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 noise-suppression assembly of a mechanical drive system having a rotational frequency includes an audio filter unit configured to receive a first audio signal and a timing signal of the mechanical drive system. The audio filter unit generates a noise-cancellation signal based on a frequency of the timing signal to suppress a noise generated by the mechanical drive system and to apply the noise-cancellation signal to the first audio signal to produce a filtered first audio signal. The frequency of the timing signal is based on the rotational frequency of the mechanical drive system.

Abstract: A power management system and method for a noise reducing headset. The power management system adjusts the operations of the noise reducing headset based on the characteristics of the power sources available to the noise reducing headset.

Abstract: A method and a wearable communication system for personal face-to-face and wireless communications in high noise environments are provided. A noise cancellation device (NCD) operably coupled to a wireless coupling device (WCD) includes a speech acquisition unit, an audio signal processing unit, one or more loudspeakers, and a communication module. The NCD receives voice vibrations from user speech via a contact microphone and a second microphone and converts the voice vibrations into an audio signal. The NCD processes the audio signal to remove noise signals and enhance a speech signal contained in the audio signal. A loudspeaker emits the speech signal during face-to-face communication. The NCD transmits the speech signal to a communication device via the WCD and receives an external speech signal from the communication device during wireless communication. With the NCD, the signal intelligibility and signal-to-noise ratio can be improved, for example, from ?10 dB to 20 dB.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for customizable reduction of perceived ambient sounds are disclosed. Customizable reduction can be achieved via an application operable in conjunction with an audio player or a headset having a microphone.

Abstract: A system for processing sound, the system including: (a) a processor, configured to process a first input signal that is detected by a first microphone at a detection moment, a second input signal that is detected by a second microphone at the detection moment, and a third input signal that is detected by a bone-conduction microphone at the detection moment, to generate a corrected signal that is responsive to the first, second, and third input signals; and (b) a communication interface, configured to provide the corrected signal to an external system.

Abstract: A headset includes first and second earcups each having a front opening adapted to be adjacent to a respective ear of a user and including an electroacoustic transducer, a headband coupled to each of the earcups, and an active noise reduction circuit coupled to the electroacoustic transducers. The headband is configurable between at least two configurations that each press the earcups against the head of the user with different amounts of force. The active noise reduction circuit is configured to determine which of the at least two configurations the headband may be configured in, to provide a different amount of noise reduction when the headband may be configured in each of the different amounts of force, and to automatically transition between the different amounts of noise reduction in response to a change in the configuration of the headband between the at least two configurations.

Abstract: In reverberant environments, reflected waves including an echoic sound and a muffled sound affect and disable recognition of sound arrival directions. As a result, the subjective clearness of the sounds deteriorates. In order to enhance the clearness of a reproduced sound in a reverberant environment, a pre-processing filter unit corrects an input sound signal portion having a frequency band relating to human auditory recognition on a sound wave arrival direction, and speakers reproduce the sound signal. The correction involves attenuating an input sound signal in the frequency band portion, based on the relationship between the frequencies of the input sound signal and the magnitude of influence to the recognition of the sound wave arrival direction. This attenuation is achieved by filtering using filter coefficients that are set by a first filter characteristic setting unit using hearing characteristic parameters that are set by a hearing characteristic setting unit.

Abstract: A method in a communications device includes the following operations. During a call, a process automatically detects that the device has moved from an at-the-ear position to an away-from-the-ear position. Based on the detection, a noise suppressor that operates upon an uplink signal for the call is signaled to change its noise suppression performance. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling a noise cancellation system, the noise cancellation system being for use in a device comprising a speaker for receiving a wanted signal and generating a sound signal therefrom, and the noise cancellation system comprising: a digital filter, for generating a noise cancellation signal from an input signal representative of ambient noise; and an output for applying the noise cancellation signal to the speaker in addition to the wanted signal to generate a sound signal from which the ambient noise has been at least partially cancelled. The method comprises: determining a resonant frequency of the speaker; based on the determined resonant frequency, selecting a set of filter coefficients; and applying the selected set of filter coefficients to the digital filter.

Abstract: Provided is a system for adaptively enhancing an end-user's perceived quality, or quality of experience (QoE), of speech and other audio under ambient noise conditions. The system comprises the steps of determining the ambient noise characteristics on a continuous basis to capture the time varying nature of ambient noises, and adaptively determining the most optimal signal shaping to be applied to the audio/speech signal to produce the most appropriate enhancement to compensate for the ambient noise impairment. The system also comprises a signal shaping technique by using an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter that performs the signal modification with a low delay; a multi-level automatic gain control (AGC); and a controlled amplitude clipping module that assures samples are below a certain limit; and outputs the modified signal for playback through a loudspeaker or the like.

Abstract: An active noise reduction (ANR) component for provision in an earphone housing is disclosed. The device includes a driver and a sensing microphone, the driver and sensing microphone being housed in a component housing. The earphone housing has an outlet passageway from the ANR component to an auditory canal. The ANR component is adapted for use with a controller to provide active noise reduction to the auditory canal over a predetermined range of physical dimensions or acoustic parameters of the housing outlet passageway. The ANR component can thus be used with different housings which simplifies the design process for producing ANR earphone products.

Abstract: A method for a multi microphone noise reduction in a complex noisy environment is proposed. A left and a right noise power spectral density for a left and a right noise input frame is estimated for computing a diffuse noise gain. A target speech power spectral density is extracted from the noise input frame. A directional noise gain is calculated from the target speech power spectral density and the noise power spectral density. The noisy input frame is filtered by Kalman filtering method. A Kalman based gain is generated from the Kalman filtered noisy frame and the noise power spectral density. A spectral enhancement gain is computed by combining the diffuse noise gain, the directional noise gain, and the Kalman based gain. The method reduces different combinations of diverse background noise and increases speech intelligibility, while guaranteeing to preserve the interaural cues of the target speech and directional background noises.

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 personal listening system has an active noise control (ANC) controller that produces an anti-noise signal. A head worn audio device for a user has a speaker to convert the anti-noise signal into anti-noise, an error microphone, and a reference microphone. The controller uses signals from the error and reference microphones to produce the anti-noise signal in accordance with an adaptive filter algorithm that has an adjustable parameter which changes so as to move the point at which acoustic cancellation occurs from the error microphone and closer to the user's eardrum. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A system for hearing protection comprising an outer hearing protection unit, an inner hearing protection unit, and an outer microphone is disclosed, the inner hearing protection unit comprising a speaker and the microphone being arranged to be electrically connectable for transmission of signals to the speaker.

Abstract: Noise cancellation is effected for audio devices. In connection with various embodiments, a forward leakage transfer function is determined using a signal corresponding to detected portions of the generated sound that has leaked out of the user's ear canal with the proximate end of the earphone inserted in (or otherwise fitted to) the ear. This forward leakage transfer function can be used to characterize ambient noise entering a user's ear canal. A signal corresponding to ambient noise is processed with the forward leakage transfer function to generate and output a noise-cancelling signal for canceling at least a portion of the detected ambient noise.

Abstract: A digital circuit arrangement for an ambient noise-reduction system affording a higher degree of noise reduction than has hitherto been possible. The arrangement converts the analog signals into N-bit digital signals at sample rate f0, and then subjects the converted signals to digital filtering. The value of N in some embodiments is 1 but, in any event, is no greater than 8, and f0 may be 64 times the Nyquist sampling rate but, in any event, is substantially greater than the Nyquist sampling rate. This permits digital processing to be used without incurring group delay problems that rule out the use of conventional digital processing in this context. Furthermore, adjustment of the group delay can readily be achieved, in units of a fraction of a micro-second, providing the ability to fine tune the group delay for feed forward applications.

Abstract: A hearing protection system with talk-through having a pair of rigid earcups enclosing a microphone, amplifier and speaker. A concha simulator, having a volume simulating that of the concha of a human ear, is acoustically coupled to the microphone, and also to the outside through an opening in the earcup. By coupling the microphone to the concha simulator, instead of directly to the outside, the acoustic response of the talk-through more accurately represents the hearing of a user.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided in one example embodiment and includes an earpiece that includes at least one switch that senses physical contact with an end user operating the apparatus. The contact triggers an application to be initiated for the apparatus. In more specific embodiments, one or more additional switches are provided to sense physical contact from the end user and trigger the application based on at least two of the switches sensing the contact. In still other embodiments, a microphone is provided and is coupled to a body element and operable to receive voice data from the end user.

Abstract: An acoustic management system configured to compensate for acoustical dampening is provided. The system includes a microphone configured to detect a first acoustic signal from an acoustic environment and a logic circuit. The logic circuit detects an onset of the acoustical dampening between the acoustic environment and the microphone. The logic circuit generates an acoustic damping compensation filter, which is applied to the first acoustic signal to generate a drive signal.

Abstract: A feedforward ambient noise reduction arrangement includes, within a housing, a loudspeaker device for directing sound energy into an ear of a listener. Disposed externally of the housing, and positioned to sense ambient noise on its way to the listener's ear, are plural microphone devices capable of converting the sensed ambient noise into electrical signals for application to the loudspeaker to generate an acoustic signal opposing the ambient noise. Importantly, the overall arrangement is such that the acoustic signal is generated by said loudspeaker means in substantial time alignment with the arrival of said ambient noise at the listener's ear.

Abstract: The disclosed active noise suppression headphone system is directed to a headphone system that is capable of substantially suppressing high or low frequency interfering noise that penetrate through a headphone earpiece from multiple directions. An external microphone mounted with a housing of a headphone earpiece senses ambient noise outside of the earpiece. The sensed ambient noise may be processed through at least one parallel filter bank arranged in at least one headphone earpiece. Each parallel filter bank may include adaptively linked filters. The output of these filters may be amplified based on weighting factors that are dependent upon the sensed ambient noise and that are generated by a filtered x least mean square circuit. The amplified filtered outputs may be summed to generate an antinoise signal that is in input to a loudspeaker within the headphone earpiece that substantial suppresses the ambient noise before it can be perceived by an end user of the headphones.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods including a depletion-mode switch configured to pass an audio signal from an input to an output in a low-impedance state when a power source is below a threshold and to isolate the input from the output in a high-impedance state when the power source is above the threshold and a noise-cancelation circuit configured to receive the audio signal from the input and to provide a modulated audio signal at the output when the power source is above the threshold.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of an ANR circuit detecting instances of instability in at least the provision of feedback-based ANR, monitoring audio that includes feedback anti-noise sounds for acoustic output by an acoustic driver for a sound having characteristics indicative of instability including at least a frequency within a range of frequencies and an amplitude reaching at least a predetermined minimum amplitude, and perhaps also a sinusoidal waveform.

Abstract: Robust feedforward active noise cancellation is provided which can overcome or substantially alleviate problems associated with the diverse and dynamic nature of the surrounding acoustic environment. A multi-faceted analysis is performed to determine the direction (or directions) of propagation of noise in the surrounding acoustic environment. The direction of propagation is then utilized to determine direction-dependent characteristics of the acoustic path between a reference position where the noise is captured and a desired position where the noise is to be cancelled. These characteristics are used to form a feedforward signal adapted to cancel the noise at the desired position. By forming the feedforward signal based on direction-dependent characteristics of the acoustic path, the techniques described herein can achieve optimal noise cancellation at the desired location, regardless of the direction of propagation of the noise.

Abstract: The present technology provides noise reduction of an acoustic signal using a configurable classification threshold which provides a sophisticated level of control to balance the tradeoff between positional robustness and noise reduction robustness. The configurable classification threshold corresponds to a configurable spatial region, such that signals arising from sources within the configurable spatial region are preserved, and signals arising from sources outside it are rejected. In embodiments, the configurable classification threshold can be automatically and dynamically adjusted in real-time based on evaluated environmental conditions surrounding an audio device implementing the noise reduction techniques described herein.

Abstract: An active noise reduction (ANR) circuit includes a digital feed-forward ANR pathway coupled to a feed-forward microphone, to detect environmental sounds in an environment external to a casing, and to a first acoustic driver to output sounds within the casing. The digital feed-forward ANR pathway applies a plurality of filters using a first set of coefficients to convert signals from the feed-forward microphone to feed-forward anti-noise sounds to reduce environmental sounds within the casing. In response to a stimulus, the digital feed-forward ANR pathway applies the plurality of filters using a second set of coefficients, which reduce the degree of feed-forward ANR to enable human speech sounds in the environment external to the casing to be conveyed from the feed-forward microphone to the acoustic driver with less reduction than provided by the first plurality of filters.

Abstract: An earphone including at least one microphone, an analog pre-emphasis filter for pre-emphasis of the microphone signal, an AD-converter for digitizing the output signal of the pre-emphasis filter, an active noise compensation unit for performing active noise compensation based on the pre-emphasized and digitized output signal of the microphone and for outputting a counter sound signal, and a DA-converter for performing analog/digital conversion of the counter sound produced by the active noise compensation unit.

Abstract: An active noise reduction earphone. The earphone includes structure for positioning and retaining the earphone in the ear of a user without a headband, active noise reduction circuitry including an acoustic driver with a nominal diameter greater than 10 mm oriented so that a line parallel to, or coincident with, an axis of the acoustic driver and that intersects a centerline of the nozzle intersects the centerline of the nozzle at angle ?>±30 degrees. A microphone is positioned adjacent an edge of the acoustic driver. The earphone is configured so that a portion of the acoustic driver is within the concha of a user and another portion of the acoustic driver is outside the concha of the user when the earphone is in position. An opening coupling the nozzle to the environment includes impedance providing structure in the opening.

Abstract: An active noise reduction earphone. The earphone includes structure for positioning and retaining the earphone in the ear of a user without a headband, active noise reduction circuitry including an acoustic driver with a nominal diameter greater than 10 mm oriented so that a line parallel to, or coincident with, an axis of the acoustic driver and that intersects a centerline of the nozzle intersects the centerline of the nozzle at angle ?>±30 degrees. A microphone is positioned adjacent an edge of the acoustic driver. The earphone is configured so that a portion of the acoustic driver is within the concha of a user and another portion of the acoustic driver is outside the concha of the user when the earphone is in position. An opening coupling the nozzle to the environment includes impedance providing structure in the opening.

Abstract: An active noise reduction earphone. The earphone includes structure for positioning and retaining the earphone in the ear of a user without a headband, active noise reduction circuitry including an acoustic driver with a nominal diameter greater than 10 mm oriented so that a line parallel to, or coincident with, an axis of the acoustic driver and that intersects a centerline of the nozzle intersects the centerline of the nozzle at angle ?>±30 degrees. A microphone is positioned adjacent an edge of the acoustic driver. The earphone is configured so that a portion of the acoustic driver is within the concha of a user and another portion of the acoustic driver is outside the concha of the user when the earphone is in position. An opening coupling the nozzle to the environment includes impedance providing structure in the opening.

Abstract: There is presented a hearing aid that comprises an input transducer for transforming an acoustic input signal into an electrical input signal, a compressor for generating an electrical output signal from the electrical input signal, an output transducer for transforming the electrical output signal into an acoustic output signal, an autocorrelation estimator for calculating an autocorrelation estimate of the electrical input signal, and an acoustic loop gain estimator for determining a dynamic gain limit from the autocorrelation estimate and an instantaneous gain level of the signal processor. The invention further provides a method of adjusting signal path gain in a hearing aid, and a system for providing increased stability in a hearing aid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for active cancellation of interference at a hearing assistive devices are presented. The apparatus includes an interference cancellation circuit for cancelling an interference component of a composite signal, and an activator circuit for enabling interference cancellation circuit. The interference cancellation circuit generates an estimated replica of the interference from an interference profile, inverts the replica to form a cancellation waveform, then adds the cancellation waveform to the composite signal to cancel the interference component. An interference profile can be provided by performing a training sequence on a composite signal to detect a repetitive signal and building a profile using its parameters, retrieving a profile stored in memory, or using an antenna to capture an RF signal.

Abstract: An ear-worn speaker carrying device (“ESD”) incorporating active ambient noise reduction circuitry provided with a seal intended to contact or surround the ear of a user. The seal is intended to present a substantial impedance to inward or outward transmission of sound to or from the ear. At least one acoustic channel of predetermined dimensions bypasses the seal, providing an acoustic leakage path of known characteristics, thereby permitting predetermined levels of sound to enter and exit by way of the channel, such that minor variations in leakage are rendered relatively unimportant. In a preferred embodiment, the device further includes an acoustic conduit connected to vent the speaker's rear surface to the external ambient, and respective exit apertures for the acoustic channel and the acoustic conduit are relatively located so that sounds exiting from them tend to cancel each other, reducing sound emissions from the device.

Abstract: An ear plug system according to various embodiments can include an ear plug device and an electronic control unit. The ear plug device can be configured to include a white noise component, an ear cover, acupuncture nodes and a headband. The white noise component masks select external noises. The ear cover covers a portion of the user's ear. At least one acupuncture nodules is provided in the ear cover to apply pressure, without penetrating the user's skin. The headband extends at least partially around the user's head and applies compressive force to the ear plug device and the acupuncture nodes to ensure a proper fit and comfort. The electronic control unit wirelessly or directly connects to the ear plug device for controlling the operation of the ear plug device.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sound signal compensation apparatus includes an input module, a compensation module, and an output module. The input module receives identification information identifying a first frequency with regard to a resonance of an ear closed by an earphone or headphone. The compensation module performs first compensation emphasizing a second frequency on a sound signal, the second frequency being determined based on the identification information or the first frequency. The output module outputs the compensated sound signal. The compensation module is configured to perform the first compensation emphasizing the second frequency, at which emphasis is greater than or equal to 2 dB and less than or equal to 12 dB.

Abstract: An encoding apparatus comprises a frame processor (105) which receives a multi channel audio signal comprising at least a first audio signal from a first microphone (101) and a second audio signal from a second microphone (103). An ITD processor 107 then determines an inter time difference between the first audio signal and the second audio signal and a set of delays (109, 111) generates a compensated multi channel audio signal from the multi channel audio signal by delaying at least one of the first and second audio signals in response to the inter time difference signal. A combiner (113) then generates a mono signal by combining channels of the compensated multi channel audio signal and a mono signal encoder (115) encodes the mono signal. The inter time difference may specifically be determined by an algorithm based on determining cross correlations between the first and second audio signals.

Abstract: A personal audio device, such as a headphone, includes an adaptive noise canceling (ANC) circuit that adaptively generates an anti-noise signal from a reference microphone signal that measures the ambient audio, and the anti-noise signal is combined with source audio to provide an output for a speaker. The anti-noise signal causes cancellation of ambient audio sounds that appear at the reference microphone. A processing circuit uses the reference microphone to generate the anti-noise signal, which can be generated by an adaptive filter. The processing circuit also models an acoustic leakage path from the transducer to the reference microphone and removes elements of the source audio appearing at the reference microphone signal due to the acoustic output of the speaker. Another adaptive filter can be used to model the acoustic leakage path.

Abstract: A personal audio device including earspeakers, includes an adaptive noise canceling (ANC) circuit that adaptively generates an anti-noise signal for each earspeaker from at least one microphone signal that measures the ambient audio, and the anti-noise signals are combined with source audio to provide outputs for the earspeakers. The anti-noise signals cause cancellation of ambient audio sounds at the respective earspeakers. A processing circuit uses the microphone signal(s) to generate the anti-noise signals, which can be generated by adaptive filters. The processing circuit controls adaptation of the adaptive filters such that when an event requiring action on the adaptation of one of the adaptive filters is detected, action is taken on the other one of the adaptive filters. Another feature of the ANC system uses microphone signals provided at both of the earspeakers to perform processing on a voice microphone signal that receives speech of the user.

Abstract: An earpiece of an ANR device incorporates one or more of feedforward-based ANR; feedback-based ANR; passive noise reduction (PNR) of environmental noise sounds in the environment external to the casing of the earpiece in higher audible frequencies; a controlled leak acoustically coupling the front cavity to the environment external to the casing of the ANR device where the coupling may be through another cavity that is closable to the environment external to the casing with a leaky cover; a combination of an acoustically resistive port and a mass port coupling a rear cavity to the environment external to the casing where the coupling may be through another cavity that is closable to the environment external to the casing with a leaky cover; a feedforward microphone given acoustic access to the environment external to the casing through an aperture that is overlain with a leaky cover or that is enclosed within a cavity that is acoustically coupled to the environment external to the casing with a leak.

Abstract: An active noise cancellation earphone (1) has an acoustic path including a cavity (36) and a pipe (20) leading to the auditory canal (40) which are arranged to form an oscillator in use which has the effect of recovering the open loop system phase characteristics at a selected frequency or frequency range. The earphone (1) also has two parts (5,18) which can be adjusted relative to each other to allow the earphone (1) to be comfortably and correctly positioned in use.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is a sleep device. The sleep-aide device includes a soft housing adapted to be disposed over a user's head, a microphone positioned on the housing to receive an ambient sound signal, a suppression circuit that receives the ambient sound signal and produces a suppression sound signal, and a set of transducers, arranged in the soft housing, which receive the suppression sound signal. The suppression sound signal has a magnitude and phase to substantially cancel the ambient sound signal at the user's ear. In another aspect, the sleep-aide device includes a microphone to receive an ambient sound signal, a suppression circuitry, which receives the ambient sound signal and transmits a suppression sound signal based on the ambient sound signal, and a transducer which receives the suppression sound signal, which has a magnitude and phase to substantially cancel the ambient sound signal at the user's ear.

Abstract: An earphone has a casing, containing a speaker, the casing being adapted to fit within the outer ear of a user at the entrance to the ear canal of the user. The casing has a guide, protruding from the front surface of the casing, and suitable for locating in the ear canal of the user. The casing is also adapted to allow sound to pass through a sound-permeable portion of the front surface. The casing has sound channels, leading across the front surface of the casing from the sound-permeable portion to a periphery of the first surface of the casing. The earphone can be used in a noise cancelling earphone system, with signal processing circuitry connected to the microphone and to the speaker, wherein the signal processing circuitry is adapted to receive the ambient noise signal from the microphone, and to apply the ambient noise signal to a filter having a controllable amount of gain, for generating a noise cancellation signal for transmission to the speaker.

Abstract: An hearing prosthesis configured to cancel received bone-conducted sound. The hearing prosthesis comprises: first and second matched microphones configured to be implanted in a recipient in a spaced arrangement such that the first microphone receives air-conducted sound signals and bone-conducted sound signals substantially simultaneously, and wherein the second microphone receives bone-conducted sound signals at substantially the same time as the first microphone and receives the air-conducted sound signals after a time delay. The time delay results in a relative phase difference between the air-conducted sound signals and the bone-conducted sound signals received by the second microphone. The prosthesis also comprises a noise cancellation system configured to cancel, based on the phase difference, the bone-conducted sound signals received by the first and second microphones.

Abstract: A noise reduction circuit 200 for a headphone 100 is disclosed herein. In a described embodiment, the headphone 100 includes a speaker driver 110 and the circuit 200 comprises a microphone 112 configured to convert ambient sound into a corresponding electrical ambient signal and which is disposed adjacent to the speaker driver's diaphragm. The circuit 200 further includes an active noise reduction path configured to provide active noise reduction of the ambient sound based on the corresponding electrical ambient signal and a vocal signal compensation path configured to restore attenuated signals within the vocal range of the corresponding electrical ambient signal to increase audibility of vocal signals of the ambient sound. The circuit 200 also includes a switching device 204,210 arranged to selectively deliver the corresponding electrical ambient signal to the active noise reduction path or to the vocal signal compensation path.

Abstract: A feed forward active noise cancellation (ANC) system for use in a portable audio device has an adaptive digital filter and a reference microphone. A non-adaptive pre-shaping digital filter has an input coupled to the reference microphone and is in series with, and in front of, the adaptive filter. The pre-shaping filter is minimum phase and presents at least 2 dB more gain over a low audio frequency band than over a high audio frequency band. This may help compensate for low frequency band difficulties, and may thereby extend ANC bandwidth at the low end without a worsening impact on the high end. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Active noise cancellation (ANC) circuitry is coupled to the input of an earpiece speaker in a portable audio device, to control the ambient acoustic noise outside of the device and that may be heard by a user of the device. A microphone is to pickup sound emitted from the earpiece speaker, as well as the ambient acoustic noise. Control circuitry deactivates the ANC in response to determining that an estimate of how much sound emitted from the earpiece speaker has been corrupted by noise indicates insufficient corruption by noise. In another embodiment, the ANC decision is in response to determining that an estimate of the ambient noise level is greater than a threshold level of an audio artifact that could be induced by the ANC. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a noise canceling audio transmitting/receiving device; a stereo headset with an integrated array of microphones utilizing an adaptive beam forming algorithm. The invention also relates to a method of using an adaptive beam forming algorithm that may be incorporated into a stereo headset. The sensor array used herein has adaptive filtering capabilities.

Abstract: The invention describes a Hearing Aid device composed of a cellphone and eyeglasses where some of the programs are carried out by components embedded onto the temples of eyeglasses and some programs by components which are inherently part of cellphones. The combined device improves the intelligibility of voice messages arriving both through the cellphone speaker, the connected earphones and directly through the free air. The user can call diverse programs suitable for different situations, by using inertial sensors embedded either in the eyeglasses or are inherently part of the cellphone.