Apparatus, system and method for active acoustic control (AAC) in open-back acoustic headphones

Abstract

For example, an apparatus for active acoustic control (AAC) of open acoustic headphones may include an input for receiving input information including a residual noise input including residual noise information corresponding to a residual noise sensor of the open acoustic headphones, and a noise input including noise information corresponding to the noise sensor of the open acoustic headphones; a controller configured to determine a sound control pattern configured for AAC of the open acoustic headphones, the controller configured to identify mounting-based parameters of the open acoustic headphones based on the input information, and to determine the sound control pattern based on the mounting-based parameters, the residual noise input, and the noise input; and an output for outputting the sound control pattern to an acoustic transducer of the open acoustic headphones.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] cross reference This application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 149,341, entitled "APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ACTIVE ACOUSTIC CONTROL (AAC) AT AN OPEN ACOUSTIC HEADPHONE," filed February 14, 2021, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 308,708, entitled "APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF ACOUSTIC FEEDBACK (AFB) MITIGATION," filed February 10, 2022, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Technical Field Aspects described herein generally relate to active acoustic control (AAC) in open acoustic headphones. [Background technology]

[0003] The headphone device may include active noise control (ANC) to improve the sound performance of the headphone device and the sound experience of the user.

[0004] For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, dimensions of some elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity of presentation. Furthermore, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or similar elements. The figures are listed below. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0005] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic block diagram of an open-back acoustic headphone device with active acoustic control (AAC), in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. [Diagram 2]2 is a schematic diagram of an AAC system that may be implemented in the open acoustic headphone device of FIG. 1 in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic block diagram of an open-type acoustic headphone device with AAC, in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic block diagram of an open-type acoustic headphone device with AAC, in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. [Diagram 5] 1 is a schematic block diagram of a graph illustrating multiple speaker transfer functions corresponding to multiple respective mounting configurations of headphones, in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic block diagram of an AAC system utilizing a virtual acoustic sensor, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic block diagram of an adaptive acoustic feedback (AFB) mitigator implemented within an AAC system in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic block diagram of an adaptive AFB mitigator implemented within an AAC system in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. [Figure 9] 1 is a schematic block diagram of an adaptive AFB mitigator implemented within an AAC system in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a controller in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a controller in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. [Figure 12] 1 is a schematic block diagram of a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) prediction unit in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of components of a controller of an AAC system, in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. [Figure 14] 1 is a schematic diagram of a graph illustrating a number of bandpass filter curves, in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. [Figure 15]1 is a schematic diagram of a detection scheme for detecting a mounting profile of an open acoustic headphone, in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. [Figure 16] 1 is a schematic flow diagram of a method for determining a sound control pattern, in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. [Figure 17] 1 is a schematic flow diagram of a method for determining a sound control pattern, in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. [Figure 18] 1 is a schematic flow diagram of a method for AAC in open acoustic headphones, in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. [Figure 19] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a product in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0006] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of some aspects. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that some aspects may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, units and / or circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the description.

[0007] For example, descriptions herein utilizing terms such as "processing," "computing," "calculating," "determining," "establishing," "analyzing," "checking," or the like, may refer to operation(s) and / or process(es) of a computer, computing platform, computing system, or other electronic computing device that manipulates and / or transforms data represented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities in the computer's registers and / or memory into other data similarly represented as physical quantities in the computer's registers and / or memory or other information storage medium that may store instructions for performing the operations and / or processes.

[0008] The terms "plurality" and "a plurality" as used herein include, for example, "multiple" or "two or more." For example, "a plurality of items" refers to two or more items.

[0009] Some portions of the detailed descriptions which follow are presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bits or binary digital signals within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions and representations may be techniques used by those skilled in the data processing arts to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art.

[0010] An algorithm is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of acts or operations leading to a desired result. These involve physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, primarily for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like. However, it should be understood that all of these and similar terms are associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities.

[0011] As used herein, the term "circuitry" may refer to, be a part of, or include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an integrated circuit, an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group), and / or memory (shared, dedicated, or group), combinatorial logic circuitry, and / or other suitable hardware components that execute one or more software or firmware programs, providing the described functionality. In some aspects, a circuit may be a function associated with a circuit that may be implemented in or by one or more software or firmware modules. In some aspects, a circuit may include logic that is at least partially operable in hardware.

[0012] The term "logic" may refer to, for example, computing logic embedded within a circuit of a computing device and / or computing logic stored within a memory of a computing device. For example, the logic may be accessible by a processor of a computing device to execute the computing logic to perform an operational function and / or operation. In one example, the logic may be embedded within various types of memory and / or firmware, for example, various chips and / or silicon blocks of a processor. The logic may be included within and / or implemented as part of various circuits, for example, radio circuits, receiver circuits, control circuits, transmitter circuits, transceiver circuits, processor circuits, and / or the like. In one example, the logic may be embedded within volatile and / or non-volatile memory, including random access memory, read-only memory, programmable memory, magnetic memory, flash memory, persistent memory, and / or the like. The logic may be executed by one or more processors, for example, using memory, for example, registers, buffers, stacks, and the like, coupled to the one or more processors as necessary to execute the logic.

[0013] Some illustrative aspects include systems and methods that can be implemented to control noise, e.g., to reduce or eliminate undesirable noise, e.g., noise within one or more frequency ranges, e.g., generally low, medium and / or high frequencies, as described below.

[0014] Some demonstrative embodiments may include, for example, active acoustic control (AAC) methods and / or systems configured to control acoustic energy and / or wave amplitude of one or more acoustic patterns generated by one or more acoustic sources, which may include known and / or unknown acoustic sources, as described below.

[0015] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC system may be configured as and / or perform one or more functions of an active noise control (ANC) system and / or active sound field control (ASC), which may be configured to control, reduce and / or eliminate noise energy and / or wave amplitude of one or more acoustic patterns ("primary patterns") generated by one or more noise sources, which may include known and / or unknown noise sources, e.g., as described below.

[0016] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC system may be configured to generate sound control patterns (also referred to as "sound control patterns" or "secondary patterns") including, for example, disruptive noise patterns and / or any other sound control patterns, e.g., as described below.

[0017] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC system may be configured to generate acoustic control patterns, e.g., based on one or more of the primary patterns, such that, e.g., controlled sound zones, e.g., reduced noise zones, e.g., quiet zones, may be created by combinations of secondary and primary patterns, e.g., as described below.

[0018] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC system may be configured to control, reduce and / or eliminate noise within predefined locations, areas or zones (also called “acoustic control zones,” “noise control zones,” also “quiet zones,” or “Quiet Bubble®”) without, e.g., despite and / or without using, a priori information regarding the primary pattern and / or one or more noise sources, e.g., as described below.

[0019] For example, the AAC system may be configured to control, reduce and / or eliminate noise within an acoustic control zone, e.g., independently of, regardless of, and / or without prior knowledge of, one or more attributes of one or more of the noise sources and / or one or more of the primary patterns, e.g., the number, type, location and / or other attributes of one or more of the primary patterns and / or one or more of the noise sources, e.g., as described below.

[0020] Some illustrative aspects are described herein with respect to AAC systems and / or methods configured to reduce and / or eliminate noise energy and / or wave amplitude of one or more acoustic patterns within a quiet zone, e.g., as described below.

[0021] However, in other aspects, any other AAC system and / or sound control system and / or method may be configured to control in any other manner any other sound energy and / or wave amplitude of one or more sound patterns within a sound control zone (sound control zone), e.g., to affect, change and / or modify the sound energy and / or wave amplitude of one or more sound patterns within a predefined zone, e.g., as described below.

[0022] In one example, an AAC system and / or method may be configured to selectively reduce and / or eliminate one or more types of acoustic energy and / or wave amplitude of an acoustic pattern within an acoustic control zone, and / or selectively increase and / or amplify one or more other types of acoustic energy and / or wave amplitude of an acoustic pattern within an acoustic control zone; and / or selectively preserve and / or maintain one or more types of acoustic energy and / or wave amplitude of an acoustic pattern within an acoustic control zone, e.g., as described below.

[0023] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC system may be configured as and / or may execute one or more functions of a sound control system, e.g., a personal sound control system (also referred to as a “Personal Sound Bubble (PSB)® system”), which may be configured to generate sound control patterns that may be based on at least one voice input, such that, e.g., at least one personal sound zone may be created based on the voice input, as described below.

[0024] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC system may be configured to control sounds within at least one predefined location, region or zone, e.g., at least one PSB, based on, e.g., sounds heard by a user. In one example, the PSB may be configured to include, e.g., a region around the user's head and / or ears, as described below.

[0025] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC system may be configured to control the sound contrast between one or more first sound patterns and one or more second sound patterns within a PSB, for example, as described below.

[0026] In some demonstrative aspects, for example, an AAC system may be configured to control a sound contrast between one or more first sound patterns and one or more second sound patterns of a speech heard by a user, e.g., as described below.

[0027] In some demonstrative aspects, for example, the AAC system may be configured to selectively increase and / or amplify one or more types of sound energy and / or wave amplitude of the sound patterns within the PSB based, e.g., on sounds heard within the PSB; to selectively reduce and / or eliminate one or more types of sound energy and / or wave amplitude of the sound patterns within the PSB based, e.g., on the sound signals that are reduced and / or eliminated; and / or selectively preserve and / or maintain one or more other types of sound energy and / or wave amplitude of the sound patterns within the PSB, e.g., as described below.

[0028] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC system may be configured to control sounds within the PSB based on any other additional or alternative inputs or criteria.

[0029] In some demonstrative embodiments, the AAC system can be configured to control, reduce, and / or eliminate one or more acoustic energy and / or wave amplitudes of a primary pattern within an acoustic control zone.

[0030] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC system may be configured to control, reduce, and / or eliminate noise within an acoustic control zone in a selective and / or configurable manner, e.g., based on one or more predefined noise pattern attributes, e.g., as described below, so that, for example, the noise energy, wave amplitude, phase, frequency, direction and / or statistical characteristics of one or more first primary patterns may be influenced by a secondary pattern, but the secondary pattern may have only a reduced effect or no effect at all on the noise energy, wave amplitude, phase, frequency, direction and / or statistical characteristics of one or more second primary patterns.

[0031] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC system may be configured to control, reduce, and / or eliminate acoustic energy and / or wave amplitude of a primary pattern on a predefined envelope or enclosure surrounding and / or enclosing the acoustic control zone, and / or at one or more predefined locations within the acoustic control zone.

[0032] In one example, an acoustic control zone may include a two-dimensional zone, for example, defining an area where one or more acoustic energy and / or wave amplitudes of a primary pattern are controlled, reduced, and / or eliminated.

[0033] According to this example, the AAC system may be configured to control, reduce and / or eliminate acoustic energy and / or wave amplitude of a primary pattern along a perimeter surrounding the acoustic control zone and / or at one or more predefined locations within the acoustic control zone.

[0034] In one example, the acoustic control zone may include a three-dimensional zone, e.g., defining a volume in which one or more acoustic energy and / or wave amplitudes of a primary pattern are controlled, reduced, and / or eliminated. In accordance with this example, the AAC system may be configured to control, reduce, and / or eliminate the acoustic energy and / or wave amplitudes of the primary pattern on surfaces surrounding the three-dimensional volume.

[0035] In one example, the acoustic control zone may include a spherical volume, and the AAC system may be configured to control, reduce and / or eliminate acoustic energy and / or wave amplitude of a primary pattern on a surface of the spherical volume.

[0036] In another example, the acoustic control zone may include a cubic volume and the AAC system may be configured to control, reduce and / or eliminate acoustic energy and / or wave amplitude of a primary pattern on a surface of the cubic volume.

[0037] In other embodiments, an acoustic control zone may include any other suitable volume that may be defined, for example, based on one or more attributes of the location in which the acoustic control zone is maintained.

[0038] Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which illustrates a schematic diagram of an open-type acoustic headphone device 100, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

[0039] 2, which illustrates a schematic diagram of an AAC system 200 that may be implemented in an open-type acoustic headphone device according to some demonstrative aspects. For example, the AAC system 200 may be configured for AAC in the open-type acoustic headphone device 100.

[0040] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may include one or more open acoustic headphones, for example, as described below.

[0041] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may include a first open acoustic headphone 110 and / or a second open acoustic headphone 120.

[0042] In some illustrative aspects, the term "headphones," as used herein, may include any suitable device that includes one or more acoustic transducers, e.g., speakers, that may be attached and / or worn on, around, near, and / or over a user's head and / or ears.

[0043] In one example, the headphones may be configured to be worn on a user's head, for example, such that the acoustic transducers are held near the user's ears.

[0044] In one example, the headphones may be implemented in the form of circumaural headphones (also called "full size headphones" or "over-ear headphones"), which may include padding that surrounds the outer ear.

[0045] In one example, the headphones may be implemented in the form of supra-aural headphones, which may include pads that press against the ears.

[0046] In one example, the headphones may be implemented in the form of ear-fitting headphones that are worn over the user's ears.

[0047] In one example, the headphones may be implemented in the form of earbuds that may be fitted in or on the outer ear.

[0048] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 may include a mounting mechanism configured for mounting the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 over a user's head and / or ears, for example, as described below.

[0049] For example, the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 may include a frame 101 and / or any other structure configured for mounting the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 on a user's head, e.g., such that the open acoustic headphones 110 and / or the open acoustic headphones 120 are positioned relative to the user's ears.

[0050] In one example, the open-type acoustic headphone device 100 may include, for example, The first open-back acoustic headphones 110 may be configured to be held in position against a first ear 152 of a user and / or the second open-back acoustic headphones 120 may be configured to be held in position against a second ear 154 of a user.

[0051] In other embodiments (not shown in FIG. 1), the open acoustic headphone device 100 may include a structure or mechanism configured to hold the open acoustic headphones over the user's ears.

[0052] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 may include an open acoustic headphone apparatus that includes a single open acoustic headphone, such as the first open acoustic headphone 110 or the second open acoustic headphone 120. For example, the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 may include a single open acoustic headphone on only one side of the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100.

[0053] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may include an open acoustic headphone and a closed acoustic headphone. For example, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may include an open acoustic headphone, e.g., an open acoustic headphone 110, on one side and a closed headphone on the other side.

[0054] In one example, closed acoustic headphones may be configured to cover the user's ears, e.g., completely cover the user's ears, e.g., to acoustically isolate the user's ears from the environment.

[0055] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may include, function as, and / or perform one or more functions of an AAC system.

[0056] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphones 110 may include at least one acoustic transducer (speaker) 108, at least one noise sensor (reference microphone) 119, and at least one residual noise sensor (error microphone) 121, for example, as described below.

[0057] In other embodiments, the open acoustic headphones 110 may include any other additional or alternative elements and / or components.

[0058] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphones 120 may include at least one acoustic transducer 128 (speaker), at least one noise sensor (error microphone) 129, and at least one residual noise sensor (error microphone) 131, for example, as described below.

[0059] In other embodiments, the open acoustic headphones 120 may include any other additional or alternative elements and / or components.

[0060] In some demonstrative embodiments, acoustic transducer 108 and / or acoustic transducer 128 may include a speaker, for example, as described below. In other embodiments, acoustic transducer 108 and / or acoustic transducer 128 may include any other type of acoustic transducer or acoustic actuator that may be configured to generate an acoustic signal.

[0061] In some demonstrative embodiments, acoustic sensor 119, acoustic sensor 121, acoustic sensor 129, and / or acoustic sensor 131 may include a microphone, for example, as described below. In other embodiments, acoustic sensor 119, acoustic sensor 121, acoustic sensor 129, and / or acoustic sensor 131 may include any other type of acoustic sensor that may be configured to detect an acoustic signal.

[0062] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may include a controller 202 that may be configured for AAC in the open acoustic headphones 110 and / or the open acoustic headphones 120, for example, as described below.

[0063] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may include a controller 202 that may be configured to generally perform AAC in both the open acoustic headphones 110 and / or the open acoustic headphones 120, for example, as described below.

[0064] In other aspects, the open acoustic headphones 110 may include a first controller 202 for AAC in the open acoustic headphones 110 and / or the open acoustic headphones 120 may include a second controller 202 for AAC in the open acoustic headphones 120.

[0065] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to mount open acoustic headphones, such as open acoustic headphones 110 and / or 120, on a user's head in a manner that may allow for acoustic leakage between the environment and the user's ears, e.g., as described below.

[0066] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 may be configured to mount the open acoustic headphones 110 on the user's head, e.g., such that there may be acoustic leakage from the environment to the user's ear (also referred to as "external leakage"). For example, the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 may be configured to mount the open acoustic headphones 110 against the ear 152, e.g., such that there may be leakage from the environment to the ear 152, e.g., of one or more primary patterns, e.g., as described below.

[0067] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 may be configured to mount the open acoustic headphone 110 on the user's head, such that there may be acoustic leakage of sound patterns from a speaker, e.g., acoustic transducer 108, to the environment outside the open acoustic headphone (also referred to as "inner leakage"). For example, the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 may be configured to mount the open acoustic headphone 110 against the ear 152, such that there may be leakage of one or more secondary patterns from the acoustic transducer 108 to the environment, e.g., as described below.

[0068] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to mount the open acoustic headphones 110 on the user's head such that, for example, attenuation of external leakage to the ear 152 may be below a predefined attenuation threshold, e.g., as described below.

[0069] In one example, the attenuation level of the external noise may be 10 decibels (dB) or less.

[0070] In another example, the attenuation level of the external noise may be 5 decibels (dB) or less.

[0071] In another example, the attenuation level of the external noise may be 3 decibels (dB) or less.

[0072] In other aspects, any other attenuation threshold may be implemented.

[0073] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 may be configured to mount the open acoustic headphones on the user's head, e.g., such that the open acoustic headphones do not completely cover and / or seal against the user's ears. For example, the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 may be configured to hold the open acoustic headphones 110 in a position that may not completely cover and / or seal against the ears 152 and / or hold the open acoustic headphones 120 in a position that may not completely cover and / or seal against the ears 154.

[0074] In one example, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to mount the open acoustic headphones on a user's head, e.g., in a manner that may maintain one or more spaces and / or separations between the user's ears and the open acoustic headphones, e.g., as described below.

[0075] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphones 110 may include fully open acoustic headphones, for example, as described below.

[0076] In some demonstrative aspects, the fully open acoustic headphones may include non-contact and / or non-obstructed open acoustic headphones. For example, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to mount the fully open acoustic headphones on the top of a user's head, e.g., such that the fully open acoustic headphones do not contact the user's ears, e.g., as described below.

[0077] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to mount the fully open acoustic headphone 110 on the user's head, e.g., such that the entire outer surface of the open acoustic headphone is not in contact with the ear 152, e.g., as described below.

[0078] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to mount the open acoustic headphones 110 on the user's head, e.g., in a manner that may maintain a range of at least 3 millimeters (mm) between the ears 152 and the speakers, e.g., acoustic transducers 108, of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., as described below.

[0079] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to mount the open acoustic headphones 110 on the user's head, e.g., in a manner that may maintain a range of at least 4 mm between the ears 152 and the speakers, e.g., acoustic transducers 108, of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., as described below.

[0080] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to mount the open acoustic headphones 110 on the user's head, e.g., in a manner that may maintain a range of at least 5 mm between the ears 152 and the speakers, e.g., acoustic transducers 108, of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., as described below.

[0081] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to mount the open acoustic headphones 110 on the user's head, e.g., in a manner that may maintain a range of at least 7 mm between the ears 152 and the speakers, e.g., acoustic transducers 108, of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., as described below.

[0082] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to mount the open acoustic headphones 110 on the user's head, e.g., in a manner that may maintain a range of greater than 7 mm, or any other range, between the ears 152 and the speakers, e.g., acoustic transducers 108, of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., as described below.

[0083] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphones 110 may include semi-open acoustic headphones (also referred to as "partially open acoustic headphones"), for example, as described below.

[0084] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to mount the semi-open acoustic headphones 110 on top of a user's head, such that the semi-open acoustic headphones may partially cover and / or seal the user's ears, for example, as described below.

[0085] In other aspects, semi-open acoustic headphones may be configured to provide any other level of partial coverage of the ears.

[0086] In other aspects, the open acoustic headphones 110 may include multiple acoustic transducers 108, for example as described below.

[0087] In one example, the open acoustic headphones 110 may include a speaker array, for example as described below.

[0088] Reference is made to FIG. 3, which illustrates a schematic of an open-type acoustic headphone device 300, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

[0089] In some demonstrative aspects, as shown in FIG. 3, an open acoustic headphone device 300 may include a first fully open acoustic headphone 310 and a second fully open acoustic headphone 320.

[0090] In some demonstrative aspects, as shown in FIG. 3, fully open acoustic headphone 310 and / or fully open acoustic headphone 320 may include a speaker array 308.

[0091] In one example, as shown in FIG. 3, the open acoustic headphone apparatus 300 may be configured to maintain a distance of at least 5 mm, or any other suitable distance, between the speaker array 308 of the fully open acoustic headphone 310 and the first ear of a user, and / or to maintain a distance of at least 5 mm, or any other suitable distance, between the speaker array 308 of the fully open acoustic headphone 320 and the second ear of a user.

[0092] Reference is made to FIG. 4, which illustrates a schematic of an open-back acoustic headphone device 400, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

[0093] In some demonstrative aspects, as shown in FIG. 4, an open acoustic headphone device 400 may include a first semi-open acoustic headphone 410 and a second semi-open acoustic headphone 420.

[0094] In some demonstrative aspects, as shown in FIG. 4, semi-open acoustic headphones 410 and / or semi-open acoustic headphones 420 may include a speaker array 408.

[0095] In one example, as shown in FIG. 4, an open acoustic headphone apparatus 400 may be configured such that semi-open acoustic headphones 410 and / or 420 partially cover the ears of a user.

[0096] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the open acoustic headphone apparatus 400 may be configured to maintain a distance of at least 5 mm, or any other suitable distance, between the speaker array 408 of the semi-open acoustic headphone 410 and a first ear of a user, and / or to maintain a distance of at least 5 mm, or any other suitable distance, between the speaker array 408 of the semi-open acoustic headphone 420 and a second ear of a user.

[0097] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, an open acoustic headphone apparatus 400 may be configured such that a semi-open acoustic headphone 410 partially covers a first ear of a user, e.g., leaving at least a portion, e.g., a lower portion, of the first ear uncovered.

[0098] In one example, the open acoustic headphone device 400 may be configured to mount the semi-open acoustic headphone 410 on the user's head such that 90% or less of the entire outer surface of the semi-open acoustic headphone 410 may be in contact with the ear.

[0099] In one example, the open acoustic headphone device 400 may be configured to mount the semi-open acoustic headphone 410 on the user's head such that 80% or less of the entire outer surface of the semi-open acoustic headphone 410 may be in contact with the ear.

[0100] In one example, the open acoustic headphone device 400 may be configured to mount the semi-open acoustic headphone 410 on the user's head such that 60% or less of the entire outer surface of the semi-open acoustic headphone 410 may be in contact with the ear.

[0101] In one example, the open acoustic headphone device 400 may be configured to mount the semi-open acoustic headphone 410 on the user's head such that 50% or less of the entire outer surface of the semi-open acoustic headphone 410 may be in contact with the ear.

[0102] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, an open acoustic headphone apparatus 400 may be configured such that a semi-open acoustic headphone 420 partially covers a user's second ear, e.g., leaving at least a portion, e.g., a lower portion, of the second ear uncovered.

[0103] In one example, the open acoustic headphone device 400 may be configured to mount the semi-open acoustic headphone 420 on the user's head such that 90% or less of the entire outer surface of the semi-open acoustic headphone 420 may be in contact with the ear.

[0104] In one example, the open acoustic headphone device 400 may be configured to mount the semi-open acoustic headphone 420 on the user's head such that 80% or less of the entire outer surface of the semi-open acoustic headphone 420 may be in contact with the ear.

[0105] In one example, the open acoustic headphone device 400 may be configured to mount the semi-open acoustic headphone 420 on the user's head such that 60% or less of the entire outer surface of the semi-open acoustic headphone 420 may be in contact with the ear.

[0106] In one example, the open acoustic headphone device 400 may be configured to mount the semi-open acoustic headphone 420 on the user's head such that 50% or less of the entire outer surface of the semi-open acoustic headphone 420 may be in contact with the ear.

[0107] Referring back to FIG. 1, in some illustrative embodiments, the open-back acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to enable a user to hear internal sounds from a speaker, e.g., acoustic transducer 108, and to hear external sounds, e.g., from the environment, while reducing external undesirable noise that may result from the environment.

[0108] In one example, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to enable a heavy equipment operator to hear internal communications, e.g., from coworkers, as well as external communications, e.g., from coworkers, managers, and the like, while reducing noise from the heavy equipment.

[0109] In another example, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to enable a warehouse worker who may be working in a noisy warehouse and who may collaborate with a robot to hear the robot while, for example, driving or talking, and to hear a colleague talking to the robot, while reducing the broadband noise level of undesirable sounds in the warehouse.

[0110] In another example, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to enable a call center employee who normally works wearing a mono-ear headset with one ear open to use a binaural headphone device, for example, to better understand customer calls while being aware of the people or sounds around him or her, e.g., alerts from coworkers, managers, and / or the like.

[0111] In another example, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to enable a player, e.g., a gamer, a casino player, and / or the like, to enjoy, e.g., the audio of a game and hear help staff and / or intercom announcements, while reducing, e.g., environmental noise.

[0112] In another example, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to enable medical teams, e.g., first aid teams, ambulance professionals, doctors, and / or similar people, to talk to each other and hear the patient and surrounding sounds, while reducing noise from the environment, for example.

[0113] In another example, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to support quick donning and doffing, for example, to enable a medical team to switch between the open acoustic headphone device 100 and a stethoscope.

[0114] In another example, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to enable professional drivers and / or specialized teams, e.g., emergency drivers and / or teams, wearing a communication single-ear headset to communicate with a dispatch center and / or the like, to be aware of their surroundings, e.g., while listening to communications with both ears. For example, when not using both ears, e.g., using a headset with one ear open, it may be difficult to understand how people or sounds are moving around. For example, when people around are talking or giving warnings, it may be difficult to understand where people are, e.g., using only one ear.

[0115] In another example, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to support the use of a stereoscope for emergency rescue personnel and / or teams who may need to use a stethoscope to examine a patient at an accident scene, for example, where there is a high level of background noise at the scene. For example, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to enable the simple use of a stethoscope for medical emergency responders. For example, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may enable accurate diagnosis of a patient using a stereoscope, for example, even in a noisy environment, as compared to an electronic stethoscope, which may be very expensive, fragile, and may make it difficult to communicate with people around.

[0116] In some illustrative embodiments, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured as a "simple" headset, e.g., even without buttons and switches, as compared to larger headsets that include buttons and switches that may need to be operated, e.g., to hear voices of outside people.

[0117] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 may be configured to support wireless communication, for example, between the open acoustic headphone apparatus 110 and / or 120 and one or more audio / communication devices.

[0118] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to support wideband AAC, for example, as described below.

[0119] In one example, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may support AAC in a wide frequency range, for example, up to a frequency of 1000 Hz, or within any other frequency range.

[0120] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 may be configured to support a reduced, e.g., minimal, footprint of electronics in the acoustic volume of the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100. For example, the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 may be configured to implement wideband open-air AAC, even on a single chip, which may be suitable for, e.g., power-efficient wearable applications.

[0121] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to support one or more algorithms for AAC, voice enhancement, stethoscope enhancement, communication, and / or any other additional or alternative audio and / or voice processing algorithms.

[0122] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to support internal communication interaction enhancements, for example, between a user and one or more colleagues. For example, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to support wireless duplex low latency communication, for example, through a Bluetooth link, an Intercom link, and / or any other communication link.

[0123] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 may be configured to support open acoustic echo / leakage, for example, to improve the sound experience of a user of the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100. For example, the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 may be configured to support multiple acoustic drivers, for example, to manage leakage of outload components.

[0124] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to utilize AAC for cancellation of undesirable sounds, for example, as described below.

[0125] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to utilize, e.g., via a cloud connection, one or more artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to perform, e.g., one or more AAC-related operations and / or calculations, e.g., as described below.

[0126] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to support voice control, for example, even in noisy environments. For example, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may utilize one or more AI algorithms for voice recognition in noisy environments.

[0127] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 may be configured to support voice control, for example, to control one or more applications. For example, the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 may be compatible with one or more operating systems (OS) of a mobile device, such as a smartphone.

[0128] In some illustrative embodiments, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be compatible for mounting on a variety of helmets. For example, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may have a minimal spring pressure and / or a minimal weight to support a user's all-day comfortable experience. For example, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to be robust to multiple mounting conditions.

[0129] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may have a battery pack that supports improved charge levels, for example, to support operation over extended periods of time.

[0130] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to support one or more healthcare amalgamation standards.

[0131] Referring also to FIG. 2, in some demonstrative aspects, controller 202 may be configured to control open acoustic headphones, e.g., open acoustic headphones 110 and / or open acoustic headphones 120, e.g., as described below, in a manner that may enable a user to hear internal sounds, e.g., from a speaker, and at least a portion of external sounds, e.g., from the environment, while reducing external undesirable noise.

[0132] Some illustrative embodiments are described below with respect to an AAC controller, e.g., AAC controller 202, that may be configured for AAC in open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., by controlling acoustic transducer 108 based on input from noise sensor 119 and residual noise sensor 121. In other embodiments, AAC controller 202 may additionally or alternatively be configured for AAC in open acoustic headphones 120, e.g., by controlling acoustic transducer 128 based on input from noise sensor 129 and residual noise sensor 131.

[0133] In one example, the controller 202 may include at least one memory 298, e.g., coupled to the one or more processors, that may be configured to store, e.g., at least a portion of the information processed by the one or more processors and / or circuitry, and / or to store logic utilized by the processors and / or circuitry.

[0134] In one example, at least a portion of the functionality of the controller 202 may be implemented by an integrated circuit, e.g., a chip, e.g., a system on a chip (SoC). In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 202 may include or be implemented, partially or fully, by circuitry and / or logic, e.g., one or more processors including circuitry and / or logic, and / or memory circuitry and / or logic. Additionally or alternatively, one or more functions of the radar controller 202 may be implemented by logic that may be executed by a machine and / or one or more processors, e.g., as described below.

[0135] In other aspects, the controller 202 may be implemented with any other logic and / or circuitry and / or according to any other architecture.

[0136] In some demonstrative aspects, controller 202 may be configured to control sound within at least one sound control zone 130, for example, as described in detail below.

[0137] In some demonstrative embodiments, the sound control zone 130 may include a three-dimensional (3D) zone. For example, the sound control zone 130 may include a spherical zone.

[0138] In another example, the sound control zone 130 may include any other 3D zone.

[0139] In some demonstrative aspects, the predefined sound control zone 130 may include, for example, the space within the ear 152, as described below.

[0140] In some illustrative aspects, sound control zone 130 may include at least a portion of the canal of ear 152, for example, at an entrance to the canal of ear 152, as described below.

[0141] In other embodiments, the enclosed space may include any other portion or area of ​​ear 152.

[0142] In some demonstrative embodiments, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to control the sounds and / or noises within the zone 130 to provide an improved sound experience, e.g., by controlling the sounds and / or noises within the zone 130 in a manner that provides an improved speech and / or audio experience, and / or the like.

[0143] In some demonstrative aspects, the open acoustic headphone device 100 may be configured to reduce or even cancel external undesirable noise while allowing internal and external sounds, for example, as described below.

[0144] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 202 may include or be implemented with an input 292, which may be configured to receive input information 295, for example, as described below.

[0145] In some demonstrative aspects, the input 292 may be configured to receive input information 295 via a wired link or connection, a wireless link or connection, and / or any other communication mechanism, connection, link, bus, and / or interface.

[0146] In some demonstrative aspects, the input information 295 may include a noise input 206 that includes noise information corresponding to a noise sensor 119 (also referred to as a “primary sensor,” “noise sensor,” or “reference sensor”) of the open acoustic headphones 110.

[0147] In one example, the noise information corresponding to the noise sensor 119 may represent acoustic noise at the location of the noise sensor 119, for example, as described below.

[0148] In some demonstrative aspects, the input information 295 may include a residual noise input 204 that includes residual noise information corresponding to a residual noise sensor 121 (also called an “error sensor,” or “secondary sensor”) of the open acoustic headphones 110, for example, as described below.

[0149] In one example, the residual noise information corresponding to the residual noise sensor 121 may represent acoustic noise at a residual noise detection location, e.g., the location of the residual noise sensor 121 and / or one or more other residual noise detection locations, e.g., as described below.

[0150] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC controller 202 may be configured to determine a sound control pattern 209, which may be configured for AAC in the open acoustic headphones 110, for example, as described below.

[0151] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC controller 202 may be configured according to an AAC scheme that utilizes one or more noise sensors, e.g., noise sensor 119 (FIG. 1), one or more residual noise sensors, e.g., residual noise sensor 121 (FIG. 1), and / or one or more acoustic transducers, e.g., a speaker array, e.g., speaker array 308 (FIG. 3), e.g., as described below.

[0152] In some demonstrative aspects, an AAC scheme may include one or more first acoustic sensors (“primary sensors”) to detect acoustic noise at one or more of a plurality of noise detection locations.

[0153] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC scheme may include one or more second acoustic sensors ("error sensors") to detect acoustic residual noise at one or more of the multiple residual noise detection locations.

[0154] In some demonstrative aspects, one or more of the error sensors and / or one or more of the primary sensors may be implemented using one or more "virtual sensors" ("virtual microphones"). A virtual microphone corresponding to a particular microphone location may be implemented by any suitable algorithm and / or method capable of evaluating an acoustic pattern that may have been sensed by an actual acoustic sensor located at the particular microphone location.

[0155] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC controller 202 may be configured to simulate and / or perform the function of a virtual microphone, for example, by estimating and / or evaluating an acoustic noise pattern at a particular position of the virtual microphone.

[0156] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC controller 202 may include a controller 293 configured to determine a sound control pattern 209 to control sound in the sound control zone 130, for example, as described below.

[0157] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC controller 202 may include an output 297 to output the sound control pattern 209 to at least one acoustic transducer of the open acoustic headphones 110, such as acoustic transducer 108. For example, the output 297 may be configured to output the sound control pattern 209 to control the acoustic transducer 108, e.g., as described below.

[0158] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to control the acoustic transducer 108 to generate an acoustic sound control pattern 209 configured to control sound in the sound control zone 130, for example, as described in detail below.

[0159] In some demonstrative aspects, the attachment of the open acoustic headphones 110 to the ears 152 may affect the user's sound experience and / or the effectiveness of the AAC, for example, as described below.

[0160] In one example, different users may wear the open acoustic headphones 110 in different positions relative to the ears 152, for example, according to the anatomy of the user's head and / or ears, for the user's convenience, and / or for any other reason.

[0161] For example, one user may wear the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 such that the open acoustic headphone 110 is at a first distance, e.g., 4 mm, from the ear 152, while another user may wear the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 such that the open acoustic headphone 110 is at a second distance, e.g., 5 mm, from the ear 152.

[0162] In another example, one user may, for example, wear the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 such that the speaker 108 of the open acoustic headphone 110 may be tilted at a first angle, for example 1 degree, relative to the ear 152, while another user may, for example, wear the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 such that the speaker 108 of the open acoustic headphone 110 may be tilted at a second angle, for example 10 degrees, relative to the ear 152.

[0163] In another example, one user, e.g., with long hair, may wear the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 such that there may be some hair between the speaker 108 of the open acoustic headphone 110 and the ear 152, while another user, e.g., with short hair or no hair, may wear the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 such that there is little or no hair between the speaker 108 of the open acoustic headphone 110 and the ear 152.

[0164] In one example, the attachment of the open acoustic headphones 110 to the ears 152 may affect the speaker transfer function between the acoustic transducers 108 and the user's ears 152, for example, as described below.

[0165] Reference is made to FIG. 5, which generally illustrates a graph 500 showing a number of speaker transfer functions 510 corresponding to a number of respective mounting configurations for headphones, according to some demonstrative embodiments.

[0166] In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, different mounting configurations may result in speaker transfer functions that may be suitable for hearing sounds, e.g., at least within a frequency range below 1000 Hz, that may differ significantly from one another.

[0167] 5, a change in the mounting configuration, for example, by the user or for any other reason, can significantly affect the acoustic environment between the headphones and the user's ears. As a result, the mounting configuration can affect, for example, even significantly affect, the user's sound experience and / or the effectiveness of the AAC.

[0168] 1 and 2, in some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 209 based on, for example, the attachment of the open acoustic headphones 110 to the user's ears 152, for example, as described below.

[0169] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to identify a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110 based on, for example, the input information 295, for example, as described below.

[0170] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to identify, for example, based on the input information 295, mounting-based parameters based on the mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, for example, as described below.

[0171] In some demonstrative aspects, the mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110 may be based on the mounting of the open acoustic headphones 110 to the user's ears 152, for example, as described below.

[0172] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 209 based on, for example, a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, for example, as described below.

[0173] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 209, for example, based on mounting-based parameters of the open acoustic headphones 110, for example, as described below.

[0174] In one example, the controller 293 may be configured to determine a first sound control pattern, e.g., based on first mounting-based parameters corresponding to a first mounting configuration representing a first mounting of the open acoustic headphones 110 to the user's ears 152, e.g., as described below.

[0175] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine a second sound control pattern, different from the first sound control pattern, e.g., based on parameters of a second mounting base corresponding to a second mounting configuration representing a second mounting of the open acoustic headphones 110 to the user's ear 152 that is different from the first mounting of the open acoustic headphones 110 to the user's ear 152, e.g., as described below.

[0176] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to dynamically update the sound control pattern 209 based on changes in mounting-based parameters that represent changes in the mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110 relative to the user's ears 152, for example, as described below.

[0177] For example, the controller 293 may be configured to dynamically monitor mounting-based parameters to detect changes in the mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, for example in real time.

[0178] For example, the controller 293 may be configured to dynamically update the sound control pattern 209, for example, in real time, based on detected changes in mounting-based parameters of the open acoustic headphones 110.

[0179] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may determine the sound control pattern 209 based on, for example, the mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, the residual noise input 204, and the noise input 204, for example, as described below.

[0180] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may determine the sound control pattern 209 based on, for example, mounting-based parameters of the open acoustic headphones 110, the residual noise input 204, and the noise input 204, for example, as described below.

[0181] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC controller 202 may be configured to generate sound control patterns 209 based on speech and / or audio signals heard by a user of the open acoustic headphones 110, for example, as described below.

[0182] In some demonstrative aspects, the input information 295 may include a voice and / or audio signal 233 from a voice / audio source 231 .

[0183] In one example, the voice and / or audio signal 233 may include a voice and / or audio signal heard by a user of the open acoustic headphones 110, such as music, speech, a call, or the like.

[0184] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to generate the sound control pattern 209 based on the voice and / or audio signal 233, for example, as described below.

[0185] In other aspects, the AAC controller 202 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 209 based on any other additional or alternative factors, criteria, attributes, and / or parameters.

[0186] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 209 based on, for example, a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, such that, for example, the sound control pattern 209 may reduce or eliminate undesirable sounds in the sound control zone 130, as described below.

[0187] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 209 based on, for example, mounting-based parameters, such that, for example, the sound control pattern 209 may reduce or eliminate undesirable sound in the sound control zone 130, as described below.

[0188] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 209 to reduce or eliminate undesirable noise, for example, in the sound control zone 130 according to at least one noise parameter, e.g., energy, amplitude, phase, frequency, direction, and / or statistical characteristics, as described in detail below.

[0189] In one example, the controller 293 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 209, e.g., to selectively reduce one or more predefined first noise patterns in the sound control zone 130 while not reducing one or more second noise patterns in the sound control zone 130, e.g., as described below.

[0190] In some demonstrative aspects, mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, may be based on, e.g., a position of the open acoustic headphones 110 relative to the user's ears 152, e.g., as described below.

[0191] In some demonstrative aspects, mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, may be based on, e.g., the distance between the user's ear 152 and the acoustic transducer 108, e.g., as described below.

[0192] In some demonstrative aspects, mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, may be based on, e.g., an orientation of the open acoustic headphones 110 relative to the user's ears 152, e.g., as described below.

[0193] In some demonstrative aspects, mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, may be based on, e.g., the acoustic environment between the open acoustic headphones 110 and the user's ears 152, e.g., as described below.

[0194] In other aspects, the mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to the mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, may be based on, e.g., any other additional or alternative information, parameters, attributes and / or inputs, e.g., as described below.

[0195] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may determine mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, based on, e.g., residual noise information, e.g., from the residual noise sensor 121, e.g., as described below.

[0196] In one example, the controller 293 may determine mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to mounting configurations of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., by comparing the residual noise patterns in the residual noise information to one or more predefined residual noise patterns. For example, the predefined residual noise patterns may correspond to one or more respective predefined mounting configurations of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., as described below.

[0197] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may determine mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., based on the calibration acoustic signal, e.g., as described below.

[0198] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to cause the acoustic transducer 108 to generate a calibration acoustic signal, for example, as described below.

[0199] In one example, in an embodiment, the controller 293 may be configured to cause the acoustic transducer 108 to generate a calibration acoustic signal, for example, when a user is wearing the open acoustic headphones 110, for example, during setup or calibration of the open acoustic headphones 110.

[0200] In another example, the controller 293 may be configured to cause the acoustic transducer 108 to generate a calibration acoustic signal, e.g., in real time, while the user is listening to audio using the open acoustic headphones 110. For example, the calibration acoustic signal may be added to the audio heard by the user, e.g., based on the signal 133.

[0201] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to identify calibration information within the residual noise information, eg, within the residual noise input 204, eg, as described below.

[0202] In some demonstrative aspects, the calibration information may be based on a calibration acoustic signal, for example, as sensed by a residual noise sensor 121, as described below.

[0203] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine mounting-based parameters, e.g., based on calibration information, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., as described below.

[0204] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine an acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer 108 and the residual noise detection location, e.g., based on the residual noise information, e.g., as described below.

[0205] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine an acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer 108 and the residual noise sensing position of the residual noise sensor 121, e.g., based on the residual noise information, e.g., as described below.

[0206] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine an acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer 108 in the zone 130 and a residual noise sensing location 117 in the user's ear 152, e.g., based on the residual noise information, e.g., as described below.

[0207] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., based on an acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer 108 and a residual noise sensing location, e.g., as described below.

[0208] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may determine mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., based on noise information, e.g., from the noise sensor 119, e.g., as described below.

[0209] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may determine mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., based on sensor information, which may be received via sensor inputs, e.g., from one or more sensors 217, e.g., as described below.

[0210] In some demonstrative aspects, input information 295 may include sensor information 229 from positioning sensor 218, which may be received, for example, via input 292, as described below.

[0211] In some demonstrative aspects, the sensor information 229 may include positioning information corresponding to the positioning of the open acoustic headphones 110 relative to the ears 152, for example, as described below.

[0212] In one example, the position sensor 218 may include an electro-optical position sensor.

[0213] In another example, the positioning sensor 218 may include an acoustic positioning sensor, for example, to generate the sensor information 229 based on transmitting / detecting an acoustic signal.

[0214] In other embodiments, the position sensor 217 may include any other type of position sensor.

[0215] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may determine mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, based on a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 120, e.g., as described below.

[0216] In one example, the controller 293 may determine a mounting-based parameter, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., based on a predefined relationship between the position of the open acoustic headphones 120 and the position of the open acoustic headphones 110. For example, the controller 293 may determine that the position of the open acoustic headphones 110 has moved in one direction, e.g., upward, based on determining that the position of the open acoustic headphones 120 has moved in another direction, e.g., downward.

[0217] In other aspects, the controller 293 may determine mounting-based parameters, for example corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, for example based on any other additional or alternative information.

[0218] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 209 based on, for example, an acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer 108 and the residual noise sensor 121, for example, as described below.

[0219] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine an acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer 108 and the residual noise sensor 121 based on mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open-type acoustic headphones 110, and to determine the sound control pattern 209 based on the acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer 108 and the residual noise sensor 121, e.g., as described below.

[0220] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 209 based on, for example, an acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer 108 and a residual noise sensing location 117 in the ear 152, for example, as described below.

[0221] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine an acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer 108 and the residual noise detection location 117 in the user's ear 152 based on mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to the mounting configuration of the open-type acoustic headphones 110, and to determine the sound control pattern 209 based on the acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer 108 and the residual noise detection location 117 in the ear 152, e.g., as described below.

[0222] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 209 based on, for example, the sound field of the acoustic transducer 108, for example, as described below.

[0223] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine a configuration of the sound field of the acoustic transducer 108 based on, e.g., mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open-back acoustic headphones 110, e.g., as described below.

[0224] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 209 based on, for example, the configuration of the sound field of the acoustic transducer 108, for example, as described below.

[0225] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 209 based on, for example, the virtual residual noise information, eg, as described below.

[0226] In some demonstrative aspects, the virtual residual noise information may correspond to a virtual residual noise sensor, e.g., a virtual microphone, in the user's ear, e.g., at residual noise sensing location 117, as described below.

[0227] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine the virtual residual noise information based on the residual noise input 204, e.g., from the residual noise sensor 121, and mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., as described below.

[0228] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 209 based on, for example, the virtual residual noise information, eg, as described below.

[0229] In some demonstrative aspects, the residual noise sensor may be implemented using one or more "virtual sensors" ("virtual microphones"). A virtual microphone corresponding to a particular microphone location may be implemented by any suitable algorithm and / or method capable of evaluating an acoustic pattern that may have been detected by an actual acoustic sensor located at the particular microphone location, e.g., residual noise detection location 117.

[0230] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to simulate the function of a virtual microphone, for example, by estimating and / or evaluating the acoustic noise pattern at a particular position of the virtual microphone.

[0231] In one example, a particular location of the virtual microphone may be configured to be within the ear 152, such as the residual noise sensing location 117, for example, at the entrance to the ear canal of the ear 152 or within the ear canal of the ear 152.

[0232] Reference is made to Fig. 6, which illustrates, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments, a schematic representation of an AAC system 600 that may be configured for implementation in open-back acoustic headphones. For example, AAC system 200 (Fig. 2) may include one or more elements of AAC system 600 and / or perform one or more operations and / or one or more functions of AAC system 600.

[0233] 6, AAC system 600 may include controller 602, acoustic transducer 608, e.g., a speaker, noise sensor 619 ("reference sensor"), e.g., a first microphone, and residual noise sensor 621 ("physical monitoring sensor"), e.g., a second microphone. For example, controller 202 and / or controller 293 (FIG. 2) may include one or more elements of controller 602 and / or perform one or more operations and / or one or more functions of controller 602.

[0234] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 602 may be configured to determine virtual residual noise information corresponding to the virtual residual noise sensing location 607, for example, based on input from the residual noise sensor 121.

[0235] In some demonstrative aspects, as shown in FIG. 6, the AAC controller 602 may be configured to determine virtual residual noise information representing residual noise that may be detected at a virtual residual noise detection position 607 by a virtual microphone 650 (a “virtual monitoring sensor”).

[0236] In some demonstrative aspects, controller 602 may be configured to determine virtual residual noise information for a virtual residual noise sensing location 607, e.g., in a user's ear. For example, controller 602 may be configured to determine virtual residual noise information for a virtual microphone 660 located at location 117 ( FIG. 1 ) in user's ear 152 ( FIG. 1 ).

[0237] 6, the residual noise sensor 621 may be located at a position 609. For example, the residual noise sensor 621 may be located at the position of the residual noise sensor 121 (FIG. 1) of the open acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1).

[0238] In some demonstrative aspects, location 609 may be selected as a practical location for an actual implementation of residual noise sensor 621, for example, because location 609 is on or within an open acoustic headphone. However, the optimal location for detecting the actual residual noise heard by a user may be within the user's ear. As a result, treating location 609 as a location of residual noise may result in suboptimal performance.

[0239] In some demonstrative aspects, implementing a residual noise acoustic sensor at location 607 may provide optimal performance, for example, since location 607 is inside the user's ear. However, in many use cases and products, it may not be practical to implement a residual noise acoustic sensor at location 607, for example, for open acoustic headphones, since it may be nearly impossible to place or position a sensor inside the user's ear.

[0240] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 602 may be configured to simulate residual noise that may be detected at a position 607 by the virtual microphone 650, for example, by estimating and / or evaluating an acoustic noise pattern at a particular position 607 of the virtual microphone 650.

[0241] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may be configured to determine the virtual residual noise information based on residual noise information 625, e.g., from the residual noise sensor 621, and a transfer function, e.g., in the form of a physical-to-virtual (P2V) transfer function 617, between the residual noise sensor 621 at location 609 and the virtual microphone 650 at location 607.

[0242] In one example, the audio signal at a “virtual” microphone position, e.g., the audio signal at position 607, which is projected to the ear, can be inferred from the signal of a physical microphone placed on an open acoustic headphone, e.g., from the signal 625 of the residual noise sensor 621.

[0243] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may determine the P2V transfer function 617 based on mounting-based parameters, e.g., mounting-based parameters corresponding to the mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones relative to the ears, e.g., mounting-based parameters corresponding to the mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1).

[0244] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 602 may determine a sound control pattern 209 for AAC in the open acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1) based on, for example, virtual residual noise information corresponding to the virtual acoustic sensor 650, reference information 629 from the noise sensor 619, and a speaker transfer function (STF) 628 between the speaker 608 and the residual noise sensor 621.

[0245] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 602 may output a sound control pattern 618 to the speaker 608, for example, for AAC in the open acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1).

[0246] 1 and 2, in some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine settings for one or more sound control parameters, e.g., based on mounting-based parameters corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., as described below.

[0247] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 209, for example, based on settings of one or more sound control parameters, for example, as described below.

[0248] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine the AAC profile based on mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., as described below.

[0249] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 209 based on, for example, an AAC profile, eg, as described below.

[0250] In some demonstrative aspects, an AAC profile may include settings for one or more sound control parameters, for example, as described below.

[0251] In one example, in an embodiment, the settings of one or more sound control parameters may be utilized in determining the sound control pattern 209, for example.

[0252] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 209, for example, based on settings of one or more sound control parameters of an AAC profile, for example, as described below.

[0253] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC controller 202 may include a memory 298 for storing a plurality of AAC profiles 299, for example, as described below.

[0254] In some demonstrative aspects, the multiple AAC profiles 299 may correspond to multiple predefined mounting configurations, respectively, as described below, for example.

[0255] In some demonstrative aspects, an AAC profile 299 corresponding to a predefined mounting configuration of a plurality of predefined mounting configurations may include, for example, settings of one or more sound control parameters corresponding to the predefined mounting configuration, e.g., as described below.

[0256] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to select a selected AAC profile from a plurality of AAC profiles 299, e.g., based on mounting-based parameters corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., as described below.

[0257] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 209, eg, based on the selected AAC profile 299, eg, as described below.

[0258] In one example, the first AAC profile 299 may correspond to a first mounting configuration, e.g., mounting of the open acoustic headphones 110 in a first position relative to the ear 152, e.g., at an upward offset of 1 millimeter or more from the ear 152. According to this example, the first AAC profile 299 corresponding to the first mounting configuration may include, e.g., a first setting of one or more sound control parameters, which may be configured, e.g., with respect to the first position relative to the ear.

[0259] In another example, the second AAC profile 299 may correspond to a second mounting configuration, e.g., mounting of the open acoustic headphones 110 in a second position relative to the ear 152, e.g., at a downward offset of 1 millimeter or more from the ear 152. According to this example, the first AAC profile 299 corresponding to the second mounting configuration may include, e.g., a second setting of one or more sound control parameters, which may be configured, e.g., for the second position relative to the ear.

[0260] In some demonstrative aspects, the setting of one or more sound control parameters may include, for example, setting one or more path transfer functions that are applied to determine the sound control pattern 209, as described below.

[0261] In some demonstrative aspects, the one or more path transfer functions may include, for example, a speaker transfer function corresponding to the acoustic transducer 108, as described below.

[0262] In other embodiments, the one or more path transfer functions may include one or more additional or alternative transfer functions corresponding to one or more other acoustic transducers and / or acoustic sensors of the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100.

[0263] In some demonstrative aspects, the setting of one or more sound control parameters may include, for example, setting one or more parameters of a predictive filter (PF) 256 that is applied to determine the sound control pattern 209, as described below.

[0264] In some demonstrative aspects, the one or more parameters of the prediction filter 256 may include, for example, a prediction filter weight vector of the prediction filter, as described below.

[0265] In some demonstrative aspects, the one or more parameters of the prediction filter 256 may include, for example, an update rate parameter for updating a prediction filter weight vector of the prediction filter, as described below.

[0266] In some demonstrative aspects, the prediction filter 256 may include a noise prediction filter applied to a prediction filter input, which may be based on the noise input 206, for example, as described below.

[0267] In some demonstrative aspects, the prediction filter 256 may include a residual noise prediction filter applied to a prediction filter input, which may be based on the residual noise input 204, for example, as described below.

[0268] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may determine the sound control signal 209, for example, by applying at least one estimation function and / or prediction function to one or more signals processed by the controller 293, for example, as described below.

[0269] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may include a prediction filter 256 (also referred to as a “prediction unit” or “estimator”) configured to apply an estimation or prediction function to information based on the noise input 206 and / or the residual noise input 204, e.g., as described below.

[0270] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to configure the PF 256 to utilize one or more predictive parameters for the estimation function, e.g., based on mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., as described below.

[0271] In one example, the controller 293 may be configured to determine a first set of predictive parameters for a first mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110.

[0272] In another example, the controller 293 may be configured to determine a second set of predictive parameters for a second mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110.

[0273] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to update and / or modify the sound control signal 209 based on an identified change in, e.g., a mounting-based parameter corresponding to, e.g., a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., as described below.

[0274] For example, the controller 293 may be configured to update and / or modify the sound control signal 209 based on a detected change in, e.g., a mounting-based parameter corresponding to, e.g., the mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., if a user changes the positioning of the open acoustic headphones 110 relative to the ears 152 and / or if the mounting configuration changes based on any external cause.

[0275] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may determine one or more predictive parameters for the mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, for example, based on a look-up table (LUT), as described below.

[0276] In some demonstrative aspects, the LUT may be stored in memory 298, for example.

[0277] In some demonstrative aspects, the LUT may be configured to map multiple mounting configurations and multiple settings to the predicted parameters.

[0278] In one example, the LUT may be configured for matching between a first prediction parameter and a first mounting configuration, and / or the LUT may match between a second prediction parameter, e.g., different from the first prediction parameter, and a second mounting configuration, e.g., different from the first mounting configuration.

[0279] In some demonstrative embodiments, the controller 293 may determine one or more predictive parameters for the mounting configuration based on, for example, any other additional or alternative algorithms, methods, functions, and / or procedures.

[0280] In some demonstrative aspects, the predictive parameters may include weights, coefficients, functions, and / or any other additional or alternative parameters utilized to determine the sound control pattern 209, for example, as described below.

[0281] In some demonstrative aspects, the prediction parameters may include one or more path transfer function parameters of an estimation and / or prediction function, e.g., as described below. In one example, the prediction parameters may include one or more STFs applied by the controller 293 to determine the sound control pattern 209. For example, the STFs may correspond to acoustic paths from the acoustic transducer 108 to one or more residual sensing locations, e.g., location 609 (FIG. 6), location 607 (FIG. 6), and / or any other location of any other physical and / or virtual acoustic sensors.

[0282] In some demonstrative aspects, the prediction parameters may include one or more update rate parameters corresponding to an update rate of weights of an estimation or prediction function, for example, as described below.

[0283] In other aspects, the prediction parameters may include any other additional or alternative parameters.

[0284] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine, set, adapt, and / or update one or more of the STFs based on identified mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., as described below.

[0285] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine, set, adapt, and / or update one or more of the predictive parameters based on changes in identified mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., as described below.

[0286] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to extract multiple disjoint reference acoustic patterns from the noise input 206 and / or the residual noise input 204, which are statistically independent.

[0287] For example, the controller 293 may include an extractor for extracting multiple independent acoustic reference patterns.

[0288] The phrase "independent acoustic patterns" as used herein may refer to multiple acoustic patterns that are independent with respect to at least one characteristic and / or attribute, such as energy, amplitude, phase, frequency, direction, one or more statistical signal characteristics, and the like.

[0289] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may extract multiple independent reference acoustic patterns by applying a predefined extraction function to the noise input 206 and / or the residual noise input 204 .

[0290] In some demonstrative aspects, the extraction of independent acoustic patterns may be used, for example, to model a primary pattern of the noise input 206 and / or the residual noise input 204 as a combination of a predefined number of independent acoustic patterns, e.g., corresponding to a respective number of independent modeled acoustic sources.

[0291] In one example, it may be anticipated that one or more anticipated noise patterns anticipated to affect the sound control zone 130 may be generated by undesirable noise from the environment. In response, the controller 293 may be configured to select one or more reference sound patterns based on one or more attributes of the undesirable noise from the environment.

[0292] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC controller 202 may include an acoustic feedback (AFB) mitigator 250 (also referred to as an “AFB controller,” “AFB canceller,” “feedback canceller (FBC),” “echo mitigator,” or “echo canceller”) that may be configured to mitigate AFB between the acoustic transducer 108 and the reference noise acoustic sensor 119 of the AAC system 200, for example, as described below.

[0293] In some demonstrative aspects, for example, it may be necessary to provide technical solutions to mitigate AFB that may not be constant in some use cases, scenarios, deployments, and / or implementations ("non-constant AFB").

[0294] For example, the acoustic medium between an acoustic transducer of the AAC system, such as acoustic transducer 108, and an acoustic sensor of the AAC system, such as reference noise sensor 119, may not be fixed or constant.

[0295] For example, open headphones, such as the open headphones of the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100, may be subject to physical AFB. Open headphones may be sensitive to installation settings, which may affect, e.g., significantly in some cases, the physical AFB, e.g., as described above. For example, the physical AFB of the open acoustic headphone apparatus 100 may vary from installation to installation, e.g., even significantly.

[0296] In one example, the acoustic medium between an acoustic transducer of the AAC system, e.g., acoustic transducer 108, and an acoustic sensor of the AAC system, e.g., reference noise sensor 119, may change, for example, based on changes in the environment of the AAC system, e.g., temperature, humidity, or the like.

[0297] In another example, the acoustic medium between an acoustic transducer of the AAC system, e.g., acoustic transducer 108, and an acoustic sensor of the AAC system, e.g., reference noise sensor 119, may change, for example, based on changes in the physical locations of and / or the distance between the acoustic transducer and / or acoustic sensor.

[0298] In some demonstrative aspects, for example, in some use cases, scenarios, deployments, and / or implementations, it may be necessary to provide a technical solution to implement an adaptive AFB mitigator, e.g., to mitigate non-constant AFB, where an implementation using a fixed AFB mitigator may not be suitable for providing sufficient results.

[0299] In some demonstrative aspects, AFB mitigator 250 may be configured as an adaptive AFB mitigator, for example, as described below.

[0300] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 250 may be configured to adapt to changes in the acoustic medium between an acoustic transducer of the AAC system 200, e.g., acoustic transducer 108, and an acoustic sensor of the AAC system 200, e.g., reference noise sensor 119, for example, as described below.

[0301] In some demonstrative aspects, AFB mitigator 250 may utilize at least one adaptive filter that may be configured to adapt to changes in the acoustic medium, for example, as described below.

[0302] In some demonstrative aspects, the adaptive filter may include a finite impulse response (FIR) filter, for example, as described below.

[0303] In one example, a filter response, denoted as h, e.g., h:

number

number

[0304] In some demonstrative aspects, the adaptive filter may include an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter, for example, as described below.

[0305] In one example, an IIR filter having a filter function based on coefficients, denoted a and b, is applied to an input signal, denoted x, e.g., x=[x n-N ,x n-(N-1) ,..,x n] to provide an output, denoted y, (a filtered signal), for example as follows:

number

[0306] In other aspects, any other adaptive filter may be used.

[0307] In some demonstrative aspects, AFB mitigator 250 may utilize a least mean squares (LMS) algorithm to adapt one or more parameters of AFB mitigator 250, for example, as described below.

[0308] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 250 may adapt one or more parameters of the AFB mitigator 250 based on an LMS algorithm and / or an LMS algorithm variant, such as normalized LMS (NLMS), leaky LMS, and / or any other LMS variant.

[0309] In other aspects, any other additional or alternative algorithms may be utilized.

[0310] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 250 may be configured to provide technical solutions to support implementation of an adaptive AFB mitigator utilizing an LMS algorithm and / or an LMS algorithm variant, such as NLMS, leaky LMS, and / or any other LMS variant, e.g., as described below.

[0311] For example, when implementing some LMS algorithms, there may be a requirement that the desired signal at the output of the filter and the input of the filter be uncorrelated, for example, to achieve convergence.

[0312] In some demonstrative aspects, for example, there may be a need for a technical solution to support implementation of an ANC system utilizing adaptive FBC even when the loudspeaker output and the reference microphone are correlated, e.g., even highly correlated.

[0313] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 250 may be configured to adapt to changes in the acoustic medium between an acoustic transducer of the AAC system 200, e.g., acoustic transducer 108, and an acoustic sensor of the AAC system 200, e.g., reference noise sensor 119, even if the output of the acoustic transducer 108 and the input to the reference noise sensor 119 are correlated, e.g., as described below.

[0314] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 250 may include a first filter 252 configured to generate a first filtered signal, e.g., by filtering a first input signal, e.g., as described below.

[0315] In some demonstrative aspects, the first input signal may be based on a sound control pattern output by the acoustic transducer 108, for example, as described below.

[0316] In some demonstrative aspects, the first filter 252 may be configured to generate the first filtered signal, e.g., by filtering the first input signal according to a first filter function, e.g., as described below.

[0317] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 250 may include a second filter 254 configured to generate a second filtered signal, e.g., by filtering the first input signal according to a second filter function, e.g., as described below.

[0318] In some demonstrative aspects, the second filter 254 may include an adaptive filter, for example, as described below.

[0319] In some demonstrative aspects, the second filter 254 may be adapted based on, for example, a difference between the AFB mitigated signal and the second filtered signal, e.g., as described below.

[0320] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigated signal may be based on a difference between the second input signal and the first filtered signal, for example, as described below.

[0321] In some demonstrative aspects, the second input signal may be based on acoustic noise detected by acoustic sensor 119, for example, as described below.

[0322] In some demonstrative aspects, the first filter 252 may be configured to generate a first filtered signal including a first estimate of the AFB, e.g., between the acoustic transducer 108 and the reference noise sensor 119, e.g., as described below.

[0323] In some demonstrative aspects, the second filter 254 may be configured to generate a second filtered signal including a second estimate of the AFB, e.g., between the acoustic transducer 108 and the reference noise sensor 119, e.g., as described below.

[0324] In some demonstrative aspects, the second filter 254 may be configured to generate a second filtered signal based on a change in the AFB, e.g., between the acoustic transducer 108 and the reference noise sensor 119, e.g., as described below.

[0325] In some demonstrative aspects, the PF 256 can be configured to generate a PF output based on, for example, a PF input and an acoustic configuration between the acoustic transducer 108 and the sound control zone 130, for example, as described below.

[0326] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may configure the PF 256 based on mounting-based parameters, for example, corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, as described above.

[0327] In some demonstrative aspects, the PF input of PF 256 may be based on an AFB mitigated signal provided by AFB mitigator 250, for example, as described below.

[0328] In some demonstrative aspects, the sound control pattern 109 may be based on the PF output of PF256.

[0329] In some demonstrative embodiments, the sound control pattern 109 may be based on a combination of the PF output of the PF 256 and at least one of an audio signal and / or a voice signal heard within the sound control zone 130, for example.

[0330] For example, the sound control pattern 109 may be based on a combination of the PF output of the PF 256 and the audio and / or voice signal 233 .

[0331] In some embodiments, the sound control pattern 109 may be based directly on the PF output of PF256 or may include only the PF output of PF256.

[0332] In other embodiments, the sound control pattern 109 may be based on any other combination of the PF output of the PF 256 and any other audio and / or sound patterns or signals.

[0333] In some demonstrative aspects, the second filter 254 may be adapted based on a least mean squares (LMS) algorithm and / or an LMS algorithm variant, such as NLMS, leaky LMS, and / or any other LMS variant, for example, as described below.

[0334] In other aspects, the second filter 254 may be adapted based on any other additional or alternative algorithms.

[0335] In some demonstrative aspects, at least one of the first filter 252 and / or the second filter 254 may include an FIR filter, for example, as described below.

[0336] In some demonstrative aspects, at least one of the first filter 252 and / or the second filter 254 may include an IIR filter, for example, as described below.

[0337] In other aspects, any other type of filter may be utilized.

[0338] In some demonstrative aspects, the first filter 252 may include a fixed filter having a fixed filter function, for example, as described below.

[0339] In some demonstrative aspects, the fixed filter function of filter 252 may be based on a predefined acoustic configuration of AAC system 200.

[0340] In some demonstrative aspects, the fixed filter function of filter 252 may be based on a predefined acoustic configuration between acoustic transducer 108 and acoustic sensor 119, for example, as described below.

[0341] In some demonstrative aspects, AFB mitigator 250 may be configured to support technical solutions that enable the use of a filter, e.g., filter 252, that may be different from a filter, e.g., filter 254, that may be utilized by an adaptation block of AFB mitigator 250, e.g., as described below.

[0342] In some demonstrative aspects, the filter length of filter 252 may differ from the filter length of filter 254.

[0343] In one example, the filter length of filter 252 may be longer than the filter length of filter 254 .

[0344] In another example, the filter length of filter 252 may be less than the filter length of filter 254 .

[0345] In other embodiments, filters 252 and 254 may have the same filter length.

[0346] In some demonstrative aspects, the filter architecture of filter 252 may differ from the filter architecture of filter 254.

[0347] In other aspects, filter 252 and filter 254 may have the same filter architecture.

[0348] In some demonstrative aspects, implementation of filter 252 using a fixed filter may provide a technical solution, e.g., in terms of reduced memory, processing, and / or complexity. For example, filter adaptation may consume more memory and / or processing resources compared to, e.g., a fixed filtering process.

[0349] In some demonstrative aspects, for example, in some implementations and / or use cases, filter 252 may be configured to utilize a relatively long fixed filter, e.g., compared to the length of filter 254, e.g., to better represent a predefined filter. For example, the fixed filter may be "fine-tuned," e.g., using filter 254 configured to have a lower filter order and / or a different architecture. For example, this implementation may provide a technical solution for reducing processing and / or memory needs for the adaptation block. Accordingly, this implementation may provide a technical solution for resulting in improved overall system processing and / or memory needs.

[0350] In some demonstrative aspects, for example, in some implementations and / or use cases, the filter 252 may be configured to utilize a relatively short fixed filter, e.g., compared to the length of the filter 254. For example, the implementation of the relatively short fixed filter 252 may be suitable for a relatively narrow band ANC system, e.g., with a bandwidth up to 300hz, and / or any other suitable AAC implementation. For example, this implementation may provide a technical solution that utilizes a relatively short, e.g., low-cost, fixed filter 252. For example, a higher order or more complex / expensive filter architecture may be utilized for the filter 254 of the adaptation block. In one example, the filter 254 may include a higher order FIR, e.g., compared to a short order IIR and / or a second order digital IIR (biquad).

[0351] In some demonstrative aspects, AFB mitigator 250 may be configured to utilize filters 252 and 254 to provide a technical solution to support feedback canceller estimation to two filter stages, for example, as described below.

[0352] In some demonstrative aspects, the filter 252 may be implemented using a fixed filter that may be calibrated and pre-tuned, for example, for a predefined acoustic configuration between the acoustic transducer 108 and the acoustic sensor 119, e.g., during a calibration process.

[0353] In one example, filter 252 may be implemented using an IIR, for example, having a length on the order of (2-20).

[0354] In another example, filter 252 may be implemented using cascaded IIRs, for example 1 to 10 cascaded biquads.

[0355] In another example, the filter 252 may be implemented using an FIR filter, for example, having a length on the order of (10-1000).

[0356] In other aspects, the filter 252 may be implemented using any other filter.

[0357] In some demonstrative aspects, filter 254 may be implemented using an adaptive filter configured to continually adapt to changes in acoustic feedback, for example, as described below.

[0358] In some demonstrative aspects, filter 254 may be implemented using a short adaptive filter, eg, a short adaptive FIR filter, for example, having a length on the order of (10-100).

[0359] In one example, the filter 254 may be adapted for a predefined period of time, for example, 1-120 seconds or any other period of time, followed by freezing the adaptation.

[0360] In other aspects, the filter 254 may be implemented using any other adaptive filter.

[0361] Reference is made to Fig. 7, which illustrates a schematic of an adaptive AFB mitigator 750 implemented within an AAC system in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. For example, AFB mitigator 250 (Fig. 1) may include one or more elements and / or perform one or more functions of adaptive AFB mitigator 750.

[0362] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 750 may be configured to mitigate acoustic feedback 760 between the acoustic transducer 708 and the acoustic sensor 719 in the AAC system, for example, as described below.

[0363] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 750 may include a first filter 752 configured to generate a first filtered signal 763 by filtering a first input signal 761 according to a first filter function, for example, as described below.

[0364] In some demonstrative aspects, the first input signal 761 may be based on a sound control pattern output by the acoustic transducer 708.

[0365] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC system may include a PF 776 that may be configured to generate a PF output 777 based on a PF input 775 and an acoustic configuration between the AAC system's acoustic transducer 708 and an acoustic control zone, e.g., acoustic control zone 130 (FIG. 1).

[0366] In some demonstrative aspects, the sound control pattern output by the acoustic transducer 708 may be based on the PF output 777.

[0367] In some demonstrative aspects, the first input signal 761 may be based on the PF output 777.

[0368] In some demonstrative aspects, the first input signal 761 may include a PF output 777, for example, as described below.

[0369] In other aspects, the first input signal 761 may be based on the PF output 777 and one or more audio and / or voice signals, for example, as described below.

[0370] In one example, the first input signal 761 may be based on a combination, such as a sum and / or any other combination, of the PF output 777 and one or more audio and / or voice signals 233 (FIG. 2).

[0371] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 750 may include a second filter 754 configured to generate a second filtered signal 781 by filtering the first input signal 761, e.g., according to a second filter function, as described below.

[0372] In some demonstrative aspects, the second filter 754 may include an adaptive filter, for example, as described below.

[0373] In some demonstrative aspects, the second filter 754 may be adapted based on, for example, a difference between the AFB mitigated signal 783 and the second filtered signal 781, e.g., as described below.

[0374] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigated signal 783 may be based on the difference between the second input signal 769 and the first filtered signal 763, for example, as described below.

[0375] In some demonstrative aspects, the second input signal 769 may be based on acoustic noise detected by the acoustic sensor 719, for example, as described below.

[0376] In some demonstrative aspects, the first filter 752 may be configured to generate a first filtered signal 763 including a first estimate of the AFB 760, e.g., between the acoustic transducer 708 and the reference noise sensor 719, e.g., as described below.

[0377] In some demonstrative aspects, the second filter 754 may be configured to generate a second filtered signal 781 including a second estimate of the AFB 760, e.g., between the acoustic transducer 708 and the reference noise sensor 719, e.g., as described below.

[0378] In some demonstrative aspects, the second filter 754 may be configured to generate a second filtered signal 781 based on a change in the AFB 760, e.g., between the acoustic transducer 708 and the reference noise sensor 719, e.g., as described below.

[0379] In some demonstrative aspects, the first filter 752 may include a fixed filter having a fixed filter function, for example, as described below.

[0380] In some demonstrative aspects, the first filter 752 may include a fixed IIR filter, for example, as described below.

[0381] In other aspects, the first filter 752 may include a fixed FIR filter, or any other type of fixed filter.

[0382] In some demonstrative aspects, the fixed filter function of filter 752 may be based on a predefined acoustic configuration of the AAC system, for example, AAC system 200 (FIG. 2), including acoustic transducer 708 and acoustic sensor 719.

[0383] In some demonstrative aspects, the fixed filter function of filter 752 may be based on a predefined acoustic configuration between acoustic transducer 708 and acoustic sensor 719, for example.

[0384] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 750 may include a first subtractor 791 for generating a first AFB mitigated signal 783 by subtracting the first filtered signal 763 from the second input signal 769.

[0385] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 750 may include a second subtractor 792 for generating a second AFB mitigated signal 773 by subtracting the second filtered signal 781 from the first AFB mitigated signal 783.

[0386] In some demonstrative aspects, the second filter 754 may be adapted based on a difference between the first AFB mitigated signal 783 and the second filtered signal 781.

[0387] In some demonstrative aspects, the PF input 775 may be based on the second AFB mitigated signal 773.

[0388] In some demonstrative aspects, the second filter 754 may be implemented by a short adaptive FIR filter, for example, as described below.

[0389] In other aspects, the second filter 754 may include any other adaptive FIR filter, an adaptive IIR filter, and / or any other adaptive filter.

[0390] In some demonstrative aspects, the reference signal picked up by the reference microphone 719, denoted as rmic1, is

number

number

[0391] In some demonstrative aspects, the response, e.g., the desired response, for adaptive filter 754, denoted as H, may be:

number

number

number

number

number

number

number

number

[0392] According to the above definition and description, e H The residual error signal, denoted [n], may be determined, for example, as follows:

number

[0393] In some demonstrative aspects, the coefficients of the adaptive filter H may be adapted according to an LMS algorithm and / or an LMS algorithm variant, such as NLMS, leaky LMS, and / or any other LMS variant, e.g., as described below. In other aspects, any other algorithm may be used.

[0394] In some demonstrative aspects, the coefficients of the adaptive filter H may be adapted according to an LMS algorithm, for example, as follows:

number

[0395] In some demonstrative aspects, a signal 773, denoted as x, at a PF input 775 of a PF 776 may be determined, for example, as follows:

number

[0396] In some demonstrative aspects, when the adaptive filter H converges, the result is, for example,

number

[0397] Referring back to FIG. 2, in some demonstrative aspects, AFB mitigator 250 may be configured to support technical solutions that implement a signal (also referred to as a "virtual signal"), e.g., a predefined or preconfigured signal, that may be generated internally by AAC system 200, as described below.

[0398] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 250 may be configured to support technical solutions that utilize virtual signals in the process of adapting the adaptive filter 254, for example, as described below.

[0399] In some illustrative embodiments, there may be one or more technical problems and / or drawbacks in adding a white noise signal to the speaker output and using the white noise signal to adapt the AFB mitigator. For example, there may be one or more technical problems and / or drawbacks in injecting white noise into the output of the ANC system, since, for example, adding noise heard by the user may be undesirable. This would be in contrast to the concept of emitting an output based on phase noise resistance from the speaker of the AAC system to reduce undesirable noise. For example, if noise is added to the output of the speaker to adapt the feedback canceller in real time, the user may typically hear that the added noise performance of the AAC system may enhance the noise at the user's ear, for example, instead of reducing the noise heard at the ear position. This added noise may also result in a decrease in ANC performance, for example, instead of enhancing the noise heard.

[0400] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 250 may be configured to support technical solutions that use an internally generated signal to enhance the performance of the AFB mitigator, e.g., as described below, without even adding a white noise signal to the loudspeaker output that can be heard by the user.

[0401] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 250 may be configured to support technical solutions that use internally generated signals to enhance the performance of the AFB mitigator, while avoiding technical problems associated with, for example, "playing" white noise.

[0402] In some demonstrative aspects, AFB mitigator 250 may be adapted based on an internally generated virtual signal, for example, as described below.

[0403] In some demonstrative aspects, the virtual signal may be used as an additional input to an adaptation block of AFB 250, for example, as described below.

[0404] In some demonstrative aspects, an estimate of the convolution of the virtual signal with the AFB may be added to the signal from the reference microphone 119, for example, as described below.

[0405] In some demonstrative aspects, the internally generated virtual signal may be configured as a noise signal, e.g., a white noise signal, or a pink noise signal. In one example, the internally generated virtual signal may be configured as a noise signal with one or more predefined frequency ranges and spectra, e.g., above 100hz, 200-100hz, and / or any other range used to further optimize the adaptation of the feedback canceller.

[0406] In other aspects, the internally generated virtual signal may be configured as any other pre-defined signal according to any other parameters and / or criteria.

[0407] In some demonstrative aspects, the first filter 252 may include an adaptive filter, for example, as described below.

[0408] In some demonstrative aspects, the virtual signal may be utilized to adapt the first filter 252, for example, as described below.

[0409] In some demonstrative aspects, the coefficients of filter 252 may be adapted based on a pre-defined, internally generated virtual signal, for example, as described below.

[0410] In some demonstrative aspects, the virtual signal may be configured to provide technical solutions to support further optimization of the AFB mitigator 250, e.g., with one or more frequency bands, in addition to adapting the filter 254.

[0411] For example, the virtual signal may support further optimization of the AFB mitigator 250 when the sound control pattern 109, e.g., signal y, used as an input to filter 252 and / or filter 254, for example, does not have and / or cover all frequency ranges and / or sufficient signal energy at those frequencies, to reduce any acoustic feedback heard by the microphone from the speaker(s).

[0412] Reference is made to Figure 8, which illustrates a schematic of an adaptive AFB mitigator 850 implemented within an AAC system in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. For example, AFB mitigator 250 (Figure 1) may include one or more elements and / or perform one or more functions of adaptive AFB mitigator 850.

[0413] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 850 may be configured to mitigate acoustic feedback 860 between the acoustic transducer 808 and the acoustic sensor 819 in the AAC system, for example, as described below.

[0414] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 850 may include a first filter 852 configured to generate a first filtered signal 863 by filtering a first input signal 861 according to a first filter function, for example, as described below.

[0415] In some demonstrative aspects, the first input signal 861 may be based on a sound control pattern output by the acoustic transducer 808.

[0416] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC system may include a PF 876 that may be configured to generate a PF output 877 based on a PF input 875 and an acoustic configuration between the acoustic transducer 808 of the AAC system and an acoustic control zone, e.g., acoustic control zone 130 (FIG. 1).

[0417] In some demonstrative aspects, the sound control pattern output by the acoustic transducer 808 may be based on the PF output 877.

[0418] In some demonstrative aspects, the first input signal 861 may be based on the PF output 877.

[0419] In some demonstrative aspects, the first input signal 861 may include a PF output 877, for example, as described below.

[0420] In other embodiments, the first input signal 861 may be based on the PF output 877 and one or more audio and / or speech signals, for example audio and / or speech signals heard within a sound control zone of an AAC system.

[0421] In one example, the first input signal 861 may be based on a combination, such as a sum and / or any other combination, of the PF output 877 and one or more audio and / or voice signals 233 (FIG. 2).

[0422] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 850 may include a second filter 854 configured to generate a second filtered signal 881, e.g., by filtering the first input signal 861 according to a second filter function, e.g., as described below.

[0423] In some demonstrative aspects, the second filter 854 may include an adaptive filter, for example, as described below.

[0424] In some demonstrative aspects, the second filter 854 may be adapted based on, for example, a difference between the AFB mitigated signal 883 and the second filtered signal 881, e.g., as described below.

[0425] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigated signal 883 may be based on the difference between the second input signal 869 and the first filtered signal 863, for example, as described below.

[0426] In some demonstrative aspects, the second input signal 869 may be based on acoustic noise detected by the acoustic sensor 819, for example, as described below.

[0427] In some demonstrative aspects, the first filter 852 may be configured to generate a first filtered signal 863 including a first estimate of the AFB 860, e.g., between the acoustic transducer 808 and the reference noise sensor 819, e.g., as described below.

[0428] In some demonstrative aspects, the second filter 854 may be configured to generate a second filtered signal 881 including a second estimate of the AFB 860, e.g., between the acoustic transducer 808 and the reference noise sensor 819, e.g., as described below.

[0429] In some demonstrative aspects, the second filter 854 may be configured to generate a second filtered signal 881 based on a change in AFB 860, e.g., between the acoustic transducer 808 and the reference noise sensor 819, e.g., as described below.

[0430] In some demonstrative aspects, the first filter 852 may include an adaptive filter that may be adapted based on a predefined (virtual) signal 899, for example, as described below.

[0431] In some demonstrative aspects, the predefined signal 899 may include a virtual signal, which may be generated internally by the AFB mitigator 850 and / or by any other elements of an AAC system that utilizes the AFB mitigator 850, for example.

[0432] In some demonstrative aspects, the predefined signal 899 may include a virtual noise signal.

[0433] In some demonstrative aspects, the predefined signal 899 may include a virtual white noise signal.

[0434] In some demonstrative aspects, the predefined signal 899 may include a virtual pink noise signal.

[0435] In some demonstrative aspects, the frequency spectrum of the predefined signal 899 may differ from the frequency spectrum of the first input signal 861.

[0436] In other aspects, the predefined signal 899 may include any other type of predefined signal.

[0437] In some demonstrative aspects, the first filter 852 may be adapted based on, for example, a subtraction of a filtered pre-defined signal 897 from a difference between the AFB mitigated signal 883 and the second filtered signal 881. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the filtered pre-defined signal 897 may include a pre-defined signal 899 filtered by the first filter 852.

[0438] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 850 may include an adder 891 to generate a modified sensor signal 880, for example, by adding a filtered predefined signal 897 to the second input signal 869.

[0439] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 850 may include a first subtractor 892 to generate a first AFB mitigated signal 883 by subtracting the first filtered signal 863 from the modified sensor signal 880. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the second filter 854 may be adapted based on a difference between the first AFB mitigated signal 883 and the second filtered signal 881.

[0440] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 850 may include a second subtractor 894 for generating a second AFB mitigated signal 873 by subtracting the filtered pre-defined signal 897 from the first AFB mitigated signal 883.

[0441] In some demonstrative aspects, the PF input 875 may be based on the second AFB mitigated signal 873.

[0442] In some demonstrative aspects, a reference signal picked up by reference microphone 819 (the “microphone data signal”), denoted as rmic1, may be determined by Equations 2 and 3:

[0443] In some illustrative embodiments,

number

[0444] In some demonstrative embodiments, the modified sensor signal 880, denoted as rmic1′[n], may be, for example,

number

number

number

number

number

[0445] In some demonstrative aspects, an adaptive filter 854, denoted as H, may be configured to mitigate disturbances from the desired response of the acoustic feedback.

[0446] In some demonstrative aspects, a response to an adaptation H, e.g., a desired response, may be determined as follows:

number

number

number

number

number

number

[0447] In some exemplary embodiments, e H The residual error signal, denoted [n], may be determined, for example, as follows:

number

[0448] For example, signal 881 may be determined as follows:

number

[0449] In some demonstrative aspects, the coefficients of the filter H may be updated using an LMS algorithm and / or an LMS algorithm variant, such as NLMS, leaky LMS, and / or any other LMS variant, e.g., as described below. In other aspects, any other suitable algorithm may be used.

[0450] In some demonstrative aspects, the coefficients of the filter H may be updated using an LMS algorithm, for example, as follows:

number

[0451] In some demonstrative aspects, an adaptive filter

number

number

[0452] In some demonstrative aspects, as shown in FIG. 8, an error signal of an adaptive filter H, e.g., a difference between signal 883 and signal 881, is

number

[0453] For example, the adaptive filter

number

number

number

[0454] In another aspect, an adaptive filter

number

[0455] In some demonstrative aspects, an adaptive filter

number

number

number

[0456] In some demonstrative aspects, a signal 873, denoted as x, at a PF input 875 of a PF 876 may be determined, for example, as follows:

number

[0457] In some demonstrative aspects, when the adaptive filter H converges, e.g.,

number

[0458] As a result, the adaptive filter

number

[0459] In some demonstrative aspects, an adaptive filter

number

number

number

number

[0460] Referring back to FIG. 2, in some demonstrative aspects, AFB mitigator 250 may be configured to implement a first filter 252 that includes a fixed filter while using an internally generated virtual signal to adapt another filter (not shown in FIG. 2) of AFB mitigator 250, e.g., as described below.

[0461] In some demonstrative aspects, AFB mitigator 250 may be configured to implement, for example, two adaptive filters in addition to fixed filter 252. For example, two adaptive filters, including, for example, adaptive filter 254 and another adaptive filter (not shown in FIG. 2), may be utilized to adapt to changes in the acoustic feedback path, for example, due to changes in the configuration of AAC system 200 and / or the environment of AAC system 200.

[0462] Reference is made to Fig. 9, which illustrates a schematic of an adaptive AFB mitigator 950 implemented within an AAC system in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. For example, AFB mitigator 250 (Fig. 1) may include one or more elements and / or perform one or more functions of adaptive AFB mitigator 950.

[0463] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 950 may be configured to mitigate acoustic feedback 960 between an acoustic transducer 908 and an acoustic sensor 919 in an AAC system, for example, as described below.

[0464] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 950 may include a first filter 952 configured to generate a first filtered signal 963 by filtering a first input signal 961 according to a first filter function, for example, as described below.

[0465] In some demonstrative aspects, the first input signal 961 may be based on a sound control pattern output by the acoustic transducer 908.

[0466] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC system may include a PF 976 that may be configured to generate a PF output 977 based on a PF input 975 and the acoustic configuration between the acoustic transducer 908 and an acoustic control zone of the AAC system, such as acoustic control zone 130 (FIG. 1).

[0467] In some demonstrative aspects, the sound control pattern output by the acoustic transducer 908 may be based on the PF output 977.

[0468] In some demonstrative aspects, the first input signal 961 may be based on the PF output 977.

[0469] In some demonstrative aspects, as shown in FIG. 9, the first input signal 961 may be based on the PF output 977 and one or more audio and / or voice signals 911, for example, as described below.

[0470] For example, the AAC system may include a combiner 993 for combining a signal based on the PF output 977 with one or more audio and / or speech signals 911, eg, a summation unit for summing.

[0471] For example, the one or more audio and / or voice signals 911 may include audio and / or voice signals heard within the sound control zone 130 (FIG. 1).

[0472] In one example, the one or more audio and / or speech signals 911 may include or be based on audio and / or speech signals 233 (FIG. 2).

[0473] In other aspects, the first input signal 961 may be based on the PF output 977, for example, while one or more audio and / or speech signals 911 may be excluded.

[0474] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 950 may include a second filter 954 configured to generate a second filtered signal 981, e.g., by filtering the first input signal 961 according to a second filter function, e.g., as described below.

[0475] In some demonstrative aspects, the second filter 954 may include an adaptive filter, for example, as described below.

[0476] In some demonstrative aspects, the second filter 954 may be adapted based on, for example, a difference between the AFB mitigated signal 983 and the second filtered signal 981, e.g., as described below.

[0477] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigated signal 983 may be based on the difference between the second input signal 969 and the first filtered signal 963, for example, as described below.

[0478] In some demonstrative aspects, the second input signal 969 may be based on acoustic noise detected by an acoustic sensor 919, for example, as described below.

[0479] In some demonstrative aspects, the first filter 952 may be configured to generate a first filtered signal 963 including a first estimate of the AFB 960, e.g., between the acoustic transducer 908 and the reference noise sensor 919, e.g., as described below.

[0480] In some demonstrative aspects, the second filter 954 may be configured to generate a second filtered signal 981 including a second estimate of the AFB 960, e.g., between the acoustic transducer 908 and the reference noise sensor 919, e.g., as described below.

[0481] In some demonstrative aspects, the second filter 954 may be configured to generate a second filtered signal 981 based on a change in the AFB 960, e.g., between the acoustic transducer 908 and the reference noise sensor 919, e.g., as described below.

[0482] In some demonstrative aspects, the first filter 952 may include a fixed filter having a fixed filter function, for example, as described below.

[0483] In some demonstrative aspects, the first filter 952 may include a fixed IIR filter, for example, as described below.

[0484] In other aspects, the first filter 952 may include a fixed FIR filter, or any other type of fixed filter.

[0485] In some demonstrative aspects, the fixed filter function of filter 952 may be based on a predefined acoustic configuration of an AAC system, e.g., AAC system 200 (FIG. 2), including, e.g., acoustic transducer 908 and acoustic sensor 919.

[0486] In some demonstrative aspects, the fixed filter function of filter 952 may be based on a predefined acoustic configuration between acoustic transducer 908 and acoustic sensor 919, for example.

[0487] In some demonstrative aspects, the second filter 954 may be implemented by a short adaptive FIR filter, for example, as described below.

[0488] In other aspects, the second filter 954 may include any other adaptive FIR filter, an adaptive IIR filter, an adaptive cascaded biquad filter, and / or any other adaptive filter.

[0489] In some demonstrative aspects, for example, as described below, the AFB mitigator 950 may include a third filter 956 configured to generate a third filtered signal 957, for example, by filtering the first input signal 961 according to, for example, a third filter function.

[0490] In some demonstrative aspects, the third filter 956 may include an adaptive filter, for example, as described below.

[0491] In some demonstrative aspects, the third filter 956 may be adapted based on a predefined (virtual) signal 999, for example, as described below.

[0492] In some demonstrative aspects, the predefined signal 999 may include a virtual signal, which may be generated internally by the AFB mitigator 950 and / or by any other elements of an AAC system that utilizes the AFB mitigator 950, for example.

[0493] In some demonstrative aspects, the predefined signal 999 may include a virtual noise signal.

[0494] In some demonstrative aspects, the predefined signal 999 may include a virtual white noise signal.

[0495] In some demonstrative aspects, the predefined signal 999 may include a virtual pink noise signal.

[0496] In some demonstrative aspects, the frequency spectrum of the predefined signal 999 may be different from the frequency spectrum of the first input signal 961.

[0497] In other aspects, the predefined signal 999 may include any other type of predefined signal.

[0498] In some demonstrative aspects, the third filter 956 may be adapted, for example, based on a subtraction of a filtered pre-defined signal 997 from a difference between the AFB mitigated signal 983 and the second filtered signal 981, as described below. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the filtered pre-defined signal 997 may include a pre-defined signal 999 filtered by the third filter 956.

[0499] In some demonstrative aspects, as shown in FIG. 9 , the AFB mitigator 950 may be configured according to a multi-filter AFB mitigation architecture that utilizes a fixed pre-defined filter, e.g., filter 952, a speaker(s) / signal-based adaptation block, e.g., filter 954, and a virtual internally generated signal-based adaptation block, e.g., filter 956.

[0500] For example, a second filter 954, designated G, may be utilized to remove disturbances from the desired response of the acoustic feedback, and / or a third filter, designated H, may be utilized to adapt to changes in the AFB.

[0501] In some demonstrative aspects, filter H may use an input from a virtual internally generated signal 999, for example, to adapt the coefficients of filter H. The adapted coefficients of filter H may be applied to an input 961, for example, representing a speaker signal, to estimate a signal 957, denoted as Yh, for example, that is reduced from the ANC microphone(s) path.

[0502] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 950 may include an adder 991 to generate a modified sensor signal 980, for example, by adding a filtered predefined signal 997 to the second input signal 969.

[0503] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator 950 may include a first subtractor 992 to generate a first AFB mitigated signal, e.g., signal 983, e.g., by subtracting the first filtered signal 963 from the modified sensor signal 980.

[0504] In some demonstrative aspects, the AFB mitigator may include a second subtractor 994 to generate a second AFB mitigated signal 973, for example, by subtracting the sum of the filtered signals from the first AFB mitigated signal 983. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the sum of the filtered signals may include a sum of the third filtered signal 957 and the filtered pre-defined signal 997.

[0505] In some demonstrative aspects, the PF input 975 may be based on the second AFB mitigated signal 973.

[0506] In some demonstrative aspects, the reference signal picked up by the reference microphone 919, denoted as rmic1, may be determined by equations 2 and 3, which use y to indicate the output by the acoustic transducer 918, including, for example, a combination of the sound control pattern (the "noise-resistant signal" or "canceling signal") together with the voice / audio signal 991.

[0507] In some demonstrative aspects, signal 980, denoted as rmic1′[n], may be, for example, a signal v h [n] to the signal rmic1[n], where v h [n]=H[n] T v Lh [n], and H[n]=[H0[n],H1[n],..,H Lh [n] T denotes the impulse response of the filter H[n], and L h denotes the length of the filter H, and v Lh [n]=[v[n-1],v[n-2],..,v[nL h ]] T , L f A sample predefined signal, e.g., a white noise signal vector (signal 999), is shown. For example, a signal v Lh [n] may be used as the input signal vector for the filter H in the adaptation process.

[0508] In some demonstrative aspects, a response, e.g., a desired response, for an adaptive filter G may be determined, for example, as follows:

number

number

number

number

number

number

[0509] In some exemplary embodiments, e H The residual error signal, denoted [n], may be determined, for example, as follows:

number

[0510] In some demonstrative aspects, the coefficients of the filter G may be updated, for example, according to an LMS algorithm and / or an LMS algorithm variant, such as NLMS, leaky LMS, and / or any other LMS variant, e.g., as described below. In other aspects, any other suitable algorithm may be used.

[0511] In some demonstrative aspects, the coefficients of filter G may be updated according to the LMS algorithm, for example, as follows:

number

[0512] In some demonstrative aspects, the adaptive filter H may be excited by a predefined signal v[n], for example, random (white) noise.

[0513] In some demonstrative aspects, the error signal of filter G may be used as the desired response for adaptive filter H.

[0514] In some demonstrative aspects, the coefficients of the filter H may be updated, for example, according to an LMS algorithm and / or an LMS algorithm variant, such as NLMS, leaky LMS, and / or any other LMS variant. In other aspects, any other suitable algorithm may be used.

[0515] In some demonstrative aspects, the coefficients of the filter H may be updated according to the LMS algorithm, for example, as follows:

number

[0516] In some demonstrative aspects, after updating the coefficients of adaptive filter H, the updated coefficients of adaptive filter H may be copied to fixed filter H, e.g., taking y[n] as its input.

[0517] In some demonstrative aspects, a signal 973, denoted as x, at a PF input 975 of PF 976 may be determined, for example, as follows:

number

[0518] In some demonstrative aspects, when the adaptive filter G converges, e.g.,

number

[0519] As a result, the adaptive filter H may receive the desired response substantially free of disturbances.

[0520] In some demonstrative aspects, when the adaptive filter H converges, it ideally results in, for example,

number

number

[0521] Referring back to FIG. 2, in some demonstrative aspects, the AAC controller 202 may be configured according to a hybrid scheme, for example, as described below.

[0522] In some demonstrative aspects, the AAC controller 202 may be configured according to a non-hybrid scheme, for example, as described below.

[0523] In some demonstrative aspects, the hybrid scheme may be configured to apply at least one noise prediction filter and at least one residual noise prediction filter, eg, as described below.

[0524] In some demonstrative aspects, a noise prediction filter may be configured to be applied to a prediction filter input, which may be based on the noise input 206, for example, as described below.

[0525] In some demonstrative aspects, a residual noise prediction filter may be configured to be applied to a prediction filter input, which may be based on the residual noise input 204, for example, as described below.

[0526] In some demonstrative aspects, the hybrid scheme may include an adaptive hybrid scheme, for example, as described below.

[0527] In some demonstrative aspects, the adaptive hybrid scheme may be configured to adaptively update at least one of the noise prediction filter and / or the residual noise prediction filter, eg, as described below.

[0528] For example, the controller 293 may be configured to update one or more prediction parameters of at least one of the noise prediction filter and / or the residual noise prediction filter based on, e.g., installation-based parameters corresponding to, e.g., an installation configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110.

[0529] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to update one or more prediction parameters of at least one of the noise prediction filter and / or the residual noise prediction filter, e.g., by updating weights, coefficients, functions, and / or any other additional or alternative parameters utilized to determine the sound control pattern 209, e.g., as described below.

[0530] Reference is now made to Fig. 10, which illustrates a schematic of a controller 1000 according to some demonstrative aspects. In some aspects, the AAC controller 202 (Fig. 2) and / or the controller 293 (Fig. 2), for example, may perform one or more functions and / or operations of the controller 1000.

[0531] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 1000 may be configured according to a hybrid scheme.

[0532] In some demonstrative aspects, the hybrid scheme may be configured to apply at least one noise prediction filter and at least one residual noise prediction filter, eg, as described below.

[0533] In some demonstrative aspects, a noise prediction filter may be configured to be applied to a prediction filter input, which may be based on a noise input, for example, as described below.

[0534] In some demonstrative aspects, a residual noise prediction filter may be configured to be applied to a prediction filter input, which may be based on a residual noise input, for example, as described below.

[0535] In some demonstrative aspects, as shown in FIG. 10, controller 1000 may include a prediction filter 1010 and a prediction filter 1020, for example, as described below.

[0536] In some demonstrative aspects, prediction filter 1010 and / or prediction filter 1020 may be implemented by a finite impulse response (FIR) filter.

[0537] In other aspects, the predictive filter 1010 and / or the predictive filter 1020 may be implemented by an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter. In one example, the predictive filter 1010 and / or the predictive filter 1020 may be implemented by multiple cascaded second-order digital IIR biquad filters in series.

[0538] In other aspects, any other prediction filter may be used.

[0539] 10, the predictive filter 1010 may include a noise predictive filter applied to a predictive filter input 1012, which may be based on a noise input 1016, for example, from one or more noise sensors 1018 ("reference microphones"). For example, the predictive filter input 1012 may be based on the noise input 206 (FIG. 2).

[0540] In some demonstrative aspects, the predictive filter 1020 may include a residual noise predictive filter applied to a predictive filter input 1022, which may be based on a residual noise input 1026, for example, from one or more residual noise sensors 1028 ("error microphones"). For example, the predictive filter input 1022 may be based on the residual noise input 204 (FIG. 2).

[0541] In some demonstrative aspects, the input 1026 may include at least one virtual microphone input corresponding to residual noise ("noise error") sensed by at least one virtual error sensor at the virtual sensing location 117 (FIG. 1). For example, the controller 1000 may estimate the noise error at the virtual sensing location 117 (FIG. 1) based on the input 1026 and a predicted noise signal 1029, e.g., as described below.

[0542] In some demonstrative aspects, as shown in FIG. 10, the controller 1000 may generate a sound control signal 1029 based on the output of the prediction unit 1010 and the output of the prediction unit 1020, and may output the sound control signal 1029 to the acoustic transducer 1008.

[0543] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 1000 may generate a sound control signal 1029 configured to reduce and / or eliminate the noise energy and / or wave amplitude of one or more sound patterns within a sound control zone, for example, as described below, while the noise energy and / or wave amplitude of one or more other sound patterns may be unaffected within the sound control zone.

[0544] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 1000 may be configured to generate a sound control signal 1029 based on the output of the prediction unit 1010, the output of the prediction unit 1020 and one or more audio and / or speech signals 1093.

[0545] For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the controller 1000 may be configured to generate a sound control signal 1029 based on the output of the prediction unit 1010, the output of the prediction unit 1020, and a summation of one or more audio and / or speech signals 1093.

[0546] For example, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may be configured to generate the sound control signal 209 based on a combination, e.g., a sum or any other combination, of the output of the prediction unit 1010, the output of the prediction unit 1020, and one or more audio and / or speech signals 1093, e.g., signal 233 (FIG. 2).

[0547] 10, the controller 1000 may include an extractor 1014 for extracting multiple independent reference acoustic patterns from the input 1016. According to these aspects, the predictive filter input 1012 may include multiple independent reference acoustic patterns. In other aspects, the extractor 1014 may be omitted and the predictive filter input 1012 may be generated directly or indirectly based on the input 1016, for example, according to any other algorithm and / or calculation.

[0548] 10, the controller 1000 may include an extractor 1024 for extracting multiple independent residual noise acoustic patterns from the input 1026. According to these aspects, the predictive filter input 1022 may include multiple independent residual noise acoustic patterns. In other aspects, the extractor 1024 may be omitted and the predictive filter input 1022 may be generated directly or indirectly based on the input 1026, for example, according to any other algorithms and / or calculations.

[0549] In some demonstrative aspects, as shown in FIG. 10, the controller 1000 may include an AFB mitigator ("echo canceller") 1015 configured to partially or completely reduce, remove, and / or cancel a portion of the signal generated by the speaker 1008 from the output signal of the reference microphone 1018.

[0550] For example, AFB mitigator 250 (FIG. 2) may include AFB mitigator 1015 and / or perform one or more functions of AFB mitigator 1015.

[0551] In some demonstrative aspects, AFB mitigator 1015 may include one or more elements and / or perform one or more functions of adaptive AFB mitigator 750 (FIG. 7).

[0552] In some demonstrative aspects, AFB mitigator 1015 may include one or more elements and / or perform one or more functions of adaptive AFB mitigator 850 (FIG. 8).

[0553] In some demonstrative aspects, AFB mitigator 1015 may include one or more elements and / or perform one or more functions of adaptive AFB mitigator 950 (FIG. 9).

[0554] In some demonstrative aspects, as shown in FIG. 10, the controller 1000 may include an AFB mitigator ("echo canceller") 1025 configured to partially or completely reduce, remove, and / or cancel a portion of the signal generated by the speaker 1008 from the output signal of the residual noise microphone 1028.

[0555] For example, AFB mitigator 250 (FIG. 2) may include AFB mitigator 1025 and / or perform one or more functions of AFB mitigator 1025.

[0556] In some demonstrative aspects, AFB mitigator 1025 may include one or more elements and / or perform one or more functions of adaptive AFB mitigator 750 (FIG. 7).

[0557] In some demonstrative aspects, AFB mitigator 1025 may include one or more elements and / or perform one or more functions of adaptive AFB mitigator 850 (FIG. 8).

[0558] In some demonstrative aspects, AFB mitigator 1025 may include one or more elements and / or perform one or more functions of adaptive AFB mitigator 950 (FIG. 9).

[0559] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 1000 may be configured according to an adaptive hybrid scheme, for example, as described below.

[0560] In some demonstrative aspects, as shown in FIG. 10, the controller 1000 may be configured to update one or more parameters of the prediction filter input 1010 and / or the prediction filter input 1020, for example, based on the residual noise input 1026.

[0561] In some demonstrative aspects, as shown in FIG. 10, the controller 1000 may identify mounting-based parameters 1032, for example, corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1).

[0562] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 1000 may be configured to update one or more parameters of the predictive filter 1010 based on, for example, mounting-based parameters 1032, for example, corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1).

[0563] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 1000 may be configured to update one or more parameters of the predictive filter 1020 based on, for example, mounting-based parameters 1032, for example, corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1).

[0564] In some demonstrative aspects, controller 1000 may apply any suitable linear and / or nonlinear function to prediction filter input 1012 and / or prediction filter input 1022. For example, prediction filter 1020 and / or prediction filter 1022 may be configured according to a linear estimation function, or a nonlinear estimation function, e.g., a radial basis function.

[0565] Referring back to FIG. 2, in some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured according to a non-hybrid scheme, for example, as described below.

[0566] In some demonstrative aspects, the non-hybrid scheme may include a noise prediction filter that may be applied to a prediction filter input based on input from a noise sensor 119, for example, as described below.

[0567] Reference is now made to FIG. 11, which illustrates a schematic of a controller 1100, according to some demonstrative aspects. For example, the AAC controller 202 (FIG. 2) and / or the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may include one or more elements of the controller 1100 and / or perform one or more operations and / or one or more functions of the controller 1100.

[0568] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 1100 may be configured according to a non-hybrid scheme, for example, as described below.

[0569] In some demonstrative aspects, the non-hybrid scheme may include a noise prediction filter that may be applied to a prediction filter input that is based on a noise input, e.g., noise input 204 (FIG. 2), e.g., as described below.

[0570] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 1100 may receive one or more inputs 1104, including, for example, input 206 (FIG. 2), representing acoustic noise at one or more predefined noise detection locations.

[0571] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 1100 may generate a sound control signal 1112 to control at least one acoustic transducer 1114, such as the acoustic transducer 108 (FIG. 2).

[0572] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 1100 may include an estimator ("prediction unit") 1110 for estimating a signal 1112 by applying an estimation function to an input 1108 that corresponds to the input 1104. For example, the PF 256 (FIG. 2) may include the estimator 1110 and / or perform one or more functions of the estimator 1110.

[0573] In some demonstrative aspects, the estimator 1110 may be implemented by an FIR filter.

[0574] In other aspects, the estimator 1110 may be implemented by an IIR filter. In one example, the estimator 1110 may be implemented by multiple cascaded second-order digital IIR biquad filters in series.

[0575] In other aspects, other prediction mechanisms may be used.

[0576] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 1100 may generate a sound control signal 1112 configured to reduce and / or eliminate the noise energy and / or wave amplitude of one or more undesirable sound patterns within the sound control zone, while the noise energy and / or wave amplitude of one or more other sound patterns may be unaffected within the sound control zone.

[0577] In some demonstrative aspects, the sound control signal 1112 may be configured to reduce and / or eliminate undesirable sound patterns.

[0578] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 1100 may include an adaptive AFB mitigator 1118 that may be configured to mitigate AFB between the acoustic transducer 1114 and the reference noise acoustic sensor 1102.

[0579] For example, AFB mitigator 250 (FIG. 2) may include and / or perform one or more functions of adaptive AFB mitigator 1118.

[0580] In some demonstrative aspects, the adaptive AFB mitigator 1118 may include one or more elements and / or perform one or more functions of the adaptive AFB mitigator 750 (FIG. 7).

[0581] In some demonstrative aspects, adaptive AFB mitigator 1118 may include one or more elements and / or perform one or more functions of adaptive AFB mitigator 850 (FIG. 8).

[0582] In some demonstrative aspects, adaptive AFB mitigator 1118 may include one or more elements and / or perform one or more functions of adaptive AFB mitigator 950 (FIG. 9).

[0583] 11, the controller 1100 may include an extractor 1106 to extract multiple independent reference acoustic patterns from the input 1104. According to these aspects, the input 1108 may include multiple independent reference acoustic patterns.

[0584] In other aspects, the controller 1100 may not include the extractor 1106. Accordingly, the input 1108 may include the input 1104 and / or any other input based on the input 1104.

[0585] In some demonstrative aspects, the estimator 1110 may apply any suitable linear and / or non-linear estimation function to the input 1108. For example, the estimation function may include a non-linear estimation function, e.g., a radial basis function.

[0586] In some demonstrative aspects, the estimator 1110 may be capable of adapting one or more parameters of the estimation function based on a plurality of residual noise inputs 1116 representing the acoustic residual noise at a plurality of predefined residual noise detection locations disposed within the noise control zone. For example, the inputs 1116 may include an input 204 (FIG. 2) representing the acoustic residual noise at a residual noise detection location 117 (FIG. 1) located within the ear 152 (FIG. 1).

[0587] In some demonstrative aspects, one or more of the inputs 1116 may include at least one virtual microphone input corresponding to residual noise ("noise error") detected by at least one virtual error sensor at at least one particular residual noise sensor location 117 (FIG. 1). For example, the controller 1100 may estimate the noise error at a particular residual noise sensor location based on the input 1108 and the predicted noise signal 1112, e.g., as described below.

[0588] In some demonstrative aspects, the estimator 1110 may, for example, estimate y1(n)...y M The system may include a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) prediction unit configured to generate a plurality of sound control patterns, e.g., including M control patterns, denoted (n), corresponding to the nth sample, to drive a plurality of M respective acoustic transducers, e.g., based on the input 1108.

[0589] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 1100 may identify mounting-based parameters 1129, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of an open acoustic headphone, e.g., the open acoustic headphone 110 (FIG. 1), as described above.

[0590] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 1100 may configure the estimator 1110 to estimate the signal 1112, for example, based on the identified mounting-based parameters 1129, for example, as described below.

[0591] Reference is now made to FIG. 12, which illustrates a schematic of a MIMO prediction unit 1200 in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. In some demonstrative aspects, the estimator 1110 (FIG. 11) may include the MIMO prediction unit 1200 and / or perform one or more functions and / or operations of the MIMO prediction unit 1200.

[0592] As shown in FIG. 12, the prediction unit 1200 may be configured according to a mounting configuration 1229 of an open acoustic headphone, such as the open acoustic headphone 110 (FIG. 1), for example, as described below.

[0593] As shown in FIG. 12, the prediction unit 1200 is a vector

number

[0594] In some demonstrative aspects, interference (crosstalk) between two or more of the M acoustic transducers of the array 1202 may occur, for example, when two or more, e.g., all, of the M acoustic transducers generate a controlled noise pattern, for example, simultaneously.

[0595] In some demonstrative aspects, the prediction unit 1200 may generate an output 1201 configured to control the array 1202 to generate a substantially optimal sound control pattern, e.g., while simultaneously optimizing an input signal for each speaker in the array 1202. For example, the prediction unit 1200 may control multi-channel speakers of the array 1202, e.g., while canceling interference between the speakers.

[0596] In some demonstrative aspects, the prediction unit 1200 may be implemented by an FIR filter.

[0597] In other aspects, the prediction unit 1200 may be implemented by an IIR filter. In one example, the prediction unit 1200 may be implemented by multiple cascaded second-order digital IIR biquad filters in series.

[0598] In other aspects, other prediction mechanisms may be used.

[0599] In one example, the prediction unit 1200 may utilize a linear function with memory. For example, the prediction unit 1200 may calculate y , which corresponds to the mth speaker of the array 1202 for the nth sample of the primary pattern, as follows: m [n] may determine sound control patterns:

number

[0600] In another example, the prediction unit 1200 may implement any other suitable prediction algorithm, e.g., memory-based or memory-less, linear or non-linear, and the like, to determine the output 1201.

[0601] In some demonstrative aspects, the prediction unit 1200 calculates the prediction filter coefficients W km Let [i] be, for example, the noise inputs e1, e2[n],...,e L For example, the prediction unit 1200 may optimize the prediction filter coefficients W km [n] may be optimized, for example, to reach maximum destructive interference at the residual error sensing locations. For example, the residual error sensing locations may include L locations, and the input 1204 may include e1[n], e2[n], ..., eL It may contain L residual noise components, denoted as [n].

[0602] In some demonstrative aspects, the prediction unit 1200 calculates the prediction filter coefficients W km One or more, e.g., some or all, of [i] may be optimized based on, e.g., a minimum mean square error (MMSE) criterion, or any other suitable criterion. For example, the prediction filter coefficients W km A cost function, denoted as J, for optimizing one or more, e.g., some or all, of the residual noise components e1, e2[n], ..., e[n] at the residual error detection positions is, e.g., L The total energy of [n] can be defined, for example, as:

number

[0603] In some demonstrative aspects, at the lth position, the residual noise pattern, denoted as e1[n], may be expressed, for example, as follows:

number

[0604] In some demonstrative aspects, the prediction unit 1200 includes an adaptive weight vector W km One or more elements of [n], e.g., some or all elements, may be optimized to reach an optimal point, e.g., maximum noise reduction, for example, for AAC in open-back acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1). For example, prediction unit 1200 may optimize weight vector W kmIf [n] is updated in the negative direction of the gradient of the cost function J, then one may implement a gradient-based adaptation method, for example, as follows:

number

[0605] Referring back to FIG. 2, in some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to update one or more parameters of Equations 22, 23 and / or 24, e.g., based on mounting-based parameters corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110, e.g., as described below.

[0606] In other aspects, the controller 293 (FIG. 1) may be configured to update one or more other additional or alternative parameters for the prediction unit 900 (FIG. 9) and / or the estimator 810 (FIG. 8).

[0607] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to update one or more parameters of Equations 22, 23 and / or 24, e.g., based on mounting-based parameters corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1), e.g., to generate a controller output 901 (FIG. 9) for AAC in the open acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1).

[0608] In some demonstrative embodiments, the controller 293 controls one or more of the path transfer functions stf in Equations 23 and / or 24. lm [j] may be updated based on, for example, mounting-based parameters corresponding to, for example, the mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1).

[0609] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 adjusts the update rate parameter μ km may be updated based on, for example, mounting-based parameters corresponding to, for example, the mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1).

[0610] In one example, the controller 293 may be configured to adjust one or more update rate parameters μ km , e.g., the update rate parameter μ km For example, the update rate parameter μ km The set of may be determined or pre-configured, for example, based on mounting-based parameters corresponding to the mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1), as described above.

[0611] 13, which illustrates, in accordance with some demonstrative aspects, one implementation of components of a controller 1300 in an AAC system. For example, controller 293 (FIG. 2), controller 1000 (FIG. 10), controller 1100 (FIG. 11), and / or a prediction unit (FIG. 12) may include one or more elements of controller 1300 and / or perform one or more operations and / or functions of controller 1300.

[0612] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 1300 may be configured to receive an input 1312 including residual noise from a plurality of microphones (RMICs) and generate an output signal 1301 for driving a speaker array 1302 including M acoustic transducers, e.g., three speakers, or any other number of speakers. For example, the input 1312 may include the input 204 (FIG. 2), the input 1016 (FIG. 10), the input 1116 (FIG. 11), and / or the input 1204 (FIG. 12).

[0613] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 1300 may be configured to configure, determine, update and / or set one or more parameters of a predictive filter, e.g., denoted PF as described above, based on, e.g., mounting-based parameters corresponding to, e.g., a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 100 (FIG. 1).

[0614] In some demonstrative aspects, the prediction filter PF may be implemented by an FIR filter.

[0615] In another aspect, the predictive filter PF may be implemented by an IIR filter. In one example, the predictive filter PF may be implemented by multiple cascaded second-order digital IIR biquad filters in series.

[0616] In other aspects, other prediction mechanisms may be used.

[0617] In some demonstrative aspects, the 1300 controller 1300 may be configured to utilize multiple AFB mitigators (echo cancellers (EC)) 1313. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the AFB mitigators 1313 may be configured to mitigate AFB between the acoustic transducer 1302 and the reference noise acoustic sensor 1312.

[0618] In some demonstrative aspects, one or more, e.g., some or all, of the AFB mitigators 1313 may include an adaptive AFB mitigator. For example, one or more, e.g., some or all, of the AFB mitigators 1313 may include AFB mitigator 750 (FIG. 7), AFB mitigator 850 (FIG. 8), or AFB mitigator 950 (FIG. 9).

[0619] Referring back to FIG. 2, in some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may determine mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1), e.g., based on the residual noise information 204, e.g., as described below.

[0620] In some demonstrative aspects, the residual noise information may be based on and / or represent, for example, a transfer function between the acoustic transducer 108 and a residual noise detection location, e.g., the location of the residual noise sensor 121 or the virtual residual noise detection location 117.

[0621] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to determine acoustic transfer functions in multiple frequency subbands based on, for example, the residual noise information 204.

[0622] In some demonstrative aspects, the multiple frequency subbands may include, for example, 1 / 3 octave subbands, as described below, while in other aspects, the multiple frequency subbands may include any other subbands of any other octave orders.

[0623] In some demonstrative aspects, the multiple frequency sub-bands may include, for example, eighteen 1 / 3 octave sub-bands, as described below.

[0624] In other aspects, the multiple frequency subbands may include any other number of 1 / 3 octave subbands, for example, less than eighteen 1 / 3 octave subbands, or more than eighteen 1 / 3 octave subbands.

[0625] In some demonstrative aspects, the multiple frequency sub-bands may include 18 or more frequency sub-bands each having one or more, e.g., some or all, of the following set of center frequencies: [19.68, 24.80, 31.25, 39.37, 49.6, 62.5, 78.74, 99.21, 125, 157.49, 198.42, 250, 314.98, 396.85, 500, 629.96, 793.7, 1000, ..., Fs / 2] Hertz (Hz), where Fs indicates the sampling frequency.

[0626] In other aspects, the multiple frequency sub-bands may include any other frequency sub-bands having any other additional or alternative center frequencies.

[0627] In other aspects, the multiple frequency subbands may include any other number of frequency subbands according to any other subband allocation or scheme.

[0628] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 may be configured to apply multiple bandpass filters to the residual noise information 204 to convert the residual noise information 204 into acoustic transfer functions in multiple frequency subbands, for example, as described below.

[0629] In one example, the plurality of bandpass filters may include, for example, 18 bandpass filters having 18 respective center frequencies corresponding to the center frequencies of 18 ⅓ octave subbands, as described below.

[0630] Reference is made to FIG. 14, which generally illustrates a graph 1400 showing multiple bandpass filter curves 1410, in accordance with some demonstrative aspects.

[0631] In one example, as shown in FIG. 14, the multiple bandpass filter curves 1410 may represent 18 bandpass filters having 18 respective center frequencies corresponding to, for example, the center frequencies of 18 1 / 3 octave subbands, as previously described.

[0632] In some demonstrative aspects, a second order bandpass filter may be configured around center frequency 1412. For example, controller 293 (FIG. 2) may be configured to utilize a bandpass filter according to some or all of bandpass filter curve 1410.

[0633] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may be configured to generate an acoustic transfer function corresponding to the residual noise information, e.g., based on a bandpass filter curve 1410, e.g., as described below.

[0634] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 ( FIG. 2 ) may be configured to convert the residual noise information into acoustic information in a plurality of frequency subbands, e.g., by applying each of the bandpass filters defined by the curve 1410 to the residual noise information 204 ( FIG. 2 ), e.g., according to the following method:

number

number

[0635] In other aspects, the acoustic information in the multiple frequency subbands may be determined according to any other technique.

[0636] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may be configured to generate an acoustic transfer function corresponding to the residual noise information 204 (FIG. 2), e.g., by determining multiple energy values ​​corresponding to multiple frequency subbands, e.g., as described below.

[0637] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may be configured to generate an acoustic transfer function corresponding to the residual noise information 204 (FIG. 2), e.g., by generating a vector including multiple energy values ​​corresponding to multiple frequency subbands (an “acoustic transfer function vector”), e.g., as described below.

[0638] 15, which illustrates a schematic of a detection scheme 1200 for detecting a mounting profile 1525 of open acoustic headphones, according to some demonstrative aspects. For example, a controller, such as controller 293 (FIG. 2), may be configured to detect a mounting profile 1525 of open acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1), for example, as described below.

[0639] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may be configured to convert the residual noise information 1510 into an acoustic transfer function 1520 across multiple frequency subbands.

[0640] In some demonstrative aspects, the residual noise information 1510 may include samples of an output signal of an acoustic sensor device, such as the residual noise information 204 (FIG. 2) from the residual noise sensor 121 (FIG. 2).

[0641] 15, the residual noise information 1510 may be transformed into multiple frequency subbands, e.g., 1 / 3 octave subbands 1512, by applying multiple bandpass filters 1514 defined, e.g., according to multiple 1 / 3 octave subbands 1512, to the residual noise information 1510. For example, the multiple bandpass filters 1514 may be defined according to multiple bandpass filter curves 14110 (FIG. 14).

[0642] 15, a plurality of energy values ​​1516 may be determined corresponding to a plurality of 1 / 3 octave sub-bands 1512, respectively. For example, the energy value 1516 corresponding to the 1 / 3 octave sub-bands 1512 may be determined based on a sum of the acoustic energy values ​​within the 1 / 3 octave sub-bands 1512.

[0643] In some demonstrative aspects, the energy vector 1520 may be determined to include a vector including multiple energies 1516 corresponding to multiple frequency subbands 1512, for example after filtering by the bandpass filter 1514.

[0644] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may be configured to compare the energy vector 1520 to multiple reference energy vectors 1530. For example, the multiple reference energy vectors 1530 may correspond to multiple AAC profiles 299 (FIG. 2).

[0645] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may be configured to determine the attachment profile 1525 based on, for example, a match and / or correlation between the energy vector 1520 and one of the multiple reference energy vectors 1530.

[0646] In some demonstrative aspects, one or more of the plurality of reference energy vectors 1530 may each correspond to one or more of the plurality of speaker transfer functions 510 (FIG. 5). According to these aspects, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may compare the energy vector 1520 to one or more energy vectors corresponding to one or more of the plurality of speaker transfer functions 510 (FIG. 5) and, for example, identify a selected speaker transfer function 510 (FIG. 5) that may have a best match and / or correlation with the energy vector 1520. According to these aspects, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may determine the mounting profile 1525 to include a mounting configuration that corresponds to the selected speaker transfer function.

[0647] Reference is made to Fig. 16, which illustrates a method for determining a sound control pattern according to some demonstrative aspects. For example, one or more operations of Fig. 16 may be performed by one or more components of the open acoustic headphone device 100 (Fig. 1), the controller 202 (Fig. 2), the controller 293 (Fig. 2), the controller 1000 (Fig. 10), the controller 1100 (Fig. 11), the prediction unit 1200 (Fig. 12), and / or the controller 1300 (Fig. 13).

[0648] In some demonstrative aspects, as indicated at block 1602, the method may include processing input information including the noise reference signal and the noise error signal, and / or input from any other additional or alternative sensors. For example, controller 293 (FIG. 2) may process residual noise input 204 (FIG. 2) and / or noise input 206 (FIG. 2), e.g., as described above.

[0649] In some demonstrative aspects, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may be configured to probe the signal level and / or energy at a feedback microphone, e.g., residual noise sensor 121 (FIG. 2), and / or the output signal of an acoustic transducer, e.g., acoustic transducer 108 (FIG. 2). For example, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may be configured to modify the settings of one or more AAC control parameters and / or audio filter coefficients, e.g., above an adjustable level / energy.

[0650] In one example, for poor fit, e.g., when the open acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1) are far from the user's head, the loudspeaker sensitivity at low frequencies (LF) may decrease in the feedback microphone, e.g., because there may no longer be low-frequency standing waves. However, the overall output signal level may increase, e.g., especially at low frequencies, because there may no longer be passive attenuation. According to this example, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may detect mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1), based on, e.g., the residual noise information 121 (FIG. 2) and the output signal 209 (FIG. 2) for generating an output from the acoustic transducer.

[0651] In some demonstrative aspects, as shown in block 1604, the method may include determining, for example, a signal level / energy at a feedback (error) microphone / signal and / or an output signal of one or more acoustic transducers in one or more predefined frequency ranges. For example, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may calculate a plurality of energies 1516 (FIG. 15) corresponding to a plurality of frequency subbands 1512 (FIG. 15), for example, as described above.

[0652] In some demonstrative aspects, the method may include checking which frequency bands have a calculated signal level / energy above a predefined (adjustable) level, as shown in block 1606. For example, controller 293 (FIG. 2) may check in a number of energies 1516 (FIG. 15) in which the energy in frequency sub-band 1512 (FIG. 15) is above a predefined (adjustable) level, as described above.

[0653] In some demonstrative aspects, as shown in block 1608, the method may include updating AAC parameters and / or audio beaming coefficients, e.g., according to one or more predefined signal level / energy profiles. For example, controller 293 (FIG. 2) may update settings of one or more sound control parameters for AAC in open acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above, based on a vector of energy 1530 (FIG. 15).

[0654] In some demonstrative aspects, the method may include outputting a sound control pattern toward a virtual ear position sensor, as indicated at block 1610. For example, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may output a sound control pattern 209 (FIG. 2) via the acoustic transducer 108 (FIG. 1) toward a virtual sensing position 117 (FIG. 1) in the ear 152 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

[0655] Reference is made to Fig. 17, which illustrates a schematic diagram of a method for determining a sound control pattern according to some demonstrative aspects. For example, one or more operations of Fig. 17 may be performed by one or more components of the open acoustic headphone device 100 (Fig. 1), the controller 202 (Fig. 2), the controller 293 (Fig. 2), the controller 1000 (Fig. 1000), the controller 1100 (Fig. 11), the prediction unit 1200 (Fig. 12), and / or the controller 1300 (Fig. 13).

[0656] In some demonstrative aspects, as indicated at block 1702, the method may include processing input information including the noise reference signal and the noise error signal, and / or input from any other additional or alternative sensors. For example, controller 293 (FIG. 2) may process residual noise input 204 (FIG. 2) and / or noise input 206 (FIG. 2), e.g., as described above.

[0657] In some demonstrative aspects, the method may include extracting features and estimating transfer functions from the speaker to the sensor and / or from the reference sensor to the error sensor, as indicated at block 1704. For example, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may estimate a speaker TF corresponding to the acoustic transducer 108 (FIG. 1) and / or a microphone TF corresponding to the residual noise sensor 121 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

[0658] In some demonstrative aspects, the method may include determining pattern changes for different mounting profiles, as shown in block 1706. For example, controller 293 (FIG. 2) may determine mounting-based parameters, e.g., based on residual noise information, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of open acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

[0659] In some demonstrative aspects, the method may include updating the AAC parameters and / or audio beamforming coefficients, as indicated in block 1708. For example, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may update settings of one or more sound control parameters for AAC in the open acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above, based on, e.g., attachment-based parameters.

[0660] In some demonstrative aspects, the method may include outputting a sound control pattern toward a virtual ear position sensor, as indicated at block 1710. For example, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may output a sound control pattern 209 (FIG. 2) via the acoustic transducer 108 (FIG. 1) toward a virtual sensing position 117 (FIG. 1) in the ear 152 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

[0661] Reference is made to Fig. 18, which illustrates a schematic of a method for AAC in open acoustic headphones, in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. For example, one or more operations of Fig. 18 may be performed by one or more components of open acoustic headphone device 100 (Fig. 1), controller 202 (Fig. 2), controller 293 (Fig. 2), controller 1000 (Fig. 10), controller 1100 (Fig. 11), prediction unit 1200 (Fig. 12), and / or controller 1300 (Fig. 13).

[0662] In some demonstrative aspects, as shown in block 1802, the method may include processing input information including a residual noise input including residual noise information corresponding to a residual noise sensor of an open acoustic headphone, and a noise input including noise information corresponding to a noise sensor of the open acoustic headphone. For example, controller 293 (FIG. 2) may process input information from input 292 (FIG. 2), including, for example, residual noise input 204 (FIG. 2) and noise input 206 (FIG. 2), for example, as described above.

[0663] In some demonstrative aspects, the method may include determining a sound control pattern, the sound control pattern configured for AAC in open acoustic headphones, as shown in block 1804. For example, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may determine the sound control pattern 293 (FIG. 2), which may be configured for AAC in open acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1), as described above, for example.

[0664] In some demonstrative aspects, as shown in block 1806, determining the sound control pattern may include identifying mounting-based parameters of the open acoustic headphones based on the input information. For example, the mounting-based parameters may be based on a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones relative to the user's ears. For example, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may identify mounting-based parameters, e.g., corresponding to a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones 110 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above, based on the input information 295 (FIG. 2).

[0665] In some demonstrative aspects, determining the sound control pattern may include determining the sound control pattern based on mounting-based parameters, the residual noise input, and the noise input of the open acoustic headphones, as indicated in block 1808. For example, the controller 293 (FIG. 2) may determine the sound control pattern 293 (FIG. 2) based on mounting-based parameters, the residual noise input 204 (FIG. 2), and the noise input 206 (FIG. 2), e.g., as described above.

[0666] In some demonstrative aspects, the method may include outputting the sound control pattern to an acoustic transducer of an open-back acoustic headphone, as indicated at block 1810. For example, the controller 293 (FIG. 1) may output the sound control pattern 209 (FIG. 2) to the acoustic transducer 108 (FIG. 1), as described above, for example.

[0667] Reference is made to FIG. 19, which illustrates, in schematic form, a product 1900 in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. The product 1900 may include one or more tangible computer-readable ("machine-readable") non-transitory storage media 1902 that, when executed by at least one processor, e.g., a computer processor, controls the at least one processor to perform one or more operations on the open acoustic headphone device 100 (FIG. 1), the controller 202 (FIG. 2), the controller 293 (FIG. 2), the controller 1000 (FIG. 10), the controller 1100 (FIG. 11), the prediction unit 1200 (FIG. 12), and / or 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and / or 18, and / or one or more operations described herein. The phrases "non-transitory machine-readable medium(s)" and "computer-readable non-transitory storage medium(s)" are intended to include all computer-readable media, with the sole exception of transitory propagating signals.

[0668] In some demonstrative aspects, the product 1900 and / or the storage medium 1902 may include one or more types of computer-readable media capable of storing data, including volatile memory, non-volatile memory, removable or fixed memory, erasable or non-erasable memory, writable or rewriteable memory, and the like. For example, the storage medium 1602 may include RAM, DRAM, double data rate DRAM (DDR-DRAM), SDRAM, static RAM (SRAM), ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, (e.g., NOR or NAND flash memory), content addressable memory (CAM), polymer memory, phase change memory, ferroelectric memory, silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) memory, disk, hard drive, and the like. The computer-readable storage medium may include any suitable medium involving the downloading or transmission of a computer program from a remote computer to a requesting computer, conveyed over a communications link, e.g., a modem, wireless or network connection, by a data signal embodied in a carrier wave or other propagation medium.

[0669] In some demonstrative aspects, the logic 1904 may include instructions, data, and / or code that, when executed by a machine, may cause the machine to perform the methods, processes, and / or operations described herein. The machine may include, for example, any suitable processing platform, computing platform, computing device, processing device, computing system, processing system, computer, processor, or the like, and may be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware, software, firmware, and the like.

[0670] In some demonstrative aspects, the logic 1904 may include or be implemented as software, software modules, applications, programs, subroutines, instructions, instruction sets, computing code, words, values, symbols, and the like. The instructions may include any suitable type of code, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, and the like. The instructions may be implemented according to a predefined computer language, manner or syntax to instruct a processor to perform a function. The instructions may be implemented using any suitable high-level, low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled and / or interpreted programming language.

[0671] example The following examples relate to further aspects.

[0672] Example 1 includes an apparatus for active acoustic control (AAC) in open acoustic headphones, the apparatus including: an input for receiving input information, the input information including a residual noise input including residual noise information corresponding to a residual noise sensor of the open acoustic headphones, and a noise input including noise information corresponding to the noise sensor of the open acoustic headphones; a controller configured to determine a sound control pattern, the sound control pattern configured for AAC in the open acoustic headphones, the controller configured to identify mounting-based parameters based on the input information, the mounting-based parameters based on a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones relative to a user's ear, the controller configured to determine the sound control pattern based on the mounting-based parameters, the residual noise information, and the noise information; and an output for outputting the sound control pattern to an acoustic transducer of the open acoustic headphones.

[0673] Example 2 includes the subject matter of example 1, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a parameter of the mounting base based on the residual noise information.

[0674] Example 3 includes the subject matter of example 2, and optionally, the controller is configured to cause the acoustic transducer to generate a calibration acoustic signal to identify the calibration information in the residual noise information, the calibration information based on the calibration acoustic signal sensed by the residual noise sensor, and to determine a parameter of the mounting base based on the calibration information.

[0675] Example 4 includes the subject matter of example 2, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine an acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer and the residual noise detection location based on the residual noise information, and to determine a parameter of the mounting base based on the acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer and the residual noise detection location.

[0676] Example 5 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-4, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a parameter of the mounting base based on the noise information.

[0677] Example 6 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-5, and optionally, the input information includes sensor information from a positioning sensor, and the controller is configured to determine a parameter of the mounting base based on the sensor information.

[0678] Example 7 includes the subject matter of example 6, and optionally, the sensor information includes positioning information corresponding to positioning of open acoustic headphones relative to the user's ears.

[0679] Example 8 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-7, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine an acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer and the residual noise sensor based on a parameter of the mounting base, and to determine the sound control pattern based on the acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer and the residual noise sensor.

[0680] Example 9 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 8, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine an acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer and a residual noise detection position in the user's ear based on mounting-based parameters, and to determine the sound control pattern based on the acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer and the residual noise detection position in the user's ear.

[0681] Example 10 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 9, and optionally, the controller determines virtual residual noise information based on the residual noise input and the mounting-based parameters, the virtual residual noise information corresponding to a virtual residual noise detection position in the user's ear, and determines the sound control pattern based on the virtual residual noise information.

[0682] Example 11 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 10, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a configuration of a sound field of the acoustic transducer based on parameters of the mounting base, and to determine the sound control pattern based on the configuration of the sound field of the acoustic transducer.

[0683] Example 12 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-11, and optionally, the mounting-based parameters are based on a position of the open acoustic headphones relative to the user's ears.

[0684] Example 13 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-12, and optionally, the attachment-based parameter is based on a distance between the user's ear and the acoustic transducer.

[0685] Example 14 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-13, and optionally, the mounting-based parameters are based on an orientation of the open acoustic headphones relative to the user's ears.

[0686] Example 15 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-14, and optionally, the mounting-based parameters are based on an acoustic environment between the open acoustic headphones and the user's ears.

[0687] Example 16 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 15, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine an AAC profile based on the installation-based parameters, and to determine the sound control pattern based on the AAC profile.

[0688] Example 17 includes the subject matter of Example 16, and optionally, the AAC profile includes settings for one or more sound control parameters, and the controller is configured to determine the sound control pattern based on the one or more sound control parameters.

[0689] Example 18 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 17, each including a memory for storing a plurality of AAC profiles corresponding to a plurality of predefined mounting configurations, the AAC profile including settings of one or more sound control parameters corresponding to one predefined mounting configuration of the plurality of predefined mounting configurations, and a controller configured to select a selected AAC profile from the plurality of AAC profiles based on the mounting-based parameters of the open acoustic headphones, and determine a sound control pattern based on the selected AAC profile.

[0690] Example 19 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 18, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine settings of the one or more sound control parameters based on the installation-based parameters, and to determine the sound control pattern based on the settings of the one or more sound control parameters.

[0691] Example 20 includes the subject matter of example 19, and optionally, the setting of the one or more sound control parameters includes setting one or more parameters of a predictive filter applied to determine the sound control pattern.

[0692] Example 21 includes the subject matter of example 20, and optionally, the one or more parameters of the prediction filter include a prediction filter weight vector of the prediction filter.

[0693] Example 22 includes the subject matter of Example 20 or Example 21, and optionally, the one or more parameters of the prediction filter include an update rate parameter for updating a prediction filter weight vector of the prediction filter.

[0694] Example 23 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 20-22, and optionally, the prediction filter includes a noise prediction filter applied to a prediction filter input based on the noise input.

[0695] Example 24 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 20-22, and optionally, the prediction filter includes a residual noise prediction filter applied to a prediction filter input based on the residual noise input.

[0696] Example 25 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 19 to 24, and optionally, the setting of the one or more sound control parameters includes setting one or more path transfer functions that are applied to determine the sound control pattern.

[0697] Example 26 includes the subject matter of example 25, and optionally, the one or more path transfer functions include a speaker transfer function corresponding to an acoustic transducer.

[0698] Example 27 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-26, and optionally includes an acoustic feedback (AFB) mitigator configured to mitigate acoustic feedback (AFB) between the acoustic transducer and the noise sensor, the AFB mitigator including: a first filter configured to generate a first filtered signal by filtering a first input signal according to a first filter function, where the first input signal is based on the sound control pattern; and a second filter configured to generate a second filtered signal by filtering the first input signal according to a second filter function, where the second filter includes an adaptive filter adapted based on a difference between the AFB mitigated signal and the second filtered signal, where the AFB mitigated signal is based on the difference between the second input signal and the first filtered signal, where the second input signal is based on acoustic noise detected by the noise sensor.

[0699] Example 28 includes the subject matter of example 27, and optionally, the first filter includes a fixed filter having a fixed filter function.

[0700] Example 29 includes the subject matter of example 28, and optionally, the fixed filter function is based on a predefined acoustic configuration of an open-back acoustic headphone.

[0701] Example 30 includes the subject matter of example 28 or example 29, and optionally, the fixed filter function is based on a predefined acoustic configuration between the acoustic transducer and the noise sensor.

[0702] Example 31 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 28-30, and optionally includes a first subtractor for generating a first AFB-mitigated signal by subtracting the first filtered signal from the second input signal, and a second subtractor for generating a second AFB-mitigated signal by subtracting the second filtered signal from the first AFB-mitigated signal, wherein the second filter is based on a difference between the first AFB-mitigated signal and the second filtered signal.

[0703] Example 32 includes the subject matter of example 31, and optionally, the sound control pattern is based on an output of a predictive filter, and an input to the predictive filter is based on the second AFB mitigated signal.

[0704] Example 33 includes the subject matter of Example 28, and optionally includes a third filter configured to generate a third filtered signal by filtering the first input signal according to a third filter function, the third filter including an adaptive filter adapted based on a subtraction of the filtered predefined signal from a difference between the AFB mitigated signal and the second filtered signal, and the filtered predefined signal includes the predefined signal filtered by the third filter.

[0705] Example 34 includes the subject matter of example 33, and optionally, the predefined signal includes a noise signal.

[0706] Example 35 includes the subject matter of example 33 or example 34, optionally wherein a frequency spectrum of the predefined signal differs from a frequency spectrum of the first input signal.

[0707] Example 36 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 33-35, and optionally includes an adder for generating a modified sensor signal by adding the filtered pre-defined signal to the second input signal, a first subtractor for generating a first AFB-mitigated signal by subtracting the first filtered signal from the modified sensor signal, and a second subtractor for generating a second AFB-mitigated signal by subtracting a sum of the filtered signals from the first AFB-mitigated signal, wherein the sum of the filtered signals includes a sum of the third filtered signal and the filtered pre-defined signal.

[0708] Example 37 includes the subject matter of example 36, and optionally, the sound control pattern is based on an output of a predictive filter, and an input to the predictive filter is based on the second AFB mitigated signal.

[0709] Example 38 includes the subject matter of Example 27, and optionally, the first filter includes an adaptive filter that is adapted based on subtraction of the filtered predefined signal from a difference between the AFB mitigated signal and the second filtered signal, and the filtered predefined signal includes the predefined signal filtered by the first filter.

[0710] Example 39 includes the subject matter of example 38, and optionally, the predefined signal includes a noise signal.

[0711] Example 40 includes the subject matter of example 38 or example 39, optionally wherein a frequency spectrum of the predefined signal is different from a frequency spectrum of the first input signal.

[0712] Example 41 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 38-40, and optionally includes an adder for generating a modified sensor signal by adding the filtered predefined signal to the second input signal, a first subtractor for generating a first AFB-mitigated signal by subtracting the first filtered signal from the modified sensor signal, and a second subtractor for generating a second AFB-mitigated signal by subtracting the filtered signal from the first AFB-mitigated signal.

[0713] Example 42 includes the subject matter of example 41, and optionally, the sound control pattern is based on an output of a predictive filter, and an input to the predictive filter is based on the second AFB mitigated signal.

[0714] Example 43 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 27 to 42, and optionally, the first filter is configured to generate a first filtered signal including a first estimate of the AFB, and the second filter is configured to generate a second filtered signal including a second estimate of the AFB.

[0715] Example 44 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 27 to 43, and optionally, the second filter is configured to generate a second filtered signal based on a change in the AFB.

[0716] Example 45 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 27 to 44, and optionally includes a predictive filter (PF) configured to generate a PF output based on a PF input and an acoustic configuration between the acoustic transducer and the sound control zone, where the first input signal is based on the PF output and the PF input is based on the AFB-mitigated signal.

[0717] Example 46 includes the subject matter of example 45, and optionally, the sound control pattern is based on a combination of at least one of the PF output and the audio signal or the voice signal.

[0718] Example 47 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 27 to 46, and optionally, the second filter is adapted based on a least mean squares (LMS) algorithm or an LMS algorithm variant.

[0719] Example 48 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 27 to 47, and optionally, at least one of the first filter or the second filter is a finite impulse response (FIR) filter.

[0720] Example 49 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 27-48, and optionally, at least one of the first filter or the second filter is an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter.

[0721] Example 50 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-49, and optionally includes a residual noise sensor, a noise sensor, and an acoustic transducer.

[0722] Example 51 includes an open acoustic headphone apparatus including any one of the apparatuses of Examples 1 to 50, the open acoustic headphone apparatus including at least one open acoustic headphone including a noise sensor, a residual noise sensor, and an acoustic transducer, and a controller configured to process input information including a residual noise input including residual noise information corresponding to the residual noise sensor of the open acoustic headphone, and a noise input including noise information corresponding to the noise sensor of the open acoustic headphone, the controller configured to determine a sound control pattern for active acoustic control (AAC) in the open acoustic headphone, the controller configured to identify mounting-based parameters of the open acoustic headphone based on the input information, the mounting-based parameters being based on a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphone relative to the user's ear, the controller configured to determine the sound control pattern based on the mounting-based parameters, the residual noise information, and the noise information, and the controller provides the sound control pattern to the acoustic transducer.

[0723] Example 52 includes an apparatus including means for performing any of the described operations of any one or more of Examples 1-51.

[0724] Example 53 includes a machine-readable medium storing instructions for execution by a processor to perform any of the described operations of any one or more of Examples 1-51.

[0725] Example 54 includes an article of manufacture that includes one or more tangible computer-readable non-transitory storage media that include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, are operable to enable the at least one processor to cause a computing device to perform any of the described operations of any one of Examples 1-51.

[0726] Example 55 includes a memory and processing circuitry configured to perform any of the described operations of any one or more of Examples 1-51.

[0727] Example 56 includes a method including any of the operations described in any one or more of Examples 1-51.

[0728] Any features, operations, components and / or features described herein with reference to one or more embodiments may be combined or utilized in combination with one or more other features, operations, components and / or features described herein with reference to one or more other embodiments, and vice versa.

[0729] While certain features have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents may occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes that fall within the true spirit of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. 1. A method for active acoustic control (AAC) in open acoustic headphones, the method comprising: receiving input information, the input information comprising: a residual noise input including residual noise information corresponding to a residual noise sensor of the open acoustic headphones; a noise input including noise information corresponding to a noise sensor of the open-back acoustic headphones; and identifying a mounting-based parameter based on the input information, the mounting-based parameter being based on a mounting configuration of the open acoustic headphones relative to a user's ear; determining a sound control pattern configured for AAC in the open acoustic headphones based on the mounting base parameters, the residual noise information, and the noise information; outputting the sound control pattern to an acoustic transducer of the open-type acoustic headphones; A method comprising:

2. The method of claim 1, comprising determining parameters of the mounting base based on the residual noise information.

3. causing the acoustic transducer to generate a calibration acoustic signal; identifying calibration information within the residual noise information, the calibration information being based on a calibration acoustic signal sensed by the residual noise sensor; determining parameters of the mounting base based on the calibration information; The method of claim 2 , comprising:

4. determining an acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer and a residual noise detection position based on the residual noise information; determining a parameter of the mounting base based on an acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer and the residual noise sensing location; The method of claim 2 , comprising:

5. The method of claim 1, comprising determining a parameter of the mounting base based on the noise information.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input information includes sensor information from a positioning sensor, the method including determining a parameter of the mounting base based on the sensor information.

7. Determining an acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer and the residual noise sensor based on parameters of the mounting base; determining the sound control pattern based on an acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer and the residual noise sensor; The method of claim 1 , comprising: determining an acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer and a residual noise sensing location in the user's ear based on parameters of the mounting base; determining the sound control pattern based on an acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer and a residual noise sensing location in the user's ear; The method of claim 1 , comprising: determining virtual residual noise information based on the residual noise input and parameters of the mounting base, the virtual residual information corresponding to a virtual residual noise sensing location in the user's ear; determining the sound control pattern based on the virtual residual noise information; The method of claim 1 , comprising:

10. Determining a configuration of a sound field of the acoustic transducer based on parameters of the mounting base; determining the sound control pattern based on a configuration of a sound field of the acoustic transducer; The method of claim 1 , comprising:

11. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mounting-based parameters are based on at least one of a position of the open-type acoustic headphones relative to the user's ear, a distance between the user's ear and the acoustic transducer, and / or an orientation of the open-type acoustic headphones relative to the user's ear.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mounting-based parameters are based on an acoustic environment between the open acoustic headphones and the user's ears.

13. storing a plurality of AAC profiles, each corresponding to a plurality of predefined mounting configurations, an AAC profile of the plurality of AAC profiles including settings of one or more sound control parameters corresponding to a predefined mounting configuration of the plurality of predefined mounting configurations; selecting, from the plurality of AAC profiles, a selected AAC profile based on mounting-based parameters of the open acoustic headphones; determining the sound control pattern based on the selected AAC profile; The method of claim 1 , comprising: determining settings of one or more sound control parameters based on parameters of the mounting base; determining the sound control pattern based on settings of the one or more sound control parameters; The method of claim 1 , comprising:

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the setting of one or more sound control parameters comprises setting one or more parameters of a predictive filter applied to determine the sound control pattern.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the setting of the one or more sound control parameters comprises setting of one or more path transfer functions that are applied to determine the sound control pattern.

17. An acoustic feedback (AFB) between the acoustic transducer and the noise sensor, generating a first filtered signal by filtering, with a first filter, a first input signal according to a first filter function, the first input signal being based on the sound control pattern; generating a second filtered signal by filtering the first input signal according to a second filter function with a second filter, the second filter including an adaptive filter adapted based on a difference between an AFB-mitigated signal and the second filtered signal, the AFB-mitigated signal being based on a difference between a second input signal and the first filtered signal, and the second input signal being based on acoustic noise detected by the noise sensor; 2. The method of claim 1 , comprising reducing the

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first filter comprises a fixed filter having a fixed filter function.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the method includes generating a third filtered signal by filtering the first input signal according to a third filter function by a third filter, the third filter including an adaptive filter that is adapted based on subtraction of a filtered predefined signal from a difference between the AFB mitigated signal and the second filtered signal, and the filtered predefined signal includes a predefined signal filtered by the third filter.

20. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first filter comprises an adaptive filter adapted based on subtraction of a filtered predefined signal from a difference between the AFB mitigated signal and the second filtered signal, and the filtered predefined signal comprises a predefined signal filtered by the first filter.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the method includes applying a predictive filter (PF) to generate a PF output based on a PF input and an acoustic configuration between the acoustic transducer and a sound control zone, wherein the first input signal is based on the PF output and the PF input is based on the AFB mitigated signal.

22. An apparatus comprising a controller configured to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 21.

23. 23. An open acoustic headphone apparatus including the apparatus of claim 22, the open acoustic headphone apparatus including at least one open acoustic headphone, The at least one open-type acoustic headphone comprises: the noise sensor; the residual noise sensor; The acoustic transducer; Including, An open acoustic headphone device, wherein the controller is configured to determine a sound control pattern configured for AAC in the open acoustic headphones.

24. 22. An article of manufacture comprising one or more tangible computer-readable non-transitory storage media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, are operable to enable the at least one processor to cause a controller of an active acoustic control (AAC) system in open acoustic headphones to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 21.

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