Abstract: An earphone comprising an earphone housing having a wall comprising (1) a front side that joins (2) an end portion in which a primary sound output opening is formed, which joins (3) a face portion in which a secondary output opening is formed, which joins (4) a back side which joins the front side and encloses a driver, wherein the face portion and the front side form a tapered portion of the earphone housing that is dimensioned to be inserted into, and contact, an ear of a wearer, wherein the primary output opening is dimensioned to output sound generated by a diaphragm of the driver contained within the earphone housing into the ear, the secondary output opening is dimensioned to vent the ear to a surrounding environment, and wherein the primary output opening and the secondary output opening face different directions and are positioned over a sound output face of the driver.

Abstract: An audio device may use the audio detected at two opposite facing, front and rear omnidirectional microphones to determine the angular directional location of a user's voice while the device in speaker mode or audio command input mode. The angular directional location may be determined to be at front, side and rear locations of the device during the period of time by calculating an energy ratio of audio signals output by the front and rear microphones during the period. Comparing the ratio to experimental data for sound received from different directions around the device may provide the location of the user's voice. Based on the determination, audio beamforming input settings may be adjusted for user voice beamforming. As a result, the device can perform better beamforming to combine the signals captured by the microphones and generate a single output that isolates the user's voice from background noise.

Abstract: An earphone comprising an earphone housing having a wall comprising (1) a front side that joins (2) an end portion in which a primary sound output opening is formed, which joins (3) a face portion in which a secondary output opening is formed, which joins (4) a back side which joins the front side and encloses a driver, wherein the face portion and the front side form a tapered portion of the earphone housing that is dimensioned to be inserted into, and contact, an ear of a wearer, wherein the primary output opening is dimensioned to output sound generated by a diaphragm of the driver contained within the earphone housing into the ear, the secondary output opening is dimensioned to vent the ear to a surrounding environment, and wherein the primary output opening and the secondary output opening face different directions and are positioned over a sound output face of the driver.

Abstract: A method of detecting a user's voice activity in a headset with a microphone array is described herein. The method starts with a voice activity detector (VAD) generating a VAD output based on acoustic signals received from microphones included in a pair of earbuds and the microphone array included on a headset wire and data output by an accelerometer that is included in the pair of earbuds. A noise suppressor may then receive the acoustic signals from the microphone array and the VAD output and suppress the noise included in the acoustic signals received from the microphone array based on the VAD output. The method may also include steering one or more beamformers based on the VAD output. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A computer system having a loudspeaker mounted on a main logic board by a hermetic seal, is disclosed. More particularly, embodiments of the computer system include an acoustic cavity defined between the loudspeaker, the main logic board, and the hermetic seal. Embodiments of the computer system may include a compressible seal separated from the hermetic seal by the loudspeaker and/or the main logic board. The compressible seal may define an acoustic channel and the loudspeaker may emit sound in a high frequency range through the acoustic channel toward a system exit. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An earphone comprising an earphone housing having a wall comprising (1) a front side that joins (2) an end portion in which a primary sound output opening is formed, which joins (3) a face portion in which a secondary output opening is formed, which joins (4) a back side which joins the front side and encloses a driver, wherein the face portion and the front side form a tapered portion of the earphone housing that is dimensioned to be inserted into, and contact, an ear of a wearer, wherein the primary output opening is dimensioned to output sound generated by a diaphragm of the driver contained within the earphone housing into the ear, the secondary output opening is dimensioned to vent the ear to a surrounding environment, and wherein the primary output opening and the secondary output opening face different directions and are positioned over a sound output face of the driver.

Abstract: In one aspect, multiple adaptive W filters and associated adaptive filter controllers are provided that use multiple reference microphone signals to produce multiple, “component” anti-noise signals. These are gain weighted and summed to produce a single anti-noise signal, which drives an earpiece speaker. The weighting changes based on computed measures of the coherence between content in each reference signal and content in an error signal. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method of detecting a user's voice activity in a mobile device is described herein. The method starts with a voice activity detector (VAD) generating a VAD output based on (i) acoustic signals received from microphones included in the mobile device and (ii) data output by an inertial sensor that is included in an earphone portion of the mobile device. The inertial sensor may detect vibration of the user's vocal chords modulated by the user's vocal tract based on vibrations in bones and tissue of the user's head. A noise suppressor may then receive the acoustic signals from the microphones and the VAD output and suppress the noise included in the acoustic signals received from the microphones based on the VAD output. The method may also include steering one or more beamformers based on the VAD output. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, computer readable mediums, and systems are described for combined dynamic processing and speaker protection for minimizing distortion in audio playback. In some embodiments, at least one compressed audio signal is received, at least one threshold for a speaker is retrieved, modifications to audio signal compression are determined based on the at least one compressed audio signal and the at least one threshold, information embodying the modifications is transmitted to a dynamic processor, and using the dynamic processor, at least one modified compressed audio signal is produced for the speaker based on the information.

Abstract: A micro speaker having a capacitive sensor to sense a motion of a speaker diaphragm, is disclosed. More particularly, embodiments of the micro speaker include a conductive surface of a diaphragm facing conductive surfaces of several capacitive plate sections across a gap. The diaphragm may be configured to emit sound forward away from a magnet of the micro speaker, and the capacitive plate sections may be supported on the magnet behind the diaphragm. In an embodiment, the gap provides an available travel for the diaphragm, which may be only a few millimeters. A sensing circuit may sense capacitances of the conductive surfaces to limit displacement of the diaphragm to within the available travel.

Abstract: An accessory having an earbud for insertion into a user's ear is disclosed. The earbud may include a speaker and a microphone in which the speaker plays an audio signal for the user and the microphone receives the audio signal. The accessory includes a processor that is coupled to the speaker and the microphone to execute various operations. For example, the operations may include: determining a ratio of an energy estimation of the speaker audio signal to an energy estimation of the audio signal received by the microphone; determining a gain for the speaker audio signal based upon the ratio; based upon the gain, selecting a shelving filter; and applying the shelving filter to the speaker audio signal.

Abstract: An earphone comprising an earphone housing having a wall comprising (1) a front side that joins (2) an end portion in which a primary sound output opening is formed, which joins (3) a face portion in which a secondary output opening is formed, which joins (4) a back side which joins the front side and encloses a driver, wherein the face portion and the front side form a tapered portion of the earphone housing that is dimensioned to be inserted into, and contact, an ear of a wearer, wherein the primary output opening is dimensioned to output sound generated by a diaphragm of the driver contained within the earphone housing into the ear, the secondary output opening is dimensioned to vent the ear to a surrounding environment, and wherein the primary output opening and the secondary output opening face different directions and are positioned over a sound output face of the driver.

Abstract: An apparatus includes first and second microphone arrangements, arranged to output first and second signals respectively and is operable in a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, an output signal is generated based on the second signal and a third signal, where the second signal and, optionally, the first signal, can be used to compensate for ambient noise, for example, for noise cancellation when a telephone call is relayed through a speaker. In the second mode, an output signal is generated based on the first and second signals. In this manner, the combination of the first and second microphone arrangements provides a directional sensitivity that can pick up sound from a remote source, for example, in an audio or video recording session. The apparatus may include a sensor to allow automatic switching between one or more of modes, directional sensitivity patterns and types of recording session.

Abstract: A thermal control module computes an estimate of a temperature of a speaker, based on an audio signal that is driving the speaker, and computes a gain that is applied to attenuate the audio signal to prevent overheating of the speaker. Thermal control module computes an adapted impedance, being an estimate of the speaker's impedance including its DC resistance, and uses it to compute the temperature estimate. The adapted impedance is obtained from a normal adaptation process when a measured voltage of the speaker is above a threshold, and a decay process when the measured voltage is below the threshold. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An earphone comprising an earphone housing having a wall comprising (1) a front side that joins (2) an end portion in which a primary sound output opening is formed, which joins (3) a face portion in which a secondary output opening is formed, which joins (4) a back side which joins the front side and encloses a driver, wherein the face portion and the front side form a tapered portion of the earphone housing that is dimensioned to be inserted into, and contact, an ear of a wearer, wherein the primary output opening is dimensioned to output sound generated by a diaphragm of the driver contained within the earphone housing into the ear, the secondary output opening is dimensioned to vent the ear to a surrounding environment, and wherein the primary output opening and the secondary output opening face different directions and are positioned over a sound output face of the driver.

Abstract: An earphone having an earphone housing including a tip portion dimensioned to be inserted into an ear canal of a wearer, a body portion extending outward from the tip portion, and a tube portion extending from the body portion. The body portion has a face portion that faces a pinna region of the ear when the tip portion is inserted into the ear canal. A primary output opening, that outputs sound from a driver in the housing to the ear canal, is formed in the tip portion. A secondary output opening, that outputs air from the ear canal to the surrounding environment, is formed in the face portion. The primary output opening and the secondary output opening are horizontally aligned when the tube portion is positioned vertically downward and an angle formed between the primary output opening, the tube portion and the secondary output opening is less than 90 degrees.

Abstract: An audio device may use the audio detected at two opposite facing, front and rear omnidirectional microphones to determine the angular directional location of a user's voice while the device in speaker mode or audio command input mode. The angular directional location may be determined to be at front, side and rear locations of the device during the period of time by calculating an energy ratio of audio signals output by the front and rear microphones during the period. Comparing the ratio to experimental data for sound received from different directions around the device may provide the location of the user's voice. Based on the determination, audio beamforming input settings may be adjusted for user voice beamforming. As a result, the device can perform better beamforming to combine the signals captured by the microphones and generate a single output that isolates the user's voice from background noise.

Abstract: A portable electronic device having an outer case having a substantially planar face in which a microphone associated acoustic port is formed. The device also has a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) microphone positioned within the outer case, the MEMS microphone having a diaphragm facing the microphone associated acoustic port. An acoustic mesh is positioned between the front face of the outer case and the diaphragm, the acoustic mesh having a non-linear acoustic resistance so as to minimize an effect of an incoming air burst on the diaphragm. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method of detecting a user's voice activity in a mobile device is described herein. The method starts with a voice activity detector (VAD) generating a VAD output based on (i) acoustic signals received from microphones included in the mobile device and (ii) data output by an inertial sensor that is included in an earphone portion of the mobile device. The inertial sensor may detect vibration of the user's vocal chords modulated by the user's vocal tract based on vibrations in bones and tissue of the user's head. A noise suppressor may then receive the acoustic signals from the microphones and the VAD output and suppress the noise included in the acoustic signals received from the microphones based on the VAD output. The method may also include steering one or more beamformers based on the VAD output. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method of detecting a user's voice activity in a headset with a microphone array is described herein. The method starts with a voice activity detector (VAD) generating a VAD output based on acoustic signals received from microphones included in a pair of earbuds and the microphone array included on a headset wire and data output by an accelerometer that is included in the pair of earbuds. A noise suppressor may then receive the acoustic signals from the microphone array and the VAD output and suppress the noise included in the acoustic signals received from the microphone array based on the VAD output. The method may also include steering one or more beamformers based on the VAD output. Other embodiments are also described.