Headset Noise Attenuation Estimation for Accurate In-Ear Dosimetry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing acoustic dosimetry devices inaccurately estimate a user's noise exposure when they are wearing headsets that attenuate environmental noise, as the devices fail to account for the headset's passive and active noise reduction, leading to an underestimation of actual in-ear noise exposure.

Innovation Solution

A system that determines a user's actual noise exposure by estimating the level of attenuation caused by the headset, using a companion device to capture ambient sound levels and determine the headset's audio processing mode, allowing for accurate monitoring and notification of in-ear noise exposure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a headset with active noise cancellation is used, then environmental noise attenuation is improved, but accurate measurement of user noise exposure becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental noise attenuationVSAvoidnoise exposure measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary measurement system consisting of microphones positioned near the ear (but outside the headset) to capture the actual noise environment that the user experiences. This intermediary measurement approach allows accurate assessment of noise exposure without being interfered with by the headset's active noise cancellation technology, thereby resolving the contradiction between noise attenuation and measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If passive noise isolation is increased, then noise attenuation is improved, but the ability to monitor actual in-ear noise levels deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise attenuationVSAvoidin-ear noise level monitoring

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of placing microphones inside the ear canal (which would be blocked by passive isolation), the patent inverts the approach by positioning microphones outside the headset near the user's ear. This allows the system to measure the noise that would reach the ear if the headset weren't present, and then calculate the actual in-ear noise level by subtracting the known passive attenuation characteristics of the headset, thereby resolving the measurement problem caused by increased passive isolation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If active noise cancellation is activated, then environmental noise reduction is improved, but accurate dosimetry measurement becomes inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental noise reductionVSAvoiddosimetry measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the noise measurement process into two distinct components: (1) measuring the ambient noise environment outside the headset using external microphones, and (2) measuring the noise inside the ear canal using internal microphones. By separating these measurements and independently analyzing each component, the system can accurately assess dosimetry exposure even when active noise cancellation is active, resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Accurately monitors and notifies users of their actual noise exposure by accounting for headset attenuation, providing a reliable measure of in-ear sound pressure level (SPL) that reflects the user's true noise exposure.

Implementation Method 1

a microphone; at least one processor; and memory having instructions stored therein which when executed by the at least one processor causes the electronic device to: determine a level of sound within an acoustic environment captured by the microphone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrophone transduction:

Implementation Method 2

the headset may operate in one mode in which the headset performs an acoustic noise cancellation (ANC) function such that one or more speakers of the headset produces anti-noise

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic attenuation: Acoustic Absorption

Data Source

PatentUS12483822B2Method and system for estimating environmental noise attenuation

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 APPLE INC

AI summary

A method that includes determining a level of sound within an acoustic environment captured by a microphone; receiving, from a headset worn by a user, data indicating an audio processing mode in which the headset is operating; determining a level of attenuation of the sound based on the audio processing mode and the level of sound; estimating sound exposure based on at least the level of attenuation and the level of sound; and transmitting the sound exposure to an application program.