Receiver Circuitry Patents (Class 367/135)
  • Patent number: 8641197
    Abstract: An acoustical receiver for detecting an acoustical signal characterized by a wavelength and a pen transcription system utilizing the same are disclosed. The receiver includes a detector that generates an electrical signal in response to acoustical signals in a predetermined frequency range including that wavelength, a housing surrounding the detector, and a receiving horn. The housing has a housing aperture having a maximum dimension less than the acoustical signal wavelength. The receiving horn has a first opening that is adjacent to the housing aperture and a second aperture having a dimension that is greater than the acoustical signal wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Luidia Inc.
    Inventor: Yao Ding
  • Patent number: 8634275
    Abstract: In an audio processing device, a target sound emphasizer generates a target sound emphasized component by emphasizing a target sound component contained in a plurality of audio signals generated by a plurality of sound receiving devices. A stereo processor generates a stereo component of a plurality of channels from the plurality of audio signals. A first adjuster adjusts a sound pressure level of the target sound emphasized component according to a first adjustment value, and a second adjuster adjusts a sound pressure level of the stereo component according to a second adjustment value. A variable setter variably sets a zoom value which is changeable between a wide angle side and a telephoto side relative to a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunobu Kondo, Kenichi Yamauchi, Hideki Kemmochi
  • Patent number: 8630148
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to drive reactive loads are disclosed. An example apparatus to drive a reactive load includes a reactive component in circuit with the reactive load, a first switching element in circuit with the reactive load to selectively hold the reactive load in a first energy state and to selectively allow the reactive load to change from the first energy state to a second energy state, a second switching element in circuit with the reactive load to selectively hold the reactive load in the second energy state and to selectively allow the reactive load to change from the second energy state to the first energy state, and a controller to detect a current in the reactive load, and to control the first and second switching elements to hold the reactive load in the first or the second energy state when the current traverses a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Abderrhamane Ounadjela, Jacques Jundt, Olivier Moyal, Henri-Pierre Valero, Sandip Bose
  • Patent number: 8599647
    Abstract: A method for listening to ultrasonic animal sound signals comprises: obtaining a plurality of input samples at an input sample rate, the plurality of input samples including at least one sequence of samples corresponding to an instance of an intermittently occurring animal sound signal; receiving a frame including at least two of the plurality of input samples; selecting a fraction of the samples as output samples, the fraction of the samples including a sample containing the at least one sequence of samples corresponding to an instance of an intermittently occurring animal sound signal; and transmitting the output samples at an output sample rate slower than the input sample rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Wildlife Acoustics, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian Agranat
  • Publication number: 20130301392
    Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting audio tokens includes an acoustic transmitter to generate a range of audio frequencies including an infrasonic range, a sonic range, and an ultrasonic range. An audio token generator assembles the audio tokens, which include a timestamp and an identifier, and modulates the audio token in to the range of audio frequencies. A synchronizer determines the timestamp relative to an input audio stream and a mixer mixes the audio stream and the audio token for presentation by the acoustic transmitter. An apparatus for receiving the audio tokens includes an acoustic receiver to receive the range of audio frequencies. An audio token extractor extracts the audio token including the timestamp and the identifier from the range of audio frequencies. An interpreter determines user information responsive to at least one of the timestamp and the identifier and a user interface element present the user information to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventor: Guochun Zhao
  • Publication number: 20130294200
    Abstract: The disclosed electronic apparatus comprises: transmitting means 54 arranged to transmit an ultrasonic signal; receiving means 55 arranged to receive a reflection of the ultrasonic signal from an input object, and to generate a received analogue electrical signal therefrom; a filter 56 arranged to take the received analogue electrical signal as input and to output a filtered analogue electrical signal; and digital processing means 52 configured to control a characteristic of the filter 56, and to use the filtered analogue electrical signal to determine a user input to the electronic apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: ELLIPTIC LABORATORIES AS
    Inventors: Tobias Dahl, Tom Oystein Kavli
  • Patent number: 8565042
    Abstract: Provided is a data reception error reduction system and method in acoustic communication in audible frequency range, and an apparatus applied thereto. The data reception error reduction system in the acoustic communication in audible frequency range may be configured to reduce a data reception error in a receiver by taking into consideration that a sound signal is noisy and is significantly affected by a change in the ambient environment when the acoustic communication is performed in the audio frequency band through modification of an audio signal or adding of a predetermined signal to an audio signal. Accordingly, the data reception error may be reduced in the receiver even in an environment where a sound signal is noisy and is significantly affected by a change in the ambient environment, and reliability of data transmission may increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignees: SK Telecom Co., Ltd, SNU R&DB Foundation
    Inventors: Dong Keon Kim, Moon Kee Kim, Keun Hwan Choi, Jae Hwang Yu, Min Seok Kim, Nam Soo Kim, Hwan Sik Yun, Ki Ho Cho
  • Publication number: 20130258813
    Abstract: An apparatus for capturing audio information from a target location includes first and second beamformers arranged in a recording environment and having first and second recording characteristics, respectively, and a signal generator. The first and second beamformers are configured for recording first and second beamformer audio signals, respectively, when they are directed towards the target location with respect to the first and second recording characteristics. The first and second beamformers are arranged such that first and second virtual straight lines, defined to pass through the first and second beamformers, respectively, and the target location, are not mutually parallel. The signal generator is configured to generate an audio output signal based on the first and second beamformer audio signals so that the audio output signal reflects relatively more audio information from the target location compared to the audio information from the target location in the first and second beamformer audio signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Juergen HERRE, Fabian KUECH, Markus KALLINGER, Giovanni DEL GALDO, Bernhard GRILL
  • Publication number: 20130258812
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, systems for receiving one or more echoes are provided. The system comprises a first attenuator, a first amplifier, and a second attenuator. The first attenuator is configured to receive the one or more echo signals, and generate a corresponding set of first attenuated echo signals, respectively, based on a number of signal strengths of the one or more echo signals. The first amplifier is configured to receive and amplify the set of first attenuated echo signals to thereby generate a set of first amplified echo signals corresponding to the one or more first attenuated echo signals, respectively. The second attenuator is configured to receive the set of first amplified echo signals and generate a set of second attenuated echo signals corresponding to the set of first amplified echo signals, respectively, based on a number of signal strengths of the set of first amplified echo signals, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Shabbir Amjhera Wala, Shagun Dusad, Sandeep Oswal, Vajeed Nimran
  • Publication number: 20130242703
    Abstract: A footwear seismic communication unit is provided herein. The unit includes footwear attachable to a foot or feet of a user, including at least one sole portion for placing on a ground and at least one seismic transducer device located within said at least one sole. The unit further includes a processing module, a transmitting interface module, and a receiving interface module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventor: Zvi Zlotnick
  • Publication number: 20130223191
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer element chip includes a substrate, a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements and a plate-shaped member. The substrate includes a partition wall section defining a plurality of openings arranged in an array pattern. A wall thickness of the partition wall section is smaller than a wall height of partition wall section. Each of the ultrasonic transducer elements is provided in each of the openings. The plate-shaped member is fixed on a surface of the substrate opposite to a surface of the substrate on which the ultrasonic transducer elements are provided. The plate-shaped member covers at least one of the openings in a plan view seen along a thickness direction of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130223192
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer device includes a substrate, a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements, a wiring substrate and a wiring member. The substrate defines a plurality of openings arranged in an array pattern. Each of the ultrasonic transducer elements is provided in each of the openings on a first surface of the substrate. The wiring substrate is arranged to face a second surface of the substrate that is opposite from the first surface. The wiring substrate includes a first wiring part. The wiring member is connected to the substrate and the wiring substrate. The wiring member includes a second wiring part electrically connecting the ultrasonic transducer elements to the first wiring part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8514662
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product is provided for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data through sonic communication. A method and system is provided for devices to exchange data over the air using a sonic carrier signal. The transmit device has at least one sonic transducer that transmits a sonic carrier signal through the air in accordance with aspects of the present invention. A digital representation of the data is modulated consistent with a modulation protocol using one or more sonic transmission frequencies in accordance with present invention. The sonic transducer transmits the one or more sonic carrier signals carrying the modulated data over the air. Each sonic carrier signal has sufficient gain to carry the signal to a receiver device where the data from the one or more sonic carrier signals is demodulated. Aspects of the present invention receive modulated data through the air using at least one sonic transducer of a receive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Verifone Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Brett Paulson
  • Patent number: 8514661
    Abstract: A transducer for converting an input signal fed to a first input (2) into a corresponding electric output signal that is output via an output (3). The input signal can be processed via an analog transmission path (4) into an analog converter signal. The transducer allows for a quick conversion of the input signal into a corresponding output signal having a high accuracy and suitable for applications having increased safety requirements, wherein the input signal can be additionally processed via a separate digital transmission path (5) into a digital converter signal. The analog converter signal and the digital converter signal are evaluated by an evaluation unit (6) and the evaluation unit (6) generates the electric output signal based on the analog converter signal or the digital converter signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: KG transmitter components GmbH
    Inventor: Udo Galinski
  • Publication number: 20130188457
    Abstract: In at least some embodiments, an ultrasound system includes an ultrasound transducer and a bi-directional transistor coupled to the ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound system also includes an ultrasound receiver coupled to the bi-directional transistor. The bi-directional transistor operates to selectively connect the ultrasound transducer to ground and to selectively connect the ultrasound transducer to the ultrasound receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Max E. NIELSEN, Ricky D. JORDANGER, Ismail H. OGUZMAN
  • Publication number: 20130162953
    Abstract: An acoustical receiver for detecting an acoustical signal characterized by a wavelength and a pen transcription system utilizing the same are disclosed. The receiver includes a detector that generates an electrical signal in response to acoustical signals in a predetermined frequency range including that wavelength, a housing surrounding the detector, and a receiving horn. The housing has a housing aperture having a maximum dimension less than the acoustical signal wavelength. The receiving horn has a first opening that is adjacent to the housing aperture and a second aperture having a dimension that is greater than the acoustical signal wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventor: Yao Ding
  • Publication number: 20130155816
    Abstract: A method includes detecting a signal at a first set of receivers of a plurality of receivers of a device. The plurality of receivers includes the first set of receivers and a second set of receivers. The first set of receivers corresponds to selected receivers and the second set of receivers corresponds to non-selected receivers. The method includes predicting, based on the signal, an expected blockage of a signal path between a source of the signal and a first selected receiver of the first set of receivers, and selecting a particular receiver of the second set of receivers as a newly selected receiver in response to predicting the expected blockage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: QUALCOMM Incorporated
  • Patent number: 8451143
    Abstract: A vehicle presence notification apparatus notifies a presence of a vehicle by providing easily-perceivable and less uncomfortable notification sound outside of the vehicle. The vehicle presence notification apparatus includes: a speaker and a controller. The controller is configured to cause the speaker to generate the notification sound that simultaneously has (i) at least one fundamental high frequency, which is easily perceivable, but annoying to human ears; and (ii) at least one auxiliary low frequency, which is less than the at least one fundamental high frequency and has a harmonic relation with the at least one fundamental high frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiaki Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20130109969
    Abstract: A sampling method for generating a diagnostic image of an object is provided. The sampling method may include receiving an echo signal reflected from an object; sampling the received echo signal by using a sampling frequency and storing the I component data and the Q component data extracted according to a result of the sampling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130107671
    Abstract: A reception circuit disposed within an ultrasound probe is provided. The reception circuit includes, at least one amplifying unit configured to amplify echo signals received by ultrasound transducers, and at least one delay unit connected to the amplifying unit and including a first circuit and a second circuit each configured to apply a delay time to an output from the amplifying unit, wherein the first and second circuits each have a plurality of capacitor banks. Each capacitor bank includes two or more capacitors each configured to write therein a signal amplified by the amplifying unit, wherein the two or more capacitors are different from one another in capacitance, write switches configured to write an output current into the first and second capacitors of the two or more capacitors, and read switches configured to read the output written into the first and second capacitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GE MEDICAL SYSTEMS GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Compan
  • Publication number: 20130107670
    Abstract: An ultrasound receiving method is provided. N return-wave signals corresponding to N channels are respectively stored in N set of shift register arrays. Each set includes a delay filter unit and M shift registers. A delay controller is utilized to assign a set of coefficients to the delay filter unit to perform an interpolation operation on data of the M shift registers to obtain an output value. The delay controller is utilized to decide delay time of each channel according to a delay table, and accordingly to control a time multiplexer to switch and output the N output values in order. A multiplier is utilized to multiply the output value received from the time multiplexer by a weighted value corresponding to the channel to obtain a corrected value. An accumulator is utilized to accumulate the N corrected values to obtain an image value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventor: Chien-Ju LI
  • Patent number: 8411531
    Abstract: A modulation device, a demodulation device, and a transmission system and acoustic signal transmission method using them which can carry out a synchronization process for data signals without using a carrier frequency for a synchronization signal. The modulation device transmits an acoustic signal superposed with a PN sequence set according to a carrier frequency and a data signal. A demodulation device receives the acoustic signal, determines the PN sequence having the highest maximum correlation value with the acoustic signal in a plurality of PN sequences, detects a symbol synchronization point according to the correlation value between the thus determined PN sequence and the acoustic signal, and performs a synchronization process. Thereafter, according to the detected synchronization point and determined PN sequence, an OFDM demodulation processing unit decides the carrier frequency band of the data signal superposed on the acoustic signal and demodulates the data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
    Inventors: Hosei Matsuoka, Takeshi Yoshimura, Toshirou Kawahara
  • Publication number: 20130077445
    Abstract: An analog beamformer of an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes: a plurality of unit analog beamformers allocated to two or more focal points, respectively, and configured to beamform signals received from the respective focal points through transducer elements and output the beamformed signals; an analog multiplexer configured to sequentially select the output signals of the unit analog beamformers and generate a final output signal; a clock generator configured to provide a clock signal required for the unit analog beamformers; and a processor configured to provide information on sampling time points of channels, and sequentially operate the unit analog beamformers to perform beamforming according to a time-interleaving scheme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: POSTECH ACADEMY- INDUSTRY FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Ji Yong UM, Hong June PARK, Jae Hwan KIM
  • Patent number: 8405524
    Abstract: A system is provided for detecting the passage of vehicles and the classification thereof by weight using geophone outputs and a unique density measurement in which the number of peaks of the geophone signal above a predetermined threshold over a number of time frames indicates the presence of a vehicle, with the number of time frames in which the density exceeds the threshold indicating whether the vehicle is a heavy vehicle such as a tank, or a light vehicle such as a car, with the threshold eliminating both manmade and natural noise, as well as distinguishing seismic vibrations due to personnel and animals. In one embodiment, various thresholds are utilized to detect the onset of vehicle presence and the end of the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Richman, Douglas S. Deadrick
  • Patent number: 8406270
    Abstract: A quadrature demodulator preweights an input signal prior to mixing with in-phase and quadrature clock signals. In an implementation with discrete phase rotation, a series of weighting circuits may be arranged before or after a select circuit to select the amount of phase rotation. Various implementations may include ratioed current mirrors to perform the weighting function, a stacked arrangement of mixers, an H-bridge input stage, integrated mixers and select circuits, and/or selectable gain stages such as gm cells to perform the weighting function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Eberhard Brunner
  • Patent number: 8401569
    Abstract: A system and method effective to provide content to a user. The system may include a sound device, a smart phone, and a processor. The sound device may produce a modulated code where different frequencies represent respectively logic 0s and 1s. The smart phone may apply a transform and peak detector to the modulated code to determine logic 0s and 1s to demodulate the code. The smart phone may send the demodulated code to a processor. The processor may receive the code, determine content associated with the code, and send the content over the network to the smart phone. The smart phone may further receive the content and output the content on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sonic Notify, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Bell, Jonathan Glanz
  • Publication number: 20130033966
    Abstract: An intra-body ultrasonic signal can be converted into a first electrical signal, a local oscillator signal can be generated in an implantable system. The first electrical signal and the local oscillator signal can be mixed in an implantable system, such as to generate a demodulated signal, processed, such as using a filter. The filtered, demodulated signal can be further processed, such as implantably determining a peak amplitude of the first portion of the demodulated signal received from the filter over a time interval, implantably generating a dynamic tracking threshold that starts at an amplitude proportional the first portion of the demodulated signal and exponentially decays over a time interval, and determining a noise floor in the absence of a received intra-body ultrasonic signal and implantably comparing the peak amplitude and the tracking threshold and generate the digital output based on the difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: SCOT C. BOON, KEITH R. MAILE, WILLIAM J. LINDER, PAUL HUELSKAMP, RAMPRASAD VIJAYAGOPAL
  • Patent number: 8368553
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a signal from a sensor that is positioned within a well bore during a hydraulic fracturing operation. A noise canceling operation is performed on the received signal to detect a microseismic event that is caused by the hydraulic fracturing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Zannoni, Orlando DeJesus, Daniel F. Dorffer, John Quirein
  • Publication number: 20120307596
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to drive reactive loads are disclosed. An example apparatus to drive a reactive load includes a reactive component in circuit with the reactive load, a first switching element in circuit with the reactive load to selectively hold the reactive load in a first energy state and to selectively allow the reactive load to change from the first energy state to a second energy state, a second switching element in circuit with the reactive load to selectively hold the reactive load in the second energy state and to selectively allow the reactive load to change from the second energy state to the first energy state, and a controller to detect a current in the reactive load, and to control the first and second switching elements to hold the reactive load in the first or the second energy state when the current traverses a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Abderrhamane Ounadjela, Jacques Jundt, Olivier Moyal, Henri-Pierre Valero, Sandip Bose
  • Patent number: 8326542
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for retrieving seismic data from a seismic section provided in a bitmap format. The method includes reconstructing a two dimensional matrix of seismic interpolated data in which a value at a given pixel in the matrix is proportional to local density of wiggles in the seismic section with an added value of a previously calculated pixel. The method may be implemented in either of computer hardware configured to perform said method and computer software embodied in a non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable storage medium. Also disclosed are corresponding computer program product and data processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dan Shmuel Chevion, Yaacov Navon
  • Publication number: 20120300588
    Abstract: A signal generator generates an electrical signal that is sent to an amplifier, which increases the power of the signal using power from a power source. The amplified signal is fed to a sender transducer to generate ultrasonic waves that can be focused and sent to a receiver. The receiver transducer converts the ultrasonic waves back into electrical energy and stores it in an energy storage device, such as a battery, or uses the electrical energy to power a device. In this way, a device can be remotely charged or powered without having to be tethered to an electrical outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: uBeam Inc.
    Inventor: Meredith Perry
  • Patent number: 8319640
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for monitoring and detecting movement of components of a shipping container latch. A latch monitor may embody an electromagnetic sensing unit and a nearby magnet or light emitter for measuring and characterizing the profile of a nearby electromagnetic field. The field profile is monitored to detect a change in the profile, log the change, and report any abnormal disturbance to the electromagnetic field, indicating a breach of the integrity of a latching mechanism on a shipping container. An alert of a breach event may be sent via a communication network to an authority for response. The invention can distinguish authorized, incidental, and tampering events, and also store and upload an electronic manifest for a shipping container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: N7 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: John McGinnis, Michael E. Rader
  • Publication number: 20120269038
    Abstract: Provided is a data reception error reduction system and method in acoustic communication in audible frequency range, and an apparatus applied thereto. The data reception error reduction system in the acoustic communication in audible frequency range may be configured to reduce a data reception error in a receiver by taking into consideration that a sound signal is noisy and is significantly affected by a change in the ambient environment when the acoustic communication is performed in the audio frequency band through modification of an audio signal or adding of a predetermined signal to an audio signal. Accordingly, the data reception error may be reduced in the receiver even in an environment where a sound signal is noisy and is significantly affected by a change in the ambient environment, and reliability of data transmission may increase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicants: SNU R & DB FOUNDATION, SK TELECOM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Keon KIM, Moon Kee KIM, Keun Hwan CHOI, Jae Hwang YU, Min Seok KIM, Nam Soo KIM, Hwan Sik YUN, Ki Ho CHO
  • Publication number: 20120188849
    Abstract: The ultrasonic sensor includes: a plurality of transmission/reception dual-use elements, first electrode switches connected to the first electrodes of the transmission/reception dual-use elements; second electrode switches connected to the second electrodes of the transmission/reception dual-use elements; a control circuit; a transmitting circuit; a receiving circuit; a common-electrode connection wiring; and serial connection wiring. When an ultrasonic signal is to be transmitted, the control circuit connects the first electrode switches to the transmitting circuit, connects the second electrode switches to the common-electrode connection wiring so that the transmission/reception dual-use elements are connected in parallel to the transmitting circuit and the common electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi MATSUDA, Kazuyuki KANO
  • Publication number: 20120182836
    Abstract: Disclosed is a technology for performing a communication using an ultrasonic wave in an environment where an electromagnetic shielding is so severe that a wireless communication using an electromagnetic is difficult. In the environment where the electromagnetic shielding is severe, an ultrasonic terminal according to the present invention may transmit the ultrasonic wave using a solid structure as a medium, and an ultrasonic base station may receive the ultrasonic wave using the solid structure as the medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Byung-Jae Kwak, Kwang Chun Lee, Hyun Kyu Chung, Nah-Oak Song
  • Publication number: 20120163126
    Abstract: A transducer 1b comprising a vibrator body 2b for generating and/or receiving acoustic or ultrasonic waves, acoustically coupled to a second part 4 for generating and/or receiving acoustic or ultrasonic waves and, a matching layer 5 coupled to said vibrator body 2 so as, in use, to acoustically match the vibrator body 2b to a medium 6 contacting said matching layer 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Ewan Fraser Campbell, Tony John Beswick, Peter Caplen
  • Publication number: 20120163127
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a vicinity using a plurality of acoustic sensors (1, 2, 3, 4), which form a decentralized net (N), in which the sensors (1, 2, 3, 4) communicate with one another, at least in part, wherein the respective sensors (1, 2, 3, 4) register acoustic signals based on noises in the vicinity, and reprocess the registered signals to conduct a situation recognition. According to the method, a respective sensor (1, 2, 3, 4) of at least some of the sensors (1, 2, 3, 4) accesses, via the decentralized net (N), the registered and/or reprocessed signals of one, or several, adjacent sensors (1, 2, 3, 4), and takes these signals into account for the situation recognition, wherein an adjacent sensor (1, 2, 3, 4) registers signals, which, at least in part, are based on the same noises as the ones registered by the respective sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Christoph Gerdes, Joachim Hofer, Elmar Sommer
  • Publication number: 20120163128
    Abstract: In apparatus for the acoustic transmission of power or data through a solid barrier such as a ships hull, assembly of an acoustic transducer to the hull is facilitated by bonding it first to an intermediate element by a thin layer of bonding adhesive and then bonding the intermediate element to the barrier using a second bonding layer. Acoustic matching of the transducer to the intermediate element is achieved by the thin layer, and the mechanically more robust base of the intermediate element can be rubbed on the barrier surface to displace or abrade away any unwanted debris or imperfections which might otherwise prevent the achievement of a thin second bonding layer. This makes the mounting and bonding process more tolerant of imperfections in the barrier surface due to either surface defects or particulate contamination. The transmit and receive transducers may be positioned relative to each other so as to suppress or attenuate multiple-transit signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS PLC
    Inventors: John Martin Bagshaw, Lionel William John Kent
  • Publication number: 20120140598
    Abstract: A computing part computes a correlation coefficient representing a level of correlation among acoustic signals for a plurality of channels. A filtering part smoothes a time variation of the correlation coefficient computed. A center component reducer reduces a correlation component that is common in the acoustic signals by using the correlation coefficient. Then, the correlation component extracted by the reducer is reduced from each of the acoustic signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventor: Isao WAKABAYASHI
  • Patent number: 8174935
    Abstract: [Object] To provide an adaptive array control method, device, and program, and an adaptive array processing method, device, and program, capable of performing accurate coefficient update control independent of frequency characteristics and incoming directions of signals. [Achieving Means] The present invention is characterized as to array-process signals received from a plurality of pairs of sensors having a plurality of different sensor intervals, and using the array processing result, estimate interference power accurately. More specifically, the present invention includes a multiple blocking matrix circuit 320 which processes signals receiving from sensors having a plurality of different intervals, and an accurate coefficient update control is performed based on the output array-processed signal. Thereby, deterioration of output signals and breathing noises are reduced, and high-quality array processing can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiko Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20120099403
    Abstract: A human-machine interface system adapted to track movement of an object in air is disclosed. In one aspect, the human-machine interface includes an acoustic transmitter, an acoustic receiver, and logic configured to apply a calculated inverse matrix of an impulse signal transmitted by the acoustic transmitter to a signal received by the acoustic receiver, wherein movement of the object is used to control the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: ELLIPTIC LABORATORIES AS
    Inventors: Tobias Dahl, Gudbrand Eggen
  • Publication number: 20120092965
    Abstract: An acoustic sensor system is for an electrical distribution system having a number of phases. The acoustic sensor system comprises: a plurality of sets of acoustic sensors structured to detect an electrical conductivity fault of the electrical distribution system. Each of the plurality of sets includes a number of acoustic sensors. Each of the number of acoustic sensors is for a corresponding one of the number of phases of the electrical distribution system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: XIN ZHOU, Robert Yanniello, Dale L. Gass, Birger Pahl, Thomas J. Schoepf
  • Patent number: 8154588
    Abstract: A system of microphones, signal processors, and loudspeakers provides enhanced comprehension of speech in noisy social events where the locations of participants are relatively constrained. Speech enhancement comprises both boosting sounds moderately at higher frequencies and delaying them to match the arrival of sounds directly from speakers. Virtual loudspeakers create the illusion for each listener that the boosted sounds come from the vicinity of each talker. Video cameras determine the head positions and facing directions of participants. Subgroups of participants having at least temporary conversational affinities can be identified. Such subgroups may overlap and change. Speech from talking participants is picked up by directional microphones and filtered, sorted, and relayed selectively via loudspeakers to listening participants identified as subgroup members, reinforcing and enhancing the naturally heard speech. More weight can be given to enhancing speech between affined participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventors: Alan Alexander Burns, Richard Pivnicka
  • Publication number: 20120051187
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product is provided for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data through sonic communication. A method and system is provided for devices to exchange data over the air using a sonic carrier signal. The transmit device has at least one sonic transducer that transmits a sonic carrier signal through the air in accordance with aspects of the present invention. A digital representation of the data is modulated consistent with a modulation protocol using one or more sonic transmission frequencies in accordance with present invention. The sonic transducer transmits the one or more sonic carrier signals carrying the modulated data over the air. Each sonic carrier signal has sufficient gain to carry the signal to a receiver device where the data from the one or more sonic carrier signals is demodulated. Aspects of the present invention receive modulated data through the air using at least one sonic transducer of a receive device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: Brett L. Paulson
  • Patent number: 8107322
    Abstract: A device for the attenuation of an anti-resonant circuit which has a first capacitor and a secondary inductance. A signal is able to be coupled into the anti-resonant circuit via a primary inductance. An attenuator is connected in parallel to a switching device and to the secondary inductance and/or the primary inductanace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Reiche
  • Patent number: 8073634
    Abstract: A signal analysis method extracts transient target signals of known type from a raw data source signal that contains an unknown number of target signals. The method can enhance the analysis of data obtained from in-line oil-debris sensors. The method comprises steps of: defining signatures of the known target signal, and of at least one of the intrinsic noise and interfering signals; performing a mathematical transform that decomposes the raw data into distinct data sets; using the signal signatures to identify and nullify the data sets containing noise and interfering signal signatures; using the target signal signatures to identify the data sets containing target signal components, or may further use a thresholding rule to remove intrinsic noise from said data sets, and finally applying the inverse transform to the processed data sets in order to reconstruct an enhanced output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: University of Ottawa
    Inventors: Ming Liang, Tet Hin Yeap, Xianfeng Fan, Iman Soltani Bozchalooi
  • Patent number: 8073294
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the disclosed technology, wireless communications are used in a fiber surveillance system to enable monitoring of remote locations for vibrations, acoustic signals, stresses, stress fatigue or other detectable characteristics. A fiber that is deployed in the structure or region being monitored is connected a wireless transmitter that is used to transmit, to a receiving system, return optical signals obtained with the surveillance system. The return signals can be transmitted in raw form or after partial or total analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: John Sinclair Huffman, Gerald Frank Laszakovits, James Kirkpatrick
  • Patent number: 8072842
    Abstract: A method of estimating the impulse response of a channel is disclosed. The method includes transmitting an impulse signal to the channel, detecting a received signal from the channel at a receiver, and calculating an estimate of the impulse response of the channel by applying a calculated inverse matrix of the impulse signal to the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventors: Tobias Dahl, Gudbrand Eggen
  • Patent number: 8059488
    Abstract: In a method for operating an ultrasonic sensor in duplex mode, a transmission trigger for triggering an acoustic transmitted signal is transmitted from a control device for controlling the ultrasonic sensor to the ultrasonic sensor via a first duplex channel at a multiple of a resonance frequency of an ultrasonic converter in the ultrasonic sensor. The transmission trigger is subsequently divided down to the resonance frequency of the converter in the ultrasonic sensor. At least one acoustic received signal which corresponds to the acoustic transmitted signal and which is delayed with respect to the reflection at an object due to the acoustic propagation time is converted by the ultrasonic sensor, using the converter, to an electrical received signal which is transmitted from the ultrasonic sensor to the control via a second duplex channel at the resonance frequency of the ultrasonic converter in the ultrasonic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Reiche
  • Publication number: 20110273964
    Abstract: A method for listening to ultrasonic animal sound signals comprises: obtaining a plurality of input samples at an input sample rate, the plurality of input samples including at least one sequence of samples corresponding to an instance of an intermittently occurring animal sound signal; receiving a frame including at least two of the plurality of input samples; selecting a fraction of the samples as output samples, the fraction of the samples including a sample containing the at least one sequence of samples corresponding to an instance of an intermittently occurring animal sound signal; and transmitting the output samples at an output sample rate slower than the input sample rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: WILDLIFE ACOUSTICS, INC.
    Inventor: Ian Agranat