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: 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 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: 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.

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: Provided a robot for assisting hearing of a user, while minimizing an influence on the surroundings. The robot includes a speaker, a microphone configured to recognize a voice, a processor configured to acquire a position of a user's face when a hearing aid command is acquired on the basis of the voice recognized through the microphone, and a driving unit configured to cause the speaker to be moved toward the position of the user's face, wherein the processor acquires a sound which is a target of hearing aid, generates an assistant sound by amplifying a predetermined frequency band of the sound or converting the predetermined frequency band of the sound into a different frequency band, and outputs the assistant sound through the speaker.

Abstract: Exemplary noise reducing methods and systems are configured to acoustically reproduce two electrical noise reducing signals at two opposing positions in a helmet; to pick up sound at positions in the vicinity of the positions where the noise reducing signals are reproduced; and to generate the two noise reducing signals from error-signals and reference-signals. For each noise reducing signal, the corresponding error-signal is generated from the sound picked-up at the same position where the respective noise reducing signal is reproduced; and the reference-signal is generated from the sound picked-up at the position where the respective other noise reducing signal is reproduced.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for recording high output power levels of sound at low sound pressure levels. For example, an apparatus comprises an enclosure, a speaker disposed within the enclosure, a microphone disposed within the enclosure, and an evacuation port. The evacuation port is configured to connect to a system that reduces a pressure level within the enclosure to a level that is less than an ambient air pressure level outside the enclosure. The enclosure is sealed or otherwise configured to provide a sealed enclosure, to maintain the reduced air pressure within the enclosure. The speaker can be driven by an amplifier at high output power levels to generate a distorted sound of an amplified electric musical instrument for recording purposes, while the reduced pressure level within the enclosure serves to attenuate the sound pressure level and perceived loudness which emanates from the speaker.

Abstract: A media system and a method of using the media system to accommodate hearing loss of a user, are described. The method includes selecting a personal level-and-frequency dependent audio filter that corresponds to a hearing loss profile of the user. The personal level-and-frequency dependent audio filter can be one of several level-and-frequency-dependent audio filters having respective average gain levels and respective gain contours. An accommodative audio output signal can be generated by applying the personal level-and-frequency dependent audio filter to an audio input signal to enhance the audio input signal based on an input level and an input frequency of the audio input signal. The audio output signal can be played by an audio output device to deliver speech or music that the user perceives clearly, despite the hearing loss of the user. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A first digital signal processor (DSP) associated with a first user outputs audio to the first user via first headphones, and captures speech from the first user via a first microphone. Similarly, a second DSP associated with a second user outputs audio to the second user via second headphones, and captures speech from the second user via a second microphone. The first DSP is coupled to the second DSP in order to allow the first and second users to share music and communicate with one another. The first user may speak into the first microphone, and the first and second DSPs may then interoperate to output that speech to the second user without substantially disrupting audio output to the second user. Each of the first and second users may also select between first and second audio sources that may be coupled to the first and second DSPs, respectively.

Abstract: In an example implementation, a self-cooling headset includes an ear cup to form an ear enclosure volume and a control volume. The headset also includes an intake valve to open and admit air from the ear enclosure volume into the control volume when a negative pressure is generated within the control volume, and an exhaust valve to open and release air from the control volume into the ambient environment when a positive pressure is generated within the control volume.

Abstract: Adaptive filters output a cancellation sound from a speaker, a selector selects outputs of a plurality of auxiliary filters each corresponding to different positions, a subtractor subtracts the selected output from the output of the microphone and outputs the subtracted output to the adaptive filter as an error signal, and a position detection device detects a position of a head of a user. A transfer function estimated so that the error signal becomes 0 when noise is canceled at the corresponding position is preset in the auxiliary filter. When the auxiliary filter corresponding to the position close to the head of the user changes, the switching control unit stepwise increases the frequency with which the output of the auxiliary filter is selected by the selector to 100%.

Abstract: Disclosed are hearing protection devices and housings for noise sensors for the same. Hearing protection devices can include an ear cup including an external casing partially defining an inner space, a noise sensor including a microphone electrically coupled to a printed circuit board, and a housing disposed in an aperture defined in the external casing. The housing can define an axial bore defining a noise sensor receiving portion and an acoustic communication portion. The inner space of the ear cup can be substantially airtight when the housing is sealably disposed at or proximate the aperture, the microphone is engaged within the noise sensor receiving portion of the housing, and the ear cup is worn securely about the wearer's ear. The noise sensor can be calibrated by removing a removable securing collar and slidably disposing a calibration tool into the axial bore without further disassembling the hearing protection device.

Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to a system for reducing wind noise. A system includes one or more processors coupled to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to obtain signals respectively generated from two or more microphones during a time period, the signals representing acoustic energy detected by the two or more microphones during the time period, determine a coherence between the signals, and determine a filter based on the coherence. The filter is configured to reduce wind noise in one or more of the signals.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a microphone apparatus for attachment to an exterior portion of a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a microphone element, a cover, and a grille cover. The microphone element is positioned on the PCB. The cover extends over the printed circuit board and defines a first opening to enable ambient sound external to the vehicle to be transmitted to the microphone element. The grille cover is positioned on the exterior portion of the vehicle defining a plurality of openings for directly receiving the ambient sound and for transmitting the ambient sound to the first opening of the cover and to the microphone element.