Audio System Seal Detection via Acoustic Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Audio systems require frequent recalibration when users switch devices or when different users with varying ear structures use the system, leading to suboptimal audio experiences due to environmental and equipment factors.
Innovation Solution
An audio system with a control method that uses a headset and control device to detect acoustic intensity distribution curves, determining if the earphone cavity is properly sealed and adjusting settings to ensure optimal sound transmission, and optionally performing otoacoustic emission tests to assess hearing health.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual sound profile selection is used, then users can adjust audio settings, but the process is time-consuming and requires repeated calibration when switching devices or users
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic seal quality detection and audio calibration without user intervention. The detection device automatically measures ear canal seal quality, analyzes the results, and adjusts audio parameters accordingly, eliminating the need for manual calibration by users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs seal quality detection and audio calibration in advance before actual audio playback. By pre-detecting ear canal characteristics and pre-adjusting audio parameters, the system ensures optimal audio quality is ready before the user needs it, avoiding time-consuming calibration during device switching.
2Ease of operation
If default sound profiles are provided, then setup is simplified, but audio quality is suboptimal for individual users with different ear structures
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects and compensates for individual differences in ear canal characteristics, such as seal quality and ear canal geometry. By tailoring audio parameters to each user's specific ear structure rather than using universal defaults, the system achieves optimal audio quality for each individual while maintaining ease of setup.
3Measurement precision
If seal quality detection is implemented, then audio transmission accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection device integrates multiple functions including seal quality detection, ear canal geometry analysis, and automatic audio calibration into a single system. By combining these functions, the system achieves high measurement precision for sound transmission accuracy while minimizing the increase in device complexity through functional integration.
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 system automatically adjusts audio settings for optimal sound quality and detects improper headset wear, ensuring consistent audio experience across devices and users, while also providing hearing health assessments.
Implementation Method 1
sound is transmitted as wave over air
Implementation Method 2
a microphone disposed in the housing and located within the cavity between the speaker and the eardrum to collect a reflection of the sound broadcasted by the speaker, and thereby generate a sampled sound signal
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
An audio system includes a headset and a control device. The headset includes a housing, a speaker and a microphone. When the headset is mounted on an ear, the housing is configured for forming a cavity along with an external auditory canal of the ear. The speaker and the microphone are disposed in the housing. The control device is coupled to the headset. The control device is operable to provide a reference audio signal to the speaker to be broadcasted toward the cavity, further to receive a sampled sound signal through the microphone corresponding to a reflection of the reference audio signal from the cavity, further to calculate an acoustic intensity distribution curve over frequencies from the sampled sound signal, and further to determine whether the cavity has a leakage outlet according to the acoustic intensity distribution curve over frequencies.