Abstract: An apparatus processes an acoustic input signal to provide an output signal with reduced noise. The apparatus weights the input signal based on a frequency-dependent weighting function. A frequency-dependent threshold function bounds the weighting function from below.

Abstract: A system used in a loudspeaker-room-microphone environment includes a microphone signal partitioner that divides a signal from a microphone into one or more divided portions. A reverberation energy estimator estimates reverberation energy in some of the divided portions of the microphone signal based on a loudspeaker signal. The estimated reverberation energy is processed to generate a dereverberated output signal.

Abstract: A system locates a speaker in a room containing a loudspeaker and a microphone array. The loudspeaker transmits a sound that is partly reflected by a speaker. The microphone array detects the reflected sound and converts the sound into a microphone signal. A processor determines the speaker's direction relative to the microphone array, the speaker's distance from the microphone array, or both, based on the characteristics of the microphone signals.

Abstract: A voice control system allows a user to control a device through voice commands. The voice control system includes a speech recognition unit that receives a control signal from a mobile device and a speech signal from a user. The speech recognition unit configures speech recognition settings in response to the control signal to improve speech recognition.

Abstract: A bandwidth extension system extends the bandwidth of an acoustic signal. By shifting a portion of the signal by a frequency value, the system generates an upper bandwidth extension signal. An extended bandwidth acoustic signal may be generated from the acoustic signal, the upper bandwidth extension signal, and/or a lower bandwidth extension signal.

Abstract: An audio enhancement refines a short-time spectrum. The refinement may reduce overlap between audio sub-bands. The sub-bands are transformed into sub-band short-time spectra. A portion of the spectra are time-delayed. The sub-band short-time spectrum and the time-delayed portion are filtered to obtain a refined sub-band short-time spectrum. The refined spectrum improves audio processing.

Abstract: A sampling rate conversion system reduces the signal processing burdens carried by cellular phones, headsets, and other electronic devices. Because the system consumes fewer resources to convert between signal sampling rates, the system may significantly reduce processing time and resource requirements in the device. As a result, the device may instead devote resources to performing other useful tasks, such as interacting with the user through a graphical user interface and performing selected processing tasks.

Abstract: A speech dialog system interfaces a user to a computer. The system includes a signal pre-processor that processes a speech input to generate an enhanced signal and an analysis signal. A speech recognition unit may generate a recognition result based on the enhanced signal. A control unit may manage an output unit or an external device based on the information within the analysis signal.

Abstract: An echo reduction system includes a signal analysis filter that converts an input into sub-band signals. A signal down-sampling circuit down-samples the sub-band signals at a first down-sampling rate. An echo analysis filter converts a loudspeaker signal into echo sub-band signal that are further processed by an echo down-sampling circuit. The circuit down-samples the echo sub-band signals at a second down-sampling rate to generate down-sampled echo sub-band signals. An echo compensation filter folds the down-sampled echo sub-band signals with an estimated impulse response of a loudspeaker-room-input system. A second echo down-sampling circuit down-samples the folded down-sampled echo sub-band signals at a third down-sampling rate to generate estimated echo sub-band signals. The first down-sampling rate is equal to the product of the second and third down-sampling rates.

Abstract: A signal processing system enhances a speech input signal. A signal reconstruction circuit receives the speech input signal and extracts a spectral envelope. The signal reconstruction circuit generates an excitation signal based on the input signal, and generates a reconstructed speech signal based on the extracted spectral envelope and an excitation signal. A combining circuit combines the noise reduced signal and the reconstructed speech signal. Signal reconstruction and signal combinations may be based on a signal-to-noise ratio of the speech signal or another input.

Abstract: The invention relates to micromechanical mirrors with a high-reflection coating for the deep-ultraviolet (DUV) and vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) spectral range, based on a substrate which is coated with an aluminium layer and a transparent blooming coating. Likewise the invention relates to a method for the production of such micromechanical layers with a high-reflection coating and to the use thereof for the production of microsensors, optical data stores or video and data projection displays.

Abstract: A multilayer film, capable of withstanding high thermal stresses, with silver as functional layer, a sacrificial metal layer placed on top of the silver layer and antireflection dielectric layers, has a metal nitride layer between the silver layer and the sacrificial metal layer. This metal nitride layer is composed in particular of Si3N4 and/or AlN and constitutes an effective diffusion barrier. The optical and energy properties of the silver layer consequently remain, for the most part, preserved, even after undergoing high thermal stresses (for example of the bending or toughening type when curving and/or prestressing a window pane provided with the multilayer film).

Abstract: A quality control system in disease management services for the enlightenment, development and motivation of patients in conjunction with telemonitoring of critical body values and, resulting from this, early recognition of risk situations, wherein random generators are used to create a virtual patient from the admissible patient data, wherein a random selection is made from the available hardware components, and wherein, likewise randomly generated, a random event is selected from a list of possible events in the disease management process, the system reaction when this event is run through being assessed by an expert system by using the reference responses known to the system in order to trace errors.

Abstract: Quality control system in Disease Management Services involving education, development and motivation of patients suffering from widespread chronic diseases, such as diabetes, asthma or hypertension, possibly involving telemonitoring of critical body values and resultant early identification and avoidance of risk situations, where an automatic delivery monitoring facility is provided which monitors the receipt of all messages and information by the patients and, if appropriate, informs a control station in order to eliminate access problems.

Abstract: A glass pane is provided with a multilayer system having metallic reflection and a high thermal resistance. The multilayer system comprises a dielectric base layer, a metal layer having a high reflection, made of chromium or a metal alloy containing at least 45 wt % chromium, and a nitride top layer. The dielectric base layer is composed of at least one oxide partial layer made of SnO2, ZnO and/or TiO2, close to the surface of the glass, and a nitride partial layer, close to the metal layer.

Abstract: A low-emissivity multilayer system, capable of being bent and prestressed, for glazing panes, with silver as functional layer, comprises a sacrificial metal layer of Ti or an alloy of Ti and Zn and/or Al placed above the silver layer, antireflection dielectric layers and an oxide, nitride or oxynitride covering layer. The sacrificial metal layer contains chemically bonded hydrogen. An optionally Al- and/or In-doped ZnO layer is adjacent to the sacrificial metal layer. The covering layer consists of a titanium compound. Multilayer systems of this type can be manufactured relatively inexpensively and have a high hardness and a high chemical resistance. Their color parameters are very reproducible, even in the case of a heat treatment at high temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control module for fluid control in injection systems, having a valve body (2) in which valve needles (6, 24) of control valves (5, 17) are received. With these control valves (5, 17), the pressure buildup or pressure relief of control chambers (30) or nozzle chambers of injectors can be varied. The control valves (5, 17) in the valve body (2) are electromagnetically actuatable, and magnet coils are received in recesses (9, 20) of insert elements (19, 32) or in recesses (9) in the valve body itself.

Abstract: The cosmetic agent contains from 0.01 to 10 percent by weight of at least one silane of formula RmSiX4-m, wherein m=0 to 4, R is a nonhydrolyzable organic group and X is a hydrolysable group, or a salt thereof. The method for improving the condition of hair, particularly in terms of protection, hardening, strengthening, sealing, restructuring, repairing, stabilizing, enhancing the luster, facilitating the combability and shortening the hair-drying time, includes bringing the aforesaid cosmetic agent into contact with the hair for a period of 10 seconds to 60 minutes at a temperature between 20° C. and 60° C.

Abstract: A multilayer system for the surface-coating of transparent substrates, particularly a low emission (Low-E) multilayer system for glass glazing, has at least one layer of mixed oxides produced by reactive sputtering from a metal target alloy. The layer of mixed oxides is made up of ZnO and TiO2 at at least one of the oxides Al2O3, Ga2O3 and Sb2O3. It can act as an upper and/or lower antireflection layer, as a partial layer of an antireflection layer and/or as a top coat. Such a multilayer system is characterized by a high hardness and by very good resistance to a maritime environmental.

Abstract: A low-emissivity multilayer system, capable of being bent and prestressed, for glazing panes, with silver as functional layer, comprises a sacrificial metal layer of Ti or an alloy of Ti and Zn and/or Al placed above the silver layer, antireflection dielectric layers and an oxide, nitride or oxynitride covering layer. The sacrificial metal layer contains chemically bonded hydrogen. An optionally Al- and/or In-doped ZnO layer is adjacent to the sacrificial metal layer. The covering layer consists of a titanium compound. Multilayer systems of this type can be manufactured relatively inexpensively and have a high hardness and a high chemical resistance. Their color parameters are very reproducible, even in the case of a heat treatment at high temperature.