Abstract: The invention relates to a speech recognition assembly for acoustically controlling a function of a motor vehicle, wherein the speech recognition assembly comprises a microphone disposed in the motor vehicle for inputting a voice command, a data base disposed in the motor vehicle in which respectively at least one meaning is allocated to phonetic representations of voice commands and an on-board-speech-recognition-system disposed in the motor vehicle for determining a meaning of the voice command by use of a meaning of a phonetic representation of a voice command stored in the data base, and wherein the speech recognition assembly further comprises an off-board-speech-recognition-system disposed spatially separated from the motor vehicle for determining a meaning of the voice command.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention contemplate the formation of a high efficiency solar cell using novel methods to form the active region(s) and the metal contact structure of a solar cell device. In one embodiment, the methods include the use of various etching and patterning processes that are used to define point contacts through a blanket dielectric layer covering a surface of a solar cell substrate. The method generally includes depositing an etchant material that enables formation of a desired pattern in a dielectric layer through which electrical contacts to the solar cell device can be formed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention contemplate formation of a low cost solar cell using novel methods and apparatus to form a metal contact structure. The method generally uses a conductive contact layer that enables formation of a good electrical contact to the solar cell device. In one case, the contact layer is a nickel containing layer. Various deposition techniques may be used to form the metal contact structure.

Abstract: A speech communications system for a vehicle includes a microphone system provided in the vehicle interior in order to detect audio information. An interaction manager provides grammar information to a speech recognizer. The speech recognizer provides speech recognition results to the interaction manager. An acoustic echo canceller eliminates portions of the audio information detected by the microphone system. A sound localizer determines a sound source location in the vehicle interior. A method of operating a speech communications system in a vehicle is also provided. An interruptible text-to-speech operation provides a speech output to a user. Voice information is requested from the user for a maximum number of times if insufficient voice information or no voice information is provided in response to the speech output provided by the interruptible text-to-speech operation. The dialog context of an unfinished speech interaction is saved.

Abstract: A method and system to parameterize a spoken language dialog system, includes providing a storage area to store at least one parameter value, integrating a subcomponent with at least one module of the spoken language dialog system, and configuring the subcomponent to access the at least one parameter value and to adjust an operation or output of the module based on the at least one parameter value.