Bose Corporation

Cedrik Bacon

Emery M Ku

Lei Cheng

Donna Marie Sullivan

Ole Mattis Nielsen

Andrew D Munro

Wade P Torres

Liam Robert Kelly

Daniel Ross Tengelsen

Eric Raczka Bernstein

Carl Ralph Jensen

Christopher Ratcliffe

Keith L Davidson

Sean Patterson

Daniel R Collins

Ryan C Struzik

Michael Andrew Zalisk

Michael J Daley

Natalie Zucker

Richmond Andrew Real

Mark C McCauley

Jonathan Zonenshine

Mikaela Alison Shannon

Mikaela A Shannon

A system and method for externalizing sound. The system includes a headphone assembly and a localizer configured to collect information related to a location of the user and of an acoustically reflective surface in the environment. A controller is configured to determine a location of at least one virtual sound source, and generate head related transfer functions that simulate characteristics of sound from the virtual sound source directly to the user and to the user via a reflection by the reflective surface. A signal processing assembly is configured to create one or more output signals by filtering the sound signal respectively with the HRTFs. Each speaker of the headphone assembly is configured to produce sound in accordance with the output signal.

Systems and methods for sound source virtualization

An active noise reduction earbud includes a housing and a first feedforward microphone disposed in the housing. A first sound inlet opening extends through the housing and is configured to conduct external sound to the first feedforward microphone. The first sound inlet opening is configured to sit within a concha cavum of a user's ear and faces toward an auricle of the user's ear when the earbud is worn.

Active noise reduction earbud

Aspects describe an in-ear audio output device. The in-ear audio output device includes an acoustic chamber defined by an earbud housing shaped to fit in the lower concha of an ear of a wearer of the in-ear audio output device, the earbud housing comprising: a resistive port located on a first side of the earbud housing creating an opening in a wall of the earbud housing and a first feedforward microphone located on a second side of the earbud housing, the second side substantially opposite the first side of the earbud housing; and a stability band. The stability band includes at least one attachment feature that couples the stability band to the earbud housing and a first side substantially opposite the attachment feature that only partially covers the resistive port when the in-ear audio output device is positioned in the ear of the wearer.

In-ear audio output device having a stability band designed to minimize acoustic port blockage

Aspects describe air flow relief features in the cosmetic surface of the housing of an in-ear audio output device. Due to design constraints based, at least in part, on the limited space available in the acoustic chamber and ear geometry, ports coupling the acoustic chamber with an area outside the housing are susceptible to full blockage when placed in-ear. Air flow relief channels for ports, extending from the port aligned in the concha cymba, over the helix crus, to the cymba cavum minimize complete blockages of the port as compared to current designs.

Flow relief features embedded in cosmetic surface of wearables

A port tube for an earphone, wherein the port tube is configured to acoustically couple a rear acoustic cavity of the earphone to an external environment, includes a first section that is proximate the rear cavity and defines a first cross-sectional area, a second, transitional, section that is coupled to the first section and defines a gradually increasing cross-sectional area, a third, curved and banked, section that is coupled to the second section and defines a second cross-sectional area that is greater than the first cross-sectional area, a fourth, transitional, section that is coupled to the third section and defines a gradually decreasing cross-sectional area, and a fifth section that is coupled to the fourth section and defines a third cross-sectional area that it less than the second cross-sectional area.

Earphone port

An active noise reduction earbud and method. The earbud includes a housing comprising an outlet portion that defines a sound outlet, wherein the outlet portion is configured to be located in or proximate the external auditory meatus of a user's ear, a first feedforward microphone configured to develop a first input signal, and a first sound inlet opening in the housing and configured to conduct external sound to be sensed by the first feedforward microphone, wherein the first sound inlet opening is proximate the outlet portion.

A wearable audio device is provided. The wearable audio device may include a first array of microphones linearly arranged on the wearable audio device at a positive angle relative to a horizontal axis of the wearable audio device. The microphones of the first array may be configured to capture far-field audio. The wearable audio device may include a second array of microphones linearly arranged on the wearable audio device at a negative angle relative to the horizontal axis. The microphones of the second array may be configured to capture near-field audio. The wearable audio device may include circuitry arranged to (1) generate a user voice audio signal based on the captured near-field audio, (2) generate a desired audio signal based on the captured far-field audio, and (3) generate a differentiated signal based on the desired audio signal and the user voice audio signal.

Asymmetric microphone position for beamforming on wearables form factor

A wearable audio device including first and second transducer modules is provided. The first transducer module may include a first transducer. The first transducer module may further include a first enclosure having a top side defining a first slit and a bottom side defining a second slit. The first enclosure may be configured to guide a first sound pressure through the first slit, and a second sound pressure through the second slit. The second transducer module may include a second transducer. The second transducer module may include a second enclosure having a top side defining a third slit and a bottom side defining a fourth slit. The second enclosure may be configured to guide a third sound pressure through the third slit, and a fourth sound pressure through the fourth slit. The third and fourths slit may be arranged diagonally opposite the first and second slits, respectively.

Individually assignable transducers to modulate sound output in open ear form factor

An earphone with a first acoustic cavity, a second acoustic cavity, and an electro-acoustic transducer configured to deliver acoustic energy into the first and second acoustic cavities. A port acoustically couples one of the first and second acoustic cavities to a different volume. The port comprises an opening with a mesh structure that is insert molded into the port.

Earphone

An earphone with a first acoustic cavity, an electro-acoustic transducer configured to deliver acoustic energy into the first acoustic cavity, and a port that acoustically couples the first acoustic cavity to a different volume, wherein the port comprises a series of through-holes that are open to the first acoustic cavity and the different volume.

Growing community of inventors

Ashland, MA, United States of America

Cedrik Bacon