Adjustable Noise Cancellation Headset for Selective Audio Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current audio headsets with active noise cancellation (ANC) technologies either cancel all environmental sounds, making it difficult to hear background noises that may be important, or fail to provide effective noise cancellation, posing health risks and disrupting user experiences in scenarios like urban environments or call centers.
Innovation Solution
An audio headset with user-controlled ANC and augmented reality audio (ARA) functionalities, capable of separating and altering background audio signals to allow users to choose between noise cancellation and ambient sound reproduction, using processors to invert or equalize background signals for destructive interference or pseudo-acoustic representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If active noise control is used to cancel background sounds, then audio clarity is improved, but the ability to detect important environmental sounds deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of noise cancellation by allowing users to adjust the degree of background sound attenuation in real-time. The system transitions from static noise cancellation to dynamic adaptive control, where the level of background sound suppression can be modified based on environmental conditions and user preferences, enabling selective cancellation of unwanted sounds while preserving important environmental audio cues.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of background sound attenuation from a fixed state to a variable state. By implementing multiple modes (e.g., different levels of noise cancellation or transparency modes), the system adjusts the degree to which background sounds are cancelled, allowing optimization between audio clarity and environmental awareness based on specific usage scenarios.
2Ease of operation
If all background sounds are cancelled, then listening comfort is improved, but safety and situational awareness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of completely cancelling all background sounds, the system applies partial noise cancellation by offering different levels of attenuation. This allows the system to reduce unwanted noise to an acceptable level while preserving important environmental sounds, achieving a balance between listening comfort and situational awareness rather than complete isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different levels of noise cancellation to different frequency ranges or time periods. By selectively attenuating certain background sounds while preserving others, the system provides localized quality control over audio processing, enhancing comfort for specific noise types while maintaining awareness of critical environmental cues.
3Adaptability or versatility
If user control over background sound cancellation is added, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into discrete, manageable modes or levels of noise cancellation. Rather than implementing a continuous complex control interface, the system divides the control space into distinct segments (e.g., different preset modes or incremental adjustment levels), making the interface simpler and more intuitive while still providing substantial adaptability for different usage scenarios.
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
Enables users to selectively cancel or reproduce background sounds, enhancing safety and user experience by allowing the option to hear important environmental cues while maintaining clear primary audio, thus addressing the limitations of existing ANC headsets.
Implementation Method 1
output the primary audio signal with a first altered version of the background audio signal... this first altered version of the background signal has inverted phase so as to destructively interfere with the background audio signal
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus receives a background audio signal from an earpiece microphone. The earpiece microphone is configured to convert sound from a surrounding environment into the background audio signal. The apparatus outputs, to at least one speaker, a primary audio signal with an altered version of the background audio signal. The altered version is selectable, responsive to control by a user of a user interface, between an amount of active noise cancelation of the sound and an amount of reproduction of the sound. One example embodiment is a headset with microphones and speakers for the respective inputs and outputs.