Abstract: A wearable wireless communication device is provided, including a behind-the-ear main electronics enclosure housing wireless communication electronics, a main electronics enclosure mount engaging the behind-the-ear main electronics enclosure, an ear mount fitting the main electronics enclosure mount, and a decorative mount including a speaker. The decorative mount attaches to the ear mount which is configured to fit over an ear of a wearer. Signals are transmitted from the main electronics enclosure to the main electronics enclosure mount, to the ear mount, and to the speaker in the decorative mount. Audio from the speaker is provided to the ear of the user. Pierced ear and non-pierced ear versions are provided, wherein the ear mount for the non-pierced ear version includes a clip that clips to the wearer's ear lobe. The pierced ear version includes a conductive post that passes through a piercing in the wearer's ear.

Abstract: An earphone integrated with a microphone includes a housing, a speaker, a microphone (audio-recording device), and a supporting member. The housing has an audio-output hole formed thereon a receiving space formed therein. The speaker and the microphone are arranged in the receiving space. The supporting member is arranged in the housing. One end of the microphone is mounted on the supporting member for suspending the microphone in the receiving space. A buffering space is formed around the microphone. Thus, the earphone can achieve anti-noise effect in providing improved communication quality.

Abstract: Microphone arrays (MAs) are described that position and vent microphones so that performance of a noise suppression system coupled to the microphone array is enhanced. The MA includes at least two physical microphones to receive acoustic signals. The physical microphones make use of a common rear vent (actual or virtual) that samples a common pressure source. The MA includes a physical directional microphone configuration and a virtual directional microphone configuration. By making the input to the rear vents of the microphones (actual or virtual) as similar as possible, the real-world filter to be modeled becomes much simpler to model using an adaptive filter.

Abstract: A unidirectional microphone is provided that has an excellent directional frequency response and a high sensitivity. Sound waves are guided to a rear acoustic terminal 10b of an acoustic resistance tube 30 through an acoustic resistance member 31. A rear end opening 30b of the acoustic resistance tube 30 is blocked so as to prevent the sound waves from entering the rear acoustic terminal 10b from the rear end opening 30b of the acoustic resistance tube 30 on the side of the rear acoustic terminal 10b. A gap G which allows low-frequency sound waves to pass and through which a front acoustic chamber A1 and a rear acoustic chamber A2 in the acoustic resistance tube 30 communicate with each other is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the acoustic resistance tube 30 and the outer peripheral surface of the microphone unit 10.

Abstract: Electronic devices are provided that communicate over cables and other communications paths that include optical and electrical paths. A cable may include wires for forming an electrical path and one or more optical fibers for forming an optical path. Connectors at one or both ends of the cable may include electrical contacts and an optical coupling structure associated with the optical path. Optical paths may be included in connectors such as tip-ring-sleeve connectors and connectors of other types. Interface circuitry may be included in a connector to convert between optical and electrical signaling schemes. Wavelength-division-multiplexing may be used to support bidirectional communications. Breakout boxes and other equipment may be connected using the cables. Digital signals such as digital noise cancellation signals may be conveyed over the optical paths. Power and other electrical signals may be conveyed over the electrical paths.

Abstract: A biometric-sensor assembly, e.g., for acoustic reflectometry of the vocal tract. In one embodiment, the sensor assembly includes a dental appliance for in-mouth mounting, an acoustic sensor attached to the dental appliance, and an optional headset. The dental appliance enables secure placement of the acoustic sensor in the mouth of the user, e.g., for tracking movements of the tongue and/or other internal articulators of the vocal tract. A boom arm of the headset can be used for holding an additional acoustic sensor and/or a miniature video camera, e.g., for tracking movements of the lips.

Abstract: An earphone arrangement comprises a microphone (109) which generates a microphone signal and a sound transducer (101) which radiates a first sound component to a user's ear (103) in response to a drive signal. An acoustic channel (111) is further provided for channeling external sound so as to provide a second sound component to the user's ear (103). An acoustic valve (117) allows the attenuation of the acoustic channel (111) to be controlled in response to a valve control signal. A control circuit (105) generates the valve control signal in response to the microphone signal to provide a variable attenuation resulting in a mixed sound of the first sound component and the second sound component reaching the user's ear (103). The combined use of acoustic and e.g. electric signal paths allows improved performance and in particular allows a dynamic trade-off between open and closed earphone design characteristics with respect to external sounds.

Abstract: A headset includes a Bluetooth headset body, a microphone, and at least one speaker. The Bluetooth headset body includes a Bluetooth headset main-board and a battery. Interfaces provided by the Bluetooth headset main-board include the interfaces for the microphone and the speaker. Anodes of the microphone and the at least one speaker are connected to the corresponding interfaces of the Bluetooth headset main-board, respectively, and their cathodes are connected to a ground cable, respectively. The headset further includes: a headset plug, where interfaces of the headset plug are correspondingly and electrically connected to the anode of the at least one speaker, the ground cable, and the anode of the microphone, respectively; and connections between the anode of the microphone and of the at least one speaker and the corresponding interfaces of the Bluetooth headset main-board are disconnected after the headset plug is plugged in the external headset jack.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed, comprising a speaker suitable to be applied at a user's ear and enabled to be supplied with an audio signal for rendering; a microphone arranged in vicinity of the speaker to acquire a sound signal from sounds present in the ear of the user; and a signal processor, wherein the signal processor is arranged to subtract the audio signal from the sound signal to provide a physiological sound signal, and the signal processor is further arranged to detect a physiological measurement from the physiological sound signal. A method and a computer program are also disclosed.

Abstract: A headset device (1) comprising an attachment device (2) for attaching the headset device (1) to the head (3) of a user. The headset device (1) also comprises an audio device (4, 6) for transducing audio to an electrical signal or vice versa and adjustment means (7, 8) for adjusting the mutual positions and/or orientations of the attachment device (2) and the audio device to (4, 6) to a user-specific position, in which the headset device (1) is adjusted to the geometry of the users head (3). The adjustment means (7, 8) comprises selecting means (9; 10; 20; 41) for storing a first user-specific position, whereby a user quickly can readjust the headset device (1) from a non-user-specific position or other user-specific position to the first user-specific position.

Abstract: There is provided a headset having a head band, at least one fork for receiving an earpiece and a receiving portion between an end of the head band and one of the forks. The fork is arranged pivotably about a pivot axis. The fork has a first end having a support element. The receiving portion has a slider having at least two receiving positions. The support element engages into one of the at least two receiving positions of the slider and thus limits the maximum deflection of the fork about the pivot axis.

Abstract: A microphone assembly is operable to be removably attached to a surface. The microphone assembly includes a microphone and a microphone support that operably supports the microphone. The microphone assembly further includes a coupling assembly that is operable to removably connect the microphone support to the surface. The coupling assembly includes at least one magnet that magnetically and removably attaches the microphone support to the surface.

Abstract: Cheek stabilizers for audio headsets are disclosed. The audio headset generally include a headset body having first and second regions for positioning near a user's ear and toward the user's mouth, respectively, and a stabilizer extending from the second region of the headset body, the stabilizer being configured to position the second region at a distance away from the user's cheek. The stabilizer may facilitate positioning any metal contacts on the headset body away from the user. The stabilizer may be inverted U-shaped to form a channel over the metal contact or may be configured as one or more ribs disposed adjacent to the metal contact. The stabilizer may also facilitate in positioning a microphone port away from the user's cheek. Where the headset is used with an earpiece worn in the ear, the stabilizer may facilitate maintaining the earpiece within the user's ear.

Abstract: The earphone housing is essentially mirror symmetric about a first plane, which is orthogonal to the first side, and which extends through the wire position and the center of the earphone housing. The wearing device extends from the earphone housing at an attachment position, which lies at the upper end of the earphone housing. The attachment position can be a first attachment position for holding the earphone housing at the left ear or a second attachment position for holding the earphone at the right ear. The first and the second attachment positions are mirror symmetric located about the first plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a headset having a loudspeaker housing and a microphone which are interconnected by a microphone boom arm, whereby the boom arm comprises two opposed spaced apart arm parts whereby a name tag display is seatable between the arm parts and whereby retaining tongue and grove pairs are provided at the arms and/or at the name tag display.

Abstract: A device for mounting a communication headset to a helmet includes a mounting panel having a seat in a front surface thereof that includes a set of electrical contacts and a guide, a printed circuit board 110 in electrical connection with the electrical contacts, and an elongated tongue affixed to the mounting panel. The tongue is configured for insertion between an inner shell and an outer shell of a protective helmet. Also, a wireless communication device can have such a tongue affixed to it. The tongue can be forked or otherwise arranged to have plural broad surfaces extending to a free end.

Abstract: An earbud headset, a handset including the same, and methods of operating the headset and handset are provided. In one embodiment, an earbud headset includes a speaker portion that is retractable into and extendable from a base portion, thereby allowing for a thin profile form factor. Advantageously, the earbud headset allows for more convenient storage and/or integration with a handset such that a user may carry the handset and headset much like a single item.

Abstract: A headset having a loudspeaker housing and a microphone which are interconnected by a microphone boom arm that includes two opposed spaced apart arm parts, and wherein a name tag display is seatable between the arm parts and retaining tongue and grove pairs are provided at the arms and/or at the name tag display.

Abstract: A method and system for remotely managing mobile devices over a communication network including transceiving user input data generated at a mobile management terminal to a management computer over a communication network. The transceived user input data is analyzed to determine whether the user input data corresponds to a stored command function and the stored command function is executed at the management computer in response to determining that the user input data corresponds to a stored command function. Data is transceived from the management computer to one or more mobile host devices over the communication network.

Abstract: A push-to-talk headset can include one or more user-actuatable switches, user-actuatable adjustment devices or the like that are electrically coupled to a pulse generator circuit. Responsive to detected state transitions of the one or more user-actuatable switches, user-actuatable adjustment devices or the like, a number of signals comprising a number of pulses may be communicated to a portable electronic device communicably coupled to the push-to-talk headset. At least a first of these signals having a first number of pulses may be used to place the portable electronic device in a push-to-talk mode. At least a second of these signals having a second number of pulses may be used by the operating system to remove the portable electronic device from the push-to-talk mode.

Abstract: A circuit apparatus and a method for detecting an earphone in a portable terminal are provided. The apparatus includes an earjack, a first switch, a second switch, a comparator, and a main chip. The earjack outputs a signal informing whether an earphone is inserted, provides a signal input from a third pole of the inserted earphone to the first switch, and provides a signal input from a fourth pole to the second switch. The first switch outputs a signal provided from the earjack to one of a comparator and a ground depending on an input control signal. The second switch outputs a signal provided from the earjack to one of the comparator and the ground depending on the input control signal. The comparator compares a voltage of a signal provided from one of the first switch and the second switch with a reference voltage to output a signal representing a comparison result.

Abstract: Methods and devices for voice communications and foreign language translation are disclosed. One method includes selecting one of a plurality of microphones of an earpiece unit, receiving a selected voice communication of a first language from the selected microphone and translating the selected voice communication from the first language to a second language, the second language different from the first to create a translated voice communication, and transducing the translated voice communication at a speaker within the earpiece unit. Preferably the microphones are oriented in different directions and are directional microphones. The present invention further optionally provides for the sensing and transmission of pulse oximeter measurements and temperature measurements.

Abstract: A headphone set is equipped with left- and right-ear headphone units. Each unit includes a housing body having a first plane section and a second plane section that faces the first section, the sections being almost perpendicular to a cross section of a cavum conchae of a user's ear when the housing body is fit in the cavum conchae, a speaker and a microphone aligned between the sections, the speaker being located at the first section side, the microphone being located at the second section side. A sound output section is provided at the first section, to give off sounds output by the speaker to an outer space of the housing body. A sound pick-up hole is provided at the second section, through which the outer space communicates with an inner space of the housing body created between a sound pick-up section of the microphone and the second section.

Abstract: A system comprises an accessory, a mobile unit module, and a battery pack module. The accessory is worn one of on and near a portion of a body of a user. The mobile unit module removably couples to the accessory. The battery pack module removably couples to one of the mobile unit and the accessory.

Abstract: A headset includes a battery and transmission part shaped to rest behind and above the ear lobe of a user and a speaker and microphone part arranged to extend downwards in front of the ear canal. The two parts are interlinked to pivot with respect to each other and the battery and transmission part accommodates a battery as well as signal processing and transmission electronics, and the speaker and microphone part accommodates a speaker element and a microphone boom arm and further, the two parts have mating surfaces such that a pivotal motion between the two, when the device is not at the ear, will bring a surface of the first part and a surface of the second part together. A magnet is inserted in the one part and a sensor for sensing the magnetic field from the magnet is comprised in the other part, such that movement between the two parts may be registered and used to control the function of the headset or for giving audible indication signals to the user.

Abstract: A hat mounted music system includes a semi-rigid hatband and a flexible crown and hat bill mounted to the hatband. A retaining pocket is mounted to the hatband and is sized and shaped to hold a portable music player. First and second headphone mounts are located to align with the ears of a user. The mounts have first and second hinges. First portions of the hinges are attached to the hatband and second portions of the hinges are attached to the mounts. The hinges permit movement of the mounts from a first, open position to a second, listening position. First and second headphone modules are adapted to fit the headphone mounts. Connection wires connect the player to the headphone modules. The headphone mounts are spring-loaded and are retained in the second position by a latching mechanism. A release device allows the headphone mounts to return to the first, open position.

Abstract: A headset comprises an audio output device, an audio input device, and a wire. The audio output device plays outgoing audio data. The audio input device receives incoming audio data. The wire connects the audio input device to a sound device that interprets the incoming audio data. The wire is further configured to be an antenna to one of transmit and receive radio frequency signals. The wire is further connected to a transceiver.

Abstract: A headset (1; 101; 102) comprising a housing (2; 102; 103) and a microphone arm (3; 103; 203). The microphone arm (3; 103; 203) is connected to a hinge member (4; 104; 204), which is pivotally connected to the housing (2; 102; 103) such that the microphone arm (3; 103; 203) can be rotated about a first pivot axis (P1; P101; P201) between a first position, in which it lies along a first surface (9; 109; 209) of the housing (2; 102; 202) and a second, extended position in which it extends away from the housing (3; 103; 203). The microphone arm (3; 103; 203) is movably connected to the hinge member (4; 104; 204) so that the microphone arm (3; 103; 203) can be moved into a third position, in which it lies along a second surface (10; 110; 210) of the housing (2; 102; 202).

Abstract: A power supply circuit including a voltage regulator and a headphone driving circuit employing the same are disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, the power supply circuit may provide stable power supply to the amplifier since the power supply circuit generates the constant voltage +Vreg and the constant voltage ?Vreg from +VDD robust to stronger than a power noise, and the balanced signal path for isolating the noise of the input signal to be amplified is not required, thereby simplifying the constitution of the circuit.

Abstract: A headset structure is disclosed. The headset structure includes a microphone boom and an earphone housing. An elastic positioning structure is formed on an outer surface of the microphone boom, and the earphone housing has a gear-shaped notch adjusting structure for matching with the elastic positioning structure. In the present invention, the length of the microphone boom can be adjusted to be lengthened or shortened as required by the elastic positioning structure of the microphone boom and the gear-shaped notch adjusting structure of the earphone housing.

Abstract: The adjustable mouth shield device provides an adjustably fitted mouth shield with adjustable headband for secure fit. The adjustable headband is fastened to the padded earpiece. The straight first extension from the earpiece is angled downwardly and forwardly to terminate in a swivel joint providing almost 360 degrees of swivel. The second extension is arced both downwardly and forwardly. The u-shaped mouthpiece is fitted to the adjustable spring mount for horizontal pivot of the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece may, by virtue of the swivel joint and the spring mount, be moved completely away from a user's mouth and, in turn, pivoted and swiveled to be directly in front of the user's mouth. The inward curves at the distal end of the mouthpiece aid in sliding on the disposable pads that shield a user from objects, foods and other materials.

Abstract: A microphone shield device includes a microphone shield plate, a shield plate arm connected at a first end thereof to the microphone shield plate, and means for attaching a second end of the shield plate arm to a microphone headset in a manner which at least partially obscures an ability to view a microphone headset user's mouth while the user is speaking into the microphone headset.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a headset includes a body housing a pivot coupling, a speaker capsule operably coupled to the body, and an arm operably coupled to the body. The arm is capable of pivoting open and close about the pivot coupling for accessing a microphone at a free end of the arm. A method for accessing a headset microphone is also provided. Advantageously, the apparatus and method of the present disclosure provide for improved headset use and speech clarity.

Abstract: There is provided a microphone unit comprising a hoop (10) with a first and second end (11, 12), a microphone capsule (20) at the first end (11) and a connection plug (30) at the second end (12) of the hoop (10). The hoop (10) has a flexible or bendable tubular hoop and is bent or is bendable to form a loop.

Abstract: An earphone integrated with a microphone includes a housing, a speaker, a microphone (audio-recording device), and a supporting member. The housing has an audio-output hole formed thereon a receiving space formed therein. The speaker and the microphone are arranged in the receiving space. The supporting member is arranged in the housing. One end of the microphone is mounted on the supporting member for suspending the microphone in the receiving space. A buffering space is formed around the microphone. Thus, the earphone can achieve anti-noise effect in providing improved communication quality.

Abstract: An audio headset may comprise a case, near field microphone and far field microphone. A speaker, processor, memory, battery, charging interface and cradle detection circuit may be mounted to the case. Processor-executable instructions embodied in the memory, may be configured to implement a battery charging method. The headset may be shut off in response to placement of the headset in a charging cradle. The far-field microphone is turned on but not the near-field microphone. The battery may then be charged from the cradle. A headset having near-field and far-field microphones may be used to distinguish between user speech and competing sounds by generating signals from the sounds detected by each microphone and comparing the strengths of the signals. The signals may be processed as user speech if they are of comparable strength. Otherwise, the near-field signal may be processed as user speech and the far-field signal as competing sounds.

Abstract: An earphone having an under hanger reduces movement of the earphone from vibrations that occur while a user is typically in motion. The earphone preferably includes: a housing for housing a speaker therein; a protector installed in a front surface of the housing and having a mesh for delivering a sound from the speaker; and an under hanger provided at a lower part of the housing to closely contact along a lower part of the rear side of an earflap of a user. The provision of an under hanger in a lower part of the earphone prevents from being easily separated from a user's ear. Further, by providing an under hanger made of a soft material, as the earphone closely contacts with the user's ear, a sound quality is improved and a wearing feeling of the earphone is improved.

Abstract: A headset comprises two earphones joined together by a band which can be worn over the head of a wearer. Each earphone includes a noise plate, which functions to attenuate or eliminate noise from the environment such as a tournament gaming environment. The noise plate includes an aperture through which a boom assembly that houses a microphone may engage to transmit utterances of the wearer to audio processing circuitry. A grille can be exposed when the noise plate is removed, which allows sounds produced in the ambient environment to enter the earphone.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, A microphone-earphone includes a speaker connected to an acoustic device configured to measure acoustic characteristics of a listener's external auditory canal, and configured to output an acoustic signal toward the listener's external auditory canal, a microphone device disposed outside the listener's external auditory canal, an acoustic tube including one end connected to the microphone device and the other end opening to the listener's external auditory canal, and a housing including an opening portion which accommodates the speaker and is so disposed as to guide sound, which is output from the speaker, to the listener's external auditory canal. An inside diameter of the acoustic tube is less than a diameter of the opening portion.

Abstract: A bone-conduction microphone built-in headset comprises: an ear pad; an ear cup capable of covering an ear; a piezoelectric element composing a bone-conduction microphone; a buffer material forming the ear pad; a baffle board provided between the ear pad and the ear cup; a wire laid from the piezoelectric element, in which the ear pad is provided on an opening end side of the ear cup, the piezoelectric element is provided inside the ear pad and supported by the buffer material to be pressed against a skin around the ear, the ear pad is detachably attached to the baffle board, and the baffle board has a connecter to which the wire is connected.

Abstract: A head set includes a cable winding device arranged in the housing for winding cables on both sides in a spring-supported manner, the cable winding device having at least one locking device, and including a microphone and at least one earphone or headphone, with the cable winding device including two take-up reels connected to each other in a rotationally fixed manner, and the take-up reels having different diameters. The microphone is arranged on the housing and it is connected to one of the take-up reels in a rotationally fixed manner and is rotatably supported relative to the housing.

Abstract: An innovative automatic-noise-reduction headset includes numerous enhancements. For example, one embodiment includes added noise-control circuitry at each of one or more auxiliary inputs to reduce audible hiss in the earcups. Another embodiment includes integrated crossfeed processing circuitry to enhance the spatial imaging of stereo audio perceived by headset users. Still another embodiment provides superior perception of noise cancellation by focusing noise cancelling at midband frequencies, such as 400-800 Hertz, as opposed to just lower frequencies. And another embodiment provides earcups formed of magnesium or a magnesium alloy for improved strength-weight as well as passive noise attenuation in the 400-800 Hertz range.

Abstract: A gaming headset adapted for precise delivery of chemical substances capable of olfactory stimulation, such as odorants, fragrances, pheromones, etc. The headset includes at least one earpiece containing a speaker, a feature for securing the earpiece to the person's head while positioning the speaker over one of the person's ears when the headset is worn, an armature disposed relative to the earpiece so as to extend toward the person's mouth, a microphone located on the armature so as to be located in front of the person's mouth, and a feature supported by and extending along the armature for delivering at least one chemical substance to the person's nostril's when the headset is worn.

Abstract: A wireless headphone integrated with an adjustment control device includes a headphone, a tuning unit having a base disposed on a side of the headphone containing an ear muff, a rotatable tuning shaft protruded from the base and coupled to a knob, a direction changing unit having a through hole at the middle of the direction changing unit and rotably coupled to the base, such that the tuning shaft is passed through the through hole, a microphone unit movably coupled to the direction changing unit, such that the microphone unit can be rotated, extended, contracted or adjusted by the direction changing unit. Therefore, the wireless headphone integrated with an adjustment control device achieves the effects of simplifying the assembly structure, lowering the manufacturing cost, and beautifying the appearance of the headphone.

Abstract: A communication device comprises a housing with a housing wall encapsulating a housing interior. A microphone is arranged in the housing interior and communicates via an audio passage with the outside of the housing. An electrical socket is adapted to receive an electrical plug through a socket opening, which is accessible from the outside of the housing. The audio passage comprises the socket opening and the electrical socket includes a socket casing which surrounds the socket opening and extends in the insertion direction of the electrical plug. The socket casing includes through-going holes which form a part of the audio passage. The electrical plug is adapted to be removably inserted in the electrical socket and is provided with latching protrusions, which are adapted to be received in the through-going holes in the socket casing, when the electrical plug is inserted in the electrical socket.

Abstract: An antenna and button assembly is provided for a compact portable wireless device such as a wireless headset for a handheld electronic device. An antenna structure is mounted within a button structure. The button structure includes a switch actuation member that extends past the antenna structure and into engagement with a switch. The switch actuation member may reciprocate within the button structure. A user may press upon an exposed end of the switch actuation member to operate the switch. The switch may be used to control the application of power to the compact portable wireless device or to perform other suitable functions. The button structure may be formed using dielectric materials such as plastic. By forming the button structure from dielectric, clearance is provided between the antenna structure and conductive portions of the compact portable wireless device so that the antenna of the compact wireless device operates properly.

Abstract: A headset includes a housing having an inner side thereof engageable at least with a human ear and a curved member for attaching the housing behind the ear. An audible sound emitting speaker is mounted within the housing and a microphone capable of receiving sound wave and for converting the sound wave into an electrical signal is connected to one end of a boom. The other end of the boom is attached to the housing. An amplifier is disposed within the housing and is operatively connected to the speaker and the microphone for amplifying the electrical signal. A manually operable variable volume control resistive switch is operatively disposed between the amplifier and the microphone for controlling amplification of the electrical signal. A battery is contained within the housing and supplies a predetermined voltage to the amplifier and microphone. A manually operable switch controls voltage supply from the battery.

Abstract: Microphone arrays (MAs) are described that position and vent microphones so that performance of a noise suppression system coupled to the microphone array is enhanced. The MA includes at least two physical microphones to receive acoustic signals. The physical microphones make use of a common rear vent (actual or virtual) that samples a common pressure source. The MA includes a physical directional microphone configuration and a virtual directional microphone configuration. By making the input to the rear vents of the microphones (actual or virtual) as similar as possible, the real-world filter to be modeled becomes much simpler to model using an adaptive filter.

Abstract: Electronic devices and accessories such as headsets are provided. An accessory may include speakers and active noise cancellation circuitry. Microphones may be used to pick up ambient noise signals for implementing noise cancellation for the speakers. The accessory may also include a voice microphone and an ambient noise microphone that picks up ambient noise signals for implementing noise cancellation for the voice microphone. A user input interface may gather user input. Ultrasonic tone generators may transmit data between the device and accessory. The electronic device and accessory may be connected to each other by audio connectors. Hybrid circuits that each include a summer and a transconductance amplifier may be selectively switched into or out of use. When switched into use, paths between the device and accessory can support bidirectional communications such as communications involving the simultaneous flow of analog audio and microphone signals in opposite directions.

Abstract: A hearing protector comprises a hearing hood (2), a microphone (7), a loudspeaker and an amplifier. The hearing hood (2) has passive noise damping. The microphone (7) is disposed exteriorly on the hearing protector, while the loudspeaker is disposed inside the hood. The amplifier amplifies and transmits the signals from the microphone (7) to the loudspeaker. The noise damping of the hearing hood (2) is broad band. The frequency range of the amplifier corresponds to the frequency range of human speech. The amplification of the amplifier is variable and the greatest amplification is such that the sum total of the sound levels that are caused, on the one hand, by ambient sound passing through the hood (2) and, on the other hand, by sound from the loudspeaker amounts to a maximum, predetermined value.