Abstract: A noise cancellation filter structure for a noise cancellation enabled audio device, in particular headphone, comprises a noise input for receiving a noise signal and a filter output for providing a filter output signal. A first noise filter produces a first filter signal by filtering the noise signal and a second noise filter produces a second filter signal by filtering the noise signal. The second noise filter has a frequency response with a non-minimum-phase, in particular maximum-phase. A combiner is configured to provide the filter output signal based on a linear combination of the first filter signal and the second filter signal.

Abstract: In a method for tuning at least one parameter of a noise cancellation enabled audio system with an ear mountable playback device comprising a speaker and a feedforward microphone the playback device is placed onto a measurement fixture, the speaker facing a test microphone located within an ear canal representation. The parameter is varied between a plurality of settings while a test sound is played. A measurement signal from the test microphone is received and stored in the audio system at least while the parameter is varied. A power minimum in the stored measurement signal and a tune parameter associated with the power minimum are determined in the audio system from the plurality of settings of the varied parameter.

Abstract: In a method for determining a response function of a noise cancellation enabled audio device, the audio device is placed onto a measurement fixture, wherein a loudspeaker of the audio device faces an ear canal representation of the measurement fixture. A first and a second response function between an ambient sound source and a test microphone located within the ear canal representation are measured while parameters of a noise processor of the audio device are set to a proportional transfer function with respective first and second gain factors being different from each other. A model response function is determined based on the first and the second response function and on the first and the second gain factor.

Abstract: A noise cancellation system for a noise cancellation enabled audio device comprises a first noise filter and a second noise filter, each being designed to process a noise signal, a combiner and an adaptation engine. The first noise filter has a first fixed frequency response matched to a high leakage condition of the audio device. The second noise filter has a second fixed frequency response matched to a low leakage condition of the audio device. The combiner is configured to provide a compensation signal based on a combination of an output of the first noise filter amplified with a first adjustable gain factor and an output of the second noise filter amplified with a second adjustable gain factor. The adaptation engine is configured to estimate a leakage condition of the audio device based on an error noise signal and to adjust at least one of the first and the second adjustable gain factors based on the estimated leakage condition.

Abstract: A noise cancellation filter structure for a noise cancellation enabled audio device, in particular headphone, comprises a noise input for receiving a noise signal and a filter output for providing a filter output signal. A first noise filter produces a first filter signal by filtering the noise signal and a second noise filter produces a second filter signal by filtering the noise signal. The second noise filter has a frequency response with a non-minimum-phase, in particular maximum-phase. A combiner is configured to provide the filter output signal based on a linear combination of the first filter signal and the second filter signal.

Abstract: In a method for determining a response function of a noise cancellation enabled audio device, the audio device is placed onto a measurement fixture, wherein a loudspeaker of the audio device faces an ear canal representation of the measurement fixture. A first and a second response function between an ambient sound source and a test microphone located within the ear canal representation are measured while parameters of a noise processor of the audio device are set to a proportional transfer function with respective first and second gain factors being different from each other. A model response function is determined based on the first and the second response function and on the first and the second gain factor.

Abstract: A noise cancellation system for a noise cancellation enabled audio device comprises a first noise filter and a second noise filter, each being designed to process a noise signal, a combiner and an adaptation engine. The first noise filter has a first fixed frequency response matched to a high leakage condition of the audio device. The second noise filter has a second fixed frequency response matched to a low leakage condition of the audio device. The combiner is configured to provide a compensation signal based on a combination of an output of the first noise filter amplified with a first adjustable gain factor and an output of the second noise filter amplified with a second adjustable gain factor. The adaptation engine is configured to estimate a leakage condition of the audio device based on an error noise signal and to adjust at least one of the first and the second adjustable gain factors based on the estimated leakage condition.

Abstract: An active noise-reduction headphone arrangement has a housing bearing a loudspeaker having a first diaphragm surface coupled to a first volume of air bounded by and coupled to a user's ear, and a second diaphragm surface bounding a cavity within the housing assembly so as to define a second volume of air, rearward of the diaphragm; a conduit provided in the housing, the conduit being in fluid communication the ambient air via a first acoustic couple means having a first characteristic acoustic impedance, the conduit also being in fluid communication with said second volume of air via a second acoustic couple means having a second characteristic acoustic impedance; and a microphone having an inlet coupled acoustically to a predetermined location within the conduit.

Abstract: A MEMS microphone assembly has an enclosure enclosing a volume of air. A MEMS microphone chip is provided within the enclosure. First and second acoustic ports are formed in the enclosure, defining first and second fluid paths between the volume of air and air outside the enclosure. The MEMS microphone responds to a pre-determined linear interpolative value between two independent pressure signals supplied via first and second ports according to the potentiometic ratio of the acoustic impedances of the first and second ports.

Abstract: An active noise-reduction headphone arrangement has a housing bearing a loudspeaker having a first diaphragm surface coupled to a first volume of air bounded by and coupled to a user's ear, and a second diaphragm surface bounding a cavity within the housing assembly so as to define a second volume of air, rearward of the diaphragm; a conduit provided in the housing, the conduit being in fluid communication the ambient air via a first acoustic couple means having a first characteristic acoustic impedance, the conduit also being in fluid communication with said second volume of air via a second acoustic couple means having a second characteristic acoustic impedance; and a microphone having an inlet coupled acoustically to a predetermined location within the conduit.

Abstract: A MEMS microphone assembly has an enclosure enclosing a volume of air. A MEMS microphone chip is provided within the enclosure. First and second acoustic ports are formed in the enclosure, defining first and second fluid paths between the volume of air and air outside the enclosure. The MEMS microphone responds to a pre-determined linear interpolative value between two independent pressure signals supplied via first and second ports according to the potentiometic ratio of the acoustic impedances of the first and second ports.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for and method of implementing an ambient noise-cancellation (ANC) circuit that uses digital processing whereby a signal indicative of the ambient noise is converted to digital form, filtered, using a fixed or adaptive digital filter, and then converted back to analog before sending it to an ear-proximate speaker. In order to address the time delays associated with such processing operations, the analog-to-digital converter used is associated with a down-sampler, and the arrangement is such that a first part of the filtering is implemented by the down-sampler, and a second part of the filtering is implemented by the digital filter. This reduces group delay by configuring a down-sampler associated with the front end of the analog-to-digital converter to incorporate selected filter characteristics of the overall ANC filter response, and modifying the subsequent filtering processing stage to compensate for this.

Abstract: The invention provides earphone arrangements for use with electronic host devices, such as cellular telephone handsets and music storage and reproduction devices, and it provides in particular earphone arrangements with ambient noise cancellation (“ANC”). Typically, in prior arrangements, the complex signal processing required for ANC is carried out in the earphones themselves and/or in a pod connected between the earphones and the host device. The invention configures the processing elements such that the ANC signal-processing function is transferred to an ANC processor incorporated into the host device.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for and method of implementing an ambient noise-cancellation (ANC) circuit that uses digital processing whereby a signal indicative of the ambient noise is converted to digital form, filtered, using a fixed or adaptive digital filter, and then converted back to analogue before sending it to an ear-proximate speaker. In order to address the time delays associated with such processing operations, the analogue-to-digital converter used is associated with a down-sampler, and the arrangement is such that a first part of the filtering is implemented by the down-sampler, and a second part of the filtering is implemented by the digital filter. This reduces group delay by configuring a down-sampler associated with the front end of the analogue-to-digital converter to incorporate selected filter characteristics of the overall ANC filter response, and modifying the subsequent filtering processing stage to compensate for this.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of sterilizing biologically active products, particularly therapeutic or prophylactic products and the compositions obtained thereby. The methods include obtaining a dried sample containing an amount of trehalose sufficient to render heat stability to the product and exposing the dried sample to heating conditions at a temperature and for a duration sufficient to substantially inactivate viruses, especially non-lipid encapsulated viruses. The drying methods include both ambient drying conditions and lyophilization. The heating conditions include any known in the art and cover a wide range of temperatures and heating times. The compositions obtained contain stable products and do not contain measurable infectious virus, particularly parvovirus.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of sterilizing biologically active products, particularly therapeutic or prophylactic products and the compositions obtained thereby. The methods include obtaining a dried sample containing an amount of trehalose sufficient to render heat stability to the product and exposing the dried sample to heating conditions at a temperature and for a duration sufficient to substantially inactivate viruses, especially non-lipid encapsulated viruses. The drying methods include both ambient drying conditions and lyophilization. The heating conditions include any known in the art and cover a wide range of temperatures and heating times. The compositions obtained contain stable products and do not contain measurable infectious virus, particularly parvovirus.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of sterilizing biologically active products, particularly therapeutic or prophylactic products and the compositions obtained thereby. The methods include obtaining a dried sample containing an amount of trehalose sufficient to render heat stability to the product and exposing the dried sample to heating conditions at a temperature and for a duration sufficient to substantially inactivate viruses, especially non-lipid encapsulated viruses. The drying methods include both ambient drying conditions and lyophilization. The heating conditions include any known in the art and cover a wide range of temperatures and heating times. The compositions obtained contain stable products and do not contain measurable infectious virus, particularly parvovirus.