Headset Audio Mixing Circuit for Ambient Sound Awareness

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional headsets fail to effectively combine ambient sound with audio while preserving spatial characteristics and providing user control over the mixing process, limiting their versatility and safety, especially in environments where awareness of surroundings is crucial.

Innovation Solution

A headset with an integrated processing circuit that combines audio and ambient sound signals, featuring adjustable mixture and volume control circuitry, and microphones positioned within the ear cavity to maintain spatial sound characteristics, allowing users to control the ambient audio integration with the audio signal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the volume of audio reproduced by the headset is increased, then the audio signal quality is improved, but the ability to hear ambient sounds deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio signal volumeVSAvoidblockage of ambient sounds

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The audio signal and ambient sound signal are separated into distinct channels. The headset includes separate circuitry for processing music/audio signals and ambient sound signals, allowing independent control of each channel's volume and characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The processed audio signal and ambient sound signal are combined and fed to the same earpiece transducers. This merging allows the user to hear both the reproduced audio and ambient sounds simultaneously through the same output path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional headsets with microphones are used to maintain ambient sound, then ambient sound reproduction is improved, but the spatial characteristics of ambient sound are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveambient sound reproductionVSAvoidspatial characteristics

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple microphones are positioned at different locations within the headset structure (e.g., one near the earpiece, another farther away). Each microphone captures ambient sound from its specific location, preserving directional and spatial information about the acoustic environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If headsets are designed for specific electronic equipment, then compatibility with that equipment is improved, but versatility with other devices deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecompatibilityVSAvoiddevice compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The headset incorporates a universal audio jack that can connect to various types of electronic equipment including mobile phones, media players, and computers. The integrated circuit is designed to work with standard audio signals from different device types, making the headset broadly compatible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of operation

If headsets provide full control over audio mixing, then user control capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol capabilityVSAvoidcontrol circuitry

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The headset provides essential mixing control through a single potentiometer that adjusts the ambient sound level relative to the audio signal. While full multi-parameter control is not implemented, this partial control solution addresses the primary user need for adjusting ambient sound visibility without requiring complex circuitry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 headset enables users to safely and comfortably hear ambient sounds alongside audio, improving safety and user experience by allowing adjustable control over ambient sound levels and preserving spatial sound characteristics, enhancing its usability with various electronic devices.

Implementation Method 1

at least one earpiece having an electro-acoustic speaker for converting electrical signals to audible sound

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectro-acoustic conversion:

Implementation Method 2

at least one microphone that receives ambient sound and converts the ambient sound to an ambient sound signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic-to-electrical conversion:

Data Source

PatentUS7903826B2Headset with ambient sound

Publication Date: 2011.03.08 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

A headset that includes an input that receives an audio signal from an electronic equipment, and at least one earpiece having an electro-acoustic speaker for converting electrical signals to audible sound. The headset further includes at least one microphone that receives ambient sound and converts the ambient sound to an ambient sound signal. In addition, the headset includes a processing circuit formed as an integral unit with the input and the at least one earpiece. The processing circuit includes circuitry that combines the audio signal from the electronic equipment with the ambient sound signal from the at least one microphone and provides the combined signals to the at least one earpiece such that the electro-acoustic speaker reproduces the ambient sound in combination with audio from the audio signal.