Smart personalized sound amplifier product

Abstract

An aspect of the present invention relates to a smart personal sound amplifier product (PSAP) capable of performing a function of a hearing aid through a communication device such as a smart watch and, more specifically, to a smart personal sound amplifier product (PSAP) capable of implementing a frequency change function for adjusting left and right sounds by using multiple MEMS microphones and dials. An embodiment of the present invention provides a smart personal sound amplifier product (PSAP) capable of providing a function, by which a user can adjust sound and frequency by himself or herself to be suitable for the user's environment and ear function, for hearing aids of all users.

Description

Smart personalized sound amplifier

[0001] One aspect of the present invention relates to a smart sound amplifier that can perform the function of a smart PSAP (Personal Sound Amplifier Product) through a communication device such as a smart watch, and more specifically, to a smart sound amplifier that can implement a frequency change function for controlling left and right sounds using a plurality of MEMS microphones and a dial.

[0002] The material described in this section merely provides background information on embodiments of the present invention and does not constitute prior art.

[0003] Usually, smartwatches are worn on the wrist and use functions such as body pulse, time, and incoming calls and messages from smartphones. In this case, the simple functions of a smartwatch are used to utilize smart functions.

[0004] Hearing aids, as they are commonly called, simply amplify the volume of incoming speech through an internal process, transmitting sounds that would otherwise be difficult to hear to the eardrums, making them easier to hear. This crucial function is intended to facilitate smooth conversations with others.

[0005] However, these hearing aids not only functionally amplify sound, but also make your own voice sound louder, sometimes straining your ears or causing you to frown. Furthermore, they utilize noise cancellation to block out other sounds, transmitting only the other person's voice, blocking out surrounding events and other natural sounds, causing inconveniences such as being unable to hear everyday noises.

[0006] The background technology described above is technical information that the inventor possessed for the purpose of deriving embodiments of the present invention or acquired during the derivation process, and cannot necessarily be said to be publicly known technology disclosed to the general public prior to the filing of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0007] Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is proposed to solve the above-mentioned problem, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a hearing aid function using a smartwatch or other device to increase hearing function and help in social life, and in the case of children or adolescents, to provide a function equivalent to that of using a professional hearing aid without causing prejudice or teasing from those around them that the hearing function is lacking, or without informing those around them.

[0008] In addition, another purpose of the present invention is to allow the user to change the frequency by himself / herself, thereby minimizing the deviation between the left and right sides, and to allow the user to use it more conveniently by first trying it out.

[0009] Additionally, using a smartphone app, with the user's consent, it is possible to statistically monitor the frequency at which they hear well, the deviation of sound from age and output, and provide a more universal sound.

[0010] Additionally, the sound can be heard in various ways, and various modes such as table mode, general mode, loud mode, and music mode can be adjusted by the user using switches and buttons to suit the environment and situation.

[0011] The technical problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from the description below.

[0012] In order to achieve the above-mentioned task, one aspect of the present invention comprises an earphone; a wearable device that transmits and receives energy wired or wirelessly with the earphone;

[0013] The wearable device may provide a smart sound amplification device (PSAP, Personal Sound Amplifier Product) including: a plurality of microphones for collecting external sounds; a digital signal processor (DSP, digital signal processor) for processing sound signals transmitted by the microphones by considering frequency information; and a communication module for receiving sound signals processed by the digital signal processor and transmitting the processed sound signals to the earphones.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the microphone may be characterized by including a MEMS microphone.

[0015] According to an embodiment, the communication module may be characterized as a Bluetooth communication module.

[0016] According to an embodiment, the plurality of microphones may be characterized by including a first microphone for collecting sounds in an intermediate frequency range, a second microphone for collecting sounds in all frequency ranges, and a third microphone for collecting sounds in a high frequency range and a low frequency range.

[0017] According to an embodiment, the second microphone may be characterized by being plural.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the digital signal processor may be characterized by performing a mode control function, a volume control function, and a balance control function.

[0019] The above earphone may include a first earphone for the user's left ear and a second earphone for the user's right ear, and the balance control function may include adjusting a function between the first earphone and the second earphone so that the user can hear the sound well.

[0020] As described above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, when all users use a hearing aid, a smart sound amplification device is provided that can provide a function for the user to directly adjust the sound and frequency to suit his or her environment and ear function.

[0021] In addition, another purpose of the present invention is to provide convenience in social health that allows older people and younger children and adolescents to be a little more free from social prejudice regarding hearing problems.

[0022] Additionally, by providing the durability and basic functions of a smartwatch, it also provides a function to check the user's health data.

[0023] In addition, the effects of the present invention have various effects, such as excellent versatility depending on the embodiment, and such effects can be clearly confirmed in the description of the embodiments described below.

[0024] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate one embodiment of the present invention, and together with the detailed description of the invention described above, serve to further understand the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to matters described in such drawings.

[0025] Figure 1 shows an appearance of a smart device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 2 shows the display mode of the balance mode in the smart device of Figure 1.

[0027] The advantages and features of the present invention, and the methods for achieving them, will become clearer with reference to the embodiments described in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented below, but may be implemented in various different forms, and it should be understood that it includes all transformations, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention. The embodiments presented below are provided to ensure that the disclosure of the present invention is complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the invention. In describing the present invention, if a detailed description of a related known technology is judged to obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0028] The terminology used in this application is solely for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0029] In this application, terms such as "comprise" or "have" are intended to indicate the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, but should be understood as not excluding in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof. Terms such as first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

[0030] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In describing with reference to the attached drawings, identical or corresponding components are assigned the same drawing numbers and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0031] Figure 1 shows an appearance of a smart device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 2 shows the display mode of the balance mode in the smart device of Figure 1.

[0033] A smart sound amplification device (PSAP, Personal Sound Amplifier Product) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an earphone; a wearable device (100) that transmits and receives energy with the earphone wired or wirelessly;

[0034] The wearable device (100) may be configured to include at least one of: a plurality of microphones (200) for collecting external sounds; a digital signal processor (DSP) for processing sound signals transmitted by the microphones (200) by considering frequency information; and a communication module for receiving sound signals processed by the digital signal processor and transmitting the processed sound signals to the earphones.

[0035] According to an embodiment, the microphone (200) may include a MEMS microphone (200). Here, the MEMS microphone (200) is composed of a MEMS component arranged on a printed circuit board (PCB) according to an embodiment, and the MEMS microphone (200) protected by a mechanical cover has a small hole machined in the case so that sound can enter the device, and depending on the arrangement of the hole, if the hole is on the top cover, the microphone (200) may be defined as an upper port, and if the hole is on the PCB, the microphone may be defined as a lower port. The MEMS component may have a mounting structure assembled with a mechanical diaphragm and a semiconductor die.

[0036] In some embodiments, the MEMS diaphragm constitutes a capacitor, and the diaphragm can be moved by acoustic pressure waves. The MEMS microphone (200) according to the present embodiment may include a second semiconductor die that acts as an audio preamplifier to convert the changing electrostatic capacitance of the MEMS into an electrical signal. If an analog output signal is preferred, the output of the audio preamplifier is provided to the user. However, if a digital output signal is required, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) may be included on the same die as the audio preamplifier. Pulse density modulation (PDM) may be a form used for digital encoding in the MEMS microphone (200). Communication is also possible with a single data line and clock. In addition, the single-bit encoding of data makes it easy for the receiver to decode the digital signal.

[0037] The above communication module may be a Bluetooth communication module. Here, the communication module may be connected to the earphones via wired or wireless means to transmit and receive signals. The earphones may be separately placed outside the wearable device (100). The user may wear the wearable device (100), place the earphones on their ears, and then adjust the mode on the wearable device (100) to perform the compensator function through the earphones.

[0038] A microphone (200) can be installed in a wearable device (100). When a user turns on the switch of the microphone (200) while wearing the wearable device (100), the microphone (200) can collect external sounds.

[0039] The number of microphones (200) may be plural. The plurality of microphones (200) may include a first microphone (210) that collects sounds in the intermediate frequency range, a second microphone (220) that collects sounds in all frequency ranges, and a third microphone (230) that collects sounds in the high and low frequency ranges. In addition, the number of second microphones (220) may be plural. For example, the plurality of second microphones (220) may include a fourth microphone (240).

[0040] The reason there are multiple microphones (200) is that a functional mode that performs various functions can be implemented by using each microphone (200) alone or simultaneously.

[0041] The above digital signal processor can perform mode control function, volume control function, and balance control function.

[0042] In this embodiment, the earphone includes a first earphone for the user's left ear and a second earphone for the user's right ear, and the balance control function may be to control a function between the first earphone and the second earphone so that the user can hear the sound well.

[0043] The balance adjustment function has a frequency band that each ear of the user can hear well. In other words, the frequency range of sounds heard by each ear is different. For example, the frequency range that the left ear can hear well may be different from the frequency range that the right ear can hear well. In this case, if the frequency range that the left ear can hear well and the frequency range that the right ear can hear well differ beyond a certain range, the user may feel discomfort in hearing sounds, and in some cases, may be unable to distinguish sounds. Therefore, in such cases, the frequency range that the left and right ears can hear well must be adjusted to reduce the difference in performance between the two ears or to balance the performance of one ear to be the same. For example, the factor (A) of the left ear and the factor (B) of the right ear can be displayed as a scale on the display of the wearable device, and here, the factor (A) of the left ear or the factor (B) of the right ear can be adjusted in the direction of reducing the difference between the two. The wearable device (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention can perform this function.

[0044] The use of the term "above" and similar referential terms in the specification of the present invention (especially in the claims) may refer to both singular and plural. Furthermore, when a range is described in the present invention, it is intended that the invention encompasses inventions that apply individual values ​​falling within the range (unless otherwise stated), and is equivalent to describing each individual value constituting the range in the detailed description of the invention.

[0045] Unless the steps constituting the method according to the present invention are explicitly described in a specific order or are not described to the contrary, the steps may be performed in any appropriate order. The present invention is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps are described. The use of all examples or exemplary terms (e.g., "for example," etc.) in the present invention is merely intended to illustrate the present invention in detail, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by the examples or exemplary terms unless otherwise defined by the claims. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, combinations, and variations can be configured according to design conditions and factors within the scope of the appended claims or their equivalents.

[0046] Therefore, the idea of ​​the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments described above, and not only the scope of the patent claims described below but also all scopes equivalent to or equivalently modified from the scope of the patent claims are considered to fall within the scope of the idea of ​​the present invention.

[0047] (Explanation of symbols)

[0048] 100: Wearable Devices

[0049] 200: Mike

[0050] 210: First microphone

[0051] 220: Second microphone

[0052] 230: Third microphone

[0053] 240: Fourth microphone

[0054] A: Left ear factor

[0055] B: Right ear factor

Claims

1. Earphones; A wearable device that transmits and receives energy wired or wirelessly with the above earphones; Including, The above wearable device, A plurality of microphones for collecting external sounds; a digital signal processor (DSP) for processing sound signals transmitted by the microphones by considering frequency information; and a communication module for receiving sound signals processed by the digital signal processor and transmitting them to the earphones; A smart sound amplifier comprising:

2. In paragraph 1, A smart sound amplification device characterized in that the microphone comprises a MEMS microphone.

3. In paragraph 1, A smart sound amplification device characterized in that the above communication module is a Bluetooth communication module.

4. In paragraph 1, A smart sound amplification device characterized in that the plurality of microphones include a first microphone for collecting sounds in an intermediate frequency range, a second microphone for collecting sounds in all frequency ranges, and a third microphone for collecting sounds in high and low frequency ranges.

5. In paragraph 4, A smart sound amplifying device characterized in that the second microphone is plural.

6. In paragraph 1, A smart sound amplifier characterized in that the above digital signal processor performs a mode control function, a volume control function, and a balance control function.

7. In paragraph 6, A smart sound amplifying device in which the earphones include a first earphone for the user's left ear and a second earphone for the user's right ear, and the balance control function includes adjusting a function between the first earphone and the second earphone so that the user can hear the sound well.

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