Control and protection of loudspeakers

A method for protecting a loudspeaker, the method comprising:

• receiving an input signal including an audio stream;
• estimating one or more loudspeaker states from the audio stream;
• determining which estimated loudspeaker states best represent an actual loudspeaker state;
• and
• modifying the audio stream based upon the determined best estimated loudspeaker state.

An active loudspeaker comprising:

• a movable membrane configured for production of an audible sound wave;
• an enclosure with one or more walls coupled to the movable membrane so as to form a cavity within the enclosure;
• one or more sensors coupled to the movable membrane configured to measure one or more states associated with a movement of the membrane to produce a sensory feedback signal;
• and
• a microcircuit electrically coupled to the sensor and the movable membrane, coupled to and/or embedded within one of the walls of the enclosure, and configured to receive the sensory feedback signal and to drive the movement of the membrane.

A nonlinear control system for producing a rendered audio stream from one or more input signals, the nonlinear control system comprising:

• a controller configured to accept one or more of the input signals and one or more estimated states, and to generate one or more control signals therefrom;
• a model configured to accept one or more of the control signals and generate one or more estimated states therefrom;
• and
• an audio system comprising at least one transducer and configured to accept one more of the control signals,
• wherein the audio system is configured to drive the transducer with the control signals or a signal generated therefrom, and to produce the rendered audio stream.