Abstract: Techniques for benchmarking performance in a contact center system are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for benchmarking contact center system performance comprising cycling, by at least one computer processor configured to perform contact center operations, between a first contact-agent pairing strategy and a second contact-agent pairing strategy for pairing contacts with agents in the contact center system; determining an agent-utilization bias in the first contact-agent pairing strategy comprising a difference between a first agent utilization of the first contact-agent pairing strategy and a balanced agent utilization; and determining a relative performance of the second contact-agent pairing strategy compared to the first contact-agent pairing strategy based on the agent-utilization bias in the first contact-agent pairing strategy.

Abstract: A microphone circuit includes a condenser microphone and a charge pump. The condenser microphone is configured to receive sound energy and responsively convert the sound energy into a microphone output voltage. The charge pump is implemented in a low voltage CMOS process. It is coupled to the microphone and is configured to supply a bias voltage to the microphone allowing the microphone to operate. By using a proper circuit topology, whose maximum output voltage is limited by the breakdown voltage between the NWELL and the substrate, and by blocking the formation of the PWELL around the NWELL at a predetermined distance so that the NWELL is surrounded by a very lightly doped substrate from all sides, the maximum output voltage of the charge pump is increased significantly.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for allocating feedback cancellation resources for improved acoustic feedback cancellation for hearing assistance devices. In various embodiments, a hearing assistance device includes a microphone and a processor configured to receive signals from the microphone and process them according to a plurality of processing blocks. The processor is adapted to include an event detector that can provide detection of an event and an output to adjust one or more processing blocks of the overall process to more efficiently use resources of the processor for the event detected, in various embodiments.

Abstract: Provided is a speaker fall prevention structure, which includes a speaker device formed by housing a speaker unit in a housing independent of a main appliance, a speaker attaching part provided to the main appliance to allow the speaker device to be attached, an attached part facing the speaker attaching part in the speaker device, a fall prevention wire set between the speaker device and the main appliance, and a fastening member for attaching the attached part to the speaker attaching part. Using the fastening member, a first end of the fall prevention wire is fastened and fixed to the main appliance along with the attached part.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated semiconductor device, comprising: providing a substrate having a first region and a second region; and forming a semiconductor unit on the first region and forming a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) unit on the second region in one process.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a proactive scheduler having a controller element to determine a scheduling conflict between a called party and a calling party according to calendar information of the called party and presence information of the called party. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A compact portable stereo microphone apparatus can acquire three dimensional immersive sounds which can then be recorded and played back in a standard audio recording device. The apparatus includes two elastomer fabricated simplified human ear elements (ear models) fitted at the ends of a cylindrical cavity of a microphone enclosure. The ear models may be protected against physical damage by end grills. A circuit board, microphone cable interface, power indicator, power switch and batteries may be located in the lower shell of the enclosure. A handle may serve as the hand grip for the microphone as well as a battery cover.

Abstract: A retaining module (5) for retaining an earpiece in an ear comprises an annular sleeve (6) having a central aperture (7) adapted for receiving and holding at least a part of the earpiece. The retaining module (5) further comprises a first retaining member (8) adapted for engaging at least a part of the concha of the ear and having a proximal end (9) connected to said annular member (6) at a first location, and a strut member (10) having a proximal end (11) connected to said annular member (6) at a second location, and a distal end connected (13) to the distal end (12) of said first retaining member (8). The invention further provides a hearing aid comprising a retaining module, and a method of manufacturing a combination of a retaining module and an earpiece.

Abstract: A method and device for reliably detecting one's own voice being the wearer of a hearing apparatus. A hearing apparatus includes at least two independent analysis facilities, of which each is configured to obtain speech activity data on the basis of an audio signal received by the hearing apparatus, which is dependent on the speaker activity of a wearer of the hearing apparatus. A fusion facility is configured to receive the speech activity data from the analysis facilities and on the basis of the speech activity data then to recognize whether or not the wearer is currently speaking.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP)-enabled device having a unique identifier and including a receiver. The receiver is configured to receive data associated with a current geographic position of the VOIP-enabled device. The VOIP-enabled device is configured to transmit a signal including the unique identifier and the data associated with the position to a network each time a call is initiated. In other embodiments, a method includes determining a current position of a VOIP-enabled device associated with a unique identifier, and transmitting a signal including data associated with the current position to an IP gateway either before or after a call is initiated from the VOIP-enabled device.

Abstract: A speaker includes a base defining a pair of receiving cavities separated from each other in a longitudinal direction and an engaging portion disposed between the pair of receiving cavities, a pair of magnetic circuit systems received into the pair of the receiving cavities, a diaphragm attached on the base, a pair of voice coil members connecting with the diaphragm, and a suspension mounted on the base. The suspension defines a pair of separating portions separated from each other in a lateral direction. Each separating portion defines a fixing portion engaging with the engaging portion of the base, a pair of connecting portions extending from two ends of the fixing portion and towards the diaphragm, and a pair of supporting portions connecting with the connecting portion for engaging with the pair of voice coil members, respectively.

Abstract: An auscultation apparatus including an optical microphone is proposed. Optical microphones can reliably acquire sounds of the most disparate frequencies even in an environment permeated by electromagnetic fields, without influencing said fields. Such an optical microphone of an auscultation apparatus can be disposed inside a medical examination and diagnostic device during operation. Given a suitable arrangement, both the heart sounds and the respiratory sounds of a patient can be recorded and monitored already with just one optical microphone.

Abstract: A speaker retaining mechanism for retaining a speaker at a predetermined position of a cabinet is disclosed. This speaker retaining mechanism includes: a retaining member that is fixed to the cabinet and that has a hollow space surrounded by an inner wall; and a vibration damping member attached to both ends of the speaker. The vibration damping member is disposed in the hollow space of the retaining member so that the vibration damping member contacts elastically with the inner wall of the retaining member.

Abstract: An electret loudspeaker device including a diaphragm, a first perforated electrode and a first spacer is provided. The diaphragm includes a first electret, a second electret, a polymer layer and an electrode layer. At least one layer of the first electret or the second electret is formed by expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. The second electret is stacked on one side of the first electret, while the electrode layer is stacked on the opposite side of the first electret. The polymer layer is made of a hydrophobic material and is disposed on the second electret. The first perforated electrode is stacked on a first spacer and close to the polymer layer. The first spacer disposed between the diaphragm and the first perforated electrode supports the first perforated electrode over the diaphragm and defines a first chamber. A fabrication method of the electret loudspeaker device is also provided.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention discloses a speaker box having a housing and a speaker accommodated in the housing. The speaker includes a sound radiation surface for generating sound. The housing includes a first and second output ports disposed at one side of the housing for transmitting the sound to outside of the speaker box. The housing includes a plurality of ribs disposed therein and forming a bending channel. The first and second output ports are disposed at two ends of the bending channel. The bending channel is divided into a front channel and a back channel by the speaker. The speaker box is capable of obtaining a better low frequency sound reproduction quality.

Abstract: The invention concerns a loudspeaker system having a plurality of segmented line array speakers and a plurality of acoustic waveshapers. In addition there is provided an overlap region between two adjacent waveshapers.

Abstract: In a hearing aid (40), a direct-digital H-bridge output driver stage (1) driven by a sigma-delta modulator (2) is configured to operate in a power-saving three-level output mode or a power-consuming two-level output mode. The three-level output mode of the H-bridge output driver stage (1) has low power consumption but suffers the disadvantage of emitting capacitive noise potentially interfering with the reception of radio signals in a radio receiver (17) in the hearing aid (40). By providing a novel method of selecting the two-level output mode whenever the radio receiver (17) is receiving signals, and selecting the three-level output mode whenever the radio receiver (17) is idle, this capacitive interference does not disturb the radio receiver (17) in the hearing aid (40). The invention provides a method and a hearing aid.

Abstract: A directional waveguide array apparatus can transmit and/or receive airborne or fluid-borne audio with the appropriate selection of transducers. The present invention advances directional waveguide arrays by allowing construction of a directional audio device with desired frequency bandwidths, array patterns, and gain by appropriate geometric configurations of the array of waveguide channel ports, as well as dimensioning and configuration of waveguide channel and chamber parameters. Embodiments of the present invention enable increased immunity to environmental noises, temperature, and humidity; low cost of construction; high reliability; simplicity of operation; very low power consumption; real-time steering of directivity (interference) pattern; wide range of audio powers that can be transmitted or received; and interchangeable transducer types.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method to provide an operator selection service for subscribers of a communications network (CN?), wherein the subscribers terminals (T1, T2, . . . , Tn) are connected to one local exchange (ILEX) of a first operator, wherein said local exchange (ILEX) detects, whether call handling of an incoming call request is to be performed within network devices of said first operator or to be passed to a second operator, wherein, if a call is to be passed to the second operator, the local exchange (ILEX) identifies the calling address and the called address and sends a call information (M1) comprising said addresses to a call server (LS1, LS2) of the second operator, the call server (LS1, LS2) sends back a connection request (M2) to establish a call connection between selected terminals (T1, T2, . . .

Abstract: An electronic device includes a jack, a voltage processing unit, a measuring unit, a data transmission unit, and a switching unit. The jack receives a plug of an electronic accessory and has first and second contact terminals. The voltage processing unit detects whether a voltage is present at the second contact terminal when a second contact of the plug is in contact with the second contact terminal. The measuring unit measures a parameter resulted from the contact of the first contact terminal with a first contact of the plug. The data transmission unit transmits to or receives from the electronic accessory a data signal through the first contact terminal. The switching unit selectively connects the first contact terminal electrically to the data transmission unit or measuring unit according to whether the voltage is present or not.