Systems and methods are disclosed in which a playback device transmits a first sound signal including a predetermined waveform. In one example, the playback device receives a second sound signal including at least one reflection of the first sound signal. The second sound signal is processed to determine a location of a person relative to the playback device, and a characteristic of audio reproduction by the playback device is selected, based on the determined location of the person.

A computing device includes a housing and a microphone module. The microphone module may be connected to the housing and selectively manipulated between an attached and detached state. In an attached state, the microphone of the microphone module is operatively linked to one or more electrical components of the housing. In a detached state, the microphone is disconnected from the one or more electronic components.

A method and apparatus for detecting a photoacoustic light signal to prevent unauthorized voice commands for a microphone-controllable device are provided. The method includes receiving, by a processor, a signal, detecting, by the processor, that the signal is a photoacoustic signal generated by a thermal expansion and contraction of an object caused by at least one lightwave applied to the object, and activating, by the processor, a counter-measure to prevent the photoacoustic signal from reaching a microphone of a microphone-controllable device in response to detecting the photoacoustic signal.

The present invention provides a judging circuit includes including a comparison module and a control module for positive and negative terminals of an earphone MIC and a method thereof, and an electronic device; the control module controls any one first terminal of two terminals of the MIC to inject an excitation current, and control the other second terminal of the two terminals to be connected to the ground via an analog switch, also to judge whether the first terminal and the second terminal is the positive terminal or the negative terminal according to comparison result information; the comparison module compares the current voltage with a preset reference voltage value after excitation current is injected into the first terminal and the second terminal is grounded to obtain comparison result information and to send it to the connected control module. The present invention improves the flow and process without two sets of detection device.

A multi-purpose Bluetooth interface and controller includes a microcontrol unit and at least one first microphone, the first microphone being electrically connected to the MCU and configured to collect sound signals and convert the sound signals into electrical signals that are received by the MCU; wherein the Bluetooth interface and controller further includes at least one connection port which is electrically connected to the MCU and is configured to connect an external device that includes a wired microphone, the wired microphone also being configured to collect sound signals that are received by the MCU; and the MCU encodes electrical sound signals received from the first microphone and the external wired microphone, and transmits the encoded sound signals in uplink to a mobile terminal via a Bluetooth wireless connection established between the MCU and the mobile terminal for subsequent processing by the mobile terminal.

Systems and methods are disclosed in which a playback device transmits a first sound signal including a predetermined waveform. In one example, the playback device receives a second sound signal including at least one reflection of the first sound signal. The second sound signal is processed to determine a location of a person relative to the playback device, and a characteristic of audio reproduction by the playback device is selected, based on the determined location of the person.

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.

Methods, apparatus and systems for biometric authentication based on an audio signal are provided. The audio signal comprises a representation of a voice signal of a user conducted via at least part of a user's skeleton. Further embodiments may relate to biometric authentication based upon a combination of a bone-conducted audio signal, or a bone-conducted voice biometric process, with an air-conducted voice signal.

Systems and methods are disclosed in which a playback device transmits a first sound signal including a predetermined waveform. In one example, the playback device receives a second sound signal including at least one reflection of the first sound signal. The second sound signal is processed to determine a location of a person relative to the playback device, and a characteristic of audio reproduction by the playback device is selected, based on the determined location of the person.

An image capture device includes a housing that includes a pattern of apertures and a microphone disposed within the housing and proximate to the apertures. The image capture device includes a membrane assembly. The membrane assembly includes a support disposed between the housing and the microphone and a channel defined in the support that directs sound waves from only one of the apertures in the pattern to the microphone. The membrane assembly further includes a membrane that extends across the channel and separates the one of the apertures and the microphone.