An apparatus for generating a description of a combined audio scene, includes: an input interface for receiving a first description of a first scene in a first format and a second description of a second scene in a second format, wherein the second format is different from the first format; a format converter for converting the first description into a common format and for converting the second description into the common format, when the second format is different from the common format; and a format combiner for combining the first description in the common format and the second description in the common format to obtain the combined audio scene.

The techniques and systems described herein enable a processing unit, a device, or system of a vehicle to notify a driver of hazards. The driver is notified by monitoring a spatial environment surrounding the vehicle and monitoring a driver's attention within the vehicle. At least a first direction from which at least one hazard, on relative approach to said motor vehicle, and is to be noticed by the driver is detected. At least a second direction to which the driver is paying attention is also detected. An alert is generated when the second direction is determined to be different from the first direction. In this way, vehicle safety is improved without annoying passengers or diminishing their wellbeing.

Systems and methods for providing augmented arrays for audio playback are disclosed. An example playback device includes a first transducer configured to output audio along a first acoustic axis and a second transducer configured to output audio along a second acoustic axis. The playback device is configured to receive a source stream of audio content including at least a first input channel and a second input channel. The device plays back first audio output via the first transducer based on the first input channel and directed along the first acoustic axis, and plays back second audio output via the second transducer based on the second input channel and directed along the second acoustic axis, wherein the second audio output at least partially cancels the first audio output along a first spatial region offset from the first acoustic axis.

An image pickup apparatus includes a camera main body, an eyepiece portion for viewing an object image, and a frame member having an opening through which light of the object image passes, and the eyepiece portion includes a bone conduction speaker.

A vibrotactile support with suppressed distortion and destructive interference having a rigid frame within which is tensioned a high-density material panel in a supportive configuration. A low-durometer, high specific gravity material user interface pad is placed on the high-density panel on the user-supporting side and a plurality of acoustic drivers are attached to the opposing side of the high-density material panel to transmit vibrations through the high-density material panel, the pad, and the user's skin. The acoustic drivers are supplied from an amplifier which is supplied from an electronic audio source. The amplifier may also drive a set of headphones for the user. The audio source may be from any known electronic audio source, including audio-visual presentations. Various shapes and configurations of the vibrotactile support are possible. For non-limiting examples, the vibrotactile support may be configured as a lounge chair, upright chair, baby cradle, or flat bed.

A headset for a head having a first earpiece, a second earpiece, and a headband. The first earpiece has a horseshoe shaped housing and a plurality of audio elements. The housing of the first earpiece has a crest. The second earpiece has a horseshoe shaped housing and a plurality of audio elements. The housing of the second earpiece has a crest. The headband extends between the crest of the first earpiece and the crest of the second earpiece. The plurality of audio elements of the first earpiece are positionable against a first side of the head and the plurality of audio elements of the second earpiece are positionable against a second side of the head.

A method for controlling a display apparatus includes: based on a communication connection with an audio device being established through a first interface, transmitting, to the audio device, audio setup information of the display apparatus; based on receiving a first audio signal comprising a plurality of channels from an external server, transmitting a second audio signal comprising the plurality of channels to the audio device; receiving, from the audio device, a third audio signal comprising a height channel obtained from the second audio signal based on the audio setup information of the display apparatus; and outputting the received third audio signal.

A headphone speaker system includes over-the-ear speakers (left and right) and inner-ear speakers (left and right). The left over-the-ear speaker and the right over-the-ear speaker are configured to receive a left surround audio channel of an audio signal and a right surround audio channel of the audio signal, respectively, from a surround sound processor, and are configured to be positioned outside a left ear canal of a user and outside a right ear canal of the user, respectively. The left inner-ear speaker and the right inner-ear speaker are configured to receive a left front audio channel of the audio signal and a right front audio channel of the audio signal, respectively, from the surround sound processor, and are configured to be positioned at least partially within the left ear canal of the user and at least partially within the right ear canal of the user, respectively.

Disclosed herein are computing devices, including audio playback devices, that are configured to coordinate playback of multichannel audio across a plurality of devices. A primary playback device receives an audio an audio input stream comprising a plurality of input channels and generates first and second audio streams comprising first and second subsets, respectively, of the input channels. The primary playback device compresses the first and second audio streams and transmits them wirelessly to first and second satellite playback devices, respectively.

Methods and systems are provided for audio devices with enhanced directional operations. In a system that includes one or more audio output components, positioning information associated with positioning of a user within a three-dimensional space around the user maybe determined. The one or more audio output components may be controlled based on the determined positioning information, with the controlling including providing a three-dimensional audio environment according to the user. The controlling may include configuring least one audio output related parameter or function for optimizing, based on the determined positioning information, directionality of at least one of the one or more audio output components. The determined positioning information may be generated or adjusted based on sensory data relating to the user.