ams (SIX: AMS), a leading worldwide supplier of high performance sensor
solutions, is today demonstrating the future of personal audio at the
CES exhibition (7-10 January 2020, Las Vegas, NV) with its new Earbud
Innovation Demo Kit.
The ready-to-use reference design shows how loose-fit true wireless
earbuds can achieve selective noise cancellation for augmented hearing,
while supporting features such as proximity sensing for automatic power
saving and usability enhancements. Unique ams Adaptive Leakage
Compensation technology in the AS3460 – the digital audio processor at
the heart of the reference design – dynamically adjusts the frequency
coverage and depth of noise attenuation to cancel out noise which enters
the ear directly, bypassing the earbud’s silicone tip.
This means that users who find loose-fit earbuds more comfortable to
wear for long periods can enjoy the same noise cancellation performance
as that of closed-fit earbuds, which plug the ear tightly to provide a
physical barrier to ambient noise.
The Digital Augmented Hearing engine on which the AS3460 is based also
provides a platform for new functions which make the earbud a core
component of digital consumers’ lives, including personal health
monitoring, selective sound awareness, and treatment for the symptoms of
tinnitus.
The new innovation kit is on display at ams’ booth at Venetian Tower,
Suite 236 / 30th floor at CES.
Chris Feige, Executive Vice President for Ear Solutions at ams, says:
“Studies of consumer attitudes confirm that true wireless earbud users
strongly prefer the loose-fit type because it is more comfortable to
wear. The closed-fit earbud is a compromised design, sacrificing the
user’s comfort in order to gain some passive noise attenuation and
compensate for the weakness of conventional noise cancellation systems
in loose-fit earbuds. With the AS3460’s Adaptive Leakage Compensation
technology, ams has solved the leakage problem and is uniquely able to
provide a closed-fit standard of noise-cancellation performance in the
comfortable loose-fit form factor.”
ams, a pioneer in the growing wireless, noise cancellation earbud
market
ams, a pioneer in noise cancellation in earbuds, introduced the AS3460
Digital Augmented Hearing companion chip in 2019 to bring
high-performance noise cancellation for the first time to loose-fit
wireless earbuds.
The convenience of completely wire-free listening has led consumers to
adopt true wireless earbuds in increasing numbers. Analyst forecasts
predict annual growth of 39% for this category in the years to 2023.
Shipments of wireless earbud units are expected to be higher than the
numbers of all other types of earphones and headphones put together by
2022.
The AS3460 is the first audio chip to provide up to 40dB of noise
attenuation in the loose-fit type of wireless earbud over a broad range
of audible frequencies, providing a quiet acoustic background in almost
any environment. This means the user can take calls and listen to music
at lower volume, which helps protect their long-term hearing health.
In the Earbud Innovation Demo Kit, ams also provides the AS3460’s
Automatic Preset Selection technology, which detects different acoustic
environments such as the interior of a car, an air plane cabin, or a
crowded room, and automatically applies an optimized noise filter
without the user having to do anything – and without compromising safety
or comfort as the user moves from one place to another.
Platform for earbud innovation
The Digital Augmented Hearing Engine also supports special audio
functions such as:
-
tinnitus treatment, cancelling out the frequencies associated with the
patient’s symptoms -
speech enhancement, to improve the user’s ability to listen to
conversation when normal hearing is compromised -
selective noise cancellation, automatically passing through essential
external noises such as an ambulance approaching when a user is
crossing the road
In the Earbud Innovation Demo Kit, the AS3460 is paired with TMD2635
nano-proximity optical sensor modules, which provide automatic in-ear
detection. This enables power saving when the earbuds are not in use.
Nano-proximity sensors can also be used to enable gesture control of the
earbud’s operation, for instance using a swipe gesture to raise or lower
the volume.
In future, optical sensors embedded in an earbud will also be able to
monitor vital physical signs such as heart rate, blood pressure and
vagal tone.
The Earbud Innovation Demo Kit is supplied in a small, earbud-sized form
factor. It is available to buy at the ams webshop.
The AS3460 Digital Augmented Hearing companion chip is available today
in production volumes. For sample requests or more technical
information, go to https://ams.com/as3460.
PR online: https://ams.com/press-releases
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