Face-Barrier Audio Communication Through a Microphone-Speaker Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearing face barriers such as masks and shields can significantly muffle sound, impairing communication between individuals.
Innovation Solution
A face barrier communication system comprising a microphone on the face-side and a speaker on the public-side of the barrier, connected via a talk circuit, which can be either hardwired or wireless, to transmit audio signals without significant muffling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a face barrier is worn to block droplet transmission, then health protection is improved, but sound transmission is worsened due to muffling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication system with a microphone on the face-side of the barrier and a speaker on the public-side, acting as an intermediary to transfer sound signals through the barrier without compromising its protective function. The talk circuit serves as the mediator that enables sound transmission while maintaining droplet blocking capability.
2Reliability
If a face barrier is worn to reduce virus spread, then public health safety is improved, but communication clarity is worsened due to sound muffling
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system acts as an intermediary that bypasses the muffling effect of the face barrier. The microphone captures sound on the face-side and the speaker reproduces it on the public-side, maintaining communication clarity while the barrier continues to provide reliable virus spread reduction.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a face barrier is used to block droplet transmission, then infection risk is reduced, but spoken word transmission is worsened due to muffling
Solution Approach 1:
The talk circuit with microphone and speaker serves as an intermediary system that enables spoken word transmission through the face barrier without compromising infection risk reduction. The system transfers audio signals electronically, bypassing the physical muffling barrier.
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 clear communication by transmitting sound from the user's mouth to the speaker on the public-side of the face barrier, reducing or eliminating sound muffling.
Implementation Method 1
a microphone that receives the sound from the user and delivers the sound via an electrical signal
Implementation Method 2
a speaker on the public side of the face barrier that receives the electrical signal from the microphone and converts the electrical signal to sound
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a communication system that can be used with a face barrier to improve communication. The communication system can connect two communication devices via a short range wireless network, such as a Bluetooth compliant connection. The communication system can include, for example: (1) a microphone and (2) a first computing device configured to receive a first audio signal from the microphone and transmit the first audio signal to a speaker of a second computing device, and configured to receive a second audio signal from a microphone of the second computing device via the short range wireless system and transmit the second audio signal to a speaker associated with the first computing device, wherein each receive and transmit is via a short range wireless communication system. A protective device for a user is also disclosed.