Abstract: A MEMS device includes a backplate electrode and a membrane disposed spaced apart from the backplate electrode. The membrane includes a displaceable portion and a fixed portion. The backplate electrode and the membrane are arranged such that an overlapping area of the fixed portion of the membrane with the backplate electrode is less than maximum overlapping.

Abstract: A user interface for a head-mounted wearable device provides many functions to a user. Information about whether the device is being worn (donned) or not worn (doffed) may be acquired in several ways. Force sensing resistors in the device may provide output indicative of the pressure associated with wearing the device. Output from a bone conduction (BC) microphone may be analyzed to determine if the device is in use. Piezoelectric BC speakers typically used to present audio output to a wearer provide changes in voltage corresponding to a change in pressure associated with wearing the device. A BC speaker may emit a signal that is detected by the BC microphone, with changes in the signal strength being used to determine if the device is donned or doffed.

Abstract: The amount of far-field noise transmitted by a primary communication device in an open-plan office environment is reduced by defining an acoustic perimeter of reference microphones around the primary device. Reference microphones generate a reference audio input including far-field noise in the proximity of the primary device. The primary device generates a main audio input including the voice of the primary speaker as well as background noise. Reference audio input is compared to main audio input to identify the background noise portion of the main audio signal. A noise reduction algorithm suppresses the identified background noise in the main audio signal. The one or more reference microphones defining the acoustic perimeter may be included in separate microphone devices placed in proximity to the main desktop phone, microphones within other nearby desktop telephone devices, or a combination of both types of devices.

Abstract: A volume and speech frequency level adjustment method, system, and computer program product include learning a characteristic of at least one of audio volume and speech frequency from a conversation, detecting a contextual characteristic of an ongoing conversation and an interaction of a user with a device, determining a cognitive state of the user in relation to the ongoing conversation as a function of at least one of the contextual characteristic of the volume or the speech frequency, and a user interaction pattern with a conversation device, and dynamically adjusting audio levels of the ongoing conversation for the user based on the function.

Abstract: A method includes receiving sound by a first audio unit installed in an electrical outlet, routing audio data corresponding to the received sound from the first audio unit to a second audio unit installed in a second electrical outlet, and sending the audio data to a mobile device using a wireless link between the mobile device and the second audio unit. Routing the audio data may include receiving the audio data from the first audio unit by a third audio unit and routing the audio data to the second audio unit by the third audio unit serving as a router. The data may be routed using table driven routing, on-demand routing or some other appropriate routing protocol. The method may also include performing voice recognition on the audio data and detecting a command word and routing command word data to the second audio unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods of presenting an output audio signal to a listener located at a first location in a virtual environment are disclosed. According to embodiments of a method, an input audio signal is received. For each sound source of a plurality of sound sources in the virtual environment, a respective first intermediate audio signal corresponding to the input audio signal is determined, based on a location of the respective sound source in the virtual environment, and the respective first intermediate audio signal is associated with a first bus. For each of the sound sources of the plurality of sound sources in the virtual environment, a respective second intermediate audio signal is determined. The respective second intermediate audio signal corresponds to a reverberation of the input audio signal in the virtual environment.

Abstract: A method for transmission path noise control using an audio headset and a sending device comprises generating microphone signals by a first and a second microphone of the headset based on detected sound including desired audio information and noise. An encoded signal is generated on a first line of a data cable by means of the headset by encoding input signals depending on the microphone signals. The method comprises transmitting the encoded signal from the headset to the sending device via the first, reconstructing the input signals by decoding the encoded signal by the sending device, generating by the sending device a clean signal by applying a first noise control algorithm to the reconstructed first and second input signal and sending a signal depending on the clean signal to a communication network.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a piezoelectric transducer may include interleaving a plurality of layers of piezoelectric material with a plurality of conductive layers including a first conductive layer, one or more second conductive layers, and one or more third conductive layers, coupling the first conductive layer to a first electrode, wherein an electrical impedance of the first conductive layer varies as a function of a temperature internal to the piezoelectric transducer, and such that a measurement signal indicative of the electrical impedance is generated at the first electrode, coupling the one or more second conductive layers to a second electrode, and coupling the one or more third conductive layers to a third electrode, such that an electrical driving signal driven to the second electrode and the third electrode causes mechanical vibration of the piezoelectric transducer as a function of the electrical driving signal.

Abstract: The contained Pass And Limit Modulator removes approximately 50% common or in phase information from two inputs as compared to summing both inputs. This output can be used in a whole building music system or in a mono amplitude modulated radio transmission down-mixed from stereo audio content. The center channel (dialogue) is lowered 50% as not to overpower the music. With the Active Channel Crossover System the center channel is further processed and mixed to obtain multiple output channels. Interactive left and right channel frequency decomposition of a stereo signal is performed for optimum reproduction of a down converted front center channel. This way channel removal speed is respective to the frequencies removed. Further processing reduces the interactive left and right channel frequency decomposed content within the center channel output. As a result, the down-mixed front center channel is reproduced more closely as intended to be heard in its original stereo form.

Abstract: A microphone array is disclosed. In an embodiment a microphone array includes a power supply circuit arrangement, at least one microphone circuit and a voltage detector. The power supply arrangement includes a switched-mode power supply circuit configured to generate at least two different levels of output voltage. The at least one microphone circuit includes a microphone transducer, and audio amplifier, a switchable voltage regulator circuit supplying the amplifier. The voltage detector is configured to switch the output voltage of the voltage regulator circuit depending on the voltage supplied by the switched-mode power supply circuit.

Abstract: Active noise cancellation (ANC) systems and methods include a reference sensor to sense external noise and generate a reference signal, an error sensor to sense noise in a noise cancellation zone and generate an error signal, a feedforward ANC subsystem to receive the reference and error signals and generate a first anti-noise signal to cancel external noise in a noise cancellation zone, a feedback ANC subsystem to receive the error signal and generate a second anti-noise signal to cancel the external noise in the cancellation zone, a wind detector to detect whether wind noise is present in the reference signal and output a wind noise detection status, and wind handler to control adaptation processing of the feedforward ANC subsystem and the feedback ANC subsystem in accordance with the wind noise detection status and mixing of the first and second anti-noise signals to generate an output anti-noise signal.

Abstract: A method provides binaural sound to a person through electronic earphones. The binaural sound localizes to a sound localization point (SLP) in empty space that is away from but proximate to the person. When an event occurs, the binaural sound switches or changes to stereo sound, to mono sound, or to altered binaural sound.

Abstract: The disclosure presents a method and a hearing device comprising a first portion adapted for being arranged behind an ear of a user for providing a signal, an output transducer for converting the signal to an acoustic output, a coupling element coupled to the first portion, and wherein the coupling element is adapted for transmitting at least the signal or the acoustic output.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for audio amplification devices are provided herein. In certain configurations, an audio amplification device includes a device body, at least one speaker, an electrical system housed in the device body, and one or more light elements integrated into the device body. The electrical system is configured to control an output of sound to the at least one speaker. Additionally, the electrical system controls the one or more light elements, such as by controlling light intensity, flashing rate, and/or color, to thereby enhance safety to the user.

Abstract: A method of encoding sound objects includes receiving a set of monophonic sound inputs. Each of the set of monophonic sound inputs includes position and orientation information of a sound object relative to a source position. The set of monophonic sound inputs are encoded into a higher order ambisonic (HOA) sound field in a spherical harmonics domain based on a spherical harmonics dataset including a subset of all spherical harmonic coefficients for a given subset of azimuth and elevation angles. Some embodiments include decoding the HOA sound field to generate a set of loudspeaker signals.

Abstract: A microphone assembly for an external surface of a vehicle comprises a microphone housing, a microphone assembly, and a wind break member. The microphone housing comprises a housing support. The microphone is disposed in the microphone housing. The wind break member has a base and a wind break portion. The base of the wind break member comprises a floor surface, a leading edge, and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge. The wind break portion of the wind break member is disposed proximate the leading edge of the base. The microphone housing is disposed on the base of the wind break member proximate the wind break portion. The wind break portion comprises a top surface that forms a first angle relative to the base of the wind break member. The top surface has one of a concave shape, a convex shape, and a compound concave and convex shape.

Abstract: A system can include a headset and a host device for use in a soundscape environment in which audio tracks are played. Logic in communication with an audio driver on the headset causes an audio sample to be played, and coordinated with the soundscape audio track being played in the soundscape environment. Memory can store one or more audio samples having audio content coordinated with corresponding one or more audio tracks of the soundscape environment. A Don/Doff sensor generates a Don signal indicating that an individual has put on the headset.

Abstract: A method provides binaural sound to a person through electronic earphones. The binaural sound localizes to a sound localization point (SLP) in empty space that is away from but proximate to the person. When an event occurs, the binaural sound switches or changes to stereo sound, to mono sound, or to altered binaural sound.

Abstract: A volume and speech frequency level adjustment method, system, and computer program product include learning a preferred level and a characteristic of at least one of volume and speech frequency from a historical conference conversation, detecting a context characteristic of an ongoing conversation and an interaction of a user with a device, determining a cognitive state and a contextual situation of the user in relation to the ongoing conversation as a function of at least one of the context characteristic, a preferred level and a characteristic of the volume or the speech frequency, and the interaction, determining at least one factor to trigger an audio level modulation based on the function, and dynamically adjusting audio levels of the ongoing conversation for the user based on the at least one factor.

Abstract: A system for monitoring dietary activity of a user includes a wearable device having at least one audio input unit configured to record an audio sample corresponding to audio from a user's neck. The system further includes a processor configured to execute programmed instructions stored in a memory to obtain an audio sample from the audio input unit of a wearable device, determine segmental feature values of a set of selected features from the audio sample by extracting short-term features in the set of selected features from the audio sample and determining the segmental feature values of the set of selected features from the extracted short-term features. The processor is further configured to, using a classifier, classify a dietary activity based on the determined segmental feature values of the audio sample and generate an output corresponding to the classified dietary activity.