A portable electronic device comprising: an enclosure having an enclosure wall that defines a first chamber, a second chamber and an acoustic opening from the first chamber or the second chamber; and an electroosmotic flow valve operable to open and close the acoustic opening.

A portable electronic device comprising: an enclosure having an enclosure wall that defines a first chamber, a second chamber and an acoustic opening from the first chamber or the second chamber; and an electroosmotic flow valve operable to open and close the acoustic opening.

An acoustic face mask reduces the distortion and muffling of speech sounds by a face mask wall. The distortion and muffling of speech sounds by a face mask wall may be reduced by reducing the acoustic coupling of the vocal tract and/or nasal cavity to the face mask chamber, which causes a reduction in the intelligibility of the speech. The acoustic coupling of the vocal tract and/or nasal cavity to the face mask chamber may be reduced, for example, by reducing the reflected sound energy caused by the face mask wall. For example, one or more sound absorbing members or acoustically transparent members reduce the reflected sound energy caused by the face mask wall.

A system for controlling a sound level of a prime mover permitted to emanate from or within a vehicle includes a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver operable for receiving a GPS signal and a sound control device. The sound control device is operable for increasing or decreasing a sound level of the prime mover in response to a control signal. A controller in communication with the GPS receiver includes a calendar and clock, and is programmed to execute a method, including receiving the GPS signal via the GPS receiver, and determining an actual location of the vehicle using the GPS signal. The controller also determines an actual date and time of day using the calendar and the clock, respectively, and transmits the control signal to the sound control device to increase or decrease the sound level using at least one of the actual location, date, and time of day.

A system for controlling a sound level of a prime mover permitted to emanate from or within a vehicle includes a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver operable for receiving a GPS signal and a sound control device. The sound control device is operable for increasing or decreasing a sound level of the prime mover in response to a control signal. A controller in communication with the GPS receiver includes a calendar and clock, and is programmed to execute a method, including receiving the GPS signal via the GPS receiver, and determining an actual location of the vehicle using the GPS signal. The controller also determines an actual date and time of day using the calendar and the clock, respectively, and transmits the control signal to the sound control device to increase or decrease the sound level using at least one of the actual location, date, and time of day.

A cover unit includes: a body to which an ultrasound generator adapted to generate ultrasound is coupled; first slits disposed at a lower portion of the body in the form of multiple rings having different radii and spaced apart from each other, the first slits having a first width; second slits depressed from an upper surface of the body to communicate with the first slits and having a second width smaller than the first width; third slits depressed from the upper surface of the body and each disposed between adjacent second slits, the third slits having a third width smaller than the first width; a bottom formed under the first slits; a first sidewall formed between adjacent first slits; and a second sidewall formed between the second slit and the third slit.

A housing includes at least one openable cover and at least one adjacent cover. The at least one openable cover swings on a hinge to separate an interior of the housing from an exterior of the housing. The at least one openable cover has a first side edge on a side of the hinge. The at least one adjacent cover is adjacent to the at least one openable cover. The at least one adjacent cover has a second side edge neighboring the first side edge of the at least one openable cover across a gap. One of the at least one openable cover and the at least one adjacent cover includes at least one projection projecting into the gap and another one of the at least one openable cover and the at least one adjacent cover includes a recess that accommodates the at least one projection in the gap.

Provided is an auditory sensitivity adjustment device suitable to enhance concentration and attentiveness in any direction. An auditory sensitivity adjustment device 100 includes grab parts 32a and 32b for holding a pinna 50, springs 22 for applying to the grab parts 32a and 32b a force for pulling, in an extending direction, the pinna 50 held by the grab parts 32a and 32b, and a base 38 for rotating the pinna 50 held by the grab parts 32a and 32b so as to twist the pinna 50.

Apparatus for adaptively scheduling ultrasound device actions includes a probe interface, a beamer, a receiver, a processor, and a memory. The probe interface may interface with probe units to transmit signals generated by the beamer to the probe units and to receive data signals from the probe units. The processor may be coupled to the probe interface, the beamer, and the receiver. The memory may store instructions, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to generate a task list that includes a timed beam firing sequence and to signal to the beamer to generate signals to the probe units associated with the plurality of task actions. The task list may include a plurality of task actions associated with probe units, and the processor may signal to the beamer in accordance with the timed beam firing sequence. Other embodiments are also described.

Apparatus for adaptively scheduling ultrasound device actions includes a probe interface, a beamer, a receiver, a processor, and a memory. The probe interface may interface with probe units to transmit signals generated by the beamer to the probe units and to receive data signals from the probe units. The processor may be coupled to the probe interface, the beamer, and the receiver. The memory may store instructions, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to generate a task list that includes a timed beam firing sequence and to signal to the beamer to generate signals to the probe units associated with the plurality of task actions. The task list may include a plurality of task actions associated with probe units, and the processor may signal to the beamer in accordance with the timed beam firing sequence. Other embodiments are also described.