Abstract: A close-talk detector detects a near-end user's speech signal, while an adaptive ANC process is running, and in response helps prevent the filter coefficients of an adaptive filter of the ANC process from being corrupted, thereby reducing the risk of the adaptive filters diverge. Upon detecting speech using a vibration sensor signal and one or more microphone signals, the detector asserts a signal that slows down, or even freezes or halts, the adaptation of the adaptive filter. The signal may be de-asserted when no more speech is being detected, thereby allowing the adaptive ANC process to resume its normal rate adaptation of the filter. The detector may continuously operate in this manner during the call, as the user talks and then pauses and then resumes talking. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An audio processor has an active noise cancellation (ANC) processor to compute an S-filter, which estimates a transfer function from an earpiece speaker, that is to be worn by a user, to an error microphone. The ANC processor adaptively produces an anti noise signal for reducing ambient noise that can be heard by the user. An adaptive equalization (EQ) processor has an EQ filter controller that adjusts an EQ filter, while audio user content is being filtered in accordance with the EQ filter before being fed to the speaker and then heard by the user. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A personal listening system has an active noise control (ANC) controller that produces an anti-noise signal. A head worn audio device for a user has a speaker to convert the anti-noise signal into anti-noise, an error microphone, and a reference microphone. The controller uses signals from the error and reference microphones to produce the anti-noise signal in accordance with an adaptive filter algorithm that has an adjustable parameter which changes so as to move the point at which acoustic cancellation occurs from the error microphone and closer to the user's eardrum. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: In a personal listening device, an ANC system can benefit from a mechanism to detect an off-ear condition, which may be a situation in which the user of the personal listening device has moved an earphone or handset housing away from her ear. A detector may detect such a condition using signals from a touch sensor and/or a vibration sensor that are integrated in the earphone or handset housing, and in response power down the ANC system, or in the case of an adaptive ANC system slow down, or even freeze, the adaptation of one or more adaptive filters. The detector may operate during for example a phone call or during media file playback. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A system and method are described in which additional signal processing is performed during in-the-field use of a personal listening device so that a control filter of a running acoustic noise cancellation process is selected based on the delta/difference between reference and residual error microphone signals of the device. This delta value represents the passive sound attenuation provided by the personal listening device. In other words, the control filter, which may be a programmable digital filter, is selected directly based on the delta between the level of external and error microphones. This delta value serves as an estimate of the current fit/leakage scenario, which enables the resulting anti-noise signal to better match a wide range of acoustic leaks (that may be caused by different earphone fits within the user's ear, or different ways a phone handset is held against the ear).

Abstract: An acoustic noise cancellation (ANC) process is performed during in-the-field use of a personal listening audio device, using a control filter to produce anti-noise by the device. The process includes computing an S_hat filter that estimates a signal path between an earpiece speaker of the device and an error microphone that are at a user's ear. A response associated with the computed S_hat filter is compared to a predetermined response that is stored in the device. The control filter is adjusted in accordance with the comparison. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: In a personal listening device, an ANC system can benefit from a mechanism to detect an off-ear condition, which may be a situation in which the user of the personal listening device has moved an earphone or handset housing away from her ear. A detector may detect such a condition using signals from a touch sensor and/or a vibration sensor that are integrated in the earphone or handset housing, and in response power down the ANC system, or in the case of an adaptive ANC system slow down, or even freeze, the adaptation of one or more adaptive filters. The detector may operate during for example a phone call or during media file playback. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An acoustic noise cancellation (ANC) process is performed during in-the-field use of a personal listening audio device, using a control filter to produce anti-noise by the device. The process includes computing an S_hat filter that estimates a signal path between an earpiece speaker of the device and an error microphone that are at a user's ear. A response associated with the computed S_hat filter is compared to a predetermined response that is stored in the device. The control filter is adjusted in accordance with the comparison. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A close-talk detector detects a near-end user's speech signal, while an adaptive ANC process is running, and in response helps prevent the filter coefficients of an adaptive filter of the ANC process from being corrupted, thereby reducing the risk of the adaptive filters diverge. Upon detecting speech using a vibration sensor signal and one or more microphone signals, the detector asserts a signal that slows down, or even freezes or halts, the adaptation of the adaptive filter. The signal may be de-asserted when no more speech is being detected, thereby allowing the adaptive ANC process to resume its normal rate adaptation of the filter. The detector may continuously operate in this manner during the call, as the user talks and then pauses and then resumes talking. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An audio processor has an active noise cancellation (ANC) processor to compute an S-filter, which estimates a transfer function from an earpiece speaker, that is to be worn by a user, to an error microphone. The ANC processor adaptively produces an anti noise signal for reducing ambient noise that can be heard by the user. An adaptive equalization (EQ) processor has an EQ filter controller that adjusts an EQ filter, while audio user content is being filtered in accordance with the EQ filter before being fed to the speaker and then heard by the user. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing the performance of an in-the-canal hearing aid by temporarily increasing the adaptation speed of an adaptive feedback cancellation filter in response to sudden changes in the acoustic feedback path. The hearing aid employs a sound producing transducer (e.g., a speaker) mounted in a user's open ear canal along with a sound responsive transducer (e.g., a microphone) and a second sound responsive transducer also mounted in the ear canal and spaced a fixed distance from the first sound responsive transducer. The output signals from the first and second sound responsive transducers are applied to a digital processor which compares the respective output signals to detect impedance changes in the audio feedback path. The detected occurrence of an impedance change is then used to influence the adaptation speed of the adaptive feedback cancellation filter.

Abstract: A personal listening system has an active noise control (ANC) controller that produces an anti-noise signal. A head worn audio device for a user has a speaker to convert the anti-noise signal into anti-noise, an error microphone, and a reference microphone. The controller uses signals from the error and reference microphones to produce the anti-noise signal in accordance with an adaptive filter algorithm that has an adjustable parameter which changes so as to move the point at which acoustic cancellation occurs from the error microphone and closer to the user's eardrum. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.