Abstract: A wearable, shoulder-mounted microphone array apparatus and system used as a bi-directional audio and assisted listening device system. The present invention advances hearing aids and assisted listening devices to allow construction of a highly directional audio array that is wearable, natural sounding, and convenient to direct, as well as to provide directional cues to users who have partial or total loss of hearing in one or both ears. The advantages of the invention include simultaneously providing high gain, high directivity, high side lobe attenuation, and consistent beam width; providing significant beam forming at lower frequencies where substantial noises are present, particularly in noisy, reverberant environments; and allowing construction of a cost effective body-worn or body-carried directional audio device.

Abstract: A wearable, shoulder-mounted microphone array apparatus and system used as a bi-directional audio and assisted listening device system. The present invention advances hearing aids and assisted listening devices to allow construction of a highly directional audio array that is wearable, natural sounding, and convenient to direct, as well as to provide directional cues to users who have partial or total loss of hearing in one or both ears. The advantages of the invention include simultaneously providing high gain, high directivity, high side lobe attenuation, and consistent beam width; providing significant beam forming at lower frequencies where substantial noises are present, particularly in noisy, reverberant environments; and allowing construction of a cost effective body-worn or body-carried directional audio device.

Abstract: A directional microphone array which can be integrated into a case for a portable computing device. A microphone array board connects to a surface of a laptop computer, tablet computer or smart phone, which can be steered in the direction of a target source. An audio processing module (APM) is operably engaged with the array board to receive a first staged beamformed audio input from the array board, and process a second beamformed stage audio output.

Abstract: A wearable microphone array apparatus and system used as a directional audio system and as an assisted listening device. The present invention advances hearing aids and assisted listening devices to allow construction of a highly directional audio array that is wearable, natural sounding, and convenient to direct, as well as to provide directional cues to users who have partial or total loss of hearing in one or both ears. The advantages of the invention include simultaneously providing high gain, high directivity, high side lobe attenuation, and consistent beam width; providing significant beam forming at lower frequencies where substantial noises are present, particularly in noisy, reverberant environments; and allowing construction of a cost effective body-worn or body-carried directional audio device.

Abstract: A directional waveguide array apparatus can transmit and/or receive airborne or fluid-borne audio with the appropriate selection of transducers. The present invention advances directional waveguide arrays by allowing construction of a directional audio device with desired frequency bandwidths, array patterns, and gain by appropriate geometric configurations of the array of waveguide channel ports, as well as dimensioning and configuration of waveguide channel and chamber parameters. Embodiments of the present invention enable increased immunity to environmental noises, temperature, and humidity; low cost of construction; high reliability; simplicity of operation; very low power consumption; real-time steering of directivity (interference) pattern; wide range of audio powers that can be transmitted or received; and interchangeable transducer types.