Electronic Pillow ANC Layout for Snoring Noise and Echo Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for reducing snoring and environmental noise are either uncomfortable, require excessive noise levels, or necessitate modifications to existing furniture, and lack aesthetic appeal and portability.
Innovation Solution
An electronic pillow with integrated error microphones and loudspeakers, connected to a controller unit for active noise control and acoustic echo cancellation, allowing for portable and versatile noise reduction without the need for additional furniture modifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If loudspeakers are mounted on the headboard to provide noise cancellation, then noise reduction is achieved, but the system requires furniture modification and increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the noise cancellation loudspeakers, error microphones, and control electronics into an integrated pillow unit that replaces the need for separate headboard-mounted equipment. This merging of components into a single portable device reduces overall system complexity while maintaining noise reduction effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the noise cancellation functionality from the furniture (headboard) and relocates it to a portable electronic pillow that can be used independently. This extraction eliminates the requirement for furniture modification and reduces the complexity of the installed system.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If loudspeakers are placed close to the non-snoring sleeper, then noise cancellation effectiveness improves, but acoustic feedback to the reference microphone increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs adaptive feedback control mechanisms that continuously monitor the acoustic environment and adjust the anti-noise signal in real-time. The system distinguishes between desired anti-noise signals and unwanted acoustic feedback, dynamically adjusting parameters to maintain effective noise cancellation while minimizing feedback to the reference microphone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates localized quiet zones directly at the non-snoring sleeper's ear position using precisely positioned loudspeakers and error microphones within the pillow. By concentrating the noise cancellation effect locally where it is needed rather than distributing it broadly, the system achieves high effectiveness with minimal acoustic feedback to the reference microphone.
3Measurement precision
If error microphones are worn near the ear, then noise detection precision improves, but comfort and convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the error microphones into the pillow structure itself, combining the measurement function with the support function. This eliminates the need for separate wearable microphone devices, maintaining high noise detection precision while significantly improving user comfort and convenience.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If ANC systems are made adaptive to handle time-varying noise, then noise reduction effectiveness improves, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic adaptation cycles where the ANC system updates its filters at optimal intervals rather than continuously. This periodic action maintains effective noise reduction for time-varying snoring and environmental noises while reducing computational load and power consumption compared to continuous adaptation.
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
The electronic pillow effectively reduces snoring and environmental noise levels while being aesthetically pleasing and convenient, with reduced power consumption and acoustic feedback, enabling hands-free communication and monitoring of sleep disorders.
Implementation Method 1
active noise control (ANC). These ANC systems are based on the principle of superposition to attenuate low-frequency primary (unwanted) noise using secondary anti-noise of the same magnitude but opposite phase. By ANC, the anti-noise and the unwanted noise are both canceled out.
Implementation Method 2
an error microphone to detect a level of the unwanted noise near an ear of the non-snoring sleeper
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An electronic pillow including a pillow unit encasing at least one error microphone and at least one loudspeaker in electrical connection with a controller unit, the pillow unit also including a power source, and a reference sensing unit including at least one reference microphone in electrical connection with the controller unit, the controller unit including an algorithm for controlling interactions between the error microphone, loudspeaker, and reference microphone. A method of abating unwanted noise, by detecting an unwanted noise with a reference microphone, analyzing the unwanted noise, producing an anti-noise corresponding to the unwanted noise in a pillow, and abating the unwanted noise. Methods of hands-free communication, recording and monitoring sleep disorders, providing real-time response to emergencies, and playing audio sounds.