Abstract: Wireless earpieces having external antenna features are described. The wireless earpiece can include a housing in which various earpiece componentry is housed. The housing includes a first major surface, a second major surface opposite the first major surface, and various peripheral side wall segments that extend around the first and second major surfaces to thereby form an enclosed housing. The entirety of an anterior portion of the peripheral side wall can serve as the antenna for the wireless earpiece. The entirety of a posterior portion of the peripheral side wall can serve as a grounding element for the wireless earpiece. The grounding element can also extend to include portions of the inferior and superior portions of the peripheral side wall.

Abstract: An audio device includes one or more earcups, at least one of the earcups including a boom connector port, a connection detector connected to the boom connector port and configured to detect a connection state at the boom connector port, one or more first microphones positioned in the one or more earcups, audio processing circuitry, and a microphone switch controller connected to the connection detector and configured to connect audio processing circuitry to one of the one or more first microphones or the boom connector port based on the detected connection state of the boom connector port.

Abstract: A wireless communication adapter device includes an enclosure and a communication device base. The communication device base includes a first switch and a wireless communication transceiver. The communication device base is inserted into the enclosure so that the communication device base can move along an axis within the enclosure from a first base position and a second base position. Such movement actuates the first switch against the enclosure to initiate one or more communication operations of the wireless communication transceiver in the communication device base.

Abstract: A wearable audio device in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present technology includes an earpiece, a speaker, an antenna, and processing circuitry. The earpiece includes a housing within which the speaker and the processing circuitry are disposed. The antenna conformably extends along a perimeter portion of the housing. The processing circuitry is configured to receive audio content from an audio player via the antenna. The processing circuitry is also configured to generate sound corresponding to the audio content via the speaker. The antenna is exposed and is not a loop antenna. The audio device also includes a circuit board supporting at least some of the processing circuitry within the housing. The audio content travels from the antenna to the circuit board without travelling through any flexible wires.

Abstract: An audio device includes one or more earcups, at least one of the earcups including a boom connector port, a connection detector connected to the boom connector port and configured to detect a connection state at the boom connector port, one or more first microphones positioned in the one or more earcups, audio processing circuitry, and a microphone switch controller connected to the connection detector and configured to connect audio processing circuitry to one of the one or more first microphones or the boom connector port based on the detected connection state of the boom connector port.