Abstract: Embodiments that relate to energy efficient gesture input on a surface are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment provides a hand-worn device that may include a microphone configured to capture an audio input and generate an audio signal, an accelerometer configured to capture a motion input and generate an accelerometer signal, and a controller comprising a processor and memory. The controller may be configured to detect a wake-up motion input based on the accelerometer signal. The controller may wake from a low-power sleep mode in which the accelerometer is turned on and the microphone is turned off and enter a user interaction interpretation mode in which the microphone is turned on. Then, the controller may contemporaneously receive the audio signal and the accelerometer signal and decode strokes. Finally, the controller may detect a period of inactivity based on the audio signal and return to the low-power sleep mode.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for detecting movement in proximity to a playback device and responsively modifying the audio that is output from one or more playback devices. According to an embodiment, a user is able to wave his or her hand over a playback device to modify the audio that is output from the playback device, one or more different playback devices, or all of the playback devices. The embodiments are particularly useful as a snooze feature, in which an alarm from a playback device (or group of playback devices) is snoozed for a time when triggered by the user's movement.

Abstract: To enable processing of a signal at an appropriate level. An analog section in which an acquired signal is processed in an analog fashion and a digital section in which the signal processed in the analog section is digitally processed are included, wherein the analog section includes an adjustment unit that adjusts a gain discretely and the digital section includes a digital step compensation unit that compensates for discrete gain adjustments in the analog section. The digital step compensation unit responds to a transient step in which a gain steeply converts in the analog section and compensates with inverse characteristics of a transient response. The present technology can be applied to an AGC (Automatic Gain Control) system.

Abstract: An audio coding system uses mixing metadata to control the attenuation of a main audio program that is subsequently mixed with an associated audio program. The value of the attenuation is calculated by analyzing the estimated loudness of the main and associated audio programs.

Abstract: A signal processing device includes a first amplifier, a converter, a signal processor, a controller, and a second amplifier. The first amplifier amplifies a level of an externally input analog audio signal with a first gain whose value is variable. The converter converts the analog audio signal amplified by the first amplifier into a digital audio signal. The signal processor that performs tone control signal processing on the digital audio signal. The controller detects a level of the digital audio signal before the signal processing and controls the value of the first gain in accordance with the detected level. The second amplifier detects a level of the digital audio signal after the signal processing and amplifies the digital audio signal after the signal processing with a second gain determined in accordance with the detected level and the first gain whose value has been controlled by the controller.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing an audio signal and method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes receiving a downmix signal and side information; extracting control restriction information from the side information; receiving control information for controlling gain or panning at least one object signal; generating at least one of first multi-channel information and first downmix processing information based on the control information and object information, without using the control restriction information; and, generating an output signal by applying the at least one of the first multichannel information and the first downmix processing information to the downmix signal, wherein the control restriction information relates to a parameter indicating limiting degree of the control information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for exchanging control functions of volume control units, and a terminal, which relate to the field of communications technologies and can make it more convenient for a user to adjust volume. The method includes: obtaining current placement status information of the terminal, where the placement status information is used to indicate a current placement status of the terminal, and at least two volume control units are disposed in the terminal; and exchanging volume control functions of the at least two volume control units when the current placement status of the terminal deviates from a normal placement status of the terminal, where the at least two volume control units include a volume control unit whose volume control function is to control volume to increase and a volume control unit whose volume control function is to control volume to decrease.

Abstract: A speaker assembly is provided and may include an outer portion having a plurality of slots. An inner portion may cooperate with the outer portion and may have a positioning lever and an adjustment mechanism slot. The positioning lever may cooperate with one of the plurality of slots. An adjustment mechanism may cooperate with one of the plurality of slots and the adjustment mechanism slot. The adjustment mechanism may slide within the adjustment mechanism slot changing a volume of the speaker assembly when the outer portion moves in relation to the inner portion.

Abstract: A sound volume control device includes a sound input section, a band dividing section, an excessive output notification section, a correction band decision section and a sound output control section. The sound input section converts input sound into a sound signal. The band dividing section carries out band-division with respect to the sound signal. The excessive output notification section outputs excessive output notification information when output sound from the present device is excessive. The correction band decision section calculates audible signal distribution information when the excessive output notification information is not output and excessive signal distribution information when the excessive output notification information is output, for each band in the sound signal, and decides a correction band according to the audible signal distribution information and excessive signal distribution information.

Abstract: A system consisting of interconnectible, hearing-assistive, portable “units” which can address communication problems that persons who are hard of hearing experience in many social settings (such as while dining out with friends in a noisy restaurant). The system allows each unit operator to share multiple audio input signals coming into any of the connected units with the other participants using the system. The operator is also able to selectively amplify one or more of the incoming audio signals (such as from the voices of one or more of the participants) while blocking out or turning down another (such as from background music). The units are capable of integrating audio signals with video, word processing and internet data. An innovative method for improving communication for persons who are hard of hearing in public and private settings is also claimed.

Abstract: To realize a change in a volume that does not give a user a feeling of strangeness even when a great processing load is put on a volume determining unit. A volume controller performs a process for determining a new volume of an audio signal based on an alternate pulse interval that is based on a counting time and the number of pulses counted by a counting section within the counting time and a current volume stored in a storage section, and storing the determined new volume as the current volume in the storage section, the same number of times as the number of pulses counted by the counting section every counting time, and outputs last information stored as the current volume in the storage section to an electronic volume.

Abstract: A channel conversion part (214) performs channel conversion on audio data of a plurality of channels so that the number of channels thereof is converted to an appropriate number of channels for which an acoustic effect can be verified or perceived by audience according to the volume level of reproduced sound, and audio is output only with a required number of channels. In addition, a frequency control part (215) for controlling the operating frequencies of switching regulators (220-223) of audio amplifiers (224-227) also performs frequency control according to the volume level of sound of each channel which performs an audio output.

Abstract: Devices such as tablets, smartphones, media players, and so forth may incorporate a fingerprint sensor to support acquisition of biometric identification data. As described herein, input data from the fingerprint sensor may be used to control one or more functions of the device. The function controlled may be based at least in part on context of one or more applications executing on the device, direction of motion, and so forth. In one implementation, movement parallel to the fingerprint sensor may modify audio volume settings on the device.

Abstract: An audio playing device may operate in a first mode or a second mode. The audio playing device includes a speaker, an earphone jack receiving an earphone plug of an earphone, a sound output driver, a rotation angle detector, and a processor. The sound output driver only drives the speaker when the audio playing device operates in the first mode and only drives the earphone when the audio playing device operates in the second mode. The rotation angle detector generates a first mode change signal when the earphone plug is rotated in the earphone jack along a first direction over a predetermined angle. The processor changes operation of the audio playing device between the first mode and the second mode when the processor receives the first mode change signal from the rotation angle detector.

Abstract: Control data is generated in response to generation, from a position detector, of position data in accordance with a predetermined scale characteristic. Change scale characteristic is applied in manual operation performed immediately after an operation member has been automatically positioned to a target position. In the change scale characteristic, a start point is established such that control data, corresponding to the target position, of the predetermined scale characteristic is outputted in correspondence with the position data outputted at the time of completion of the positioning, but also a first change portion, including a portion extending from a position of the start point at least up to the target position, is established, so that the control data outputted in correspondence with the position data output gradually varies from data corresponding to the start point to data of the predetermined scale characteristic corresponding to an end point of the first change portion.

Abstract: Unlike sound based pressure waves that go everywhere, air turbulence caused by wind is usually a fairly local event. Therefore, in a system that utilizes two or more spatially separated microphones to pick up sound signals (e.g., speech), wind noise picked up by one of the microphones often will not be picked up (or at least not to the same extent) by the other microphone(s). Embodiments of methods and apparatuses that utilize this fact and others to effectively detect and suppress wind noise using multiple microphones that are spatially separated are described.

Abstract: A control terminal apparatus includes a transmission unit transmitting a control signal to audio output apparatuses, a display unit, an operation detector detecting an operation associated with display content, and a controller displaying individual volume setting sections which correspond to the audio output apparatuses and which include operation members performing variable operations of volume settings while volume setting states are displayed, displaying a master volume setting section including an operation member performing collective variable operation while the volume balance of the audio output apparatuses is maintained, executing clear display of a setting changeable range in which the volume balance is maintained in the master volume setting section, generating, when the operation detector detects an operation performed on one of the individual volume setting sections or the master volume setting section, a control signal corresponding to content of the operation, and causing the transmission unit

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling/adjusting volume, which can set multiple volume modes having different volume intervals and control volume by a volume interval of a corresponding volume mode according to a given circumstance in an electronic device having a volume change function. The method includes detecting a volume change event; when the volume change event is a volume mode change, changing a current volume mode to a volume mode corresponding to the volume change event; and when the volume change event is a volume value change, controlling volume up/down in response to the volume change event.

Abstract: A sound reproducing device having: a sound source data storage unit configured to store reference sound source data for reproducing a reference sound having a prescribed frequency band and comparative sound source data for reproducing comparative sounds having frequency bands different from each other; a reproduction processing unit configured to reproduce the reference sound and the comparative sounds on the basis of the reference sound source data and the comparative sound source data stored in the sound source data storage unit; a comparative sound volume adjustment operation unit configured to receive sound volume adjustment operation for the comparative sounds; and an acoustic characteristic information generation unit configured to simultaneously output the reference sound and a comparative sound of a sound volume in accordance with the received sound volume adjustment operation and record a result of the sound volume adjustment operation in association with the comparative sound related to reproduction

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for controlling playback volumes of a group of one or more playback zones in a network media system via a user interface provided on a touch screen display. For instance, touch inputs may be provided to the user interface via the touch screen to move a volume indicator along a graphical representation of a volume scale on the user interface to adjust a particular playback volume level of a playback zone or the group of the one or more playback zones. Further, touch inputs such as a dwell touch input or a swipe touch input may be configured to cause the particular playback volume level to be applied to other playback zones in the network media system, such that each playback zone the playback volume level is applied to has a respective playback volume level matching, or substantially matching the particular playback volume level.

Abstract: A portable media player configured to selectively enable or disable one or more input controls, such as volume controls, is described herein. In some examples, the player contains a physical button or switch that provides for the selective enabling or disabling of input controls. In some examples, the player is configured to dynamically determine when to enable or disable input controls based on information received about the player or characteristics of the player. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Integrated processing of multimedia signals can eliminate unnecessary signal processors and converters without losing the functionality of typical home entertainment system components. The integrated multimedia system includes a main player that captures and processes signals digitally. The main player may adjust the audio signal to provide audio output of equal loudness across all frequencies by accounting for sensitivity of the human ear for sounds of varying frequencies. The main player can also account for perceived differences in loudness based on the angle of a listener to a speaker by detecting the position of a user and making an adjustment accordingly. The invention further provides a speaker that has embedded performance characteristics or an identifier that allows the system to provide an optimal speaker driving current for a particular system or determine how that speaker would be best implemented in the integrated system.

Abstract: A method for operating a user device includes playing a media content on a screen, detecting a user input for lowering a volume of the media content, and decreasing the volume of the media content in response to the user input, determining whether a user input enters a play control zone after the detection of the user input for lowering the volume, and performing a pause of the media content in response to the user input entering the play control zone. A user device includes a touch screen configured to receive a user input for controlling a volume of the media content, and a controller configured to decrease the volume of the media content in response to a user input for decreasing a volume during playing of the media content, and perform a pause of the media content when the user input enters a play control zone.

Abstract: A signal processing device for supplying sound signals to a first speaker for emitting a sound on a low-pitched sound side and a second speaker for emitting a sound on a high-pitched sound side higher than the low-pitched sound side, includes a control portion that controls a characteristic of the sound signal supplied to the first speaker so that an output level of the first speaker is maintained at a crossover frequency between the first speaker and the second speaker, when an output level of the sound signal supplied to the first speaker is changed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wirelessly recording multi-track audio files without the data corruption or loss of data that typically occurs with wireless data transmission. In some aspects, each performer is equipped with a local audio device capable of locally recording the respective performer's audio while also transmitting it to a master recorder. Functions of the local audio device may be adjusted remotely. The locally recorded audio may be used to repair or replace any audio lost or corrupted during transmission to the master recorder. Such repair or replacement may be performed electronically or via playback of the locally recorded audio. In other aspects, a master recorder is not required since all locally recorded audio may be combined or otherwise processed post-recording. Locally recorded audio may include identifiers to aid in post-recording identification of such audio. A multi-memory unit is also provided to facilitate manipulation and processing of audio files.

Abstract: A sound attenuator that allows a user to adjust the amount of attenuation in a variable, continuous fashion or in a discrete controlled fashion from zero attenuation to maximum attenuation without removing the device from the ear. The ear attenuator includes a housing having a passageway, the passageway allowing for sound to pass through the housing and a variable control, the variable control able to control the size of the passageway through the housing and the amount of attenuating material located within the passageway through the housing.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to controlling music variables. In one embodiment, a method includes determining an initial control position of at least one control member of a hardware control device. The method also includes determining an initial dial position of at least one dial. The method also includes modifying a value of at least one sound variable based on the initial control position, the initial dial position, and movement of the at least one control member.

Abstract: A method for modifying a current sound-volume value assigned by an on-board system to an acoustic alert signal emitted on board an aircraft is provided. The method includes furnishing, on board the aircraft, the on-board system with at least one information item defining a modification of the current sound-volume value to a new sound-volume value in accordance with a predetermined rule.

Abstract: A method for better matching of the needs of mild to very mild hearing losses is obtained than with known hearing devices. The method comprising the steps of determining an acoustic situation by processing an input signal of a hearing device openly coupled to an ear of a user, selecting at least two hearing programs in dependence on the determined acoustic situation, at least one of the hearing programs being suitable for calm acoustic situations, and at least another one of the hearing programs being suitable for noisy acoustic situations, applying a gain only above a predefined frequency limit to the input signal if one of the hearing programs for calm acoustic situations is selected, and reducing noise in the input signal only in a frequency range within audible frequencies if one of the hearing programs for noisy acoustic situations is selected.

Abstract: A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, which facilitates a terminal to be used in further consideration of user's convenience. The present invention includes a display unit configured to display an image signal of a video, an audio output unit configured to output an audio signal of the video, and a controller configured to separate the audio signal of the video into sound sources, and control a volume of at least one of the sound sources manually or automatically.

Abstract: A hearing system with an analogue control element including a selector for precise and reliable user selection of desired predefined settings. The selecting range of the analogue control element is partitioned into segments, each identified by an identification digit. At least two successive segments define a section. Each section represents a particular setting of the hearing system and is identified by a section digit. The hearing system stores the identification digit and the section digit in the non volatile memory according to the position of the selector. The stored identification digit and section digit are controlled by the signal processing unit and are only modified when the position of the selector is moved over at least two successive segments of the selecting range.

Abstract: An electronic signal processor for processing signals includes a complex first filter, one or more gain stages and a second filter. The first filter is characterized by a frequency response curve that includes multiple corner frequencies, with some corner frequencies being user selectable. The first filter also has at least two user-preset gain levels which may be alternately selected by a switch. Lower frequency signals are processed by the first filter with at least 12 db/octave slope, and preferably with 18 db/octave slope to minimize intermodulation distortion products by subsequent amplification in the gain stages. A second filter provides further filtering and amplitude control. The signal processor is particularly suited for processing audio frequency signals.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a force sensor configured to determine a force exerted on the apparatus; and a volume controller configured to control a volume of an audio output dependent on the force.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus includes: one or more detection means for detecting movement of a diaphragm of a speaker in correspondence with feedback methods that are different feedback methods; analog-to-digital conversion means for converting one or more detection signals acquired by the detection means into a digital form; feedback signal generating means for generating feedback signals corresponding to the feedback methods using the digital detection signals; synthesis means for combining an audio signal to be output as a driving signal of the speaker with the feedback signals; correction equalizer means for setting an equalizing characteristic to allow a sound reproduced by the speaker to have a target frequency characteristic by changing the digital audio signal; feedback operation setting means for setting feedback methods in which a feedback operation up to combining the audio signal with the feedback signal is performed and the feedback operation is not performed equalizing characteristic changing a

Abstract: A method is designed for controlling a total mixing system including a first mixing system and a second mixing system, which are operated in a linked manner. In the method, the first mixing system stores first scene data specifying contents of a mixing process matching a scene. The second mixing system stores second scene data specifying contents of a mixing process matching a scene. The first mixing system transmits a scene recall request to the second mixing system when a recall event of the first scene data occurs. The second mixing system transmits back a recall enabling response to the first mixing system after receipt of the scene recall request. The first mixing system reconstructs the contents of the mixing process on the basis of the first scene data after the reception of the recall enabling response. The second mixing system reconstructs the contents of the mixing process on the basis of the second scene data after the transmission of the recall enabling response.

Abstract: A deformable controller for an electronic device, such as a portable electronic device, is disclosed. A user can interact with the controller to cause it to “deform” and thereby provide user input to control the electronic device. The controller can be malleable and symmetrical, and user interaction with the controller can be provided with substantially arbitrary orientation. In one embodiment, the controller is an in-line controller with a cable that couples to the electronic device. In one particular implementation, the portable electronic device can be a portable media player and the controller can remotely control media playback functions for the portable media player.

Abstract: A method for controlling a maximum signal level output to headphones of a wireless device is provided. The method includes: determining an impedance of the headphones; determining a carrier specific maximum signal level for headphones having the impedance; and, adjusting an audio amplifier of the wireless device coupled to the headphones to restrict the maximum signal level output to the headphones to the carrier specific maximum signal level.

Abstract: An acoustic processing apparatus includes: a connecting unit to which an instructing device is connected; a situation obtaining unit obtaining information indicative of whether a number of apparatuses connected to the instructing device is a plural number or not, from the instructing device; a receiving unit receiving an instruction value from the instructing device; a storage unit in which a set value is stored; a determining unit, in a case where the information indicates that the number of apparatuses connected to the instructing device is a plural number, comparing the instruction and set values, and determines correspondence relationship between the values in accordance with a result of comparison; a changing unit, when the receiving unit receives a instruction value after the correspondence relationship is determined, specifying a set value which corresponds to the instruction value, based on the correspondence relationship, and changes the set value stored in the storage unit to the specified set value

Abstract: An amplifier circuit comprises an input, for receiving an input signal to be amplified; a preamplifier, for amplifying the input signal based on a variable gain; a power amplifier for amplifying the signal output from the preamplifier, and a variable voltage power supply for supplying one or more supply voltages to the power amplifier. The supply voltages are adjusted based on the variable gain or the input digital signal. According to other aspects of the invention, a power supply of an amplifier circuit is clocked using a clock signal, whereby the clock signal has a frequency that varies in accordance with a volume signal or an input signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adjusting device (10;30;40) for adjusting and/or selecting one or more parameters of an appliance (50), wherein the adjusting device (10;30;40) comprises touch sensitive sensors (14), which are arranged in row, and a processing unit (18) for processing output signals of the sensors (14), whereas the processing unit (18) is designed in such a manner that an adjustment and/or a selection of parameters is realized by touching at least two of the sensors (14) in sequence, whereas the sensors (14) are arranged around a circumference of a torque proof actuation element (12).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling volume in a terminal adjust the volume of applications in the terminal without adjusting a main volume of the terminal. The apparatus and method display the relative volume of applications and allow a user to adjust each application's volume. If a user adjusts the volume of an application to be greater than a main volume of the terminal, the application's volume may be set to the main volume of the terminal.

Abstract: Techniques for controlling the volumes of multiple audio output devices using a collective (master) volume control and an individual volume control for each audio output device. In one set of embodiments, each individual volume control can be configured to indicate the current absolute volume level of its corresponding audio output device. When the master volume control is manually adjusted, the individual volume controls can be automatically adjusted in a manner proportional to the manual adjustment of the master volume control. In addition, when an individual volume control is manually adjusted to a setting or value that exceeds the master volume control, the master volume control can be automatically adjusted to be equal to, or greater than, the manually adjusted setting for the individual volume control. In this scenario, the other individual volume controls can remain unchanged.

Abstract: A sound volume adjuster includes: a storage which stores a first value of a volume setting value and an allowable maximum change amount; a receiver which receives a change request indicating a second value of the volume setting value; a determiner which, when a change amount of the volume setting value between the first value and the second value exceeds the allowable maximum change amount, determines that the change request is an excessive request; and an adjuster which, when the determiner determines that the change request is the excessive request: changes the first value stored in the storage by a change amount which is equal to or smaller than the allowable maximum change amount to set a third value of the volume setting value; and adjusts a sound volume by the third value.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes an information display module, a change instruction receiver, and an information display controller. The information display module is configured to display output information at start-up time of the electronic apparatus. The change instruction receiver is configured to receive an instruction to change the displayed output information. The information display controller is configured to control the information display module to change display of the output information in accordance with the change instruction when the electronic apparatus in a standby state receives the change instruction.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system are provided for profiling or analyzing audio data based on an audio parameter. The audio data is divided into audio data into segments. Each segment is characterized by the audio parameter in a defined range. Effects are selected according to the segments meeting criteria for the audio parameter of the effects. A media presentation is authored or generated using the selected effects.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing an audio signal and method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes receiving the audio signal and preset information; obtaining preset matrix from the preset information, wherein the preset matrix indicates contribution degree of the object to output channel; and adjusting output level of the object by using the preset matrix. Accordingly, without user's setting for each object, if preset metadata to be applied to an audio signal is selected with reference to previously-set preset metadata, levels of objects included in the audio signal can be easily adjusted using preset rendering data corresponding to the selected preset metadata.

Abstract: Techniques for controlling the volumes of multiple audio output devices using a collective (master) volume control and an individual volume control for each audio output device. In one set of embodiments, each individual volume control can be configured to indicate the current absolute volume level of its corresponding audio output device. When the master volume control is manually adjusted, the individual volume controls can be automatically adjusted in a manner proportional to the manual adjustment of the master volume control. In addition, when an individual volume control is manually adjusted to a setting or value that exceeds the master volume control, the master volume control can be automatically adjusted to be equal to, or greater than, the manually adjusted setting for the individual volume control. In this scenario, the other individual volume controls can remain unchanged.

Abstract: A volume control assembly used for adjusting a volume of an electronic device includes a base, a vibration sensor secured on the base, and a control unit electronically connected to the vibration sensor. The base includes a sensing portion, the sensing portion includes a first end and a second end, and the first end and the second end are spaced from each other. The vibration sensor is located adjacent to one of the first end or the second end. The vibration sensor senses vibration of the sensing portion, and sends a vibration signal to the control unit. The control unit receives the vibration signal, and adjusts the volume of the electronic device according to the vibration signal.

Abstract: Techniques pertaining to providing an appropriate recording mode to achieve optimum record data in accordance with the recording environment are described. In one embodiment, a current audio recording mode is initially selected to be one of a low sensitivity audio recording mode and a high sensitivity audio recording mode. A digital gain for digital audio recording data in the current audio recording mode is obtained. The current audio recording mode is automatically switched between the low sensitivity audio recording mode and the high sensitivity audio recording mode when the digital gain reaches a gain threshold.

Abstract: A motion picture soundtrack reproduction system has a center front soundtrack channel and a plurality of other soundtrack channels. A volume control adjusts the gain of all the channels. The volume control has a range of settings from a minimum to a maximum, the gain of the center front channel having substantially a first relationship to the volume control settings and the gain of the other channels having substantially a second relationship to the volume control settings, the relationships being such that for a range of volume control settings less than a first setting the gain of the center front channel remains substantially constant while the gain of the other channels decreases as the setting decreases or decreases more gradually than the gain of the other channels as the setting decreases.