Active Noise Control System for Speech Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional communication devices fail to maintain privacy and clarity due to inadequate sound absorption and leakage of communicative sounds, especially in public settings, where ambient noise disrupts communications and sensitive information can be eavesdropped.
Innovation Solution
The development of an air-tight anechoic chamber with active noise control (ANC) means, utilizing a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) to cancel noise and an antiphase/anti-noise speaker, combined with ergonomic design for secure fit over the mouth and ear, ensuring all frequency fields of speech are absorbed and ambient noise is minimized.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional communication devices are used in public settings, then communication functionality is provided, but privacy is compromised due to sound leakage and eavesdropping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful sound waves that would normally leak outward into beneficial silent waves through active noise control technology. The system captures leaked sound waves and generates anti-phase waves that cancel them out, transforming the privacy-threatening sound leakage into silent cancellation waves that protect communication privacy while allowing the device to function normally in public settings
2Loss of information
If sound absorption materials are added to block communicative sounds, then privacy is improved, but ambient noise blocking capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces passive mechanical sound absorption materials with an active electronic noise control system using DSP and anti-phase wave generation. This substitution allows the system to selectively cancel specific frequency ranges associated with human speech while leaving other frequency ranges blocked from ambient noise, thereby achieving both privacy protection and ambient noise blocking simultaneously through intelligent frequency-selective wave cancellation
3Object-affected harmful factors
If active noise control means are added to cancel noise, then ambient noise interference is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a single unified active noise control system that simultaneously handles both communicative sound leakage cancellation and ambient noise blocking. The DSP processor and anti-phase wave generation mechanism serve dual purposes: canceling speech frequencies to protect privacy while also blocking ambient noise frequencies, thereby reducing overall device complexity compared to having separate systems for each function
4Object-generated harmful factors
If air-tight sealing is implemented to contain sound, then sound leakage is reduced, but comfort and ease of operation deteriorate due to restricted breathing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces breathable membrane materials as intermediaries between the user's face and the sound-containing chamber. These membranes allow air molecules to pass through for comfortable breathing while blocking sound wave propagation, effectively mediating between the conflicting requirements of sound containment and breathing comfort. The breathable membrane acts as a selective barrier that permits gas exchange but prevents acoustic energy transmission
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
The solution effectively contains and absorbs all frequency fields of speech, maintaining privacy and clarity of communications by reducing unwanted sound energy, preventing eavesdropping, and minimizing ambient noise interference.
Implementation Method 1
The anechoic chamber is adapted to capture air containing sound energy generated by a sound source, and distribute the air about internal anechoic acoustical surface areas on the inside of the chamber, wherein the internal surface areas are maximized and sufficiently large to dampen or otherwise absorb the sound energy
Implementation Method 2
active noise control (ANC) means, utilizing a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) to cancel noise and an antiphase/anti-noise speaker
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed technology contemplates use of a communication device in public without a user's voice being overheard by the public. In certain situations, public use of a communication device, even when the conversation is private, may not be appropriate. So, a preferred embodiment of the disclosed technology involves a system of enabling or disabling a communication device. Some embodiments may include computer hardware and memory with voice-recognition software that is configured to receive a user's spoken voice during a test conversation, analyze the voice for its hertz spectrums evident in the test conversation, and subsequently employ the data during active noise cancelation. Suitably, this voice recognized noise cancelation or active noise cancelation via voice algorithm can be used to actively noise cancel a user's voice in a manner that is specifically tailored to the user by directing the sound source to provide an inverted signal that is 180 degrees out of phase with the user's actual voice. In one embodiment, the voice algorithm allows a digital CPU to anticipate the manner, including tonality, rhythm, and cadence, of a user's speaking and predict an appropriately inverted signal so that noise is substantially canceled.