公开(公告)号：US09967647B2

公开(公告)日：2018-05-08

申请号：US14850859

申请日：2015-09-10

Applicant: Avnera Corporation

Inventor： Amit Kumar ,  Eric Sorensen ,  Shankar Rathoud

IPC: H04R1/10 ,  G10K11/178 ,  H04R3/00 ,  H04R29/00

CPC classification number: H04R1/1041 ,  G10K11/178 ,  G10K11/17855 ,  G10K2210/1081 ,  G10K2210/3021 ,  H04R1/1083 ,  H04R3/00 ,  H04R29/00 ,  H04R2410/05 ,  H04R2460/03

Abstract: A headphone detector including a headphone and a processor. The headphone has a microphone and a speaker, and the microphone is configured to generate an audio signal based on an output of the speaker. The processor is configured to receive the audio signal, determine a characteristic of the audio signal, and assess whether the headphone is on ear or off ear based on a comparison of the characteristic to a threshold. In another aspect, an off-ear detection (OED) system includes a headphone and an OED processor. The headphone has a speaker, a feedforward microphone, and a feedback microphone. The OED processor is configured to determine whether the headphone is off ear or on ear, based at least in part on a headphone audio signal, a feedforward microphone signal, and a feedback microphone signal.

公开(公告)号：US10945062B2

公开(公告)日：2021-03-09

申请号：US16274075

申请日：2019-02-12

Applicant: Avnera Corporation

Inventor： Amit Kumar ,  Eric Sorensen ,  Shankar Rathoud

IPC: H04R3/00 ,  H04R29/00 ,  H04R1/10 ,  G10K11/178

Abstract: A headphone having a speaker, a feedforward microphone, a feedback microphone, and an OED processor. The speaker is configured to transmit an audio playback signal based on a headphone audio signal. The feedforward microphone is configured to sense an ambient noise signal and transmit a feedforward microphone signal based at least in part on the ambient noise signal. The feedback microphone is configured to sense a total audio signal and transmit a feedback microphone signal based at least in part on the total audio signal, in which the total audio signal is the sum of the audio playback signal and at least a portion of the ambient noise level. The OED processor is configured to determine whether the headphone is off ear or on ear, based at least in part on the headphone audio signal, the feedforward microphone signal, and the feedback microphone signal.

公开(公告)号：US10448140B2

公开(公告)日：2019-10-15

申请号：US16174067

申请日：2018-10-29

Applicant: Avnera Corporation

Inventor： Amit Kumar ,  Shankar Rathoud ,  Mike Wurtz ,  Eric Etheridge ,  Eric Sorensen

IPC: H04R1/10 ,  H04R3/00 ,  H04R29/00 ,  G10K11/178

Abstract: Disclosed is a signal processor for headphone off-ear detection. The signal processor includes an audio output to transmit an audio signal toward a headphone speaker in a headphone cup. The signal processor also includes a feedback (FB) microphone input to receive a FB signal from a FB microphone in the headphone cup. The signal processor also includes an off-ear detection (OED) signal processor to determine an audio frequency response of the FB signal over an OED frame as a received frequency response. The OED processor also determines an audio frequency response of the audio signal times an off-ear transfer function between the headphone speaker and the FB microphone as an ideal off-ear response. A difference metric si generated comparing the received frequency response to the ideal off-ear frequency response. The difference metric is employed to detect when the headphone cup is disengaged from an ear.

公开(公告)号：US20190019491A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-17

申请号：US16101192

申请日：2018-08-10

Applicant: Avnera Corporation

Inventor： Amit Kumar ,  Thomas Irrgang ,  Shankar Rathoud ,  Eric Sorensen

IPC: G10K11/178 ,  H04R29/00 ,  H04R1/10

CPC classification number: G10K11/178 ,  G10K11/17813 ,  G10K11/17881 ,  G10K2210/1081 ,  G10K2210/3025 ,  G10K2210/3026 ,  G10K2210/3027 ,  G10K2210/3045 ,  G10K2210/3055 ,  G10K2210/3056 ,  G10K2210/3214 ,  G10K2210/504 ,  H04R1/1083 ,  H04R29/00 ,  H04R2460/01

Abstract: A fixture for calibrating an active noise canceling (ANC) earphone, the calibration fixture including an ear model and an acoustic path. The ear model is configured to support an ANC earphone and includes an ear canal extending from an outer end of the ear canal to an inner end of the ear canal. The acoustic path is external to the ear canal and extends from, at a first end of the acoustic path, the inner end of the ear canal of the ear model to an opposite, second end of the acoustic path. The acoustic path is configured to transmit a mechanical sound wave received from the inner end of the ear canal to a region external to the ear model and adjacent the outer end of the ear canal.

公开(公告)号：US20180270564A1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-20

申请号：US15984068

申请日：2018-05-18

Applicant: Avnera Corporation

Inventor： Amit Kumar ,  Shankar Rathoud ,  Mike Wurtz ,  Eric Etheridge ,  Eric Sorensen

IPC: H04R1/10 ,  H04R3/00 ,  H04R29/00 ,  G10K11/178

CPC classification number: H04R1/1041 ,  G10K11/178 ,  G10K2210/1081 ,  G10K2210/3026 ,  G10K2210/3027 ,  H04R1/1008 ,  H04R3/00 ,  H04R29/001 ,  H04R2460/01

Abstract: Disclosed is a signal processor for headphone off-ear detection. The signal processor includes an audio output to transmit an audio signal toward a headphone speaker in a headphone cup. The signal processor also includes a feedback (FB) microphone input to receive a FB signal from a FB microphone in the headphone cup. The signal processor also includes an off-ear detection (OED) signal processor to determine an audio frequency response of the FB signal over an OED frame as a received frequency response. The OED processor also determines an audio frequency response of the audio signal times an off-ear transfer function between the headphone speaker and the FB microphone as an ideal off-ear response. A difference metric si generated comparing the received frequency response to the ideal off-ear frequency response. The difference metric is employed to detect when the headphone cup is disengaged from an ear.

公开(公告)号：US10564925B2

公开(公告)日：2020-02-18

申请号：US15711793

申请日：2017-09-21

Applicant: Avnera Corporation

Inventor： Jiajin An ,  Michael Jon Wurtz ,  David Wurtz ,  Manpreet Khaira ,  Amit Kumar ,  Shawn O'Connor ,  Shankar Rathoud ,  James Scanlan ,  Eric Sorensen

IPC: G10L25/00 ,  G06F3/16 ,  G10L25/84 ,  H04R1/10 ,  H04R3/00 ,  G10L15/08 ,  G10L15/22 ,  H04R1/40

Abstract: Many headsets include automatic noise cancellation (ANC) which dramatically reduces perceived background noise and improves user listening experience. Unfortunately, the voice microphones in these devices often capture ambient noise that the headsets output during phone calls or other communication sessions to other users. In response, many headsets and communication devices provide manual muting circuitry, but users frequently forget to turn the muting on and/or off, creating further problems as they communicate. To address this, the present inventors devised, among other things, an exemplary headset that detects the absence or presence of user speech, automatically muting and unmuting the voice microphone without user intervention. Some embodiments leverage relationships between feedback and feedforward signals in ANC circuitry to detect user speech, avoiding the addition of extra hardware to the headset. Other embodiments also leverage the speech detection function to activate and deactivate keyword detectors, and/or sidetone circuits, thus extending battery.

公开(公告)号：US20190174218A1

公开(公告)日：2019-06-06

申请号：US16174067

申请日：2018-10-29

Applicant: Avnera Corporation

Inventor： Amit Kumar ,  Shankar Rathoud ,  Mike Wurtz ,  Eric Etheridge ,  Eric Sorensen

IPC: H04R1/10 ,  H04R3/00 ,  H04R29/00 ,  G10K11/178

CPC classification number: H04R1/1041 ,  G10K11/178 ,  G10K2210/1081 ,  G10K2210/3026 ,  G10K2210/3027 ,  H04R1/1008 ,  H04R3/00 ,  H04R29/001 ,  H04R2460/01

Abstract: Disclosed is a signal processor for headphone off-ear detection. The signal processor includes an audio output to transmit an audio signal toward a headphone speaker in a headphone cup. The signal processor also includes a feedback (FB) microphone input to receive a FB signal from a FB microphone in the headphone cup. The signal processor also includes an off-ear detection (OED) signal processor to determine an audio frequency response of the FB signal over an OED frame as a received frequency response. The OED processor also determines an audio frequency response of the audio signal times an off-ear transfer function between the headphone speaker and the FB microphone as an ideal off-ear response. A difference metric si generated comparing the received frequency response to the ideal off-ear frequency response. The difference metric is employed to detect when the headphone cup is disengaged from an ear.

公开(公告)号：US20180225082A1

公开(公告)日：2018-08-09

申请号：US15711793

申请日：2017-09-21

Applicant: Avnera Corporation

Inventor： Jiajin An ,  MIchael Jon Wurtz ,  David Wurtz ,  Manpreet Khaira ,  Amit Kumar ,  Shawn O'Connor ,  Shankar Rathoud ,  James Scanlan ,  Eric Sorensen

IPC: G06F3/16 ,  G10L25/84 ,  H04R1/10 ,  H04R1/40 ,  H04R3/00 ,  G10L15/08 ,  G10L15/22

Abstract: Many headsets include automatic noise cancellation (ANC) which dramatically reduces perceived background noise and improves user listening experience. Unfortunately, the voice microphones in these devices often capture ambient noise that the headsets output during phone calls or other communication sessions to other users. In response, many headsets and communication devices provide manual muting circuitry, but users frequently forget to turn the muting on and/or off, creating further problems as they communicate. To address this, the present inventors devised, among other things, an exemplary headset that detects the absence or presence of user speech, automatically muting and unmuting the voice microphone without user intervention. Some embodiments leverage relationships between feedback and feedforward signals in ANC circuitry to detect user speech, avoiding the addition of extra hardware to the headset. Other embodiments also leverage the speech detection function to activate and deactivate keyword detectors, and/or sidetone circuits, thus extending battery.

公开(公告)号：US11614916B2

公开(公告)日：2023-03-28

申请号：US16730134

申请日：2019-12-30

Applicant: AVNERA CORPORATION

Inventor： Jiajin An ,  Michael Jon Wurtz ,  David Wurtz ,  Manpreet Khaira ,  Amit Kumar ,  Shawn O'Connor ,  Shankar Rathoud ,  James Scanlan ,  Eric Sorensen

IPC: G10L25/00 ,  G06F3/16 ,  G10L25/84 ,  H04R1/10 ,  H04R3/00 ,  G10L15/08 ,  G10L15/22 ,  H04R1/40 ,  G10K11/178 ,  H04R5/033 ,  G06F1/3206 ,  G06F1/3287

Abstract: Many headsets include automatic noise cancellation (ANC) which dramatically reduces perceived background noise and improves user listening experience. Unfortunately, the voice microphones in these devices often capture ambient noise that the headsets output during phone calls or other communication sessions to other users. In response, many headsets and communication devices provide manual muting circuitry, but users frequently forget to turn the muting on and/or off creating further problems as they communicate. To address this, the present inventors devised, among other things, an exemplary headset that detects the absence or presence of user speech, automatically muting and unmuting the voice microphone without user intervention. Some embodiments leverage relationships between feedback and feedforward signals in ANC circuitry to detect user speech, avoiding the addition of extra hardware to the headset. Other embodiments also leverage the speech detection function to activate and deactivate keyword detectors, and/or sidetone circuits, thus extending battery.

公开(公告)号：US11006201B2

公开(公告)日：2021-05-11

申请号：US16588108

申请日：2019-09-30

Applicant: Avnera Corporation

Inventor： Amit Kumar ,  Shankar Rathoud ,  Michael Jon Wurtz ,  Eric Etheridge ,  Eric Sorensen

IPC: H04R1/10 ,  H04R29/00 ,  G10K11/178 ,  H04R3/00

Abstract: Disclosed is a signal processor for headphone off-ear detection. The signal processor includes an audio output to transmit an audio signal toward a headphone speaker in a headphone cup. The signal processor also includes a feedback (FB) microphone input to receive a FB signal from a FB microphone in the headphone cup. The signal processor also includes an off-ear detection (OED) signal processor to determine an audio frequency response of the FB signal over an OED frame as a received frequency response. The OED processor also determines an audio frequency response of the audio signal times an off-ear transfer function between the headphone speaker and the FB microphone as an ideal off-ear response. A difference metric si generated comparing the received frequency response to the ideal off-ear frequency response. The difference metric is employed to detect when the headphone cup is disengaged from an ear.