Adaptive Directional Audio for Wearables in Noisy Mount Positions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable audio devices struggle to provide effective and private audio transmission and reception in noisy environments, particularly when mounted at different positions on a user, leading to reduced clarity and compromised privacy.
Innovation Solution
A wearable audio device system with adjustable directional transducers that maintain consistent directional audio delivery and privacy by adapting to different mounting positions, using a reference surface and multiple transducers to selectively operate based on the user's position, ensuring audio is directed towards the user while minimizing interference from ambient noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If directional transducers are used to provide private audio transmission, then audio privacy is improved, but the device becomes less adaptable when mounted at different positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the transducer array configurable through software to adapt to different mounting positions. The system can dynamically reconfigure which transducers are active and their directional characteristics based on the detected mounting position, allowing the same physical hardware to maintain optimal audio privacy and transmission across multiple positions without physical reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the transducer array by adjusting directional characteristics, active transducer selection, and beamforming patterns based on mounting position. This allows the system to maintain effective audio privacy and transmission quality across different positions by modifying system parameters rather than requiring physical changes to the transducer orientation.
2Device complexity
If fixed directional transducers are used, then device complexity is reduced, but audio clarity deteriorates in noisy environments when mounted at different positions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-configuration by automatically detecting its mounting position and autonomously selecting the optimal transducer array configuration. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual setup or physical reconfiguration, maintaining audio clarity in noisy environments while keeping the system relatively simple to use across different mounting positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system detects mounting position information and uses this feedback to automatically adjust transducer configuration. This closed-loop approach ensures that audio clarity is maintained in noisy environments by continuously adapting to the actual mounting conditions without requiring complex manual intervention.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transducers are used to maintain directional audio delivery at different positions, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single transducer array that serves multiple functions across different mounting positions. Rather than requiring separate transducer configurations for each position, the system uses one array that can be software-configured to perform optimal directional audio delivery for various positions, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable audio device may comprise a first directional loudspeaker having a first directionality, a second directional loudspeaker having a second directionality different from the first directionality, a communication interface configured to receive a communication audio signal, and a processor configured to operatively control the first directional loudspeaker, the second directional loudspeaker, and the communication interface. The processor may be configured to perform operations comprising detecting a relative mount position of wearable communication device, selecting a proximal loudspeaker to emit the communication audio signal in accordance with the relative mount position, wherein the proximal loudspeaker comprises one of the first directional loudspeaker and the second directional loudspeaker; and transferring the communication audio signal from the communication interface to the proximal loudspeaker in accordance with the selecting.