Dynamic Sidetone Gain Control for Noise Artifact Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Headsets with sidetone generation circuits can degrade user experience due to undesirable artifacts from high ambient noise and impulse noise, particularly in environments with constant wideband noise or transient high-frequency noise, leading to unnatural sound perception and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A sidetone generation circuit that automatically adjusts its gain based on the output of a voice activity detector (VAD) and noise level estimator (NLE), disabling or reducing the sidetone signal when no voice activity is detected or when ambient noise exceeds a threshold, thereby minimizing noise artifacts and improving user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sidetone generation circuit is used to provide audible feedback of the user's voice, then the user can hear his/her own voice naturally even when ears are covered, but undesirable artifacts from ambient noise and impulse noise degrade the user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically changes the gain parameter of the sidetone generation circuit based on detected noise levels and voice activity. When ambient noise or impulse noise is detected, the gain is reduced or the circuit is disabled, thereby adapting the sidetone output to minimize noise artifacts while maintaining natural sound perception during normal speech.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a voice activity detector and noise level estimator to continuously monitor the acoustic environment and provides feedback control to the sidetone generation circuit. This feedback mechanism enables automatic adjustment of sidetone gain based on real-time detection of voice activity and noise conditions, resolving the contradiction between maintaining natural sound and avoiding noise artifacts.
2Ease of operation
If the sidetone generation circuit operates continuously to maintain natural conversation, then the user experiences consistent audio feedback, but energy is consumed unnecessarily during periods of no voice activity or high ambient noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static, continuous operation of the sidetone generation circuit into a dynamic system that automatically adjusts its operation based on real-time conditions. The circuit transitions between active and inactive states, or adjusts its gain level, based on voice activity detection and noise level estimation, thereby reducing energy consumption during periods when continuous operation is not needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors its own operational conditions through integrated voice activity detection and noise level estimation, and automatically adjusts its own gain and operational state without external intervention. This self-service capability enables the circuit to consume energy only when necessary for maintaining natural conversation, eliminating wasteful energy consumption during silence or high-noise conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual gain adjustment controls are added to allow user preference for sidetone level, then personalized audio experience is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides automatic, intelligent adjustment of sidetone gain based on environmental conditions and voice activity, eliminating the need for manual user controls. The voice activity detector and noise level estimator enable the circuit to automatically adapt to different usage scenarios, providing a personalized audio experience through automation rather than manual intervention, thereby avoiding the complexity of additional control interfaces.
Data Source
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AI summary
The technology described in this document can be embodied in a method that includes receiving, at one or more processing devices of a headset that includes a sidetone generation circuit, an input signal representing ambient audio, and determining, by the one or more processing devices of the headset, that at least a portion of the input signal represents voice activity that satisfies a threshold condition. The method also includes, responsive to determining that the voice activity in the input signal satisfies the threshold condition, a control signal configured to cause the sidetone generation circuit to generate sidetone signals, and generating, by an acoustic transducer of the headset, an audio signal that represents, at least in part, the sidetone signals generated in accordance with the control signal.