Nanyang Technological University

Audio Zoom Pte Ltd

Other

Advanced Electroacoustics Private Limited

Tong Ge

Joseph Sylvester Chang

Chai Lung Lee

Linfei Guo

Yin Sun

Sebastian Mingjie Chang

Huiqiao He

Tong Lin

Jia Zhou

MingJie Sebastian Chang

The invention generally relates a transducer apparatus in a device to obtain high signal-to-noise-ratio signals including speech in a noisy environment by a non-acoustic transducer or sensor adapted in two ways. One, adapted to sense free-field acoustical sounds and whose sensitivity is directive, and arranged to be most sensitive to a direction or axis according to the position or orientation of the device. Two, adapted to sense vibrations, movement or acceleration on the skin of the user of the device arising from the voice of the user. Embodiments and variations of the invention include where the two adaptions are combined, and with acoustical microphones. In the case of adaption two and with a microphone, a transducer apparatus resembling the characteristics of a close-talking microphone can be derived.

Transducer apparatus: positioning and high signal-to-noise-ratio microphones

The invention relates to a transducer apparatus to provide audio sensing with high noise immunity in an acoustically-noisy environment. The invention replaces the prior-art acoustic microphone with a non-acoustic sensor to sense free-field and/or surface vibrations or movement that resemble or arising from the voice of the user. The non-acoustic sensor includes an accelerometer, shock sensor, gyroscope, vibration microphone, or vibration sensor. There are several adaptions and embodiments of the invention including improving the polar directivity of the non-acoustic sensors and application of a multiplicity of non-acoustic sensors and acoustic microphones.

Transducer apparatus embodying non-audio sensors for noise-immunity

A supply modulator is provided, having a first amplifier circuit configured to generate a first electrical signal, a second amplifier circuit configured to generate a second electrical signal, the first and second electrical signals being for driving an electrical load, and a control circuit electrically coupled to the first and second amplifier circuits wherein the control circuit is configured to generate a pulsed electrical signal and to supply an output control signal to the second amplifier circuit for controlling generation of the second electrical output signal, wherein the supply modulator is configured to operate in two modes of operation, for the first amplifier circuit to generate the first electrical signals in response to quiescent current of the first amplifier circuit, for the control circuit to generate a modulated electrical signal in accordance with a clock signal in one mode, and, for the second amplifier circuit to operate.

Supply modulator, power amplifier having the same, method for controlling the same, and method for controlling the power amplifier

A transducer apparatus to provide high speech-intelligibility in a noisy environment. The transducer apparatus comprises a vibration-sensing transducer adapted to be placed on the non-honey and non-cartilaginous, i.e., fleshy, part of the head of the user&#x2014;either on the all-flesh part of the cheek or all-flesh under chin. The vibrations sensed are vibrations arising from the user's voice in his mouth and conducted to the surface of the fleshy area of the users cheek or under-chin, and not by bone vibration. The embodiments of the invention include its application into headsets, earsets and helmets; and a switching means; and a means to realize a vibration transducer from an acoustical microphone.

Transducer apparatus for high speech intelligibility in noisy environments

An amplifier circuit for a parametric transducer, comprising: a signal processor for processing an input signal into first and second signals; and at least a pair of output stages arranged to respectively receive the first and second signals for generating amplified first and second signals respectively, which are provided to operate the parametric transducer. The input, first and second signals are arranged with a substantially similar frequency to cause a switching frequency of the amplifier circuit to be matched to a carrier frequency of the parametric transducer. A related audio device is also disclosed.

Amplifier circuit for a parametric transducer and a related audio device

A method of fabricating an electrical circuit assembly on a flexible substrate comprises: identifying one or more bending-sensitive elements of an electrical circuit assembly, each bending-sensitive element having a performance that varies when said bending-sensitive element is flexed; splitting said one or more bending-sensitive elements into a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are functionally equivalent and together equate to said bending-sensitive element; printing the first portion of said bending-sensitive element on a first surface of the flexible substrate; printing the second portion of said bending-sensitive element on a second surface of the flexible substrate, diametrically opposite the first portion such that bending of the flexible substrate has an opposite effect on each of the first and second portions thereby serving to substantially cancel the effect on each portion out; and electrically connecting the first portion and the second portion.

Method of fabricating an electrical circuit assembly on a flexible substrate

A method () of generating a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal for an analog amplifier, the amplifier arranged to receive an amplifier input signal having a magnitude, is disclosed. The method comprises receiving () a modulator input signal, which is associated with the amplifier input signal; and using () the modulator input signal to modulate a carrier to produce the PWM signal, wherein the carrier's frequency varies in dependence on the magnitude of the amplifier input signal. A related pulse width modulator is also disclosed.

Method of generating a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal for an analog amplifier, and a related pulse width modulator

A dead time circuit () for a switching circuit is disclosed. The dead-time circuit comprises: an input () for receiving a switching signal of the switching circuit with at least one supply rail having a ground bounce signal; first and second outputs (); a first feedforward path () coupled to the first output and arranged to receive the switching signal; a second feedforward path () coupled to the second output and arranged to receive the switching signal; a first feedback path () forming a first feedback loop between the first output and the second feedforward path; and a second feedback path () forming a second feedback loop between the second output and the first feedforward path; wherein each of the first and second feedforward paths includes a respective first and second delay circuit (), each having a time delay greater than a predetermined time period of the ground bounce signal. A switching amplifier is also disclosed.

Dead time circuit for a switching circuit and a switching amplifier

A versatile communications (comms) apparatus to provide a means to measure the audio (earphone) output of an electronic device (e.g. a music player in a smartphone), and/or to provide a means for wireless communications between a first electronic device (e.g. a smartphone) and a second electronic device (e.g. a hearing aid, pacemaker, etc). In some embodiments, the comms apparatus does not need power and in other embodiments, its power may be harvested from the first electronic device, or drawn from a battery that may be recharged by harvesting means or charged directly. The first electronic device typically includes an audio (earphone) output, a microphone input (with a voltage bias), a long-range communications transceiver (e.g. GSM), and where pertinent, a short-range transceiver (e.g. Bluetooth) and is internet enabled. In one embodiment, the comms apparatus provides a means where the audio output (earphone) of the electronic device is sampled by its microphone input, or by electronics in the comms apparatus. In other embodiments, the comms apparatus is an intermediary communications device between the first electronic device and the second electronic device. The communications therein may be simplex and/or duplex, via either the audio output (earphone), microphone input, short-range transceiver, and/or a combination thereof. The communications data (via the comms apparatus) may be transmitted elsewhere, including via the internet by means of the internet enabled electronic device.

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Singapore, Singapore

Tong Ge