Soundchip Sa

Panasonic Avionics Corporation

Mark Donaldson

Paul Darlington

Ben Skelton

Robert Beck

Amit Naran

An earphone device/test station pairing () includes an earphone device () including: at least one electroacoustic driver (); a digital module () including a processor module; and a digital interface configured to connect the earphone device () to a media/communications device having a digital output; a test station () including at least one transducer (), the test station () being operative to communicate with the earphone device () via the digital interface to allow data transmission between the earphone device () and the test station () during a test/configuration procedure; and a test module () for performing automated testing of the earphone device () when mounted on/connected to the test station ().

Earphone test system

An active Noise Reduction (ANR) device includes a plurality of inputs, a plurality of signal processing resources, an output for driving an earphone driver, a programmable switch arrangement capable of assigning any of the plurality of inputs to any of the plurality of signal processing resources, and a controller for programming the programmable switch arrangement in order to assign each of at least a subset of the plurality of inputs to a different one of the signal processing resources. The ANR device is dynamically configurable to vary which of the signal processing resources are selected to contribute to the output.

Active noise reduction device

Apparatus for connecting both analogue and digital earphone devices to a server system providing a digital audio output includes an interface for connecting an earphone device to the server system, a detector for detecting the type of earphone device connected via the interface, a converter for generating an analogue audio signal from the digital audio output received from the server system, and a switch for switching between providing digital and analogue signals to the attached earphone device via the interface.

Earphone connection apparatus

A method of manufacturing an Active Noise Reduction (ANR) device includes providing at a stage during manufacture a pre-completion ANR device in a non-final configuration, the pre-completion ANR device including a plurality of inputs, a plurality of signal processing resources, an output for driving an earphone driver, and a programmable switch arrangement capable of assigning any of the plurality of inputs to any of the plurality of signal processing resources, selecting from the plurality of signal processing resources a subset of signal processing resources to contribute to the output, whereby the remaining signal processing resources of the plurality do not contribute to the output in any mode of operation of the ANR device, and in a configuration step during manufacture, programming the programmable switch arrangement to assign each of at least a subset of the plurality of inputs to a different one of the selected subset of signal processing resources.

A system provides media content/communications data to a plurality of devices. The system includes a server system that includes a central server in communication with a plurality of local units each acting as a client to the central server. The central server is configured to provide content to each local unit. The system includes at least one earphone device linkable to each local unit to convert an audio signal received from the server system into an audible sound output to a user. The system is configured to identify a potential unlinking of an earphone device from an output of a local unit, store user-specific data corresponding to a condition of operation of the local unit substantially at the time of the potential unlinking, identify an attempt to link the earphone device with an output of a local unit, and retrieve the stored user-specific data.

Media/communications system

A system for providing media and/or communications data to a plurality of users, the system comprising: a plurality of headphones; and a server system for providing audio data to each of the plurality of headphones; wherein each headphone comprises a processor module for allowing two-way digital communication between the headphone and the server system.

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Bussigny-pres-Lausanne, Switzerland

Mark Donaldson