Audio Transmitter With Independent TV and Personal Listening Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with hearing difficulties often increase TV volume to hear speech clearly, leading to uncomfortably loud sound levels for others in the same environment.
Innovation Solution
An audio transmitter system that wirelessly streams audio signals to personal audio reproducing devices, allowing independent control of sound characteristics like volume, equalization, and frequency response, while maintaining synchronization with a group audio reproducing device, using Bluetooth connections and a smartphone app for control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the TV volume is increased to help users with hearing difficulties hear speech clearly, then the hearing-impaired user can hear better, but the sound becomes uncomfortably loud for other people in the same environment
Solution Approach 1:
The audio system is segmented into multiple independent output channels: a first audio output interface connected to a group audio reproducing device (TV speakers) and a second audio output interface connected to a personal audio reproducing device (headphones/earbuds). This segmentation allows each channel to operate with independent volume control, enabling the hearing-impaired user to have higher volume through personal devices while others maintain comfortable ambient levels through the TV speakers.
2Reliability
If the TV volume is increased for the hearing-impaired user, then speech clarity is improved for that user, but the overall audio environment becomes too loud for others
Solution Approach 1:
A personal audio reproducing device acts as an intermediary between the TV audio output and the hearing-impaired user's ears. The device receives audio signals from the TV through the second audio output interface and delivers them at individually adjusted volume levels, thereby mediating the sound transmission to protect both the user's hearing needs and the ambient comfort of others.
3Adaptability or versatility
If independent volume control is provided for personal audio devices, then users with hearing difficulties can adjust audio levels independently, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The audio transmitter is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple audio output scenarios simultaneously. It includes both a first audio output interface for group listening and a second audio output interface for personal listening, along with a controller that can independently manage volume levels for each channel. This universal design allows the same device to serve both public and private listening needs without requiring separate systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An audio transmitter including an audio input interface receiving first audio signals indicative of input audio from an audio source, a wireless transmitter wirelessly streaming second audio signals indicative of the input audio to a first audio reproducing device, and an audio output interface connectable to a second audio reproducing device, the audio transmitter arranged to supply third audio signals indicative of the input audio to the audio output interface. The audio transmitter facilitates connection to the audio transmitter to control wireless streaming of the second audio signals. A characteristic of sound of the wirelessly streamed second audio signals is controllable independently of a characteristic of sound of the third audio signals. An initial connection is established between the audio transmitter and a computing device in response to detection that the location of the computing device relative to the audio transmitter is less than a defined threshold.