R&D Stories: The Evolution of True Wireless Stereo

Adding a valuable perspective to the topic of True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds and hearables development, Jean-Marc Luneau (7 Sensing Software) details meaningful new features and improvements for brands to differentiate their products and make them stand out in today’s crowded market. This article was originally published in audioXpress April 2021.

According to a newly published series of reports from the Device Technologies (EDT) team at market research firm Strategy Analytics, total global Bluetooth headset sales have reached volumes over 300 million units in 2020. As a category, True Wireless Stereo (TWS) Bluetooth headset sales witnessed growth of nearly 90% in 2020. This level of growth originates from a large number of Chinese vendors challenging Apple's significant lead.

CEVA announced that its RivieraWaves Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) 5.2 Platform has achieved Bluetooth SIG Qualification. As the first IP company to receive Bluetooth LE 5.2 qualification, CEVA enables its licensees to reduce their product development risk and so benefit with expedited time-to-market and end-product qualification process. Since September 2020, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) started qualifying products using the new LE Audio Specification, announced in January 2020.

Synopsys announced that DSP Group selected Synopsys DesignWare ARC EM5D Processor IP for its high-efficiency control and signal processing capabilities to enable development of its DBMC2-TWS advanced adaptive processing audio codec for true wireless stereo (TWS) headsets. To dynamically configure settings and filter parameters on-the-fly, the DBMC2-TWS integrates an ARC EM5D processor, abundant internal memory and numerous digital interfaces.

DSP Group, Inc., a leading global provider of wireless chipset solutions for converged communications, has announced the acquisition of privately owned SoundChip SA, a leading supplier of active noise cancellation (ANC) technology, engineering services, design tools, and production-line test systems for headsets. The acquisition combines SoundChip’s proven capabilities in hybrid ANC with DSP Group’s SmartVoice advanced low-power voice processing platform, algorithms, and mixed-signal expertise to streamline the delivery of cutting-edge wireless and true wireless stereo (TWS) headsets, from concept through to manufacturing. DSP Group’s technologies have recently been adopted by Google, Panasonic, and Technics in their latest TWS headset models.

Wireless headsets and earbuds, those lightweight, untethered truly wireless devices to listen to your playlist or a conference call, are a fast-growing consumer trend for good reason. Who enjoys untangling the cable they stuffed in their pocket or having wires dangling around their head? Wireless delivers – no cables, no tangles and no tumbling earphones (although claims that a cord connecting the earbuds still counts as “wireless” clearly came as a surprise to many consumers).

Knowles Corporation announced that it has developed with Baidu and Bestechnic (BES) a new hands-free reference design for headphones, headsets and true wireless earbuds that works with smart devices powered by DuerOS, Baidu’s conversational AI system. The Knowles IA610 SmartMic supports the industry’s lowest-power, always-on voice wake capability to enable Baidu voice service on-the-go for ear worn consumer products.

SoundChip SA, a Swiss-based global leader in hearable sound technology, announced the introduction of its Waypoints platform, which combines proven methods, tools and expertise to help manufacturers scale the delivery of effective noise cancelling into more products within their headset portfolio than ever before. The new platform supports third-party NC chips in addition to SoundChip's own HD-PA devices.

One of the leading names in NFMI is FreeLinc Technologies, a research and development company focused on the adoption of this technology as a new wireless standard in the Public Safety, Military, Healthcare, and Consumer markets. For its January 2017 issue, audioXpress invited Dr. Michael Abrams, Freelinc’s Chief Executive Officer, to share his valuable perspective about the role of NFMI in wireless audio applications.