Abstract: The invention features a dual-mode audio system for an automobile which in one mode is configured for play while the doors to the automobile are closed, and in a second mode, is configured for play while a door, such as a tailgate, is opened. Additionally, the invention also features a battery monitor which monitors the operating condition of the battery and may estimate the energy capacity of the battery. The system may also take power conservation measures if the system determines that the engine is not running or the operating condition of the batter reaches a predetermined state. The invention also features a remote control integrated within a key fob for controlling the audio system. The invention features various orientations for mounting a pair of loudspeakers within an automobile which directly radiate sound out of a rear opening of the automobile.

Abstract: A detecting circuit measures at least one response characteristic of an output channel in an electro-acoustic transducer system. A memory stores a plurality of equalizations, each equalization corresponding to a known electro-acoustic transducer system associated with at least one response characteristic stored in the memory. A processor in communication with the detecting circuit and the memory selects one of the stored response characteristics matching the response characteristic measured by the detecting circuit. In some cases, an appropriate equalization is loaded based on the selected response characteristic.

Abstract: An acoustic waveguide system contains a trunk waveguide and a number of branch waveguides. The trunk waveguide section defines an interior passage and includes at least one open end. A number of branch waveguide sections define an interior passage and include a junction end and a terminal end, with the junction end coupled to the trunk waveguide. One or more cavities can be coupled to at least one of the trunk or branch sections and communicate therewith through a vent for damping the resonance peak of a target standing wave.

Abstract: A vehicle sound system is constructed and arranged to establish a sound image at a desired location spaced from the sound source.

Abstract: A circuit to supply power to a load incorporates a first power source, a second power source that may be detachable, a power converter and at least one capacitor (capacitive element), where the first power source is capable of powering the load when charged, where the second power source is not capable of powering the load, but the second power source is capable of trickle-charging the first power source at a time when the first power source is not powering the load, where the power converter may impose a limit on a flow of current through the power converter, and where the at least one capacitor may cooperate to temporarily support a flow of additional current that circumvents the power converter at a time when the load attempts to draw a relatively greater amount of current.

Abstract: An audio system includes mounting one or more speakers on the surface between an exterior side panel and an interior side panel of a door on a vehicle. The one or more speakers may face substantially along an axis in the longitudinal direction of the door. When the door is open, a cover may be controlled to extend over and close an opening in the interior side panel, thereby allowing sound from the one or more speakers to project to an exterior of the vehicle. When the door is closed, the cover may be controlled to expose the opening, thereby allowing sound from the one or more speakers to enter an interior of the vehicle through the opening.

Abstract: Audio electrical signals are controlled to be provided to a plurality of electroacoustical transducers of an array to achieve directivity and acoustic volume characteristics that are varied with respect to a parameter associated with operation of the array. The controlling of the signals results in a change in the radiated acoustic power spectrum of the array as the characteristics are varied. The change in the radiated acoustic power spectrum of the array is compensated.

Abstract: User occupancy is monitored within a space in which a video display of a content rendering system is viewable. The user occupancy can be monitored based on physical user attributes. At least one of audio rendering and video rendering by the content rendering system is adjusted based on the monitored user occupancy.

Abstract: The invention features a dual-mode audio system for an automobile which in one mode is configured for play while the doors to the automobile are closed, and in a second mode, is configured for play while a door, such as a tailgate, is opened. Additionally, the invention also features a battery monitor which monitors the operating condition of the battery and may estimate the energy capacity of the battery. The system may also take power conservation measures if the system determines that the engine is not running or the operating condition of the batter reaches a predetermined state. The invention also features a remote control integrated within a key fob for controlling the audio system. The invention features various orientations for mounting a pair of loudspeakers within an automobile which directly radiate sound out of a rear opening of the automobile.

Abstract: The invention features a dual-mode audio system for an automobile which in one mode is configured for play while the doors to the automobile are closed, and in a second mode, is configured for play while a door, such as a tailgate, is opened. Additionally, the invention also features a battery monitor which monitors the operating condition of the battery and may estimate the energy capacity of the battery. The system may also take power conservation measures if the system determines that the engine is not running or the operating condition of the batter reaches a predetermined state. The invention also features a remote control integrated within a key fob for controlling the audio system. The invention features various orientations for mounting a pair of loudspeakers within an automobile which directly radiate sound out of a rear opening of the automobile.

Abstract: The invention features a dual-mode audio system for an automobile which in one mode is configured for play while the doors to the automobile are closed, and in a second mode, is configured for play while a door, such as a tailgate, is opened. Additionally, the invention also features a battery monitor which monitors the operating condition of the battery and may estimate the energy capacity of the battery. The system may also take power conservation measures if the system determines that the engine is not running or the operating condition of the batter reaches a predetermined state. The invention also features a remote control integrated within a key fob for controlling the audio system. The invention features various orientations for mounting a pair of loudspeakers within an automobile which directly radiate sound out of a rear opening of the automobile.

Abstract: The invention features a dual-mode audio system for an automobile which in one mode is configured for play while the doors to the automobile are closed, and in a second mode, is configured for play while a door, such as a tailgate, is opened. Additionally, the invention also features a battery monitor which monitors the operating condition of the battery and may estimate the energy capacity of the battery. The system may also take power conservation measures if the system determines that the engine is not running or the operating condition of the batter reaches a predetermined state. The invention also features a remote control integrated within a key fob for controlling the audio system. The invention features various orientations for mounting a pair of loudspeakers within an automobile which directly radiate sound out of a rear opening of the automobile.

Abstract: An audio device has passive radiators that are driven by acoustic drivers. The passive radiators are arranged so that the net mechanical vibration is minimized.

Abstract: A vibration reducing apparatus comprising, a baffle subject to vibration, a first electroacoustical transducer characterized by a first mass seated in the baffle, a second electromechanical transducer mechanically connected to said first transducer or said baffle in the vicinity of the periphery of the first transducer. The rear sides of the diaphragms of the first and the second transducer are not connected to the listening area. The first transducer and the second transducer are constructed and arranged to receive a common electrical signal so that the movable element in the first transducer and the movable element in the second transducer move in phase opposition in response to the common electrical signal to significantly reduce the vibrating force imparted to the baffle.

Abstract: The invention features a dual-mode audio system for an automobile which in one mode is configured for play while the doors to the automobile are closed, and in a second mode, is configured for play while a door, such as a tailgate, is opened. Additionally, the invention also features a battery monitor which monitors the operating condition of the battery and may estimate the energy capacity of the battery. The system may also take power conservation measures if the system determines that the engine is not running or the operating condition of the batter reaches a predetermined state. The invention also features a remote control integrated within a key fob for controlling the audio system. The invention features various orientations for mounting a pair of loudspeakers within an automobile which directly radiate sound out of a rear opening of the automobile.

Abstract: a vibration reducing apparatus comprising, a baffle subject to vibration, a first electroacoustical transducer characterized by a first mass seated in the baffle, a second electromechanical transducer mechanically connected to said first transducer or said baffle in the vicinity of the periphery of the first transducer. The rear sides of the diaphragms of the first and the second transducer are not connected to the listening area. The first transducer and the second transducer are constructed and arranged to receive a common electrical signal so that the movable element in the first transducer and the movable element in the second transducer move in phase opposition in response to the common electrical signal to significantly reduce the vibrating force imparted to the baffle.

Abstract: In some specific implementations, tracks of music make up a body of tracks available for playing. Metadata about the track may indicate relationships among the tracks, for example that they are jazz. Information about explicit and implicit reactions of a user to the playing of one or more of the tracks is stored. All of the available tracks are scored either directly as a result of the user reaction information or based on the relationships of the tracks to one another. The scoring is updated every time a user provides explicit or implicit reaction to a played track. Tracks are selected automatically for play based on the ratings or scores at the time of the selection and on a probabilistic technique that assures that every track has some possibility of being played at any time.

Abstract: A stethoscope, and a stethoscope chestpiece, with an increased signal to noise ratio. The invention concerns mechanical improvements to both traditional mechano-acoustic stethoscopes, and to electronic stethoscopes. The stethoscope chestpieces of this invention are constructed so that the transducers are responsive to the pressure differences between air pressure variations in the chestpiece air cavity which is coupled to the skin, and the air pressure variation due to ambient noise present in the environment. The result is a transducer output with increased signal to noise ratio.

Abstract: An apparatus for realistically reproducing sound, particularly for sound based on a stereophonic signal having dialog and effects and associated with an accompanying video image. The apparatus includes a front speaker located in proximity to the video image for providing acoustic output based upon a summation signal of the component left and right (L+R) channels of the audio signal. A rear speaker located to the rear of the viewing area provides acoustic output based upon a difference signal, (L-R) or (R-L), between the left and right channels. Left and right speakers located to the respective left and right sides of the viewing area output audio based upon the respective left or right channels. The left and right channels speakers reproduce in one embodiment the respective left and right channels of the audio signal and in a second embodiment reproduce a difference signal, (L-R) or (R-L).

Abstract: A moving coil loudspeaker including a bobbin, a cone secured to the bobbin by cement, a spider secured to the bobbin by the cement, a voice coil including a first electrical wire that is wrapped around the bobbin and has ends supported by the bobbin, and flexible second and third electrical wires for making electrical connection of the first electrical wire to external circuitry, the second and third wires being connected to the ends of the first wire by connections that are anchored on the bobbin by the cement securing the spider and the cone to the bobbin.