A hearing aid (1) comprising a lid (31), an electronics module (4), and a microphone adapter (15), wherein the electronics module and the microphone adapter provides a groove (30) for sliding engagement with a pivot of the lid, the groove extending partially over the electronics module and partially over the adapter between a position where the lid is closed and a position where the lid is partially open.

A method and system for direct audio capture and identification of the captured audio. A user may then be offered the opportunity to purchase recordings directly over the Internet or similar outlet. The system preferably includes one or more user-carried portable audio capture devices that employ a microphone, analog to digital converter, signal processor, and memory to store samples of ambient audio or audio features calculated from the audio. Users activate their capture devices when they hear a recording that they would like to identify or purchase. Later, the user may connect the capture device to a personal computer to transfer the audio samples or audio feature samples to an Internet site for identification. The Internet site preferably uses automatic pattern recognition techniques to identify the captured samples from a library of recordings offered for sale. The user can then verify that the sample is from the desired recording and place an order online. The pattern recognition process uses features of the audio itself and does not require the presence of artificial codes or watermarks. Audio to be identified can be from any source, including radio and television broadcasts or recordings that are played locally.

According to the present invention, there is provided a hearing aid insert module comprising a socket module, and a substantially closed-loop frame comprising electrically conductive portions, the closed-loop frame further comprising engaging means adapted to releasably coupling the hearing aid insert module to a faceplate of a hearing aid. The invention is of advantage in that releasable coupling of the faceplate to the socket module via the frame is capable of rendering the insert module easier to manufacture, to user-customize and to repair. The frame is arranged to impart a majority of structural rigidity to the faceplate when inserted therein. Such rigidity is of benefit in that the faceplate is capable in use of applying a flexural component to the frame which could damage the frame if not of sufficiently substantial rigidity.

A manually-actuated device for the deliver of a volume of liquid which includes an outlet through which liquid is in use delivered and a cover member which is movably disposed relative to the housing between a first position in which the cover member at least partly covers the outlet and a second position in which the cover member acts as a lever which in use is acted upon by a user to actuate the delivery device.

An electrical appliance housing including a hard plastic housing body defining a switch-actuating aperture. The aperture is sealed with a soft plastic membrane. An actuating button is fastened to a hard plastic base that is bonded to the membrane.

The invention is directed to an apparatus for controlling at least one electronic device, comprising a haptic input means, an acoustic input means, and a switching means for switching between the acoustic input means and the haptic input means, such that an input is received by the apparatus via only one input means at a time. The invention is also directed to a method for inputting data using an apparatus comprising a haptic input means, an acoustic input means and a switching means for switching between the input means, comprising the steps of receiving input via one of the input means, switching from the one input means to the other input means upon receipt of a switching command by the switching means, and receiving input via the other input means wherein input is received by the apparatus via only one input means at a time.

A method of fabricating a mufti-resonator bulk acoustic wave (BAW) filter and a filter provided by such a method, the filter having a plurality of layers of materials serving as an acoustic mirror for a plurality of resonator sections, each resonator section including at least a top electrode and a bottom electrode sandwiching a piezolayer, the method including the steps of: choosing dielectric materials for some of the layers of materials serving as the acoustic mirror and metallic materials for the others of the layers; and providing at least one of the metallic layers via a fabrication procedure in which the metallic layer is patterned into distinct portions by an etching process that removes enough of the metallic layer between where different resonator sections are to be placed as to provide electrical isolation between the portions of the layer beneath the different resonator sections; thereby providing a multi-resonator BAW filter with reduced capacitive coupling between resonators, compared to the capacitive coupling present in a multi-resonator BAW filter fashioned in a similar manner except excluding the step of etching to pattern any metallic layers of the similarly fashioned acoustic mirror.

The positioning system (50) attaches to the lifting wire (42) and comprises a main module (51) and a counter module (52), each provided with thrusters (56) to control the positioning of an attached load. An attached processing system takes input from an acoustic source and a sound velocity meter, to take account of acoustic rays bending as velocity changes with depth, on the apparatus to control the thrusters and position the load at its required underwater position : Independent claims are also included for the following: (a) A processing arrangement arranged to drive an apparatus for deploying an object to an underwater target position; ( A vessel provided with a processing arrangement arranged to drive an apparatus for deploying an object to an underwater target position; ( A method of driving a processing arrangement arranged to drive an apparatus for deploying an object to an underwater target position; ( A computer program for carrying out a method of driving a processing arrangement arranged to drive an apparatus for deploying an object to an underwater target position.

The positioning system (50) attaches to the lifting wire (42) and comprises a main module (51) and a counter module (52), each provided with thrusters (56) to control the positioning of an attached load. An attached processing system takes input from an acoustic source and a sound velocity meter, to take account of acoustic rays bending as velocity changes with depth, on the apparatus to control the thrusters and position the load at its required underwater position : Independent claims are also included for the following: (a) A processing arrangement arranged to drive an apparatus for deploying an object to an underwater target position; ( A vessel provided with a processing arrangement arranged to drive an apparatus for deploying an object to an underwater target position; ( A method of driving a processing arrangement arranged to drive an apparatus for deploying an object to an underwater target position; ( A computer program for carrying out a method of driving a processing arrangement arranged to drive an apparatus for deploying an object to an underwater target position.

PCT No. PCT/IT96/00117 Sec. 371 Date Nov. 21, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Nov. 21, 1997 PCT Filed Jun. 10, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO97/37513 PCT Pub. Date Oct. 9, 1997A device for electroacoustic diffusion includes a basket; a balance supported by the basket, made of balsa wood or formed with a balsa wood stripe fixed at its ends with a coil glued at its middle; a balsa wood membrane supported by the basket; a suspension adjacent to the membrane and supported by the basket; and an electroacoustic structure adjacent the basket and opposite the balance. The electroacoustic structure includes a first plate adjacent the basket, a second plate, a magnet between the first plate and the second plate, and a coil between the first plate and the second plate. The membrane can take on various shapes, including: (a) a truncated-cone shape, including triangular pieces of balsa wood, steam folded, glued, and placed with fibers of the balsa wood in a radial orientation, (b) a dome-shape, and (c) a planar shape.