A noise-canceling headrest for a vehicle seat, comprising a central part and two side parts, at least one loudspeaker, a microphone, an audio source playback module capable of transmitting an audio signal to the loudspeaker, a noise sensor, and a signal processing circuit configured for: receiving a noise signal and determining a noise correction function, receiving an error signal from the microphone, and updating the noise correction function, generating a noise correction signal by applying the noise correction function to the noise signal, generating a control signal intended for the loudspeaker, by adding together the noise correction signal and the audio signal.

An acoustic noise reduction (ANR) headphone described herein has current detection circuitry that detects current consumed by an acoustic driver amplifier as a result of pressure changes due to a tapping of the headphone. Tapping may be performed to change an audio feature or operating mode of the audio system for the headphone. The current detection circuitry senses a characteristic of the current consumed by the acoustic driver amplifier that can be used to determine an occurrence of a tap event. Examples of a characteristic include an amplitude, waveform or duration of the sensed current. Advantageously, the ANR headphones avoid the need for control buttons to initiate the desired changes to the audio feature or operating mode.

Communication apparatus and devices for surgical robotic systems are described. The communication apparatus can include a user console in communication with a communication device having a surgical tool. The communication device can include a microphone to convert a sound input into an acoustic input signal. The communication device can transmit the acoustic input signal to the user console for reproduction as a sound output for a remote operator. The surgical tool can include an endoscope having several microphones mounted on a housing. The surgical tool can be a sterile barrier having a microphone and a drape. The microphone(s) of the surgical tools can face a surrounding environment such that a tableside staff is a source of the sound input that causes the sound output, and a surgeon and the table side staff can communicate in a noisy environment. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

A method for active noise reduction in an electric or hybrid vehicle includes (i) detecting noise in an area surrounding the vehicle by at least one sound recording apparatus which is attached to the vehicle, and (ii) generating anti-phase sound by at least one sound output apparatus, which is attached to the vehicle, depending on a signal recorded by the sound recording apparatus. The generated anti-phase sound is generated with respect to a portion of the noise in the area surrounding the vehicle and is output into the area surrounding the vehicle. Also described is a corresponding electric or hybrid vehicle which is designed to perform active noise reduction with respect to its ambient noise.

An active noise control system includes an error adder that generates an error signal by adding an output of a left-seat left microphone and an output of a left-seat right microphone, an adaptive filter that generates a noise canceling sound from a reference signal by performing an adaptive operation using the reference signal and the error signal, a left channel gain adjustment section that adjusts a gain of the noise canceling sound to be output to a left-seat left speaker, and a right channel gain adjustment section that adjusts a gain of the noise canceling sound to be output to the left-seat right speaker. A ratio between the gains of the left channel gain adjustment section and the right channel gain adjustment section matches a ratio between loudness levels of noise transmitted to the output of the left-seat left microphone and the output of the left-seat right microphone.

Exemplary engine order and road noise control systems and methods include directly picking up road noise from a structural element of a vehicle to generate a first sense signal representative of the road noise, detecting harmonics of an engine of the vehicle to generate a second sense signal representative of the engine harmonics, and combining the first sense signal and the second sense signal to provide a combination signal representing the combination of the first sense signal and the second sense signal. The systems and methods further include broadband active noise control filtering to generate a filtered combination signal, and converting the filtered combination signal from the active noise control filtering into anti-noise and radiating the anti-noise to a listening position in an interior of the vehicle. The filtered combination signal is configured so that the anti-noise reduces the road noise and engine sound at the listening position.

A method and device for detecting whether a headset is on ear. Microphone signals from a plurality of microphones are used to derive a plurality of signal feature measures, which are normalized to a common reference scale. The signal feature measures are weighted based upon detected signal conditions in the microphone signals. The normalized and variably weighted signal feature measures are then combined to produce an output indication of whether a headset is on ear.

An unmanned air vehicle includes a generator that generates a flying force and also generates an air flow, a structural component, a microphone that outputs a first signal, a speaker, and a processor. The processor generates a second signal according to the first signal. The structural component surrounds a noise source of the generator, and includes a through-hole extending in a direction of the air flow. The through-hole is in a direction opposite to the direction of the air flow. An end, in the opposite direction, of the structural component corresponds to an end, in the opposite direction, of the noise source of the generator. An end, in the direction of the air flow, of the structural component extends, in the direction of the air flow, beyond an end, in the direction of the air flow, of the noise source of the generator.

A vehicle includes a cabin, an internal-loudspeaker set an external-microphone set, and a signal processor that filters a raw audio signal that has been received by the external-microphone set broadcasts the resulting filtered audio signal into the cabin using the internal-loudspeaker set.

Active noise control systems and methods are disclosed that include generating with a first sub-system, anti-noise that is configured to reduce or cancel noise occurring at a listening position. Generating with a second sub-system, anti-noise that is configured to reduce or cancel noise occurring at the listening position. The first active noise control sub-system has a higher robustness than the second active noise control sub-system.