H04R29/007

FIRE ALARM SPEAKER CIRCUITS FOR DUAL-PURPOSE SPACES
20230129804 · 2023-04-27 ·

A method for selectively transmitting audio signals in a fire alarm system includes receiving, by a Notification Appliance Circuit (NAC) selecting device, an audio signal for transmission over a first NAC or a second NAC. Each of the first NAC and the second NAC includes respective groupings of one or more NAC appliances. The NAC selecting device receives a selection signal from a Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) electronically connected to the NAC selecting device. The selection signal identifies one or more NAC appliances that should be moved from a first grouping corresponding to the first NAC to a second grouping corresponding to the second NAC. The NAC selecting device selectively transmits the audio signal to one of the first NAC and the second NAC based on the selection signal.

Multi-channel cinema amplifier with power-sharing, messaging and multi-phase power supply

An integrated cinema amplifier comprises a power supply stage that distributes power over a plurality of channels for rendering immersive audio content in a surround sound listening environment. The amplifier automatically detects maximum and net power availability and requirements based on audio content by decoding audio metadata and dynamically adjusts gains to each channel or sets of channels based on content and operational/environmental conditions. A power supply stage provides power to drive a plurality of channels corresponding to speaker feeds to a plurality of speakers. The amplifier has a front panel having an LED array with each LED associated with a respective channel or group of channels of the multi-channel amplifier, and a control unit configured to light the LEDs according to display patterns based on operating status or error conditions of the amplifier.

Automated self-test of cabin loudspeakers

A test module for functionally testing an audio device of an aircraft passenger service unit (PSU) is configured to allocate a first operating mode to a first individual audio device of one PSU of a set of PSUs during which, a test tone is emitted. The test module allocates a second operating mode to other audio devices different than the first audio device. In the second operating mode, the test tone emitted by the first audio device is intended to be received. The other audio devices each belong to different PSUs within the set of PSUs. The test module emits the test tone via the first audio device. The test module initiates a functional test of the first audio device. The functional test is based on the test tone received by the other audio devices. The test module may be part of a system and an aircraft.

Automated microphone system and method of adjustment thereof
11601740 · 2023-03-07 ·

There is provided an automated microphone system (100) having a microphone (104). The system (100) comprises a microphone stand (102) having at least one movable arm (1022), at least one movable leg (1024) and a fixed base (1026) attached to the at least one movable leg (1024), the at least one movable arm (1022) being adapted to mount the microphone (104) at a first end and connected with the at least one movable leg (1024) at a second end, one or more sensors (106) disposed at one or more of the at least one movable leg (1024), the at least one movable arm (1022) and the fixed base (1026), one or more motors (108) connected with each of the at least one movable arm (1022), the at least one movable leg (1024) and the fixed base (1026) and a control module (110) connected with the one or more sensors (106) and the one or more motors (108).

Conferencing Device with Beamforming and Echo Cancellation

This disclosure describes a conferencing device with beamforming and echo cancellation that includes: a microphone array that further comprises a plurality of microphones oriented to develop a corresponding plurality of microphone signals; a processor configured to execute the following steps: (1) performing a beamforming operation to combine the plurality of microphone signals from the microphone array into a plurality of combined signals, (2) performing an acoustic echo cancellation operation on the plurality of combined signals to generate a plurality of combined echo cancelled signals, (3) receiving with a voice activity detector the far end signal as an input, (4) selecting one or more of the combined echo cancelled signals for transmission to the far end where a signal selector uses the far end signal as information to inhibit the signal selector from changing the selection of the combined echo cancelled signals while only the far end signal is active.

Audio Playback Settings for Voice Interaction
20230069810 · 2023-03-02 ·

Example techniques relate to voice interaction in an environment with a media playback system that is playing back audio content. In an example implementation, while playing back first audio in a given environment at a given loudness: a playback device (a) detects that an event is anticipated in the given environment, the event involving playback of second audio and (b) determines a loudness of background noise in the given environment, the background noise comprising ambient noise in the given environment. The playback device ducks the first audio in proportion to a difference between the given loudness of the first audio and the determined loudness of the background noise and plays back the ducked first audio concurrently with the second audio.

CALIBRATION BASED ON AUDIO CONTENT
20230164504 · 2023-05-25 ·

Example techniques may involve multiple calibrations for a playback device. In an example implementation, a playback device plays back audio content according to a first calibration via the one or more audio amplifiers. The playback device detects that an arrangement of one or more listeners relative to the first playback device has changed from a first arrangement to a second arrangement. Based on detection that the arrangement of one or more listeners relative to the first playback device has changed from the first arrangement to the second arrangement, the playback device applies a second calibration to playback by the first playback device.

Orientation-Based Playback Device Microphone Selection
20230164503 · 2023-05-25 ·

Aspects of a multi-orientation playback device including at least one microphone array are discussed. A method may include determining an orientation of the playback device which includes at least one microphone array and determining at least one microphone training response for the playback device from a plurality of microphone training responses based on the orientation of the playback device. The at least one microphone array can detect a sound input, and the location information of a source of the sound input can be determined based on the at least one microphone training response and the detected sound input. Based on the location information of the source, the directional focus of the at least one microphone array can be adjusted, and the sound input can be captured based on the adjusted directional focus.

Audio Response Playback
20230161550 · 2023-05-25 ·

A computing device is configured to perform functions comprising: receiving via a network microphone device of a media playback system, a voice command detected by at least one microphone of the network microphone device, wherein the media playback system comprises a plurality of zones, and the network microphone device may be a member of a default playback zone. The computing device may be further configured to perform functions comprising: dynamically selecting an audio response zone from the plurality of zones to play an audio response to the voice input and foregoing selection of the default playback zone. The selected zone may comprise a playback device, and the dynamically selecting may comprise determining that the network microphone device is paired with the playback device. The computing device may cause the playback device of the selected zone to play the audio response.

AUDIO CANCELLATION FOR VOICE RECOGNITION

An audio cancellation system includes a voice enabled computing system that is connected to an audio output device using a wired or wireless communication network. The voice enabled computing device can provide media content to a user and receive a voice command from the user. The connection between the voice enabled computing system and the audio output device introduces a time delay between the media content being generated at the voice enabled computing device and the media content being reproduced at the audio output device. The system operates to determine a calibration value adapted for the voice enabled computing system and the audio output device. The system uses the calibration value to filter the user's voice command from a recording of ambient sound including the media content, without requiring significant use of memory and computing resources.