In-ear sound pressure level, SPL, is determined that is caused by output audio being converted into sound by a headset worn by a user. The in-ear SPL is converted into a sound sample having units that are suitable for evaluating sound noise exposure. These operations are repeated to produce a sequence of sound samples during playback. This sequence of sound samples is then written to a secure database. Access to the database is authorized by the user. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

A system for improving accuracy of self-detection of a voice includes a first cup element having a forward end configured to contact a human face and a rear end configured to be spaced from a human head on which the human face is located such that the first cup element defines a first void configured to receive a first ear of the human head, the first cup element defining an opening to an environment of the system to provide a pathway for sound waves to travel into the first void. The system further includes a second cup element being a mirror image of the first cup element and defining a second void configured to receive a second ear of the human head.

Described herein are system and method embodiments for adaptive noise control for headphones, specifically for open-ear headphones. A leakage detection module in an ambient sound control (ASC) circuit implements leakage detection to determine a leakage mode. Based on the determined leakage mode, an ASC profile may create, select or modify an ASC profile for the ASC circuit to operate. Pilot tone, ambient noise, or audio playback may be used respectively or in combination for leakage detection. Experimental results show that embodiments of adaptive ASC approach may achieve improved performance compared to a default ASC, especially under loose fitting of an earphone.

An earbud for detecting biosignals from and presenting audio signals at an inner ear canal and method therefor are disclosed. The earbud includes a nozzle and a housing including a body. The nozzle extends from the housing body and has a proximal end arranged for positioning within an inner ear canal of an individual. An earbud tip of the earbud attaches to the proximal end of the nozzle and is adapted to engage the inner ear canal. The earbud includes a speaker and various sensors including an infrasonic/vibration sensor. The infrasonic/vibration sensor detects the biosignals including infrasonic signals from the body of the individual in the canal, and the speaker transmits sound from an audio source into the canal via the nozzle. The earbud preferably seals the inner ear canal to block external sound while also decreasing an acoustic volume of the canal that amplifies the biosignals prior to detection.

A personal audio device (e.g., headphones, earphones) can have an earpiece (e.g., an ear cup or earbud) with a removable cushioning member (e.g., headphone cushions or ear tips for earbuds). The cushioning member can include an identification tag that encodes identification data for the cushioning member. When the cushioning member is attached to the earpiece, the identification tag is brought into proximity with a tag sensor in the earpiece and the earpiece can read the identification tag to determine identification data for the cushioning member. The identification data can be used to modify a behavior of the earpiece and/or of a host device communicably coupled to the earpiece.

The present invention is directed to a hearing aid which includes a lateral ear canal assembly and a medial ear canal assembly. In embodiments of the invention the medial ear canal assembly may include smart circuitry adapted to control parameters and outputs of the medial ear canal assembly. In embodiments of the invention various methods and circuitry are described, wherein the methods and circuitry are adapted to improve the performance and efficiency of the hearing aid.

A wearable audio output device in a physical environment includes an input device and one or more microphones. While ambient sound from the physical environment is being detected by the microphone(s), the wearable audio output device: while in a first mode, provides a first audio output including one or more pass-through audio components selected so as to increase audio pass-through of the ambient sound; detects an input via the input device; in response to detecting the input, and in accordance with a determination that the input is a first type of gesture, transitions from the first mode to a second mode; and, while in the second mode, provides a second audio output including one or more cancellation audio components selected so as to increase audio cancellation of the ambient sound.

A system for evaluating an ear seal between an earphone of a hearing device and an ear canal includes a first transducer that plays sound in response to an electrical signal that includes a reference frequency component and a test frequency component lower than the reference frequency. A second transducer receives the sound in the ear canal. A controller is configured to: calculate at least one electrical signal level difference between the electrical signal reference and test frequency components, measure acoustical levels of the reference and test frequency components of the sound in the ear canal, calculate an acoustical signal level difference between the measured acoustical levels of the reference and test frequency components, calculate a normalized acoustical difference value by subtracting the electrical signal level difference from the acoustical signal level difference, and determine a measurement of the ear seal based on the normalized acoustical difference value.

A system includes a first scanner comprising an inflatable membrane configured to be inflated with a medium to conform an exterior surface of the inflatable membrane to an interior shape of a cavity, the medium attenuating, at a first rate per unit length, light having a first optical wavelength, and at a second rate per unit length, light having a second optical wavelength. The system comprises an emitter and detector configured to generate and receive light from the interior surface of the inflatable membrane, respectively. A processor is configured to generate a first electronic representation of the interior shape and a second electronic representation of a second shape based on the received light. A design computer is configured to combine the first and second electronic representation into a combined electronic representation corresponding to at least a portion of the interior shape based on at least one or more native references.

An audio apparatus, e.g. for rendering audio for a virtual/augmented reality application, comprises a receiver (201) for receiving audio data for an audio scene including a first audio component representing a real-world audio source present in an audio environment of a user. A determinator (203) determines a first property of a real-world audio component from the real-world audio source and a target processor (205) determines a target property for a combined audio component being a combination of the real-world audio component received by the user and rendered audio of the first audio component received by the user. An adjuster determines a render property by modifying a property of the first audio component indicated by the audio data for the first audio component in response to the target property and the first property. A renderer (209) renders the first audio component in response to the render property.