Earphone Keyword Detection for Automatic Ambient Sound Pass-Through
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sound isolating earphones disconnect users from their local environment, making it difficult for others to communicate with them, especially in critical situations, as existing technologies do not allow for automatic ambient sound pass-through when specific keywords are spoken.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses ambient sound microphones to detect keywords and automatically adjusts audio levels, allowing ambient sound to be passed through to the earphone user, enabling hands-free communication by increasing the signal-to-noise ratio and using directional enhancement algorithms for improved keyword detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sound isolating earphones are used to block ambient sound, then audio content clarity is improved, but communication with people in the immediate environment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the ambient sound pass-through based on keyword detection. When a keyword is detected in the ambient sound, the system automatically opens the pass-through channel to allow the user to hear the ambient sound, and closes it when no keyword is detected, maintaining sound isolation for audio content playback.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary keyword detection mechanism between the ambient sound and the user's ear. The ambient sound is continuously monitored by microphones and processed by keyword detection algorithms, and only when a keyword is detected does the system allow the ambient sound to pass through to the user, thus mediating the information flow.
2Ease of operation
If ambient sound pass-through is enabled continuously, then communication capability is improved, but audio content quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous pass-through, the system uses periodic keyword detection to control the pass-through. The ambient sound is continuously monitored, but the pass-through is activated only periodically when a keyword is detected, creating a pulsed rather than continuous operation mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between two states: sound isolation mode for audio content playback and ambient sound pass-through mode for communication. The transition between these states is controlled by real-time keyword detection, making the system adaptive rather than static.
3Productivity
If keyword detection is added to enable automatic pass-through, then communication efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the device's existing microphones and processing capabilities to perform keyword detection autonomously. The ambient sound is captured by the device's built-in microphones, processed through keyword detection algorithms, and used to control the pass-through without requiring external devices or manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages the existing microphones and audio processing capabilities of the earphones for multiple purposes: both for audio content playback and for ambient sound monitoring and keyword detection. This multi-functional use of existing components minimizes the addition of new hardware complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
At least one embodiment is directed to a method for automatically activating ambient sound pass-through in an earphone in response to a detected keyword in the ambient sound field of the earphone user, the steps of the method comprising at least receiving at least one ambient sound microphone (ASM) signal; receiving at least one audio content (AC) signal; and comparing the ASM signal to a keyword and if the ASM signal matches a keyword then an AC gain is created.