Earbud demo kit delivers selective noise cancellation for augmented hearing

By Gina Roos, editor-in-chief

ams introduced its new Earbud Innovation Demo kit at CES 2020 that delivers selective noise cancellation to loose-fit true wireless earbuds for augmented hearing. The ready-to-use reference design, leveraging the company’s AS3460 digital audio processor , shows how loose-fit true wireless earbuds can achieve selective noise cancellation while supporting features such as proximity sensing for automatic power saving and usability enhancements.

The company’s unique Adaptive Leakage Compensation technology used in the AS3460 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. ams claims that the AS3460 is the first audio chip to provide up to 40 dB of noise attenuation in the loose-fit type of wireless earbud over a broad range of audible frequencies, resulting in a quiet acoustic background in almost any environment.

“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,” said ams.

The company also noted that the Digital Augmented Hearing engine used in the AS3460 also provides a platform for new functions to use wireless earbuds in applications such as personal health monitoring, selective sound awareness, and treatment for tinnitus.

The demo kit pairs the AS3460 with TMD2635 nano-proximity optical sensor modules, which provide automatic in-ear detection for power savings when the earbuds aren’t 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, said ams. It also incorporates the AS3460’s Automatic Preset Selection technology, which detects different acoustic environments such as the interior of a car, an airplane cabin, or a crowded room and automatically applies an optimized noise filter.

The company expects in the future that 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 web shop. The AS3460 Digital Augmented Hearing companion chip is available in production volumes.