a program residing in memory and configured to be run on the processing device that is configured to vary the output amplitude of the sound generator depending on the sound generator frequency. A method of improving sound quality for a sound generator that includes providing a signal indicative of a sound frequency to be generated. The method includes calculating volume adjustment information according to the sound frequency to be generated. Further, the method includes providing the current volume setting and adjusting the volume based on the volume adjustment information.

Abstract: Protection against abusive ringing of doorbells is provided by a ring limiting circuit including ring counter and ring timer circuits.

Abstract: A portable device includes a location detector, a time detector, and an alarm module to generate alarms based on both time-based and location-based criteria. A current time provided by the time detector is compared to a time-based criterion, and a current geographical location provided by the location detector (e.g., global positioning system or GPS receiver) is compared to a location-based criterion to determine whether or not to generate an alarm.

Abstract: A pulse signal, having a buzzer-driving frequency, for driving a buzzer (3) is generated by a free running timer of a timer management section of a microcomputer (1). The timer management section operates independently of software processing of the microcomputer (1). A transistor (2) is turned on and off by the pulse signal having the buzzer-driving frequency. Accordingly, electricity flows through the buzzer (3). The buzzer (3) in turn, generates a sound.

Abstract: A signaling cap device comprises an audible message reproducing unit, a switch, a power supply, and a former of an audible message number, whereas the audible message reproducing unit is operative upon removal of the cap to reproduce one of N audible messages recorded therein depending on the message number.

Abstract: A collar-mounted animal training device includes a piezoelectric transducer device (6) attached to a mylar cone acoustic element mounted in a transducer housing (5) configured as a resonant sound port. The piezoelectric transducer is driven by circuitry including a microcontroller (31), a voltage booster circuit (34), and driver circuitry coupled to the booster circuit and producing a boosted drive signal to the piezoelectric device (6). The microcontroller stores data representing a plurality of sequential segments each having a start and stop time and a start and stop frequency. The microcontroller sequentially produces a plurality of output signals having a start and stop times and frequencies.

Abstract: In a signal generation circuit for a compound acoustic actuator that generates a sound and a vibration in response to a frequency of a signal input to the compound acoustic actuator, the signal generation circuit comprising a plurality of signal data stored in a memory to generate a plurality of signals having mutually different frequencies, the plurality of signals at least including a signal, a frequency of which is equal to a resonant frequency causing the compound acoustic actuator to generate the vibration, a synthesizing means to synthesize a plurality of drive signals in accordance with the plurality of signal data so as to cause the compound acoustic actuator to generate the vibration, and a sweeping means to sweep the plurality of drive signals, repeatedly.

Abstract: A programmable electronic circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a CPU, signal-generating circuitry, and RC circuitry having at least two capacitors, such that when both of the capacitors are switched into the RC circuitry by the CPU, a signal is produced from an output of the signal-generating circuitry that is longer in duration than when one of the capacitors is switched into the RC circuitry.

Abstract: A sounder device includes a piezoelectric resonant transducer, an amplifier and a coupling transformer to drive the transducer, an electronic signal produced to provide an input signal to the amplifier, and in which the electronic signal producer includes at least two lower frequency oscillators, a logical “OR” circuit having inputs from each of the lower frequency pulse oscillators, a resonant frequency pulse oscillator having a higher frequency near the resonant frequency of the transducer, a logical “AND” circuit having a first input connected to the output of the logical “OR” circuit, a second input connected to the output of the resonant frequency oscillator, and having an output connected to the amplifier input.

Abstract: Upon receipt of a direction indication control signal s11, a sounding-body driving circuit 12 generates a driving signal s16 for generating a flashing operation sound which is an artificial striking sound similar to a striking sound of a mechanical relay and outputs the driving signal s16 to a speaker 16 via an amplifier 14, and the flashing operation sound is outputted from the speaker 16, thereby obtaining the flashing operation sound which does not sound unusual to the driver. The sounding-body driving circuit 12 has a construction such that a plurality of rectangular wave signals having the same amplitude and different frequencies are synthesized in sequence of time by first and second synthetic signal generating circuits 20A and 20B to thus generate first and second synthetic signals s14 and s15 as artificial striking sounds, and the signals s14 and s15 are alternately outputted as driving signals s16 from a synthetic signal output circuit 22 at intervals of a predetermined time.

Abstract: A pace setting device including a central unit having an internal processor capable of generating an adjustable pulsed signal. The central unit includes a power source. A speaker is provided that is in communication with the internal processor of the central unit to allow the user to hear the pulsed signal. The speaker is positionable with respect to an ear of a user.

Abstract: A sound generator includes a memory bank storing user-selectable recorded sounds, a microprocessor that can quasi-randomly time-delay at least one of the recorded sounds, and a mixer that can combine a user-selected recorded sound and the time-delayed sound for output by speakers or earphones. The microprocessor can also cause the output sound to include a microprocessor-selected one of the recorded sounds for inclusion during playback of a user-recorded sound.

Abstract: When a dividing ratio data is written in a counter/timer register 530, a counter/timer circuit 534 divides a frequency of an oscillation signal of the oscillator 532 as much as the dividing ratio data. When an output enabling data is written in the port B register 536, a variable gain control signal is output from an envelope producing circuit 538. A variable gain control circuit 540 changes amplitude of a dividing signal as much as the value responsive to a voltage of the variable gain control signal. When an output disabling data is written in the port B register 536, the variable gain control signal is not output from the envelope producing circuit 538. The variable gain control circuit 540 stops the amplitude control of the dividing signal.

Abstract: A driver circuit 1000 for driving functional devices, such as an LED 1020-1023, a buzzer 1060, a voltage converter or an EL-lamp, and a method of operating the driver circuit are provided. The circuit includes an inductor 1030, first and second connection points for connection of a voltage source 1050, switching means 1040 which when in a first state allows an electrical current to flow from the first connection point and through the inductor to thereby charge the inductor with energy and when in a second state substantially prevents an electrical current from flowing from the first connection point to the inductor and at least two functional devices, the function of which are activated when energy is discharged from the inductor to the at least two functional devices.

Abstract: A device and method, which progressively and sequentially increases the volume of the alarm signal upon the initiation of the alarm, is provided. The disclosed device includes a multiple voltage-controlled oscillator, at least two dual-input positive-NAND gates, a shift register and a plurality of transistors and resistors, which are configured to sequentially include the resistors into the alarm circuit. The method includes sequentially and progressively increasing the volume of an initiated audio alarm signal by sequentially including one of the plurality of resistors into the alarm circuit to vary the volume of the alarm signal emanating from an alarm speaker. The resistors are included into the alarm circuit by sequentially switching on the corresponding one of the plurality of transistors. The transistors are switched on in response to outputs received from a shift register, which is shifted in response to an output received from a first NAND gate.