Abstract: A loudspeaker apparatus includes at least three speaker units, and a space defining part defining at least two sealed spaces. Each of the speaker units has a diaphragm having two surfaces, and a driver unit for inputting an electrical signal and driving the diaphragm. Each of the sealed spaces has at least two boundary diaphragms. Each of the boundary diaphragms is one of the diaphragms, disposed so that a first one of the surfaces faces inside the sealed space and a second one of the surfaces faces outside the sealed space. When at least one of the boundary diaphragms is driven outward from the sealed space, at least one of the other boundary diaphragms is driven inward to the sealed space. The boundary diaphragms driven outward and the boundary diaphragms driven inward are the same in number, and thereby a volume of the sealed space is kept constant.

Abstract: A method includes determining, for a piezoelectric cantilever-type transducer of a distributed mode loudspeaker adapted to cause vibration of a load, a subset of frequencies from a range of frequencies at which to output vibrations, in which the transducer includes two or more electrode pairs positioned along a length of the transducer and each electrode pair including a first electrode on a first side of a piezoelectric layer of the transducer and a second electrode on a second side of the piezoelectric layer of the transducer that is opposite to the first side; selecting, for the subset of frequencies, a respective input voltage for each of the two or more electrode pairs based on a relative position of each pair on the transducer; and applying the respective input voltage to each of the two or more electrode pairs to cause the transducer to generate a vibrational force.

Abstract: An opening portion is formed along an outer peripheral edge of a diaphragm in a second casing portion partitioned by the diaphragm. In the opening portion, a plurality of fins is arranged at regular intervals, and an air passage is formed between every adjacent two of the fins. The fin and the air passage are formed so as to be at an angle to a corresponding imaginary line that extends from the vibration center line of the diaphragm in the radial direction. By forming each of the air passages obliquely, noise generated by an air flow due to sound pressure is reduced.

Abstract: A hearing aid, in particular a BTE hearing aid, includes an ear insert having an earpiece and an attachment part being linked to a receiver. The earpiece includes an elongate adapter and a plurality of shields. The adapter is mounted on the attachment part and extends in a longitudinal direction. The earpiece is in a modular form and the at least one shield is exchangeably fitted onto the adapter. The adapter has a head with a rear abutment contour against which at least one of the shields abuts. In this way, the earpiece is particularly variably and flexibly configurable. A corresponding earpiece is also provided.

Abstract: An earphone assembly includes a control box, a first earphone and a second earphone. The control box includes a microprocessor, a first acceleration sensor module, and a sound source output controller electrically connected with the microprocessor. The first acceleration sensor module is electrically connected with the microprocessor for reading three-axis gravity acceleration variation values, and then the three-axis gravity acceleration variation values are transmitted to the microprocessor for calculating a tilt angle of the control box at the time of the earphone assembly being worn. The first earphone is electrically connected with the control box and includes a second acceleration sensor module. The second acceleration sensor module is mounted in the first earphone for reading the three-axis gravity acceleration variation values. The second earphone is electrically connected with the control box.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for transferring programming information to a hearing instrument. Such programming information may include hearing loss compensation parameters and/or other information pertaining to device operation. In one embodiment, each of a pair of hearing instruments prescribed and configured for a particular hearing loss contains the necessary information for operation on either the left or right ear. The data from one hearing instrument may then be transferred to the other hearing instrument by means of wireless communication. In other embodiments, programming information is transferred wirelessly by an external device connected to a database.

Abstract: A MEMS device includes a membrane and a counter electrode structure spaced apart from the membrane. The counter electrode structure includes a non-planar conductive layer. The MEMS device includes an air gap between the membrane and the counter electrode structure. The air gap has a non-uniform thickness.

Abstract: A deflector assembly includes an acoustic deflector that defines at least a portion of an electronics compartment; and electronics mounted within the electronics compartment. The deflector assembly is configured to provide convective cooling of the electronics via a stack effect air flow through the electronics compartment.

Abstract: A hearing aid contains an ear insert which has an earpiece and a connection part which is connected to a receiver. The earpiece and the connection part each has a plug connector and are connected together by the plug connectors. One plug connector is a connection piece which extends in an axial direction along a longitudinal axis and has a thickened portion in the radial direction, and the other plug connector engages behind the thickened portion in order to axially fix the earpiece to the connection part. The thickened portion has an undercut and forms a retaining surface which runs into the thickened portion in a wedged manner. In this manner, the earpiece is attached to the connection part in a particularly secured manner.

Abstract: An active noise-reduction headphone arrangement has a housing bearing a loudspeaker having a first diaphragm surface coupled to a first volume of air bounded by and coupled to a user's ear, and a second diaphragm surface bounding a cavity within the housing assembly so as to define a second volume of air, rearward of the diaphragm; a conduit provided in the housing, the conduit being in fluid communication the ambient air via a first acoustic couple means having a first characteristic acoustic impedance, the conduit also being in fluid communication with said second volume of air via a second acoustic couple means having a second characteristic acoustic impedance; and a microphone having an inlet coupled acoustically to a predetermined location within the conduit.

Abstract: A loudspeaker with vibration control system includes: a magnetic assembly with an air gap, a voice coil supported by a cylindrical support, a basket connected to the magnetic assembly, a centering device connected to the basket and to the cylindrical support, a membrane connected to the basket and to the cylindrical support, an external cylinder disposed around the magnetic assembly, at least one control coil supported by the external cylinder and directed towards the magnetic assembly, at least one elastic suspension connected to the external cylinder to permit an axial movement of the external cylinder with respect to the magnetic assembly.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes: an input transducer configured to output an audio signal based on a signal applied to the input transducer; a processor configured to compensate a hearing loss of a user of the hearing aid and output a hearing loss compensated audio signal; an output transducer configured to output an auditory output signal based on the hearing loss compensated audio signal, wherein the auditory output signal is to be received by a human auditory system; a wireless communication unit configured to communicate wirelessly with another device; an energy storage unit coupled to supply the wireless communication unit with power; and a current limiting unit coupled for control of replenishment of the energy storage unit with energy from a power supply.

Abstract: Provided is an acoustic transducer including: a semiconductor substrate; a vibrating membrane provided above the semiconductor substrate, including a vibrating electrode; and a fixed membrane provided above the semiconductor substrate, including a fixed electrode, the acoustic transducer detecting a sound wave according to changes in capacitances between the vibrating electrode and the fixed electrode, converting the sound wave into electrical signals, and outputting the electrical signals. At least one of the vibrating electrode and the fixed electrode is divided into a plurality of divided electrodes, and the plurality of divided electrodes outputting the electrical signals.

Abstract: An earbud includes a housing that includes a driver assembly positioned within the housing forming a front volume in front of the driver and a back volume behind the driver. An acoustic insert is positioned behind the driver assembly and attached to an interior surface of the housing such that it forms a bass channel that is routed from the back volume to a vent in the housing.

Abstract: An acoustic apparatus may include a frame having an annular open portion that opens in an axial direction; a diaphragm supported by being attached to the annular open portion via a flexible edge member so as to be capable of vibrating in the axial direction; and a driving unit connected to the diaphragm at a center portion of the diaphragm, where the driving unit is configured to apply a driving force in the axial direction to the diaphragm. The diaphragm has a rotationally symmetric shape around an axis of the diaphragm when viewed in the axial direction. The diaphragm includes a sheet member having an orientation dispersion structure in which shape-anisotropic fillers are dispersed in a resin with long axes of the fillers oriented in one predetermined direction, and the diaphragm has mechanical characteristics having two-fold rotation symmetry around the axis.

Abstract: A smart headset communicates through the cellular transceiver with a cellular network when the smart headset in a first mode and communicates through a Bluetooth transceiver with a smart handset when the smart headset is in a second mode. A controller of the smart headset is configured to place the smart headset in the first mode when the smart handset is determined to be farther than a maximum proximity from the smart headset and configured to place the headset in the second mode when the smart handset is determined to be within the maximum proximity to the smart headset.

Abstract: An exemplary sound processor included in a cochlear implant system used by a patient generates a spectral input signal representative of spectral energy contained within a frequency band of an audio signal presented to the patient. The sound processor determines whether a spectral energy level of the spectral input signal exceeds a predetermined system noise threshold that is based on a characterization of system noise generated by the cochlear implant system within the frequency band. The sound processer then generates a spectral output signal by 1) including the spectral input signal in the spectral output signal if the spectral energy level exceeds the predetermined system noise threshold, and 2) excluding the spectral input signal from the spectral output signal if the spectral energy level does not exceed the predetermined system noise threshold. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hearing aid having a hearing aid housing, includes: a microphone; a processing unit configured to process an audio signal for compensating a hearing loss of a user; a battery provided closer to a second end of the hearing aid housing than to a first end of the hearing aid housing; one or more wireless communication units for wireless communication; at least a part of a first antenna for electromagnetic field emission and/or electromagnetic field reception, the at least a part of the first antenna being interconnected with one of the one or more wireless communication units; and a second antenna for electromagnetic field emission and/or electromagnetic field reception, the second antenna being interconnected with one of the one or more wireless communication units; wherein the second antenna is between a center axis of the battery and the second end of the hearing aid.

Abstract: A MEMS sensor, in particular a microphone, of a piezoelectric type, formed in a membrane of semiconductor material accommodating a compliant portion, which extends from a first surface to a second surface of the membrane. The compliant portion has a Young's modulus lower than the rest of the membrane. A sensitive region having piezoelectric material extends on the first surface, over the compliant portion and is fixed at its ends to the membrane on opposite sides of the compliant portion. A third area of the membrane, arranged between the compliant portion and the second surface, forms a hinge element.

Abstract: An optical microphone arrangement comprises: an array of optical microphones (4) on a substrate (8), each of said optical microphones FIG. 2 (4) providing a signal indicative of displacement of a respective membrane (24) as a result of an incoming audible sound; at first processor (12) arranged to receive said signals from said optical microphones (4) and to perform a first processing step on said signals to produce a first output; and a second processor (14) arranged to receive at least one of said signals or said first output; wherein at least said second processor (14) determines presence of at least one element of human speech from said audible sound.