Abstract: Earpieces and methods of forming earpieces for radio frequency (RF) mitigation are provided. An earpiece is configured to be inserted in an ear canal. The earpiece includes an insertion element and a sealing section disposed on the insertion element and configured to conform to the ear canal. The sealing section is configured to substantially mitigate radio frequency (RF) transmission and to substantially isolate the ear canal from an ambient environment.

Abstract: A system that records audio and stores the recording is provided. The system includes first and second monitoring assemblies mounted in an earpiece that occludes and forms an acoustic seal of an ear canal. The first monitoring assembly includes an ambient sound microphone (ASM) to monitor an ambient acoustic field and produce an ASM signal. The second monitoring assembly includes an ear canal microphone (ECM) to monitor an acoustic field within the ear canal and produce an ECM signal. The system also includes a data storage device configured to act as a circular buffer for continually storing at least one of the ECM signal or the ASM signal, a further data storage device and a record-activation system. The record-activation system activates the further data storage device to record a content of the data storage device.

Abstract: A test signal emitted by an earpiece is compared against the acoustic signal to determine if a sealing section of the earpiece is sealed properly. The degree of acoustic sealing is used to adjust the attenuation level of a sealing section of the earpiece or alert the user that the sealing section of the seal status.

Abstract: Herein provided is a method and system for directional enhancement of a microphone array comprising at least two microphones by analysis of the phase angle of the coherence between at least two microphones. The method can further include communicating directional data with the microphone signal to a secondary device, and adjusting at least one parameter of the device in view of the directional data. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Herein provided is a method for acoustical switching suitable for use with a microphone enabled electronic device. The method includes capturing a first microphone signal from a first microphone on a device, analyzing the first microphone signal for a contact event versus a non-contact event, and directing the electronic device to switch a processing state responsive to detection of either the contact event or non-contact event. In another configuration, additional microphone can be added for performing coherence analysis between at least two microphone signals mounted on or in the device. At least one parameter settings of the device can be changed in response to at least one detected physical contact on the device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A test signal emitted by an earpiece is compared against the acoustic signal to determine if a sealing section of the earpiece is sealed properly. The degree of acoustic sealing is used to adjust the attenuation level of a sealing section of the earpiece or alert the user that the sealing section of the seal status.

Abstract: Audio systems for a vehicle and methods for increasing auditory situation awareness in a vehicle are provided. An audio system includes at least one ambient microphone disposed on the vehicle, a processor and at least one loudspeaker. The at least one ambient microphone is configured to capture ambient sound external to the vehicle and to produce an ambient sound signal. The processor is configured to receive the ambient sound signal and an audio content signal, and to mix the ambient sound signal with the audio content signal to generate a mixed output signal. The at least one loudspeaker is configured to reproduce the mixed output signal in the vehicle cabin.

Abstract: A method and device for automatically increasing the spectral bandwidth of an audio signal including generating a “mapping” (or “prediction”) matrix based on the analysis of a reference wideband signal and a reference narrowband signal, the mapping matrix being a transformation matrix to predict high frequency energy from a low frequency energy envelope, generating an energy envelope analysis of an input narrowband audio signal, generating a resynthesized noise signal by processing a random noise signal with the mapping matrix and the envelope analysis, high-pass filtering the resynthesized noise signal, and summing the high-pass filtered resynthesized noise signal with the input narrowband audio signal. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A device includes a balloon inflation module having an involuted balloon housed within a lumen, an integrated reservoir in fluid communication with the involuted balloon where the balloon inflation module is configured to selectively displace a volume of fluid from the integrated reservoir into the involuted balloon and from the involuted balloon into the integrated reservoir. The device also includes a port configured to receive an accessory module. In one embodiment, the accessory module is a communication module having a logic circuit coupled to an ambient microphone configured to pick up ambient audio content, an ear canal microphone configured to pick up audio in the proximity of an ear canal, and an ear canal receiver configured to provide audio content in the proximity of the ear canal. In some embodiments, the integrated reservoir is formed within portions of a push button spring-loaded pump assembly. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An orifice insertion device includes a stent and a plurality of sealing elements where each sealing element is operatively attached to the stent. Two sealing elements of the plurality of sealing elements include an expandable section configured to be disposed within the orifice and to exert a pressure on an orifice wall sufficient to seal the orifice without appreciable deformation of the orifice wall. The two sealing elements are formed from different materials and a further one of the plurality of sealing elements is configured to seal an opening of the orifice. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Occlusion devices, earpiece devices and methods of forming occlusion devices are provided. An occlusion device is configured to occlude an ear canal. The occlusion device includes an insertion element and at least one expandable element disposed on the insertion element. The expandable element is configured to receive a medium via the insertion element and is configured to expand, responsive to the medium, to contact the ear canal. Physical parameters of the occlusion device are selected to produce a predetermined sound attenuation characteristic over a frequency band, such that sound is attenuated more in a first frequency range of the frequency band than in a second frequency range of the frequency band.

Abstract: Methods and devices for wearable sound processing and voice operated control are provided. The method can include monitoring a sound pressure level between a first received sound and a second received sound, identifying a voicing level from a comparison of the sound pressure level, determining if a wearer is speaking based on the comparison and the voicing level, and transmitting a decision that the wearer's spoken voice is present to at least one among a cell phone, a media player, and a portable computing device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A wearable device includes a housing for the wearable device, a first microphone within or on the housing, a communication module within or on the housing, a logic circuit communicatively coupled to the first microphone, a memory storage unit communicatively coupled to the logic circuit and an interaction element. The interaction element and logic circuit cooperatively initiate control of media content or initiate operations of the wearable device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A personal audio assistant includes a housing for a device, a first microphone within or on the housing where the first microphone captures audio, a communication module within the housing, a logic circuit communicatively coupled to the device, and an interaction element. The interaction element and logic circuit are configured to initiate control of audio content or initiate at least an operation of the device in response to an analysis of the audio. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A personal audio assistant includes a housing for an electronic device, a first microphone for capturing audio, a logic circuit communicatively coupled to the first microphone, a communication module communicatively coupled to the first microphone and a user interaction element. The interaction element, logic circuit, and communication module are configured to form a peer-to-peer network. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A wearable accessory for delivery of personalized audio service includes a first microphone for capturing sound, a first speaker for playing media, a logic circuit for creating a personalized Head Related Transfer Function (HRTF) to enhance listening experience of the media, a communication module for accessing the Internet and to provide access to the media in response to capturing the sound, and a memory storage unit for storing information related to the captured sound. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a communication device that includes a microphone configured to detect an acoustic signal from an acoustic environment, and a processor, configured to detect an acoustical dampening between the acoustic environment and the microphone, based on a change in a characteristic of the acoustic signal and, responsive to the acoustical dampening, apply a compensation filter to the acoustic signal to form a compensated acoustic signal that is reproduced. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system includes a first microphone that captures audio, a communication module communicatively coupled to the first microphone, a logic circuit communicatively coupled to the first microphone and communication module, a speaker operatively coupled to the logic circuit, and an interaction element. The interaction element and logic circuit are configured to initiate control of audio content for output from the speaker in response to at least one voice command detected in captured audio. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A personal audio assistant includes comprising a first microphone for capturing audio, a logic circuit coupled to the first microphone for analyzing the captured audio, a communication module coupled to the logic circuit, and a user interaction element. The interaction element is configured to control at least one function or operation among invoking an operation of an electronic device communicatively coupled to the personal audio assistant via the communication module, invoking access to information on a network, invoking delivery of audio content, invoking delivery of text to speech, invoking speech to text processing of email, invoking delivery of text to speech of stock market information, invoking execution of a commercial transaction, invoking delivery of calendaring information, invoking delivery of medication reminders, or invoking access to location information using a GPS system. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for delivery of personalized audio services including a first microphone for capturing audio, a voice controlled interface coupled to the first microphone for detecting a voice command, a communication module for accessing information from a network in response to the detected voice command to provide results from accessing the network, a memory for storing a user profile and a user listening history, and a processor for modifying the results based on the detected voice command, the user profile and the user listening history. Other embodiments are disclosed.