Abstract: A hearing system comprises a programming device comprising a) a feedback path analyzer for providing an estimate of a feedback path from an output transducer to an input transducer of a hearing device, and b) a programming interface allowing the exchange of data between the programming device and the hearing device. The programming device is configured to receive corresponding input and output time segments of an electric input signal and of a processed output signal, respectively, of the hearing device, via the programming interface, and the feedback path analyzer is configured to determine the estimate of the feedback path based on the input and output time segments. The invention may e.g. be used for the fitting of hearing devices, e.g. hearing aids, to a particular use or user.

Abstract: A playback path may include an input configured to receive an input signal, an output configured to drive a differential output signal, a differential current-mode digital-to-analog converter configured to convert the input signal into the differential output signal, and a control circuit. The differential current-mode digital-to-analog converter may include a plurality of current-mode digital-to-analog elements configured to be selectively enabled and disabled based on the input signal and at least one reference element in a current mirror relationship with the plurality of current-mode digital-to-analog elements such that each individual current through each current-mode digital-to-analog element is a scaled version of a reference current of the at least one reference element. The control circuit may be configured to scale current mirror ratios between the at least one reference element and the plurality of current-mode digital-to-analog elements based on a characteristic of the input signal.

Abstract: Described are techniques for configuring a group of audio devices to provide a synchronized audio output. Values indicative of the data throughput for communication between each audio device and the access point and between the audio devices themselves may be determined. A value indicative of the airtime that would be used to communicate data to other audio devices, via a multicast transmission, may be determined for at least a portion of the audio devices. Based on the airtime values, the audio devices may be divided into subsets, each including a master device configured to provide data to one or more slave devices via a multicast transmission. A global master device that receives audio data from a data source and provides the data to the other master devices may be selected based on the data throughput values for communication between each master device and the access point.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for operating a playback path comprising a first dynamic range enhancement subsystem and a second dynamic range enhancement subsystem, wherein an audio signal generated by the first dynamic range enhancement subsystem is communicated to the second dynamic range enhancement subsystem, is provided.

Abstract: A method of generating a drive signal for a loudspeaker in an exhaust system of an engine of a vehicle or inside or outside a passenger cell includes providing a predetermined source signal for a desired additional sound in a time domain comprising a plurality of signal components of different frequencies; analyzing the source signal based on a phase of the source signal and/or a phase of at least one oscillation in the source signal; identifying a phase of engine noise and/or a phase of at least one oscillation existing in engine noise; shifting the phases of the source signal and/or the oscillation existing in the source signal based on phases identified in engine noise and/or in oscillation existing in engine noise, the relationship of phases of individual oscillations of the source signal among each other being preserved; and generating the drive signal based on the phase-shifted source signal.

Abstract: Techniques of performing binaural rendering involve generating separate locations of virtual sources on the sphere for each ear of a listener. Along these lines, consider a set of actual audio sources that are not equidistant from a central point. To provide a listener with ambisonic audio, a sphere is defined with the listener at its center. When a source is not on the surface of the sphere, respective rays from the source to each of the listener's ears may not intersect the sphere at the same point. Rather, to provide a more accurate representation of the actual source, virtual loudspeakers are placed at each of the sphere intersections, a first virtual loudspeaker propagating audio to the left ear, a second virtual loudspeaker propagating audio to the right ear.

Abstract: A headphone driver, a sound processor that incorporates the headphone driver and a computing system that incorporates the headphone driver, wherein the headphone driver includes an amplifier having an input terminal and an output terminal, an R-2R ladder network provided with an input signal and connected to the input terminal of the amplifier, and a feedback resistor group connected to the input terminal and to the output terminal of the amplifier. The R-2R ladder network includes a plurality of resistor branches and a first attenuator that is connected between the plurality of resistor branches.

Abstract: A portable amplifier is disclosed. In embodiments, the portable amplifier comprises a cabinet that opens and closes on a diagonal to contain all internal components, and optimizes sound quality. In embodiments the portable amplifier can be connected to an extension cabinet in order to provide an additional speaker. The portable amplifier can function on AC or DC power, and features user-friendly lighted ports and controls. The amplifier can feature AINiCo speakers and a three-spring reverb tank. The portable amplifier can be optimized for weight and power to achieve output of about 4 to about 5 watts per pound.

Abstract: Microphone distortion reduction is presented herein. A system can comprise: a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising: obtaining a pressure-in to voltage-out transfer function representing a distortion of an output of a microphone corresponding to a stimulus of a defined sound pressure level that has been applied to the microphone; inverting an equation representing the pressure-in to voltage-out transfer function to obtain an inverse transfer function; and applying the inverse transfer function to the output to obtain a linearized output representing the stimulus. In one example, the obtaining of the pressure-in to voltage-out transfer function comprises: creating an ideal sine wave stimulus comprising the amplitude and fundamental frequency of the time domain waveform; and generating the equation based on a defined relationship between the ideal sine wave stimulus and the time domain waveform.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for transmitting audio data. The method includes setting a connection with a plurality of slave devices by using a short range wireless communication protocol, generating a data packet comprising the audio data, and repetitively transmitting the data packet to the plurality of slave devices through a multicast/broadcast channel a number of times.

Abstract: A noise suppression device includes: an adaptive filter unit that suppresses, using an adaptive filter, a noise component contained in a voice signal generated from a voice captured by a voice input unit to generate a corrected voice signal; a noise generation detection unit that detects timing of generation of the noise component in the voice signal; and a period suppression unit that suppresses the corrected voice signal during a predetermined period of time after the timing of the generation of the noise component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting crystal orientation of a silicon wafer is proposed. The detection method uses a camera shooting device to irradiate the silicon wafer in a rotation manner in different angular directions and obtains the corresponding reflection intensities, based on which a reflection curve is drawn for a grain of interest in a polar coordinate system; normal directions of three or more faces of a regular octahedron of a grain <111> are determined by identifying a pixel brightness extreme value in the reflection curve, and then all normal vectors of the regular octahedron are calculated, so that a crystal orientation of the grain of interest may be calculated. The camera shooting device has a light source and one or more camera shooting probes.

Abstract: An area-sound reproduction system is provided that includes a speaker array having a plurality of speakers arranged side by side, a sound collector configured to collect an environment sound in an environment where the area-sound reproduction system is installed, a processor, and a memory having a computer program stored thereon. The computer program causes the processor to execute operations, including adjusting signals that the plurality of speakers are caused to output as reproduced sounds according to a reproduction condition on a control line, and causing the plurality of speakers to output the reproduced sounds.

Abstract: An echo cancellation system performs audio beamforming to separate audio input into multiple directions (e.g., target signals) and generates multiple audio outputs using two acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) circuits. A first AEC removes a playback reference signal (generated from a signal sent a loudspeaker) to isolate speech included in the target signals. A second AEC removes an adaptive reference signal (generated from microphone inputs corresponding to audio received from the loudspeaker) to isolate speech included in the target signals. A beam selector receives the multiple audio outputs and selects the first AEC or the second AEC based on a linearity of the system. When linear (e.g., no distortion or variable delay between microphone input and playback signal), the beam selector selects an output from the first AEC based on signal to noise (SNR) ratios. When nonlinear, the beam selector selects an output from the second AEC.

Abstract: To maintain favorable sound reproduction. In a car audio apparatus 6 which includes an inter-equipment communication unit 51 configured to perform communication according to each of a plurality of sound communication protocols Pv for transmitting a sound signal A3 of audio, and a reproduction processing unit 52 configured to reproduce the sound signal A3 received through the communication, and which receives the sound signal A3 from a smartphone 8 through communication according to any of the sound communication protocols Pv, the car audio apparatus 6 includes a priority storing unit 62 configured to store a priority of the sound communication protocols Pv in advance, and a sound signal input controlling unit 53 configured to, in the case where a sound communication request for transmitting the sound signal A3 is received from the smartphone 8, accept the sound communication request according to the priority of a sound communication protocol Pv of requested communication.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a first audio signal analyzer configured to analyze a first audio signal to determine at least one audio source, wherein the at least one audio source has a virtual location; a second audio signal analyzer configured to analyze a second audio signal to determine at least one localized audio source, wherein the second audio signal is generated from the apparatus audio environment; and a repositioner configured to reposition the virtual location of the at least one audio source dependent on the at least one localized audio source.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes an earphone interface including a plug housing into which an earphone plug is inserted comprising contact points that contact electrode terminals of the earphone plug and protrusions connected to the contact points, and a substrate having signal lines coupled to the protrusions arranged in the plug housing to transmit signals to the electrode terminals of the earphone plug or receive signals from a specific electrode terminal. The substrate includes a ground line connected to a ground terminal of the earphone plug and a coupler that couples a wireless signal that flows through the ground line.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a system may include a controller configured to be coupled to an audio speaker, wherein the controller receives an output signal indicative of a physical quantity associated with the audio speaker, compares the output signal to an audio input signal to determine if differences between the output signal and the audio input signal are present indicating at least one of distortion of the output signal, non-linearities of the audio speaker, and overexcursion of the audio speaker, and controls an audio signal communicated from the controller to the audio speaker and based on the audio input signal responsive to determining that differences between the output signal and the audio input signal are present indicating at least one of distortion of the output signal, non-linearities of the audio speaker, and overexcursion of the audio speaker.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting a cross-over frequency of a loudspeaker system. The loudspeaker system includes at least a first loudspeaker for frequencies below the cross-over frequency and a second loudspeaker for frequencies above the cross-over frequency. A level of the first loudspeaker is matched with the second loudspeaker using a first test signal and a room response is compensated in the loudspeaker system on the basis of the first test signal. The compensated room response is measured using a second test signal. A maximum frequency for the first loudspeaker and a minimum frequency for the second loudspeaker are determined. A cross-over frequency that results in a minimum cumulative total harmonic distortion energy at one or more sound pressure levels is searched between the minimum and maximum frequency.

Abstract: A wireless sound-emitting device includes a housing adapted to be coupled to a wall at a source of electric power, a loudspeaker positioned at a periphery of the housing, a control module outputting an electric audio signal to the at least one loudspeaker, and a wireless communications module in electrical communication with the control module. The loudspeaker emits acoustic signals in a direction parallel to the wall, when the housing is coupled to the wall, with the acoustic signals reflecting off the wall. The device may produce a sound masking noise or play a sound recorded on an internal memory. The device may include an electric plug or be adapted to replace an electric outlet faceplate. The device may have electric pass-through outlets and may be powered by the source of electric power. The device may be controlled remotely, for example via an Internet of Things (IoT) platform.