Binaural Headset Audio Segmentation for Sonar Operators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sonar operators and Air Traffic Controllers face a decrement in their ability to listen to system audio and maintain environmental awareness due to the need to remove one side of their headset, which eliminates the binaural listening advantage and precludes the use of 3-D and spatially aware audio technologies.
Innovation Solution
A sound identification and discernment apparatus that integrates hearing-aid-like technology into a headset, allowing binaural listening with stationary earpieces, featuring a processor that adjusts the ratio of ambient and system audio signals, and includes active noise cancellation to focus on system audio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If one side of the headset is removed to hear environmental conversations, then environmental awareness is improved, but the ability to listen to system audio and maintain binaural listening advantage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The audio system is segmented into separate channels: one for environmental sound and one for system audio. This allows independent processing and delivery of each audio type through the headset, enabling the operator to receive both without removing any earcup.
Solution Approach 2:
An audio processor acts as an intermediary between the environmental sound and the operator's ear. The processor captures ambient sound, processes it separately from system audio, and delivers it through the headset's speaker, allowing environmental awareness without compromising system audio quality.
2Ease of operation
If one side of the headset is removed for environmental awareness, then conversational awareness is improved, but 3-D and spatially aware audio technologies are precluded
Solution Approach 1:
The audio system separates environmental sound delivery from system audio delivery, allowing both to be transmitted simultaneously through the headset. This maintains the integrity of 3-D spatial audio processing for system audio while adding environmental awareness capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The headset is designed to perform multiple functions: delivering system audio with 3-D spatial positioning, delivering environmental sound, and processing both audio types independently. This multi-functionality maintains versatility while adding new capabilities.
3Reliability
If active noise cancellation is used to focus on system audio, then concentration on system audio is improved, but ambient environmental sound is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The audio system segments the audio output into separate channels: one for system audio with noise cancellation and one for environmental sound. This allows selective enhancement of system audio while preserving ambient awareness through the dedicated environmental sound channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the balance between noise cancellation and ambient sound delivery based on operational requirements. The audio processor can vary the ratio of processed system audio to environmental sound in real-time, allowing operators to optimize for concentration or awareness as needed.
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
Enables operators to simultaneously attend to both ambient and system audio, maintaining binaural listening advantages and incorporating 3-D spatially aware audio technology, while allowing for full concentration on system audio by adjusting noise cancellation levels.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of transducers each serving as a headset and each having first and second inputs with the first input thereof receiving ambient sound input signals and the second input thereof receiving system audio input signals
Implementation Method 2
the apparatus further comprises (b) a processor receiving first and second signals with the first signal being representative of the ambient sound input signals and the second signal thereof being representative of the audio signals of the system
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed invention provides the ability for an operator, such as a sonar watch stander, to pay attention to both ambient sounds and system audio sound simultaneously. Further, the disclosed invention allows an operator to hear information being disseminated in the immediate environment, while still maintaining full sonar audio capability. The present invention allows the operator to take advantage of the benefits of binaural processing.