Abstract: A method performed by a portable playback device comprises receiving, via the portable playback device, a power activation indication. In response to receiving the power activation indication, power is supplied to at least one exterior visual indicator disposed on an outward-facing portion of an earcup of the portable playback device via a first power supply path of the portable playback device. A microphone activation indication associated with at least one microphone of the portable playback device is received. In response to receiving the microphone activation indication, microphone circuitry associated with the at least one microphone activated. An interior visual indicator disposed within a user-facing surface of the earcup of the portable playback device is illuminated. The interior visual indicator is positioned such that when the portable playback device is worn by a user, a state of the microphone status visual indicator is concealed.

Abstract: Volume leveler controller and controlling method are disclosed. In one embodiment, A volume leveler controller includes an audio content classifier for identifying the content type of an audio signal in real time; and an adjusting unit for adjusting a volume leveler in a continuous manner based on the content type as identified. The adjusting unit may configured to positively correlate the dynamic gain of the volume leveler with informative content types of the audio signal, and negatively correlate the dynamic gain of the volume leveler with interfering content types of the audio signal.

Abstract: Disclosed by the present application are an earphone and a worn detection device thereof. The detection device comprises a sensing panel used for forming a battery encapsulated metal shell, a detection chip connected to an input end and the sensing panel and a control chip connected to an output end of the detection chip; a battery is arranged in an earphone handle of the earphone; the detection chip is used for detecting a sensing signal of the sensing panel and determining a wearing state of the earphone according to the sensing signal; and the control chip is used to adjust the working state of the earphone according to the wearing state. When a user wears the earphone, the earphone handle of the earphone contacts the skin of the user, a capacitance effect is formed between the sensing panel and the skin of the user, and a sensing signal is generated.

Abstract: This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that include earpad assemblies that improve acoustic isolation are discussed. User convenience features that include automatically detecting the orientation of the headphones on a user's head are also discussed. Various power-saving features, design features, sensor configurations and user comfort features are also discussed.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques that include aligning processing of audio samples collected by multiple audio sensors or microphones. In one example, this disclosure describes a method comprising detecting a transition by the second microphone from a disabled state to an enabled state; after detecting the transition, performing phase alignment between audio samples collected by the first microphone and audio samples collected by the second microphone by introducing a delay in starting processing of the audio samples collected by the second microphone; and processing the phase-aligned audio samples.

Abstract: An audio device includes one or more earcups, at least one of the earcups including a boom connector port, a connection detector connected to the boom connector port and configured to detect a connection state at the boom connector port, one or more first microphones positioned in the one or more earcups, audio processing circuitry, and a microphone switch controller connected to the connection detector and configured to connect audio processing circuitry to one of the one or more first microphones or the boom connector port based on the detected connection state of the boom connector port.

Abstract: Systems and processes for user identification using headphones associated with a first device are provided. For example, first movement information corresponding to movement of a second electronic device is detected. Second movement information corresponding to movement of a third electronic device is detected. A similarity score is determined based on the first movement information and the second movement information. In accordance with a determination that the similarity score is above a threshold similarity score, a user is identified as an authorized user of the first electronic device and the second electronic device. Based on the identification, an output is provided to the second electronic device.

Abstract: A method of determining an audio controller for a headphone that is configured to use an acoustic transducer to develop sound that is delivered to an ear of a user and that includes a feedback microphone that is configured to sense sound developed by the acoustic transducer, and a related computer program product and system. A first audio transfer function between the acoustic transducer and the feedback microphone is measured. A second audio transfer function between the acoustic transducer and the feedback microphone with a feedback controller applied is determined. The audio controller is calculated based on both the first audio transfer function and the second audio transfer function.

Abstract: A personal audio device (e.g., headphones, earphones) can have an earpiece (e.g., an ear cup or earbud) with a removable cushioning member (e.g., headphone cushions or ear tips for earbuds). The cushioning member can include an identification tag that encodes identification data for the cushioning member. When the cushioning member is attached to the earpiece, the identification tag is brought into proximity with a tag sensor in the earpiece and the earpiece can read the identification tag to determine identification data for the cushioning member. The identification data can be used to modify a behavior of the earpiece and/or of a host device communicably coupled to the earpiece.

Abstract: Smart buzzer systems for apartment buildings, where an intercom station in an apartment unit notifies the user of a request from a guest to unlock the building's door, sends the user's approval of the request to the door, and enables the user and the guest to talk to each other, are disclosed. The smart buzzer systems are enhanced with connectivity with mobile devices and mobile applications as well as automation. The intercom station includes an audio input-output circuit configured to process audio signals, which includes a line input buffer configured to process audio signals from a legacy base microphone through a wiring interface for a legacy intercom system to a processor and a line output driver configured to process audio signals from the processor to the legacy base speaker through the wiring interface for the legacy intercom system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for configuring communication at a premises are described. A network device at a premises may be configured to use a first communication mode and a second communication mode. The network device may receive data from a device located at the premises. The network device may transmit the data using the first communication mode or the second communication mode based on configuration data, which may be received from a computing device located external to the premises.

Abstract: A method for reducing noise includes: obtaining an air conduction noise reduction parameter and a bone conduction noise reduction parameter, the air conduction noise reduction parameter being obtained by integrating an air conduction parameter of the current frame and an air conduction noise parameter of the current frame, and the bone conduction noise reduction parameter being obtained by integrating a bone conduction parameter of the current frame and a bone conduction noise parameter of the current frame; calculating a priori signal-to-noise ratio of air-bone integration according to the bone conduction parameter of the current frame and the air conduction noise parameter of the current frame; and performing noise reduction operation according to the priori signal-to-noise ratio of air-bone integration, the air conduction noise reduction parameter and the bone conduction noise reduction parameter.

Abstract: A method and system for daisy chaining tournament audio controllers, where the method comprises, in a headset coupled to a first audio controller, the first audio controller being in a daisy chain of audio controllers: receiving a chat signal from a second audio controller in the daisy chain of audio controllers, receiving a microphone signal from a microphone in the headset, summing the chat signal with the microphone signal, communicating the summed signal to a third audio controllers in the daisy chain, and communicating the chat signal to the headset. The microphone signal may be removed from the summed chat signal and microphone signal by adding a second microphone signal 180 degrees out of phase with the microphone signal. The chat signal may be summed with the microphone signal at an amplitude set by a user of the headset after the removal of the microphone signal.

Abstract: Improved tools for authoring and rendering audio reproduction data are provided. Some such authoring tools allow audio reproduction data to be generalized for a wide variety of reproduction environments. Audio reproduction data may be authored by creating metadata for audio objects. The metadata may be created with reference to speaker zones. During the rendering process, the audio reproduction data may be reproduced according to the reproduction speaker layout of a particular reproduction environment.

Abstract: An ear-mountable listening device includes an array of microphones physically arranged into a ring pattern to capture sounds from an environment and output first audio signals that are representative of the sounds captured by the microphones. A speaker is arranged to emit audio into an ear in response to a second audio signal. Electronics are coupled to the array of microphones and the speaker and configured to capture the sounds with the array of microphones to generate the first audio signals and generate the second audio signal that drives the speaker based upon one or more of the first audio signals.

Abstract: An example method of operation may include initializing a microphone array in a defined space to receive one or more sound instances based on a preliminary beamform tracking configuration, detecting the one or more sound instances within the defined space via the microphone array, modifying the preliminary beamform tracking configuration, based on a location of the one or more sound instances, to create a modified beamform tracking configuration, and saving the modified beamform tracking configuration in a memory of a microphone array controller.

Abstract: A system, device and method for assessing a fit quality of an earpiece while in use in a noisy environment. The earpiece having an external microphone for capturing an outer-ear audio signal and an internal microphone for capturing an inner-ear audio signal. The fit quality being assessed by estimating a filter according to the captured inner-ear and outer-ear audio signals, and determining a fit quality according to identified coefficients of the estimated filter. A system, device and method for assessing a seal quality of an earpiece while in use in a quiet environment. The earpiece having a loudspeaker for emitting a sound stimulus towards the ear canal and an internal microphone for capturing an audio signal inside the ear canal. The seal quality being assessed by estimating a transfer function according the emitted and captured sound stimulus, and determining at least one seal-quality indicator according to a signal magnitude of the transfer function.

Abstract: A headphone and an electronic device are provided. The headphone includes a gyroscope, which senses a bone conduction vibration and provides a quadrature error signal for reflecting the bone conduction vibration. Specifically, the headphone includes a transmission assembly that acts directly or indirectly on the gyroscope or an inertial measurement unit (IMU) including the gyroscope. The transmission assembly transmits the bone conduction vibration to the gyroscope to make the gyroscope strain, thereby causing the quadrature error signal of the gyroscope to change to detect the bone conduction vibration with sensitivity.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and device for synchronously playing audio are provided. The method includes: acquiring status information of a Bluetooth controller in the first audio playing device and Bluetooth time from the Bluetooth controller, and determining native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device based on the status information and the Bluetooth time acquired from the Bluetooth controller; estimating, based on the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device and offset time of the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device relative to native Bluetooth time of a second audio playing device or native Bluetooth time of an audio providing device, absolute time of the second audio playing device or absolute time of the audio providing device; and playing an audio signal provided by the audio providing device synchronously with the second audio playing device based on the estimated absolute time.

Abstract: A computing system includes an interface configured to interface and communicate with an external media resource, a memory that stores operational instructions and a processing module operably coupled to the interface and to the memory, such that the processing module, when operable within the computing system based on the operational instructions, is configured to is configured to perform various operations. The computing system receives an audio fingerprint from the external medial resource, compares the received audio fingerprint with a stored audio fingerprint and in response to determining that a portion of a stored audio fingerprint substantially matches a portion of the received audio fingerprint, compares a first set of consecutive portions of of the received audio fingerprint to each of a plurality of consecutive portions of the stored audio fingerprint to generate corresponding match scores.