Head-worn Audio Gain Redistribution for Near Field Noise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional head-worn audio systems suffer from near field noise, which degrades the listening experience due to undesired sounds picked up by microphones and transmitted to users, despite attempts to reduce this noise through fitted inserts or open-back designs.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a gain redistribution subsystem to determine the source of sound between microphones and adjust gain to mitigate near field noise by performing mixing operations on input signals from multiple microphones, redistributing amplification to reduce noise transmission to speakers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If fitted inserts are used to reduce sound leakage, then near field noise is reduced, but acoustic feedback still occurs and listening quality is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the contralateral microphone to cancel near field noise in the ipsilateral ear. The feedback signal is processed through mixing operations that redistribute gain to suppress noise while maintaining acoustic transparency and preventing feedback loops.
Solution Approach 2:
The contralateral microphone acts as an intermediary to capture environmental sounds and transmit them to the ipsilateral ear through mixing operations, providing acoustic transparency without requiring fitted inserts that would cause feedback.
2Adaptability or versatility
If open-back earphones are used for acoustic transparency, then environmental sounds are heard, but sound leakage increases and near field noise degrades listening experience
Solution Approach 1:
The contralateral microphone serves as an intermediary to provide environmental sound transmission, achieving acoustic transparency without open-back design. The mixing operations redistribute gain to maintain transparency while suppressing near field noise from the ipsilateral microphone.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback using the contralateral microphone signal to cancel near field noise while maintaining acoustic transparency. This allows open-back style transparency without the noise leakage problems of conventional open-back earphones.
3Productivity
If ipsilateral microphone and speaker are used for direct sound delivery, then sound transmission is efficient, but near field noise is transmitted to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the contralateral microphone to cancel near field noise generated by the ipsilateral speaker. The mixing operations redistribute gain to maintain efficient sound transmission while suppressing noise from the ipsilateral microphone.
Solution Approach 2:
The contralateral microphone acts as an intermediary to provide the primary audio signal to the ipsilateral speaker, bypassing the noisy ipsilateral microphone. This maintains transmission efficiency while eliminating near field noise pickup.
4Reliability
If gain is amplified to improve sound quality, then listening experience is enhanced, but near field noise is also amplified
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback to dynamically adjust gain distribution, amplifying the desired contralateral microphone signal while suppressing the noisy ipsilateral microphone signal. The mixing operations redistribute gain to enhance sound quality without amplifying near field noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different gain levels to different signal sources locally - high gain for the contralateral microphone signal and suppressed gain for the ipsilateral microphone signal. This selective gain distribution enhances sound quality while minimizing near field noise amplification.
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
This approach effectively reduces near field noise more comprehensively than conventional designs, providing an optimized listening experience by minimizing noise from both internal and external sound leakage.
Implementation Method 1
such designs still suffer from the effects of near field noise. For example, as indicated above, fitted inserts reduce, but do not necessarily eliminate, near field noise because the sound that travels through the fitted inserts within the ears as well as leaked sound can cause acoustic feedback.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a gain redistribution application restructures gains associated with multiple microphones included in a head-worn audio system to minimize near field noise. In response to a sound generated by a sound source, the microphones generate input signals. The gain redistribution application performs mixing operations on the input signals to generate an output signal that mitigates near field noise associated with the same side of the head as the sound source. Subsequently, the gain redistribution application transmits the output signal to a speaker that targets the same side of the head as the sound source. Advantageously, by reducing the gain associated with an input signal received via a microphone located on the same side of the head as the sound source, the gain redistribution application reduces near field noise transmitted to the user during operation in a more comprehensive fashion relative to conventional designs.