A voice activation system for a vehicle. The voice activation system for a vehicle which has at least one sound panel capable of providing vibrations of a user's voice from the outside of the vehicle into an inside area of the vehicle. A laser listening device is operably connected to the panel for receiving vibrations from a user's voice. A controller receives a pre-identified command of the user from the laser listener and operates an action in the vehicle in response thereto.

A system for evaluating a characteristic of a portion of a building space, such as a room, may be provided. The system includes pairs of speakers and microphones associated with detection areas and forming audio multipath transmission channels. The system includes a controller communicatively coupled to the speakers and the microphones. The controller is configured to: (1) select detection areas; (2) activate the microphones corresponding to the pairs associated with the selected detection areas to capture one or more audio samples; (3) select speakers based on a baseline channel response matrix and the activated microphones; (4) transmit command signals to the selected speakers; (5) determine a characteristic channel response matrix based on the audio samples and audio signals corresponding to the command signals; and (6) evaluate the characteristic of the portion of the building space based on the characteristic channel response matrix and the baseline channel response matrix.

A structure for real-time audio signal processing and converting into a programmable control system comprises a sound processing unit comprising first and second audio transforming modules and receiving an audio energy, the transforming modules capture the audio energy and generate first and second frequency values, the sound processing unit captures the audio energy and obtains an audio energy value; and a data storage unit storing first, second and third storage data and electrically connected to the sound processing unit that compares the first frequency value with the first storage data, compares the second frequency value with the second storage data, and compares the audio energy value with the third storage data to generate first, second and third control signals, further generates a combinational transformed data for comparing with a fourth storage data to generate an advanced control signal that controls an electronic device to generate a corresponding action.

A structure for real-time audio signal processing and converting into a programmable control system comprises a sound processing unit comprising first and second audio transforming modules and receiving an audio energy, the transforming modules capture the audio energy and generate first and second frequency values, the sound processing unit captures the audio energy and obtains an audio energy value; and a data storage unit storing first, second and third storage data and electrically connected to the sound processing unit that compares the first frequency value with the first storage data, compares the second frequency value with the second storage data, and compares the audio energy value with the third storage data to generate first, second and third control signals, further generates a combinational transformed data for comparing with a fourth storage data to generate an advanced control signal that controls an electronic device to generate a corresponding action.

A method for operating an ultrasonic appliance (1), which ultrasonic appliance has an ultrasonic generator (2) and an ultrasonic oscillator (4) that has an electrical operative connection to the ultrasonic generator, wherein the ultrasonic generator supplies electric power to an ultrasonic transducer that the ultrasonic oscillator contains and stimulates said ultrasonic transducer to produce ultrasound. The proposed method is distinguished in that the ultrasonic oscillator and the ultrasonic generator communicate with one another (K1, K2), preferably digitally, via an operative data and/or signal connection, wherein the ultrasonic oscillator transmits identification data to the ultrasonic generator, which identification data allow the ultrasonic generator to recognize the ultrasonic oscillator. Furthermore, a communication device—suitable for carrying out said method—for an ultrasonic appliance and an ultrasonic appliance having such a communication device are provided.

A method for operating an ultrasonic appliance (1), which ultrasonic appliance has an ultrasonic generator (2) and an ultrasonic oscillator (4) that has an electrical operative connection to the ultrasonic generator, wherein the ultrasonic generator supplies electric power to an ultrasonic transducer that the ultrasonic oscillator contains and stimulates said ultrasonic transducer to produce ultrasound. The proposed method is distinguished in that the ultrasonic oscillator and the ultrasonic generator communicate with one another (K1, K2), preferably digitally, via an operative data and/or signal connection, wherein the ultrasonic oscillator transmits identification data to the ultrasonic generator, which identification data allow the ultrasonic generator to recognize the ultrasonic oscillator. Furthermore, a communication device—suitable for carrying out said method—for an ultrasonic appliance and an ultrasonic appliance having such a communication device are provided.

A system and method for sonically connecting special devices is provided. A plurality of devices is monitored. One or more sound profiles are maintained on each of the devices, wherein at least one of the sound profiles on each device is for a sound emitted by one other device in the plurality. A sound is detected on one of the devices and the detected sound is compared to one or more of the sound profiles stored on that device. A match is identified between the detected sound and one of the sound profiles. One or more response actions are performed based on the identified match.

A system and method for sonically connecting special devices is provided. A plurality of devices is monitored. One or more sound profiles are maintained on each of the devices, wherein at least one of the sound profiles on each device is for a sound emitted by one other device in the plurality. A sound is detected on one of the devices and the detected sound is compared to one or more of the sound profiles stored on that device. A match is identified between the detected sound and one of the sound profiles. One or more response actions are performed based on the identified match.

A movable device and a method for monitoring an operation cycle of an appliance are disclosed. For example, the movable device includes an operational detection component to receive operational feedback of the appliance, wherein the operational feedback comprises a vibration of the appliance and an audible signal of the appliance, a wireless interface to establish a wireless connection with a mobile endpoint device, a processor in communication with the operational detection component to determine when the appliance is in the operation cycle based upon the operational feedback and to generate a notification message that is sent to the mobile endpoint device when the appliance has completed the operation cycle, a housing enclosing the operation detection component, the wireless interface and the processor and a connection component coupled to the housing to removably couple the apparatus to the appliance.

A pillow remote controller using acoustic commands includes a pillow defining an open interior compartment configured for housing one or more pressure sensors electrically and operably coupled with an electronics enclosure. The electronics enclosure contains various electronic components including a power control and alarm circuit, an audio receive, de-code and function command circuit, a transmitter selector and interface circuit, and various transmitters for transmitting an operating function to an electronic product. The electronics are operable for receiving an acoustic command, de-coding the acoustic command, and providing a function command to the transmitter selector and interface circuit. The function command is interfaced with a particular type of transmitter and transmitted optically or wirelessly to the electronic product. One or more human presence sensors may be operably coupled with the power control and alarm circuit to provide an assurance of human presence before enabling operation.