Abstract: A hinged system includes a preassembled hinge module for pivotally coupling a first component to a second component. The preassembled hinge module includes a shaft, a torque element frictionally engaging the shaft, and a housing. The housing includes a cover, a side wall, and a rear wall that define an interior space enclosed within the housing. The interior space receives the torque element inside the housing. The cover defines a first aperture, and the rear wall defines a second aperture, the first aperture and the second aperture aligned with a pivot axis of the shaft. The shaft extends through at least the first aperture, the interior space, and the second aperture. The shaft is separate from, and configured to be mounted to, the first component. The housing is separate from, and configured to be mounted to, the second component.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for performing enhancement on an audio signal to generate an enhanced audio signal in response to feedback indicative of amount of compression applied to at least one frequency band of the enhanced audio signal. In typical embodiments, the enhancement is or includes bass enhancement. Examples of other types of enhancement performed in other embodiments include dialog enhancement, upmixing, frequency shifting, harmonic injection or transposition, subharmonic injection, virtualization, and equalization. Other aspects are systems (e.g., programmed processors) and devices (e.g., devices having physically-limited bass reproduction capabilities, such as, for example, a notebook, tablet, mobile phone, or other device with small speakers) configured to perform any embodiment of the method.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of excursion protection of a loudspeaker. The method includes attenuating selected bands in a transform domain, controlled by a feedback signal resulting from an excursion transfer function that has been modified according to the real-time operational characteristics of the loudspeaker. In this manner, the system reduces the amount of wideband attenuation needed to address the predicted excursion, resulting in a better listening experience.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for performing enhancement on an audio signal to generate an enhanced audio signal in response to feedback indicative of amount of compression applied to at least one frequency band of the enhanced audio signal. In typical embodiments, the enhancement is or includes bass enhancement. Examples of other types of enhancement performed in other embodiments include dialog enhancement, upmixing, frequency shifting, harmonic injection or transposition, subharmonic injection, virtualization, and equalization Other aspects are systems (e.g., programmed processors) and devices (e.g., devices having physically-limited bass reproduction capabilities, such as, for example, a notebook, tablet, mobile phone, or other device with small speakers) configured to perform any embodiment of the method.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of excursion protection of a loudspeaker. The method includes attenuating selected bands in a transform domain, controlled by a feedback signal resulting from an excursion transfer function that has been modified according to the real-time operational characteristics of the loudspeaker. In this manner, the system reduces the amount of wideband attenuation needed to address the predicted excursion, resulting in a better listening experience.

Abstract: An audio peak limiter apparatus which calculates a smoothed sequence of gains for application to a sequence of blocks of samples of an audio signal. The apparatus sometimes calculates a candidate gain, to replace a too-large smoothed gain, such that applying the candidate gain would produce no scaled sample whose magnitude exceeds a predetermined limit. The apparatus sometimes calculates and stores a final gain to replace the too-large smoothed gain (where the final gain can be obtained e.g. by dividing the to-be-replaced smoothed gain by a prior smoothed gain and multiplying the result by the corresponding prior final gain), if it is determined that the candidate gain is not less than the immediately previous final gain.

Abstract: An audio peak limiter apparatus which calculates a smoothed sequence of gains for application to a sequence of blocks of samples of an audio signal. The apparatus sometimes calculates a candidate gain, to replace a too-large smoothed gain, such that applying the candidate gain would produce no scaled sample whose magnitude exceeds a predetermined limit. The apparatus sometimes calculates and stores a final gain to replace the too-large smoothed gain (where the final gain can be obtained e.g. by dividing the to-be-replaced smoothed gain by a prior smoothed gain and multiplying the result by the corresponding prior final gain), if it is determined that the candidate gain is not less than the immediately previous final gain.

Abstract: A semicircular vehicle battery having a battery housing defined by a curved wall surface enclosed by a top surface and a bottom surface. The curved wall surface further defines an open center area and opposing ends. A first terminal and a second terminal are attached to the battery housing, the first and second terminals providing points of electrical connection to the battery. The battery is arranged to be mounted to a vehicle within a spare tire cavity.

Abstract: A semicircular vehicle battery having a battery housing defined by a curved wall surface enclosed by a top surface and a bottom surface. The curved wall surface further defines an open center area and opposing ends. A first terminal and a second terminal are attached to the battery housing, the first and second terminals providing points of electrical connection to the battery. The battery is arranged to be mounted to a vehicle within a spare tire cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for distributing a charge falling onto an article. The apparatus includes a baffle to present a continuous deflection surface to the falling charge, the deflection surface deflecting at least a portion of the charge radially outwardly, and a guide arranged downstream of the baffle to deflect at least a portion of the charge radially inwardly to cause the charge to fall onto the article with a required distribution. The baffle and the guide may be adjustably mounted such that the relative positions of the guide and the baffle can be adjusted to achieve a desired distribution of the charge.