An apparatus for realizing an active noise cancellation control law transfer function between a sensing microphone and a speaker. The apparatus includes a multiplicity of filters. Each filter is operable over a different frequency range. At least one filter has an adjustable parameter whereby the filter can be adjusted such that the filters cumulatively realize a required control law transfer function. The adjustable parameter may in one embodiment be the amplitude. In other embodiments, it may be other parameters.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture (e.g., physical storage media, such as storage devices and/or storage disks) to implement selective suppression of audio emitted from an audio source are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein for audio suppression include sending, at a first time, reference audio data in a wireless format to a user device, the reference audio data corresponding to a first audio signal to be emitted by an audio source at a second time later than the first time. Such example methods can also include emitting the first audio signal from a speaker associated with the audio source at the second time.

A selective attenuating earplug is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a selective attenuating earplug includes a switch adjustable between a first position and a second position, and the switch includes at least one cantilever spring arm.

An audio processing device comprises a) at least one input unit for providing time-frequency representation Y(k,n) of an electric input signal representing sound consisting of target speech and noise signal components, where k and n are frequency band and time frame indices, respectively, b) a noise detection and/or reduction system configured to b1) determine an a posteriori signal to noise ratio estimate γ(k,n) of said electric input signal, and to b2) determine an a priori target signal to noise signal ratio estimate ζ(k,n) of said electric input signal from said a posteriori signal to noise ratio estimate γ(k,n) based on a recursive decision directed algorithm. The application further relates to a method of of estimating an a priori signal to noise ratio. The invention may e.g. be used for the hearing aids, headsets, ear phones, active ear protection systems, handsfree telephone systems, mobile telephones, etc.

(Fig. 1A should be published)

Headphone providing fully natural interface are described. According to one aspect of such headphones, the headphones comprises a microphone configured for capturing an ambient sound, a speaker configured for playing audio signals, a command interface configured for receiving one or more external control commands, and a control unit having an ambient sound monitoring function. The control unit captures the ambient sound through the microphone, and automatically causes the headphones to enter an interactive mode when a preset interested sound is detected to appear in the ambient sound. The control unit controls the headphones to output an interactive reminder in the interactive mode, and the interactive reminder comprises one or more of visual reminders, a tactile reminder and an auditory reminder. Thus, interaction between the user and the ambience can be realized in a fully natural interface manner according to user preferences.

A hearing protection system, a hearing protection device and related method, the hearing protection device comprising an earpiece device comprising a first connector, and first and second earpieces, the first earpiece comprising a first primary microphone and a first receiver wired to the first connector and the second earpiece comprising a second primary microphone and a second receiver wired to the first connector; and a processing device comprising a processor, an earpiece interface, and a wireless communication interface, wherein the processor is configured to receive a first microphone input signal from the first primary microphone; process the first microphone input signal for provision of a first primary output signal for the first receiver based on the first microphone input signal; receive a communication request from a communication device via the communication interface; and in response to receipt of the communication request, communicate with the communication device via the communication interface.

A hearing protection system, a hearing protection device and related method, the hearing protection device comprising an earpiece device comprising a first connector, and first and second earpieces, the first earpiece comprising a first primary microphone and a first receiver wired to the first connector and the second earpiece comprising a second primary microphone and a second receiver wired to the first connector; and a processing device comprising a processor, an earpiece interface, and a wireless communication interface, wherein the processor is configured to receive a first microphone input signal from the first primary microphone; process the first microphone input signal for provision of a first primary output signal for the first receiver based on the first microphone input signal; receive a communication request from a communication device via the communication interface; and in response to receipt of the communication request, communicate with the communication device via the communication interface.

The present disclosure illustrates an acoustic echo cancellation method and system using the same. The acoustic echo cancellation method comprises the following steps. Firstly, a prior-knowledge matrix comprising a plurality of space vectors is built. Then, an initial filter vector is generated by the prior-knowledge matrix and an initial weighting vector. The weighting vector is updated based on the difference of the echo signal and the estimated signal in an iteration algorithm, and the coefficient of the filter vector is updated according to the updated weighting vector. An estimated signal is generated according to the updated filter vector and the original signal. Finally, the next echo signal is cancelled by the near-end estimated signal.

A control unit for a worker wearing personal protective equipment is presented. The control unit includes a PPE network creator that, when activated, creates a network. The control unit also includes a PPE device identifier configured to detect a first PPE associated with the worker and a second PPE associated with the worker. The first PPE has a first speaker and a first microphone. The second PPE has a second speaker and a second microphone. The control unit also comprises a PPE network joiner that facilitates the first and second PPE joining the network. The control unit also comprises a preferred configuration selector that automatically selects a preferred speaker for the worker and a preferred microphone for the worker. The preferred speaker is the first or second speaker. The preferred microphone is the first or second microphone. The control unit also comprises a network communication component that automatically communicates a first device parameter settings to the first PPE and a second device parameter settings to the second PPE. The first and second device parameter settings are based on the selected preferred speaker and microphone.

The present application relates to a battery-powered electronic device, such as an electronic hearing protector, with switchable electrical contacts. The device includes a housing enclosing the battery and an electronics assembly. The electronics assembly is powered by the battery, and the electronics assembly comprises a processor controlled by updatable software. The device further includes a first electrical contact that is a ground line; a second electrical contact that is a data programming line in a first state, and that is a charging voltage line in a second state; and a third electrical contact that is a clock line in a first state, and that is a charge enable line in the second state. The first, second and third electrical contacts are accessible from outside the housing. A switch enclosed by the housing changes the second electrical contact between the first state and the second state.