Method and system for testing suitability of in-ear hearing protector

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of equipment inspection, and discloses an in-ear hearing protector suitability inspection method and system, and the method comprises the steps: debugging suitability inspection equipment, and setting various parameters required for testing; after the testee wears the test earmuffs, the sound calibrator is used for carrying out sound calibration on the left microphone and the right microphone; under the state that the hearing protector is not worn, sequentially outputting test signals based on a preset mode and a preset frequency, dynamically adjusting the signal intensity according to the subjective response of a tester, recording each sound pressure level, and calculating a naked ear hearing threshold; the testee correctly wears the to-be-tested hearing protector, the hearing threshold testing process is repeated, the sound pressure level is recorded, and the ear blockage hearing threshold is calculated; comparing the naked ear hearing threshold with the blocked ear hearing threshold, judging whether protection is qualified or not according to a preset standard, automatically generating an evaluation report containing all test data and conclusions, and realizing on-site rapid and accurate evaluation of the personal sound attenuation value of the hearing protector through non-intrusive subjective hearing threshold comparison.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of equipment testing technology, and more specifically, to a method and system for testing the suitability of in-ear hearing protectors. Background Technology

[0002] With the acceleration of industrial modernization, occupational noise exposure has become a significant health hazard for workers. Prolonged exposure to high-intensity noise can lead to irreversible noise-induced hearing loss. To effectively prevent such occupational damage, personal hearing protection equipment, especially in-ear hearing protectors (such as earplugs), is widely used in workplaces. However, there is often a significant difference between the nominal sound attenuation performance of hearing protectors in the laboratory and the actual protective effect they provide to an individual under actual wear. This difference mainly stems from individual differences in the wearer's ear canal anatomy, the correctness of the wearing method, and the fit between the hearing protector and the ear canal. Therefore, suitability testing of hearing protectors—that is, assessing their actual sound attenuation value within the ear canal of a specific user—is crucial for ensuring effective protection and achieving accurate hearing risk management.

[0003] Currently, the mainstream methods for evaluating the sound attenuation performance of hearing protectors can be divided into objective measurement methods and standard-based subjective hearing threshold testing methods. Traditional objective measurement methods mainly employ the real-ear in-ear microphone method. This method requires drilling a hole in the hearing protector under test and inserting a thin, soft catheter. One end of the catheter is placed inside the wearer's ear canal, and the other end is connected to an external measuring microphone. By simultaneously acquiring the signal inside the ear canal and the external reference ambient noise, the sound pressure level difference between the two is calculated to obtain the individual sound attenuation value. However, this method has significant limitations: First, drilling the hearing protector is a destructive operation, which may affect its structure and performance and is not suitable for all types (especially pre-molded and specially made earplugs); second, the operation is cumbersome, requires high operator skills, and factors such as catheter placement, depth, and sealing can introduce significant measurement uncertainties; finally, this method is difficult to implement conveniently and quickly in the workplace. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a method and system for testing the suitability of in-ear hearing protectors. It overcomes the technical bottlenecks of traditional methods for measuring individual hearing attenuation values, which are difficult to implement in the workplace, involve invasive procedures, and rely on complex laboratory environments. By providing a portable, non-invasive subjective hearing threshold comparison testing scheme, it achieves rapid and accurate assessment of the suitability of in-ear hearing protectors. Through integrated equipment, adaptive hearing threshold measurement algorithms, and intelligent data processing workflows, this technology allows for the completion of the entire testing process—from automatic calibration and hearing threshold testing to attenuation value calculation and report generation—in the workplace without damaging the hearing protector structure or relying on a professional acoustic laboratory. This significantly improves the on-site applicability, reliability, and ease of operation of the measurement, providing effective technical support for personalized hearing protection.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a method for testing the suitability of an in-ear hearing protector, comprising: The fitness testing equipment is debugged and the parameters required for the test are set. The fitness testing equipment includes: a laptop computer, a mouse or transponder, an ear-mounted device with a built-in microphone, and a sound calibrator. After the test subject puts on the test earmuffs, the left and right microphones fixed inside the earmuffs are acoustically calibrated using a sound calibrator. Without hearing protection being worn, test signals are output sequentially based on preset modes and frequencies. The signal intensity is dynamically adjusted according to the test subject's subjective response, and the sound pressure level is recorded at each test. And calculate the uncorrected hearing threshold; The test subject correctly wears the hearing protection device being tested, repeats the above hearing threshold test procedure, and records the sound pressure level. And calculate the hearing threshold for occlusion; The system compares the uncorrected hearing threshold with the occluded hearing threshold, determines whether the protection is adequate based on preset standards, and automatically generates an evaluation report containing all test data and conclusions.

[0006] Furthermore, an acoustic calibration device is used to acoustically calibrate the left and right microphones fixed inside the earcups, specifically including: After the tester wears the earmuffs, the sound-emitting end of the sound calibrator is sealed with the outer surface of the earmuffs to form a sound coupling. The sound calibrator is configured to generate a standard sound signal with a frequency of 1000 Hz. The system synchronously acquires the signal strength received by the left and right microphones, compares it with the standard value, and automatically calculates and stores the sensitivity correction coefficient for each channel. If the ambient noise exceeds the preset threshold or the calibration deviation exceeds the allowable range, a recalibration prompt will be displayed or the test will be unable to continue.

[0007] Furthermore, the sensitivity correction coefficients for each channel are automatically calculated and stored, specifically including: The actual sound pressure measurement values ​​collected by the left and right microphones are compared with the standard sound pressure reference values ​​output by the sound calibrator. Calculate the ratio between the measured value and the reference value for each microphone channel. This ratio reflects the deviation of the actual sensitivity of the microphone in the current coupling state from the standard sensitivity. Generate a corresponding digital correction coefficient based on the ratio and store the coefficient in memory in association with the microphone channel identifier and calibration timestamp. During subsequent hearing threshold tests at all frequencies, the stored correction coefficients are called in real time to dynamically compensate the original sound pressure level readings collected from the corresponding channels, so as to achieve metrological consistency of signal acquisition across the entire frequency band.

[0008] Furthermore, test signals are output sequentially based on preset modes and preset frequencies. The signal intensity is dynamically adjusted according to the tester's subjective response, and the sound pressure level is recorded at each test. And calculate the uncorrected hearing threshold, specifically including: Based on the set mono-ear or binaural test mode, the test signal is played sequentially from low frequency to high frequency according to the preset or standard set frequency sequence. For each test frequency, an adaptive hearing threshold measurement loop is executed; All of the records The validity of the value is checked. If the sound pressure level difference between any two adjacent responses exceeds the set limit, the number of cyclic measurements is automatically increased. If the number of measurements reaches the set limit, each If the standard deviation of the value still exceeds the allowable range, the test for that frequency point is deemed to have failed and needs to be retested or the device worn needs to be adjusted. Multiple that pass the verification The data is processed, and the result is used as the uncorrected hearing threshold for that frequency.

[0009] Furthermore, the adaptive hearing threshold measurement cycle specifically includes: The test signal was initially played at a sound pressure level higher than the estimated hearing threshold. When the test subject heard the signal, he / she responded through a transponder. Upon receiving a response, the output sound pressure level is gradually reduced at a preset rate until the tester responds again indicating that they cannot hear the test signal. The current sound pressure level is recorded as [value missing]. ; The output sound pressure level is gradually increased at the same rate until the test subject can clearly hear and respond, and the sound pressure level is recorded. ; Repeat the above steps to perform cyclic measurements, and record the sound pressure level at which the tester cannot hear the test signal during each rise and fall. .

[0010] Furthermore, all records The value is validated, specifically including: After playing the test signal, start response monitoring. If a response is received within the preset minimum response time window, it is determined to be an invalid response and the operation is ignored. If no response is received within the preset maximum waiting timeout period, the system will automatically increase or decrease the signal sound pressure level and record the current status. Logical consistency is checked on the continuously received response sequences. If an abnormal response sequence occurs that violates the rule that the tester's response to hearing and the tester's response to not hearing should alternate, a prompt is issued and the measurement data of the current loop is discarded, and the hearing threshold measurement loop at that frequency point is restarted.

[0011] Furthermore, multiple verifications will be conducted. Data processing is performed on the values, specifically including: For multiple that passed the verification The values ​​are processed by weighted average, with higher weights given to measurement rounds with smaller standard deviations, and outliers reduced in weight or removed. The moving median filtering method is used to apply the weighted... The sequence is smoothed. Based on a pre-defined hearing threshold calculation model, the smoothed... Substitute the value into the formula to calculate the uncorrected hearing threshold at that frequency point; The hearing threshold data calculated at each frequency point is stored in a structured database and compared and analyzed with historical test data. When there are continuous abnormalities, the system will automatically prompt for retesting or equipment inspection.

[0012] Furthermore, the uncorrected hearing threshold and the occluded hearing threshold are compared, and the protection is judged to be qualified according to a preset standard, specifically including: At all test frequency points, the difference between the uncorrected hearing threshold and the occluded hearing threshold is calculated one by one to obtain the personal sound attenuation value PAR at each frequency point; Compare the PAR values ​​at each frequency point with the preset reference protection values; If the PAR value of all test frequencies reaches or exceeds the reference protection value, the protection is deemed qualified; if the PAR value of any frequency is lower than the corresponding reference protection value, the protection is deemed unqualified, and the evaluation report is generated.

[0013] Furthermore, the reference protection value specifically includes: The reference protection value is obtained through any one or a combination of the following methods: Based on standard and regulatory requirements, the occupational noise exposure limit standard corresponding to the tester's job or work area is invoked, and it is decomposed by frequency to serve as the minimum protection requirement value for each frequency point. Based on the target protection level, and according to the noise attenuation level and frequency characteristic curve of the hearing protector, reference protection values ​​for each frequency point are generated after adjusting the safety factor to suit the individual protection target. Based on actual acoustic environment measurements, the noise spectrum of the tester's working environment is imported or measured in real time. The minimum attenuation value required is calculated as the reference protection value for the corresponding frequency point based on the difference between the sound pressure level of each frequency band of the spectrum and the permissible exposure sound level.

[0014] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention also provides a fit testing system for in-ear hearing protectors, comprising: The testing equipment debugging module is used to debug the suitability testing equipment and set the various parameters required for testing. The acoustic calibrator calibration module is used to perform acoustic calibration on the left and right microphones fixed inside the earmuffs after the tester has put on the test earmuffs. The uncorrected hearing threshold testing module outputs test signals sequentially based on preset modes and frequencies when the user is not wearing hearing protection. It dynamically adjusts the signal intensity according to the user's subjective response and records the sound pressure level at each reading. And calculate the uncorrected hearing threshold; The occlusion hearing threshold test module involves the test subject correctly wearing the hearing protector being tested, repeating the above hearing threshold test procedure, and recording the sound pressure level. And calculate the hearing threshold for occlusion; The evaluation report generation module compares the uncorrected hearing threshold with the occluded hearing threshold, determines whether the protection is qualified according to preset standards, and automatically generates an evaluation report containing all test data and conclusions.

[0015] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this invention are as follows: By integrating portable devices and non-invasive measurement methods, it effectively overcomes the dependence on professional acoustic laboratories and the invasiveness of equipment during the measurement process for traditional hearing protector personal sound attenuation value testing, enabling rapid and accurate assessment of hearing protector protection effects on-site. Simultaneously, by employing adaptive hearing threshold measurement and multi-round data verification mechanisms, combined with intelligent weighted processing and dynamic calibration compensation technology, the reliability of individual hearing threshold measurement results is improved. Furthermore, the system supports flexible setting of protection standards based on multiple conditions and automatically completes data comparison and report generation, significantly improving the practical efficiency and applicability of on-site testing while ensuring the scientific rigor of the measurement. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, the same reference numerals denote the same parts throughout the drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating a method for testing the suitability of an in-ear hearing protector according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of an in-ear hearing protection suitability testing system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0018] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0019] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0020] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0021] The following is a description of preferred embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for testing the suitability of an in-ear hearing protector, comprising: S110: Debug the suitability testing equipment and set the parameters required for the test; In this embodiment, the fitness testing equipment mainly includes a laptop computer, a mouse or transponder, an ear-mounted device with a built-in microphone, and a sound calibrator.

[0023] In this embodiment, the parameters required for the test mainly include test parameters, tester information, and hearing protector information. The tester information mainly includes name, work unit, and number; the test parameters mainly include test date, test mode (mono-ear or binaural mode), A-weighted noise limit, expected PAR value, and test frequency (refer to ANSI series standards or EN series standards, or a custom test frequency); the hearing protector information mainly includes manufacturer, model, and nominal SNR or NRR value.

[0024] The beneficial effect of the above solution is that by integrating portable devices and parameterized configuration, it provides a solid foundation for the rapid on-site measurement of the individual sound attenuation value of hearing protectors.

[0025] S120: After the tester puts on the test earmuffs, use the acoustic calibrator to perform acoustic calibration on the left and right microphones fixed inside the earmuffs. In some embodiments of the present invention, an acoustic calibrator is used to acoustically calibrate the left and right microphones fixed inside the earmuffs, specifically including: After the tester wears the earmuffs, the sound-emitting end of the sound calibrator is sealed with the outer surface of the earmuffs to form a sound coupling. The sound calibrator is configured to generate a standard sound signal with a frequency of 1000 Hz. The system synchronously acquires the signal strength received by the left and right microphones, compares it with the standard value, and automatically calculates and stores the sensitivity correction coefficient for each channel. If the ambient noise exceeds the preset threshold or the calibration deviation exceeds the allowable range, a recalibration prompt will be displayed or the test will be unable to continue.

[0026] In this embodiment, the sensitivity correction coefficients for each channel are automatically calculated and stored, specifically including: The actual sound pressure measurement values ​​collected by the left and right microphones are compared with the standard sound pressure reference values ​​output by the sound calibrator. Calculate the ratio between the measured value and the reference value for each microphone channel. This ratio reflects the deviation of the actual sensitivity of the microphone in the current coupling state from the standard sensitivity. Generate a corresponding digital correction coefficient based on the ratio and store the coefficient in memory in association with the microphone channel identifier and calibration timestamp. During subsequent hearing threshold tests at all frequencies, the stored correction coefficients are called in real time to dynamically compensate the original sound pressure level readings collected from the corresponding channels, so as to achieve metrological consistency of signal acquisition across the entire frequency band.

[0027] In this embodiment, the sound-emitting end of the sound calibrator and the outer surface of the earcup are formed into a sealed acoustic coupling by using an annular sealing ring to achieve physical sealing coupling between the sound calibrator and the earcup. During operation, axial compression deforms the sealing ring to form a sealed acoustic cavity, effectively isolating environmental noise. The coupling quality is automatically judged by monitoring signal stability, ensuring reliable transmission of the standard acoustic signal and providing an accurate metrological benchmark for subsequent measurements.

[0028] The beneficial effects of the above solution are as follows: Through optimized sealed coupling design and intelligent calibration process, the accuracy and reliability of acoustic calibration are effectively guaranteed. The annular sealing structure combined with axial compression operation ensures stable transmission of standard acoustic signals and isolation from environmental noise, while automated signal acquisition, correction coefficient calculation, and dynamic compensation mechanisms achieve real-time and accurate correction of microphone sensitivity. This technical solution significantly improves the metrological consistency of sound pressure level measurements across the entire frequency band, laying a solid technical foundation for the accurate assessment of subsequent personal sound attenuation values ​​and enhancing the stability and reliability of the on-site testing system.

[0029] S130: When hearing protectors are not worn, test signals are output sequentially based on preset modes and preset frequencies. The signal strength is dynamically adjusted according to the tester's subjective response, and the sound pressure level is recorded at each test. And calculate the uncorrected hearing threshold; In some embodiments of the present invention, test signals are output sequentially based on a preset mode and a preset frequency, and the signal intensity is dynamically adjusted according to the tester's subjective response, and the sound pressure level is recorded at each test. And calculate the uncorrected hearing threshold, specifically including: Based on the set mono-ear or binaural test mode, the test signal is played sequentially from low frequency to high frequency according to the preset or standard set frequency sequence. For each test frequency, an adaptive hearing threshold measurement loop is executed; All of the records The validity of the value is checked. If the sound pressure level difference between any two adjacent responses exceeds the set limit, the number of cyclic measurements is automatically increased. If the number of measurements reaches the set limit, each If the standard deviation of the value still exceeds the allowable range, the test for that frequency point is deemed to have failed and needs to be retested or the device worn needs to be adjusted. Multiple that pass the verification The data is processed, and the result is used as the uncorrected hearing threshold for that frequency.

[0030] In this embodiment, the test signal uses pink noise with a frequency band of 1 / 3 octave from 125 Hz to 8 kHz. The test frequency can be selected according to the ANSI series standards or the EN series standards, or a portion of the test frequencies can be customized for testing.

[0031] In this embodiment, the adaptive hearing threshold measurement cycle specifically includes: The test signal was initially played at a sound pressure level higher than the estimated hearing threshold. When the test subject heard the signal, he / she responded through a transponder. Upon receiving a response, the output sound pressure level is gradually reduced at a preset rate until the tester responds again indicating that they cannot hear the test signal. The current sound pressure level is recorded as [value missing]. ; The output sound pressure level is gradually increased at the same rate until the test subject can clearly hear and respond, and the sound pressure level is recorded. ; Repeat the above steps to perform cyclic measurements, and record the sound pressure level at which the tester cannot hear the test signal during each rise and fall. .

[0032] In this embodiment, all records The value is validated, specifically including: After playing the test signal, start response monitoring. If a response is received within the preset minimum response time window, it is determined to be an invalid response and the operation is ignored. If no response is received within the preset maximum waiting timeout period, the system will automatically increase or decrease the signal sound pressure level and record the current status. Logical consistency is checked on the continuously received response sequences. If an abnormal response sequence occurs that violates the rule that the tester's response to hearing and the tester's response to not hearing should alternate, a prompt is issued and the measurement data of the current loop is discarded, and the hearing threshold measurement loop at that frequency point is restarted.

[0033] In this embodiment, multiple verification results will be used. Data processing is performed on the values, specifically including: For multiple that passed the verification The values ​​are processed by weighted average, with higher weights given to measurement rounds with smaller standard deviations, and outliers reduced in weight or removed. The moving median filtering method is used to apply the weighted... The sequence is smoothed. Based on a pre-defined hearing threshold calculation model, the smoothed... Substitute the value into the formula to calculate the uncorrected hearing threshold at that frequency point; The hearing threshold data calculated at each frequency point is stored in a structured database and compared and analyzed with historical test data. When there are continuous abnormalities, the system will automatically prompt for retesting or equipment inspection.

[0034] In this embodiment, the preset hearing threshold calculation model first applies the verified... The initial sound pressure level estimate is obtained by dynamically weighting the values ​​based on measurement stability; then, frequency perception normalization compensation is performed by calling standard equal loudness curve data according to the test frequency; then, a correction factor for auditory time integral effect is introduced by combining the actual duration of the test signal; finally, under optional conditions, smoothing calibration is performed by referring to the trend of individual historical test data, thereby generating a naked-ear hearing threshold that can accurately reflect the tester's true auditory perception characteristics and has consistency across time.

[0035] The beneficial effects of the above scheme are: by adopting a standardized pink noise test signal and an adaptive hearing threshold measurement cycle, combined with a multi-level intelligent verification and a hearing threshold calculation method that integrates psychoacoustic models, high-precision and high-efficiency measurement of individual naked-ear hearing thresholds is achieved in a non-laboratory environment, effectively eliminating false responses and abnormal interference, and ensuring the rigor of the measurement process and data quality.

[0036] S140: The test subject wears the hearing protection device under test correctly, repeats the above hearing threshold test procedure, and records the sound pressure level. And calculate the hearing threshold for occlusion; S150: Compare the uncorrected hearing threshold and the occluded hearing threshold, determine whether the protection is qualified according to the preset standard, and automatically generate an evaluation report containing all test data and conclusions.

[0037] In some embodiments of the present invention, comparing the uncorrected hearing threshold and the occluded hearing threshold, and determining whether the protection is qualified according to a preset standard, specifically includes: At all test frequency points, the difference between the uncorrected hearing threshold and the occluded hearing threshold is calculated one by one to obtain the personal sound attenuation value PAR at each frequency point; Compare the PAR values ​​at each frequency point with the preset reference protection values; If the PAR value of all test frequencies reaches or exceeds the reference protection value, the protection is deemed qualified; if the PAR value of any frequency is lower than the corresponding reference protection value, the protection is deemed unqualified, and the evaluation report is generated.

[0038] In this embodiment, the reference protection value specifically includes: The reference protection value is obtained through any one or a combination of the following methods: Based on standard and regulatory requirements, the occupational noise exposure limit standard corresponding to the tester's job or work area is invoked, and it is decomposed by frequency to serve as the minimum protection requirement value for each frequency point. Based on the target protection level, and according to the noise attenuation level and frequency characteristic curve of the hearing protector, reference protection values ​​for each frequency point are generated after adjusting the safety factor to suit the individual protection target. Based on actual acoustic environment measurements, the noise spectrum of the tester's working environment is imported or measured in real time. The minimum attenuation value required is calculated as the reference protection value for the corresponding frequency point based on the difference between the sound pressure level of each frequency band of the spectrum and the permissible exposure sound level.

[0039] In this embodiment, the evaluation report includes comprehensive tester information, hearing protection information, sound attenuation values ​​at each frequency, PAR value, and whether the test passed.

[0040] The beneficial effects of the above solution are as follows: by comparing the measured personal sound attenuation values ​​at various frequencies with reference protection standards, an objective and scientific compliance assessment of the hearing protector's protective effect is achieved. The system supports flexible setting of evaluation benchmarks based on regulatory limits, the hearing protector's nominal performance, or the actual noise environment, ensuring the relevance and practicality of the assessment. The final automatically generated comprehensive evaluation report integrates key information such as personnel, equipment, data, and conclusions, providing not only clear and direct compliance evidence for occupational health and safety management but also a reliable data foundation for the continuous optimization and precise intervention of individual hearing protection.

[0041] To further illustrate the technical concept of this invention, the technical solution of this invention will now be described in conjunction with specific application scenarios.

[0042] Correspondingly, such as Figure 2 As shown, this application also provides a fit testing system for in-ear hearing protectors, comprising: The testing equipment debugging module is used to debug the suitability testing equipment and set the various parameters required for testing. The acoustic calibrator calibration module is used to perform acoustic calibration on the left and right microphones fixed inside the earmuffs after the tester has put on the test earmuffs. The uncorrected hearing threshold testing module outputs test signals sequentially based on preset modes and frequencies when the user is not wearing hearing protection. It dynamically adjusts the signal intensity according to the user's subjective response and records the sound pressure level at each reading. And calculate the uncorrected hearing threshold; The occlusion hearing threshold test module involves the test subject correctly wearing the hearing protector being tested, repeating the above hearing threshold test procedure, and recording the sound pressure level. And calculate the hearing threshold for occlusion; The evaluation report generation module compares the uncorrected hearing threshold with the occluded hearing threshold, determines whether the protection is qualified according to preset standards, and automatically generates an evaluation report containing all test data and conclusions.

[0043] In the description of the above embodiments, specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0044] Although the invention has been described above with reference to embodiments, various modifications can be made and components can be replaced with equivalents without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the features in the embodiments disclosed in this invention can be combined with each other in any way. The fact that not all of these combinations are described in this specification is merely for the sake of brevity and resource conservation.

[0045] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An in-the-ear hearing protector suitability test method, characterized by, The method comprises the following steps: Debugging suitability test equipment, setting various parameters required for testing; After the tester wears the test earcap, use the sound calibrator to calibrate the left and right microphones fixed inside the earcap; In the state of not wearing a hearing protector, a test signal is sequentially output based on a preset mode and a preset frequency, a signal intensity is dynamically adjusted according to a subjective response of a tester, and sound pressure levels of each time are recorded And a bare ear hearing threshold is calculated; The tester correctly wears the hearing protector to be tested, repeats the above hearing threshold test process, records the sound pressure level and calculates the occluded ear hearing threshold; Compare the bare ear hearing threshold and the plugged ear hearing threshold, judge whether the protection is qualified according to the preset standard, and automatically generate an evaluation report containing all test data and conclusions.

2. A method of in-ear hearing protector fit testing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sound calibrator is used to calibrate the left and right microphones fixed inside the earcap, specifically including: After the tester wears the earcap, the sound emitting end of the sound calibrator forms airtight sound coupling with the outer surface of the earcap; Set the sound calibrator to generate a standard sound signal with a frequency of 1000 Hz; Synchronously collect the signal intensity received by the left and right microphones and compare it with the standard value, automatically calculate and store the sensitivity correction coefficient of each channel; If the environmental noise exceeds the preset threshold or the calibration deviation exceeds the allowed range, it will prompt to recalibrate or cannot continue testing.

3. A method of in-ear hearing protector fit testing according to claim 2, wherein, The sensitivity correction coefficient of each channel is automatically calculated and stored, specifically including: Compare the actual sound pressure measurement value collected by the left and right microphones with the standard sound pressure reference value output by the sound calibrator respectively; Calculate the proportional relationship between the measurement value and the reference value of each microphone channel, which reflects the deviation of the actual sensitivity of the microphone in the current coupling state relative to the standard sensitivity; based on the proportional relationship, generate the corresponding digital correction coefficient, and store the coefficient in association with the microphone channel identifier and the calibration time stamp in the memory; In the hearing threshold test process of all subsequent frequency points, the stored correction coefficient is called in real time to dynamically compensate the original sound pressure level reading collected by the corresponding channel, so as to realize the metrological consistency of full-band signal acquisition.

4. A method of fit testing an in-ear hearing protector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The test signal is outputted based on preset mode and preset frequency, the signal intensity is dynamically adjusted according to subjective response of the tester, and sound pressure levels of each time are recorded And the bare ear hearing threshold is calculated, specifically comprising: According to the preset or standard set frequency sequence, the test signal is played in sequence from low frequency to high frequency according to the set single ear or double ear test mode; For each test frequency point, an adaptive hearing threshold determination cycle is performed; All of the records The validity of the value is checked. If the sound pressure level difference between any two adjacent responses exceeds the set limit, the number of cyclic measurements is automatically increased. If the number of measurements reaches the set upper limit, each If the standard deviation of the values still exceeds the allowed range, it is determined that the frequency point test fails, and the device needs to be retested or adjusted. Multiple that pass the verification The data is processed, and the result is used as the uncorrected hearing threshold for that frequency.

5. A method of in-ear hearing protector fit testing according to claim 4, characterized in that, The adaptive hearing threshold determination cycle specifically includes: Initially play the test signal at a sound pressure level higher than the estimated hearing threshold, and when the tester hears the signal, give a response through the transponder; Upon receiving the response, the output sound pressure level is gradually reduced at a preset rate until the tester responds again that the test signal cannot be heard, and the current sound pressure level is recorded as ; Stepwise increase in output sound pressure level at the same rate until the tester clearly hears and responds, recording the sound pressure level as ; The above steps are repeated for a cycle of measurements, recording the corresponding sound pressure level at which the subject responds to not hear the test signal for each of the ascending and descending changes .

6. A method of in-ear hearing protector fit testing according to claim 4, wherein, All of the records The value is validated, specifically including: Start response monitoring after playing the test signal, if a response is received within the preset minimum response time window, it is determined as invalid response and this operation is ignored; If no response is received within the preset maximum waiting timeout, the system automatically performs the operation of increasing or decreasing the signal sound pressure level, and records the current state; Logical consistency check is performed on the continuous received response sequence, if an abnormal response sequence that violates the rule that the tester's response to hearing and the tester's response to not hearing should appear alternately appears, a prompt is given and the measurement data of the current cycle is discarded, and the hearing threshold determination cycle of the frequency point is restarted.

7. A method of in-ear hearing protector fit testing according to claim 4, wherein, Multiple that pass the verification Data processing is performed on the values, specifically including: weighting and averaging the values of the plurality of measurements that pass the check, wherein higher weights are given to measurement rounds with smaller standard deviations, and values that are significantly outlying are downweighted or rejected; The weighted sequence is smoothed by using a sliding median filtering method. smoothed. Based on the preset hearing threshold calculation model, the smoothed value is substituted into a formula to calculate the bare ear hearing threshold of the frequency point. value is substituted into a formula to calculate the bare ear hearing threshold of the frequency point. Store the hearing threshold data calculated at each frequency point into a structured database, and compare and analyze it with historical test data, and automatically prompt for retesting or equipment inspection when continuous abnormalities occur.

8. A method of in-ear hearing protector fit testing according to claim 1, characterized in that, Compare the bare ear hearing threshold and the plugged ear hearing threshold, judge whether the protection is qualified according to the preset standard, specifically including: At all test frequency points, calculate the difference between the bare ear hearing threshold and the plugged ear hearing threshold one by one to obtain the personal sound attenuation value (PAR) of each frequency point; The PAR value of each frequency point is compared with a preset reference protection value; If the PAR value of all test frequency points reaches or exceeds the reference protection value, it is determined that the protection is qualified; If the PAR value of any frequency point is lower than the corresponding reference protection value, it is determined that the protection is unqualified, and the evaluation report is generated.

9. A method of in-ear hearing protector fit testing according to claim 8, characterized in that, The reference protection value specifically includes: The reference protection value is obtained by any one or combination of the following ways: Based on standard regulation requirements, the occupational noise exposure limit standard corresponding to the tester's job type or work area is called, which is decomposed by frequency and used as the minimum protection requirement value of each frequency point; Based on the target protection level, the noise attenuation level and frequency characteristic curve of the earmuff are adjusted by the safety factor to generate the reference protection value of each frequency point adapted to individual protection target; Based on the actual sound environment measurement, the noise spectrum of the tester's working environment is imported or measured in real time, and the difference between the sound pressure level of each frequency band and the allowable exposure sound level is calculated to obtain the required minimum attenuation value as the reference protection value of the corresponding frequency point.

10. An in-ear hearing protector suitability test system for use in a method of in-ear hearing protector suitability testing according to any of the claims 1-9, characterized in that, It includes: The test equipment debugging module debugs the suitability test equipment and sets various parameters required for testing; The sound calibrator calibration module calibrates the left and right microphones fixed inside the earmuff after the tester wears the test earmuff; The bare ear hearing threshold test module, in the state of not wearing a hearing protector, sequentially outputs a test signal based on a preset mode and a preset frequency, dynamically adjusts the signal strength according to the subjective response of the tester, records the sound pressure level of each time And calculates the bare ear hearing threshold; The occluded ear threshold test module tests the correct wearing of the hearing protector to be tested by the tester, repeats the above hearing threshold test process, and records the sound pressure level and calculates the occluded ear threshold; The evaluation report generation module compares the bare ear hearing threshold and the plugged ear hearing threshold, determines whether the protection is qualified according to the preset standard, and automatically generates an evaluation report containing all test data and conclusions.

Images