Abstract: Various implementations include speaker systems. In one implementation, a self-powered speaker system includes: a self-powered speaker system, having: a first module, including: a processor; an audio signal and control connector coupled with the processor and enabling audio signal and control communication between the processor and another module in the speaker system; a dedicated power supply for the speaker system; a front end backup power supply; and a power connector coupled with the dedicated power supply and the front end backup power supply, where the first module and another module in the speaker system each include an amplifier module.

Abstract: A noise reduction system includes sensors configured to generate an input signal, an adaptive filter configured to represent a transfer function of a path traversed by the input signal, one or more processing devices, and one or more transducers. The processing devices receive the input signal and generate an updated set of filter coefficients of the adaptive filter by separating the input signal into frequency subbands; determining for each subband, coefficients of a corresponding subband adaptive module; and combining the coefficients of multiple subband adaptive modules. Determining the coefficients of the corresponding subband adaptive module includes selecting a subset of a precomputed set of filter coefficients of the adaptive filter. The processing devices process a portion of the input signal using the updated set of filter coefficients of the adaptive filter to generate an output that destructively interferes with another signal traversing the path represented by the transfer function.

Abstract: Methods and systems of acknowledgment of wireless data packets is provided. For example, such a method can include receiving, from a central device, such as a smartphone, at a first peripheral device, such as a left earbud, a first isochronous data stream intended to be received by the first peripheral device. The method further includes receiving, from a central device at a second peripheral device, such as a right earbud, a second isochronous data stream intended to be received by the second peripheral device. In some examples, the second peripheral device is a right earbud. The method further includes eavesdropping, via the second peripheral device, the first isochronous data stream in an attempt to receive a packet of the first isochronous data stream. The method further includes sending, from the second peripheral device, an acknowledgment after the packet has been received by the second peripheral device.

Abstract: A system for providing augmented spatialized audio in a vehicle, including a plurality of speakers disposed in a perimeter of a cabin of the vehicle; and a controller configured to receive a position signal indicative of the position of a first user's head in the vehicle and to output to a first binaural device, according to the first position signal, a first spatial audio signal, such that the first binaural device produces a first spatial acoustic signal perceived by the first user as originating from a first virtual source location within the vehicle cabin, wherein the first spatial audio signal comprises at least an upper range of a first content signal, wherein the controller is further configured to drive the plurality of speakers with a driving signal such that a first bass content of the first content signal is produced in the vehicle cabin.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for initiating an action based on location of a first device are provided. The first device, such as an earbud, includes a Bluetooth receiver. The Bluetooth receiver is configured to receive a wave signal transmitted by a second device, such as a smartphone. The first device further includes a processor. The processor is configured to calculate a location of the first device relative to the second device based on the wave signal. The processor is further configured to determine a zone status of the first device based on the location of the first device relative to the second device and a predetermined zone. The processor is further configured to initiate the action based on the zone status.

Abstract: A system for providing augmented audio to users in a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of speakers disposed in a perimeter of a cabin of the vehicle; and a controller configured to receive a first audio signal and a second audio signal, to drive the plurality of speakers in accordance with a first array configuration such that a bass content of the first audio signal is produced in a first listening zone within the vehicle cabin, and to drive the plurality of speakers in accordance with a second array configuration such that a bass content of the second audio signal is produced in a first listening zone within the vehicle cabin, wherein in the first listening zone a magnitude of the first bass content is greater than a magnitude of the second bass content and in the second listening zone the magnitude of the second bass content is greater than the magnitude of the first bass content.

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: Various implementations include a method for implementing a computational architecture for a personal active noise reduction (ANR) device. A method includes receiving a source audio stream with a first DSP and performing ANR on the source audio stream utilizing operational parameters stored in the first DSP; outputting a processed audio stream from the first DSP; generating state data with a second DSP in response to an analysis of at least one of the source audio stream, microphone inputs and the processed audio stream, and communicating signals to the first DSP over a common bus coupled to the first and second DSPs to alter the operational parameters in the first DSP; and utilizing a general purpose processor coupled to both the first DSP and the second DSP to communicate control signals with a communication interface, process state data from the second DSP, and alter the operational parameters in the first DSP.

Abstract: A method for adjusting an RF amplifier is provided. The method includes determining link statistics corresponding to wireless data received by a first device. The wireless data was transmitted by a second device, such as via a Bluetooth protocol. The method further includes adjusting an RF amplifier of the first device or the second device based on the one or more link statistics. The one or more link statistics may include RSSI, PER, buffer level, audio drop data, and acknowledgement packet data. The RF amplifier may be a low noise amplifier or a power amplifier. The adjusting may include increasing or decreasing a gain of the RF amplifier. Alternatively, the adjusting may include activating or deactivating the RF amplifier.

Abstract: Various implementations include systems for processing audio signals. In particular implementations, a process includes receiving an audio signal, wherein the audio signal includes a speech component of the user and a noise component; filtering the audio signal with a self-speech filter that utilizes an intrinsic user vector to filter out the speech component, wherein the intrinsic user vector is determined based on a voice input of the user; and outputting a filtered audio signal in which the speech component of the user has been substantially removed from the audio signal.

Abstract: A computer program product having a non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon that, when performed on a surround sound audio system that is configured to render left front, right front, and center front audio signals, and also render left and right near-field binaurally-encoded audio signals, causes the surround sound audio system to develop the left and right near-field binaurally-encoded audio signals, and provide the left near-field binaurally-encoded audio signal to a left non-occluding near-field driver and provide the right near-field binaurally-encoded audio signal to a right non-occluding near-field driver.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the clarity of an audio output in a changing environment, including: receiving a content signal; applying a customized gain to the content signal; and outputting the content signal with the customized gain to at least one speaker for transduction to an acoustic signal, wherein the customized gain is applied on a per frequency bin basis such that frequencies of a lesser magnitude are enhanced with respect to frequencies of a greater magnitude and an intelligibility of the acoustic signal is set approximately at a desired level, wherein the customized gain is determined according to at least one of a gain applied to the content signal, a bandwidth of the content signal, and a content type encoded by the content 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: A method and system directed to controlling audio devices with active noise reduction. The system detects a first instability condition in a first headphone based on one or more parameters; alters a parameter of the one or more parameters; and detects a second audio instability condition in the first headphone based on the altered parameter of the one or more parameters. The first and second audio instability conditions are related to audio feedback.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, an audio device is provided comprising a communications interface configured to be communicatively coupled to an audio source, at least one sensor, and a controller configured to control the audio device to be in a low-power mode, receive, from the sensor(s), information indicative of a presence of a user's body, initiate, via the communications interface responsive to receiving the information, a wireless communication pairing process to establish a wireless communication bond with the audio source prior to determining that the audio device is fully engaged with the user's body, determine, subsequent to initiating the wireless communication pairing process and based on information received from the sensor(s), that the audio device is fully engaged with the user's body, and control, responsive to determining that the audio device is fully engaged with the user's body, the audio device to be in an active mode.

Abstract: Various implementations include vehicle headrest configurations and related audio systems. In some cases, a headrest includes: a main body having a front surface to support a back of a user's head and a pair of acoustic channels each formed in part by a side wall having a front edge that is offset from the front surface, the main body having a portion configured to receive first and second transducers, where a transducer mount in each of the pair of acoustic channels for mounting respective ones of the first and second transducers, wherein a dimension (Dimension C) is defined by a rotation angle of the transducer mount relative to a centerline of the vehicle headrest, wherein Dimension C is approximately ?20 degrees to approximately zero degrees.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer has formed within it a plurality of piston tops of equal area. Each of the piston tops includes a thin flat region from which a majority of the thickness of the original semiconductor wafer may have been removed. A first one of the piston tops has a lower thickness than a second one of the piston tops. The second piston top has at least one hole in it, the volume of the hole corresponding to the difference in thickness between the first and second piston tops, such that the masses of the first and second piston tops differ by less than the variation in thickness between them.

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: An open-ear headphone with an acoustic module that is configured to be located at least in part in a concha of an outer ear of a user. The acoustic module includes an acoustic transducer, and a sound-emitting opening that is configured to emit sound produced by the acoustic transducer. A battery housing is configured to be located behind the outer ear and contains a battery power source. A compliant connecting portion couples the battery housing to the acoustic module. The connecting position enables displacement of the battery housing relative to the acoustic module.