Abstract: A speaker system is provided with a docking station, a removable housing mounted to the docking station, and a transducer supported by the removable housing. The speaker system is also provided with a processor supported by the removable housing and programmed to separate an audio signal into channels and provide at least one channel to the transducer based a location of the removable housing relative to the docking station.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for receiving a voice command and determining an appropriate action for the media playback system to execute based on user identification. The systems and methods receive a voice command for a media playback system, and determines whether the voice command was received from a registered user of the media playback system. In response to determining that the voice command was received from a registered user, the systems and methods configure an instruction for the media playback system based on content from the voice command and information in a user profile for the registered user.

Abstract: An earpiece including an intra-auricular support positionable in an auricle of an ear, a portion of the intra-auricular support configured as an intra-auricular support base securable to an earphone housing of an earphone.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed, which include or present “soundscapes” in or for online mapping utilities. To obtain the data for such soundscapes, along with cameras for visual images, a microphone array can be mounted on a vehicle to record sounds along the streets travelled for linking to an online map. A speech recognition algorithm is used to identify private conversations and remove them from the recording. The systems and methods for accomplishing this task include use of an array of microphones mounted in a special pattern with special materials on top of the vehicle to record sounds as the vehicle travels through space and time. A set of signal processing algorithms is also used to process the microphone signals autonomously in real-time, allowing the operator to immediately review them for quality assurance.

Abstract: A headset includes a circumaural assembly having an adjustable sensor mount configured to secure a sensor forward of the tragus of a user. The mount is movable relative to the assembly to position the sensor in contact with or proximal to the user skin. The mount may extend from an interior side or flat component of the assembly into an opening of a circumaural cushion. The sensor mount may include a resilient support arm or structure extending from behind a circumaural cushion, or integrated into the cushion, to urge the sensor into contact with the user. The mount may include a spring-biased rotatable knob having an eccentrically located aperture configured to secure the sensor, and rotatable to position the sensor. Sensor signals may be processed to detect blood flow, heart rate, etc. and/or movement, such as jaw movement indicative of talking for use in automatically muting an associated microphone.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an apparatus, system, and method for generating a head related audio transfer function in real time. Specifically, the present invention utilizes unique structural components including a tragus structure and an antihelix structure in connection with a microphone in order to communicate the location of a sound in three dimensional space to a user. The invention also utilizes an audio processor to digitally process the head related audio transfer function.

Abstract: Earphone assemblies with wingtips are provided for anchoring to a user during use. A wing may extend from and between two different ends coupled to a housing of an earphone, while each of the at least one flex arm may extend along the wing. At least one flex arm may be rigid enough to prevent at least a portion of the wing from bending out of a plane of the wing such that a portion of the wing may maintain a functional position under and/or behind at least a portion of a crus of an anti-helix of a user's ear to anchor the earphone to the user's ear during use, while at least a portion of the wing may be flexible enough to provide comfort to the user's ear.

Abstract: A vibration module for applying vibrational tractions to a wearer's skin is presented. Use of the vibration module in headphones is illustrated for providing tactile sensations of low frequency for music, for massage, and for electrical recording and stimulation of the wearer. Damped, planar, electromagnetically-actuated vibration modules of the moving magnet type are presented in theory and reduced to practice, and shown to provide a substantially uniform frequency response over the range 40-200 Hz with a minimum of unwanted audio.

Abstract: A system capable of synchronizing audio by determining a playback delay between when an audio sample is sent to and then output from a speaker. The system may generate a test signal configured to reach a saturation threshold and may send the test signal at a first time, followed by blank audio samples, from a first processor to a second processor to be output by the speaker. The second processor may detect that an audio sample exceeds a saturation threshold at a second time, generate a timestamp and send the timestamp to the first processor. The first processor may determine a playback delay between the first time and the second time and may also determine a number of blank audio samples sent between the first time and the second time. Using the playback delay and the number of blank audio samples, the system may generate audio using precise timing.

Abstract: A diaphragm ported tweeter includes a ring structure having an upper portion and a lower portion, and a dome-shaped diaphragm having a periphery secured to the upper portion of the ring structure and a concentrically positioned aperture at an apex of the dome-shaped diaphragm. The diaphragm ported tweeter also includes an acoustic duct having an open first end coupled to the aperture and a second open end extending away from the aperture. The diaphragm ported tweeter is configured as a Helmholtz resonator to increase an output level over a range of frequencies.

Abstract: A MEMS microphone may include a backplate comprising first and second electrodes electrically isolated from one another and mechanically coupled to the backplate in a fixed relationship relative to the backplate and a diaphragm configured to displace relative to the backplate as a function of sound pressure incident upon the diaphragm, the diaphragm comprising third and fourth electrodes electrically isolated from one another and mechanically coupled to the diaphragm in a fixed relationship relative to the diaphragm such that the third and fourth electrodes displace relative to the backplate as a function of sound pressure incident upon the diaphragm. The first and third electrodes may form a first capacitor and the second and fourth electrodes may form a second capacitor, the capacitance of each which may be a function of the displacement of the diaphragm, and each of which may be biased by an alternating-current voltage waveform.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: detecting, using a processor, a presence of a known device within a predetermined range; and adjusting, using the processor, an audio output volume based on the presence of the known device. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Abstract: A system and processes for a proximate-speaker audio compensation system include a first speaker and a second speaker that are proximate to a user. A control unit couples to at least one of the first speaker or the second speaker. The control unit adjusts audio signal based on a hearing-aid type adjustment. The control unit sends adjusted audio signal to the at least one of the first speaker or the second speaker.

Abstract: To resolve a problem that a listener feels that sense of localization and sense of connecting with the other channels are lost in case that the listener listens to an audio that is output from a ceiling reflection type speaker in an audio processing device that outputs an analog audio signal to speakers including the ceiling reflection type speaker that makes the audio reflect at a ceiling. A DSP 5 performs low-pass filter processing that extracts low frequency component from a digital audio signal, high-pass filter processing that extracts high frequency component from the digital audio signal, delay processing that delays the low frequency component of the digital audio signal that is extracted by the low-pass filter processing, and composition processing that composes the low frequency component of the digital audio signal that is delayed by the delay processing and the high frequency component of the digital audio signal that is extracted by the high-pass filter processing as audio signal processing.

Abstract: A system and method receives one or more captured signals through a captured audio path and produces one or more playback signals through a playback audio path. The system and method executes one or more signal processing functions and measures the delays within the playback audio path and captured audio path during operation of the one or more signal processing functions. The system and method stores the measured delays in a memory and compensates the one or more signal processing functions for the playback delay and the capture delay.

Abstract: Suppression of tapping noise caused by tapping an acoustically coupled touchscreen. When a tapping event is detected on the touchscreen, a tapping noise suppressor is alerted of the event, and responds by at least temporarily mitigating the tapping noise in the audio stream. The suppression occurs temporarily for at least part of the duration of surge in audio levels that occurs as a result of the tapping event, and in a manner that reduces the psychoacoustic impact on the conversation. Suppression may be performed by first placing the tapping noise suppressors in an alert mode when a tapping event occurs. The tapping noise suppressor then monitors the audio stream generated by the microphone for the beginning of the tapping event—which will be represented in the form of a surge in volume. The tapping noise suppressor then temporarily applies the suppression window.

Abstract: A speaker assembly may include a first woofer speaker electronically coupled to a first electronic circuit including high-Q filter configured to provide first audio signals having frequencies between 200-2000 Hz to the first woofer speaker. The speaker assembly may further include at least one second woofer speaker electronically coupled to a second electronic circuit configured to provide second audio signals having frequencies between 20-200 Hz to the second woofer speaker, wherein the first woofer speaker is identical to the second woofer speaker and is configured to operate as a mid-range speaker.

Abstract: An earbud includes an infrared light transmitter, an infrared light detector, and a controller configured to provide an indication of insertion of the earbud into an ear of a user responsive to detection of a pattern of signals from the transmitter at the detector.

Abstract: A loudspeaker system is provided that includes a loudspeaker that is arranged in a baffle between a passenger compartment of a vehicle and the outside of the passenger compartment. The loudspeaker is configured to radiate an acoustical signal to the passenger compartment. The loudspeaker system further includes active noise control system wherein a microphone is acoustically coupled to the loudspeaker via a secondary path, and the loudspeaker is electrically coupled to the microphone via an active noise control filter.

Abstract: An audio system includes a transducer assembly, an audio sensor, and a controller. The transducer assembly is coupled to a back of an auricle of an ear of the user. The transducer assembly vibrates the auricle over a frequency range to cause the auricle to create an acoustic pressure wave in accordance with vibration instructions. The acoustic sensor detects the acoustic pressure wave at an entrance of the ear of the user. The controller dynamically adjusts a frequency response model based in part on the detected acoustic pressure wave, updates the vibration instructions using the adjusted frequency response model, and provides the updated vibration instructions to the transducer assembly.