Ambient Audio Transformation for Traffic Noise Masking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traffic noise, particularly from freeways and busy streets, significantly affects residents' quality of life and work performance, with existing sound barrier walls and insulation methods being inadequate in reducing noise effectively.
Innovation Solution
A sound processing device that monitors ambient noise and feeds back transformed audio, such as ocean waves or rain sounds, to alleviate traffic noise by integrating sensors, processors, and user interfaces to dynamically generate and propagate modified audio, reducing feedback noise and detecting potential hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If sound barrier walls are constructed to reduce traffic noise, then noise from vehicles at higher elevations is reduced, but noise from trucks at lower elevations (8 feet from ground) requires much taller walls, increasing device complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical sound barrier wall system with an electronic audio processing system. The device captures ambient audio through microphones, processes it through multiple signal processing stages (feedback cancellation, notch filtering, band-pass filtering), and outputs transformed audio that reduces traffic noise without requiring physical barriers. This substitutes complex mechanical structures with electronic signal processing.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If building insulation and multi-pane windows are installed to reduce indoor traffic noise, then noise reduction is achieved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex building insulation systems and multi-pane window assemblies with an electronic audio processing device. The system uses microphones to capture noise, processes it through feedback cancellation and frequency filtering stages, and outputs reduced-noise audio, substituting heavy mechanical insulation with lightweight electronic processing.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If transformation audio is generated and propagated into the environment to reduce ambient noise, then noise pollution is alleviated, but feedback of the propagated audio may be detected by the monitor, creating a feedback loop
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback cancellation to prevent feedback loops. The system monitors output audio and subtracts it from the ambient audio input, creating an adaptive filter that cancels feedback signals. This allows the system to propagate transformation audio into the environment while maintaining reliable noise reduction by eliminating feedback interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate signal processing stages between the monitor and output. The audio passes through feedback cancellation, notch filtering, and band-pass filtering before being propagated. These intermediary processing stages prevent direct feedback while allowing the transformation audio to effectively reduce ambient noise pollution.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device for transforming ambient audio are provided. Example embodiments may include monitoring ambient audio proximate to a sound processing device located in an environment. The device may analyze the ambient audio to derive one or more first characteristics. Memory may be accessed to obtain at least one transformation audio from a number of stored transformation audio. Each stored transformation audio may have one or more associated characteristics. A characteristic associated with the transformation audio may match one or more of the first characteristics. The device may generate output transformation audio based on the one or more transformation audio to provide modified output audio for propagation into the environment.