A device for signalling audible alarms, or other specific acoustic signals associated to a respective sound source to people having hearing problems, comprises: a plurality of receiving and transmitting elements, each one can be associated to a specific acoustic alarm, by means of an appropriate phase for recording and recognizing the sound and associating to an identifying code, near the emitting sound source thereof, the receiving and transmitting element comprising: a piezoelectric sensor for receiving the acoustic alarm; a microprocessor provided with at least a storage device, implementing the recognition of the acoustic alarm by means of FFT analysis; and means for the radiofrequency transmission of a signal thereto the code identifying the receiving and transmitting element is associated; a portable terminal, apt to receive and recognize the signals emitted by the receiving and transmitting elements, having: a radiofrequency antenna, a processor associated to a storage device including a library of codes identifying receiving and transmitting elements, means for the wireless connection to a portable processing device, such as a smartphone and the like, for programming said processor, and means for the visual and/or vibration signalling; a software, installed on a portable processing device like a smartphone and the like, capable of connecting to said means for the wireless connection and of providing an interface for programming said terminal, wherein each receiving and transmitting element is shaped like a plate acting as transducer for the mechanical vibration and it comprises means for fastening to a surface.

A laser-based device or sensor includes: a first laser transmitter having a first self-mix carrier frequency; a second laser transmitter having a second, different, self-mix carrier frequency; a first monitor photodiode to receive a first optical signal from the first laser transmitter, and to output a first electric signal; a second monitor photodiode to receive a first optical signal from the second laser transmitter, and to output a second electric signal; an electric connection to connect together the first electric signal and the second electric signal, forming a combined electric signal; a single laser receiver to receive the combined electric signal and to generate from it a spectrum that corresponds to both (i) self-mix signal of the first laser transmitter, and (ii) self-mix signal of the second laser transmitter. Alternatively, a single monitor photodiode is used, receiving self-mix signals from multiple laser transmitters, and outputting a single electric signal to a single laser receiver.

A transmitter modulates an input voice signal to transmit an RF signal. A receiver demodulates a received RF signal to output an output voice signal. A voice level comparator compares a level of an input voice signal obtained by collecting a voice by a microphone with a VOX sensitivity level. A transmission determination unit instructs the transmitter to transmit the input voice signal, when the level of the input voice signal is equal to or greater than the VOX sensitivity level, based on a comparison result by the voice level comparator. A VOX sensitivity level calculator calculates the VOX sensitivity level in a predetermined period until just before the receiver completes outputting the output voice signal, based on an ambient sound collected by the microphone.

A microphone apparatus including a MEMS transducer, an acoustic activity detector, a local oscillator, and an external-device interface standardized for compatibility with devices from different manufacturers is disclosed. The microphone apparatus has a first mode of operation during which the apparatus is clocked by the internal clock signal when the acoustic activity detector processes digital data for acoustic activity, and a second mode of operation during which the microphone apparatus is clocked by an external clock signal received at the external-device interface after voice activity is detected by the acoustic activity detector.

Systems and methods for assessing the visual acuity of person using a computerized consumer device are described. The approach involves determining a separation distance between a human user and the consumer device based on an image size of a physical feature of the user, instructing the user to adjust the separation between the user and the consumer device until a predetermined separation distance range is achieved, presenting a visual acuity test to the user including displaying predetermined optotypes for identification by the user, recording the user's spoken identifications of the predetermined optotypes and providing real-time feedback to the user of detection of the spoken indications by the consumer device, carrying out voice recognition on the spoken identifications to generate corresponding converted text, comparing recognized words of the converted text to permissible words corresponding to the predetermined optotypes, determining a score based on the comparison, and determining whether the person passed the visual acuity test.

An ultrasonic sensor includes: a substrate in which an opening is formed; a vibration film that is provided on the substrate so as to close the opening; a plurality of vibration elements that are disposed at positions where the vibration film and the opening overlap each other in a plan view along a thickness direction of the vibration film; a sealing plate that is disposed so as to face the vibration film, supports the vibration film, and has a surface facing the vibration film as a flat surface; and a suppressing portion that is provided between the adjacent vibration elements in the plan view, is bonded to both the vibration film and the sealing plate, and is formed of a resin material for suppressing transmission of vibration of the vibration film.

A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) includes a diaphragm with a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is exposed to an environmental pressure. The second surface comprises a plurality of fingers extending from the second surface. The MEMS also includes a backplate comprising a plurality of voids. Each of the plurality of fingers extends into a respective one of the plurality of voids. The MEMS further includes an insulator between a portion of the diaphragm and a portion of the backplate. The diaphragm is configured to move with respect to the backplate in response to changes in the environmental pressure.

This application relates to methods and apparatus for digital microphones. Disclosed is a digital microphone apparatus (300) for outputting a digital output signal (DATA) at a sample rate defined by a received clock signal (CLK). The apparatus includes a band splitter (302) configured to receive a microphone signal (S.sub.MD) indicative of an output of a microphone transducer and split said microphone signal into first signal path (S.sub.P1) for frequencies in a first band and a second signal path (S.sub.P2) for frequencies in a second band, the frequencies of the second band being higher than the frequencies in the first band. A modulation block (304) is configured to operate on the second signal path to apply a selective gain modulation to signals in the second signal path.

The disclosure relates to using anonymized audio data for monitoring properties. Disclosed herein are monitoring systems for properties and a method of monitoring properties. One example of a method of monitoring a property includes: (1) deriving at least one raw signal from noise proximate one or more noise detectors at the property, (2) generating a noise score from the at least one raw signal, the noise score being insufficient to reproduce a content of the raw signal, and (3) generating, based on the noise score and at least one or more other factors, a risk score for the property that has a value representing a risk of damage to the property, wherein the factors include an expected occupancy at the property and reservation data for the property.

A system and method for electronic greeting cards includes receiving a selection of a background image, obtaining visual media to overlay on the background image, obtaining a personal message to overlay on the background image, obtaining a signature to overlay on the background image, and displaying the electronic greeting card. Displaying the electronic greeting card includes displaying the background image, displaying the visual media over a first portion of the background image, displaying the personal message over a second portion of the background image, and displaying the signature over the background image. In some embodiments the visual media is a drawing including a sequence of drawing strokes recorded when the drawing was obtained. In some embodiments, the personal message is displayed as text at a reading speed. In some embodiments, the signature includes a sequence of strokes captured when the signature was obtained.