43846 results about "Loudspeaker" patented technology

A self-contained wireless interactive speech recognition control device and system that integrates with automated systems and appliances to provide totally hands-free speech control capabilities for a given space. Preferably, each device comprises a programmable microcontroller having embedded speech recognition and audio output capabilities, a microphone, a speaker and a wireless communication system through which a plurality of devices can communicate with each other and with one or more system controllers or automated mechanisms. The device may be enclosed in a stand-alone housing or within a standard electrical wall box. Several devices may be installed in close proximity to one another to ensure hands-free coverage throughout the space. When two or more devices are triggered simultaneously by the same speech command, real time coordination ensures that only one device will respond to the command.

An apparatus for collecting data from a plurality of diverse data sources, the diverse data sources generating input data selected from the group including text, audio, and graphics, the diverse data sources selected from the group including real-time and recorded, human and mechanically-generated audio, single-speaker and multispeaker, the apparatus comprising: means for dividing the input data into one or more data segments, the dividing means acting separately on the input data from each of the plurality of diverse data sources, each of the data segments being associated with at least one respective data buffer such that each of the respective data buffers would have the same number of segments given the same data; means for selective processing of the data segments within each of the respective data buffers; and means for distributing at least one of the respective data buffers such that the collected data associated therewith may be used for further processing.

A system, device, and method for remote monitoring and servicing uses a gateway to collect user information, such as physiological, audio, video, and proximity information. The gateway processes the user information locally, and may send the user information or other information, such as alarms, to remote service providers through one or more head-end servers. The gateway also allows service provider information, such as audio and video information, to be conveyed from the service providers to the users. The gateway may output video information on a predetermined television channel, and may output audio information on the predetermined television channel or to a wireless remote controller with in-built speaker. The gateway may receive audio information from the user via a wireless remote controller with in-built microphone. The gateway provide for videoconferencing between the user and one or more remote service providers.

Methods for using a doorbell that is configurable to wirelessly communicate with a remotely located computing device can include obtaining the doorbell that comprises a speaker, a microphone, and a camera. Methods can include entering a sleep mode in which the doorbell's wireless communication, the camera, and the microphone are disabled. Methods can include exiting the sleep mode and entering a standby mode in response to the doorbell detecting a first indication of a visitor. The standby mode can increase electrical activities of the doorbell's camera and microphone relative to the sleep mode. Methods can include entering an alert mode in response to detecting a second indication of the visitor. The doorbell can record an image using the camera during the alert mode. Wireless communication can be enabled during the alert mode to send an alert to the remotely located computing device.

A disclosed a player tracking unit provides a display, one or more illumination devices adjacent to the display and a logic device designed to control illumination of the illumination devices in a manner that visually conveys gaming information to an individual viewing the devices. A speaker may be also provided on the player tracking unit to aurally convey gaming information such as voice messages designed to inform or instruct the player in some manner. The player tracking unit may include a wireless interface device designed or configured to allow player tracking information to be automatically downloaded from a portable wireless device carried by the player or player status information to be communicated to a casino service representative carrying a portable wireless device.

An automatic speech recognition system includes: a sound source localization module for localizing a sound direction of a speaker based on the acoustic signals detected by the plurality of microphones; a sound source separation module for separating a speech signal of the speaker from the acoustic signals according to the sound direction; an acoustic model memory which stores direction-dependent acoustic models that are adjusted to a plurality of directions at intervals; an acoustic model composition module which composes an acoustic model adjusted to the sound direction, which is localized by the sound source localization module, based on the direction-dependent acoustic models, the acoustic model composition module storing the acoustic model in the acoustic model memory; and a speech recognition module which recognizes the features extracted by a feature extractor as character information using the acoustic model composed by the acoustic model composition module.

Display apparatus including a display and an orientation sensitive interface mechanism is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the orientation sensitive interface includes first and second loudspeaker pairs. The first loudspeaker pair includes first and second loudspeakers and the second loudspeaker pair includes the second and third loudspeaker. The first and second loudspeaker pairs are disposed along transverse directions to each other. The display apparatus comprises a switch which switches between the first loudspeaker pair and the second loudspeaker pair. By providing the respective loudspeaker pairs, and switching between them, it is possible to orient the display apparatus in transverse directions corresponding to respective loudspeaker pairs, yet maintain a substantially stereophonic reproduction for each orientation.

Techniques for loudspeaker localization are provided. Sound is received from a loudspeaker at a plurality of microphone locations. A plurality of audio signals is generated based on the sound received at the plurality of microphone locations. Location information is generated that indicates a loudspeaker location for the loudspeaker based on the plurality of audio signals. Whether the generated location information matches a predetermined desired loudspeaker location for the loudspeaker is determined. A corrective action with regard to the loudspeaker is enabled to be performed if the generated location information is determined to not match the predetermined desired loudspeaker location for the loudspeaker.

An electronic translator translates input speech into multiple streams of data that are simultaneously delivered to the user, such as a hearing impaired individual. Preferably, the data is delivered in audible, visual and text formats. These multiple data streams are delivered to the hearing-impaired individual in a synchronized fashion, thereby creating a cognitive response. Preferably, the system of the present invention converts the input speech to a text format, and then translates the text to any of three other forms, including sign language, animation and computer generated speech. The sign language and animation translations are preferably implemented by using the medium of digital movies in which videos of a person signing words, phrase and finger spelled words, and of animations corresponding to the words, are selectively accessed from databases and displayed. Additionally the received speech is converted to computer-generated speech for input to various hearing enhancement devices used by the deaf or hearing-impaired, such as cochlear implants and hearing aids, or other output devices such as speakers, etc. The data streams are synchronized utilizing a high-speed personal computer to facilitate sufficiently fast processing that the text, video signing and audible streams can be generated simultaneously in real time. Once synchronized the data streams are presented to the subject concurrently in a method that allows the process of mental comprehension to occur. The electronic translator can also be interfaced to other communications devices, such as telephones. Preferably, the hearing-impaired person is also able to use the system's keyboard or mouse to converse or respond.

Devices having one or more sensors located outside a viewing area of a touch screen display are disclosed. The one or more sensors can be located behind an opaque mask area of the device; the opaque mask area extending between the sides of a housing of the device and viewing area of the touch screen display. In addition, the sensors located behind the mask can be separate from a touch sensor panel used to detect objects on or near the touch screen display, and can be used to enhance or provide additional functionality to the device. For example, a device having a sensor located outside the viewing area can be used to detect objects in proximity to a functional component incorporated in the device, such as an ear piece (i.e., speaker for outputting sound). The sensor can also output a signal indicating a level of detection which may be interpreted by a controller of the device as a level of proximity of an object to the functional component. In addition, the controller can initiate a variety of actions related to the functional component based on the output signal, such as adjusting the volume of the earpiece.

A solution for automatically activating different audio transducers of a mobile communication device based upon an orientation of the device. In the solution, a series of speaker/microphone assemblies can be positioned on the device, such as positioned near an earpiece and positioned near a mouthpiece. Different speaker/microphone assemblies can also be positioned on the front of the device and on the back of the device. The solution can automatically determine an orientation for the device, based upon a detected direction of a speech emitting source and/or based upon one or more sensors, such as a tilt sensor and an accelerometer. For example, when a device is in an upside down orientation, an earpiece microphone and a mouthpiece speaker can be activated. In another example, an otherwise deactivated rear facing speaker can be activated when the device is oriented in a rear facing orientation.

Methods can include using a doorbell to wirelessly communicate with a remotely located computing device. Doorbells can include a speaker, a microphone, a camera, and a button to sound a chime. A doorbell shipping mode can detect whether the doorbell is electrically coupled to an external power source. Methods can include entering a setup mode or a standby mode in response to detecting electricity from the external power source.

A communication device, wherein when the communication device is in a ringing mode, audio data is output from the speaker, and when the communication device is in a silent mode, audio data is converted to a text data and the text data is output from the display in a visual fashion.

An interactive navigation system includes a navigation processing unit, a current position sensor, a speaker, a microphone and a display. When it is preliminary inferred, based on receipt of a detection signal from the sensor, that a vehicle has probably been diverted from a drive route determined by the navigation processing unit, a machine voice question is produced through the speaker for confirmation of the inferred probability of diversion. A driver or user in the vehicle answers the question, which is input through the microphone and analyzed to be affirmative or negative, from which a final decision is made as to the vehicle diversion. In a preferred embodiment the question is spoken by a personified agent who appears on the display. The agent's activities are controlled by an agent processing unit. Communication between the agent and the user improves reliability and accuracy of inference of any vehicle condition which could not be determined perfectly by a sensor only.

Disclosed is a wireless surround sound speaker system wherein a transmitter broadcasts a variety of FM signals that correspond to the individual speaker channels commonly found in a surround sound system. Receivers, individually equipped with signal receiving, conditioning and amplification components, are configured to receive any one of the broadcast signals in a remote location and are used to drive a conventional loudspeaker in that location. Powered by wall socket or via DC battery packs, the receivers, used in conjunction with the transmitter, provide surround sound capabilities without the need for complex and difficult wiring.

The invention relates to mobile audio playback devices and methods of its operation for enhanced music and sound experience for mobile devices. To provide stereo and surround sound, the present invention provides an audio playback device with a receiving means for receiving multi-channel audio data, obtaining means connected to the receiving means, for obtaining first channel audio data from the multi-channel audio data for playback on the audio playback device, and playback means having at least one loudspeaker, and being connected to the obtaining means for outputting the first channel audio data. The other not selected audio channels or all received audio data may be transferred to other terminals for playback or may be discarded.

A speaker includes at least one transducer and at least one memory device. The at least one transducer is adapted to receive an audio signal. The at least one memory device is adapted to store data related to the speaker. A method includes reading data from a memory device of at least one speaker. An audio signal is provided from an audio system.

A portable multimedia player is used to wirelessly access and control a media server that is streaming digital media by way of a wireless interface to a media unit such as a stereo/speakers in the case of streaming digital audio. In one embodiment, the portable multimedia player is wirelessly synchronized to a selected one(s) of a number of digital media files stored on the media server in such a way that digital media file metadata (song title, author, etc.) associated with the selected digital media file(s) only is transferred from the media server to be stored in the portable media player.

A prefilter (5) for an audio system comprising a loudspeaker (1) in a room (2), which corrects both amplitude and phase errors due to the loudspeaker (1) by a linear phase correction filter response and corrects the amplitude response of the room (2) whilst introducing the minimum possible amount of extra phase distortion by employing a minimum phase correction filter stage. A test signal generator (8) generates a signal comprising a periodic frequency sweep with a greater phase repetition period than the frequency repetition period. A microphone (7) positioned at various points in the room (2) measures the audio signal processed by the room (2) and loudspeaker (1), and a coefficient calculator (6) (e.g. a digital signal processor device) derives the signal response of the room and thereby a requisite minimum phase correction to be cascaded with the linear phase correction already calculated for the loudspeaker (1). Filter (5) may comprise the same digital signal processor as the coefficient calculator (6). Applications in high fidelity audio reproduction, and in car stereo reproduction.

A wireless speaker system configured to receive stereo audio information wirelessly transmitted by an audio source including first and second loudspeakers. The first loudspeaker establishes a bidirectional secondary wireless link with the audio source for receiving and acknowledging receipt of the stereo audio information. The first and second loudspeakers communicate with each other via a primary wireless link, and the first and second loudspeakers are configured to extract first and second audio channels, respectively, from the stereo audio information. A wireless audio system including an audio source and first and second loudspeakers, each having a wireless transceiver. The first and second loudspeakers communicate via a primary wireless link. The audio source communicates audio information to the first loudspeaker via a secondary wireless link which is configured according to a standard wireless protocol. The first loudspeaker is configured to acknowledge successful reception of audio information via the secondary wireless link.

A listener can experience the sound of virtual loudspeakers over headphones with a level of realism that is difficult to distinguish from the real loudspeaker experience. Sets of personalized room impulse responses (PRIRs) are acquired for the loudspeaker sound sources over a limited number of listener head positions. The PRIRs are then used to transform an audio signal for the loudspeakers into a virtualized output for the headphones. Basing the transformation on the listener's head position, the system can adjust the transformation so that the virtual loudspeakers appear not to move as the listener moves the head.