Acoustic Quadrupole Units for Headset Audio Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable devices, such as head-mounted wearable devices, face challenges in providing audio output to users while minimizing the intelligibility of sound to bystanders, especially in situations where privacy is desired without obstructing the user's ability to hear the ambient environment.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of acoustic quadrupole units (AQUs) in head-mounted wearable devices, which produce sound with specific phase arrangements to create an acoustically null region around bystanders, ensuring that the audio is audible to the user while being inaudible or unobtrusive to others, using emitters with opposing sound phases and strategically positioned outlet ports to direct sound effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional audio output methods are used in head-mounted wearable devices, then the user can hear audio content, but bystanders can also overhear and understand the audio, compromising user privacy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric acoustic radiation patterns through quadrupole emitter configurations that direct sound preferentially toward the user's ear while creating acoustic nulls in other directions. This asymmetric sound distribution ensures the user can hear audio content clearly while bystanders experience minimal or no audio, thereby protecting user privacy without requiring physical barriers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase parameter changes in the acoustic emitters to create constructive and destructive interference patterns. By controlling the phase relationships between multiple emitters, the system generates directional sound beams that concentrate acoustic energy toward the user while creating regions of acoustic cancellation in directions where bystanders are located, effectively reducing sound intelligibility to others
2Loss of information
If acoustic quadrupole units are used to create directional sound patterns, then user privacy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the acoustic system into multiple independent emitter units, each capable of producing controlled acoustic fields. By segmenting the sound generation into discrete quadrupole configurations with specific phase relationships, the system achieves complex directional sound patterns through coordinated operation of simpler individual components, making the overall complex function manageable and implementable
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the acoustic emitter system to serve multiple functions: it provides audio output to the user, creates directional sound patterns for privacy, and generates acoustic nulls to protect against eavesdropping. This multi-functional acoustic system eliminates the need for separate components for each function, thereby reducing overall device complexity while achieving privacy protection
3Measurement precision
If sound is directed toward the user's ear, then audio clarity for the user is improved, but ambient sound perception may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates localized acoustic fields that concentrate sound energy specifically at the user's ear position while maintaining acoustic transparency in other regions. The quadrupole emitter configurations generate highly directional sound beams that deliver clear audio to the user without creating broad acoustic barriers, allowing ambient sounds to propagate freely around the device and reach the user's ears
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances user privacy by reducing sound intelligibility and amplitude for bystanders while maintaining the user's ability to hear ambient sounds, thereby minimizing distraction and annoyance.
Implementation Method 1
acoustic quadrupole units (AQUs), according to some implementations
Implementation Method 2
produce sound with specific phase arrangements to create an acoustically null region around bystanders
Data Source
AI summary
A head-mounted wearable device (HMWD) provides audio output using acoustic quadrupole units (AQU). The AQU produces an acoustic pattern having a first region and a second region. The first region has a first phase and the second region has a second phase that is opposite the first phase. A major axis extending through the regions is directed generally upwards from the ear canal of the user. The ear of the user is within the first region. The second region is directed upward. Bystanders are within an acoustically null region of the acoustic pattern. The acoustically null region is perpendicular to the major axis. Within the acoustically null region, the sound intensity is reduced due to destructive interference between the first phase and the second phase. As a result, the user wearing the HMWD is able hear audio output while audio amplitude perceived by the bystanders is significantly reduced.