Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120110218 | Auto-Detection and Mode Switching for Digital Interface - A method of operating a microphone system includes the steps of monitoring an I/O terminal to detect whether a signal on that terminal achieves a pre-defined logic level during a monitoring period. The I/O terminal and a second I/O terminal are configured to one of a hardware mode or a communications-bus mode depending on whether the pre-defined logic level is detected. A microphone system includes two I/O terminals and an automatic detection and mode switching circuit, as well as a communications bus interface circuit and a hardware control circuit. The mode automatic detection and mode switching circuit couples the two I/O terminals to either the communications bus interface circuit or the hardware control circuit in response to the logic level detected on one of the I/O terminals during a monitoring period. | 05-03-2012 |
20120243559 | Synchronization, Re-Synchronization, Addressing, and Serialized Signal Processing for Daisy-Chained Communication Devices - Techniques for use in a data communication system having a number of communicatively coupled device include techniques for synchronization and re-synchronization of frame and bit clocks, techniques for assigning device address, techniques for dynamically controlling transmit power based on the number of devices, and techniques for serialized signal processing. | 09-27-2012 |
20120243560 | System, Apparatus, and Method for Time-Division Multiplexed Communication - A simplified bus arrangement using only three signal lines allows TDM data to be conveyed to or from a number of slave-only devices without the use of separate command line(s) and without any of the slave-only devices having to operate as a bus master or even support a master operating mode. | 09-27-2012 |
20140254431 | Advanced TDM Daisy-Chain Communication Systems and Devices - Advanced TDM daisy-chain configurations utilize data transmission over a frame sync signal path with feedback to allow for communication between the master device and slave devices and/or between individual slave devices while maintaining a simple TDM communication interface. In certain daisy-chain configurations, the feedback path returns to the frame sync signal path between the master device and the first slave device, which allows for transmission of data from the last slave device to the master device and/or to the first slave device. In other daisy-chain configurations, the feedback path returns to the frame sync signal path between the first slave device and the second slave device, which allows for transmission of data from the last slave device to the first slave device (which may transfer data to the master device, e.g., over separate command and/or data lines) and/or to the first slave device. | 09-11-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100310096 | Switchable Attenuation Circuit for MEMS Microphone Systems - A switch control circuit monitors a signal produced by a MEMS or other capacitor microphone. When a criterion is met, for example when the amplitude of the monitored signal exceeds a threshold or the monitored signal has been clipped or analysis of the monitored signal indicates clipping is imminent or likely, the switch control circuit operates one or more switches so as to selectively connect one or more capacitors to a signal line from the microphone, i.e., so as to connect a selected capacitance to the signal line to attenuate the signal from the microphone and, therefore, avoid clipping. The switches may be MOSFET, MEMS or other types of switches co-located with the microphone in a common semiconductor package. Similarly, the capacitors, a circuit that processes the signals from the microphone and/or the switch control circuit may be co-located with the microphone in a common semiconductor package. | 12-09-2010 |
20110142261 | MEMS Microphone with Programmable Sensitivity - A control circuit monitors a signal produced by a MEMS or other capacitor microphone. When a criterion is met, for example when the amplitude of the monitored signal exceeds a threshold or the monitored signal has been clipped or analysis of the monitored signal indicates clipping is imminent or likely, the control circuit automatically adjusts a bias voltage applied to the capacitor microphone, thereby adjusting sensitivity of the capacitor microphone. | 06-16-2011 |
20130195291 | FAST POWER-UP BIAS VOLTAGE CIRCUIT - The present invention relates to a DC bias voltage circuit comprising a DC bias voltage generator adapted to supply a first DC voltage. A low-pass filter has an input operatively coupled to the first DC voltage to produce a second DC voltage at a low-pass filter output. The low-pass filter comprises an adjustable switched capacitor resistor setting a cut-off frequency of the low-pass filter and a controller is adapted to controlling a resistance of the adjustable switched capacitor resistor. | 08-01-2013 |
20140086433 | Microphone with Programmable Frequency Response - Methods and apparatus automatically cancel or attenuate an unwanted signal (such as low frequencies from wind buffets) from, and/or control frequency response of, a condenser microphone, or control the effective condenser microphone sensitivity before the signal reaches an ASIC or other processing circuit. As a result, the maximum amplitude signal seen by the processing circuit is limited, thereby preventing overloading the input of the processing circuit. Remaining (wanted) frequencies can be appropriately amplified to reduce the noise burden on further processing circuits. A corrective signal is applied to a bias terminal of the condenser microphone to cancel the unwanted signal. Optionally or alternatively, a controllable impedance is connected to a line that carries the signal generated by the MEMS microphone, so as to attenuate unwanted portions of the signal. | 03-27-2014 |
20140093102 | SWITCHABLE ATTENUATION CIRCUIT FOR MEMS MICROPHONE SY - A switch control circuit monitors a signal produced by a MEMS or other capacitor microphone. When a criterion is met, for example when the amplitude of the monitored signal exceeds a threshold or the monitored signal has been clipped or analysis of the monitored signal indicates clipping is imminent or likely, the switch control circuit operates one or more switches so as to selectively connect one or more capacitors to a signal line from the microphone, i.e., so as to connect a selected capacitance to the signal line to attenuate the signal from the microphone and, therefore, avoid clipping. The switches may be MOSFET, MEMS or other types of switches co-located with the microphone in a common semiconductor package. Similarly, the capacitors, a circuit that processes the signals from the microphone and/or the switch control circuit may be co-located with the microphone in a common semiconductor package. | 04-03-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110209304 | Vacuum Cleaner Lint Brush Attachment - A vacuum cleaner lint brush accessory system having a lint brush and cradle. The lint brush has longitudinally opposed handle and brush portions. The brush portion has a brush material adapted to remove fibrous substances from a surface to be cleaned. The cradle has a chamber opening leading to a chamber. The chamber extends in the longitudinal direction and is adapted to longitudinally receive at least the brush portion of the lint brush, the chamber has at least one brush cleaning pad adapted to engage the brush material and remove the fibrous substances from the brush material. The chamber further includes an air outlet spaced from the chamber opening. The air outlet is selectively connectable to a vacuum passage of a vacuum cleaner. | 09-01-2011 |
20120260446 | Vacuum Cleaner Lint Brush Attachment - A vacuum cleaner lint brush accessory system having a lint brush and cradle. The lint brush has longitudinally opposed handle and brush portions. The brush portion has a brush material adapted to remove fibrous substances from a surface to be cleaned. The cradle has a chamber opening leading to a chamber. The chamber extends in the longitudinal direction and is adapted to longitudinally receive at least the brush portion of the lint brush, the chamber has at least one brush cleaning pad adapted to engage the brush material and remove the fibrous substances from the brush material. The chamber further includes an air outlet spaced from the chamber opening. The air outlet is selectively connectable to a vacuum passage of a vacuum cleaner. | 10-18-2012 |
20150135477 | VACUUM CLEANER FLOOR SEAL - A vacuum cleaner suction head having a housing with a support for movement in the fore-aft direction on a surface. A suction inlet extends through the housing, and has a front edge and a rear edge. A sealing plate is pivotally mounted on the bottom of the housing to rotate about a pivot axis extending in a transverse direction. The sealing plate is movable between a raised position and a lowered position. The sealing plate is mounted in a trailing configuration in which, when the sealing plate is in the lowered position, the pivot axis is at the front of the sealing plate with respect to a fore-aft direction, and a lowermost point on the lower surface of the sealing plate is located behind the pivot axis with respect to the fore-aft direction. | 05-21-2015 |