Abstract: Various implementations include adaptive masking of environmental sound. Particular implementations are configured to adjust a masking sound based on one or more detected environmental sound sources. An example method includes: measuring environmental sound proximate to an audio device, outputting a masking sound at the audio device, and adjusting at least one of: a volume of the masking sound, a spectrum of the masking sound, or content of the masking sound based on the measured environmental sound.

Abstract: A headset includes an acoustic structure, a first microphone located outside the acoustic structure, a second microphone located inside the acoustic structure, and an output driver configured to receive an antinoise signal based on a combination of input from the first and second microphones. A voice signal of a user of the headset is generated using input from the first and second microphones. The first microphone could be a feed-forward microphone that provides input to a feed-forward filter to produce a filtered feed-forward signal for producing the antinoise signal. The second microphone could be a feedback microphone that provides input to a feedback filter to produce a filtered feedback signal for producing the antinoise signal.

Abstract: An acoustic device includes at least one acoustic transducer disposed such that, in a head-worn state, the at least one acoustic transducer is in an open-ear configuration in which an ear canal of a user of the acoustic device is unobstructed. The acoustic device also includes an array of two or more first microphones that captures audio preferentially from a first direction as compared to at least a second direction different from the first direction, wherein the audio captured using the array is processed and played back through the at least one acoustic transducer, and an active noise reduction (ANR) engine that includes one or more processing devices. The ANR engine is configured to generate a driver signal for the at least one acoustic transducer, the driver signal having phases that reduce effects of audio captured from at least the second direction.

Abstract: Various implementations include systems for providing enhanced aware mode capabilities in an ANR audio device. In particular implementations, a method includes receiving an ambient noise signal from a microphone associated with a wearable audio device; determining a gain value based on a sound pressure level (SPL) of the ambient noise signal; generating a gain adjusted ambient noise signal by applying the gain value to the ambient noise signal; generating a total external microphone signal by adding the gain adjusted ambient noise signal to a noise reducing ambient signal; generating an expanded audio signal by selectively adjusting a source audio signal based on the gain adjusted ambient noise signal; and combining and outputting the expanded audio signal with the total external microphone signal to an acoustic transducer.

Abstract: A noise cancelling headset includes an earpiece, the earpiece including a feedback microphone, a feed-forward microphone, and an output driver. A first feedback filter receives an input from at least the first feedback microphone and produces a first filtered feedback signal. A first feed-forward filter receives an input from at least the first feed-forward microphone and produces a first filtered feed-forward signal. A first summer combines the first filtered feedback signal and the first filtered feed-forward signal and produces a first output signal. An output interface provides the first output signal as an output from the headset.

Abstract: An earphone includes a loudspeaker, a microphone, a housing supporting the loudspeaker and microphone, and ear tip surrounding the housing and configured to acoustically couple both the loudspeaker and the microphone to an ear canal of a user, and to acoustically close the entrance to the user's ear canal. A processor provides output audio signals to the loudspeaker, receives input audio signals from the microphone, extracts a rate of respiration from the input audio signals, adjusts the output audio signals based on the extracted rate of respiration, and provides the adjusted output audio signals to the loudspeaker.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides processes, methods, systems, and devices for providing a feedback of a wearable device to a user. The feedback may indicate a level of seal, fitness, or compatibility between the wearable device and the user. For example, the feedback provides an exact measurement and a quantified report regarding how well a seal is created when the user puts on the wearable device that dictates the wearable device's audio playback performance experienced by the user. This allows the user to identify, in addition to the comfort level, a best adjustment or selection of components (e.g., tips, inserts, cups, or the like) of the wearable device to deliver the best audio performance achievable by the wearable device. The wearable device may include ear buds, headphones, headsets, or any audio device physically contacting the user.

Abstract: In an active noise reducing headphone, a signal processor applies filters and control gains of both the feed-forward and feedback active noise cancellation signal paths. The signal processor is configured to apply first feed-forward filters to the feed-forward signal path and apply first feedback filters to the feedback signal path during a first operating mode providing effective cancellation of ambient sound, and to apply second feed-forward filters to the feed-forward signal path during a second operating mode providing active hear-through of ambient sounds with ambient naturalness.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, a hearing aid has an ANR circuit and an ear tip that acoustically occludes the ear. Such a hearing aid provides greater gain to sounds than would be stable in the same hearing aid with a vented ear tip. The ear tip and the ANR circuit in combination attenuate sounds reaching the ear canal through the hearing aid to a first level. The hearing aid detects sounds arriving at a microphone, amplifies those sounds, and provides the amplified sounds to the ear canal at a second level and later in time than the same sounds arrive at the ear canal through the ear tip. The first level is at least 14 dB greater than the second level, such that the amplified sounds do not interact with the passive sounds to result in spectral combing.

Abstract: An acoustic device includes at least one acoustic transducer disposed such that, in a head-worn state, the at least one acoustic transducer is in an open-ear configuration in which an ear canal of a user of the acoustic device is unobstructed. The acoustic device also includes an array of two or more first microphones that captures audio preferentially from a first direction as compared to at least a second direction different from the first direction, wherein the audio captured using the array is processed and played back through the at least one acoustic transducer, and an active noise reduction (ANR) engine that includes one or more processing devices. The ANR engine is configured to generate a driver signal for the at least one acoustic transducer, the driver signal having phases that reduce effects of audio captured from at least the second direction.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, a hearing aid has an ANR circuit and an ear tip that acoustically occludes the ear. Such a hearing aid provides greater gain to sounds than would be stable in the same hearing aid with a vented ear tip. The ear tip and the ANR circuit in combination attenuate sounds reaching the ear canal through the hearing aid to a first level. The hearing aid detects sounds arriving at a microphone, amplifies those sounds, and provides the amplified sounds to the ear canal at a second level and later in time than the same sounds arrive at the ear canal through the ear tip. The first level is at least 14 dB greater than the second level, such that the amplified sounds do not interact with the passive sounds to result in spectral combing.

Abstract: An acoustic device includes at least one acoustic transducer disposed such that, in a head-worn state, the at least one acoustic transducer is in an open-ear configuration in which an ear canal of a user of the acoustic device is unobstructed. The acoustic device also includes an array of two or more first microphones that captures audio preferentially from a first direction as compared to at least a second direction different from the first direction, wherein the audio captured using the array is processed and played back through the at least one acoustic transducer, and an active noise reduction (ANR) engine that includes one or more processing devices. The ANR engine is configured to generate a driver signal for the at least one acoustic transducer, the driver signal having phases that reduce effects of audio captured from at least the second direction.

Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in a method that includes receiving an input signal representing audio captured by a microphone of an active noise reduction (ANR) headphone, processing, by one or more processing devices, a portion of the input signal to determine a noise level in the input signal, and determining that the noise level satisfies a threshold condition. The method also includes, in response to determining that the noise level satisfies the threshold condition, generating an output signal in which ANR processing on the input signal is controlled in accordance with a target loudness level of the output signal, and driving an acoustic transducer of the ANR headphone using the output signal.

Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in a method that includes receiving an input signal representing audio captured by a microphone of an active noise reduction (ANR) headphone, processing, by one or more processing devices, a portion of the input signal to determine a noise level in the input signal, and determining that the noise level satisfies a threshold condition. The method also includes, in response to determining that the noise level satisfies the threshold condition, generating an output signal in which ANR processing on the input signal is controlled in accordance with a target loudness level of the output signal, and driving an acoustic transducer of the ANR headphone using the output signal.

Abstract: An earpiece includes a feed-forward microphone coupled to the environment outside the headphones, a feedback microphone coupled to an ear canal of a user when the earpiece is in use, a speaker coupled to the ear canal of the user when the earpiece is in use, a digital signal processor implementing feed-forward and feedback noise compensation filters between the respective microphones and the speaker, and a memory storing an ordered sequence of sets of filters for use by the digital signal processor. Each of the sets of filters includes a feed-forward filter that provides a different frequency-dependent amount of sound pass-through or cancellation, which in combination with residual ambient sound reaching the ear results in a total insertion gain at the ear of a user.

Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in a method that includes receiving one or more electronic files comprising information on structural features of a portion of an ear of a user, generating an electronic representation of the eartip or a cast based on a portion of the information on the structural features of the portion of the ear, and producing the eartip based on the electronic representation. The eartip includes an outlet, and a sealing structure disposed around an exterior of the outlet, wherein a first end of the sealing structure is attached to the outlet, and a second, opposite end of the sealing structure is physically separated from the exterior of the outlet. Generating the electronic representation includes configuring one or more structural parameters of the outlet or the sealing structure in accordance with the structural features of the portion of the ear.

Abstract: Various implementations include wearable audio devices and related methods for controlling such devices. In some particular implementations, a computer-implemented method of controlling a wearable audio device includes: receiving an initiation command to initiate a spatial audio mode; providing a plurality of audio choices corresponding with spatially delineated zones in an array defined relative to a physical position of the wearable audio device, in response to the initiation command, wherein each audio choice is associated with a prescribed action; receiving a selection command selecting one of the plurality of audio choices; and taking one of the prescribed actions in response to receiving the selection command.

Abstract: A noise cancelling headset includes an earpiece, the earpiece including a feedback microphone, a feed-forward microphone, and an output driver. A first feedback filter receives an input from at least the first feedback microphone and produces a first filtered feedback signal. A first feed-forward filter receives an input from at least the first feed-forward microphone and produces a first filtered feed-forward signal. A first summer combines the first filtered feedback signal and the first filtered feed-forward signal and produces a first output signal. An output interface provides the first output signal as an output from the headset.

Abstract: Various implementations include approaches for demonstrating wearable audio device capabilities. In particular aspects, a computer-implemented method of demonstrating a feature of a wearable audio device includes: receiving a command to initiate an audio demonstration mode at a demonstration device; initiating binaural playback of a demonstration audio file at wearable playback device being worn by a user and initiating playback of a corresponding demonstration video file at a video interface coupled with the demonstration device; receiving a user command to adjust a demonstration setting at the demonstration device to emulate adjustment of a corresponding setting on the wearable audio device; and adjusting the binaural playback at the wearable playback device based upon the user command.

Abstract: An acoustic device includes at least one acoustic transducer disposed such that, in a head-worn state, the at least one acoustic transducer is in an open-ear configuration in which an ear canal of a user of the acoustic device is unobstructed. The acoustic device also includes an array of two or more first microphones that captures audio preferentially from a first direction as compared to at least a second direction different from the first direction, wherein the audio captured using the array is processed and played back through the at least one acoustic transducer, and an active noise reduction (ANR) engine that includes one or more processing devices. The ANR engine is configured to generate a driver signal for the at least one acoustic transducer, the driver signal having phases that reduce effects of audio captured from at least the second direction.