A speaker device includes an electroacoustic transducer configured to convert an audio signal into a set of sound waves and a transmitter configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal that carries the audio signal for receipt at distances limited to an audibility range of the set of sound waves. The audibility range of the set of sound waves corresponds to a distance at which the set of sound waves is estimated to be below a predetermined sound level.

Provided is an information processor including a signal processing section that acquires a first signal to be detected by an acoustic input section of a first unit including the acoustic input section disposed within a predetermined distance from one ear hole of a user in a state of being worn by the user, acquires a second signal, which indicates a noise generated from a noise source, to be acquired by a second unit, and generates a noise cancellation signal directed to the noise on the basis of the first signal and the second signal.

A voice-controlled device includes a microphone to receive a set of sound waves that includes speech uttered by a user and other sound, and to output a first audio signal that includes a contribution from the speech uttered by the user and a contribution from the other sound. The device also includes a receiver to receive an electromagnetic signal and to output a second audio signal obtained from the electromagnetic signal. An audio pre-processor of the device processes the first audio signal using the second audio signal to reduce the contribution from the other sound in a processed audio signal. The voice-controlled device then provides the processed audio signal to a speech recognition module to determine a voice command issued by the user.

A voice-controlled device includes a microphone to receive a set of sound waves that includes speech uttered by a user and other sound, and to output a first audio signal that includes a contribution from the speech uttered by the user and a contribution from the other sound. The device also includes a receiver to receive an electromagnetic signal and to output a second audio signal obtained from the electromagnetic signal. An audio pre-processor of the device processes the first audio signal using the second audio signal to reduce the contribution from the other sound in a processed audio signal. The voice-controlled device then provides the processed audio signal to a speech recognition module to determine a voice command issued by the user.

A speaker device includes an electroacoustic transducer configured to convert an audio signal into a set of sound waves and a transmitter configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal that carries the audio signal for receipt at distances limited to an audibility range of the set of sound waves. The audibility range of the set of sound waves corresponds to a distance at which the set of sound waves is estimated to be below a predetermined sound level.

[Object] There is proposed a mechanism that allows for a higher noise cancellation effect by operating a plurality of units in coordination. [Solution] An information processor including a signal processing section that: acquires a first signal to be detected by an acoustic input section of a first unit including the acoustic input section disposed within a predetermined distance from one ear hole of a user in a state of being worn by the user; acquires a second signal, which indicates a noise generated from a noise source, to be acquired by a second unit; and generates a noise cancellation signal directed to the noise on the basis of the first signal and the second signal.

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 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 for processing an audio signal involves receiving sound waves at a microphone, converting them into a first audio signal, and extracting a second audio signal from an electromagnetic signal received at a receiver. The first audio signal is correlated with the second audio signal to calculate a correlation value. If the correlation value exceeds a threshold, the first audio signal is processed using the second audio signal to reduce unwanted sound contributions, resulting in a processed audio signal. Further processing is then performed on the processed audio signal to determine a characteristic of the desired sound.

In at least one embodiment, a vehicle active noise cancellation (ANC) apparatus including an ANC controller is disclosed. The ANC controller is operably coupled to at least one error microphone. The ANC controller is configured to receive a first signal indicative of environmental noise that propagates through a vehicle cabin and that is received at a voice recognition (VR) microphone and to generate a noise cancellation wave to remove the environmental noise, the noise cancellation wave being received at the VR microphone. The ANC controller is configured to receive an audio output from the at least one error microphone that is at least indicative of the environmental noise and the noise cancellation wave received at the VR microphone and to apply at least one correction filter to the audio output to remove the environmental noise and the noise cancellation wave that is received at the VR microphone.