Abstract: A microphone sensitivity difference correction device includes a detection section that detects a frequency domain signal expressing a stationary noise, based on frequency domain signals of input sound signals respectively input from plural microphones; a first correction section that employs the stationary noise to compute a first correction coefficient for correcting the sensitivity difference between the plural microphones by a frame unit; and a second correction section that employs the frequency domain signals that have been corrected by the first correction section to compute a second correction coefficient for correcting by frequency unit the sensitivity difference between the plural microphones for each of the frames.

Abstract: A loudspeaker system for a motor vehicle has at least one loudspeaker and a structure to which the loudspeaker is fitted. The at least one loudspeaker is fitted to the structure in such a manner that a longitudinal axis of the at least one loudspeaker extends at an angle between 0 and 45° relative to a plane in which the structure extends.

Abstract: An acoustic camera for using a MEMS microphone array comprises: an acoustic sensor apparatus (30) comprising a print circuit board (20) on which the plural of MEMS microphone (10) are mounted, to send signals for the detected sound to a data collection unit (40); a data collection unit (40) connected to the acoustic sensor apparatus (30), which samples analog signals related to sound transmitted from the acoustic sensor apparatus (30) to transform into digital signals and transmit them to the central processing unit (40); a central processing unit (50) connected to the data collection unit (40), which calculates noise level based on digital signals related to sound transmitted from the data collection unit (40); and a display unit (60) which is connected to the central processing unit (50), which displays in color the noise level calculated at the central processing unit.

Abstract: A method for sound source localization in a digital system having at least two audio capture devices is provided that includes receiving audio signals from the two audio capture devices, computing a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for each frequency band of a plurality of frequency bands in a processing frame of the audio signals, determining a frequency band weight for each frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands based on the SNR computed for the frequency band, computing an estimated time delay of arrival (TDOA) of sound for the processing frame using the frequency band weights, and converting the estimated TDOA to an angle representing sound direction.

Abstract: A piezoelectric sound generating element capable of providing flatter and less fluctuated sound pressure frequency characteristics includes a diaphragm that is formed in a circular plate shape with a circular profile. A piezoelectric element is affixed to the side of a bottom wall portion of the diaphragm. The piezoelectric element has an asymmetric octagonal profile including a pair of long side portions opposing each other, a pair of short side portions opposing each other, and four connecting side portions.

Abstract: A deformable electronic device comprises a housing deformable by a user, at least one deformable speaker and a processing unit for selecting a sound reproduction method using the at least one speaker in response to deformation of the electronic device.

Abstract: Provided is a sound reproduction device including a loudspeaker and a superdirective speaker. The loudspeaker is configured so that a sound pressure of audible sound produced therefrom decreases as the sound travels farther away from the loudspeaker. The superdirective speaker is configured so that a sound pressure of audible sound produced therefrom has a peak at a predetermined distance from the superdirective speaker, and is configured to use an ultrasonic wave as a carrier wave. The loudspeaker and the superdirective speaker are positioned such that a loudspeaker sound field of the audible sound produced from the loudspeaker and a superdirective speaker sound field of the audible sound produced from the superdirective speaker overlap with each other at a position of a listener.

Abstract: Electronic devices and accessories for electronic devices such as headsets are provided. The electronic devices may produce audio output. The headsets may include earbuds with speakers that play the audio output for a user while the earbuds are located in the user's ears. Circuitry in an electronic device and a headset may be used in evaluating how well the earbuds are sealed to the user's ears. In response to seal quality measurements, informative messages can be generated for the user, overall earbud volume may be increased, balance adjustments may be made to correct for mismatched balance between left and right earbuds, equalization settings may be adjusted, and noise cancellation circuitry settings can be changed. Electrical impedance measurements and acoustic measurements can be used in evaluating seal quality.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for continuous-time digital signal processing and signal representation are disclosed. This includes a continuous-time analog-to-digital converter that is configured to receive an analog signal and convert it to a continuous-time digital signal without using a clock or any type of sampling. This A/D conversion can include a per-level representation and a per-edge representation of the analog signal to produce a digital signal. The digital signal can then be processed in a continuous-time signal processor. The continuous time signal representation and processing can have benefits such a providing filters in high frequency applications where sampling is not practical.

Abstract: An electronic device may contain an input-output device such as a speaker, vibrator, or near field communications antenna. The input-output device may include an inductor. The inductor in the input-output device may be shared by wireless charging circuitry in the electronic device so that wireless charging signals can be converted into power to charge a battery in the electronic device. A separate inductor may also be provided within an input-output device to support wireless charging. A drive circuit may supply drive signals to the input-output device such as audio signals, vibrator control signals, or near field communications output signals for external near field communications equipment. An input amplifier that is coupled across the inductor in the input-output device may be used in receiving near field communications signals.

Abstract: An FSK transceiver for use in a hearing aid has means for automatic tuning of the transceiver frequency. The automatic tuning means comprises a phase difference detector and a tuning manager adapted to control the frequency of a resonant circuit of the FSK transceiver according to information received from the phase difference detector. The phase difference detector measures the phase difference across a component of the resonant circuit of the FSK transceiver. If the phase difference of a binary FSK symbol is equal to the phase difference of the opposite binary FSK symbol, the resonant circuit is tuned, otherwise the tuning manager performs a tuning procedure in order to minimize the difference in phase differences, and adjusts the frequency of the resonant circuit accordingly.

Abstract: A facility is provided for the wireless resonant charging of rechargeable hearing instruments. The hearing instrument is freely positionable in a charging device for charging purposes. The charging device for the wireless charging has a transmit antenna arrangement, a transmit amplifier for actuating the transmit antenna arrangement and a charging space. The transmit antenna arrangement has two feeding points, which are spatially arranged in relation to the charging space such that a circularly polarized electromagnetic field can thus be generated in the charging space. The transmit amplifier actuates the antennas accordingly to generate a circularly polarized electromagnetic field in the charging space. In the process a coil arrangement generates a circularly polarized HF field. A good resonant coupling, even with a tilted hearing instrument, is possible, in other words with an undetermined and unpredictable orientation and position of the receive coil of the hearing instrument.

Abstract: An apparatus including at least two speakers and at least one controller. Each speaker includes at least one vibrating element, and one or more display elements. The vibrating elements are configured to at least partially move the one or more display elements to generate sound waves from the one or more display elements. The at least one controller is connected to the vibrating elements of the at least two speakers and the one or more display elements. The at least one controller is configured to control display of at least one image on the one or more display elements, and/or control driving of the vibrating elements to generate sounds from at least one of the at least two speakers.

Abstract: A mobile microphone assembly (10) has at least one microphone (40, 42) for generating an audio signal output (52) from sound impinging on the least one microphone, an acceleration sensor (48) for sensing the acceleration acting on the microphone assembly with regard to three orthogonal axes and for providing for an acceleration signal according to the sensed acceleration, and a control unit (50) for judging, by analyzing the acceleration signal, whether there is a drop-down event of the microphone assembly and for interrupting the audio signal output during a drop-down event.

Abstract: A headset includes an enclosure holding a speaker and a microphone. The enclosure includes: a main body portion which holds the speaker and in which an earphone portion attached to an ear is provided; a microphone holding portion which holds the microphone; and a coupling portion which couples the main body portion to the microphone holding portion. When a side where the earphone portion is provided is a front surface side of the enclosure, in a side surface portion of the microphone holding portion, a sound hole communicating with the microphone is formed.

Abstract: The invention pertains to headphones that can be folded into a compact size and carried around while they are out of use. To improve operability in collapsing and expanding operations, headphone units are attached to joint portions on respective ends of a headphone band that are movable via vertical movement mechanisms. The vertical movement mechanisms include a pair of suspending members provided on both sides of respective joint portions that are slidable in opposing directions, a holding means arranged between the suspending members, and a pair of rotating members. One end portion of the rotating members is attached to the holding means, which are rotatable via synchronous rotation means. One end portion of the respective rotating members rotatably attaches to a corresponding suspending member, so the holding means is movable in a vertical direction with respect to the suspending members via the rotating members.

Abstract: A headphone includes an acoustic transducer having a sound-radiating surface that moves along a first axis, a housing enclosing the acoustic transducer, a first acoustic chamber defined by a first side of the acoustic transducer and a first portion of the housing, the first acoustic chamber including a first reactive port in a serial configuration with an acoustic resistance to couple the first acoustic chamber with space outside the headphone, a second acoustic chamber defined by a second side of the acoustic transducer and a second portion of the housing, the second acoustic chamber separated from the first acoustic chamber by the acoustic transducer, and an opening coupling the second acoustic chamber to the wearer's ear canal along a second axis that is not parallel to the first axis.

Abstract: An earpiece with structure for positioning and retaining the earpiece and with structure for sealing against the entrance to the ear canal to provide passive noise attenuation. The positioning and retaining structure engages features of the lateral surface of the ear. The structure for sealing against the entrance to the ear canal includes a conical structure.

Abstract: A sound output mechanism of a mobile device capable of outputting visual and sound signals, for example, a smart phone, tablet PC, MP4 (including MP3) has an image output unit and a sound processing unit. The image output unit of the mobile device is arranged on the entire surface of a main body and the sound processing unit for outputting vibration power and sound is firmly secured at the inside thereof without increasing the volume or the area thereof.

Abstract: After beaten, pulp is mixed with a filler to obtain a mixture of the pulp and the filler. Additives are added to the mixture, which is made into pater and then hot-pressed. The filler content of the mixture is in the range of 20 wt % to 80 wt %. After the additives are added, a polymeric viscosity improver with high viscosity is added to produce a narrow diaphragm or a thin compact diaphragm with high aspect ratio. These diaphragms have high rigidity and a wide reproduction frequency range.

Abstract: An inner magnet type microspeaker including a suspension is provided which can maximize the size of a magnet. The inner magnet type microspeaker includes: a frame; a yoke installed inside of the frame and including a bottom surface and sidewalls bent upward from the bottom surface; a magnet bonded to an inside of the yoke; a voice coil located in a gap portion between the sidewalls of the yoke and the magnet; a diaphragm that vibrates by the voice coil; and a suspension where the voice coil is attached, and which guides vibrations of the diaphragm and the voice coil and includes a ring-shaped inner peripheral portion and an outer peripheral portion that surrounds the inner peripheral portion, spaced a predetermined distance apart from the inner peripheral portion, with one end and the other end being connected to the inner peripheral portion.

Abstract: A diaphragm for an audio speaker includes an outer shell and an inner shell. Each shell has a face portion and an edge portion that is formed to be substantially perpendicular to the face portion. The inner shell is inserted into the outer shell such that at least a part of the edge portion of each shell is in contact with at least a part of the edge portion of the other shell and a space is formed between the face portions of each shell. A cellular core fills the space formed between the face portions of each shell and is bonded to the face portion of each shell. The outer and inner shells may have identical sizes and shapes such that there is an interference fit between the contacting edge portions. A voice coil may be supported by the edge portions.

Abstract: A digital watermark embedding system generates a watermarked image by providing one or more specific regions in an image, each specific region including two or more base regions symmetric with respect to the centroid, and by embedding a watermark in the image while avoiding the specific region. Further, a digital watermark detecting system detects a watermark in a region other than the specific region, by detecting the shape of the specific region in which no watermark is embedded, calculating the centroid position of the specific region as a centroid, and correcting geometric transformation of the image based on the location in the image that corresponds to one or more calculated centroids.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the automatic verification of the authenticity of a postage indicium that has a value indication and that has a luminescent area, whereby the postage indicium has been applied onto the surface of a mailpiece, and whereby the surface of the mailpiece is illuminated with light having wavelengths from a spectral region, then a first image of the surface of the mailpiece is taken with a camera system and this first image is evaluated regarding the place of the postage indicia applied onto the surface of the mailpiece, subsequently the postage indicium is irradiated with light having wavelengths from a second spectral region, whereby this light is capable of exciting the luminescence of the luminescent printing ink.

Abstract: A method of determining hand features information using both two dimensional (2D) image data and three dimensional (3D) image data is described. In one implementation, a method includes: receiving a 2D image frame; receiving 3D image data corresponding to the 2D image frame; using the 3D image data corresponding to the 2D image frame, transforming the 2D image frame; and using the 3D image data corresponding to the 2D image frame, scaling the 2D image frame, where the transforming and scaling results in a normalized 2D image frame, where the normalized 2D image frame is a scaled and transformed version of the 2D image frame, and where the scaling and transforming is performed using a computer.

Abstract: A system for contamination monitoring includes a tracking component, a material identification component, a procedural component, and a notification component. The tracking component tracks an individual and one or more objects in a work area using a three-dimensional tracking system. The material identification component identifies a material of the one or more objects based on a captured image. The procedural component determines that an object of the one or more objects is contaminated based on tracked locations of the one or more objects and the individual. The notification component provides a notification of the contamination.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying a position of a surface on an aircraft. Image data for an image of the surface on the aircraft is received. The image data is processed to determine whether the position of the surface on the aircraft is a desired position. A surface position identification report comprising information identifying whether the position of the surface on the aircraft is the desired position is generated.

Abstract: A system for and a method of tracking a target area in a video clip. In an embodiment, a video clip comprising a sequence of frames is obtained. The video clip includes a frame having an identified target area. A plane is identified in three-dimensional space for the target area, the target area being defined by a set a points on the plane. A position of the target area is estimated in a next frame of the video clip. A transformation matrix is generated from the position of the target area in the next frame. The transformation matrix is applied to the target area to determine its position in the next frame of the video clip. Data representing the position of the target area is stored a data storage device. The target area can be tracked for each frame of the video clip in which at least a portion of the target area appears. Image data can be inserted into the tracked target area of each frame of the video clip.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and articles associated with facial tracking and recognition are disclosed. In embodiments, facial images may be detected in video or still images and tracked. After normalization of the facial images, feature data may be extracted from selected regions of the faces to compare to associated feature data in known faces. The selected regions may be determined using a boosting machine learning processes over a set of known images. After extraction, individual two-class comparisons may be performed between corresponding feature data from regions on the tested facial images and from the known facial image. The individual two-class classifications may then be combined to determine a similarity score for the tested face and the known face. If the similarity score exceeds a threshold, an identification of the known face may be output or otherwise used. Additionally, tracking with voting may be performed on faces detected in video.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a wearable display-based remote collaboration apparatus and method. The wearable display-based remote collaboration apparatus includes an image acquisition unit, a recognition unit, an image processing unit, and a visualization unit. The image acquisition unit obtains image information associated with the present point of time of a worker. The recognition unit recognizes the location and motion of the worker based on the obtained image information. The image processing unit matches a virtual object, corresponding to an object of work included in the obtained image information, with the image information, and matches a motion of the object of work, matched with the image information, with the image information based on manipulation information. The visualization unit visualizes the image information processed by the image processing unit, and outputs the visualized image information.

Abstract: A camera tracking apparatus including a sequence image input unit configured to obtain one or more image frames by decoding an input two-dimensional image, a two-dimensional feature point tracking unit configured to obtain a feature point track by extracting feature points from respective image frames obtained by the sequence image input unit, and comparing the extracted feature points with feature points extracted from a previous image frame, to connect feature points determined to be similar, and a three-dimensional reconstruction unit configured to reconstruct the feature point track obtained by the two-dimensional feature point tracking unit.

Abstract: A method of tracking a moving object includes measuring displacement of an object to be tracked, obtaining a particle of the object to be tracked using the measured displacement, and tracking the object using pose information of the object in an image thereof and the obtained particle. A control apparatus includes an imaging module to perform imaging of an object and generates an image, and a tracking unit to acquire displacement and pose information of the object using the generated image of the object, to set a particle of the object using the acquired displacement of the object, and to track the object using the pose information of the object and the particle.

Abstract: The distance to a target vehicle is calculated. To achieve this, a target vehicle traveling ahead is imaged and it is determined to what vehicle group, such as a light-duty vehicle group, standard passenger car group or heavy-duty vehicle group, the image of the target vehicle belongs. Representative vehicle widths are stored in a vehicle group table on a per-vehicle-group basis. The distance from one's own vehicle to a target vehicle is calculated using the vehicle width that corresponds to the vehicle group decided.

Abstract: The distance to a target vehicle is calculated comparatively accurately. To achieve this, a target vehicle traveling ahead of one's own vehicle is imaged by a camera and it is determined to what vehicle group, such as a light-duty vehicle group, standard passenger car group or heavy-duty vehicle group, the image of the target vehicle belongs. A first distance from one's own vehicle to the target vehicle is calculated by a circuit using the representative vehicle width of the vehicle group decided. A vanishing point is detected from the captured image by a vanishing point detection circuit and a second distance from one's own vehicle to the target vehicle is calculated utilizing the vanishing point. The distance to the target vehicle is decided from the first and second distances by a distance decision circuit, wherein the shorter the distance to the vanishing point, the more the value of a weighting coefficient of the second distance is reduced.

Abstract: An object detection apparatus mounted in a vehicle for detecting a target object in various changing environmental conditions. In the apparatus, a storage prestores plural image recognition dictionaries each describing reference data for the target object, and plural image recognition techniques each used to detect the target object from an input image with use of one of the plural image recognition dictionaries. A first acquirer acquires an operating state of a lighting device of the vehicle. A selector selects, according to the acquired operating state of the lighting device, one of the plural of image recognition dictionaries and one of the plural of image recognition techniques. A detector detects the target object in the input image by applying image recognition processing thereto with use of the selected image recognition dictionary and technique.

Abstract: A periphery band is around an excluded region. For automatically counting physical objects within the periphery band and the excluded region, an imaging sensor captures: a first image of the periphery band and the excluded region; and a second image of the periphery band and the excluded region. In response to the first image, a first number is counted of physical objects within the periphery band and the excluded region. Relevant motion is automatically detected within the periphery band, while ignoring motion within the excluded region. In response to the second image, a second number is counted of physical objects within the periphery band and the excluded region. In response to determining that a discrepancy exists between the detected relevant motion and the second number, the discrepancy is handled.

Abstract: A method and system for occlusion region detection and measurement between a pair of images are disclosed. A processing device receives a first image and a second image. The processing device estimates a field of motion vectors between the first image and the second image. The processing device motion compensates the first image toward the second image to obtain a motion-compensated image. The processing device compares a plurality of pixel values of the motion-compensated image to a plurality of pixels of the first image to estimate an error field. The processing device inputs the error field to a weighted error cost function to obtain an initial occlusion map. The processing device regularizes the initial occlusion map to obtain a regularized occlusion map.

Abstract: Various embodiments allow scanning by a shopper using a barcode reader (e.g., a scanner) attached to or positioned near the shopping receptacle. As items are scanned, they are identified based on their barcode and added to an item list. Item verification can then performed at checkout using imaging technology. For example, the shopping cart or shopping basket can be brought into the field of view of a computer-connected camera. The camera and computer can, working from the customer's item list developed when the items are scanned, observe each product in the receptacle and ring it up. If all products can be accounted for, the customer is free to leave; otherwise the customer is denied egress, informed of the problem, etc. A store employee can also be signaled to investigate.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to receive a trailer image. The processor is also configured to identify an axle in the trailer image and identify a tongue-end in the trailer image. Further, the processor is configured to receive a tire image, including a wheel diameter provided on a tire. The processor is additionally configured to retrieve the wheel diameter from the tire image. The processor is also configured to identify a wheel, having an indentified diameter corresponding to the wheel diameter, in the first image. Additionally, the processor is configured to calculate a distance from the axle to the tongue-end using the identified diameter.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for obtaining information from objects attached to a vehicle. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for receiving one or more camera images from a front-facing camera attached to a vehicle; locating, from the one or more camera images, one or more region of interest (ROI) images; processing the one or more ROI images; outputting the one or more processed ROI images to a display within the vehicle; receiving radio frequency identification (RFID) information from a RFID reader attached to a front portion of the vehicle; and outputting one or more commands based at least in part on one or more of the RFID information or the processing of the one or more ROI images.

Abstract: A prepaid card 2 retaining a prepaid code 31 has a marker 3a that is capable of determining a position and attitude relative to an imaging device 15 by being imaged by the imaging device. The prepaid code 31 is information that enables predetermined value or content to be acquired without handing over the prepaid card 2.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating movement of a vehicle using stereo image matching is provided, which divides the stereo image information into ground, background and object labels and measures information about rotation and movement of the vehicle using the label and background labels.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for detecting different subjects on the basis of vital signs are disclosed. The proposed apparatus comprises an image detection unit for detecting radiation from a field of view and for providing image data from the field of view, a detection unit for defining image sections in the image data and for detecting movement pattern in the different image sections, an identification unit for identifying vital signs in the different image section on the basis of the movement pattern, and an analysis unit for analysing the image data, wherein the analysis unit is adapted to detect the different subjects in the field of view on the basis of a spatial separation of the image sections or of groups of image sections in which the vital signs are identified.

Abstract: A method for determining a structural image of a pane, the structural image being suitable for the detection of a visibility impairment of the pane, especially raindrops. The method includes a step of removing a background brightness from an image of the pane, on which image a surface of the pane is shown in focus and a background of the pane is shown out of focus, in order to determine a structural image of the pane. In a further step, accentuation of image structures present in the structural image is carried out in order to determine an enhanced structural image of the pane.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of determining particle size and a computer-readable medium storing instructions to execute such a method are presented. The method entails obtaining an image of at least one particle and a calibration mark, wherein the particle and the calibration mark were captured using the same lens, correcting the image for distortion effects to generate a corrected image, wherein the same correction factor is applied to both the particle and the calibration mark, and determining a size of the particle using the corrected image. The method may be useful for obtaining the target size of coffee grounds that will produce the desired flavor. Coffee grounds may be sprinkled on a surface with the calibration mark and imaged with the calibration mark such that the correction factor for the calibration mark can be used to determine the particle size range of the coffee grounds.

Abstract: An information obtaining device includes: an obtaining section configured to obtain biological information of a user and an information pattern formed in a display panel or on a paper surface; a collation section configured to collate the biological information of the user obtained by the obtaining section with pre-registered biological information; an authentication section configured to authenticate the user on the basis of a collation result of the collation section; and a control section configured to control whether to start a process of reading the information pattern, on the basis of an authentication result of the authentication section, the process including a process of obtaining the information pattern by the obtaining section.

Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed for automatic image editing. One embodiment is a method for editing an image in an image editing device that comprises obtaining the image and analyzing attributes of the image, wherein the attributes correspond to facial attributes of at least one individual shown in the image. The method further comprises retrieving from a database a modification previously obtained by the image editing device, wherein retrieving the modification is performed based on the analyzed attributes of the image. The retrieved modification is applied to the image based on the attributes of the image.

Abstract: An authentication apparatus includes a feature acquiring unit that acquires a feature of an authentication target; an extracting unit that extracts one or more registered persons having features similar to the acquired feature; a determining unit that determines whether any registered person having a feature similar to the feature of at least one extracted registered person exits in the registered persons; a first identifying unit that, if the determination is negative, identifies the registered person having the feature having a highest degree of similarity with the acquired feature as the authentication target; a specific information accepting unit that accepts information specific to the authentication target; and a second identifying unit that, if the determination is affirmative and the accepted specific information coincides with the information specific to any extracted registered person, identifies the registered person having the coinciding specific information as the authentication target.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus which communicates with an external apparatus having a face authentication function, comprises a unit which acquires a type of the authentication function of the external apparatus from the external apparatus; a unit which receives image data held in the external apparatus and a face feature amount used by the external apparatus for the authentication function; and a unit which controls, in accordance with a result of comparing a type of a face authentication function of the information processing apparatus with the type of the authentication function of the external apparatus, whether to use the received face feature amount for the authentication function of the information processing apparatus, or to re-generate, from the received image data, a face feature amount corresponding to the type of the authentication function of the information processing apparatus.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensor and fingerprint sensor system especially for integration in a device having an overlay made of an insulating material comprises a plurality of sensing elements positioned on a first side of the overlay; a plurality of probes positioned in a predetermined pattern defining a fingerprint sensing area on a second side of the overlay, the plurality of probes extending from the first side of the overlay at least partially through the overlay; a plurality of conductor leads on the first side of the overlay interconnecting the plurality of probes with the plurality of sensing elements; a plurality of amplifiers connected to the plurality of sensing elements, the number of amplifiers being less than the number of sensing elements; and an activation circuit connected to the plurality of sensing elements, the activation circuit being adapted to output at least one activation signal.