Abstract: A noise-cancellation system with secondary path adaptation, includes: a noise-cancellation filter configured to receive a reference signal representative of a source of noise within a predefined volume and generating, based at least in part on the reference signal, a noise-cancellation signal that, when transduced by a speaker, produces a noise-cancellation acoustic signal that reduces noise in a cancellation zone within the predefined volume; a secondary path estimation filter configured to receive an input signal and to implement an estimate of secondary path transfer function, the secondary path transfer function being a transfer function between the speaker and a cancellation zone, the secondary path estimation filter outputting an output signal based, at least in part, on the estimate of the secondary path transfer function and the input signal; an adaptive module configured to adjust coefficients of the noise-cancellation filter according to a first adaptive algorithm, based, at least in part, on the es

Abstract: An earphone includes a loudspeaker, a microphone, a housing supporting the loudspeaker and microphone, and an 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 receives input audio signals from the microphone, detects peaks having a frequency of around 1 Hz in the input audio signals, based on the detected peaks, computes an instantaneous heart rate, measures a frequency of an oscillation within the instantaneous heart rate, and based on the frequency of the oscillation, computes a rate of respiration.

Abstract: An acoustic noise reduction (ANR) headphone described herein has current detection circuitry that detects current consumed by an acoustic driver amplifier as a result of pressure changes due to a tapping of the headphone. Tapping may be performed to change an audio feature or operating mode of the audio system for the headphone. The current detection circuitry senses a characteristic of the current consumed by the acoustic driver amplifier that can be used to determine an occurrence of a tap event. Examples of a characteristic include an amplitude, waveform or duration of the sensed current. Advantageously, the ANR headphones avoid the need for control buttons to initiate the desired changes to the audio feature or operating mode.

Abstract: Aspects describe a nozzle including a first flexible portion and a second rigid portion. The rigid portion is less flexible than the flexible portion. When positioned in a user's ear, the flexible portion extends a section of the earbud housing towards an ear canal of a user and the rigid portion couples a removable sealing structure to the earbud housing. In aspects, the flexible portion provides comfort by allowing a sealing structure to flex and accommodate a wearer's ear and the rigid portion provides structure for the feedback microphone to be placed close to the user's ear canal for ANR.

Abstract: A method of forming a device having a compliant member includes providing an elastomeric layer in an uncured state. The elastomeric layer is pre-cured to increase its viscosity. Subsequently, a bobbin and housing, each having an end, can be positioned such that their ends extend at least partially into the elastomeric layer. The elastomeric layer is cured to secure it to the bobbin housing. Examples of pre-cure and cure operations include one or more of a thermal cure, evaporative cure and ultraviolet cure, and the application of moisture, microwave energy and chemical additive. Due to the increased viscosity after the pre-cure, the migration of elastomeric material is substantially reduced relative to an uncured elastomeric material. The reduction in elastomeric material migration results in smaller menisci formed along the walls of the housing and bobbin, and reduced thinning of the compliant member formed at their ends.

Abstract: An acoustic device with an open audio device structure that is configured to be carried on the head or upper torso of a user, a housing carried by the open audio device structure, the housing having opposed first and second ends, a flat diaphragm in the housing and comprising a front face and a rear face, the diaphragm configured to radiate front acoustic radiation from its front face and rear acoustic radiation from its rear face, wherein the front and rear acoustic radiations are out of phase, structure that supports the diaphragm such that the diaphragm can move relative to the housing, a primary magnet adjacent to the rear face of the diaphragm, a magnetic circuit that defines a path for magnetic flux of the primary magnet, a voice coil that is exposed to the magnetic flux and is configured to move the diaphragm up and down along a radiation axis that is normal to the front face of the diaphragm, and first and second sound-emitting outlets in the housing, wherein the first sound-emitting outlet is in or p

Abstract: A line array loudspeaker has a first group of acoustic drivers comprising a first plurality of acoustic drivers each comprising an axis, the first plurality of acoustic drivers arranged so that their axes are parallel. There is a second plurality of acoustic drivers each comprising an axis, the second plurality of acoustic drivers arranged so that their axes are parallel. The first and second plurality of acoustic drivers are arranged such that a projection onto an azimuth plane of the axes of the first plurality of acoustic drivers intersects with a projection onto the azimuth plane of the axes of the second plurality of acoustic drivers at a first, fixed articulation angle. There is a second group of acoustic drivers that is adjacent to the first group. The second group comprises a third plurality of acoustic drivers each comprising an axis.

Abstract: Various implementations include control mechanisms for conversation assistance audio devices. In some cases, an interface with a representation of the conversation assistance audio device in space is used to control audio functions in the device. In other cases, directionality of the device is controlled based upon the user's visual focus direction. In additional cases, the operating mode of the device is adjustable based upon the signature of a nearby acoustic 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: A vehicle-implemented noise-cancellation system, includes: a noise-cancellation system disposed in a vehicle, the noise-cancellation system comprising an adaptive filter being adjusted according to a reference signal and an error signal, the adaptive filter outputting a noise-cancellation signal, which, when transduced into a noise-cancellation audio signal by a speaker, cancels road noise within at least one zone within a cabin of the vehicle; and an adjustment module configured to vary a power of the noise-cancellation signal or a rate of adaptation of the adaptive filter from a first value to a second value, passing through at least one intermediate value between the first value and the second value, based on a time-varying signal indicative of a signal-to-noise ratio of the reference signal with respect to a first criterion.

Abstract: An audio system and method for enhancing audio quality in telecommunications applications. Specifically, a graphical user interface (GUI) is provided to allow an observer to visualize pickup zones within an environment that schematically represent areas of heightened microphone sensitivity. A microphone array and camera are arranged to obtain an audio signal and an image which correspond to a talker within the environment. The images are displayed via a first device or are transmitted to a second device and are displayed to the observer, while the audio signal is converted into an audio output by the second device. Visual overlays are provided, via the visualization window, corresponding with pickup zones within the environment corresponding to areas of heightened microphone sensitivity. The observer may adjust the visual overlay corresponding with each pickup zone using the GUI provided, resulting in an adjustment of the pickup zones by the microphone array within the environment.

Abstract: A wearable audio device with a magnetic field sensor that is constructed and arranged to sense the Earth's magnetic field. A magnet in the earphone, for example the magnet of the electro-acoustic transducer, produces a first magnetic field having a first magnetic field strength. A docking or parking magnet in the earphone produces a second magnetic field that is configured to reduce an influence of the first magnetic field on the magnetic field sensor.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling external noise in an audio output device. A speech signal is detected in the vicinity of the audio output device. The speech signal is transcribed into text. The transcribed text is compared with reference text. When at least a portion of the transcribed text matches with a portion of the reference text, it is determined to reduce at least one of a level of active noise reduction or a level of noise masking to enable a user of the audio output device to hear sounds external to the audio output device.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for dynamically masking audible breathing noises determined to be generated by one or more sleeping partners. According to aspects, a subject's sleep is protected by detecting audible breathing noises in a sleeping environment, determining the audible breathing noises are not generated by the subject, and mitigating the perception of the audible breathing noises that are determined to originate from another subject, such as a bed partner, pet, etc. The dynamic masking reduces the subject's exposure to unnecessary sounds and reduces the chances of masking sounds disturbing the subject's sleep.