Headset Talk-Through Audio Circuit for False Trigger Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing noise reduction headsets face difficulties in providing both active noise reduction (ANR) and talk-through functionality due to false triggering of audio compressors by loud environmental sounds with fast onset times, such as gunshots or electrical noise, which can lead to momentary loss of talk-through functionality when the user speaks.
Innovation Solution
A headset with a talk-through microphone that incorporates an audio circuit capable of compressing signals in response to peaks exceeding predetermined voltage levels and rate of change, using a combination of a pulsed attenuator and envelope detector to control the compression duration and prevent unwanted triggering, ensuring that speech sounds from others can be heard while minimizing disruption from loud environmental noises.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an audio compressor is used to reduce loud environmental sounds, then the harmful effect of loud noises is reduced, but false triggering occurs due to fast onset times of certain sounds like gunshots or electrical noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the compressor's attack time variable rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts the attack time based on the detected characteristics of incoming sounds, using shorter attack times for transient sounds like gunshots and longer attack times for sustained sounds, thereby preventing false triggering while maintaining protection against loud noises
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of attack time in the audio compressor from a static value to a dynamically adjustable parameter. By modifying the attack time parameter based on sound characteristics detected by the microphone and processed by the processor, the system optimizes compressor behavior for different sound types, preventing false triggering while maintaining noise reduction effectiveness
2Adaptability or versatility
If talk-through functionality is enabled to allow speech sounds from others to reach the user, then communication capability is improved, but the user's own speech may be amplified and fed back causing unnatural loudness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using the talk-through microphone to detect the user's own speech and feeding it back to the audio compressor. This feedback loop allows the compressor to identify when the user is speaking and apply appropriate gain reduction to prevent unnatural loudness, while still allowing other people's speech to pass through for communication purposes
Data Source
AI summary
A headset having a talk-through microphones incorporates an audio circuit that disconnects or compresses a signal representing sounds detected by the talk-through microphones in response to the audio circuit detecting the onset of a peak in the signal that exceeds a predetermined voltage level, and that does so with a rate of change in voltage level that exceeds a predetermined rate of change in voltage level. The duration of the disconnection or compression may be controlled by a timing circuit set to a predetermined period of time that may be retriggerable while amidst the predetermined period of time.