Abstract: A hearing protection system is provided. The hearing protection system has a first active hearing protection system. The first active hearing protection system is level-dependent. The hearing protection system also has a second active hearing protection system. The second active hearing protection system is level-dependent. Each of the first and second active hearing protection systems are configured to operate in an independent mode and a dual-protection mode. A dual-protection mode level dependent function of the second active hearing protection system is different than an independent mode level dependent function.

Abstract: A system includes an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) including a functionality that is selectively configurable using a subscription service. The system further includes a first computing device including a first processor and a second computing device including a second processor. The first processor generates a subscription message including a request to enable the functionality of the article of PPE in response to determining a selection of the functionality. The second processor determines if credentials corresponding to the article of PPE and/or a user associated with the article of PPE are preregistered with the subscription service. The second processor determines a subscription status of the article of PPE corresponding to the functionality. The second processor transmits a configuration message based on the subscription status and preregistration with the subscription service.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a short-range communication device (10, 10?, 5 10?) for a personal protective equipment or a personal protective device (200, 210, 220, 230) comprising a transmission unit (20, 20?, 20?) for wirelessly transmitting a voice signal of a user (100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160) to a receiving unit (40,40?, 40?) over a predetermined distance such that a communication channel is established between the transmission unit (20, 20?, 20?) and the receiving unit (40, 40?, 40?) so that a user (100, 10 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160) can hear the voice signal. The present disclosure further relates to a short-range communication system comprising at least two short-range communication devices (10, 10?, 10?) according to the present disclosure and to a method of establishing a short-range communication between such devices (10, 10?, 10?).

Abstract: Hearing protection device (10, 10?, 10?) with an indication unit (40a, 40b) and a detection unit (30, 30?, 30?) to send a first detection signal, to assign a distance value based on a second detection signal of an external device (50, 50) representing the physical distance to the external device (50, 50) and to control the indication unit (40a, 40b) to provide an indication to the user (100) if the assigned distance value is at or below a predetermined threshold distance value. Thus, a collision may easily and reliably be prevented by providing an indication to the user (100), so that the risk of missing relevant sound of a moving person or object is overcome. A collision warning system comprising such a hearing protection device (10, 10?, 10?) and an external device is also provided. Furthermore, a method of retrofitting a hearing protection device (10??) with such a detection unit (30, 30?, 30?) is provided.

Abstract: A hearing protection system is provided. The hearing protection system has a first active hearing protection system. The first active hearing protection system is level-dependent. The hearing protection system also has a second active hearing protection system. The second active hearing protection system is level-dependent. Each of the first and second active hearing protection systems are configured to operate in an independent mode and a dual-protection mode. A dual-protection mode level dependent function of the second active hearing protection system is different than an independent mode level dependent function.

Abstract: A voice-activated encoding method includes determining a voice power parameter based on a frequency domain representation of a voice signal from a voice microphone. The method includes determining an ambient power parameter based on a frequency domain representation of at least one ambient signal from at least one ambient microphone spaced from the voice microphone. The method also includes enabling encoding of an audio signal based on the voice signal in response to comparing the power parameters and a threshold value. A headset including a controller may use the method to determine whether to enable or disable encoding, transmission, or both of an audio signal to another device.

Abstract: A voice-activated encoding method includes determining a voice power parameter based on a frequency domain representation of a voice signal from a voice microphone. The method includes determining an ambient power parameter based on a frequency domain representation of at least one ambient signal from at least one ambient microphone spaced from the voice microphone. The method also includes enabling encoding of an audio signal based on the voice signal in response to comparing the power parameters and a threshold value. A headset including a controller may use the method to determine whether to enable or disable encoding, transmission, or both of an audio signal to another device.

Abstract: Sound capture and reproduction devices that can be mounted on hearing protective headsets, and are capable of using multiple microphones to determine the origins of one or more acoustic signals relative to the devices orientation, as well as methods of acquiring the origins of a combination of one or more acoustic signals from at least two microphones are described.