Aware Mode Auto-Leveling for Adaptive ANR Audio Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Active noise reduction (ANR) devices create acoustic isolation, which may not be desirable in certain situations, and existing aware mode functionalities struggle to adapt to changing ambient noise levels, necessitating a balanced user experience.
Innovation Solution
An aware mode auto-leveler system that adjusts noise cancellation and audio output based on ambient noise levels, using gain control and signal processing to maintain a balanced user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If active noise reduction is applied to block ambient noise, then noise isolation is improved, but user awareness of surroundings deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between different operational modes (noise reduction mode and aware mode) based on environmental conditions and user needs. The aware mode selectively passes certain ambient sounds to the user while maintaining noise reduction for other frequencies, creating a dynamic balance between isolation and awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different noise processing characteristics to different frequency ranges and sound types. Rather than uniformly blocking all ambient noise, the system selectively attenuates harmful noises while preserving important environmental sounds, creating local quality variations in the noise control profile.
2Loss of information
If aware mode passes ambient sounds to user, then surroundings awareness is improved, but noise isolation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies selective filtering that preserves important environmental sounds while attenuating harmful noises. Different frequency ranges are treated differently, allowing users to hear relevant surroundings information while still benefiting from noise reduction for distracting or harmful sounds.
3Device complexity
If fixed noise reduction level is applied, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to changing noise conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors ambient noise levels and automatically adjusts the noise reduction parameters in response to changing environmental conditions. This feedback mechanism allows the device to adapt to different noise scenarios without requiring manual user intervention or complex configuration options.
Solution Approach 2:
The noise reduction system automatically detects and responds to ambient noise conditions without user input. The device self-adjusts its noise control parameters based on real-time environmental assessment, eliminating the need for manual mode switching or user configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
Various implementations include systems for providing enhanced aware mode capabilities in an ANR audio device. In particular implementations, a method includes receiving an ambient noise signal from a microphone associated with a wearable audio device; determining a gain value based on a sound pressure level (SPL) of the ambient noise signal; generating a gain adjusted ambient noise signal by applying the gain value to the ambient noise signal; generating a total external microphone signal by adding the gain adjusted ambient noise signal to a noise reducing ambient signal; generating an expanded audio signal by selectively adjusting a source audio signal based on a residual sound component that models sound at an ear when the active noise reduction is fully on; and combining and outputting the expanded audio signal with the total external microphone signal to an acoustic transducer.