Abstract: A television telephone including a movable head section, a support section and a bottom section. The movable head section includes an imaging device for inputting images and a display for displaying images. The bottom section includes a communication controller for transmission and reception of encoded information of at least one of audio and visual signals to and from a communication network, and a telephone controller for controlling transmission and reception functions and including a key console unit. The support section serves for connecting the bottom section and the movable head section and for supporting the movable head section and includes an image encoder/decoder for encoding image input signals and for decoding received image signals.

Abstract: An in-the-ear canal hearing aid comprises a housing which accommodates a microphone, an amplifier and an electromechanical transducer (for example, of a telephone) which are electrically coupled together in cascade. The hearing aid further includes an extraction element for extracting the hearing aid from the ear canal. The extraction element is in the form of a hollow tube having one end mechanically attached to the housing of the hearing aid at such a position that the channel in the tube is acoustically coupled to the sound entrance of the hearing aid. As a result, a second function of the extraction element is the suppression of acoustic feedback.

Abstract: Signaling a mobile unit to transmit a synchronization pattern with voice information upon detecting from the signal strength of the wireless mobile unit by a base station that the mobile unit is approaching a minimum threshold. Where the voice information is initially being transmitted in a set of frequency hopping channels using spread spectrum transmission, the synchronization pattern is transmitted in one or more of the set of frequency hopping channels. In addition, the base station alerts a system controller to this fact, and the system controller requests that neighboring base stations monitor the set of frequency hopping channels being transmitted by the mobile unit. In order to synchronize to the mobile unit, the base stations utilize the synchronization pattern to come into synchronization with the mobile unit. The system controller transfers the wireless mobile unit to the base station which is receiving the strongest signal strength.

Abstract: A system for marking a singing voice and displaying a marked result for a karaoke machine. The system comprises a data storage means, a comparison and marking means, a display means, a control mean. The data storage means stores a standard singing voice data on a basis of which a singing voice of a singer inputted from a microphone is marked. The comparison and marking means compares the singing voice with the standard singing voice data and marks the singing voice. The display means displays a result of a score of the singing voice marked by the comparison and marking means, and has a course which is composed of a series of display units and a goal display. The control means controls the display means.

Abstract: Apparatus operable with different cellular telephone systems and signalling protocols is described. Signalling messages, both data messages and supervisory related signals between a cellular telephone microcontroller (4) and a base station are transferred via a baseband signalling circuit (10). The baseband signalling circuit is operable to employ different signalling protocols, the protocol being selected by control bits provided from the microcontroller to the signalling circuit. In a preferred embodiment, the signalling protocol selection is made between an AMPS/TACS signalling protocol and a NAMPS/NTACS subaudible signalling protocol.

Abstract: A softkey directory for use in a telephone terminal is arranged such that a user of the terminal is prevented from entering the same name identifier at more than one softkey label. The directory is further arranged such that the user of the telephone terminal also is prevented from entering a telephone number without an associated name identifier and from entering a name identifier without an associated telephone number.

Abstract: This invention discloses a hearing aid including one or more amplification channels in which each amplification channel includes a bandpass filter establishing the frequency range of that particular channel. Each amplification channel further includes a variable gain amplifier, a short-term energy averaging circuit, a long-term energy averaging circuit and a difference amplifier. An acoustical signal sensed by a microphone associated with the hearing aid is applied to the bandpass filter which then applies a signal within the particular frequency range of that filter to the variable gain amplifier and the short-term energy averaging circuit. An output from the variable gain amplifier is applied to the long-term energy averaging circuit and an earphone for enabling a hearing aid user to perceive the sounds sensed by the microphone.

Abstract: An earphone includes an earplug of sound insulating material which is insertable in the external auditory meatus of an ear, and an elastic vibration generator responsive to an electric signal supplied thereto for generating and applying an elastic wave corresponding to the supplied electric signal to an outer end of the earplug inserted in the external auditory meatus. The elastic vibration generator may be held in or out of contact with the earplug, so that the elastic wave generated by the elastic vibration generator can be applied directly or indirectly to the earplug. The earphone may be combined with a helmet or a headband. The earplug is effective to prevent external noise from being transmitted to the ear drum of the ear, and also allows desired sound to be transmitted in the form of an elastic wave reliably and clearly to the ear drum.

Abstract: A telephone call may be made to a remote vehicle, such as a long haul truck, located in an unknown cellular telephone cell in a remote service area. The remote vehicle is provided with a cellular telephone, satellite data communications system and a position signal receiver for a system such as LORAN-C or Global Positioning System (GPS). If the control center desires to initiate a voice communication with the remote vehicle, the control facility transmits a voice communication request to the remote vehicle via a non-voice data communications satellite. The position signal receiver receives data from the LORAN-C or GPS transmitter indicative of the current geographic location of the remote vehicle and transmits the data to the control center via the data communications satellite. At the control center a computer with a data base identifying the geographic extent of relevant cellular telephone cells uses the location of the remote vehicle to identify the cell in which the remote vehicle is presently located.

Abstract: A low cost, easily manufacturable, and easy to use card transaction terminal for reading a magnetic stripe on a data card. A two piece case snaps securely together without screws or other fasteners. The case includes printed circuit board supports for receiving and temporarily supporting a single, double sided circuit board. The circuit board includes minimized circuit components, including a microcomputer with integral program read-only memory. An improved data read head sub-assembly facilitates assembly and provides for precise positioning of data read head and substantially parallel biasing of the read head against the magnetic stripe of a data card. Keying features ensure that the read head subassembly is mounted in the proper orientation. An integral strain relief mechanism formed in the two piece case provides strain relief for power cord without additional hardware.

Abstract: An active acoustic system provides attenuation and spectral shaping of an acoustic wave. A phase lock loop (304) phase locks to the input acoustic wave (6) and generates (306) a desired signal or tone (308) in given phase relation therewith. An error signal (44) from an error transducer or microphone (16) is summed (302) with the desired signal (308) and the resultant sum is supplied to the error input (202) of an adaptive filter model (40) which outputs a correction signal (46) to an output transducer or speaker (14) to introduce the canceling and shaping acoustic wave. In other embodiments, various combinations sum the desired signal (308) with the error signal (44), the model output correction signal (46), and the model input signal (42). Speaker and error path compensation (146, 318, 320) and feedback compensation (340) is provided.

Abstract: An audio mixer system using a serial editor interface is disclosed. Use of a microprocessor control circuit is disclosed to control various functions a plurality of multiple channel VTRs under the control of a mixer. Serial control signals are supplied from a video editor to a serial interface which includes a microprocessor. These control signals are decoded, and the appropriate controls of the VTRs are implemented. These controls include crossfading as well as PREVIEW/REVIEW monitoring.

Abstract: A system for low frequency sound production in vehicular passenger compartments, comprising an electrodynamic driver, having a first acoustic mass and a first acoustic compliance; and a Helmhotz resonator, affixed to one side of said electrodynamic driver means and having a second acoustic mass and a second acoustic compliance, the second acoustic mass being affixed to a baffle facing the passenger compartment. The first and second acoustic mass have substantially similar magnitudes, and the Helmholtz resonator and the electrodynamic driver being substantially tuned to the highest and lowest frequencies of a desired passband, respectively, so as to provide a substantially flat pressure vas. frequency characteristic when the passenger compartment has dimensions generally smaller than one eighth wavelength of the lowest frequency.

Abstract: Method and device for transposing the frequency of an input signal, in particular for hearing aids, comprising:an analytical circuit (AS) with which are produceable a momentary frequency signal w(t) whose strength is proportional to the momentary frequency of the input signal u.sub.i (t) and a momentary amplitude signal A(t) whose strength is proportional to the momentary amplitude of the input signal u.sub.i (t);a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) which is connected to the output of the analytical circuit (AS) that supplies the frequency signal w(t);a multiplier (M) with two inputs, of which one of them is connected to the output of the voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) and the other to the output of the analytical circuit (AS) supplying the amplitude signal A(t).

Abstract: The present invention provides a sounding apparatus with surface-mountable terminals, the sounding apparatus being capable of being automatically assembled onto a printed circuit board by the use of surface-mounting method. The sounding apparatus is formed by joining a molded housing including a pole piece and surface-mountable terminals to a container having sound emitting ports formed therein. A bobbin about which a magnet wire is wound is mounted on the pole piece of the housing and serves to actuate a vibrating plate spaced therefrom by a predetermined distance under the action of magnetic force. The bobbin includes bobbin terminals electrically connected with the terminations of the magnetic wire. When the bobbin is mounted on the pole piece, the bobbin terminals are brought into contact with the surface-mountable terminals on the housing so that the magnet wire on the bobbin will be electrically connected with the surface-mountable terminals.

Abstract: A volume control circuit comprises a variable gain stage (306), having a variable gain, and an up/down counter (324) for counting. The counter (324) has a counter input (321) and a counter output (333) for providing a first word (333) for controlling the gain of the gain stage. A microprocessor interface (326) includes an interface output (323) for providing a second word. A digital magnitude comparator (333) compares the first (323) and second (333) words. The comparator having a first input (333) connected to the counter output, a second input connected to the interface output (323), and a comparator output connected to the counter input (321), provides a count signal (329) if the words do not match and for providing a non-count signal (329) if the words match. Thus, responsive to the count signal (329), the up/down counter (324), counts from the first word, in a direction approaching the second word by a least significant bit to form a new first word, for controlling the gain of the gain stage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a digital wireless communication system (100) controls an inter-cell hand-off. First and second fixed units (102) receive a common synchronization signal from a controller (104), and a first wireless link is established between the first fixed unit and a portable unit (120) on a first frequency. The first wireless link is synchronized to the common synchronization signal, and frame synchronization is obtained between the fixed unit (102) and the portable unit (120) during establishment of the first wireless link. Frame synchronization is maintained only by maintaining bit synchronization while transmitting user data on the first frequency. A second wireless link is established between the second fixed unit (102) and the portable unit (120) on the first frequency if the first frequency is usable therebetween. The second wireless link is synchronized to the common synchronization signal.

Abstract: An automatic call distribution system (10) with a multiport switch (12) which selectively interconnects telephonic units (16) of an internal network with a plurality of external units (13) of an external telephonic network (14) having an emergency recording system (11) with at least one recorder (18) interconnected with a port of the switch (12), establishing an informational group of units (14), an emergency key (32) on the console (30) of the unit (16) for requesting the recording of a call connected with the unit (16) in which a recorder (18) from a corresponding group is assigned to record the call at the requesting unit (16).

Abstract: A power amplifier used in a mobile radio apparatus operated selectively in an analog mode and a digital mode comprises an amplifying circuit for saturation-amplifying and linear-amplifying a speech signal and a switch for selectively switching the amplifying circuit to a saturation amplification and a linear amplification in accordance with the analog mode and the digital mode.

Abstract: An improved electrolytic loudspeaker assembly (10) designed to reproduce a broad band of audio signals and that consists of a thin, non-magnetic capacitive transducer (12) and a transducer driver unit (60). The transducer (12) consists of a compound diaphragm (14) further consisting of a vibratory center section (16) having attached to each of its surfaces a respective front section (26) and back section (32). All three sections of the compound diaphragm are held captive by a frame assembly (40). The transducer (12) is driven and controlled by the transducer driver unit (60). The unit couples the audio signal to the transducer's front and back sections (26) (32) and supplies an unregulated, d-c bias voltage to the transducer's center section (16). The unit (60) maintains the proper ratio between the bias voltage and audio signal to achieve optimum performance.