Abstract: Systems and methods for three-dimensional beamforming disclosed herein include, among other features (i) generating a set of received-sound beams by applying a plurality of sets of beamforming coefficients stored in a tangible memory of the network device to sound received via a microphone array of the network device, wherein each received-sound beam corresponds to a separate direction relative to the microphone array, (ii) identifying a subset of the received-sound beams comprising speech content, (iii) for each received-sound beam in the subset of the received-sound beams comprising speech content, determining whether the speech content comprises a wake word, (iv) selecting one final received-sound beam from the received-sound beams in the subset of the received-sound beams determined to comprise a wake word; and (v) causing the selected one final received-sound beam to be processed to identify a voice command.

Abstract: Examples described herein involve configuring a playback device based on distortion, such as that caused by a barrier. One implementation may involve causing the playback device to play audio content according to an existing playback configuration, determining an existing frequency response of the playback device in a given system, and determining whether a difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and a predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than a predetermined distortion threshold. If it is determined that the difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device and the predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than the predetermined distortion threshold, then the existing playback configuration of the playback device is changed to an updated playback configuration of the playback device and the playback device plays audio content according to the updated playback configuration.

Abstract: Example techniques may involve reduction of turbulence noise from a sound transducer that is mounted within an interior housing of a playback device. An example playback device may include an enclosure comprising a first interior volume and a second interior volume. The playback device may further include a speaker mounted within an interior of the enclosure. The speaker includes a diaphragm dividing the first interior volume and the second interior volume and the speaker is moveable along an axis to generate sound. The playback device may also include a first speaker vent providing airflow between the first interior volume and an exterior of the enclosure and a second speaker vent providing airflow between the first interior volume and the exterior of the enclosure. The first speaker vent directs airflow in a first direction and second speaker vent directs airflow in a second direction.

Abstract: Example techniques may involve reduction of turbulence noise from a sound transducer that is mounted within an interior housing of a playback device. An example playback device may include an enclosure comprising a first interior volume and a second interior volume. The playback device may further include a speaker mounted within an interior of the enclosure. The speaker includes a diaphragm dividing the first interior volume and the second interior volume and the speaker is moveable along an axis to generate sound. The playback device may also include a first speaker vent providing airflow between the first interior volume and an exterior of the enclosure and a second speaker vent providing airflow between the first interior volume and the exterior of the enclosure. The first speaker vent directs airflow in a first direction and second speaker vent directs airflow in a second direction.

Abstract: A system for tuning an audio reproduction device is disclosed. The system includes an audio signal generator for generating an audio signal to be played back in an audio reproduction device and sending the audio signal to the audio reproduction device; a microphone signal module for receiving a microphone signal from a microphone, the microphone signal recording a sound wave reproduced by the audio reproduction device when the audio signal is played back in the audio reproduction device; a comparison module for determining whether the microphone signal matches target sound signature data; and a filter module for applying a digital filter to emulate a target sound signature responsive to determining that the microphone signal does not match the target sound signature data.

Abstract: Headphones for stereo tactile vibration, and related systems and methods are disclosed. A headphone comprises a first speaker assembly including a first audio driver and a first tactile bass vibrator. The headphone also comprises a second speaker assembly including a second audio driver and a second tactile bass vibrator. The headphone further comprises a signal processing circuit configured to generate a first tactile vibration signal and a second tactile vibration signal from an audio signal to be received by the headphone. The first tactile vibration signal differs from the second tactile vibration signal. A method of operating the headphone includes generating the first tactile vibration signal and the second tactile vibration signal, and driving vibration of the first and second tactile bass vibrators with the first and second tactile vibration signals, respectively. A stereo tactile vibrator system includes the headphone.

Abstract: Systems and methods for three-dimensional beamforming disclosed herein include, among other features (i) generating a set of received-sound beams by applying a plurality of sets of beamforming coefficients stored in a tangible memory of the network device to sound received via a microphone array of the network device, wherein each received-sound beam corresponds to a separate direction relative to the microphone array, (ii) identifying a subset of the received-sound beams comprising speech content, (iii) for each received-sound beam in the subset of the received-sound beams comprising speech content, determining whether the speech content comprises a wake word, (iv) selecting one final received-sound beam from the received-sound beams in the subset of the received-sound beams determined to comprise a wake word; and (v) causing the selected one final received-sound beam to be processed to identify a voice command.

Abstract: Examples described herein involve configuring a playback device based on distortion, such as that caused by a barrier. One implementation may involve causing the playback device to play audio content according to an existing playback configuration, determining an existing frequency response of the playback device in a given system, and determining whether a difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and a predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than a predetermined distortion threshold. If it is determined that the difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device and the predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than the predetermined distortion threshold, then the existing playback configuration of the playback device is changed to an updated playback configuration of the playback device and the playback device plays audio content according to the updated playback configuration.

Abstract: Example techniques may involve reduction of turbulence noise from a sound transducer that is mounted within an interior housing of a playback device. An example playback device may include an enclosure comprising a first interior volume and a second interior volume. The playback device may further include a speaker mounted within an interior of the enclosure. The speaker includes a diaphragm dividing the first interior volume and the second interior volume and the speaker is moveable along an axis to generate sound. The playback device may also include a first speaker vent providing airflow between the first interior volume and an exterior of the enclosure and a second speaker vent providing airflow between the first interior volume and the exterior of the enclosure. The first speaker vent directs airflow in a first direction and second speaker vent directs airflow in a second direction.

Abstract: An earphone is disclosed having a first housing including a first housing mounting plane and a central axis normal to the first housing mounting plane, a second housing mounted to the first housing, a speaker mounted on the first housing, wherein the speaker defines a speaker axis, and a nozzle having a nozzle axis and extending from the first housing. The normal angle between the speaker axis and the first housing mounting plane defines a speaker axis angle and the normal angle between the nozzle axis and the first housing mounting plane defines a nozzle axis angle. In one embodiment, the speaker axis angle is greater than the nozzle axis angle.

Abstract: Headphones include removable audio drivers electrically coupled with electrical conductors using solderless and detachable interconnections. Driver assemblies for headphones include an audio driver and a driver unit housing. An acoustical cavity is defined between the driver unit housing and the audio driver, and a port extends through the driver unit housing between the acoustical cavity and the exterior of the driver assembly. The driver unit housing is configured to be secured within an outer ear-cup housing of a headphone such that the port is open to the exterior of the headphone without communicating acoustically with a volume outside the driver unit housing and within the outer ear-cup housing. Headphones include such driver assemblies. Methods are used to form such headphones and driver assemblies.

Abstract: A grill cover that fits over or is positioned over high frequency acoustical regions and low frequency acoustical regions of a playback device. A portion of the grill cover that fits over or is positioned over a high frequency acoustical region has small area openings and a portion of the grill over a low frequency acoustical region has large area openings. In portions of the grill cover between the portions over high and low frequency acoustical regions, the openings may have an intermediate area to visually blur the differences between the portions of the grill covers. To further blur the differences, the differently sized openings may be interleaved.

Abstract: A system for tuning an audio reproduction device is disclosed. The system includes an audio signal generator for generating an audio signal to be played back in an audio reproduction device and sending the audio signal to the audio reproduction device; a microphone signal module for receiving a microphone signal from a microphone, the microphone signal recording a sound wave reproduced by the audio reproduction device when the audio signal is played back in the audio reproduction device; a comparison module for determining whether the microphone signal matches target sound signature data; and a filter module for applying a digital filter to emulate a target sound signature responsive to determining that the microphone signal does not match the target sound signature data.

Abstract: Examples described herein involve configuring a playback device based on distortion, such as that caused by a barrier. One implementation may involve causing the playback device to play audio content according to an existing playback configuration, determining an existing frequency response of the playback device in a given system, and determining whether a difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and a predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than a predetermined distortion threshold. If it is determined that the difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device and the predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than the predetermined distortion threshold, then the existing playback configuration of the playback device is changed to an updated playback configuration of the playback device and the playback device plays audio content according to the updated playback configuration.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for sonically customizing an audio reproduction device. The system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that when executed cause the system to determine an application environment associated with an audio reproduction device associated with a user; determine one or more sound profiles based on the application environment; provide the one or more sound profiles to the user; receive a selection of a first sound profile from the one or more sound profiles; and generate tuning data based on the first sound profile, the tuning data configured to sonically customize the audio reproduction device.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein involve configuring a playback device based on the detection of a barrier in proximity to the playback device. One embodiment may involve receiving proximity data that includes an indication of a barrier that is proximate to a playback device; detecting that the barrier is within a threshold proximity to a first speaker of the playback device based on the indication of the barrier proximate to the playback device; in response to the detecting, setting a playback configuration of the playback device; and causing the playback device to play an audio content according to the playback configuration.

Abstract: A system for tuning an audio reproduction device is disclosed. The system includes an audio signal generator for generating an audio signal to be played back in an audio reproduction device and sending the audio signal to the audio reproduction device; a microphone signal module for receiving a microphone signal from a microphone, the microphone signal recording a sound wave reproduced by the audio reproduction device when the audio signal is played back in the audio reproduction device; a comparison module for determining whether the microphone signal matches target sound signature data; and a filter module for applying a digital filter to emulate a target sound signature responsive to determining that the microphone signal does not match the target sound signature data.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for sonically customizing an audio reproduction device. The system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that when executed cause the system to determine an application environment associated with an audio reproduction device associated with a user; determine one or more sound profiles based on the application environment; provide the one or more sound profiles to the user; receive a selection of a first sound profile from the one or more sound profiles; and generate tuning data based on the first sound profile, the tuning data configured to sonically customize the audio reproduction device.

Abstract: Headphones for stereo tactile vibration, and related systems and methods are disclosed. A headphone comprises a first speaker assembly including a first audio driver and a first tactile bass vibrator. The headphone also comprises a second speaker assembly including a second audio driver and a second tactile bass vibrator. The headphone further comprises a signal processing circuit configured to generate a first tactile vibration signal and a second tactile vibration signal from an audio signal to be received by the headphone. The first tactile vibration signal differs from the second tactile vibration signal. A method of operating the headphone includes generating the first tactile vibration signal and the second tactile vibration signal, and driving vibration of the first and second tactile bass vibrators with the first and second tactile vibration signals, respectively. A stereo tactile vibrator system includes the headphone.

Abstract: A speaker comprises a support structure having a circumferentially extending rim, a vibration member configured to be displaced relative to the support structure during operation of the speaker, and a suspension member suspending the vibration member relative to the support structure. The suspension member includes a radially outer portion attached to the rim of the support structure, a radially inner platform portion attached to the vibration member, and a plurality of beams. Each beam of the plurality of beams may extend from the radially outer portion to the radially inner platform portion. The plurality of beams is configured such that a resonant frequency of the vibration member attached to the radially inner platform portion of the suspension member scales linearly with a beam width of the beams of the plurality of beams.