Abstract: A vehicular microphone system (200) for post processing optimization of a microphone signal includes a first transducer (201) and second transducer (203) separated by a predetermined distance within an automotive mirror. A first high pass filter network (205) is connected to the first transducer (201) while a second high pass filter network (207) connected to the second transducer (203). A low frequency shelving filter (209) is used for receiving the output from the second high pass filter (207). A first all pass filter (211) is connected to the low frequency shelving filter (209) and a second all pass filter (213) is used in connection with the first all pass filter (211) for tailoring audio characteristics.

Abstract: A low power microphone circuit for a vehicle is provided that includes: at least one microphone transducer; a digital signal processor for receiving output signals from the at least one microphone transducer and for generating a digitally processed audio signal; an output amplifier for amplifying the audio signal from the digital signal processor and modulating an input voltage with the audio signal; and a DC power supply for supplying power to the digital signal processor. The output amplifier and the DC power supply may be electrically coupled in series. The DC power supply and the output amplifier may be powered by the input current, where the input current is no greater than about 6 mA.

Abstract: An internet-connected garage door control system is disclosed that includes a garage door opener for opening and closing a garage door in response to signals received through the internet, and an in-vehicle remote garage door opener integrated into a vehicle for transmitting the signals through the internet to the garage door opener. The in-vehicle remote garage door opener includes an interface configured to communicate with an internet-connected device, a trainable RF transceiver for transmitting an RF signal to the garage door opener, a user-actuated input, an interface configured to communicate with an internet-connected device, and a controller, wherein, upon actuation of the user-actuated input, the controller is configured to at least one of (a) request a signal to be transmitted by the internet-connected device through the internet to the garage door opener, and (b) cause the trainable RF transceiver to transmit the RF signal to the garage door opener.

Abstract: A trainable transceiver module for operating a home operating system includes a housing, a photovoltaic unit supported by the housing and accessible to sunlight, a rechargeable power source, a trainable transceiver, and a one or more activation switches.

Abstract: A variable transmittance window system is provided and includes at least one variable transmittance window. At least one energy harvesting device generates electrical power. A power supply circuitry maximizes the electrical power. At least one energy storage device is charged by the electrical power. A slave control circuitry controls a transmittance state of the at least one variable transmittance window, the slave control circuitry being powered by at least one of the power supply circuitry and the at least one energy storage device. A master control circuitry monitors the slave control circuitry, wherein the master control circuitry is operable to issue a wireless override signal to the slave control circuitry such that the slave control circuitry changes the transmittance state of the at least one variable transmittance window to an override transmittance state.

Abstract: A space-time adaptive beamformer for reducing noise in a vehicle that includes two or more microphones. A first weighting network is used for adjusting the signal characteristics of at least one output of the microphones while at least one delay network is also used for delaying the output in time of at least one output of the microphones. A second weighting network then adjusts the signal characteristics of the output of each of the delay networks and at sum adder works to combine the output of the first weighting network and the second weighting network. Finally, an output of the sum adder is combined with an artificial noise free reference signal to provide a low distortion noise reduced output. By generating a desired signal that acts as an artificial noise free signal reference, adequate noise reduction to be obtained without the distortion created due to processing non-linearity.

Abstract: A non-spatial speech detection system includes a plurality of microphones whose output is supplied to a fixed beamformer. An adaptive beamformer is used for receiving the output of the plurality of microphones and one or more processors are used for processing an output from the fixed beamformer and identifying speech from noise though the use of an algorithm utilizing a covariance matrix.

Abstract: A power supply for supplying direct current (DC) power from a pulse width modulated (PWM) source includes a connector configured to be in electrical communication with a PWM power source. A hold-up circuit is in electrical communication with the connector and is configured to convert electrical power supplied from the PWM power source to DC power. This DC power is supplied to a drive circuit where a microcontroller is configured to control the drive circuit by supplying the DC power from the drive circuit to a load.

Abstract: An inductive component having a printed circuit board (“PCB”) with a first side and a second side. An aperture extends through the PCB and a conductive winding is printed onto the PCB surrounding the aperture. A core is formed by a first core member and a second core member. The first core member includes a first base member with at least one joining surface which is solderable to the first side. A first core leg extends at least partially through the aperture. The second core member includes at least a second base member and is coupled to the first core member or the second side. To manufacture the PCB, the first core member is soldered to the first side and then the PCB is inverted. The second core member is then coupled to at least one of the first core member or the second side.

Abstract: A manual dimmable mirror assembly includes a mirror element having a first substantially transparent substrate and a second substantially transparent substrate. The first and second substantially transparent substrates are substantially parallel and define a cavity that contains an electro-optic medium. The mirror assembly also includes an input device and a controller in communication with the input device. The controller configured to control electrical power supplied to the mirror element, such that the mirror element transitions from a substantially clear state to a substantially dark state at least partially based upon the communication from the input device.

Abstract: An electro-optic rearview mirror system is provided. The electro-optic rearview mirror system includes an inside electro-optic rearview mirror element and an outside electro-optic rearview mirror element in series with the inside electro-optic rearview mirror element. A drive circuit is in electrical communication with the inside electro-optic rearview mirror element and the outside electro-optic rearview mirror element and includes a first power operational amplifier and a second power operational amplifier, both of which are configured as voltage followers. The drive circuit is configured to apply overvoltage to the inside electro-optic rearview mirror element if the outside electro-optic rearview mirror element is shorted.

Abstract: An autobias vehicular microphone system (300) includes a microphone (301) which uses an amplifier (306) for amplifying an output of the microphone. A first feedback path (308) provides an amplifier output signal to the amplifier input for providing amplifier linearity, and a second feedback path (305) is used for providing bias to a voltage reference (303). The voltage reference (303) operates to provide an autobias to the amplifier (306) based upon amplifier load-ing. By holding the bias point to a constant voltage, a constant clip level can be maintained depending on varying load conditions of electronic devices (307, 309, 311) using the microphone (301). Additionally, one or more switches can be used to vary the bias point which can be interpreted to control functionality of the electronic devices (307, 309, 311).

Abstract: The present invention relates to monitoring and automatic control systems.

Abstract: A non-spatial speech detection system includes a plurality of microphones whose output is supplied to a fixed beamformer. An adaptive beamformer is used for receiving the output of the plurality of microphones and one or more processors are used for processing an output from the fixed beamformer and identifying speech from noise though the use of an algorithm utilizing a covariance matrix.

Abstract: An electrical control system is disclosed for controlling a plurality of variable transmittance windows. The electrical control system comprises a master control circuit and user input circuits for supplying control signals representing transmittance levels for the variable transmission windows, and a plurality of slave window control circuits coupled to the master control circuit, user input circuits and the variable transmittance windows. Each slave window control circuit controls the transmittance of at least one of the variable transmission windows in response to control signals received from the master control circuit and/or user input circuits. Also disclosed are novel methods for the manufacture of an electrochromic device used in variable transmittance windows. Novel structural features for improving heat transfer away from the windows, shielding the window from external loads, and improving the electrical performance of the windows are also disclosed.

Abstract: A microphone mounting assembly (800A/800b) include one or more transducers (801) mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) (805) where a spacer (803) is used having a channel (807) positioned on the PCB (805) for allowing acoustical energy to pass through the channel (807) to a port (809) in the PCB (805). A first cover (811) is positioned over the channel (807) for disrupting the direct encounter with airflow into the channel (807) while a top section (813) having a second cover (815) is further positioned adjacent to the first fabric cover (811) for preventing debris from obstructing the first fabric cover (811).

Abstract: A method for processing signals for reducing noise components in a vehicular microphone system (500A) compares (517) a plurality of noise component values (511, 513, 515) for at least one frequency band of plurality of frequency bands. At least one frequency band is then downwardly expanded (521) by a predetermined expansion ratio (523) for providing a noise reduced signal (535) when determining a value is below a predetermined threshold (519).

Abstract: A space-time adaptive beamformer for reducing noise in a vehicle that includes two or more microphones. A first weighting network is used for adjusting the signal characteristics of at least one output of the microphones while at least one delay network is also used for delaying the output in time of at least one output of the microphones. A second weighting network then adjusts the signal characteristics of the output of each of the delay networks and at sum adder works to combine the output of the first weighting network and the second weighting network. Finally, an output of the sum adder is combined with an artificial noise free reference signal to provide a low distortion noise reduced output. By generating a desired signal that acts as an artificial noise free signal reference, adequate noise reduction to be obtained without the distortion created due to processing non-linearity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved image sensor-processor interconnections and to monitoring and automatic control systems incorporating the improved image sensor-processor interconnections.

Abstract: A power supply for supplying direct current (DC) power from a pulse width modulated (PWM) source includes a connector configured to be in electrical communication with a PWM power source. A hold-up circuit is in electrical communication with the connector and is configured to convert electrical power supplied from the PWM power source to DC power. This DC power is supplied to a drive circuit where a microcontroller is configured to control the drive circuit by supplying the DC power from the drive circuit to a load.