Abstract: A method for operating a beamforming microphone array for use in a predetermined area is provided herein, the method comprising: receiving acoustic audio signals at each of a plurality of microphones, converting the same to an electrical mic audio signal, and outputting each of the plurality of electrical mic audio signals; generating a user location data signal by a wave sensor system, and outputting the user location data signal, wherein the user location data signal includes location information of one or more people within the predetermined area; receiving both the user location data signal and plurality of echo-corrected mic audio signals at an adaptive beamforming device; and adapting one or more beams by the adaptive beamforming device based on the user location data signal and plurality of mic audio signals wherein each of the one or more beams acquires sound from one or more specific locations in the predetermined area.

Abstract: Described herein is a data communication system using power over Ethernet (PoE) for power distribution, comprising a first and second powered device (PD), each of which is adapted to communicate with each other through an Ethernet data path (EDP) and is further adapted to receive direct current (DC) power using a PoE protocol, and a mid-span power injection device (MSPID) adapted to provide a communications interface such that data communications passes through the MSPID to and from each of the PDs, and wherein the MSPID is further adapted to provide a first DC power to only the first PD using the EDP, and to provide a second DC power to only the second PD using the EDP.

Abstract: An innovative system for transmitting encrypted 1-bit audio over an Ethernet network comprises using an omni-directional micro-electrical-mechanical system acoustic sensor element (11) to provide an analog input signal (33) to a sigma-delta modulator (12) which then creates a pulse density modulated 1-bit data stream (32), at an audio oversampling rate, to a first input of a first exclusive-or (XOR) logic gate (58). The second input of the XOR logic gate is simultaneously presented with a first pseudo-random 1-bit data stream (78), at the same audio oversampling rate, thereby resulting in an encrypted pulse density modulated (PDM) 1-bit data stream (73) at the output of the XOR logic gate. The encrypted PDM 1-bit data stream is clocked into a first-in first-out (FIFO) memory at the audio oversampling rate and is clocked out of the first FIFO memory as Ethernet PDM frame data packages (74) at a predetermined Ethernet PHY transfer rate.

Abstract: An integrated latching mechanism includes a slider button. At least one curved elastic arm extends from the slider button and is configured such that in response to an external force urging the slider button in a first direction, the curved elastic arm is distorted such that upon removal of the external force, the curved elastic arm moves the slider button in a direction opposite to the first direction. A locking part is contiguous with the slider button and extends away from the slider button. In response to the external force urging the slider button in the first direction, the locking part moves in the first direction, and upon removal of the external force, the curved elastic arm moves the locking part in the direction opposite to the first direction. The at least one curved elastic arm, the slider button, and the locking part form a single piece of elastic material.

Abstract: A system and method are provided herein for dynamically adjusting delay in an audio distribution system, the method comprising: determining what audio processing devices comprise each of a plurality of audio data channels, wherein each of the plurality of audio data channels comprises a path from a digital audio receiving device to a back end audio playing device; obtaining digital audio processing delays for each of the audio processing devices for each of the audio data channels; determining which of the audio data channels has the greatest delay in processing and transmitting digital audio data signals (digital audio data processing delay) prior to broadcasting the digital audio data signals as acoustic audio signals; determining a difference between the audio data channel with the greatest digital audio data processing delay and each of the remaining audio data channels (delay difference per channel); and adding a delay to each digital audio word in each different audio channel that substantially equalize

Abstract: Battery operated shade comprising a shade material operably connected at its top end to a motor drive unit that raises and lowers the shade material between an upper limit and a lower limit to adjustably cover a structural opening. The shade comprises a housing that at least partially conceals the motor drive unit. The shade further comprises a battery compartment for providing power to the motor drive unit and a pair of swing arms each pivotally connected at their proximal end to the shade housing and at their distal end to the battery compartment. The pair of swing arm are adapted to pivot with respect to the shade housing to swivel the battery compartment from a first position, where the battery compartment is at least partially concealed by the shade housing and the pair of swing arms are retained by a pair of retaining clips, to a second position where the battery compartment extends out of the shade housing.

Abstract: A motorized shade comprising a roller tube, a shade material connected to the roller tube, and a motor drive unit operably connected to the roller tube. The motor drive unit comprises a motor adapted to create torque to rotate the roller tube to lower or raise the shade material and a force sensor positioned at a point along the motor drive unit that resists the torque created by the motor resulting in a reaction force that is detected by the force sensor. The motor drive unit further comprises a motor control module adapted to receive sensor readings from the force sensor and control the motor in response to detecting an abrupt change in the reaction force using the received sensor readings to enable shade control via pulling of the shade material as well as or alternatively obstacle detection to minimize damage to the roller shade and users.

Abstract: A system and method are provided herein for adjusting a set of roller shade motor motion parameters of a shade motor for use in a roller shade, the systems and method comprising: engaging the shade motor to move the roller shade a first distance; measuring a first torque level indicator in regard to a power supply voltage being supplied to the shade motor; determining a first torque level based on the measured first torque lever indicator; obtaining a first set of roller shade motor motion parameters from a table based on the first torque level; and applying the first set of roller shade motor motion parameters to the shade motor whenever the roller shade is directed to lift or lower the roller shade.

Abstract: A method and an ambient light color sensor adapted to determine color of ambient light comprising a memory, a processor, and a light color sensor with a plurality of channels that detect light at different wavelengths. Wherein the memory comprises a calibration matrix determined by calibrating a test light color sensing device under at least one ambient lighting condition, and a normalized gain value for each channel determined by calibrating the ambient light color sensing device to an artificial light source. Wherein the processor receives the sensor readings from the light color sensor, normalizes each received sensor reading using the normalized gain value of a respective channel, determines at least one measured light color value that quantifies color of light from the normalized sensor readings, and determines at least one calibrated light color value by correlating the at least one measured light color value through the calibration matrix.

Abstract: A roller shade adapted to be installed in a non-rectangular structural opening comprising a roller tube, a shade material, a hem bar, and a pair of longitudinal side channels. The hem bar may be extendable and may comprise a pair of wheels at its opposite terminal ends. Each wheel is adapted to be retained by and travel within one of the longitudinal channels which are adapted to guide the hem bar assembly along the side jambs and control an extension of the extendable hem bar as the shade material is rolled on or unrolled from the roller tube and the distance between the side jambs changes. The roller shade may further comprise a pair of tension modules adapted to be attached to the hem bar proximate to one of the wheels to provide tension on the hem bar assembly.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and modes for commissioning of a building control system comprising a plurality of electronic devices installed in a building each adapted to communicate over a communication network and comprising at least one light source adapted to emit light of a plurality of colors. The system comprises at least one controller in communication with the plurality of electronic devices over the communication network, wherein the at least one controller is adapted to iteratively select one or more of the plurality of electronic devices to commission, command the selected electronic devices to emit a plurality of different assigned colors, and receive an identification of at least one illuminated color of an electronic device to be commissioned until the electronic device to be commissioned is identified.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for an automatic dimming and color adjusting backlight LEDs of wall mounted control device buttons. The control device comprises a light sensor that detects light levels in a room where the control device is installed. The control device comprises a controller that operates the backlight LEDs according to day color setting when it receive a light level reading from the light sensor that is above a day/night threshold and according to a night color setting when it receives a light level reading from the light sensor that is below the day/night threshold. In addition, the controller dims the backlight LEDs based on the detected light level readings according an indication mode dimming curve when the backlight LEDs are in an indication mode and according to a backlight mode dimming curve when the backlight LEDs are in a backlight mode.

Abstract: A control device comprising a housing assembly, at least one button, and a controller. The housing assembly comprises a front surface including plurality of button zones each comprising a tactile switch and a plurality of touch sensors. The at least one button is adapted to attach to the housing assembly over at least one of the button zones such that a projection extending from a rear surface of the button is aligned with the tactile switch in the at least one of the button zones. The controller determines which button zone and which location of the button zone is actuated in response to receiving signals from at least one of the tactile switches and at least one of the touch sensors.

Abstract: An integrated latching mechanism includes a slider button extending along a first direction, curved elastic arms that extend from the slider button in a second direction and then curve back in an direction opposite thereto, a locking part contiguous with the slider button and extending away from the slider button and the elastic arms in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction. In response to ends of the elastic arms being held at fixed positions and an external force urging the slider button in a direction opposite to the third direction, the locking part moves in the same direction, and the urging of the slider button distorts the elastic arms such that upon removal of the external force, the elastic arms move the slider button and the locking part in the third direction. The elastic arms, slider button, and locking part form a single piece of elastic material.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for the calibration of LED light sources and more specifically backlight LEDs of control device buttons to achieve color uniformity and to accurately create colors that are consistent from button to button and device to device.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for the calibration of LED light sources and more specifically backlight LEDs of control device buttons to achieve color and brightness uniformity and to accurately create colors and brightness that are consistent from button to button and device to device.