Abstract: An actigraphy method includes receiving a physiological parameter signal as a function of time for a physiological parameter other than body motion (such as electrocardiography or a respiration monitor), computing a body motion artifact (BMA) signal as a function of time from the physiological parameter signal (for example, using a local signal power signal, a local variance signal, a short-time Fourier transform, or a wavelet transform over epochs of duration on order a few minutes or less), and computing an actigraphy signal as a function of time from the BMA signal, for example by applying a linear transform to the BMA signal and optionally applying filtering such as median removal and/or high-pass filtering.

Abstract: Proposed is a Pulse Transit Time, PTT, measurement concept wherein a forced oscillation technique, FOT, is used to determine a pulse arrival time at alveoli of the lungs of a patient.

Abstract: There is provided a method for measuring the blood pressure of a subject, comprising receiving an acoustic signal comprising an electronic representation of sounds generated by a hemodynamic effect of the subject's heart beats on one or more blood vessels in a body part of a subject; deriving one or more parameters from the received acoustic signal; and calculating a blood pressure value based on the one or more derived parameters.

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: A main stream contains successive content elements of video and/or audio information that encode video and/or audio information at a first data rate. A computation circuit (144) computes main fingerprints from the successive content elements. A reference stream is received having a second data rate lower than the first data rate. The reference stream defines a sequence of the reference fingerprints. A comparator unit (144) compares the main fingerprints with the reference fingerprints. The main stream is monitored for the presence of inserted content elements between original content elements, where the original content elements have main fingerprints that match successive reference fingerprints and the inserted content elements have main fingerprints that do not match reference fingerprints. Rendering of inserted content elements to be skipped. In an embodiment when more than one content element matches only one is rendered.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a state in a subject (12) comprises generating a pacing signal (20) at a first frequency, presenting to the subject an output based upon the generated pacing signal, measuring one or more physiological parameters of the subject, detecting that the measured parameter(s) conform to a desired state in the subject, and either removing the presentation to the subject of the output based upon the generated pacing signal, or generating a new pacing signal at a second frequency, and presenting to the subject an output based upon the generated new pacing signal. The method can further comprise, prior to the detecting that the measured parameter(s) conform to a desired state in the subject, adjusting the pacing signal according to feedback from the measured parameter(s).

Abstract: A parametric loudspeaker system comprises a pre-compensator (305) for generating a pre-compensated envelope signal by applying a pre-compensation to the input audio signal where the pre-compensation compensates for distortion of in-air demodulation of the modulated ultrasound signal. A pre-modulator (307) generates a complex base band signal generating a phase signal from the pre-compensated envelope signal using a predetermined function for determining a phase signal from an amplitude signal such that the corresponding complex signal has either suppressed negative or positive frequencies. The complex base band signal is then generated to have an amplitude corresponding to the pre-compensated envelope signal and a phase corresponding to the phase signal. A modulator (309) quadrature modulates the complex base band signal on an ultrasonic quadrature carrier and an output circuit (311) drives the ultrasound transducer (301) from the modulated signal.

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: A device (1), for calming down a subject, comprises a content delivering means (12,14) adapted for delivering a content in a first mode, at least one sensor (22, 24, 26, 28, 29) configured to detect an activity level of the subject and a controlling unit operatively coupled to the at least one sensor. The controlling unit receives the detected activity level and compares the detected activity level with a pre-determined threshold activity level. The controlling unit is capable of changing the delivery of the content to a second mode when the detected activity level is above the threshold activity level.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a drive signal for a sound transducer (109) comprises a sound generator (101) which provides an input audio signal. A divider (101) divides the input audio signal into at least a low frequency signal and a high frequency signal and an expander (105) generates an expanded signal by applying a dynamic range expansion to the low frequency signal. A combiner (107) then generates the drive signal by combining the expanded signal and the higher frequency signal. The threshold for applying the dynamic range extension may be adjusted depending on the amplitude of the low frequency signal. The low frequency signal may furthermore be compressed into a narrow frequency band around a resonance frequency. The approach may allow improved audio quality especially from high Q low frequency sound transducers by attenuating decay parts of bass signals thereby reducing sustain or ringing for bass notes.

Abstract: A system and methods for automatically commissioning electrical fixtures using sound are disclosed. Electrical fixtures (140-149) detect sounds produced by a sound generator moved along a path (300) through installed fixtures according to a building plan (100). Each electrical fixture may be associated with a mapped fixture location in the building plan by correlating the detected sound with the location of the sound generator along the path.

Abstract: A method and a device for reducing snore annoyances include determining a snore sound pattern of a snoring person to predict an upcoming snore sound level. A faked snore sound is played to flatten the resulting snore sound level.

Abstract: A surround sound system comprises a receiver (301) for receiving a multichannel spatial signal that comprises at least one surround channel. A directional ultrasound transducer (305) is used for emitting ultrasound towards a surface to reach a listening position (111) via a reflection of the surface. The ultrasound signal may specifically reach the listening position from the side, above or behind of a nominal listener. A first drive unit (303) generates a drive signal for the directional ultrasound transducer (301) from the surround channel. The use of an ultrasound transducer for providing the surround sound signal provides an improved spatial experience while allowing the speaker to be located e.g. to the front of the user. In particular, an ultrasound beam is much narrower and well defined than conventional audio beams and can accordingly better be directed to provide the desired reflections. In some scenarios, the ultrasound transducer (305) may be supplemented by an audio range loudspeaker (309).

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a test signal generator (401) which generates an ultrasonic test signal by modulating an audio band test signal on an ultrasonic signal. The ultrasonic test signal is radiated from a parametric loudspeaker (403) and is demodulated by non-linearities in the air. A reflected audio signal may arise from reflections of an object, such as a wall. An audio band sensor (405) generates an audio band captured signal which comprises the demodulated reflected audio band signal. A distance circuit (407) then generates a distance estimate for the distance from the parametric loudspeaker (403) to the object in response to a comparison of the audio band captured signal and the audio band test signal. Specifically two signals may be correlated to determine a delay corresponding to the full path length. Based on the distance estimates an audio environment may be estimated and a sound system may be adapted accordingly.

Abstract: A device (100) for processing data, the device (100) comprising a detection unit (110) adapted for detecting individual reproduction modes indicative of a manner of reproducing the data separately for each of a plurality of human users, and a processing unit (120) adapted for processing the data to thereby generate reproducible data separately for each of the plurality of human users in accordance with the detected individual reproduction modes.

Abstract: A device (1) is arranged for controlling the sound levels of a group of audio channels including a user selected main channel (MC) and at least one auxiliary channel (AC1; AC2). The audio channels can be rendered simultaneously. The device comprises automatic level adjustment means (12, 13) for adjusting the sound level of the at least one auxiliary channel relative to the main channel. The level adjustment means (12, 13) may be arranged for adapting the respective sound levels to the content or signal characteristics of each associated audio channel.

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: This invention relates to thermal management for removing heat generated by a heat source (110). This is done by a combination of a heat conducting member (120), which is thermally connected to the heat source in one end and to a remotely arranged heat sink (130) in the opposite end, and a synthetic jet actuator (140). The synthetic jet actuator is arranged to provide active cooling directly onto the heat source by generating and directing an air flow towards the heat source. The synthetic jet actuator comprises a resonator cavity housing (150) and an oscillating member (160). The oscillator member is arranged at least partly inside said resonator cavity. The combination of the heat conducting member and the synthetic jet actuator provides a highly efficient cooling.

Abstract: A beamforming system (ASY) comprises a modular transducer assembly (MTA) composed of a plurality of transducer modules (TM1, TM2, TM3). A transducer module comprises a plurality of interfaces having different geometrical orientations. An interface allows the transducer module to be physically coupled to another transducer module. In a reconnaissance phase, the beamforming system identifies transducer modules that are present in the modular transducer assembly (MTA). The beamforming system further identifies a structure in accordance with which the transducer modules have been physically coupled to each other. In a configuration phase, the beamforming system defines a signal relationship between the transducer modules on the basis of identification data that has been obtained in the reconnaissance phase and a desired directional response pattern.

Abstract: The invention relates to a breath pacing apparatus, comprising a haptic output unit with a variable haptically perceivable feature, said haptic output unit being provided to change said haptically perceivable feature periodically according to a sequence of desired respiration cycles, wherein a characteristic of the change of said haptically perceivable feature is related to the length of the respiration cycles. The invention is further related to a corresponding method for pacing the respiration of a person.