Bone Conduction Audio Compression for Mid-Band Tickle Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable computing devices using bone conduction transducers (BCTs) often cause uncomfortable vibrations or tickling sensations at certain volume levels, limiting user experience, especially in noisy environments where higher volumes are desired.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a multi-band compressor (MBC) to process audio signals, specifically reducing gain in the mid-band frequency range (800 Hz to 2000 Hz) to mitigate these sensations while maintaining desired volume levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the BCT is driven to higher volume levels, then the audio output is improved for noisy environments, but uncomfortable vibrations and tickling sensations occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing to different frequency bands of the audio signal. Specifically, the mid-band frequency range (800 Hz to 2000 Hz) is identified as causing tickling sensations, so a multi-band compressor is applied specifically to this frequency range while leaving other bands unaffected. This allows high volume output overall while locally reducing the problematic frequency band.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the volume is reduced to limit bone conduction sensations, then comfortable wearing is improved, but audio output is insufficient for noisy environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the gain parameter of the audio signal in a frequency-selective manner. The multi-band compressor dynamically adjusts the gain of the mid-band frequency range based on the input signal level, reducing gain when the signal exceeds a threshold. This allows the system to maintain high overall volume while specifically controlling the parameter (gain) of the problematic frequency band.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application describes signal enhancements to reduce bone conduction sensations of a wearable computing device and applications thereof. An example apparatus includes a wearable computing device comprising a bone conduction transducer (BCT) configured to receive and be driven by an audio signal, a processor, and a data storage comprising instructions executable by the processor to: (1) determine an input gain level of the audio signal at a frequency range; (2) compare the determined input gain level at the frequency range to a threshold gain level at the frequency range; (3) based on the comparison, apply a multi-band compressor (MBC) configured to process the audio signal to reduce gain in at least a portion of a mid-band frequency range of the audio signal; and (4) drive the BCT with the processed audio signal.