Abstract: A robust MEMS transducer includes a kinetic energy diverter disposed within its frontside cavity. The kinetic energy diverter blunts or diverts kinetic energy in a mass of air moving through the frontside cavity, before that kinetic energy reaches a diaphragm of the MEMS transducer. The kinetic energy diverter renders the MEMS transducer more robust and resistant to damage from such a moving mass of air.

Abstract: This applications relates to methods and apparatus for monitoring a socket (101), to detect a connection status of a mating plug (102), e.g. for monitoring an audio jack socket for connection of an audio jack plug. A monitor (115, 305) is configured to monitor a voltage (VM) at a monitoring node (114), which is coupled to a jack detect contact (112) of the socket and a voltage pull-up element (113). The voltage (VM) at the monitoring node (114) is monitored against a threshold (Vthv) and a threshold module (302) is configured to vary the threshold depending on an indication of signal activity (SACT) of a signal path for a first socket contact (103) which will be electrically connected to the jack detect contact when a plug when inserted in the socket.

Abstract: An in-ear audio listening device comprising a user input element, the user input element comprising a force-sensitive resistor (FSR) and a contact portion configured to receive a user input and, in turn, exert a force upon the FSR, wherein the FSR is configured to detect the force from the contact portion and generate an output for use in controlling operation of an electronic device associated with the in-ear audio listening device.

Abstract: The directivity of a loudspeaker describes how sound produced by the speaker varies with angle and frequency. Low-frequency sound tends to be relatively omnidirectional, while high-frequency sound tends to be more strongly directional. Because the two ears of a listener are in different spatial positions, the direction-dependent performance of the speakers can produce unwanted differences in volume or spectral content between the two ears. For example, high-frequency sounds may appear to be muffled in one ear, compared to the other. A multi-speaker sound system can employ binaural directivity compensation, which can compensate for directional variations in performance of each speaker, and can reduce or eliminate the difference in volume or spectral content between the left and right ears of a listener. The binaural directivity compensation can optionally be included with spatial audio processing, such as crosstalk cancellation, or can optionally be included with loudspeaker equalization.

Abstract: A micromechanical component for a sensor device or microphone device. The component includes a diaphragm support structure with a diaphragm, a cavity formed in the diaphragm support structure and adjoined by a diaphragm inner side, and a separating trench structured through the surface of the diaphragm support structure and extends to the cavity and completely frames the diaphragm, and that is sealed off media-tight and/or air-tight using at least one separating trench closure material. An etching channel is formed in the diaphragm support structure, separately from the separating trench, and extends from its first etching channel end section to its second etching channel end section. The first etching channel end section opens into the cavity, and the second etching channel end section is sealed off media-tight and/or air-tight using at least one etching channel closure structure formed on an outer partial surface of the surface of the diaphragm support structure.

Abstract: An actuation structure of a MEMS electroacoustic transducer is formed in a die of semiconductor material having a monolithic body with a front surface and a rear surface extending in a horizontal plane x-y plane and defined in which are: a frame; an actuator element arranged in a central opening defined by the frame; cantilever elements, coupled at the front surface between the actuator element and the frame; and piezoelectric regions arranged on the cantilever elements and configured to be biased to cause a deformation of the cantilever elements by the piezoelectric effect. A first stopper arrangement is integrated in the die and configured to interact with the cantilever elements to limit a movement thereof in a first direction of a vertical axis orthogonal to the horizontal plane, x-y plane towards the underlying central opening.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical system includes a spacer layer, a first corrugated conductive diaphragm, and a second corrugated conductive diaphragm. The spacer layer includes counter electrode walls, slots and support walls extending along a first direction. The counter electrode walls, slots and support walls are arranged alternately in a second direction. The first corrugated conductive diaphragm includes first crests and first troughs arranged alternately in the second direction. The second corrugated conductive diaphragm includes second crests and second troughs arranged alternately in the second direction. The spacer layer is received in a cavity formed by the first and second corrugated conductive diaphragms. The support walls are respectively sandwiched between the aligned first troughs and second crests. The counter electrode walls are respectively suspended in the corresponding chambers formed between the aligned first crests and second troughs.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing a MEMS microphone, including the steps of: providing a base and preparing a first diaphragm on a first surface of the base; preparing a back plate on a surface of the first diaphragm opposite to the first surface; forming a first gap between the first diaphragm and the back plate; preparing a second diaphragm; forming a second gap between the second diaphragm and the back plate; preparing electrodes; forming a back cavity by etching the surface opposite to the first surface.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a MEMS sensor and an assembly including the MEMS sensor and an electrical circuit disposed in an assembly housing. The sensor includes a suspended structure (148) having a top diaphragm (118), a central electrode (120) and a bottom diaphragm (122) connected by a pillar portion (134). A peripheral portion of the suspended structure is coupled to a support structure (114), forming a low pressure cavity (130). The MEMS sensor includes a top electrode (136) disposed between the top diaphragm and the central electrode and a bottom electrode (138) disposed between the bottom diaphragm and central electrode each coupled to the support structure, wherein in the event of a sound pressure condition, the suspended structures moves up or down together, while the top electrode and the bottom electrode remain substantially stationary.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for encoding audio events as geo-referenced audio events for use in location establishment. Methods may include: receiving first audio data from a first sensor; identifying, within the first audio data, a first audio event, where the first audio event satisfies at least one predefined criteria; identifying a location corresponding to the first audio event; encoding the first audio event in a database to correspond to the location; receiving second audio data from a second sensor; identifying, within the second audio data, a second audio event; correlating the second audio event with the first audio event; and providing the location in response to the second audio data. The at least one criteria may include a statistically significant change in amplitude in the audio data.

Abstract: A loudspeaker diaphragm (12) comprising a woven fibre body supports damping material (25), for example PVA polymer, on a rearward-facing surface (24). The woven fibre body may be formed of lengths (14) non-metallic fibre material (for example glass fibre) coating with a thin metal coating (32). The mass of the layer of damping material (25) may be less than the mass of the woven fibre body. An attractive sparkly looking loudspeaker diaphragm (12) may thus be provided which damps undesirable vibration whilst providing a flatter frequency-response curve (50).

Abstract: An MEMS microphone is provided, comprising: a first substrate; a vibration diaphragm supported above the first substrate by a spacing portion, the first substrate, the spacing portion, and the vibration diaphragm enclosing a vacuum chamber, and a static deflection distance of the vibration diaphragm under an atmospheric pressure being less than a distance between the vibration diaphragm and the first substrate; and a floating gate field effect transistor outputting a varying electrical signal, the floating gate field effect transistor including a source electrode and a drain electrode both provided on the first substrate and a floating gate provided on the vibration diaphragm.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a radio and method for automatically adjusting, in response to ambient noise, the volume setting of a radio. The radio comprises a microphone for receiving ambient audio and generating a microphone signal; a codec for receiving the microphone signal and generating a processor signal representative of the ambient audio; and processor circuitry operable to receive the processor signal, determine an ambient audio level in response to the processor signal, and determine an adjusted radio volume to generate a radio volume control signal, wherein the adjusted radio volume is determined by calculating a difference between a baseline volume level and ambient audio level and adding a current volume level setting, wherein the codec is also operable to receive the radio volume control signal and generate an output signal to adjust the radio volume setting to maintain a net difference between the adjusted radio volume and ambient audio.

Abstract: A MEMS can include a substrate including a first side and a second side on an opposite side of the substrate from the first side. The MEMS device can include an aperture running through the substrate from the first side to the second side. The substrate can have an edge surrounding the aperture on the first side. The MEMS device can include a diaphragm located over the aperture on the first side. The MEMS device can include a support structure that extends at least partially across the aperture from the edge.

Abstract: In an embodiment a device includes a substrate including an upper substrate surface and a lower substrate surface and a membrane-layer suspended above the upper substrate surface, wherein the substrate includes a recess penetrating the substrate between the lower substrate surface and the upper substrate surface, wherein the membrane-layer spans the recess, wherein the recess includes an upper recess region, an intermediate recess region, and a lower recess region, wherein the upper recess region is a part of the recess in direct vicinity to the upper substrate surface, the intermediate recess region is a part of the recess directly below the upper recess region, and the lower recess region is a part of the recess other than the upper recess region and the intermediate recess region, and wherein a cross-sectional area of the upper recess region determined parallel to the upper substrate surface is larger than a respective cross-sectional area of the intermediate recess region.

Abstract: A method for detecting ambient noise to change the playing voice frequency and a sound playing device thereof are disclosed. The method includes the following steps: obtaining an input voice; detecting an ambient noise, and analyzing a noise frequency range of the ambient noise; determining whether a consonant frequency range of the input voice falls within the noise frequency range; if yes, adjusting the frequency of the consonant of the input voice to avoid the noise frequency range to form a modified voice; and playing an output voice, wherein the output voice includes the modified voice.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) transducer for integration in a microphone assembly is designed to produce heat-generated acoustic signals. The MEMS transducer generally comprises a substrate having an aperture, a transduction element located at least partially over the aperture and coupled to the substrate, electrical contacts coupled to the transduction element, and a resistor integrated with the substrate or the transduction element. The resistor is coupled to electrical contacts that are electrically isolated from the contacts of the MEMS transducer or transduction element. The transduction element includes an insulating material coupled to the substrate. The transduction element comprises a fixed electrode and a movable electrode located at least partially over the aperture of the substrate. The fixed electrode or the moving electrode is formed on the insulating material. The resistor can be formed on the insulating material or suspended from the insulating material.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a sensor assembly (100) comprising: a base (102) having a host-device interface (104), a lid (108) mounted on the base (102) to form a housing (110), the lid (108) having an insulative structural core (112) between an inner metal skin (114) and an outer metal skin (116); and a transduction element (118) disposed in the housing (112). Advantageously, the lid (108) of the sensor assembly (100) can help to minimize and reduce undesirable thermo-acoustic effects produced by external environmental conditions that may result in acoustic artifacts.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing modified reverb techniques for audio signals are described. The method may involve receiving an audio signal, a modal reverb effect to be applied to the audio signal, and an indication of a plurality of frequencies. Modes of vibration of a space simulated by the reverb effect may be separated into a set of frequencies included in the input, and a set frequencies not included in the input. The modal reverb effect may be modified by separately adjusting the separate sets of modes of vibration. The modified effect may then be applied to the audio signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for introducing loudspeaker harmonic nonlinearities to a signal without outputting the signal as audio or sound through a loudspeaker and recording the output audio or sound. The device includes a resistive element and an inductive element. The resistive element includes a hollow core and a first wire wound around the hollow core in a first direction. The inductive element is inserted within the hollow core of the resistive element, and includes a metal-based core and a second wire wound around the metal-based core in an opposite second direction. A signal or current is first passed through the inductive element, creating electromagnetic distortion between the resistive element and the inductive element that simulates inductance of the loudspeaker voice-coil. The electromagnetic distortion alters the signal by introducing harmonic nonlinearities into the signal.