A method for using a voice operated switch in a changing high noise environment involves determining a relative energy of the background noise, calculating VOX, voice, and delta thresholds, and comparing the VOX threshold to an amplitude of an incoming data sample. When the amplitude of the incoming data sample is greater than the VOX threshold, then the delta threshold is compared to the short-term average delta. When the amplitude of the short-term average delta is greater than delta threshold...

Voice activated control apparatus selectively connects one of a plurality of microphones to an audio line and inhibits all other microphones from capturing the line while the initial connection is maintained. Each microphone is connected to an associated speech detector and relay. In response to voice signals from a microphone, the associated speech detector activates a relay which connects the microphone to the line and generates a signal which inhibits the other relays. Other users cannot inte...

A speech-controlled switching arrangement for communication systems in which the speech signals are transmitted in the form of digital signals obtained by code modulation, comprising a plurality of pulse group analyzers coupled to respective transmission channels from which analyzers the output pulses are applied to a comparator circuit after integration for the purpose of generating a switching control signal, while each pulse group analyzer is provided with a digitally defined threshold charac...

The power voltage supply for a power amplifier is switched between an operational full power mode and a reduced power mode by the switching of a dual state impedance device connected in series between the power amplifier and the power supply. A control circuit detects the level of a signal to be amplified by that amplifier and switches the impedance states thus reducing the power output capability of the power amplifier and placing the power amplifier into a reduced power mode. In one embodiment...

An interactive audio system employs a sound signal processor coupled with a microprocessor as an interactive audio control system. A pair of tranceivers, operated as stereophonic loudspeakers and also as receiving microphones, are coupled with the signal processor for receiving voice commands from a principal user. The voice commands are processed to operate a variety of different devices, such as television, tape, radio or CD player for supplying signals to the processor, from which signals the...

In a method and a device for reliably detecting at least the beginning of a voice command for a voice control of function elements, signals of a first microphone to which contact sound of an operating person is applied, are used for triggering a second microphone which is directed towards the mouth of the operating person in order to improve the reliability of the voice control in high ambient noise.

A voice start recording apparatus includes a voice level determining circuit for determining whether consecutive frames of input voice is sound or silent, each frame being a coded voice signal; a continuity monitoring circuit for monitoring continuity of sound frames or silent frames; and a recording control circuit for controlling the start and stop of a recording operation based on the output from the continuity monitoring circuit.

An acoustic switch device that independently operates two or more electrical appliances. The acoustic switch operates a first electrical appliance upon receipt of a first series of acoustic signals and operates a second electrical appliance upon receipt of a second series of acoustic signals that is different from the first series of acoustic signals.

An embodiment and/or method to improve communication in a vehicle. Voice signals of the occupants of a vehicle may be picked up on an individual basis via separately arranged microphones. The individually picked-up voice signals may then be amplified separately for each occupant in an input stage and filtered for purposes of minimizing interference levels and for frequency adaptation. The signals may be subjected in a process stage to a signal processing that may be specific to each output chann...

A method and circuit for supplying power from a constantly available power source (20) to an audio power amplifier (14) for a speaker (12) utilizing input leads (16,18) having an audio signal. A pre-amplifier (24) is used for amplifying the audio signal having a difference in potential between the input leads (16,18). A switch (58) powers the audio power amplifier (14) and pre-amplifier (24) from the power source (20) in response to a control signal. The method and circuit is characterized by se...