Abstract: A dual backplate microphone is provided that utilizes either an electret condenser or a MEMS condenser configuration and in which an op-amp IC is electrically connected to both backplates and the conductive layer of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A downmixer provides a listener of an output signal with a substantially accurate rendition of the apparent direction and relative loudness of an input signal. Downmixing certain channels of the input signal independently may substantially preserve the energy and intended direction of the input signal. The downmixer may include a test downmixer that operates over a limited frequency range to more accurately reflect the loudness of the input signal at the output, as perceived by a listener. The downmixer may demand fewer resources, freeing up resources for use in other operations.

Abstract: An improved structure for the compositely formed sound box consists of a plastic-made box with one-way opening and intensified rib and inlet components provided inside the box. The main feature is the bubbled one-piece soundproof layer inside the sound box to expand the overall structure of the sound box, reduce the thickness of the sound box, minimize the thickness of the shell, and upgrade the soundproof performance at the same time.

Abstract: A system may be provided for synchronizing a first media stream with a second media stream. A first receiver in the system may receive the first media stream over a network. A second receiver in the system may receive the second media stream over the network. The second receiver may determine an identity of a content delay matching stream that indicates the amount of processing delay introduced in the first media stream by a processing component of the first receiver or transmitter. The second receiver may subscribe to the identified content delay matching stream. The second receiver may receive the content delay matching stream over the network and determine the processing delay from the content delay matching stream. The receiver may cause the second media stream to be delayed in accordance with the processing delay in the first media stream such that the first and second media streams are synchronized.

Abstract: A passive sound pressure level (SPL) limiter is provided that can be used with audio sources of varying drive levels and headsets, earbuds, etc. of varying sensitivity. The SPL limiter includes a control circuit that includes a rectifier and, in most configurations, a step-up transformer. The SPL limiter also includes a limiting circuit that utilizes a transistor to shunt current from the audio source in proportion to a control signal output by the control circuit. The control circuit may further include a low pass filter, for example an RC filter, and one or more fast limit diode paths. The limiting circuit may further include a feedback network to increase the linear behavior of the limiting circuit.

Abstract: A core cap or top plate for use with loudspeakers that includes offset adhesive control grooves on the opposite faces of the disk-like core cap is disclosed. The grooves are offset from one another by a distance that makes the smallest dimension between any feature of the grooves about the same as the nominal thickness of the core cap. The core cap increases the magnetic flux capacity over prior art core cap designs, while maintaining features advantageous to error-proof the orientation of the core cap in the loudspeaker.

Abstract: The system provides a technique for suppressing or eliminating tonal noise in and input signal. The system operates on the input signal at a plurality of frequency bins and uses information generated at a prior bin to assist in calculating values at subsequent bins. The system first identifies peaks in a signal and then determines if the peaks are from tonal effects. This can be done by comparing the estimated background noise of a current bin to the smoothed background noise of the same bin. The smoothed background noise can be calculated using an asymmetric IIR filter. When the ratio of the current background noise estimate to the currently calculated smoothed background noise is far greater than 1, tonal noise is assumed. When tonal noise is found, a number of suppression techniques can be applied to reduce the tonal noise, including gain suppression with fixed floor factor, an adaptive floor factor gain suppression technique, and a random phase technique.

Abstract: The present system proposes a technique called the spectro-temporal varying technique, to compute the suppression gain. This method is motivated by the perceptual properties of human auditory system; specifically, that the human ear has higher frequency resolution in the lower frequencies band and less frequency resolution in the higher frequencies, and also that the important speech information in the high frequencies are consonants which usually have random noise spectral shape. A second property of the human auditory system is that the human ear has lower temporal resolution in the lower frequencies and higher temporal resolution in the higher frequencies. Based on that, the system uses a spectro-temporal varying method which introduces the concept of frequency-smoothing by modifying the estimation of the a posteriori SNR. In addition, the system also makes the a priori SNR time-smoothing factor depend on frequency.

Abstract: The personalized content system of the system combines a summary music identification value creation and identification algorithm that represents a mathematical summary music identification of a song, an audio file, or other relational music criteria and data (e.g title, artist, genre, style, beats per minute, etc.) or any combination thereof. The derived value represents the musical taste or style attributes of a song or style. The user can control the system by issuing one of a plurality of commands comprising artist command, song/title command, genre command, and album/filtered list command. These commands then lead to command trees that may be used in a voice controlled system, for example.

Abstract: The personalized content system of the system combines a summary music identification value creation and identification algorithm that represents a mathematical summary music identification of a song, an audio file, or other relational music criteria and data (e.g. title, artist, genre, style, beats per minute, etc.) or any combination thereof. The derived value represents the musical taste or style attributes of a song or style. The analysis and generation of the summary music identification value is intended to take place while outside the vehicle where attention can be paid and vehicle distraction and safety is not an issue. A user can generate a single summary music identification value or can generate multiple summary music identification values for different criteria. In other cases, summary music identification values can be defined for genre, but with a much more personal touch possible than with fixed playlist radio stations.

Abstract: A speech recognition system processes speech outputs from a user to select a list element from a list of list elements. The user speaks the speech output as a whole word and an initial character sequence of the desired list element. The whole word and individual character sequence components are processed separately. A sublist is generated in response to the individual character sequence. A list element is selected in response to the whole word and sublist.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for changing a coverage angle of sound produced from a loudspeaker system. The loudspeaker system includes an enclosure that projects sound at a predetermined angle. A sound integrator includes an inner surface positioned adjacent to a mid-range frequency sound source. An outer surface of the sound integrator includes a planar and a curved surface. The surfaces control the angle which sound radiates from the loudspeaker.

Abstract: Methods and systems for display of information on an external display using a handheld computing device are provided. An expansion module is configured to attach to a handheld computing device such as a personal digital assistance (PDA). The expansion module includes a communication interface to operably connect the module to the computing device via a expansion slot. The module also includes a memory, and an external display controller. When the expansion module is connected to the computing device, the computing device detects the presence of the module. Control software is then executed by the computing system's microcontroller causing graphic control interfaces to be displayed on the computing system's display screen. A user using the control interfaces can operate the control software to cause the computing device display presentation data on the external display device.

Abstract: The invention provides a continuous layer of polymer that is shaped to act as the suspension, the former, and an attachment to the diaphragm. The coil may be located within the pocket providing insulation to the coil thus preventing electrical short circuiting of the voice coil as the voice coil expands or contracts based on its operating temperature. The invention also provides an inner flange area of a suspension that may act as a spring generating additional acoustic energy from the compression driver. The inner flange area may also be tuned to vibrate at a predetermined high frequency. Thus, in certain applications, where more acoustic energy is desired at high frequency, the inner flange area may be tuned to provide that extra acoustic energy. To further increase the high frequency energy generated by the compression driver, the diaphragm may be coupled to the bottom side of the inner flange area.

Abstract: A system is provided for setting various acoustic and visual parameters to improve the reproduction of audio signals and visual signals. The system incorporates a hand-held remote control device which operates the main surround sound unit (e.g., home theatre receiver and/or digital decoder) and the display device via electromagnetic link, for example. The remote control includes a sensor capable of detecting various types of signals emitted by a number of speakers, and a processor that makes adjustments to the signal provided to each of the speaker based on the signal received from that speaker.

Abstract: This invention provides a two-stage phasing plug located within a compression driver. The two-stage phasing plug housed within the compression driver may be coupled to a horn. The two-stage phasing plug includes first and second phasing plugs. The advantages of having a two-stage phasing plug is that the first and second phasing plugs may be simpler to manufacture, cost less and the overall dimensional tolerances may be tightly controlled. The higher dimensional tolerances may be obtained because the first phasing plug may be made from a unitary work-piece, and therefore, may be tooled and cut in the same machining set up. This allows the unitary work-piece to be machined and cut very accurately when compared to assembling separate components together during the manufacturing process. Since the most dimensionally critical area is the rear side of the first phasing plug, the tolerances of the second phasing plug may not be as critical.

Abstract: An electromagnetic drive motor assembly (EDMA) has at least one bridge that extends along a radial direction to conduct heat away from the magnetic gap and towards the outer surface of the EDMA. The EDMA includes a conductive ring between a first plate and a second plate. The conductive ring has an inner ring, an outer ring, and at least one bridge between the inner and outer rings. The inner ring is adapted to receive a voice coil such that the heat generated by the voice coil conducts through the inner ring, the bridge, and then to the outer ring. As such, a heat conducting path is provided within the EDMA to remove the heat away from the voice coil. This allows the EDMA to operate more efficiently. The EDMA may also include a flux return having a pole piece that protrudes from the first plate. The inner ring of the conducting ring may receive the pole piece to form an intermediate gap between the pole piece and the inner ring.

Abstract: A signal from a remote control is used to operate a device having a built-in communication port and a built-in microprocessor, even though the port does not normally recognize the signal. Specifically, even if the port flags an error during decoding of information from the remote control signal, the microprocessor ignores the error and uses the decoded information in the normal manner. Therefore, the microprocessor recognizes a pattern formed at the communication port by a signal emitted by the remote control, e.g. to identify a button on the remote control that has been pressed. During the recognition process, the port flags one or more errors (such as framing error, parity error), and such errors are ignored by the microprocessor. Programming the microprocessor to ignore errors from the port allows the device to operate with signals in a format different from the format normally recognized by the port.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a system and method for isolating a failure in a speaker system. This is accomplished by providing diagnostic processing circuitry, which directs specific test signal(s) to the speakers of a speaker system. The test signals may be designed to allow a user to directionally localize a sound source to determine if a particular speaker is functional. The test signals also may be designed so a user or listener may distinguish sound emanating from a low frequency driver such as a subwoofer versus other speakers. The diagnostic processing circuitry may be located in any of the individual speakers or other common components of a speaker system.

Abstract: The present invention synchronizes the clock of the power processing devices and digital signal processing devices in an audio system. The system may include a clock, a digital signal processor (DSP), and a pulse width modulated (PWM) power processing device wherein the digital signal processor and the power processing device would use the clock for their operation. The DSP and the PWM power processing device may use, for operation, the frequency of the clock, or a multiple, integer fraction thereof, such that all clocks are synchronized and all potential sum and/or difference frequencies are predetermined and fall outside the audible frequency range. The may also include a sensor capable of detecting and reporting the clock information either through a metal wire, fiber optic wire, infrared or radio frequency link, which can allow the power processing devices to use the same clock as the DSP.