Headset Wire Failure Detection via Spurious Signal Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing headset systems fail to reliably detect failures in power supply wires, outer microphone wires, and speaker wires, which can lead to spurious signals and compromise active noise reduction (ANR) and communication quality, potentially causing harm to human hearing.

Innovation Solution

A headset system that detects failures by distinguishing between spurious signals and aural-origin signals using available signals processed during normal operation, allowing for the disabling of features like ANR for safety, without introducing additional signals, and implementing a failure detection component to identify wire failures through peak value analysis and peak localization algorithms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wire failures are not detected, then the headset operates continuously, but spurious signals compromise ANR and communication quality, potentially causing harm to human hearing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefailure detection reliabilityVSAvoiddetection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses existing operational signals (microphone signals, speaker signals, ANR processing signals) to detect wire failures without requiring separate test signals or additional hardware. The failure detection component analyzes these self-generated signals to identify spurious components indicating wire failures, enabling the system to self-diagnose without external intervention or added complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The failure detection component continuously monitors operational signals for spurious components and provides feedback about wire integrity. When failures are detected, the system adjusts operation by disabling affected features (ANR, communication) to prevent harmful noise, creating a closed-loop safety mechanism that improves reliability without permanent system changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If additional test signals are introduced to detect failures, then detection capability improves, but system complexity and potential interference with normal operation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefailure detection precisionVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system repurposes existing operational signals (microphone input signals, speaker output signals, ANR processing signals) as both operational and diagnostic signals. By analyzing these self-generated signals for spurious components, the system achieves precise failure detection without introducing external test signals that would add complexity or interfere with normal headset function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Existing signals serve dual purposes: they perform their primary operational function (microphone capture, speaker output, ANR processing) while simultaneously serving as diagnostic signals for failure detection. The failure detection component extracts spurious signal information from these multi-functional signals, eliminating the need for separate test signal paths

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If ANR remains enabled during wire failures, then noise reduction continues, but spurious signals may cause harmful noise levels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveharmful noise protectionVSAvoidANR safety reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The failure detection component proactively identifies wire failures by detecting spurious signals before they can cause harmful noise levels. Upon detection, the system preemptively disables ANR and communication features to prevent the amplification or processing of spurious signals that would otherwise create harmful noise, thereby protecting the user before damage can occur

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors operational signals for signs of wire failures and provides real-time feedback about system safety. When spurious components indicating failures are detected, the feedback mechanism triggers immediate disabling of ANR and communication features, creating a safety loop that prevents harmful noise while maintaining system reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3449641B1Headset system failure detection
Publication Date: 2023.08.02 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP3449641B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3449641B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3449641B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A headset system comprises: a headset comprising at least one microphone and at least one speaker and configured to transmit and receive sound; a wire system coupled to the headset and comprising a wire; and a control unit coupled to the wire system and configured to: receive from the wire a combined signal comprising a first signal and a second signal, determine that the first signal is a spurious signal, and detect a failure of the wire system based on the determining.