1. A method for providing ambient noise sensitive alerting, the method comprising:
receiving ambient noise via a microphone;
converting the ambient noise to an electrical signal;
detecting a parameter of the electrical signal, the parameter indicative of the ambient noise, wherein detecting the parameter of the electrical signal comprises (i) detecting peak level and cumulative level for the electrical signal across a predetermined time interval, (ii) calculating a running average of an amplitude of the electrical signal, storing samples of the electrical signal that are above a predetermined threshold, detecting an envelope of the electrical signal, detecting the amplitude of the electrical signal, and acquiring samples of the electrical signal to generate a sequence of digitized samples, and (iii) integrating the electrical signal using a weighting function that emphasizes recently acquired portions of the electrical signal and deemphasizes portions of the electrical signal that were not recently acquired;
accepting a user preference specifying a default volume level and minimum volume level for an audible alert and a desired ring tone from a menu of audible alerts;
sensing an incoming communication;
controlling volume of the audible alert of the incoming communication in response to the parameter of the electrical signal, the controlling the volume including automatically adjusting the volume of the audible alert in response to the parameter using the default volume level as an initialization point and the minimum volume level as a minimum limit; and
repeatedly detecting the parameter of the electrical signal and dynamically controlling the volume of the audible alert in response to the parameter.
2. A computer program product comprising a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method of providing ambient noise sensitive alerting, the method comprising:
receiving ambient noise via a microphone;
converting the ambient noise to an electrical signal;
detecting a parameter of the electrical signal, the parameter indicative of the ambient noise, wherein detecting the parameter of the electrical signal comprises (i) detecting peak level and cumulative level for the electrical signal across a predetermined time interval, (ii) calculating a running average of an amplitude of the electrical signal, storing samples of the electrical signal that are above a predetermined threshold, detecting an envelope of the electrical signal, detecting the amplitude of the electrical signal, and acquiring samples of the electrical signal to generate a sequence of digitized samples, and (iii) integrating the electrical signal using a weighting function that emphasizes recently acquired portions of the electrical signal and deemphasizes portions of the electrical signal that were not recently acquired;
accepting a user preference specifying a default volume level, maximum volume level, and minimum volume level for an audible alert and a desired ring tone from a menu of audible alerts;
sensing an incoming communication;
controlling volume of the audible alert of the incoming communication in response to the parameter of the electrical signal, the controlling the volume including automatically adjusting the volume of the audible alert in response to the parameter using the default volume level as an initialization point and the minimum volume level as a minimum limit; and
repeatedly detecting the parameter of the electrical signal and dynamically controlling the volume of the audible alert in response to the parameter.
3. A device for providing ambient noise sensitive alerting, the device including:
a microphone for receiving ambient noise and converting the ambient noise to an electrical signal,
an ambient noise level detection mechanism for detecting a parameter of the electrical signal which is indicative of ambient noise,
an incoming call sensing circuitry for sensing of an incoming call or message, and
an audio signal generator operatively coupled to a loudspeaker for providing an audible alert;
wherein the incoming call sensing circuitry controls the volume of the audible alert by:
detecting a parameter of the electrical signal, the parameter indicative of the ambient noise, wherein detecting the parameter of the electrical signal comprises (i) detecting peak level and cumulative level for the electrical signal across a predetermined time interval, (ii) calculating a running average of an amplitude of the electrical signal, storing samples of the electrical signal that are above a predetermined threshold, detecting an envelope of the electrical signal, detecting the amplitude of the electrical signal, and acquiring samples of the electrical signal to generate a sequence of digitized samples, and (iii) integrating the electrical signal using a weighting function that emphasizes recently acquired portions of the electrical signal and deemphasizes portions of the electrical signal that were not recently acquired;
accepting a user preference specifying a default volume level, maximum volume level, and minimum volume level for an audible alert and a desired ring tone from a menu of audible alerts;
controlling volume of the audible alert of the incoming communication in response to the parameter of the electrical signal, the controlling the volume including automatically adjusting the volume of the audible alert in response to the parameter using the default volume level as an initialization point and the minimum volume level as a minimum limit; and
repeatedly detecting the parameter of the electrical signal and dynamically controlling the volume of the audible alert in response to the parameter.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. An oscillator circuit comprising:
a transformer including a primary winding and at least one secondary winding, the secondary winding to be coupled across an external load;
first and second bipolar junction transistors connected in a push-pull operating mode in an oscillator loop and coupled to the primary winding of the transformer for producing a high frequency voltage, the primary winding having two ends each respective one of which is coupled to a respective one of the collectors of the first and second bipolar junction transistors;
first and second field effect transistors respectively coupled in parallel with the first and second bipolar junction transistors; and
means for actuating the first and second field effect transistors to respectively conduct substantially synchronously with the first and second bipolar junction transistors upon excitation of the transformer windings and upon an oscillator signal in the oscillator loop reaching a predetermined voltage, whereby the current conducting through the primary winding is substantially shunted from the bipolar junction transistors to the field effect transistors to significantly reduce power loss otherwise occurring if the current were conducting through the bipolar junction transistors alone.
2. An oscillator circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second field effect transistors are MOSFETs.
3. An oscillator circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second field effect transistors are IGFETs.
4. An oscillator circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein the transformer includes an additional secondary winding, and wherein the actuation means includes a low voltage switch coupled to the additional secondary winding for being closed upon excitation of the additional secondary winding, and a driver circuit powered via the low voltage switch for triggering the first and second field effect transistors to respectively conduct substantially synchronously with the first and second bipolar junction transistors.
5. An oscillator circuit as defined in claim 4, further including a buffer circuit interposed between the additional secondary winding and the driver circuit.
6. An oscillator circuit as defined in claim 4, wherein the driver circuit has first and second digital outputs respectively coupled to the gates of the first and second field effect transistors, the first output of the driver circuit having an opposite digital state relative to the second output of the driver.
7. An oscillator circuit as defined in claim 6, wherein the buffer circuit is configured as a zero crossing detector for triggering upon each zero crossing the first and second outputs of the driver circuit each to change to the opposite digital state.
8. An oscillator circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein the transformer includes an additional secondary winding, and further including a low pass filter interposed between the additional secondary winding and the bases of the first and second bipolar junction transistors.
9. An oscillator circuit as defined in claim 8, wherein the low pass filter is an LC filter.
10. An oscillator circuit comprising:
a transformer including a primary winding and at least one secondary winding, the secondary winding to be coupled across an external load;
at least one bipolar junction transistor employed in an oscillator loop and coupled to the primary winding of the transformer for producing high frequency voltage;
at least one field effect transistor coupled in parallel with the bipolar junction transistor; and
means for actuating the field effect transistor to conduct with the bipolar junction transistor upon excitation of the transformer windings and upon an oscillator signal in the oscillator loop reaching a predetermined voltage, whereby the current conducting through the primary winding is substantially shunted from the bipolar junction transistor to the field effect transistor to significantly reduce power loss otherwise occurring if the current were conducting through the bipolar junction transistor alone.
11. An oscillator circuit as defined in claim 10, wherein the at least one field effect transistor is a MOSFET.
12. An oscillator circuit as defined in claim 10, wherein the at least one field effect transistor is an IGFET.
13. An oscillator circuit as defined in claim 10, wherein the transformer includes an additional secondary winding, and wherein the actuation means includes a low voltage switch coupled to the additional secondary winding for being closed upon excitation of the additional secondary winding, and a driver circuit powered via the low voltage switch for triggering the field effect transistor to conduct with the bipolar junction transistor.
14. An oscillator circuit as defined in claim 13, further including a buffer circuit interposed between the additional secondary winding and the driver circuit.
15. An oscillator circuit as defined in claim 13, wherein the driver circuit has a digital output coupled to the gate of the field effect transistor.
16. An apparatus for high voltage testing of the insulation of electrical conductors, the apparatus comprising:
an electrode for passing through an insulated electrical conductor; and
an oscillator circuit including:
a transformer including a primary winding and at least one secondary winding, the secondary winding to be coupled across the electrode;
at least one bipolar junction transistor employed in an oscillator loop and coupled to the primary winding of the transformer for producing high frequency voltage;
at least one field effect transistor coupled in parallel with the bipolar junction transistor; and
means for actuating the field effect transistor to conduct with the bipolar junction transistor upon excitation of the transformer windings and upon an oscillator signal in the oscillator loop reaching a predetermined voltage, whereby the current conducting through the primary winding is substantially shunted from the bipolar junction transistor to the field effect transistor to significantly reduce power loss otherwise occurring if the current were conducting through the bipolar junction transistor alone.
17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, further comprising:
an AC to DC rectifier coupled to a secondary winding communicating with the oscillator loop;
a comparator for comparing a control voltage with a DC output voltage of the comparator, the control voltage for adjusting the electrode voltage;
a voltage regulator in a regulator loop communicating with the oscillator loop for maintaining a DC output voltage of the rectifier near that of the control voltage; and
switching means for temporarily opening the regulator loop in response to an output voltage of the comparator during a bare wire or pinhole event to maintain a supply voltage to the oscillator loop, and closing a feedback loop including the output of the rectifier in order for the output voltage of the comparator to quickly recover to a pre-fault level, whereby the oscillator loop and the feedback loop quickly recover to pre-fault voltage levels without causing an electrode voltage either to rise too slowly or to overshoot its non-fault operational level because of transient signals so as to ensure detection of closely spaced faults and avoid the application of excessive test potentials.
18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the switching means includes a sample and hold circuit having a first switch coupled to a charging capacitor for opening the oscillator loop and maintaining via the charged capacitor the supply voltage to the voltage regulator, and a second switch for closing the feedback loop.
19. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, further including means for reducing output current across the transformer windings when a bare wire or pinhole event occurs.
20. An apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein the current reducing means includes:
a fault detector for superimposing a DC voltage across the electrode and detecting any DC current flow between the electrode and conductor passing therethrough;
a current range switch having an input coupled to the fault detector; and
a current regulator having a current input for sensing oscillator loop current, an output for controlling the voltage regulator in response to the sensed current to maintain current in the oscillator loop at a predetermined level and a predetermined current level upon detection of a bare wire or pinhole event along an electrical conductor passing through the electrode.
21. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, further including fault indicating means inductively coupled to the secondary winding for detecting abrupt transients in the current of the secondary winding caused by a fault in a conductor passing through the electrode.
22. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the fault indicating means includes:
a timer inductively coupled to the secondary winding for generating a series of pulses when a fault occurs in the conductor passing through the electrode, the timer being coupled to an input of the current range switch;
a counter having an input coupled to the timer for counting the number of pulses generated by the timer; and
a relay having an input coupled to and for being triggered when receiving pulses from the timer.