Abstract: An apparatus (100, 100?) is configured such that passage of a fluid (30) through an open port (136, 2604) of a distal probe tip (112, 112?) enables detection of a substance (116) that may be present on a surface (31, 33), e.g., a surface of a tooth, based on measurement of a signal correlating to a substance at least partially obstructing the passage of fluid (30) through the open port (136, 2604). The apparatus (100, 100?) includes a proximal pump portion (124) and at least one distal probe portion (110) configured to be immersed in another fluid (11), e.g., water in toothpaste foam. A corresponding system (3000) includes one or two such apparatuses (3100, 3200). A method of detecting the presence of a substance on a surface includes probing an interaction zone (17) for at least partial obstruction of flow of the fluid (30) through the distal probe tip (112, 112?). The distal probe tip (112, 112?) may have a structural configuration for preventing blocking of the open port (136, 2604).

Abstract: In a lighting system, sound levels are detected in the vicinity of at least one lighting unit to determine when there is a sound level above a threshold. The illumination provided by the lighting unit is adapted in such a way as to encourage a reduction of noise generation.

Abstract: An apparatus (100, 100?) is configured such that passage of a fluid (30) through an open port of a distal tip (112, 112?) enables detection of a substance (116) that may be present on a surface (31, 33), e.g., a surface of a tooth, based on measurement of a signal correlating to a substance at least partially obstructing the passage of fluid (30) through the open port. The apparatus (100, 100?) includes a proximal pump portion (124) and at least one distal probe portion (110) configured to be immersed in another fluid (11), e.g., water in toothpaste foam. A corresponding system (3000) includes one or two such apparatuses (3100, 3200). A method of detecting the presence of a substance on a surface includes probing an interaction zone (17) for at least partial obstruction of flow of the second fluid medium (30) through a distal probe tip.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the presence of a substance on a surface includes a proximal pump portion and at least one distal probe portion configured to be immersed in a first fluid. The proximal pump portion and the distal probe portion are in fluid communication with one another. The distal probe portion defines a distal tip having an open port to enable the passage of a second fluid therethrough. The apparatus is configured such that passage of the second fluid through the distal tip enables detection of a substance that may be present on the surface based on measurement of a signal correlating to, in proximity to the surface, one or more bubbles generated by the second fluid in the first fluid. A corresponding method of detection includes probing the properties of an interaction zone via outflow of the second fluid medium from the surface.

Abstract: In a lighting system, sound levels are detected in the vicinity of at least one lighting unit to determine when there is a sound level above a threshold. The illumination provided by the lighting unit is adapted in such a way as to encourage a reduction of noise generation.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a position estimate for an audio source comprises two microphones (M1, M2) and an acoustic element (203) providing an acoustic effect to sound from sound source positions to the first microphone (M1). The acoustic effect is asymmetric with respect to an axis (201) between the microphones (M1, M2). A position circuit (305) estimates two possible positions on different sides of the axis for the sound source in response to time of arrivals at the microphones (M1, M2). An estimator (307) determines an acoustic effect measure being indicative of a degree to which an acoustic effect of the first microphone signal matches an expected characteristic of the acoustic effect for sound sources on one side of the axis (201). Another circuit (309) determines the position estimate by selecting between the two possible positions in response to the acoustic effect measure.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning device comprises a unit (1) for aerodynamically affecting dust particles and/or a surface to be cleaned. The unit (1) comprises a housing (30) having a housing wall (31) encompassing two internal sections (20, 22), and a movable surface (11) arranged at an interface of the two sections (20, 22), wherein a portion (32) of the housing wall (31) delimiting a first section (20) is provided with at least one opening (21), and wherein means for actuating the movable surface (11) are arranged in a second section (22). A portion (33) of the housing wall (31) delimiting the second section (22) is adapted to at least hinder exchange of air between an inside of this section (22) and an outside of the housing (30) at the location of this section (22), in order to at least hinder a migration of dust to the second section (22).

Abstract: An audio driver including a diaphragm with a first side and a second side. The diaphragm is coupled to a transducer element on the second side and is arranged to radiate sound. The transducer element converts an electrical input signal into movement of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is arranged such that a part of the diaphragm at least partly forms a cavity at the second side of an air conduit is coupled to the cavity. The air conduit has a first opening into the cavity and a second opening outside of the cavity. The air conduit and cavity form a resonator which has a resonance frequency that is less than half a free air acoustic resonance frequency of the audio driver.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning device comprises a unit (1) for aerodynamically affecting dust particles and/or a surface (40) to be cleaned in order for the particles to become dislodged from the surface (40) and to be received by the unit (1). The unit (1) comprises a housing (10) having an internal space (11) enclosed by a housing wall (12) in which at least one opening (13) is arranged, a movable surface (30) which is integrated in the housing wall (12), and means (31) for actuating the movable surface (30), which are adapted to realize an oscillating movement of the surface (30) that causes air to alternately be drawn into the housing (10) through the opening (13) and expelled from the housing (10) through the opening (13). At least a portion of the housing wall (12), particularly a portion of the housing wall (12) in which the opening (13) is located, is movably arranged in the unit (1).

Abstract: A sound massage system (1) comprises a sound device (3) arranged for producing a rotating sound beam, a vibration element (5) arranged for producing vibrations, wherein the vibration frequency is less than 300 Hertz, and a control unit (7) arranged for controlling the sound device (3) and the vibration element (5). The sound massage system provides imitation of the Tibetan signing bowls. The invention also related to a relaxation system comprising the sound massage system.

Abstract: A cooling device (1) using pulsating fluid for cooling of an object, comprising: a transducer (2) having a membrane adapted to generate pressure waves at a working frequency (fw), and a cavity (4) enclosing a first side of the membrane. The cavity (4) has at least one opening (5) adapted to emit a pulsating net output fluid flow towards the object, wherein the opening (5) is in communication with a second side of the membrane. The cavity (4) is sufficiently small to prevent fluid in the cavity (4) from acting as a spring in a resonating mass-spring system in the working range. This is advantageous as a volume velocity (u1) at the opening is essentially equal to a volume velocity (u1?) at the second side of the membrane, apart from a minus sign. Thus, at the working frequency the pulsating net output fluid can be largely cancelled due to the counter phase with the pressure waves on the second side of the membrane resulting in a close to zero far-field volume velocity.

Abstract: An audio driver comprising a diaphragm (101, 103) with a first side and a second side. The diaphragm (101, 103) is coupled to a transducer element (109, 111) on the second side and is arranged to radiate sound. The transducer element (109, 111) converts an electrical input signal into movement of the diaphragm (101, 103). The diaphragm (101, 103) is arranged such that a part of the diaphragm (103) at least partly forms a cavity (113) at the second side and an air conduit (115) is coupled to the cavity (113). The air conduit (115) has a first opening (117) into the cavity and a second opening (119) outside the cavity (113). The air conduit (115) and cavity (113) form a resonator which has a resonance frequency that is less than half a free air acoustic resonance frequency of the audio driver. The invention may allow simultaneous sound production and an acoustic air flow generation while maintaining an efficient decoupling between the two functionalities.

Abstract: An alert device and method include an elongated cavity (306) and a loudspeaker (302) coupled to a first end portion of the cavity wherein sound produced by the loudspeaker is directed through the cavity to provide an audible sound. The cavity and the loudspeaker are configured and dimensioned to provide the audible sound substantially at an anti-resonant frequency (Fb) between first and second resonant frequency peaks for system impedance in a response spectrum for the loudspeaker and the cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus for use as an output device of a user interface to an information processing system includes at least one device (15;20) for generating a synthetic jet flow.

Abstract: The invention provides a synthetic jet eductor pump that includes a synthetic jet actuator coupled to a fluid conduit. The synthetic jet actuator may include a vibratable membrane, an actuating portion that vibrates the vibratable membrane, a pump chamber coupled to the vibratable membrane, and a pump conduit in fluid communication with the pump chamber such that vibration of the membrane draws fluid into and ejects fluid from the pump conduit to create a net momentum of fluid in a predetermined direction. The fluid conduit may include a jet receiving portion between intake and ejection portions thereof, wherein the jet receiving portion is in fluid communication with the pump conduit. The net momentum of fluid created by the synthetic jet actuator may be communicated to the fluid conduit at the jet receiving portion to create fluid flow in the fluid conduit from the intake portion to the ejection portion.

Abstract: A cooling device (1) using pulsating fluid for cooling of an object, comprising: a transducer (2) having a membrane adapted to generate pressure waves at a working frequency (fw), and a cavity (4) enclosing a first side of the membrane. The cavity (4) has at least one opening (5) adapted to emit a pulsating net output fluid flow towards the object, wherein the opening (5) is in communication with a second side of the membrane. The cavity (4) is sufficiently small to prevent fluid in the cavity (4) from acting as a spring in a resonating mass-spring system in the working range. This is advantageous as a volume velocity (u1) at the opening is essentially equal to a volume velocity (u1?) at the second side of the membrane, apart from a minus sign. Thus, at the working frequency the pulsating net output fluid can be largely cancelled due to the counter phase with the pressure waves on the second side of the membrane resulting in a close to zero far-field volume velocity.

Abstract: A device (30) for adapting an audio input signal (V1n) to a transducer unit (20) comprises: mapping means (10) for mapping input signal components from a first audio frequency range onto a second audio frequency range so as to produce a mapped audio signal (VM), wherein the second audio frequency range is narrower than the first audio frequency range, and wherein the transducer unit (20) has a maximum efficiency at the second audio frequency range, filter means (31) for filtering the input signal (V1n) so as to produce a filtered input signal (V1n?) having a third audio frequency range, and combination means (32) for combining the mapped audio signal (VM) and the filtered input signal (V1n?) so as to produce a transducer signal (VT). The first audio frequency range is preferably contained in the second audio frequency range, while the third audio frequency range may be adjacent the first audio frequency range.

Abstract: An illumination device (1) comprising: at least one light emitting device (5); and a suspension structure (2), suspending the at least one light emitting device (5) in a desired position. Further, the illumination device (1) has a transducer (6), adapted to generate pressure waves at a drive frequency; wherein the suspension structure (2) is utilized as a flow guiding structure (7), having a first end adapted to receive the pressure waves from the transducer, and a second end adapted to generate a pulsating net output flow towards the at least one light emitting device (5), thereby cooling the at least one light emitting device (5). By utilizing the suspension structure itself as flow guiding structure cooling can be integrated in a cost efficient way. Further, no additional space is required to accommodate the flow guiding structure.

Abstract: A loudspeaker system includes at least two stand-alone loudspeaker devices (1L, 1R) each comprising a frame (3) provided with a vertically oriented array (5) of first loudspeakers (7) for reproducing sound in a higher frequency range. The system further includes a second loudspeaker (13) for reproducing sound in a lower frequency range, wherein the frequency ranges have a crossover frequency fc and 750 Hz<fc<3000 Hz. The first loudspeakers each have a first radiation surface (9) in each array a central area (9a) of each first radiation surface being situated at a distance d from the central area of neighboring first radiation surface, wherein ?/fe<d<1 m, wherein ?/fe is the wavelength of the reproduced sound at the crossover frequency. The system is able of reproduce sound of high fidelity qualification.

Abstract: To improve the reproduction of audio signals, the signal components of a selected audio frequency range (1) of an audio signal are concentrated in a narrower audio frequency range (II). This is achieved by detecting first signal components in the first audio frequency range (I), generating second signal components in the second audio frequency range (II), and controlling the amplitude of the second signal components in response to the amplitude of the first signal components. As a result, dedicated transducers may be used which are particularly efficient in the narrower frequency range. The original frequency range (I) may contain the lower frequency signal components (bass components) of the audio signal.