720011Incus Laboratories ANC EarphonesClosedGRD Development of PrototypeInnovate UKWe propose to revolutionise the way consumers interact with their mobile devices by developing highly effective ambient noise-cancelling (ANC) earphones that could be massproduced in high volumes at very low cost, and consequently supplied “bundled” with mobile phones and music players. Environments for travellers are seldom quiet, with very high levels of ambient noise present on subway trains etc. The cheap earphones “bundled” with most mobile devices do not work well; they fit loosely, allowing ambient noise from the outside world to leak in to the ear, and also allow audio from the earphones to leak outwards and disturb others. ANC earphones solve these problems; music is readily audible, communications are intelligible. The user is not required to increase the listening volume to an excessively high level in order to overcome background noise. This can cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), an area of increasing concern which has resulted in new 2011 European Union safety standards for mobile devices. The barrier to manufacturing low-cost ANC earphones is a time-consuming manualcalibration stage. Incus has invented an “electro-acoustic module” technology that provides rapid electronic calibration, enabling low unit-cost high-volume manufacture. Several patents have been filed. Two product families are planned: an “Aftermarket” ANC earphone, for use with any existing mobile device, and a “Bundled” product, supplied with a new mobile device and also powered from it, thus being more compact, lightweight and battery-free. Incus earphones are “noncanal- blocking”, and hence comfortable and safe, because they do not interfere with the user’s normal spatial hearing.