An audio system attachable to a computer includes a sound reproduction device for producing audible sound from audio signals. The sound reproduction device includes a radio tuner and a powered speaker. The audio system further includes a connector for connecting the sound reproduction device with a computer. The computer provides audio signals from a plurality of sources, the sources including a computer CD player, digitally encoded computer files stored on the computer, and a computer network connected to the computer. The sound reproduction device further includes control buttons for controlling at least one of the computer CD player, the digitally encoded computer files and the computer network.

For calculating a social zone distance, a processor determines distances to one or more persons using the sensor array. In addition, the processor calculates the social zone distance based on the distances.

The invention relates to an active noise-cancelling audio headphones having two circum-aural earpieces, comprising a partition designed to face an ear; said partition incorporating at least one vent passing through said partition so as to generate intentional leaks having a length greater than 1.5 mm and a width selected in such a way that there are either a ratio between said length and said width is less than or equal to 8:1 if a median section is greater than 1.7 mm.sup.2; or a ratio between said length and said width is less than or equal to 4:1 if said median section is less than 1.7 mm.sup.2.

A method of active noise reduction. The method comprises instructing a microphone electronically coupled by a client terminal to record a nonaural noise signal, instructing a circuit of the client terminal to record an aural noise signal using at least one electroacoustic transducer of an earphone, calculating a noise reduction signal based on a function combining nonaural noise signal and the aural noise signal, calculating a noise reduced signal based on a combination of a content signal prepared to be played by the at least one electroacoustic transducer and the noise reduction signal, and instructing the circuit to play the noise reduced signal via the at least one electroacoustic transducer. The nonaural noise signal and the aural noise signal are recorded at least partly simultaneously.

The invention relates to a method for centralized control of multiple active noise cancellation devices. The method includes identifying a trigger event. Also, the method includes identifying, in response to identifying the trigger event, two or more zones of a mapped area. Further, the method includes identifying, based on the two or more zones, two or more devices. Still yet, the method includes transmitting a command to disable active noise cancellation on each of the two or more devices.

The invention relates to a method for centralized control of multiple active noise cancellation devices. The method includes identifying a trigger event. Also, the method includes identifying, in response to identifying the trigger event, two or more zones of a mapped area. Further, the method includes identifying, based on the two or more zones, two or more devices. Still yet, the method includes transmitting a command to disable active noise cancellation on each of the two or more devices.

An acoustic conversion device for an active noise control is provided. The acoustic conversion device can effectively suppress or remove noise by controlling variation in a lowest resonance frequency. A volume of a closed space is smaller than an equivalent compliance air volume of a speaker unit. Therefore, motion of a vibration plate, an edge and a damper is suppressed, it is possible to restrain the edge and the damper from being deteriorated with time, variation in lowest resonance frequency can be suppressed, phase of emitted sound can be less prone to be deviated from opposite phase of noise, and it is possible to effectively suppress or remove noise.

A headset cup having a front cavity and a rear cavity separated by a driver, with a mass port tube connected to the rear port to present a reactive acoustic impedance to the rear cavity, in parallel with a resistive port, the total acoustic response of the rear cavity remaining linear at high power levels. In some embodiments, the mass port tube is made of metal, while the headset cup is otherwise made of plastic.

A method of active noise reduction. The method comprises instructing a microphone electronically coupled by a client terminal to record a nonaural noise signal, instructing a circuit of the client terminal to record an aural noise signal using at least one electroacoustic transducer of an earphone, calculating a noise reduction signal based on a function combining nonaural noise signal and the aural noise signal, calculating a noise reduced signal based on a combination of a content signal prepared to be played by the at least one electroacoustic transducer and the noise reduction signal, and instructing the circuit to play the noise reduced signal via the at least one electroacoustic transducer. The nonaural noise signal and the aural noise signal are recorded at least partly simultaneously.

An acoustic conversion device for an active noise control is provided. The acoustic conversion device can effectively suppress or remove noise by controlling variation in a lowest resonance frequency. A volume of a closed space is smaller than an equivalent compliance air volume of a speaker unit. Therefore, motion of a vibration plate, an edge and a damper is suppressed, it is possible to restrain the edge and the damper from being deteriorated with time, variation in lowest resonance frequency can be suppressed, phase of emitted sound can be less prone to be deviated from opposite phase of noise, and it is possible to effectively suppress or remove noise.