A control unit for a worker wearing personal protective equipment is presented. The control unit includes a PPE network creator that, when activated, creates a network. The control unit also includes a PPE device identifier configured to detect a first PPE associated with the worker and a second PPE associated with the worker. The first PPE has a first speaker and a first microphone. The second PPE has a second speaker and a second microphone. The control unit also comprises a PPE network joiner that facilitates the first and second PPE joining the network. The control unit also comprises a preferred configuration selector that automatically selects a preferred speaker for the worker and a preferred microphone for the worker. The preferred speaker is the first or second speaker. The preferred microphone is the first or second microphone. The control unit also comprises a network communication component that automatically communicates a first device parameter settings to the first PPE and a second device parameter settings to the second PPE. The first and second device parameter settings are based on the selected preferred speaker and microphone.

Examples of system for ambient aversive sound detection, identification and management are described. The system comprises an earpiece device with a microphone configured to capture ambient sound around a user and sample it into small segments of the ambient sound, a speaker and a regulator to regulate the ambient sound segment transmitted to the speaker. The system further comprises a processing unit that identifies aversive ambient sound signals in the captured sound segment and provide recommendation action to manage the aversive sound signal by removing, supressing, attenuating or masking the aversive signals.

A headset, comprising: first and second ear cups, and a power and signal connector that extends between the ear cups, wherein each ear cup comprises a housing having a mounting structure for mounting the ear cup on a wearable support; a speaker; and a speaker drive circuit for operating the speaker. The first ear cup further comprises: an external power and signal connector; and a mounting structure having a first profile for mounting a removable control module having a corresponding first profile on the first ear cup such that corresponding power and signal connectors can engage the external power and signal connector so that the removable control module can provide operating signals to the speaker drive circuits. The second ear cup comprises an external power connector; and a mounting structure having a second profile for mounting a removable battery pack having a corresponding second profile on the second ear cup such that a corresponding power connector on the battery pack can engage the external power connector so that the removable battery pack can provide power to the control module via the power and signal connector.

A weapon system for a firearm includes a processor, the processor having an associated memory, and an optical reader, the optical reader configured to receive operator-identification information and transmit the operator-identification information to the processor.

A protection system for a power tool is disclosed having a battery pack. The batter pack may be used with the power tool to supply an electrical consumer of the power tool with electrical energy, as well as hearing protection for a user of the power tool. The battery pack has a first control circuit, which is set up to, directly or indirectly, provide information relating to a value of an operating parameter of the power tool to a second control circuit of a hearing protector. The hearing protector has an audio output device, and the second control circuit is set up for this purpose, the audio output device uses the transmitted information to control generation of an audible warning output.

A method, system, and apparatus for noise cancelation is disclosed, which may be used in a wireless unit (WU). The WU may include a processor, a memory, a user interface, one or more internal microphones and internal speakers. A removably connected headset may include microphones and speakers. The WU may receive a first signal from the headset. The WU may receive a first ambient noise at the one or more internal microphones, and the WU may generate a second signal based on the first ambient noise. The WU may calculate an estimate of ambient noise based on the first and second signals, calculate a signal for noise cancellation based on the estimate, cancel estimated ambient noise from an audio output signal based on an application of the signal for noise cancellation, and send the audio output signal to one or more speakers of the headset or of the WU.

Occlusion devices, earpiece devices and methods of forming occlusion devices are provided. An occlusion device is configured to occlude an ear canal. The occlusion device includes an insertion element and at least one expandable element disposed on the insertion element. The expandable element is configured to receive a medium via the insertion element and is configured to expand, responsive to the medium, to contact the ear canal. Physical parameters of the occlusion device are selected to produce a predetermined sound attenuation characteristic over a frequency band, such that sound is attenuated more in a first frequency range of the frequency band than in a second frequency range of the frequency band.

The present invention provides a customizable ear insert for fitting within a user's outer ear or ear canal or both and methods therefor. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a customizable ear insert having: a body formed of photocurable polymer, the body having a first shape configured for insertion into the outer ear canal of a user; a light source, the light source positioned adjacent the body, and wherein the body can be cured into a second shape by application of light generated by the light source, the second shape snugly conforming to the interior surface of the user's outer ear or ear canal or both.

Exemplary noise reducing methods and systems are configured to acoustically reproduce two electrical noise reducing signals at two opposing positions in a helmet; to pick up sound at positions in the vicinity of the positions where the noise reducing signals are reproduced; and to generate the two noise reducing signals from error-signals and reference-signals. For each noise reducing signal, the corresponding error-signal is generated from the sound picked-up at the same position where the respective noise reducing signal is reproduced; and the reference-signal is generated from the sound picked-up at the position where the respective other noise reducing signal is reproduced.

A headset, comprising: first and second ear cups, and a power and signal connector that extends between the ear cups, wherein each ear cup comprises a housing having a mounting structure for mounting the ear cup on a wearable support; a speaker; and a speaker drive circuit for operating the speaker. The first ear cup further comprises: an external power and signal connector; and a mounting structure having a first profile for mounting a removable control module having a corresponding first profile on the first ear cup such that corresponding power and signal connectors can engage the external power and signal connector so that the removable control module can provide operating signals to the speaker drive circuits. The second ear cup comprises an external power connector; and a mounting structure having a second profile for mounting a removable battery pack having a corresponding second profile on the second ear cup such that a corresponding power connector on the battery pack can engage the external power connector so that the removable battery pack can provide power to the control module via the power and signal connector.