Abstract: An audio system has an ambient sound enhancement (ASE) function, in which an against-the-ear audio device having a speaker converts a digitally processed version of an input audio signal into amplified sound. The amplification may be in accordance with a stored hearing profile of the user. The audio system also has an acoustic noise cancellation (ANC) function that may be combined in various ways with the ASE function, and that may be responsive to voice activity detection. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method performed by an in-ear headphone. Coupled to the in-ear headphone is a first ear tip that is inserted into an ear canal of a user. The method obtains an audio signal from an audio source device paired with the in-ear headphone and uses the signal to drive a speaker of the headphone to output a sound into the ear canal. The method obtains a microphone signal that is responsive to the outputted sound. The method notifies the user to replace the first ear tip with a second ear tip in response to a parameter associated with the microphone signal being less than a threshold.

Abstract: An audio system has an ambient sound enhancement function, in which an against-the-ear audio device having a speaker converts a digitally processed version of an input audio signal into sound. The input audio signal may be amplified where the amplification may be in accordance with a stored hearing profile of the user (personalized ambient sound enhancement.) The audio system also has an acoustic noise cancellation (ANC) function that may be combined in various ways with the sound enhancement function, and that may be responsive to voice activity detection. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An audio system has an ambient sound enhancement function, in which an against-the-ear audio device having a speaker converts a digitally processed version of an input audio signal into sound. The audio system also has an acoustic noise cancellation (ANC) function that may be combined in various ways with the sound enhancement function, and that may be responsive to voice activity detection. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A multi-way speaker array is disclosed that includes rings of transducers of different types. The rings of transducers may encircle the cabinet of the speaker array such that the speaker array is rotationally symmetric. The distance between rings of transducers may be based on a logarithmic scale. By separating rings of transducers using logarithmic spacing, denser transducer spacing at short wavelengths is achieved while limiting the number of transducers needed for longer wavelengths by spacing them in larger and larger logarithmic increments. Transducers with overlapping frequency ranges may be used in the speaker array to avoid initial dips or shortfalls in directivity for corresponding beam patterns.

Abstract: A multi-way speaker array is disclosed that includes rings of transducers of different types. The rings of transducers may encircle the cabinet of the speaker array such that the speaker array is rotationally symmetric. The distance between rings of transducers may be based on a logarithmic scale. By separating rings of transducers using logarithmic spacing, denser transducer spacing at short wavelengths is achieved while limiting the number of transducers needed for longer wavelengths by spacing them in larger and larger logarithmic increments. Transducers with overlapping frequency ranges may be used in the speaker array to avoid initial dips or shortfalls in directivity for corresponding beam patterns.

Abstract: A headphone has a driver, an internal microphone, an accelerometer, and an external microphone. An audio processor analyzes signals to detect wind noise. Gain of lower frequencies is reduced relative to higher frequencies, in a first filter that is operating on an audio signal from the external microphone in a feedforward path, responsive to detecting increased wind noise. A second filter in an audio signal feedback path may be adjusted to compensate for the gain change in the first filter that may mitigate occlusion effect. Outputs of the feedforward path in the feedback path are combined to produce an audio signal for the driver. The driver produces sound in the aural canal that has transparency with reduced wind noise, relative to sound external to the headphone. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A headphone has a driver, an internal microphone, an accelerometer, and an external microphone. An audio processor analyzes signals to detect wind noise. Gain of lower frequencies is reduced relative to higher frequencies, in a first filter that is operating on an audio signal from the external microphone in a feedforward path, responsive to detecting increased wind noise. A second filter in an audio signal feedback path may be adjusted to compensate for the gain change in the first filter that may mitigate occlusion effect. Outputs of the feedforward path in the feedback path are combined to produce an audio signal for the driver. The driver produces sound in the aural canal that has transparency with reduced wind noise, relative to sound external to the headphone. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Method of wind and noise reduction for headphones starts by receiving acoustic signals from first external microphone included on the outside of earcup's housing. Acoustic signals are received from internal microphone included inside earcup's housing. ANC downlink corrector processes downlink signal to generate echo estimate of speaker signal. First summator removes echo estimate of speaker signal from acoustic signals from internal microphone to generate corrected internal microphone signal. Spectral combiner performs spectral mixing of corrected internal microphone signal with acoustic signals from first external microphone to generate mixed signal. Lower frequency portion of mixed signal includes corresponding lower frequency portion of corrected internal microphone signal, and higher frequency portion of mixed signal includes corresponding higher frequency portion of acoustic signals from first external microphone. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A loudspeaker array has a cabinet in which is formed a continuously open circumferential horn for controlling sound produced by a number of transducers which are positioned in the cabinet, at a throat of the horn. The continuously open circumferential horn may 1) improve the power efficiency of the transducers without unwanted aliasing effects in audible frequency ranges and 2) provide vertical control for sound emitted by the transducers by flaring.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a multi-listener stereo image array which provides multiple separate stereo images of audio content to each of multiple listeners while mitigating interference of audio signals which provide separate stereo images to separate listeners. The array can include sensors which can monitor the environment and can identify relative positions of various listeners and can further control the audio signal patterns generated by the drivers of the array to propagate towards positions associated with particular listeners and be at least partially restricted from propagating towards positions associated with other listeners.

Abstract: An audio communication system which enables two-way audio communication between at least two users in separate locations includes a talker feedback system which commands a set of audio drivers to generate an acoustical feedback signal which includes at least a portion of an audio input received from the talker to be directed to the talker. The acoustical feedback signal can be generated in response to an intensity of the talker-generated acoustical signal meeting a threshold level, and the feedback can result in causing the talker to reduce the intensity of the talker-generated audio content. The acoustical feedback signal can be directed to a limited portion of the environment in which the talker is located. The talker feedback system can provide at least some of the feedback to the talker via a haptic feedback device.

Abstract: A multi-way speaker array is disclosed that includes rings of transducers of different types. The rings of transducers may encircle the cabinet of the speaker array such that the speaker array is rotationally symmetric. The distance between rings of transducers may be based on a logarithmic scale. By separating rings of transducers using logarithmic spacing, denser transducer spacing at short wavelengths is achieved while limiting the number of transducers needed for longer wavelengths by spacing them in larger and larger logarithmic increments. Transducers with overlapping frequency ranges may be used in the speaker array to avoid initial dips or shortfalls in directivity for corresponding beam patterns.

Abstract: A multi-way speaker array is disclosed that includes rings of transducers of different types. The rings of transducers may encircle the cabinet of the speaker array such that the speaker array is rotationally symmetric. The distance between rings of transducers may be based on a logarithmic scale. By separating rings of transducers using logarithmic spacing, denser transducer spacing at short wavelengths is achieved while limiting the number of transducers needed for longer wavelengths by spacing them in larger and larger logarithmic increments. Transducers with overlapping frequency ranges may be used in the speaker array to avoid initial dips or shortfalls in directivity for corresponding beam patterns.

Abstract: A multi-way speaker array is disclosed that includes rings of transducers of different types. The rings of transducers may encircle the cabinet of the speaker array such that the speaker array is rotationally symmetric. The distance between rings of transducers may be based on a logarithmic scale. By separating rings of transducers using logarithmic spacing, denser transducer spacing at short wavelengths is achieved while limiting the number of transducers needed for longer wavelengths by spacing them in larger and larger logarithmic increments. Transducers with overlapping frequency ranges may be used in the speaker array to avoid initial dips or shortfalls in directivity for corresponding beam patterns.

Abstract: Method of wind and noise reduction for headphones starts by receiving acoustic signals from first external microphone included on the outside of earcup's housing. Acoustic signals are received from internal microphone included inside earcup's housing. ANC downlink corrector processes downlink signal to generate echo estimate of speaker signal. First summator removes echo estimate of speaker signal from acoustic signals from internal microphone to generate corrected internal microphone signal. Spectral combiner performs spectral mixing of corrected internal microphone signal with acoustic signals from first external microphone to generate mixed signal. Lower frequency portion of mixed signal includes corresponding lower frequency portion of corrected internal microphone signal, and higher frequency portion of mixed signal includes corresponding higher frequency portion of acoustic signals from first external microphone. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method for determining the orientation of a loudspeaker relative to a listening device is described. The method simultaneously drives each transducer to emit beam patterns corresponding to distinct orthogonal audio signals. The listening device senses sounds produced by the orthogonal audio signals and analyzes the sensed audio signal to determine the spatial orientation of the loudspeaker relative to the listening device. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a directivity speaker array, comprising multiple driver assemblies, which is configured to provide audio signal patterns, which include audio content, to one or more listeners where the signal patterns are associated with at least a certain threshold directivity across a range of frequencies in which the array can transition between the providing audio signal patterns via beamforming of signals generated by multiple driver assemblies and via an individual driver assembly, based on overlapping frequency ranges at which such provided audio signal patterns are associated with at least the certain threshold directivity. A driver assembly can include a release duct which progressively releases an audio signal generated by a coupled driver, via perforations in a perforated surface, as the signal propagates along a surface of an enclosure of the duct such that an intensity of the audio signal is maximized along the particular axis of propagation.

Abstract: A video conferencing system is described that includes a near-end and a far-end system. The near-end system records both audio and video of one or more users proximate to the near-end system. This recorded audio and video is transmitted to the far-end system through the data connection. The video stream and/or one or more settings of the recording camera are analyzed to determine the amount of a video frame occupied by the recorded user(s). The video conferencing system may directly analyze the video frames themselves and/or a zoom setting of the recording camera to determine a ratio or percentage of the video frame occupied by the recorded user(s). By analyzing video frames associated with an audio stream, the video conferencing system may drive a speaker array of the far-end system to more accurately reproduce sound content based on the position of the recorded user in a video frame.

Abstract: Method and system for processing a telephone call comprising initiating a telephone call. Taking a first action if the telephone call is answered before a call alert is initiated. Taking a second action if the telephone call is answered after the call alert is initiated. Furthermore, a first action may be taken if the telephone call is answered before a call alert is initiated or if the telephone call is answered within a time period following the call alert being initiated. The second action may be taken if the telephone call is answered after expiry of the time period following the call alert being initiated.