Abstract: An embodiment provides a seal for retaining a hearing device within the ear canal comprising a curved shell having an opening at a shell apex portion. The shell defines a cavity for retention of a device component. An interior surface of a shell wall has a scalloped shape configured to distribute compressive forces applied to the shell perimeter such that when the shell is positioned in the canal, the shell wall conforms to the shape of the canal to maintain an acoustical seal between a shell exterior surface and the canal walls. The scalloped shape can be configured to produce a substantially constant amount of inward deformation of a shell wall independent of a force application point on a shell perimeter. The shell can include a coating to retain the seal in the canal and/or to promote asparagine growth into the coating to fastenly retain the seal in the canal.

Abstract: A method and system for implementing an acoustical front end customization are disclosed. The customization is implemented to optimize the sound level for each individual cochlear implant user. A known audio signal is generated using a sound source and captured by a microphone system. The captured sound signal is sampled at one or more locations along the signal processing pathway, and a spectrum is determined for the sampled signal and the known signal. A ratio of the two spectrums is related to the undesired transformation of the sampled signal, and a digital filter is designed based on the ratio to filter out the undesired transformation.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing predictive pre-recording of audio for voice input. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining sensor data from one or more sensors of a mobile device while the mobile device is operating in an inactive state, determining that a user of the mobile device is interacting with the mobile device based on the sensor data, invoking voice input functionality of the mobile device in response to determining that the user of the mobile device is interacting with the mobile device, detecting a voice input, and activating the mobile device in response to detecting the voice input.

Abstract: A microphone having an optical component for converting the sound-induced motion of the diaphragm into an electronic signal using a diffraction grating. The microphone with inter-digitated fingers is fabricated on a silicon substrate using a combination of surface and bulk micromachining techniques. A 1 mm×2 mm microphone diaphragm, made of polysilicon, has stiffeners and hinge supports to ensure that it responds like a rigid body on flexible hinges. The diaphragm is designed to respond to pressure gradients, giving it a first order directional response to incident sound. This mechanical structure is integrated with a compact optoelectronic readout system that displays results based on optical interferometry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bi-directional broadcasting system for a small space. More particularly, multiple users enjoy the optimum surround sound and pursue the best convenience simultaneously by wirelessly connected an external receiver, multiple headphones, and external speakers which can be installed and composed variously, while watching a video media which was received through a television transmitting and receiving antenna or external signal input devices by a host television, that was related to a bi-directional broadcasting system for a small space.

Abstract: Audio data transmission and reception methods and an electronic apparatus using the same are provided. The audio data transmission and reception methods send audio data by one bit at the rising edge and at the falling edge of a bit clock, and send audio data over a null interval carrying no data. Hence, 5.1 channel audio data can be transmitted and received using an I2S transmission scheme.

Abstract: There is provided a communication apparatus comprising a memory configured to store a plurality of pieces of audio contents, a playing member configured to produce a contents-based audio signal by playing a piece of audio contents stored in the memory, and a management circuit configured to identify a plurality of events occurring while the playing member is producing one of the contents-based audio signals, one of the events being associated with one of a plurality of event-associated audio signals and given a highest priority, to have the playing member pause and stop producing the contents-based audio signal and to produce one of the event-associated audio signals associated with the identified event in a case where the identified event is given the highest priority.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for detecting interrupts from detachable electronic accessories or peripherals are provided. In this regard, a hardware audio CODEC may be operable to compare a voltage on one or more biased pins of an accessory or peripheral port to one or more reference voltages and filter one or more output signals generated from the comparison. When an accessory or peripheral is coupled to the accessory or peripheral port, interrupts from the accessory or peripheral may be detected based on results of the comparison and/or the filtering. An interrupt may be detected when the voltage on the one or more pins may be below the one or more reference voltages. An interrupt may be detected when the voltage on the one or more pins may be below the one or more reference voltages for a plurality of consecutive clock cycles.

Abstract: A system for monitoring sound pressure levels at the ear includes an ambient sound microphone (ASM) for receiving ambient sounds and an ear canal microphone (ECM) for producing audio signals as a function of ambient sound received at the ambient sound microphone and a sound signal received from an associated personal audio device. A logic circuit is operatively associated with the ASM and ECM calculates a total SPL_Dose experienced by the ear at a time t. The total SPL_Dose is calculated by determining SPL_Dose for periods ?t as measured at the ECM. The logic circuit may select an action parameter in response to the Total SPL_Dose.

Abstract: A hearing aid (101) comprises a microphone (121) converting sound into an electrical signal, a processor (105) disposed inside a main body case (102), a first volume adjuster (104) having a variable resistor, and a receiver (123) converting an electrical signal into sound. The processor (105) has an amplifier (135) amplifying an electrical signal from the microphone (121), a second volume adjuster (105b) setting a degree of amplification by the amplifier (135), and a controller (130) controlling the second volume adjuster (105b) and the amplifier (135). The controller (130) detects the resistance value of the variable resistor, determines whether or not the resistance value has exceeded a specific threshold, acquires a specific value for the degree of amplification by the amplifier (135), and sets the degree of amplification by the amplifier (135) to this specific value when the controller determines that the resistance value has exceeded the specific threshold.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for detecting and identifying electronic accessories or peripherals utilizing a hardware audio CODEC are provided. In this regard, a hardware audio CODEC may be operable to compare one or more voltages on one or more biased pins of an accessory or peripheral port to one or more reference voltages and generate one or more digital representations of the one or more voltages on the biased one or more pins. An accessory or peripheral attached to the accessory or peripheral port may be identified based on the comparison and/or the generated one or more digital representations. The one or more bias voltages may be controlled based on a result of the comparison and/or the generated digital representations. The one or more bias voltages may be reduced after an attached accessory or peripheral has been identified.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing predictive pre-recording of audio for voice input. In one aspect, a method includes establishing, as input data, state data that references a state of a mobile device and sensor data that is sensed by one or more sensors of the mobile device, applying a rule or a probabilistic model to the input data, inferring, based on applying the rule or the probabilistic model to the input data, that a user of the mobile device is likely to initiate voice input, and invoking one or more functionalities of the mobile device in response to inferring that the user is likely to initiate voice input.

Abstract: Various dynamic audio ducking techniques are provided that may be applied where multiple audio streams, such as a primary audio stream and a secondary audio stream, are being played back simultaneously. For example, a secondary audio stream may include a voice announcement of one or more pieces of information pertaining to the primary audio stream, such as the name of the track or the name of the artist. In one embodiment, the primary audio data and the voice feedback data are initially analyzed to determine a loudness value. Based on their respective loudness values, the primary audio stream may be ducked during the period of simultaneous playback such that a relative loudness difference is generally maintained with respect to the loudness of the primary and secondary audio streams. Accordingly, the amount of ducking applied may be customized for each piece of audio data depending on its loudness characteristics.

Abstract: An integrated audio codec includes a high-pass filter to prevent damage to personal computer speakers and other components. The audio codec may be compliant with HD audio standards and can operate with generic software drivers. Tuning of the high-pass filter is provided through an external pin-out where either an external capacitor or external resistors provide an ability to tune the high-pass filter. In one implementation, a tuning voltage is digitized into a tuning code used by a digital high-pass filter. In addition, multiplexers can be used to insure only the audio path leading to the speakers is filtered.

Abstract: Systems and methods of placeshifting media playback between two or more devices are provided. For example, a method for placeshifting media may include sending a first message from a media-receiving electronic device to a media-playing electronic device playing a media file and receiving a response identifying the media file and a point at which the media file was being played when the first message was received. The media-receiving electronic device may play a copy of the media file at the point where the media-playing electronic device left off.

Abstract: A user programmable hearing aid allows a user to select acoustical configuration programs that provide optimum performance for the user. The user may cycle through and evaluate various available programs by rotating a scroll wheel on the hearing aid housing to switch from one program to the next. When a preferred program is active, the user can press a push button on the housing for an extended time to select the currently active program. The user can then use the scroll wheel to adjust the audio gain for the selected program. The hearing aid may also operate in a Configuration Mode wherein configuration settings may be changed using the scroll wheel and the push button. In the Configuration Mode, a clinician or patient may easily change configuration settings manually, with no need to connect the apparatus to a computer or other programming interface.

Abstract: In a sound receiver, a sound wave is directly received by microphones at a predetermined phase difference. The microphones are arranged in opening cavities of a casing, at positions that are different from the volume center points of the opening cavities. The microphones are supported by supporting springs in a state of not closely contacting inner peripheral walls. The sound wave received by the microphones is input to a signal processing unit and after a signal component in a predetermined low frequency band is removed by a filter, the resulting sound wave is amplified by an amplifier and is made in phase by a phase shifter and output.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to providing audio playback to a mobile device user. According to one aspect of this disclosure, a mobile device may be to modify audio playback in response to detecting an inclination of the mobile device (and thereby a user) with respect to a reference plane. According to another aspect of this disclosure, a mobile device may be configured to automatically identify an audible sound that may be motivational to a user, and store an indication of the audible sound in response to the identification. According to another aspect of this disclosure, a mobile device may automatically play back a previously identified motivational song in response to detection of user movement.

Abstract: In an acoustic design support apparatus, a speaker selection supporter selects a desired speaker as a candidate for use in a given space based on shape information representing a shape of the space. A speaker mounting angle optimizer calculates an optimal mounting direction of the selected speaker by selecting a mounting direction pattern which minimizes a degree of variation among sound pressure levels at a plurality of positions on a sound receiving surface defined in the space. An acoustic parameter calculator calculates a variety of acoustic parameters at sound receiving points within the space based on both of the shape information of the space and the optimal mounting direction of the speaker.

Abstract: A method for selecting an audio data source for a multimedia device includes detecting an error state of audio data for generating a detection result, wherein the audio data is generated by a digital source of the multimedia device, generating an initial counting value, generating a counting result according to the detection result and the initial counting value, confining the counting result within a boundary for generating a limit result, and comparing the limit result with a threshold for generating a comparison result, for selecting the audio data source of the multimedia device.