Abstract: In this invention noise in a binaural hearing aid is reduced by analyzing the left and right digital audio signals to produce left and right signal frequency domain vectors and thereafter using digital signal encoding techniques to produce a noise reduction gain vector. The gain vector can then be multiplied against the left and right signal vectors to produce a noise reduced left and right signal vector. The cues used in the digital encoding techniques include directionality, short term amplitude deviation from long term average, and pitch. In addition, a multidimensional gain function based on directionality estimate and amplitude deviation estimate is used that is more effective in noise reduction than simply summing the noise reduction results of directionality alone and amplitude deviations alone. As further features of the invention, the noise reduction is scaled based on pitch-estimates and based on voice detection.

Abstract: The sky is scanned with transmitted radar pulse beam of electromagnetic radiation from a high gain antenna with a narrow viewing angle. Weather echos from the radar pulse are monitored with a low gain receiving antenna that has a wide, or moderate, viewing angle of the sky. The source location of echo signals along the direction of the radar pulse beam path are defined by synchronizing the sampling of the echo signal at the receiving station with the transmission of radar pulses at the transmitting station. The receiving station defines the location of an echo signal source by knowing the locations of the transmitting and receiving antennas, the pointing angle of the transmitted beam and the relative time between transmission of the radar pulse and receipt of each echo signal sample along the transmitted beam path. The relative time can be defined by synchronizing the sampling of the echo signal with each transmitted pulse.

Abstract: A trailer hitch cover assembly covers the entire V- shaped trailer hitch assembly to protect the trailer hitch from the elements and prevent injury to horses and children. A cap snaps or locks onto the hinged sides of the cover, and the sides snap or lock onto a base. A top rear panel folds down from the cap to just above the top of the trailer hitch, and a bottom rear panel folds up from the base. A wheel block in the base supports the wheel of the trailer hitch, and holds the cover assembly firmly over the hitch assembly. The cap, base and sides of the cover are preferably formed of a light-weight plastic, such as low density polyethylene. Locking connectors may be used to connect the cap and base to the sides.

Abstract: An audio signal in a hearing aid is enhanced by detecting the power of the desired audio signal and the power of the total audio signal, generating a power value and making a noise-reduction adjustment or no noise-reduction adjustment based on the power value. In one embodiment, the power value is a function of the total power of the audio signal. In a second embodiment the power value is a function of the ratio of:the power of the desired audio signal to the power of the total audio signal.When the noise reduction is accomplished with beamforming, the invention uses a direction estimate vector in combination with a beam intensity vector, which is based on the power value, to generate a beamforming gain vector. The direction estimate vector is scaled by the beam intensity vector; the product of the vectors is the beamforming gain vector. The beamforming gain vector is multiplied with the left and right signal frequency domain vectors to produce noise reduced left and right signal frequency domain vectors.

Abstract: A wide variety of cushion support arrangements for the body of a human user, for example, adults and children who have experienced neuro-muscular damage, are provided by the selective use and positioning of individual body support cushions comprising an inclined wedge cushion, an alternate form of an inclined wedge cushion, a relatively thick multi- purpose block cushion, a double inclined cushion, a relatively thin block cushion, an abductor block cushion, and half cylinder rolls or rail cushions of various axial lengths.

Abstract: In computing system where two entities of the system are transferring data, each entity enqueues and dequeues control elements for the data transfer on an outbound pipe and an inbound pipe, respectively. The enqueue and dequeue operations are based on local control information at the entity. This local control information is in part control information generated at the entity and in part surrogate control information generated at the other entity participating in the data transfer. This surrogate control information is stored at the other entity as well as a surrogate copy being stored in memory shared by both entities. Before an entity begins an enqueue or dequeue operation, it pulls the other entity's surrogate information as a single addressable block from shared memory and distributes it to its own local storage. This local storage is divided into outbound pipe control information and inbound pipe control information.

Abstract: An intelligent speaker unit is controlled by control data transmitted with the digital audio data. The intelligent speaker has a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) for processing the audio data in accordance with the control data. The control data contains an address to select the speaker unit. The DSP for the speaker unit processes audio data digitally based on parameters in the control data. The processed digital audio data is then converted to an analog signal which is amplified and applied to the speaker. The digital audio data is time division multiplexed on a TDM bus. Each time slot on the TDM bus contains audio data for one digital audio channel. The control data is placed on the TDM bus as one channel (time slot) or is distributed as control bits through all the other channels. The control data also contains channel select data. Accordingly the DSP in a selected speaker unit may in turn select its audio data from a plurality of audio channels based on the control data the DSP receives.