Abstract: A method is provided for controlling external noise in an audio output device. A speech signal is detected in the vicinity of the audio output device. The speech signal is transcribed into text. The transcribed text is compared with reference text. When at least a portion of the transcribed text matches with a portion of the reference text, it is determined to reduce at least one of a level of active noise reduction or a level of noise masking to enable a user of the audio output device to hear sounds external to the audio output device.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for the creation of a localized audio message for use in a personal audio device. The system includes: a database of information relating to a pre-determined subject obtained from online media content; one or more processors; and a personal audio device configured to receive a localized audio message. The processors extract a dataset comprising information relating to a pre-determined subject from online media content; generate one or more summaries of the information relating to the pre-determined subject; generate a localized audio message based on the one or more summaries; and send the localized audio message to a personal audio device of a user.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling external noise in an audio output device. A speech signal is detected in the vicinity of the audio output device. The speech signal is transcribed into text. The transcribed text is compared with reference text. When at least a portion of the transcribed text matches with a portion of the reference text, it is determined to reduce at least one of a level of active noise reduction or a level of noise masking to enable a user of the audio output device to hear sounds external to the audio output device.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for the creation of a localized audio message for use in a personal audio device. The system includes: a database of information relating to a pre-determined subject obtained from online media content; one or more processors; and a personal audio device configured to receive a localized audio message. The processors extract a dataset comprising information relating to a pre-determined subject from online media content; generate one or more summaries of the information relating to the pre-determined subject; generate a localized audio message based on the one or more summaries; and send the localized audio message to a personal audio device of a user.

Abstract: A light guide system for a physiological sensor includes a light channel in optical communication with an emitter and a light channel in optical communication with a detector. The light channels are formed of a bio-compatible resilient plastic, such as a silicone, that is blended with a colorant. Each light channel has an optical transmission spectrum that passes the emitter spectral band and rejects most or all ambient light. The colorant can be a pigment provided as a suspension in a liquid or a dye provided in liquid form. The optical transmission spectrum defines a longpass optical filter where the shortest wavelength of the optical spectrum of the emitter is greater than the transition wavelength of the longpass optical filter. Each of the light channels is configured to be in contact with the skin, thereby reducing or eliminating optical loss due to transmission through an air gap.

Abstract: A system that includes a microphone array comprising a plurality of microphones positioned at different locations, where the microphones output microphone signals. A beamformer is applied to the microphone output signals and is configured to control a gain that is applied to the microphone output signals. The gain is frequency dependent and is related to a mismatch in sensitivity between two or more of the microphones.

Abstract: An in-ear earphone includes a body shaped to fit in the wearer's ear, a nozzle extending from the body towards the ear canal of the wearer's ear, the nozzle including an acoustic passage to conduct sound waves to the ear canal of the wearer, an ear canal sealing structure extending from the nozzle, and a sensor coupled to the nozzle. The sealing structure includes a thin sheet of material forming a hollow shape surrounding the nozzle and sensor, and the body, nozzle, sealing structure, and sensor are arranged such that when the earphone is located in the wearer's ear, the sensor faces the tragus of the ear, and the sealing structure simultaneously forms an acoustic seal to the entrance to the ear canal and provides optical coupling between the sensor and the tragus with minimal air gaps between the sensor, the sealing structure, and the tragus.

Abstract: A system that includes a microphone array comprising a plurality of microphones positioned at different locations, where the microphones output microphone signals. A beamformer is applied to the microphone output signals and is configured to control a gain that is applied to the microphone output signals. The gain is frequency dependent and is related to a mismatch in sensitivity between two or more of the microphones.

Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in a computer-implemented method that includes receiving, at a first acoustic device, a first data stream representing audio signals encoded using a first encoding scheme, and processing, using one or more processing devices, the first data stream to generate a second data stream representing a portion of the audio signals to be decoded at a second acoustic device. The method also includes transmitting the second data stream over a near-field magnetic induction (NFMI) link to the second acoustic device.

Abstract: A method of controlling a personal acoustic device includes performing a first analysis of one or more of an inner signal output by an inner microphone and an outer signal output by an outer microphone disposed on the personal acoustic device to determine if a buffet event has occurred. A second analysis is performed on or both of the inner and outer signals to determine if a voice event of a user occurred. If a buffet event is determined to have occurred and a voice event is determined not to have occurred, a third analysis is performed on the inner and outer signals to determine an operating state of the personal acoustic device. If a change in the operating state is determined, an operation of the personal acoustic device may be initiated such as changing a power state, an ANR state or an audio output state of the device.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a first microphone array processing signal (associated with a frequency band that includes a plurality of sub-bands) and receiving a second microphone array processing signal associated with the frequency band. The method includes generating a first output corresponding to a first sub-band based on the first microphone array processing signal and generating a second output corresponding to the first sub-band based on the second microphone array processing signal. The method includes generating a third output corresponding to a second sub-band based on the first microphone array processing signal and generating a fourth output corresponding to the second sub-band based on the second microphone array processing signal. The method includes performing a first set of microphone mixing operations to generate an adaptive mixer output for the first sub-band and performing a different set of microphone mixing operations to generate another adaptive mixer output for the second sub-band.

Abstract: A method of controlling a personal acoustic device includes performing a first analysis of one or more of an inner signal output by an inner microphone and an outer signal output by an outer microphone disposed on the personal acoustic device to determine if a buffet event has occurred. A second analysis is performed on or both of the inner and outer signals to determine if a voice event of a user occurred. If a buffet event is determined to have occurred and a voice event is determined not to have occurred, a third analysis is performed on the inner and outer signals to determine an operating state of the personal acoustic device. If a change in the operating state is determined, an operation of the personal acoustic device may be initiated such as changing a power state, an ANR state or an audio output state of the device.

Abstract: An in-ear earphone includes a body shaped to fit in the wearer's ear, a nozzle extending from the body towards the ear canal of the wearer's ear, the nozzle including an acoustic passage to conduct sound waves to the ear canal of the wearer, an ear canal sealing structure extending from the nozzle, and a sensor coupled to the nozzle. The sealing structure includes a thin sheet of material forming a hollow shape surrounding the nozzle and sensor, and the body, nozzle, sealing structure, and sensor are arranged such that when the earphone is located in the wearer's ear, the sensor faces the tragus of the ear, and the sealing structure simultaneously forms an acoustic seal to the entrance to the ear canal and provides optical coupling between the sensor and the tragus with minimal air gaps between the sensor, the sealing structure, and the tragus.

Abstract: A light guide system for a physiological sensor includes a light channel in optical communication with an emitter and a light channel in optical communication with a detector. The light channels are formed of a bio-compatible resilient plastic, such as a silicone, that is blended with a colorant. Each light channel has an optical transmission spectrum that passes the emitter spectral band and rejects most or all ambient light. The colorant can be a pigment provided as a suspension in a liquid or a dye provided in liquid form. The optical transmission spectrum defines a longpass optical filter where the shortest wavelength of the optical spectrum of the emitter is greater than the transition wavelength of the longpass optical filter. Each of the light channels is configured to be in contact with the skin, thereby reducing or eliminating optical loss due to transmission through an air gap.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a first microphone array processing signal (associated with a frequency band that includes a plurality of sub-bands) and receiving a second microphone array processing signal associated with the frequency band. The method includes generating a first output corresponding to a first sub-band based on the first microphone array processing signal and generating a second output corresponding to the first sub-band based on the second microphone array processing signal. The method includes generating a third output corresponding to a second sub-band based on the first microphone array processing signal and generating a fourth output corresponding to the second sub-band based on the second microphone array processing signal. The method includes performing a first set of microphone mixing operations to generate an adaptive mixer output for the first sub-band and performing a different set of microphone mixing operations to generate another adaptive mixer output for the second sub-band.

Abstract: A system includes an acoustic radiation force source that is structured to generate an acoustic radiation force at one or more frequencies. A shear wave transmission device is embedded in a mass including a biologic material. The shear wave transmission device is responsive to the acoustic radiation force source to transmit shear waves through the biologic material. A Doppler ultrasonic device detects the shear waves and generates data representative of the shear waves. A processing device determines one or more mechanical properties of the biologic material from the data.

Abstract: A system includes an acoustic radiation force source that is structured to generate an acoustic radiation force at one or more frequencies. A shear wave transmission device is embedded in a mass including a biologic material. The shear wave transmission device is responsive to the acoustic radiation force source to transmit shear waves through the biologic material. A Doppler ultrasonic device detects the shear waves and generates data representative of the shear waves. A processing device determines one or more mechanical properties of the biologic material from the data.

Abstract: A system includes an acoustic radiation force source that is structured to generate an acoustic radiation force at one or more frequencies. A shear wave transmission device is embedded in a mass including a biologic material. The shear wave transmission device is responsive to the acoustic radiation force source to transmit shear waves through the biologic material. A Doppler ultrasonic device detects the shear waves and generates data representative of the shear waves. A processing device determines one or more mechanical properties of the biologic material from the data.