Abstract: An infrared radiant panel is formed by overlaid substrates having conductors thereon which are electrically activated to generate heat to cause infrared radiation of desired wavelengths. The conductors are arranged to cancel magnetic fields caused by current flow therethrough. A conductive shield further suppresses fields generated by the panel.

Abstract: A system for use with an autonomous working machine such as a robotic lawn mower. The system may allow communication (directly or indirectly) between the machine and a gate or other barrier opening to allow unattended or remotely-controlled passage of the machine through the gate. In some embodiments, the mower may include a vision system operable to detect unknown objects within an area adjacent to the gate.

Abstract: A method of designing and forming at least one element of an acoustic transducer. The method includes receiving one or more required operating parameters of the at least one element of the acoustic transducer for an application, iteratively modeling and simulating performance of one or more materials to utilize within the at least one element of the acoustic transducer, iteratively modeling and simulating performance of one or more structures to utilize within the at least one element of the acoustic transducer, identifying at least one material and at least one structure that exhibit predicted performance that at least achieves the one or more required operating parameters of the at least one element of the acoustic transducer for the application, outputting a design of the at least one element of the acoustic transducer, and forming the at least one element of the acoustic transducer via one or more additive manufacturing processes.

Abstract: A handle assembly for an autonomous vehicle such as a lawn mower is provided and may include a cradle adapted to receive a mobile computer. The handle assembly may be configured in both an autonomous mode position and a manual mode position. The vehicle may operate autonomously when the handle assembly is in the autonomous mode position, and be adapted to move under manual operator control, e.g., for perimeter training, when the handle assembly is in the manual mode position.

Abstract: A system for use with an autonomous working machine such as a robotic lawn mower. The system may allow communication (directly or indirectly) between the machine and a gate or other barrier opening to allow unattended or remotely-controlled passage of the machine through the gate. In some embodiments, the mower may include a vision system operable to detect unknown objects within an area adjacent to the gate.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of low-bitrate coding of audio data and generating enhancement metadata for controlling audio enhancement of the low-bitrate coded audio data at a decoder side, including the steps of: (a) core encoding original audio data at a low bitrate to obtain encoded audio data; (b) generating enhancement metadata to be used for controlling a type and/or amount of audio enhancement at the decoder side after core decoding the encoded audio data; and (c) outputting the encoded audio data and the enhancement metadata. Described is further an encoder configured to perform said method. Described is moreover a method for generating enhanced audio data from low-bitrate coded audio data based on enhancement metadata and a decoder configured to perform said method.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a spatio-level filter (SLF) is created by obtaining a first set of samples from a plurality of target source level and spatial distributions in frequency subbands in a frequency domain, obtaining a second set of samples from a plurality of background level and spatial distributions in frequency subbands in a frequency domain, adding the first and second sets of samples to create a combined set of samples, detecting level and spatial parameters for each sample in the combined set of samples for each subband, within subbands, weighting the detected level and spatial parameters by their respective level and spatial distributions for the target source and backgrounds; storing the weighted level, spatial parameters and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) within subbands for each sample in the combined set of samples in a table; and re-indexing the table by the weighted level and spatial parameters and subband.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method comprises: transforming one or more frames of a two-channel time domain audio signal into a time-frequency domain representation including a plurality of time-frequency tiles, wherein the frequency domain of the time-frequency domain representation includes a plurality of frequency bins grouped into subbands. For each time-frequency tile, the method comprises: calculating spatial parameters and a level for the time-frequency tile; modifying the spatial parameters using shift and squeeze parameters; obtaining a softmask value for each frequency bin using the modified spatial parameters, the level and subband information; and applying the softmask values to the time-frequency tile to generate a modified time-frequency tile of an estimated audio source.

Abstract: A method comprises: obtaining softmask values for frequency bins of time-frequency tiles representing an audio signal; reducing, or expanding and limiting, the softmask values; and applying the reduced, or expanded and limited, softmask values to the frequency bins to create a time-frequency representation of an estimated target source. An alternative method comprises, for each time-frequency tile: obtaining softmask values; applying the softmask values to the frequency bins to create a time-frequency domain representation of an estimated target source; obtaining a panning parameter and a source concentration estimates for the target source; determining, using the panning parameter estimate and the softmask values, a magnitude for the time-frequency representation of the estimated target source; determining, using the panning parameter estimate and the source phase concentration estimate, a phase for the time-frequency representation of the estimated target source; and combining the magnitude and the phase.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and devices for combined audio separation and classification are provided. An estimated separated signal is time gated based on a determination of an audio classifier of, at least in part, the original mix of signals before separation. Combined separation, classification, and time gating of both the estimated signal and a residual signal are also provided.

Abstract: A split-collar fan orifice apparatus and method are disclosed. The split-collar fan orifice includes a generally semi-annular member having a first end and a second end, the member having an inner surface and an outer surface. The member has a first mating surface on the first end and a second mating surface on the second end. The first mating surface and the second mating surface are different. The split-collar fan orifice further includes a plurality of ribs disposed along the outer surface of the member. The plurality of ribs is configured to provide rigidity to the member. The plurality of ribs includes a first rib and a second rib, and the first rib extends in a first direction and the second rib extends in a second direction.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of low-bitrate coding of audio data and generating enhancement metadata for controlling audio enhancement of the low-bitrate coded audio data at a decoder side, including the steps of: (a) core encoding original audio data at a low bitrate to obtain encoded audio data; (b) generating enhancement metadata to be used for controlling a type and/or amount of audio enhancement at the decoder side after core decoding the encoded audio data; and (c) outputting the encoded audio data and the enhancement metadata. Described is further an encoder configured to perform said method. Described is moreover a method for generating enhanced audio data from low-bitrate coded audio data based on enhancement metadata and a decoder configured to perform said method.

Abstract: A split-collar fan orifice apparatus and method are disclosed. The split-collar fan orifice includes a generally semi-annular member having a first end and a second end, the member having an inner surface and an outer surface. The member has a first mating surface on the first end and a second mating surface on the second end. The first mating surface and the second mating surface are different. The split-collar fan orifice further includes a plurality of ribs disposed along the outer surface of the member. The plurality of ribs is configured to provide rigidity to the member. The plurality of ribs includes a first rib and a second rib, and the first rib extends in a first direction and the second rib extends in a second direction.

Abstract: Cheese products with improved flavor, texture and melting properties are described as well as methods for producing such cheese products. The cheese product includes blended in cream cheese or cream cheese powder such that the flavor and the melted appearance of the cheese product are enhanced.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for calibrating a speaker in a device having a microphone by inputting an original audio signal to a processing component and an output stage of the device for playback through the speakers, receiving playback sound output from the speakers through the microphone to generate a microphone signal, and inputting the microphone signal into the processing component to calibrate the speakers for optimal playback of the original audio signal, wherein the processing component is configured to compare the original audio signal to the microphone signal and correct the microphone signal by one or more audio processing functions in accordance with a refresh schedule.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for elastomeric and flexible cables. In one embodiment, an elastomeric cable comprises an elastomeric core (e.g., a stretchable polymer) and at least one cabling component wound about the elastomeric core along a length of the elastomeric core.

Abstract: Essence of a media program can be encoded such that it carries essence identification information and a set of time points. Auxiliary content such as companion content and other auxiliary data can be associated with the essence of the media program by way of the set of time points. The set of time points and/or fingerprints used to retrieve/recover the set of time points can be delivered to one or more of a media device, a companion device/application, etc., in any of a variety of different methods. Through the set of time points and/or fingerprints, and user preferences, the auxiliary content can be retrieved by the one or more of the media device, the companion device/application, etc., presented and/or interacted with a user. In some embodiments, the auxiliary content as described herein can be customized for a specific sender and/or a specific recipient.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for calibrating a speaker in a device having a microphone by inputting an original audio signal to a processing component and an output stage of the device for playback through the speakers, receiving playback sound output from the speakers through the microphone to generate a microphone signal, and inputting the microphone signal into the processing component to calibrate the speakers for optimal playback of the original audio signal, wherein the processing component is configured to compare the original audio signal to the microphone signal and correct the microphone signal by one or more audio processing functions in accordance with a refresh schedule.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recognizing sounds are provided herein. User input relating to one or more sounds is received from a computing device. Instructions, which are stored in memory, are executed by a processor to discriminate the one or more sounds, extract music features from the one or more sounds, analyze the music features using one or more databases, and obtain information regarding the music features based on the analysis. Further, information regarding the music features of the one or more sounds may be transmitted to display on the computing device.

Abstract: Essence of a media program can be encoded such that it carries essence identification information and a set of time points. Auxiliary content such as companion content and other auxiliary data can be associated with the essence of the media program by way of the set of time points. The set of time points and/or fingerprints used to retrieve/recover the set of time points can be delivered to one or more of a media device, a companion device/application, etc., in any of a variety of different methods. Through the set of time points and/or fingerprints, and user preferences, the auxiliary content can be retrieved by the one or more of the media device, the companion device/application, etc., presented and/or interacted with a user. In some embodiments, the auxiliary content as described herein can be customized for a specific sender and/or a specific recipient.