Abstract: The present application is directed to an alignment device suited for use with a microphone. The device may include an end that is configured to contact a user's face, an attachment portion, with the attachment portion having an attachment piece configured to attach to a microphone. The device also can include a tendril extending between the end and the attachment portion. The tendril can extend along a length of the microphone to a point past a grille of the microphone. The end can be offset from the grille to maintain the user's face a distance from the grille.

Abstract: A method includes determining a first feature of a first audio signal at a first location in a signal processing path and determining, using the first feature, a first environmental classification of the first signal. Further, the method includes, based on the first environmental classification, enabling, modifying or disabling one or both of a first signal processing mode at the first location and a second signal processing mode at a second location in the signal processing path. The method also includes determining a second feature of a second audio signal at the second location and determining, using the second feature, a second environmental classification of the second signal. Further, the method includes, based on the second environmental classification, enabling, modifying or disabling one or both of the first signal processing mode at the first location and the second signal processing mode at the second location.

Abstract: A hearing device system has a photoplethysmography sensor to be worn in the auditory canal in an intended worn state and an earpiece which at least partly covers the photoplethysmography sensor toward the auditory canal in the intended worn state. Moreover, the hearing device system has a controller which is configured to use light captured by the photoplethysmography sensor to derive a comparison quantity of the earpiece characteristic for a transmission of the earpiece, for a wavelength range of the photoplethysmography sensor, to compare the comparison quantity with a specified first limit and to output an alert if the limit is traversed by the comparison quantity.

Abstract: A sound capture system can include a sound capture device configured for placement within a sound-generating device. The sound capture system can include a suspension system configured to suspend the sound capture device within the sound-generating device. The suspension system acoustically decouples the sound capture device from the sound-generating device. The sound capture device includes a plurality of transducers configured to generate a plurality of audio signals concurrently from sound generated by the sound-generating device. In another aspect, the sound capture system includes a signal processing circuit.

Abstract: A flexible circuit board of a hearing aid and the hearing aid are provided. The flexible circuit board has an annular portion bent into an annular shape, wherein the annular portion is used for surrounding a peripheral side of a battery, and an outer side surface of the annular portion has pads; the flexible circuit board has a device portion located on a front side of the annular portion, wherein the device portion is used for installing electronic devices and is used for electrically connecting a receiver; the flexible circuit board has a chip portion connected to a bottom end of the annular portion, wherein the chip portion is used for binding a chip. The flexible circuit board strings together the receiver, the chip and the battery into a compact structure.

Abstract: A method, system and devices to selectively control modal vibrations in an elastic panel with a number of force actuators distributed throughout the surface of the elastic panel to excite/depress the response of one or more vibrational resonant modes included in a prescribed subset. The force actuators are disposed such that prescribed modal excitation/depression may be realized when the actuators are driven by a common source signal.

Abstract: An audio system includes a speaker and a processor. The processor determines a privacy setting for an audio signal. The privacy setting may be selected by a user. The privacy setting may indicate activation of a private mode, or may indicate a privacy level from a range of privacy levels. The processor determines an audio filter that adjusts the audio signal to mitigate sound leakage when presented by the speaker based on the privacy setting. The audio filter may include a low-pass filter and a multiband compressor. The parameters of the audio filter may vary based on the privacy setting. The processor applies the audio filter to the audio signal to generate a filtered audio signal and provides the filtered audio signal to the speaker.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for closed-loop sleep protection and/or sleep regulation. According to an aspect, sleep disturbing noises are predicted and a biosignal parameter is measured to dynamically mask predicted disturbing environmental noises in the sleeping environment with active attenuation. Environmental noises in a sleeping environment of a subject are detected, input, or predicted based on historical data of the sleeping environment collected over a period of time. The biosignal parameter is used to determine sleep physiology of a subject. Based on the environmental noises in the sleeping environment and the determined sleep physiology, the noises are predicted to be disturbing or non-disturbing noises. For predicted disturbing noises, one or more actions are taken to regulate sleep and avoid sleep disruption by using sound masking prior to or concurrently with the occurrence of the predicted disturbing noises.

Abstract: Hearing devices capable of performing a self-test as well as a method for automatically testing a hearing device. A hearing device includes a measurement bridge circuit connected to the receiver of the hearing device in parallel with the audio amplifier of the hearing device. A method for self-testing a hearing device includes the steps of i) disabling the audio amplifier connected to the receiver, in particular by putting the amplifier in a high impedance state, ii) applying with a measurement bridge circuit a direct current (DC) and/or an alternating current (AC) to the receiver, iii) measuring with the measurement bridge circuit (5) a voltage at the receiver, and iv) detecting a presence or absence of a fault condition based on the measured voltage.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a faceplate for a hearing device, the faceplate configured to cover a lateral opening of a housing of the hearing device and having a side which is laterally oriented when the hearing device is worn at least partially in the ear canal, including the steps of: providing a faceplate base part including a first surface, a faceplate insertion part including a second surface, and a printed circuit board (“PCB”) with an antenna; inserting the antenna PCB into the faceplate base part so that that the antenna PCB extends along the first surface; inserting the faceplate insertion part into the faceplate base part so that the second surface of the faceplate insertion part pushes the antenna PCB against the first surface of the faceplate base part; and fixing the faceplate insertion part within the faceplate base part so as to form the faceplate.

Abstract: A hearing device is disclosed, comprising a main microphone, M auxiliary microphones, a transform circuit, a processor, a memory and a post-processing circuit. The transform circuit transforms first sample values in current frames of a main audio signal and M auxiliary audio signals from the microphones into a main and M auxiliary spectral representations. The memory includes instructions to be executed by the processor to perform operations comprising: performing ANC over the first sample values using an end-to-end neural network to generate second sample values; and, performing audio signal processing over the main and the M auxiliary spectral representations using the end-to-end neural network to generate a compensation mask. The post-processing circuit modifies the main spectral representation with the compensation mask to generate a compensated spectral representation, and generates an output audio signal according to the second sample values and the compensated spectral representation.

Abstract: A plurality of modal parameters is estimated for a set of discrete locations within a local area using a set of room impulse responses for the set of discrete locations. The local area includes an audio system. A plurality of acoustic model parameters is generated by fitting the plurality of modal parameters to an acoustic model that accounts for a physical geometry of the local area. The plurality of acoustic model parameters and an indication about the acoustic model are stored for later use by the audio system. The audio system estimates the set of acoustic parameters using the plurality of acoustic model parameters and the indication about the acoustic model, and presents audio content using the set of acoustic parameters.

Abstract: Dipole audio speakers, and more particularly, voice controlled dipole audio speakers having at least one microphone located substantially along the null sound plane of the dipole audio speaker. An improved loudspeaker system that produces an improved audio quality for stereophonic sound. The improved loudspeaker utilizes conventional electro-dynamic drivers in a sealed chamber that produce sound primarily in the 20-300 Hz band coupled with electrostatic card stack drivers placed outside the sealed chamber that cover the remaining 98% of the audio frequency spectrum (300 Hz to 20 kHz). The improved loudspeaker system can also include multiple card stack drivers that are placed at angles with respect to each other to maximize audio fidelity.

Abstract: A ring-shaped cushion for a hearing protector or audio headset. The cushion has a circumferential contact pad for sealing on a wearer's head and an attachment for sealing with an earmuff. The cushion further has a sound insulation tube that inwardly defines an inner space. The sound insulation tube extends between the contact pad and the attachment. The cushion has a ventilation passage that extends entirely through the cushion between an inlet opening in the contact pad and an area outside of the inner space. The cushion may further include one or more physiological sensors to monitor the health of a wearer.

Abstract: An illustrative stereo rendering system obtains a contradirectional audio input signal generated by a microphone assembly having a plurality of microphone elements. The contradirectional audio input signal implements a contradirectional polar pattern oriented with respect to a listener. The system also obtains an array of multidirectional audio input signals generated by the microphone assembly. The array of multidirectional audio input signals implements different unidirectional polar patterns that are collectively omnidirectional in a horizontal plane. The system generates a weighted audio input signal by mixing the array of multidirectional audio input signals in accordance with respective weight values assigned to each multidirectional audio input signal. The system then generates, based on the contradirectional audio input signal and the weighted audio input signal, a stereo audio output signal for presentation to the listener. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

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: A device for providing vestibular and somatosensory stimulation through bone conduction of sound waves to skeletal bones is provided in the form of a pad that is applied to or wrapped around the individual in treatment, which is comfortable in use and may contain particulate filler material capable of providing bone conduction stimulation adjacent to the location of a bone conduction transducer and expand the sound conduction site over a larger area. The device may be located beneath a pillow or mattress.

Abstract: Method and electronic circuit for determining a scaling factor k for a driving force function of a model of an electrodynamic acoustic transducer having at least two voice coils. Input signal fed into the transducer and it's model cause electromotive forces. A shift for the driving force function is determined on the base of the ratios between the real electromotive forces and the modeled electromotive forces. Finally, the scaling factor k is determined on the basis of a deviation between the real electromotive forces and the modeled electromotive forces at time points where the real electromotive forces and the modeled electromotive forces each are equal. The invention moreover relates to an electronic circuit for performing the above steps, and to a transducer system with the electronic circuit and a connected transducer.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a dynamic audio environment within a vehicle that includes receiving data associated with at least one audio stream that is being played through an audio system of the vehicle. The system and method also include determining a selected vehicle mode of the vehicle. The system and method additionally include selecting at least one audio effect that is associated with the selected vehicle mode of the vehicle to alter the at least one audio stream. The system and method further include controlling at least one audio source of the vehicle to provide the at least one audio stream according to the at least one audio effect.

Abstract: A content reproducing electronic apparatus includes a communicator including circuitry, an audio output device, and a processor configured to receive state information indicating a state of an external electronic apparatus from the external electronic apparatus located around the electronic apparatus via the communicator, obtain noise information corresponding to the received state information, and control the audio output device to output an audio signal of a content based on a volume corresponding to the obtained noise information.