Active Noise Cancellation Headphones Vacuum Sensation Mitigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of active noise canceling headphones often experience discomfort due to the 'vacuum' or 'suction' sensation caused by active noise cancellation, leading to headaches and dizziness, which can result in rejection of the technology despite its benefits.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a counteraction signal, such as pink noise or water sounds, is played simultaneously with the active noise cancellation signal at a low but constant level to reduce user discomfort, tailored to the frequencies affected by noise cancellation, and adjustable to be imperceptible.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If active noise cancellation is activated to suppress environmental noise, then noise suppression effectiveness is improved, but user comfort deteriorates due to vacuum sensation and discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise suppression effectivenessVSAvoiduser discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by taking the harmful vacuum sensation caused by ANC and converting it into a beneficial effect. A counteraction signal is introduced that specifically targets and cancels the vacuum sensation, transforming the harmful physiological effect into a comfortable listening experience while preserving noise suppression functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The counteraction signal serves as an intermediary element between the ANC system and the user's auditory system. This intermediate signal processes the vacuum sensation caused by ANC and translates it into a comfortable experience, allowing the harmful effect to be mediated and converted into a benefit without compromising the primary noise suppression function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If aggressive noise cancellation settings are used to maximize noise suppression, then noise cancellation performance is improved, but user comfort deteriorates due to enhanced vacuum sensation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise cancellation performanceVSAvoiduser comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the counteraction signal parameters (level, frequency content, timing) based on the ANC settings and user experience. This allows the system to optimize both noise cancellation performance and user comfort by adapting the counteraction parameters to match the aggressive ANC settings while maintaining comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms to monitor user comfort levels and adjust the counteraction signal accordingly. By continuously monitoring and adjusting based on user response, the system can maintain aggressive noise cancellation settings while ensuring comfort through real-time optimization of the counteraction signal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If counteraction signal is added to reduce vacuum sensation, then user comfort is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser comfortVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the counteraction signal processing with the existing ANC signal processing architecture. By combining these functions into a unified system that handles both noise cancellation and vacuum sensation cancellation through integrated processing, the patent reduces the actual complexity increase despite adding the counteraction functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The counteraction signal system is designed to serve multiple functions: it cancels vacuum sensation, maintains comfort during aggressive ANC settings, and can be adjusted for different listening scenarios. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing comprehensive comfort management across various use cases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 approach makes active noise canceling headphones more acceptable to users by mitigating the unpleasant sensations, improving comfort, especially in office environments, while allowing for more aggressive noise cancellation settings.

Implementation Method 1

Active noise cancelling headphones typically operate by detecting a background noise signal and generating an anti-noise signal which destructively interferes with the background noise signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDestructive interference: Interference

Implementation Method 2

The counteraction signal can be made to change over time. For example, changes are implemented gradually so as to be imperceptible to the user

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound wave generation: Sound

Data Source

PatentUS9978357B2Headphones with active noise cancellation adverse effect reduction

Publication Date: 2018.05.22 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

Methods and apparatuses for headphones are disclosed. In one example, a noise cancelling signal is generated with an active noise cancelling system, and the noise cancelling signal is output at a headphones speaker. An undesirable user effect resulting from the noise cancelling signal output at the headphones speaker is mitigated with a noise cancelling adverse effect counteraction signal output simultaneously with the noise cancelling signal.