Wearable Headphones with Camera for Facial Recognition Audio Isolation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems that combine cameras and headphones lack effective facial or feature recognition capabilities to enhance communication and listening experiences, particularly in noisy environments or crowded spaces.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a camera, microphone, and processor integrated with headphones, capable of facial recognition, beamforming, and servo-controlled directionality, which captures images, generates faceprints, and provides audio cues through a text-to-speech engine, enabling improved communication and listening by identifying individuals and isolating relevant sounds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If facial recognition and audio isolation features are added to headphones with camera, then communication and listening capabilities are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication and listening capabilitiesVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines camera, microphone array, speakers, and processor into an integrated wearable system that performs both visual facial recognition and audio beamforming functions, merging multiple capabilities into a single device that enhances communication and listening without requiring separate systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The wearable device is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: capturing images for facial recognition, capturing audio signals for beamforming, providing audio output through speakers, and generating audio cues through text-to-speech conversion, making it a universal communication and listening enhancement system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If beamforming and facial recognition processing are implemented, then audio isolation and identification accuracy are improved, but computational requirements and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary facial recognition processing by capturing images with the camera and identifying faces before full audio processing begins, allowing the beamforming algorithm to focus computational resources on audio signals from identified individuals rather than processing all audio data equally

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical audio isolation methods with computational beamforming algorithms that use software-based signal processing to achieve audio directionality and isolation, reducing the need for complex physical acoustic structures while maintaining identification accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10303929B2Facial recognition system
Publication Date: 2019.05.28 BOSE CORP
  • US10303929B2 patent drawing
  • US10303929B2 patent drawing
  • US10303929B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A recognition system includes a camera, at least one speaker, a microphone, and a processor in communication with the camera, the speaker, and the microphone. The processor is configured to recognize faces or devices and to receive a selection of at least one face or device to be monitored. The processor is also configured to direct the camera and/or the microphone toward the selected face or device and provide audio from the selected face or device to the speaker.