Reducing occlusion effect in wearable audio devices

1 . A noise reduction system, comprising:

a feedforward sensor arranged to detect body conducted vibrations and configured to generate a feedforward signal based on the detected vibrations;

an audio controller communicatively coupled to the feedforward sensor, wherein the audio controller is configured to generate an audio output signal based on the feedforward signal and a command signal; and

an acoustic driver configured to render audio based on the audio output signal,

wherein the feedforward sensor is arranged within a nozzle of a wearable audio device, wherein the feedforward sensor comprises a measurement axis perpendicular to vibrations generated by the acoustic driver to render the audio such that the feedforward sensor is oriented to avoid sensing the vibrations from the acoustic driver.

2 . The noise reduction system of claim 1 , wherein the body conducted vibrations correspond to vibrations of a wall of an ear canal.

3 . The noise reduction system of claim 1 , wherein the body conducted vibrations are captured outside of an ear canal, and wherein the body conducted vibrations are indicative of vibrations of a wall of the ear canal.

4 . The noise reduction system of claim 1 , further comprising a feedback sensor arranged to capture sound within an ear canal of a user and configured to generate a feedback signal based on the captured sound, wherein the audio output signal is generated further based on the feedback signal.

5 . The noise reduction system of claim 4 , wherein the audio controller is further configured to:

generate, via a feedback controller, a feedback cancellation signal based on the feedback signal and the command signal;

generate, via a feedforward controller, a feedforward cancellation signal based on the feedforward signal; and

generate the audio output signal based on the feedback cancellation signal and the feedforward cancellation signal.

6 . The noise reduction system of claim 4 , wherein the feedback sensor is a microphone.

7 . The noise reduction system of claim 1 , wherein the feedforward sensor is a voice-band accelerometer configured to capture vibrations at frequencies from 85 to 255 Hz.

8 . The noise reduction system of claim 1 , wherein the command signal comprises audio data.

9 . The noise reduction system of claim 1 , further comprising an external feedforward sensor arranged to capture external sound.

10 . The noise reduction system of claim 9 , wherein the external feedforward sensor is configured to generate an external feedforward signal based on the external sound, and wherein the audio output signal is generated further based on the external feedforward signal.

11 . A wearable audio device, comprising:

a feedforward sensor arranged to detect body conducted vibrations and configured to generate a feedforward signal based on the detected vibrations;

an audio controller communicatively coupled to the feedforward sensor, wherein the audio controller is configured to generate an audio output signal based on the feedforward signal and a command signal; and

an acoustic driver configured to render audio based on the audio output signal,

wherein the feedforward sensor is arranged within a nozzle of a wearable audio device, wherein the feedforward sensor comprises a measurement axis perpendicular to vibrations generated by the acoustic driver to render the audio such that the feedforward sensor is oriented to avoid sensing the vibrations from the acoustic driver.

12 . The wearable audio device of claim 11 , further comprising a feedback sensor arranged to capture sound within an ear canal of a user and configured to generate a feedback signal based on the captured sound, wherein the audio output signal is generated further based on the feedback signal.

13 . The wearable audio device of claim 12 , wherein the audio controller is further configured to:

generate, via a feedback controller, a feedback cancellation signal based on the feedback signal and the command signal;

generate, via a feedforward controller, a feedforward cancellation signal based on the feedforward signal; and

generate the audio output signal based on the feedback cancellation signal and the feedforward cancellation signal.

14 . The wearable audio device of claim 12 , wherein the feedforward sensor is embedded within an exterior surface of the nozzle.

15 . The wearable audio device of claim 14 , further comprising an ear tip configured to be coupled to the nozzle and to be inserted into the ear canal of the user.

16 . The wearable audio device of claim 15 , wherein the ear tip is further configured to occlude the ear canal of the user when inserted into the ear canal.

17 . The wearable audio device of claim 11 , wherein the feedforward sensor is a voice-band accelerometer configured to capture vibrations at frequencies from 85 to 255 Hz.

18 . A method for reducing noise, comprising:

generating, via a feedforward sensor arranged to detect body conducted vibrations, a feedforward signal based on the detected vibrations;

generating, via an audio controller communicatively coupled to the feedforward sensor, an audio output signal based on the feedforward signal and a command signal; and

rendering, via an acoustic driver, audio based on the audio output signal,

wherein the feedforward sensor is arranged within a nozzle of a wearable audio device, wherein the feedforward sensor comprises a measurement axis perpendicular to vibrations generated by the acoustic driver to render the audio such that the feedforward sensor is oriented to avoid sensing the vibrations from the acoustic driver.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the feedforward sensor is a voice-band accelerometer configured to capture vibrations at frequencies from 85 to 255 Hz.

20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

generating, via a feedback sensor arranged to capture sound within an ear canal of a user, a feedback signal based on the captured sound;

generating, via a feedback controller, a feedback cancellation signal based on the feedback signal and the command signal;

generating, via a feedforward controller, a feedforward cancellation signal based on the feedforward signal; and

generating the audio output signal further based on the feedback cancellation signal and the feedforward cancellation signal.