Abstract: An apparatus for calculating driving coefficients for loudspeakers of a loudspeaker arrangement for an audio signal associated with a virtual source is described.

Abstract: The adjustment of a hearing device with regard to a current feedback path is to be designed in a more user-friendly manner. For this purpose, provision is made for hearing aid equipment, in particular a hearing device or a non-programmable device such as a headset, including a measuring device for measuring a feedback path and an operating facility for operating the hearing aid equipment by the wearer. The operating facility allows a measurement cycle to be activated to determine at least one characteristic of the feedback path. The hearing aid wearer can thus make adjustments themselves in terms of the feedback path and therefore does not have to rely on an acoustician.

Abstract: A loudspeaker system has a front loudspeaker enclosure (30) having at least one first loudspeaker (20) and a rear loudspeaker enclosure (50) having at least one second loudspeaker (60). The rear loudspeaker enclosure (50) is in the form of a bandpass enclosure.

Abstract: A sound masking system for shaping the ambient noise level in a physical environment. The sound masking system comprises a networked and distributed system having a number of master units coupled together and to a control unit. One or more of the master units may include satellite sound masking units which function to reproduce the sound masking signal generated by the master sound masking unit. Each of the master units is addressable over the network by the control unit enabling the control unit to program the contour, spectral band, and gain characteristics of the sound masking output signal. The system may also include a remote control unit which provides the capability to tune and adjust each master sound masking unit in situ without requiring physical access through the ceiling installation. According to another aspect, there is a networked paging system with individually addressable speaker units for announcing a paging signal selected from a number of paging signals.

Abstract: A sound enrichment system for provision of tinnitus relief, the sound enrichment system includes a noise generator, an environment classifier that is configured to determine a classification of an ambient sound environment of the sound enrichment system, a processing system for adjusting a noise signal based at least in part on the classification, wherein the noise signal is obtained using the noise generator, and an output transducer for conversion of the adjusted noise signal to an acoustic signal for presentation to a user. A method of providing a noise enriched sound signal for provision of relief of tinnitus includes obtaining a noise signal, adjusting the noise signal based at least in part on a sound environment classification, generating an acoustic noise signal from the adjusted noise signal, and presenting the acoustic noise signal to a tinnitus suffering person.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a sound card or an internal capability for generating sounds from a digital music or sound file. The medical instrument is one which generates unwanted noise and is constantly in the presence of a patient or an operator, and may be in a home, a clinic, a laboratory, or other intimate setting. For instance, a patient may be typically connected for hours to a hemodialysis machine that has a noisy pump. A blood-plasma volunteer may be hooked to a noisy blood separation machine for a period of time. A laboratory technician may work in close proximity to a sample preparation machine that constantly gurgles and whirrs. In each instance, a sound card and a speaker can generate previously-recorded masking noises that make that the presence and operation of the machine more tolerable.

Abstract: A method for outputting a background sound and a mobile communication terminal using the same are provided. The method includes outputting of the background sound during voice communication, and controlling of the volume of the background sound output in correspondence to the volume of a communication voice are disclosed. The mobile communication terminal includes a background sound processing unit for controlling a volume of the background sound in correspondence to a volume level of the communication voice, and an audio processing unit for controlling the volume of the background sound under the control of the background sound processing unit and for outputting both the background sound and the communication voice.

Abstract: A noise canceling headphone includes a microphone provided in a headphone housing, collecting external sound, a canceling signal generating circuit generating a canceling signal in response to a signal output from the microphone which cancels external sound passing through the housing without being attenuated by a sound insulating characteristic of the headphone, a compensating signal generating circuit generating a compensating signal that compensates for the external sound attenuated by the sound insulating characteristic of the headphone, an adding circuit that adds a musical signal input from the exterior to the compensating signal, and a speaker unit that outputs an output signal from the adding circuit and the canceling signal.

Abstract: Comfort noise, such as can be used in voice communications can be generated using methods in the frequency domain and/or in the time domain. In various embodiments, a comfort noise spectrum can be generated in the frequency domain as the product of a background noise sample and a random noise sample. In other embodiments, the comfort noise can be generated directly in the time domain as the convolution of a background noise sample and a random noise sample.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus includes: one or more detection means for detecting movement of a diaphragm of a speaker in correspondence with feedback methods that are different feedback methods; analog-to-digital conversion means for converting one or more detection signals acquired by the detection means into a digital form; feedback signal generating means for generating feedback signals corresponding to the feedback methods using the digital detection signals; synthesis means for combining an audio signal to be output as a driving signal of the speaker with the feedback signals; correction equalizer means for setting an equalizing characteristic to allow a sound reproduced by the speaker to have a target frequency characteristic by changing the digital audio signal; feedback operation setting means for setting feedback methods in which a feedback operation up to combining the audio signal with the feedback signal is performed and the feedback operation is not performed equalizing characteristic changing a

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for masking noise as well as a control device and a masking system for carrying out said method. According to the invention, several zones in a room are independently exposed to soft sonic radiation in a basic state for masking purposes. The masking system thus comprises means for independently exposing zones in a room to sonic radiation. The masking system further comprises means which allows noise generated in a zone to be registered and preferably also be analyzed. The masking exposure to sonic radiation is reduced in the zone in which the external noise was generated and/or the masking exposure to sonic radiation is increased in the other zones in accordance with the measured or registered noise and, if applicable, the result of the analysis of the measured external noise. All in all, this allows the level of masking noise to be kept low compared with the prior art while very reliably achieving the desired masking effect.

Abstract: There is provided an audio signal processing device including a feature amount extraction unit configured to extract, from an audio signal obtained by a sound collection unit, a feature amount that indicates a pulsed operation sound generated from a sound generation unit provided in a same housing as the sound collection unit, and a noise determination unit configured to determine whether or not the operation sound is included in the audio signal based on the feature amount.

Abstract: The Mobile Phone/PDA Security Masking Enclosure is a sound insulated enclosure for use as a temporary storage location for cellular and other mobile devices in locations at which confidential and sensitive conversations and discussions are being conducted. A pink/white noise generating device within the enclosure generates a masking noise such that the cellular or other mobile devices inside the enclosure are unable to pick up or record conversations outside the enclosure.

Abstract: An open air, wide area noise cancellation system and method provides improved identification and characterization of noise sources then generating noise cancelling sound waves.

Abstract: An audio signal processing system includes: a receiving section which receives a plurality of audio signals, a process period specifying section which specifies a silent period in other audio signals except a particular audio signal that are received by the receiving section, respectively, a sound volume level adjusting section which decreases a sound volume level of the particular audio signal, in a period specified by the process period specifying section as a silent period in any of the other audio signals, and an outputting section which outputs the particular audio signal whose sound volume level is adjusted by the sound volume level adjusting section.

Abstract: A signal separation system and a method for automatically selecting a threshold to separate sound sources. The signal separation system calculates a power sequence for a target signal using a target mask, and a power sequence for an interference signal using a complementary mask, based on signals received from a plurality of microphones; applies a nonlinearity to the target signal power sequence and the interference signal power sequence; calculates a correlation coefficient of the nonlinear target signal power sequence and the nonlinear interference signal power sequence; and sets a noise masking threshold that minimizes the correlation coefficient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing simultaneous enhancement of transmission loss and absorption coefficient using activated cavities is presented. A layer of material is provided, and a backing plate having a plurality of cavities on the top surface of said backing plate, is disposed adjacent a top surface of said layer of material. A screen is disposed along the top surface of said cavities on said backing plate and at least one cavity includes an actuator disposed within the cavity and a control system receiving a signal from the microphone and receiving a signal from the accelerometer and providing a drive signal to the actuator to provide an acoustic output to provide simultaneous insertion loss and absorption which serves to minimize a linear combination of the signal from the microphone and the signal from the accelerometer.

Abstract: A differential interpolation pulse width modulation (iPWM) digital to analog converter is provided, including an iPWM for generating differential pulse from an input digital audio data stream, a power driver for providing energy to a terminal load and a filter for removing unwanted harmonic signal to reconstruct analog signal, wherein the iPWM further includes a PWM pulse generator to convert the digital input numerical code to a series of time domain pulse width; an interpolation unit to increase the time domain resolution of the pulse width; a self-calibration unit to maintain the pulse-width accuracy of the interpolation unit; a differential pulse width generator to convert series of PWM pulse into voltage and time domain differential form.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for processing sound signals in a vehicle multimedia system. A sound signal is recorded by a microphone. A voice signal component resulting from reproducing a voice signal and an audio signal component resulting from reproducing an audio signal are compensated in the recorded sound signal. The invention further relates to a system for processing sound signals and a vehicle multimedia system.

Abstract: There is provided a masking sound output device which prevents interference and an echo even in the case where plural apparatus output the same masking sounds. A masking sound generating unit 11 reproduces each of a disturbing sound, a background sound, and a dramatic sound repeatedly for a prescribed time each time. Return reproduction of each of the disturbing sound and the background sound is started with prescribed timing before it is reproduced fully for the prescribed time. The start timing of the return reproduction varies from one device to another. Unlike the disturbing sound and the background sound, the dramatic sound is not returned halfway; its reproduction timing is adjusted by inserting silent intervals. In particular, the silent interval length of the dramatic sound is varied randomly so that a listener does not recognize the repetition.

Abstract: Provided is a computer program product for adaptively enhancing an end-user's perceived quality, or quality of experience (QoE), of speech and other audio under ambient noise conditions. The computer program product comprises the steps of determining the ambient noise characteristics on a continuous basis to capture the time varying nature of ambient noises, and adaptively determining the most optimal signal shaping to be applied to the audio/speech signal to produce the most appropriate enhancement to compensate for the ambient noise impairment. The computer program product also comprises a signal shaping technique by using an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter that performs the signal modification with a low delay; a multi-level automatic gain control (AGC); and a controlled amplitude clipping module that assures samples are below a certain limit; and outputs the modified signal for playback through a loudspeaker or the like.

Abstract: A system and mechanism for monitoring and/or controlling a sound masking system from a computer aided design drawing. According to an embodiment, the system is configured to allow an operator to “click” sound masking components on the design drawing and view operating/configuration settings, and/or edit, change or modify the operating/configuration settings, which are then applied via an interface to the associated physical sound masking component in the sound masking system. According to another embodiment, the system is configured to allow an operator to design or configure sound masking components on a design drawing. The sound masking components correspond to physical sound masking components in a sound masking system and comprise one or more active sound masking elements, which are configured to be responsive to an input and allow an operator to monitor, change and/or modify operating/configuration settings for physical sound masking component via the sound masking element in the design drawing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a noise reduction method, device, and system. In the embodiments of the present invention, operating condition information of a noise source is obtained, where the operating condition information represents an operating condition of the noise source, then sound wave information corresponding to the obtained operating condition information is determined according to a pre-set mapping between the operating condition information and the sound wave information, and active noise reduction is performed by using the corresponding sound wave information. Steps such as collection, conversion, and calculation for noise generated by the noise source are not required, thereby shortening time for the active noise reduction.

Abstract: The invention converts non audio systems into distributed audio sources for active noise control solutions. The system transforms non acoustic structures into soundboards using inertial type acoustic transducers. Acoustic parameters unique for each application due to the variation in properties of the sound board are compensated by equalizers. The invention also uses damping means to limit the reflection of bending waves from the edges. The inertial type acoustic transducer is driven by an amplifier. The acoustic signal to the amplifier is modified by a signal conditioner to compensate for the non optimal response of the acoustic system. An external controller communicates with the amplifier to control its operating parameters. A series of distributed audio sources in a variety of positions may each be addressable as a node on a network wherein noise detected at that source is analyzed and the system generates sound at that source to mask the noise.

Abstract: A sound processing apparatus has one or more of processors configured to suppress peaks that exist in a high-order region of a cepstrum of a sound signal and that correspond to a harmonic structure of the sound signal. The processor is further configured to generate a separation mask used to suppress a harmonic component or a nonharmonic component of the sound signal based on a resultant cepstrum in which the peaks of the high-order region have been suppressed.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein extend to methods, systems, and computer program products for analyzing digital data. A source of digital data is analyzed and separated into segments, each segment having an identifiable characteristic. The separated segments are copied into planes of a higher dimension. The separated segments are compared to determine a resemblance factor. A fingerprint is generated for segments having a resemblance factor above a particular threshold. Based upon the generated fingerprint, a data source may be filtered to block or to pass data corresponding to the generated fingerprint. The digital data may be audio data, video data, or other data.

Abstract: Whereas a high masking effect can be secured in a space to which a masking sound is emitted, the degree of a discomfort a person existing in the space suffers can be reduced. In superimposition processing, a CPU 21 extracts sound signals in different intervals of a sound signal X12-n of a human voice, superimposes the extracted sound signals on each other on the time axis, and outputs a resulting superimposed sound signal X13-n. In shift and addition processing, the CPU 12 interchanges a sound signal, before a reference position, of a sound signal X16-n and a sound signal, after the reference position, of the sound signal X16-n (shift processing) and outputs a sound signal X17-n obtained by adding together a shift-processed sound signal X16?-n and the original, non-shift-processed sound signal X16-n.

Abstract: The sound device includes an audio-information output unit, an analysis unit, an audio-division-spectrum output unit, a noise-division-spectrum output unit and a correction unit. The analysis unit receives audio information from the audio-information output unit, and then outputs sound spectrum information. The noise-division-spectrum output unit outputs sound-volume information for each critical band width of a noise, and the audio-division-spectrum output unit outputs the sound-volume information for each critical band width of the sound-spectrum information. The correction unit corrects the information from the audio-division-spectrum output unit based on the information from the noise-division-spectrum output unit. The audio-signal properties can be well corrected corresponding to the auditory-sense properties of the human, and thus the audio sound, in which an uncomfortable feeling to the auditory sense of the human has been adequately controlled, can be transmitted to a user.

Abstract: A method for determining leakage factors or adaptation rates, or both, for adaptive filters in an active noise reduction system. The leakage factor or adaptation rate, or both, may vary depending on a parameter of an input reference signal. The parameter may include one or more of reference signal input frequency, rate of change of reference input signal frequency, if a predetermined triggering condition exits, or if a predetermined event has occurred.

Abstract: A system may be used to drive an array of loudspeakers to produce a sound field that includes a source component, whose energy is concentrated along a first direction relative to the array, and a masking component that is based on an estimated intensity of the source component in a second direction that is different from the first direction.

Abstract: A sound masking system for shaping the ambient noise level in a physical environment. The sound masking system comprises a networked and distributed system having a number of master units coupled together and to a control unit. One or more of the master units may include satellite sound masking units which function to reproduce the sound masking signal generated by the master sound masking unit. Each of the master units is addressable over the network by the control unit enabling the control unit to program the contour, spectral band, and gain characteristics of the sound masking output signal. The system may also include a remote control unit which provides the capability to tune and adjust each master sound masking unit in situ without requiring physical access through the ceiling installation.

Abstract: A non-acoustic sensor is used to measure a user's speech and then broadcasts an obscuring acoustic signal diminishing the user's vocal acoustic output intensity and/or distorting the voice sounds making them unintelligible to persons nearby. The non-acoustic sensor is positioned proximate or contacting a user's neck or head skin tissue for sensing speech production information.

Abstract: A noise reduction device of the present invention comprises a control filter unit for generating a control sound signal to cancel out a noise, a control speaker for outputting a control sound according to the control sound signal from the control filter unit, an error microphone for detecting a residual sound by superimposing the noise upon the control sound output from the control speaker, and an obstacle detector for detecting an obstacle around the error microphone, wherein the control filter unit generates the control sound signal according to data from the error microphone and the obstacle detector.

Abstract: A noise injection system adds comfort noise to an audio signal. The system includes a background noise estimator that determines a spectral content of a background noise associated with the audio signal. A comfort noise generator generates a comfort noise signal having a random phase. A gain circuit adjusts the comfort noise signal based on the spectral content of the background noise. A combining circuit combines a gain-adjusted comfort noise signal and the audio signal to generate an output signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device to enhance an ear bud including a headband coupled to one or more ear pads. The ear pad being formed of a material for providing dampening of ambient sound and physiologic compression. For example, the pad can be formed of a visco-elastic foam having a thickness to provide noise reduction and sufficient comfort by avoiding excessive compression on any one part of the ear. The headband and the ear pad provide a force for compressing the tragus and antitragus to partially isolate the ear bud in the external auditory canal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of automatic sound recognition. The object of the present invention is to provide an alternative scheme for automatically recognizing sounds, e.g. human speech. The problem is solved by providing a training database comprising a number of models, each model representing a sound element in the form of a binary mask comprising binary time frequency (TF) units which indicate the energetic areas in time and frequency of the sound element in question, or of characteristic features or statistics extracted from the binary mask; providing an input signal comprising an input sound element; estimating the input sound element based on the models of the training database to provide an output sound element. The method has the advantage of being relatively simple and adaptable to the application in question. The invention may e.g. be used in devices comprising automatic sound recognition, e.g. for sound, e.g. voice control of a device, or in listening devices, e.g.

Abstract: A noise reduction device is disclosed, in which noise reduction device, a controlling sound generator outputs a white noise generated by a white-noise generator, and this white noise is sensed by an error sensor for identifying an acoustic transmission function covering a path from the controlling sound generator to the error sensor. At this time, an identification controller prompts the white noise generator to generate a white noise for identifying the acoustic transmission function provided that an ambient noise level sensed by the error sensor is not greater than a given threshold.

Abstract: A sound processing apparatus includes an inputting section that inputs a sound signal, an analyzing section that analyzes the input sound signal, a storing section that stores a general-purpose masking sound, a masking sound producing section that, based on a result of the analysis by the analyzing section, processes the general-purpose masking sound stored in the storing section to produce an output masking sound, and an outputting section that outputs the output masking sound.

Abstract: A separation signal generation unit generates a plurality of separation signals which are independent from one another from the mixed signals for one frame which are converted into those in a frequency region. A mask processing unit judges a noise condition of a first separation signal for each frequency bin on the basis of the first separation signal and second separation signals. The mask processing unit further removes a first noise component obtained on the basis of a judgment result on the noise condition from the first separation signal. A noise amount measuring unit measures the amount of noise in the first separation signal. A noise signal selection unit selects a noise signal for each frequency bin on the basis of the amount of noise measured by the noise amount measuring unit. A noise removing unit removes a second noise component from a noise removal signal inputted from the mask processing unit.

Abstract: A masking sound outputting device includes: an inputting unit which receives a picked-up sound signal relating to a picked-up sound; an extracting unit which extracts an acoustic feature amount of the picked-up sound signal; an instruction receiving unit which receives instructions for starting an output of a masking sound; and an outputting unit which, in the case where the instruction receiving unit receives the instructions for starting an output, outputs a masking sound corresponding to the acoustic feature amount extracted by the extracting unit.

Abstract: A sound masking system for shaping the ambient noise level in a physical environment. The sound masking system comprises a networked and distributed system having a number of master units coupled together and to a control unit. One or more of the master units may include satellite sound masking units which function to reproduce the sound masking signal generated by the master sound masking unit. Each of the master units is addressable over the network by the control unit enabling the control unit to program the contour, spectral band, and gain characteristics of the sound masking output signal. The system may also include a remote control unit which provides the capability to tune and adjust each master sound masking unit in situ without requiring physical access through the ceiling installation.

Abstract: A sound output device for masking an operation sound generated by equipment, having: an operation determining unit that determines an operation mode to be executed by the equipment; and a sound output unit that outputs a masking sound on the basis of the operation mode determined by the operation determining unit, the masking sound changing at least in sound pressure level over time.

Abstract: A sound output device for masking an operation sound generated by equipment, having: a BGM output unit that outputs a BGM; and a masking sound output unit that outputs a masking sound after the BGM output unit outputs the BGM.

Abstract: A sound output device for masking an operation sound generated by equipment, having: a sound reproducing unit that starts reproducing a masking sound before the operation sound is generated; and a sound output unit that outputs the masking sound reproduced by the sound reproducing unit.

Abstract: A headset including an earcup having a front opening adapted to be adjacent to the ear of a user, the earcup extending in a radial direction and an axial direction and defining an earcup volume; and a bellows cushion extending around the periphery of the front opening of the earcup and sized to engage the ear of the user, the bellows cushion comprising a plurality of folded segments located at an outer radial portion of the bellows cushion, and configured to be substantially compliant along an axial direction.

Abstract: In a masking sound generating apparatus, a band divider divides a target sound signal into a plurality of frequency bands to generate a plurality of band signals. An envelope signal generating part generates a plurality of envelope signals representing respective envelopes of the plurality of the band signals. A signal converter segments each of the plurality of the envelope signals into a plurality of frames, then specifies frames of segmented envelope signals which have an amplitude greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold, and changes an order of the specified frames in an arrangement of the plurality of the frames. A multiplier multiplies each of the plurality of the envelope signals by a noise signal, each envelope signal having the order of the frames changed by the signal converter, and outputs the plurality of the envelope signals multiplied by the noise signal as individual band masking signals.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus includes: clip detector means that detects presence/absence of a clipped part with a deformed waveform in each of N audio signals output from N microphones (where N is an integer equal to or greater than 2) based on a dynamic range of a circuit; and interpolation means that treats an audio signal in the N audio signals which has the clipped part detected by the clip detector means as an interpolation target, and other audio signals as non-interpolation targets, and interpolates the waveform of the clipped part of the interpolation target using the waveform of at least one audio signal in the non-interpolation targets.

Abstract: A method of providing an improved learning environment in a classroom setting area in which at least one human listener is attempting to focus on at least one speech sound source in the presence of at least one distracting sound source is disclosed. At least one electrical sound masking signal is generated by at least one sound masking signal generator as output, received by at least one system controller, and then provided to one or more loudspeaker assemblies. At least one acoustic sound masking signal corresponding to the at least one electrical sound masking signal is emitted by the one or more loudspeaker assemblies into the classroom setting area, providing an essentially uniform level of acoustic sound masking signal, thus improving the ability of the human listener(s) to focus on the intended speech sound source in the presence of the distracting sound source.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for facilitating multi-sensor signal optimization for speech communication are presented herein. A sensor component including acoustic sensors can be configured to detect sound and generate, based on the sound, first sound information associated with a first sensor of the acoustic sensors and second sound information associated with a second sensor of the acoustic sensors. Further, an audio processing component can be configured to generate filtered sound information based on the first sound information, the second sound information, and a spatial filter associated with the acoustic sensors; determine noise levels for the first sound information, the second sound information, and the filtered sound information; and generate output sound information based on a selection of one of the noise levels or a weighted combination of the noise levels.

Abstract: A noise reducing sound reproduction system and method may be operable with an input signal supplied to a loudspeaker by which it is acoustically radiated. The signal radiated by the loudspeaker may be received by a microphone that is acoustically coupled to the loudspeaker via a secondary path and that provides a microphone output signal. From the microphone output signal a useful-signal can be subtracted to generate a filter input signal. The filter input signal is filtered in an active noise reduction filter to generate an error signal, and the useful-signal is subtracted from the error signal to generate the loudspeaker input signal. In addition, the useful-signal is filtered by one or more spectrum shaping filters prior to subtraction from the microphone output signal or the loudspeaker input signal or both.