A method for self-calibrating a sound pickup process that uses a microphone array in a wearable device that also includes a loudspeaker, where the microphone array being in a physical arrangement with respect to the loudspeaker. The method obtains, for each of several microphones of the microphone array, one or more transfer functions that each represent a response of the microphone to sound from a position in an acoustic space. The method determines whether a physical arrangement of the microphone array with respect to the loudspeaker has changed and adjusts the transfer function, for at least one of the microphones of the several microphones, in response to determining that the current physical arrangement of the microphone array with respect to the loudspeaker has changed.

A hearing instrument microphone device incudes at least two microphone sound ports (or sound inlets), a pressure difference microphone in communication with at least two of the sound ports and a pressure microphone in communication with at least one of the sound ports, wherein the acoustic centers of the pressure difference microphone and the pressure microphone essentially coincide.

A hands-free intercom may include a user-tracking sensor, a directional microphone, a directional sound emitter, a display device, and/or a communication interface. The user-tracking sensor may determine a location of a user so the directional microphone can measure vocal emissions by the user and the directional sound emitter can deliver audio to the user. The hands-free intercom may induce the user to move to a desired location and/or to stay within a connectivity area. The hands-free intercom may also or instead induce the user to face in a desired orientation. The directional sound emitter and/or the display device may induce the user by explicitly indicating the desired location, by adjusting an apparent source of the audio or video, by changing quality of delivered audio or video based on user position, by producing irritating audio or video, and/or the like.

An electronic motorcycle helmet. The electronic motorcycle helmet includes a helmet having an aperture therein that can receive a head therethrough. A visor is disposed on a front side of the helmet and a display is disposed on an interior surface of the visor. A microprocessor, including a logic that receives a command input directed to one of a plurality of subsystems, toggles the subsystem between an activated state and a deactivated state, and displays a status window on the display corresponding to the subsystem. The plurality of subsystems includes a plurality of cameras disposed about the helmet, wherein each of the cameras is operably connected to the display and can apply a low-light filter for low-light conditions. Other subsystems include a wireless transmitter to wirelessly communicate with an external device, a GPS system, and a battery disposed at a lower edge of the rear side.

System and methods for processing audio signals are disclosed. In one implementation, a system may include at least one microphone configured to capture sounds from an environment of a user; a wearable camera configured to capture a plurality of images from the environment of the user; and at least one processor. The processor may be configured to receive at least one image of the plurality of images; receive at least one audio signal representative of the sounds captured by the at least one microphone; identify an item of information based on at least one of the at least one image or the at least one audio signal; determine at least a beginning of an informational time period for providing the item of information to the user; and transmit an informational audio signal representative of the item of information to a hearing interface device during the informational time period.

System and methods for selectively amplifying audio signals are disclosed. In one implementation, a method includes receiving at least one image of a plurality of images captured by a wearable camera; receiving a first audio signal representative of the sounds captured by a microphone; determining a looking direction of a user; and processing the first audio signal by amplifying audio coming from the looking direction of the user and attenuating audio coming from at least one other direction; receiving a second audio signal representative of the sounds captured by a hearing interface device; transmitting the second audio signal to a speaker associated with the hearing interface device; transmitting an additional audio signal to the speaker, wherein the transmission of the additional audio signal at least partially overlaps the transmission of the second audio signal; and transmitting the processed first audio signal to the speaker.

An operation terminal is configured to: determine whether or not a directional microphone and/or a directional speaker of a mobile object is facing toward the operation terminal based on the position and the orientation of the mobile object, a sound picking-up angle of the directional microphone of the mobile object and an output angle of the directional speaker thereof, and the position of the operation terminal; set, when the directional microphone and/or the directional speaker of the mobile object is facing toward the operation terminal, a predetermined threshold as a distance threshold, and determines whether or not a distance between the mobile object and the operation terminal is equal to or shorter than the predetermined threshold; and make, when the distance is equal to or shorter than the predetermined threshold, at least one of the mobile object and the operation terminal reduce the volume of its microphone and/or speaker.

Techniques for adaptive cross-correlation are discussed. A first signal is received from a first audio sensor associated with a vehicle and a second signal is received from a second audio sensor associated with the vehicle. Techniques may include determining, based at least in part on the first signal, a first transformed signal in a frequency domain. Additionally, the techniques include determining, based at least in part on the second signal, a second transformed signal in the frequency domain. A parameter can be determined based at least in part on a characteristic associated with at least one of the vehicle, an environment proximate the vehicle, or one or more of the first or second signal. Cross-correlation data can be determined based at least in part on one or more of the first transformed signal, the second transformed signal, or the parameter.

There is provided an external stereo microphone device that makes it possible to change orientations of microphones over a wide range. An external stereo microphone attached to a mobile electronic device includes a pair of symmetrically-positioned microphones 60, a holder unit 40 having a pair of holders 46 symmetrically positioned so as to accommodate the pair of microphones 60 respectively and a joint 48 for joining the pair of holders 46 together, and a case 14 having a substantially-cylindrical portion 20 that rotatably supports the holder unit 40 and a body 18 that accommodates a circuit board 22 of the case 14. The joint 48 is a substantially-plate-shaped region that joins outer circumferential edges of the holders 46 together and that has a circumferential width which is one-half or less of an entire circumference of the holder unit.

A loudspeaker array has a cabinet in which is formed a continuously open circumferential horn for controlling sound produced by a number of transducers which are positioned in the cabinet, at a throat of the horn. The continuously open circumferential horn may 1) improve the power efficiency of the transducers without unwanted aliasing effects in audible frequency ranges and 2) provide vertical control for sound emitted by the transducers by flaring.