Audio device apparatuses for hearing impaired users comprise a wearable housing connected, wired or wirelessly, to earphones or a headset. The audio device receives incoming sound, processes the incoming sound to form processed sound, and delivers the processed sound to the earphones or headset of the user.

[Problem]To provide an audio device with which it is possible to efficiently utilize the storage capacity of a storage device for storing audio data. [Solution] In this audio device 1, in accordance with user profile information stored in a profile information storage unit 102, audio data inputted to an audio data input unit 103 is subjected by a filter unit 104 to a process of cutting a frequency band higher than the highest frequency audible to the user) and/or a frequency band lower than the lowest frequency audible to the user, and the data is then encoded by a codec unit 105, and stored to an audio storage device 100. Audio data can thereby be stored in the audio storage device 100 in compressed form with no noticeable decline in sound quality to the user, making it possible to store more audio data, such as music, in the audio storage device 100.

An earpiece for reproducing audio has multiple drivers, including a bone conduction bass driver and an air conduction treble driver, attached to the ends of a malleable, yet stiff, tubing. The bass driver is placed behind or over the ear to provide a high quality bass output while the treble driver is placed so as to extend in proximity to the user's ear canal. The malleable, yet stiff, tubing enables a user to bend the earpiece and thereby position the earpiece comfortably and securely around the user's ear and to optimally position the drivers in the desired positions around the user's ear. The tubing also allows the earpiece, when not in use, to be reshaped for easy storage or to be worn as an accessory. The earpiece may also include one or more microphones with the treble and/or bass drivers.

A system and processes for a proximate-speaker audio compensation system include a first speaker and a second speaker that are proximate to a user. A control unit couples to at least one of the first speaker or the second speaker. The control unit adjusts audio signal based on a hearing-aid type adjustment. The control unit sends adjusted audio signal to the at least one of the first speaker or the second speaker.

A stereo audio headphone apparatus comprising a master headphone unit comprising a master housing, master circuitry comprising a stereo audio source and a wireless transmitter, a master audio output device for playing a first stereo audio channel, a master audio input device, and a first independently settable frequency equalizer for the first stereo audio channel carried by the master housing, and a slave headphone unit comprising a slave housing, slave circuitry comprising a wireless receiver, a slave audio output device for playing a second stereo audio channel, a slave audio input device, and a second independently settable frequency equalizer for the second stereo audio channel carried by the slave housing. The master and slave circuitries are operable in a pass-through mode with audio sensed by the master and slave audio input devices being delivered to the master and slave audio output devices via the first and second frequency equalizers.

A hearing aid comprises a sensor configured for detecting a focus of an end user on a real sound source, a microphone assembly configured for converting sounds into electrical signals, a speaker configured for converting the electrical signals into sounds, and a control subsystem configured for modifying the direction and/or distance of a greatest sensitivity of the microphone assembly based on detected focus. A virtual image generation system comprises memory storing a three-dimensional scene, a sensor configured for detecting a focus of the end user on a sound source, a speaker configured for conveying sounds to the end user, and a control subsystem configured for causing the speaker to preferentially convey a sound originating from the sound source in response to detection of the focus, and for rendering image frames of the scene, and a display subsystem configured for sequentially displaying the image frames to the end user.

An audio device includes a microphone, a sound canal allowing sound to pass from the surroundings to the microphone, a signal path from the microphone to a receiver, and a current source, such that sounds received at the microphone may be enhanced and presented at the ear level of the user. A protection screen is provided at the sound canal, and includes a first surface which faces the surroundings and a second surface which faces the sound canal, and defines a slit-formed opening between the first surface and the second surface. The curvature between the first surface and the slit-formed opening is smooth and gradual, and a sharp edge is located at the transition between the second surface and the slit-formed opening.

Devices for monitoring a sound pressure level of sound generated by a speaker. For example, the device may sample voltages at various points along a path of an audio signal, determine a current associated with the audio signal, and receive or infer an efficiency of the speaker. The device may then determine the sound pressure level based on the voltage, the current, and the efficiency to more accurately monitor the sound pressure level exposure of a user.

An audio signal control apparatus includes a sound input circuit, a sound output circuit, and a control circuit. The sound input circuit is configured to receive an ambient sound signal from a microphone that captures ambient sound. The sound output circuit is configured to generate an output sound signal and transmit the output sound signal to a speaker to generate sound based on the output sound signal. The control circuit is configured to determine characteristics of the ambient sound based on the ambient sound signal received by the sound input circuit, determine a frequency band of the sound to be generated by the speaker based on the characteristics of the ambient sound, and control the sound output circuit to generate an output sound signal corresponding to the sound of the determined frequency band.

A media system and a method of using the media system to accommodate hearing loss of a user, are described. The method includes selecting a personal level-and-frequency dependent audio filter that corresponds to a hearing loss profile of the user. The personal level-and-frequency dependent audio filter can be one of several level-and-frequency-dependent audio filters having respective average gain levels and respective gain contours. An accommodative audio output signal can be generated by applying the personal level-and-frequency dependent audio filter to an audio input signal to enhance the audio input signal based on an input level and an input frequency of the audio input signal. The audio output signal can be played by an audio output device to deliver speech or music that the user perceives clearly, despite the hearing loss of the user. Other aspects are also described and claimed.