Ear-worn Device Reverberance Detection and Selective Signal Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ear-worn devices struggle to effectively distinguish between sound signals with strong direct sound components and those with strong indirect sound components, which affects their ability to enhance or attenuate specific sounds appropriately.

Innovation Solution

An ear-worn device equipped with a microphone, a signal processing circuit, and a loudspeaker, which performs signal processing to determine the presence of reverberance in speech and selectively applies either equalizing or phase inversion processing to enhance or attenuate direct or indirect sound components accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If generic signal processing is applied to all sound signals, then the device structure remains simple, but the ability to distinguish between direct and indirect sound components deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to distinguish between direct and indirect sound componentsVSAvoidsignal processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The signal processing is segmented into different processing paths based on the type of sound signal. The system separates direct sound components and indirect sound components into distinct processing channels, applying appropriate processing (equalization for direct sounds, phase inversion for indirect sounds) to each segment independently, thereby achieving precise distinction without overwhelming complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different signal processing characteristics are applied locally to different sound components. The system applies equalization processing specifically to direct sound components and phase inversion processing specifically to indirect sound components, allowing each component to receive optimized processing tailored to its characteristics rather than applying a uniform processing approach

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If no reverberance determination is performed, then the processing speed is fast, but the accuracy of sound signal classification deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of sound signal classificationVSAvoidsignal processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary reverberance determination before applying the main signal processing. By first classifying the sound signal as direct or indirect based on reverberance characteristics, the system prepares the processing path in advance, allowing for efficient and accurate classification without significant time delay

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from reverberance detection to guide the signal processing path. The determination of whether a sound has reverberance provides feedback information that directs the appropriate processing (equalization or phase inversion), ensuring accurate classification while maintaining processing efficiency through adaptive control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If equalizing processing is applied to all signals, then the clarity of direct sounds is improved, but the attenuation of indirect sounds deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclarity of direct sound reproductionVSAvoidpresence of indirect sound components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies equalization processing locally only to direct sound components that have been identified through reverberance determination. Indirect sound components are instead subjected to phase inversion processing, allowing each component type to receive the specific processing it needs to achieve clear reproduction while eliminating harmful reflections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of applying the same processing to all signals, the system inverts the approach for indirect sounds by applying phase inversion processing rather than equalization. This inversion strategy specifically targets indirect sound components for attenuation while preserving the clarity enhancement for direct sounds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Object-generated harmful factors

If phase inversion processing is applied to all signals, then the attenuation of indirect sounds is improved, but the enhancement of direct sounds deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattenuation of indirect sound componentsVSAvoidenhancement of direct sound clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies phase inversion processing locally only to indirect sound components identified through reverberance analysis. Direct sound components receive equalization processing instead, ensuring that each component type receives the processing most suited to its characteristics, thereby achieving both attenuation of harmful indirect sounds and enhancement of direct sounds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20250184665A1Ear-worn device and reproduction method

Publication Date: 2025.06.05 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

An ear-worn device includes: a microphone that obtains a sound and outputs a sound signal of the sound obtained; a DSP that performs signal processing on the sound signal to determine whether speech contained in the sound has reverberance, and outputs, based on a result of the determination, a first sound signal obtained by performing first signal processing on the sound signal; a loudspeaker that reproduces the sound based on the first sound signal output; and a housing that contains the microphone, the DSP, and the loudspeaker.