Abstract: A wearable audio device according to various implementations includes: an electro-acoustic transducer for producing sound; a proximity sensor that is configured to detect when the wearable audio device is close to a user; an internal microphone positioned within a housing of the wearable audio device and configured to detect sound in a cavity formed at least in part by a portion of the housing; and a processor that is configured to estimate, based on at least the proximity sensor, whether the wearable audio device is in place on the user's body, and to estimate, based on the internal microphone, whether the user has completed handling of the wearable audio device.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques, including devices and system implementing the techniques, to provide feedback to a user of an event when the user is wearing a wearable device. For example, the wearable device may provide high quality noise canceling audio playback to the user, lowering the user's situation awareness. The techniques include measuring ambient sound using two or more microphones on the wearable device. The measured ambient sound is used to determine a related event worth relaying to the user. Based on the location attribute and sound properties, the nature and/or classification of the event may be ascertained using pattern recognition algorithms according to user threshold settings. Insignificant events that the user prefers to ignore will be ruled out by the algorithm. Upon determining the event that merits the user's attention, the wearable device provides feedback to the user indicating the nature and location of the event.

Abstract: An earbud with an electro-acoustic transducer for producing sound, a proximity sensor that is configured to detect when the earbud is close to a user's skin, an orientation sensor that is configured to detect an orientation of the earbud, and a processor that is configured to estimate, based on the proximity sensor and the orientation sensor, whether the earbud has been inserted into the user's ear canal.

Abstract: Various implementations include adaptive masking of environmental sound. Particular implementations are configured to adjust a masking sound based on one or more detected environmental sound sources. An example method includes: measuring environmental sound proximate to an audio device, outputting a masking sound at the audio device, and adjusting at least one of: a volume of the masking sound, a spectrum of the masking sound, or content of the masking sound based on the measured environmental sound.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques, including devices and system implementing the techniques, to provide feedback to a user of an event when the user is wearing a wearable device. For example, the wearable device may provide high quality noise canceling audio playback to the user, lowering the user's situation awareness. The techniques include measuring ambient sound using two or more microphones on the wearable device. The measured ambient sound is used to determine a related event worth relaying to the user. Based on the location attribute and sound properties, the nature and/or classification of the event may be ascertained using pattern recognition algorithms according to user threshold settings. Insignificant events that the user prefers to ignore will be ruled out by the algorithm. Upon determining the event that merits the user's attention, the wearable device provides feedback to the user indicating the nature and location of the event.

Abstract: An earbud with an electro-acoustic transducer for producing sound, a proximity sensor that is configured to detect when the earbud is close to a user's skin, an orientation sensor that is configured to detect an orientation of the earbud, and a processor that is configured to estimate, based on the proximity sensor and the orientation sensor, whether the earbud has been inserted into the user's ear canal.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques, including devices and system implementing the techniques, to provide feedback to a user of an event when the user is wearing a wearable device. For example, the wearable device may provide high quality noise canceling audio playback to the user, lowering the user's situation awareness. The techniques include measuring ambient sound using two or more microphones on the wearable device. The event is determined based on the measured ambient sound. A location attribute of the event is determined. A deep learning algorithm may be used to identify the nature and/or classification of the event and rule out events that the user prefers to ignore. Upon determining the event that merits the user's attention, the user is provided feedback of the determined event and the location attribute, the feedback indicating the nature and location of the event.

Abstract: Audio pickup systems and methods are provided to enhance an audio signal by removing noise components related to an acoustic environment. The systems and methods receive a primary signal and one or more reference signals from various microphones. Adaptive filtering and combining minimizes an energy content of a resulting output signal, e.g., to form a substantially null output when the system is in a static acoustic environment. When the system is a playback sound source, one or more echo cancellers may contribute to removing content from the output signal. A change in the acoustic environment, such as a new sound source, causes content in the output signal until the adaptive filtering adapts to the new environment. In some examples, a desired content such as a wake-up word is detected and adaptation is stopped.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting at least one fitness related activity is provided. Data is obtained from at least one sensor of a wearable device, wherein the at least one sensor detects the data based on at least one body movement of a user wearing the wearable device. Based on the obtained data, the at least one fitness related activity is detected from a set of fitness related activities, wherein the detection is performed without pre-training by the user for the detecting.

Abstract: A method performed by a head-mounted wearable audio output device is provided. The audio output device is worn on a head of a user and includes at least one sensor. The device detects a user activity based on motion of the user's body using the at least one sensor. The devices detects an orientation of the head of the user is one of upward or downward using the at least one sensor. The devices controls at least one of: a level of attenuation applied to external noise or audio output based on the detected user activity and the detected orientation of the head of the user.

Abstract: An earbud with an electro-acoustic transducer for producing sound, a proximity sensor that is configured to detect when the earbud is close to a user's skin, an orientation sensor that is configured to detect an orientation of the earbud, and a processor that is configured to estimate, based on the proximity sensor and the orientation sensor, whether the earbud has been inserted into the user's ear canal.

Abstract: An earbud with an electro-acoustic transducer for producing sound, a proximity sensor that is configured to detect when the earbud is close to a user's skin, an orientation sensor that is configured to detect an orientation of the earbud, and a processor that is configured to estimate, based on the proximity sensor and the orientation sensor, whether the earbud has been inserted into the user's ear canal.

Abstract: A method performed by a wearable audio output device worn by a user is provided for controlling the reproduction of external noise and/or noise masking. A first a first lower-power detector determines if the user is in transport or a change in the user's transport. In response to the determination, a second higher-power detector exits a power saving state and determines a mode of the transport based. The wearable audio output device adjust a level of attenuation applied by the wearable audio output device to the external noise or adjusting a level of noise masking output by the wearable audio output device based on the determined mode of the transport.

Abstract: Various implementations include wearable audio devices and related methods for controlling such devices. Some approaches include controlling a wearable audio device by: determining a magnitude of an acoustic transfer function based on an electrical signal from an internal microphone and an audio signal from an acoustic transducer at one or more predetermined frequencies; calibrating a proximity sensor; detecting a change in the state of the wearable audio device from one of: off-head to on-head, or on-head to off-head using both the calibrated proximity sensor and the magnitude of the acoustic transfer function; and adjusting at least one function of the wearable audio device in response to detecting the change from the on-head state to the off-head state or detecting the change from the off-head state to the on-head state.

Abstract: Various implementations include wearable audio devices and related methods for controlling such devices. Some approaches include controlling a wearable audio device by: determining a magnitude of an acoustic transfer function based on an electrical signal from an internal microphone and an audio signal from an acoustic transducer at one or more predetermined frequencies; calibrating a proximity sensor; detecting a change in the state of the wearable audio device from one of: off-head to on-head, or on-head to off-head using both the calibrated proximity sensor and the magnitude of the acoustic transfer function; and adjusting at least one function of the wearable audio device in response to detecting the change from the on-head state to the off-head state or detecting the change from the off-head state to the on-head state.

Abstract: A method performed by a wearable audio output device worn by a user is provided for controlling the reproduction of external noise. At least one sound is detected in the vicinity of the audio output device using at least one microphone in the audio output device. A state of motion of the user is detected using at least one sensor in the audio output device. Based on the at least one sound and the state of motion of the user, at least one of a level of attenuation or a level of noise masking is determined to be applied by the audio output device to the external noise.

Abstract: Audio pickup systems and methods are provided to enhance an audio signal by removing noise components related to an acoustic environment. The systems and methods receive a primary signal and one or more reference signals from various microphones. Adaptive filtering and combining minimizes an energy content of a resulting output signal, e.g., to form a substantially null output when the system is in a static acoustic environment. When the system is a playback sound source, one or more echo cancellers may contribute to removing content from the output signal. A change in the acoustic environment, such as a new sound source, causes content in the output signal until the adaptive filtering adapts to the new environment. In some examples, a desired content such as a wake-up word is detected and adaptation is stopped.

Abstract: Various implementations include wearable audio devices and related methods for controlling such devices. Some approaches include: detecting a change from an on-head state to an off-head state with a first sensor system; calibrating a second, distinct sensor system after detecting the change from the on-head state to the off-head state; detecting a change from the off-head state to the on-head state using the calibrated second sensor system; and adjusting an operating state of at least one function of the wearable audio device in response to detecting the change from the on-head state to the off-head state or detecting the change from the off-head state to the on-head state.

Abstract: Audio pickup systems and methods are provided to enhance an audio signal by removing noise components related to an acoustic environment. The systems and methods receive a primary signal and a reference signal. The reference signal is adaptively filtered and subtracted from the primary signal to minimize an energy content of a resulting output signal.

Abstract: Audio pickup systems and methods are provided to enhance an audio signal by removing noise components related to an acoustic environment. The systems and methods receive a primary signal and a reference signal. The reference signal is adaptively filtered and subtracted from the primary signal to minimize an energy content of a resulting output signal.