Dynamic Target Sound Playback for Headphones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Headphones often fail to effectively mask distracting internal and external sounds, leading to discomfort and reduced focus during prolonged use, such as during activities like reading, writing, or relaxation.
Innovation Solution
A process for generating a target sound by a speaker integrated within headphones, which masks or lessens the perceived loudness of distracting sounds through a dynamic sound sequence generated by a control device, using user settings and adaptive algorithms to adjust sound levels and types based on context, such as ambient noise, media playback, and user activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If headphones play target sound to mask distracting sounds, then listener focus and comfort are improved, but the sound may become memorable or interfere with other audio content
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the target sound parameters including volume level, frequency spectrum, and temporal characteristics based on real-time detection of ambient noise levels, user activity state, and other audio content being played. This dynamic adaptation ensures the mask sound remains effective while avoiding fixed patterns that could become memorable
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes multiple parameters of the target sound including spectral distribution, temporal envelope, and intensity levels to create an adaptive masking effect. By continuously varying these parameters based on environmental conditions and user context, the sound remains effective for masking without creating a static, memorable pattern
2Object-affected harmful factors
If target sound is played continuously to mask distractions, then listener comfort is improved, but interference with other audio content increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial masking by playing target sound only at levels and frequencies necessary to reduce distracting sounds, rather than using excessive sound levels. The masking effect is applied selectively based on the detected ambient noise profile, providing just enough masking to improve comfort without over-masking that would interfere with other audio content
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from microphones to continuously monitor ambient noise levels and adjusts the target sound parameters accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures the mask sound is only as strong as necessary to counteract detected distractions, automatically reducing intensity when ambient noise decreases to prevent interference with other audio content
3Object-affected harmful factors
If target sound adapts to user context and ambient noise, then masking effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a single adaptive algorithm that performs multiple functions: detecting ambient noise, analyzing spectral content, determining user activity state, and generating appropriate mask sounds. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be multiple separate systems into one unified solution, managing complexity while achieving context-aware adaptive masking
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
Enhances the listening experience by reducing distractions, allowing users to focus or relax for extended periods without memorability of the sound, ensuring consistent loudness and minimizing interference with other audio content.
Implementation Method 1
driving a speaker with the target sound sequence
Implementation Method 2
The target sound may mask or lessen the perceived loudness of other sounds that the listener could be hearing
Data Source
AI summary
A method for dynamic playback of target sound. A target sound sequence is generated in accordance with a user setting and used to drive a speaker. A gain of the target sound sequence is adjusted based on one or more of detecting a user context, detecting an environment of a user, and detecting that media playback has started or stopped. Other aspects are also described and claimed.