216results about "Hearing device energy consumption reduction" patented technology

A receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing device comprises a housing configured for deployment behind an ear of a user of the hearing device. A power source, audio components, a communication device, and a controller are respectively disposed in the housing. A cable assembly comprises a cable, a receiver disposed at a distal end of the cable, and a connector disposed at a proximal end of the cable and configured to attach to the housing. An optical sensor is disposed in the connector and configured to generate a proximity signal based on proximity of the optical sensor to skin at or near the user's ear. The controller is configured to operate the hearing device in a nominal power mode in response to the proximity signal exceeding a threshold and to operate the hearing device in a low power mode in response to the proximity signal falling below the threshold.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for power transmission between playback devices, systems and methods for energy harvesting and distribution for audio playback devices, and systems and methods for wirelessly powering wearable audio playback devices.

A hearing aid device can include a housing having a button operable to activate the hearing aid device. Operation of the button activates the hearing aid device. A shim can be configured to inhibit operation of the button. The shim can include a shim body. The shim can include a button recess having a recess wall extending from the shim body. The shim can include the recess wall at least partially surrounds the button recess. The button recess can be configured to receive at least a portion of the button. The shim can include a channel having a channel wall. The channel can be in communication with the button recess, and the channel 10 can be configured to receive at least a portion of the button.

An audio data transmission method and apparatus for a wireless earphone, and a storage medium and a terminal are provided. A play mode adopted by the wireless earphone includes a first play mode and a second play mode, and the method includes: determining whether the first play mode currently adopted by the wireless earphone satisfies a transmission bandwidth required by to-be-played audio data at least based on parameter information of the to-be-played audio data; and based on the first play mode not satisfying the transmission bandwidth required by the to-be-played audio data, transmitting the to-be-played audio data through a connection channel corresponding to the second play mode.

This application discloses a system for power balancing in wireless earbuds. A first earbud is configured to communicate with a user media device and a second earbud. The first earbud includes: a battery, a battery monitor configured to determine the battery's power level, and a mode controller. The mode controller is configured to: receive a first power level value from the battery monitor and a second power level value from the second earbud, and determine that the first earbud is operating in a primary mode, in which the first earbud receives audio data from the user media device and transmits the received audio data to the second earbud. The mode controller is further configured to: in response to the determination that the first earbud is operating in primary mode, switch the first earbud from primary mode to secondary mode based on at least one of the first and second power levels.

A wearable multifunction device or earpiece or a pair of earpieces includes one or more processors, at least one microphone coupled to the one or more processors, a biometric sensor coupled to the one or more processors, and a memory coupled to the one or more processors, the memory having computer instructions causing the one or more processors to perform the operations of sensing a remaining battery life and based on the sensing, prioritizing one or more of the functions of always on recording, biometric measuring, biometric recording, sound pressure level measuring, voice activity detection, key word detection, key word analysis, personal audio assistant functions, transmission of data to a tethered phone, transmission of data to a server, transmission of data to a cloud device.

A compression triggered headset power saving system for an audio headset comprises a compression sensor cap operatively coupled to a spring switch housed within a compression sensor sleeve to form a compression sensor trigger, such that movement of the compression sensor cap toward the compression sensor sleeve causes the compression sensor cap to electrically contact two pogo electrical contacts and to urge them into contact with separate electrical contact plates, the electrical contact plates mounted to an ear cup plate and operatively coupled to a printed circuit board (PCB) and a speaker, and the compression sensor trigger disposed within an ear cup cushion mounted to the ear cup plate such that movement of the compression sensor cap to engage the pogo electrical contacts occurs under compression of the ear cup cushion to close a circuit to the PCB to trigger providing power to the speaker or other components.

Disclosed in the embodiments of the present application are an earphone wearing state detection method and apparatus, and an earphone and a storage medium. The method may comprise: acquiring an earphone wearing state detection request; performing audio collection by means of a feedback microphone of an earphone, so as to obtain a feedback audio signal; determining the frequency of audio, and on the basis of the frequency, determining a target frequency band, the frequency range of which meets a preset condition, in the feedback audio signal; determining a power spectrum of the feedback audio signal; on the basis of the power spectrum, determining an energy magnitude indicator value of the feedback audio signal within the range of the target frequency band; and if the energy magnitude indicator value is not less than a corresponding preset minimum energy threshold value in an in-ear state, determining that the wearing state of the earphone is the in-ear state. Therefore, the accuracy of detection for an earphone wearing state is improved.

Various aspects include active noise reduction (ANR) headsets and methods of controlling such headsets. In some implementations, a headset includes: at least one electro-acoustic transducer; a power source for powering the at least one electro-acoustic transducer; and a control circuit configured to apply active noise reduction (ANR) to environmental sound using the at least one electro-acoustic transducer, sample voltage drops across the power source, and adjust a compressor threshold for the ANR based on the sampled voltage drops across the power source.

A hearing device comprises an input transducer; a signal processor; an output transducer; a transceiver configured for wireless data communication, an antenna for electromagnetic field emission and electromagnetic field reception, the antenna coupled to the transceiver, and a module. The module comprises a transceiver interface coupled to the transceiver, an antenna interface coupled to the antenna, a transmission path configured for sending signals from the transceiver to the antenna, the transmission path comprising a transmission amplifier, a reception path configured for sending signals from the antenna to the transceiver, the reception path comprising a reception amplifier, and a bypass path configured for sending signals between the transceiver and antenna by bypassing the transmission path and the reception path.

Electronic headphones that are operational when worn or placed on the head of a wearer and are non-operational when the electronic headphones are not worn. In exemplary embodiments, one or more sensors in the electronic headphones may detect this change of position of the earcups / pivot arms of the headset which indicates the wearer is no longer wearing the electronic headphones and put the electronic headphones in a non-operational state. Correspondingly, when placed on the head of a wearer, the sensor(s) detect the change of position of the electronic headphones which indicates the wearer is wearing the electronic headphones and puts the electronic headphones in an operational state.

A digital microphone includes a log amplifier having an input for receiving an analog signal; an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to the log amplifier; a digital low-pass filter coupled to the ADC; a digital decompression component coupled to the digital low-pass filter; and a predictor filter coupled to the digital decompression component, the predictor filter having an output for generating a digital signal. The digital low-pass filter is a positive group delay filter and the predictor filter is a negative group delay filter. The digital microphone has an improved Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) due to filtering, but without increasing overall group delay.

The present disclosure provides an earphone. The earphone includes a first housing, a first touch detection element, a second touch detection element, and a processing circuit. The first housing has a first touch region and a second touch region that are spaced apart from each other and arranged back-to-back in orientation. The first touch detection element is configured to generate a first touch indication signal in response to a capacitance change caused by a touch operation of a user on the first touch region. The second touch detection element is configured to generate a second touch indication signal in response to a capacitance change caused by a touch operation of the user on the second touch region. The processing circuit is configured to generate a control instruction based on the first touch indication signal, the second touch indication signal, and a preset instruction generation logic.

A wearable audio device is provided. The wearable audio device includes a first capacitive proximity sensor. The first capacitive proximity sensor is configured to generate a raw proximity signal. The wearable audio device further includes a second capacitive proximity sensor. The second capacitive proximity sensor is configured to generate a raw reference signal. The wearable audio device further includes a controller. The controller is configured to calculate a proximity threshold. The proximity threshold is calculated based on a product adjustment ratio, a bias value, and the raw reference signal. The controller is further configured to determine an on-head status. The on-head status is determined based on the raw proximity signal and the proximity threshold.

The present disclosure relates to a portable device and an operating method thereof. For example, the portable device includes a microphone structure configured to convert a received audio signal into an electronic signal representing the received audio signal, and to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves by emitting ultrasonic waves and receiving reflections of the ultrasonic waves. The portable device also includes a control unit configured to evaluate the reflections of the ultrasonic waves to obtain an evaluation result, and to control the operation of the portable device based on the evaluation result.

[Problem] To provide an audio-input device with which it is possible to properly acquire also the audio of a conversation held between a wearer of said device and two other conversation participants.[Solution] This audio-input device 100 is provided with: a first arm 10 and a second arm 20 which can be arranged at positions such that a target sound source is interposed therebetween; and a plurality of sound collection parts 41-46 provided in a quantity of at least three for each of the first arm 10 and the second arm 20 (a total quantity of at least six).

A method of head-tracking of a subject in a hearing system comprising a first hearing device and a second hearing device is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining, from a first accelerometer of the first hearing device, first accelerometer data. The method comprises obtaining, from a second accelerometer of the second hearing device, second accelerometer data. The method comprises determining a head parameter indicative of position and / or movement of the head of the subject based on the first accelerometer data and the second accelerometer data. The method comprises providing an output indicative of the head parameter.

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may include a communication interface and a processor, wherein the processor may be configured to receive first battery level information of a first earpiece and second battery level information of a second earpiece, via the communication interface, to identify a charging method corresponding to the first battery level and the second battery level, among a plurality of charging methods for charging at least one of the first earpiece or the second earpiece, and to control to supply charging power to at least one of the first earpiece or the second earpiece, via a cable which connects the electronic device with at least one of the first earpiece or the second earpiece, using the charging method.

An electronic device includes one or more pose sensors to detect a pose of a user of the electronic device relative to a first physical environment, and is in communication with one or more audio output devices. The electronic device provides audio content at a first simulated spatial location relative to the user when a first pose of the user satisfies first presentation criteria. The electronic device detects a change in the pose of the user from the first pose to a second pose. In response to detecting the change in the pose of the user, and in accordance with a determination that the second pose of the user does not satisfy the first presentation criteria, the electronic device provides audio content at a second simulated spatial location relative to the user that is different from the first simulated spatial location.

Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to a system and method whereby a haptic feedback mechanism may be integrated into a rotatable gear module such that rotating the module may generate pure mechanical haptic feedback. The gear module may be integrated into a wearable device, such as headphones, such that a set of magnets incorporated within may be aligned and misaligned with a plurality of teeth when the gear module rotates. In response to the rotation, each alignment and misalignment of the set of magnets with the plurality of teeth may generate pure haptic feedback. In embodiments, the gear module may be rotated to increment or decrement a unit of measurement associated with the headphones. Each unit of increment or decrement of change may produce haptic feedback based on the alignment and misalignment of the set of magnets.

Aspects include active noise reduction (ANR) headphones and methods of controlling such headphones. In some implementations, a headphone comprises: at least one electro-acoustic transducer; the power supply is used for supplying power to the at least one electroacoustic transducer; and a control circuit configured to: apply active noise reduction (ANR) to ambient sound using the at least one electro-acoustic transducer; sampling the voltage drop at the two ends of the power supply; and adjusting a compressor threshold for the ANR based on the sampled voltage drop across the power supply.

The present disclosure relates to a hearing aid having at least two wireless interfaces, where the operation of one wireless risk introducing noise into the at least second wireless interface. The first wireless interface being configured so that it does not, or at least to a limited degree, introduce noise into the second wireless interface.

Disclosed are techniques for audio processing handover between audio devices. In an aspect, a method of audio processing handover between audio devices comprises selecting a first audio device to be a primary audio input device and deactivating the second audio device; performing a voice processing algorithm on the first audio device; detecting that the quality of the first audio signal does not satisfy a quality threshold, and in response, activating the second audio device and measuring the quality of the second audio signal. If the quality of the second audio signal is better than the quality of the first audio signal, select the second audio device to be the primary audio input device, deactivate the first audio device, and perform the voice processing algorithm on the second audio device. Otherwise, deactivate the second audio device for some amount of time before checking again.

A headset for audio play, comprising one or more sensor circuit and a control module. The control module comprises a secondary processor circuit. The sensor circuit generates sensor data according to structural deformations of the headset. The secondary processor circuit receives the sensor data and calculates measured values related to the structural deformations of the headset. The secondary processor circuit determines a usage status of the headset according to the measured value and one or more threshold value. The secondary processor circuit adaptively adjusts at least one threshold value according to the usage status.

Method and devices for saving audio data on an ear-worn device are provided herein. In various embodiments, the method can include connecting an ear-worn device to an external device, receiving a request for audio data to be sent from the external device to the ear-worn device, modifying a first audio data file on the external device in accordance with parameters defined in an audio profile associated with the ear-worn device to create a second audio data file, wherein the second audio data file is smaller than the first audio data file, sending the second audio data file from the external device to the ear-worn device, and saving the second audio data file in a non-volatile memory element of the ear-worn device.

A power management and a method for implementing power management, integrated circuit, and integrated circuit package are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is a method of operating a portable audio device, the method comprising: reading, by a power supply controller, a logic speed measurement from a logic gate delay line, the power supply controller and the logic gate delay line implemented on a semiconductor substrate; calculating, by the power supply controller, a speed margin based on the logic speed measurement; generating, by the power supply controller, a value indicative of a modified voltage level, the generating based on the speed margin; and modifying, by a main voltage converter on the semiconductor substrate, an output voltage in response to the value indicative of the modified voltage level.

A hearing aid system is configured for managing the power of a wireless link. The hearing aid system includes a first hearing aid device and a mobile device, each of the devices including a transmit and receive unit for establishing a short range wireless link between the devices. At least one of the devices includes: a microphone configured to receive an acoustical audio signal; a signal processor configured to process an audio signal based on the acoustical audio signal; and first link quality estimating circuitry configured to determine rate of change of a link quality signal. The at least one of the devices is configured to transmit the link quality signal to the other device, and the other device is configured to determine a power level of transmission of an information packet based on the rate of change of the link quality signal via a power controller comprised by the other device.