Laser-based devices utilizing temperature modulation for improved self-mix sensing. A self-mix laser unit includes: an active region having a first side and a second, opposite, side; a p-type Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) region, which is in direct touch with said first side of the active region; an n-type DBR region, which is in direct touch with the second side of the active region; and an n-type or p-type or other substrate. A heating unit provides modulated heating to the active region, either directly via an electrical resistor within the active region; or indirectly by passing or propagating modulated heat through one of the DBR regions or through the substrate. The modulated heating improves the laser-based self-mix signal.

A virtual image display includes acoustic sensors and a controller, and a method is for operating the same. The acoustic sensors are for detecting the wind frequency information in the environment. The controller computes time points of the acoustic sensors receiving the wind frequency information, and computes wind direction information based on the time points.

A method providing an estimation of a shooting range with high accuracy by a miss distance estimation and a weapon caliber classification following detection of shooting of firearms with supersonic bullets, and by using novel equations constructed from field shooting data for each caliber in order to ensure a security of a patrol station, a border, troops, a society, a vehicle and a convoy is provided.

A semiconductor device and its manufacturing method are presented. The manufacturing method includes providing a substrate structure; forming a first metal layer on the substrate structure; forming a second metal layer on the first metal layer; forming a first oxide layer on the second metal layer at a first temperature; and conducting the remaining manufacturing processes including thermal processes at a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature. This method reduces the concentration of the first metal diffused into the surface of the second metal layer during the thermal processes, thus reducing the amount of the oxide of the first metal formed on the surface of the second metal layer. Therefore, it is beneficial to the establishment of metal wire connections.

A noise monitoring device and a method of monitoring a location are disclosed. In one example, the noise monitoring device includes: (1) a microphone configured to detect noise proximate the noise monitoring device and derive raw data therefrom, and (2) a processor configured to determine when at least a portion of the raw data exceeds a threshold during a time period. In one example, the method of monitoring a location includes: (1) deriving raw data from noise proximate a noise monitoring device at the location, (2) comparing, for a designated period of time, at least a portion of the raw data to a threshold, and (3) determining an occurrence of an event at the location based on the comparing.

Provided is an optical microphone, including: an inner cavity and a sound inlet that allows the communication between the inner cavity and outside; an optoelectronic module including a light generator module and a light detector module; a MEMS module adjacent to the sound inlet and including a grating and a flexible diaphragm; and an ASIC module. The sound inlet is arranged in a shell wall of the shell. The optoelectronic module is arranged on another shell wall of the shell opposite to the sound inlet. A part of light emitted by the light generator module is diffracted by the grating, is incident on the flexible diaphragm and then is reflected to the light detector module by the flexible diaphragm, and another part of the light emitted by the light generator module is reflected to the light detector module by the reflective layer of the grating.

A device with microphones can generate microphone signals during an audio recording. The device can store, in an electronic audio data file, the microphone signals, and metadata that includes impulse responses of the microphones. Other aspects are described and claimed.

The present disclosure provides a transistor acoustic sensor element and a method for manufacturing the same, an acoustic sensor and a portable device. The transistor acoustic sensor element comprises a gate, a gate insulating layer, a first electrode, an active layer and a second electrode arranged on a base substrate, wherein the active layer has a nanowire three-dimensional mesh structure and thus can vibrate under the action of sound signals, so that the output current of the transistor acoustic sensor element changes correspondingly. Since the active layer having the nanowire three-dimensional mesh structure can sensitively sense weak vibration of acoustic waves, the sensitivity to sound signals of the transistor acoustic sensor element is improved.

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.

A microphone may comprise a microphone element for detecting sound, and a digital signal processor configured to process a first audio signal that is based on the sound in accordance with a selected one of a plurality of digital signal processing (DSP) modes. Each of the DSP modes may be for processing the first audio signal in a different way. For example, the DSP modes may account for distance of the person speaking (e.g., near versus far) and/or desired tone (e.g., darker, neutral, or bright tone). At least some of the modes may have, for example, an automatic level control setting to provide a more consistent volume as the user changes their distance from the microphone or changes their speaking level, and that may be associated with particular default (and/or adjustable) values of the parameters attack, hold, decay, maximum gain, and/or target gain, each depending upon which DSP is being applied.