STMicroelectronics Announces All-in-One Motion and Bone-Conduction Sensor for Hearables

STMicroelectronics has announced the LSM6DSV16BX, a unique highly integrated sensor that delivers important space savings inside hearable devices or general-purpose TWS earbuds, including for sports. The new device delivers longer listening experiences and superior hearing by combining a 6-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) for head tracking and activity detection with an audio accelerometer for detecting voice through bone conduction in a frequency range that exceeds 1KHz.

Predicting what trends we’ll see in hearables in 2023 seems like a fool’s errand. With the release of the OTC hearing aid rule in the United States, these are predicated on devices that can be comfortably worn for long stretches of the day in a form factor that people are willing to wear in social settings. Without that foundation, these interesting and useful applications will not achieve mass-adoption. Anticipating CES 2023, Andrew Bellavia looks for the Next Big Thing in Hearables and the Multiple Sides of Comfort.

With most consumer audio companies looking for the best way to address the over-the-counter hearing aid market, Sennheiser Hearing, the consumer division of Sonova, introduced the new Sennheiser Conversation Clear Plus at CES 2023. Leveraging the know-how of a leading audiology company, the new Sennheiser consumer-friendly design is presented as a speech enhancement solution, and allowing conversations in noisy environments.

7 Sensing Software, a company working in advanced embedded audio DSP and machine learning solutions, announced that it has entered into a collaboration with Analog Devices, Inc. The two companies are working together to incorporate 7 Sensing’s state-of-the-art audio solutions for wireless earbuds and headsets embedded into Analog Devices’ recently expanded family of low power codecs. 7 Sensing's Pure Voice solution and Hearing Augmentation suite will expand Analog Device's hardware platform with a valuable, differentiated feature set for manufacturers and brands.

Making Audio Augmentation useful for everyone, or pursue the regulatory requirements of OTC hearing aids. This article offers a useful perspective regarding the guidance documents published by the US Food and Drug Administration regarding improved access to hearing aid technology. The agency proposes a rule to establish a new category of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids - to be sold directly to consumers in stores or online without a medical exam or a fitting by an audiologist. But most audio manufacturers are better off by not pursuing this FDA-approved OTC market. Doing so will simply hinder critical experimentation and innovation.

There’s a lot happening in the true wireless stereo (TWS) category and this market update article intends to provide a quick overview of the state-of the-art technologies and platforms in the space, as well as some reference approaches in product design. This audioXpress Market Update addresses what is happening in this vibrant product category in 2021.

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.

7 Sensing Software, an embedded software development company active in audio processing and machine learning targeting wearable and hearable applications, announced that it joined the Qualcomm Extension Program. With this confirmation, 7 Sensing Software is now able to offer its Hearing Augmentation and Pure Voice solutions for wireless earbuds and headsets running on the ultra low power, premium-tier Qualcomm QCC5100 Bluetooth SoC family.

At CES 2020, Nuheara announced its most advanced true wireless hearing buds, the IQbuds2 MAX. Building upon its successful IQBuds truly wireless platform launched in 2017, and leveraging Nuheara’s latest smart-hearing platform, the IQbuds2 MAX combine hybrid Active Noise Cancellation and unique features for personalizing and enhancing the wearer’s soundscape. The IQbuds2 MAX hearing buds are now available for pre-order and are planned to ship in March 2020 for USD $399.