Bone Conduction Audio System for Full-Duplex Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems in noisy environments face challenges in simultaneous reception and transmission of audio signals due to ambient noise interference, which is not effectively addressed by current bone conduction technologies that typically operate in half-duplex mode.
Innovation Solution
A wearable system comprising a processor, bone conduction speakers, and a microphone that generates output signals to reduce ambient noise impact by converting ambient sound signals into bone-conducted signals, allowing for simultaneous surround sound perception and full-duplex communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional air conduction headphones are used in noisy environments, then sound transmission can be achieved, but ambient noise interference significantly degrades sound quality and user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces bone (skull) as an intermediary medium to transmit sound vibrations directly to the inner ear, bypassing the air conduction path that is contaminated by ambient noise. The bone conduction transducer converts electrical audio signals into mechanical vibrations that travel through the skull bones directly to the cochlea, eliminating the need for sound to travel through the air-filled ear canal where ambient noise interferes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the sound transmission path from the problematic air conduction medium and relocates it to the solid bone medium. By removing the dependency on air conduction through the ear canal and eardrum, the system eliminates the pathway through which ambient noise interferes with sound perception.
2Reliability
If bone conduction technology is used to block ambient noise, then sound perception quality improves, but simultaneous two-way communication (full-duplex) cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the audio signal processing into two independent channels: one for receiving audio signals through bone conduction speakers and another for capturing user speech through bone conduction microphones. This segmentation allows simultaneous operation of transmission and reception functions without mutual interference, enabling full-duplex communication while maintaining bone conduction's ambient noise isolation benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The bone conduction transducer serves multiple functions: it acts as both a speaker (converting electrical signals to mechanical vibrations for audio output) and a microphone (converting mechanical vibrations from speech to electrical signals). This multi-functionality enables the single device to handle both transmission and reception, achieving full-duplex communication capability.
3Loss of information
If ambient noise is reduced through bone conduction, then communication clarity improves, but the system complexity increases compared to traditional headphones
Solution Approach 1:
The human skull serves as the transmission medium, eliminating the need for complex external noise-canceling structures, ear canal seals, or additional active noise cancellation hardware. The body's own bone structure is utilized to perform the noise isolation function, significantly simplifying the device design compared to traditional air conduction systems that require physical barriers and electronic noise cancellation components.
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 effective reduction of ambient noise interference, enabling users to perceive requested audio signals while communicating simultaneously in noisy conditions, improving communication efficiency and sound perception.
Implementation Method 1
Bone conducted vibrations that are applied to the skull are converted to inner cranial vibrations... the cranial vibrations directly stimulate the hairs of the cochlea
Implementation Method 2
a microphone, adapted to detect an ambient sound signal
Implementation Method 3
a processor adapted to generate an output signal in response to the ambient sound signal; wherein the output signal, when conveyed to a bone of the user, reduces an affect that an ambient sound signal has upon the user
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable surround sound system, that includes: (a) a processor, adapted to receive input signals representative of requested audio signals to be heard by the user and in response to generate multiple output signals; and (b) multiple bone conduction speakers, coupled to the processor, adapted to convey the multiple output signals to at least one bone of a user; wherein the bone conduction speakers are arrayed so as to stimulate an encompassing sound perception of the use. A wearable ambient sound reduction system, that includes: (a) a microphone, adapted to detect an ambient sound signal; (b) a processor adapted to generate an output signal in response to the ambient sound signal; wherein the output signal, when conveyed to a bone of the user, reduces an affect that an ambient sound signal has upon the user; wherein the microphone is coupled to the processor; and (c) a bone conduction speaker, coupled to the processor, adapted to convey the output signal to a bone of a user.