Abstract: A personal audio device, such as a headphone, includes an adaptive noise canceling (ANC) circuit that adaptively generates an anti-noise signal using one or more microphone signals that measure the ambient audio. The anti-noise signal is combined with source audio to provide an output for a speaker. The anti-noise signal causes cancellation of ambient audio sounds that appear in the microphone signals. A processing circuit uses the reference microphone to generate the anti-noise signal using one or more adaptive filters. The processing circuit also includes low-pass filters that remove quantization noise images at the output of the adaptive filter to reduce the dynamic range required at the output of the adaptive filter.

Abstract: An FM audio receiver can include a mono/stereo detector that causes the audio receiver to output either a monophonic or a stereophonic signal based on a received pilot tone energy. An accurate operation of the receiver, including but not limited to correct decoding of monophonic/stereophonic reception, can be based on the receiver operating with the same rated maximum system deviation (RMSD) as the received signal itself. Aspects of the disclosure describe a system and method of detecting and matching a receiver's RMSD to that of a received signal by demodulating a carrier bearing a an input signal over a first bandwidth, extracting a pilot energy signal from the input signal, and demodulating the carrier bearing the input signal over a second bandwidth if the pilot energy signal is within a pilot energy range for a first predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a sound image localization apparatus that includes head related transfer function (HRTF) filters that receive a monaural audio signal and generate a first channel output signal using a first head related transfer function describing a change in sound at right/left eardrum caused when a sound occurs from a first direction; low-pass filters that cut high frequency components of the monaural audio signal and pass low frequency components of the monaural signal; delay circuits that delay an output of the low-pass filters by first/second delay amount; and mixers that mix an output of the HRTF filters and an output of the delay circuits and output an audio signal.

Abstract: Provided is a sound generating device (20) for a vehicle, including: a plurality of pressure sensors (21a to 21d) for detecting air pressures of an air intake sound of an engine (12) and outputting the air pressures as sound pressure signals; a signal processing unit (24) for performing processing of changing the sound pressure signals in accordance with a driving condition of a vehicle (10); and loudspeakers (28a and 28b) for outputting the sound pressure signals as the air intake sound of the engine (12). Then, the plurality of pressure sensors (21a to 21d) are provided at an interval in a circumferential direction of an outer periphery of an air intake duct (15) at positions in a vicinity of an air flow meter (18) on an air cleaner (16) side with respect to a center of the air intake duct (15), the air intake duct (15) connecting the air cleaner (16) to a throttle body (17).

Abstract: Devices and methods for scoring viewer's interactions with content broadcast on a presentation device by processing at least one audio signal received by a microphone proximate the viewer and the presentation device, to generate at least one audio signature, which is compared to at least two different reference audio signatures.

Abstract: An audio system comprises an audio driver configured to receive a target audio signal and a feedback signal and to generate an adjusted audio signal responsive to the target audio signal and the feedback signal. A loudspeaker is configured to convert the adjusted audio signal into acoustical sound. A test signal generator is configured to generate a test signal having a higher frequency than the target audio signal. The test signal causes a test current to flow through the loudspeaker. A current sensing circuit is configured to measure the test current flowing through the loudspeaker and to generate a current sense signal indicative of the test current. A feedback circuit is configured generates the feedback signal responsive to the current sense signal.

Abstract: Devices and methods that match audio signatures to programming content stored in a remote database are disclosed. In one aspect of an embodiment, audio that includes primary audio from a device that outputs media content to one or more users is analyzed, in order to identify a presence or absence of corruption, and an audio signature is generated for an interval of time. In an aspect of a further embodiment, content being watched by a user is identified using a query audio signature and a message indicating the presence or absence of corruption.

Abstract: A masking sound outputting device includes: an inputting unit which receives a picked-up sound signal relating to a picked-up sound; an extracting unit which extracts an acoustic feature amount of the picked-up sound signal; an instruction receiving unit which receives instructions for starting an output of a masking sound; and an outputting unit which, in the case where the instruction receiving unit receives the instructions for starting an output, outputs a masking sound corresponding to the acoustic feature amount extracted by the extracting unit.

Abstract: The present invention is a sound system made from a repurposed vessel. The repurposed vessel is separated into two or more pieces for installation of a speaker assembly and then the pieces are put back in their original form. A hole is created in the vessel wall through which sound waves may pass. The speaker assembly has a connector allowing connection to an audio source. The space between the top and bottom pieces and the speaker assembly may be adjusted to tune for a desired frequency response.

Abstract: A cord-based controller for an auxiliary device, such as a headset, is provided for use with a portable electronic device. A pressure-sensitive, and preferably bendable, material such as a piezoelectric pressure sensor is placed within or on an or cord of a headphone lead, such as by wrapping it within the outer shielding of the cord. A self-powered controlling sensor is arranged to control the electronic device using a generated control signal. The controlling sensor comprises a sensor material. The control signal is generated by deformation of the sensor material independent of power supplied to the headset and independent of power supplied to the portable electronic device. This is achieved without requiring a separate housing for the controller, which typically protrudes from the cord. A plurality of control sensor elements can be provided, each producing a different control signal voltage transmitted along a single control signal electrical.

Abstract: An audio module for use in a vehicle cabin. An elongated substantially sealed enclosure has two ends in the lengthwise direction. A first acoustic driver is mounted in the enclosure near one end of the enclosure for radiating acoustic energy from the end of the enclosure. A second acoustic driver is mounted in the enclosure near a second end of the enclosure for radiating acoustic energy from the second end of the enclosure. The audio module includes a bass augmenting device for radiating low frequency acoustic energy from the enclosure. The audio module is constructed and arranged to be pre-assembled so that the audio module can be installed in the vehicle as a single assembly. The audio module is configured to be mounted to the vehicle so that the lengthwise direction is substantially vertical with the first end of the enclosure higher than the second end of the enclosure.

Abstract: A method by an electronic device for controlling a frequency response of audio output includes: receiving an audio signal at the device; estimating a sound pressure level of the audio signal based on one or more attributes or settings of the electronic device and/or the audio signal; generating values of an adaptive loudness control curve along a range of frequencies, wherein the adaptive loudness control curve is generated based on a difference between values of an equal loudness curve at the estimated sound pressure level along and values of an equal loudness curve at a reference sound pressure level; filtering the audio signal using values of the adaptive loudness control curve; and controlling output of the filtered audio signal as an audio output having substantially the same loudness along the range of frequencies.

Abstract: An impedance matched resonant circuit uses inductors coupling an audio source and a speaker array in order to reduce feedback reflection induced by an audio signal traveling from the audio source to the array of speakers. An RC circuit could also be coupled to the positive and negative terminals of the speaker array to reduce the slope differential of the audio signal at certain frequencies. The circuit can be packaged together in a single module with switches to activate and deactivate portions of the circuit to alter the effectiveness of the circuit depending upon need.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for self-calibration of small-microphone arrays are described. In one embodiment, self-calibration is based upon a mathematical approximation for which a detected response by one microphone should approximately equal a combined response from plural microphones in the array. In a second embodiment, self-calibration is based upon matching gains in each of a plurality of Bark frequency bands, and applying the matched gains to frequency domain microphone signals such that the magnitude response of all the microphones in the array approximates an average magnitude response for the array. The methods and apparatus may be implemented in hearing aids or small audio devices and used to mitigate adverse aging and mechanical effects on acoustic performance of small-microphone arrays in these systems.

Abstract: A personal audio device, such as a wireless telephone, includes an adaptive noise canceling (ANC) circuit that adaptively generates an anti-noise signal from an output of a microphone that measures ambient audio. The anti-noise signal is combined with source audio to provide an output for a speaker. The anti-noise signal causes cancellation of ambient audio sounds that appear at the microphone. A processing circuit estimates a level of background noise from the microphone output and sets a power conservation mode of the personal audio device in response to detecting that the background noise level is lower than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A personal audio device including earspeakers, includes an adaptive noise canceling (ANC) circuit that adaptively generates an anti-noise signal for each earspeaker from at least one microphone signal that measures the ambient audio, and the anti-noise signals are combined with source audio to provide outputs for the earspeakers. The anti-noise signals cause cancellation of ambient audio sounds at the respective earspeakers. A processing circuit uses the microphone signal(s) to generate the anti-noise signals, which can be generated by adaptive filters. The processing circuit controls adaptation of the adaptive filters such that when the processing circuit detects that either of the earspeakers are off-ear, a gain applied to the anti-noise signals is reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus includes multiple microphones and a controller. The controller is coupled to receive a signal from each of the multiple microphones. The controller is configured to control a transition of the multiple microphones from an active mode to a dormant mode. When the multiple microphones are in the active mode, the controller is configured to perform signal processing responsive to signals received from at least two of the multiple microphones. When the multiple microphones are in the dormant mode, the controller is configured to select a microphone of the multiple microphones and to perform signal processing corresponding to the selected microphone while suspending signal processing corresponding to unselected microphones.

Abstract: The present invention provides improvements to prior art audio codecs that generate a stereo-illusion through post-processing of a received mono signal. These improvements are accomplished by extraction of stereo-image describing parameters at the encoder side, which are transmitted and subsequently used for control of a stereo generator at the decoder side. Furthermore, the invention bridges the gap between simple pseudo-stereo methods, and current methods of true stereo-coding, by using a new form of parametric stereo coding. A stereo-balance parameter is introduced, which enables more advanced stereo modes, and in addition forms the basis of a new method of stereo-coding of spectral envelopes, of particular use in systems where guided HFR (High Frequency Reconstruction) is employed. As a special case, the application of this stereo-coding scheme in scalable HFR-based codecs is described.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of processing audio signals at a device includes receiving audio signals at a plurality of microphones of the device; processing at least one of the audio signals received by the plurality of microphones to generate a first characteristic; a beamformer applying beamformer coefficients to the received audio signals, thereby generating a beamformer output; processing the beamformer output to generate a second characteristic. An echo canceller is applied to the beamformer output, thereby suppressing, from the beamformer output, an echo resulting from audio signals output from an audio output. An operating parameter of the echo canceller is determined, using a relationship between the first and second characteristics.

Abstract: In one embodiment the present disclosure relates to providing wireless speaker functionality in an electrical switch assembly, such as a light switch located in the wall of a building. The switch assembly includes a faceplate with a touch-sensitive speaker grille covering a sizeable portion of the faceplate. The disclosed designs enables the grille portion of the faceplate to provide sound transmission and electrical switch control, thereby allows for a larger speaker to be placed centrally in the junction box, while maintaining full electrical switch functionality. In some embodiments illumination components (e.g. electroluminescent regions) are arranged on a circuit board with a plurality of openings designed to align with the grille. The illumination components can illuminate regions of the faceplate, indicating the current state of one or more electrical switches.