Abstract: A surface wave launcher for launching electromagnetic surface waves, the launcher comprising: a waveguide comprising a planar conductive layer; a feed structure comprising a first conductor, the first conductor coupled to the waveguide at a coupling; wherein the waveguide is arranged to be positioned adjacent to a surface suitable for guiding electromagnetic surface waves; and wherein the planar conductive layer comprises one or more slots each having a pair of longitudinal edge, the one or more slots extending through the conductive layer and arranged such that an axis radially extending from the coupling intersects each pair of longitudinal edges of the one or more slots.

Abstract: An apparatus for radio communication using surface waves, the apparatus comprising: a guiding medium having a first surface suitable for the propagation of surface waves, the first surface having a reactive impedance; at least one communication node, the node having a transmitter and/or receiver coupled to a transducer, the transducer positioned on or adjacent the first surface of said guiding medium; wherein the at least one communication node is arranged to launch and/or receive surface waves, over the first surface of said guiding medium.

Abstract: A gaming headset receives a plurality of audio channels comprising game audio channels and a chat audio channel during play of a particular game. The gaming headset monitors the received audio channels for predefined words that are associated with particular sounds in a data structure, and in response to detecting predefined words, filters out at least a portion of the detected predefined words from the received plurality of audio channels. The monitoring compares sounds on the received audio channels with the particular sounds in the data structure and also performs signal analysis on the audio channels during game play to detect the occurrence of the predefined words. The filtering mutes one or more of the plurality of audio channels so that the detected occurrence of the one of the predefined words is not output via speakers of the gaming headset.

Abstract: In an audio setup comprising at least one audio headset configurable to process audio for a user (e.g., when participating in an online multiplayer game), input audio and/or output audio in the audio headset may be monitored, and when the audio matches triggering criteria, one or more update messages may be triggered via a social networking service. The triggering criteria may comprise (or be set based on) identity of the speaker, content of the audio, and/or conditions association with the audio. Different triggering criteria may be associated with different applications (e.g., different video games). The update messages may be made available to one or more other users, who may be selected based on matching particular user selection criteria and/or based on successful user validation. The user selection criteria may comprise participation in the same online multiplayer game.

Abstract: A gaming headset receives a plurality of audio channels during play of a particular game, determines an identity and/or an age of a gamer that is wearing the gaming headset, and configures operation of the gaming headset based on the determined identity and/or age of the gamer. The gaming headset logs into the particular game using credentials associated with the determined identity and/or age, and selects settings based on the determined identity and/or age of the gamer that is wearing the gaming headset. One or more sensors communicatively coupled to the gaming headset may be activated and information received from the sensors is utilized to determine the identity and/or the age of the gamer that is wearing the gaming headset. The sensors determine, for example, the head size, ear size, voice characteristics and/or biometric information for the gamer that is wearing the gaming headset.

Abstract: A headset, which may be configured to process audio for a player participating in an online multiplayer game, may support auto-pairing with audio basestations. In this regard, an audio basestation may be utilized in communicating game and chat audio content from an associated game console to a paired headset and in communicating microphone audio from the paired headset to the console. The auto-pairing may comprise automatically exchanging signals with an audio basestation, in response to the headset coming within a determined distance of the audio basestation; and pairing with the audio basestation based on processing of the exchanged signals. The pairing may result in establishing one or more wireless links for game and chat audio to be communicated to the headset and microphone audio to be communicated from the headset. The determined distance may correspond to physical contact (e.g., tapping) between the headset and the basestation.

Abstract: A headset accessory comprises circuitry and is configured to mechanically attach to an audio headset. The circuitry of the headset may be operable to establish a link to the audio headset that supports conveyance of bias voltage, bias current, and/or information between the circuitry of the accessory and circuitry of the audio headset. The headset accessory may be configured to attach to a housing of the headset on a surface of the housing opposite an ear cup. A state of the circuitry of the accessory may be controlled based on the information received from the audio headset via the link. The information may include characteristics of audio being processed by the audio headset. The circuitry of the headset accessory may comprise non-volatile memory, and the non-volatile memory may store parameter settings for configuring audio processing circuitry of the audio headset.

Abstract: An electronic device receives audio from an audio source and outputs the audio via speakers of the device. While outputting the audio via the speakers, the device senses its surrounding environment, and adjusts its operation, based on the sensed environment, to alert a listener wearing the device. The adjustment may comprise generation of one or more audio, visual, and/or vibration notifications to the listener using the device. A volume of the audio output via the speakers may be adjusted based on the sensed surrounding environment. The device may detect whether a first condition is present in the surrounding environment, decrease the volume when the first condition is detected in the surrounding environment, and increase the volume when the first condition is not detected in the surrounding environment.

Abstract: A game headset receives a plurality of audio channels during play of a particular game, monitors one or more of the plurality of audio channels and detects an occurrence of one or more particular sounds in the plurality of audio channels during the monitoring of the one or more of the plurality of audio channels. In response to the detecting, the game headset triggers playback of one or more of a plurality of voice commands that corresponds to the one or more particular sounds. The voice commands may be predefined and associated with the one or more particular sounds in a data structure. The voice commands may instruct the listener of the game headset to perform an action in the particular game. The characteristics of the one or more sounds may include direction, intensity, and/or frequency of the particular one or more sounds.

Abstract: A communications system, comprising: a surface wave channel for guiding electromagnetic surface waves; a transmitter, coupled to said surface wave channel for transmitting signals along said surface wave channel; one or more disrupters, arranged to be positioned at arbitrary locations on or adjacent said surface wave channel, and arranged to convert said surface wave signals to space wave signals; and one or more receiver terminals, arranged to be positioned at locations corresponding to said disrupters, each terminal comprising an antenna for receiving said space wave signals.

Abstract: A guiding medium for guiding radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic surface waves, comprising: a first surface, the first surface having an electrical impedance suitable for the propagation of electromagnetic surface waves; and a protection layer positioned on or adjacent the first surface.

Abstract: A surface wave launcher for launching electromagnetic surface waves, the launcher comprising: a waveguide having a feed end and a launch end; a feed structure coupled to the feed end of the waveguide; wherein the feed structure includes a first conductor; the waveguide comprises a first planar conductive layer having a feed end and a launch end, the feed end being coupled to the first conductor; and the waveguide is arranged to be positioned adjacent a surface suitable for guiding electromagnetic surface waves, wherein the width of the first planar conductive layer tapers from the launch end towards the feed end.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector includes a housing configured to mate with a receptacle, a collar body that includes a fiber stub and a mechanical splice device, a backbone to retain the collar body within the housing, and a boot. The backbone includes a cable jacket clamping portion to clamp a cable jacket that surrounds a portion of the terminated optical fiber upon actuation. The boot actuates the cable jacket clamping portion of the backbone upon attachment to the backbone. A method for terminating the optical fiber in the field includes slitting or removing a portion of the cable jacket prior to splicing the optical fiber to the fiber stub. The method also includes utilizing a protective sheath or tube to protect exposed portion of the fiber cable and provide structural integrity to the optical connector.

Abstract: An apparatus for radio communication using surface waves, the apparatus comprising: a guiding medium having a first surface suitable for the propagation of surface waves, the first surface having a reactive impedance; at least one communication node, the node having a transmitter and/or receiver coupled to a transducer, the transducer positioned on or adjacent the first surface of said guiding medium; wherein the at least one communication node is arranged to launch and/or receive surface waves, over the first surface of said guiding medium.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical interconnect device comprising (a) a plurality of fiber optic cables, each cable having two ends and comprising at least one optical fiber surrounded by a protective jacket where the diameter of the fiber optic cable is larger than the diameter of the optical fiber and where the protective jacket at least a first end of the fiber optic cable has been removed thereby exposing the optical fibers; (b) a ribbonized assembly encasing a portion of the first end of the fiber optic cable and the optical fibers, where the optical fibers in the ribbonized assembly lie parallel to one another and has a first pitch; and (c) a ferrule attached to the ribbonized assembly, the ferrule having a plurality of internal grooves having a second pitch. The first pitch of the optical fibers is substantially equal to the second pitch of the ferrule.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical interconnect device comprising (a) a plurality of fiber optic cables, each cable having two ends and comprising at least one optical fiber surrounded by a protective jacket where the diameter of the fiber optic cable is larger than the diameter of the optical fiber and where the protective jacket at at least a first end of the fiber optic cable has been removed thereby exposing the optical fibers; (b) a ribbonized assembly encasing a portion of the first end of the fiber optic cable and the optical fibers, where the optical fibers in the ribbonized assembly lie parallel to one another and has a first pitch; and (c) a ferrule attached to the ribbonized assembly, the ferrule having a plurality of internal grooves having a second pitch. The first pitch of the optical fibers is substantially equal to the second pitch of the ferrule.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and a method of making a fiber optic device. The apparatus comprises at least one channel. Each channel comprises (a) an input zone for holding a plurality of fiber optic cables, each cable having at least one optical fiber; (b) a transition zone adjacent to the input zone; (c) an output zone adjacent to the transition zone, the output zone comprising at least one slot, each slot having a maximum width that is equal to a multiple of the optical fiber diameter plus one half optical fiber diameter.