The present disclosure relates to concepts of acoustic noise cancelling. A noise cancelling apparatus contains a propulsion component configured to autonomously move the noise cancelling apparatus, and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to determine a position of an acoustic source, to determine a position of an acoustic receiver, and, depending on the detected positions of the acoustic source and the acoustic receiver, to control the propulsion component to navigate the noise cancelling apparatus to a target position to at least partly cancel an acoustic signal from the acoustic source at the position of the acoustic receiver.

A method for manufacturing a cartilage conduction audio device is disclosed. A manufacturing system receives data describing a three-dimensional shape of an ear (e.g., the outer ear, behind the ear, the concha bowel, etc.) of a user. The system identifies one or more locations for one or more transducers along a back of an auricle of the ear for the user that vibrate the auricle over a frequency range causing the auricle to create an acoustic pressure wave at an entrance of the ear canal. The system then generates a design for a cartilage conduction audio device for the user based on the one or more identified locations of the transducers at which acoustic pressure waves generated by the one or more transducers satisfy a threshold performance metric for the user. The design may then be used to fabricate the cartilage conduction audio device.

An improved system and method for reducing the ambient noise experienced by a user listening to an earpiece without the use of a microphone is disclosed. An ambient noise signal created by the sound pressure wave of the ambient noise acting on the earpiece transducer is obtained. In some embodiments, the ambient noise signal is inverted and fed back, and the inverted signal is added to the intended audio signal being sent to the earpiece so that the ambient noise is cancelled. In other embodiments, a processor receives the ambient noise signal and predicts the modification to the intended audio signal needed to counteract the ambient noise. The ambient noise signal may be obtained by comparing the actual signal across the earpiece transducer to the intended audio signal, or by detecting variations in the current across the transducer from the current generated to drive the transducer.

A device and method for the continuous monitoring of otoacoustic emissions (OAE) levels on an individual worker uses as a pair of earpieces each featuring an external microphone, an internal microphone and a pair of miniature receivers. An adaptive filtering noise rejection processing of the measured distortion product OAE (DPOAE) is used to further improve the Signal-to-Noise ratio in frequencies where passive isolation remains insufficient. The adaptive filtering noise rejection technique relies on a Normalized Least-Mean-Square (NLMS) algorithm that uses the ipsilateral external microphone and the contralateral internal microphone to reject the noise from the measured DPOAE signals for each in-ear OAE probe. A DPOAE signal extraction algorithm provides for an increase in results reliability on a greater dynamic range in DPOAE magnitudes than known methods of DPOAE signal extraction. The device and method is suitable for the continuous monitoring of workers' hearing capabilities in industrial noises up to 75 dB(A).

A method for generating and providing an audio signal, including receiving a first audio signal via an external microphone of a headphone or earphone, and receiving a second audio signal via a wireless interface. The first audio signal includes a portion reproduced via loudspeakers. The second audio signal corresponds to the portion reproduced via loudspeakers and is received before the corresponding portion of the first audio signal. A propagation time difference is determined between the first audio signal and the second audio signal. The second audio signal is modified by adaptive filtering and temporal shifting such that the propagation time difference between the first and second modified audio signal is substantially compensated. The adaptive filtering models an acoustic transmission of the first audio signal and a modified second audio signal is obtained. The modified second audio signal is inverted, then it is provided via the headphone or earphone.

A method of operating a vehicle sound system to enhance the driving experience of vehicle occupants. A vehicle-mounted sensor (such as a LIDAR or RADAR system) is used to identify an object in the vehicle environment. A database that may be stored on a remote server is queried, the database containing, in electronic form, a sound stored therein associated with the object. The sound may be a desirable or pleasant sound. The sound is download to the vehicle sound system and the sound system generates the sound in a vehicle cabin for enjoyment by the occupants. Other ambient sounds may be detected by an exterior microphone of the vehicle, characteristics and locations of the sound added to the database. A vehicle noise reduction system may be activated as the vehicle approaches the location when it is determined that the characteristic indicates that the ambient sound is undesirable.

An apparatus for selective AEC filter bypass is disclosed. A method and computer program product also perform the functions of the apparatus. An apparatus for selective AEC filter bypass is disclosed that includes a filter for an audio handling device that performs acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) on a microphone signal to produce an AEC-filtered microphone signal, a bypass controller that determines whether an AEC bypass parameter corresponding to an audio stream is enabled and a mixer that combines the audio stream with the AEC-filtered microphone signal to produce an AEC-filtered selectively combined signal in response to determining that the AEC bypass parameter corresponding to the audio stream is enabled.

The disclosure is related to compositions including viscoelastic materials. The compositions are suitable for use in earpieces such as in-ear earpieces.

The disclosure is related to compositions including viscoelastic materials. The compositions are suitable for use in earpieces such as in-ear earpieces.

An ear-protective headgear has a headband, a first earpiece and a second earpiece. The headband is worn on the user's head in order to position the earpieces over the user's ears, protecting the ears from environmental discomforts, such as the heat from a hooded hair dryer. The earpieces may be moved along the headband to be appropriately positioned over the ears. The headband is also adjustable in length through a headband fastener connecting a first end and a second end of the headband together. The earpieces are affixed to the headband by two strap portions forming a headband connector, the ends of which are connected together, forming a loop around the headband. An earpiece connector insert may be positioned within the headband connector of one of the earpieces and attached to a fastening anchor positioned on the other earpiece, connecting the earpieces together to wear as an accessory.