Abstract:
An active noise reduction (ANR) earphone system includes a feedback microphone for detecting noise, feedback circuitry, responsive to the feedback microphone, for applying a digital filter K fb to an output of the feedback microphone to produce an antinoise signal, an electroacoustic driver for transducing the antinoise signal into acoustic energy, a housing supporting the feedback microphone and the driver near the entrance to the ear canal, and an ear tip for coupling the housing to the external anatomical structures of a first ear of a user and positioning the housing to provide a consistent acoustic coupling of the feedback microphone and the driver to the ear canal of the first ear. The acoustic coupling includes a tube of air defined by the combination of the housing and ear tip, having a length L and effective cross-sectional area A such that the ratio L/A is less than 0.6 m -1 .
Abstract:
In an active noise reducing headphone, a signal processor applies filters and control gains of feed-forward and feedback active noise cancellation signal paths. The signal processor is configured to apply first feed-forward filters to the feed-forward signal path and apply first feedback filters to the feedback signal path during a first operating mode providing effective cancellation of ambient sound, apply second feed-forward filters to the feed-forward signal path during a second operating mode providing active hear-through of ambient sounds with ambient naturalness, and provide an input electronic audio signal to an output transducer via an audio playback signal path during both the first and second operating modes.
Abstract:
In general, in one aspect, a hearing aid has an ANR circuit and an ear tip that acoustically occludes the ear. Such a hearing aid provides greater gain to sounds than would be stable in the same hearing aid with a vented ear tip. The ear tip and the ANR circuit in combination attenuate sounds reaching the ear canal through the hearing aid to a first level. The hearing aid detects sounds arriving at a microphone, amplifies those sounds, and provides the amplified sounds to the ear canal at a second level and later in time than the same sounds arrive at the ear canal through the ear tip. The first level is at least 14 dB greater than the second level, such that the amplified sounds do not interact with the passive sounds to result in spectral combing.
Abstract:
An apparatus includes a first interface for connecting to a personal computer, a second interface for connecting to a communications device, a third interface for connecting to a headset, a fourth interface for connecting to a speaker, and a processor in control of each of the interfaces. The processor is configured to route audio associated with a communications session on one of the personal computer or the communications device to the speaker, and in response to a user putting on the headset, re-route the audio to the headset.
Abstract:
Displacement of a moving diaphragm in an electroacoustic transducer is measured by modulating an electrical signal based on changes in capacitance between the voice coil assembly and the magnetic structure resulting from relative motion between the voice coil and the magnetic structure. The modulated electrical signal is demodulated to produce an output signal having a value proportional to the displacement.
Abstract:
The technology described in this document can be embodied in a method that includes receiving one or more electronic files comprising information on structural features of a portion of an ear of a user, generating an electronic representation of the eartip or a cast based on a portion of the information on the structural features of the portion of the ear, and producing the eartip based on the electronic representation. The eartip includes an outlet, and a sealing structure disposed around an exterior of the outlet, wherein a first end of the sealing structure is attached to the outlet, and a second, opposite end of the sealing structure is physically separated from the exterior of the outlet. Generating the electronic representation includes configuring one or more structural parameters of the outlet or the sealing structure in accordance with the structural features of the portion of the ear.
Abstract:
A media playback device has programmable signal processing capabilities and an input receiving signals representative of ambient noise. The media playback device identifies an output response characteristic and an attenuation characteristic of a set of headphones associated with the media playback device, predicts a property of audio output by the headphones at a user's ear based on the ambient noise input signal, the output response characteristic, and the attenuation characteristic of the headphones, predicts expected residual ambient noise at the user's ear, when wearing the headphones, derived from the ambient noise input signal and the attenuation characteristic, and modifies masking audio signals to be provided to the headphones such that they will mask the expected residual ambient noise at the user's ear.
Abstract:
In an active noise reducing headphone, a signal processor is configured to apply first feedback filters to the feedback signal path, causing the feedback signal path to operate at a first gain level, as a function of frequency, during a first operating mode, and apply second feedback filters to the feedback signal path, causing the feedback signal path to operate at a second gain level less than the first gain level at some frequencies during a second operating mode. The first gain level is a level of gain that results in effective cancellation of sounds transmitted through or around the ear cup and through the user's head, and the second level is a level of gain that is matched to the level of sound of a typical wearer's voice transmitted through the wearer's head when wearing the headphone. A method of configuring an active noise reducing headphone comprises measuring, with active noise reduction inactive, a ratio of the responses at a user's ear to environmental noise when the headphones are worn / not present; selecting a feedback filter having a magnitude that results in the feedback loop having a desensitivity equal to the determined ratio; selecting a feed-forward filter that will provide ambient naturalness; applying the selective filters; measuring said ratio with active noise reduction active; and modifying the phase of the feed-forward filter without altering the magnitude thereof to minimize deviation of the measured value of said ratio from unity.
Abstract:
A method for adjusting the performance of an electroacoustic transducer includes receiving, by gain adjustment circuit, a displacement signal corresponding to a relative motion between a magnetic structure of the electroacoustic transducer and a voice coil of the electroacoustic transducer. The method includes detecting, by the gain adjustment circuit, a displacement signal value of the displacement signal as one of meeting or exceeding a displacement signal threshold. The method includes modifying, by the gain adjustment circuit, a loop gain of an active noise reduction loop associated with the electroacoustic transducer when the displacement signal value of the displacement signal one of meets or exceeds the displacement signal threshold.
Abstract:
The present disclosure provides processes, methods, systems, and devices for providing a feedback of a wearable device to a user. The feedback may indicate a level of seal, fitness, or compatibility between the wearable device and the user. For example, the feedback provides an exact measurement and a quantified report regarding how well a seal is created when the user puts on the wearable device that dictates the wearable device's audio playback performance experienced by the user. This allows the user to identify, in addition to the comfort level, a best adjustment or selection of components (e.g., tips, inserts, cups, or the like) of the wearable device to deliver the best audio performance achievable by the wearable device. The wearable device may include ear buds, headphones, headsets, or any audio device physically contacting the user.