Audio Zoom Pte Ltd

Advanced Electroacoustics Private Limited

Other

Chai Lung Lee

Joseph Sylvester Chang

Tong Ge

Yin Sun

Sebastian Mingjie Chang

MingJie Sebastian Chang

The invention generally relates a transducer apparatus in a device to obtain high signal-to-noise-ratio signals including speech in a noisy environment by a non-acoustic transducer or sensor adapted in two ways. One, adapted to sense free-field acoustical sounds and whose sensitivity is directive, and arranged to be most sensitive to a direction or axis according to the position or orientation of the device. Two, adapted to sense vibrations, movement or acceleration on the skin of the user of the device arising from the voice of the user. Embodiments and variations of the invention include where the two adaptions are combined, and with acoustical microphones. In the case of adaption two and with a microphone, a transducer apparatus resembling the characteristics of a close-talking microphone can be derived.

Transducer apparatus: positioning and high signal-to-noise-ratio microphones

The invention relates to a transducer apparatus to provide audio sensing with high noise immunity in an acoustically-noisy environment. The invention replaces the prior-art acoustic microphone with a non-acoustic sensor to sense free-field and/or surface vibrations or movement that resemble or arising from the voice of the user. The non-acoustic sensor includes an accelerometer, shock sensor, gyroscope, vibration microphone, or vibration sensor. There are several adaptions and embodiments of the invention including improving the polar directivity of the non-acoustic sensors and application of a multiplicity of non-acoustic sensors and acoustic microphones.

Transducer apparatus embodying non-audio sensors for noise-immunity

A transducer apparatus to provide high speech-intelligibility in a noisy environment. The transducer apparatus comprises a vibration-sensing transducer adapted to be placed on the non-honey and non-cartilaginous, i.e., fleshy, part of the head of the user&#x2014;either on the all-flesh part of the cheek or all-flesh under chin. The vibrations sensed are vibrations arising from the user's voice in his mouth and conducted to the surface of the fleshy area of the users cheek or under-chin, and not by bone vibration. The embodiments of the invention include its application into headsets, earsets and helmets; and a switching means; and a means to realize a vibration transducer from an acoustical microphone.

Transducer apparatus for high speech intelligibility in noisy environments

A versatile communications (comms) apparatus to provide a means to measure the audio (earphone) output of an electronic device (e.g. a music player in a smartphone), and/or to provide a means for wireless communications between a first electronic device (e.g. a smartphone) and a second electronic device (e.g. a hearing aid, pacemaker, etc). In some embodiments, the comms apparatus does not need power and in other embodiments, its power may be harvested from the first electronic device, or drawn from a battery that may be recharged by harvesting means or charged directly. The first electronic device typically includes an audio (earphone) output, a microphone input (with a voltage bias), a long-range communications transceiver (e.g. GSM), and where pertinent, a short-range transceiver (e.g. Bluetooth) and is internet enabled. In one embodiment, the comms apparatus provides a means where the audio output (earphone) of the electronic device is sampled by its microphone input, or by electronics in the comms apparatus. In other embodiments, the comms apparatus is an intermediary communications device between the first electronic device and the second electronic device. The communications therein may be simplex and/or duplex, via either the audio output (earphone), microphone input, short-range transceiver, and/or a combination thereof. The communications data (via the comms apparatus) may be transmitted elsewhere, including via the internet by means of the internet enabled electronic device.

Communications apparatus

A device to measure or to estimate the acoustical output of the loudspeaker of a earphone, earplug, headphone or ear muff, and to measure the ambient environmental sounds where appropriate. The loudspeaker is connected to an electronic audio device. The acoustical output of the loudspeaker may be measured by means of a microphone placed in close proximity to the loudspeaker; or estimated by means of measuring the output of the audio amplifier (in the electronic audio device) and using the output/input transfer function that relates the acoustical output of the loudspeaker to the output of the audio amplifier; or estimated by means of the output the digital signal processor (in the electronic audio device) and using the output/input transfer function that relates the acoustical output of the loudspeaker to the output of the digital signal processor. The measurement or estimation of the acoustical output of the loudspeaker (and measurement of the ambient environmental noise, if appropriate) may be used to realize a noise dosimeter or as a means to determine the maximum allowable output limit of the electronic audio device.

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Singapore, Singapore

Chai Lung Lee