# US 8,787,113 B2 · Voice and position localization > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,787,113 B2 - Document ID: US8787113B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/596,468 - Filed: 2008-04-18 - Published: 2010-05-06 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2007-04-19 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: Oded Turbahn; Michael Kokarev; Nathan Altman; Meir Agassy - Inventors: Oded Turbahn; Michael Kokarev; Nathan Altman; Meir Agassy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8787113B2 ## CPC - G01S 11/14: using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves - G06F 3/0346: with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors - G06F 3/03545: {Pens or stylus} - G06F 3/043: using propagating acoustic waves - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Apparatus configured for processing of both audible and ultrasonic sound inputs, including a sensor with a frequency response spanning both audible and ultrasonic frequencies, and processing electronics configured to separate the audible and ultrasonic input frequencies for independent use. Apparatus configured for processing of both audible and ultrasonic sound inputs, including a sensor with a frequency response spanning both audible and ultrasonic frequencies, and processing electronics configured to process each one of the audible and ultrasonic input frequencies independently. Related apparatus and methods are also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus configured for processing of both audible and ultrasonic sound inputs, comprising: a sensor with a frequency response spanning both audible and ultrasonic frequencies; and processing electronics configured to separate the audible and ultrasonic input frequencies for independent use, and comprising a first filter configured to filter audible frequencies and a second filter configured to filter ultrasonic frequencies and a multiplexer for switching between the separated frequencies to provide a single output, the multiplexer allowing for simultaneous processing, by the processing electronics, of audible and ultrasonic frequencies output from the sensor, the processing including performing noise cancellation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 in which the frequency response of the sensor is substantially different in the audible frequencies and in the ultrasonic frequencies. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 in which the frequency response of the sensor in the audible frequency differs by more than 40 dB than the frequency response of the sensor in the ultrasonic frequencies. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3 in which the processing electronics is configured to amplify a lower one of a response of the sensor to the audible frequencies and a response of the sensor to the ultrasonic frequencies. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 in which the processing electronics comprises independent processing parts for independently processing the separated frequencies. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, comprising two or more sensors. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, in which a same sensor is used for picking up the audible and the ultrasonic sound inputs. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, in which the sensors are MEMS microphones. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, in which the processing electronics is configured for localization of at least one source of the ultrasonic sound input. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, in which the processing electronics is configured for localization of at least one source of the audible sound input. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, in which the processing electronics is configured to localize an ultrasonic sound source in three dimensions by comparing the ultrasonic output of more than one sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, in which the processing electronics is configured to track movement of the ultrasonic sound source. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, in which the processing electronics is configured to produce output corresponding to the tracking. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, and further configured for at least one member of the group comprising equipment monitoring, indicating location of faulty equipment, measuring distance, detecting animals emitting ultrasonic sounds, localizing animals emitting ultrasonic sounds, simultaneously recording sound and perform ultrasonic sound source localization, simultaneously recording sound and perform ultrasonic sound source localization wherein said ultrasonic source localization further comprises producing input to a writing application, simultaneously recording sound and perform ultrasonic sound source localization wherein said ultrasonic source localization further comprises producing input to more than one writing application, indicating location of tags emitting ultrasonic sound, and sending a signal to the tags in order to cause the tags to emit ultrasonic sound. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14 comprised as part of a distance determination unit in a focusing unit of a camera. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising an ultrasonic sound source. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, configured to perform ultrasonic sound source localization for more than one ultrasonic sound source. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising a touch-screen, in which placing a tip of a stylus on the touch-screen produces output corresponding to a location of the tip of the stylus on the touch-screen, and moving the tip of the stylus along the touch-screen surface produces output corresponding to the movement of the tip of the stylus along the touch-screen surface. ### Claim 19 A system comprising a) apparatus configured for processing of both audible and ultrasonic sound inputs, comprising: a sensor with a frequency response spanning both audible and ultrasonic frequencies; and processing electronics configured to separate the audible and ultrasonic input frequencies for independent use, and comprising a first filter configured to filter audible frequencies and a second filter configured to filter ultrasonic frequencies and a multiplexer for switching between the separated frequencies to provide a single output, the multiplexer allowing for simultaneous processing, by the processing electronics, of audible and ultrasonic output frequencies from the sensor, the processing including performing noise cancellation; and b) a pointing device configured to emit ultrasonic sound. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 in which the apparatus comprises three sensors and produces a localization of the pointing device in three dimensions. ### Claim 21 An apparatus configured for processing of both audible and ultrasonic sound inputs, comprising: first and second sensors each with a frequency response spanning both audible and ultrasonic input frequencies; and processing electronics configured to process each one of the audible and ultrasonic input frequencies independently, said processing comprising carrying out noise cancellation and location of a source with said ultrasonic sound input. ### Claim 22 A method for processing of both audible and ultrasonic sound inputs, using a sensor with a frequency response spanning both audible and ultrasonic input frequencies for input of audible and ultrasonic sound inputs, and processing electronics for separating the audible and ultrasonic input frequencies for independent use, comprising filtering audible frequencies and ultrasonic frequencies separately and switching by multiplexing between the separated frequencies to provide a single output, the multiplexing allowing for simultaneous processing, by the processing electronics, of audible and ultrasonic frequencies output from the sensor, the processing including performing noise cancellation. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, in which the sensor comprises more than one sensor, and further comprising calibrating the response to input from at least one of the sensors. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22 in which the processing electronics is configured for simultaneous processing of audible and ultrasonic frequencies. ### Claim 25 A system for processing of both audible and ultrasonic sound inputs, comprising: means for detecting the audible and ultrasonic sound inputs, the means for detecting the audible and ultrasonic sound inputs having a frequency response spanning both audible and ultrasonic frequencies; means for filtering the audible and ultrasonic sound inputs to separate the audible sound input and the ultrasonic sound input for independent use; means for multiplexing the separated audible sound input and the ultrasonic sound input to switch between the separated audible sound input and the ultrasonic sound input to provide a single output for simultaneous processing; and means for simultaneously processing the separated audible sound input and the ultrasonic sound input, the processing including performing noise cancellation. ### Claim 26 A computer-readable medium including instructions that when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform a method comprising: filtering audible and ultrasonic sound inputs detected using a sensor having a frequency response spanning both audible and ultrasonic frequencies to separate the audible sound input and the ultrasonic sound input for independent use; multiplexing the separated audible sound input and the ultrasonic sound input to switch between the separated audible sound input and the ultrasonic sound input to provide a single output for simultaneous processing; and simultaneously processing the separated audible sound input and the ultrasonic sound input, the processing including performing noise cancellation.