Headset Audio Filtering for Privacy and Sound Leakage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Artificial reality systems, such as headsets, face challenges in preventing sound leakage, which compromises user privacy and increases disturbances for others in the local area, as existing audio systems fail to effectively mitigate sound emission across various frequency bands.
Innovation Solution
An audio system for headsets that includes a dipole speaker and a processor to determine a privacy setting, applying audio filters to mitigate sound leakage by band-limiting audio content, particularly for frequencies where the dipole speaker is less effective, using a user interface to select privacy modes or levels, and dynamically adjusting filters based on environmental conditions and audio content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If audio content is presented through typical audio systems, then users can access audio content, but sound leakage occurs making audio audible to others in the local area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies audio filters that modify frequency parameters of the audio signal to mitigate sound leakage. The system dynamically adjusts filter characteristics based on privacy settings, effectively changing the acoustic parameters to reduce audibility in the local area while maintaining user experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The audio system is segmented into multiple functional components: dipole speakers for directional sound control, audio filters for frequency-specific leakage mitigation, and privacy settings for user-controlled adjustment. This segmentation allows targeted approaches to different aspects of sound leakage across various frequency bands.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If dipole speakers are used to mitigate sound leakage, then effectiveness is achieved below 3,000 Hz, but leakage persists at higher frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements different mitigation strategies for different frequency bands. Audio filters are specifically designed to address high-frequency leakage (above 3,000 Hz) where dipole speakers are less effective, while relying on dipole speaker physics for lower frequencies. This localized approach optimizes mitigation for each frequency range.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines dipole speakers (acoustic structure) with electronic audio filters to create a composite solution. The dipole speakers provide passive physical mitigation through their radiation pattern, while electronic filters add active frequency-specific control, creating a multi-layered defense against sound leakage.
3Reliability
If audio filters are applied to mitigate sound leakage, then privacy is enhanced, but audio signal characteristics are modified
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies audio filters selectively based on user-defined privacy settings rather than uniformly across all audio content. Users can adjust the degree of filtering applied, allowing partial mitigation for some frequency bands while preserving audio quality in others, balancing privacy protection with signal fidelity.
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 solution effectively reduces sound leakage into the local area, enhancing user privacy while maintaining sound quality by selectively applying filters across different frequency bands, optimizing privacy settings based on user preferences and environmental factors.
Implementation Method 1
The audio system may include a dipole speaker. The dipole speaker may be relatively effective at mitigating sound leakage below 3,000 Hz
Implementation Method 2
The audio system may use audio filters to mitigate leakage of the audio content into the local area, particularly for frequency bands in which the (e.g., dipole) speaker is relatively less effective at mitigating sound leakage
Data Source
AI summary
An audio system includes a speaker and a processor. The processor determines a privacy setting for an audio signal. The privacy setting may be selected by a user. The privacy setting may indicate activation of a private mode, or may indicate a privacy level from a range of privacy levels. The processor determines an audio filter that adjusts the audio signal to mitigate sound leakage when presented by the speaker based on the privacy setting. The audio filter may include a low-pass filter and a multiband compressor. The parameters of the audio filter may vary based on the privacy setting. The processor applies the audio filter to the audio signal to generate a filtered audio signal and provides the filtered audio signal to the speaker.