Headset Audio Pass-Through for Occlusion-Free Sound Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Closed-type audio systems distort sounds from the real world environment due to ear occlusion, making it difficult for users to distinguish between virtual and real sound sources, and existing solutions do not effectively preserve sound directionality.
Innovation Solution
A headset device with dual earpieces, each equipped with a microphone and speaker, uses adaptive filters and user-customized filters to generate and process audio signals based on phase and amplitude relationships between reference and feedback signals, allowing for accurate sound localization by compensating for distortion and maintaining sound properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If closed-type audio systems are used to provide immersive virtual reality audio experience, then audio isolation and virtual sound presentation are improved, but occlusion distortion of real world sounds occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent captures the occluded real-world sounds using microphones positioned within the earpiece, converts this harmful occlusion effect into useful feedback signals, and uses adaptive filtering to generate anti-phase cancellation signals that eliminate the distortion, thereby transforming the occlusion problem into a solution for preserving natural sound quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback microphones to capture sounds from the real world environment that pass through the earpiece, processes these feedback signals through adaptive filters to determine occlusion characteristics, and generates active cancellation signals fed back to the speakers to continuously reduce occlusion distortion in real-time
2Object-affected harmful factors
If open-type audio systems are used to allow natural sound transmission, then occlusion distortion is reduced, but sound isolation and virtual reality immersion deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of both open and closed-type systems by combining the physical isolation structure of closed earpieces with the acoustic transparency of open systems, achieved through active noise cancellation that electronically creates an acoustically transparent barrier, allowing the earpiece to physically seal the ear while acoustically behaving like an open system
Solution Approach 2:
The adaptive filter and active cancellation signals serve as intermediaries between the isolated ear canal environment and the external sound field, creating a virtual acoustic pathway that allows natural sound transmission without physical opening, thereby mediating between the conflicting requirements of isolation and natural sound transmission
3Reliability
If existing sound transmission solutions are used, then sound isolation is maintained, but directionality and sound source localization are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio processing into distinct components: reference microphones capture external sounds, feedback microphones capture occluded sounds, adaptive filters process each ear independently to preserve inter-aural differences, and separate cancellation signals are generated for each ear, thereby maintaining the spatial cues necessary for directionality while providing isolation
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different processing characteristics to each ear independently through separate adaptive filters, preserving the local quality differences between left and right ear inputs including phase and amplitude relationships, which are critical for sound source localization and directional perception
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
Enables users to accurately determine the origin of sounds from the real world environment while wearing the headset, even in noisy conditions, by effectively passing through and localizing real-world sounds amidst virtual audio outputs.
Implementation Method 1
a first reference microphone configured to generate a first reference audio signal based on a reference sound from a source external to the first earpiece
Implementation Method 2
a first speaker and a first feedback microphone configured to generate a first feedback audio signal based on an output of the first speaker
Data Source
AI summary
A headset device includes a first earpiece configured to receive a reference sound and to generate a first reference audio signal based on the reference sound. The headset device further includes a second earpiece configured to receive the reference sound and to generate a second reference audio signal based on the reference sound. The headset device further includes a controller coupled to the first earpiece and to the second earpiece. The controller is configured to generate a first signal and a second signal based on a phase relationship between the first reference audio signal and the second reference audio signal. The controller is further configured to output the first signal to the first earpiece and output the second signal to the second earpiece.