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Recently, an acoustic technique has been proposed to measure the scattering strength and the dynamics of weak moving scatterers in a reverberant cavity: diffusing reverberant acoustic wave spectroscopy (DRAWS). Both parameters are obtained from the correlations of the reverberated-scattered transient pressure fields for different scatterers positions. This technique is based on a diffusive field theory [de Rosny et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 90, 094302 (2003)]. Here, a more systematic approach of the DRAWS technique properties is presented. Moreover, an important extension is proposed using the fourth-order moment of the field, or the variance of the correlation estimator. Contrary to the correlations (second-order moment) that allow the measurement of the scattering cross section, its variance (fourth-order moment) is shown to be mainly sensitive to the scatterer displacement. The robustness of DRAWS is discussed using different configurations: a computer simulation of a moving scatterer in a two-dimensional cavity. Experiments were also carried out with a 23-mm-diameter copper sphere moved by stepping motors in 16 liters of water, and finally a human walking in a 125-m(3) reverberant room. (c) 2006 Acoustical Society of America.

Using a closely sampled 1000-km hydrographic section in the eastern North Pacific, the sound-speed finestructure is separated into two component fields: (i) isopyncal tilt dominated by internal waves (the traditional view) and (ii) "spicy" (cold-fresh to hot-salty) millifronts associated with upper ocean stirring. Numerical transmission experiments show significant scatter within the mixed layer from the spicy fronts. This scattered energy arrives near the start of the SOFAR sequence, and is superimposed on a triplication of the channel dispersion at the transition from reflected to upper ocean refracted energy. (This SOFAR overture is totally different from the finale which has been prominent for over 50 years.) The critical dependence of the overture on mixed layer processes suggests a scheme for acoustically monitoring the upper oceans at surface-conjugate depths (3 to 5 km), offering some advantages over in situ monitoring. (C) 2004 Acoustical Society of America.

Deconvolution is commonly performed on microseismic signals to determine the time history of a dislocation source, usually modeled as combinations of forces or couples. This paper presents a new deconvolution method that uses a nonlinear thresholding estimator, which is based on the minimax framework and operates in the wavelet domain. Experiments were performed on a steel plate using artificially generated microseismic signals, which were recorded by high-fidelity displacement sensors at various locations. The source functions were deconvolved from the recorded signals by Wiener filters and the new method. Results were compared and show that the new method outperforms the other methods in terms of reducing noise while keeping the sharp features of the source functions. Other advantages of the nonlinear thresholding estimator include (1) its performance is close to that of a minimax estimator, (2) it is nonlinear and takes advantage of sparse representations under wavelet bases, and (3) its computation is faster than the fast Fourier transforms. (C) 2004 Acoustical Society of America.

One way to improve speech understanding in noise for HI with a unilateral hearing loss is by contralateral routing of signals (CROS). Such a CROS-system captures sounds with an additional microphone at the worst hearing ear and transmits these to the better one. The better ear is then provided with a mix of signals originating from both ears. The goal of this study is to quantify the effect of a CROS-system on speech reception thresholds (SRTs) with unilaterally implanted CI-users in diffuse and directional noise as a function of speaker location. Listening tests are performed and an accurate directional intelligibly model is proposed used for further analysis. In diffuse noise it is concluded that the use of a CROS system results in a maximum gain in SRT of 7.9 dB when speech comes from the CROS side compared to a maximum loss in SRT of 2.1 dB when speech comes from the implanted side. In the case of directional noise, the effect of the CROS is symmetric and the maximum loss or gain in SRT was around 9 dB. The study therefore shows a clear potential of using the CROS system in diffuse noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acoustic impulse techniques are used to obtain measurements of propagation constant in three different foams and to determine both the characteristic impedance and the normal impedance at the surface of a hard-backed layer over the frequency range from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. A comparison is made of existing rigid-frame and dual-wave models of sound propagation in porous media, and predictions from both models are compared with experimental measurements. Both models give good agreement with the lower flow resistivity foam measurements, however, the dual-wave model better predicts the overall results for a foam with a flow resistivity of 25100 N s m-4, implying the need of the slow wave mode. The position of the maxima in the layer impedance results are particularly sensitive to the correct choice of tortuosity. An emphasis is placed on how the two models compare as the frame material becomes rigid and these ideas are used to consider the implication of a previous claim about the existence of a slow wave in foams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses U.S. patent 9,414,171, which is for a database of head related transfer functions (HRTFs) that are a binaural hearing assistance system.

The article discusses U.S. patent 9,408,006, which is for the facilitation of electroacoustic simulation that uses a sound processor module.

The article presents an abstract of the acoustical patent "Method and apparatus for detecting cellular telephones for hearing assistance devices" by Michael Karl Sacha and others, assignors to Starkey Laboratories Inc.

Information on a patent for a telecoil connected to a detachable Direct Audio Input (DAI) connector in a hearing aid is presented.

The article offers information on a patent which describes an external processor unit for an auditory prosthesis.

The article discusses U.S. patent 9,420,389, which is for the use of hearing instrument treatment for the alleviation of tinnitus loudness.

The article discusses U.S. patent 9,414,170, which is for an adaptive antenna matching mechanism for a hearing aid and a method for matching the antenna.

The article discusses U.S. patent 9,414,169, which is for the detection of change in the signal threshold characteristics of a hearing aid and the production of an alarm signal in response.

The article evaluates a patent for a behind the ear (BTE) hearing aid featuring an antenna partition plane.

The article discusses U.S. patent 9,408,004, which is for a hearing aid assistance device flex tab connector.

The article discusses U.S. patent 9,408,002, which is for the control of hearing aid parameter settings.

The article discusses U.S. patent 9,408,000, which is for a hearing instrument and method that can identify an output transducer for a hearing instrument using a pseudo-random signal.

The article discusses U.S. patent 9,407,999, which is for the enhancement of binaural representation for hearing-impaired people using microphone signals.

The article discusses U.S. patent 9,408,003, with is for a wireless hearing aid assembly that has an antenna.

The article reviews a U.S. patent for a hearing aid wireless network owned by Rene Rye Larsen, an assignor to medical device company GN ReSound A/S.

The article reviews a U.S. patent owned by Farah I. Corona-Strauss et al., assignors to medical device company Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd., for a method and apparatus for setting a hearing instrument by detecting listening effort.

The article presents an abstract of the acoustical patent "Electrooculogram as a control in a hearing assistance device" by Sidney A. Higgins and others, assignors to Starkey Laboratories.

The article presents an abstract of the acoustical patent "Mixing of in-the-ear microphone and outside-the-ear microphone signals to enhance spatial perception" by Brend Edwards and Sridhar Kalluri, assignors to Starkey Laboratories Inc.

The article presents an abstract of the acoustical patent "Hearing system and method for operating a hearing system" by Bernd Waldmann, assignor to Sonova AG.

The article presents an abstract of the acoustical patent "Feedback evaluation implemented with limited signal processing" by Martin Evert Gustaf Hillbratt and Mats Höjlund, assignors to Cochlear Ltd.

The article presents an abstract of the acoustical patent "Method and apparatus for reproducing multi-channel sound using cable/wireless device" by Kil-su Eo and others, assignors to Samsung Electronics Co.

The article presents an abstract of the acoustical patent "Immersive audio rendering system" by Alan D Kraemer and others, assignors to DTS LLC.

The article presents an abstract of the acoustical patent "Method and apparatus for reproducing stereophonic sound" by Sum-min Kim, assignor to Samsung Electronics Co.

The article presents an abstract of the acoustical patent "Method for testing hearing aids" by Martina Bellanova and Mattias Latzel, assignors to Sivantos Pte.

The article presents an abstract of the acoustical patent "Hearing aid having level and frequency-dependent gain" by John D. Meyer and Toban A. Szuts, assignors to Meyer Sound Laboratories Inc.

The article presents an abstract of the acoustical patent "Automatic power-off of hearing aid" by Morten Kroman, assignor to Widex A/S.

Evaluates a patent application for a network and method for providing a user interface in simultaneous ring telecommunications service, developed by BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation. Capability of the network to recognize speech.

Information on a patent for a device that can compress an audio signal is presented.

Information on a patent for two analysis methods that can identify the hearing aid wearer's voice activity is presented.

Information on a patent for an antenna connected to a wireless communications receiver in a hearing aid is presented.

Information on a patent for a hearing aid programming method is presented.

Information on a patent for determining the receiver type in a hearing aid fitting system is presented.

Information on a patent for an audio processing compression system in a hearing aid is presented.

The article offers information on a patent which describes methods and systems for acoustically controlling a cochlear implant system.

The article offers information on a patent which describes a first sound processing unit for a prosthetic hearing implant.

The article offers information on a patent for a microphone coupled to the cochlear implant portion of an electro-acoustic stimulation (EAS) system.

The article offers information on a patent for a light powered hearing aid.

The article offers information on a patent which describes a hearing aid adapted for embedded electronics.

The article offers information on a patent which describes an apparatus and a technique for monitoring wireless communication in hearing assistance systems.

The article offers information on a patent which describes an output component of a hearing prosthesis.

The article offers information on a patent for a real ear measurement system.

The article offers information on a patent for a hearing assistance device which associates acoustic environment codes with acoustic environments.

The article offers information on a patent which describes a behind the ear(BTE) sound processor module for auditory prosthesis systems.

The article offers information on a patent which describes an adjustment and cleaning tool for a hearing assistance device.

The article offers information on a patent which describes a technique for controlling an audio feature of a hearing assistance device.