Headset Audio Assembly Wireless Signal Filtering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing audio assemblies in artificial reality systems, such as headsets, face challenges in effectively reducing or amplifying sound levels in noisy environments due to limitations in active noise cancellation, particularly in quickly calculating and reproducing cancellation signals before the sound reaches the user's ear.

Innovation Solution

The audio assembly uses wireless audio signals to receive sound data from a second device, allowing it to apply filters before the sound arrives, thereby enabling selective sound level reduction or amplification through destructive or constructive interference, leveraging advanced audio processing and spatial audio techniques.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If active noise cancellation is used to reduce sound levels in noisy environments, then sound clarity is improved, but the system cannot quickly calculate and reproduce cancellation signals before the sound reaches the user's ear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound clarityVSAvoidsignal processing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system receives audio signals from remote microphones via wireless transmission before the corresponding sounds arrive at the user's ear. This preliminary reception allows the processor to calculate and apply cancellation or amplification filters in advance, resolving the timing conflict between signal processing speed and sound arrival. The head-mounted device uses the speed of light for wireless transmission versus the speed of sound for acoustic propagation to gain processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If audio filters are applied to adjust sound amplitude in real-time, then hearing ability in noisy environments is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehearing abilityVSAvoidaudio processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces remote microphones and wireless transmission as intermediaries between the sound sources and the user's ear. These intermediaries capture sounds at a distance, transmit them wirelessly to the head-mounted device, and enable filter application without requiring complex physical modifications to the user's immediate acoustic environment. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall system architecture while achieving reliable sound control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If wireless audio signal transmission is used to receive sound data before sound arrival, then sound level adjustment is enabled, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound level adjustment capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies audio filters selectively to specific frequency ranges and time windows corresponding to anticipated sound arrivals, rather than processing all audio signals continuously at full power. This partial action approach maintains the adaptability to adjust sound levels while reducing overall energy consumption by activating intensive processing only when and where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

This approach enhances sound clarity by allowing for real-time adjustment of sound levels, improving hearing ability in noisy environments by effectively canceling or amplifying sounds before they reach the user, thereby providing a more immersive audio experience.

Implementation Method 1

presenting, via a speaker assembly of the first audio assembly, the audio content to a user of the first audio assembly such that the presented audio content combines with the sound to selectively adjust the amplitude of the sound

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDestructive interference: Interference

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConstructive interference: Interference

Data Source

PatentUS10971130B1Sound level reduction and amplification

Publication Date: 2021.04.06 META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A computing device, such as a headset, provides for selective sound level reduction or sound level amplification for sounds made in a local area. The computing device includes a speaker assembly and a controller. The controller receives an audio signal from a second computing device, such as a second headset, via a wireless connection with the computing device. The audio signal describes a sound made by a user of the second computing device. The audio signal arrives at the computing device prior to the sound. The controller determines an audio filter to selectively adjust an amplitude of the sound and applies the audio filter to the audio signal to generate audio content. The controller presents, via the speaker assembly, the audio content to a user such that the presented audio content combines with the sound to selectively adjust the amplitude of the sound.