Abstract: A microphone array may include a microcontroller having a plurality of ports, a plurality of microphones connected to the ports, and a position sensor connected to a port of the microcontroller. The microcontroller may be responsive to a clock signal and the microcontroller may include a data output as a universal serial bus output. Two microphones may be connected to a single port of the microcontroller. The microphones may be equally spaced around the circumference of the circle. The microphones may be located in a known relative position to one or more other microphones of the microphone array. The microphone array may be positioned in a fixed relative position to the position sensor. The microphones may be connected to an I2S port of the microcontroller. A position sensor may be connected to the microcontroller at an I2C port. Traces connecting the microphones to the microcontroller may be substantially equal in length. The microphones may have a digital input.

Abstract: A beamforming apparatus may have a domain conversion stage converting a plurality of time domain signals representing audio information to a plurality of frequency domain signals representing said audio information, a bandpass filter stage having a plurality of inputs connected to the frequency domain signals and having a plurality of outputs. A beamformer filter stage may have a plurality of inputs corresponding to the of outputs of the bandpass filter stage and a plurality of outputs. An inverse domain conversion stage, converting a plurality of inputs corresponding to outputs of the beamformer filter stage from frequency domain signals to time domain signals and having a plurality of outputs connected to an output stage.

Abstract: An audio analysis and processing system with a processor configured with an audio array input thread connected to a plurality of audio input channels each corresponding to an audio input sensor. An audio input sensor may be positionally related to a position of other audio input sensors and a source input thread may be configured to be connected to a microphone audio input channel. An audio output thread may be configured to be connected to a speaker output channel and a beamformer thread may be responsive to the audio array input thread. A beam analysis and selection thread may be connected to an output of the beamformer thread and a mixer thread may have a first input connected to an output of the source input thread and a second input connected to an output of the beam analysis and selection thread and may have an output connected to the audio output thread. The audio input channel may be connected to the personal communication device.

Abstract: An audio customization system operates to enhance a user's audio environment. A user may wear headphones and specify what portion the ambient audio and/or source audio will be transmitted to the headphones or the personal speaker system. The audio signal may be enhanced by application of a spatialized transformation using a spatialization engine such as head-related transfer functions so that at least a portion of the audio presented to the personal speaker system will appear to originate from a particular direction. The direction may be modified in response to movement of the personal speaker system.

Abstract: An audio customization system responsive to one or more inputs that enhance aspects of an audio output and one or more inputs that diminish aspects of an audio output. The system is set up to be able to lessen the influence of ambient audio or in some situations enhance ambient audio over source audio. The system may specify aspects of audio to be modified by specification of filtering algorithm, characterization of audio samples, monitored distortion, user selection, location specification or environmental specification.

Abstract: An audio customization system responsive to one or more inputs that enhance aspects of an audio output and one or more inputs that diminish aspects of an audio output. The system is set up to be able to lessen the influence of ambient audio or in some situations enhance ambient audio over source audio. The system may specify aspects of audio to be modified by specification of filtering algorithm, characterization of audio samples, monitored distortion, user selection, location specification or environmental specification.

Abstract: A multi-directional sensor may include a microphone array of three or more microphones mounted on outerwear. The microphone array may be positioned and configured so that its far field azimuth sensing range is unobstructed by the outerwear. An accelerometer may be provided and mounted in a location which is fixed with respect to the microphones of the microphone array. A beacon, such as an ultrasonic transmitter or BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) transmitter may be associated with or attached to the outerwear. The microphone array may be utilized with a beam-forming system in order to determine location of an audio source and a beam-steering system in order to isolate audio emanating from the direction of the audio source. The beam-forming system is suitable for tracking the movement of the audio source in order to inform the beam-steering system of the direction or location to be isolated.

Abstract: A narrowcast messaging system which includes an ultrasound beacon field whereby a directionally discriminating acoustic sensor is associated with a device which identifies the relative direction between the sensor and two or more acoustic beacons and is thus able to determine the location of the directionally discriminating acoustic sensor. The system is able to transmit messages to a personal communication device associated with the directionally discriminating acoustic sensor on the basis of its location within the ultrasonic beacon field.

Abstract: The personal audio delivery system executed in part on a personal communication device to facilitate an enhanced audio experience for a user to select one or more audio streams to be delivered based on personal preferences and which may include related streams.

Abstract: A multi-directional sensor may include a microphone array of three or more microphones mounted on a protective headgear. The microphone array may be positioned and configured so that its far field azimuth sensing range is unobstructed by the protective headgear. An accelerometer may be provided and mounted in a location which is fixed with respect to the microphones of the microphone array. A beacon, such as an ultrasonic transmitter or BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) transmitter may be associated with or attached to the protective headgear. The microphone array may be utilized with a beam-forming system in order to determine location of an audio source and a beam-steering system in order to isolate audio emanating from the direction of the audio source. The beam-forming system is suitable for tracking the movement of the audio source in order to inform the beam-steering system of the direction or location to be isolated.

Abstract: An audio source imaging system translates audio source location information from a format suitable for an audio source location and isolation system to a format suitable for a user display. The transformation may be to an image referenced to the position of a sensor array, the position of one of the tracked audio sources, or a position with a known displacement from the sensor array.

Abstract: A microphone array of three or more microphones may be mounted on a housing or substrate configured to be part of a smartphone or a smartphone protective case. The microphone array may be positioned so that the far field sensing range of the microphone array is unobstructed. The microphone array may be utilized with a beam-forming system in order to determine location of an audio source and a beam-steering system in order to isolate audio emanating from the direction of the audio source. The beam-forming system may be suitable for tracking the movement of one or more audio sources in order to inform the beam-steering system of the direction or location to be isolated.

Abstract: A mapping system is provided to map the location a plurality of audio sources. The mapping system is based on audio source location sets obtained from a plurality of perspectives whereby the location sets are combined to create an enhanced location map which may be used to generate an image for display.

Abstract: An audio customization system responsive to one or more inputs that enhance aspects of an audio output and one or more inputs that diminish aspects of an audio output. The system is set up to be able to lessen the influence of ambient audio or in some situations enhance ambient audio over source audio. The system may specify aspects of audio to be modified by specification of filtering algorithm, characterization of audio samples, monitored distortion, user selection, location specification or environmental specification.

Abstract: A microphone array of four or more microphones may be mounted on a housing or substrate configured to be mounted on a person. The microphone array is positioned so that its far field azimuth sensing range is unobstructed by the housing or wearer. An accelerometer may be provided and mounted in a location which is fixed with respect to the microphones of the microphone array. The microphone array may be utilized with a beam-forming system in order to determine location of an audio source and a beam-steering system in order to isolate audio emanating from the direction of the audio source. The beam-forming system is suitable for tracking the movement of the audio source in order to inform the beam-steering system of the direction or location to be isolated. Because the microphone array will move with a user, an accelerometer may be provided to reduce the computational resources required for tracking and isolation by allowing compensation for change in position and orientation of the user.

Abstract: An audio source location, tracking and isolation system, particularly suited for use with person-mounted microphone arrays. The system increases capabilities by reducing resources required for certain functions so those resources can be utilized for result enhancing processes. A wide area scan may be utilized to identify the general vicinity of an audio source and a narrow scan to locate pinpoint positions may be initiated in the general vicinity identified by the wide area scan. Subsequent locations may be anticipated by compensating for motion of the sensor array and anticipated changes in source location by trajectory. Identification may use two or more sets of characterizations and rules. The characterizations may use computationally less intense analyses to characterize audio and only perform computationally higher intensity analysis if needed. Rule sets may be used to eliminate the need to track audio sources that emit audio to be eliminated from an audio output.

Abstract: A directional audio recording system functions to allow certain audio information to be captured and recorded for later consumption. The selection of audio information for capture may be accomplished by ascertaining the direction of an audio source from a directionally discriminating acoustic sensor and isolating acoustic information originating from the direction so determined. Directional cues may also be recorded and a playback system may apply the directional cues to the stored information representing audio in a spatialization engine such as head-related transfer functions.

Abstract: A microphone array of three or more microphones may be mounted on a housing or substrate configured to be mounted on or worn by a person. The microphone array may be positioned so that the far field sensing range of the microphone array is unobstructed by the housing or wearer. An accelerometer may be provided and mounted in a location which is fixed with respect to the microphones of the microphone array. The microphone array may be utilized with a beam-forming system in order to determine location of an audio source and a beam-steering system in order to isolate audio emanating from the direction of the audio source. The beam-forming system may be suitable for tracking the movement of one or more audio sources in order to inform the beam-steering system of the direction or location to be isolated.

Abstract: An audio communications system responsive to user permissions that enhance communications between two or more communication stations. The system allows two or more users to communicate audio information on a selected number of communication stations. The system is based on mutual permissioning with established connection sessions.

Abstract: A lighting display system is coordinated with an operating parameter of a personalized audio play device. An object is to provide some display components representative of audio output or another operating parameter of a customized audio device. The system may operate in an environment where a customized audio device is provided which facilitates a user listening to ambient sounds through a personal speaker system where a customized audio device enhances the listening experience by modifying ambient audio and/or delivery of supplemental audio to the personal speakers. Once personalized listening devices are used in a live entertainment setting such as a festival, concert, or arena, LEDs or other color or pattern-coded lights or images may be embedded in personal speakers such as headphones or earphone devices. For example the lighting display may be part of a headphone top band, side cups, or a neck holder for earphones.