Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating performance of a headphone assembly is provided with a base and a support having a proximal end extending from the base. The support includes a distal end that is adapted for supporting a headphone assembly, and the support includes a pair of opposing sides that are laterally spaced apart. The apparatus also includes a pair of plates and at least two microphones. Each plate is mounted to one of the opposing sides of the support, and includes a central portion with at least two apertures formed therein. The central portion is sized for receiving a headphone of the headphone assembly. Each microphone is disposed within one of the apertures and arranged such that an outer surface of the microphone is oriented substantially parallel to an outer surface of the plate and adapted for receiving sound emitted from the headphone.

Abstract: An audio surround processing system receives an audio source signal having at least two audio channels and generates a number of additional surround sound signals in which an amount of artificially generated ambient energy is controlled in real-time at least in part by an estimate of ambient energy that is contained in the audio source signal. The system may divide the audio source signal into two sets of components; a first set of components and a second set of components. The first set of components may be in a range of frequency that is less than a range of frequency of the second set of components. An ambience estimate control coefficient may be generated using the transformed first set of components. An overall gain may be determined using the ambience estimate control coefficient. The overall gain may be used in generation of the additional surround sound signals.

Abstract: An audio surround processing system receives an audio source signal having at least two audio channels and generates a number of additional surround sound signals in which an amount of artificially generated ambient energy is controlled in real-time at least in part by an estimate of ambient energy that is contained in the audio source signal. The system may divide the audio source signal into two sets of components; a first set of components and a second set of components. The first set of components may be in a range of frequency that is less than a range of frequency of the second set of components. An ambience estimate control coefficient may be generated using the transformed first set of components. An overall gain may be determined using the ambience estimate control coefficient. The overall gain may be used in generation of the additional surround sound signals.

Abstract: The invention is a multi-channel loudspeaker system that provides a compact loudspeaker configuration and filter design methodology that operates in the digital signal processing domain. Further, the loudspeaker system can be designed to include drivers of various physical dimensions and can achieve prescribed constant directivity over a large area in both the vertical and horizontal planes.

Abstract: A sound enhancement system (SES) that can enhance reproduction of sound emitted by headphones and other sound systems is disclosed. The SES improves sound reproduction by simulating a desired sound system without including unwanted artifacts typically associated with simulations of sound systems. The SES facilitates such improvements by transforming sound system outputs through a set of one or more binaural rendering filters derived from direct and indirect head-related transfer functions (HRTFs). Parameters of the binaural rendering filters are updated based on the head tracking angle of user wearing the headphones to render a stable stereo sound image. The head tracking angle may be determined from sensor data obtained from a digital gyroscope mounted in a headphone assembly.

Abstract: An audio system is provided. The audio system has a first speaker assembly having a first steerable audio beam and a second speaker assembly having a second steerable audio beam. A control system is in communication with the first and second speaker assemblies and is programmed to receive a sweet-spot input signal indicative of a sweet-spot area having stereo surround sound. The controller commands the first and second speaker assemblies to adjust at least one of parameter of the first and second steerable audio beams so that the second steerable audio beam intersects the first steerable audio beam to form the sweet-spot area at the intersection.

Abstract: A system for providing an audio interface at a mobile device is provided. The mobile device includes an interface programmed detect a loudspeaker system. The mobile device presents, via a user interface, a display screen to receive user input of sweet-spot commands. The mobile devices send sweet-spot parameters to the loudspeaker system in response to the sweet-spot commands.

Abstract: A speaker assembly is provided having a plurality of transducers disposed on a speaker body and configured to produce an audio beam being steerable based on at least one audio beam parameter. A light assembly is arranged on the speaker body and configured to produce a light output that varies based at least one audio beam parameter. The light output varies to provide a visual reference as the audio beam is steered.

Abstract: A headphone is provided with a housing and a transducer. The housing has a baffle surface with a recess formed therein and an edge formed about a periphery of the baffle surface. The transducer disposed in the recess and supported by the housing. The headphone is also provided with an ear cushion and a sheet. The ear cushion has a base formed in an annular shape and connected to the housing about the edge and a contact surface spaced apart from the base to engage a portion of a user's head around an outer ear, wherein the ear cushion defines a cavity to collectively form an acoustic chamber with the user's head. The sheet is disposed over the baffle surface with a hole formed therethrough and aligned with the transducer. The sheet is also formed of a sound absorbent material to suppress sound reflections within the acoustic chamber.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for a loudspeaker driven by one or more piezoelectric actuators. In embodiments of the disclosure, a loudspeaker comprises a support structure, and a piezoelectric layered cantilever actuator affixed to the support structure via at least two grips. The support structure may also comprise a membrane suspended over the piezoelectric actuator, the membrane being in contact with the piezoelectric actuator between the at least two grips.

Abstract: A sound system is provided with a headphone that includes a transducer and at least one microphone. The sound system also includes an equalization filter and a loop filter circuit. The equalization filter is adapted to equalize an audio input signal based on at least one predetermined coefficient. The loop filter circuit includes a leaky integrator circuit that is adapted to generate a filtered audio signal based on the equalized audio input signal and a feedback signal indicative of sound received by the at least one microphone, and to provide the filtered audio signal to the transducer.

Abstract: A sound enhancement system (SES) that can enhance reproduction of sound emitted by headphones and other sound systems is disclosed. The SES improves sound reproduction by simulating a desired sound system without including unwanted artifacts typically associated with simulations of sound systems. The SES facilitates such improvements by transforming sound system outputs through a set of one or more binaural rendering filters derived from direct and indirect head-related transfer functions (HRTFs). Parameters of the binaural rendering filters are updated based on the head tracking angle of user wearing the headphones to render a stable stereo sound image. The head tracking angle may be determined from sensor data obtained from a digital gyroscope mounted in a headphone assembly.

Abstract: A bionic hearing headset for enhancing directional sound from an external audio source. The headset includes a pair of headphones, each having a microphone array that connects listeners to the environment through a plurality of microphones, even while listening to content presented over the headphones from an electronic audio source. The microphone array signals are first converted into beam-formed directional signals. Diffuse signal components may be suppressed using a common, noise-reduction mask. The audio signals may then be converted to binaural format using a plurality of head-related transfer function (HRTF) pairs.

Abstract: A headphone assembly is described having a concha-style headphone including an earpiece at least partially covered in dual foam and a headband for providing a clamping force sufficient to the seal the concha of a user's with the earpiece. The earpiece may be shaped to fit different concha sizes and shapes to provide a universal fit. The dual foam may include a layer of memory foam underneath acoustically-transparent, porous outer foam. The earpiece may further include a transducer and at least one microphone positioned with the earpiece to receive sound radiated by the transducer and noise. The headphone assembly may be equipped with an active noise-canceling (ANC) control system configured to receive an audio input signal from an audio source and provide a filtered audio output signal to the transducer based on part on a perceived frequency response of the headphone as measured by the microphone.

Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating performance of a headphone assembly is provided with a base and a support having a proximal end extending from the base. The support includes a distal end that is adapted for supporting a headphone assembly, and the support includes a pair of opposing sides that are laterally spaced apart. The apparatus also includes a pair of plates and at least two microphones. Each plate is mounted to one of the opposing sides of the support, and includes a central portion with at least two apertures formed therein. The central portion is sized for receiving a headphone of the headphone assembly. Each microphone is disposed within one of the apertures and arranged such that an outer surface of the microphone is oriented substantially parallel to an outer surface of the plate and adapted for receiving sound emitted from the headphone.

Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating performance of a headphone assembly is provided with a base and a support having a proximal end extending from the base. The support includes a distal end that is adapted for supporting a headphone assembly, and the support includes a pair of opposing sides that are laterally spaced apart. The apparatus also includes a pair of plates and at least two microphones. Each plate is mounted to one of the opposing sides of the support, and includes a central portion with at least two apertures formed therein. The central portion is sized for receiving a headphone of the headphone assembly. Each microphone is disposed within one of the apertures and arranged such that an outer surface of the microphone is oriented substantially parallel to an outer surface of the plate and adapted for receiving sound emitted from the headphone.

Abstract: A sound enhancement system (SES) that can enhance reproduction of sound emitted by headphones and other sound systems. The SES improves sound reproduction by simulating a desired sound system without including unwanted artifacts typically associated with simulations of sound systems. The SES facilitates such improvements by transforming sound system outputs through a set of one or more sum and cross filters, where such filters have been derived from a database of known direct and indirect head-related transfer functions (HRTFs).

Abstract: An approach and device for optimizing a sound system by extracting a two-channel stereo source out of a set of multiple channels with unknown frequency responses, crosstalk, time delays and sample rate by employing a digital test sequence that utilizes maximum-length-sequences (MLS) that is fed into the sound system and results in a reconstructed stereo source that may be further used as an input to a signal processor that performs improved speaker and room equalization.

Abstract: A bionic hearing headset for enhancing directional sound from an external audio source. The headset includes a pair of headphones, each having a microphone array that connects listeners to the environment through a plurality of microphones, even while listening to content presented over the headphones from an electronic audio source. The microphone array signals are first converted into beam-formed directional signals. Diffuse signal components may be suppressed using a common, noise-reduction mask. The audio signals may then be converted to binaural format using a plurality of head-related transfer function (HRTF) pairs.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for a loudspeaker driven by one or more piezoelectric actuators. In embodiments of the disclosure, a loudspeaker comprises a support structure, and a piezoelectric layered cantilever actuator affixed to the support structure via at least two grips. The support structure may also comprise a membrane suspended over the piezoelectric actuator, the membrane being in contact with the piezoelectric actuator between the at least two grips.