In one embodiment, a method includes capturing sound using a plurality of microphones, wherein the plurality of microphones is associated with a computing system. The method also includes determining energy levels for the plurality of microphones, and determining signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) for the plurality of microphones. Finally, the method includes selecting a particular microphone of the plurality of microphones based on the energy levels and the SNRs, wherein selecting the particular microphone includes providing audio signals obtained by the particular microphone to the computing system for use.

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 host device may include an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a guest device, and a communication unit configured to communicate with the guest device. The host device may include circuitry configured to identify, in the image of the guest device, identification information corresponding to the guest device, the identification information being displayed on a screen included on the guest device. The circuitry may calculate, based on the identification of the identification information in the image, an arrangement position of the guest device. The circuitry may assign, based on the calculated arrangement position, assigned data to the guest device. The circuitry may transmit one or more of the calculated arrangement position and information associated with the assigned data to the guest device.

A computer sound card includes a power supply noise isolation circuit for reducing ground plane noise generated during application of heavy electrical loads to the power supply, such as loads presented by computer GPUs. The power supply isolation circuit isolates the output ground from the ground presented from the power supply to the isolation circuit input. The isolation circuit in one embodiment includes switching circuitry and a transformer to reduce the power supply ripple noise that might otherwise be introduced by the power supply into an amplifier such as a microphone preamp. In some embodiments a differential amplifier stage is added to the output of the microphone preamp stage to further reduce noise, such as common mode noise.

Certain embodiments herein relate to a heart-shaped locket with audio device that comprises a front member that is connected to a rear member via a hinge. The front member may comprise a cavity configured to hold contents, where an interior side of the front member is a transparent cover that extends over the cavity to keep the contents within the cavity and allow a user to view the content in the cavity when the heart-shaped locket is in the open position. An interior side of the rear member may comprise a surface that may display an engraved message. An audio device may be disposed within the rear member that comprises an output device and a user control, where the user control activates the audio device to output a message via the output device, and where the user control may be disposed on an exterior side of the rear member.

A method of operating a microphone system includes the steps of monitoring an I/O terminal to detect whether a signal on that terminal achieves a pre-defined logic level during a monitoring period. The I/O terminal and a second I/O terminal are configured to one of a hardware mode or a communications-bus mode depending on whether the pre-defined logic level is detected. A microphone system includes two I/O terminals and an automatic detection and mode switching circuit, as well as a communications bus interface circuit and a hardware control circuit. The mode automatic detection and mode switching circuit couples the two I/O terminals to either the communications bus interface circuit or the hardware control circuit in response to the logic level detected on one of the I/O terminals during a monitoring period.

In a subcutaneous microphone used in medical devices, a structure is introduced that constrains the motion of the diaphragm during normal operation of the microphone. In one embodiment, a raised portion, such as a pole or pillar is placed in the chamber at the middle of the diaphragm. The raised portion may contact one or both of the bottom surface of the chamber and the underside of the membrane, and generally acts to reduce the amount of deflection experienced by the membrane.

In an input device it is determined that an input indicator mechanism is selected for a predetermined period of time. Speech is recorded based on the input indicator mechanism being selected.

Voice-controlled devices that include one or more speakers for outputting audio. In some instances, the device includes at least one speaker within a cylindrical housing, with the speaker aimed or pointed away from a microphone coupled to the housing. For instance, if the microphone resides at or near the top of the cylindrical housing, then the speaker may point downwards along the longitudinal axis of the housing and away from the microphone. By pointing the speaker away from the microphone, the microphone will receive less sound from the speaker than if the speaker were pointed toward the microphone). Because the voice-controlled device may perform speech recognition on audio signals generated by the microphone, less sound from the speaker represented in the audio signal may result in more accurate speech recognition, and/or a lesser need to perform acoustic echo cancelation (AEC) on the generated audio signals.

Systems and methods for a transducer assembly for a vehicle having a resonating surface. The transducer assembly comprising a housing, a spacer connected to the housing, and a piezoelectric assembly disposed between the spacer and the housing. The spacer is configured to connect to the resonating surface to form an air gap between the resonating surface and the piezoelectric assembly.