The present disclosure provides an audio playback system adapted to automatically switch an active microphone back and forth between two or more devices. For example, where the system is a pair of earbuds, where each earbud is worn by a separate user, the system may switch the active microphone to the device worn by the user that is speaking at a given time. While that device holds the active microphone, the other device may wait until a particular event that frees up the microphone, such as if the user wearing the device with the active microphone stops talking. According to some examples, a notification may be provided through one or more of the devices in the system to let the user know, for example, that he does not have the active microphone, that the active microphone is free, that the active microphone has been switched, etc.

The technology provides for a pair of earbuds. For instance, a first earbud and a second earbud may each include one or more sensors. The pair of earbuds may further include one or more processors configured to receive one or more first sensor signals from a first sensor in the first earbud and one or more second sensor signals from a second sensor in the second earbud. The one or more processors may compare the first sensor signals with the second sensor signals. Based on the comparison, the one or more processors may detect whether the first earbud and the second earbud are being worn by different users. Based on detecting that the first earbud and the second earbud are being worn by different users, the one or more processors may control the first earbud and the second earbud to use a shared mode.

A hands-free dual audiometric probe headset. In one embodiment, the headset includes a resilient headband attached to a first audiometric probe holder including a first audiometric probe attached thereto and a second audiometric probe holder including a second audiometric probe attached thereto, the headset system configured to reliably hold the audiometric probes in place in the ears of a test subject during binaural testing.

A convertible head wearable audio device is provided that may include a headband having a first earpiece at a first end and a receptacle at a second end. The convertible head wearable audio device may also include a wireless interface. The wireless interface may be configured to communicatively couple the convertible head wearable audio device to a remote device. The convertible head wearable audio device may further include an active noise cancellation module. The active noise cancellation module may be configured to reduce ambient noise from an audio output of the convertible head wearable audio device.

A wearable sound system includes a microphone on a movable outer part of an earpiece to convert sound from acoustic input signals to audio input signals; a processing unit to process the audio input signals to generate audio output signals; a speaker on the earpiece to convert the audio output signals to acoustic output signals, wherein the outer part of the earpiece with the microphone is rotatable, wherein the outer part of the earpiece with the microphone is pivotable or laterally extensible and retractable to obtain an optimal audio input signal, and to minimize ambient noise and interference.

An acquisition system includes a processor, one or more sensors operatively coupled to the processor where the one or more sensors acquire at the ear, on the ear or within an ear canal, one or more of acceleration, blood oxygen saturation, blood pressure or heart-rate, and the one or more sensors configured to monitor a biological state or a physical motion or both for an event. The event can be a detection of a discrepancy when compared with a set of reference data by the one or more sensors or the biological state or the event can be one of a detection of an abrupt movement of a headset operatively coupled to the processor, a change in location of an earpiece operatively coupled the processor, a touching of the headset, a recognizing of a voice command, a starting or ending of a phone call, or a scheduled time.

A headset having game, chat and microphone audio signals is provided with a programmable signal processor for individually modifying the audio signals and a memory configured to store a plurality of user-selectable signal-processing parameter settings that determine the manner in which the audio signals will be altered by the signal processor. The parameter settings collectively form a preset, and one or more user-operable controls can select and activate a preset from the plurality of presets stored in memory. The parameters stored in the selected preset can be loaded into the signal processor such that the sound characteristics of the audio paths are modified in accordance with the parameter settings in the selected preset.

This application relates to earbuds configured with one or more biometric sensors. At least one of the biometric sensors is configured to be pressed up against a portion of the tragus for making biometric measurements. In some embodiments, the housing of the earbud can be symmetric so that the earbud can be worn interchangeably in either a left or a right ear of a user. In such an embodiment, the earbud can include a sensor and circuitry configured to determine and alter operation of the earbud in accordance to which ear the earbud is determined to be sitting in.

An acquisition system includes a processor, one or more sensors operatively coupled to the processor where the one or more sensors acquire at the ear, on the ear or within an ear canal, one or more of acceleration, blood oxygen saturation, blood pressure or heart-rate, and the one or more sensors configured to monitor a biological state or a physical motion or both for an event. The event can be a detection of a discrepancy when compared with a set of reference data by the one or more sensors or the biological state or the event can be one of a detection of an abrupt movement of a headset operatively coupled to the processor, a change in location of an earpiece operatively coupled the processor, a touching of the headset, a recognizing of a voice command, a starting or ending of a phone call, or a scheduled time.

An earpiece is described that includes a driver housing that encloses an audio driver. The driver housing is oriented so that a first end of the driver housing can be supported by a concha bowl of a user's ear and a second end opposite the first end can tilt outside of the user's ear so that the ear need not accommodate an entirety of the driver housing. The driver housing is held in place by an ear clip that engages an exterior portion of the user's ear and attaches to the driver housing by way of a bridge element that can enclose other electronic components such as a battery, antenna, processor and the like.