Abstract: One embodiment provides a microphone device with advanced functionalities. The microphone device comprises one or more microphone units, one or more sensor units, and an automatic control system. The one or more sensor units are configured for capturing contextual information indicative of one or more real-time conditions of an environment of the microphone device. The automatic control system is configured for detecting one or more real-time changes to the environment of the microphone device based on the contextual information, invoking display of a graphical user interface (GUI) comprising information indicative of the one or more real-time changes, and adjusting one or more settings for the microphone device in response to the one or more real-time changes.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method providing a maximum diversity scheme for improving coverage area and diversity performance of a media system. The method comprises, at an antenna module of the media system, wirelessly receiving, via a receiver antenna of the antenna module, broadband radio frequency (RF) signals from a transmitter of the media system, instantaneously converting, via a converter circuitry of the antenna module, the broadband RF signals into one or more digital baseband components, generating, via a processor unit of the antenna module, a single digital data stream by applying diversity processing to the digital baseband components, and outputting the single digital data stream over a network cable to another device of the media system.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a wireless microphone comprising a microphone body a plurality of antennas positioned at different locations of the microphone body. Each of the plurality of antennas is configured to wirelessly transmit data. The wireless microphone further comprises a sensor configured to detect an object within proximity of an antenna of the plurality of antennas that obstructs the antenna, and a controller configured to switch antenna operation of the wireless microphone from the antenna to another antenna of the plurality of antennas in response to the object detected.

Abstract: One embodiment provides an apparatus comprising an input connector directly mateable with a media device to receive an analog signal. The apparatus further comprises an amplifier configured to amplify the analog signal, an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the analog signal to a digital signal, a network interface configured to convert the digital signal to a networked compliant digital signal compatible with at least one network protocol, and an output connector mateable with a standard network cable that transmits the networked compliant digital signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a mobile device comprising a slave clock, a receiver unit for receiving one or more frames from a remote device including a master system clock, a transmitter unit for transmitting one or more frames to the remote device, and a clock error correction unit. The clock error correction unit is configured to maintain clock synchronization between the slave clock and the master system clock, and maintain frame alignment for frames transmitted from the transmitter unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a mobile device comprising a slave clock, a receiver unit for receiving one or more frames from a remote device including a master system clock, a transmitter unit for transmitting one or more frames to the remote device, and a clock error correction unit. The clock error correction unit is configured to maintain clock synchronization between the slave clock and the master system clock, and maintain frame alignment for frames transmitted from the transmitter unit.

Abstract: One embodiment provides an apparatus comprising an input connector directly mateable with a media device to receive an analog signal. The apparatus further comprises an amplifier configured to amplify the analog signal, an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the analog signal to a digital signal, a network interface configured to convert the digital signal to a networked compliant digital signal compatible with at least one network protocol, and an output connector mateable with a standard network cable that transmits the networked compliant digital signal.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a plurality of portable wireless transmitter units, a plurality of digital receiver modules that alternate transmitting wireless synchronization pulses and that receive information from the plurality of transmitter units synchronized to the synchronization pulses, a receiver control unit in communication with each of the receiver modules that coordinates transmission of synchronization pulses among the plurality of digital receiver modules in accordance with a predetermined transmission sequence and a system that receives the information from at least some of the microphone transmitter units through the receiver modules and delivers the information exclusively to a geographic area proximate a source of the audio information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating within a wireless microphone system having a plurality of audio channels. The method includes the steps of dividing a small block of radio frequency spectrum associated with a single television broadcast channel into a plurality of at least 20 contiguous subchannels that are also contiguous with the boundaries of the television broadcast channel where each of the subchannels is less than 75 kHz and transmitting an audio signal from a microphone transmitter on one the plurality of subchannels through a transmitter with a radio frequency isolator or other means for suppressing intermodulation energy coupled to an antenna, the radio frequency isolator having a bandwidth no larger than any one of the plurality of divided subchannels; and receiving the audio signal through a microphone receiver.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating within a wireless microphone system having a plurality of audio channels. The method includes the steps of dividing a small block of radio frequency spectrum associated with a single television broadcast channel into a plurality of at least 20 contiguous subchannels that are also contiguous with the boundaries of the television broadcast channel where each of the subchannels is less than 75 kHz and transmitting an audio signal from a microphone transmitter on one the plurality of subchannels through a transmitter with a radio frequency isolator or other means for suppressing intermodulation energy coupled to an antenna, the radio frequency isolator having a bandwidth no larger than any one of the plurality of divided subchannels; and receiving the audio signal through a microphone receiver.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a plurality of portable wireless transmitter units, a plurality of digital receiver modules that alternate transmitting wireless synchronization pulses and that receive information from the plurality of transmitter units synchronized to the synchronization pulses, a receiver control unit in communication with each of the receiver modules that coordinates transmission of synchronization pulses among the plurality of digital receiver modules in accordance with a predetermined transmission sequence and a system that receives the information from at least some of the microphone transmitter units through the receiver modules and delivers the information exclusively to a geographic area proximate a source of the audio information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for remotely controlling a set of functions for a wireless audio system from a remote control. The method includes the steps of generating a digitally modulated pilot tone, and transmitting this pilot tone within a radio communication to a wireless receiver. The digitally modulated pilot tone carries data about a plurality of functions related to an audio source and its associated transmitter. The method further includes a step of receiving the data at a wireless receiver, augmenting it by information related to the wireless receiver, and communicating the resulting data via a communication network to a remote central control. The method further includes monitoring the resulting data at the remote central control, diagnosing detected problems associated with the wireless audio system, and communicating to the wireless audio system appropriate remedial action to alleviate the detected problems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for remotely controlling a set of functions for a wireless audio system from a remote control. The method includes the steps of generating a digitally modulated pilot tone, and transmitting this pilot tone within a radio communication to a wireless receiver. The digitally modulated pilot tone carries data about a plurality of functions related to an audio source and its associated transmitter. The method further includes a step of receiving the data at a wireless receiver, augmenting it by information related to the wireless receiver, and communicating the resulting data via a communication network to a remote central control. The method further includes monitoring the resulting data at the remote central control, diagnosing detected problems associated with the wireless audio system, and communicating to the wireless audio system appropriate remedial action to alleviate the detected problems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for matching an output of an auxiliary signal transducer with a reference signal transducer where the auxiliary signal transducer and reference signal transducer receive audio signals from a common signal source along different respective signal paths. The method includes the steps of determining a signal amplitude output value provided by the auxiliary and by the reference transducers within each of a plurality of different frequency ranges in response to the audio signal received along the respective signal paths and adjusting the signal amplitude output value of the auxiliary transducer within at least some of the plurality of different frequency ranges based upon the respective signal amplitude output value of the reference transducer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for remotely controlling a set of functions for a wireless audio system from a remote control. The method includes the steps of generating a digitally modulated pilot tone, and transmitting this pilot tone within a radio communication to a wireless receiver. The digitally modulated pilot tone carries data about a plurality of functions related to an audio source and its associated transmitter. The method further includes a step of receiving the data at a wireless receiver, augmenting it by information related to the wireless receiver, and communicating the resulting data via a communication network to a remote central control. The method further includes monitoring the resulting data at the remote central control, diagnosing detected problems associated with the wireless audio system, and communicating to the wireless audio system appropriate remedial action to alleviate the detected problems.

Abstract: A directional microphone is disclosed. The shotgun microphone has an elongated tube which is designed to control directivity at frequencies above a predetermined frequency and at least four reference microphones spatially arranged about said shotgun microphone. A signal processor, which is electrically connected to said shotgun and reference microphones, generates interference cancelling signals from the portions of the signals from the reference microphones which have frequencies generally below the predetermined frequency. The signal processor combines the cancelling signals with the signal from the shotgun microphone to generate an output signal in which signals originating from in front of the directional microphone in a direction along the longitudinal axis of said tube are enhanced and signals originating from locations other than in front of the directional microphone in a direction along the longitudinal axis of said tube are suppressed.

Abstract: An audio surround-sound system includes a main enclosure, an audio decoder device to decode audio source signals supplied by an audio source device to provide decoded audio signals, and at least a first and second low distortion amplifier housed within the main enclosure to receive and amplify the decoded audio signals. Also included is at least a first and a second speaker element operatively coupled to the at least first and second amplifiers, respectively, to produce the audible signals, where the audible signals are received by the listener from a first and second direction. A local radio transmitter converts a portion of the decoded audio signals into radio modulated signals and transmits the radio modulated signals where a wireless receiver receives and converts the radio modulated signals into remote audio source signals.

Abstract: An audio input circuit for providing a transducer output signal from a sound transducer to the input of a host device including a universal interface for coupling the transducer output signal to the host device. The universal interface includes a first signal input, a second signal input, a first output conductor, and a second output conductor. Additionally, the audio input circuit includes a switch mechanism coupled between the first and second signal input and between the first and second output conductors for selectively isolating the first output conductor from the second output conductor and for selectively coupling the first output conductor to the second output conductor. The audio input circuit conditions the output of an inexpensive microphone such that the output response of the microphone is ideally suited to the input requirements of the voice recognition host device.

Abstract: A microphone system including a plurality of sound transducers integrally contained in a single microphone housing, wherein each transducer has a different polar pick-up pattern. The system includes a remote combiner for the symmetrical addition of the output of each transducer into a composite signal of variable pattern. In the illustrated implementation, the system includes an electret microphone capsule having an omnidirectional pick-up pattern, an electret microphone capsule having a cardioid pick-up pattern, and an electret microphone capsule having a hypercardioid pick-up pattern. The capsules each have a mechanical acoustic phase shifting element to produce the desired pick-up patterns and are time aligned in the housing by placing the capsules together at the same location while pointing in the same direction. Each capsule has an independent power supply module and adjustable gain amplifier for the acoustical balancing of the system which is also integrally contained in the microphone housing.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the level of an intelligence-containing audio frequency signal wherein an operator audibly monitors the signal but cannot adequately monitor a visual level indicator. The system utilizes a threshold detector which compares the level of an audio frequency signal to a preselected level and generates a control signal if the audio frequency signal exceeds the threshold. The system further includes a gate which couples a tone to the headphones of the operator in response to generation of the control signal. In an alternative embodiment, if a second threshold is exceeded, the threshold detector generates a second control signal which changes the tone signal frequency.