CES2020丨ams Semiconductor launches a new trend of semi-in-ear true wireless earbuds with noise reduction!

China, January 8, 2020, ams AG (Swiss Stock Exchange: AMS) , a leading global supplier of high-performance sensor solutions , showcased its new earbud innovation demonstration kit during CES 2020 to demonstrate the future of personal audio devices.

This turnkey reference design demonstrates how selective noise cancellation can be implemented in semi-inserted true wireless earbuds to enhance hearing . The reference design also supports features such as proximity sensing for automatic power saving and enhanced usability. Based on the AS3460 digital audio processor with automatic leakage compensation (ALC) from ams, the reference design dynamically adjusts frequency coverage and noise attenuation depth, bypassing the silicone tip of the earbud and eliminating extraneous noise directly in the ear.

This means that semi-in-ear true wireless earbuds can maintain wearing comfort while having the same noise reduction performance as in-ear earbuds - the latter fits closely to the contours of the ear and isolates ambient noise through a physical barrier.

The AS3460 is based on a digital hearing enhancement engine that also provides a platform for a variety of new features, including personal health monitoring, selective sound perception, and treatment of tinnitus symptoms, making earplugs one of the indispensable electronic devices in consumers' lives.

ams Semiconductor is a pioneer in the field of earbud noise reduction. In 2019, it launched the AS3460 digital hearing enhancement companion chip , which for the first time enabled semi-in-ear true wireless earbuds to have high-quality noise reduction performance.

The convenience of completely wireless listening has led more and more consumers to adopt true wireless earbuds, and analysts predict that the category will grow 39% annually through 2023. By 2022, shipments of true wireless earbuds are expected to exceed all other types of earbuds combined.

AS3460 is the first audio chip that can achieve up to 40dB noise reduction in semi-inserted true wireless earbuds over a wide audio range, providing a quiet sound background in almost any environment. This means users can answer calls and listen to music at a lower volume, which helps protect their long-term hearing health.

In the earbud innovation demo kit, the ams AS3460 also offers an Automatic Preset Selection (APS) feature that detects different sound environments (e.g. vehicle interior, aircraft cabin, crowded indoors, etc.) and automatically matches the optimal noise filter without user intervention – without compromising the safety or comfort of the earbuds as the user moves from one place to another.

The Digital Hearing Enhancement Engine also supports special audio features such as:

• Tinnitus treatment – ​​eliminating the frequencies associated with the patient’s symptoms;

• Speech enhancement – ​​to improve the user’s ability to hear conversations when normal hearing is impaired;

• Selective Noise Cancellation – Automatically blocks out essential external noise, such as alerting users that an ambulance is approaching as they cross the street.

In the earbud innovation demonstration kit, the AS3460 is paired with the TMD2635 digital proximity optical sensor module to provide automatic in-ear detection. This feature helps save power when the earbuds are not in use. The digital proximity sensor can also be used to implement gesture control of the earbuds, for example, to adjust the volume with a swipe gesture.

In the future, embedded digital optical sensors in the earbuds could also be used to monitor vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and vagal tone.

This innovative demonstration kit for true wireless earbuds from ams comes in an extremely small package and can be purchased from the ams online shop.

AS3460 digital hearing enhancement companion chip is now in mass production. For sample application and other technical information, please click to read the original text , or reply to the backstage " AS3460" .