Abstract: Apparatus, systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are disclosed for acoustic signal processing adaptive to microphone distances. An example system includes a microphone to convert an acoustic signal to an electrical signal and one or more processors to: estimate a distance between a source of the acoustic signal and the microphone; select a signal processing mode based on the distance; and process the electrical signal in accordance with the selected processing mode.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for audio capture path evaluation of microphones incorporated into a device under test (DUT). A methodology implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes estimating impulse responses (IRs) of the DUT microphones based on a comparison of a test audio signal received through the DUT microphones, at a selected measurement angle, to the test audio signal received through a reference microphone. The method also includes calculating group delays for the DUT microphones based on phase responses of the estimated IRs and calculating an average of the group delays. The method further includes calculating a distance, projected onto the measurement angle, between the DUT microphones and a geometric center of the DUT microphones. The distance is calculated as a product of the speed of sound and a difference between the average delay and the group delays for the DUT microphones. The process is repeated for additional measurement angles.

Abstract: A method of audio device performance testing generates virtual audio device data packages.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are disclosed for acoustic signal processing adaptive to microphone distances. An example system includes a microphone to convert an acoustic signal to an electrical signal and one or more processors to: estimate a distance between a source of the acoustic signal and the microphone; select a signal processing mode based on the distance; and process the electrical signal in accordance with the selected processing mode.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for audio capture path evaluation of microphones incorporated into a device under test (DUT). A methodology implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes estimating impulse responses (IRs) of the DUT microphones based on a comparison of a test audio signal received through the DUT microphones, at a selected measurement angle, to the test audio signal received through a reference microphone. The method also includes calculating group delays for the DUT microphones based on phase responses of the estimated IRs and calculating an average of the group delays. The method further includes calculating a distance, projected onto the measurement angle, between the DUT microphones and a geometric center of the DUT microphones. The distance is calculated as a product of the speed of sound and a difference between the average delay and the group delays for the DUT microphones. The process is repeated for additional measurement angles.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for detection of laser-based audio injection attacks through classification of the acoustic environment. A methodology implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes broadcasting a reference signal over a loudspeaker into a local environment, and generating a reference model of the local environment based on analysis of a transformed version of that reference signal received through a microphone of the device. The method further includes generating an estimate model based on analysis of a segment of speech in an audio signal received through the microphone. The estimate model is associated with an environment in which the speech was generated. The method further includes calculating a similarity metric (e.g., mathematical distance) between the reference model and the estimate model, and providing warning of a laser-based audio attack if the similarity metric exceeds a threshold value associated with an attack.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for defending against an ultrasonic attack on a speech enabled device. A methodology implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes detecting voice activity in an audio signal received by the device and generating an ultrasonic jamming signal in response to the detection. The jamming signal is broadcast over a loudspeaker for up to the duration of the detected voice activity to defend against the ultrasonic attack. According to another embodiment, the ultrasonic jamming signal is generated in response to detection of a wake-on-voice key phrase in the received audio signal, and the jamming signal is broadcast over the loudspeaker for a time duration selected to be less than or equal to a time window during which spoken commands are accepted by the device following the wake-on-voice key phrase detection. The jamming signal may include white or colored noise, combinations of tones, and/or a periodic sweep frequency.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for defending against an ultrasonic attack on a speech enabled device. A methodology implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes detecting voice activity in an audio signal received by the device and generating an ultrasonic jamming signal in response to the detection. The jamming signal is broadcast over a loudspeaker for up to the duration of the detected voice activity to defend against the ultrasonic attack. According to another embodiment, the ultrasonic jamming signal is generated in response to detection of a wake-on-voice key phrase in the received audio signal, and the jamming signal is broadcast over the loudspeaker for a time duration selected to be less than or equal to a time window during which spoken commands are accepted by the device following the wake-on-voice key phrase detection. The jamming signal may include white or colored noise, combinations of tones, and/or a periodic sweep frequency.

Abstract: The present invention is to a method and apparatus for inkjet printers (200) to improve the performance of the printer and the quality of the output from the printer. The printer (200) includes one or more ink cartridges (20), each with a reservoir (21) for storing ink (15) and a plurality of ports (25) in communications with the reservoir. Control means (2,11) associated with either the printer (200) or a computer (1) instructing the printer, directs the ports (25) to fire or eject ink (15,t) from the reservoir (21) onto the media (100,S) being printed upon while the cartridge (20) and media are moving relative to one another so as to prevent the ink from drying up on the front face (22) adjacent to or over the ports.

Abstract: A label-attaching machine for attaching labels carried on a partially transparent dispensing web for attachment to serially presented envelopes has a two-beam optical sensing unit to govern the synchronization of label feeding by determining the location of the leading edge of the next label to be dispensed. One beam senses the optical transmission of label-bearing regions of the web, and the other beam reads the optical transmission of label-free used web. A comparator circuit balances the signal strengths of the two beams to provide a signal condition indicative of label edge passage. A zip code sort is provided for use in conjunction with the same optical sensor. Labels of a common zip code are serially affixed to the web, and the arrival of a new zip code is flagged by an oversize gap between the last label bearing one zip code and the next label bearing the first of the new zip codes.