Abstract: A headset includes a speaker, such as a side firing dipole speaker. The headset includes a front chamber that receives sound waves from a first side of the speaker and a rear chamber that receives sound waves from a second side of the speaker. A control leak channel connects the front chamber and the rear chamber. An acoustic mesh may be located within the control leak channel. The speaker configuration is configured to reduce total harmonic distortion of the speaker, particularly in ranges such as 3-6 kHz, while maintaining the broadband efficiency of the speaker.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for directing sound through a parametric speaker in connection with interpreting/translating messages in an open forum such that communications may be delivered and understood without the use of headphones. The directed sound may also be directed in connection with detecting auditory areas and targeting sound at the auditory regions of a subject.

Abstract: An audio accessory having a locally stored and executed policy. The policy includes a rule related to audio output generation. The audio accessory can be a peripheral audio accessory, and the policy can be stored on the peripheral audio accessory so that the policy can be applied to communications from any source.

Abstract: Content rules engines for playback devices are disclosed herein. A media playback system receives a first command to form a synchrony group comprising a plurality of playback devices. The system receives a second command for the synchrony group to play back first audio content. In response to the second command, the first audio content is played back via the synchrony group. The system receives (i) second audio content to be played back by one or more of the playback devices of the synchrony group and (ii) content source properties associated with an audio source of the second audio content. The system accesses a rules engine to determine playback restrictions based at least in part on the content source properties. Based at least in part on the playback restrictions, operation of one or more of the playback devices is restricted.

Abstract: Systems for magnetoacoustically transferring sound across an acoustic barrier include first and second acoustic resonators positioned on opposite sides of the barrier. Each of the first and second resonators includes an attached magnet. Via magnetic coupling between the magnets, an acoustic oscillation at the first resonator induces an oscillation of the same frequency at the second resonator. Thus sound waves absorbed at the first resonator are magnetically transferred across the barrier to the second resonator, from which they are emitted.

Abstract: A multifunctional earphone system for sports activities is described which comprises the following: a first apparatus configured to be carried in one of a user's ears, the first apparatus comprising a first data communication unit and a first loudspeaker, and a second apparatus configured to be carried in the user's other ear, the second apparatus comprising a second data communication unit and a second loudspeaker, wherein at least one of the first apparatus and the second apparatus comprises a sensor unit and a data processing unit, wherein the data processing unit is configured to generate performance data based on measurement data acquired by the sensor unit, wherein the first apparatus further comprises a signal processing unit configured to generate a binaural audio signal based on the performance data, the binaural audio signal comprising a first signal part to be output by the first loudspeaker and a second signal part to be output by the second loudspeaker, and wherein the first data communication un

Abstract: A microphone head device includes a base unit, a microphone head unit and a connecting rod unit. The microphone head unit is disposed on the base unit, and includes a microphone head seat and a dynamic subunit mounted on the microphone head seat. The dynamic subunit includes a mounting seat, a first magnetic member disposed on the mounting seat, a coil surrounding the first magnetic member, and a vibrating plate disposed over the first magnetic member and connected to the coil. The connecting rod unit extends in an up-down direction through the first magnetic member, the mounting seat and the microphone head seat such that the first magnetic member, the mounting seat and the microphone head set are separably secured.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method, computer system, and computer program product for allowing selective sounds within a noise cancellation headset. The embodiment may include receiving a sound from a noise-filled environment. A source of the sound is a machine within the noise-filled environment. The embodiment may include determining that the sound is indicative of a problem within the noise-filled environment. The embodiment may include identifying a severity of the problem. The embodiment may include identifying a user within a boundary range of the problem. The boundary range is based, in part, on the severity of the problem. The user is wearing a noise cancellation headset which is actively cancelling sounds of the noise-filled environment. The embodiment may include allowing the sound to be heard within the noise cancellation headsets of the identified user.

Abstract: Hearing instruments, such as hearing aids, may improve a quality of presented audio through the use of a binaural application, such as beamforming. The binaural application may require communication between the hearing instruments so that audio from a left hearing instrument may be combined with audio from a right hearing instrument. The combining at a hearing instrument can require synchronizing audio sampled locally with sampled audio received from wireless communication. This synchronization may cause a noticeable delay of an output of the binaural application if the latency of the wireless communication is not low (e.g., a few samples of delay). Presented herein is a low-latency communication protocol that communicates packets on a sample-by-sample basis and that compensates for delays caused by overhead protocol data transmitted with the audio data.

Abstract: A loudspeaker unit for producing sound at bass frequencies an array of two or more diaphragms. The first radiating surface and the second radiating surface are located on opposite faces of the diaphragm, and one or more of the diaphragms are included in a first subset of the diaphragms and one or more of the diaphragms are included in a second subset of the diaphragms; a plurality of drive units.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to an ultrasonic microphone and an ultrasonic acoustic radio. In one aspect a system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The receiver comprises a membrane. The membrane comprises a single layer or multiple layers of a two-dimensional material. The receiver is operable to receive sound waves in a frequency range, with the frequency range being the ultrasonic frequency range.

Abstract: Robust microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors and related manufacturing techniques are described. Disclosed MEMS membranes and backplate structures facilitate manufacturing robust MEMS microphones. Exemplary MEMS membranes and backplate structures can comprise edge pattern holes having a length to width ratio greater than one and/or configured in a radial arrangement. Disclosed implementations can facilitate providing robust MEMS membranes and backplate structures, having edge pattern holes with a profile resembling at least one of an oval, an egg, an ellipse, a droplet, a cone, or a capsule or similar suitable configurations according to disclosed embodiments.

Abstract: The present document relates to audio coding systems. In particular, the present document relates to efficient methods and systems for parametric multi-channel audio coding. An audio encoding system configured to generate a bitstream indicative of a downmix signal and spatial metadata for generating a multi-channel upmix signal from the downmix signal is described. The system comprises a downmix processing unit configured to generate the downmix signal from a multi-channel input signal; wherein the downmix signal comprises m channels and wherein the multi-channel input signal comprises n channels; n, m being integers with m<n. Furthermore, the system comprises a parameter processing unit configured to determine the spatial metadata from the multi-channel input signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to digital microphone and other sensor assemblies including a transduction element and a successive-approximation (SA) quantizer configured to reuse a digital code generated for a prior sample period for a current sample period when a reuse condition is satisfied. The SA quantizer does not regenerate a new digital code for the current sample period when the digital code generated for the prior sample period is used thereby reducing power consumption.

Abstract: For example, an apparatus for Active Acoustic Control (AAC) of an open acoustic headphone may include an input to receive input information including a residual-noise input including residual-noise information corresponding to a residual noise sensor of the open acoustic headphone, and a noise input including noise information corresponding to a noise sensor of the open acoustic headphone; a controller configured to determine a sound control pattern configured for AAC of the open acoustic headphone, the controller configured to identify a mounting-based parameter of the open acoustic headphone based on the input information, and to determine the sound control pattern based on the mounting-based parameter, the residual-noise input, and the noise input; and an output to output the sound control pattern to an acoustic transducer of the open acoustic headphone.

Abstract: Provided is a sound collecting device in which sound is favorably input to a sound collecting unit. The sound collecting device includes an attachment portion that has a sound collecting unit attached and is adapted to be inserted into an external ear canal, a holding portion adapted to be inserted into the external ear canal and hold the attachment portion at a predetermined position in the external ear canal, and a wearing portion that is positioned on an opposite side of the attachment portion while interposing the holding portion and adapted to be at least partly engaged with an auricle, in which the attachment portion and the holding portion do not block the external ear canal and have acoustic transparency. Further, the attachment portion and the holding portion are positioned in the ear in a state of not blocking the external ear canal.

Abstract: A method for hybrid noise suppression involves receiving a first processed audio signal and a second processed audio signal from an audio device. The first processed audio signal results from a comprehensive audio processing including a noise spectrum estimate-based noise suppression performed on a noisy audio input signal obtained by the audio device. The second processed signal results from a partial audio processing excluding the noise spectrum estimate-based noise suppression performed on the noisy audio input signal. The method further involves temporally aligning the second processed audio signal with the first processed audio signal, predicting a noise suppression parameter using a neural network model operating on the second processed audio signal after the temporal alignment, generating a noise-suppressed audio output signal from the first processed audio signal after the temporal alignment using the noise suppression parameter, and outputting the noise-suppressed audio output signal.

Abstract: A device may include a housing, a transducer coupled to the housing for reproducing an audio signal including both a source audio signal for playback to a listener and an anti-noise signal for countering the effects of ambient audio sounds in an acoustic output of the transducer, an error microphone coupled to the housing in proximity to the transducer for providing an error microphone signal indicative of the acoustic output of the transducer and the ambient audio sounds at the transducer, and a processing circuit.

Abstract: In non-limiting examples of the present disclosure, an electrical receptacle is provided. A first transmission tab configured to be electrically connected to a neutral terminal of the electrical receptacle is provided. A second transmission tab configured to be electrically connected to a live terminal of the electrical is provided. A speaker device in electrical communication with the first and second transmission tabs and a speaker grille cover secured to the receptacle cover are also provided. Other examples of the present disclosure relate to systems, methods and devices for influencing resonant modes of one or more vibrating surface, including a mode throttling device and an exciter device.

Abstract: The described implementations of a head-mounted speaker array apparatus (“HMSAA”) include speaker arrays having one or more speakers that, when the HMSAA is worn on the head of a listener, are positioned forward of the pinna of each ear of the listener. For example, the HMSAA may include a first speaker array that is coupled to a frame that, when worn by a listener, positions the first speaker array forward of a first pinna of a first ear of the listener. A second speaker array may also be coupled to the frame at a position that, when the frame is worn by the listener, the second speaker array is positioned forward of a second pinna of the second ear of the listener.